Chapter 135: A Show of Power
The titles of No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 are not just nice to hear, the benefits are real as well. Other newly-appointed Jinshi candidates have to take the imperial examination again, and only after combining their previous and subsequent examination results can they be admitted to the academy. Only the best among them will be selected to enter the Hanlin Academy as Shujishi.
These people were able to enter the Hanlin Academy and become Shujishi, which is commonly known as "appointed Hanlin".
The remaining new scholars were either assigned to various ministries as grassroots officials or sent to other places to serve. Generally speaking, it was the latter. Unless they had extensive connections or were favored by a minister, the six ministries would not recruit new people at will.
Don't think that going to a distant place to take up a post is a good thing. The wealthy and good places have already been taken. The places where new scholars can go are usually remote and desolate. It is extremely difficult to make political achievements in such places, and you may end up wasting your time.
How many tribute students were full of confidence when they passed the imperial examination, but they had no idea that this would be the highlight of their lives, and that they would go downhill afterwards, wasting their entire lives and still only becoming a minor official of the fifth rank.
This is also why the newly-minted scholars are always busy smoothing relationships, and even taking sides. Is it because they cannot see through the dangers of the court? Of course not, but if they do not take sides, they may have to leave the capital, and may not even be able to return to this prosperous center of power that makes people dream for the rest of their lives.
Of course, Su Fengzhang did not have this worry, because after the palace examination, the top scorer would be awarded the sixth-rank Hanlin Academy editor, and the second and third place winners would be awarded the seventh-rank Hanlin Academy editor. In other words, from the moment he passed the examination, Su Fengzhang was already an official of the sixth rank, one level higher than Cai Zhixian of their Hushan County.
The Hanlin Academy is the most noble place in the Great Zhou Dynasty and is also the holy temple for scholars all over the world. Although the highest Hanlin Academy scholar is only of the fifth rank, they are responsible for compiling books and writing history, drafting imperial edicts, serving as tutors for members of the royal family, and serving as examiners for the imperial examinations. Although their official positions are not high, they are close ministers to the emperor.
No matter which dynasty it was, being able to enter the Hanlin Academy was a great honor, and this was the origin of the saying that only Hanlin could enter the cabinet.
Just like Su Fengzhang, the newly crowned top scholar, he had just been appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. The responsibilities of this position were to compile national history, the Veritable Records, record the emperor's words and deeds, and lecture on classics and history.
To describe it in modern terms, the editor of the Hanlin Academy is like the emperor's secretary. Of course, whether the secretary can walk by the emperor's side and the degree of the emperor's trust and attention will directly determine the secretary's status in the Hanlin Academy.
Before entering the Hanlin Academy, Su Fengzhang knew that his days would not be easy, because the current scholar of the Hanlin Academy was named Chi Liangjun, who was the one who helped the prince preside over the imperial examination and selected Su Juan as the champion.
Chi Liangjun was originally from the capital, but he was very inclined towards the northern scholars and was also a close confidant of the prince. For various reasons, he had a tendency to suppress the southern scholars.
Three years ago, the southern scholar who passed the imperial examination and won the third place in the imperial examination also entered the Hanlin Academy as an editor. Originally, the emperor liked this third place scholar very much, but it turned out that this person stayed in the Hanlin Academy for three years, editing books for three consecutive years, and even failed to see the emperor again.
Before Su Fengzhang entered the Hanlin Academy, this old scholar who had won the imperial examination finally couldn't bear it anymore. In despair, he applied for a transfer to another position as an official, thus escaping from Chi Liangjun's suppression.
What Su Fengzhang didn't expect was that the suppression from this Lord Chi came so quickly and so blatantly, without any intention of concealing it.
On his first day in the Hanlin Academy, Su Fengzhang went to pay his respects to his superiors as per the rules. However, after his servants went in to report, they only said, "The Lord is busy. Please wait for a moment, Lord Su."
Su Fengzhang waited at the door with his hands down for an hour, and only vaguely heard the sound of someone talking inside.
An hour later, someone came out and said, "Master Chi was discussing important matters with another Master Su. I was so busy that I forgot that Master was waiting outside. I feel very sorry for this. Please come in."
"No problem." Su Fengzhang smiled slightly and followed him in.
It was Su Qun who was chatting and laughing with Chi Liangjun inside. One of them was sitting and the other was standing beside him. It was more like they were chatting and laughing than talking about business. At this moment, they were looking at him together.
Su Fengzhang bowed first and said, "Your humble servant pays respect to Lord Chi."
Chi Liangjun had a square face, not the emperor's favorite look. He was also one of the few officials in the court who had a beard. He sat there with a certain dignity. Upon hearing this, he just nodded lightly: "Get up."
Su Fengzhang: "Thank you, sir."
Chi Liangjun glanced at him and asked, "I forgot that Su Zhuangyuan was still outside the door. I hope Master Su will not blame me."
"Your Excellency is busy with government affairs, and I dare not blame you." Su Fengzhang said lightly.
Chi Liangjun frowned and continued, "It's a coincidence this year. The top scholar Su is surnamed Su, and the second place is also surnamed Su. It's not easy to address two Su masters at the same time in the Hanlin Academy."
