Under the notice board in the city, a lot of people gathered again. Scholars, merchants, ordinary people, all kinds of people crowded here, the crowds were crowded, and they kept looking forward.

"What are you doing? Why are there so many people?" A man in fancy clothes and looking like a knight-errant asked, taking advantage of his tall body, while squeezing his way forward.

The people around him felt uncomfortable being squeezed by him and couldn't help but curse:

"Oh, why do you just follow me here if you don't know anything?"

"That's right, go, go, is this a place for you, a charlatan, to join in the fun!"

When the tall man heard this, he was even more unhappy. He looked like a wild boar, squeezing even harder, and said:

"What's wrong with us Jianghu people? Why don't you let us see it?"

Seeing that the situation was becoming increasingly chaotic, the Forbidden Army soldiers guarding the bulletin board did not dare to be careless and quickly stepped down to maintain order. They read the contents of the bulletin loudly and said:

"Don't be too crowded! His Majesty is so thirsty for talents today that he has specially opened the imperial examination system. On September 1st this year, he will hold an imperial examination ceremony to select talents for the country. Regardless of origin, age, or nationality, anyone can apply. If you have real talent

As soon as a practical scholar is accepted, he will become an official in the court!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd of scholars crowded at the front burst into cheers.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"We and other poor scholars will eventually find a way to serve the country. Long live Your Majesty!"

"Heaven has sent the Holy Lord to our Yun Kingdom. This is the great fortune of the Yun Kingdom and the great fortune of all the scholars in the world!"

"Long live! Long live!"

Loud cheers rang out, covering up the sound of the Forbidden Army soldiers reading the proclamation, so that the people crowded behind could not hear it clearly.

The Forbidden Army soldiers had no choice but to read the announcement again in a hoarse voice. After repeating this for many times, the Forbidden Army soldiers' voices became hoarse and weak, and finally everyone present knew the contents of the announcement.

When the lower-class scholars saw that the rumors of the past had finally come true, they were so excited that they burst into tears.

Every country in the world uses a recommendation system to select candidates for the country. Ordinary low-level scholars are not talented enough to be favored by nobles, and they have no connections to recommend them, so they have no way of becoming an official.

Xiao Cheng's move, although it was just a notice, finally gave these scholars a glimmer of hope. It was understandable that they were in trouble.

Several abbots, clad in cassocks and solemn treasures, who had just come out of the palace, were escorted by the imperial army and slowly headed towards Shanshiyuan. They happened to be passing by here.

Compared with these scholars who were running around telling each other with joyful expressions, the monks had gloomy and solemn faces, solemn eyes, and lowered their heads in silence, as if they were deep in thought. They had no reaction at all to the noisy and noisy activities outside.

None.

After passing through a few more streets, a group of forbidden troops sent the abbots to Shanshiyuan, bowed slightly and then turned around and left.

When the monks saw Shanshiyuan in front of them, they woke up slightly and looked at each other.

But these abbots, no matter how many thoughts they had in their hearts, they all closed their mouths and stood there, as if waiting for someone to react first.

But before they could make up their minds, Zhitong led several disciples out of the Shanshi Courtyard, bowed slowly to them, and said in a deep voice:

"Zhitong, a disciple of Taning Temple, pays homage to all my uncles and brothers!"

Several abbots' hearts skipped a beat, and they quickly put their hands together to return the salute and chanted the Buddha's name.

At this time, Zhitong looked at the abbots of various temples who had slightly different expressions. He keenly felt something was wrong. He frowned slightly and immediately said:

"Uncles and brothers, Abbot Huiqi of our temple has just arrived in the capital today and would like to invite you all to come and have a chat!"

When two or three of the abbots heard this, they immediately lowered their heads and saluted:

"Please report back to Senior Brother Huiqi, I will go there as soon as possible!"

At this time, Zhitong felt the bad feeling in his heart becoming more and more serious.

Among the abbots of these temples, a few of them lowered their heads in tacit understanding after looking at each other, and stood there without any reaction.

This fashionable and silent monk, although he did not explicitly reject Huiqi's agreement, since he did not open his mouth to accept it at this time, he has actually shown his attitude.

It's just that none of these monks want to be the first person, so they are waiting for others to speak first!

Finally, one of the youngest-looking monks couldn't stand it any longer. He stepped forward and bowed to Zhitong and his party, and said bluntly:

"Uncle Huiqi invited me, I shouldn't have declined. But I'm exhausted from giving lectures to His Majesty today, so I have to pay another visit later!"

After that, the monk bypassed Zhitong, who looked a little ugly, and went straight to the Shanshi Courtyard.

The first one to speak was Abbot Zhimi of Xiangji Temple. Among all the abbots, he was the youngest. Young people always have bigger ideas and are more impatient than others.

Seeing Abbot Zhimui leaving first, after a moment of hesitation, two or three other great monks stood up, bowed slightly to Zhitong, then walked around him and left.

The meaning of these people leaving in front of Zhitong at this time is naturally self-evident.

This is because he wants to come forward and compete for the position of the great mage!

Zhitong's mind suddenly changed, his face suddenly turned livid, and he gritted his teeth to hold back, thus preventing himself from losing his composure.

