Eight hundred and fortieth chapters scholar Han Yu
In the Wenbo Inn of Yonglefang, eight scholars gathered in the room and intensely discussed the backstage backgrounds of various officials under the Jin Palace. This was not a boring matter, it actually related to a major choice of their own.
There is a tradition in the Imperial Examination of the Tang Dynasty, that is, after a scholar comes to the capital, he must go through various connections to become a disciple of a certain high-ranking official, regard himself as his disciple, submit a certificate of nomination, and hope that the high-ranking official will support him in the future.
This kind of trend has penetrated into the bones of scholars. You can't ban it just because you want to. Those in power will usually turn a blind eye and let it go.
Even Pan Liao, who had always been upright and self-disciplined, was not exempt from vulgarity and tried every means to get close to Yan Zhenqing and regarded himself as Yan Zhenqing's disciple.
Submitting a certificate of nomination is not only for the imperial examination, but also for the future. There are officials all over the world in the Tang Dynasty. It is very naive to expect the officials to recommend you. There are very few opportunities. Why do the officials recommend you instead of
Recommend someone who has been greeted by senior officials?
No matter how outstanding your performance is at the local level, and no one in the government has a chance to get ahead, the officials can easily tell the superiors by simply saying, "As the people hope, I will continue to stay in office."
What's more, for children from poor families, there is a big mountain of famous families lying in front of them. Children from famous families have the internal operations of the family, so they don't have to worry about it. They can go up when the time comes. Children from poor families have to rely on themselves for everything.
Therefore, during the imperial examination in the capital, it became a must-do task for thousands of scholars to select famous ministers and high-ranking officials and submit their certificates of application.
High-ranking officials also like this kind of certificate of nomination. The new scholars are a blank piece of paper, which is conducive to their own training, becoming their own disciples, and being cultivated by themselves. In the future, their descendants will also be rewarded by the other party.
Scholars are also very particular about submitting their application form. They usually submit it before the imperial examination. Maybe it can help them speak for themselves when they are admitted.
Of course, this possibility is very slim. First, the officials do not know your true level. Secondly, the imperial examination is very strict. The examiners all mark the papers in a closed manner, so it is difficult to hand in the note. What if you are exposed? Almost no officials will do it for a person.
Scholars who have never met each other take such risks.
Some scholars plan to submit their certificates after passing the exam. This consideration is understandable for the scholars, but it may be a little lacking in sincerity, which will make the officials feel uncomfortable. Why did they come to me after they passed the exam?
, it is clear that he came to seek refuge because he wanted my help, rather than because he admired my character and knowledge, so his nature has changed a bit.
There is another more important reason. Once you pass the exam, you will be the disciple of the emperor. You will submit your name certificate after passing the exam. Which official dares to compete with the emperor for disciples? So generally, after you pass the exam, you will not submit your name certificate.
Voting certificates must be submitted before the exam. This is a common practice. Many officials will receive a large stack of voting certificates, but they will not look at them carefully. Generally, they have to wait until the results are released before they carefully look through their own voting certificates.
Are there any scholars who have passed the examination?
Those who did not pass the exam were burned on fire, and those who passed the exam were put away until the scholars came to thank their mentor for their support.
However, there are also many self-proclaimed scholars who disdain this kind of nomination. Xiao Zhenye is one of them. He sits in his room reading and has no interest in participating in such discussions. In fact, it is because he
He is a child of a famous family and does not need to submit this kind of certificate.
Suddenly, the door to his room was pushed open with a bang, and his friend Xie Changming rushed in, "Old Xiao, come with me to submit your certificate!"
Xiao Zhenye curled his lips and said: "You are a descendant of the Xie family in Jiangnan. The then King Cui Lu, Xie, actually fell to the point of handing in certificates to others?"
"Why are you talking about these nonsense? If my family can help me, why should I submit my certificate? Among the southern gentry, apart from your Xiao family, which one is doing well? The entire Tang Dynasty is a northern gentry.
OK."
"The Xiao family is no longer good. They don't even have a house in Chang'an."
"At least your family still had a prime minister during the Zhenguan period!"
"That was an old story many years ago."
Xie Changming waved his hand, "I won't argue with you about this. I know you have a noble temperament and look down on us little people who are trying to fawn over, but as a friend, can you come with me?"
"Then tell me, who do you want to vote for?"
"I want to vote for Zuo Sima Duyou!"
Xiao Zhenye curled his lips, "You really know how to choose, and you actually chose the head of the official department."
"I admire his knowledge."
"Hypocrisy! I just can't stand the fact that you guys, who talk the same thing and do the same thing behind your back, actually rely on you to govern the country. It's sad to think about it."
"Will your kid go or not?"
"Let's go! Just treat it like I'm going out to relax."
........
When the two of them arrived in front of Du You's mansion, they were both a little stunned. They saw a long queue of scholars in front of Du You's mansion, as many as two to three hundred people. A man who looked like a butler was sitting at the door of the mansion.
There was a table in front to collect the certificates of investment, and then each person was given a beautifully made wooden bookmark in return.
"Are these scholars who admire Du Sima's knowledge?" Xiao Zhenye said with a sarcastic smile,
"Stop talking sarcastically!"
