Chapter 219: The Examination

The incident of the Junior Officials causing trouble was quickly resolved under the thunderous suppression of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

A disturbance of over a thousand people—it wasn't exactly large, but it wasn't small either; fortunately, it didn't lead to a major disaster, so the County Government Office didn't pursue it deeply.

However, this sounded an alarm for all the Junior Officials: this new big shot was extremely serious about rectifying the Junior Officials.

He would rather replace all the Junior Officials than compromise with the local bullies.

These Junior Officials knew that an arm could not twist a thigh, so they could only hug their books and become bookworms.

Early the next morning, Zhang Yunxiu came to the office of the County Government Office while yawning.

Wei Ming greeted him with a smile, and before he could speak, Zhang Yunxiu sat down in the main seat and started the trouble: "You slippery fellow, such a big thing happened yesterday, yet your shadow was nowhere to be seen."

"Oh, you are wronging me." Wei Ming looked aggrieved and hurriedly waved his hands to defend himself, "As soon as I heard about this yesterday, I immediately ordered Registrar Wang to mobilize troops to go and appease these Junior Officials."

However, before Wang Yongcheng could even arrive, the matter had already been settled by Zhang Yunxiu himself.

Zhang Yunxiu was speechless; he was full of admiration for the methods of this old bureaucrat.

Sending Wang Yongcheng was a win-win: if the situation couldn't be controlled, it would be the subordinate's fault; if the matter was resolved perfectly, he would have the credit for the dispatch and the discernment to recognize talent.

In short, he had done the work, but he would never take the blame.

"Enough, since the matter has been resolved, I don't want to waste time with you." Waving his hand, Zhang Yunxiu signaled for Wei Ming to sit down, then went straight to the point, "You saw it too, the level of arrogance of those Junior Officials yesterday. The upcoming selection examination for Junior Officials is the top priority."

"Yes, for this matter, this subordinate has specially added several examination rooms to ensure that this matter is foolproof," Wei Ming said in a fawning manner.

"That's good."

Zhang Yunxiu nodded and began to explain the specific precautions. They mainly included two aspects: the first was about the candidates' living and the examination, and the second was preventing cheating.

Songjiang Prefecture was wealthy and had ample finances, so Zhang Yunxiu specifically instructed Wei Ming to take care of candidates who had difficulties in their living conditions.

On one hand, it could manifest the vastness of the imperial grace, and on the other, it allowed these Scholars to see just how generous Songjiang Prefecture was.

The second matter was cheating.

Of course, most of the test questions for this subject were not taken from the Four Books and Five Classics, but from Geography and humanities. It should be said that these were things the Junior Officials needed to come into contact with in their daily work.

Checking for hidden notes would probably just be a formality.

After the two major matters were discussed, more than an hour had passed without realizing it.

The sunlight through the window formed dazzling beams in the room. Zhang Yunxiu yawned, rubbed his eyes, and instructed, "That's all for these two things. A month from now, it will all depend on your ability, Magistrate Wei."

Wei Ming patted his chest and took on the task completely.

"Magistrate Wei has always been reliable in handling matters." Zhang Yunxiu smiled at him and turned to disappear into the scorching sun.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

The first selection examination for Junior Officials also kicked off under the attention of all parties in the Great Ming Dynasty.

Many officials in the capital held the attitude of watching a shipwreck from the Yellow Crane Tower, wanting to see what kind of trouble this young Imperial Study Attendant could stir up.

When a person is popular, there is trouble; with Zhang Yunxiu jumping so high, there were as many people who liked him as there were those who envied him.

Zhang Yunxiu was indifferent to this; he was like someone with many debts who didn't worry, or someone with many lice who didn't fear being bitten.

It wasn't that he couldn't leave the Emperor, but that the Emperor needed him to make money, and the Emperor needed him to compete with these ministers.

As long as he understood this point, Zhang Yunxiu would be as steady as Mount Tai.

Early that morning, Zhang Yunxiu got up early, washed up, and under the protection of Han San, headed straight for an examination site near the Xu Mansion.

When he arrived, the gates were already closed.

Outside the gate, there were few people, cold and desolate.

Compared to the prosperity and bustle of the Imperial Examination, this examination for recruiting Junior Officials could truly be described as bleak.

Seeing this scene, Zhang Yunxiu gave a self-deprecating smile and led Han San to a teahouse by the street.

Finding a seat by the window on the second floor, the waiter poured a pot of tea, set down a few plates of pastries, and then hurried away. Zhang Yunxiu looked relaxed and comfortable, picked up a piece of pastry and put it into his mouth, turning to appreciate the scenery of the examination.

Watching others struggle in the examination hall while he was leisurely outside—that feeling seemed quite good.

Han San opposite him did not know his master's perverse thoughts, only assuming he was personally attending to everything, and thus became even more respectful toward him.

The two of them had their own thoughts as they watched the Scholars inside taking the exam from outside the venue.

Inside the examination hall.

Zhou Jin sat in a small, fairly spacious square cubicle, writing furiously.

The content was not difficult; to be precise, one could answer even by guessing.

For example: Where is the geographical location of Songjiang Prefecture?

What are the surrounding prefectures and their specialties?

For candidates local to Songjiang Prefecture, this was simply too easy. But for Scholars from Shandong Prefecture, it was like scratching their ears and cheeks, trying to squeeze juice out of their brains.

Zhou Jin liked to read "leisure books," and had even flipped through the Commentary on the Water Classic several times.

Moreover, when he came to Songjiang Prefecture, he heard his friend on the same boat, Wang Neng, say that this examination mostly did not take from the teachings of the sages.

He pondered deeply and recalled the various deeds of Zhang Yunxiu.

He learned that this big shot should be a person who "reads ten thousand books and travels ten thousand miles."

So he paid attention to observing the surrounding affairs of Songjiang Prefecture.

Seeing the exam questions today, he was overjoyed and secretly sighed that Heaven had eyes!

With confidence in his heart, Zhou Jin wielded his brush, his strokes vigorous and powerful; in over two hours, he had already filled the test paper.

Because the examination lasted for two days in total, he rested on the table.

Waiting for the arrival of the second day's examination.

When the exam questions for the second day were issued, Zhou Jin almost dropped his eyeballs.

Because, it was filled with arithmetic problems.

There were fifteen questions in total.

After just a rough scan, he knew in his heart that he would pass this subject.

That evening.

The bell signaling the end of the examination rang, and Zhou Jin walked out of the examination hall together with the other Scholars.

Along the way, he heard many Scholars complaining: "What kind of test questions are these? They are simply an insult to us scholars. It would be better not to take this Junior Official exam at all!!"

"Exactly, exactly. Anyone who didn't know better would think they were recruiting accountants."

"Sigh, I think I'd better just honestly go and take the Imperial Examination instead."

"."

Taking in the sound of everyone's discussion, Zhou Jin shook his head and walked forward on his own.

Suddenly, he felt someone pat him on the shoulder: "Brother Zhou, seeing your glowing face, I fear this examination is already in your pocket, Brother Zhou."

Zhou Jin turned his head to look, and it was indeed Wang Neng, who had brought him here.

"Brother Wang, stop teasing me!" Although he was happy inside, Zhou Jin still kept a humble expression, "There are countless talented people this time; how could I dare say I will definitely pass?"

"Alright, alright. In any case, there will be results in half a month at the latest; today, let's drink until we're drunk!" Wang Neng laughed and brushed it off, pulling Zhou Jin along as they left.

(End of this chapter)