Prime Minister

Chapter 422
The next day, Zhang Yue, Xiang Qi and several classmates visited Liu Zuo.

Xiang Qi was a Jinshi in Jiayou for four years, and the most prominent figure among his classmates was Liu Ji, the number one scholar at that time.

After Liu Jizhong became the number one scholar, he was granted the title of magistrate of Hezhong Prefecture. Because his grandmother was not acclimatized, he asked to be released from the magistrate and adopted.The imperial court asked him to change his post to Jiang Ning, and his official position was also changed to Zuo Lang.

Liu Ji and Zhang Yue occasionally exchanged letters.

Zhang Yue and Xiang Qi asked about Liu Ji's recent situation, and learned that Liu Ji didn't like being an official, and his grandmother died of illness in the seventh year of Jiayou.Both of Liu Ji's parents died since he was a child, and only his grandmother raised him, so he decided to resign from office and wear mourning.

At that time, many scholars admired his talent and fame and came from his disciples.During the mourning period, Liu Ji simply dressed in vegetarian food to teach students, and he had no intention of being in officialdom at all.

Zhang Yue thought of how he was a classmate with Liu Ji back then. He was a rare character, not only romantic, but also easy to make friends, but now he was living like an old monk, and couldn't help but sigh.

As soon as Liu Ji left, there was no capable person among the Taixue classmates during Jiayou's four years.

This time, in his early [-]s, he visited Liu Zuo, one to express his nostalgia, and the other to gather his classmates.

Zhang Yue and Xiang Qi arrived at Liu Zuo's house, but saw that the other party was completely desolate, Ruo Da's house was evacuated, and not even a single thing was left for them.

Liu Zuo covered his head and was lying on a straw mat, no one knew anything about him.His wife was feeding him some rice soup.Liu Zuo was unconscious and had trouble swallowing, but he saw the rice soup flowed out of his mouth slowly after being fed a few mouthfuls.

Seeing this scene, his wife couldn't help throwing the bowl on the ground, and his three children hugged their mother when they heard the sound, crying loudly.

On the side Liu Zuo's father had already fallen ill with anger, now he drinks some soup and medicine, and there are twenty or thirty servants in the family to serve him, but now he can't see any of them.

All the students couldn't see it, and all withdrew from the door.

Zhang Yue retreated out of the door with deep sadness in his heart, and Liu Zuo's end in this situation had something to do with him.When Zhang Yue walked out the door, he saw Xiang Qiliu was the last one looking at Liu Zuo who was unconscious and unconscious, with a complicated expression on his face.

His face was indifferent as if he had nothing to do with someone, but there was a bit of hatred in his eyes, and finally Xiang Qi covered Liu Zuo with a sheet.

Zhang Yue couldn't help thinking of the time when the three of them went to take a bath together when he first entered the Taixue, and everyone talked and laughed freely at that time.

After the door was pushed out, everyone discussed to pay Liu Zuo the debt.Xiang Qiyi gave [-] guan, Zhang Yue gave [-] guan, and the rest of the students together gave [-] guan.

Zhang Yue knew that Xiang Qi wanted to be in the limelight, so he didn't pay more, but just before leaving the house, he secretly stuffed a two-hundred-count certificate of deposit from Zhao's family in the city and gave it to Liu Zuo's wife and children, and told her that if anything happened to her in the future, Come to him in any difficulty.

After Zhang Yue left the door, he saw Xiang Qi being flattered by several other students.Today, he helped Liu Zuo out of danger and won a good reputation among his classmates for Xiang Qi.

Most of the people who came today were fellow Taixue students who had friendship with Liu Zuo and Xiang Qi. Zhang Yuelai was too late, so he didn't have much contact with them.

Some of these people became officials, some became Jinshi, and the oldest one was named Gete. As for the two who are not officials, they are also from wealthy families or have direct official positions.

It is heard that Xiang Qi invited more than a dozen other people, but none of them showed up.Either the current life is unsatisfactory or the friendship with Liu Zuo is mediocre.

The relationship between classmates in Taixue is very loose, if there are no authoritative figures, it is difficult to organize, and after the reunion of classmates, there is a faint feeling that Xiangqi is the first.

Zhang Yue clearly remembered that this position belonged to Liu Ji back then.

Zhang Yue also knew that Xiang Qi's visit was not purely to help Liu Zuo, but an official's motives were never pure, so don't speculate on others with motives if you can do this.

Afterwards, Xiang Qi suggested to everyone to find a place to have a drink after seeing each other for a long time. Everyone applauded and went to Zhuangyuan Building.

Xiang Qi asked for the most economical location, where you can see the scenery of the Bian River from a distance. The boatman on the Bian River boat is busy lowering the mast, lowering the sail, and being pulled forward by the tracker from left to right.

There are lively crowds on both sides of the river. In front of the collapsed houses along the river, hundreds of coolies are squatting and waiting for the ship to unload.

No matter how far away, there are many Wangzi wine feudal clans, and the dense houses are lined up to the base of the imperial city.

The prosperity of half of Bianjing can be seen at a glance.

As for Xiangqi's place, it's not bad, the pear wood screens of the same color ladies lined up, separating the inside and the outside, and as soon as they sat down, a waitress put on a hot handkerchief.

There were ten people present today. When arranging seats, Xiang Qi asked to push Zhang Yue to the seat.Zhang Yue said with a smile: "Today is just reminiscing with classmates, so don't talk about official etiquette. I am the youngest here and should be the last."

Everyone was a little humble.

Xiang Qi, who was second only to Zhang Yue in official position, took the chief position, and Zhang Yue pushed for the second seat.

Then Xiang Qi lined up another five or six young and beautiful prostitutes to take their seats, but all the women in the Zhuangyuan building were outstanding in appearance.These are official prostitutes, which are different from private prostitutes.

