Sparse raindrops fell around the inn. Accompanied by the raindrops, there was a burst of spring thunder from time to time, but the students seemed to be dumbfounded, standing in the drizzle inside and outside the inn. This alley is the place where students from other places rush to Beijing to go to the test center, so there are a lot of people. After the previous shout, the crowd immediately fell into a strange silence.
After a long time, someone came back to their senses and surrounded the student who had shouted earlier. There was a commotion for a while, as if it had exploded, and they all asked what happened. Hou Jichang and Yang Wanli also showed excited expressions on their faces, but suppressed their inner impulses, just walked to the side of the fence and listened to the conversation.
There were too many people asking questions, but only one answered. After a long time, the three of them understood that the Overwatch Council sent out more than a hundred spies in five groups last night, and rushed directly to the southern gate of the city. However, You Silu went to another four houses and arrested four students from the south of the Yangtze River.
Because the action was extremely fast, the news was covered up all night. It was not until the morning of the court that His Majesty the Emperor said lightly that he had issued an order ordering the Overwatch Council to investigate the fraud case in the examination room. Chaos, at this moment the ministers knew why Guo Youzhi, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, did not stand in the team.
The only ones who were truly at peace in the depths of their hearts were the Prime Minister, the Minister of the Household Department, and of course, the Supervisory Yuan Lord Chen Pingping who still did not go to court.
This time, the Overwatch Council's action was extremely fast and accurate, especially the team that arrested the four Jiangnan scholars, found their correspondence with certain officials on the spot, and in the Guo Mansion, the number of letters confiscated was quite astonishing of silver. According to preliminary investigation results, these four Jiangnan scholars were powerful families, and there were actually three salt merchants. They brought a large amount of gold and silver with them when they came to Beijing for the exam.
Guo Youzhi has already entered the prison of the Overwatch Council, and the four Jiangnan scholars have become pitiful guests. Since yesterday, the Overwatch Council has ordered the Jiangnan branch to seize people, so as to Make an iron case. Because these four Jiangnan scholars bribed Guo Shangshu, the president of Chunwei, in name, but in fact most of the money was handed over to the East Palace, so the final background of the case is... the prince.
Of course, the students don't know the slightest of these details, they only know that when they scolded Guo Shangshu in the rain, they didn't even let the poor old Guo's mother and weak son go.
His Majesty's determination to thoroughly investigate the corruption case in the imperial examination seems to be great. In addition to the Ministry of Rites, at least a dozen officials have been suspended pending investigation because of this matter. It was so accurate, all because of a blacklist, which contained the names of the scholars who colluded with the officials in Chunwei this time.
Hou Jichang walked back to the wine table from the bar in shock, lifted the wine glass and poured it into his throat, seemingly unaware of the spicy taste of the wine, and said in a daze: "I didn't expect it, I really didn't expect it."
"Didn't expect anything?" Yang Wanli and Cheng Jialin asked subconsciously without recovering from the shocking news.
Hou Jichang laughed, slapped the table heavily, and said, "I never thought that the Overwatch Council would be so accurate and ruthless in its strikes, that it could get a list that would kill the nobles in the court." He picked up the jug and gave it to the two friends. Filling up the cup, he toasted to invite, and said excitedly, "Come, let's toast to the Overwatch Council!"
"Do it!" Yang Cheng and the two had nothing to say, they raised their glasses excitedly.
At this time, the inn was full of excited young students inviting people to drink. The officialdom of the Qing Dynasty had been corrupted for a long time. A journey of thousands of miles begins with a single step. As long as His Majesty really finds a problem and is willing to solve it, these young, energetic, and even extremely innocent scholars believe that the future of Qing Kingdom will definitely become better. better.
…
…
After a long time, the alcohol gradually came to his chest, Yang Wanli blurred his eyes, and smiled a little foolishly: "It's really a pleasure, even if you miss this time, it's a pleasure to have such a shocking thing happen."
Cheng Jialin drank less and was the most sober. He was always keen on his official career, so he asked a little late: "Since the fraud case in the examination room has been uncovered, then... will Chunwei retake the exam this time?"
"No." On the contrary, after several pots of wine, Hou Jichang's thin face calmed down, and his eyes became extremely clear, "This is just a warning from His Majesty, and there is a precedent for this matter, twelve years ago , The world was initially set, and there was also an incident in Chunwei. Fourteen officials of the Ministry of Rites were beheaded that year, but Chunwei's results were still released as usual, but those students who had affairs with officials were removed and replaced by the latter."
