Bianliang City, Xijiaolou Street.

Because it is close to the palace, the people living on West Corner Tower Street are all princes, nobles and important officials of the court. The mansions on both sides are high-gate courtyards, each competing for glory.

In the middle of the street, there is a quaint Sanjin Mansion, which was originally the residence of Wang Anshi, the political advisor, reform minister, and Prime Minister of the Shenzong Dynasty.

Later, thanks to the kindness of the current official family, Cai Bian, Wang Anshi's son-in-law, who is now a bachelor of Guanwen Palace and the school's chief inspector, lived there.

If the orange grows in Huainan, it becomes orange; if it grows in the north of Huaihe, it becomes orange.

Cai Bian and his brother Cai Jing were both descendants of Cai Zhun, the minister of the Renzong Dynasty. Although they came from the same origin and were equally talented, their conduct and governing ideas were completely different.

Cai Jing followed the path of Ding Wei, the traitorous prime minister in the early Northern Song Dynasty and the leader of the Five Ghosts, but Cai Bian always regarded his father-in-law Wang Anshi as a role model.

Cai Bian has been an official for more than 40 years. He was a Jinshi in the third year of Xining. He successively served as the Minister of Living Affairs, the Minister of Rites, the Minister of Zhongshu, and Zuocheng of Shangshu. He was an honest official, diligent and caring for the people, and had an outstanding political reputation.

"History of the Song Dynasty" records: "There are so many treasures in Guangzhou that nothing can be taken. When they moved to Yue, the barbarians cleared them away and sent them off with roses on their clothes."

What we are talking about here is Cai Bian. When he lived in Chizhou, the Yi people knew that he was incorruptible and wanted to leave, so they sent him off with the most solemn courtesy of sprinkling rose dew on his clothes.

At this time, Cai Bian may not have thought that after his death, the posthumous title he would receive would be the most desired by civil servants - "Wen Zheng".

During the Song Dynasty, there were eighteen emperors in total, and the reign of Zuo was 319 years. There were only nine people with the posthumous title "Wenzheng".

...

Wu Zhi handed a greeting card to the concierge, and after waiting for a while, an old man dressed as a butler came and led Wu Zhi into the house.

Under a pomegranate tree in the backyard, Cai Bian, who is nearly seventy years old, is lying on a recliner, closing his eyes and taking a nap, bathing in the rare warm sunshine in winter.

When Wu Zhi saw this, he didn't bother him and just stood aside quietly.

It was about tea time when Wu Zhi heard a gentle snore next to his ears. He turned around and saw that Cai Bian had already fallen asleep.

Wu Zhi originally wanted to find someone to find a blanket to cover Cai Bian, but he also felt that he could not move around freely when he came to visit. It would be a big mistake if he bumped into the family members in the mansion. After thinking for a moment, he took off his blanket.

The coat gently covered the old man's body.

At this time, Wu Zhi, who was originally worried, suddenly calmed down. He sat on the ground and stood aside, quietly waiting for Cai Bian to wake up.

This wait is an hour.

When the old monk Wu Zhizheng was in meditation, he suddenly heard several old voices coming from his ears.

"But it's no wonder that you have achieved outstanding political achievements in Yanggu County. With your temperament and character, you are better than most officials in the world."

Upon hearing this, Wu Zhi stood up quickly, straightened his clothes carefully, bowed to Cai Bian and said, "I entered Wu Zhi at the end of my studies and met Bachelor Cai."

"No need to be polite, I already know your purpose of coming. If you want me to help you, you have to answer a few questions." Cai Bian took the crutch at hand, waved his hand, stood up tremblingly and said

.

"Master, please ask a question, and the students will tell you everything they know." Wu Zhi responded with a respectful look.

Cai Bian's cane lightly hit the ground, and a wise light shone in his turbid eyes, and he said: "You have served as the magistrate of Yanggu County for five years and have made outstanding achievements. Logically speaking, you should have been promoted long ago, or to a state.

You may be promoted to a senior official in the capital, but why are you unwilling to be promoted?"

"Students know that their talents are limited and their knowledge is limited. The ability to manage a county is already the limit. They dare not take credit in order to make progress." Wu Zhi said respectfully.

