Chapter 240

"You want me, a candidate, to escort an envoy to Beijing? Are you kidding me?"

Shen Wuming looked at Pei Deben in front of him, his tactics back, his eyes were a little discriminatory.

Pei Deben was unmoved, "You are a smart man."

"Since I have come to invite you, a candidate, you should know how urgent the problem is!"

Shen Wuming rolled his eyes. He was used to the style of the Pei family.

Whether it was Pei Mao or Pei Yuan, or Pei Deben in front of him, they were all cunning.

They kept calculating him.

If Pei Zian had not had a good relationship with him, he would never have anything to do with the Pei family.

"If it was really that urgent, you wouldn't have come to invite me, but to do it yourself."

Shen Wuming said disdainfully.

"I still have to prepare for the second actual battle. I don't have time to play with you. Go by yourself."

He was not very worried about the exam, and he didn't need to prepare for it.

But after all, it was a mission to leave Beijing. If he couldn't catch up on time, he would have to miss the exam.

Pei Deben said slowly: "Don't worry, I have already talked to Li Xiang."

"Until you return to the capital, the time for the second exam will not be set."

"In addition, you do me this favor, I owe you a favor."

"Is your favor valuable?" Shen Wuming sneered, "Your father still owes me three favors."

"I haven't asked for any of them yet, why should I take another favor from you?"

"Uh..." Seeing Shen Wuming's stubborn look, Pei Deben was also a little helpless.

"Then tell me, why did you complete this task? I promise not to delay your imperial examination."

Shen Wuming raised his eyebrows, seeing him like this, he knew it was probably not a trivial matter.

He naturally didn't want to cause trouble, but after all, this was Pei Zian's father, different from others.

Gnashing his teeth, Shen Wuming still said, "Do I have to go?"

"It's safest for you to go."

Pei Deben said truthfully: "Originally, Su Letian was asked to escort alone."

"But the identity of the person coming is too important, we must do our best to treat him."

"What identity?"

Shen Wuming was a little confused, "Even if the Minister of Honglu Temple and the Minister of Rites came in person, it would only be bargaining."

"Can you sign the contract on the spot? Wouldn't the Yan State kill you?"

"Really." Pei Deben flicked his fingers, and a ray of light completely enveloped the entire room.

It's equivalent to soundproofing cotton.

He then said word by word, "The person coming is the regent prince of Southern Tang, you know it, right?"

"Hiss..."

Shen Wuming's eyes widened immediately. He was preparing for the imperial examination, so of course he knew the current situation of Southern Tang.

The current emperor of Southern Tang is known as the Buddha-hearted emperor, who only knows how to eat vegetarian food and chant sutras all day long.

He doesn't care about the court.

Even as early as three years ago, he had already retired to worship Buddha, and nominally no longer asked about the affairs of the court.

Although he did not abdicate, he granted the prince the power to supervise the country.

Even the imperial seal of the Southern Tang was in the hands of the regent prince.

If this person came in person, it would indeed be possible to directly promote the contract, and both parties would seal it to take effect.

"And not only did the regent prince come, but even the imperial seal of the Southern Tang was brought here."

Pei Deben said slowly, "So you know what's in the middle, right?"

"Uh..."

Shen Wuming sighed, "Okay, okay, then I'll go, but I certainly won't go for free!"

"You can set the conditions."

"You can give it as you see fit, anyway, don't let me suffer a loss, you are Zi'an's father, I believe you."

"That's fine."

After the matter was finalized, Shen Wuming hurriedly explained to the two ladies and left with Pei Deben in a hurry.

Arriving at the city gate, he met up with Su Letian and headed south under the cover of the faint morning light.

…

"I spent a lot of time and effort to finally get him out."

Pei Deben also found Li Guozhong at this time, and complained bitterly, telling about the difficulties.

Li Guozhong said lightly, "I know exactly what kind of person you are, Pei Deben."

"Don't pretend."

"If you want to negotiate conditions for that kid, you might as well say it directly!"

Pei Deben smiled, "It's still Li Xiang who has a sharp eye and saw through my tricks at a glance."

"That kid defeated me. I didn't directly make conditions, but just said that I wouldn't let him suffer."

"Let me help him, Li Xiang, show me how I can help him negotiate conditions?"

Li Guozhong's eyes widened, "I find that you are really dirty."

Just now Shen Wuming defeated Pei Deben, and now Pei Deben has defeated himself.

Originally, it was Li Guozhong who sent out the task, but now he has to bleed himself.

"Li Xiang is joking!"

Pei Deben didn't say much, but just looked at Li Guozhong with a smile.

Li Guozhong sighed, "I am now in charge of the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple."

"I can only take care of the affairs of these yamen."

"In addition to welcoming that adult, there is the imperial examination!"

"Let me tell you, as long as he passes the imperial examination, I will give him a fifth-rank official!"

Normally, even if he passes the imperial examination, the official position he is granted will not be very high.

The first-class imperial scholars usually enter the Hanlin Academy and serve as sixth-rank officials.

The second-class imperial scholars usually serve as county magistrates in local areas, or as Lingshi or Yuanwailang in the six ministries.

The third-class Jinshi need to wait for the Ministry of Personnel to slowly arrange official positions. It is normal to wait for one or two years without being appointed.

"Prime Minister Li is generous." Pei Deben nodded, "What if it is the champion?"

"What..."

Li Guozhong was stunned at first, then narrowed his eyes and looked at Pei Deben viciously.

"Are you not satisfied with the fifth-rank official? Do you want me to give him a fourth-rank official?"

"That's not what I said." Pei Deben shrugged, "It's the Jinshi you just mentioned."

"But ordinary Jinshi can't be the same as the champion."

"If he gets the third place, you give him a fifth-rank official, and if he gets the champion, you also give him a fifth-rank official."

"Then wouldn't the champion be in vain?"

Pei Deben laughed, his face full of humility, but at this time he racked his brains to get benefits for Shen Wuming.

After all, to put it bluntly.

According to the progress of Shen Wuming and Pei Zian, maybe he will be their son-in-law in two days.

As a father, it is natural and fair for him to help in advance.

Li Guozhong glared, "You are also in the court, don't you know the rules of the court?"

"According to convention, the top scholar is awarded the sixth rank. I will help him fight for the fifth rank."

"But if he is awarded the fourth rank, it must be discussed in the Political Affairs Hall. Can it be the same?"

"It has never made sense to directly grant a fourth-rank official position to a commoner."

Pei Deben laughed, "When you asked me to invite him, you acknowledged his position as the left general."

"Why is it that you have become a commoner now?"

"If a mere top scholar is awarded a fourth-rank official, it is naturally inappropriate."

"But if the Earl of Yong'an County and the left general of the Tiance Mansion's secret department are awarded a fourth-rank civil position, it is not excessive, right?"