(Errors in previous chapters have been corrected.)
After the Lantern Festival, Zhu Ming stayed at the inn to read in the morning, then set up a stall and cooperated with Chen Yuan in giving lectures in the afternoon.
Yin Shengzhang of Kaifeng Prefecture did not come to cause trouble again. This man likes to play intrigues and tricks, and he makes plans before acting. He is collecting evidence of disobedience to "Tao Yongxue".
That is to say, someone is sent to listen to the lecture every day, carefully record the content, and then find an opportunity to make arrests.
Cai Jing had no intention of paying attention to them. Ju Ming was just a nobody.
Cai Xianggong's attention was focused on the battle to conquer Xixia, and the court was also revolved around this important event.
The great eunuch Tong Guan has led the imperial army to set off and is stationed in Lanzhou.
Liu Fa, the military commander of the Xihe Road, led an army of 150,000 people out of Huangzhou; Liu Zhongwu, the military commander of the Qinfeng Road, led an army of 50,000 people out of Huizhou. Their attack targets were Qingshui Hebei boundary (in Ningxia) and Zhuoluo City (Yongzhou, Gansu).
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The food shortage problem of the border troops has also been temporarily solved. The emperor is not short of hungry soldiers.
Throughout the spring offensive, the Song army went very smoothly.
Liu Fa was a famous general in the Northern Song Dynasty, and was known as a "natural god general" at this time. He was not well-known in later generations because his son participated in the mutiny and the court deliberately concealed his achievements. As a result, the "History of the Song Dynasty" did not give him a biography.
During the reign of Zhe Zong, this man was victorious in all external battles and killed more than 10,000 people within two years. In the fourth year of Chongning under Huizong, he pursued hundreds of miles in one battle and captured more than 10,000 Xixia troops.
This spring, Liu Fa led an army of 150,000 to attack and defeated Xixia again at Gu Gulong (Qinghai Ledu).
It's a pity that Liu Fa is too upright and doesn't know how to flatter.
For example, a few years ago, Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty formulated Dasheng Music and sent officials to distribute it throughout the country. Liu Fa, who was commanding the troops at the front, did not personally greet the officials who issued the music, and was actually dismissed from his post as Minister of Economic Affairs and the Marquis of Yu, the capital of the three yamen.
Now facing a war, the imperial court had to re-activate it because Liu Fa was the number one general in the northwest!
This man had a bad relationship with Tong Guan, and later fell into Tong Guan's hands.
Tong Guan labeled him as "a bully" and forced Liu Fa to go deep alone. He was attacked from both sides by the Xixia army.
Being hungry, cold, tired, and surrounded, with many horses dying of thirst, Liu Fa led his army in a fierce battle for most of the day, and successfully broke through under the cover of night. He was intercepted by the Xixia army in the Zhugu Gorge, and Liu Fa fell down with both his men and his horses.
On the cliff, both legs were broken. The life or death of the general was uncertain, but his subordinates were still fighting bloody battles and rushed out of the valley with the remaining soldiers.
Liu Fa, who broke his legs, was discovered by the Xixia logistics troops.
A famous general in the world died at the hands of a small logistics soldier.
In this battle, the 20,000 troops led by Liu Fa were almost wiped out. The Xixia army took advantage of the victory and advanced, and the Song army eventually lost 100,000 troops!
No matter what the situation will be in the future, in the spring of this year, the Song army received frequent reports of success, and the emperor and his ministers had feasts and celebrations, and they had already been determined to destroy Xixia for three years.
…
Gongyuan, examination room.
The chief examiner of this year's provincial examination is Wang Fu, and the deputy examiners are Murong Yanfeng, Zhai Ruwen and Feng Xizai.
Wang Fu, one of the six thieves.
He rose to power by currying favor with Cai Jing, but under the inducement of Song Huizong, he secretly joined forces with Zheng Juzhong, and his relationship with Cai Jing became increasingly bad.
Murong Yanfeng, Cai Jing’s political enemy.
He was once ostracized by Cai Jing and demoted to the post of magistrate of Ruzhou. He was recalled by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty and promoted to Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment. Now he is a Hanlin bachelor.
