Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5043 Gathering people to make trouble
The central government has repeatedly emphasized that the selection of officials this time must not be "privately granted" or "selling official positions and titles." However, Fang Jun, as the top person in the court, openly instructed the Ministry of Works to grant official positions to new Jinshi graduates. Isn't this knowingly breaking the law?

Later, it was revealed that the newly-appointed Jinshi Zhang Zizhou was a descendant of the Zhang family of Fanyang, and was related to the Lu family of Fanyang, from which Fang Xuanling's wife and Fang Jun's mother came. This trend became even more turbulent, and dozens of newly-appointed Jinshi from Jiangnan gathered in the Ministry of Personnel, filled with outrage and anger.

The drizzle outside the window could not extinguish the anger of the newly-appointed scholars. Zhu Wenyuan, who ranked 16th on the southern list, blushed and was filled with righteous indignation: "Is the so-called 'no private transfer' only aimed at us Jiangnan scholars? Zhang Zizhou was ranked in the top ten, but he was directly selected by the Ministry of Works just because he was related to Fang Jun, and he was involved in a huge project worth hundreds of thousands of strings of cash?"

Another newly-minted Jinshi, Chen Lin, also shook his head and sighed, "This is just the current situation. Once the so-called project is completed, even three levels of promotion will be a piece of cake. I'm afraid that even if we work for decades, we won't be able to catch up."

Zhu Wenyuan snorted angrily, "Digging the Mausoleum of Dayu? This is absolutely ridiculous! The Five Ridges separate the north and the south, and are like a natural moat. How can it be done by human power? I'm afraid this so-called project is just tailor-made by Fang Jun for Zhang Zizhou. When the time comes, he will gather civilians, store up food and fodder, and randomly chisel a few stones and push a few carts of earth on a narrow path between the mountains. Then he will openly declare that the project is completed, and those who want to make money will make money, and those who want to get promoted will get promoted, and they will ignore the interests of the empire. It's shameless!"

Xiao Shu, who was holding a book in front of the window, frowned when he heard this, put down the book, and said seriously: "Wenyuan, be careful with your words! Digging Dayuling Mountain and drilling through the north and south is an unprecedented project, which can be said to benefit the present and future generations. Even if you are not optimistic, you should wait until the project fails before impeaching it, right? Now that nothing has been done, you are so cynical and making up stories out of nothing. It is really inappropriate."

Zhu Wenyuan glared at him, "You are just making fun of me. Being the first on the Southern List and a secretary of the Central Secretariat, you have already been guaranteed the position of Prime Minister! But I have studied hard for more than ten years, but in the end I am only a county magistrate in Jishan. Do I want to waste my time in such a cold and bitter place like Hedong?"

Xiao Shu was also annoyed by this. "Brother Zhu, why do you complain like this? Cen Changqian is the second in the North List, and he has made contributions to the royal family. He is also the leader of hundreds of students in Zhenguan College, but he was only selected as the deputy governor of Zezhou. You are ranked 16th in the South List. Why are you dissatisfied with being selected as the county magistrate of a county? Besides, Zezhou is backed by the Taihang Mountains, and the area under its jurisdiction is mountainous and poor. It is a bitter and cold place, and there is no foundation for making political achievements. However, Jishan where you are is close to the Fen River and has countless fertile fields. You can reach the Yellow River downstream to connect with the world. How can it be considered a bitter and cold place?"

Everyone was speechless, this was indeed an indisputable fact.

Everyone knows that Cen Changqian has made great contributions in several rebellions. He was born in a noble family and has outstanding talents. He has long been the leader of the students in Zhenguan Academy and is deeply loved and respected by Fang Jun. As everyone knows, Fang Jun has always been good at judging people. Those who can be favored and respected by him are not ordinary people. They can be independent with just a little promotion.

But now they allowed the Ministry of Personnel to place Cen Changqian in a remote place like Zezhou...

