Domineering Daming

For this kind of inquiring about the imperial examination questions, those who were suspected of disclosing the test questions, in the past, once they were found out, they would either be killed or cut in half, and the consequences would be extremely serious.

Looking back, Tang Bohu's fraud case during the Hongzhi period, Tang Bohu and others were directly banned from the imperial examination for life, and their careers were cut off.As one of the chief examiners, Cheng Minzheng was sent directly to prison and tortured. Even if the case was overturned later, he died within a few days.

At that time, Cheng Minzheng was the right servant of the Ministry of Rites, presided over the editing of the "Da Ming Hui Dian", and was in charge of the cabinet edicts. At that time, it seemed that such a person would not be long before entering the cabinet and participating in politics. The future is bright, and what's more, with The one he presided over was the famous minister of Hongzhi, Li Dongyang!

It can be seen that Cheng Minzheng's status was extraordinary at that time, but as soon as he was suspected of leaking the question, he was immediately sent to prison, and finally ended up ruined and ruined at the end of the night!

It can also be seen from this that the Ming court attached great importance to the imperial examination, hated the imperial examination fraud, and dealt with it severely.

It's just that today is not what it used to be. The fierce party struggle that has lasted for a hundred years has directly led to the corruption of the government and discipline, and the formation of cliques for personal gain has become a common practice. Now this kind of near-topic talk can be publicly announced, and others don't think it is anything.

As soon as Xiong Wenju finished speaking, Sun Chengze and the others looked at Meng Qiaofang expectantly.

Naturally, Meng Qiaofang didn't know the exam questions, but looking at the eyes of Xiong Wenju and others, her expression was also slightly gloomy.

He already knew the court's strong reform intentions in recent years, including the imperial examination.The status of the Royal Political Council is becoming more and more important. It includes the Imperial Academy, the Gongyuan, and even a part of the Taichang Temple, the Ministry of Officials, and the Ministry of Rites.

Next year's imperial examination will also be dominated by the Royal Political Academy, with Bi Ziyan, the emperor's teacher, as the examiner.The exam questions haven't come out yet, but it can be seen from the information disclosed by the Royal Political Council that in the past, most of the questions, such as Gewu, political economy, and policy questions, have been compressed, and a lot of "physics" and "mathematics" have been added. exam questions.

For scholars who study hard, how can they know how to write these strange tricks and instinctive aversions, and how to get into the eyes of the examiners?

Looking at the eager eyes of the group, Meng Qiaofang couldn't refuse, and said in a deep voice, "I don't know much about it, but I have a lot of friendship with Qian Shilang from the Ministry of Rites, so I can walk around for you."

Xiong Wenju, Sun Chengze and others were all overjoyed, they stood up and said, "Thank you, Mr. Meng, the students will never forget your help today."

The so-called "feeling of assistance" meant that Meng Qiaofang must help them get the test questions.

Meng Qiaofang didn't think it was disobedient, what did he not do in Liaodong?He was already thinking about what gift to give Qian Qianyi and how much money would be appropriate.

At this moment, Qian Qianyi was also in the study, pulling his hair, frowning at a thick "paper".

These six officials, according to the requirements of the palace, also go to the Royal Political Academy to attend classes regularly. The courses include various aspects such as government affairs, anti-corruption, and supervision. Ministry assessment.

This kind of thing is completely new. Even Qian Qianyi, the leader of Donglin, a master of literature, has no way to start with tigers eating hedgehogs.

He couldn't help it, and others couldn't help him, except scratching his head and recalling what the professor said in class, there was no other way to do it.

"Father, father, father..."

Suddenly, there was an urgent knock on the study door.

Qian Qianyi frowned, put down his pen, and said calmly and dignifiedly, "Come in."

A young man in his 20s came in. He opened the door and walked in quickly, holding two pieces of paper in his hand, and said anxiously: "Father, the exam questions have been leaked, and now they are spreading the word all over the street, and it is from the Ministry of Rites." .”

Qian Qianyi didn't move at all, and reprimanded him in a cold voice: "This test question was issued by the Royal Political Council. Mr. Bi has not returned to Beijing, where did he get the test question? Don't let others say what they say, let them pass it on, it is hard to return it. Can predict the future!"

This is Qian Qianyi's son Qian Dezheng. Hearing Qian Qianyi's words, he became more anxious and said: "Father, take a look first, this doesn't look like a fake."

Qian Qianyi frowned, and took a look at Qian Dezheng, knowing that it was fake, so he took it and took a look.

He was startled when he saw it. Under each piece of paper, there was the words "examination questions only". This was specially used by the Royal Political Council to write questions and was not for him to use.

Qian Qianyi's face darkened, he didn't look at the exam questions, and said solemnly: "You just said that it's all over the street? Do you know where it came from?"

Qian Dezheng said: "Yes, all the scholars are passing it on, almost everyone has a copy, but I don't know where it came from, I bought it from a foreign scholar at a high price, saying it is the original. "

Qian Qianyi sat there with no expression on his round and fat face, but his eyes flashed rapidly.

