Wang Kui has been studying hard in the monk's room for half a month to prepare for his major in July.
Wang Kui sat for a while and saw someone knocking on the door.
"What's the matter?" Wang Kui was a little unhappy.
"It's me." He Qi's voice came from outside the monk's room door.
Wang Kui thought for a while, put on a happy face, and went to open the door.
He Qi smiled lightly and said, "Brother Junmin didn't disturb your study, did he?"
Wang Kui waved his hand and said: "The more I read, the worse I get. Taking the major exam was not my previous plan, because it is not my strong point. Come in and talk!"
He Qi put a pot of plain wine on the table and said with a smile: "Brother Junmin, let's have a glass of wine first."
Wang Kui raised his glass and drank a glass of wine and said: "I pride myself on being good at poetry and prose, but that doesn't mean I can pass the major subject. Because the major subject is the Six Essays on the Secret Pavilion."
"This is not something that ordinary people can dabble in. It has to be a person who has learned a lot and memorized a lot of knowledge."
He Qidao: "I also heard that the threshold for the Sixth Examination of the Secret Pavilion is extremely high, otherwise the imperial court would not have taken less than thirty people in more than a hundred years."
Wang Kui said: "There are not many people I know who can reach this point. I can't do it myself either."
Wang Kui pointed to the books on the bookshelf.
He Qidao: "I do know someone."
"Who is it?"
"I'll take away your No. 1 prize, Zhang Duzhi."
Wang Kui's face turned red when he heard this, and he immediately said: "The Six Analects of the Secret Pavilion cover nine classics, including the Analects (The Analects of Confucius, the Classic of Xiao), and their annotations. There are also nineteen official histories from the Historical Records, Hanshu to the History of the New and Old Five Dynasties.
"The Art of War by Sun Tzu" and other seven books on martial arts, as well as the Mandarin Chinese and other philosophers (Laozi, Han Feizi). Have you read all of these books?"
He Qi said with a smile: "Brother Junmin doesn't understand Zhang Duzhi at all. Zhang Du's background is in various disciplines."
Wang Kui was shocked and said: "You said he was once a Jingsheng?"
He Qi nodded and said: "It's not just Jing students, it's also the most difficult Nine Classics subjects among Jing students."
"When he and I were studying together in Pucheng County, he was a master of eleven classics, and he was recommended to the Imperial Academy by the state school for his complete master's degree. He was only fourteen years old at that time."
"Comprehensively mastered the Eleven Classics at the age of fourteen?" Wang Kui said in shock, "There is such a person?"
He Qidao: "I can't believe it either, but the Confucian classics students are far inferior to the Jinshi students. Although I was amazed at that time, I didn't think much about it. If he didn't take the Jinshi exam, I'm afraid he would have passed the ninth class by now."
"You said that the person who takes the Zhike exam is to memorize extensive knowledge. He Zhang Duzhi is such a person. As for the Nine Classics and Classics and the annotations of various classics that are tested in the Zhike exam, he was already familiar with it by the time he was fourteen years old."
Wang Kui almost collapsed after hearing this. The Jinshi Department has always looked down on Confucian students, and despises people who only know how to memorize by rote. At the same time, the Jinshi Department does not force Jinshi to recite sutras. In the provincial and provincial examinations, as long as they can recite the Analects of Confucius, the Classic of Filial Piety, and the Spring and Autumn Annals, it is enough.
But the system of subjects is different. In addition to the classics and meanings, there are also official histories, the Seven Books of Wu Jing (martial arts books), not to mention Mandarin and Zhuzi.
Candidates must not only memorize these, but also know how to integrate them and turn them into written articles and write them in the form of policy discussions.
This again tests one’s writing skills.
Therefore, the scope of the professional examination is very large. It is impossible for ordinary people to read so many books in a lifetime, let alone read and apply them thoroughly.
