Idle courtiers

Chapter 482
On May 42th in the 25nd year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty, Zhou Nan, who was studying at home in a daze, was woken up by Xun Fangyu before dawn, and came to the Meridian Gate in a daze, waiting quietly with more than 300 candidates for the upcoming biography ceremony.

The streets leading to the imperial city in the distance are also crowded. It seems that they are the family members and servants of the examinees. Today is the time to decide the future of their masters, and also determine their personal fate. .In feudal society, the family is the country, and the country is the family.All the people in a big family, one prospers all, one loses all.

Everyone still lined up according to the ranking of the exam, and Zhou Nan was in the middle.

Looking around, everyone has different expressions.The hundred or so people at the end of the crane looked indifferent, but the two hundred or so people in front all looked nervous.It was very different from talking and laughing when taking part in the palace examination, the people in front all had sullen faces.Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue were so nervous that their bodies trembled slightly.

Infected by the atmosphere in front, the people behind also shut up.

Probably because they were afraid that the examinees would be too nervous to make the emperor lose their manners, the people from the Ministry of Rites did not directly lead everyone into the imperial city.Instead, they waited until the time when the morning was over, and then organized the team. After exhorting them for a long time, they said, "You can go, be decent."

Chenshi is what the later generations will look like from nine to ten o'clock in the morning Beijing time. The scholars are not in good health, and all of them stand with crispy leg cartilage, and they have already lost their temper.

Unlike the palace test, this time everyone came to the Huangji Palace.

Huangji Hall used to be called Fengtian Hall, so it should be called this name when you go to face.In later generations, the Huangji Hall was changed to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, commonly known as the Jinluan Hall, where national ceremonies such as the emperor's ascension to the throne and receiving foreign envoys to pay tribute were held.

Later generations thought that the emperor would work here, but in fact, the emperor rarely came here twice a year.For example, this is the Great Hall of the People for future generations. Who would come here to stay if there is nothing to do?

Since today's Ceremony of Biography is held here, it can be seen that ancient times attached great importance to imperial examinations.At the Chuanlu Grand Ceremony, even the person who ranks last will be awarded the official position of a seventh-rank magistrate.Seventh-rank magistrate, Dai Tianzi herdsmen, even the most remote areas have jurisdiction over tens of thousands of people, and a proper Bailihou is the most direct manifestation of the will of the country.

Jiajing hasn't appeared yet, the old emperor has lived in Xiyuan for many years, and it will take some time to come from there.But the eight examiners had already arrived, all smiling and standing on the high steps of the Huangji Hall.

Suddenly, a head of the Ministry of Rites shouted loudly: "Chuanlu!"

The candidates' hearts tightened, knowing that the most critical time had come, they all lowered their heads slightly, and only looked at the white marble dragon and phoenix relief in the middle of the long steps.

The principal had a clear voice, and the voice spread far away, echoing in the big square: "First and third, No.1, Xu Shixing."

Standing at the front, Shen Shixing's body trembled violently, tears streaming down his face.

In fact, he will try to win the first name Huiyuan.On the day of the palace examination, the emperor personally opened the umbrella again, not only others, but even himself knew in his heart that he was the No. [-] scholar.However, when the Xixun system really came, the future Shen Shoufu still felt the greatness of heaven's grace, and cried into a ball silently.

The No. [-] pick has been decided, and the next ones should be No. [-] and No. [-].

Zhou Nan recalled the records in the real history, and then analyzed the two exams. He thought that the second place in the ranking was probably among Wang Xijue, Li Cai, Yu Youding, She Li, Zhang Tingchen, Zhu Runshen and others. No surprises, it just depends on who has good luck in the examination room, this is the time to fight for character.

The head of the Ministry of Rites continued to read: "No.2, Suzhou Wang Xijue."

Sure enough, it was him, this guy is really amazing, he deserves to be the future Wang Ge Lao, it's not surprising that he got the second place.

Just as he was thinking, Wang Xijue turned around, accurately found Zhou Nan in the crowd, and glanced provocatively.

"What a big boy." Zhou Nan smiled inwardly and ignored him.

