Do you know that it starts with Meng Tong?

The two examiners were all gone, and the atmosphere in the court hall suddenly became much more relaxed. A dozen seniors in the examination hall were sitting together in boredom, with nothing to do but chat.

"I wonder whose family the top scholar in this subject will go to?"

Chen Shao smiled and asked, only he, the number one scholar in the previous subject, could talk about the number one scholar in the current subject in such a senior tone.

"Chen Xiuzhuan, it's still very early before the imperial examination. You don't have to worry about someone taking away your title of Sanyuanlang. Let's guess who will be the first in the examination."

The speaker was Gong Tan, the imperial censor, who was ranked second in Tianyou's third year. His words sounded a bit contradictory to Chen Shao, but in fact they were mostly meant as a joke. All the examiners smiled when they heard this and became interested in discussing.

Zhu Yuan, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites, said: "King Ang of Kaifeng is outstanding in talent and learning, and is well-known in the Imperial Academy. He should have a place in the current battle of Huiyuan."

Another fellow examiner with a Hanlin background said: "Zhang Xiaoxiang from Hangzhou has long been famous. In the several literary conferences he participated in in Beijing, he also outperformed all the others and became famous in the capital. Li thought that this was not the reason for the modern science conference. No one else belongs.”

"Song Zhun of Jinan, his literary talent and knowledge are beyond ordinary people's

It should be possible. "

"There is also Jiujiang Huo Changyan, his articles are not bad either..."

"Prince Shize of Xiangyang..."

"Taiyuan Zhang Jiucheng..."

Among the three thousand people gathered in Bianjing City, most of those who can spread their names are not simple figures.

Wang Ang, Zhang Xiaoxiang, Song Zhun, Wang Shize and others mentioned by the examiners all have the potential to impact Huiyuan in terms of talent and learning.All the examiners felt that the Huiyuan of this year should be among these people.

At this moment, someone suddenly mentioned a name: "Where is Jiangning and Lu Siheng?"

Upon hearing this name, all the examiners stopped talking, and the atmosphere was a little awkward for a while.

The reason is also very simple, because this Lu Siheng is not only from Jiangning, but also a member of Jingxi Club founded by Wei Chen.

Candidates who are related to Wei Chen, the examiner, and the examiners naturally do not dare to speak nonsense without knowing Wei Chen's intentions.

To be honest, in the minds of fellow examiners, although Lu Siheng's talent and learning were the best among the candidates, he was still not as good as those mentioned earlier, and could not reach the level of competing for Huiyuan.

However, now Jingxi Society has produced two champions one after another, and one has won the sixth prize and the other has won the third prize. The momentum is booming.

Before the entrance examination, there was public opinion from the outside world that Lu Siheng also came here to win the top prize in this subject, and to earn another top prize for Jingxi Club and become the third leader of the first club.

This argument became even more popular after Wei Chen was confirmed to be the examiner of the joint examination.

The examiners were locked in the Gongyuan for half a month and could not hear rumors from the outside world, but similar worries were unavoidable.

Although Wei Chen, as the examiner of the joint examination, needs to avoid Lu Siheng when it comes to him, given Wei Chen's influence among the examiners, and the deputy examiner Ding Siquan has no independent opinion, as long as Wei Chen wants to, there is always a way to push Lu Siheng to Huiyuan position.

Upon thinking of this, everyone in the hall gradually focused their attention on Sheng Changbai and Chen Shao.

Sheng Changbai is the vice president of Jingxi Club, and Chen Shao is also from Jingxi Club. Moreover, one of them is Wei Chen's best friend, and the other is Wei Chen's direct disciple. They have known Wei Chen for many years. The examiners hope to see Wei Chen's influence from their words. Chen's attitude towards Lu Siheng.

Sheng Changbai and Chen Shao had known Wei Chen for many years, so they naturally knew that Wei Chen was devoted to the public good and was definitely not a person seeking power for personal gain. Sensing the doubts about Wei Chen in everyone's eyes, they both couldn't help but feel a little angry.

Just as he was about to open his mouth to defend Wei Chen, he heard a majestic and clear voice coming from the back of the hall.

“When recruiting scholars for the country and the country, we should not indulge in selfish motives, accept no requests from others, and do not accept bribes. Anyone who fails to do so will be punished by the gods.

This is the oath that I and you swore in front of the most holy teacher. I will always keep this in my heart and practice it unswervingly. Please rest assured. "

After the words fell, Wei Chen and Ding Siquan stepped out from the back of the hall, their eyes calmly and firmly scanning the faces of their fellow examiners.

Hearing this, the fellow examiner who had previously questioned Wei Chen couldn't help but feel a fever on his face. He quickly stood up with the colleagues around him and saluted Wei Chen: "President."

Wei Chen nodded slightly, and then as if nothing happened, he turned to talk about the Hengwen rules that he had just discussed with Ding Siquan later.

Not so easy

His coercive demeanor made many fellow examiners secretly heartbroken.

