Chapter 413 Pen holder case (I)

The highly anticipated examination for the science and technology ended in the deep autumn. Next is the time for the review and evaluation. It will take some time to issue the exam. However, four days after the examination for the science and technology, that is, on September 8, another examination, the official examination is about to begin. If the examination for the science and technology is so boiling that it makes people feel that the summer in autumn is so boiling, then the official examination is the winter in autumn, which makes countless people's hearts fall into the ice hole. As early as ten days ago, the first batch of thousands of officials quietly arrived in Chang'an and lived in the Jinzouyuan in various states. No one knew what to take. Despite this, all officials knew that since even ordinary scholars regarded prostitutes as a traitor, let alone parents, most of them stayed in the Jinzouyuan and did not dare to go out easily.

In this official examination, all officials from the ninth rank or above and below the third rank, except for a few prime ministers, almost all officials were not spared. More than 10,000 officials from all over the Tang Dynasty must participate, and they were divided into three batches, September, October and December. In addition, the military officer examination will be held in February next year, and this group of officials on September 8 will be the main examination of the Ministry of Rites. The reason is not what Liu Zongyuan guessed, Han Huan and Lu Qi had a bad relationship. It is not that the officials of the Ministry of Personnel must evaluate the results of the examination, and on the other hand, some officials of the Ministry of Personnel must also participate in the official examination. The officials of the Ministry of Rites are arranged for the next batch of examinations, and the next time the Ministry of Personnel will be the main examination.

On September 7, the Xuanzheng Palace began to clear the venue and close the examination numbers and other matters. This time, the examiner was Lu Qi, the Minister of Rites, and the deputy examiner was Wei Qing, the Minister of Rites. Lu Qi did not care about the specific matters of the examination, but was only responsible for taking over the emperor's orders and finally reported the examination results to the emperor. All the miscellaneous matters were the deputy examiner Wei Qing. After Zhang Huan ascended the throne, Wei Qing also became very taciturn. His grievances and grievances with Zhang Huan have become the past. His father Wei Yan fell ill after the entire army of Wei Deqing was wiped out and is still lingering in the sickbed. It is precisely this reason that the Wei family, which also suffered heavy losses in the Jiangdu incident, did not participate in opposing Zhang Huan's group and escaped by chance. The Wang family of another great family was almost wiped out. In this way, Wei Yan's pathology made the eldest son Wei Qing the pillar of the family. He officially became the head of the Wei family in May this year.

"Secretary!" The Minister of Rites, the Minister of Rites, ran and bowed to Wei Qingshi panting, "There is news from Hongyinfang that the first batch of test papers have been printed, so let us come to pick them up by ourselves."

Wei Qing frowned, "Why is this? Didn't you agree that they would deliver it in person? Who can do it here?"

"I said that too, but Huang Dongzhu of Hongyinfang said that no one is allowed to go out there, so we will go and count and hand over it in person."

"That's true, okay! I'll do this in person." As he said that, Wei Qing turned around and wanted to leave. Yuanwailang hesitated for a moment and said, "Shilarious Minister, I heard from the guards who reported the news that it seems that His Majesty is going to Hongyinfang too."

"Emperor." Wei Qing hesitated for a moment. At this time, Guan Han, the doctor of the Ministry of Rites, came over and said, "Mr., why don't I go!"

"No! You are busy here, I will go there on Hongyinfang." Although Wei Qing didn't want to see Zhang Huan, he had to sign the test paper himself. Wei Qing gave a few words and then hurried away.

Hongyinfang is the largest printing workshop in Chang'an. It specializes in the printing of documents from the government and the Imperial College. It has a history of 100 years. It has more than 500 experienced masters and is one of the most famous workshops in Chang'an. The workshop is located in Chongrenfang. The current boss Huang Asu Xing was originally a young man in Hongyinfang. Because he was particularly capable of enduring hardships, he was renamed Asu Xing by his former boss. Later, he was promoted to the shopkeeper of Hongyinfang. His former boss had no son. After his death, Huang Asu Xing became the boss and the shopkeeper. Because he was smart and capable, in 20 years, he developed Hongyinfang into the leading printing workshop in Chang'an.

At this moment, the leading private workshop owner in Chang'an was accompanying the Emperor of Tang to visit the test paper printing site. This was definitely the supreme glory of Hongyinfang. Huang Asu Xing felt that he was dreaming, no! Even dreaming would not happen. His Majesty the Emperor came, how many workshops in the world could have such honor? If the workshop had not been guarded by hundreds of fully armed soldiers, he would have spent a lot of money to invite the most famous music shop in Chang'an to celebrate.

