The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 145 Youyou's Mouth
In the afternoon of the eighth day of February.

Before the three gates of the Shuntian Mansion Tribute Court, all the examinees were already preparing to enter.

The Ming Dynasty had very loose inspections on the admission of imperial examination candidates, and there was no need for candidates to "occupy seats" when entering the arena. Candidates could enter by their own servants and put their own test baskets in a certain position. Even if the seat is occupied.

If you're lucky, you can occupy a good position near the door for ventilation. If you're unlucky, you can only rely on the dung.

This time Zhang Zhou is going to take an entrance exam, and the person who will help him occupy his seat will be Sun Shangqi, a hundred households of Jin Yiwei.

Sun Shangqi seemed to have never done such an errand, and he was still a little excited. He stood at the front and rushed in as soon as the door of the Gongyuan opened. Others did not know his identity, but the soldiers guarding the Gongyuan knew him. It's Jin Yiwei, who still has an official position, and has long blocked those who might compete with Sun Shangqi for seats.

The starting line is ahead of others.

Zhang Zhou estimated that he should be able to occupy a good position.

There are three exams in nine days, and you have to enter the house three times. The first time is on the eighth day of junior high school, and the ninth day of junior high school.

The second session will be admitted in the afternoon of February 12th, and the exam will start on NO.[-].

The third session is No. 14 admission in the afternoon, No. 15 starts the exam, and Seventeen handed in the papers and left.

The grading of the examination papers will be faster, and the rankings will usually be released before the end of the month, but Zhang Zhou is familiar with history and knows that the 12th year of Hongzhi is an exception. It will be delayed until early March.

"Sir, Eunuch Xiao is here. He said he wants to meet you before you enter."

Jin Yiwei came over to notify.

Zhang Zhou turned his head, Xiao Jing's carriage stopped there behind the vast crowd of candidates and senders, greeting him from afar.

"Excuse me!"

Anyway, Zhang Zhou didn't need to occupy a seat by himself, so he walked towards Xiao Jing under the guidance of the Jin Yiwei in plain clothes.

Along the way, I heard a group of scholars talking loudly there.

In the Ming Dynasty, it seemed that this group of scholars was the most well-informed and liked to discuss state affairs the most. The examinees came from all over the world, and some very talkative people were boasting about their knowledge, and the most talked about right now was naturally Kou Bian, a Tatar.

……

……

The Gongyuan is located on the corner of the street.

When Xiao Jing saw Zhang Zhou, he saluted respectfully, and the Gong students who came late at the side all stepped aside.

"Mr. Zhang, first of all I wish you the title on the gold list." Xiao Jing smiled.

Zhang Zhougong cupped his hands and thanked him.

Xiao Jingdao: "Our family came here for His Majesty, you should have counted it all, right?"

"Eunuch Xiao, don't get me wrong, I'm fine and I won't make random calculations. I also said that the most difficult thing to measure in this world is the human heart. I don't know what His Majesty is thinking."

Zhang Zhou can't create an image for others. He likes to speculate about the holy will.

Xiao Jing said: "It's still about the two hexagrams."

"Is the ground shaking?" Zhang Zhou smiled.

Xiao Jing was very surprised, you can still laugh at such a big earthquake?
Zhang Zhoudao: "Eunuch Xiao, let's be clear, whether it is the earthquake in Ningxia, Shaanxi, or another one that will happen soon, it will not be too serious, and there may be no loss of life. It's just a warning."

"Oh, that's fine, that's fine."

Xiao Jing thought to himself, it's not serious, why didn't you say it earlier?These people, as well as His Majesty, are all worried about this.

"Mr. Zhang, one time was in Ningxia, Shaanxi, and the other time, where was it?"

Xiao Jing came here just to inquire about this.

This is also where Zhu Youtang struggled.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "It's not serious, is it important where?"

"This..." Xiao Jing almost wanted to hit someone, you made a prediction, do you have to be so half-hearted to make people anxious?

Zhang Zhoudao: "I think, if the earthquake is a warning from the heavens, in order to achieve the purpose of punishing evil and promoting good, it should be directional."

"What is directivity?"

"Eunuch Xiao, let me ask you, what do you think this punishment of evil and promotion of good is aimed at?"

Zhang Zhou's question was straightforward.

Xiao Jing smiled wryly: "Sir, do you have to pretend to be confused? Your Majesty will know that you are talking about Peng Quan, the commander of Jianchang Guard, who participated in the impeachment of Jianchang Bo and local bandits to plunder the villagers."

Zhang Zhou nodded: "That's easy to guess. If it was Uncle Jianchang, then the earthquake should have happened in places like Jianchang Mansion, Jianchang County, Jianchangwei... You say this is directional enough. Is it obvious?"

"..."

Xiao Jing froze instantly.

Can you still predict like this?
He was startled in his heart, but after being silent, he couldn't wait to ask: "It can't be...is it such a coincidence?"

