In July, a sudden heavy rain washed the blue brick streets, and the sludge, debris and rainwater in the gap between the blue bricks flowed to the low-lying areas.

"Oh...this damn ghost weather!"

"We are going to be in trouble again this Northern Suburb Poetry Conference!"

"It's not that I don't show my name, but that God is not doing good deeds!"

...

Several scholars made an appointment to go to the northern suburbs to attend a poetry meeting. When they went out, they saw the heavy rainstorm in front of them, so they had to stand in front of the inn and look at the rain and sigh.

As the three-year Shuntian provincial examination is about to be held, tens of thousands of scholars from Northern Zhili gathered in the capital, causing the poetry gatherings in the capital to sprout like mushrooms after a rain.

The students are already people with status in this dynasty, and many scholars came from wealthy families, which made them easy to devote themselves to eating, drinking and having fun, and became the most noisy group of this era.

However, God seemed to be unable to stand their behavior. When Guangxi was still thousands of miles away, there were heavy rains in the capital, which directly swept the interest of these scholars.

"Let's go back to your room and review your books, and strive to realize our lifelong ambitions as soon as possible!"

Wang Shiju was just pulled out, and when he saw the heavy rain in front of the door to get him out of trouble, he turned around and went back without hesitation, and persuaded these fellow villagers who were very playful.

"Our lifelong ambitions? Isn't it just that we want to seek power?"

"No, what I want is that there is Yan Ruyu in the book, and he can marry the Yangzhou courtesan in the future!"

"Haha...I just wait for me to have a big garden when I am old and leave some industries for my descendants!"

...

Several scholars looked at Wang Shiju who walked into the inn, but disdained Wang Shiju's words. They no longer believed that scholars would still have aspirations to serve the country, and expressed their "ambitions" one after another.

It has been more than a hundred years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

In the current environment, scholars no longer disregarded fame and fortune as they did back then, but instead openly tempted each other with money and power and sex. The ambition of many scholars who study hard has become promoted and made money.

But this is no wonder. Just like many high school class teachers who "hopefully become dragons" in later generations, they will not emphasize too much about getting into college and applying for the country, but will directly talk to you about future employment issues.

Education not only requires teachers to teach knowledge, but also requires students to study hard.

When they find that patriotic education cannot urge students to study hard, they naturally have to "teach according to their aptitude", either induce power or induce money, so as to inspire these students to be ambitious.

This is no longer an individual phenomenon, but a time when it is becoming more and more common. When Xu Jie was teaching, some officials accused him of overemphasizing fame and fortune.

A large amount of rain continued to flow down the roof tiles, then gathered into the canal, and then rushed towards the drainage channel, everything seemed orderly.

This heavy rain not only affected the scholars' travel, but also caused many small vendors to run under the eaves to shelter from the rain, which also caused trouble to the lives of the people in the capital.

However, due to the times, even the Chinese nation, which stands at the forefront of the world, cannot compete with God. It can only passively bear the unpredictable natural disasters.

This heavy rain seemed very fair, and also affected the emperor who lived in Xiyuan, and also affected the high-ranking officials and bosses in Mixiang, Dongjiang, making the entire capital look like the end of the world.

The Ministry of Rites and the Office of the Left Assistant Hall.

Raindrops as big as soybeans hit the green tiles, and a noise like fried beans came from the roof. Several peonies in the courtyard were fallen with petals. The rain brought many dead leaves to the drain, but were stopped by a bamboo net.

The signing room seemed very dark, and candles had been lit at this time, making it very bright here. If it weren't for the constant crackling sounds outside, I would have thought it was night.

Lin Wei, wearing a third-rank crimson official uniform, sat upright at the desk with a serious smile, dealing with some of the matters at hand. Next month is the autumn examination once every three years, and the chief examiner of the provincial examination he recommended was dispatched in six batches.

No matter what the disasters were in various parts of the Ming Dynasty, even if there were no disasters in Guangxi that occurred for decades, the Ming Dynasty’s talent ceremony was the top priority, but it was impossible to delay it.

Xiang Xiaoli said that this is a personal event for scholars from the Ming Dynasty to exchange for fame and fortune, and it is related to their opportunity to advance; Xiang Dali said that this is related to the selection of "virtuous officials" by the court, and it is related to the foundation of the Ming Dynasty.

