The Heavens: From Knowing Whether You Rule the World

Chapter 56: From a second-rank official!
Dawn is approaching and a light breeze is blowing.

The cold wind blows, making people feel particularly peaceful and spiritual.

Many officials were talking to each other, their eyes quietly looking towards the calm and composed young man in purple robes in front of them.

A small circle of about six or seven people, including Sheng Hong, were chatting and laughing with each other, killing the boring time before going to court.

Yang Xiu quietly glanced at Chu Hong, who was chatting and laughing with Prime Minister Han Zhang, the Minister of Rites, the Minister of Works, and the Minister of Punishment, and was secretly horrified.

At this age, the purple robe has real power!
Too scary!

It’s so reassuring!
It is almost foreseeable that an evergreen tree that presides over government affairs will rise in the court.

Yang Xiu turned his head slightly, feeling somewhat curious, "Brother Sheng, why did the young minister come to the capital?"

These days are not the once-in-three-years performance test for officials, but they happen to be the eve of the imperial examination for candidates from all over the country.

Chu Hong has already achieved remarkable political achievements at a young age, and his early arrival in Beijing at such a special time really makes people feel suspicious.

The other officials who were chatting and laughing also nodded repeatedly, with some guesses in their minds.

These people were all friends of Sheng Hong and Yang Xiu in the court, and they belonged to the neutral faction or the Han faction.

Sheng Hong immediately smiled generously, carefully stretched out his sleeve to block, and motioned Yang Xiu and others to come closer, "According to the grapevine, this year's deputy chief examiner of the imperial examination!"

"What? The young elder is actually the master of this spring exam?"

"Master?"

"Hey, you are worthy of being called the young elder!"

Even though Yang Xiu and the others had already made such guesses, they still took a deep breath. Being a master at such a young age, his students and former officials will be all over the world in the future!
"Gossip, gossip!"

Sheng Hong coughed slightly, signaling everyone not to make any noise.

In fact, this is not a big secret.

First of all, everyone had a guess, and it was almost certain.

Secondly, we will basically know the result when we go to court later.

However, knowing earlier is knowing earlier, even if it is only for a short while.

Yang Xiu and the others immediately felt as if they had obtained inside information, and they were all somewhat excited.

Sheng Hong laughed, and his every move showed his intimacy.

"Boom~!"

"Boom~!"

"Boom~!"

"Eh? The bell rang?"

Yang Xiu, Sheng Hong and others immediately lined up and waited quietly.

Chu Hong, dressed in a purple robe, stood quietly in the third row of civil officials, unmoved.

At first glance, his expression was full of calmness and confidence, and he was full of vigor and vitality.

Zhao Zhen folded his sleeves and looked at the overly young official in purple robe below with some envy.

Such a young and powerful third-rank official is rare in the Zhou Dynasty which existed for more than a hundred years, right?

High-spirited, famous scholar in the world, young cabinet minister.
With so many advantages, everyone would be envious, even the aging king.

It’s great to be young!

It was not even the time for officials to be promoted or demoted, so Zhao Zhen simply stopped pretending and looked in the direction of Chu Hong, "During this period, have there been any new officials arriving in Bianjing?"

"I, Chu Hong, the newly appointed Hanlin Academician, Kaifeng Prefecture Governor, and Guanglu Doctor, pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

Chu Hong, dressed in a purple robe, stood quietly in the center of the hall, bowing slightly. The purple robe fluttered in the wind. With the backdrop of his elegant temperament, his every move exuded a strong aura.

Many officials looked at Chu Hong with envy. He was a Hanlin scholar, the prefect of Kaifeng, and a Guanglu doctor. Just one of these three positions would put him among the top 30 civil servants in Bianliang.

Now, three official positions are held in one person.
"Mr. Chu, I haven't seen you for many years. You have become a pillar of the court!"

Zhao Zhen looked at it enviously and suddenly felt a little emotional.

