Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 10 The Jiangyin Family
The sound of the gong at midnight pierced the night.
Deep in the alleys of Jiangyin County, a night watchman, wrapped in a tattered coat and hunched over, hurried along, his muffled gong ringing out, "It's cold and dry, be careful with fire!"

The side gate of the Li residence quietly slid open half a foot.

County Education Commissioner Cai Chao wrapped himself tightly in mink fur, stepped over the ebony threshold in his black boots, and entered the private residence of the Jiangyin County Magistrate.

With a face full of respect and humility, he bowed deeply to the dark-clad figure of Li Mo, the magistrate of Jiangyin County, in the study, and said, "This humble official was summoned late at night, and I am truly terrified, wondering what Your Excellency has to say?"

Li Mo turned around, glanced at the respectful educational official Cai Chao, and sneered inwardly.

Isn't this a question that you already know the answer to?

According to the laws and regulations of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the county magistrate was the chief examiner for the county-level examination for candidates who were eligible to take the exam. He was responsible for overseeing the entire process of the examination, including setting the questions, grading the papers, and the final ranking of the candidates.

The county's education commissioner, county lieutenant, county assistant, registrar, and clerk served as deputy examiners. The instructors and tutors of the other county academies served as proctors.

However, Li Yunxiao, the third son of the Li family, participated in the county's preliminary examination for the imperial examination this year.

According to the old customs of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Li Mo, the magistrate of Jiangyin County, being the father of the deceased, was required to "avoid kinship" and resign from his position as the chief examiner of the county's examination.

If the county magistrate is unable to serve as the chief examiner for any reason, the county education commissioner shall take his place.

If he were not incapable of serving as the chief examiner for the county's preliminary examinations, why would there be any need for this mere county education commissioner?
He had tested the waters many times before.
Unfortunately, this slippery old loach, who had spent half his life navigating the quagmire of officialdom, refused to bite the hook unless he saw the bait!

Tonight, we'll have to use some drastic measures on this old mudfish!

"I've heard that Master Cai was fond of elegant inkstones!"

"Look at this She inkstone, what do you think of its condition?!"

Li Mo took out a lacquered box from a hidden compartment in the study. The surface of the She inkstone was covered with silky, icy patterns, like satin. He said calmly:

"This is an old artifact from the former Crown Prince's Junior Guardian, made of Longwei stone from Shezhou. Grinding ink with this literary treasure will instantly enhance the quality and literary flair of any essay!"

The inkstone is inscribed with the five characters "[She inkstone is the best in the world]" and the private seal of the former Crown Prince's Junior Guardian of the previous dynasty!

Listen closely, and you can faintly hear the chanting of scriptures from the depths of the inkstone, a lingering sound of literary spirit that only scholars can hear.

"Gulu~!"

Cai Chao stared intently at the Shexian inkstone, a piece of scholarly rank, his eyes widening, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

Although he was tempted, he dared not reach out.

"I read your son's article the day before yesterday. It is a fine piece of writing with elegant style."

He looked troubled, his voice hoarse as if simmered over a low flame, and said, "However, His Majesty has recently issued the 'Memorial on the Imperial Examinations,' which requires county-level examinations to be conducted anonymously. His Majesty's new policies are as bright as the sun in the sky; how could I, your humble servant, dare to presume to do so!"

Before Cai Chao could finish speaking,

"I have recently been studying the 'Ink Classic' and have come to know that red scales darken when exposed to alkali. However, when ink has penetrated the paper to a depth of three-tenths of its depth, who can distinguish between black sand and dark sand?"

Li Mo interrupted him, dipped her sleeve in ink, and drew a secret mark on the gold millet paper.

Despite the Empress's new policies of "promoting the imperial examination system and abolishing hereditary noble families," powerful clans in various prefectures and counties could still find any loopholes to exploit!

For example, leave unique marks on this paper and ink.

Cai Chao was taken aback upon hearing this.

Did they leave secret marks on the exam papers that were copied anonymously?
The red scales of sand can change color, a fact that is difficult for ordinary people to detect. But if this were to be discovered, the chief examiner would certainly be beheaded by the imperial court as a warning to others.

Sweat beaded on the back of his neck, and he quickly wiped his shiny forehead with his sleeve.

