Zhang Yue was puzzled by Cai Xiang’s invitation. Should he go or not?
It's definitely not possible not to go. Kaifeng Prefecture Magistrate, where can you let him put his face if he doesn't go? But if he goes, who knows whether it will be a Hongmen Banquet.
Zhang Yue said to the official who delivered the message: "Wait a moment until I change my clothes before going."
Na Fu Gan urged: "Please hurry up, Xiucai, and don't keep your husband waiting for a long time."
Zhang Yue thought to himself that since Wang Anguo and Wang Anli recommended Cai Xiang, Cai Xiang should not do anything to him. However, Zhang Yue thought about it and sent someone to report to Ouyang and Zhang Heng.
After leaving the house, Zhang Yue and the official chatted while walking.
Zhang Yue wanted to hear what was going on, but the other party was very wary and kept repeating, "We'll know when the scholar arrives."
Zhang Yue followed the other party to Cai Xiang's house.
However, as the residence of Cai Xiang, the governor of Kaifeng, it is not very prosperous and luxurious.
However, Zhang Yue understood that Cai Xiang was definitely a rich man because he had a large collection of books. Liu Kezhuang once lamented that he did not know anyone who had a richer collection of books than Cai Xiang.
As for where Cai Xiang has so much money to buy books?
Salary is one thing, but another reason is that he is good at calligraphy. Cai Xiang's calligraphy, Ouyang Xiu's articles and Mei Yaochen's poems are known as the three greatest things in the world.
Today’s officials are Cai Xiang’s number one fans. Ouyang Xiu also highly praised Cai Xiang’s calligraphy and believed that no one could match it. It’s just that Cai Xiang was too humble and unwilling to admit it.
However, Cai Xiang understood the principle of rare things being valuable. He cherished his calligraphy very much. He would not let his handwriting spread easily, and he would not easily write letters to others. Therefore, his calligraphy was regarded as a treasure by others.
Hide.
The income from writing is not high, but there are two most profitable incomes from calligraphy.
One is to write an epitaph for someone, and the other is to write a monument for a newly built temple or residence.
For example, when Yuan Zhen died young, his family asked his good friend Bai Juyi to write an epitaph. Yuan Zhen’s family sent carriages, horses, silk, silver saddles, jade belts and dozens of slaves to invite Bai Juyi to write an epitaph.
Bai Juyi calculated its value at 700,000.
Bai Juyi refused to accept it. He said that Yuan Zhen and I were good friends, so I would just write it for you for free, and there would be no point in taking money.
But Yuan Zhen’s family insisted on giving it away, and in the end Bai Juyi had no choice but to accept it, send the slave back, and donate all the money to the temple.
Bai Juyi wrote an article "Records of Xiangshan Temple Repair" that talks about this matter. Bai Juyi said in the article that these money were given to Yuan Zhen by me, and the merits were all his.
There is also the matter of writing steles for temples. Pei Du, the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, once asked Huangfu Shi to write steles.
After finishing writing, Pei Du gave Huangfu Shi a lot of money, but Huangfu Shi found it too little. He directly said to Pei Du, "I don't write monuments easily for others. My inscriptions have a total of 3,000 words, and one word is three strings.
You should give me nine thousand coins.
One word is worth three pieces of fine silk, and the whole article is worth nine thousand pieces of fine silk.
Pei Du was also very generous and gave Huangfu Shi more than 5,000 pieces of silk, making up the total of 9,000.
Han Qi built a Zhoujin Hall at home, and Ouyang Xiu wrote the article, and then asked Cai Xiang to write it. In order to write this article well, Cai Xiang practiced each word hundreds of times until he was satisfied before writing it, so this monument is called Bai Xiang.
Monument.
However, Cai Xiang did not write on all steles, and he did not even give his number one fan the honor of being his emperor. Officials asked him to write the "Inscription on the Monument of Wen Cheng's Empress Father", but Cai Xiang declined.
