Chapter 37: How About I Personally Arrange Your Marriage?
Shiqiao Village, Xiao Mo's courtyard.
Xiao Mo, who had returned from the provincial examination, was brewing tea with the Village Chief.
After Bai Ruxue returned to the village, she first went back up the mountain to see her younger sister.
However, at noon and in the evening, Ruxue would still come down the mountain to cook and wash clothes for Xiao Mo.
"You said the last question of the policy essay was to discuss the feudal princes?"
The Village Chief drank a cup of tea, his tone somewhat surprised.
"Yes," Xiao Mo nodded.
"Indeed, the feudal princes now hold great power and even military authority. Although I am just an old scholar, I have heard that there are strong calls in the imperial court to reduce their power.
Although the last question of the policy essay stated it was to discuss the feudal princes, everyone knows that the politically correct answer is to reduce their power.
This last question, in essence, laid bare the issue of the feudal princes. It seems Your Majesty truly intends to act."
Xiao Mo smiled, "Which scholar participating in this provincial examination would dare not write about reducing the feudal princes' power? The current Emperor probably intends to use the 'voices' of these scholars to deliberately pressure those feudal princes."
The Village Chief also smiled, "A year ago, Your Majesty personally led an expedition to quell the Rebellion of the Seven Princes, significantly weakening the power of the feudal princes. Coupled with Your Majesty's current flourishing Dragon might, the military strength and morale of the imperial court hold overwhelming power compared to the feudal princes in various regions. Indeed, it is the best time to reduce their power."
"That is correct." Xiao Mo nodded.
Xiao Mo ultimately decided to write about the Tui En Order, thinking that although the feudal princes possessed military power, the current Emperor had quelled the Rebellion of the Seven Princes, and the imperial court held a significant military advantage over the local regions. Moreover, the feudal princes feared the imperial court even more.
The fact that 'reducing the feudal princes' power' could be explicitly presented on the examination paper for this provincial examination meant that the imperial court was going to confront the feudal princes directly.
Otherwise, how could the imperial court openly allow scholars to discuss the feudal princes?
In fact, in Xiao Mo's opinion, even if the imperial court did not dare to provoke the feudal princes, even if the imperial court's strength was at a stalemate with the feudal princes, it would not be impossible to write about the Tui En Order.
Because if the central power was not strong, any discerning person would know that the Tui En Ordercould not be implemented, but the examiners would not say anything.
This was considered offering a different approach.
The examiners would only think that you "had ideas, very novel ideas, but did not consider them thoroughly."
However, even if you did not consider it thoroughly, the examiners' impression of you would not be low.
Why?
Did you really expect a scholar who had only read books and never spent a day in officialdom to govern the world?
"Xiao Mo, how did you answer that last question?"
The Village Chief was indeed very curious about how Xiao Mo answered the question.
Without a doubt, the quality of the answer to this last question would largely influence the examiners' impression of a candidate.
"I wrote about…"
"Village Chief! Oh, Village Chief!"
Just as Xiao Mo was about to explain his Tui En Order, Hu Hansan from the village quickly ran over.
"Village Chief… outside… outside… out… out…"
Hu Hansan was out of breath and couldn't complete a full sentence.
"Don't rush, speak slowly, what happened outside?" Seeing Hu Hansan's appearance, the Village Chief also became a little nervous.
"Oh, Village Chief! Outside, the County Magistrate! The County Magistrate is here!" Hu Hansan exclaimed excitedly.
"The County Magistrate?" The Village Chief was startled, "Why would the County Magistrate come to our village?"
"Clang, clang, clang, clang!"
"Dong dong dong!"
"Dong dong dong!"
Just then, the sound of gongs and drums came from not far away.
And Dragon and Lion dancers were walking over, dancing as they went.
The Qingshan County Magistrate, leading the group, had a beaming face, continuously fanning himself with a fan, and excitedly shouted to the people around him, "Don't stop! Keep playing, keep dancing! Louder! More lively!"
"Could it be!"
Suddenly, the Village Chief's heart began to pound, and a bold idea formed in his mind.
Tomorrow afternoon was the time for the results to be posted.
But today, the County Magistrates from various places in Jiangnan Prefecture would receive the list.
In Qi, once the list left the examination hall, it was no longer a secret. Local County Magistrates could know the names of the successful scholars one day in advance.
And the only person from Shiqiao Village who participated in the imperial examination was Xiao Mo.
For the County Magistrate to arrive at Shiqiao Villageat this time, making such a festive display with gongs, drums, and Dragon and Lion dances, it could only be because of Xiao Mo.
"County Magistrate, that's Brother Mo. The one next to Brother Mo is our Village Chief."
A man pointed at Xiao Mo and said excitedly.
Sun County Magistrate quickly walked towards Xiao Mo. Xiao Mo and the Village Chief, not wanting to be impolite, also walked out of the courtyard and bowed, "Greetings, our Parents of the People."
"Hahaha, no need to be so polite, both of you." Sun County Magistrate directly helped Xiao Mo up, "Scholar Xiao! No! Top Scholar Xiao! From now on, this official will bask in Top Scholar Xiao's glory!"
"What? Top Scholar?" The Village Chief was momentarily dazed, even doubting if he had heard correctly.
The Village Chief originally thought it would be a huge blessing if Xiao Mo could pass the examination.
But Xiao Mo… he was the top scholar of the Jiangnan Prefecture provincial examination!
"Sun County Magistrate, you flatter me. If not for your patronage, this humble student might have struggled even to pass." Xiao Mo also hadn't expected to win first place in the provincial examination.
"Hahaha, Scholar Xiao was able to win first place entirely by virtue of his true talent and learning. This official merely added icing to the cake."
While he said that, in reality, Sun County Magistratewas very pleased.
Originally, Sun County Magistrate, being new to the area, only intended to gain the goodwill of the local scholars and enhance his own reputation.
He hadn't truly expected that the scholar he sponsored this time would pass the examination.
Now, not only did someone actually pass, but they even won first place in the provincial examination!
This was a political achievement! A dazzling political achievement!
Without a doubt, Xiao Mo would surely pass the next metropolitan examination, and even the title of Zhuangyuan (Imperial Scholar) was not out of the question!
It's just that this young man was so calm upon learning he had become the Top Scholar.
Indeed, as expected of someone who became the Top Scholar, his composure was extraordinary.
That Scholar Fan from the neighboring county, it was said that when he learned he had passed the examination at sixty years old, he was so happy he almost went mad.
Sun County Magistrate looked at Xiao Mo as if he had found a long-lost brother, and the conversation grew more animated.
The Village Chief was also very tactful and led the other villagers away, allowing the County Magistrate and Xiao Mo to have a good conversation.
Sun County Magistrate chatted with Xiao Mo about family matters, parents, and his daily hobbies.
When Sun County Magistrate learned that Xiao Mohad no parents, made a living by herding cattle and gathering herbs daily, feared neither cold nor heat, and traveled hundreds of miles to seek a master, he admired this Disciple, who could not even be considered from a humble family, even more.
"Xiao Mo."
Sun County Magistrate held Xiao Mo's hand, his tone full of emotion.
"That you could achieve what you have today truly fills this official with joy, and I know you have endured much hardship.
This official has a daughter, sixteen years of age, currently unmarried and awaiting a suitor.
If you do not mind, Xiao Mo, how about I, as Yue'er's father, personally arrange your marriage?"