Chapter 8 Fairness
In a quiet hall, Zhang Sheng and Sun Yu sat on the left and right. After they sat down, Sun Yu handed over a piece of jade-colored paper and a black jade box, saying, "This is the new regulations, and this is Liquan powder."
The jade-colored paper was originally blank, but after it fell into Zhang Sheng's hands, a large number of densely packed small characters appeared, stacked layer by layer, a total of dozens of layers. The regulations were tens of thousands of words, but it only took Zhang Sheng a few breaths to read them all.
After just a glance, Zhang Sheng said, "Such a big change, is this the work of the Dingxin faction?"
Sun Yu picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, saying, "When my junior brother went down the mountain, the Dingxin faction had already gained the upper hand. In recent years, a large number of young disciples have joined, and their momentum is getting stronger and stronger. The Zhigu faction gradually can't resist. This unified examination regulations are indeed from the Dingxin faction, and then the various high-ranking families have more or less interfered, and finally it is like this."
Zhang Sheng frowned and said, "Isn't this military test prepared for high-ranking families? They can form a team by reporting their identities, and children from ordinary families can only be pawns. Besides, how can ordinary children have the opportunity to learn the art of war? Even if they want to learn, where can they find a famous teacher who is truly proficient in the art of war and has won battles? Even if they can put together a team, they will eventually be stepping stones for others."
"The military examination is indeed designed for the aristocratic families, otherwise the new regulations cannot be implemented. The Reformists have far-reaching ambitions, and the new regulations are just the first step, so they need the support of the aristocratic families."
Zhang Sheng said slowly: "But the palace deliberately gave these places, intending to recruit sons of luck, and now they have become the possession of the noble families. What's the difference?"
Sun Yu sighed and said: "When my junior brother's Taoism is more mature in the future, if you can't stand such things, it is not impossible to change them."
Sun Yu said it tactfully, but Zhang Sheng naturally understood what he meant, and sighed: "Forget it, I can't care so much about other people's affairs. Anyway, I have a place specially allocated for Yuan'er in my Tianqing Palace. I'll finish the exam sooner and return to the mountain to recover my Taoist power, so as not to be annoyed by looking at them."
Sun Yu said nothing, just looked straight ahead, as if the Taoist ancestors were preaching and the immortals were showing wonders on the opposite wall.
Zhang Sheng's smile gradually disappeared, and he said in a deep voice: "Why, someone dares to take Yuan'er's quota?"
Sun Yu looked wooden, and said: "Junior brother, the unified examination is such a big event, and countless people are watching. I'm afraid we can't show favoritism."
"Preference? I reported it to the palace a month ago. This quota was given by my Tianqing Hall's Xuanyue Patriarch. It has nothing to do with others. How can it be favoritism?"
Sun Yu gritted his teeth and said: "I'll tell you the truth! This time, the palace originally issued two quotas to recruit the sons of destiny. But there are too many people who want to compete for the quotas, and they can't be divided. Someone has set his eyes on the quota of your Tianqing Hall. Several prominent families have united to put pressure on the palace, demanding that all quotas must be fairly competed according to grades, and they must not be privately granted. According to the regulations, it should be so. The palace has no choice but to release all three quotas and recruit them fairly according to grades."
"Your appetite is really getting bigger and bigger, and you're even taking advantage of my Tianqing Palace..." Zhang Sheng's eyes gradually showed a sharp light, and he said coldly: "How many families are competing for these three places?"
"As far as I know, there are five families whose disciples' strength and preparation before the exam are similar, and it's hard to tell who's better."
At this point, Zhang Sheng naturally understood. At least five high-ranking families are competing for the three places in Taichu Palace. They are evenly matched, and because they all have means, they must eliminate extra means and let the five families compete fairly.
Looking at Zhang Sheng's face, Sun Yu hurriedly said: "Master Fenhai also asked me to bring you eight words: Don't go beyond the rules, let nature take its course."
Zhang Sheng had no expression on his face.
Sun Yu gritted his teeth and said in a low voice: "Your disciple is still young, and the next one will only be eleven years old. We will find a way to get your disciple to a county with quotas. Others can find blood relatives, so why can't we?"
"Also, several real people are very happy that you came back this time, and specially appointed you as one of the seven judges for this unified examination. With this position, the next batch of disciples should be secure."
As he spoke, Sun Yu handed over a jade tablet. The tablet was the size of a palm, with auspicious beasts carved on it, and the word "Pingyi" in the center, with Taoist power flowing between the strokes.
According to the unified examination regulations, the position of the judge is extremely important, and can increase or decrease the scores of candidates within a certain range. Therefore, being a judge has its own obvious and hidden benefits. First of all, all candidates who pass the exam will regard the judges as half a teacher, and the families behind them will also come to make friends. This time, Fengyuan County has gathered its luck, the competition is unprecedentedly fierce, and the famous families are gathered, no less than the most famous counties in the world. Therefore, the weight of this review is ten or a hundred times greater than usual.
As a judge, the famous families competing for the quota will have to owe Zhang Sheng a favor. Then when it is Zhang Sheng's turn to send Wei Yuan to the palace next time, they will have to do something more or less. If they operate properly, they will have a 60% to 70% chance of getting a quota.
Zhang Sheng knew that this was a compensation for the quota in Tianqing Palace.
Zhang Sheng's eyes gradually became deep, and he said slowly: "Yuan'er has good fortune, how can he delay for five years? If his good fortune dissipates, then his path to immortality will be cut off. The path to immortality is difficult, and every moment counts. This is a battle for the great way, and as a teacher, I should stand in front! Since those people have such a big appetite, I will try their methods!"
"Junior brother..." Sun Yu wanted to persuade him, but was stopped by Zhang Sheng raising his hand.
Zhang Sheng stood up and paced, walking back and forth in the hall for several circles, and then he stood still, staring at Sun Yu with clear eyes: "Senior brother, you are the supervisor of this unified examination, right?"
Sun Yu nodded: "It's just that he is in charge of all mundane affairs."
"Are there any other commentators in my Taichu Palace?"
"There is another one, Senior Brother Fufeng from Tianji Hall. Senior Brother Fufeng has a straightforward personality. Although we don't have much contact with each other, he should be inclined to us when commenting."
Zhang Sheng shook his head: "Not necessarily."
Sun Yu was stunned, and then he understood. Taoist Fufeng is different from Zhang Sheng. He must have some bias when he serves as a judge, otherwise why would those aristocratic families let him sit in this position? Now Xiao Weiyuan wants to snatch food from the tiger's mouth, which naturally opposes Taoist Fufeng.
Zhang Sheng stretched out his hand and said, "Let me see the list of students taking the exam this time first."
Sun Yu was shocked and said, "This, this is against the rules! I..."
Under the clear gaze of Zhang Sheng, Sun Yu's face changed several times. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said fiercely, "Since it must be fair, it must be absolutely fair! They have already penetrated the rules into a sieve, and we don't need to be pedantic! Junior brother, wait a moment, I will get it!"
After a while, Sun Yu returned and handed Zhang Sheng a piece of jade paper, which listed the information of all the candidates in this session in detail. Zhang Sheng took it and looked at it carefully. There was
silence in the hall.
Sun Yu poured himself a cup of tea, but his hands were shaking a little, and a few drops of tea splashed out. But when the cup reached his lips, it was finally as steady as an old dog.
(End of this chapter)