Simulates history, but Chongzhen is the Divine Emperor at the beginning

Chapter 15 Unexpected Failure

Xi'an, once the capital of the Han and Tang dynasties, remains a major city in the northwest even today under the Ming Dynasty.

Not only is the Shaanxi Provincial Administration Office located here, but a large population also lives here, including both Han Chinese from the interior and merchants from the Western Regions and the north. They dress differently, look different, and their distinctive hair and eyes give you the feeling of a bustling metropolis from the future...

[However, you have, after all, witnessed the grand spectacle of later times, so you didn't express much shock at this prosperous, thousand-year-old capital. You only showed curiosity throughout.]

[This makes your master, who has been observing you, feel amazed: You are indeed a natural prodigy!]

[But… he couldn't help but shake his head: So what if he's a child prodigy? If he can't pass this exam, then he can't pass it. After all, his ability is there.]

[With mixed feelings, he brought you to the examination center with ease and handed you your ID to prove you were eligible to take the provincial examination...]

"What? A five-year-old first-place candidate?!"

The clerk at the examination center widened his eyes. He looked at you in shock, as if he were looking at a rare animal.

[Then he suddenly looked thoughtful, then gave you a strange look and whispered...]

"Are you from the Shaanxi prefectural government?"

【you:?】

[Your master:?]

[What do you mean by the Shaanxi prefect? ​​You all look at each other in bewilderment...]

The clerk said unhappily, "Why are you pretending to be so arrogant? I've seen plenty of you! A four-year-old who topped the imperial examination... how could that be earned through an exam? Since you bought your place, you must have connections to the Shaanxi prefectural government!"

"Let me guess...are you a relative of the prefect of northern Shaanxi?"

【what? 】

You are at a loss.

Seeing you didn't react, he frowned again: "No? Then are you... paid?"

"This guy, is he so blatant about making money? Even my parents..."

He seemed certain you had bribed the Shaanxi prefect to obtain the title of scholar, so after mumbling a few words incoherently, he spoke in a low, serious voice.

"Since you all dare to come to me, I'll make it clear... One price, one hundred thousand taels! Five hundred thousand for the top prize! Even if someone comes up with a higher price, we won't raise the price at the last minute. In business, honesty is above all else. We want to be honest with everyone..."

【you:……】

Master: …

[You...seem to have unexpectedly discovered something remarkable...]

what? !

This bombshell news shocked even the experienced Zhou Liang so much that his mouth opened wide!

Isn't this... this just the youth version of selling official positions and titles?!
"An ordinary Juren is sold for 100,000, and Jieyuan for 500,000... this... this..."

Although Zhou Liang had always known that the Ming Dynasty officialdom was dark and corrupt, he was still a little confused by the price tag.
No... Aren't these guys afraid of being caught by the governor?
Even if the governor is in cahoots with them, he is not an all-powerful local tyrant. The personal army of the Divine Emperor, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, has been conducting surveillance in various places!
What? You're saying the Imperial Guards aren't clean either?

Okay! Even if we take a step back, even if the Jinyiwei had a py deal with them, but directly catching a candidate at the door and asking him if he wants to buy fame... How is this different from a clear price?
They did it so blatantly. The Jinyiwei and the provincial governor were not fools. They were close to each other and the attack was very powerful. If they didn't start killing, there would be big problems!

Therefore, Zhou Liang’s first reaction was:

"I'm afraid this is a scumbag!"

Given the clerk's demeaning behavior, Zhou Liang found it hard to believe he was really here to sell his fame. He thought he was a secret agent sent by the higher-ups, which was quite possible...

You think so too!

[Indeed, this guy is truly bizarre. How could someone sell fame and fortune so blatantly? It's more accurate to say he's a swindler sent by the higher-ups to sting the law enforcement!]

[So you and your master exchanged glances and shook your heads...]

The clerk frowned, "You think it's expensive? How is it expensive? It's always been this price for years!"

He snorted in annoyance, "Alright, if you don't want to buy it, there are plenty of people who will! I want to see how much weight this scholar you bought is worth..."

【…】

After a few minor incidents, you finally entered the provincial examination hall under your master's encouraging gaze. After a thorough body search and other necessary procedures, you finally took your seat.

[Exam seats are divided into small cubicles, each containing only enough space for the examinee to sit.] During the exam, pens, stationery, and food are distributed by the exam staff. Restrooms are provided on site to prevent cheating.]

[You don't mind this, because you don't intend to cheat. Firstly, you are a person who yearns for justice and justice in your heart of hearts. Secondly, you don't know how to cheat...]

[A five-year-old child taking part in the provincial examination—this unprecedented and rare event naturally aroused everyone's curiosity and attention. Not only were your fellow examinees curious about you, but even the invigilators couldn't help but pay extra attention to you... In this situation, it would be strange if you could cheat!]

