Author: Nanshan Youlong

Seeing that spring was approaching, it was hard for Cao Nai to imagine how he, the examiner, would be scolded if he did not solve the candle problem.

If someone else becomes an examiner once, they will be his disciples and former officials all over the world, gaining both fame and fortune. It is not good for him, but he will become an errand that offends others.

When I come to meet the examiner today, he is ready to either solve the problem or quit being the examiner!

Zhu Qizhen frowned slightly and asked, "Huaien, what's going on in Gongyuan?"

Wynn hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty, this servant is also thinking about the safety of all students. In the third year of orthodoxy, a fire broke out in the Gongyuan, killing and injuring dozens of people. Such an accident cannot happen again!"

Cao Nai's face turned red, but when he heard what Huaien said, he was speechless for a moment.

The Gongyuan of the capital was built in the 13th year of Yongle reign on the former site of the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites in the Yuan Dynasty.

The entire building complex has a five-couplet gate, and two gates with five couplets inward. Since the city walls and palaces were being constructed when the capital was moved, financial and material resources were stretched thin, so the construction of the Gongyuan was made simple, using cheap materials such as wooden boards and reed mats to build the structure.

The shed is surrounded by an outer wall of thorns.

As the number of students coming to Beijing to take exams increased year by year, the simple Gongyuan became overcrowded and had to be continuously expanded.

However, no matter how it is expanded, this place will always be a hidden danger, because according to regulations, as soon as the exam starts, the door must be locked, and for three days in a row, candidates will have to eat, drink, and relieve themselves inside.

Candidates use charcoal fires for cooking and heating and candles for lighting. If they are not careful, a fire may occur.

Although many large tanks of water were placed in the Gongyuan to prepare for fire-fighting, it was not enough and fires occurred frequently in the Gongyuan.

In the spring of the third year of Orthodoxy, a fire broke out on the first day of exams, killing and injuring dozens of people.

You must know that these students are the pillars of talent selected from across the country. If a fire occurs, the damage caused is immeasurable in terms of money.

In this case, things will be difficult to handle.

It is not wrong for Huaien to be cautious and guard against the slightest mistake.

However, the actual situation is that without a candle, the exam will have to be closed after dark, and three days may not be enough.

Cao Nai said angrily: "Your Majesty, this veteran is not a good examiner!"

Rather than being scolded by the students, I might as well just say, I quit!

Whoever wants to do it can do it!

Zhu Qizhen was immediately in trouble. If he didn't send out the fire candle, it would affect the exam. If he did, it would be a fire hazard...

This is an infinite loop.

At this time, Zhang Yi stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, if we want to ban fire candles, why don't we issue a decree to extend the examination time? How about that?"

Zhu Qizhen thought for a while and said: "How much extension is appropriate? The rules have already been set, and all candidates have prepared in this way. Even if they need to be changed, they must be fully prepared and give everyone enough time to change the rules in such a hurry.

, I’m afraid it will be detrimental to the candidates and the court.”

The monarch and his ministers suddenly encountered difficulties. Spring was approaching and they could not wait, so they had to solve it immediately.

Wynn looked pitiful, but he actually had an idea in his mind. Anyway, I would ban it. As long as there is no fire, it is none of my business. As for the rest, it has nothing to do with me!

Cao Nai said with a dark face: "I think we should increase fire prevention efforts, send more people to patrol the Gongyuan, and prepare more water tanks. Fire candles must still be distributed as usual, so as not to affect the students' exams."

Zhu Qizhen could only say: "This matter cannot be cut across the board, but at the same time it must be handled with caution. Cao Qing's family, Zhang Qing's family, you two go down and think of a solution. Huai'en, the Chief of Ceremonies will cooperate as much as possible. Do you understand?"

?”

Wynn quickly replied: "I obey your order!"

Cao Nai and Zhang Yi had no choice but to stand up and say goodbye. They returned to Wenyuan Pavilion to re-designate various fire prevention matters for the upcoming Spring Festival. In short, they must ensure that students can take exams normally and nip in the bud.

The next day, Cao Nai sent a clerk to send the newly drafted charter to the Supervisor of Ceremonies, but he got a call back not long after, and the reply was that it would not be approved!

At this moment, Cao Nai couldn't bear it any longer and immediately went to look for Huai'en desperately.

Zhang Yi stopped him and said, "It's not like I didn't look for him yesterday. Is it useful?"

"What do you think we should do?"

Cao Nai slammed the table angrily and said angrily: "I still don't believe that a guy without eggs wants to interfere in the imperial examination? Who does he think he is? He has forgotten how Wang Zhen died?"

