Chapter 602 'The Murder of a Imperial College Student'
"Tai Xue."
Outside the Zhuque Gate, Li Yan looked at Xiqingyuan to the east of Yu Street, where Taixue, the highest institution of learning in the Northern Song Dynasty, was located.
To be precise, Taixue is the highest national institution of learning in ancient China. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, he adopted Dong Zhongshu's suggestion of "Three Strategies of Heaven and Man" and "May your Majesty establish Taixue and appoint masters to educate the world's scholars" and established it in the capital Chang'an.
Taixue was established.
By the Tang Dynasty, Taixue was among the six schools of the Erguan and Liuxue, and was not as good as the Erguan. By the Song Dynasty, Taixue began to flourish. At the same time, the recruitment of personnel was no longer limited to the children of officials, but also recruited outstanding civilian children. Now it has
There are more than 2,400 students.
At this time, Li Yan and Ding Run walked into this school together. Most of the students they met along the way were dressed in broad robes and academic hats, and they looked condescending towards the two outsiders who were out of place.
Examine your gaze.
Ding Run looked lazy and walked as if he didn't recognize his relatives. Li Yan was also unfazed. In the palace of thoughts in his mind, the dazzling glory of Jiayou's second year of Jinshi list more than forty years ago appeared.
The No. 1 ranking in the Song Dynasty was so out of the ordinary that it was hailed as the most star-studded ranking in the history of imperial examinations. The extremely famous figures included Su Shi, who was twenty years old at the time, and Su Che, who was eighteen years old at the time. They were both from the Tang and Song Dynasties.
Zeng Gong from the Eight Great Families, Wang Shao from Xihe Kaibian, Cheng Hao and Cheng Xi brothers from the second level of Neo-Confucianism, Zhang Zai from Hengqu Siju, Lu Huiqing, Zhang Dun and Zeng Bu, the three core members of Wang Anshi's reform, etc., as for high school
Zhang Heng, the number one scholar, is Zhang Dun’s nephew, but not many people know him...
And the examiner of that list was Ouyang Xiu. The fact that so many talents were produced has something to do with this Tianwen Sect.
Ouyang Xiu also failed the exam twice in his early years. This was not because of his insufficient cultural level, but because he was harmed by the "Xi Kun Style" that focused on splendor and empty content.
Later, Fan Zhongyan reformed the imperial examination, and the trend of establishing schools across the country flourished. At the same time, he promoted the retro style, so that the "Xikun style" was no longer respected. However, the retro style went too far, and the "Tai Xue style" appeared again.
This style of writing is specially created by candidates in order to win the attention of the examiner. They often go off-topic and deviate from the examination theme.
The "Xikun style" is too rigid, and the "Taixue style" is too unconventional, each goes to extremes, and neither speaks human language anyway.
When Ouyang Xiu arrived, he attacked "Xikun style" and "Taixue style" together, vigorously praised the ancient prose style left by Han Yu, and required people to speak in human terms instead of talking in general terms. Only in this context did those bright stars come into being.
A first-ranked scholar.
It was not just a coincidence, but a change in the examiner's requirements that allowed people with real talents to stand out, and it suddenly exploded like a blowout.
Even now, including the prime ministers Zhang Dun and Zeng Bu, there are many high-ranking officials from that field in the court. However, strictly speaking, Zhang Dun is not on that list because he is ranked lower than his nephew Zhang Heng.
Zhang Dun, who was proud and arrogant, couldn't accept it, so he gave up his honors in anger, took the exam again next time, and won the fifth place in the first class. Only then did he feel satisfied and officially became a Jinshi.
Another interesting thing about that exam was that the 20-year-old Su Shi failed in his poetry except for making up allusions that he "taken for granted".
This thing is quite funny, but it seems somewhat normal. After all, Su Shi is not good at rhyme. Later, Li Qingzhao also wrote in "Ci Lun" that Su Shi "has poems that cannot be read" and "discordant rhythm". Just think about it again, Su Shi
Failing to write poetry is quite magical after all.
Of course, behind the dazzling stars and the emergence of all kinds of talents who have made their names in history, no one paid attention at all, and the ones who were hurt the most were the Taixue students who had worked hard for many years to practice the "Taixue Body".
This is equivalent to future generations studying the sea of questions for many years, and finally changing the syllabus for the college entrance examination, so why not explode on the spot?
The imperial student who failed the exam was furious and went to block Ouyang Xiu's door.