Looking back to the past, Chu Qing, now dressed in purple robes, was just a child lying on the ice to catch carp, and just a candidate who went to Beijing to take the imperial examinations.

Has it been so many years?

That kid is almost ready to join the cabinet! Zhao Zhen suddenly felt like a hero in his twilight years.

In the past, all he saw were white-haired cabinet ministers or middle-aged fifth-rank officials.

Now, such a young official of the second rank with a nominal title made him feel a very obvious contrast and he clearly felt his own aging.

Chu Hong bowed slightly, "It's all thanks to your majesty's selection!"

The steady voice slightly interrupted Zhao Zhen's thoughts. Chu Hong's strong black beard and hair also made him look more mature.

"Haha, I only employ people based on their talents."

Zhao Zhen was stunned for a moment, then he smiled happily and no longer reminisced about the past.

After all, he and this "little cabinet minister" are not from the same era.

"Your Majesty, the spring examination is approaching. According to custom, Your Majesty should select two examiners."

The Minister of Rites Zheng Jun stepped forward and reported something else.

When this was mentioned, many ministers turned their eyes to Chu Hong.

It is not difficult to guess what Chu Hong's early arrival in Beijing means.

As long as one is not stupid, one can tell at a glance that the position of deputy examiner is basically decided by Chu Hong.

As for the chief examiner, in theory he should be an official of the second rank, which is at the level of a minister of one of the six ministries.

Zhao Zhen, who was sitting on the throne, nodded immediately, glanced around the hall, and folded his sleeves on his legs. "The imperial examination is to select talents for the country. The imperial examination should be fair and just, and the examiner should be virtuous and respected. Do you have any recommendations?"

"I, the Minister of Justice Zhang Yu, recommend the Minister of Rites Liu Shi'an and the Imperial Academy Scholar Chu Hong to serve as the Chief Examiner and Vice Chief Examiner of this joint examination!"

In the second row of civil officials, the Minister of Justice Zhang Yu, with fluttering hair and beard and majestic in every gesture, stepped forward to recommend.

Chu Hong looked at Zhang Yu. Six years had passed, and he was still the same scholar with great bearing.

Chu Hong looked at Liu Shi'an again. Nine years had passed. This former third-rank Hanlin scholar had been appreciated by his teacher Han Zhang and had been promoted several times. Coincidentally, the Minister of Rites Liu Jun retired the year before last, and Liu Shi'an filled the vacancy, thus ranking second-rank.

It is also because of this person's promotion that Chu Hong is currently regarded as a leader by most of the remaining members of the royal family, and they are quite inclined to move closer to Chu Hong.

As for the Wang family?

Well, twenty years is not that short. It is almost one-third of a healthy person's lifetime.

There has been no improvement in the past twenty years. Except for a few older people, the rest of the people have become extremely disappointed.

At this point, even people like Liu Shian had to seek other ways out, let alone the lower-level officials.

"The Minister of Rites is a man of high moral character and a highly respected Hanlin scholar. He is indeed a good candidate." Zhao Zhen praised him with a smile, and then looked at everyone, "Do you have any other opinions, my dear ministers?"

"I also think that Liu Shian and Chu Hong are the best candidates for the chief examiners of this imperial examination. I second Zhang Yu's proposal!"

Minister of Works Chang Heng stepped forward and smiled kindly at Chu Hong.

"I also second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

The Han faction's civil officials all seconded the motion immediately. The Yanwang faction and the Yongwang faction obviously had not thought of seizing the right to conduct the imperial examination this time, and they did not refute it. When the right opportunity came, they also seconded the motion.

In this way, it feels like what everyone wants.

Of course, this is also due to the emperor.

The emperor has said it, and the tone has been set. Unless the cabinet minister or the prime minister strongly refutes it, no matter what the other officials say, it will be useless.

"Okay, since you are the popular choice, Mr. Chu, Mr. Liu!"

"Chen is here!"

"Chen is here!"

"You two will serve as the chief examiner and deputy chief examiner to test and teach all the students in the world!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

(End of this chapter)