Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Chapter 1481 An Unprecedented Event

The surrounding examinees fell silent.

Everyone looked at Zhu Qiwu, at this boy who was even younger than them, standing in front of three fierce-looking men, speaking word by word.

Scarface's hands began to tremble.

"You...you shut up! Let me tell you, Zhang Wang said that anyone who dares to take the imperial examination in Yingtian Prefecture is going against the entire Jiangnan region! If you know what's good for you, you'll cancel this imperial examination, otherwise..."

"What else?"

A voice came from behind the crowd.

The crowd parted automatically, and Zhu Yuanzhang walked in.

He was still dressed in the same coarse cloth clothes, with a blue cloth wrapped around his head and straw sandals on his feet. But the moment he walked in, everyone felt the air grow colder.

When Scarface saw Zhu Yuanzhang, the short knife in his hand clattered to the ground.

He didn't recognize Zhu Yuanzhang, but he recognized Xu Da and Zhou Dexing, who stood behind him. Who in Yingtian Prefecture didn't recognize those two faces? They were ruthless killers.

"You...you are..."

Zhu Yuanzhang walked up to the scarred man and looked down at him.

"You just said that anyone who dares to take the special imperial examination is going against the entire Jiangnan region?"

Scarface's legs went weak, and he knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"I...I was wrong...I was forced...Zhang Wang sent me here..."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't look at him, but turned to the candidates.

"Listen up, all of you," Zhu Yuanzhang's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear. "The special imperial examination is real. If you pass, you'll be given an official position, a salary, and land. Anyone who doesn't believe it can take the exam now. If you pass, I, Zhu Yuanzhang, will personally appoint you to an official position."

Fang Zijing got up from the ground, still clutching the half-torn notice in his hand, tears streaming down his face.

Zhu Yuanzhang walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder.

“Young man, the notice is torn down, I’ll have someone write another one. Your injury will be treated. Continue helping Qi Wu with Enke’s matter.”

Fang Zijing nodded vigorously, unable to speak.

Zhu Yuanzhang then turned to the scarred-face man and said to Tang He, "Take him away and interrogate him. Find out all of Zhang Shicheng's associates in Yingtian Prefecture."

Tang picked up Scarface like a chick.

"Come on, let's go have some tea."

The three men in black were dragged away, and order was restored at the registration area.

Zhu Qiwu had the imperial examination notice rewritten and posted in the most conspicuous place. Fang Zijing's injuries were taken to the clinic for treatment, but he refused to leave and insisted on staying at the registration office to help.

Zhu Qiwu looked at his swollen face and felt a pang of unease.

"Fang Zijing, go back and rest."

“No.” Fang Zijing shook his head. “Seventh Young Master, I’m fine. What’s a little injury? I’ve waited three years for this day. No one will let me leave.”

Zhu Qiwu did not try to persuade him further.

He turned around and walked back, but after taking only a few steps, someone blocked his way.

He was a burly man carrying an iron hammer, his face covered in black and red patches.

Sun Tiezhu.

"You're Zhu Qiwu?" Sun Tiezhu looked him up and down.

"it's me."

"I heard you're planning to dig a well outside the city?"

"Yes."

“I’ll do the work,” Sun Tiezhu slammed his hammer on the ground. “I don’t want wages, just meals. But there’s one condition—the wells we drill must be for the people to use. Those officials can’t be allowed to occupy them.”

Zhu Qiwu looked at Sun Tiezhu, and his talent appraisal technique automatically activated—Name: Sun Tiezhu. Occupation: Blacksmith. Martial Arts: Intermediate. Temperament: Fierce. Loyalty: Superior. Talent: Superior.

Same as last time.

“Okay,” Zhu Qiwu said. “Food will be provided, enough to fill you up. Once the well is dug, anyone can use it.”

Sun Tiezhu grinned, revealing a set of white teeth.

"Then it's settled."

He shouldered the iron hammer and strode out of the city.

As Zhu Qiwu watched his retreating figure, he suddenly felt that perhaps the world could truly change.

By the time they returned to the Wu King's residence, it was almost dark.

Zhu Yuanzhang was still in the council hall, with a bowl of porridge and two steamed buns in front of him, eating while reading military reports.

"Fourth Brother, Fang Zijing's matter has been settled. Sun Tiezhu has also arrived, and we can start drilling the well tomorrow."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, put down the military report, and looked at Zhu Qiwu.

"Seven-five, what you said at the registration desk today was correct."

Zhu Qiwu was taken aback: "Fourth Brother, you heard that?"

“I’ve been standing at the back all along,” Zhu Yuanzhang said. “You say I came from humble beginnings, that’s true. But so what if I came from humble beginnings? Can’t people from humble beginnings ensure that everyone in the world has enough to eat?”

