The rumbling drums woke the people of Chang'an from their sleep. It was only the fourth hour of the day. The night was dark, but the streets were already covered with carriages and horses, and official sedan chairs were shuttled. There was always a lantern in front of each carriage or sedan chair, with the names and official titles of each mansion printed on it. It was particularly dazzling under the orange-red lights.

Today is the sixth day of the first lunar month of the 16th year of Qingzhi. The first New Year's meeting will be held today. This is the beginning of the new year. It will also set the tone for the major political direction and power layout of the year. Especially this year, Cui Yuan's five-year term of office as the right prime minister expires, and a new right prime minister is about to emerge, which means that the power structure of the Tang Dynasty will face a reshuffle.

Similarly, today is also the imperial examination for the 16th year of Qingzhi. The most concentrated place for scholars such as Pingkangfang and Chongrenfang was already brightly lit. The inns were busy in the middle of the night to confirm the examination and check their luggage. Each candidate was extremely excited, "Be a scholar in the morning and climb to the emperor's hall in the evening." The three days from today will be the watershed in their lives.

The shopkeeper and the guys of Gaosheng No. 6 Inn got up before the third day, steamed buns and cooked soup, and woke up the scholars one by one. The inn was noisy and lively. The Lin sisters had already gotten up early to work hard for everyone. Uncle Lin Sandou drew well water to wash them, while Pingping sent her fried eggs to the dining table.

"Brother Zhiyu, don't look at it. What's the use of kung fu in this time?" Zheng Qingming stuffed an egg into his mouth, pointed at Lin Zhiyu with chopsticks and said vaguely: "The more nervous you are, the worse you are, the worse you are!"

Lin Zhiyu wiped the sweat from his forehead and whispered: "I am not familiar with the Book of Filial Piety. I want to take a look again. I think I will probably get the exam today."

"Hi! What can you remember now? It only adds trouble. Now you are serious about eating." After Zheng Qingming said that, he stretched out his chopsticks to pick up a fried egg.

"Fatty, can't you eat two less?" Lin Pingping slapped the eggs in Zheng Qingming's hand, put his hands on his hips and stared at him angrily: "Tell me, how many of them are you! You've eaten them all, what will Zhang Shiba eat later?"

"Your Zhang Shiba disappeared a few days ago, he won't come!"

"Who said I won't come?"

Zhang Huan appeared at the door with a smile, "Today is your big exam day, of course I will come to see you off!"

Lin Pingping was surprised. She snatched the plate from Zheng Qingming and placed it in front of Zhang Huan and said, "I knew you would come, so I made more, but this fat man ate your portion."

Seeing Zheng Qingming's bitter look, Zhang Huan couldn't help but smile and said, "He would give it to him if he wanted to eat. Today, he would have to take the exam for one day and not give him enough. Then his hands were trembling, his feet were trembling, and he would blame me if he couldn't write words."

"That's it! That's it! The first time I've eaten fried eggs in a frying pan, how about not eating more?" Zheng Qingming smiled and reached out to take a bun, broke it apart, stuffed the fried eggs in and started chewing them.

At this time, the inn shopkeeper clapped his hands and ran to urge him: "Hurry up, please! The carriage from Qinghe Academy has arrived, and it is time for your Jinyang Academy to come. If it is too late, it won't wait for anyone."

When they heard that the carriage was about to arrive, several scholars were filled with their mouths in a hurry and ran back to the house to pick up the book bags. After a while, everyone carried the book bags and rushed to the door to gather.

The gate was brightly lit and filled with scholars. Although the wind was chilly, everyone was full of red and excited. Several carriages from various counties entering the Fengyuan (offices in Beijing) were parked at the door. Only the officials on the carriage were heard shouting loudly, "The scholars from Shu County got on the carriage!"

"The scholars from Xiangyang County come here."

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At this time, several more carriages came, and the lanterns on the roof of the carriage reflected the four words "Jinyang Academy".