Later Ouyang Xiu also asked Cai Xiang to write a preface to his collection of ancient records.
After Cai Xiang finished writing, Ouyang Xiu was very satisfied and wanted to reward Cai Xiang heavily, but he felt that he would not accept money since he was his friend.
He knew what Cai Xiang didn’t like, and the only three good things were ‘burning, tasting tea, and spending money’.
So Ouyang Xiu took what he liked and used a rat-whisker pen with a bronze-green pen pattern, and then gave it to Cai Xiang with Longjing tea and Huishan Spring.
Cai Xiang was very happy.
But a month later, someone gave Ouyang Xiu a rare fragrant cake (used for burning incense). Cai Xiang was very envious and said to Ouyang Xiu regretfully that I had written this book too early. If it were more than a month late, I would have this fragrant cake in my pen.
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Ouyang Xiu quickly turned around and added something after hearing this.
Zhang Yue had heard Ouyang Fa tell this story, so he practiced calligraphy diligently and had this concern.
In the future, if you can no longer survive in the officialdom, you will still have this way to make a living.
When Zhang Yue arrived at Cai Xiang's mansion with Fu Qian, he first went to the front hall and sat down.
Zhang Yue waited for a while, but no one came.
When the people serving tea arrived, Zhang Yue asked hurriedly: "I wonder when Mr. Cai will see me?"
The visitor looked at Zhang Yue and was stunned for a moment, and then said: "The government office has official business just now, and my husband has taken the first step, so you can just wait here."
Zhang Yue thought to himself, "Which one of these could lead to entering the White Tiger Hall by mistake?"
Zhang Yue immediately became cautious and waited for a while but saw a lean and short official in green robe walking in.
Zhang Yue immediately stood up to greet him.
The other party saw Zhang Yue's extraordinary appearance and couldn't help but ask: "I wonder what you call a scholar?"
Zhang Yue didn't know the other party's identity, so he stood up and said vaguely: "I'm Zhang Yue, I'm going to the house for three days. I was called over by Cai Gong."
The other party was fine at first, but I suddenly thought that I had heard this name somewhere. When I thought about it carefully, it was the young talent that Ouyang Yongshu mentioned that ranked third in the test.
The other party knew this well and immediately sat aside without speaking to Zhang Yue.
Zhang Yue was in a place of right and wrong, and he didn’t know the other party’s identity and didn’t say a word.
The two of them were just bored.
Seeing that it was getting dark soon, the governor of Cai Mansion came over and said: "Master still has some trivial matters to deal with, so you two should have dinner first!"
This person and Zhang Yue both nodded.
So the two desks were brought up and placed in front of the chairs, with dishes placed on them.
Zhang Yue saw that the food in Cai's house was quite rich, including fish and meat, as well as black bean paste soup. As for the rice, there was also a large bowl, which was enough for two or three people.
In fact, at this point, Zhang became hungry sooner. He touched his stomach and felt that he was at peace with himself.
Immediately, Zhang Yue took the rice from the bowl and put it in a bowl, and then poured some black bean paste soup on top of the rice in the bowl.
The salted bean curd in your mouth is salty and fresh first, and then you eat the soaked soft rice.
The official opposite seemed to pay attention to official etiquette and was full after eating less than half a bowl. However, he saw Zhang Yue soaking the black beans in rice and eating three bowls in a row.
At this moment, the kerchief that the other party was wiping his face paused slightly in the air for a moment.
The other party said: "Shang Sanlang, do you know how much this bowl of rice is worth in Zhenzhou this year?"
Zhang Yue filled another bowl of rice and asked, "I wonder if you have any advice?"
Fang Yan said: "I have just returned to Beijing from Zhenzhou to report on my work. The people in a county below Zhenzhou have just been hit by sea waterlogging. After the flood, all their houses were lost, their fields were submerged, and I don't know how many people were buried in the belly of the fish."
“One bushel of rice can buy a child of this height.”
