"My benefactor, benefactor..."

Ma Zhou was paid for the taxi, but today he didn't change into his pig-raising short suit, and hurriedly found Chen Zhengtai.

Chen Zhengtai suddenly felt a strange and pungent smell coming to his face, and he immediately had the urge to vomit.

Fortunately, Chen Zhengtai is a well-educated person. Seeing Ma Zhou stepping forward a few steps and reaching him, he took a step back with a smile, still smiling: "Oh, Ma Zhou, what's the matter? I know you are on duty during the day and have to raise pigs at the time of duty. Thank you very much. Don't always come to find me in the future. Just do your big things with peace of mind."

Ma Zhou sighed: "It is shameful to be kind to Ma. I am from a poor family. Since I was recommended by my benefactor, I entered the official career... Unfortunately, Shangguan and his colleagues treated Ma coldly, but only my benefactor, as always."

Chen Zhengtai thought to himself, could he not know how big he tastes? He also treated him coldly. If you hadn't raised my pig, I would have swept you out.

Of course, you must continue to smile at this moment: "Where."

Ma Zhou said solemnly: "I heard that the Ministry of Civil Affairs is going to draft official documents and order the emperor. When I drafted the document, I happened to see, benefactor... this..."

Oh...no wonder Ma Zhou rushed over in such a hurry.

Chen Zhengtai was not surprised at all. It would be strange if his father was not scolded for years.

Seeing Chen Zhengtai's coldness, Ma Zhou couldn't help but say: "The Ministry of Civil Affairs's reprimand is only a matter of damage to Lingzun's reputation, and the promotion and demotion of officials are based on this. Isn't the benefactor worried?"

"My father has a bad temper, but our Chen family has always been upright. When they see unfair things, they can't help but want to expose them. This is an old tradition. Therefore, it is easy to offend people. Now that they are retaliated against, the Chen family has long been used to it. You don't have to worry, you will get used to it slowly."

Ma Zhou's mouth was open and he couldn't speak for a long time: "..."

He took a deep breath and then said, "At the beginning of next month, the imperial examination will be about to be held. I will save my salary at the school, but I am afraid that I will be more and more busy with pig farming... Now Zhengde is becoming more and more adept at it. With him taking care of him, I am urging you on weekdays, and I think nothing will happen."

When Ma Zhou talked about Chen Zhengde, he had a little warmth on his face. He spent these days together, Chen Zhengde had been helping him, and Ma Zhou was also happy to teach Chen Zhengde some knowledge.

In Ma Zhou's heart, Chen Zhengtai was his benefactor, but Chen Zhengde was already his disciple.

Ma Zhou’s original intention was to inform him in advance that he might be busy with official business after living some days.

But Chen Zhengtai obviously had a little deviation in his understanding. He said in surprise: "Why, the imperial examination is about to be held?"

"Yes, the court has issued a notice. Now it is telling the world that all families will report the number of recommended places. Yes, it will be recommended tomorrow. Your Majesty attaches great importance to this matter. My Tang Dynasty followed the Sui law. In Your Majesty's heart, the imperial examination is crucial. Could it be that there are people who need to be recommended?"

The imperial examinations in the Sui and Tang dynasties were different from those in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and they had a lot of subjects.

However... the most important subjects are the Ming Jing and Jinshi, and among these two subjects, the Jinshi subject is the most valued.

Chen Zhengtai remembered that although the Tang Dynasty had always held imperial examinations, there were very few people who could pass the imperial examination. The entire Tang Dynasty imperial examination system admitted less than 7,000 people. According to a total of 264 Jinshi exams, only 26 Jinshi were admitted on average.

What's even more terrifying is that in the early Tang Dynasty, the admission rate for the Jinshi was extremely low. For example, in the third year of Zhenguan, only nine people passed the Jinshi.

This is completely different from the hundreds of Jinshis in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

When Chen Zhengtai heard the word "recommended" and felt aroused: "Recommended? Can I also recommend it?"

His eyes were shiny at Ma Zhou.

Ma Zhou focuses on the key points.

"Of course, the mentor is a county man, and the recruitment of talents is the responsibility."

The imperial examination system of the Tang Dynasty still followed the remnants of the recommendation system.

After all, not someone can get the Jinshi just by wanting to take the Jinshi exam, and who is qualified? Of course, officials and nobles need to recommend it. After the recommendation, the Ministry of Rites verified its identity and allowed the exam to be held.