However, Huang Asu Xing didn't know that this was actually the second time that His Majesty the Emperor came to his workshop. Many years ago, when Zhang Huanchu came to Chang'an for the exam, he had come to Hongyinfang to print ten invitations, only ten, and a total of 120 cents. He went to more than a dozen printing workshops. He either refused to accept them or offered a sky-high price. Only Hongyinfang took over his work and charged only 120 cents, and sent someone to deliver them to his inn in person. It was this kind of business style that "everything is big or small" that left a deep impression on him.

"Your Majesty, when Xiaomin took over this workshop, he only hired 30 workers. Over the past twenty years, he has developed step by step. The master has taken the apprentice and the apprentice has taken the apprentice. Now there are more than 300 masters and apprentices here. Everyone is unwilling to leave Hongyinfang. It is precisely because of everyone's efforts that the shop is today."

Huang Asu Hsing carefully introduced the development history of Hongyinfang to Zhang Huan. Seeing that the emperor was focused, he added: "Actually, the wages I paid were no different from those outside. Some people used twice the wages to poach my master, but they just refused to leave."

"Oh! Why is this?" Zhang Huan asked with great interest.

"The key is my respect for the masters. For example, if a master has a major event at home, he has to take a day off. Of course, he has to be allowed to leave, but taking a leave is the rule of the store. So on the one hand, I deduct his salary for a day, and on the other hand, I will seal a wallet with someone to send it to him. This is what I like. This respects the master and does not violate the rules of the store."

Zhang Huan nodded and smiled, "That's right, it's actually the same with the commander. Are there any other tricks?"

Huang Asu Hsiao thought about it and said, "There is that when I get my salary every month, I will deduct 10% of my salary. In addition, I will also pay the same amount of money to deposit the money in the cabinet shop, and wait until they are old to support them. This way, the accumulation of small amounts is also a considerable amount of money. Many masters are unwilling to leave because they are rushing for it."

"This is a new thing." Zhang Huan was a little surprised. He had never heard of such a thing before. He asked again: "Are they willing to deduct money?"

"This is credibility. The people in the store have never trusted me. And more than a dozen masters have received this money. There is an extra amount of money in vain. Why don't everyone refuse?"

Zhang Huan nodded, walked out of the printing plate workshop, and arrived at the warehouse again. At this time, the warehouse was extremely cautious. There were 6,000 test papers placed here, each with a number. From distribution to recycling to final destruction, as long as one less is found, he had to investigate the exam papers. As soon as he walked into the warehouse, he saw Wei Qingzheng and several officials handing over the test papers.

Wei Qing came to Hongyinfang but did not come to see him. Zhang Huan knew his thoughts, but was not angry. Instead, he looked at them busy with his hands behind his back. Huang Asu Xing did not realize that the emperor's mind had changed. He remembered something and immediately asked: "Your Majesty, there are a few Persian merchants who want to come to the workshop to learn printing technology. Can the grass people teach it?"

"There is such a thing?" Zhang Huan was a little interested. He pondered for a moment and said, "The prosperity of my Tang Dynasty lies in its broad mind and embrace all rivers. We not only learn advanced technology from the outside, but also allow others to learn my technology. As long as it does not affect national security, they can learn without being self-enclosed, and not be afraid that others will surpass themselves. The key is to constantly improve our technology, so that we can always stay ahead and be other people's masters forever."

Speaking of this, Zhang Huan patted his shoulder again and said earnestly: "I came to inspect Hongyinfang not to really want to see the printing of the test papers, but to make a gesture. I will strongly support the development of major workshops. I hope that one day I will see the Hongyinfang with a scale of 2,000 people."

Huang Asu Xing was moved in his heart, and he bowed to the ground, "The people of Cao are obeying the sacred orders."

"Okay, go and do it! I'm going to meet with the Minister of Rites."

At this time, Wei Qing had already seen the emperor, and he could no longer avoid it, so he had to bite the bullet and lead the officials to come to see him, "My minister Wei Qing will meet with His Majesty the Emperor!"

"Wei Aiqing is not polite!" Zhang Huan waved his hand and ordered Wei Qing to be polite. He silently stared at the person who saved his life back then. There were so many grudges and entanglements between them, but the hatred of the past has faded in his heart. Zhang Huan smiled slightly and said, "Her Master Wei is in good health recently?"

