Although the gathering was a simple affair, the elegance of the scholars and the banquet did not diminish much.
From studying hard at a young age to now having achieved fame and being about to embark on an official career, this feeling cannot be summed up in a few sentences.
Every time there is a gathering, the wine bottles on the table are always full and the seats are packed.
Although Zhang Yue did not satisfy most people with this period's gathering, at any rate, those who are selected as Jinshi will not have such low emotional intelligence to say anything to their face.
It is impossible to accommodate a hundred Jinshi in the courtyard during the expiration date.
Everyone also chatted separately. As a son of an official, Wang Zhichen had five or six confidants gathered around him.
Wang Zhichen drank too much that day, so he couldn't help but mention that he had been involved in the fifty-fifty episode. Others heard about it and complained about it.
"This period of gatherings is all about meager food, which is not as good as the food that servants at home eat on weekdays. Those who know that I won the Jinshi came to the period of gatherings, and those who don't know say that I was exiled. Uncle Xi, you are also the second best, why don't you talk to Zhang Du
Fighting and fighting, it’s up to him to do whatever he wants.”
Wang Zhichen said: "He is the number one scholar in this subject, and everyone will listen to him in all the exams."
The person on the side said: "What do you know? Uncle Xi doesn't want to take advantage of his power and bully others who come from a poor family. He is said to be bullying the small."
Another person said: "How can there be such a thing? When a person from a humble background wins the top prize, he will not know how high the sky is. He must give him some good-looking colors. Didn't he pay for it himself? Let's tinker with other things that have not yet been paid.
The person who collected the fees didn't pay. He also told him that the food was too plain and the tea was too bland, so he needed to get more. If we make a fuss like this, he will definitely not be able to stand it."
Wang Zhichen said solemnly: "What are you talking about? This is not over yet. Let's fight. Don't forget that we have worshiped Huang Jia. We need to support each other in the future. Zhang Duzhi is the current number one scholar. We will have an official career in the future.
I want him to support me."
Several Jinshi officials looked a little unnatural when Wang Zhichen said this.
One person said: "They said he was the number one scholar, but I'm not convinced. I heard that the number one scholar was originally Wang Junmin. Later, the officials looked at the ink scroll and saw his good calligraphy, so they selected him. Huh, he can write by hand.
Okay, which of the calligraphy students in the Imperial College has not been practicing calligraphy for decades? Why don't you select them as the number one scholar?"
In the palace examination, Zhang Yue's paper for the number one scholar was compared with Wang Kui's paper. One paper was better because of its structure and the other was better for its diction. Therefore, people who liked two different styles of writing naturally argued over who was the top scholar.
However, there are rumors of fraud in Wang Kui, and there is also news in Zhang Yue that the official selected the top candidate purely based on his appearance and character.
Many Jinshi wanted to say more, but seeing that Wang Zhichen looked unkind, they stopped talking and made excuses to go to the pavilion to drink.
At this time, no one left, and Wang Zhichen saw that it was Liu Fengshi, Liu Chang's son.
Liu Chang originally ranked first in the imperial examination, but Wang Zhichen's cousin Wang Yaochen deliberately lowered his ranking to second place in order to avoid suspicion because he was his brother-in-law.
Wang Zhichen also had contacts with Liu Fengshi. Liu Fengshi said in a low voice: "Uncle Xi, those people just now were not enough to help me."
"How to say?"
"Although Zhang Duzhi comes from a poor family, he is capable. Not only is he good at writing, but he also has methods. He returned to Beijing to take up a post in two years after becoming the number one scholar. You can also replace him in four years. At that time, you were not only in the same year, but also in the same year.
We still want to work together with the government, and we must not make enemies."
"As for the others? It's just a matter of selecting people to keep the election. We don't know when we can return to Beijing or whether we can return to Beijing. So it's okay not to listen to what these people say."
Wang Zhichen nodded after hearing this and said: "It is Zhong Feng who can plan for me. In fact, I also understand this truth. But you and I have known each other for many years, and I do not shy away from saying a word to you, and I do not accept Zhang Duzhi."
