It seemed to Wu Anchi that Zhang Yue smiled back and nodded.
At this moment, everyone in the furnace pavilion was noisy, and Zhang Yue put down his article and walked towards Wu Anchi.
Wu Anchi smiled and said: "Everyone is arguing, why is Brother Zhang memorizing the article alone?"
Zhang Yue originally wanted to pretend not to know and flatter Wang Jinggong. But then he thought that based on his association with the Wu family, he should have some understanding of who Wu Anzhi's father-in-law was. Isn't this very hypocritical?
But it’s true that I like other people’s articles, so there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
Zhang Yue simply said as if he had studied this article deeply: "Brother Wu, I believe that among all the princes in the world, except for Ouyang, the prince's article is the first."
“Oh? Is this really the case?”
Zhang Yuedao: "I used to like "Shang Zhongyong" and "A Journey to Baochan Mountain" in the past, but recently I read "Reading the Biography of Mengchangjun" and I was even more impressed."
Seeing Wu Anzhi's slight doubt, Zhang Yue smiled and said: "Everyone in the world says that Lord Mengchang can win scholars, and the soldiers return to him for this reason, and the soldiers rely on his strength to escape from the Qin of tigers and leopards. Wow! Lord Mengchang has a male ear that crows like a cock and a dog steals. How can it be so?"
Is it enough to win scholars? Otherwise, if the Qi Dynasty is strong and can only gain a few scholars, it is better to go south and conquer Qin. How can it take advantage of the crowing of roosters and the robbers of dogs? If the roosters and dogs robber come out of the door, the reason why this scholar will not come."
Zhang Yueyan looked at Wu Anchi's face and said, "When I read the last sentence, it was like a real shot of the 'Old Official's Prison Case' that was so amazing!"
This "Reading the Biography of Mengchangjun" is less than a hundred words, but reading it gives people the feeling of peeling off the cocoon layer by layer. After four or five twists and turns, the last sentence is like a stroke of genius!
At the same time, Zhang Yue also has a meaning.
Wang Anshi cited Mengchangjun as an example, isn’t it wise to make friends carefully?
Isn’t it the same for you, Mr. Wu Erlang, in the Imperial Academy?
Wu Anzhi really took it seriously and said: "Of course, since ancient times, it has been said that Lord Mengchang likes to win scholars, but how can a gentleman and a villain coexist?"
"So living with good people is like entering a house of orchids, which will smell fragrant for a long time; living with evil people is like entering a house of abalones, which will make one smell bad for a long time. Mozi is sad about dyeing silk, this is called it. Therefore, a gentleman
Be careful when making friends!"
Wu Anchi smiled when he heard this and said nothing. Zhang Yue thought to himself, Mr. Wu Erlang is so difficult to get close to. It seems that it is not easy to make friends with him.
Thinking of this, Zhang Yue returned to his seat. However, the debate in the auditorium became more and more fierce. These imperial students really dared to say anything, and they actually criticized the Qingli New Deal and blamed it on the officials.
This is so brave and fat.
The custom of the Song Dynasty was like this, not only among the imperial students, but also among the officials.
At that time, during the Jinzouyuan case, which directly led to the failure of the Qingli New Deal, an official wrote a proud song that went viral.
The sentence "I was lying drunk at the North Pole and I sent the emperor to help me, and Zhou Gong Confucius drove me into a slave." I did not say the second sentence, but actually asked the emperor to support me in the previous sentence.
Why did the Qingli New Deal fail? Many people attribute the reason to Song Renzong's repeated repetitions and inability to persist.
But Zhang Yue felt that he had wrongly blamed Song Renzong.
The Qingli New Deal is actually an immature move.
At that time, the imperial court was going through the throes of the war with Xixia, so Emperor Renzong hurriedly decided to reform. He recalled Fan Zhongyan and Fu Bi to the central government to implement the New Deal. Song Renzong thought that they would immediately come up with a practical policy, but after discussing it for a long time, Fan Zhongyan finally
Only ten suggestions were published, which later became the "Ten Suggestions".