When Cai Bian heard this, he snorted coldly, banged his cane heavily, and said in a deep voice: "If you don't want to tell the truth, just leave the house."

Wu Zhi was silent for a moment, bowed deeply to Cai Bian, and said straightly: "But I don't dare to deceive the old man anymore, just because the powerful and traitors in the DPRK are now in power. Wu Zhi only wants to protect the people of one side to live and work in peace and contentment, but he does not want to enter the DPRK.

As an official, you will live a life of intrigue and intrigue all the time."

"This is quite the truth. You don't have to worry about me taking my anger out on you. I just hate Cai Jing more than you do." Cai Bian said with a sullen look on his face.

"I ask you again, if you were to be in a high position one day, how would you behave?"

When Wu Zhi heard this, he straightened his body and said with an upright face: "Students who want to learn from Fan Wenzhenggong should worry about the world's worries first, and rejoice after the world's happiness."

"Okay! Just based on your performance as an official and your words and deeds today, I will believe you."

Cai Bian nodded, thinking that Wu Zhi had passed the test, and then said again: "If I just go and speak for you, a small county magistrate who has never met you, it will inevitably be true. Wu Zhi,

Let me ask you, do you have a teacher?"

"The student's family was poor since he was a child. Later, he was favored by Pan Taigong, the former magistrate of Enzhou, and he was brought into the family by his family. He gave the student the nickname Tianling. Now, the humble Jing in the family is the daughter of Pan Taigong." Wu Zhi responded.

Cai Bian smiled when he heard this, and the wrinkles between his eyebrows wrinkled up. For a moment, he seemed to have returned to his youth. He said with a happy face: "Since you have married the daughter of Grand Duke Pan, then she is your wife."

"I'm old Taishan, you can just become a teacher again. Wu Zhi, would you like to become my teacher?"

Wu Zhi's body trembled, and he bowed down solemnly. He said with an excited face: "I will never give up on you because of my kindness. My student is willing."

"So good."

Cai Bian stroked his gray beard with satisfaction and said, "Just like this, I have gained you as my proud disciple, and I can do something about what you asked for."

…

In the middle hall of Cai Mansion, there is a portrait of Wang Anshi. Under the portrait, there is an offering table and two Taishi chairs, one in the middle and one on the side.

Six bundles of celery, lotus seeds, red beans, red dates, longan, and lean meat strips are placed on the altar table.

Cai Bian led Wu Zhi into the middle hall, came to the portrait of Wang Wengong, and said: "Everything I learned came from the prince of Mount Tai, so you can just worship his ancestor."

When Wu Zhi heard this, he knelt down respectfully and kowtowed three times seriously.

After kowtowing and standing up, Wu Zhi helped Cai Bian sit down in front of the Grand Master's chair in the middle. Another butler led an old man in purple official robes with a goldfish bag tied around his waist. He walked in and sat on the Grand Master's chair on the side.

.

"Today I have gained a great disciple, and I specially invite Brother Dafu to come and witness it."

Cai Bian said to the old man in purple official robe, and then turned to look at Wu Zhi.

"This is the information of the Privy Council, Duke Zheng Juzhong of the State of Yan."

When Wu Zhi heard this, he was shocked in his heart, but there was no expression on his face at all. He bowed to Zheng Juzhong and said with neither humility nor arrogance, "Wan Sheng has met Mr. Zheng."

"You're welcome. Today you worship Yuan Du as your master. From now on, you can call me Shibo."

Zheng Juzhong, however, did not put on any airs and only said with a smile. After a moment, his expression straightened and he spoke to Wu Zhi.

"Kneel down."

Wu Zhi knelt down as instructed and heard Zheng Juzhong's voice ringing again.

"Perform the apprenticeship ceremony."

Wu Zhi kowtowed three times when he heard the words, and then heard Zheng Juzhong's voice.

"Disciple serves tea."

Wu Zhi stood up, took a cup of hot tea from the steward, respectfully handed it to Cai Bian, and said: "Disciple Wu Zhi, please give me some tea."
Chapter completed!