Prime Minister

Chapter 299 Is the chrysanthemum falling?
Although the meeting of the period gathering was a rough tea and light meal, the elegance of the Jinshi and the banquet did not decrease much.

From studying hard when I was young, to now that I have achieved fame and will soon embark on an official career, this kind of mood cannot be summed up in a few words.

Every time there is an episode, the wine bottles on the table are always full, and there are no empty seats.

Although Zhang Yue did not satisfy the majority of people in this period, but at least the Jinshi people will not have such a low EQ, so they can say something in person.

However, it is not possible to accommodate a hundred Jinshi in the courtyard when the collection is due.

Everyone also chatted separately, and Wang Zhichen, as a son of an official, had gathered five or six confidantes around him.

This day Wang Zhichen drank too much, he couldn't help mentioning that he had a fifty-period episode this time, and the others complained about it.

"This time, the Ji Ji Ji Ji is all simple food, and it's not as good as eating as a servant at home. If you know, I won the Jinshi Ji Ji Ji, but if you don't know, you will say that I was exiled. Uncle Xi, you are also the second best, why don't you fight with Zhang Du?" It's all up to him to fight around."

Wang Zhichen said: "He is the number one scholar in the current discipline, and we must listen to him in the periodical collection."

The person on the side said: "What do you know, Uncle Xi doesn't want to use his power to bully people from a poor family, and is said to be bullying the younger."

Another person interjected: "How can there be such a thing? When Hanshu comes from the first prize, he doesn't know the heights of the heavens and the earth, so we must give him some good looks. Didn't he post the money himself? Let's go and fiddle with other unpaid dues." Those who collect the fee don’t pay. They also told him that the dishes are too plain and the tea is too weak, so they should be rich. If we make such a fuss, he will definitely not be able to hang on.”

Wang Zhichen said with a sullen face: "What are you talking about? Let's fight before we release the brown. Don't forget that we have worshiped the yellow armor, and we need to support each other in the future. Zhang Duzhi is the number one scholar today, and we will be in the future. I want him to support you."

Several Jinshi looked a little unnatural when Wang Zhichen said this.

One person said: "It is said to be the number one scholar, but I am not convinced. I heard that the number one scholar must be Wang Junmin. Later, the officials read the ink scroll and saw his good handwriting, so they ordered him. Well, which one of the calligraphy students in the Imperial College has not practiced calligraphy for decades? Why don't they be selected as the number one scholar?"

In the palace examination, Zhang Yue's number one scholar paper was compared with Wang Kui's paper, and one was better in structure, the other in style of writing, so people who like two different styles of writing have to fight over who is the number one scholar.

However, Wang Kui has rumors of cheating, but Zhang Yue also has news that the officials chose the champion purely based on their faces.

Many Jinshi wanted to talk again, but seeing Wang Zhichen's expression was unkind, they stopped talking and found an excuse to go to the gazebo to drink.

At this time, no one left. Wang Zhichen saw that it was Liu Fengshi, the son of Liu Chang.

Liu Chang was originally number one in the imperial examination, but Wang Zhichen's cousin, Wang Yaochen, intentionally dropped his ranking by one place and changed him to second because he was his brother-in-law to avoid suspicion.

Wang Zhichen also had contacts with Liu Fengshi.Liu Fengshi said in a low voice: "Brother Xi, those people just now are not enough to plan."

"How to say?"

"Although Zhang Duzhi came from a poor family, he is talented. He is not only good at writing, but also has means. He is the number one scholar and will return to Beijing in two years. You can also return in four years. At that time, you were not only in the same year, We must work together in the same dynasty, and we must not turn against each other."

"As for the others? It's just a selection process. I don't know when I will be able to return to Beijing. Therefore, it's fine if these people don't listen to what they say."

Wang Zhichen nodded and said, "It's still Zhongfeng who can plan for me. In fact, I understand this truth. But you and I have known each other for many years, and I don't shy away from telling you a word, and I don't obey the rules."

Liu Fengxian said: "Uncle Xi, you are not a stingy person, why are you so?"

Wang Zhichen said: "You know that my cousin wanted to propose marriage to me at the beginning... now Huaidong is transferring envoy Wu Dacao, but... I wanted to be famous and then come to propose marriage, but I didn't know that it was Zhang Duzhi who came first. I hate me Can't swallow."

Liu Fengxian laughed and said: "It must be the woman who gave flowers to the No. [-] Scholar on Imperial Street that day."

Wang Zhichen's expression darkened when he heard this, and his heart ached.

Liu Fengxian said: "Uncle Xi, why don't you have 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 benefits both, and fighting hurts both."

"As far as the future of you and Zhang Duzhi is concerned, if you don't make enemies in disorder, the minister will come."

Wang Zhichen laughed loudly when he heard the words: "It is said that brothers are like brothers and women are like clothes. After all, it is Liu Xuande who can see clearly."

After speaking, Wang Zhichen raised his glass to drink with Liu Fengxian.

After listening to Liu Fengxian's words, Wang Zhichen's grudge against Zhang Yue was a little less in his heart, but it was not so easy to let go.But he didn't want to make his face too stiff, as it seemed that the two of them hadn't had a good conversation since the first day, so he 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 scholar-bureaucrats at that time.

This incident was triggered by a dispute between Wang Anshi and Ouyang Xiu.

It was Wang Anshi who first wrote a poem: "The wind and rain hit the garden at dusk, and the broken chrysanthemums are scattered all over the ground with gold."

It is the scene of the autumn rain hitting the chrysanthemums, and the petals are scattered all over the ground.