Liu Fengxian said: "Uncle Xi, you are not a stingy person. Why are you so?"
Wang Zhichen said: "You know my cousin wanted to propose marriage to me at the beginning... Now Huaidong transfer envoy Wu Dacao, but... I originally wanted to show up before coming to propose marriage, but Zhang Du got there first. I hate you for this.
Can’t swallow.”
Liu Fengxian laughed and said, "She must be the woman who presented flowers to the imperial court that day when the number one scholar came to the imperial court."
Wang Zhichen's face suddenly sank when he heard this, and his heart ached with pain.
Liu Fengxian said: "Uncle Xi, why should a man worry about not having a wife? With Uncle Xi's current status, are you afraid that you won't be able to find another beautiful woman? Uncle Xi must remember that cooperation will benefit both sides, and fighting will hurt both."
"Considering the future of you and Zhang Duzhi, if you don't make enemies randomly, the minister will be able to come."
Wang Zhichen laughed loudly when he heard this and said: "It is said that brothers are like brothers and women are like clothes. In the final analysis, Liu Xuande can see through it."
After speaking, Wang Zhichen raised his glass and had a drink with Liu Fengxian.
After listening to Liu Fengxian's words, Wang Zhichen felt a little less grudge against Zhang Yue in his heart, but it was not easy to let go. However, he did not want to be too stiff on the surface, as it seemed that the two had not had a good conversation since this time, so
Filled a glass of wine and came to Zhang Yue's courtyard.
But I saw more than twenty Jinshi, drinking and chatting with Zhang Yue.
What everyone was talking about was also a hot topic among the scholar-bureaucrats at that time.
This incident was triggered by a dispute between Wang Anshi and Ouyang Xiu.
Wang Anshi originally wrote a poem: "The wind and rain hit the garden at dusk, and the remaining chrysanthemums were falling and the ground was covered with gold."
It is said to be the scene of autumn rain hitting chrysanthemums and petals scattering all over the ground.
Ouyang Xiujian's play says: "Autumn flowers do not fall and spring flowers fall, in order to repay the poet for a closer look."
What I'm saying is that Wang Anshi is so short-sighted that you don't even know if the chrysanthemum has withered or fallen. We scholars can't write poems just by opening our mouths.
Wang Anshi smiled and said: "Ouyang Jiu is wrong for not learning. Don't you see that "The Songs of Chu" says, 'The autumn chrysanthemums fall in the evening meal'?"
Wang Anshi retorted, "Ouyang Xiu, you haven't studied hard. Qu Yuan once said that he ate the fallen chrysanthemums as food at night. Could it be that Qu Yuan was also a liar?"
Wang Anshi and Ouyang Xiu had a close relationship, and they argued in a joking tone.
But Wang Anshi is known to be a person who refuses to admit defeat, and he cited the example of Qu Yuan, which made the debate a little more explosive.
So the scholars in Beijing started a dispute over the question of whether the chrysanthemum should fall or not, and now it has also been brought to the Qiji.
Who is right, Wang Anshi or Ouyang Xiu?
Therefore, scholars can't help but read the classics and quote scriptures to prove whether the chrysanthemum is a fallen flower or not.
A scholar at the impromptu meeting said: "The prince is wrong, the prince is wrong. In the Chu Ci, the word "falling" of autumn chrysanthemum means "first-born", and "ying" means "leaf", so the word "falling" means the first-born leaf."
"This statement is really ridiculous, ridiculous. In Tao Yuanming's "Peach Blossom Spring", there are hundreds of steps along the bank. There are no miscellaneous trees in the middle. The grass is delicious and the fallen flowers are colorful. Can the colorful fallen flowers also be explained by the colorful leaves of the newly born?"
But I saw someone deliberately smiling and joking in Wang Anshi's tone: "Of course, this is a mistake that Mr. Wu Liu did not learn from."
Everyone was smiling.