"How about this? Su Qun is a few years older than you. From now on, people will call him Big Master Su and you Little Master Su. It's simpler and more convenient. What do you think?"
Su Fengzhang chuckled softly and said, "Master Su is a bit awkward, and Master Su is not appropriate. How about we address him by his official title? Master, do you think that's appropriate?"
Upon hearing this, Chi Liangjun frowned and sneered inwardly, thinking that this top scholar from the south was indeed very cunning and not an honest person. He was dissatisfied and his tone became even colder: "Is Su Zhuangyuan arguing with me about who's superior?"
Su Fengzhang said repeatedly: "I dare not, I just think it is more convenient. If Master Chi feels it is not good, it is fine to call me whatever you want. It is just a name, not worth getting angry about."
He kept saying that he didn't care and there was no need to be angry, and his expression was indifferent, but in Chi Liangjun's eyes he looked cunning, and he was even more unhappy.
Su Qi didn't want to argue about this. It would be useless even if he won. Does it mean that his official position will be one rank higher than Su Fengzhang just because others call him Da Su?
"Then it's up to you, call me whatever you want." Chi Liangjun frowned and said unhappily.
After saying this, he turned around and asked Su Yu some more questions. The two of them talked as if no one was around. Half an hour had passed by, chatting about this and that.
After a while, Chi Liangjun turned around to look at Su Fengzhang and asked in surprise, "Why is Su Zhuangyuan still here?"
Su Fengzhang's expression remained calm as he cupped his hands and said, "I dare not leave without your permission."
Chi Liangjun laughed heartily and said, "Alright, if you have nothing else to do, go down. Just go take over from Lord Cao and do the things assigned to you peacefully. You are still young, so remember to be down-to-earth when doing things in the Hanlin Academy."
"I am very busy. If you have any questions, please ask Xiao Hanlin. Do not disturb me."
Lord Cao was the third place scholar who was marginalized and had to leave the capital. The meaning of Chi Liangjun's words was very clear. He wanted Su Fengzhang to continue to revise the book, which was equivalent to sending him directly to the cold palace.
After Chi Liangjun finished speaking, he expected to see fear or anger on Su Fengzhang's face, but Su Fengzhang's expression didn't change at all. He nodded and said, "I will follow your orders, Master Chi. I will take my leave now."
Chi Liangjun nodded, and Su Fengzhang took his leave politely without any reluctance.
After Su Fengzhang left the room, Chi Liangjun narrowed his eyes and turned to ask, "Su Fan, you have dealt with Su Fengzhang before. Do you think he is really willing at this moment?"
Su Que laughed and replied, "Su Fengzhang appears to be a gentle person with good relationships, but he is actually a man of deep scheming. Even if he harbors a lot of resentment, he will not easily reveal it."
"These southerners are too cunning." Chi Liangjun sneered, especially when he thought of the Xu family from Su Fengzhang, he felt even more unhappy. It was because he and Xu Siyuan were of similar age, and now one of them was a Shangshu who was in power, while he was still just a scholar in the Hanlin Academy.
Everyone says that the Hanlin Academy is noble and elegant, but Chi Liangjun is not convinced. How is he worse than Xu Siyuan? Is it because he lacks a daughter who is a favorite concubine? When he thinks of this, he feels indignant and even blames the emperor.
After cursing, Chi Liangjun continued, "Yuliang, I have a good relationship with your father, and you are an outstanding student in the north. Now that you are entering the court as an official, you must work hard."
Su Qun immediately said, "I understand, nephew. I will not let you down, sir."
Chi Liangjun nodded with a smile, and he was even more satisfied when he saw Su Qun's outstanding appearance. He always felt that his slow promotion was closely related to his appearance. After all, the emperor's preference was there.
"That's right. I will create an opportunity for you to appear before His Majesty, but whether you can seize it depends on you." Chi Liangjun smiled meaningfully. "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also thinks highly of you. You must remember this."
Su Que's eyes flickered slightly, but he still answered obediently: "Your Highness the Crown Prince has been very kind to me, and I will always remember this."
Chi Liangjun and Su Qu looked at each other and both laughed, obviously reaching an agreement.
Su Fengzhang walked out slowly with a smile on his face. Chi Liangjun had just tested him, and he was the same.
Before coming to the Hanlin Academy, Su Fengzhang had already gotten some basic information about this place, but he was not a member of the court after all, so what he knew was very limited, and most of it was even hearsay.
However, after just testing him, he had a rough idea of Mr. Chi's character.
Speaking of being kind, Lord Chi's rejection of southern scholars was evident in his words. It was obvious that he disliked him and he showed his power as soon as he entered the door.
If you say she is strong, then after suppressing him with the name, she doesn't make a decision directly, but instead says some specious words and expects him to give her a way out. This is really contradictory.
Comparing the two, Su Fengzhang felt that Lord Chi seemed to be a man of strength but weakness. Either it was his nature, or his control over the Hanlin Academy was very limited and he could not have the final say, so there was such a contradiction.
Whether asking him to wait outside for an hour, or asking him to wait quietly by the side for half an hour, or even worse, asking him to repair the book, these methods seemed to be suppression, but in fact they were all weak and did not hurt any bones, and even had the flavor of a small fight. Su Fengzhang raised his eyebrows and felt that this was not a bad thing.
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