Chapter 444 Candidates

The Jinyiwei acted quickly. As soon as Ou Zanghua returned home in a carriage, Qian Ning asked his trusted men to deliver several boxes of documents.

Within a few days, news spread that the court was going to appoint a new governor of Liaodong. Suddenly, many frustrated civil servants in the capital began to have ideas.

Since they could not contact Emperor Zhengde who was spending the summer in the Yuquan Mountain Palace, they set their sights on Ou Zanghua. The number of visiting cards received by the Ou Mansion every day was so great that they could not even burn them all if they were used as firewood.

However, Ou Zanghua, the Minister of Rites, had never met anyone. In addition to visiting the Honglu Temple, the Ministry of Rites, and the Zhanshi Palace, he also went to the Imperial College many times.

The chief academic officer of the Imperial College was named Lu Duo, with the courtesy name Zhenzhi. He was from Jingling, Huguang, and became a Jinshi in the 15th year of the Hongzhi reign.

This man had been ordered to go on a diplomatic mission to Annan. He was a person who attached great importance to education, and a good teacher who focused on practical learning and not just on chapters and sentences. Therefore, Ou Zanghua respected him very much when he met him.

Of course, Lu Duo did not make things difficult for Ou Zanghua, and even covered for him in all his actions in the Imperial College.

Although Ou Zanghua didn't understand why Lu Duo did this, he was willing to provide help, which was naturally what he wanted.

Many people in later generations inadvertently ignored the Imperial College of the Ming Dynasty because by the middle and late periods, the court had already had a set of unspoken rules, namely that only Jinshi could become an official of the fourth rank or above, and Juren, who was one rank lower than Jinshi, would generally not exceed the fifth rank.

It is conceivable how bad the employment environment of students of the Imperial College was under the impact of the imperial examination system.

Looking back to when the Ming Group was just established, in the 26th year of Hongwu, there were more than 8,000 students in the Nanjing Imperial College.

In the 20th year of Yongle's reign, the number of people reached nearly 10,000, which was an unprecedented event.

Moreover, neighboring countries such as Goryeo, Japan, Ryukyu, and Chira "admired culture and education" and continuously sent students to study at the Imperial College, making the Imperial College the largest and most influential higher education institution in the world at that time.

However, this prosperity did not last long, and by the Zhengde period it had begun to decline.

Of course, the decline of the Imperial College was inseparable from the assistance of the daimyo war gods. At that time, a battle of Tumu not only wiped out all the civil and military officials, but also led to an urgent shortage of horses for the border wars. Therefore, Emperor Jingtai had to order those who paid food and horses to enter the Imperial College to study. This is the origin of the regular students.

Most of these students were sons of merchants, vagrants, and expelled students. Basically, they did not study hard, which led to the increasingly bad reputation of the Lijian, and even the reputation of the Imperial College suffered.

There are currently more than 2,000 students in the Imperial College in the capital. Ou Zanghua will give classes to the students recently and then organize examinations for them.

In the midst of the busy work, candidates for the Governor of Liaodong were also selected.

Li Shi, courtesy name Zongyi, was a native of Renqiu County, Hejian Prefecture, Northern Zhili. He became a Jinshi in the 15th year of the Hongzhi reign. He is currently the Right Instructor and Attendant Scholar of the Zhanshi Palace.

Xi Shu, courtesy name Wentong, was a native of Suining County, Tongchuan Prefecture, Sichuan Province. He became a Jinshi in the third year of the Hongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty and is currently the Left Governor of Fujian Province.

Gui E, courtesy name Zishi, was a native of Anren County, Raozhou Prefecture, Jiangxi Province. He became a Jinshi in the sixth year of the Zhengde reign and is currently serving as the magistrate of Dantu County.

Gu Dingchen, courtesy name Jiuhe, was a native of Kunshan County, Suzhou Prefecture, South Zhili. He was the top Jinshi in the 18th year of the Hongzhi reign, but he is now at home in mourning. The Zhengde Emperor has a good impression of him and plans to promote Gu Dingchen to the position of Zuo Chunfang Zuo Yude and Hanlin Academy Attendant Reader when he returns.

Ou Zanghua thought for a long time, reported the names of Li Shi and Xi Shu, and explained in detail the advantages and disadvantages of the two. Li Shi's advantage is that he is respectful, docile, and a good-tempered person. His disadvantage is that his current official position is not high. The right Yude of the Zhanshi Mansion is only a fifth-rank official. Although he is noble, the governor is a second-rank official.

Xi Shu was much better off. The Left Governor of Fujian was a second-rank official position. Considering that the climate in Liaodong was not as comfortable as that in Fujian, it was a secret demotion for Xi Shu.

As for Gui E and Gu Dingchen
Ou Zanghua thought of Shenyang Zhongwei and Jinzhouwei. These two places would be important cities for the Liaoning Provincial Government and needed talented people to govern them.

The list was sent by the Embroidered Uniform Guards at full speed to the Emperor Zhengde's palace at Yuquan Mountain, and the emperor made the decision.

In the next few days, nothing happened in the capital until the end of July, when the Mongolian delegation finally arrived in Ming Dynasty.

The chief envoy of the delegation was Alchubolot, the sixth son of Dayan Khan and twin brother of the fifth son, Ochirbolot.

And Ozierbolot was the one captured alive by Ou Zanghua.
The deputy envoy was Ou Zanghua’s old friend Busan Namuslai, the guardian from the Ordos tribe.

After the two settled down in the capital, at the request of the Honglu Temple, they washed their bodies completely. Only after confirming that there was no odor were they allowed to meet with Cao Yu, the Left Shaoqing of the Honglu Temple.

Alechu Bolot was very humble. He bowed first when he entered the door, and then said, "Shaoqing Cao, when my father Khan sent me here, he specifically asked me to convey his sincerest greetings to Lord Ou."

"Messengers, please excuse yourself and take a seat!"

Cao Yu smiled and asked calmly, "Lord Ou is doing fine. I only worry about Dayan Khan from time to time. I wonder if Dayan Khan is in good health recently and if everything is okay?"

"Thank you Lord Ou and Shaoqing Cao for your concern. My father is doing well." Upon hearing this, Ozir Borot sat in his seat and looked up at Cao Yu.

Compared with Ochirborot, Alchuborot looks thinner and a little more gloomy.

After the two sides chatted in a friendly manner for a while, Alechu Bolot pleaded, "Sir Cao, my brother Ozir Bolot and I have been inseparable since we were young. This separation is the longest time we have ever been apart. Please allow me to go see my brother."

"I sympathize that you two have been separated for so long, but now is a critical moment in the negotiations between you and me, and some matters are indeed inconvenient to handle. However, we can provide pens, ink, paper and inkstone so that the lord can communicate with his brother through letters." Cao Yu said in a gentle tone, and anyone who heard it would feel that Lord Ou was considerate.

When Alchuborot heard this, he had no choice but to look at Busanamus who was standing beside him.

"Since Shaoqing Cao said so, we can understand it. But the two Hatuns are here, and out of filial piety, the lord should ask for a meeting." Busanamuslai obviously understood Ming people better than Alechuborot, and this statement made it impossible for Cao Yu to refuse.

He smiled and said calmly, "Of course. After the two Hatuns arrived in the capital, they had a great conversation with the Queen Mother. Now they are accompanying the Queen Mother in the Western Garden to escape the summer heat. I will do my best to ensure that the two of you can meet Hatun."

"Thank you, Mr. Cao!"

"You should really thank me for this, because it is quite troublesome, and I still have to trouble Lord Ou."

(End of this chapter)