Chapter 410 I Don’t Blame You

The test papers were brought in and the emperor looked through them one by one.

I found that many of the handwriting in the math test papers was average or even clumsy, but the answers were all correct.

The same is true for pasting scriptures. The handwriting is not good, but the paper is clean and tidy. The answers are immature, but very insightful and down-to-earth, not general.

However, most of those with neat and beautiful handwriting are flashy but empty in content, and sometimes have mistakes in the math problems.

Judging from handwriting alone, the children in Lingnan are indeed not as good as the students in Chang'an.

But in terms of professionalism, correctness and insightfulness of answers, Chang'an students are not as good as Lingnan children.

The emperor said nothing and asked Xu Zhi to hand over the test paper to the ministers for evaluation.

In the court, all eighteen scholars were present: Prime Minister Du, Prime Minister Fang, Lu Deming, Kong Yingda, Yu Zhining...

It first circulates from their hands and then passes on to everyone.

Some nodded repeatedly, while others shook their heads.

Gao Luxing grinned when he saw the test papers of Hu Zi, A Mu and Asang.

It was worth the high price of hiring a famous teacher to teach me. My answers were well-written and my handwriting was neat, although not beautiful.

Hu Zi is ranked second on the mathematics list. If it weren't for his poor handwriting, he should be first.

Mathematics was originally a specialized subject for low-ranking officials and commoner students, so it had little to do with the officials in the court.

Everyone's judgment was relatively objective and fair. They all felt that the Lingnan child answered well and there would be no problem in admission.

The explanation is clear and logical, and everything he says is related to people's livelihood, agriculture and sericulture, and is very close to reality.

Even Yu Wencheng himself felt from the bottom of his heart that the children from Lingnan were good.

But once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. You can't just shoot yourself in the face.

"After reading the test paper, what are your opinions?" asked the emperor.

"Your Majesty! I think the Lingnan students' answers are excellent! The judging is fair!" Gao Luxing was the first to stand up and express his opinion.

"I second the motion!" Many ministers echoed.

"Yu Qing, what do you have to say?" The emperor looked at Yu Wencheng.

Yu Wencheng lowered his head and glanced at Minister Lu and the Wang family, waiting for a hint, but there was no response.

"Yu Qing?"

"Your Majesty!" Yu Wencheng gritted his teeth, "I have two questions."

"Speak!" The emperor sneered in his heart, giving you a ladder, but you don't get down.

"First, who taught these Lingnan students to have such insights? And their answers are so consistent! I suspect the exam questions were leaked and they just memorized the answers!

Second, his handwriting was so poor that he was admitted, which means he did not meet the admission requirements of the Imperial College. Yu Wencheng argued sophistry.

After these words were spoken, everyone fell silent.

Fierce! Truly fierce! This wasn't just the dismissal of Shao Yin Lasu, but an indiscriminate attack on the Imperial College and the Eighteen Scholars! As well as the group of old friends who took in the Lingnan children!

Why not move away quietly? He had fallen into a trap last time and realized the complexity of people's hearts in the court.

Stand further away, don't let the blood splash on you! I don't want to be used as a gun!

It’s just that this colleague is really stubborn. He refuses to get down from the ladder even though he has it, and insists on offending a large group of people on his own. He is so stubborn!

"Yu Qing, do you know what you mean by leaking the exam questions? Do you have any evidence? How serious is the crime of slandering and framing the Imperial College?" The emperor said in a cold tone.

Yu Wencheng's body froze, and he became so excited that he started to talk without thinking. The more he talked, the more he talked. Not only did he offend the great scholar Lu, he also offended all the eighteen scholars, and even criticized the entire Imperial College.

If this gets out, the intellectuals will criticize themselves to death.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Hot sweat broke out on Yu Wencheng's forehead.

"Mr. Lu, you speak!" The emperor turned to Lu Deming, saying that if he didn't let him speak, he would get sick from holding it in.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Lu Deming stood up.