Sitting in the cramped exam booth, you nervously couldn't help but think back to the guy who seemed to be a scammer: Is it possible that he wasn't a scammer, but was actually selling academic titles?

[You don't know this, but even if he's a legitimate businessman, you can't afford his goods. After all, he's asking for 100,000 taels. For someone like you who's only been in business for two years, it's simply impossible to afford such an astronomical sum!]

[With a sigh, you can only resign yourself to your fate...] [After a while, a gong sounded, and several serious-looking invigilators began handing out the exam papers one by one.]

[And when you got the test paper, you first quickly glanced at the questions, then closed your eyes helplessly on the spot...]

[Sure enough, you're right to worry. It would be a miracle if I could pass the exam!]

You already have an idea in mind, but since you're here, you might as well give it a try. So you take a deep breath and then start answering the questions seriously...

【The node of your destiny is right now. 】

【…】

[Ding! The simulated character has no confidence in the exam, but must pass it, so they are desperate... Do you want to manually assist in answering the questions?]

Assisted answering of questions?

Zhou Liang, who was still wondering if the clerk in the examination room was a sting operation, was stunned for a moment, and then laughed:

"That's just being a gunman!"

"Alright... So you're finally asking me for help. You're really going to use me as your assistant..."

But then again, that was "another self" after all. Not to mention that Zhou Liang always had a good impression of him, just based on his value, Zhou Liang had to help!

"Forget it... After all, I, Zhou, am kind-hearted. Besides, I'm still waiting for you to help me find hope to overthrow this old zombie, the Ming Dynasty..."

With a sigh, Zhou Liang nodded seriously:
"I agreed!"

[Ding! Loading the simulated perspective...]

With a ding sound, the scene before Zhou Liang gradually changed...

When the scene stabilized again, he was shocked to find that he was temporarily attached to a child, and in front of the child was a test paper!

Obviously, this is the simulation perspective.

"The provincial examination..."

Feeling this novelty, Zhou Liang slowly looked at the test paper, and then smiled inexplicably:
Recalling his repeated failures in the provincial examinations, he eventually chose to give up his pen in anger and set up an anti-Ming society...but in fact, he had always been holding back a lot of anger:

Why can't I pass the exam? My level is obviously not worse than that of the other candidates who passed the exam at the same time!
And right now, there is an opportunity to prove my ability... Moreover, the questions in this year's provincial examination are the examples from previous years that I have specially studied, and I have already memorized the standard answers. If I fail the exam again, it would be really unfair!
"Juren? Ha!"

Zhou Liang smiled confidently:
It's just something in the bag!

Children, watch carefully, this is how we use our strength!

After laughing, he began to answer the questions seriously...

……

Since the provincial examination was divided into three sessions, each lasting three days, for a total of nine days, Zhou Liang's answering also lasted for a full nine days.

Although it was no pressure for him to take the old test and it would not take nine days at all, he still tried his best to use up all his time. He would check each test many times after finishing to avoid any mistakes.

With this operation, which can be called a dimensionality reduction attack, the provincial examination problem that troubled "Zhou Liang" was easily solved!

So, when the exam deadline approached nine days later, Zhou Liang finally put down his pen with satisfaction. Then, the scenery before his eyes changed, and he returned to the old house where he had drunk poison and died...

"System, continue the simulation!"

Zhou Liang, in a good mood, waved his hand and couldn't help but said proudly:
"I can't wait to see his shocked expression after he passes the exam!"

[Ding! Continuing simulation...]

You answered all the questions in a state of half-sleep and half-wakefulness. All you remember is that you answered them very well, the kind that would definitely get you passed... Although you were confused, under the system's rationalization, you still believed that you had answered them yourself.

[So you left the examination hall and temporarily checked into an inn in Xi'an with your long-awaited master, waiting for the day the results would be announced...]

You are looking forward to the news: "Good news! Your Majesty, Mr. Zhou Huiliang, has won the first place in the Shaanxi Provincial Examination and has been listed in the imperial journal!"

[However, you don't think you'll go crazy like Fan Jin after passing the imperial examination. When the person announcing the good news arrives, you must keep a low profile and act like you have everything under control. Then, in front of the shocked gazes of your master and the others, you can twist your lips...]

【√！ 】

【Anyway, you're ready to celebrate.】

But things don't always go as planned, and your plans ultimately fell through. On the day the results were announced, you waited from morning till night, your heart filled with enthusiasm until your hands and feet were cold, but no one came to announce the good news...

【The truth is a bit unexpectedly cruel.】

[You, seem to have failed the exam...]

Zhou Liang: ...

……

(End of this chapter)