I only heard Wei Chen say: "I have read all over modern science and literature, but I feel that scholars are trying to show off their talents and the trend of writing is becoming more and more popular... This not only leads to a deterioration of the literary style, but also greatly affects the recruitment of scholars in the court. unfavorable……

Because of this, I have learned from the painful experience and decided to change the rules of Hengwen in previous years. In addition to being clear, elegant and upright, Hengwen should also be based on practical application of the world. Articles must be meaningful and avoid the habit of being lengthy and superficial. , using authentic words to express real principles and facts! "

Hearing this, the fellow examiners couldn't help but show surprise on their faces.

The four words "pure, elegant and upright" have been the literary standards that have been adhered to in all provincial and joint examinations since the founding of the Zhou Dynasty. Wei Chen said it again now, and there is nothing new.

But Wei Chen added the words "intellectual and practical" after "pure, elegant and upright". This is because Wei Chen changed the rules of the meeting based on his own personality and preferences.

I have long heard that Wei Chen always emphasized the four words "managing the world and applying it" when he was a tutor of Shujishi in the Hanlin Academy. Unexpectedly, now that Wei Chen has become the examiner of the examination, he still has not changed his original intention and still takes this as his purpose. , to recruit talents for the country.

However, Wei Chen's current status is that of the examiner of the examination. It is his power as the examiner to decide the rules of the examination. Only the deputy examiner can compete with him.

Upon thinking of this, the fellow examiners all looked at the deputy examiner Ding Siquan.

Ding Siquan said in a deep voice: "The president's intention is my officer's intention."

Seeing that the chief examiner and the deputy chief examiner had the same caliber, it was obvious that they had discussed it long ago, and the other examiners also nodded in agreement.

The rules of Huishi Hengwen were thus laid down.

Chapter 336 Consolation

Do you know that Chapter 336 of the text volume begins with Meng Tong? After coming out of the public hall, the examiners returned to their respective examination rooms and conveyed the instructions given by the examiner Wei Chen to their marking officers, asking them to follow Wei Chen's instructions when marking the papers. According to the rules.

Wei Chen was very tired after a busy day, so he went back to his room to sleep, and would visit the examination room again the next day.

In the blink of an eye, it was February [-]th. After three examinations, the candidates left the examination room one after another, and their papers were collected by the examiner.

The original ink scroll was sent to the transcription office by the official who received it, and was transcribed into the ink scroll by the calligrapher. It was then read and sealed by a dedicated person. After such a set of procedures, and after it was confirmed to be correct, it was escorted to the place by the sergeant of the Imperial City Division. In the court.

At this time, in the court hall, the two examiners, the chief examiner and the deputy examiner, and eighteen fellow examiners had gathered together. At a glance, all the examiners had smiles on their faces.

During the current examination, there was neither flooding nor rain in Gongyuan. All the candidates were safe and there were no injuries or injuries. This is very rare in previous examinations.

Under this situation, all the examiners gathered in the Zigong Hall naturally couldn't help but sing a few hymns such as "Your Majesty is diligent and loves the people, and he is thirsty for talents, and he will receive the blessing of the emperor and heaven" to flatter the new monarch. .

However, even though they said this, everyone knew in their hearts that the reason why this examination was so safe and smooth was mostly due to Wei Chen, the examiner of the examination, in addition to the face given by God.

Wei Chen had made various preparations in advance and considered every aspect very carefully. He also gave repeated orders to the patrolling sergeants to keep them alert and pay attention to the candidates' condition.

If it hadn't been for Wei Chen's meticulous arrangements, it would have been ordinary for several old and frail candidates to survive in the examination room like in previous years.

The examiners also came from the examination room. Comparing it with my own experience in the examination, it is not difficult to understand Wei Chen's concern and love for the candidates.

As a result, the examiners had respect for Wei Chen, and even some people who had relied on their seniority to rely on their seniority became more and more respectful in their words and deeds when facing Wei Chen.

This was an unexpected surprise for Wei Chen.The reason why he cares so much about the candidates is not only due to his conscience, but also because Wei Mingzhao died in the Qiuwei examination room in the past.

Although Wei Chen and Wei Mingzhao have never met face to face, no matter what, Wei Mingzhao is Wei Chen's biological father in this life, and Wei Chen inherits a lot of his legacy. Wei Chen has always been worried about Wei Mingzhao's death.

Now that Wei Chen is the examiner of the joint examination, he naturally cannot let the candidates make the same mistakes as Wei Mingzhao under his nose. This can be regarded as comforting Wei Mingzhao's spirit in heaven.

In the court hall, Wei Chen, who was sitting at the main table, closed his eyes slightly and lowered his head in silence. All the examiners below did not know why.

Only Sheng Changbai, who had a close relationship with Wei Chen, knew the hidden truth and understood that Wei Chen must have been emotionally moved by the situation at this moment, and thought of Wei Mingzhao again.

