Country color

Chapter 400 County Examination (Second Change)

It was almost midsummer in Zhuojun.

The rumbling Chaowen Drum woke up the people of Zhuo County from their deep sleep. They opened their eyes dimly. At this time, the eastern sky was already pale.

The scholars living in the recruiting hall were earlier than the common people. For the scholars in the recruiting hall, today is a big day.

Three months ago, Zhou Xu, the governor of the county school, pleaded with Li Chongjiu, the governor, to recruit talents from all over the world. Instead of expropriation in the past, he adopted the imperial examination method to recruit talents.

Li Chongjiu personally approved the reply and agreed to Zhou Xu's request. At present, after three years of study in the county, one can pass the examination, called the county examination. Those who pass can enter the county school, or directly become an official in the county.

As for those who have studied in the county for two years, they can pass the exam, called the county exam, and those who pass can enter the county guard's mansion and become an official directly.

In addition to scholars from the county school, virtuous people from all over the country can also be assessed and admitted according to their quota.

The recruiting hall was already brightly lit, and the scholars all got up early in the morning. Except for a few who participated in the imperial examination in the former Sui Dynasty, for most of them, this was the first time to participate in the imperial examination.The scholars sorted out the test boxes and confirmed the test quotations.The shopkeepers in the hall even pasted cakes, steamed rice, and boiled soup for the scholars in the middle of the night. After a while, the scholars could put them in the examination basket and bring them into the examination room.

The big exam is coming, and the scholars are worried. Many of them stayed up all night with two panda eyes, and some of them hurriedly read the book again.

A young scholar in a washed white gown was holding a pancake, rice soup, a mouthful of cake and a mouthful of soup, while an acquaintance scholar who was studying hard with a book couldn't help smiling wryly when he saw it, and said: "Brother Zhou Still really has the style of a general, and I'm not nervous at all."

The other party raised his head and smiled, drank a bowl of clear rice soup with little water to the bottom, and said: "Brother He, the big exam is coming, how can I do it if I don't reward my five internal organs temple."
This scholar is a student of the county school. He said in the recruiting building that day that when the world is in chaos, the gentry clan will surely seize Zhouzhou in the world.

After the debate in Zhaoxian Building that day, he reprimanded Zhou Xu afterwards, telling him to keep this matter in his heart and not to speak for outsiders, otherwise there would be a catastrophe.Zhou Zhou is very grateful to Zhou Xu for his love for him, but he still does his own thing and speaks freely in daily life.

Zhou Xu could only love and hate this family member.

The scholar surnamed He smiled, took out five eggs from his test basket, gave two to Zhou Zhou, and said: "My father has prepared too much for me, I will give you some."

Zhou Zhou was taken aback for a moment, seeing the gentle smile on the other party's face, he couldn't help being moved from the bottom of his heart.

Zhou Zhou's family was poor, his father was separated from him when he was young, and his mother was the only one who took care of the family. After entering the county school, although he was subsidized by the county government for food, clothing, literature and ink, his life was still tight. Therefore, in the test basket, except for two Cooking cakes and nothing else.

Zhou Zhou is naturally heroic, so he doesn't care about it.But Zhou Zhou didn't reject his classmate's kindness, and still took two eggs from the other party, saying: "Clean up early, you will be entering the examination room soon."

While talking, a scholar in a brocade robe passed in front of the two, and behind him was a school boy carrying the test basket and test box for him.

This person has a chic demeanor, and there is an extraordinary demeanor in his demeanor.Zhou Zhou naturally recognized that this person was a classmate from another county school. Zhao Xin, who was born in the Zhao family of Zhuo County, had a debate with him in Zhaoxian Building that day.

His family background is very good, and his talent is also outstanding. He has won the appreciation of Zhou Xu, the county school's sacrificial wine, and many doctors. He is comparable to Zhou Zhou in the county school.But the two have always looked at each other in the wrong direction.

Zhao Xin glanced at Zhou Zhou, then turned to the person beside him who was reading a book, and said, "Brother He, it's just a temporary hug, don't you think it's too late?"

Saying this before the big exam is clearly a blow to the confidence of others, and its intention is not easy to be vicious.This scholar surnamed He was named He Xin, and Zhao Xin's face turned pale after Zhao Xin finished speaking, but he dared not provoke a classmate with a deep background like Zhao Xin, so he dared not speak up at the moment.

Zhou Zhou said in the foreword: "If you hear the Tao in the morning, you can die in the evening. Don't you know, Brother Zhao, that it is never too late to read a book?"

Zhao Xin laughed and was about to refute, when a few scholars who were also from the gentry walked up to Zhao Xin and said, "Young Master Zhao, what's the point of chatting with such poor people? It may have arrived."

Zhao Xin nodded, turned around and smiled at the two of them and said, "I wish you two good luck!"

After finishing speaking, he flicked his sleeves and walked away. Seeing the other party going away, He Xin said indignantly: "Brother Zhou, you must fight for our humble children this time, so that these noble children who are born with eyes higher than the top You know, there are talents among our poor families."

Zhou Zhou nodded. At this moment, he heard the sound of carriages and horses outside the door, and the waiter at the side shop came in and said, "Guys, hurry up, the carriages of the county school's office are all outside the door."

At present, Zhou Zhou and He Xin were all solemn, lifted the test basket, carried the test box, and followed the waiter in the shop, striding out of the door.

At this moment, outside the store door, the sky is still not bright, and the door of the square is not open.

There was silence in the square.

