Mu Wanqing directly set out the conditions, "Clean background, no criminal history, impeccable character, no gender restrictions, between the ages of sixteen and fifty."
This is called giving a slap in the face and then giving a sweet date, combining kindness with severity.
Moreover, although these conditions seem simple, they actually contain many restrictions.
First of all, a clean family background means that three generations above you are all innocent citizens. This is normal operation. You also need to have a clean family background to take the imperial examination. This requirement alone eliminates many people.
I won’t mention the fact that there is no criminal history, even a fool would understand.
Impeccable character is the key. People like Mu Donggui and Mu Yujun are not eligible to register.
In other words, if you want to be an official, you must be a good person and behave yourself, otherwise you will bring trouble to your descendants for three generations.
Why do people live? Isn't it for the sake of future generations?
Uncle Mu subconsciously glared at his third son, his heart tense with anxiety.
If he ruins the future of the next generation of the family, I would want to tear this bastard to pieces.
He no longer felt uncomfortable with Mu Wanqing's ruthless treatment. Good job!
Official reputation. Officials pay special attention to their reputation.
"Patriarch, will Mu Yujun's situation affect other people in the family?"
This is an era of collective responsibility. If one person commits a crime, the whole family will suffer.
Everyone in this group looks unhappy. If they are affected, they will beat him so badly that he can't take care of himself.
Mu Yujun's scalp tingled and his heart was beating fast. Oh my god, he was still counting on his family to provide some resources to help him start a new business. Now, is there any hope for him?
Ah, this is the patriarch’s real killer move.
Not only did he appease the family, but he also used a carrot to hang everyone and make them be good people, and he also cleansed out a group of clan members with bad behavior.
She doesn't have to do it herself, others will do it for her.
The competition within the clan is also fierce. There are only so many places and resources. Who wouldn’t want one?
If I squeeze you out, maybe it will be my turn to take your place.
When he thought of this, he felt terrible. Fear! Regret! Why did he lose his mind?
Mu Wanqing said calmly, "It usually affects three generations of direct relatives, that is, him, his children, and his grandchildren. If the situation is particularly serious, it affects three generations, including brothers, sisters, nephews, and great-nephews."
Uncle Mu's branch was completely divided, and Aunt Mu felt so itchy that she wanted to beat her son.
Uncle Mu Liu spoke cautiously, "So, what is his situation?"
The whole family's hearts were pounding with nervousness and their throats were dry. Their fate depended on Mu Wanqing's one thought.
Mu Wanqing didn't comment, "I need to study it further."
Aunt Mu Liu couldn't bear it any longer and slapped Mu Yujun on the head. This deceptive thing has ruined the whole family.
Uncle Mu Liu and his sons also glared at Mu Yujun angrily. If he didn't behave like a human being, he would bring ruin to three generations.
I can’t control my lower body and it affects my whole family. Haha, you still want to start over? Dream on.
In fact, Mu Wanqing knew clearly that the best mathematicians in the clan were all trained by her. They were basically the graduates of the first three classes of Mu Academy. They were her confidants, who were most influenced by her and had no problem with their loyalty to her.
These are all young people, full of vitality, with ideals and ambitions, different from the old-timers in the tribe.
They were classmates with Mu Zicheng, so it would be best for them to be Mu Zicheng's assistants. The banking system is very large and needs a lot of young people who are trustworthy and capable in business.
She selected people through competition, shutting everyone up and giving others hope.
As long as there is hope, we will strictly demand ourselves and supervise each other.
Look, Sixth Uncle Mu is already regretting not disciplining his third son well and not resolving the trouble as soon as possible.
Did he really not know what his son and his people had done? No, he knew everything.
It's just that she is too selfish. First, she is afraid of offending people. Second, it is too much trouble. Third, she thinks it's okay for men to flirt with her as long as they don't marry into the family.
It is the serious decline in ideology that has led to today's disastrous consequences.
The next day, the government announced the news, and all Xiliang people who met the requirements could participate. This immediately caused a sensation in the city and excited the public.