"Here! Come!" Zheng Qingming rushed up first, and then the other people also got on the carriage. Zhang Huan slowly walked to the carriage and laughed loudly: "You guys give me a good student exam. If you don't pass the exam, you have to get a board!"

"Don't worry if you get sick! You must be in high school."

The carriage did not stop and continued to drive to the next inn. Zhang Huan saw everyone away. He was about to return to Zhang Potian's mansion. At this time, a middle-aged man stepped forward and bowed to him, "Is it Zhang Huan, Zhang Qubing?"

Zhang Huan nodded and said, "I am, you are..."

The middle-aged man handed over a famous sect, "I'm sent by Shangshu Wei, so I'll pick up Mr. Zhang to Wei's mansion first!"

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At the fifth hour, before dawn, Xishantou held the moon that was about to sink. The bright white moonlight turned dark red, and the sky seemed gloomy and gray. Nearly a thousand carriages and official sedan chairs had gathered in front of Danfeng Gate. The stars of lanterns gathered into an orange-red sea of ​​stars, which was spectacular. Nearly a thousand officials had gathered in Danfeng Gate Square. They gathered together in groups of three or five, and secretly discussed what might happen at today's court meeting.

Since the Anshi Rebellion, as the power of the prime minister gradually surpassed the power of the monarch, the system of court meetings has also been adjusted. There are two ways for the current court meetings. One is the grand dynasty, which is held every three months in the Hanyuan Hall, and officials of the seventh rank or above must participate. This kind of court meeting is the audience of the ministers to the king, and the prime minister announces some major personnel changes. The symbol is greater than reality, and in more sense it demonstrates the existence of the king.

Another form of court meeting is commonly known as the small dynasty, also known as the cabinet joint meeting. Seven cabinet members convene a meeting every five days in the Political Affairs Hall of the Secretariat of the Secretariat to negotiate and resolve military and national affairs. Officials of fourth rank and above must attend the attendance. This is the real power center of the Tang Dynasty.

However, this year's dynasty is different from usual. Cui Yuan wants to read Cui Qinggong's decision to enter the cabinet for three times. How could the other prime ministers easily agree? The good show is about to come!

Guided by eight young children in green, Cui Yuan stepped into Danfengmen Square. The ministers along the way flashed to both sides and bowed to him. Cui Yuan nodded with a smile to express his revenge.

Walking to the center of the square, Cui Yuan saw Chu Xingshui and Wei Yan standing in a corner chatting, with a very intimate expression. He smiled and went straight to meet him and said, "Can you let me listen to your private words?"

Seeing him coming, Wei Yan snorted coldly, turned his head and left.

Chu Xingshui smiled and said, "We are discussing how to pick the thorns in Lao Cui's work report, how can you hear it?"

Cui Yuan glanced at Wei Yan's back and shook his head helplessly and said, "Shangshu Wei believed in rumors in the market and insisted that my nephew was making military achievements. I heard that he wanted to attack me for this matter today. Brother Chu, do you believe it too?"

Chu Xingshui shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands and smiled, "This matter has nothing to do with me, I just listen carefully."

"Is this true?"

When Cui Yuan saw Chu Xingshui smiling a little reluctantly, he smiled faintly and said, "Actually, this matter has a lot to do with Brother Chu. Before I figured out the situation, I advise Brother Chu not to act rashly."

Chu Xingshui was slightly stunned, "What does Brother Cui mean?"

Cui Yuan smiled. Seeing that there was no one around him, he leaned into Chu Xingshui's ear and whispered: "Brother Chu might as well ask Zhang Ruohao, who is that Zhang Huan's mother?"

After saying that, Cui Yuan showed a mysterious smile on his face, then he raised his head and laughed away, leaving only Chu Xingshui's face full of doubt.

