Chapter 236: Li Bai, fishing for the sea turtle, satirizes the prince's horse

The filthiness of the past is not worth praising,

Today, I have no limits to my thoughts.

The spring breeze is so proud that the horse's hooves are fast,

See all the flowers in Chang'an in one day.

In April of mid-spring, the provincial examination for the fifth year of Tianbao is coming. The provincial examination, the annual imperial examination in the Shangshu Province, is one of the most important systems of the Tang Dynasty. "Be a scholar in the morning and ascends to the emperor's hall in the evening." Every year, tens of thousands of scholars come from all over the country. They yearn for leaping over the dragon gate and stepping onto the official ranks, so as to display their talents and realize their ambitions.

The imperial examinations in the Tang Dynasty were equivalent to today's civil service examinations, but they did not allow them to become officials by passing the exam. They only needed to be qualified to be officials. They needed to be evaluated by the Ministry of Personnel, which was assessed in terms of character, appearance, background and even faction, and could only be awarded an official when there was a real vacancies.

However, this year's imperial examinations are extremely hot. Many juren who were originally scheduled to go to Beijing to take the exam again in the next two years have also changed their minds and squeezed into the ship of Tianbao in the fifth year. There is only one reason: the Salt and Iron Supervision was established, and the official yard was established, and a large number of middle and lower-level officials were transferred, which has led to many vacant positions in the court, which greatly increased the chance of getting a fame and appointing officials.

Most of the scholars from all over the country live in Pingkangfang. One is that they are close to Dongshi and Chunming Street, with many museums and prosperous businesses. The other is that they are also a dense place for brothels and brothels, which makes the scholars yearn for, and the music and songs every day and romantic every night, and endless stories about Kaiyuan Tianbao.

On the evening of the day, in the sunny sun lounge on the third floor of Taibai Building, several old friends from the poem gathered here, saying that He Gaoshi served as the Zuo Zangcheng. Although he was only a minor official of the eighth rank, he was in charge of the imperial treasury and had quite real power. This was when Li Qing separating Zuo Zang from Taifu Temple after establishing the official treasury, and recommended his aide Gaoshi to be in charge of the treasury.

"Dafu has been in the camp for many years, and he has finally succeeded today. It's a happy congratulations. Come! I'll give Dafu a cup first!" The person who spoke was Wang Changling. He had just come to Beijing from Shazhou to do business the day before yesterday. He was in the Western Regions for nearly a year. The wind and sand blew his wrinkles on his face deeper, and his skin became darker, but he was full of energy. It can be seen that his official position was happy. The current governor of Shazhou and the governor of Shazhou were all led by Wang Zhongsi, but Wang Zhongsi was only named. The military affairs of Doulu Army were under Li Siye, while the government affairs of Shazhou were under the charge of Wang Changling.

"Old Wang said this in a bad manner. What does it mean to be a long time? Didn't we brother Dafu have any real knowledge?" Du Fu grabbed Wang Changling's hand and smiled and said, "Don't panic to toast first, you must punish yourself for this glass of wine!"

"It's so great! You guy's words are so unpleasant." Gao Shi was in a very happy mood. Today was a turning point in his life. He had been seeking an official for many years, traveling to the Western Regions and Hebei, but he achieved nothing. Seeing that he was middle-aged, his heart gradually became desolate. But last year, he was recommended as an official for only one year as a staff member of Li Qing. He was still a real official. How unhappy he was so unhappy that he blushed before he could drink, and his face was even more excited.

Gao Shi raised his eyes and laughed: "Not only does it take a drink, but it also takes a poem. If you can't make it, you will be punished with a jar of wine!"

"Do you write poetry? It's not difficult for me."

Wang Changling drank the wine and threw the cup, then picked up the pen and laughed: "I have been in the Western Regions for a year. Facing the long yellow sand, I have a lot of energy in my heart. Today I can use wine to express my feelings."

He focused slightly and wrote a poem on the snow-white wall:

The bright moon in the Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty,

The people of the Long March have not returned.

But let the flying general of Longcheng be here,

Don’t teach Hu horses to cross Yinshan.

"What a good poem!" The door suddenly opened, and a cold wind swept into a man. He saw him in high spirits, his two beards raised high, which was Li Bai who was late. He recited the poem written by Wang Changling on the wall and exclaimed, "The words are plain, the structure is magnificent, and the meaning is profound. As soon as this quatrain comes out, we will go back to our hometown to farm."

