The Ming Dynasty started with caution

The scholars in the capital city wanted to know who Yan Chengjin was and wanted to visit him and pay him a gift.

Yan Chengjin moved overnight and moved into the new mansion with his luggage.

Except for Wang Yue, no one knew that he now lived in Chengxian Street, Dongcheng District.

The servants moved with him.

Outside the gate of the new mansion, there were guards from the Jinyiwei and the arrest department.

The neighbors thought that the mansion was holding the imperial prisoners and did not dare to approach.

"Please keep it secret, Mr. Ye, and don't tell anyone except Your Majesty."

Yesterday, thirteen scholars came to visit, and Yan Chengjin didn't like to be disturbed.

Li Dongyang's mansion also had a large number of visitors, but Li Dongyang had long been accustomed to going out through the back door.

Ye Zhun was embarrassed and shook his head: "If I don't tell you, I'm afraid I can't keep it a secret for a few days."

The place guarded by the Jinyiwei must be Yan Chengjin's residence, and all officials know it.

Officials such as the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple can find out sooner or later as long as they send people to investigate.

Unless the Jinyiwei is withdrawn.

But Yan Chengjin's temper will not withdraw the Jinyiwei.

"I have a way."

Pushing open the door of the new mansion, the main hall was cleaned up. This house cost 18,000 taels.

It was the mansion of the former Prime Minister Li Xian, with five entrances and five exits.

Yan Chengjin didn't want to show off.

But His Majesty knew his immovable assets very well. He knew it before the Hongzhi silver note was issued. His Majesty knew it was his even if he didn't live there.

He Neng happily moved his gifts and moved in for the first time.

The main hall was simply decorated, with only eight rosewood tables and chairs arranged symmetrically.

On the ground, there was a red and white patterned carpet, which looked like a wealthy family.

"Master, do you want to live in the middle courtyard or the back courtyard?" He Neng couldn't figure out his master's temper.

This courtyard was certainly not as comfortable as the new mansion, but he had to live there until the end of the autumn examination.

Yan Chengjin looked around, the flowers and plants had not yet revived and grown: "Follow the old courtyard, plant fruits and vegetables in these flower beds."

He Neng rolled his eyes, the good courtyard was ruined by the young master.

Back in the study, Yan Chengjin thought about the topic of this year's autumn examination.

The provincial examination is a local examination hosted by South Zhili, North Zhili and the fourteen provincial governments.

The local government sets the questions.

He only manages North Zhili, but it takes more than ten days to send the test questions to the various prefectures in North Zhili. The topic needs to be written in advance and reviewed by Emperor Hongzhi.

Yan Chengjin touched his chin and didn't want to come up with the content of the Four Books and Five Classics.

"I wonder how many candidates will be able to answer this question as the topic of the autumn examination?"

Li Mansion,

Li Dongyang locked himself in the study, frowning, thinking about the topic of the autumn examination, and did not allow anyone to disturb him.

Li Qing'e pushed open the door and came in with freshly brewed tea: "Dad, freshly brewed tea, relax your mind."

"Your Majesty asked Dad and Yan Chengjin to be examiners. Now the scholars in the capital are like frightened birds, and people are in panic.

I wonder if that guy will set questions?" Li Dongyang expressed his worries.

Setting questions is a science.

If the questions are too difficult, there will be too few scholars who pass the exam. The court will lower the admission standards and admit hundreds of people in order.

If the questions are simple, there will be too many candidates who pass the exam. The number of places in the Imperial College will increase than usual to accommodate these scholars.

But based on Li Dongyang's guess about Yan Chengjin, I'm afraid it won't be simple.

This boy has always been cautious. How could he let the candidates in the capital pass easily?

He was worried that Yan Chengjin would set questions like Cheng Minzheng, which would be unfair to the candidates in Northern Zhili.

Southern and Northern Zhili and the fourteen provincial governments set their own questions.

The difficulty of each place is not the same.

If you get an easy test, your ancestors will be in trouble. If you get a difficult test, you will just consider yourself unlucky.

Li Qing'e understood her father's thoughts: "Dad has concerns, why don't you just tell Lord Yan."

