Chapter 825: Martial Arts Election is corrupt and has to be issued

The emperor led his troops outside, and there was an endless stream of news along the road. Tongzhou, Sanhe, Jizhou, Zunhua...... The daily military march is 80 miles to 100 miles, and the lines and stops are summarized one by one and reported to the Empress Dowager Zhang of Renshou Palace. The world's major events are summarized by the six cabinet departments, and they are reported to the newspaper with a fast horse. Although Zhu Zhanji was not the emperor who was about to kill people because he couldn't deliver a piece of music, and there was no prince in the country, Yang Shiqi, who had gone through the Five Dynasties, would naturally not be negligent in this kind of thing, and at the same time had to take care of the officials, households, rites, and military departments where the chief officials were not there.

Because Yang Shiqi believed that the head of the Ministry of Officials should be selected and should have people with qualifications and who could serve the public, and did not approve of Guo Jin taking over as Shangshu, Guo Jin is still acting as the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Officials. Jian Yi was not there, and Yang Shiqi questioned him a lot, so he became more and more cautious, because it was the day of the bi-monthly general election, except for the special purpose of the Shangshu Shilang and the cabinet scholars, the rest of the officials were all candidates proposed by the officials of the ministry, and the officials were so busy that their feet did not touch the ground, and Guo Jin, who knew that he was light, was more and more out of time to eat.

Compared with Guo Jin's trembling in the Ministry of Officials, Zhang Yue is very calm - although he is twice as young as Guo Jin, it is also the period of the general election of the Ministry of War, even if he did not care about the Military Selection Division before, Zhang Ben left with Zhu Zhanji, and he naturally had to pick up the matter here.

Because he was in charge of the affairs of the military department, he didn't have a time to go home every day, and when he had nothing to do, Shen Zhengsan went back, but when he had something, he had to make do with sleeping in the yamen for one night, so in addition to the firewood and rice grain provided by the official office for each room, when he didn't go home, the family had to send food, clothing, and silver bone charcoal to the yamen.

In the evening of that day, because the first-level list of governors and local commanders pushed by the five prefectures and the first-level list of local commanders were sent up, plus there were some miscellaneous matters to be discussed by the court tomorrow, although there was nothing to be done, Zhang Yue still had to let people go back to report the news, saying that he would not go back at night, and would stay in the yamen. However, when the lamp was held after the meal, someone outside reported that Hu Qianhu asked to see him.

Zhang Yue originally thought that Hu Qi was coming to do the business of Tatar or Nu'er, after all, the Son of Heaven was patrolling the border, who knew that after Hu Qi came in to attend the ceremony, he only mentioned a few words about the situation in the north, hesitated for a moment and then said: "If you have time tomorrow, you might as well take the time to go to the small school in the western suburbs of Beijing to have a look." The Armed Forces Selection Division is also to preside over the annual hereditary officer appointment competition. ”

"Is there anything you can't say directly?"

"My lord, forgive me, I have been staring only at the north side before my humble position, and I didn't pay attention to this end, but now I just listened to some gossip, saying that this competition is like a scene, and a year is not as good as a year. But this is only hearsay, and it is better for adults to see it in person. ”

Knowing that Hu Qi is a fine person, he must not really listen to the wind or the rain in front of him, Zhang Yue immediately flipped through tomorrow's schedule, and finally found that there was still a little free in the morning, so he immediately decided to go to the small school tomorrow to have a look. Here, Hu Qi saw that Zhang Yue agreed, but he didn't dare to stay longer, so he got up and hurriedly retired.

According to the new rules set at the beginning of Xuande, in addition to the three major battalions of the Beijing Division, the palm seals of the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, the Ministers, and the Shangguan of the Jinyi Guard, etc., were all pushed by the Five Prefectures Association, and they were immediately selected by the ministry. As for the middle and lower hereditary officers, etc., it is not so troublesome, and the annual competition does not even need to be a court official, but only a judge can decide with one word.

This day is an annual competition for children who have reached the age of 20 in military merit. Early in the morning, there were already many people wearing jackets in the small school field in the western suburbs of Beijing. At a glance from the small place, you can only see black heads, colorful clothes, and different accents, just like a vegetable market.

However, it is said that it is the style and color of the Hongwu period, but the jackets on these young children are different, and the rich ones in the family use cocoon silk, which is lined with thick cotton; The poor ones in the family are coarse cotton cloth, and there are not a few patches and patches. Groups of people who don't know each other, plus the hawkers who take advantage of this opportunity to do business every year, are naturally crowded here, and if you are not careful, you will be stepped on and your shoes will be taken off, and there will be a few black handprints on your good clothes.

