Several other reviewers in Jukui Hall were suddenly shocked by Zhou Xu's yell.

Especially Wang Yining is older and can't stand such noises in the middle of the night. He covered his chest and took a long time to calm down his breath.

"Brother Gong Xu, what kind of article can make you so excited?"

"Brother Wentong, look, this article is truly wonderful. The whole article has profound ideas and a comfortable momentum. It especially sticks to the doctrine of the mean, which is completely different from other articles."

"The kaozi who wrote this article is a great talent."

Listening to Zhou Xu's praise, Wang Yining's curiosity was also aroused. As a colleague, he knew that the other party had been a pedantic for decades and would not easily give such comments to a candidate, so this article must be outstanding.

"Then I will also appreciate the strange texts that Brother Gong Xu said."

Wang Yining took the test paper and looked at it for a few times and couldn't help but nod. As Zhou Xu said, this article was written very well and was qualified to win the title of Jie Yuan.

"Brother Gong Xu has a unique vision, but I don't know which candidate wrote this article?"

The practice of getting along with the examiner in advance is not just Chen Yichen. Almost all candidates with a family background or talented scholars will do similar actions.

Many talented literati in Shuntian Prefecture would take the initiative to hand over the articles they wrote to the examiner or other Hanlin bachelors before the provincial examination.

On the one hand, I hope these Confucian masters will correct them, find out the shortcomings and deficiencies in the article, and improve their knowledge level.

On the other hand, I naturally hope that my article can leave a good impression on the examiners. Moreover, everyone has their own characteristics in writing style. Once the examiner is impressed, even if he is missed, he can roughly guess who wrote the article.

Therefore, the method of submitting articles is equivalent to the "cheating" of literati and scholars. Even if it is spread, it will not cause criticism from everyone. On the contrary, it will be praised by the world, thinking that this is Bole's unique vision.

Of course, there are risks in this method. If the examiner recognizes the wrong person, it will be embarrassing.

In history, Su Shi of the Northern Song Dynasty became the chief examiner one year. When he was reviewing the paper, he found that there was an article that looked very much like his disciple, so he gave the candidate high score.

As a result, when the results were released, my disciples did not have high school, I realized that I had recognized the wrong person.

Wang Yining has basically read the articles of well-known candidates in this provincial examination. This eight-legged essay has a unique idea of ​​solving the topic, a very good writing style, and a unique personal style. It can be recognized in theory.

But Wang Yining searched in his mind for a long time and couldn't think of someone he could match, so he asked Zhou Xu.

"this……"

Wang Yining's question really caused Zhou Xu to ask, and he didn't know who wrote the article.

Because Chen Yichen visited Zhou Xu's mansion, he basically didn't talk about any articles, poetry and essays, and focused more on calligraphy and Liu Qiu incidents.

The main reason is Chen Yichen. He was honest and had no confidence in facing a real Hanlin master like Zhou Xu and a master of imperial examinations. He was worried that his mediocre poetry and essay level would reveal his mediocre poetry, so he played to his strengths and avoided his weaknesses and showed more of his calligraphy skills.

So after this wave of operation, Zhou Xu realized now that he had never read Chen Yichen's articles, so how could he give him preferential treatment?

Thinking of this, Zhou Xu was a little shocked. Fresh candidates came to visit the examiner with some thoughts, and both sides knew this.

After the thousand-year imperial examination, it has become a conventional way. Even as an old scholar, Zhou Xu does not dislike the behavior of the candidates. As long as he has real knowledge, what's wrong with paying attention to the other party?

Isn’t it just to seek talented people for the country?

Chen Yichen visited her but did not show the article in order to give preferential treatment to the imperial examination, which is very unreasonable.

Could it be that I looked down on Chen Yichen and that I came to visit me just for the exchange of calligraphy and literature?

If this is true, Chen Yichen has a noble character to be able to face the temptation of the imperial examination and be unmoved.

The ancient saints were just like this, right?

Chen Yichen didn't know what Zhou Xu was thinking at this time. If he knew, he would probably be confused.

I never expected that the guilty behavior has become a saint's behavior, so how can I understand it like this?

"I can't guess who wrote this."

"Brother Gong Xu can't guess it. It seems that this Shuntian Provincial Examination has produced many talents."

"Then put this volume aside and wait for the final ranking."

"Just as Brother Gong Xu said."

Chen Yichen's test paper was placed in the best ranks, waiting for the final ranking of the provincial examination.

A few days later, in Jukui Hall, the faces of several examiners became more and more haggard.

The test papers piled up in the room have been reviewed at this moment, and the test papers of 135 high-end students have been selected. Ten of them will participate in the final competition between Jie Yuan and Wu Jing Kui.

However, the one who really has the strength to compete for Jie Yuan is the two test papers placed in front of Zhou Xu and Wang Yining. As the examiners of Yingtian’s provincial examination, they have the right to decide on the rankings.

"Brother Wen Tong, these two articles seem to be in line with each other in my opinion. I wonder what you think?"

