The person who entered was a middle-aged man with a thin build, dark skin, several deep wrinkles on his forehead, and a neatly trimmed beard that was neatly attached to his chin, giving people a clean and neat feeling.
The loud cheers attracted all the candidates to turn around, which was shocking.
He called himself the magistrate of Ji County and wore a green official uniform with a patch of "鶒". This was a seventh-rank official uniform, so his identity was obvious: he was the new magistrate of Ji County, Feng Yuan.
Song Chi was shocked at first, and then overjoyed.
The prince told him that the new county magistrate was not the prime minister's man, and this has been verified. If he was Song Shiwen's man, Bai Yong would not have snatched the "county examination" from his own man.
The new county magistrate arrived at this time, naturally to compete with Bai Yong for the position of chief official of the county examination, which was very important for the new official to take office.
Things are taking a turn for the better.
The new magistrate will preside over the county examination and will certainly be fair, and may even be biased towards him. This way, it will not be easy for Bai Yong to assassinate him, and he may even have a chance of getting the first place in the county exam!
Although Song Chi was confident that he was well prepared, he was just a commoner and was passive in the face of power. As the saying goes, if you want to accuse someone of a crime, you can always find a pretext.
This is a feudal society, not a legal society. The little people have no status and no human rights.
Now that the new magistrate has arrived, he feels more at ease and even has a sense of being saved from a desperate situation.
Why did it come so timely?
Did Magistrate Feng know about it in advance? Or did someone pass it on?
Song Chi frowned slightly. The arrival of the new magistrate was obviously beneficial to him?
Could it be that someone is helping him secretly?
It's definitely impossible for a scumbag father to do that, and the Shen family doesn't have the ability to do that, so... it can only be her...
While Song Chi was thinking, Feng Yuan had already walked to the examination platform. He was alone, but no one dared to stop him.
Not only were the candidates shocked, but even Bai Yong was stunned. Wasn't the new magistrate still in the provincial capital? Wasn't he still on his way to Ji County? How could he have appeared right in front of him?
This is too sudden.
"Master Bai, this is the official certificate issued by the Ministry of Personnel."
Feng Yuan took out a folded document from his sleeve, and while speaking, he took out another one, stacked them up and handed them to Bai Yong.
"I also brought the imperial edict issued by the provincial government."
Bai Yong was stunned and subconsciously took it and looked at it carefully. The official certificate was an appointment letter issued by the Ministry of Personnel. After getting the official certificate, he went to the county government office where he was located to report. The county government would issue a red edict to the county government office in advance before the county magistrate set off.
The red edict is equivalent to a notice, which will state the magistrate's name, place of origin, age, physical characteristics and other basic information, and then indicate the date of appointment and local reception procedures.
The reason why Bai Yong and others were not in a hurry was because the government office had not yet received the imperial edict, which meant that the new county magistrate would definitely not be able to come before the end of the county examination.
But now it’s here!
The official certificate is genuine, no one dares to forge the official seal, and the red edict is also genuine...
Bai Yong's face had already changed into a smile while he was lost in thought. He said with a smile, "County Magistrate Feng has arrived just in time."
The two of them originally belonged to hostile camps, so there was no need for them to pretend to be nice to each other. He was smiling but speaking coldly.
"If you don't come in time, you will miss the county exam." Feng Yuan had a dark face and was serious, and spoke very directly.
He had reason to be angry. If Marquis Wu'an had not sent someone to pick him up, he would have had no idea that Bai Yong was so excessive. When a new county magistrate takes office, he should win over the candidates and students, and the county examination is an important way to do so.
The county examination was held twice in three years. Bai Yong held two examinations during his two years in office, so there was no county examination in the third year. However, it was still uncertain whether he could remain in office until next year, so he naturally had to catch up first.
Furthermore, he was the second assistant's man and came to Ji County with a mission. He had to fight for what he had to fight for, so how could he be humble?
A hint of displeasure flashed across Bai Yong's eyes. This man was so direct and outspoken, there was no need for him to beat around the bush.
"According to the appointment process, the provincial government should send a red edict to the prefectural government, which then sends it to the county government... But now the prefectural government hasn't received the red edict, and the county government hasn't received it either, yet you brought it in person... This is against the rules!"
Bai Yong said it very directly. It is true that you are the county magistrate, but there is a problem with your appointment process, so you cannot take over.
Feng Yuan's arrival was too sudden, leaving him unprepared. It was not just the county exam that was a problem, but also the finishing touches before leaving office.
"The county examination is about to begin, please leave first!" Bai Yong had the support of the Prime Minister, so his words were extremely impolite.
Feng Yuan's face was calm, as if he knew what Bai Yong would say. "Master Bai, please carefully read the deadline for taking office on the red edict."
Bai Yong flipped it open and took a closer look, frowning as he said in surprise, "February 1st."
It’s today!
Officials' appointments are based on the deadline set by the red edict. Even if the process is flawed, he can take over once the deadline has arrived!
This is really abnormal.
According to the Prime Minister, it would take at least ten days or half a month for him to take office, and three to five days at the earliest, but now it has suddenly been brought forward.
This suggests that someone is interfering.
His official robe was covered in dust, and he looked exhausted. He must have been traveling in a hurry. It was impossible for him to be traveling so fast at a normal speed. Someone must have sent him here urgently.
Bai Yong was also a county magistrate, and his thinking was very quick, so he analyzed it in an instant.
It is very likely that the female coach helped him!
I have overlooked this point despite all the considerations.
"Does Lord Bai have any objections?"
Feng Yuan's question interrupted his thoughts. Bai Yong looked embarrassed. Since the deadline was correct, he had no reason to stop it.
"You and I have not yet officially handed over the position, and you are not yet considered the successor to the position of county magistrate. Please leave, County Magistrate Feng, and wait until the county examination is over before making the handover." Bai Yong refused bluntly.
"I have already taken up my post, how can I leave?"
Feng Yuan was no pushover either, and said directly, "The county exam hasn't started yet, so it's fine to just dismiss the candidates. It's also fine to postpone it for a few days."
"Are you joking, Magistrate Feng? The examinees are already gathered, so how can you disperse them? Can you afford the consequences?"
"I can!" Feng Yuan said without hesitation, which embarrassed Bai Yong.
Because of the bet, this county exam is completely different from usual ones and must be held today. Otherwise, after he leaves office, he will have no chance for revenge, and Young Master Ming will definitely be dissatisfied.
But Feng Yuan suddenly appeared and kept pestering the students. The candidates were already causing a disturbance, and this was not going to work.
"Whatever."
Bai Yong had no choice but to give in.
"It would be a wonderful story for you and I, the old and new county magistrates, to jointly preside over this county examination."
There was no precedent before, but this is the only way now.
Feng Yuan then asked, "What if you and I disagree on the candidate's essay?"
Bai Yong looked slightly startled, then shook his head and said, "We all agree on good articles. If there are any disagreements, please let the Prime Minister make the final decision."
"The Prime Minister will certainly be fair."
Feng Yuan nodded in agreement, but this made Bai Yong extremely unhappy. This man's sudden arrival might affect his plan to frame the useless servant.
But he didn't know that Feng Yuan was looking for him at this time. On the way here, the general told him a lot of things and mentioned that there was a young man who was not afraid of power and dared to challenge the son of the prime minister in public.
This kind of person is exactly what he wants to use.
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