A group of scholars, as well as folk virtuous and powerful children gathered outside the gate of Zhaoxian Building, and one carriage after another slowly approached.

"Get in the car! Get in the car! Talented people, don't miss the hour." The servants of the Jixian county government and the police were also dispatched, and there were even guards in iron armor surrounding the carriage.

Zhou Zhou and He Xin also boarded the carriage together and squeezed together with the six scholars.

"Sit still." The coachman flicked his whip, and the car started bumping and shaking.

Outside the car, the shopkeeper, buddy, and helper of Zhaoxian Building stood in front of the door together and said, "Looking forward to a few talented people who can leap into the dragon's gate and go to high school!"

Both Zhou Zhou and He Xin had smiles on their faces, and the scholars in the car cheered each other on, saying that they would definitely pass high school.

As the carriage moved forward, the people on the street suddenly stopped and pointed, talking a lot.

Before reaching the Fangmen, Fangding also opened the door and did not dare to stop it, but stopped the people who were about to go out behind the car.

On the empty streets of Youzhou City, more than a dozen horse-drawn carriages were escorted by more than a hundred government army infantry as they walked slowly on the streets.

When the city patrolling riders on the street saw them, not only did they not step forward to stop them, but they also removed the wooden fence blocking the street to let the scholar's convoy pass quickly.
Not long after, more than a dozen horse-drawn carriages stopped in front of the Sheriff's Mansion. It is said that the tribute courtyard for the county trial in the future is still under construction, so the first county test in Zhuo County was selected in the Sheriff's Mansion.

Looking at the mighty stone lion in front of the Sheriff's Mansion, most of the candidates held their breath.

There were also whispers on the side, wondering who the examiner is this time?
"Theoretically speaking, Zhou Ji Bar should be the most qualified examiner, but to avoid suspicion, he is the least likely to be the one."

"I don't know yet. Since I have come to the Sheriff's Mansion, who is the most respected among the Sheriff's Mansions, of course Sheriff Wei. This imperial examination is the first of its kind in Youzhou, and it is a grand ceremony for a county. Even if the Sheriff Wei takes care of everything, he should Come and take care of one or two."

"If Wei Junwei invigilates the examination, then we should be careful. This person is ruthless in enforcing the law. If there is any mistake, I am afraid that there is no hope of success in this life."

Speaking of this, the faces of several candidates turned pale.

"You are all wrong. As far as I know, we are all local candidates in Zhuo County. Of course, Wei Jun must avoid suspicion. Therefore, it is most likely Wen Changshi from the Governor's Mansion, or Chen Sima and the two."

Others said: "Brother Fu, what you said is reasonable. Wen Changshi is famous for his talent and learning. The first emperor recruited four imperial examination candidates in the whole country, but only a dozen people were selected. Wen Changshi was one of them, so he was awarded the title of Wenlin Lang. With his talent and learning, it is more than enough to be the chief examiner."

"So I saw several official documents by Wen Changshi at my father's place. The diction is simple, the antithesis is neat, and the description is extremely delicate. It is quite like the style of Wenlin Museum in the Northern Qi Dynasty. If we imitate this style, we will greatly improve it." The hope of passing the exam."
"It's really good words. I will write it down. The teacher made me recite a lot of articles in the Wenlin Museum back then. Let me think about it and remember a few."

While speaking, the gates on the left, middle and right of the Sheriff's Mansion opened slowly, and everyone fell silent.

Officials and soldiers walk out of the gate, let the candidates line up to enter the venue, check the candidates' references, household registration documents, and check their appearance one by one, and then search the test basket and test box before letting the candidates in.

The inspection along the way was very careful and took a very long time. When the sun was shining, it was already a bit hot.

After the inspection was over, all the candidates entered the gate together.

Then he stopped in front of the gate and waited to enter the examination room.

"Yes, Governor Wei!"

"Look, there's Wen Changshi!"

Youzhou City said it was not big, but it was not small, but among the candidates, many of them were sons of gentry officials, and they had seen the two with their parents at the village ceremony drinking, so they recognized them at once.

These two people came together, so who is the chief examiner?
Everyone speculated.

"Silence!"

"Silence!"

The officials of the county guard's mansion shouted loudly.

At this moment, Wei Zheng and Wen Yanbo retreated to one side, raised their hands in a bow, and another person came from the gate, seeing this person, many candidates were excited.

They secretly thought in their hearts, they didn't expect the chief examiner to be Li Shishi.

I saw Li Chongjiu came to the venue and said to everyone: "Some of you recognize it, and some of you don't. This is Li Chongjiu, the governor of Youzhou."

As soon as this remark was outstanding, all the candidates shouted in low voices, and there was a commotion immediately, and the officials on the side quickly shouted: "Shut up, and those who talk nonsense will be disqualified from the county examination."

Only then did the examinees shut their mouths, Li Chongjiu smiled slightly, and said: "The county examination is a grand ceremony for evaluating talents in a county. The Youzhou County Governor's Mansion will select five scholars from the countryside and the county schools, and a total of ten people will enter the exam." The prefect's mansion is the official. The best one will be awarded the post of the seventh rank, and fill in the vacancies. After three years, it will be released to the outside world."

Although all the candidates already knew it, they couldn't help being excited when Li Chongjiu said it lightly.

In the past, the children of the gentry, who became officials in common clothes, were called Shi Brown, and they were able to rise to the seventh rank. From the seventh rank of officials, only the children of the first-class family were allowed, but now it is rare to judge them based on their talents and learning.

Everyone's eyes could not help but give birth to hope.

(End of this chapter)