Chapter 308.1: Qi Yuans Number One Corrupt

Such a big matter naturally was pa.s.sed on first thing, and within an extremely short period of time, practically everyone in the entirety of Chongzhou Fu all knew, rapidly spreading to the county towns in the surrounding. At the same time, people were also sent to notify the other fu, especially Shannan Prefectures prefectural capital, Chuanzhou Fu. As the site for the Shannan Prefectures provincial exam, and also because currently in a special period, they need to have the preparation work taken care of well.

And as for the officials residing in the villas outer courtyard, after learning this matter, all mutually looked to one another in dismay, and afterwards, unanimously maintained their silence.

This truly was to not move was just that, but once moved, it was roaring thunder of ten thousand catties! Moreover, at this time, those students were already waiting extremely fretfully to begin with, not knowing when will be an end, even producing the feeling that the road ahead was uncertain and distant. His sudden move, without a doubt, was just a big heart-soothing pill. Furthermore, with the Prefectural Minister of Education being detained, they dont need to worry that the matter of the courtyard exam will repeat during the provincial exam, and also with him expressing that he will personally oversee, even deferentially asking his Majesty to personally draft the exam questions, it made everyone feel one hundred percent at ease.

In Jiangnans four prefecture and twenty-eight fu, with Shannan Prefecture as the start, can the three other prefectures still sit still? Regardless what their att.i.tude towards Jin Qinw.a.n.g was originally, at this time, there certainly wont be anyone that will give him trouble, and will even possibly flatter him, just hoping that the matter in their own territory can also settle quicker. After all, the supply of students was also a portion of ones political achievements. If unable to settle, then in this aspect, having the worst evaluation score, what it affected wasnt just the students future prospect.

After all, for the courtyard exam this time, it wasnt that every single fu all had problems arising, so the people that were anxious and fretful were truly too many.

As for the students of Chongzhou Fu, whod received the news first, regardless of whether or not they were planning on partic.i.p.ating in this years provincial exam, each and every one were all very excited. Previously, as expected, theyd wrongly accused Jin Qinw.a.n.g. Where was this taking no action? This was clearly having a plan inside, just waiting for the appropriate opportunity. There were quite a few that began excitedly packing, preparing to head to Chuanzhou Fu immediately.

Half a month, this time wasnt long. For them, because there was the ca.n.a.l directly connecting the two fu, coming and going was quick and convenient, but one has to know, for the people who lived in relatively remote areas, if because the family financial situation was poor, unable to continue waiting in the prefectural capital and thus helplessly returned home, to then rush over after receiving the news at this time, then have some situations arise, perhaps this half months time will just be gone.

But will people disdain that this time was too tight? No! Precisely the so called long nights, many dreams!

After the excitement slightly pa.s.sed, one couldnt help but worry about the people that partic.i.p.ated in the previous courtyard exam again. It was obvious, that exam, regardless of what the outcome was, it will certainly be considered invalid, and the people that originally were full of confidence, planning on partic.i.p.ating in the provincial exam afterwards, their thoughts can only fall through. This really wasnt anything, at worst just coming again next year to take the provincial exam, and in fact, can even catch up with the metropolitan exam the following year, beautifully fantasizing for a moment. One has to know, so far, theres still a portion of people with conclusive evidence of having partic.i.p.ated in fraud locked up in the prisons. If truly one harboring sinister motives, then so be it, but clearly for quite a few among them, it was due to all kinds of reasons, momentarily becoming possessed, and the most innocent were those that had gotten set up by others. If they were to hereon be stripped of their qualifications to take the imperial exam, what will be ruined perhaps wont just be them alone.

Even if wanting to partic.i.p.ate in the provincial exam, quite a few people at this time still stayed behind, wanting to see the final result.

And in reality, Jin Qinw.a.n.g truly didnt let them be disappointed. On the second day, the result completely came out. Such high efficiency truly was rare.

The people that were originally imprisoned, the ones that should be released got released, the ones that should be detained got detained, the ones that should be punished got punished, and the main personnels that were involved also entirely kept in detention, and for the specific results, still need to wait for a further hearing, but one thing was for certain, and thats the officials that were involved, the official hat on their heads have all been removed already. All the details were posted on the notice board, not concealed in the slightest, able to be known by all.