However, his turn of the head caused displeasure to all living beings, and there was annoyance on his face.

When Zhou Nan thought about it, his heart moved.The top two players in this class are both from Suzhou.Suzhou deserves to be the first-class place in the world where people can read and take exams. By the way, the next few people who are expected to win the prize are either from Zhejiang or Jiangxi. It seems that this top class has been rounded up by southerners.

Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang implemented the ranking system in the past, just to balance the proportion of officials from the north and the south.However, in the examination room, after all, it is necessary to rely on articles and talents to learn to speak.Afterwards, the first and second are all southerners.According to the official system of the Ming Dynasty, senior officials must be of Hanlin origin.

As a result, the senior officials and local governors who are eligible to go to court every day speak Wu, which is actually still unbalanced!
"If I were the emperor, I would probably choose a northerner as Tanhua. However, according to the results of the general examination and the performance of the comprehensive palace examination, the top ten are all southerners. No wonder everyone is dissatisfied, this is too unbalanced." Zhou Nan thought to himself, but couldn't help shaking his head.

In real history, this imperial examination was the period of the Ming Dynasty's imperial examination talent explosion, second only to the 26th year of Jiajing.Among them, more than [-]% are southern scholars, which caused a small disturbance.

In the next phase, which is two years later, it will be tested.The imperial court probably also considered that the previous session was too much, and selected 30 people to enter the Imperial Academy at one go, and finally calmed down the dissatisfaction in the hearts of the northern candidates.

At this time, the head of the Ministry of Rites continued to read: "No.3, Zhou Nan in Shuntian Prefecture."

Zhou Nan thought to himself: "Hey, a northerner finally came out of Yijia. This seems to be the first time that the imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty lasted for a hundred years. Zhou Nan, Zhou Lan, when did we have such a person in Shuntian Mansion... Ah, Lying grass and mud next door to Mala, isn’t that me... How is it possible... I am Tanhua, is it possible..."

Our Master Zhou was stunned for a moment.

I just feel as if I have fallen into a cloud of strange and colorful clouds, and my body seems to lose weight, floating back and forth in the air.

The ears were full of buzzing sounds, and as for what the official of the Ministry of Rites was going to say next, he could no longer hear clearly.

I don't know how long it took, it seems like 100 years, and it seems like a moment, someone tugged on his sleeve and woke him up from the dream.

It was a Jinshi from Shaanxi who woke him up. He whispered: "Congratulations Tanhualang, you have fought hard for our northern scholars. The emperor Fajia will come over soon, everyone, don't lose your dignity before driving."

Only then did Zhou Nan see that he was surrounded by scholars from the north, and all of them looked proud.

"I'm Tanhua, am I Tanhua?" Zhou Nan was infatuated.

Endless thoughts were rolling in his mind, and he quickly came to the conclusion that there were actually three reasons why he was able to be a Tanhua: first, the imperial court wanted to balance the number and rank of scholars from the north and the south; second, Zhou Nan's strategy involved taxation Reform, Jiajing deliberately created hot spots; third, this is the emperor's promise to him.

The three factors acted at the same time, which pushed Zhou Nan to the spotlight.

He thought that he was good enough for the second grade, and he studied hard at home these few days, all he wanted was to fight for the last exam in the last court exam.Now it seems that there is no need for it at all. The top three in the first class go directly to Hanlin, and there is no need to enter the examination room.

As soon as today's business is over, after returning home, the Four Books and Five Classics in the study are really thrown into the stove and burned.

unexpected surprise!
Just now, the Ministry of Rites has finished reading everyone's rankings.Next is the Ceremony of Chuanlu.In front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Luan Yiwei set up Lubo Fajia, Zhonghe Shaoyue under the eaves, and Danbi Great Music in the Gate of Supreme Harmony; the Ministry of Rites and Honglu Temple set up Dongying and Danbi in the Hall of Supreme Harmony There is a yellow table in the middle of the top, a cloud pan under the majesty Dan, and a colorful pavilion outside the Meridian Gate to play drums and music.The princes, ministers, civil and military officials each wore court uniforms and stood in order on the left and right under Majesty Dan.