The ten articles of Fan were all aimed at the three redundants (redundant officials, redundant soldiers, and redundant expenses) that were the biggest problems in the Song Dynasty at that time.
From the time Fan Zhongyan and Fu Bi entered the central government until they finally left, the New Deal failed in just one year.
how so?
Song Renzong was not well prepared for the New Deal from the beginning. The failure of Fan Zhongyan's reform made him realize that the time for reform was not yet ripe. Officials believed that "the regulations are so broad that commentators find it difficult to implement them."
There are too many people who oppose it, and if we really want to implement the New Deal, it will touch the fundamentals.
Why are there three redundancies?
To put it bluntly, it was not designed by the current rulers themselves. The establishment of the three redundancies was to solve a series of problems. Now that you want to abolish the three redundancies, then in turn, have the original problems been solved?
Abolition without resolution will shake the foundation.
There is also the problem of insufficient preparation. Song Renzong did not want to change the law from the beginning. After being beaten by Xixia, he asked Fan Zhongyan to give it a try. After the New Deal was implemented for a while, he discovered what it means to not weigh four or two weights.
I can't stop weighing a thousand pounds once I put it on the scale. It turns out there are so many problems.
The "Fan Shi Tiao" cannot be called a drastic move, but the depth of the long-standing shortcomings exposed is shocking.
Faced with so many problems, Fan Zhongyan and Fu Bi have been calling for the expansion of the power of the prime minister to implement reforms and completely suppress the opposition forces.
But the expansion of the power of the prime minister touches the fundamentals again.
In the end, the reform failed. Song Renzong still included Fu Bi, Han Qi, and Ouyang Xiu who supported the New Deal in the court, and they have always been in important positions.
As for the establishment of schools in Zhongzhou counties during the reform, the policy of establishing Taixue is still there. For Taixue, where the reform party is located, policy support has been given.
For example, this time the quota for the Imperial College examination was increased from 450 to 600, but there were only more than 700 Taipei students, and even if students from Guangwen were included, there were only more than 1,000 students.
Nearly reached a ratio of three people to one person.
Think again about Fujian and Zhejiang, where the ratio of one hundred people to one person is one.
The people of the past planted trees, and the people of the future took advantage of the shade.
When Wang Anshi carried out the reform, he selected Hu Yuan's students as the backbone of the new party. However, after Wang Anshi came to power, the new Tai students opposed the reform, which was unexpected by Wang Anshi.
Everyone discussed for a while, but Zhang Yue didn't say anything. At this time, Xiang Qi suddenly looked at Zhang Yue and asked, "Sanlang, what do you think of the Qingli New Deal and this Ten Thousand Words Book?"
Zhang Yue just paid attention to literary talent and diction, and did not pay attention to political opinions for a while.
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "How can I express opinions at a young age? It's too late for me to learn how to write articles."
The people on the side smiled, and it was okay for Zhang Yue not to say anything, but Xiang Qi insisted: "Sanlang, you are not being kind. Whether it is good or bad, right or wrong, you can at least give a general idea!"
Zhang Yue thought that the custom of discussing political opinions in Taixue was very strong. If he really didn't speak out, he would be looked down upon by others.
Zhang Yue decided to come up with an explanation that would not offend anyone. He put down the book and said with a smile: "Then I will try to say something. I am wrong, so don't laugh at me."
"Please say."
Zhang Yue said: "There is a sentence that deeply touched me when I was studying. Duke Li Wenjing (Li Hang) once said when he was the prime minister, 'I have no other ability as prime minister, except not to change the legal system of the court and use it to serve the country'. We first heard this statement
, it is said that Duke Li Wenjing is the prime minister but does not do his job."
“In fact, the most corrupt thing about a prime minister is that he does not think about the actual situation. In order to receive favors and reputations, he repeatedly changes the old ancestral system, which eventually leads to redundant officials and soldiers. This is the biggest disadvantage.”
