Volume 2: Residence in the Capital Chapter 166: People sit in the hall, officials come from heaven
If we say that when many students first took the Jiuzhang Hall entrance exam, even though they were poor, they might have been accustomed to groveling on the surface, but deep down they had an untimely arrogance that the world was turbid but they were the only one who was pure, then, after only three days in Jiuzhang Hall, their arrogance was shattered. Because the things Zhang Shou threw out were really unheard of, and it took time to accept and understand them.
The pace of the lectures was frighteningly fast! At first, they were confident that the pace of one book a day was just right for them, but now they wished it could be slower so that they would have more time to absorb these new systems.
Therefore, when the fat boy Lu Sanlang once again stood up in the lecture hall that morning, no one would intentionally or unintentionally provoke the head of the hall, who was the son of a minister. Facts have proved that Lu Sanlang is indeed qualified to be the head of the hall, and he can answer any questions fluently. And Qi Liang, who came from the countryside, is indeed worthy of being Zhang Shou's earliest student and knows much more than them .
"Have any of you finished the assignment the teacher assigned yesterday?" Hearing the mixed responses, Lu Sanlang instructed Qi Liang to collect some homework. After scanning it, he said in a deep voice, "Those who can squeeze out time to do this first deserve praise. But those who haven't done it don't have to continue , because the teacher has changed his mind."
"The teacher has secured a big project for everyone from the Ordnance Bureau."
Seeing that the twenty or so people below were at first bewildered, and then most of them showed expressions of surprise and joy, he said proudly: "The Arms Bureau has a very complicated fourteen-ring secret box with words, each ring has four words, a total of fifty-six words. These fifty-six words are all from the Thousand Character Classic. What we have to do now is to cooperate with the teacher and try to unlock the secret box..."
When Zhang Shou finished his morning classes at Banshan Hall and was about to go to Jiuzhang Hall to see the progress of Lu Sanlang's "tackling" of the students, he suddenly felt that there seemed to be someone behind him. Turning around, he saw the Third and Fourth Princes following him on foot. He immediately laughed and said, "Why, you still want to go to Jiuzhang Hall to take classes? The progress there is too fast, not suitable for the two princes."
The Third Prince nodded obediently, but the Fourth Prince rushed to say, "Teacher, we are not going to Jiuzhang Hall to take classes for free. Father bought a lot of those books of Grand Tutor Ge, saying that he would study them while teaching us in person! I want to tell you, teacher, that you are going to be promoted!"
Well……
Zhang Shou was a little surprised when he heard the innocent shouting of the child. He subconsciously looked around and saw that the noble students who had not left the room, including Zhang Chen, were almost all staring at him. When he looked outside the Banshan Hall, the people who had not walked far also stopped and looked at him with extremely subtle eyes.
The students in Ruexing Hall who were aiming for the imperial examinations might show some reserve at such times, but the children of noble families in Banshan Hall who were born into prominent families were very sensitive to any word about promotion.
Everyone knows that Zhang Shou has only been a doctor of the Imperial College for a short time, so how can he be promoted again? Most importantly, if Zhang Shou does not become a doctor of the Imperial College, what will happen to their studies? Can they stop going to school?
Zhang Shou smiled and patted the Fourth Prince's head, then said gently: "No matter where you got the news, you shouldn't speak it out before it is clearly announced. Because if the story is true, some people will accuse you of leaking court secrets; if the story is not true, some people will accuse you of spreading rumors. Do you understand?"
The fourth prince was startled for a moment, and then he heard the third prince behind him whisper, "Fourth brother, the teacher is right..."
"But this is what my father told me himself." The fourth prince didn't expect that Zhang Shou was not only not excited, but also reprimanded him. He couldn't help but feel a little aggrieved, "My father also told me to tell the teacher first."
Zhang Shou didn't expect the emperor to be so reckless. He could only smile bitterly and squat down, looking the fourth prince in the eye. "That was not a lesson, but a reminder. You can keep it in mind and ask the emperor if I am wrong after returning to the palace. As for promotion, I am only a few years older than you. There will be opportunities for promotion in the future. Don't worry. But thank you anyway."
The fourth prince was very satisfied with this thank you. He nodded happily to Zhang Shou, and when he was about to say something else, he suddenly heard a loud shout from behind. Then, a student who had just left ran back like a gust of wind: "Teacher, the chief secretary asked you to go to the doctor's office!"
Zhang Shou was naturally prepared for what the Fourth Prince had said. Sure enough, when he arrived at the Doctoral Hall, he was faced with the envious and jealous eyes of a large group of colleagues, as well as the meaningful expressions of Zhou Jijiu and Luo Siye. But even with his preparation, when Zhang Shou heard about the official position he was about to take up, he was still a little surprised.
As a seventh-rank doctor of the Imperial College, he also served as a sixth-rank Hanlin Lecturer and Zuo Zanshan of the Zhanshi Mansion? Although he was a lecturer, not a bachelor of lecturers, this was a qualitative difference, but everyone knew that the Hanlin Academy and the Zhanshi Mansion were more noble places than the Imperial College!
