On the day that Shang Danran labored hard to give birth, Zhang Yuan, who was four thousand miles away, was bidding farewell to his friends who had returned home from the imperial examination outside the Chaoyang Gate of the capital. After Fan Ying left, the ten Hanshe scholars who remained were drinking and chatting in a nearby restaurant.
, the time for these ten people to get together will not last long, because on the first day of next month, Zhang Yuan and Wen Zhenmeng will enter the Hanlin Academy to compile history books, draft imperial edicts, and serve as lecturers at banquets; Ni Yuanlu and Zhang Dai
The Shujishi are also in the Hanlin Academy, but they are not considered Hanlin yet. The main task of the Shujishi in the Hanlin Academy is to study. The knowledgeable and senior officials in the Hanlin Academy and Zhanshifu are responsible for teaching them. The study period is normal.
It lasts for three years, and then an assessment is conducted. The best ones are promoted to editors and reviewers of the Hanlin Academy, and the inferior ones are promoted to serve as ministers and censors. This is called disbanding, which means that after completing their studies, the career advancement of common people will be higher than that of ordinary people.
The Jinshi is successful, and there is a hope of becoming a bachelor and joining the cabinet to assist the government. At that time, people regard him as the "preserver prime minister". Generally, the Jinshi who are sent out are at most the fourth-grade prefect and the top——
Hong Chengchou, Huang Zunsu, Ruan Dacheng, Xu Guanji, Sun Jike, and Xia Qichang were assigned to the Six Ministries, Ducha Yuan, Dali Temple, General Affairs Department and other yamen before they were awarded official posts and were sent to other yamen to learn laws, familiarize themselves with government affairs, and experience in handling practical matters.
The ability to do things is called Jinshi Guanzheng, which is an internship for three months. Therefore, Zhang Yuan, Wen Zhenmeng, Zhang Dai, and Ni Yuanlu can still get together in the next two years, while Hong Chengchou will be together in three months.
Either party can only contact each other through letters——
At the beginning of the afternoon, Zhang Yuan returned to the courtyard of his brother Shang Zhou Zuo in the East Fourth Archway. As soon as he entered the hanging flower ceremony gate, he saw Jing Hui standing on the steps of the west wing, with his hands behind his back, a bright smile, and said crisply:
"Little uncle, guess what happy news is coming?" Xiao Jinghui was reprimanded several times by his mother Fu for calling him "Brother Zhang Gongzi". Now he finally changed his tune.
Zhang Yuan's heart skipped a beat when he heard the word "happy event". Then he realized that this was impossible. Although Dan Ran was expected to give birth in the next few days, he would have to wait until the good news came. It would be at least a month and a half later, and said: "
Did your little aunt write a letter?"
"You've got it."
Jing Hui jumped down from the three-foot-high step. He raised his hand behind his back and found a stack of letters written by Dan Ran to his brother-in-law, Jing Lan, Jing Wei and Zhang Yuan, as well as
A letter written by Zhang Yuan’s father, Zhang Ruiyang, to Zhang Yuan——
Jing Hui said happily: "My little aunt is so kind. She wrote me a letter specifically, but she didn't put it with my sister's letter." Then he showed the envelope to Zhang Yuan, which read "Shang Jing Hui received it"
Woolen cloth.
Zhang Yuan smiled and took out the letter from his father Zhang Ruiyang and Dan Ran from Jing Hui's hand, but Jing Hui asked: "Should my uncle read my aunt's letter first? Or Mr. Zhang's letter first?"
Zhang Yuan asked with a smile: "Is there any difference between them?"
"Of course." Jing Hui said with a smile: "First look at Mr. Zhang's letter for filial piety, first look at my little aunt's letter for love, Mr. Zhang's brother——" He let it slip. He quickly changed his words: "My little uncle should
How to choose?"
Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "When Xiao Hui said this, I was so scared that I didn't dare to believe it. Xiao Hui taught me how to choose so that I can be filial and loving at the same time."
Jing Hui blinked his bright eyes and said, "I have a plan to get the best of both worlds. I will help you read your little aunt's letter and read it to you. As for you, just open Mr. Zhang's letter and read it yourself."
