Chapter 190: Junior Official Examination

The Wanli Emperor heard the sound, his gaze fixed firmly on Zhang Yunxiu, offering no reply.

Wei Qing, standing to the side, was also as silent as a cicada in winter, clearly stunned by this bold idea of Zhang Yunxiu's.

Zhang Juzheng had merely ordered the clearing out of elderly Scholar students from the Prefectural School.

He had not directly restricted the age for the Imperial Examination.

If this were to spread, wouldn't the scholars of the world swallow Zhang Yunxiu alive?

Zhang Yunxiu looked at the two of them, smiled, and then looked at Wei Qing to ask: "May I ask, Eunuch Wei, within a single county, how many officials are there?"

Wei Qing was taken aback; he did not know why Zhang Yunxiu would ask this.

He hurriedly glanced at the Emperor, but saw him with brows knit and eyes focused, expressionless like a wooden statue. Wei Qing swallowed a mouthful of saliva and slowly replied: "One County Magistrate, one County Assistant, one Registrar, and at most, counting the heads of the six storehouses."

That is no more than ten or so people.

Zhang Yunxiu knew he would say that, so he asked again: "A county's population is at least ten thousand, and at most one hundred thousand. Can it be managed by only ten or so officials?"

Nonsense, there are still Junior Officials! Counting the constables and clerks, a county has at least several hundred people. It is just that these people do not belong to the direct jurisdiction of the imperial court, but are paid by the local yamen.

While Wei Qing's thoughts were in turmoil, Zhang Yunxiu stepped forward and reported: "Your Majesty, what Eunuch Wei just said is right, but also wrong. In the current county, if we speak of officials, there are indeed barely ten. But those who truly manage the county are these Junior Officials."

They grow up in the locality, born in the locality.

Their roots are deeply intertwined with the various local forces.

The imperial court gives little money?

That does not matter.

As the saying goes, fish have fish paths and shrimp have shrimp paths; regarding how to commit corruption and squeeze the marrow from the bones of the common people, these Junior Officials have their own unique methods.

If the imperial court does not provide money, they can just go and take it from the common people themselves.

The Wanli Emperor came back to his senses at this moment, tilted his body, and asked: "And then?"

Bowing toward the Emperor, Zhang Yunxiu said in a resonant tone: "Your Majesty, I wish to turn these Junior Officials into formal officials. First, dismiss those who are just making up the numbers, and then select outstanding Scholar students through examinations to fill the positions."

"Will they agree?" The Wanli Emperor frowned and asked in return.

These Junior Official positions have always been despised by scholars; asking them to take the initiative to become Junior Officials...

Difficult. It is difficult!

Zhang Yunxiu did not intend to achieve this in one stroke; he smiled, cupped his hands, and replied: "Your Majesty, regarding this matter, I suggest we first implement it in Songjiang Prefecture. Firstly, there are too many scholars there, and many have no hope for the Imperial Examination and have already abandoned literature for commerce."

"Secondly, it is the most prosperous place and can afford to support so many Junior Officials."

Seeing that it would first be implemented in only one prefecture, the Wanli Emperor's misgivings dissipated by more than half.

Since it is only to be implemented in Songjiang Prefecture, let Zhang Yunxiu go and toss about; once he tosses until he is battered and bleeding, he will know the pain! After thinking it over, the Wanli Emperor waved his hand and replied directly: "Fine, let Wang Zuan handle this matter, and the first batch of Junior Official selections will begin next autumn."

"Your Majesty is wise." Seeing that his goal was achieved, Zhang Yunxiu hurriedly flattered the Emperor.

"Go down, I am a bit tired." Glancing out the window, the Wanli Emperor saw that the sun had reached noon; he suddenly remembered he had to go to Zheng Fei's side, so he yawned and waved his hand impatiently, "You are also a newlywed, I will give you a three-month leave. During these three months, if there is nothing major, you are not allowed to come to the Qianqing Palace to bother me."

"Yes."

Zhang Yunxiu bowed deeply and turned to leave the Qianqing Palace.