Zhu Qiwu laughed: "Fourth Brother, it's good that you think that way."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed, but after he finished laughing, his expression turned serious again.

"July 5th, what do you think of Zhang Shicheng's letter?"

"No way," Zhu Qiwu said decisively. "He wants three counties, which is tantamount to taking our lives. If he gives us three counties today, he'll want six tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow the entire Yingtian Prefecture. We can't let him get away with this."

"But what if he really joins forces with Chen Youliang's former subordinates?"

Zhu Qiwu thought for a moment and said, "Then let's strike first. Fourth Brother, we can't delay any longer regarding the special imperial examination. We need to finish the examination, select the candidates, and appoint officials before Zhang Shicheng makes his move. Once those new officials are in office, it won't be so easy for Zhang Shicheng to poach people."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Qiwu with a complex expression in his eyes.

"You little rascal, sometimes you're even tougher than me."

“It’s not about being ruthless, it’s about being fast,” Zhu Qiwu said. “Fourth Brother, in this world, if you don’t advance, you fall behind. If we’re a step behind, Zhang Shicheng will be a step ahead. We can’t wait.”

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent for a while, then stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night outside.

The night in Yingtian Prefecture was very quiet, with the faint sound of the Qinhuai River drifting over, as if the ancient city was singing softly.

"75."

"exist."

"The special imperial examination will be moved forward." Zhu Yuanzhang turned around, his gaze resolute. "Originally scheduled for the fifteenth of next month, it will be moved to the eighth of next month. Seven days earlier. I want to finish this special imperial examination before Zhang Shicheng can react."

Zhu Qiwu's heart skipped a beat.

The eighth day of next month, which is twelve days from now. In those twelve days, all the tasks of setting questions, grading papers, administering exams, announcing results, and awarding official titles must be completed.

Time is tight, but it's not impossible.

“Okay.” Zhu Qiwu stood up. “I’ll start setting the questions tonight.”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, and then said something that surprised Zhu Qiwu.

"Seven-Five, I've had someone try your rice-growing method. It's in Liujia Village outside the city; we'll test it on ten mu (approximately 1.3 acres) first. If it works, I'll give you the top credit."

Zhu Qiwu laughed: "Fourth Brother, whether we get the most credit or not isn't important. What's important is that the people of Liujia Village can eat the food they grow themselves."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him, and the corners of his mouth slowly turned up.

"You little rascal, just like your fourth brother, soft-hearted."

"Isn't it good to be soft-hearted?"

"Good," Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Only those with a soft heart can win the world."

As Zhu Qiwu walked out of the council hall, a night breeze blew by, carrying the scent of the Qinhuai River and the smell of cooking smoke from the distant military camp.

He touched the agricultural technology manual in his pocket, and then the short knife he had confiscated from Chen Liang.

Twelve days.

The battle with Zhang Shicheng has entered its final countdown.

When Zhu Qiwu returned to his courtyard, it was already past midnight.

He lit a candle, spread the agricultural technology manual on the table, and took out a stack of blank Xuan paper, preparing to start setting the exam questions. Enke moved the exam to the eighth day of next month, which is twelve days later. In those twelve days, he had to finish setting all the questions for the three exams, and also arrange the exam venues, examiners, and invigilators.

Time is as tight as a fully drawn bowstring.

He had just written a few words when there was a knock on the door.

"who?"

"I am Song Lian."

Zhu Qiwu opened the door, and Song Lian stood outside, holding a pot of tea in his hand. He had dark circles under his eyes, just like Zhu Qiwu.

"Jinglian, why aren't you asleep yet?"

Song Lian squeezed through the door and slammed the teapot on the table: "You haven't slept, how can I sleep? The special exam was moved up seven days; how many questions have been released yet?"

Zhu Qiwu pushed the Xuan paper with a few words written on it to him to see.

Song Lian picked it up and looked at it, then frowned.

"For the first Confucian classics exam, you asked, 'If you were the magistrate of a county, and the county suffered a disaster and there wasn't enough food, what would you do?' That was a good question, I have no objection. But for the second policy essay exam, you wrote, 'If you were the strategist of the King of Wu, and you had three things to do: first, fight Zhang Shicheng; second, win over Chen Youliang's former troops; and third, pacify the people. You could only do one thing first, which would you choose?' Seventh Prince, isn't that question too risky?"

"How do we take risks?"

"Think about it, those who come to take the imperial examination are all scholars, and what they fear most is offending someone. If you ask them to choose who to attack first, who to recruit first, and who to appease first, no matter which they choose, they will offend the other two groups. What if someone deliberately chooses the most offensive answer, trying to show off in front of you?"