This is a place where scholars and officials talk about things, and they won't be so vulgar, just sit on your lap when they come up.

Therefore, the official courtesans in fancy dress put on airs and poured wine for the guests sitting on the left and right in a very reserved manner.

After pouring the wine, he said to the seven pairs of people: "This place is called Zhuangyuan Building. Scholars come here to drink to try their luck. But now we have a real champion here. Let's see if it fits the occasion."

Everyone smiled and praised Zhang Yue, and a prostitute beside him looked at Zhang Yue with surprise in his eyes.

A prostitute wanted to ask whether her surname was Zhang or Xu, but when she got to the point of speaking, seeing that the other party was so suave and so young, there was no doubt that it was Zhang Yue.

At the time when Yujie praised officials, the name of "Meizhanglang" was well known in the whole Bianjing.

It is said that class reunions are the best time to pretend to be aggressive. Zhang Yue usually looks like a big boss in Yuqian all day long.

Zhang Yue smiled, and nodded in response to everyone's gaze.

Sitting next to Zhang Yue was a beautiful woman with black hair on the sideburns and dressed in brightly colored clothes. She couldn't help letting go of her reserve, approached her a little, and then raised a cup with both hands to persuade Zhang Yue to drink.

Zhang Yue looked at the beautiful eyes of the other party, his tenderness was full of affection, and he thought, is this the rhythm that makes me kneel on the washboard, and I must hold on to it.

Xiang Qijian Zhang couldn't let go of his smile and said: "A man should be dissolute, let himself be sensual, and be happy in life. You might as well get drunk today!"

The woman on the side said in a tired voice: "You might as well drink this wine and talk about it."

Zhang Yue smiled slightly, persuading a prostitute to drink is also an elegant thing, Ouyang Xiu and Su Shi are both masters in this way.

Zhang Yue drank it all in one gulp, and everyone praised: "Massive!"

"It's really massive!"

"The number one scholar is huge!"

Seeing Zhang Yue drank it all in one gulp, and hearing everyone's cup of it, the prostitute said, "I'll take a cup with you too", and immediately drank it all in one gulp, but seeing that the other party's eyes were dizzy, some wine flowed down the glistening cheeks and neck, slide down to the chest.

The other party looked at Zhang Yue with a look of tenderness, and wanted to persuade Zhang Yue to drink again.

But seeing Zhang Yue smiled, and cast a glance at the other party calmly, the woman's hand stopped and her hair was cut, and she didn't dare to toast anymore.

Looking at the bottom of his eyes, Xiang Qi smiled and said, "Come on, everyone, eat the vegetables."

Then the focus of the banquet turned to Xiang Qi, and Zhang Yue listened to Xiang Qi's talk and behavior.

As long as the jade can emit brilliance after some polishing, Xiang Qi has indeed changed a lot in these years.

Three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.

Everyone chatted casually.

At this time, the classmate who was sitting next to Zhang Yue and now serving as the Taimiao Zhailang asked Zhang Yue in a low voice: "I heard that the bachelor is now in charge of the exchange office. It is said that the imperial court has started a business. This is the first time in history."

Zhang Yue said: "Hey, this is testing the waters. The princes in the court are still debating whether it will continue or not. Brothers, where are you going to be an official now?"

The other party said: "Duzhi is ashamed to say that it really makes people lose face. You also know that I have been an official until now, and I have never had to keep the election. You see, even if I keep the election, I still have to be an official in Beijing. When I get to the place, I still have to be an official." There is something right and wrong."

Zhang Yue picked up a chopstick with a smile and said: "That's right, it's not easy to choose someone now. Brothers, if you and I are classmates, if you need my help, just speak up!"

The other party was full of anxiety and said: "If Du Zhi is willing to help me with this job, it would be the best. It doesn't matter if you arrange a difficult or tiring job. As long as you have something to do, you can eat the emperor's food."

Zhang Yue has heard about this person, and he has a little ability. Besides, if he can become a Tai student, even if he is recruited by a yin official, he will not be far behind.

Zhang Yue thought of this, chewed a few mouthfuls of vegetables and said, "Come to the Interchange Office tomorrow, and I will arrange an errand for you."

The other party said happily, "Thank you so much."

Zhang Yue smiled, and the beautiful eyes of the prostitute at the side glistened, and all the classmates also said: "I want to congratulate you brothers, and I also want to thank you for your righteousness!"

On the other hand, Xiang Qi also praised it. Zhang Yue is a man who misses the past and helps his friends out of righteousness.

At this time, another person made a toast with Zhang Yue, and said to the side: "Duzhi, I also want to find a job. It's not me, but my third brother. He passed the exam last year, but the provincial exam is the third time." He failed the exam, and now I also want to ask you for an errand for him."

Zhang Yue heard that he could solve the test and pass the test, which is better than the children of Yin officials, such talents are what he wants.

Zhang Yue said: "Okay, do you have my famous card? You can go to my place to get it later, and let your third brother take the post to the Interchange Office in person."

The person was overjoyed and said: "That's great, thank you very much, I respect you!"

Zhang Yue smiled and drank.

It is true that it was difficult for officials in the Song Dynasty to find jobs, otherwise Fan Zhongyan would not have proposed reforms.

Why are there so many redundant officials?It's all the fault of too many shady officials. They don't work all day with their salary, but there is no way that there are only so many court posts.

Fan Zhongyan's dismissal of these unemployed officials is certainly for the sake of the country, but the question is can you do it?

There are still so many scholars every year, and the imperial examination is a single-plank bridge with thousands of troops, how many can pass the exam?Even if I give you a special title, half of my body will be buried in loess.

But here Zhang Yue dares to pat his chest, I will solve your work problems.

(End of this chapter)