Not to mention the common people, even the minor officials were eager to try, thinking that following Princess Qingping to the capital was the most promising option.
The government is responsible for screening and strictly examining the applicants, and there is a five-day public announcement period before the final winner is decided.
That is to say, if someone complains within these five days, the government will review it and if there is indeed a problem, the qualification will be revoked.
This is the process, post it in advance to inform everyone.
There is little chance of finding a way around it or taking shortcuts.
The Mu family members all came to please Mu Wanqing, but Mu Wanqing said that everything should be done according to the normal procedures and she would not bend the law for personal gain.
All the young people in the Mu family have signed up to see if they can try their luck.
Uncle Mu went to Princess Qingping's Mansion every day. He was very tired after running for a few days. Mu Wanqing was either not there or was surrounded by a lot of people.
As soon as Mu Wanqing returned to Xiliang, in addition to cleaning up the household, she also had to entertain various parties and go around to check on the people's sentiments. She was very busy.
Uncle Mu finally found an opportunity and went straight to the point without any time to beat around the bush. "Patriarch, please give me a definite answer. Can my two grandsons qualify for the exam?"
One is the eldest grandson of the eldest son, and the other is the second son of the second son. Both are smart and have excellent grades in studying at the academy.
Mu Wanqing lazily picked up the teacup but didn't drink. "Sixth Uncle Mu, you have worked hard to help manage clan affairs over the years, but there are so many problems in the clan..."
Her father's job was already at his limit managing the Shuimu Farm, and he didn't have the energy to take care of the clan affairs.
Clan affairs are trivial and complicated, and require a lot of time and energy.
But he couldn't just give up the position of clan leader, and the clan wouldn't agree.
That's why we asked the smart and capable Uncle Mu to take charge of some things.
But what has he done? Doesn't he know what's going on?
Uncle Mu's heart skipped a beat. This was a sign of dissatisfaction with him.
He also had his own difficulties. After all, he was not legitimate and did not have the prestige of Mu Wanqing, so many people did not submit to him.
When Mu Wanqing made some decisions, no one dared to object, because no one listened to him.
However, complaining at this time is meaningless and seems more like shirking responsibility.
"I have been a little confused these years. I am old and afraid of this and that, and I dare not take drastic measures."
He patted his chest and promised, "But from now on, I will strictly control it. Once I find any signs, I will strike it down without mercy. I promise you in the name of the future of my descendants."
For the sake of his descendants, he tried his best and would rather offend his clansmen than not listen to Mu Wanqing.
Mu Wanqing looked at him indifferently for a long time. His heart almost jumped out of his chest and he was sweating profusely due to nervousness.
Just when he was about to give up, he finally heard Mu Wanqing speak, "Okay, let them sign up, but how are their math scores?"
Uncle Mu didn't even dare to breathe. This was no longer the little girl she used to be. The majesty of a powerful official was fully revealed in her.
"Small ones are better. I want to give them an emergency assault. I would like your advice."
Mu Wanqing refused outright, "I am the one who sets the questions. I cannot help with tutoring to avoid suspicion. However, the best students in the clan middle school are Mu Ji and Mu Rongxue. Go find them."
Uncle Mu was stunned. "They have also signed up? Can Rong Xue also participate?"
Mu Ji is now in charge of the military grain shop, holds real power, has a wife and children, and leads a pretty good life.
Mu Rongxue is the child of the third wife. Both the first and third wives were killed by Mu Wanqing, so this can be considered a stain.
Mu Wanqing said that Mu Rongxue was her fan girl, and she was quite tolerant of her.
"She has worked diligently over the years and has never made any mistakes in the accounts she has handled. She has also quietly sponsored more than a dozen orphans at Renjitang for several years, day after day, so I gave her a favor."
Mu Rongxue is in charge of the clan's accounts, such as the soap workshop, Mu's Academy, kindergarten, and sacrificial field account books.
She is also a member of the family's actuarial team, responsible for settling problematic accounts.