The one who came to deliver the appointment was not a eunuch, but a minor official from the Ministry of Public Security - not to mention that these days, the number of eunuchs is small. Take the Ming and Qing dynasties in history as an example. If eunuchs were to be sent out to convey imperial edicts, the rank of the person being promoted had to be high enough. Otherwise, the eunuchs in the palace would have nothing to do, and they would be a huge team running outside all day long!
This minor official had already been questioned thoroughly by many academic officials, including Zhou Jijiu and Luo Siye. Seeing that Zhang Shou was surprised but calm after receiving the appointment document and did not ask any questions, Zhang Shou could not help but praise him in his heart.
Look at Dr. Zhang. He is not only good-looking but also a calm person. Unlike you guys who read books of sages but have narrow minds , you beat around the bush and almost ask Dr. Zhang if there is some fishy way in getting his promotion!
Therefore, seeing Zhang Shou sincerely thanked him for coming all the way, he deliberately said a few more words before leaving: "It is said that the promotion of Dr. Zhang was personally drafted by the cabinet minister Wu, and the six departments debated it, but in the end the appointment was successfully sent to the Ministry of Public Administration. After all, you captured the rebels last time, and you captured the rebels again this time, judged the mystery of the plaque written by Taizu, and deciphered the secret letter of the rebels."
"Based on these achievements, Dr. Zhang deserves this promotion."
After saying this, the usually cautious clerk bowed, waved his sleeves and left without a trace of cloud. Zhang Shou had no intention of staying in the Doctor's Hall to stimulate his colleagues, but since he didn't know much about the Hanlin Academy and the Zhanshi Mansion, he had to ask Zhou Jijiu for advice. When he learned that the Zhanshi Mansion was now an empty government office and that the Hanlin Academy didn't need to report, he left with peace of mind.
As he left, Yang Yiming, the Imperial College Doctor in charge of Ruxing Hall, could not help but complain: "The Hanlin Academy and the Zhanshi Mansion are such noble places, and he is so young and has no talent or virtue, but he was able to get in so easily..."
Before he could finish his words, Zhou Xun, the Imperial College's chief academic, said calmly, "Then you should also go and capture a few traitors, and then decipher the secret letters they exchanged, and by the way, figure out the mystery of the inscription on the Nine Chapters Hall before you say this!"
Yang Yiming didn't dare to say that in front of Zhang Shou. Zhou Xun's sarcasm made him feel even more embarrassed. He immediately found an excuse to leave. After he left, Zhou Xun returned to the inner room. Luo Siye looked around at the other people with different expressions, and sighed, "In the future, we will not only be colleagues, but you should also remember that Dr. Zhang is of a higher rank than you."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the faces of a group of academic officials suddenly turned the color of liver. A group of Jinshi felt ashamed that Zhang Shou, a young man without any official title, was suddenly ranked with them. Who knew that the emperor was not satisfied and continued to promote him beyond his status.
Zhang Shou, who had returned to his dorm to take a nap, learned from Zhu Hong the truth about the latest version of the appointment that the Six Departments had not rejected. Because when the cabinet minister Wu was besieged by several secretaries, the emperor personally sent a copy of the plaque written by Emperor Taizu in the Hanlin Academy. The plaque had the words "only talents are selected".
Perhaps because the children of the nobility had been sent to the academy recently, the gate control of the Imperial College was much looser than before, so Zhu Hong got in smoothly. At this time, he explained, "It is said that under the plaque of the Hanlin Academy, which reads "Only the Talented Can Be Promoted", there is also the ancestral precept of Emperor Taizu, which says that only Jinshi can enter the Hanlin Academy, and only Hanlin can enter the cabinet. There is no limit to the number of candidates, and only the talented can be promoted!"
Zhang Shou couldn't help but mutter to himself. Why was Emperor Taizu going against the rule that only Jinshi scholars could enter the Hanlin Academy, and only Hanlin scholars could enter the cabinet?
He thought so in his heart, but he didn't show it. He just smiled and said, "Thank you for coming all the way here. Did Yingying ask you to come?"
"The eldest lady went to the Duke of Chu's mansion for a banquet again. The old lady and the mistress told me to come. The old lady said that there are some things that you should be aware of. The mistress said that you should take care of your health and practice swordsmanship with Ah Liu if you have time."
Zhu Hong's expression suddenly became unnatural when he said the last sentence. Madam, do you hope that Zhang Shou can become a master and fight with the young lady in the future?
He was actually amazed at how quickly Zhang Shou was promoted. You know, this was not a chaotic era, but a peaceful and prosperous era. Even the top scholar had to be promoted slowly and steadily. How could Zhang Shou, who was a commoner, be promoted so quickly in less than two months?
Knowing that Zhu Ying was still patiently attending all kinds of parties and banquets, Zhang Shou couldn't help but feel that if this young lady really got serious, she would still be invincible. He immediately asked Zhu Hong to greet the old lady and Jiu Niang on his behalf. After sending them away, he looked at the usual rich food box and wanted to go out to call Lu Sanlang and Qi Liang, but finally changed his mind.
Things are different now than before. The twenty or so people in Jiuzhang Hall all live in dormitories. Don’t be too obvious in favoring one over the other. It’s better for him to eat alone!