Wei Qing felt the dullness in Zhang Huan's tone. There was no real concern in it, but there was no hatred, just as dull as water. Perhaps this was the result he wanted. Wei Qing hurriedly bowed and said, "My father has been in a stable state recently, and there is no big problem with resting."

"Please tell your father my greetings. I hope the Wei family will continue to be talented." Zhang Huan smiled faintly, and the topic turned to the main business. "The exam will start tomorrow. How are your Ministry of Rites ready?"

"Report to Your Majesty, the examination room has been arranged and the roster has been confirmed. Now, as long as the test paper is sealed, everything will go smoothly tomorrow."

"That's good." Zhang Huan nodded and said to him again: "This official examination is of great importance. I don't want any favoritism and fraud to happen. Everything depends on your self-discipline."

Wei Qing nodded silently and said for a long time: "Please rest assured, your Majesty, I will do my best."

Zhang Huan stared at him, and suddenly, an ominous feeling slowly poured into his heart.

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A month ago, the court formally approved the proposal of Jingzhao Yinong Han Yannian. The gates of the various yards in Chang'an will no longer be closed at night and let the people enter and exit, changing the tradition of closing the yards at night for a hundred years in the Tang Dynasty.

Late at night, a carriage drove into Yanshoufang and stopped in front of the Wei Mansion. A young man in white robe walked out of the carriage. He was about thirty years old and had a pretty face, with a hint of noble arrogance between his eyebrows and eyes. At this time, one of his family ran to the door and reported to the door. About a quarter of an hour later, the side door of the Wei Mansion opened. Wei Chi, the second son of the Wei family, walked out and bowed: "Li Sizhi visited the Wei Mansion at night. I don't know what's important?"

The young man in white robe is named Li Xuan, the son of Li Han, the Minister of Works. He is currently the Shizhi of Dali Temple. He relied on the door of the government for three years and will take the official exam tomorrow. When he saw Wei Chi come out, he hurried forward and smiled: "It's really a risk to visit late at night. But this is not a place to speak. Can you change the place?"

"This..." Wei Chi hesitated for a moment. It was difficult for him to deal with this sensitive time! But Li Xuan was the son of Li Han and was also a person who could not afford to offend. After hesitating for a long time, Wei Chi said: "Okay! Li Sizhi asked to come in and speak."

Li Xuan was overjoyed. As long as he was willing to enter the mansion, he quickly walked into the mansion with Wei Chi and circled around the mansion for several times. Wei Chi took him to the study room. He waved his hand and ordered several maids to retreat.

"My father has rested. Li Sizhi please sit down. If you have anything to do, tell me!"

Wei Chi is Wei Qing's younger brother. He was in poor health since childhood and was unable to enter the officialdom. He has been responsible for handling several large shops in the capital at home. Although he was a businessman, he knew everything and everything in the court. He also knew the complex relationships of various forces in the court. He knew Li Xuan's identity and background, and even the purpose of his visit.

Li Xuan sat down. Seeing that there were no outsiders around him, he took out a ticket and pushed it over, "This is a little bit of intention, please accept it!"

Wei Chi glanced at the glance, and his heart jumped. It turned out to be a deposit of one thousand taels of gold, with a market price of ten thousand taels of gold. He pushed it back without saying a word, "What does Li Sizhi mean? The Wei family can't bear the intention of one thousand taels of gold."

Li Xuan reached out and held the gold ticket down, "That's right, tomorrow will be the official exam..."

Before he finished speaking, Wei Chi immediately interrupted him, "Sorry, my elder brother has been quarantined. I'm afraid we can't help you. I've received your wish. Please take back this gold ticket, Li Sizhi."

"I'm not saying now, I'm saying after the exam." Li Xuan said, slowly pushing the gold ticket to Wei Chi. "I actually don't have any high requirements, I just want Mr. Wei to remain silent."

Buy one thousand taels of gold and silent. Is this price ridiculously high? Wei Chi pondered without saying a word. He had to ask his father before he could make a decision. At this time, Li Xuan stood up, and he smiled slightly and said, "Please ask for this matter."

He turned around and left. Wei Chi woke up. He hurriedly grabbed the gold ticket and stuffed it back. "Li Sizhi just told me that the money must not be collected. Please take it back."

Li Xuan's face sank, "I give this money to Mr. Wei, not to you. Whether to accept it or not should be decided by Mr. Wei."
Chapter completed!