Although the Imperial College has open days every month, for example, when Chief Yue Shan of Zhaoming Academy and his party arrived in the capital, it was the opening day of the Imperial College and the recruitment of new members in Jiuzhang Hall, so there were many people watching, but this time the emperor issued an edict
, four famous mountain chiefs were invited to give lectures at Suixingtang together with Zhang Shou, the Guozi doctor who has been in the limelight in recent years, which attracted a lot of attention.
This kind of lecture is completely different from the previous Imperial College Open Day!
Therefore, from early in the morning on this day, the street where the Imperial College is located has begun to be crowded with people. Although it is not yet October, the candidates who come to Beijing to take the exam are far from ready - after all, many state capitals are on the Guibang
Not long after it was announced, the people who took the new exams were still on the way to Beijing even if they took the bus, and the only ones who could come were only the "past students" who had long been successful in the exams.
At this time, everyone gathered together in twos and threes, either based on their place of origin or friendship, but the topic of discussion was not just today's lecture. Because these days, one after another in the capital has happened, which is really too disturbing.
Too many! During the chat, someone just mentioned that the emperor planned to make Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing the Minister of War. This really went against the ancestral system, and the people next to him were sprayed with laughter.
"At the time of Grandpa Taizu, there were many cases where military officers were transferred to civil servants! Not to mention the Minister of the Ministry of War, a Confucian general beside Taizu also served as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, a dignified official! Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand what ancestral system is.
, making people laugh!”
The person who was outspoken and quick to criticize was none other than Fang Qing, who had the reputation of being a civil servant. He couldn't hold himself back today and came all the way to listen to this rare lecture. The man next to him, who was still a little awkward when walking, got seven or eight blows on his butt.
Remembering Jingtiao, Song Juren has not fully recovered yet.
The always mean-mouthed Song Juren couldn't help but want to retort when he heard people's nonsense. Unexpectedly, Fang Qing took the lead, but he was not to be outdone: "Don't talk about the ancestral system all the time. As long as you don't lead troops, you can do whatever you want."
The prince can also be in charge of the ministry. As long as he leads the troops, even the elders of the pavilion need to transfer to the military rank. This is all precedent. Go back and read the "Taizu Baojun" carefully! "
The scholar who raised this topic was caught off guard by the joint attack of Fang Qing and Song Juren. Although others around him wanted to fight back, the words "Taizu's Precepts" were too intimidating.
So, after a moment of silence among the people standing in this corner, someone suddenly changed the subject: "By the way, have you heard about the recent colored cotton scandal? It's ridiculous. There shouldn't be all cotton in the world.
Is it white? What kind of brown cotton? I think it’s not auspicious, but a sign of evil. It’s better to burn it!”
As soon as these words came out, two people just echoed them. Song Juren, who was not angry that Fang Qing had just beaten him, laughed, but Fang Qing, who was familiar with him, immediately heard the undisguised sarcasm of Song Hunzi.
"It's better to burn it. If you say it beforehand, you can barely say that you have different political opinions and you are angry. But if you say it afterwards, in this public place, you don't have to worry about this master of the people who doesn't know where he comes from."
Are you saying that you are with the Snitch? Besides, if you can pass five tests and kill six generals and pass the exam, then you have not even read the Ming Dynasty Law, right? Don't you know what the crime of arson is?"
The atmosphere that had only been warmed up a moment ago quickly cooled down again. Especially for the Juren who had just been preaching about being well-heated. Seeing that most of the looks from around him were strange and subtle, he almost felt regretful in his guts.
.
Especially since they have discovered that the guy who is making trouble for him right now is one of the two people who had previously argued plausibly that Zhao Guogong's appointment as Minister of War was against the ancestral system. The guy next to him who was the first to attack seemed to be eager to try and plan to follow him.
sentence, he was immediately ashamed and angry, but in the end he did not become angry and tit for tat, but simply walked away and went elsewhere.
I can’t afford to offend you, so I can afford to hide from the head office, right?
However, just when Song Juren was about to feel proud, Fang Qing on the side suddenly reached out and grabbed him, and then dragged him in another direction without any explanation. When he left the place where the people gathered at the beginning, people around him were talking loudly.
Only then did he let go of his hand and sneered in a low voice: "Don't just show off your rhetoric. What do you think will happen if someone recognizes you?"
"As long as people are yelling, this is that polite scum who doesn't care about his fame and fame, but actually studies the art of cooking. Do you think you can escape unscathed? How harsh you scolded people just now, you will be scolded a lot more after that.
ruthless!"
Song Juren's expression suddenly changed, and his first reaction was to look around to see if anyone heard Fang Qing's whisper. When he was sure that no one had noticed, he glared at Fang Qing and said: "You are crazy, exposing my shortcomings will do you some harm."
