ATPnovel Chapter 130 The truth will prevail!
Chapter 130 The truth will prevail!
Chapter 130 The truth will prevail!
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
However, Zhou Nuying almost never found an opportunity to contact Zhao Dezhao.
Because Zhao Dezhao has been very busy these past few days, running back and forth, on the one hand, he has to prepare for the establishment of the trading company, and on the other hand, he has to cooperate with Cao Bin to carry out large-scale construction and build the martial arts academy. In addition, the registration for the imperial examination has also officially begun.
As dawn broke, the stone steps outside the examination hall were already lined with long queues of people applying to take the exam.
When Xue Juzheng announced that he planned to admit more than 100 Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) in this examination, and that they could directly enter officialdom without waiting for a position, the calls for a boycott among the scholars almost disappeared instantly.
No matter how much those great Confucian scholars advocated for integrity and moral character, it was all in vain.
Humans are inherently selfish.
You are noble enough to refuse to compromise your integrity and participate in this imperial examination in order to uphold the principles of a scholar. However, you can only watch helplessly as others pass the examination, become officials, and enter the court.
If you don't take the exam, plenty of others will!
After all, the majority of scholars in the world came from humble backgrounds, and in their eyes, this imperial examination was not some kind of chaotic system.
Therefore, once the imperial examinations were officially opened to registration, the so-called scholarly integrity vanished instantly.
Whether they were scions of noble families dressed in fine clothes or scholars from humble backgrounds in plain clothes, they all rushed to the examination hall early in the morning, fearing that if they arrived late, there would be no place left.
"It's truly astonishing that the sons of officials and nobles would gather together with commoners in plain clothes." Even the constables responsible for maintaining order couldn't help but marvel.
Zhou Wei couldn't help but show a look of amazement.
When the new imperial examination policy caused a great uproar, he once thought that the new policy would definitely fizzle out and he had already given up hope.
Unexpectedly, at the very last moment, the imperial court actually implemented the new policies thoroughly.
He didn't believe there wasn't a bloody battle behind this.
This shows that the Prince of Wugong must have extraordinary abilities, which strengthened his resolve to follow him.
"This world is truly becoming more and more absurd!"
Just then, the words of a richly dressed scion in front of Zhou Wei caught Zhou Wei's attention.
Zhou Wei recognized the man as Zhang Quhua, a man of considerable talent in Kaifeng Prefecture.
This person was a member of the Zhang family of Sui County. His father had served as a high-ranking official in the Imperial Secretariat during the Later Han Dynasty.
It is said that when Emperor Shizong of Zhou pacified Huainan, Zhang Quhua presented "Ode to the Southern Expedition" and "On Governing the People," which were highly appreciated by Emperor Shizong, who then appointed him as the chief clerk of the Censorate.
That year, Zhang Quhua was only eighteen years old.
Later, because he was not allowed to sit in the council of the three departments of the Censorate (the Censorate, the Palace, and the Inspection Department), Zhang Quhua felt that the lowly position was too much of a burden for him, so he resigned and returned home to study diligently behind closed doors.
However, this move earned him much prestige. In addition, his recent return to the capital and frequent visits to the residences of high-ranking officials and nobles with his writings have won him the appreciation of the emperor's brother-in-law, Du Shenzhao, thus making him famous in the capital once again.
That's why Zhou Wei recognized it at a glance.
"The world is truly going to the dogs; I wonder when we'll be able to restore the glorious Tang Dynasty!"
Smelling the unpleasant odor emanating from around him, Zhang Quhua couldn't help but cover his nose with a handkerchief, his gaze towards the many commoners around him filled with disgust.
"Oh."
Hearing this, Zhou Wei, who was standing behind him, couldn't help but smile.
What constitutes the virtuous governance of the Tang Dynasty?
Are there no poor scholars among the upper classes? Are there no noble families among the lower classes?
Is this really worthy of being called a virtuous policy?
Zhou Wei's sneer caught the attention of Zhang Quhua, who was standing in front of him. Zhang Quhua turned around and glanced at Zhou Wei, but said nothing.