Xie Changming walked towards the end of the line with the certificate of nomination, "Now that you've come, let's make peace with it. After handing in the certificate of nomination, let's go have a drink!"
At the end of the team was a scholar in his early twenties, with a Chinese character face, bright eyes, and he looked very upright.
When the scholar saw Xie Changming coming, he smiled and said, "Two brothers are also here to submit their certificates?"
Xie Changming felt quite self-effacing when he heard his words, and he immediately felt a little fond of him. He smiled and said, "I am, but he is not. I am also a disciple of Du Sima?"
The scholar nodded, "I met Du Sima once when I was a boy. I admired him very much and hoped to become his disciple."
"Then you have to pass the exam. If you don't pass the exam, you probably won't get the chance."
"I can only say that you try your best. This time, Mr. Li Xiangguo is the examiner. Did your brother take any guesswork?"
Although Xiao Zhenye despised submitting certificates, he was very interested in answering questions. He stepped forward and said, "Brother, do you think it is the examiner who sets the questions?"
"I have studied the imperial examination questions from last year and the year before that. I feel that the questions are closely related to the current situation. For example, last year's question was "Guanzhong to the World". It happened to be that the King of Jin launched the battle to regain Guanzhong. The year before that, he attacked Huihe and the imperial examination
The strategy is related to the frontier fortress, so I judge that the King of Jin should have come up with the topic and it should be closely related to the current situation."
Xie Changming and Xiao Zhenye immediately became interested. Xie Changming smiled and asked, "Excuse me, dear brother, what is your surname and where are you from?"
"My dear Han Yu, my ancestral home is Luoyang, but I came here from Xuanzhou. I participated in Xuanzhou's rural tribute last year and qualified."
"Brother Han used to be in Xuanzhou, so it's close. My name is Xie Changming, from Changzhou, and that is Xiao Zhenye, from Yuezhou. We are all Jiangnan scholars, so we should live close by."
Han Yu said: "I live in Yonglefang, where are my two brothers?"
Xie Changming laughed, "As expected, we live together. We also live in Wenbo Inn in Yonglefang. Where is Brother Han?"
Han Yu smiled bitterly and said, "My family is poor and I can only live in a temple. I am currently staying at Tianyin Temple. I copy Buddhist scriptures for the temple and I don't have to pay for room and board."
Xie Changming was very forthright and said with a smile: "Let's go have a drink together later. I'll treat you. Let's talk about the topic."
Han Yu hesitated for a moment and then said happily: "In this case, I will be disrespectful."
Although the queue to submit a petition is long, it moves quickly. The petition is actually a resume, including information about yourself and your ancestors, as well as your ambitions and views on the current situation in the world. It is usually folded in half and placed in an envelope.
, the place of birth and name are written on the envelope. For example, Xie Changming wrote Changzhou Xie Changming.
Not long after, Xie Changming and Han Yu submitted their petitions, and each received a bookmark with Du You's signature on it. Both of them cherished it and carefully put it away.
The three of them found a tavern nearby and sat down at a small table. Today it was Xie Changming's treat. He ordered two jugs of wine and five or six side dishes. Han Yu grabbed the jug and poured wine for them.
.
"Come! Let's drink to our introduction to Chang'an."
The three of them drank all the wine in their glasses. Xie Changming smiled and said, "Brother Han, have you ever visited Xi'anmen Street? It's really good. It is indeed the most prosperous place in the world."
Han Yu scratched his head and said, "I plan to go and have a look in the next two days. I have been copying Buddhist scriptures these days and I really don't have time."
Xiao Zhenye smiled and said: "We can go together. We have to go there one more time. We want to visit Weiyang Palace. I heard that ordinary people can also go in and visit."
Han Yu shook his head and said: "It seems that Weiyang Palace has been sealed. I heard from the abbot of the temple that Weiyang Palace is used as a place for examiners to review papers. Hundreds of reviewers have gone in. It is heavily guarded and no one is allowed to visit. It must be reopened after the imperial examination is over."
open."
Xie Changming and Xiao Zhenye looked at each other, with disappointment in their eyes. They knew they should have gone earlier.
Xie Changming waved his hand, "Forget it, let's go after the exam! Maybe we can get into Taixue and Guozixue."
Xiao Zhenye was always worried about the topic, so he asked: "Brother Han, what do you think today's topic will be?"
Han Yu thought for a moment and said slowly: "I think there are three possibilities!"
Xie Changming and Xiao Zhenye were refreshed and said in unison: "I would like to hear the details!"
"The first possibility is related to Taixue. In September last year, Taixue officially opened. It abandoned traditional scriptures and switched all to various professional courses. This caused great discussion in the world. I estimate that today's imperial examination will involve this aspect.
, the possibility is greater in terms of policy; the second possibility is business, which is developing rapidly this year and may involve transportation and merchants."
"What about the third type?" Xiao Zhenye asked.
Han Yu took a sip of wine and said with a smile: "The third possibility is Hebei. Last year, the Jin army captured Mingzhou and gained a foundation in Hebei. I estimate that Li Wujun will be operated on this year. So about the vassal towns in Hebei
Will there be questions in the imperial examination?"