"If my son is fortunate enough to pass the imperial examination with top honors, may his name be inscribed on the bronze vessel in the Confucian Temple as 'Li Family of Jiangyin'."

Jiangyin Sluice Gate next year

County Magistrate Li Mo put down his Shexian inkstone and writing brush, lightly tapped a page on the table, and exerted pressure.

With a light tap on the page, the character "漕" (cao) can be faintly seen, encircled in vermilion.

Their eyes met in the candlelight.

The lamp hanging in the study flickered and illuminated the character "漕" on the page, making it appear in full detail—the Cai family of Suzhou had made their living by selling salt for generations.

The cargo ships that transported goods along the canal would inevitably pass through Jiangyin County, which was the lifeline of the Cai family's more than ten salt ships!

If the Cai family's cargo ships cannot pass through the Jiangyin Lock next year, the Cai family of Suzhou may face a great calamity.

A county magistrate who ruins a family, a prefect who exterminates an entire clan!
This is no joke!

As Cai Chao thought of this, a chill ran down his spine beneath his brocade robe, his pupils suddenly contracted, and a hint of pleading fear appeared on his face. "Lord Li, why are you so obsessed with the top scholar in the imperial examination?!"

"Humph!

Not to mention that the top scholar in the preliminary examination possesses the only unique literary skill award in the Great Zhou Dynasty—the "Rapid Writing Technique" from the "Jijiuzhang".

More importantly, achieving the top rank in the imperial examinations three times in a row—from child to scholar, from county to provincial—is considered a sign of exceptional literary talent, reaching directly to the Empress's ears and thus securing her favor in her heart!

Magistrate Li Mo's voice, shrouded in shadow, chuckled menacingly, "I wish to emulate the Chen family of Yingchuan thirty years ago!"

Cai Chao's heart skipped a beat, and the jade seal of the Education Commissioner in his sleeve felt hot.

Thirty years ago, the Chen family of Yingchuan—the current Grand Secretary Chen in the imperial court—suppressed countless scholars, thus becoming the top scholar in the Great Zhou Dynasty for three consecutive years, rising from prefect to Minister of the Three Departments.

From then on, being the top scholar in three consecutive examinations became synonymous with rapid advancement in one's career. It became the coveted honor of the imperial examinations for countless scholars in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Cai Chao dared not say much about Magistrate Li Mo's ambitions. He let cold sweat soak through his inner shirt, his expression very hesitant, and glanced at the She inkstone on the table.

He didn't dare offend Li Mo either.

However, there was no real certainty as to whether Li Yunxiao could pass the imperial examination with top honors.

"Lord Cai, are you still having concerns?"

Li Mohan's deep, still gaze fixed on Cai Chao.

"Your Excellency!"
It is not that I am unwilling to exert myself.
Jiangyin County was indeed a major county for the imperial examinations, with numerous aristocratic families and talented individuals from humble backgrounds. All the scholars coveted the top spot in the preliminary examinations!

As far as I know, the Xue family's private school has Han, Lu, Cao, Xue, Gu, Jiang, and so on, all of whom are the best students in Jiangyin County!

Although your son is talented in literature, it will likely be difficult for him to top the list in the county examination!

Cai Chao looked distressed.

The county-level imperial examinations were not simply a test of the strength of aristocratic families; they also required a thorough examination of the student's literary and moral cultivation.

If Li Yunxiao's own strength is insufficient, and other strong individuals emerge, they might forcefully push him out of the county examination.

Otherwise, even with his help as the chief examiner, there would be no way to help.

If Li Yunxiao fails the exam, why should he bother getting involved in this scandal of cheating on the county exam? He'd be leaving behind evidence that could get him killed!

"Lord Cai, there is no need to worry! This magistrate has already figured it out, and this year's county examination candidates are all well-prepared."

Li Mo's voice was deep.

He took a yellow silk register from the bookcase and placed it on the table.

This year, among the students from Jiangyin County who possess both literary talent and family background, there are only six or seven vying for the top spot in the imperial examination.

"That Han family boy, Han Yugui, the grandson of Han Mingyuan, the former Vice Minister of Revenue, made a name for himself at last year's Mid-Autumn Festival poetry gathering!"