"Why did Qinglian come late? I will punish three cups of wine before talking about poetry." Du Fu pulled Li Bai down and filled him with a glass, pointed at the wine and said with a smile: "Did you have been a Hanlin? Do you think I can't wait?"

Since Li Bai returned from Jinan last year, he received his old friend. Princess Yuzhen, the sister of Li Longji, who had become a monk, and Taoist Wu Yun, was finally appreciated by Li Longji and entered the Hanlin Academy. He was proud of his youth and made friends with famous scholars all over the world and comforted his lifelong aspirations.

Du Fu's words made Li Bai laugh. He picked up the wine glass and raised his eyebrows and smiled at Du Fu: "How can I bow my eyebrows and serve the powerful and unhappy? Brother Zimei underestimates me too much."

He looked back at Gao Shi, but saw that he was still staring at the poem on the wall and muttering to himself: "It's indeed a good poem. I'm worthy of staying in the Western Regions for a year. Gao Shi felt inferior to this kind of mind. Don't call me a frontier poet in the future."

"Brother Dafu!"

Li Bai shouted several times, but could not recall Gao Shi's soul-losing spirit, so he shook his head and turned around and asked Du Fu: "Does Zimei really decide to participate in the imperial examination this year?"

"Of course, I have experienced it and applied for the Jinshi exam. After three days, I officially took the imperial examination."

Du Fu sighed and said, "It turns out that Duff is still with me to be a white man. Now he has become an official, and I am the only one left. How can I do if I don't work hard!"

Li Bai pondered slightly and said, "I know Yang Shenjin, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and the relationship is quite reasonable. Why don't I tell him that if you win the first place, you will immediately give you an official position. What do you think?"

"What's the use of winning the first place? Even if Brother Zimei is talented and won the top scorer, she is only an eighth-rank official. It's better to learn from others. She has no fame and fortune, and can only flatter and become the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."

This sarcastic voice came from the corner of the house. Li Bai was surprised. He walked over Du Fu and looked at it. He saw that a pair of drunken eyes raised at the corner of the house, but Cen Shen was drunk when he entered the house.

Cen Shen has been in a very bad mood these days because Li Jingyan became a monk. He was also Li Jingyan's suitor. Li Jingyan also admired his talent very much. He had the opportunity to marry a princess, but he was a noble person, despised the powerful and did not do ordinary things. He gradually lost Li Jingyan's heart. Since Li Qing went to Nanzhao, he invited Li Jingyan out for a few trips and was rejected, which made him die. But the day before yesterday, the news that Princess Pingyang became a monk at Ganye Temple was suddenly spread, which made Cen Shen very distressed. The reason was that Li Qing committed the evil, and he couldn't help but become angry with Li Qing.

But he didn't know that his ridiculed Li Qing's words and annoyed the two of them, one was Gao Shi, who had just become an official, and the other was Li Qing's old subordinate Wang Changling.

Wang Changling was outspoken. As soon as Cen Shen finished speaking, his reprimand said, "I think you are drunk too much. If not, I will send someone to send you back, so as not to talk nonsense here after drinking!"

"What are you talking about!"

Cen Shen slapped the table and said angrily: "I know you have an old age with him, but this person abandoned Princess Pingyang and was so ruthless and fortunate, can't he say it?"

"Only flattery?"

Gao Shi also sneered and said coldly: "You know how much you have, so you have made such a conclusion. I might as well tell you something that was done by me personally under the order of Minister Li to let you understand why he was the Minister."

Gao Shi saw that the others came up to look at him with interest, and whispered: "When I was in Yangzhou, Li Qing captured the pain of the Jiangdu County Magistrate. Later, the Liu County Magistrate came to plead with him. Li Qing ordered him to write to the emperor to reveal the secret of the Yangzhou stolen official salt. I was very surprised at the time. What does Li Qing mean? It was obvious that the person who stolen official salt was not Li Chengshi, but until yesterday, the emperor ordered Li Chengshi to kill him for the crime of stolen official salt and stolen official salt. I suddenly realized that Li Qing had already thought of a way out for himself when he went to Yangzhou to promote salt administration. He also took the initiative to withdraw from the position of the Salt Iron Supervision Order and retired after his success, eliminated the grudges of political enemies and eliminated the emperor's suspicion. This was also a wise move."

