Chapter 25 Section 25 Delivering Ice Water to Candidates

The day of the country test is coming soon.Early in the morning before the exam, Huang Zhong, the governor of Sichuan and the inspector of the office, brought Xuezheng and officials from the capital and the first county to pick up the official hall, and invited the chief examiner Zeng Guofan, the deputy chief examiner Zhao Ji, and the examiners to inspect the examination shed. Zeng Guofan led Zhao Ji and the examiners, happily surrounded by others, to the newly built examination shed, and slowly boarded the invigilation altar specially built for the main examiner. The test shed is different from the tribute courtyard.The Gongyuan is a place where children and students are admitted to be scholars. It is a permanent building and is managed by someone appointed by Xuezheng.As for the rural examinations, there are many scholars who take the examinations, so the examination sheds need to be temporarily built and dismantled after use.The test sheds in various provinces often collapsed and injured people due to cutting corners and cutting corners. Therefore, it is necessary to inspect the test sheds before the provincial examinations to show that the imperial court cares about the students.

Standing on the invigilation platform, Huang Zhong said to Zeng Guofan: "I heard from people in the Xuezheng Yamen that this year's examination booths are not only larger in scale than before, but the quality of binding is also higher than in previous years." "That's not true!" Interface said: "The test sheds have been set up for a whole month, and Ben Xian inspects the test sheds one by one. I have never been so careful!" Zeng Guofan said: "It's really hard to learn the constitution! Let's take a look at the examination room." Huang Zhongdao: "Zhang Xuexian will personally check it, so I don't think we need to look at it anymore?" The tone seemed to be discussing with Zeng Guofan.

Before Zeng Guofan could speak, Zhao Ji hurriedly said, "Master Fang ① is right. Let Xuexian check it out himself, what else is there to say! Mr. Zeng, let's turn around and rest here. After tomorrow, we won't be so leisurely." .” After finishing speaking, he laughed dryly twice.Zeng Guofan smiled and said, "Since we're here, how can we not take a look at the examination room? If it spreads out, I'm afraid Fang Bo and Xue Xian will not look good." After speaking, he took the lead and walked down the invigilator platform, and everyone had to follow. The test shed was bundled up firmly.Two, three, four...the order is reasonable, but for the last one, Zeng Guofan pushed one of the pillars with his hand, and it felt a little shaking, then pushed the other pillars, some did not move, some Still shaking.Zeng Guofan's triangular eyes narrowed, and his face was heavy and ugly.

Zeng Guofan didn't look at anyone, but only pointed at the unstable pillars and said: "This test shed must be reinforced! I, a scholar, can still push him away, but if there is a wind, what will happen!" He didn't say the ominous words.Huang Zhong looked at Zhang Xuezheng, and Zhang Xuezheng looked at the full-time Taoist who was in charge. The full-time Taoist blushed, and immediately turned to the people who followed him: "Order to go down and reinforce it immediately. It must be completed before midnight, and there must be no mistakes!" Zeng Guofan added: "By the way, check the other sheds as well, in case of omissions."

Huang Zhong sighed: "As expected of being on a job, the work is really fine!" Although Zhang Xuezheng's face was a little embarrassing, there was nothing he could do.A group of people then turned to the governor's office to discuss the links in the big exam. On the day of the big exam, the governor's yamen dispatched a hundred soldiers to cooperate with the examiners in checking the candidates' clothes and baskets, while maintaining order in the exam room.Outside the examination shed, the incense table had been set up early, the chief examiner Zeng Guofan and the deputy chief examiner Zhao Ji first led the scholars to worship the heaven and the earth, the emperor and Confucius.The examiner who came with him explained the regulations of the examination room again, and then the scholars entered the examination room from the four gates, east, west, north, south, with examination baskets on their hands.

The Sichuan Provincial Examination was held as scheduled.The first title of this rural examination is "I don't know what to say, and there is no way to know people", the second title is "The ministers of the body, the sons and the people", the third title is "What people do not do, and then they can do it", and the poem title is " Thousands of Shu Mountain Dust". At this time, although it has been many days in autumn, Chengdu is still extremely hot, especially on the day when the exam starts, the sun is surprisingly poisonous, as if it is deliberately against the scholars.It was even more stuffy in the test room. Some people were shirtless and still sweating.Zeng Guofan and Zhao Ji brought their masters to do mobile chief examinations. Some officials from the road, government, and county were assigned housing examinations, and some followed them.

Zeng Guofan saw that most of the scholars who took the exam spread out paper and rubbed ink to write, but there were also some older candidates who were panting due to the heat, but could not move their pens; Uniform, almost fainted.When I saw Zeng Guofan, I couldn't even give any courtesy. I just watched him helplessly and couldn't say a word.Zeng Guofan was shocked and deeply regretted his carelessness.There is no ice to take in Chengdu in the summer. Even if there is a place to get it, it is too late now. When the procrastinating government servants get the ice back, these seventy and eighty-year-old pedants will faint if they don’t die!Not to mention Zhongju, it is even difficult to save one's life.