Whatever Ouyang Xiu's temper was, he ignored it at all, and the trouble was settled later, and the "Tai Xue Style" disappeared directly into history.
From this incident, it can actually be seen that although Taixue in the Song Dynasty was the highest institution in the country, it did not have an absolute dominance in teaching. The academies and schools that were springing up all over the country were greatly divided.
The educational resources of official schools, compared with the monopoly of two schools and six schools in the Tang Dynasty, are undoubtedly the progress of the times.
Of course, this does not mean that Taixue is not prosperous. After all, it is the highest academic institution supported by the state. Even if it has not gone through Huizong's third expansion and the abolition of the imperial examination to obtain Taixue, its overall scale is far greater than that of other local academies.
The students I met along the way were all very energetic and rosy-cheeked. After all, all food was provided by Taixue. There was no need to worry about eating three meals a day and they could just concentrate on studying and learning.
However, there were also many people with frightened expressions, whispering to each other about the occurrence of the bloody eucalyptus: "So many Zhai Masters were killed..." "Why is 'Zuo Ming' so arrogant?" "I am a scholar who cannot be subdued by force, but I want to
Let’s see if the rebel dares to take my life!”
Li Yan listened for a moment and then said: "It seems that this incident has caused a certain amount of panic in the Imperial Academy. No wonder Judge Ding is so anxious."
Ding Run curled his lips and said: "The life of the Imperial College student is precious. This fact has already attracted attention. The officials and several princes have issued strict orders, ordering us to catch the culprit quickly to stabilize the Imperial College's heart!"
Li Yan asked: "What about the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple?"
Ding Run said: "Not to mention the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple, even the Imperial City Department is also eyeing this case, all trying to steal the credit. If Zuo Ming can be caught, then the official family will be happy, but it's just a case.
Tricky, I don’t think they can succeed, but I can invite Mr. Lin here, which will greatly increase my confidence..."
Li Yan thought about his previous visit to Gao Qiu, and he had an idea in his mind, and said, "Judge Ding has given you too much praise. I'm afraid I won't be able to catch that 'Zuo Ming' either."
Ding Run lowered his voice and said: "To be honest, Mr. Lin, in my opinion, the murderer is not necessarily 'Zuo Ming'. He is a murderer who wants to rebel. He came to kill a few students? Hey, this group of imperial students are self-righteous,
Life is very precious, so they all agreed that it was Zuo Ming who did it!"
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Li Yan nodded slightly: "What Judge Ding said is not unreasonable..."
The two of them talked all the way and finally arrived at the door of the school building. From a distance, they saw an old man with a clear face waiting in front of the door.
This is an eighth-grade doctor of Taixue. Although he is a junior official in green robes, when he looked at Ding Run, the judge of Kaifeng Prefecture, he looked at it with his nose. He reluctantly saluted, and his noble arrogance was fully revealed: "
Judge Ding, I have been waiting here for a long time!"
Ding Run returned the favor with a smile: "Dr. Yu has a loud voice and is always strong. You are leading the way again, so I feel relieved!"
The doctor didn't quite understand. Li Yanze thought to himself that this was really damaging. Ding Run's implication was that another old doctor would lead the way. He was afraid that he would fall down halfway, so this one was stronger.
He won't die in front of him.
Although Dr. Yu didn't understand this strange charisma, he didn't have a good impression of Ding Run, who was full of charlatanism. He looked at Li Yan and said, "Who is this?"
Ding Run introduced: "This is Mr. Lin Chonglin. He helped the Kaifeng government solve crimes and arrest the murderers, and wiped out Wuyou Cave. He is a famous talent in the capital."
Dr. Yu was a little surprised at first. Ding Run's tone seemed to be focused on this person. Then he thought about the name and his face softened: "I have heard for a long time that Lin Erlang resigned from the official position and regarded fame and wealth as dirt. He is a virtuous man of our generation.
I thought Judge Ding invited Lin Erlang here."
Li Yan said: "Dr. Yu, you're welcome. It's my wish to arrest the criminals and punish the evildoers. It's only right that I can do my part."
Dr. Yu stroked his beard and said, "Come with me!"
The two walked through the long school building and arrived at the accommodation area at the back.
The former site of Taixue was originally within the Imperial College. During the Renzong period, the state established schools and the number of students increased. The Imperial College was too small, so Taixue moved to Xiqingyuan.