Zhang Zhou sighed: "Eunuch Xiao, I'm not from heaven, I just spied on some meanings of heaven, and the omens of heaven are like this, so I think I came here in these places, if it wasn't for Peng Quan, the commander of Jianchangwei. , then I think it is most likely that God put the earthquake in Jianchangwei. Eunuch Xiao, what's wrong with you?"

Zhang Zhou was talking here.

Xiao Jingren couldn't stand still, he barely stopped by holding on to the shaft of the carriage.

Dongchang Fanzi who followed Xiao Jinglai also quickly reached out to help.

"Mr. Zhang, don't scare our family. Our family... can't stand the scare. If there is an earthquake in Jianchangwei, you should know... about it... alas!"

Xiao Jing was almost at a loss for words.

The earthquake happened in other places, it can be said that it was forced to contact Zhang Yanling, but it only happened in Jianchangwei. Even he, a rational person who never believed in this kind of thing, felt that it must be God. 's warning.

Otherwise, is it such a coincidence?
Zhang Zhou wanted to say that it was such a coincidence.

"Xiaozong Shilu" clearly records what happened in February of the 12th year of Hongzhi: "... Guimao, the earthquake in Ningxia, Shaanxi, there was a sound... Renzi, the Jianchangwei earthquake in Sichuan, there was a sound."

The two earthquakes apparently did not cause any major incidents, and probably did not cause any casualties.

If the ground just shook a few times randomly, there is no need for Zhang Zhou to mention it, and it is irrelevant to warn the Ming court whether he even mentions it, just like the earthquake in Ningxia, Shaanxi, he just said it directly and let the emperor know about it.

But Jianchangwei's earthquake this time is very particular...It happened that Peng Quan, the commander of Jianchangwei, reported Jianchangbo, and it happened that there would be an earthquake.

It can only be said that you, Zhang Yanling, have had a bad time, your teeth will get stuck after drinking cold water, and God is deliberately punishing you?

There are things.

Are you angry?

"Eunuch Xiao, I'm about to enter the house here, do you have anything else to ask?" Zhang Zhou asked with a smile.

At this time, Xiao Jing's heart was already overwhelmed by this news, he still couldn't help asking: "Are you sure?"

"On Renzi Day, which is the sixteenth day, this will happen. Wait, let me do the math. The earthquake in Ningxia, Shaanxi, should be Guimao. It happened yesterday... You see, I'm not quite sure. It is estimated that the news of the earthquake will come in the next two days... Eunuch Xiao, let's go?"

Of course Xiao Jing didn't want to let Zhang Zhou go just like that.

It was hard to catch him, and if he didn't ask clearly, the person who was questioned by the emperor after returning home was Xiao.

"Mr. Zhang..."

"The door is open! Come in, come in!"

A bunch of people behind shouted there.

Zhang Zhou also looked very eager and said: "We are going to enter the Gongyuan, Eunuch Xiao, we have something to say after leaving the Gongyuan. Anyway, we will have a chance to meet in the future."

"do not……"

Xiao Jing was about to persuade him to stay, but found that Zhang Zhou ran towards the gate without stopping.

……

……

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

After Xiao Jing came back, he carefully informed Zhu Youtang of Zhang Zhou's speculation.

After Xiao Jing finished speaking, the scene was completely silent, and several people in the supervisor of ceremonies looked at Zhu Youtang, not knowing what to say.

"Is it because I punished Yanling and let Peng Quan go, so the heavens won't have such a thing?" After a while, Zhu Youtang finally asked this question.

Xiao Jingxin said, I rely on it.

Why didn't I ask about this before I left?I was still thinking that I should have asked all the questions, but I was really careless.

At that time, Zhang Zhou should be detained and let him finish what he can say. Anyway, he is not in a hurry to enter the arena, so why let him go?Now I have no chance to bring him back and ask him.

Dai Yi tentatively said: "Your Majesty, it should be... maybe."

Zhu Youtang didn't comment.

Chen Kuan on the side interjected: "Such things are not so mysterious, are they?"

Saying that when an earthquake occurs, an earthquake will occur?Where did it happen?Do you really think you are a fairy?
Several eunuchs looked at Chen Kuan again.

The eyes seem to say, you, Chen Kuan, really dare to say anything, if it really happens, are you going to place a bet?

Zhu Youtang said coldly: "If I don't take any action against Yan Ling, and Jianchang Weizhen has another earthquake, then I... will have no place to be ashamed in front of my ministers!"

Dai Yi and the others pondered for a while.

The emperor was not confident, and was afraid that if he didn't deal with Zhang Yanling, he would anger the heavens.

When an earthquake occurs, you can completely say that it was a coincidence, but the problem is...the ministers and the people don't believe it, they will make use of it.

"Then why not, Your Majesty... small punishments and big punishments?" Dai Yi suggested.

It can be seen that the emperor doesn't want to punish Zhang Yanling, but also wants to punish Peng Quan regardless of right and wrong, so let's make a suggestion, let Peng Quan be released, and then punish Zhang Yanling with three drinks, maybe God will be exempted from punishment?
Just as he was talking, a eunuch came to report at the door: "Your Majesty, the Empress invites you to come over."

"Come again!"