Ouyang Xiujian's play said: "Autumn flowers don't fall and spring flowers fall, so I will pay close attention to it for the poet."

It's about Wang Anshi, you have short-sightedness, you don't even know if the chrysanthemum is withered or not.We scholars can't just open our mouths when we write poetry.

Wang Anshi smiled when he heard it: "Ouyang Jiu did not learn from it. Don't you see "Songs of Chu" saying 'Evening dinner with autumn chrysanthemums and fallen flowers'?"

Wang Anshi retorted, "Ouyang Xiu, you didn't study hard. Qu Yuan once said that he ate fallen chrysanthemum flowers at night. Could it be that Qu Yuan was also a liar?"
Wang Anshi and Ouyang Xiu are closely related, and they argued in a teasing tone.

But Wang Anshi is well known as 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 issue of whether the chrysanthemum will fall or not, and now it has also been brought into the episode.

In the end, whoever said Wang Anshi and Ouyang Xiu was right.

Therefore, scholars can't help reading the poor scriptures, citing the scriptures to prove whether there are any fallen chrysanthemums.

At that moment, a scholar at the table said: "The prince is wrong, the prince is wrong. In the Songs of Chu, the fall of the autumn chrysanthemum means the first birth, and the English is Ye Jie, so the word Luoying is the first leaf."

"This statement is really ridiculous, ridiculous. In Tao Yuanming's "Peach Blossom Spring", there are hundreds of steps between the banks, no miscellaneous trees, fresh grass, and colorful fallen flowers. Can the colorful fallen flowers be explained by the colorful leaves?"

But one person laughed deliberately and said in Wang Anshi's tone, "Of course, this is a mistake Mr. Wuliu didn't learn."

Everyone is smiling.

Wang Zhichen was also relieved. Scholars like to argue about such matters, and they often argue endlessly by citing scriptures.

So he sat down beside him and watched the scholars on both sides gearing up for a protracted battle.

At this time, someone asked Zhang Yue, who was at the top of the head: "Does the champion think that the chrysanthemum has fallen?"

Hearing someone ask Zhang Yue such a question, everyone's thoughts moved.In fact, it is difficult for Zhang Yue to answer this question. In the palace examination, it is well known that Wang Anshi ignored everyone's opposition and insisted on pulling Zhang Yue down from the first prize, and Wang Kui won the first prize instead.

As for the relationship between Ouyang Xiu and Zhang Yue, needless to say, when they published a collection of poems, Zhang Yue would be included in it to make him famous.This kind of esteem is no less than supporting Su Shi and Su Zhe back then.

So when this question was asked, everyone guessed that Zhang Yue might help Ouyang Xiu refute Wang Anshi by citing scriptures.

But after seeing Zhang, he thought about it more and said: "I don't know."

Both are not guilty?

"Could it be that the number one scholar is modest?"

Zhang Yue shook his head and said, "Actually, if there are any fallen chrysanthemums, you should not ask me, nor Tao Yuanming, nor Qu Yuan, but you should ask the old farmer who planted chrysanthemums or you can know if you planted chrysanthemums yourself. Is it gone?"

As soon as Zhang Yue said this, there was an uproar in the audience.

One person was puzzled and said: "If you plant a pot of chrysanthemums yourself, wouldn't it be less interesting?"

Another person said: "Yes, is it okay to ask old farmers instead of sages?"

Zhang Yue said: "Perhaps there is something unclear about what I said. It's not bad to quote scriptures, it all comes down to metaphysics."

As soon as this remark came out, the Jinshi present were puzzled again.

"Sages don't know everything. We scholars also have many people who are poor but don't know farming."

One person said: "Then it's not unintentional for us to fight for the fallen flower of the chrysanthemum?"

Zhang Yue said with a smile: "You can't say that. Those who know farming know it themselves, just like the authors who write treatises on exogenous febrile disease and miscellaneous diseases, and commentaries on the Shui Jing. There must be people who learn this knowledge in the world. , this is called specialization in the art industry.”

"It's like chrysanthemums belong to plants. Find a person who knows about plants and trees for advice. If there is no such generalist, then asking someone who specializes in chrysanthemums to ask for advice, isn't it better than asking Tao Yuanming and Qu Yuan? If there is such a We invite him to write a book about chrysanthemums, and in the future, scholars all over the world will read his book if they want to ask whether chrysanthemums are falling or not."

After Zhang Yue finished speaking, all Jinshi were relieved.

As for Wang Zhichen, he admired it even more. He had heard about the chrysanthemum falling out of the flower, but he felt that the best answer belonged to Zhang Yue.

This person is a talented minister. Fortunately, he just listened to Liu Fengshi's words.

So Wang Zhichen picked up the wine cup, got up, walked to Zhang Yue's table and said with a smile: "Your words are very good, I respect you."

Zhang Yue was a little surprised to see Wang Zhichen raising his cup, so he stood up to toast.

After that, the two found a place to have an in-depth talk, which resolved a lot of misunderstandings.

Seeing that Wang Zhichen took the initiative to toast Zhang Yue, and had another in-depth discussion, the intention of reconciliation couldn't be more obvious. Before, everyone thought that the two of them had a grudge, but now it seems that Zhang Yue has convinced them by some method Wang Zhichen.Or maybe Wang Zhichen figured something out on his own.

During the same year, they all knew that there would be more cruel officialdom to deal with in the future, so the nearly one-month episode did not cause much disturbance.

Afterwards, the emperor set a date for the Wenxi Banquet, after which the Ministry of Officials would award the newly recruited non-commissioned officers, and then these same-year-olds would go their separate ways.

(End of this chapter)