Longchi used a hand towel to wipe the water stains on his face and clothes, and took the teacup sent by Lin Fu, but sat in the seat opposite Lin Yanran and said, "Senior brother, the atmosphere of scholars is really bad now. Many candidates are taking the provincial examinations for fame and fortune. How can we choose talents for the court?"

Although Lin Weiran was dealing with the affairs at hand, his ears were hunched, but he said half-jokingly: "I am already busy with the provincial examination. You actually have the issue of the atmosphere of a sage manager. Is the work at hand too easy?"

"Senior brother, don't treat this as a matter! Many scholars outside now come for promotion and wealth. If you really let it go, I can guarantee that the court will be selfish officials in the future!" Longchi held a teacup and said seriously to Lin Weiran.

Lin Qingran naturally understood the harm of the corruption of the atmosphere, otherwise the Donglin Party would not have taken advantage of the situation to rise, but wrote the last stroke and said, "Brother Fang Zheng, what do you think should be done?"

"Of course, we will eliminate this bad habit. If you want to make a fortune, don't be an official and keep some people with ulterior motives out!" Longchi said with a righteous look.

Lin Qingran put down his brush, picked up the teacup next to him, and said seriously to Longchi: "But the reality is: if you want to make a fortune, you can only enter the official career and become an official. Even Mr. Xu said in the past - a juren marry a beautiful concubine, a jinshi takes the title of a flower court, and a top scholar sleeps everywhere!"

"Senior brother, can we just stare at this kind of corruption and ignore it?" Long Chizhong asked with a teacup in his hand and frowned.

Lin Qingran took a sip of tea and sighed softly: "The world is going down, this is the truth that will last forever. This trend cannot be changed by the two of us say that we change! However, we are in this position now, first of all, we must understand what the original intention of the imperial examination is!"

Longchi wanted to drink a little tea, but found that Lin Junran looked over, and he was already in the sense of assessment, so he answered seriously: "The Ming Dynasty imperial examination is mainly about fairness and talent selection. Justice, so that poor scholars have the opportunity to advance; select talents, so that they can select future wise ministers for the Ming Dynasty!"

Lin Qingran was interested in communicating with Longchi, and said seriously: "As long as we can always do the two things of fairness and talent selection, even if the ethos are worse, it will not shake the Ming Dynasty's talent slogan! I think the crux of the problem is not the atmosphere. After all, do millions of ethos of the Ming Dynasty come for promotion and wealth?"

"Of course not, at least I know that my senior brother's fellow villager Hai Rui is definitely not!" Long Chizhong shook his head solemnly and said helplessly: "So the crux of the matter is actually the eight-legged essay selection we mentioned earlier. This method is too rigid and can no longer select truly outstanding talents for the Ming Dynasty!"

"There is nothing wrong with the eight-legged essay to get a scholar!" Lin Weiran took a sip of tea, but responded seriously.

The eight-legged scholar selection was undoubtedly a very effective way to select materials in the early Ming Dynasty. It only attached too much importance to fairness and justice, but invisibly bound the scholar's thoughts.

In the early days, everyone could still compete for their talents. However, as the quality of scholars improved, the competition for the imperial examination fell into bad rote memory. In the end, many talents with great talents could not pass the imperial examination. Instead, they became a nerd and became the final winner.

However, these are things that Lin Weiran cannot change. These eight-legged essays have their own disadvantages, but they also ensure fairness to the greatest extent, at least giving many poor children the opportunity to become superiors.

If you really do the trick to win a scholar, the examiner's character will be fine. Once the examiner's character is poor, then the only ones who will be admitted will be rich children and related households.

Lin Qingran looked up at the dragon pond and said seriously: "It's just that the times have changed, and we have to change it too! But if we want to change these things, you can't do it, and I can't do it either!"

Longchi smiled bitterly. He was just a small foreigner from the fifth-rank ritual system. How could he make such a big reform? Lin Weiran said this to be a compliment to him.

A strong belief surged in his heart, and looked at Lin Xuran and said seriously: "But I believe that my senior brother can do the right thing in the future and can change this inappropriate way of selecting talents!"

Lin Weiran looked up at him, but responded bitterly: "Maybe!"