Zhou Xu's two articles, one of which was written by Chen Yichen, and the other one was an article that Wang Yining called the masterpiece of Jingkui before.

The idea of ​​solving the topic in that article is biased towards Zhang Juzheng, who is mainly pragmatic, and it just happens to be of two different styles with Chen Yichen, and it is indeed the same as that of Chen Yichen.

"Everything is based on Brother Gong Xu's judgment."

Although the examiner of the Ming Dynasty did not have a clear distinction between the main and the deputy, in fact, everyone knew in their hearts that this was just Zhou Xu being polite to show that he did not have a single word.

If you don’t even have this little bit of vision in the officialdom, you will probably be disappointed.

However, Wang Yining was still a little selfish. When he said this, he pushed the test paper he liked slightly to express his attitude.

Even if Zhou Xu was not good at being an official, he had been in the officialdom of the capital for decades, and this hint could be seen.

So he looked at several fellow examiners and wanted to ask them all for their opinions.

"Xiaoguan believes that the articles recommended by Lord Wang are solid, without luxury, and are both practical and practical, and can be regarded as a masterpiece of Jieyuan."

Under normal circumstances, the examiners will follow the chief examiner’s eyes and will not have any objections.

However, Zhou Xu has not moved in the Hanlin Academy for decades, and the possibility of high promotion is unlikely.

Now Yang Shiqi, the three Yangs in the cabinet, passed away this year. Yang Pu is old and ready to retire. Ma Yu, the substitute cabinet down payment, is not in good health. It is estimated that he will not last long to beg for bones. This is equivalent to half of the cabinet being empty.

Rumor is that Wang Yining will be promoted to Minister of Rites and will make up for the lack of cabinet as the Minister of the Court. The prospects are obviously far beyond Zhou Xu. If you don’t hold on to your thighs at this time, when will you wait?

"I think the articles recommended by Master Zhou are better. The doctrine of the mean is the great way that our Confucian scholars have pursued throughout their lives. If this candidate can apply what he has learned to write it into his articles, he should win the lead!"

"The officials have objections, I think..."

"How can the great way be refuted? I don't agree with it..."

No one expected that the Jukuitang's paper marking officials would be divided into two factions because of the two candidate exam papers, and they began to argue.

"Dear colleagues, please be careful not to be impatient. Please make sure Lord Zhou decide this matter!"

Wang Yining spoke out to calm the disputes in Jukui Hall and kicked the ball back to Zhou Xu.

At this time, Zhou Xu was also a little difficult to get off the test. If there was no such debate, he would probably have won the test paper directly.

As a result, there is now controversy, and if I prefer the article, I may be suspected of being arbitrary.

An old scholar like Zhou Xu cares about the reputation of literati the most.

"Since you colleagues have difficulty making a judgment, then just select the two or three test papers and then divide them into the top and bottom?"

Hearing this method, the other examiners also found it reasonable and nodded in detail and said:

Master Zhou said very much."

“So very good.”

"The official is going to find the remaining test papers."

Soon, the two or three test papers of Shen Yichen and his competitors were selected, and the examiners stood at the table to review them together.

The second episode of the three questions "Online", "Priority", "Edict, Edict, Foreword, Internal Medicine" were written in an ordinary way, and they reached the passing level, and there was no distinction between high and low.

However, in the third game, Shen Yichen's articles were able to crush the opponents, format, content, opinions, etc., which were more than one level higher than competitors.

Even from the writing style, he doesn’t look like a fresh new student at all, but more like a written by a veteran in the officialdom. His style is very sophisticated!

Seeing this scene, the winner's smile appeared on Zhou Xu's face, and then he set his tone: "Dear colleagues, I will take the candidate with the number 7 of Yuzi's name as the candidate who was the Yingtian Provincial Examination in Jiazi. Do you have any objections?"

"We have no objection."

Zhou Xu had the right to force the ZTE, and now he uses the strength of the candidates to speak. How could he have any objections?

Even the examiner who was arguing before was convinced at this moment, what is there to say if the skills are not as good as others?

"Since that's the case, then take the candidate's ink scroll and open it and check it."

The test papers handed over to the examiner for review after the provincial examination are copied are called red papers because they are copied with a red ink pen.

Once you decide to win the ranking, you must take out the sealed ink scrolls of candidates and then check it. Only after confirming that it is correct can you officially win the rankings and you can publish the list.

Soon, the ink scrolls of Shen Yichen and others were sent by the test paper officer. Even before the Mifeng was opened, Zhou Xu had already recognized who the candidate was, just looking at the hand words on the test paper, and a surprise arose in his heart.

At the same time, Wang Yining, who was beside him, looked at the ink scroll handed over, but sighed secretly.

Because he had long recognized who the test paper was, now he was able to confirm that he had lost and understand the Yuan dispute, so he was naturally a little discouraged.

As Mi Feng was disassembled, the names of candidates on the head of the paper also appeared in the eyes of all the reviewers.

At the beginning of the Jieyuan test paper, a line of small characters are neatly written.
Chapter completed!