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"Dong!Dong!Dong!" The passionate timing drum began to ring, and the time to enter the hall was already up. All officials above the fifth rank lined up in two lines, led by the right prime minister Cui Yuan and the left prime minister Pei Jun, followed the two dragon tail roads with their heads raised, while officials below the fifth rank stood quietly in Danfengmen Square, waiting to be called at any time.

All officials walked quickly into Hanyuan Hall. Hanyuan Hall is the main hall of the Daming Palace, which can accommodate thousands of people. It is magnificent and occupies the highest point of the Dragon Shouyuan. Looking out from the entrance of the hall, you can see the entire Chang'an City, making people unable to help but have the heart to embrace the country and the country.

In a moment, all the officials had already stood up. They were arranged in order of three provinces, six ministries, five supervisors, and nine temples. All officials of the third rank and above had seats. In addition, non-official officials such as princes and scattered officials were also among them. The entire hall was filled with a large number of thousands of people.

"The Emperor is here!"

With the loud shouts of the eunuchs on duty, the sound of bells and tripods sounded melodiously. Teams of guards in black clothes, halberds, and eunuchs with umbrellas, and the palace maids were erected from the side door. Then a large phoenix chariot slowly drove in and stopped on the jade steps. The four palace maids helped Li Shi out of the chariot, and saw him wearing a sky crown, a crimson dragon robe, and a deer and Lu sword on his waist. He walked slowly and steadily, sitting on the dragon couch.

"Open the palace!"

All the officials bowed and saluted, "I will meet your Majesty, and I wish you a long life! Long live! Long live!"

"All the ministers are exempted from the courtesy, please sit down!" Li Shi waved his hand gently, and the ministers returned to their posts, and the hall was silent.

"Dear friends, although the New Year's Day is the day, the affairs of various departments are busy. I also want to act according to the simplicity. Let me ask the Prime Minister to announce the personnel appointment!"

After saying that, Li Shi nodded to Cui Yuan.

"Please leave the country..." The voice of the eunuch holding rituals echoed in the hall and came straight out of the hall.

Cui Yuan walked up the jade steps quickly, and his tall body covered the sunlight shot out of the hall, casting a heavy shadow on Li Shi's body.

He took out a memorial, cleared his throat and said loudly: "Since the Qing Dynasty, my emperor has followed the will of heaven, so that the world can be smooth, the people are in peace, the national treasury is abundant, and the Tang Dynasty has been peaceful for a long time! However, the Hu barbarians looked south and planned to be unsuccessful in the Tang Dynasty. Fortunately, loyal ministers and good generals were sincere in serving the country, and the soldiers used their lives to make the Hu barbarians return without success. They have already rewarded each of them according to the emperor's wishes. Now they are specially announced as follows:

"Wei Yan took the lead in leading the army to fight against the Hulu, and specially appointed Wei Yan as the Minister of War as the Prince's Tutor. He was the three departments of the founding of the Ministry of War. Can each official have any objections?"

Cui Yuan shouted three times in a row, but no one opposed it, and the appointment was approved.

He glanced at the hall and said loudly: "The governor of Fengxiang, Cui Qinggong, personally led Fengxiang's elite troops to wipe out the enemy invaders in the south, and made great contributions to the country. He was specially appointed as the Grand Marshal of the Western Expedition, Zuo Pushe, and was in charge of the Central Secretariat of Pingzhang..."

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After Cui Yuan finished reading, he looked around the hall and said, "Can the officials have any objections to the above positions be transferred?"

After a moment of rest, Cui Yuan whispered for the second time: "Can the officials have any objections to the above positions be transferred?"

"Your Majesty, I have objections!" A slight commotion suddenly appeared in the hall. Wei Yan, the Minister of War, stood up in one step. He saluted the Emperor Li Chief, and said in a deep voice: "I have many unknowns. I want to ask the Prime Minister Cui to answer the questions. I hope your Majesty will be right!"

Cui Yuan smiled coldly in her heart, and it was him who jumped out first.

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Chapter completed!