Chapter 109 A Circle
“Back to Your Highness, I also accidentally learned that someone was selling the examination questions for the imperial examination. I asked someone to investigate and found... I found that the examination questions seemed to have been leaked by my companion Sheng Changbai. Because he is His Highness's companion, there are quite a few people buying it," Yin Hanzhang said hesitantly.
Zhao Xing was startled when he heard this, and after a moment of silence he said: "Find out this matter as soon as possible."
Sheng Changbai's leaking of the test questions is simply nonsense, he has no idea what the test questions are. .
But this matter is not only related to Sheng Changbai, but also to him.
When the results of the imperial examination come out, some of those who failed will definitely be unhappy.
Once someone makes a fuss about this matter, saying that he is nepotistic and deliberately reveals the test questions to his confidants, it will cause trouble.
Now the matter must be investigated and those who spread rumors severely punished.
"Yes!" Yin Hanzhang bowed and hurried away.
Sending Yin Hanzhang away, Zhao Xing showed a cold look on his face.
Although he has not deliberately distanced himself from his companions in the East Palace in recent years, it is no secret that he values trust in Sheng Changbai and the others the most.
Gu Tingye will not participate in the imperial examination when he joins the army, so only Qi Heng and Sheng Changbai will participate in this imperial examination.
In every exam, it is very common to sell questions, but this time someone used Sheng Changbai's name to do this, and Zhao Xing even wondered if it was to target him.
However, it depends on the final investigation results.
……
Before Yin Hanzhang reported it to Zhao Xing, he had actually found some clues.
After receiving Zhao Xing's instructions, he quickly investigated what happened.
He went to report it to Zhao Xing, who was speechless after hearing it.
In vain, he thought of many conspiracies, but he did not expect that it was Sheng Changfeng who did this.
The cause of the incident was that Sheng Changfeng drank with several young men. After getting drunk, he told them that the policy topic this time should be related to salt and iron.
The young masters didn't believe it and asked him why he was so sure. Sheng Changfeng said that his brother read the Treatise on Salt and Iron every day after returning home, and also specifically searched for records related to salt and iron in the history books of previous dynasties.
These young masters all knew that Sheng Changfeng’s elder brother was studying in the East Palace and asked him if his elder brother had learned something from the prince.
Sheng Changfeng smiled and said nothing. He was not dizzy yet and knew not to say such nonsense.
Those young masters also knew the importance, but they didn’t spread the word about it.
However, two young men were bringing wine in and overheard their conversation.
One of the boys took it seriously and sold the news to a bookstore.
Before each examination, major bookstores in Bianjing will take into account the situation of the examiner and the current affairs in recent years, and sell some questions to civilian scholars.
The bookstore learned that it was Dong Gong’s younger brother who told the story, but it didn’t take it seriously, but it was a good gimmick, so it bought the news.
The owner of the bookstore is not stupid. Naturally, it is impossible to tell the outside world that these are the test questions. What they are telling the outside world are the questions posted by their bookstore.
However, for the sake of sales, the origin of the students’ questions was still hinted at.
As it was passed around, it became clear that the test questions were leaked, or it was the East Palace accompanying reader who leaked them.
However, this matter was only spread in a small area, and those scholars were not stupid. If the news was true, they would have an advantage, and naturally they did not want more people to know.
If everyone knows about it, the test questions may be changed.
Yin Hanzhang set up an intelligence system, and Bianjing was naturally the top priority. Only in a densely populated place like the Bianjing Tea House and Inn did he have his eyes and ears, so he could know.
After Zhao Xing learned the result, he felt relieved, as long as there was no conspiracy behind it.
However, this matter is a bit difficult to deal with. Every time there is an exam, there are some gossips about the test questions. Speaking of which, Sheng Changfeng didn't say that these were the test questions. It was spread like this later because of rumors. However, this incident ultimately happened because of Sheng Changfeng. With Sheng Changfeng's character, if he doesn't clean up his act, he doesn't know what trouble he will cause in the future.
Zhao Xing doesn't care about Sheng Changfeng's life or death, but the current Sheng family is different. Sheng Changbai is his companion, and Sheng Rulan is the future crown prince's concubine.
And Sheng Hong does not fail to make friends and fawn on him on weekdays. In the eyes of many people, the Sheng family belongs to him.
Sheng Changfeng's nonsense outside will naturally affect him.
After sending Yin Hanzhang away, Zhao Xing was thinking about how to deal with Sheng Changfeng. A eunuch walked in and reported: "Your Highness, Academician Hai wants to see you."
"Please come in." Zhao Xing said.
The eunuch bowed and retreated, and soon he led Hai Wenyou in.
"I pay my respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!" Hai Wenyou saluted.
"Search no courtesy." Zhao Xing waved his hand, gave Hai Wenyou a seat, and asked, "Master Hai came to see me, what's the matter?"
"Your Highness!" Hai Wenyou took out a zipper from his sleeve and said, "I and officials from the Ministry of Rites have already drafted the imperial examination questions. Please have your Highness take a look."
Sanshui stepped forward to take the zipper. , delivered to Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing took it and looked at it. It was quite satisfactory.
There are only three subjects in the examination, namely classics and meanings, poetry and poetry, and policy theory.
The Classics and Meanings test the scholar’s understanding of books, and it also examines the students’ core ideas and thinking abilities.
It doesn’t mean that you just have to memorize the book by heart. What is tested more is your ability, character, and thinking.
The reason why many great Confucians are called great Confucians is not just because they are knowledgeable. The most important thing is that they have a deeper understanding of the classics of the Four Books and Five Classics.
Poetry and Fu test the literary skills. As mentioned above, I won’t elaborate further.
Based on what Zhao Xing knew about the previous exam questions, the questions this time were considered to be stable.
"The question is acceptable. The officials of the Marine Division and the Ministry of Rites are all mature and prudent people, so I have no objection." Zhao Xing said.
Hai Wenyou felt relieved after hearing this. Although Zhao Xing was only responsible for coming up with thesis questions, he was the examiner and the rest of the examination questions had to be reviewed by him.
"Your Highness, the examination is about to start in more than a month. I wonder if the topic has been decided?"
"I have already left."
Zhao Xing rummaged around on the desk for a while, found a piece of paper, and handed it to Sanshui.
“Please set the record straight for me.”
Sanshui gave the paper to Hai Wenyou. He took it and unfolded it. He was stunned, looked at Zhao Xing and asked, "Did your Highness take the wrong one?"
"That's right, this is Gu. Question." Zhao Xing smiled.
“But how can scholars answer questions in such a circle?” Hai Wenyou said.
Yes, there was only one circle on the paper Zhao Xing gave him.
This is the first time for Hai Wenyou to see this kind of test question. Not to mention the scholars who were referring to it, even he was a little confused when he saw it.
"Hai Shi, what is the purpose of the imperial examination?" Zhao Xing asked.
“It’s for the purpose of selecting talents for the imperial court.” Hai Wenyou said.
Zhao Xing nodded slightly and said: "As the saying goes, an inch is long and a foot is short. No one can be proficient in everything. Common questions have emphasis, and some scholars are obviously good at other aspects. However, the examination questions were about something he was not good at, so if he failed, wouldn’t it be against the original intention of the imperial examination?”
(End of this chapter)