Wang Zhichen was also relieved. Scholars like to argue on such matters, and they often quote scriptures and argue endlessly.
So he sat down and watched the scholars on both sides gearing up for a protracted dispute.
At this time, someone asked Zhang Yue, who was looking up to him: "Does the number one scholar think Ju is a fallen hero?"
Hearing someone ask Zhang Yue this question, everyone's thoughts were aroused. Zhang Yue was actually not easy to answer this question. It was well known in the palace examination that Wang Anshi ignored everyone's objections and was determined to pull Zhang Yue down from the top spot and change Wang Kui to the top spot.
As for the relationship between Ouyang Xiu and Zhang Yue, it goes without saying. When someone published a collection of poems, they included Zhang Yue to make him famous. Such importance was no less important than when he promoted Su Shi and Su Che.
So when asked this question, everyone guessed that Zhang Yue might help Ouyang Xiu refute Wang Anshi by citing scriptures.
But Zhang Yue thought about it and said, "I don't know."
Neither of them are guilty?
"Isn't the Number One Scholar modest?"
Zhang Yue shook his head and said: "Actually, you shouldn't ask me, Tao Yuanming, or Qu Yuan whether chrysanthemums have fallen flowers. Instead, you should ask an old farmer who grows chrysanthemums or plant pots of chrysanthemums yourself and you will know.
Is it done?”
As soon as Zhang Yue said this, there was an uproar in the audience.
One person wondered: "If I plant a pot of chrysanthemums by myself, wouldn't it be a lot less interesting?"
Another person said: "Yes, is it okay to ask the old farmer instead of the sage?"
Zhang Yue said: "Perhaps there is something unclear about what I said. It is not bad to quote scriptures, but in the end it falls into metaphysics."
As soon as this statement came out, the Jinshi present were puzzled again.
"Sages don't know everything. There are also many of us scholars who are poor at reading but don't know anything about farming."
One person said: "Then we are fighting for the beauty of this chrysanthemum, isn't it unintentional?"
Zhang Yue said with a smile: "You can't say that. Those who know about farming know it, just like the author who wrote the treatise on febrile diseases and miscellaneous diseases and the Annotation of Shui Jing. There must be people in the world who have learned this knowledge, and then use the knowledge to write down it."
, this is called specialization in one’s profession.”
"Just like chrysanthemums belong to grass and trees, it would be better to ask someone who is knowledgeable about grass and trees. If there is no such generalist, then asking someone who specializes in chrysanthemums to ask for advice, wouldn't it be better than asking Tao Yuanming or Qu Yuan? If so.
We asked him to write a book about chrysanthemums because he is such a talented person. From now on, all the scholars in the world should read his book if they want to ask whether chrysanthemums have lost their beauty."
After Zhang Yue finished speaking, all the Jinshi were relieved.
As for Wang Zhichen, he admired him even more. He had also heard about this dispute between chrysanthemums and fallen heroes, but he felt that the one who gave the best answer belonged to Zhang Yue.
This man is a talented minister. Fortunately, he just listened to Liu Fengshi's words.
So Wang Zhichen picked up the wine cup and stood up, walked to Zhang Yue's desk and said with a smile: "The number one scholar said very well, I respect you."
Zhang Yue was a little surprised to see Wang Zhichen raising his glass, so he also stood up and raised his glass.
Afterwards, the two found a place to have a deep talk, and they resolved a lot of misunderstandings.
Seeing Wang Zhichen take the initiative to toast Zhang Yue and have a deep conversation, the intention of reconciliation was very obvious. Before, everyone thought that the two had some grudges, but now it seems that Zhang Yue used some method to convince him.
Wang Zhichen. Or maybe Wang Zhichen figured something out on his own.
In the same year, everyone knew that there would be a more cruel officialdom to deal with in the future, so the last month's collection did not cause much disturbance.
Afterwards, the emperor set a date for the wedding banquet. After the wedding banquet, the officials would confer official positions on the newly promoted officers, and then these people of the same year would go their separate ways.