Political opponents of Zhai Ruwen, Cai Jing, and Liang Shicheng.
Liang Shicheng forcibly demolished people's graves and occupied the land to build gardens. Zhai Ruwen was impeached by Liang Shicheng and was ostracized by Liang Shicheng and demoted to the magistrate of Xuanzhou. He recalled the court, demoted him to the magistrate of Luzhou, and then moved to the magistrate of Mizhou. Because of the impeachment of Cai Jing, the salt law harmed the people.
Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty called him back to Beijing to become a Hanlin scholar.
Feng Xizai, a great Confucian and a famous official.
The relationship with Cai Jing is good or not. He has cultivated party members for many years and has his own small circle.
Of the four examiners, one has already betrayed Cai Jing, two are Cai Jing’s political opponents, and one is Cai Jing’s potential competitor.
Song Huizong's arrangement is easy to imagine that the "anti-Cai" officials were secretly celebrating.
You know, the last examiner was Cai Jing’s best friend, Cai Hao!
The four of them were locked in the Gongyuan waiting for the exam, and they did not get along well with each other, because Murong Yanfeng and Zhai Ruwen were both hard-hearted people. They didn't care whether Wang Fu had fallen out with Cai Jing, they only knew that Wang Fu was a traitor and had nothing to do with that person.
Cai Jing is a piece of shit.
"Fu has little qualifications. He has just become a Hanlin scholar, and he was ordered by the emperor to know about the tribute examination." Wang Fu raised his glass and said, "The three ministers are mature and prudent. If I have made any omissions, please give me some advice."
Feng Xizai said with a smile: "Your Excellency is the chief examiner, and we are only assistant examiners. How can we overshadow the guest and usurp the title?"
Wang Fu secretly cursed an old fox and continued to laugh and say nice things. He wanted to win over Murong Yanfeng and Zhai Ruwen to form an "Anti-Cai Alliance".
Feng Xizai, on the other hand, had the same idea. He had been forming cliques, secretly accumulating strength, and holding back, never confronting Cai Jing head-on.
Zhai Ruwen had no expression on his face as he poured himself a cup and drank: "The only thing you need to do to get a scholar through the imperial examination is to serve the official family wholeheartedly. Scholar Wang doesn't need to say much."
Zhai Ruwen looked down on Wang Fu. When he was dating Su Shi and Huang Tingjian, Wang Fu was still wearing crotchless pants. He even dared to criticize Liang Shicheng and Cai Jing, but just a few words about Wang Fu would be considered a loss of status.
"Eat wine." Murong Yanfeng said.
Zhai Ruwen raised a toast to welcome him and started chatting with Murong Yanfeng, but was too lazy to look at Wang Fu again.
They are all foxes of thousands of years, so what is "Liao Zhai" talking about?
Murong Yanfeng and Zhai Ruwen knew why they were recalled to the court. As long as they did not offend the emperor, the harder they sprayed Cai Jing, the happier Song Huizong would be. Once they defected to any force, Song Huizong would have to be careful.
Afraid.
Although the four examiners dislike each other, they still have to work together.
They have to set up questions together and explain the questions so that their officials can mark the papers.
It is also necessary to review the qualifications of the candidates, arrange the arrangements, and announce the seats of the candidates.
Finally, they have to lead the marking process.
The four of them had to review tens of thousands of examination papers, and they started working before the Lantern Festival.
"I'm from Danyang, and my surname is Zhai. Brother Gongxun, this is your junior, right?" Murong Yanfeng picked up a handout and said.
Zhai Ruwen came over to take a look, and said with a smile: "My great-nephew is still young, and it is his first time to come up with solutions. I don't expect him to be named on the gold medal list, but it is good to see the world."
Murong Yanfeng said: "Brother Gongxun's family has a strong academic background, so his nephews and grandchildren will definitely be able to go to high school."
"That's not necessarily the case." Zhai Ruwen smiled.
While chatting, the two of them reviewed and signed the letter of explanation and arranged seats for the candidates who should issue the letter of explanation.