When it comes to closeness, how can Zhang Zizhou's so-called old relatives be compared with Cen Changqian's proud disciples?
If it was really a "private transfer", he should have used his connections and prestige to seek a good official position for Cen Changqian...

However, Zhu Wenyuan was filled with jealousy and sneered, "This is a 'hiding the truth' strategy. Everyone knows that Cen Changqian is Fang Jun's disciple and confidant, so he deliberately placed Cen Changqian in a cold and bitter place with a low official position to silence others, while secretly placing his relatives and old friends in prominent positions. If you don't believe it, just wait and see. Cen Changqian will not last more than two years as the deputy governor of Zezhou. Fang Jun will definitely transfer him to another place and promote him step by step."

When everyone heard this, it seemed to make sense...

Xiao Shu shook his head and stopped arguing with him. He turned back and picked up the book to study.

Zhu Wenyuan did not get any response, and was dissatisfied: "Your Lanling Xiao family is also related to Fang Jun by marriage, and even gave your daughter, who is of the royal blood of the Southern Liang Dynasty, to Fang Jun as a concubine. Didn't you ever come to Fang Jun to beg him to take good care of you, the top scorer of the Southern List?"

Xiao Shu stood up suddenly, rolled up the book and pointed it at Zhu Wenyuan's nose, saying coldly: "If you dare to talk nonsense again, don't blame me for not giving you face!"

The people around hurried forward to pull the two apart. Xiao Shu snorted angrily and left in a huff.

He was indeed guilty, because although Zhu Wenyuan's words were harsh, they were true. The Xiao family did send Xiao Shu'er to the Fang family as a concubine in order to win over Fang Jun. This was known to everyone in Jiangnan, and there were many rumors...

Seeing Xiao Shu leave, Zhu Wenyuan didn't care. He looked around and said loudly, "Anyway, Zhang Zizhou's affairs cannot be exposed. I would like to invite you to go to Chengtian Gate to petition. I beg Your Majesty to order the Censorate to thoroughly investigate this matter and give us new Jinshi justice! I wonder if you are willing to go with us?"

Everyone was shocked, thinking that this guy was just jealous of Xiao Shu's status as the top scholar, but they didn't know that he actually had such thoughts.

Chen Lin tried to dissuade them, "Whether this matter violates the rules or not is up to the Censorate to investigate and verify. How can we go to Chengtian Gate to knock on the gate?"

Shen Wenjian, the second on the Southern Ranking, had remained silent until now, but now he objected: "Such behavior is interference with the judiciary and is unacceptable!"

Zhu Wenyuan looked at Xie Wenhua and Yu Zhichong who were drinking tea and not participating in the debate: "What do you two think?"

Yu Zhichong put down his teacup, thought for a moment, and said, "That's not a bad idea."

Xie Wenhua frowned and said, "The country has its own laws, how can we do whatever we want? If someone feels that something is unfair and goes to Chengtian Gate to knock on the gate and petition, then where are the laws of the country?"

Yu Zhichong looked at Zhu Wenyuan, who lowered his voice and said, "Of course we can't just go with a few of us. Fang Jun is so powerful that he can cover the sky with one hand. If we go and report him, do you really think he's just here to do nothing? I've observed over the past two days that there are still more than a hundred scholars from all over the world who are stranded in Beijing for various reasons after the exam. Some of these people were selected, but the selection of officials was not satisfactory. They want to change their positions but have no way to do so. More of them failed the exam and are inevitably resentful. If a few of us raise our arms and call for action, there will definitely be a lot of responses. First, draft a document to impeach Zhang Zizhou and have everyone sign it. Then, hundreds of people will gather under Chengtian Gate. Even if we can't achieve our goal, we won't have to worry about it. After all, the court has to consider the negative impact!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone suddenly understood.