This made a fuss for a while, and a member of the Military Selection Department of the Ministry of War and a director were late. After sitting down, the two of them didn't bother and signed up directly. At this time, the place that had just been noisy was quieter. With the name of the soap on the top, the one who was called came forward to salute, and then practiced the bow and horse weapons.

There are more than 200 people who have reached the age of 20 to inherit the military position, from the general flag to the command of the officer, etc., they are not equal, and they are examined one by one from high to low, among which there are only 12 people who try to ride and shoot bow horses, and there are more than 20 people who practice swords and guns, and the rest are all to report the names and surnames of their fathers and ancestors after going forward to salute, and then go to the side to take charge of the matter of taking the post after a few words.

Looking at this scene, Zhang Yue, who was standing with a horse at those small vendors not far away, frowned more and more, and happened to bump into Zhang Yue and his party at the city gate, so Fang Jing, who came to join in the fun, couldn't help but complain in a low voice.

"Most of the martial arts on the field are sparse, and there are other people who haven't even touched their weapons, and they still have to inherit the military position?"

"I thought that a new method of consideration should be used a long time ago, and the succession of military positions should be much stricter, but I didn't expect it to be like this to this day. If you don't look at it on a whim, I'm afraid you will ignore this one. If this general election only needs to kowtow a few times to pass, then why bother with a military election once a year and give out official positions one by one? ”

Although the discussion between the two was not loud, there was still a middle-aged vendor on the side who was familiar with this business and saw that they were people who came to see the excitement, so he stepped forward and smiled: "The two officials are here to see the excitement?" In fact, this election is the most uninteresting, the new officials don't have to compete at all, and the old officials just need to try to stuff a few dollars! There are not many battles in Hengzhi now, but they are really fought, and the court is hundreds of thousands of troops at every turn, and even if they step on them, they trample people to death. After receiving a military position and planting a few acres of land, life will be able to live. ”

Fang Jing saw that Zhang Yue's face was ugly, so he followed the peddler's tone and asked, "Then the military department doesn't care?" ”

"What's the point of that, if you really depose people, you will offend them to death! They are all insignificant petty officers, so why turn a blind eye? You don't know that the cousin of the military department, Lord Xiao Zhang? That's a famous one with outstanding merits, and this time he is not among the drivers, isn't it because he offended people because he did things seriously? I heard that this officer's strict examination was set by him, but others said that it was implemented, but in fact he didn't do it, how could he know! ”

After saying this, Zhang Yue's face became more and more gloomy, he didn't know the truth of deception, but he never thought that it would be so serious. He knew the two officers of the Military Election Department of the Ministry of War, and they seemed to be serious in their work, but they were slacking off on this, but it was conceivable that it was either due to the rules, or there was something else to do. For a while, he didn't bother to look any further, nodded to Hu Qipeng, 13 and the others who came with him, and simply got on the horse and prepared to leave.

Seeing that Zhang Yue was about to leave without saying a word, Fang Jing hurriedly slapped his horse to catch up, rushed forward to stop him, and then said: "Third brother, if you just leave like this, when the results of today's competition come out, it will be troublesome to turn over again." I know you don't want to make a big deal in front of you, and you don't want others to interfere in the affairs of the military department, but no matter what, you have to let the two of them have a number in their hearts. Why don't I go over and say a word? ”

Zhang Yue was holding his breath, planning to ask Wuxuan Shilang Zhongchaiche after returning to the military department, but at this time, after Fang Jing's reminder, he suddenly realized. Chaiche Jiushi Military Department, by the head of the Wuxuan Division and member of the Wailang, and later in Langzhong and the foreign head of the transfer, stumbling for a while, because of the personality of Geng Jie, and the relationship with colleagues and subordinates are extremely cold, and he worked with him during the period is still harmonious, as far as he knows, that should not be a person who will be neglected. If he had asked about this matter in the head, I am afraid that the consternation of the chariot would not have been much less than his. So, after a moment of silence, he nodded at Fang Jing.

"Okay, you go and say something. The election is a national event, not a child's play...... Wait, you told him that I was very dissatisfied after watching the competition, and I went back angrily and asked him if he was like this year or every year. ”

Zhou Ping'an, a member of the martial arts selection division who came to preside over this year's competition, and Shang Yong, the director, are both less experienced in the military department. The former was appointed from outside Zhizhou because of his outstanding performance, and some fellow villagers were promoted in the same year, so he was transferred to the most powerful military selection department of the Ministry of War; The latter was the chief of the Gourgys examination three years ago. Since Langzhong Chaiche is in charge of the five prefectures and the commander of the capital to make the commander of the first level, this competition has been presided over by the two of them for three consecutive years.

In the first year, I was still a little worried, but now after three years, I have long been handy with the story of virtual response, and now seeing that the sun is in the sky, Zhou Ping'an doesn't look at the young man who is riding and shooting, and turns his head to Shang Yong and says, "How many people are there?" ”

"There are only seven or eight left."