Zhu Qiwu laughed: "Jinglian, I'm actually afraid the kind of person you're talking about won't come. Only those who dare to choose the most offensive answer have true courage. Those who don't dare, no matter how well they've memorized the text, will never become officials."

Song Lian thought for a moment and nodded: "You're right. But there's still one question—what do you plan to test on in the third practical exam?"

Zhu Qiwu stood up, walked to the map hanging on the wall, and drew a line on it with his finger.

"This is a test for governing the county," Zhu Qiwu said. "I'll give you three practical questions. First, I'll give you a mess—the county's granaries are empty, taxes aren't being collected, and the people are rioting. What do you do? Second, I'll give you an opportunity—you discover there's a river in the county that can be used for irrigation, but you need to organize three hundred villagers to work on it. How do you get them organized? Third, I'll give you a choice—a corrupt official comes from above and wants you to cooperate with him to extort money from the land. Do you cooperate or not?"

Song Lian gasped, "These three questions are all deadly."

“What I want is to risk lives,” Zhu Qiwu said. “What scholars lack most is not knowledge, but courage. The people I want to produce are not bookworms who can only memorize, but people who dare to work, dare to take responsibility, and dare to stand up against corrupt officials.”

Song Lian looked at Zhu Qiwu and suddenly smiled.

"Young Master Qiwu, now I understand why Master Bowen said you were even more ruthless than him."

"Ruthless?" Zhu Qiwu shook his head. "That's not ruthless, that's honest."

As the two were talking, footsteps came from outside the door again. This time, instead of knocking, they pushed the door open and came in.

Liu Bowen stood at the door, holding a folding fan in his hand, with a strange expression on his face.

“Mr. Bowen, you haven’t slept either?” Song Lian stood up and offered him his seat.

Liu Bowen waved his hand, did not sit down, but walked directly to the table, picked up the Xuan paper written by Zhu Qiwu and looked at it.

"Young Master Qiwu, I have an idea for the topic of the second essay contest."

"Sir, please speak."

Liu Bowen closed his folding fan and tapped it in his palm: "Your idea of ​​letting the examinees choose which task to do first is correct. But I think we can add another layer."

"What floor?"

"After they've made their choices, have them write a paragraph—'If you chose this, how do you plan to handle the other two things? Not that you won't do them, but you'll postpone them.' This way, it tests not only their courage but also their overall perspective."

Zhu Qiwu's eyes lit up.

"Good! This addition is excellent!" He picked up a brush, quickly made a few changes on the rice paper, and then handed it to Liu Bowen. "Sir, please take a look and see if this is acceptable?"

Liu Bowen took it, glanced at it, and slowly nodded: "Good. Even better than I expected."

The three of them sat around the table, discussing the matter one after another. Candles burned one after another, and pot after pot of tea were drunk.

The discussion continued until almost dawn before the questions for the three exams were finally finalized.

Zhu Qiwu copied the title of the final draft three times, giving one copy to Liu Bowen, one to Song Lian, and keeping one for himself.

"The topics are set; now it's up to the examiners," Zhu Qiwu said. "The first exam, on classical texts, will be reviewed by Mr. Bowen. The second, on policy essays, will be reviewed by Mr. Jinglian. The third, on practical matters..."

He paused, then looked at Liu Bowen.

"For the third practical exercise, I'd like to ask someone to review it."

"who?"

"He Wenchang."

Liu Bowen and Song Lian were both stunned.

“He Wenchang?” Song Lian said, “Young Master Qiwu, although He Wenchang is talented, he didn’t even pass the county-level examination. Letting him grade the practical examination papers is…”

"Am I not qualified?" Zhu Qiwu interjected. "Jinglian, let me ask you, when He Wenchang was reading under the tree in Liujia Village, did you talk to him?"

Song Lian nodded: "We talked. He shared many insightful ideas about governing the county."

“That’s enough,” Zhu Qiwu said. “The practical exam isn’t about fame and fortune, it’s about experience. He Wenchang has lived in Liujia Village for over twenty years; he knows better than anyone what the common people need. Letting him grade the third exam papers is better than letting any other successful candidate in the imperial examination.”

Liu Bowen pondered for a moment and said, "Young Master Qiwu is right. Let He Wenchang come then. However, he must be given a title, otherwise the candidates will not be satisfied."

“Give him the title of examiner for the special imperial examination,” Zhu Qiwu said. “In addition, add one more condition—all those who pass the special imperial examination must go to Liujia Village for a three-month internship, working alongside He Wenchang to learn how to govern a county.”

"An internship in Liu Family Village? Seventh Young Master, this... this is unprecedented!" (End of Chapter)