Li Mo's gaze swept across the roster, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"Unfortunately, Han Mingyuan was dismissed from his position as Vice Minister of Revenue due to his involvement in an embezzlement case."

The Han family has a deep-rooted background, but they are very low-key now. They may not be willing to compete with my Sanlang for the top spot in the imperial examination.

The young man from the Han family poses little threat!

"Gu Zhimian, a scholar from a poor family, stands out among all the other students from poor families."

However, this person's performance was extremely inconsistent, and it was rumored that he was afraid of Master Pei in class and often had a blank mind.

If Master Pei were to appear in the examination hall, he would probably underperform and might not even make it into the top ten.

This child was raised by a widow and has no family background; he is nothing to worry about!

Magistrate Li chuckled, his tone carrying a hint of disdain.

"The Xue brothers, Xue Fu and Xue Gui, have a powerful family background in the Xue State Duke's mansion, making them difficult to compete with!"

Speaking of the two, Li Mo's tone became slightly serious, but he quickly regained his composure, "However, they are both young."

I once sent someone to the Xue residence to gather information.

It seems that Duke Xue only intended for the two of them to undergo a trial in the county examination, and had no intention of letting them compete for the top spot in this year's imperial examination.

"Jiang Xingzhou is a scholar from a humble background, whose abilities surpass Gu Zhimian's, and he also has the powerful Xue family as his backer! However, he is ultimately not a direct descendant of the Xue family. How could he possibly compete with my prodigy?!"

If the Duke of Xue's mansion insists on sending this boy into the game, I will teach him a lesson: "It's easy to win a laurel, but difficult to raise a dragon!"

Li Mo's voice suddenly turned cold.
"The remaining ones are Lu Ming from the Lu family and Cao An from the Cao family!"
Only these two are exceptionally talented and come from prominent families, and they can rival my third son, Li Yunxiao!
The Lu family's son is the most troublesome.

Back then, his father, Lu Yuming, used his exceptional talent to snatch the top spot in the imperial examination that should have belonged to Zhang Yan, a student from a poor family.

I'm worried he'll resort to his old tricks again!

However, with Cai Gong serving as this year's chief examiner, a little manipulation is all it takes. If you and I work together, we should be able to suppress the Lu and Cao families!

Li Mo glanced at Cai Chao.

Cai Chao suddenly coughed violently, and his face turned red.

I shouldn't tell him about the Lu family in Jiangyin.

"Since Lord Li has already devised a plan, then I will respectfully comply! I am willing to offer my humble assistance to Lord Li."

After much deliberation, Cai Chao finally agreed, put the She inkstone into his sleeve, and then took his leave.

After Cai Chao left, Li Mo let out a cold snort and threw the yellow silk roster into the brazier, where layers of light and shadow appeared in the flames.

"Hmph! Wasted Minister! His Majesty is truly wishful thinking! The foundations of our aristocratic families are spread throughout the court and the countryside; how could a mere decree shake them?"

The morning light is breaking.

The eaves of the Li residence were gilded with a layer of gold, shining brightly.

Today is the Jiangyin County Examination.

"Let's go to the county school!"

County Magistrate Li Mo, with sharp eyes, stepped steadily out of the main gate of his private residence.

A sedan chair, painted red and gold, called the "Four-Carried Skylark Carriage," was already waiting in front of the gate. The carriage was decorated with a gilded bronze skylark on the top, with the skylark's eyes inlaid with pearls from the East China Sea, and the carriage body was covered with reliefs.

The four sedan chair carriers, dressed in matching black clothes and red belts, moved in unison with powerful strides.

Two yamen runners, holding two yamen plaques reading "Silence" and "Avoidance," led the way in a majestic manner.

Li Mo stroked the gilded silver fish-shaped pouch at his waist, nodded slightly, lifted the sedan curtain, and calmly sat down. The sedan curtain hung lightly.

"Get up the sedan——!"

With a shout from the head constable, he swung his paulownia wood whip adorned with purple tassels, and the sixteen pairs of bronze sparrow talismans on the sedan curtain collided, producing a chilling, clear sound.

A troop of yamen runners marched toward the county school.

The real battle has only just begun.

(End of this chapter)