Zhang Yi advised: "Continuing like this is not an option. The Emperor has also said that the Chief of Ceremonies should try his best to cooperate. However, there are many things that can be done about how to do our best!"

"He still dares to resist the decree?"

"The problem is...this is not considered rebellion!"

Zhang Yi shook his head helplessly and said: "The emperor also admitted that fire prevention in Gongyuan is a major matter. Moreover, in the spring of the third year of Zhengtong, how many people were killed and burned by a fire? The emperor was still a child at that time, but it is different now, Si Li

The prison is on fire prevention grounds, what else can the emperor say?"

"Tell me, what is this?"

Cao Nai was really helpless. Being the examiner himself was really frustrating.

Zhang Yi smiled lightly and said: "Don't be anxious, Mr. Cao. In fact, this matter is not that difficult..."

"oh?"

Cao Nai stared at him closely and asked, "If you have any ideas, please come quickly!"

Zhang Yi pondered for a moment, and then said: "You and I, as well as the officials of the Ministry of Rites, we are all worried. Who is it for?"

"Of course it's for the students who come to take the exam!"

"That's it."

Zhang Yi smiled and said: "Since it is for the students, why should we be anxious?"

"What you're saying... As the examiner, I'm naturally anxious!"

"What did Mr. Cao do to offend his students?"

"Of course not!"

Cao Nai was a little confused and said: "It's not the Chief of Ceremonies who is hindering this..."

Suddenly, he seemed to understand.

"You mean to tell the truth to the scholars who came to take the exam so that they can put pressure on the imperial court?"

Zhang Yi nodded and said: "Exactly!"

Cao Nai thought about it over and over, but now this is the only way.

If it arouses public outrage, let’s see how that eggless castrate ends up!

Sure enough, the next day, the news spread like wildfire that the Supervisor of Ceremonies would not distribute candles to the Gongyuan.

When those students who came to take the exam heard about it, they were immediately filled with indignation and complained to the Ministry of Etiquette one after another, asking for an explanation.

Although lighting lamps at night is not a big deal, it is related to the imperial examination, and any detail can determine the future fate of the students present, so it should not be underestimated.

Kuang Ye, the Minister of Rites, was also helpless. It was too late to block the news now. In desperation, he had to rush to Wenyuan Pavilion and tell the truth.

Cao Nai and Zhang Yi reacted very calmly, still drinking tea leisurely.

Kuang Ye frowned and said, "The students outside are making a big fuss, do you two still want to drink tea?"

Zhang Yi calmly poured a cup of tea for Kuang Ye and said, "Don't be anxious, don't panic, this is Longjing before the rain, come and have a taste!"

Kuang Ye happened to be thirsty, so he brought it over and drank it in one gulp.

"You two, I, Kuang, am ready to retire and return to my hometown. I don't want to cause any trouble before I leave. Now that the situation is out of control, what should I do?"

Kuang Ye will be 70 years old in three months. He is ready to resign, relieve himself of his burden, and go home to spend his remaining years in peace.

But I didn't expect that before I left, I would do something like this.

"I leaked the news on purpose!"

Cao Nai did not hide it at the moment and directly told the truth.

"Mr. Cao, why are you...?"

Kuang Ye is very confused. Now that the problem has not been solved and it is too late to suppress it as much as possible, you still take the initiative to poke it out?

Do you think the matter is not big enough?

You are the examiner!

Zhang Yi explained: "Yesterday, the two of us went to find the emperor and explained the matter clearly. After the emperor listened, he just asked the ceremonial supervisor to cooperate. However, can the ceremonial supervisor cooperate? In desperation, I and Cao I just thought of this method. Since the problem is caused by the Supervisor of Ceremonies, let’s just let the students make a fuss and see how the Supervisor of Ceremonies ends!”

After listening to it, Kuang Ye suddenly felt that it made sense.

The key to this matter lies in the excessive control of the ceremonial supervisor. In order to prevent fire, he even cut off the candles of the imperial examination.

Logically speaking, it is a good thing that you take strict precautions. Prepare more clean water in the Gongyuan and send more people to patrol. This is all fine. However, if you directly strictly control the candles, what will you do to the scholars at night?

This is clearly a sign of inaction!

Kuang Ye thought about it and said, "The students are getting more and more noisy. Will they alarm the emperor?"

"I'm just going to alarm the emperor!"

Cao Nai was still angry at this time and said: "All the students are the pillars of our Ming Dynasty. The Chief of Ceremonies has offended the public, and the emperor will definitely not protect him this time!"

Xiao Jing, the Supervisor of Ceremonies, arrived in a hurry.
To be continued...