"It's a hassle to go through it like this every year! The world is peaceful, let them also bathe in the emperor's grace, if the grandfather is still there, how can these things be sparse? ”

Shang Yong lowered his head and looked through the book, and saw that those names were all on the top, he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and the corners of his mouth also sneered: "Those nobles only care about their own scenery, and they don't want to think about it, the military and politics below have become like this, how can they speak loudly in the future?" If you hadn't joined the Martial Arts Division, we wouldn't have known these old rules. It's sparse, it's sparse, and they're going to have a headache if they want to make trouble......"

As he was talking, he caught a glimpse of a henchman who was squeezing his eyebrows on the other side, and immediately beckoned someone to come up. Just as he was about to ask what was going on, the man bowed down and said, "Outside the Zhou Yuan, Shang is still in charge, and there is a person outside, saying that he came over on the order of Shao Sima, and he wants to see the two of them immediately." ”

Most of the small officials of the Yamen of the Ministry of War were born in the market, but the title of the official of the court is another set of Wen Crepe, Shang Yong is also easy to get used to after entering the ministry, at this time, as soon as he heard the three words of Shao Sima, he immediately asked: "Is it Zhang or Feng?" ”

"It's Lord Zhang."

As soon as he heard that it was Zhang, Shang Yong's face immediately changed, and after looking at Zhou Ping'an, he hurriedly ordered someone to come over. At this time, the two of them had no intention of paying attention to the competition in the field, but they were passed on by the scribe's roll call, but they didn't even look at those young children. After a long while, they saw a young man dressed in a half-worn stone cocoon cloth walking over under the guidance of a soap li. Zhou Ping'an's people in Beijing are more familiar, and he vaguely remembers seeing them, but he can't remember them for a while.

"Fang Jing has seen Zhou Yuanwai, and he is still in charge." After all, Fang Jing was a lifter, and when he saw that the two of them were just equal, he immediately said bluntly, "Lord Zhang just finished watching the competition, and he didn't want this annual competition to be like this, so he has already gone back." He sent me to ask the two of you, I don't know if it's this this year, or every year? ”

Just now, he was jokingly talking about the quality of these young officers today, but at this time, listening to Fang Jing's question, Zhou Ping'an and Shang Yong all turned pale. Beijing officials are hard, and high-ranking officials such as Gu Zuo and Yang Shiqi still take the collection of official fees as an unwritten rule, not to mention these low-grade officials? The Martial Arts Division presides over the competition and the general election every year, plus other inputs, in a private phrase, the university scholars are not changed. When Zhang Yue took office, the two were still a little worried, but seeing that Zhang Yue just hugged the Ministry Division and the Arsenal Division, their courage came back.

The diesel car known as Geng Jie didn't see through this trick, Zhang Yue didn't care about this stall, how could he pay attention? But now this person actually said that Zhang Yue had come, and asked such a sentence that made them tremble!

"You said you were here to deliver the word for Lord Zhang, where are the others of Lord Zhang?" Shang Yong propped up the table with his hand, leaned forward slightly, and had already made a calculation in his heart, "This is the important place for the military competition, you are an outsider, dare to trespass without any seal certificate?" ”

Zhou Ping'an was taken aback by Shang Yong's stern questioning. At this moment, he had already remembered who the young man in front of him was, and when he was about to remind him, he saw Shang Yong suddenly pointing at the man and shouting: "Come on, fork out this daring guy, don't let him disturb today's big competition!" ”

Fang Jing didn't expect such an ending, and when he was stunned, he was hit in the back of the head, and he suddenly felt that his eyes were dark. The soap next to him immediately came up and took the person away, but it looked like someone was helping him away. Faced with this momentary change, Zhou Ping'an only felt that his head was wooden, and when he was taken down, he looked at Shang Yong in shock and anger: "What are you doing!" ”

"What? Lao Zhou, you haven't heard of Butcher Zhang's reputation, he has been tossing around all these years, where has he lost his head? In front of him, let's not want to fool the past with the words old rules, even if this official skin is picked, don't make a fuss about this human skin! Shang Yong stared at Zhou Ping'an as he spoke, and said word by word, "This guy said that Zhang Yuanjie has left, if the person is there, forget it, if not...... At this time, the small school field is full of officers, and things are in your favor! ”

Although the seniority and age are above Shang Yong, but in the face of Shang Yong at this time, Zhou Ping'an didn't know what to say, and asked stupidly for a long time: "What's the advantage?" ”

"You don't have to worry about it...... You're here to watch! ”

Zhou Ping'an put down a sentence, and then no longer ignored the stunned Zhou Ping'an, called the two of them and left in a hurry.