During the Shenzong Dynasty, Taixue further expanded its enrollment and merged Chaojiyuan next to Xiqingyuan. Now the three of them arrived at the original Chaojiyuan school building.
"Brother Shaoyang, Brother Zhongwu, Brother Wenliang... you died so miserably! Woohoo!"
"If we don't kill this thief Zuo Ming, it won't be enough to satisfy the people's anger!"
"I have so many talents, but I have never opened my arms in my life..."
However, before entering, I heard the sound of wailing and chanting poems and poems coming from afar. Once inside, I saw more than a dozen imperial students, paying homage to the deceased while having a banquet, drinking with grief and anger.
Sing loudly.
It has a great dining atmosphere.
Seeing Dr. Taixue and others walking in, they put away their wild attitude and stood up together to salute: "Dr. Yu!"
Dr. Yu glanced around and landed on a handsome young man: "Defu, come here!"
The young man came forward, and Dr. Yu first introduced Li Yan and Ding Run, and then said: "This Zhao Defu is one of the people who experienced it. If you have anything, you may wish to ask him."
The young master said: "I, Zhao Mingcheng, whose courtesy name is Defu, have met Judge Ding and Langjun Lin."
Hearing this name, Li Yan couldn't help but look at him a few more times.
Li Qingzhao’s evaluation of Su Shi was mentioned earlier. Isn’t this Li Qingzhao’s husband Zhao Paopao?
In the future, when he faced the Jin army's abandonment of the city and fled, he indirectly contributed a famous story that will last forever: He was a hero in life and a hero in death. He still misses Xiang Yu and refuses to cross the Yangtze River.
Of course, Zhao Mingcheng, who is now nineteen years old, only met Li Qingzhao during this year's Lantern Festival. Naturally, he did not know that he would be ridiculed by his wife's eternal masterpiece and die of shame.
.
Taixue adopted a teaching system divided into classes, "Eighty studios were set up, and each of them could hold thirty people." The size of one studio was equivalent to a class of thirty students in later generations, and there was a studio chief, who was filled by Taixue students, that is,
Choose a monitor.
Then Ding Run said: "The seven deceased people here are all vegetarians. You once gathered a crowd to have a banquet and cursed 'Zuo Ming'. At night, you saw a man with a broad robe and an iron mask appearing. You found him in the early morning of the next day."
They were beheaded in the house, is that so?"
Zhao Mingcheng's eyes were red, and he nodded solemnly: "Yes, it was us who were loyal and courageous, and were retaliated by the traitor!"
Ding Run said: "This judgment on the identity of the murderer is based on the fact that someone witnessed it with his own eyes. In the school building, a man with a broad robe and an iron mask appeared. He was dressed as 'Zuo Ming'."
"And the only one who died was the one who cursed 'Zuo Ming' angrily. All the other nearby houses were safe and sound, and no sound was even heard. The imperial army guarding the Imperial Academy was not even aware of it. It can be seen that the murderer came and went without a trace, and his martial arts was extremely strong."
"Mr. Lin, do you have anything to ask?"
Li Yan said: "It's better to take a look at the scene first and ask Zhao Langjun to lead the way."
Zhao Mingcheng's expression changed slightly: "Should I go too?"
Li Yandao: "Dr. Yu is a doctor of Taixue, and his responsibility lies here, so he is accompanying you. You are one of the witnesses. You can provide us with clues to trace the murderer, so that the deceased's grudges can be avenged, and he can rest in peace. I hope Zhao Langjun will not refuse."
.”
Zhao Mingcheng squeezed out a look of determination on his face: "Okay! Okay!"
With the other students looking sideways, everyone quickly arrived at the house where they were staying, and saw officials from the Kaifeng government office, Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment.
Compared with the accommodation environment in the Tang Dynasty, the accommodation environment here is cleaner and tidier, but the place has not become larger. After all, compared to Chang'an, Bianjing is too crowded. No matter how preferential treatment is given to scholars, the imperial court cannot accommodate every disciple of the Imperial Academy.
Stay in spacious rooms.
In this way, the blood spatters on the ground became even more shocking. Even after the body had been disposed of, there was still a smell of blood lingering in the house.
Li Yan looked at the books everywhere in the room, as well as the thick diaries scattered on the bookshelves: "Has the official Xu who handled the work checked all these books and diaries?"
When Ding Run heard this, he immediately shook his head: "The four deceased people had a lot of books. If we read them all, when will we get them?"
Li Yan thought for a while, walked forward, picked up a thick diary, and started flipping through it.