Prime Minister

Chapter 216 Relying on Yourself

After Zhang Yue knew about Cai Que, he went back to the house and wrote him a letter.

After he came to Taixue, Cai really helped him a lot, and he always remembered the love of this shrewd, capable and somewhat chivalrous Senior Brother Cai.

Zhang Yue wrote the first sentence of the letter, the water of the Canglang is clear and can wash my tassels, and the water of the Canglang is turbid and can wash my feet.

This word is mentioned in Mencius and Yufu.

If the water is clear, you can wash the tassels, and if the water is turbid, you can wash the feet.

The fishermen used this advice to wish for death, and Qu Yuan, who did not want the turbid water to pollute his innocent body, should go with the world instead of being too lofty.

However, Zhang Yue's earliest knowledge of the Canglangzhishui was not from Qu Yuan and Mencius, but from a novel about Canglangzhishui that he had read.

Many high-spirited scholars who abide by principles have repeatedly suffered setbacks in their official careers due to the accumulation of life. Some people will always insist on proving that their original persistence was right, but some people can't help the collapse of their principles and go to the other extreme. In line with the world.

The reason why some people are so bad that they have no bottom line comes from the original kind of people, and they act without any psychological burden.

Therefore, I am not afraid of bad people being bad, but I am afraid of good people suddenly becoming bad.

Zhang Yue wrote a long letter and asked Huang Haoyi to forward it to Cai Que, but he didn't know how much the other party could listen to.

After the letter was mailed, Zhang Yue and his classmates were busy writing papers.

This day, Zhang Yue and his classmates are going to be a good friend of Wang Anshi and Sima Guang.

Wang Anshi lived very close to Sima Guang, and they both lived on Mahang Street. It seems that the two really had an affair a long time ago.

When he arrived at Wang Anshi's home, Zhang Yue was recommended by Wang Anguo. He could have brought all his classmates to see Wang Anshi, but he was turned away.

After Zhang Yue asked, he found out that Wang Anshi was in a bad mood.

Wang Anshi is now serving as the judge of Duzhi. The imperial court wants to reform the horse administration. He and Ouyang Xiu, who used to be the shepherd of the group of sheep, have different opinions, and the two are quite unhappy.

The two had just clashed over the abolition of the tea-dispensing law. Wang Anshi, Fu Bi, Han Qi, and Zeng Gongliang had always supported this matter, but Ouyang Xiu expressed his opposition.

However, Ouyang Xiu also knew Wang Anshi's temper, and the two of them were still fighting for a gentleman, and there was no further conflict.

But Wang Anshi firmly stated that I am angry.

At that time, Lv Chongzhi, a member of the household department, compiled the list of the deputy envoys of the three divisions in the Song Dynasty, and engraved them on the wall of the deputy envoy of Duzhi.

Wang Anshi wrote an inscription in the Duzhi Deputy Envoy Office to clarify his political views.

A husband who joins the people of the world is the one who manages the wealth of the world, one who manages the world's wealth is the law, and one who keeps the world's laws is the official...

This opening sentence has already stated Wang Anshi's political views.

That is the power of finance, all of which are in the hands of the imperial court, conduct financial management according to certain laws, and then select officials who are good at financial management.

When Zhang Yue saw this, Wang Anshi's political views were already very clear. At this time, he happened to say a few words... It would be difficult for him not to be appreciated by Wang Anshi, so he hugged his thigh from then on.

But Zhang Yue has never met Wang Anshi, but Wang Anshi already knows Zhang Yue.You are from Ouyang Xiu.

That's right, An Shi knows you.

When Wang Anguo tactfully told Zhang Yue that he had been rejected, Zhang Yue also felt very depressed.

Wang Anshi and Ouyang Xiu had a few disputes about tea law and horse administration. Although this matter did not affect their friendship, it affected Wang Anshi's mood when he saw Zhang Yue.

Zhang Yue is also extremely disappointed, he has been in Bianjing for so long, but he still hasn't seen Wang Anshi.

Next, Zhang Yue went to visit Sima Guang's mansion again.