It's not magnanimity, it's disdain.
In his view, talking to these lowly people who looked like vagrants was to lower himself and an insult to himself.
"Young man, please present your household registration certificate."
When the officials from the Ministry of Rites at the registration office saw that Zhang Quhua was dressed in extraordinary clothes, their tone softened.
Zhang Quhua quickly took out the household registration certificate from his sleeve and presented it to him.
The official from the Ministry of Rites took the household registration certificate and, with just a glance, knew Zhang Quhua's identity. He immediately asked in surprise, "Young master, are you Zhang Xinchen, a member of the Zhang family of Sui County who has recently gained considerable fame in the city?"
"That's me, it's me." Zhang Quhua nodded slightly.
Upon hearing Zhang Quhua's affirmative answer, the official from the Ministry of Rites dared not delay any longer. He quickly took out a pardon and handed it to Zhang Quhua, then said in a slightly flattering tone, "With your talent, Your Excellency's success in this imperial examination is certainly within your grasp."
According to the new policy, before issuing a certificate of release, officials of the Ministry of Rites were required to conduct some examinations to verify that the candidates were not unqualified.
However, given Zhang Quhua's prestige and status, this step of examination was directly waived by the official from the Ministry of Rites.
"Thank you for your kind words." After receiving the certificate, Zhang Quhua did not leave, but waited to the side, coldly watching Zhou Wei, who was next to apply for the exam.
Zhou Wei ignored him and went straight to the registration area.
"Household registration certificate." Upon seeing Zhou Wei's shabby clothes, the official from the Ministry of Rites seemed to transform completely. His previous gentleness vanished instantly, and even his tone turned cold.
But Zhou Wei, who was used to being treated coldly, did not harbor resentment. Instead, he said calmly, "I am a fugitive from Lingnan, and I do not yet have a household registration."
"Floating people" refers to those displaced people.
In prosperous times, one would find it impossible to move an inch without a household registration certificate. But in these chaotic times, who cares whether you have a household registration certificate or not?
According to the new policy, even displaced people are eligible to take it into consideration.
"Enough." The official from the Ministry of Rites was about to test him, but at that moment, Zhang Quhua suddenly said, "This person comes from Lingnan and may be a spy. Your Excellency should investigate carefully."
The official from the Ministry of Rites was slightly taken aback, but quickly understood Zhang Quhua's meaning. He immediately said coldly to Zhou Wei, "Since you are suspected of being a spy, you are not allowed to take the exam."
"If I were a spy, why would I need to infiltrate the imperial examinations as a vagrant?" Zhou Weiping said calmly. "Furthermore, sir, you are not even discerning enough to identify me as a spy. Doesn't that violate the new policies?"
Seeing Zhou Wei bring up the new policies, the official from the Ministry of Rites sneered and said, "If you're not a spy, why didn't you take the exam in Lingnan instead of coming to our Great Song? Clearly, your intentions are unclear. Don't try to deny it; leave immediately, or I will definitely send men to arrest you and send you to Kaifeng Prefecture!"
"The law is clear as day, sir, are you determined to disregard it?" Zhou Wei's expression remained calm, as if such harassment was not enough to anger him.
"You ungrateful wretch—Guards!"
The officials of the Ministry of Rites were immediately enraged and ordered their yamen runners to arrest Zhou Wei.
"No need for your trouble, sir. I will leave on my own." Zhou Wei glanced coldly at Zhang Quhua and the official from the Ministry of Rites, then turned and left.
"How dare a lowly commoner speak of the law?" Seeing that Zhou Wei was sensible, the officials of the Ministry of Rites did not make a big fuss, but just snorted coldly.
Children of low social status have always been at the bottom of society, so it's no wonder he looked down on Zhou Wei.
"What you say is quite right, sir." Zhang Quhua quietly handed over a piece of silver. The official from the Ministry of Rites narrowed his eyes, smiled, and accepted it before turning to the students behind him: "Next one to apply!"
Zhang Quhua smiled, turned and left, quickly putting the matter out of his mind.
He's just a lowly commoner; anyone who dares to mock him will suffer the consequences.
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