He immediately asked Taizhuang to tell Master Xuezheng to order Shouxian to immediately put cold water in the test tents to cool off the heat. The cooler the water, the better.Scholars are so hot that they are allowed to wash their faces and bodies with cold water.In any case, the lives of a dozen old scholars must be saved first, so that every candidate will not miss the opportunity to take the exam due to the heat.Zeng Guofan specifically told Taizhuang that if you need silver taels, you can take fifty taels for urgent use first.Taizhuang also saw that human life was at stake, so he ran to find Xuezheng.

The old pedants were in a daze of heat, and two eighty-year-old examinees had already reached the examination table with their heads and began to vomit. Seeing that they were going to die, a large wooden bucket filled with cold water was put in at this time; It took two minutes to wake up. Some people knelt down and thanked each other, while others muttered to themselves while thanking: "Holy Grace, the once-in-a-century Holy Grace!" Bucket after bucket of cold water began to be transported into the test shed, and there were bursts of thanksgiving in the test shed.Soon, there was cold water in all the test booths, and the candidates began to answer the papers calmly.

A faint smile hung on the corner of Zeng Guofan's mouth. He thought of the scene of his rural examination, and his heart was filled with infinite relief. The smile on the corner of Zeng Guofan's mouth hadn't faded yet, and the problem came again.The history of Shouxian County ① came to Zeng Guofan with the proof of purchasing ice water, greeted him first, and then said in a low voice: "I report to the superior, and I have obeyed the order, and I have purchased all the ice water. The total cost is 1,333 Two, the money spent by the Lord in advance has not been counted. Although the Fantai allocated all the money, it said that there was no precedent for purchasing ice water for the candidates in the township examination. Ask the lower officials to ask for instructions on how to pay the money. If the Fantai has something to say, the lower officials dare not refuse to do so, I hope Master Zeng will understand."

Zeng Guofan was stunned: "How can cold water be bought at a high price? In the midsummer of the capital, ice is used, and it doesn't cost so much money!" Dian Shi replied in a low voice: "My superior, Rong Rong, ice water is used in the test shed, not cold water. The cold water is drawn from the well, but the ice water is taken from the ground. The price is very high." Zeng Guofan pondered for a while, then looked up at Wang Chang and the second guard at the stage, and then said: "The purchase of ice water for the examination shed was indeed out of accident, seeing that the situation was critical, I didn't have time to discuss it with Fantai, so I made some decisions on my own. Fantai's words are not unreasonable. It is really difficult to get the title of this money. Shao Yin, I don't think this money should be difficult for the Fantai. The officials should donate it themselves. I, the chief guard and the Tai guard Pledge a donation of one hundred taels, and for the rest, I will annoy Shaoyin to report to the army and the vassals. Everyone will donate some. I believe it will not be difficult to collect a thousand taels of silver." He said to Tai Zhuang, "Taiwan Guard, I have to trouble you to go back to the official hall and take out three hundred taels of silver to Shaoyin." Dian Shi bowed deeply to Zeng Guofan and said: "The superiors came to Sichuan to preside over the provincial examinations, and the lower officials are grateful. How can the superiors spend the money? The amount identified by the three adults, the lower officials are willing to donate." Zeng Guofan said with a smile: "Shaoyin's words are wrong! The sage said: Words must be believed, actions must be resolute. Shaoyin don't have to worry, just wait for a while and ask someone to find the guards to collect the money. Otherwise, the guards will have to go to the Yamen to find Shao Yin is gone." Dianshi had no choice but to leave in a hurry, presumably to discuss with the chief county, chief envoy, or Xuezheng about pledging donations. On the evening of the second day of the township examination, Zeng Guofan had just sat down in his bedroom in the reception hall, when Huang Zhong, the Sichuan chief envoy and acting inspector, walked in with two soldiers.Zeng Guofan hastily served tea and gave up his seat.Huang Zhongdao: "My wife stewed a bowl of lotus seed soup and fried some Hunan dishes. I came to accompany Duke Hanlin for a few drinks." Zeng Guofan said: "My lord Fang Bo is bothered, so I have to obey my orders." After speaking, the two of them sat down around the food table.Zeng Guofan couldn't drink alcohol, and Huang Zhong didn't force it too much, so he had to drink soup while the other drank.Changshun and Taizhuang have treats to eat and drink every day, and rarely come back for dinner.Zhao Jiye and Sichuan Xuezheng Zhang Yepin had a fierce fight, and the five examiners and Zeng Guofan often had dinner in the dining hall of the reception hall.