Ming Dynasty: Empress Ma and I swapped clothes!

Chapter 22 Distinguished Scholars, Governors, and Prefects

There are different social classes, such as superiors and inferiors.

Even in a small place like Qingfeng County, there are unique local "caste" rules.

Although this custom originated in a foreign land, it is still practiced in this village.

The so-called caste system—

The highest class consisted of monks and scholars similar to Brahmins, followed by rulers and warriors similar to Kshatriyas, then merchants and farmers similar to Vaishyas, and at the very bottom were servants and laborers similar to Shudras.

Below these four castes, there is an even lower level called Dalits, who are untouchables and belong to a more lowly group outside of the caste system.

The events that recently occurred in the Ma family's courtyard have already spread throughout the village.

It is truly incomprehensible that the "Brahmins," who should be high and mighty, would suddenly come to associate with the third-rate "Vaishyas" and farmers like the Ma family, showing them such courtesy.

Upon learning that the county magistrate and the county assistant magistrate had come to visit with a group of yamen runners, the entire Ma family village was in an uproar.

The village head and the three elders of the clan led a large group of villagers to come and offer their congratulations.

In less than two hours, the fenced yard was filled with small gifts from various families: the better ones were coarse cloth and clothing, while the lesser ones were local poultry, vegetables, and cured meat.

Wang Shiyun strongly refused.

Despite the earnest persuasion of the elders, they were ultimately unable to dissuade him, and the gifts they sent filled the entire fenced yard.

Even so, people continued to come to offer their congratulations, and even people from other villages came to join in the fun. If it weren't for the villagers keeping some of the outsiders out of the village, there would have been even more people coming to offer their congratulations.

This is the survival wisdom unique to ordinary people.

"Awen, about this matter..."

Wang Shiyun cast an expectant glance at him, and before she knew it, she was treating Ma Wenxiang as the backbone of the family.

Whether it's family or clan.

Age is never the key factor; what truly matters is one's own value and abilities.

"Don't worry, Mother, just accept it generously."

Ma Wenxiang smiled slightly in response.

Upon hearing this, Wang Shiyun visibly breathed a sigh of relief, as if she was afraid that these people who came to offer their congratulations would hinder her child's future.

With a clatter, Ma Xiulin emerged from the side room, clutching her rumbling stomach.

The commotion in the courtyard just now didn't disturb him at all, which shows how focused he was on his studies.

As soon as she stepped outside, Ma Xiulin was dumbfounded. Looking at the mountain of belongings piled up in the yard, she glanced at Ma Wenxiang and Wang Shiyun in front of her and said with a wry smile, "Are you... not planning to continue living like this at home?"

When he learned the truth, Ma Xiulin's head was spinning. He sat dumbfounded on the stone bench in the courtyard, half his body leaning against the stone table, staring blankly at Ma Wenxiang with a shocked and bewildered expression, saying, "I... I haven't even passed the imperial examination yet, but I've already benefited from my son's success?"

……

At the same time that the fate of the Ma family members took a dramatic turn, in the Qingfeng County government office, officials Li Zizhi and Huo Tianlang had already submitted their transcribed memorials with urgent notice.

In less than half a month, this memorial appeared in the government office of Daming Prefecture.

"Is this true?"

Folding radical.

The prefect and vice-prefect of Daming Prefecture, along with several staff members hired by the prefectural government, gathered around the folded document and examined it repeatedly.

The folded document clearly recounted the ins and outs of the matter, and at the end it included a joint guarantee from the county magistrate, the county assistant magistrate, dozens of scholars, and several successful candidates in the imperial examinations.

It can be said that everyone in the county with any influence or status was listed, and they were willing to stake their own future and fate on this matter.

If this is false, wouldn't it mean that all the officials, gentry, and wealthy people in this county are stupid and incompetent?

How could such a thing be possible?

Moreover, Qingfeng County, under the jurisdiction of Daming Prefecture, has consistently ranked among the top in terms of tax revenue, education, and military strength for many years. Furthermore, the annual performance of Qingfeng County Magistrate Li Zizhi has never fallen out of the top three.

In this way, the matter of "a prodigy in the imperial examination, auspicious omens from heaven, and a child prodigy appearing in the world" written on this fold-out becomes even more difficult to decide.

If you don't believe me, the entire county will vouch for me, and the imperial court will send a minister to verify it in the future.

Their dereliction of duty in the prefectural government is certainly not uncommon, and may even be more serious, leading to the removal of their official hats; however, if they were to believe this, Daming Prefecture would hold an extraordinary position in the Ming Dynasty, directly under the Central Secretariat and directly governed by the central court.

Although it was a devastated land after the war, its geographical location and strategic significance in the northern Central Plains were extremely special during the third year of the Hongwu reign.

If the reported facts are incorrect.

The bureaucrats present were unlikely to back down easily.

For a moment, everyone was at a loss.

"My lord, this matter is difficult to decide in a short time. We might as well take a two-pronged approach: on the one hand, send people to Qingfeng County to investigate and verify, and on the other hand, we can also spread the word about this matter, calling it an auspicious omen of our Great Ming Dynasty."

"In this way, if the imperial court does send an imperial envoy to the mortal world in the future, it can be interpreted as an act of 'auspicious omens and blessings descending upon our Daming Prefecture, to share joy with the people.'"

An aide offered advice.

After hearing this, the prefect narrowed his eyes slightly and made a decision in a moment: "Let's try it out according to this method."

"Such a major matter is not something I, the prefect, can handle alone. Quickly send the message to other prominent families, the newly appointed Grand Commander in Beiping, and all the famous scholars of the past, and inform them of this matter."

"Only in this way, if this matter is true, the people of Daming Prefecture and even the entire Beiping area will owe this prefect a great debt of gratitude; if this matter is false, one person's strength is not enough to resist it."

Even if the imperial envoy investigates later, given the principle of "the law does not punish the masses," this prefect should still have a chance to escape punishment.

"The prefect is wise."

The staff member quickly replied, and the magistrate and others beside him nodded silently.

A small matter like "auspicious omens from heaven, a prodigy from Qingfeng" wouldn't normally warrant such a fuss, but the contents of the folded document concern the entire imperial examination system and education in the Central Plains of the North, and it just so happens that the imperial examinations had just concluded a few months ago.

The county-level examinations are about to begin.

Although it was only a mere Xiucai degree, it took less than half a year.

The provincial examinations, which determine the selection of officials in the Ming Dynasty, will be held again at the Gongyuan. With favorable timing, location, and popular support, even high-ranking officials like prefects have to pay special attention to them.

Thus, with the help of the prefect of Daming Prefecture, rumors about "a prodigy in Qingfeng, auspicious omens from heaven, and signs of the revival of culture and education in the Central Plains" spread like wildfire throughout the Central Plains.

Previously, the influence of a small county like Qingfeng, with only a seventh-rank official position, could at most extend to Daming Prefecture.

But now, a high-ranking official of the fourth rank, the highest administrative official of Daming Prefecture, who oversees civil affairs, finance, justice, and education, is leading the effort. Moreover, this matter concerns the lives and fortunes of many officials.

Everyone spared no effort, mobilizing all their connections and relationships in officialdom accumulated over the years, creating a ripple effect that led to the current grand occasion.