For example, for the Three Classics, you only need to read the Spring and Autumn Annals. For the most difficult Nine Classics course, you only need to read the Eleven Classics. Compared with the scope of the examination for the Systematic Course, it pales into insignificance.
Jinshi subjects only test poems and essays.
The system of subjects is all-in-one, so it is not suitable for the imperial court to recruit scholars on a large scale. It is also not suitable for scholars from poor families. They can't afford books, let alone read these books.
This book is only suitable for readers who have no shortage of books at home, have extraordinary energy, and are truly well-read.
Therefore, the system can only be used to assess a small number of people and select specific talents.
But those who can pass the examination will be recognized as a minister.
Wang Kui said: "Brother He, why do you need to tell me this?"
Seeing Wang Kui's expression, He Qi smiled and said: "Zhang Duzhi is now in a state of disgrace and will not go to the medical school again, but if brother Junmin wants to beat him and turn around, he can only rely on the medical school."
"As long as Brother Junmin is admitted to the top grade, he is a first-rate talent."
Wang Kui understood what He Qi meant and immediately sat down and sighed: "I know you are doing your best for me, but look at the books on the bookshelf in the monk's room. I was exhausted after reading them for a few days. It was far from the standard when I was admitted to the Jinshi exam.
in this way."
Wang Kui knew that this was not his strength, but he had no choice but to go to Da Ke.
"Are they pushing you again outside the Butcher?"
Wang Kui sighed and said: "It's all my fault that I didn't get the top prize, so I was so tired that everyone except the butcher blamed me."
He Qidao: "How can this be true? I am not completely sure about the number one scholar. You are also a court official now, why should you be afraid of a businessman? If not, just take him to Kaifeng Mansion to see the official."
Wang Kui said: "How dare you bring them to court? I cheated and bribed my eunuchs to obtain the test questions, but the butcher was caught in the hands of me."
"Now many people in the capital have spread rumors about this matter. If it comes out, my life will be over, let alone being an official."
He Qidao: "Don't panic, brother Junmin, you are the grand-niece and grandson-in-law of the rich husband after all. Think on the bright side, maybe someone has covered this up for you."
Wang Kui sighed: "How can I feel at ease? I only know that this matter will ruin my reputation, so I have been hiding in the monk's room these days."
"Everyone thinks I'm preparing for a major, but I'm avoiding trouble."
He Qi brought a glass of wine to Wang Kui, and Wang Kui used the gesture of drinking to suppress his shock.
He Qidao: "Brother Junmin can divert other people's attention by going to Da Ke. As long as you are admitted to Da Ke, you can turn around. People outside who want to harm you will also have to reconsider their plans, so they will postpone any harm to you."
thing."
"The most important thing is to let the rich family take a high look at you. As long as the rich lady marries you, everything can be turned into safety. No one will take the risk of offending the rich husband."
Wang Kui said: "I know it too, but now I am hiding in the monk's room and can't leave, looking at the books piled up like a hill. This is a system that ordinary people can't take."
Wang Kui thought to himself, what's more important is that after he saw the prosperity of Bianjing and the beauty of women, he was no longer able to study in isolation for more than ten days like he did when he was young.
He has been sitting for several days now and is feeling unbearable. Although he is in Daxiangguo Temple, his heart is in the gentle countryside beside the Bianshui River.
Sometimes I thought about Guiying who was abandoned by me, and I didn't know where she was?
He Qidao: "Brother Junmin, you must not think about this now. If you don't turn around now, you will only be manipulated by people other than the butchers in the future. You will not be able to avenge Zhang Du for taking away your No. 1 pick."
Wang Kui finally nodded after hearing this.
He recalled the moment when he was excluded from everyone at the gathering place.
Zhang Yue actually deliberately prevented him from joining the regiment division. This was a great shame and humiliation. In the future, he will definitely take revenge tenfold.
"Well said, how can a man be willing to judge someone else's rules? If he hadn't used means to ruin my reputation, how could he have won the first prize?" Wang Kui raised his glass and drank it down.