They didn't see Sima Guang either, but Sima Guang replied politely to a letter, saying that he was too ignorant to learn, and he was also involved in government affairs, so he was not good enough to teach the juniors. And tell them a few words about the method of reading.

Another day later, Zhang Yue and the others arrived at Zeng Gong's mansion.

It turned out that Zeng Gongshou joined the army as a judiciary in Taiping Prefecture after he was elected, but after only one year, he was recommended by Ouyang Xiu to the capital to serve as the collation of the pavilion and the school manager of Jixian.

Zeng Gong met Zhang Yue and the others.

Zeng Gong was polite to a few people, and even left a few people to eat at the house.

This made everyone feel very useful.

As for Zeng Gong, he was also secretly surprised to learn from Zhang Yue's words that he was busy traveling around these days.

The taste of the examination paper is uncomfortable, it depends on the face of the person, and you have to be rejected at every turn. It is also common to wait a day for no results.

Zeng Gong traveled around in the past, and he has a deep understanding of the hardships. This is a matter of bending down to ask for help.

He, Su Xun, Su Shi, and Su Zhe all had this experience.

But who has ever heard of Han Zhongyan and the others doing the scroll?
If Zhang Yue is really the son-in-law of the Wu family, why did he go out to do the paperwork again?

A few days before the test, someone with connections brought it to the chief examiner and the deputy examiner's house to sit down.

Zeng Gong looked at Zhang Yue and said in his heart, no matter whether this person is his sister-in-law or not, with such integrity and talent, he will not be in the pool in the future.

Zeng Gong suddenly said at the table: "I have seen something recently, people who can maintain their integrity when they are poor will rarely bully others when they are rich."

"But on the contrary, people who flatter and flatter when they are poor will often act as a deceit when they are rich. What do you think is the reason? Is this the way of the world?"

Everyone fell into deep thought after hearing this, Zhang Yue didn't speak, Huang Lu said: "Mr. Nanfeng, I don't think it means rich and poor."

"Why?"

"It is precisely because they can persist in integrity that they can grow from poverty to prosperity. It is precisely because they do not bully others that they can keep wealth forever. However, it is difficult for flatterers to become rich when they are poor. As for the rich and deceitful, it is easy to go from rich to poor .”

Zeng Gong was overjoyed when he heard the words: "These words are very insightful."

Zhang Yue and Huang Lu looked at each other and smiled.

Zeng Gong looked at Zhang Yue and asked, "What do you think of Duzhi?"

Zhang Yuedao: "Those who have achieved can persist in integrity because they always think of meritorious service in good times and adversity, and rely on themselves to find a place, so they achieve success from poverty. If they only insist on themselves without meritorious deeds, they may even stand still and do not seek to make progress. , it’s better to flatter and ask for help in everything.”

"That's why I believe in six words all my life, that is, 'Don't give up on yourself, rely on yourself'."

Zeng Gong nodded slowly.

After dinner, Zeng Gong sent Zhang Yue and the others out.

At the moment, the streets are full of traffic, which is the busiest time in Bianjing.

Looking at this bustling night scene, Zeng Gong said to Zhang Yue: "It was difficult to make up your mind when you were young, but you have to persevere if you make up your mind, but you don't have to wrong yourself. If you have difficulties in the future, you can come to me, and you don't have to feel indebted to me. kindness."

Zhang Yue asked in surprise, why did Zeng Gong treat him so well?
Zeng Gong raised his head and sighed: "I don't know why when I saw you, I thought of the days when I was alone in Bianjing. It's good to not give up on yourself and rely on yourself, but you must also know how to follow the power. You must know this journey. It's not always so smooth, when encountering difficulties, it is not shameful to ask for help."

Zhang Yue looked at Zeng Gong, and felt that there was a line to describe it, that is, he saw the fragility behind his stubbornness.

At this moment, Zhang Yue was also holding a breath and couldn't let go. He often had a thought in his heart and told himself repeatedly, why bother to work so hard, to find the second aunt, the Wu family's help is just a matter of effort.

Zhang Yue was moved and said: "Thank you, Mr. Nanfeng."

(End of this chapter)