Liao Zhai alchemist

Chapter 186 Entering Beijing
The capital of Daqian is a newly built city.With the palace as the center, eight roads radiate out and 48 workshops are opened up.

The original old capital city was blown up into the air by eighteen serial minefields, forming a huge pothole. Because the underground water veins were also blown through, this pothole has now formed a huge lake, called Jinghu Lake.Because it is in the north of the capital, it is also called Houhai.

Zhang Wei's boat stopped when it arrived at Tongzhou, which is under the capital. This is the end of the Grand Canal, and it is only [-] miles away from the capital. It is impossible for the Grand Canal to directly lead to the capital. This is for the sake of the defense of the capital.

As the northern gate of the capital, Tongzhou is also the end of the Grand Canal, so it is also extremely busy.There was an endless stream of boats coming and going, but fortunately they were flying the flag of Mr. Cao, and they were quickly ushered into a wharf by the people from the Water Transportation Department and parked there.

This capital city is different, the ships are all tight.If there is nothing to do, it may take three to five days to enter the port.

It was already mid-November at this time, and the north was already severely cold.Chen Zhirui was wearing a thick mink fur collar, a fox fur cape, and a winter hat, wrapping herself tightly.

She is a southern girl, and she can't adapt to the icy and snowy north.

Fortunately, Zhang Wei gave her a few small ginseng bone pills, so that she could withstand the severe cold and not fall ill.

As for Sisi and Miss Jinxiu, they disembarked as soon as they left Huai'an Mansion.

As soon as the few people got off the boat, a group of people came up and found the boat with Duke Cao's flag on it. When they came, they said very politely: "But Master Biao and Miss Biao? I am the steward of the Cao family's outer house."

Chen Run looked him up and down, and said with a smile, "I'm Chen Run, are you the person my aunt sent to pick us up?"

As soon as the man heard this, he immediately bowed and said, "Exactly, Madam is already waiting for you at home."

Chen Run said, "Then let's go!"

Afterwards, they carried all kinds of gifts and boarded the Cao family's carriage.

This carriage also hung a flag of 'Lingyun Gongfu'.

The interior of this four-wheeled heavy-duty carriage is very spacious, and can seat six or seven people. The fine gold silk snow charcoal will heat the interior of the carriage warmly.

There are also special maids serving in the carriage, and the carriage is led by two tall horses.

The so-called emperor drives six, the king drives five, the public drives four, the marquis drives three, the uncle drives two, the scholar drives one, and the common people are not allowed to drive horses.

This carriage is not something that anyone can sit in. In the past in Jinhua City, Chen Zhirui always used bullock carts when going out.

Cao Gong is a duke and is entitled to use a four-horse carriage, and as a member of his family, he can use it as a descendant.Generally speaking, his wife travels with three horses, his sons and daughters with two horses, and his family retainers with one horse.

The nobles of the three ranks of Duke, Marquis, and Bo can open their teeth to build a mansion and adopt retainers.This is the custom from ancient times to the present.But now, under the suppression of the imperial power, this kind of power is not great. There is a limit to the number of retainers to adopt, and there is also a limit to the number of private soldiers to raise.

After all, this world is a world with gods and monsters, so we can't simply look at it from the ancient times before Zhang Wei traveled.

Passing through the streets and alleys, the carriage stopped next to a mansion, which is Duke Cao's Lingyun Mansion.

When everyone enters through the small gate, the first thing they do is to visit the aunt of the Chen brothers and sisters.

When Zhang Wei paid his respects to Madam Cao, Madam Cao looked him up and down for a while, and said with a smile: "I heard that my husband told you about you, and I heard that you are still a good person for the country and the people."

Zhang Wei immediately said: "Duke Ling Yun should not be so impressed."

Mrs. Cao continued: "Okay, since you are Zhirui's friend, let's stay at home."

She didn't care much about Zhang Wei, and soon got up with the two siblings of the Chen family.She married Cao Bin in her early years. At that time, Cao Bin had just been admitted to Juren and continued her studies with the help of the Chen family.Later, he also served as the prefect of Jinhua Mansion.

Her daughter married far away, and her son was working outside, so the family was deserted.She is still very happy to have people from her hometown come this year.

In the evening, Cao Gong still received these people.He was not very interested in the two siblings of the Chen family, but had a conversation with Zhang Wei.

"Zhang Wei, tell me the truth, do you know Mr. Di Lidi, the left servant of the Ministry of Industry?"

"My lord, I have never met Lord Di Lidi, but when we were in Gaotang County, we did spend some time with his grandson Di Guang."