There are only two places that can leak the exam questions, one is the Royal Political Council, and the other is the Ministry of Rites, but he hasn't read the exam questions yet, so the only one who can leak the exam questions is the Royal Political Council.

But then he frowned again. The Royal Political Council has always been strict. Such a major matter related to the world must be cautious, and the news will not be leaked easily, but now there is a special paper for the Royal Political Council's examination questions.

"Either there are thieves in the Royal Council, or someone wants to use it to make a fuss..."

Qian Qianyi squinted his eyes and whispered to himself.

Qian Dezheng looked anxious, and said, "Father, will this matter affect you?"

Qian Qianyi turned his head to look at him, and said indifferently: "No, pass on the word, from now on, thank guests behind closed doors, no matter who it is, they will never see each other."

Qian Dezheng was startled, and said, "Father, why?"

Qian Qianyi stood up, walked to the door, looked at the cloudless sky, said with a sneer on the corner of his mouth: "Some people want to use this imperial examination to achieve some ulterior motives, for my father, I don't want to be involved, so I can only do it first." Hide."

Qian Dezheng's expression changed slightly, and he said, "Father, the imperial examination... who dares to intervene, is it possible that they will die?"

Qian Qianyi showed a mocking look on his face, and said: "This imperial examination is the first time the imperial court has reformed the imperial examination. Everyone knows that the imperial court will attach great importance to it, but the more dangerous it is, the greater the benefit. There are always people who want to take risks. "

Qian Dezheng also participated in the imperial examination this year. Hearing Qian Qianyi's words, he felt terrified, his face twitched, and said, "Father, do you know who he is, and will it affect this imperial examination..."

Qian Qianyi looked at the sky with an uncertain expression, and said, "I don't know if I'm a father, but it's that group of people after all."

Qian Dezheng didn't say a word when he heard the words, it involved a taboo of the Qian family.

When the imperial court cleaned up the Donglin Party, Qian Qianyi was also on the list, but he had a precedent of "taking refuge in King Hui" to check, so he was able to avoid difficulties.But Qian Qianyi was born in the south of the Yangtze River after all, and he was the former Donglin Wenkui, who has inextricably linked with the Donglin Party.

Now this "Leader of Donglin" is no longer glory, but a thorn in Qian Qianyi's heart, which makes him feel extremely uncomfortable all the time.

Just like there were rumors that Zhang Woxu, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was going to be transferred to Wenzhao Pavilion, and the successor should choose between him and Wen Tiren, but someone wrote a letter accusing him of being an "old man in Donglin", scaring Qian Qian Yi hurriedly wrote a letter to plead guilty, and dared not be promoted to be the minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Even so, there is still a group of people who have nothing to impeach him once, and they can't do without the words "Donglin old man", which makes him terrified and extremely unhappy.

And the "group of people" in Qian Qianyi's words naturally refers to the Jiangnan bureaucracy group. They gave birth to the Chu Party, Zhejiang Party, Kun Party, Donglin Party, etc. There are no people from them in the court. It is expected to find another way.

It's just that no one expected that they would start with the imperial examination, and it was such a poor means of leaking questions.

If Qian Qianyi could receive the news, so could others. Fu Changzong, former president of the Royal Political Council, Zhang Woxu, Minister of Rites, Ni Wenhuan, Minister of Punishment, and even Dongchang all intervened and started the investigation immediately.

But the Royal Political Council did not have the emperor's will, and no one dared to move lightly, let alone the imperial examination questions.So after stabilizing the situation, Qi Qi entered the palace and asked Zhu Xu to make up his mind.

Outside the imperial study room, Cao Huachun looked at the people in front of him, holding the whisk in his hands, and looked at Fu Changzong with a calm expression: "Fu Shangshu, my lords, the emperor's illness has not recovered, and he just fell asleep for less than half an hour. If necessary, please do not disturb."

Fu Changzong frowned when he heard the words, he knew that Zhu Xu was ill, but he couldn't allow him to make decisions on this matter, looked at Cao Huachun, hesitantly said: "Eunuch Cao, do you have any advice on this matter?"

Cao Huachun looked at Fu Changzong, smiled and said: "Xin Wang will return to Beijing tomorrow, Master Fu may as well wait."

Fu Changzong seemed to understand something from Cao Huachun's smile, then looked at Zhang Woxu and others, thought for a while and said, "That's fine."

Since Fu Changzong was no longer in the limelight, Zhang Woxu and the others did not persist, and turned around and left the palace.

Just as Fu Changzong and others turned to leave, Empress Dowager Zhang personally led Wang Yuyang to stroll towards Jingyang Palace.

Chapter 459

Empress Dowager Zhang took Wang Yuyang's hand and whispered something while walking.

Beads of sweat formed on Wang Yuyang's head. Empress Dowager Zhang was going to train her as a concubine—she was completely unprepared.