She is a very special existence in the clan. When the clan members form a group, she never participates. If anyone wants to bully her, she will run to find Madam Mu.
She is one of the few people who can write directly to Mu Wanqing.
In other words, he was also Mu Wanqing's spy in the clan.
Mu Rongxue is a smart person. She has long realized that she can only have a good life if she clings to Mu Wanqing.
"You can't change your origins, but as long as you work hard enough and do good deeds with good intentions, you will be blessed."
To put it bluntly, the right of interpretation belongs to Mu Wanqing, and she has the final say on everything.
Of course, the reasons must be sufficient and no one can find fault with them.
What else could Sixth Uncle Mu say? He could only quickly send his two grandsons to sign up, and then bring valuable gifts to Mu Ji and Mu Rongxue to ask for advice.
The grand competition began. There were three rounds in total, namely preliminary round, semi-final and final, with one test per day.
Mu Wanqing was the chief examiner, and invited Miss Du and Sun Tongzhi to be invigilators.
During each exam, she would wait until all candidates entered the examination room before taking out pen and paper to set questions on the spot, and the questions were very arbitrary.
Arithmetic is no different from other things. There are correct answers, so there is no pressure in grading the papers.
On the first day, fifty people were selected to enter the semi-finals, but those who were not selected did not come in vain. Each of them was given an arithmetic book, a set of four treasures of the study, an abacus, and two pieces of cotton cloth.
The next day, twenty people were selected to enter the semi-finals. Similarly, those who were not selected also received something, and it was doubled, so there was some consolation for not being selected.
The test paper on the third day was extremely difficult. Mu Wanqing deliberately got three big questions stuck, and the candidates were questioning their lives. How could it be so difficult?
Soon, the results of the competition came out. Mu Wanqing first gave gifts to the losers. She simply added a pork leg to the previous prizes. The losers said that this trip was worth it.
As expected of Princess Qingping, she is generous in everything she does.
Mu Wanqing also encouraged everyone to study hard and not to be discouraged, as there will be opportunities in the future.
Among the final ten winners, seven were members of the Mu family, including Mu Ji, Mu Rongxue and others, and all of them were guessed by Mu Wanqing.
Two of them were minor officials from Xiliang, and one was the son of a wealthy merchant who was very good at mental arithmetic.
Mr. Mu Liu's eldest grandson was at the tail end of the list, ranking exactly tenth, but he made it into the list anyway. Mr. Mu Liu's whole family cried with joy and celebrated wildly.
Mu Yujun, who was working hard in the kitchen, felt relieved the moment he heard the news.
He had already lost his fortune and could not afford to lose his family.
However, Mr. Mu Liu soon found out that Ye Meiniang was involved with a noble family from other places. Following the clues, he discovered that Ye Meiniang was a beautiful snake sent by another family, who intended to infiltrate the Mu family and gain control of the Mu family's discourse power by any means necessary.
They chose Mu Yujun, firstly because Mr. Mu Liu was closest to the center of power, and secondly because he was easier to control.
Mr. Mu Liu was so scared that he broke out in a cold sweat. If Ye Meiniang succeeded, would his other sons still be able to survive?
He threw the investigation results in front of Mu Yujun and beat his third son up on the spot.
Mu Yujun felt the strong malice and was completely desperate. He even didn't want the child in Ye Meiniang's belly. Who knew if it was his?
He is a miserable man.
He never recovered from the blow.
Some are happy, some are sad; human emotions are not the same.
During the five-day public announcement period, no one came to cause trouble and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Mu Wanqing quickly finalized the return date and everyone started packing.
Mu Ji immediately ran to Mu Wanqing and asked, "Patriarch, who do you think would be a good fit to take over this military grain shop?"
He was determined to go to the capital with Mu Wanqing. Although Xiliang was a good place, it was too stable and comfortable, and was not suitable for retirement.
At his age, he wants to try his best to lay a good foundation for his descendants.
Mu Wanqing hesitated for a moment, "Do you have a suitable candidate?"
Mu Ji's heart moved slightly, and a figure flashed through his mind, but...
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