The other party gestured with his hands, and Zhang Yue put down his bowl and chopsticks after hearing this.
“Why don’t the officials take care of these children?”
The other party said: "Yes, the government has come forward to adopt orphans and widows. I have been there several times and we got along very well. However, due to busy business, I went some distance away. Many children cried when they saw me. I asked why
?Others, these orphaned children, saw me visiting me for days and days, and felt a sense of sustenance, and then they stayed away for a long time. They waited so hard that they actually thought I had abandoned him."
Zhang Yue sighed and said: "This is not the responsibility of the members. It is a pity for these orphan children. I only hope that other children in the world will not suffer this disaster."
The other party said: "Exactly, as long as the officials can do more of their duties, the common people will suffer less. Unfortunately, most of the officials in the officialdom today do not know how to be considerate, but instead brutalize the people and abuse them. This is really true.
We bear the intention of being kind to the people."
Zhang Yue listened to his thoughts and realized that these words were indeed very good. This man must be a good official who cares about the common people.
Unexpectedly, I did not see Cai Xiang, but I met a good official.
Zhang Yue asked: "It would be great if all the officials in the world were like Yuanwai. I wonder if Yuanwai has a good surname?"
Fang Yan said: "I am Lu Huiqing, whose cursive name is Jifu. I am currently the official of Zhenzhou."
Zhang Yue couldn't help but be startled after hearing this. This person is Lu Huiqing. No, isn't he a famous rebel in history?
Zhang Yue couldn't associate the other party with the evaluation in the history books.
Zhang Yue thought to himself that before, he thought that Wang Anshi's road was dead, so he went to seek help from Lu Huiqing, but he ended up running into trouble at Cai Xiang's house.
It is true that there is no place to be found even if one has worn iron shoes, and it takes no effort to get it.
This green-robed official is Lu Huiqing, who was in Ouyang Xiu's house before. He came to visit Cai Xiang today. When Cai Xiang learned about Quanzhou, Lu Huiqing was captured by Cai Xiang and then released.
He didn’t expect to meet Zhang Yue, whom Ouyang Xiu admired very much, and he was ready to marry him.
He observed Zhang Yue for a while, so he had the following conversation. Of course, it was true that Zhenzhou encountered sea flooding, but it was not that serious. He also visited the orphan boy, but what he said was also true and false.
.
Relieving the victims was not his job, but he only heard about it through hearsay.
But Lu Huiqing took this as a starting point and immediately discussed with Zhang Yue the local people's situation in Zhenzhou.
Lu Huiqing was very eloquent and knew very well what scholars like Zhang Yue who had no official experience liked to hear. He immediately picked up some governance matters and added a lot of his own opinions.
Zhang Yue heard Lu Huiqing's words and couldn't help but admire this man. This man's knowledge as an official and his experience in government affairs completely surpassed his own novice, and he spoke clearly and eloquently.
If you really want to be a traitor as mentioned in history books, incompetent officials are really not qualified.
If he meets someone who brazenly says that a good official is not good enough to be a treacherous minister, Zhang Yue will definitely take Lu Huiqing as an example and ask, "Would you rather be a good official?"
Do you feel like it’s easy to be a traitor?
You can’t marry a goddess. Just like you can marry a rich woman you find, wake up.
Since Cai Xiang did not come, Zhang Yue and Lu Huiqing discussed the past and the present. Zhang Yue had no experience in being an official, but the extra thousand years of experience was still useful.
Just when Lu Huiqing and Zhang Yue were talking more and more speculatively, Cai Xiang returned home.
Cai Xiang met Lu Huiqing first, and after a while he called Zhang Yue in.
Zhang Yue also saw Cai Xiang for the first time.
Cai Xiang met Ouyang Xiu when he was appointed as an official in Beijing. At that time, Ouyang Xiu was surprised and asked why he was so old.
Cai Xiang was already old and ill at this time.
Also, Cai Xiang’s beard is also very conspicuous.