Zhang Wei didn't know why Cao Bin asked such a question, but he still answered honestly.

Cao Bin nodded and said, "You coincide with his political views. Di Li is keen on reform and is a reformer of the imperial court."

Zhang Wei was taken aback for a moment, he didn't understand what Cao Bin meant when he said this to him.

Cao Bin said lightly: "In the court, being a reformer is always criticized. However, Di Li has a strong personal ability, and he has won some people over."

Zhang Wei nodded, not knowing what to say.

Cao Bin glanced at him. Although he admired this brave young man, he didn't want such a person to fall into the court battle early.

He said lightly, "What are your plans for the future?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wei thought for a while and said, "I haven't made any specific considerations about this yet. Let's see what the imperial court needs me to do."

After the Jinshi examination, there are several ways out.One is to stay in the capital to 'watch politics'.It is to go to various ministries in the capital to be people with eyes, no mouth, and no hands.The so-called only eyes, without hands and mouth, means that you can only see, but cannot express opinions or do things.

After observing politics for one year, the ministers will give their opinions, and then the Ministry of Officials will consider where to assign them.

Observing politics is one way, and the second way is to go directly to the localities.

Go to a local magistrate and fight wits and courage with the local people, or fight your way out and become a feudal official, or else lose everyone and die in the county magistrate's position.

Generally speaking, no one would choose the latter path, because it is a hard one.You are a newly promoted Jinshi, with no experience in governing, and no local foundation. When you go to the local area, you have to experience difficulties from the old officials for many years, and you have to accept the ignorance of the local tyrants. discredit.

Plus the world's goblins, gods and other uncertain factors.Being a magistrate is hard.

Cao Gong listened to his words and said with a smile: "If I were you, I would choose to go to a local county magistrate. Although this road is difficult, it is a vast world with great achievements. It is very suitable for people like you."

Zhang Wei couldn't help but nodded when he heard this.He was indeed not very happy to be an official in the capital.

Cao Bin smiled, then sent him off and said, "Okay, there are still two months before Chunwei, so just stay well."

After this conversation, Cao Bin never talked to him again.

For the rest of the time, Zhang Wei was either studying in the mansion, or visiting mountains and rivers with the Chen brothers and sisters.

There is a flat river inside and outside the capital city. In the past, there were one or two small hills in the capital city, such as a hill called Meishan.But then the capital was blown up to the sky, and this mountain of coal was really 'no mountain'.

There is no mountain to climb in this capital, only to play in the water.But in the twelfth lunar month of winter, the water's edge is frozen, and there are many people skating and playing spinning tops.

Jinhua Mansion is located in the south, where the water survives the winter without stagnating. Naturally, I have never seen such a scene, and I am very happy.

In a blink of an eye, it is the Spring Festival.Zhang Wei spent the Spring Festival with others and got a red envelope from the Cao family.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Lei Huo Palace set off thunder fire, which attracted a large number of people to watch.Zhang Wei Zhanguang went with the Cao family, took a good seat, and took a look at the current emperor from a distance.

Today's Holy Majesty ascended the throne at the age of 17, and now it has been 20 years, and it is time for him to be strong and healthy.The emperor was not aggressive enough, but he was more than conservative.He has not made any major mistakes in the 20 years he has been on the throne.Be regarded as quite satisfactory emperor.

And the Leihuo Palace in Beijing is also the base camp of the group of Taoists who invented landmines.With the support of the imperial court, the Leihuo Palace is now in full bloom.Didn't the Thunder Light Academy in the sky say that most of them are disciples of Qingwei and Shen Xiao, and the remaining small part are disciples of Thunder Fire Palace.

After all, the Leihuo Palace has only been established for a hundred years, not enough disciples died, and the influence in the Leiguang Academy is not strong.However, according to the support of the imperial court, it will inevitably be the Taoist faction that will contend with the Qingwei and Shenxiao factions in the future.

The fireworks in this world are not made of black powder, but made by Taoists of the Landmine School.Metals such as copper and lead are used inside, and they have very gorgeous colors.

Lei Huo Palace's annual "Fireworks" event on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month has become a regular practice.People in the whole city can see the fireworks all over the sky no matter where they are in the capital.

This is also an oath to all the evil spirits, as long as there is a day for the mines, this world will not be a world where the evil spirits can be unbridled.

Thunder Fire Palace can be regarded as a scientific research institution, and next to it is the famous Shenji Camp.

This Shenji camp is an application organization, and all kinds of mines and disciples produced by Leihuo Palace will go to the Shenji camp for application.