"Today's spending is unruly, financial resources are scarce, and public and private affairs are in trouble. All traces of this are due to the fact that the prime minister was unable to abide by the old rules at the beginning and made rash changes."
After Zhang Yue finished speaking, he did not cause any disturbance among the students.
Liu Ji smiled perfunctorily and said, "Sanlang is right."
After that, everyone continued the discussion. Zhang Yue thought to himself, how can these imperial students understand this?
Wu Anzhi’s eyes flashed on the side.
The next day was Shuo Day, and Wu Anzhi returned home from Taixue.
In the past few days, not only his father-in-law Wang Anshi has returned to the capital, but his father Wu Chong has also returned to the capital from Shaanzhou to resume his duties.
Wu Anchi specially found a spacious and comfortable house in Beijing for his father-in-law to rest in, but Wang Anshi said that it would be the same wherever he lived, but he wanted to live in Chaojiyuan next to Taixue.
Seeing that his father-in-law would rather live in a public house, Wu Anzhi had nothing to say and prepared to go over to greet him, but he was rejected.
It turned out that Wang Anshi caused a sensation in the capital after he was published in the Wanyan Book. Many officials and scholars came to pay their respects. Some people scolded Wang Anshi for simply looking for trouble.
However, in order to show his sincerity in the petition, Wang Anshi would not receive any foreign guests until the emperor replied. He even treated his son-in-law as a foreign guest and did not see him at all.
After receiving the rejection, Wu Anchi still saluted repeatedly outside his father-in-law's door, and then he breathed a sigh of relief when he got home.
Wu Anchi returned home to see his wife first.
Wang is the eldest daughter of Wang Anshi. Although her appearance is not outstanding, she is extremely talented in writing, which makes Wu Anzhi ashamed.
Wang served Wu Anzhi and changed her clothes and said: "There is a family dinner in the evening. You go to your mother to say hello first. Now the fifteenth mother is getting married and my brother is away from home all day. You are studying at Taixue, so the house is much deserted."
Wu Anchi said: "Aren't there still seventeen more?"
Wang shook her head and said, "You don't know your mother? She has always been distant to Shi Qi."
Wu Anzhi said: "What's wrong with foreign relations? Now that the fifteenth mother is married, she will be seventeen. But her temperament... it will really give her parents a headache to find a good in-law."
Wang said: "You are just obedient outside, but when you get home, you say seventeen is wrong."
Wu Anchi smiled and said: "I also hope that she will marry a good husband. Yes, how is the uncle's death?"
It turns out that Wu Yu, who was involved in political affairs two months ago, had died of illness.
Wang said: "My uncle's affairs have been settled after his death. Now I have asked Ouyang to write an epitaph. As for the officials, who have been thinking of serving as minister for many years, they have issued an order to support his son in joining the official position."
“However, there are a few people in my uncle’s family who are not officials, so they were pushed to our family. Dad may ask you and your brother at today’s family dinner whether you and your brother have any intention of complementing each other. What are your plans?”
Wang looked at Wu Anzhi's face and said with some disappointment, "I wonder if I can ask you now."
Wu Anchi looked at Wang's face and said: "Madam, you also know the difficulty of the examination field. If you have an official position, you should be an official first. Even if you are a shackles, you can take the lock examination in the future and become a Jinshi."
Wang said: "I originally meant the same thing, but after seeing you hesitate for a moment, I agreed. I think Bu Yin may not have any plans to take the Jinshi examination after that..."
Wu Anzhi said dissatisfied: "Madam, you sound more and more like Shi Qi."
That night there was a banquet at Wu’s house.
Wu Chong has been an official for twenty years, but he is not yet at the age of Buhuo.
He became a Jinshi at the age of seventeen, which can be said to be a young success. Later, he was supported by several of his brothers in his official career, and he can be said to have prospered all the way.
When he was in the Qun Mu Division, Wang Anshi dared not even drink the wine offered by Bao Zheng. However, he was such a arrogant person that he also admired his colleague Wu Chong very much and regarded him as a close friend. Not only did he criticize Qing Qing one by one in his poems,
He shouted affectionately, brother, and married his beloved daughter to his second son.