What good! Isn't it because you were quick to talk first, and then I committed this old habit?" From now on, he must not mix with crow's mouth, otherwise he will definitely talk bad!
Fang Qing and Song Juren glared at each other without fear, so although people around them once again talked about Cai Mian and Zhao Guogong Qian's resignation as Minister of War, and even "little things" such as the Cangzhou Escort Ship, they no longer bothered to make sarcastic remarks.
.
Just when the surroundings were noisy, a loud drum sound suddenly came. As the drum sound of the Guozijian Drum Tower gradually spread, the originally noisy place gradually became quiet. Although it was not completely silent, at least it was
I can already hear the loud voice clearly.
"Everyone, be silent! The mountain chiefs and Dr. Zhang are about to arrive. The space in front of Suixing Hall is limited. Please come and get your number plate according to your place of origin and take your seats according to the number plate!"
When they heard the word "take a seat", some people were secretly surprised. They thought that they had heard that various parts of the Imperial College had been renovated. Could it be that the Suixing Hall was now renovated and could accommodate so many people? But they should be squeezed in at the front.
People took out road signs or other identification documents, successfully passed the verification and got their number plates, but when they entered the venue, they were immediately disappointed.
When it comes to seating, it's just a lot of areas such as A, B, C, and D are drawn with white lines in front of Suixing Hall, so they are instructed to go and sit on the floor. The only thing that is slightly more humane is that those who go early can still grab those ones.
A straw futon can at least ensure that your butt will not get cold when you sit down to listen to a lecture.
With such treatment, when Song Ju and Fang Qing were ushered into the designated area to "sit down", they naturally frowned. However, a lone old man who occupied the futon and sat down earlier waved them over kindly.
While sitting down, he said with a smile: "Although the Gongyuan examination in the rural examination is a bit rough, during the palace examination, you still sit on the floor."
"So get used to it as soon as possible, so that when you go to the palace for the examination in the future, it will be too cold to hold the pen and write the article, which will be really painful."
Although Song Juren had a mean tongue, he also had a familiar temperament. He immediately stepped forward to sit down with a smile, and then greeted him warmly: "Senior is so experienced, has it been possible that he has participated in the palace examination?"
As soon as he said this, he was punched by Fang Qing on the head. After the punch, Fang Qing bowed his hands to the old Juren in embarrassment, and then said apologetically: "Senior, please forgive me, this friend of mine often talks nonsense. He
It was unintentional.”
After apologizing, Fang Qing cursed angrily in a low voice: "Song, you idiot, you can still participate in ten or eight times of the exam, but the palace exam never disqualifies anyone, who can do it?"
How many times have you participated in the imperial examination?"
Song Juren was just forgetful and said the wrong thing just now. Although he was annoyed when he was hit on the head, Fang Qing was not wrong after all. He could only hold his head and apologize to the old Juren with a dry smile. He and Fang Qing
Qing Ju is a young handsome man in his early twenties, while the old Ju Ren is already over fifty. Seeing that the two of them are sincerely apologizing, the sullen look he showed just now fades away.
"Looking at your age, you should be new candidates who have only participated in the examination once at most, or even missed it because of family matters?" Seeing Song Juren and Fang Qing nodding in unison, they both admitted that they missed the last examination,
The old Juren sighed and said, "I have limited qualifications. I was selected as a scholar at the age of twenty-four and as a scholar at the age of thirty-four. This examination lasted for more than ten years and five general examinations."
He stretched out his hand and shook it, with a look of regret on his face. And the old examiner who opened up his chatterbox began to lament the hardships of the imperial examination for more than ten years.
He kept talking, and Song Ju and Fang Qing couldn't help but regret sitting together with him. But at this time, they wanted to seal his mouth, but they couldn't do it. They could only endure it.
I don’t know how long it took, but a clear voice like Zhong Qing sounded. Not only Song Juren and the old Juren beside Fang Qing immediately stopped talking, but other people who were whispering also stopped one after another, and then a voice followed the wind.
came.
"Today, by the decree of the Holy One, the four mountain chiefs of Ming Academy, Yuzhang Academy, Taihu Academy, and Huating Academy, as well as Dr. Zhang of the Imperial Academy, are summoned to give lectures at Shuixing Hall. This hall was originally the Banshan Hall of the Imperial College. At the beginning of the year, it was exchanged with Suixing Hall.
It can accommodate thousands of teachers and students. The emperor’s heart is to encourage learning, and he also hopes that all students will understand the holy intention and study wholeheartedly!”
Originally it was supposed to be a grand event hosted by the Imperial Academy's Zhou Jijiu or Luo Siye, but today it was Xu Heijun, the Superintendent of the Shengzhen Hall, who came forward. The others didn't know what was going on, but Zhang Shou knew it well.