Gao Shi suddenly glared at Cen Shen, "If a real man wants to accomplish something, he must pay attention to his skills and strategy. Although he has not won any achievements, he has actually done many great things. It is because he is young and has a high position, so many people are jealous of him. Are you also jealous of him?"

Cen Shen put his eyelids on and said coldly: "He abandoned the princess and was ruthless and fortunate. Can a little bit of ability indicate his good character?"

"I'm afraid the street rumors cannot be taken seriously!"

Li Bai suddenly laughed and said, "If he was really as far-scheming as Brother Dafu said, the news of the princess becoming a monk would be worthy of fun."

Wang Changling next to him also interjected: "I think so too. My brother is deeply in love with the princess. He will never sit idly by. The princess becomes a monk and is likely to be a cover-up move."

At this time, the door was suddenly pushed open, and walked into someone with his hands crossed, and said in a cold tone: "Princess Pingyang is a secret of the royal family. I advise you not to talk more!"

When Li Bai saw this person, a look of contempt flashed in his eyes. He turned his head over, but ignored him. Du Fu and Wang Changling did not know him. Seeing him breaking in rudely, he was extremely dissatisfied, but his face did not show any expression, and he only held a wine glass and pondered without saying anything.

Cen Shen sneered, without hiding the disgust on his face, and stood up straight: "The sky is bright, we have not discussed the government affairs, nor are we attacking the emperor. What can we say about the rumors in the market? I believe that Mr. Zhang also regarded himself as a member of the royal family, so he was so sensitive."

The person who came was the second son of the old prime minister Zhang Shuo, now the younger brother of Zhang Yun, the Minister of Revenue, and the son-in-law Zhang Ye. He was an old acquaintance with Li Bai. His father Zhang Shuo often boasted about Li Bai's talent in front of him, and scolded him for being ignorant of his ignorance, which made him deeply jealous of Li Bai. Just now, when he heard Li Bai's laughter next door, he used the intention of drinking to find Li Bai's trouble, but was ridiculed by Cen Shen, and Zhang Ye's face suddenly became gloomy.

Gao Shi, who saw that the situation was not good, hurriedly pulled Cen Shen behind him and bowed to him and said, "What Mr. Zhang said is very true. We just listened to the neighbors' discussions and agreed. It is indeed a good idea to say less about the royal family."

He poured a glass of wine in a hurry and handed it to Zhang Ye and smiled, "Since Mr. Zhang is here, please drink this glass of wine, which is my respect."

"A little Zuo Zangcheng is worthy of drinking to me. How did your minister teach you!"

Zhang Ye snorted coldly with his nose, ignored him, and glanced at Li Bai and said, "I just heard the laughter so arrogantly, and then I came to see him. It was indeed Li Kuang Shi. The day before yesterday, I heard someone say that you call yourself a 'fisher fishing ox on the sea'. I was so loud. I thought that the waves of light are vast and the giant ox is like a mountain. How can you fish? Could it be to jump down to catch it!"

Li Bai laughed up, "I use the bright moon as the hook and the rainbow as the line, how can I not fish?"

Zhang Ye's face changed and he said sternly: "Then what do you use as bait? But use your official hat as bait?"

Li Bai smiled proudly with his hands behind his back, glanced at him and said, "Just use those villains who are ignorant and ignorant and rely on their father to make great achievements as bait!"

Zhang Yi took a step back suddenly, a cold light appeared in his eyes, and he stared at Li Bai extremely viciously, "Good curse! Good curse! I want to see, how did you catch the giant turtle?" After that, he suddenly turned around and smashed the door "bang!".

"Qinglian, it's not easy for you to enter an official position. If you ignore such a person, you shouldn't offend him."

Gao Shi said with a worried look: "He is a royal relative. The Zhang family is full of disciples and old officials in the court, and his brother is also the leader of the literary world. If you offend him like this, he will attack you!"

"What's wrong with offending him? Duff shrank and took that position too seriously."

Cen Shen slapped the wine glass on the table and said loudly: "The mountain wind blows on the empty forest, rustling like someone. At worst, you can resign from this humble official and retire to the mountains and forests to seek the fun of nature."

"Don't mention this, everyone can drink a drink!"

Li Bai picked up the wine glass and pondered. He offended Zhang Ye fiercely this time. He wanted to think of a way to be prepared earlier. Looking at Gao Shi, who was successful in middle-aged, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
Chapter completed!