Zhu Youtang was also very annoyed when he heard that, he greeted Xiao Jing, "Go with me and explain to the queen clearly what Bing Kuan said."

"Yes!"

Xiao Jing didn't even dare to raise his head.

……

……

Inside Kunning Palace.

Zhu Youtang sat on the side, listening to his wife's complaints, but what he said was still nothing more than someone embarrassing the Zhang family.

"Queen, I understand your feelings, but have you ever thought that if I keep protecting Yan Ling, will God punish me? At that time, I am not helping Yan Ling, but harming him and Daming Guozuo Sheji..."

Zhu Youtang suddenly gained confidence now.

Before arguing with his wife, he always felt that he was the passive one, but with the backing of Zhang Zhou's so-called warning from heaven, he could stand up and argue with his wife.

Queen Zhang said: "Your Majesty, are those nonsense stories credible?"

"It's not all nonsense." Zhu Youtang looked at Xiao Jing who was standing beside him, "What are you talking about?"

Xiao Jing pondered over his words, and then said: "Your Majesty, Empress, servants have been outside the palace, and I have seen... that Mr. Zhang, he said that there may be warnings from heaven recently, to remind the court to punish evil and promote good. , if it goes against the will of God, a warning will be issued, or an earthquake may occur!"

Empress Zhang sneered, "Are the words of an alchemist so credible?"

Xiao Jingdao: "Empress, the previous earthquake in Xinye, Henan was predicted by Mr. Zhang, and he said that yesterday...in fact, Shaanxi and Ningxia have already experienced earthquakes, because they are farther away, and it is estimated that there will be two or three more earthquakes." Days to get the news."

Empress Zhang was originally full of resentment and a little unbelief.

But thinking of Zhang Zhou's previous prophecy, many things happened... Even she couldn't help but shudder.

Think about those too accurate.

What if this time...

"Your Majesty, now the alchemist is trying to provoke His Majesty's family affairs, will you ignore it?" Queen Zhang probably also felt that Zhang Zhou's prophecy might come true, so she changed her strategy and put pressure on her husband, "Besides, even if there is an earthquake , what does that have to do with the concubine's younger brother?"

"Uh-huh."

Zhu Youtang cleared his throat, suddenly felt that he had regained the dignity of a man, and gave Xiao Jing a wink, meaning you continue to talk.

Xiao Jingdao: "Empress, Mr. Zhang said that this earthquake may have occurred in Jianchangwei, Jianchang Mansion or Jianchang County."

Empress Zhang became anxious when she heard this: "This is nonsense! How could it happen in such a place by chance? He must have wanted to use this to speak to His Majesty. He regarded himself as an admonisher and asked His Majesty to punish Yanling. In the end, it didn't happen, so he said that His Majesty made up for it in time. In fact, it didn't happen in the first place."

When it came to the emotional part, Queen Zhang was so anxious that she almost cried.

"Queen, what's the matter with you?"

Sure enough, Zhu Youtang still couldn't stand his wife crying.

Before, he was still standing upright and pretending to be a real man, but now his nature was exposed, and he hurried to comfort his wife.

Empress Zhang said with tears: "The concubine didn't expect that someone would bully the Zhang family. Even if the concubine's younger brother was at fault, a group of people in Jianchangwei who used his name to do evil could still blame the younger brother. body?"

Whoops.

When Zhu Youtang heard it, even though Queen Zhang was still trying to argue, it sounded like... her tone had changed.

No longer saying that his brother is completely innocent, but saying that the fault lies with those thieves who impersonated Jian Changbo's reputation.

Zhu Youtang said: "The empress is right, I immediately issued an order to take away the Xiaoxiao around Jianchangwei! You can't let this kind of dirty water splash on Yanling again."

"Your Majesty, what about Zhang Bingkuan?"

Queen Zhang's pear blossoms bring rain.

That means, how about His Majesty also convict Zhang Zhou?
Zhu Youtang straightened his face and said: "Queen, I never thought that Bingkuan would use out of nothing ways to sow discord between me and the Queen's family, and he didn't intend to make things difficult for Yanling or let me punish anyone. I thought about it However, I'm afraid that even if I do something to make up for it, the heavens may still issue a warning."

Empress Zhang said: "That is, if His Majesty does or doesn't do anything, there will be warnings and earthquakes...then why blame Yan Ling?"

Zhu Youtang shook his head and said: "If you don't do anything and something happens, I will have no face to face my ministers. Otherwise, I will also take Yanling into the imperial prison. If the time limit is up and nothing happens, I will Just let him out."

"And what if it happens?"

Empress Zhang was reluctant.

"Then I might just..."

Zhu Youtang was also embarrassed to speak too thoroughly.

Zhang Yanling was taken into custody, and in the end there was a strong directional earthquake in Jianchangwei and other places, so I had to follow God's will and severely punish Zhang Yanling.

"Queen, I didn't punish for the sake of punishment, but actually to stop Youyou's mouth. I can only hope that if Yanling is taken into custody, the heavens will see my sincerity and will not convict you again."

(End of this chapter)