"Then... don't we have a chance?" Yang Wanli smiled naively, he thought the problem was simple because of his pure nature, "there are only so many places in the top three, and when those who go wrong are removed, our chances will be great. "
Hou Jichang sneered and said: "If there were not more nobles who were also doing this, Guo Shangshu was just a minister, how would he dare to tamper with the grand ceremony of this country. I'm afraid there will be more students who the nobles want to protect. But picking off the sons of four salt merchants, what's the benefit to the general situation?"
The other two thought to themselves, as expected, they felt a little sad. After a long while, Yang Wanli suddenly slapped the table and said with a smile: "No matter what, this is a happy event. The most sensational thing in Beijing last year was the talk, which forced the eldest princess to return to Xinyang. The most sensational event this year, I'm afraid it's this blacklist, which overturned a court official."
Cheng Jialin said with a worried look: "Let's talk about it when the top three come out tomorrow."
Knowing his temperament, Hou Jichang and Yang Wanli still had fantasies about Chun Wei this time. They smiled slightly and ignored him, saying, "I have to go and pull that boy Shi Chanli out of bed and tell him the good news."
Yang Wanli smiled and said, "Remember to ask him to buy some food."
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"Beautiful, really beautiful." Fan Xian flicked the paper that Wang Qinian brought over lightly, feeling very happy. Wan'er sat beside him, and said worriedly: "Aren't you worried that the prince's elder brother will know that it was you who reported the fraud?"
Today, Fan Xian, who was severely reprimanded by his father, was grounded for the first time, and had to stay obediently in the mansion. He knew that this matter was done a bit too absurdly. Of course, if he hadn't received the news from the courtyard in advance, knowing that His Majesty the Emperor was planning to kill chickens and monkeys this year, Fan Xian would not have dared to be this "stained witness" against the civil and military enemies of the Manchu Dynasty.
In fact, that list was nothing like a secret. Fan Xian had a few notes in his hand, and among those who were promoted by the masters, who didn't have a few? Just looking at this kind of upright abuse, one can tell that the officialdom of the Qing Kingdom has long been used to it. It was also because of this that the Overwatch Council's fraud investigation this time was beyond everyone's expectations, and no one would suspect Fan Xian first.
Hearing his wife's question, Fan Xian showed an inexplicable expression on his face, and said, "Your prince's brother is too courageous, and his methods are too bad, and the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty are also a bunch of daring fools, what kind of cheating is Chun Wei?" Even if I don’t report the big event, even if I don’t report it, if His Majesty wants to investigate, do they still want to keep it a secret?”
Wan'er got up from the bed, and looked at his face quietly: "Master, don't take such risks in the future, there is no wall that can't stand the wind, if people really know that this matter is related to you, what will you do in the future? "
"What should I do? Cold salad." Fan Xian said another witty thing that his wife couldn't understand, and said with a smile, "So what if we know?"
Wan'er sighed, thinking that she was a well-educated, well-educated, poetic, and seemingly stable man, but no one could tell when he would do such a crazy thing.
Fan Xian knew that his wife was worried about him, so he said quietly: "The key to this matter is in the palace. What is the imperial examination? It is His Majesty's means to recruit talents for himself. There was an emperor in the previous dynasty who laughed loudly during the imperial examination, saying that the world is a hero. Since then, it has been included in my network. Your Majesty can tolerate officials in the imperial examinations in exchange for wealth, but cannot tolerate all the places being used in exchange for ill-gotten gains. What's more, the crown prince and the eldest prince are both involved in this matter With his hands intervening, our emperor uncle had to ask himself... what do these two sons want to do?"
Wan'er couldn't understand, and said curiously: "Of course I want to cultivate my power in the court in the future."
Fan Xian continued to ask with a smile: "Then His Majesty is going to ask, why are you cultivating your own power? The eldest prince is a leader of the army, why do you want such a big power in the court?"
Wan'er smiled bitterly and said: "What about the elder brother of the crown prince? He is the crown prince of a country, and it is reasonable to cultivate talents. After all, he will also be the emperor who will rule the country in the future. When he was listening to the Taifu's lectures in the East Palace, the Taifu once said, The East Palace cannot do nothing, is not afraid of rumors, and takes the lead in preparing some courtiers for future use, this is true loyalty, the filial piety of the emperor's family."
Fan Xian shook his head, showing a slight sneer and said: "The Taifu's article is probably good, and the reasoning must be correct, but the problem is that His Majesty is in good health, and the East Palace is now starting to cultivate talents, so His Majesty has to ask himself a question in his heart. : Is the prince in a hurry?"