"The six schools are open to the best candidates. Mathematics focuses on calculations, and also tests classics and theories. Calligraphy only tests handwriting. I wonder if you understand what I am saying, sir?"

Lu Deming took a deep breath, looked at Yu Wencheng with disdain, and recounted what happened to the Lingnan students in the examination room.

Children in Lingnan are all good at using an abacus. Not only can they perform multi-digit addition and subtraction operations fluently and quickly, but they are also quite good at high-digit multiplication and division.

The answer was correct and his calculation speed far exceeded that of other students. If he hadn't seen it in person, he wouldn't have believed it.

Especially the student named Wei Ahei, who started late and only started studying at the age of 20, but he was very good at using the double abacus.

Lu Deming felt a sense of appreciation for talented people, and after discussing with several people, he specially recruited him.

When the ministers heard this, they were all surprised. How could someone be so calculating? And he was a slang person!

Speaking of Ah Hei, the emperor has an impression of him, that honest and simple young man from the Li ethnic group, the future leader of the village.

Unexpectedly, he also passed the mathematics exam, which was a big surprise.

"In that case, Xu Zhi, go and summon Wei Ah Hei. I have never seen an abacus with two hands!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Xu Zhi took the order and left.

Ah Hei was drunk last night and was sleeping soundly when he was woken up by Su Boyan, Su Zhongyan and others shaking him vigorously. He looked confused.

When I heard that the emperor had summoned me, I woke up from my nap.

He dressed in a hurry and went to court with two abacus.

When the ministers saw the young man from Li coming up with two abacuses, they all looked at him curiously.

"Your humble servant Wei Ahei pays his respects to Your Majesty!" Ahei's heart was pounding.

"Ah Hei?" the emperor called out.

"Here!" Ah Hei raised his head and looked at the emperor blankly, then quickly lowered his head.

"I heard that you can use an abacus twice at the same time? Can you compete with the Ministry of Revenue in public?" asked the emperor.

"Yes!" Ah He looked around, not knowing what he was looking for.

Two clerks who were the fastest at using an abacus came to the Ministry of Revenue. There were three desks, Ah Hei had two abacuses, and each clerk had one.

Lu Deming asked the questions, reciting them off the cuff: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of high-digit numbers.

Ah Hei took a deep breath and listened to the questions with full concentration.

As Lu Deming read out the numbers, Ah Hei's hands moved left and right, making crackling sounds.

As soon as Lu Deming finished speaking, Ah Hei's results came out.

Two equals came forward, with the same numbers on their abacus.

The two clerks from the Ministry of Personnel were a little slow to act, and when they looked again, they saw that the three of them had the same number.

Every question was like this, which opened the eyes of the ministers. There is always someone better than you!

The two minor officials in the Ministry of Personnel looked at Ah Hei with shining eyes, which showed that they admired each other!

"How about it, Lord Yu, do you have any questions?" After asking ten questions, the emperor asked Yu Wencheng.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty has nothing to say!" Yu Wencheng went down the ladder.

"Hmm!" The emperor smiled.

You're lucky. It's the New Year, so I'll let you go for now.

"Wei Ah Hei, you are diligent and studious. You should be a role model for all Lingnan students! A role model for the Li people! I bestow upon you the Lingnan Golden Abacus! A bounty abacus!"

"Thank you for your grace!" Ah Hei did not expect such a surprise from heaven, and he kowtowed to express his gratitude.

"Yu Qing, do you know who teaches these Lingnan students?" The emperor looked at Yu Wencheng.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I don't know."

"Several nephews and nieces of Su Shaoyin's family, including Lingnan Jinzuo Manager Su Ying! It was Manager Su who made the effort to arrange for the children to study all the way to Chang'an!" The emperor revealed the secret.

Yu Wencheng looked at the emperor in confusion.

I've been going around in circles, but nothing has been revealed. I've just been watching myself perform like a clown, and now I'm deliberately revealing it. Why?

"Yu Qing, you don't understand Lingnan. I don't blame you, but what you said is absolutely right. Lingnan is remote and has never produced any talents!" The emperor said slowly.