Seeing Wei Chen, who was usually quiet and reserved, with a confused look on his face, Sheng Changbai couldn't help but be moved by it, sighing secretly in his heart: "Xingyun is so sincere and filial, Uncle Wei Shi knows well, so he should also smile."

At this time, the last few batches of examination papers have been delivered.

Wei Chen finally pulled away from the melancholy and regained his dignity as an examiner. His bright eyes slowly scanned the examiners in the hall.

Seeing this, the examiners also put away the smiles on their faces, and sat down solemnly, waiting for the examiner to speak.

Wei Chen nodded and said loudly: "Everyone, let's start drawing lots."

The eighteen fellow examiners respectfully accepted the order, and immediately stood up from their seats. Under the auspices of the deputy examiner Ding Siquan, they stepped forward one by one to draw lots, and then distributed the red papers according to the drawn lots.

The results will be released at the end of February, leaving not enough time for the examiners to mark the papers. Now Ke Weichen has formulated new essay-grading rules, so the time is tight and the tasks are heavy.

Therefore, as soon as the examiners received the red papers, they hurried back to their respective study rooms and began to race against time to grade the papers without any time to chat.

As for the two chief examiners and deputy examiners, they are not responsible for the specific grading work. They only organize the grading and determine whether the papers recommended by the examiners can be admitted.

According to the rules of previous years, after the papers for the third session have been read, the examiners from each room gathered the three examination papers together. After weighing them, they selected the main papers and the preparation papers and submitted them. Only then did they arrive at Wei Chen and Ding Siquan's room. When the two examiners are busy.

However, the current examination is very different from the past.

After allocating the examination papers, Wei Chen made it clear to the examiners that he would never just look at the few hundred recommended examination papers. Even if the examination papers had been rejected by the same examiners, he would personally review them to avoid mistakes. The pearl is covered in dust.

As soon as this statement came out, the examiners were all shocked, but they were helpless.

There has always been a saying in the imperial examinations that "if you go and stay, the same examiner will take the exam, and the superior and junior will be the chief examiner." Wei Chen's move can be said to have usurped the power of the same examiner in disguise.

However, in the final analysis, the main examiner is the largest in the Gongyuan. The purpose of setting up co-examiners is to reduce the workload of marking papers for the main examiner.

Now Wei Chen, the chief examiner, worked tirelessly and took the initiative to do it himself, and the deputy examiner Ding Siquan was a yes man. The other examiners could find no reason to object and could only nod in agreement.

This is settled.

After receiving the papers and returning to their respective study rooms, the faces of the fellow examiners were very solemn.

After all, Wei Chen had such a big reputation as being the sixth grader, and now he made it clear that he wanted to personally review the exam results, which put a lot of pressure on the fellow examiners who were responsible for grading the exam papers.

It is widely rumored in the government and the public that Wei Chen has a photographic memory and the ability to read ten lines at a time. With his ability, even if the grading time is very tight, it should not be difficult to read all the thousands of examination papers.

If Wei Chen's sharp eyes really discovered a hidden gem among the rejected papers, the same examiner who had previously screened out the papers would be in great disgrace.

Not only that, if Wei Chen was determined to pursue the case, this fellow examiner would also be accused of neglecting his duties and incompetence, which would make the matter even more troublesome.

Therefore, the examiners all worked hard when marking the papers.

Even to their marking officers, they repeatedly warned them to mark the papers according to the rules set by Wei Chen, and strive to select candidates with real talents and learning. They must not be careless, lest they make mistakes and harm themselves. .

For a time, under the supervision and guidance of Wei Chen, the chief examiner, everyone in the Zigong Hall felt like they were facing a formidable enemy from top to bottom. The examiners worked all night long to review and revise papers, not daring to relax for a moment. The atmosphere was even worse than a few days ago. Candidates should be more nervous and solemn when taking exams.

Chapter 337 The foundation has been established

Do you know that the foundation has been established since Chapter 337 of Mengtong? Time flies, and it is late February in the blink of an eye. Seven days have passed since the third session of the examination was completed.

At this time, the first round of grading by the same examiner was basically completed. Each room officer selected the examination paper that he thought was the best, drew a circle on the beginning of the paper, and sent it to the deputy examiner Ding Siquan.

Many of these recommended papers have comments like "highly recommended" and "top of the list", and some even have the words "can be ranked among the best" written on them.

Ding Siquan roughly looked through the recommendation papers sent by each room, and found that there were more than a dozen so-called "Jinggui". He couldn't help but laugh and cry.

However, Ding Siquan had already anticipated this situation.

As we all know, after each examination, high school candidates must respect the examiner as their teacher and pay him the courtesy of teacher and student to express their gratitude for the recommendation.

Therefore, as long as an official can preside over a subject examination, he will have countless disciples in the court in the future. This is why the position of examiner is so popular.

Although the fellow examiners are not as famous and rich as the examiner, they can still reap a lot of benefits.