Cai Xiang was also famous for his beautiful beard. Song Renzong saw Cai Xiang's beard and asked, "With such a long beard, should you put it inside the quilt when you sleep at night? Or outside the quilt?"
Cai Xiang said that I usually don’t pay attention, so I will study it when I go home and sleep before replying to Your Majesty.
As a result, Cai Xiang kept thinking about this when he went back that night and didn't sleep well all night.
Now Cai Xiang is indeed old, and in the officialdom he is still at odds with Zhaowen Xiang Fubi.
Cai Xiang was awarded the title of Jinshi by Yan Shu, but Cai Xiang later impeached Yan Shu and deposed Fu Bi's father-in-law.
Fu Bi also hated Cai Xiang. Cai Xiang renovated Beiyuan Tea in Jianzhou and organized a "Little Dragon Group" to donate to the emperor. Fu Bi said that this was a concubine's way of currying favor with his master. He didn't expect that Cai Xiang, a man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, would
After doing this, instead of flattering me like this, you might as well copy an article from "The Traveling Mastiff" to the emperor.
But why did Fu Bi appoint Cai Xiang, who was at odds with him, as the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture?
This is definitely not what Fu Bi meant, but what Song Renzong meant.
Zhang Yue saluted and saw Cai Xiang, and sat aside uneasily.
Cai Xiang looked at Zhang Yue and said: "Duzhi, I have heard many people mention you and praise you this time in Beijing. I have seen you interpret the test paper, and the meaning of your writing has already been written by your teacher Mr. Boyi.
It looks like it’s divided.”
Zhang Yuexin said that Cai Xiang had read his paper and said, "My husband is very complimentary."
Cai Xiang said: "Your articles are impeccable. You deserve the third place in the interpretation test. I especially admire your article "The Strategy of the King's Merits". I have no other intention of asking you to come over today. I just want to take a look at today's heroes."
"
Zhang Yue suddenly realized that this was the case. He had really thought too much and had been tired and nervous for a long time.
After speaking, Cai Xiang smiled and said no more.
The boy on the side said: "Please respect me."
Zhang Yue and Lu Huiqing stood up at the same time to say goodbye to Cai Xiang.
I didn't expect that I had to wait in Cai's house for so long, but the process of Cai Xiang meeting him was just one sentence from beginning to end. Cai Xiang didn't even mention a single sentence about him and Zhang Wangzhi and Zhang Gongzhi.
lawsuit between.
Zhang Yue thought to himself that Cai Xiang might have had this intention, but after reading his own article, he realized that he had passed the exam based on his true talent and learning, so he gave up the plan.
Of course these are all his conjectures. It is impossible to know what Cai Xiang was thinking in his heart, but no matter what, he judged the heart of a gentleman with the heart of a villain.
It seems that the same saying goes, the right path is the straight path. Although it may be slower in the short term, it will benefit the most in the long term.
As for coveting immediate benefits, although you may gain temporary benefits, in the long run, it will easily lead to overturning.
Lu Huiqing and Zhang Yue were walking and chatting while the servants of the Cai Mansion lit lamps for them.
They passed by a courtyard and saw a big light on in the courtyard.
At this time, a servant came from the courtyard to greet Zhang Yue. The servant led by Lu Huiqing said: "Tonight is the first quarter of the moon. You can't see the way with a small lamp. Your husband asked me to change a big lamp for you to guide the guests."
.”
Zhang Yue thought to himself that this move was very considerate, and it showed that this person had a meticulous heart.
After the servant changed the lamp as instructed, Lu Huiqing asked casually: "Who lives in this courtyard?"
The servant said: "They are two of Xianggong's relatives. Now they are in Beijing to study here with Xianggong."
Lv Huiqing didn't pay attention when he heard this and didn't say anything else.
Zhang Yue thought to himself, could these two clan relatives be brothers Cai Bian and Cai Jing?
Good guy.
Including Lu Huiqing, whom I met today, I have dealt with many New Party figures.