They wanted to let others become famous in their own territory. Even though Zhou Jijiu and Luo Siye really wanted someone to restrain Dr. Guozi, who was so young, this scene was heartbreaking, so the two academic officers simply decided
Just sit down and listen to the lecture!
Xu Heitun has never been a person who likes long speeches. After finishing his speech, he didn't care about the expressions of the four mountain chiefs because of the seating arrangement he just announced, and said directly: "On this occasion,
, let’s first ask Director Yue Shan of Zhaoming Academy to give a lecture!”
When Zhang Shou saw Xu Heijun giving up the central position, he smiled and waved to the black-faced eunuch, and waited for others to come and take an empty seat next to him. He did not sit with the three mountain chiefs from the beginning.
Instead, he was sitting with a group of his students and asked in a low voice: "Did Zhou Jijiu tell you the order of registration just now by Xu Jiancheng, or was it the decree?"
A trace of surprise appeared on Xu Heihei's face, and then he said calmly: "Of course, in the order in which they arrived in the capital."
Lu Sanlang, who was busy with everything else, dropped everything and came to listen to the lecture. Even if he didn't deal with Xu Heizi on weekdays, he couldn't help rolling his eyes at this time. It's okay for you to do such an offending job, but you still did it. You don't know how to be vague, but you actually give people random rankings? Do you know how many students from these four academies are in the court? Will you be resented when you look back?
No wonder he's just a supervisor...it's impossible to get promoted in his lifetime!
Zhang Shou was also speechless after hearing Xu Heitu's stupid way of arranging seats. However, he was too lazy to correct this iron-faced eunuch who would carry out the offending people to the end. Seeing Lu The third prince beside Sanlang was sitting absentmindedly, so he stood up and exchanged seats with Lu Sanlang, and then asked in a low voice: "Zheng Rong, are you still thinking about your brother?"
Zhang Shou is used to calling the third prince by his name, and now he is comfortable with it. The third prince also thinks that this is better, but he is not happy at the moment. Because although the fourth prince listened to the emperor's advice and studied on his own in the palace, he tried his best to give others Make up a lesson, but after all, his ability level is not enough. Although he has tried his best to explain in detail, there are some things that he understands, but it does not mean that others can understand them.
He only felt that the results were minimal, and he could clearly feel that the fourth prince had been in a low mood these past few days, so he couldn't help but ask: "Teacher, am I too stupid, so I can't speak well in front of my fourth brother? "
"No, it's because the fourth prince's arithmetic qualifications are actually inferior to yours." After Zhang Shou said this in a low voice, he saw the third prince's expression of surprise and disbelief, and he laughed and said , "Okay, you don't have to belittle yourself, just take your time. By the way, I can tell your fourth brother that the Imperial College is not suitable for him to come often, but other places are fine."
Seeing that the third prince was suddenly surprised and happy, he pointed to the stage and said: "Chief Yue Shan is about to give a lecture. Please listen carefully."
It was Chief Yue Shan's opening remarks, so Zhang Shoufang had just talked with the third prince. Now that he was officially speaking, he naturally listened carefully - even if he wasn't serious, he had to look serious. This was what he had done many times. The experience summed up after the meeting. Unfortunately these days it is not popular to hold a small notebook and take notes carefully when people are giving lectures.
The first half of Yue Shanchang's lecture focused on the emphasis on agriculture as the foundation of the country, and spoke highly of the importance of farming. There were even some rhythmic sentences that could be written as model sentences in policy papers. The second half focused on water conservancy and ditches. As well as the practical issues of farmland irrigation and selection of improved seeds. Such lectures have never been heard of by either the supervisors of the Imperial College or the scholars who gathered here.
Among the great Confucians who came to the Imperial College to give lectures in the past, which one was not pragmatic, and which one would talk about such down-to-earth things pragmatically? The most important thing is, how many people have cultivated the earth now?
However, while listening very seriously, Zhang Shou also quietly looked around from time to time and noticed that among the sleepy faces, there were exceptions. Because he saw a lot of them nodding their heads. He looked happy, but he didn't know if someone was really determined to govern the place and encourage agriculture to prosper, or if he was just showing his approval.
When President Yue Shan's lecture finally came to an end and he stepped down with applause, President Hong Shan, who looked as if someone owed him three hundred dollars, finally stepped onto the podium. He glanced around and his eyes lingered on Zhang Shou's face for a moment.
But he looked at the third prince on the side again, and then he coughed and started to speak: "Loyalty, filial piety and justice are the principles of human ethics. Seeing one's nature clearly and finally seeing one's true self..."
Although he only heard the beginning, Zhang Shou had already made up his mind - it was obvious that Mr. Hong Shan was a Neo-Confucian!