Although Murong Yanfeng was an upright man, he still had petty favoritism. For example, he arranged a good location for Zhai Ruwen's grandnephew. It was not next to the toilet and he was not afraid of the wind and sun.
Zhai Ruwen suddenly said: "Hey, this Zhu Ming and Zhu Chenggong seem to be the people whose poems moved the capital."
"It's not just poetry," Murong Yanfeng said. "Two days before I went to Gongyuan, I heard that Chen Zhimo was giving lectures by the Cai River. Zhu Ming was Chen Zhimo's disciple."
Zhai Ruwen asked: "Who is Chen Zhimo?"
Murong Yanfeng said: "Chen Yuan, Chen Guan's nephew, Yang Shi's disciple."
"You can be considered a member of my generation." Zhai Ruwen shook his head and smiled bitterly.
Zhai Ruwen became famous at a young age, and was both a teacher and friend with Su Shi and Huang Tingjian. He was a very obvious Shu Party figure.
Nowadays, regardless of whether there is a distinction between the Shu Party or the Luo Party, they are all brothers in distress. Even the Shu School and the Luo School have been officially banned.
Zhai Ruwen not only gave Ju Ming a good position, but also dispersed the nine Yangzhou scholars who were guarantors of Ju Ming and arranged better positions.
Zhai Ruwen asked: "Does Chen Zhimo dare to promote Luo Xue in Tokyo?"
Murong Yan met with a smile and said: "I asked my disciple to listen for a day. He claimed to develop a new school, but in fact he was not a sect. Instead, he drew on the strengths of others and put forward three theories: my original, Fangju, and Taoism. He also said that the common people's daily use is
For the Tao."
Zhai Ruwen was surprised and said: "The common people follow the Tao every day, which is quite the style of our Shu school!"
Murong Yanfeng joked: "Don't try to flatter yourself. It's not like I haven't read Su Zi's article."
"Tell me, what are the novelties of those three theories?" Zhai Ruwen said while signing the review.
Therefore, Murong Yanfeng began to preach about Yongpai theory. He was locked up in Gongyuan early and only allowed his disciples to listen for one day. He knew the general theory, but could not explain many details clearly.
Zhai Ruwen put down his brush and thought: "Perhaps, we can support them in teaching."
Murong Yanfeng said: "I think so too."
Both schools of thought to which they belong have been officially banned.
They urgently need to support a school of thought to compete with the mainstream New Learning and correct the evil theories in the New Learning.
Once the new school of thought becomes established, slowly add sand and add your own ideas into it.
Until evening, Wang Fu suddenly came in: "Two bachelors, we have something urgent at home and need to go back."
Zhai Ruwen's face turned ugly for a moment: "What's the urgent matter, which is more important than getting a scholar through the imperial examination?"
Wang Fu said: "The youngest son is seriously ill."
Zhai Ruwen sneered: "Your Excellency is proficient in medical skills?"
Wang Fu said: "I know a little bit."
Zhai Ruwen said: "Since you are not proficient in medical skills, then please stay in Gongyuan!"
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, if the examiner dared to leave the Gongyuan, he would be imprisoned after being reported.
In the Song Dynasty, it was allowed, but other examiners must be informed, and leaving without permission was also a serious crime.
The last examiner, Cai Hao, left Gongyuan midway. Many people suspected that he had leaked the exam questions, but they had to give up without providing evidence.
Murong Yanfeng sneered and said: "If you leave Gongyuan, I will impeach you and make this matter public to the world!"
Wang Fu was stunned for a moment, he didn't expect these two people to be so tough.
He was so angry that he walked away, full of resentment in his heart, and vowed to banish these two people from the court in the future.
Zhai Ruwen got up and went to the front and back gates of the Gongyuan. After a round of inspection, he told the soldiers guarding the door: "Buck up and don't let anyone in or out. If anyone dares to approach the Gongyuan, arrest him immediately without any mistake!"
"Yes!" the soldiers responded quickly.
Gongyuan and the like have sufficient food reserves.
Then someone sent a supply of meat and vegetables, and kept an eye on the whole process, unless most of the soldiers and handymen could be bribed.
Zhu Ming was very lucky and met two responsible examiners.
This chapter has been completed!