The autumn chill was gradually deepening.

After a cold rain last night, the streets and alleys of the entire Beijing city were paved with a layer of golden yellow.

Ten days had passed since Zhang Yunxiu last had an audience with the Emperor.

The Autumn Examination had ended; rice was expensive in the capital, and the Scholar students participating in the Provincial Examination did not dare stay long, one after another shouldering their bags to embark on the journey home.

In the blink of an eye.

The bustle of Beijing city dissipated by more than half. Just past the hour of Chen this day, Zhang Yunxiu yawned as he pushed open the door from his study. At this moment, he looked haggard, his hair disheveled, and deep dark circles hung under his eyes.

Last night, he received a secret report sent by Han San.

The letter spoke of a major event.

Several thousand Scholar students, filled with indignation, headed straight for Hai Rui's residence in Qufu, attempting to use their numbers to intimidate Hai Rui.

What kind of person was Hai Rui?

A copper-cast, iron-forged, glaring Arhat; he was not even afraid of the Shizong Emperor or the Kong Sage.

Would he be afraid of these Scholar students? He faced the thousands of students directly, walked into the crowd, and with just a glance and a glare, he scolded: "You have great audacity, daring to surround the residence of a court official! Is it possible that the law cannot control you?"

These Scholar students were also hot-headed youths; relying on the fact that the law does not punish the masses, one of them replied: "You, Hai Rui, are also a person who reads the books of sages; now you are instead making things difficult for the Kong Family. What is your intention?"

"That's right... that's right, if you, Hai Rui, want to make a name for yourself, you shouldn't step on the Kong Sage's name to do it!"

"Hmph, I think for the sake of this official position, you have long since become brothers wearing the same pair of trousers with that unfilial and disloyal person."

"..."

Hearing the crowd's discussion, Hai Rui's face grew increasingly gloomy. He did not argue, but merely flicked his embroidered robe and turned to run back into the residence.

At this time, the students outside would not let it go; someone shouted: "Don't let him go back, we must make him give us an explanation."

"Right, give us an explanation!" The emotions of the students present were ignited, and they all began to shout loudly.

In an instant, the area outside Hai Rui's residence was in chaos.

In the confusion, Hai Rui unfortunately fell, his forehead bumped and bleeding profusely.

Once they saw blood, these students instantly became cowardly and scattered in a swarm.

Regarding this matter, the order Zhang Yunxiu issued was: absolutely no leniency! So last night, he sent Han San overnight, personally leading a team of Embroidered Uniform Guards, to rush to Qufu under the stars. He wanted to see whether these students' fists and mouths were harder, or the Embroidered Uniform Guards' punishments were harder!

A gust of autumn chill slapped his face, and Zhang Yunxiu shivered, walking straight toward the dining hall.

Inside, Xu Ruoxi was chatting with her sister-in-law Gao Lan.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu walk in looking haggard, Xu Ruoxi stood up abruptly, saying with heartache: "Lvluo, hurry and tell the kitchen to bring the porridge."

Zhang Yunxiu nodded and sat down with a thud.

Gao Lan held her younger brother's wrist and said earnestly: "Little Five, it's not that your sister-in-law is lecturing you, but now that a woman is pregnant, it is the time when she is most fearful and anxious; can't you spend more time with Ruoxi?"

"She even cried this morning."

"You're crying." Zhang Yunxiu looked at Xu Ruoxi.

Sure enough, he saw her eyes were red-rimmed, her face looking pitiful.

"No, I'm not crying, it was just blown by this strong wind," Ruoxi replied stubbornly, biting her cheek.

"Oh."

Zhang Yunxiu replied with a deliberately drawn-out tone.

At this, Xu Ruoxi felt even more aggrieved. She lived in fear every day, terrified of any bumps or scrapes, yet her husband just replied with an "oh." In an instant, unbidden tears welled up in her eyes again.

"After you give birth to the child, we will go to Songjiang to live for half a year," Zhang Yunxiu said with a smile, changing his tone.

"Really?"

"Mm."

(End of this chapter)