"Ah what?" Chongzhen's face fell and he snorted, "I'm deaf, the test question is the Analects of Confucius!"

"Yes!" Lu Jiude was shocked when he stood up and shouted in a high voice, "Long live the Lord said, the test question for the Jinke Imperial College Examination is the Analects of Confucius, the Analects of Confucius!"

Dozens of loud-sounding scholars followed and shouted: "The test question is the Analects of Confucius, the Analects of Confucius!"

Soon, the sound of chants spread throughout the teaching hall and reached the ears of every candidate.

The whole examination room was in an uproar. The Analects of Confucius? This is too easy, right? It’s a free gift! I passed, I am sure to pass this subject, I am going to the Imperial College, hahaha!

Immediately, the candidates splashed ink and began to write.

That's right, such a test question requires no preparation at all.

Although they have never seen a model essay using the Analects of Confucius as a question, it is not difficult for them at all. The youngest among them has studied Cheng Wen for more than five years, how can he still write this?

…

At the same time, in the cabinet room, four cabinet elders and two ministers were discussing state affairs.

In the court recommendation a month ago, Wang Duo, the former Minister of Rites, was ultimately defeated. Zhang Shenyan, Meng Zhaoxiang, and Qian Qianyi were able to join the cabinet and became the second assistant, third assistant, and fourth assistant respectively.

Last month, in addition to the recommendation of the cabinet ministers, the recommendation of the six ministers was also carried out.

In the end, Fan Zhongjie was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Personnel again in less than half a year after being promoted to Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Personnel. Wang Duo was restored to his original position and still served as the Minister of Rites.

Wu Linzheng, one of the nine ministers who went to disaster, was promoted to a new level. After being promoted to Zhan Shifu of Zhan Shifu not long ago, he was once again promoted to Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs.

Participating in the cabinet meeting this time were Wu Linzheng, the Minister of Household Affairs, and Lu Daqi, the Minister of War. The matter discussed was how to deal with the 10,000 war horses obtained from the Puppet Shun trade.

Speaking of these 10,000 war horses, we have to talk about the party struggle last month.

Shi Kefa has been executed, but Xie Xuelong also made a mistake and fell into a well. In the end, Lu Zhenfei, the third assistant, picked up a fallen peach, and suddenly became the first assistant of the cabinet from the third assistant of the cabinet.

After Lu Zhenfei became the chief minister, he immediately promoted trade with the Pseudo-Shun.

After some haggling, the final result was that the Ming Dynasty offered 1 million shi of grain in exchange for 10,000 good horses, 20,000 cattle and 100,000 sheep.

Daming must have taken advantage of this price.

Because during the Chongzhen Dynasty, a good horse was worth nearly one hundred taels of silver.

Therefore, just 10,000 good horses are worth one million stones of grain, and the other 20,000 cattle and 100,000 sheep are equivalent to free gifts to the Ming Dynasty.

The hypocritical envoy was angry, but there was nothing he could do.

Because this transaction is what they want from Daming.

Then late last night, the governor of Huguang, He Tengjiao, sent a two-hundred-mile rush, saying that Pseudo-Shun had delivered 10,000 good horses, 20,000 cattle and 100,000 sheep to the Ming Dynasty.

inside the meeting hall, road

Zhenfei sat comfortably on the Taishi chair in the middle.

The second assistant Zhang Shenyan, the third assistant Meng Zhaoxiang and the fourth assistant Qian Qianyi sat on the left and right respectively. As for the Minister of War, Lu Daqi and the Minister of Hubu, Wu Linzheng, they had no seats and could only stand.

Lu Zhenfei said: "The annual holiday will be in half a month. It seems that this batch of muttons by Pseudo-Shun will not be able to make it in time to distribute New Year's gifts to the officials in Beijing. Originally, I was thinking of giving out a few to everyone before the annual holiday.

Sheep, I would like to reward everyone for their hard work in the past year, and also give you a boost of energy for next year’s errands. This time it’s all in vain.”

"Shou Kui is a man of justice." Qian Qianyi said with a flattering look, "But even if you distribute mutton after the festival, the effect will be the same. Officials of all sizes in the capital will still be grateful to you."

Lu Zhenfei waved his hand and said, "Let's get down to business first. What are we going to do with these 10,000 war horses?"

Zhang Shenyan, Meng Zhaoxiang and Wu Linzheng are all looking at the nose with their eyes, and their minds with their noses. This matter is a bit sensitive, so it's better not to rush to be the one who stands out.

The reason why it is difficult to manage these 10,000 horses is that one thing's power has not been clearly divided between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Specifically, the powers of the Ministry of War highly overlap with those of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Now, the power of the Ministry of War has basically been lost. Whether it is recruiting troops or conducting foreign campaigns, it is the Ministry of Internal Affairs that has the sole discretion to decide.

In other words, it is decided by the emperor.

So, as valuable military supplies, should these 10,000 war horses be handled by the Ministry of War or by the Ministry of Internal Affairs?

Lu Zhenfei actually had an answer already, but he still wanted to hear the opinions of other ministers in charge of internal affairs and the officials of the Ministry of Household and Military Affairs, lest the imperial censor Yan Guan scolded him again for talking about making a speech.

Seeing that several people were unwilling to speak, Lu Zhenfei directly called them by name.

Lu Zhenfei turned to Lu Daqi and asked, "Da Sima, what's your opinion?"
Chapter completed!