Zhang Yuan laughed, lightly flicked Jing Hui's baby cheeks with his fingers, and asked, "You just want to read the letter your little aunt wrote to me, right?"
Jing Hui nodded quickly and narrowed his eyes with a smile.
Zhang Yuan said: "No, I told you not to read other people's private messages. Everyone has their own secrets, you know."
Jing Hui said "Oh", his eyelashes like small fans flickered, and his pink face was slightly red. The little girl was a little shy, because the word "secret" reminded her of the pavilion on Baima Mountain in Kuaiji when she was six years old.
What she said to Zhang Yuan, she said that she wanted to marry Mr. Zhang's brother like her aunt. This was a secret in her heart. Mr. Zhang promised her not to tell anyone. Mr. Zhang really kept his word.
——
Zhang Yuan obviously didn't notice the little girl's shyness. He stood under the white magnolia in the courtyard and opened Dan Ran's letter first.
We are still on the ice and snow road. The journey is far away and communication is really inconvenient. He is now eager to know the situation of Dan Ran giving birth to the baby, but there is no use in being anxious. He can only wait.
In the letter, Dan Ran described to Zhang Yuan how the fetus was kicking in her belly, saying that her belly was as big as if a big watermelon had been stuffed inside. She also said that she had gained a lot of weight. The letter was very long, full of expectations and expectations for becoming a mother.
My husband’s thoughts——
His father, Zhang Ruiyang, maintained the rigor of having worked as a clerk in the Zhou Dynasty for many years. In the letter, he talked about family affairs, Yanghe Yicang, Hanshe Bookstore, Shengmei Trading Company, and many other places near Shanyin.
He refused even though a well-to-do family wanted to join the Zhang family as a slave. He also refused when his neighbors filed lawsuits and asked him to intercede with Liu Zhixian——
Zhang's mother, Lu, personally wrote a few words at the end of the letter, saying that everyone in the family was in good health, eating well, and sleeping well, so that Zhang Yuan could take the exam with peace of mind.
Zhang Yuan looked up at the blue sky above the courtyard and thought to himself: "Mother, my son is already the number one scholar."
…
In March of the 44th year of Wanli, there was no thirty days. It is said that on that day, Zhang Yuan told Eunuch Zhong’s godson Xiao Gao that he would visit Shichahai on either the 29th or the 30th. Now there are only 20 days.
He went there on the 9th, and tomorrow was the first day of April. He had to go to the Literary and Selection Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs to register, get the relevant license, and then compile history at the Hanlin Academy.
At midnight on the morning of the 29th, Zhang Yuan asked Wu Ling to go to Eunuch Zhong's outer house in Shichahai first, saying that he would visit in the late afternoon, because Eunuch Zhong was on duty at Ciqing Palace, and it was a long way to get out.
Just make an appointment in advance.
After Wu Ling left, Laifu came back from shopping. What he bought was a gift for his master Wu Daonan. Liu Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites had already paid homage to him at the Qionglin banquet. Mr. Wu Ge did not attend the banquet of the Ministry of Rites that day——
Mr. Wu Ge lived in Taipusi Street in the west of the imperial city. It was about twelve miles from Dongsi Archway to Taipusi Street. The weather was clear and sunny. Zhang Yuan did not take a car or sedan, but walked there.
Wang Dachui and Laifu followed. There was no doubt about Wang Dachui's loyalty now. Wang Dachui was so powerful that four or five strong men could hardly get close to him. He was qualified to be a bodyguard. In terms of strength, Wang Dachui was stronger than Mu Zhenzhen.
But when it comes to martial arts, he is much inferior.
Mu Zhenzhen has been feeling unwell these past few days, as he does for a few days every month——
There are dozens of small courtyards in two rows of Taipusi Street. They are houses owned by the Ministry of Industry and distributed to various capital officials to live in. Zhang Yuan will also be allocated one. The houses here are relatively narrow and are hundreds of years old.
The house is not grand, and it is inconvenient to live in it if there are many servants and servants, so many officials in the capital buy other properties in the capital to live in. Wu Daonan came to Beijing last year and has been living in this small courtyard house assigned to him by the Ministry of Works. Wu Daonan
The old wife is dead and has not remarried. The only two male servants who accompanied him to Beijing, one old and one strong, and the wife of the strong male servant, who is a washerwoman and cook, refused the local officials to provide fees and expenses when they came to Beijing from Jiangxi last year.