Compared with Leihuo Palace, the Baiyun Temple of the Shenxiao School is much more low-key.

The Shenxiao Sect and the Qingwei Sect are from the same sect, but because they have been separated for too long, the connection between the two factions is not close.

When Zhang Wei first arrived in the capital, he also visited the Baiyun temple under the order of his master. He met an elder and talked for a while in a neutral manner.

After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, there will be more Juren coming to Beijing at once.Chunwei is on the eighth day of February, and registration ends on the first day of February.

On the eighth day of February, all the candidates from all over the country arrived, and there were more than 2000 people.

The admission of Jinshi is divided according to "Tao", and each "Tao" has different quotas for Jinshi according to the number of people, size and importance.

There are three test areas in Jiangnan Road, and Zhang Wei is the No. 1 test area in Jinhua, that is, Xie Yuan of Jinhua.There are two other people like him.There are three Jieyuan in the whole Jiangnan Road.

According to the unspoken rules, the three Jieyuan will definitely be admitted as Jinshi.In the entire Jiangnan Road, a total of 33 Jinshi were admitted.This is because Jiangnan Road is rich and has a large territory, so there are only 33 places.

Some outlying 'roads' such as Guangnan Road have only twelve places.This is not the least, the least Nankaido, only three places.However, there is only one examination area in Nankaido, and there is only one Jieyuan.Therefore, the other recruits from Nankaidao can only compete for the remaining two places.

The competition is super fierce.

Chunwei is different from Qiuwei in that it also takes three days to take the exam, but you can go home to eat and rest every day.Compared with a scholar, a master Juren is obviously more 'noble'.

The No.1 of Chunwei is called Huiyuan.No. 1 in the palace examination is called the number one scholar.Plus the No.1 Jieyuan of the rural examination.This is ternary.

If someone wins three yuan in a row, that is the most glorious "three yuan and first" for scholars!
However, it is impossible for Zhang Wei to win the third place.Because of his name, he has been blacklisted by some people.

If it wasn't for Zhang Wei who was Xie Yuan, he had to take it, maybe he wouldn't even be able to pass the Jinshi exam.

When the list was released, Zhang Wei ranked No.13 in Jiangnan Road.It's not high, and it's not low, but considering his identity as Jie Yuan, this ranking is a bit interesting.

Some people who have no sense of politics will sneer: "Is this Zhang Jieyuan of Jiangnan Road? It seems that he is also famous."

Compared with Jinhua Mansion, Zhang Wei's name is not well known here.

But they passed the exam, and the next level of the imperial examination will not eliminate people, so these people are sure Jinshi.

A month later, the palace examination was held as scheduled.

On the day of the palace examination, the Shinke Scholars entered the main hall according to the region, and began the examination under the watchful eyes of many elders, officials and the emperor.

Since everyone is very busy, the progress of the palace examination is very fast.Candidates have to finish writing the essay within two quarters of an hour, and then cross-check the papers by many officials.

Good articles will be handed over to the elders. After reading the recommended test papers, the elders will take out a dozen copies and hand them over to the emperor.

This champion will only be produced in these ten or so articles.

This may seem unfair, but for the sake of efficiency, it can only be done in this way.Otherwise, the emperor would not have read all the articles by himself.

In the palace examination, Zhang Wei's articles were belittled by some officials, but they were also recommended by some officials.Finally, it came to the old hands of Cao Ge.

He read the article calmly.Then put this article into the ten articles handed over to the emperor.

Soon, Emperor Tongjin, who was sitting on the high platform, began to mark the papers.

All of this is done in public.After reading it, he will use a red pen to criticize, and finally decide the champion, second place and Tanhua.And the authors of these ten or so articles are Jiabang Jinshi.

Those articles that were recommended to the elders of the pavilion were the Jinshi of the second list, and the last ones were all the Jinshi of the C list.

There is no difference in the future between the three rankings of A, B, and C, but the ranking will affect some things now.In history, there are many Jinshi on the third list who became prime ministers and elders.

In fact, looking through history, most of those Jinshi such as champions and Tanhuas are out of everyone, and few are famous.

Not long after, Emperor Tongjin found Zhang Wei's article.He first glanced at it casually, then let out a little snort, and then looked carefully.

In the end, he smiled and said, "I found an article whose thoughts are similar to Di Aiqing's. I don't know if it was recommended by Di Aiqing."

Di Li at the bottom smiled slightly and said, "I don't know which chapter Your Majesty is talking about."

Of course Emperor Tongjin would not tell him, he just laughed and passed.Then I made a circle on this article.

　Long time no vote...

　　Fewer and fewer people read books.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)