Wu Chong's appearance can be called the God of Feng and handsome, and his wife Li is also the daughter of the famous minister Li You. This is also a good marriage of well-matched families.
That day at the family dinner, Wu Anshi, Wu Anchi and his wife, and the Seventeenth Mother were all present. As for the children, they were held by servants and ate at another small table nearby.
No one at the banquet dared to speak, but Wu Chong said that the Ministry of Civil Affairs planned to appoint Wu Yu's descendants as officials, and they would be awarded Taichang Temple Taizhu, Dali Temple Judge, Secretary Shengzhengzi and other officials according to age.
Wu Anchi thought of today's discussion about three redundant officials in Luting. He was also deeply aware of the disadvantages of redundant officials today. As for the disadvantages of redundant officials, it is too much yin and yin. Therefore, Fan Zhongyan proposed that one of the ten points is "suppressing luck", aiming to get rid of yin.
Disadvantages of officialdom.
For example, several of the Wu family's official positions were all officials in the Beijing Dynasty. Although they only corresponded to the last three ranks of forty, forty-one, and forty-two without any family background, they were far above the official ranks of the candidates.
Only a few people among the Jinshi in the same subject can be appointed as officials in the capital after being first awarded, and others have to be appointed and selected.
Today, when his classmates from Taixue criticized the shortcomings of redundant officials, he did not say a word.
Wu Anchi knows from the bottom of his heart that what they said is right, but when this matter falls on you, is it right or wrong?
From now on, there is no need to study poetry and books, or even go to work in remote prefectures and counties after passing the Jinshi examination. You can stay in the prosperous Bianjing.
Hearing that Wu Chongyan planned to let the two brothers make up the time together, Wu Anchi felt a stone fall from his heart.
Wu Chong said: "As for the matter of Yinbu, until there is an explicit decree, you two must not speak out for a day. Others should not talk too much."
Everyone at the banquet said so.
Wu Chong said again: "Even if I am relieved, the court will not send you immediately. It may take two or three years. During these times, you should study at home and are not allowed to go out."
Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit serious, Ms. Li smiled at her two sons and said, "Just keep your father's instructions in mind. The dishes are already cold!"
Wu Chong nodded slightly and began to pick up the vegetables. Only then did the whole family use their chopsticks.
Wu Chong had a few bites and then tested his two sons on academic and political matters. Wu Anshi answered poorly and was reprimanded by Wu Chong several times. Others could not help but feel anxious while eating at the dinner table.
When it was Wu Anchi's turn, the chopsticks in his hand fell to the ground before he could answer.
Wu Chong couldn't help but shook his head. After the maid gave Wu Anzhi a pair of chopsticks, he asked, "Have you read Taishan's book of ten thousand words for the official?"
Wu Anchi replied: "I saw it yesterday when I was at Imperial College."
“What do you think?”
Wu Anchi’s head was covered with sweat.
Wu Chong scolded him: "It's already like this before I can answer. I want to tell you some real insights. When I go to the temple and ask the officials, I won't tell you practical answers, but at least I'll have something to say."
Wu Anzhi said: "My child thinks that before becoming a politician, he should 'advocate for simplicity'."
“How to be simple?”
Wu Anzhi said: "Advocating simplicity means simplifying administration, which means simplicity and law."
“Yes,” Wu Chong said.
Wu Anchi thought for a while and said: "My child was studying today and read that Duke Li Wenjing (Li Hang) once said when he was the prime minister, 'I have no other ability as prime minister, but I will not change the legal system of the court and use this to serve the country.' My child... my child was deeply moved."
Feelings…”
Wu Chong was stunned for a moment and then said: "Oh? Let's talk about it..."
After Wu Anchi finished his answer, Wu Chong thought for a moment while stroking his beard, and then said with a smile: "After my second brother entered the Imperial Academy, his knowledge has improved a bit!"