As a bodyguard, his clothing is as simple as that of an ordinary person. As a second-rank minister in the cabinet, Wu Daonan’s integrity is awe-inspiring——
Seeing Zhang Yuan, Wu Daonan's thin face showed a smile and said: "Zhang Hanlin came just in time. I have a few words to tell you. I will return to my hometown as an official in a few days -"
"What does the teacher mean by this?" Zhang Yuan was surprised.
Wu Daonan smiled bitterly and said: "I accidentally appointed Shen Tonghe as the Yuan of Huiyuan. This stain cannot be washed away. The impeachment of Yan Guan is very urgent. I have already asked the emperor to remove him."
The old servant came to report, and Hu Ke asked Mr. Yang to see him. Wu Daonan said to Zhang Yuan: "Yang was your room master during the provincial examination. He is loyal and outspoken. He is a rare critic."
Yang Lian came in and was very happy to see Zhang Yuan here. He said, "Jiezi, please advise Mr. Wu Ge not to resign because of the impeachment of Liu and Yao."
Wu Daonan said: "I have asked the emperor to go there."
Zhang Yuandao: "The emperor thinks highly of Mr. Wu Ge and will definitely retain him."
Wu Daonan said: "Liu Wenbing of the Engineering Department was very anxious to criticize me. He uncovered a fraud case when I presided over the Shuntian Prefecture Provincial Examination ten years ago. Maybe I was just stupid and careless. Fraud cases often occurred in the scientific examinations I presided over. That year, Zheng Rukuang, who placed fourth in the provincial examination, was also sent to Liaodong because fraud in cutting the papers was discovered during the grinding of the survey papers."
When Zhang Yuan heard what Wu Daonan said, he immediately thought that Mr. Wu Ge was willing to take the risk this time to get him to join the yellow list. It must be related to the experience ten years ago. He said: "Cheating in the house has been repeatedly banned. Mr. Ge is cautious and conscientious." , can we trace it out, and many examiners let it go after being vague. This time, the student will be brought to justice by Mr. Quan Zhange. Otherwise, the student will only have to suffer for three years, and it will be difficult to say whether he will be Chinese in three years."
When Wu Daonan heard what Zhang Yuan said, there was a smile on his face again, and he said: "No matter how those people slander me, it is a blessing to the country that I can get you in this subject. You are well-deserved for seeking talents for the country." He said to Yang Lian: "Yang is here to help. Have you read Zhang Hanlin’s Wan Yan Ting Ce?”
Yang Liandao: "I've read it, it's really insightful and thought-provoking."
Wu Daonan said: "I believe that the Ming Dynasty has been recruiting scholars for more than 200 years, and the imperial government should take this as its first priority."
Zhang Yuan said humbly: "Mr. Ge is too generous. The students just really want to do something for the country and the people. But if Mr. Ge wants to become an official, it will be extremely difficult for the students even if they want to make a difference. For example, restricting the rightists and feudal lords from occupying Fields, such as promoting the planting of sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes in drought-stricken and barren counties, such as building water conservancy projects and regulating rivers. Without the leadership of Mr. Wu Ge, the students' ten thousand words of policy would be just a piece of paper and of no benefit at all."
Wu Daonan sighed: "I am in decline, and the emperor has no intention of cheering up. These things have to be done by Yang. Zhang Hanlin must work hard."
Although Wu Daonan is not from Donglin, now Wu Daonan can be said to be the only support that Donglin people can use to fight against Zhejiang and propagate the parties. Moreover, next year will be the year of Beijing inspection every six years. Yang Liandao: "We should work hard to serve The country, but if there is no one in the cabinet to support it, there is no way to serve the country. Please think twice."
Wu Daonan mused: "I have been impeached many times, so I must go to court, otherwise I will be ridiculed as greedy for power - let's see how the Holy One will approve it. If the Holy One retains me, then I will have the audacity to stay. This aging body has done little service to the country."
{PiaoTian Literature www.PiaoTian.com thanks all book friends for their support, your support is our greatest motivation}