The law does not blame the public!
Shen Jianwen, the top scholar in the Southern List, naturally did not want to get involved. He shook his head and said, "This kind of move to manipulate public opinion and coerce the central government, even if it succeeds for a while, I am afraid it will also bring stains on us. You must know that if we gather together to make trouble now, it is not only against Fang Jun and Zhang Zizhou, but also dissatisfied with the selection of officials by the Ministry of Personnel and the operation of the Ministry of Works. You might as well think about it. When we are officials in the future, whenever we are involved in these government offices, they will definitely be picky about us."

The Ministry of Works is fine, but the Ministry of Personnel is a threshold that every official cannot bypass. The appointment, dismissal and promotion of every official must go through the selection of the Ministry of Personnel. Once they fail the selection or the review, they will be placed on standby at best, or dismissed and investigated at worst.

I have offended everyone in the Ministry of Personnel today. How can I expect any good words from the Ministry of Personnel during the selection process in the future?
Zhu Wenyuan shook his head and said, "No! I heard rumors that Zhang Zizhou was selected by the Ministry of Works because Fang Jun personally took Zhang Zizhou to the Ministry of Works to meet Yan Liben, and then the Ministry of Works directly sent a letter to the Ministry of Personnel, specifically asking for Zhang Zizhou... In this case, what does the Ministry of Personnel have to do with it?"

Shen Jianwen stopped talking and looked at Xie Wenhua: "Where are you going, Brother Wenhua?"

Xie Wenhua said: "I have abdominal pain today, and I want to find a clinic to take my pulse and prescribe some medicine."

If people from the south of the Yangtze River are in Guanzhong and suffer from acclimatization problems, it could be fatal.

Shen Jianwen said, "I will go with Brother Jianwen!"

The two of them then left together.

One of them ranked second and the other third on the Southern List. They had smooth careers and bright futures. Why would they follow Zhu Wenyuan and others to stir up that messy water?
It would be fine if they were really "speaking for the people", and they should at least have some compassion for the world, but Zhu Wenyuan and Yu Zhichong sang the same tune and cooperated with each other tacitly. Do you really think they can't see it?
The imperial court attached great importance to this imperial examination. Just look at Lu Yanyuan, He Mo, Zhang Zheng and others who were banned from taking the examination because of causing chaos in the examination hall. Now that the selection of officials is over, they are gathering people to cause trouble, coerce public opinion, and threaten the central government...

I'm afraid it won't end well.

Seeing the two men leave, Zhu Wenyuan was immediately furious and said angrily: "We are fighting for the future of Jiangnan scholars and want fair and just treatment, but they only care about themselves and are selfish. I am ashamed to be associated with them!"

Yu Zhichong hesitated and said, "Without these three, I'm afraid we won't have enough momentum!"

The first, second and third places in the Southern List all stayed out of the matter. Even if more candidates and scholars gathered, it would be difficult to create enough momentum. The most important thing about this kind of "knocking on the palace gate" is the momentum. If the momentum is made loud and powerful, the central government will naturally take the impact into consideration and the law will not hold everyone responsible. However, if the movement is not strong enough, it is very likely to be suppressed.

When the time comes to settle the score, it will be a big trouble...

Zhu Wenyuan gritted his teeth and raised his arms, shouting: "What we are doing is right, even if there are thousands of people, I will go! Since we are doing justice, what do we have to fear? Please follow me!"

"it is good!"

"How can we allow these treacherous and corrupt officials to disrupt the government and to gain favor from one party to another?"

"Our future is of no concern, we must clear up the chaos and clean up the world!"

At that moment, more than ten people, led by Zhu Wenyuan, left the academy and went to the Imperial College. They gave a speech in front of the gate of the Imperial College, which immediately inspired countless students and made their blood boil. In addition, hundreds of new scholars and failed students who came to gather raised their arms and shouted slogans, letting the drizzle soak their clothes as they marched towards Chengtian Gate in a mighty manner.

The officials of the Imperial College were so frightened that their faces turned pale and they were trembling. They quickly reported the incident to the Ministry of Personnel and the Secretariat. If these students caused a big disturbance, the situation would be hopeless...