Li Dongyang pondered for a moment, put down his pen, got on the sedan chair from the back door, and went to Yan's house.

Outside the Yan's house, there were three or five scholars waiting with their gifts, ready to meet.

Li Dongyang lowered the sedan chair curtain and whispered: "Go to the back door."

The new house of Yan's house has a back door.

From the outside, it looks like the back door of another house, but Li Dongyang knows that it is the back door of the new house of Yan's house.

The door opened, and the servant in the blue hat smiled.

"Moved away at night?" After hearing this, Li Dongyang was a little surprised.

"Replying to Lord Li, I don't know where the young master moved to." The servant in the blue hat said.

Li Dongyang pondered for a moment and sent someone to Mou Bin's house.

Half an hour later, the sedan stopped at Chengxian Street in the East District.

Li Dongyang got off the sedan and found that there was a big seal on the door of the mansion.

There were Jinyiwei guarding it. If you didn't know, you would think it was a place where corrupt officials were imprisoned.

"Yan Chengjin must be here."

The doorman saw that it was Li Dongyang, and didn't know whether to open the door, so he hurried to report to Yan Chengjin.

Across the blockade outside the door, he shouted: "Master, Lord Li is here."

There was a blockade outside the study, and no one could cross it.

Yan Chengjin was making questions in the study. When he heard that Li Dongyang was here, he put the questions into his sleeves and went to the main hall.

Li Dongyang stepped into the mansion and was stunned when he saw the yamen runners in the mansion.

"You need so many people to watch the hall?!"

"I am afraid that the test questions will be peeked by others."

Cheng Minzheng was accidentally seen by the servants, and the questions were sold. Yan Chengjin was puzzled: "What does Lord Li want to ask me?"

Li Dongyang sat down in the main hall, drank a sip of tea and said: "What questions do you want?"

Yan Chengjin looked at Li Dongyang warily and said: "I believe Lord Li, but this matter cannot be told to Lord Li."

You just don't trust me!

I came here with good intentions, but I was disappointed by this guy.

Li Dongyang revealed the secret, saying: "I have a question that will come from the Book of Rites. As the chief examiner, I will not reveal it. Are you relieved?"

It is naturally inappropriate to ask the chief examiner about the direction of the question.

But he is also the chief examiner of the autumn examination. He can see the paper before others, so it doesn't matter.

Yan Chengjin shook his head: "I still can't tell you."

Li Dongyang took a deep breath and eased his mood: "The policy questions cannot be too difficult or too simple.

Otherwise, there will be more candidates from Southern Zhili and other prefectures entering Beijing.

And there will be fewer candidates from Northern Zhili, which is unfair to the candidates from Northern Zhili."

Yan Chengjin bowed and saluted: "Thank you, Lord Li for your advice."

His test questions have been completed, but they cannot be revealed yet.

In the capital, the scholars in the inn checked out one after another, secretly cursing Yan Chengjin for being a piece of shit.

Moved overnight without even saying hello.

They came to Beijing for the Liangxiang Library.

Now, the library does not have Yan Chengjin's commentary on the scriptures, and there is no clue about the articles and books. It is better to return to the hometown to take the exam.

When Liu Qing, the governor of Shuntian Prefecture, reported, Emperor Hongzhi could not help but go out of the palace to visit.

Walking on the street, he saw scholars leaving the capital one after another, frowned and asked Xiao Jing: "Are these scholars going back to their hometowns?"

"Reply to Master Zhu, the Ministry of Rites has sent chief examiners to various prefectures, and the scholars are greedy for simple test questions and rush back to their hometowns to take the exam."

The court will send chief examiners to various prefectures to supervise and mark the papers.

The local examiners have a traceable way to set questions, and it is not more difficult than the northern Zhili.

The scholar wants to leave Beijing, and he can't stop him from leaving. Emperor Hongzhi was thoughtful.

Xiao Jing whispered again: "I heard that Lord Yan moved away last night, and I don't know where he lives now."

Emperor Hongzhi sighed with regret, walked around the street for a few times, and then returned to the palace.

It's the last two days of the month, and I don't think there will be double. Please vote here, thank you all~