It is precisely because of this that many talented people will try their best to find ways to win the favor of nobles and officials. Of course, if the recommended person is taken seriously by the test, then the recommender will naturally become their benefactors, and even be called the lord.

After all, if no one else likes your talent and recommends you, where is your present today?

The most important thing the ancients paid was benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trustworthiness, and understanding of kindness and gratitude, which was related to a person's moral qualities. Once virtue is questioned, then it will be criticized from then on. Even if you become an official, you will never have a foothold from then on.

Therefore, many families like to recommend talents for the imperial examination. If they are in high school, their own families will have more honors.

Chen Zhengtai began to think: "How many places can I recommend?"

When Ma Zhou thought of recommendation, he thought that his benefactor recommended him and made him turn over. He couldn't help but burst into gratitude and explained patiently: "Where are so many talents in the world? It would be rare for ordinary families to recommend one person. If you can recommend two, three will be considered a lot. I dare to ask your benefactor, who do you want to recommend?"

Chen Zhengtai said: "What if I want to recommend nine people?"

"Nine..." Ma Zhouyi looked surprised.

"You can go to the Ministry of Rites to submit the list tomorrow morning, right?"

Ma Zhou was a little overwhelmed and nodded subconsciously.

Chen Zhengtai said happily: "This is great. Referring talents is to help others. My favorite thing about Chen Zhengtai is to help others. Come on, come on, and get the pen and ink. I will compile a book and recommend talents to the country. Only in this way can I report to the country and repay the kindness of my teacher's teachings."

Ma Zhou: “…”

When did the benefactor deal with scholars?

Never heard of it.

Moreover, nine people were elected at one time, which is probably something that has never happened since the imperial examinations were held.

Ma Zhou immediately said, "My benefactor, this recommendation is not a random recommendation. If you have no talent, you may be laughed at."

Chen Zhengtai said confidently: "Don't worry, these nine people are all among Cai Guoqing..."

“…”

Chen Zhengtai hurriedly took the pen and ink.

To be honest, he was really lucky in his previous life. He happened to read a book about the Zhenguan imperial examination system. This book included a special book on the Jinshi who opened the imperial examination in the third year of Zhenguan. Although he only won nine people, it was because of the few people that he deserved praise.

Chen Zhengtai thought to himself, since my buddy wants to do good deeds, of course, we must do good deeds without them. Come on and arrange them together. Regardless of whether he knows them or not, in short, there must be zero and neat and neat.

He picked up his brush and recorded the names, Wei Tongxuan, Li Yifu, Guo Zhengyi, Gao Zhizhou...

All these names are written down, neatly arranged, not a single one.

Chen Zhengtai was happy.

They are all top talents in the Tang Dynasty.

After finishing writing, he happily handed it to Ma Zhou and said mysteriously: "Tomorrow morning, before you go to the Ministry of Rites to present this list, remember, be sure to be fast, and don't let people take the lead."

Ma Zhouyi looked surprised...

Why...will someone take the lead?

Listen...why do you seem to be doing something bad?

At this moment, Chen Zhengtai had already picked up the tea handed over by Chen Fu, took a sip, and looked satisfied: "I, Chen Zhengtai, can promote talents for the country, so I feel that I have done a great good deed. I feel very excited when I think about it. Ma Zhou, you should learn more from me in this regard. You can't ignore others just because you have gained wealth and honor, so that those with talent are talented but have nowhere to show them."

Ma Zhou felt confused, but fortunately he didn't think much about it. After all, he didn't find anything strange about the Chen family, so he collected the list of Chen Zhengtai. It seemed that this matter would be handled early tomorrow morning, but... the benefactor recommended nine people at one time... This is too unprecedented. Referring talents is not a net fish, so there is no one who casts a net in the sky.

Moreover, the winning rate of the Jinshi class is extremely low, so it is definitely not something that can be won by number.

With so many people, the benefactor will not be the ones you recommend casually. If these people are not virtuous or talented, wouldn’t the benefactor be ashamed?

Although Ma Zhou silently doubted the talent and identity of the nine people in his heart, he was not easy to reject what Chen Zhengtai ordered, so he had to respond. Thinking that he wanted to raise pigs, he hurriedly said goodbye.
Chapter completed!