(T/N: Saying they lost their official hat is another way of saying theyve been removed from their post.)

Regarding this bit, it was actually the result of Li Hong Yuan inquiring Jing Wans idea. This kind of completely open model had benefits in itself, so Jing Wan unhesitantly presented borrowed flowers to buddha. And Li Hong Yuan unexpectedly didnt have the slightest hesitation either, just fully accepting. This kind of ability to be able to accept anything that was beneficial, Jing Wan actually sincerely admired. This kind of person, even if on personal matters was self-centered, but on matters that benefited the country and the people was able to be rational, standing tall, seeing far, then even if not considered a wise ruler, still wont be that far off.

Its also that Li Hong Yuan didnt know Jing Wans thoughts, else he probably will laugh.

For someone like him, he wont care what others think, and also wont go justify anything to the people of the world either. His goal was just one, letting people know, who the person who came up with this idea was. Even if right now unable broadcast widely, as long as a few people know, then in the future, when it increasingly spreads, he will eventually be able to let her stand to the front of the stage, the peoples heart, the prestige.

Gathering popular sentiment, this kind of thing, Li Hong Yuan wont go do. He will only do what he should do, yet he will unhesitantly go raise Jing Wans position. Even if doing these things now might get suspected by the one on the throne, believing that he was borrowing his wifes name to commit devious things, he still wont hesitate.

Those that were originally in prison and already in despair never once thought that they not only would come out perfectly intact, but their originally dead end future prospects would actually also reignite the dawn again, because the people that merely just bought the exam questions didnt get permanently stripped of their qualifications to take the imperial exam, but rather just banned from the exam for three years. Three years, for a minority of scholars, was wasting time, because they have the ability to walk to the end in one step. For these people, even if knowing the exam questions, still wont lower themselves to go buy, but for a great majority of people, they have studied for many years, so three years, for them, was just studying for another three years, thats all, simply not having any influence. Moreover, for those that just unluckily became a scapegoat, not only was there no losses, they even obtained additional compensation. For people like these, they generally all didnt have a background, their family situation relatively poor, and the compensation given to them was that their names will be recorded in a booklet, and in the imperial exam afterwards, at any place, in the month leading up to and after the exam, the food and lodging expenses will entirely be shouldered by the imperial court, regardless of how many years they take the exam.

Regardless whether its the former or the latter, all in all, these people who originally were thought to be thoroughly out of luck, all had the joy of reaching a new peak from the winding mountain roads, especially the latter, even feeling that they were this fortunate, for a moment, crying tears of joy. And towards our wise and valiant emperor, that was shedding tears of grat.i.tude. En, the official statement was that this was his Majestys idea.

This similarly was Jing Wans masterpiece. For matters that would clearly win the hearts of the people, of course they need to have this honor pressed on Le Cheng Emperors head. This way was the safest after all.

Although Li Hong Yuan wasnt all that willing inside, but he also knew Jing Wan was entirely doing this for him. In the end, he could only nod.

The courtyard exam fraud case, in Chongzhou Fu, can be considered to have officially come to an end. However, towards this entire incident, this was actually just the beginning.

At the same time, at a time unknown to everyone, Chongzhou Fu even dispatched a batch of people to each county and each village to receive those exam candidates that had returned home. Jing Wans reasoning was very simple. Their many years of hard work was perhaps just waiting for this one time. For the wealthy, it was still okay, missing the opportunity was nothing more than just waiting another year, but for families where the entire family all starve themselves to provide for one scholar, they might not be able to hold on for another year. Moreover, for the time to be this tight, it was also because of her husband, so as a virtuous wife, she naturally needed to help deal with the aftermath.

T/N: Tbh we havent even started on the salt administration issue and this courtyard exam scandal is already a whirlwind on its own. I always like seeing how the author connects events and matters that seemingly appear to be completely unrelated. I have to say, for any clean and honest officials left in the area who arent involved, must be a s.h.i.+t time to be working here. In a way, despite LHY always being called a tyrant, hes a pretty good ruler.