RPAGF Chapter 36 The County Examination Ends! Chunyu Offers Money as a Gift
Chapter 36 The County Examination Ends! Chunyu Offers Money as a Gift
Young people are most anxious, and Ma Xiuying saw this but only smiled faintly.
Because the imperial censors were supervising the exam, the candidates entered the examination room quickly, and it was soon Ma Xiuying's turn.
The clerk was engrossed in checking the information in the record book, one hand outstretched forward, half his body leaning back in mid-air, not retracting it for a long time, as if it had some other meaning.
Seeing this, Ma Xiuying asked softly, "May I go in now?"
The clerk in his black robes chuckled, then sized him up, his tone slightly disdainful: "Where did this rich scholar come from?"
"Don't you even know the rules? Hurry up and give me some money, then get in."
"hehe."
A cold glint flashed across Ma Xiuying's face, followed by a soft laugh.
First came the corruption in the military garrisons, then the bribery in the county government.
The Ming Dynasty has only been established for a few years. It is a time of renewal and reconstruction, yet so many corrupt officials have already appeared.
The big rats aren't in the imperial court, but in the common people, and there seem to be quite a lot of them; you can see them everywhere.
It's really quite laughable.
How is the Ming Dynasty any different from the former Yuan Dynasty in terms of such behavior?
"Do you even know who he is? How dare you demand such a thing? You little clerk, you probably don't want your skin anymore."
Upon seeing this, many people in the group burst into laughter, and other scholars also discussed and mocked the situation.
"It's one thing for a lowly county official to make things difficult for us ordinary folks, but he even dares to make things difficult for the little prodigy of my Qingfeng County, who was blessed with good fortune. He really doesn't know what's good for him."
"Call your parents out here. Let's see what kind of behavior he has. Nobody told you that even the magistrate of Qingfeng County has to show some respect to a child prodigy. When did it become your place to be so insolent, you little lackey?"
"It's easier to deal with the King of Hell than his underlings."
One person speaks out, ten people echo, and a hundred people respond.
The clamor of the scholars was like a tsunami, instantly engulfing the petty official before them.
Looking at the minor official, he was already terrified out of his wits, his face filled with fear and extremely pale. Standing in the drizzling rain, he looked like a drowned rat, and there was no trace of his previous smugness left.
"So you must be the prodigy. I'm so sorry for rudeness earlier. Here's a small token of my respect. Please come in quickly."
The clerk bent over, his face full of flattery and ingratiation, and handed over a silver ingot.
Upon seeing this, Ma Xiuying slapped the money away and stared at the other person with a cold expression: "Why did you do that just now?"
"This...this..."
The clerk was so anxious that he stammered, his voice mournful as if he had suffered a great injustice. As if possessed, he blurted out his true feelings, "Brother, I thought you were just an ordinary commoner, so I... I'm really sorry. Brother, you see, this money isn't enough, I have more here."
talking.
He hurriedly reached for his money again.
This time, Ma Xiuying reached out and took the money.
The clerk's expression immediately relaxed when he saw him accept the money.
But the next moment, Ma Xiuying's question not only startled him, but also stunned everyone at the exam registration office: "Was this done by you alone, or by many people?"
There were four major cases during the Hongwu era: the Hu Weiyong case, the Empty Seal case, the case of Guo Huan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and the Lan Yu case.
The cases involved countless murders and implicated tens of thousands of officials.
The person in charge of the case was Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the dynasty, and the person in charge of the first three major cases all involved the crown prince Zhu Biao.
The Zhu family never believed in the idea that "the law does not punish the masses," and that if one person can be killed, so can many.
Not a family, do not enter the door.
As the reigning empress, Ma Xiuying, though a woman, was no less capable than any man.
If a man can kill, why can't she?
As soon as Ma Xiuying asked this question, the overwhelming chorus of agreement behind her abruptly stopped, as if it had never happened.
Not all scholars are gentlemen.
A virtuous person is not afraid of power, but will remain silent; how much more so these scholars who seek profit and avoid harm?
Silent gazes met and hovered in mid-air before focusing on Ma Xiuying and the official in black robes.
The official was already trembling with fear, his sweat and rain mingling together, making it impossible to tell whether it was rain or sweat on his face.
"Hurry up and speak! Can't you see the child prodigy is asking you a question?"
A steady and powerful voice rang out.
Then Huo Tianlang, the county magistrate of Qingfeng County, strolled over.
He had met Ma Wenxiang once before.
At Huo Tianlang's words, the struggling clerk in black robes immediately knelt down in front of Ma Xiuying, an eleven or twelve-year-old child, with his body prostrate on the ground and his buttocks sticking up high, like a stray dog that had been abandoned and could only exchange this pitiful appearance of abandoning dignity for a last bit of hope.
"The time has come, young friend, it's time for you to enter."
Huo Tianlang said in a gentle tone.
Ma Xiuying gave him a deep look, already having made up her mind. Not wanting to waste the time of the other scholars behind her, she stepped into the examination hall in front of her.
Just before she entered the examination hall, cheers of encouragement rang out again from the back of the line: "The magistrate is wise. Punishing such wicked officials has boosted the morale of us examinees and is of great benefit."
"Today, the county magistrate is taking the exam with my little prodigy from Qingfeng Xiangrui. This may become a legendary tale in the future."
"The child prodigy questioned the corrupt official on the spot, and his judgment was clear and insightful. How wonderful!"
Upon seeing this, a barely perceptible hint of disappointment flashed deep in Ma Xiuying's eyes.
After she sat down, the exam papers were handed out one by one. The topic of this county exam was "Now there are two words: 'to be an official'".
A thoughtful look flashed across Ma Xiuying's eyes. The events of just moments ago involuntarily returned to her mind. Her face hardened, and her pen danced across the paper as she wrote: "What should an official do?"
"To travel a thousand miles to become an official, is it only for the sake of wealth? To be a clean prefect for three years, accumulating ten thousand taels of silver? Is it for the sake of oneself, one's family, and one's relatives and friends?"
"Or should we speak up for the people? Or perhaps we can do both?"
Throughout history, there have been countless officials, including honest ones, corrupt ones, and wicked ones. What were their motives? Xunzi's theory of the inherent evil of human nature may offer an explanation.
"Now, Emperor Hongwu of our Great Ming Dynasty is strict in his administration. Is it possible to reform him? If so, may he be appointed..."
"To speak up for the people?!"
Just as Ma Xiuying was writing her essay in the examination hall, a noble person from Qingfeng County arrived as she had instructed.
The newcomer wore a square scarf and a blue robe, and carried a folding fan. A servant beside him held an umbrella to shield him from the rain.
This person was none other than Ma Jin.
His gaze drifted toward the examination hall, his mind replaying Ma Xiuying's actions. He secretly praised her, "When faced with injustice, she can weigh the pros and cons, knowing when to advance and when to retreat, when to yield and when to stand firm. She is truly a fine talent in the Ma family."
The county examination lasted for five days.
The test consisted of one thing each day for five days, with each thing lasting for one day. It was not that the test was conducted in the examination room every day.
As the first day of the exam ended, Ma Xiuying filed out with the other candidates.
"Brother Wenxiang, do you still remember me? Back in the private school, you spoke about the Eight-Legged Essay, and I was amazed. That scene is still vivid in my mind."