Upon seeing this, the remaining abbots of the big temples immediately came to Zhitong quickly and said in a deep voice:

"Take me quickly to find Master Huiqi!"

Zhitong looked at the serious expressions and urgent tone of these abbots, and his heart suddenly sank. He vaguely guessed that something had happened after entering the palace to meet the current His Majesty.

Zhitong couldn't think of anything else and said quickly:

"Everyone, please follow me!"

-----------------------

In the Xuanzheng Hall, Xiao Cheng was wearing a black crown, with twelve crowns on his head, and his face was covered with drapes, making it difficult to see his expression.

The ministers lined up and bowed, and they felt that the person sitting on the dragon throne was becoming more and more dignified and imposing, making people fear him and not dare to disobey him.

Guest Cao Shangshu walked out of the queue, bowed to Xiao Cheng, and said:

"Your Majesty, after several days of negotiations, we have finally reached a consensus on the truce between our country and the Xia Kingdom. The Xia Kingdom will compensate the people of our Yun Kingdom for the losses and the funds for the departure of the army, including 100,000 taels of gold and 1.2 million taels of silver in cash.

, copper coins can be converted into 100,000 taels, and silk and treasures can be converted into 50,000 taels. The total amount of silver can be converted into 2,350,000 taels."

The bottom line Xiao Cheng set was two million taels of silver, which was equivalent to three or a quarter of the annual income of the Yun Kingdom. Even for the Xia Kingdom, it was estimated to be more than 10% of the annual tax. As a result, the officials who served in Kecao were quite successful.

I got an extra three hundred and fifty thousand taels.

Just looking at the method of compensation, gold, silver, copper coins, and silk were all used to pay off the debt. Even if the existing treasury of the Xia Kingdom was not emptied, it would probably be about the same.

It has to be said that because the situation in the southwest states and counties has been turned upside down, the Xia Kingdom Court is really anxious, otherwise the peace talks will take at least another ten days and a half.

Xiao Cheng nodded and said in approval:

"good!"

Guest Cao Shangshu said quickly:

"This is all thanks to Your Majesty, I don't dare to take the credit!"

If Xiao Cheng hadn't insisted on asking for more during the peace talks, he wouldn't have been able to get so much.

"The envoy left for home yesterday. His Royal Highness, Prince Jin, the third prince of the Xia Kingdom, will personally lead the envoy here soon, so that the contract can be formally signed and the war can be stopped and repaired."

Xiao Cheng couldn't help but sneered when he heard this.

First, a mission was sent to seek peace and negotiate terms. After the two sides reached an agreement, the official came back to formally sign the contract. After going through such a complicated and formal process, the Xia Kingdom Court did not know how much more they would have to worry about the situation in the southwest.

"You, the guest, have full authority to deal with it. If I guess correctly, the Jin King of Xia Kingdom will arrive soon!" Xiao Cheng said casually.

"According to the order!"

After explaining the affairs of the Xia Kingdom, Xiao Cheng spoke again and said:

"The method of passing the examination has already begun to be implemented. Ma Minwen, the Order of the Chancellor, is personally supervising the process. Zhang Hong, the Right Chancellor of the Chancellor, and Cao Shangshu, will continue to be in charge of this matter. This is a trial implementation, so there is no need to worry about any mistakes or omissions!"

Qu Cheng, Zhang Hong, and the Minister of Civil Affairs all stepped forward, bowed and said:

"I sincerely obey His Majesty's decree!"

Xiao Cheng looked calm and continued:

"There is also the matter of the imperial examination, which is related to the selection of talents for the country, which is the most important matter today. I would like to add a Li Cao office under the Chancellor's desk, responsible for the five rites of Ji, Jia, Jun, Bin, and Ji.

Manage the national official schools, academies affairs, imperial examinations, recommend officials and other matters. All officials from Taichang Temple under Feng Chang's command will be appointed to the Ministry of Rites!"

At this time, there was no department of Rites among the Six Cao Cao. If anything, the responsibility of the Rites Department at this time, including offering sacrifices and selecting officials, was above that of the officials. In terms of etiquette and etiquette, Feng Chang, one of the Nine Qings, was in charge.

As for the original vassal vassal of the Ministry of Rites, Xiao Cheng still left the responsibility for foreign affairs in the hands of Ke Cao and did not choose to merge.

At this time, the officials in the court had long been punished by Xiao Cheng's methods and did not dare to say anything. Even Fengchang, one of the nine ministers who was directly deprived of all his powers at this time, no matter how much he complained in his heart, he did not dare to say anything.

Dare to stand up and speak out.

Ma Minwen was silent for a moment and said:

"To add a ceremonial officer, we also need a minister. Does your majesty have a suitable candidate?"

"The note for this imperial examination is the post of Li Cao Shangshu proposed by Zhang Zhao, so he will fill it!" Xiao Cheng said solemnly.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhao immediately came out of the queue and knelt on the ground, saying in a deep voice:

"My lord, thank you for your grace!"

Speaking of this, Xiao Cheng suddenly remembered something, looked at the minister's order, Qu Cheng, and said:

"Qing Qu, how is the reconstruction of Ganye Temple going now?"
To be continued...