He has been serving as the Left Minister of Rites for more than half a year. He not only saw the dark side of the Ming Dynasty, but also the various shortcomings of this corrupt dynasty.

Even if he comes from later generations, he is often powerless when facing such difficult problems. The most important thing is that he knows what kind of consequence a real changer will end up.

The door was pushed open, and a figure came in from outside, but a dazzling white light appeared on the floor. Inadvertently, the heavy rain outside stopped.

A clerk appeared here and greeted Lin Junran and said, "Linbutang, Lord Zhengtang is welcome!"

"The trouble is coming!" Lin Weiran looked at Longchi Middle and said.

However, the eyes in the dragon pool showed a hint of gloating. As the two of them spent more time together, their relationship was more like friends. They stood up and smiled and said, "Hehe... Xiaguan is leaving first!"

Lin Xuran glared at him and led Lin Fu towards the main hall of the Ministry of Rites.

Every place has troubles in every place, and there are no exceptions in the capital. Although the disasters in various places are not as serious as Guangxi, many places have been affected, resulting in a sharp drop in summer grain income this year.

Faced with headaches of financial problems, the ever-restless censors of Kedao threw bombs again.

"The minister Zhang Yuejin, the minister of the Imperial Criminal, reported: There are two major disadvantages in today. The external border defense and the internal vassals are the same! The disadvantages of the vassals are like the vassals. Now the vassals are growing more and more powerful, and there is no other way to live. Thousands of vassals eat in a city, and there is no other way to live in the land. Can they not change? Now the poor families live in a city, and they have no other way to do anything. They prefer the style of being arrogant and extravagant, and they invite each other as a way to control each other. At the end of their power, if they change, they will be defeated and uncontrollable. Even if they want to discuss it, it is not too late? However, the court earns less than 20 million rice per year, and the local governments need to save and provide relief. The vassals' salary is as large as 8 million stones. Now they should cut them off and calm them..."

After Zhang Yue, the Criminal Department, escaped after impeaching the Ministry of War last time, he won him reputation and inspired him to fight stronger. This time he was attacking the disadvantages of the Zongfan Lumi.

However, he did not blindly propose to reduce the vassal of the vassals, but also saw the living difficulties of the poor at the bottom, but introduced a "win-win" plan of reduction and average.

But this action undoubtedly triggered the Ming Dynasty again.

Even Yan Song, who was powerful in the court, dared not easily touch the major crux of the vassal state. In particular, Emperor Jianwen's move to reduce the vassal state was eventually replaced by Chengzu, which forced the emperor to be cautious.

Li Chunfang invited Lin Xuran over. It was precisely because of this that he asked Lin Xuran straight to the point: "Young Master, what do you think about this matter?"

"Master Zhengtang, I wonder what the emperor's reaction was?" Lin Weiran did not rush to express his opinion, but inquired.

Li Chunfang looked at Lin Qingran and finally revealed her voice: "According to the news I received from the palace, the emperor did not react violently, but just passed the memorial to a eunuch and gave it to our Ministry of Rites!"

"It seems that this matter should not be delayed anymore!" Lin Weiran's brow frowned immediately, but he made a decision helpless judgment.

"I don't know what can I delay any more?"

It was at this moment that a loud voice came from outside the door.

Li Chunfang and Lin Qingran came with reputation, but saw a bearded official coming over majestic.

After the last confrontation, Qin Minglei had already lost all his holy relatives. Just a few days ago, he could have done what he wanted. Qin Minglei became the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, but the word "Nanjing" must be added in front.

From the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites in the capital to the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites in the Nanjing, he was destined to be eliminated and stayed away from the center of the Ming Dynasty.

Qin Minglei was lucky enough to win a "Lei No. 1" which could make him stand out for a while, but it could not make him stand out for a lifetime. If he had written Qing Ci well, he might have shined in the Jiajing Dynasty, but his level was average, and in fact he had already been doomed to defeat him.

Although the reason was that Lin Weiran slapped Qin Minglei in the case of the envoy in the South China Sea, the deeper level was that Qin Minglei did not win enough holy favors, and it was impossible for him to go to the pavilion.

No one cares about a loser. When Qin Minglei was transferred, there was only one thing that everyone cared about: who would take over the job of the Right Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
Chapter completed!