Wang Kui understood that if he failed again this time, everything would be over.
Seeing Wang Kui's eyes light up again, He Qi knew that his trip was not in vain, and finally mustered up his fighting spirit.
He Qi's career was now ruined and he had no choice but to put all his hopes on Wang Kui.
While the two were discussing, Zhang Yue and his entourage embarked on the journey.
In April, the suburbs of Bianjing are enjoying a beautiful spring scene.
Zhang Yue sat in the carriage, leaning lazily on the pillow, with a thick brocade mattress underneath him.
The official road on the outskirts of Bianjing was relatively flat, so Zhang Yue could barely read a book while leaning on the brocade mattress, and even the occasional bumps were tolerable.
After reading for half an hour, Zhang Yue was finally a little dazzled by the bumps of the carriage. At this moment, he couldn't help but miss the days when he was in college and sat on the high-speed train reading.
Then he thought of his brother, sister-in-law, and nephew's eyes that were red from tears when they sent him out yesterday.
After all, it is better to stay at home for a thousand days, and it is difficult to go out for one day. Only two days after leaving Bianjing, Zhang Yue began to miss home.
Putting down the book, Zhang Yue opened the car curtain and took a look at the vast plains outside. There was no hilltop.
“The scenery is really different from that in Fujian.”
Zhang Yue looked at the farmers cultivating the ground, and it was like a pastoral scene.
"There is a pavilion beside Master Road where you can sit and take a rest."
Zhang Yue nodded, immediately got off the carriage and sat down in the road pavilion.
Immediately, the accompanying officers and soldiers made tea for Zhang Yue. Zhang Yue sat calmly by the pavilion, picked up the book given by the Seventeenth Mother and started reading.
"Sir, you are really diligent in studying. Even though you won the top prize, you still study so hard."
Zhang Gong said to Tang Jiu with a look of admiration.
Tang Jiu took a sip of the wine in the gourd and said, "Of course. He often told me that if he doesn't study for a day, he will feel disgusting in appearance and tasteless in words."
Zhang Gong said: "No wonder the master is so knowledgeable."
But Zhang Yue said in the pavilion: "What are you muttering about? How many miles have we traveled from Bianjing?"
"Replying to the master, we have walked almost sixty miles."
"It's only sixty miles," Zhang Yue shook his head and said, "You have to be tight, or you will miss the deadline."
"yes."
After saying this, several strong horses suddenly came from the west on the official road.
The officers and soldiers around Zhang Yue were on guard with knives.
But I saw several riders stopped by the side of the road, as if they were going to the pavilion to identify people.
"What are you looking at?" Zhang Gong pressed his knife and yelled angrily.
The other party raised his hand on the horse and asked: "But Zhang Zhuangyuan's chariot is here, and I am the Yuan Sui of Prime Minister Ouyang."
Zhang Yue said without raising his head: "It's someone from the Privy Council. Let him come over."
The other party said in surprise: "He is really the number one scholar."
After saying this, the man got off his horse and clasped his fists at Zhang Yue, who was sitting in the pavilion drinking tea and reading: "The prime minister asks the champion to return to Beijing immediately. He has important matters to explain. I will use this letter as proof."
Zhang Yue asked suspiciously: "My term is tight, what is the purpose of asking me to return to Beijing due to the sudden change of the prime minister?"
"The Prime Minister didn't give any explanation. He just asked the Number One Scholar to return to Beijing immediately after seeing the letter."
Zhang Yue read the letter and it was indeed Ouyang Xiu's handwriting. But he was on his way to Chuzhou to take up his post, and he was only halfway there. Ouyang Xiu wanted to go back to Beijing by himself, but refused to say what the reason was. If he was delayed on the way,
You will be blamed yourself.
But Zhang Yue said without hesitation: "Immediately leave for Beijing without any delay."