The ceremony began, and the official of the Ministry of Rites went to the Qianqing Gate to invite the emperor to take his clothes and lead him into the Hall of Supreme Harmony for his seat.At this time, Zhonghe Shaoyue played "Longping Movement"; the whips were sounded three times.The whip is made of leather and is more than one zhang long. The clerk holds the handle of the whip and dances from below to circle upwards. The sound of the whip is clear and melodious, resounding through the sky.After the whip was sounded, Danbi played the "Qingping Movement" with great music, and the ministers who read the scrolls and other officials knelt down three times and kowtowed nine times to the emperor.The university scholar entered the hall and took out the yellow list from the yellow case in Dongying, and gave it to the Minister of Rites, and put it on the yellow case in the middle of Danbi.

At this time, Danbi Dale played again, and the officials of Honglu Temple introduced new Jinshi to their seats.

Zhou Nan knelt in Dongxi, with Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue in front of him.

Seeing the emperor's face, Shen Shixing was still crying silently, and Wang Xijue's eyes were red with excitement.

But Zhou Nan was so happy that he just wanted to laugh wildly, and couldn't control it no matter what.

He also knew that as long as he laughed out loud, it would be completely bad.No choice but to bite her lips tightly, letting the pain calm herself down.

Another official from the Ministry of Rites read out the edict aloud: "Decree! On April 22, the 21nd year of Jiajing's reign, the imperial examinations were held for all the tribute scholars in the world. Origin. Where..."

After reading, lead the top ten to meet the emperor.

There is some discrepancy with the real history. After Zhou Nan grabbed No.3, the original smallpox Yu Youding ranked fourth.

This Zhejiang scholar didn't know the story that happened in another time and space, and his face was full of excitement.

The first name of Erjia is called Da Chuan Lu, although he also has to take part in the imperial examination, but he has already decided to be a good scholar.He is one step away from being a flower hunter, if he can't even order Hanlin, wouldn't it be weird?

After the roll call for the top ten names was over, and the drum music was another masterpiece, the eight examiners and new Jinshi waited for three kneels and nine kowtows amidst the sound of yelling.At this time, Zhonghe Shaoyue played "Xianping Movement", the emperor stood up, and returned to the palace in Chengyu.

After the ceremony, Yan Na, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, presented the yellow list on a cloud plate, placed it in the colorful pavilion, and walked out of the middle gate of Fengtianmen under the guard of ritual and music. A group of people carried the yellow list and slowly came to the gate of East Chang'an , Hanging up on Chang'an Avenue.

Fengtianmen is also called Tiananmen in later generations, and officials can only go in and out through the side door on weekdays.Only the emperor is qualified to enter and exit the gate in the middle. Today, three first-class Jinshi are allowed to step on the Danxi.

Zhou Nan was finally excited. Even if this mud horse is in a modern society where everyone is equal, it is impossible for you to enter this door!It's worth it, it's worth it!

He couldn't help but waved his hands forward, feeling like he was participating in a military parade.

At this point in life, what does the husband want?
Shen and Wang at the front began to cry softly, tears of excitement.

Wang Xijue was better, Shen Shixing cried too many times, he was like Tang Monk in Journey to the West.

This Shen Ge old lady is too honest and honest, and I don't know how he became the chief minister of the cabinet afterward?

That's right, in real history, when Lao Shen was the chief assistant, A was at both ends of the emperor and the officials, and he was a paper maker and a punching bag. The position of chief assistant was naturally tailor-made for him.

Candidates for Jinshi this year are all young, and the top ten candidates are all in their 20s and [-]s, and Zhou Nan is considered an elderly person among them.

Look at their appearance again, each one is full of heroism.

If nothing else, this group of people will be the backbone of the company's executives in the Wanli Dynasty and Ming Dynasty in the future.

Don't look at everyone's harmony today, say "old brother" on the left, and "old man" on the right. About 20 years have passed, and for the sake of the cabinet's seat, it may be hard to pinch your head.

Everyone is the elite of the elite, too smart to have friends.

The height is not cold.

This is politics.

this is life.

(End of this chapter)