Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 150 0145 [Examiner of Tribute Academy]

(Mistakes in previous chapters have been corrected.)
After the Lantern Festival, Zhu Ming stayed in the inn to read in the morning, and set up a stall in the afternoon and cooperated with Chen Yuan to give lectures.

Shengzhang, the prefect of Kaifeng, didn't come to make trouble anymore. This guy likes to play tricks and tricks, and he makes decisions before acting. He is collecting evidence of disobedience of "Tao Yongxue".

That is to send someone to listen to the lecture every day, carefully record the content, and pick the bones in the egg, and find an opportunity to arrest.

Cai Jing didn't even bother to pay attention to them, Ju Ming was just a small person.

Cai Xianggong's attention was focused on the battle of conquering Xixia, and the court was also revolving around this major event.

The eunuch Tong Guan has led the forbidden army to set off, and he is stationed in Lanzhou.

Liu Fa, the envoy of Xihe Road, led 15 troops out of Huangzhou; Liu Zhongwu, the envoy of Qinfeng Road, led [-] troops out of Huizhou.Their attack targets were Qingshui Hebei (in Ningxia) and Zhuoluo City (Yongdeng, Gansu).

The food shortage problem of the frontier army was also temporarily solved. The emperor didn't send hungry soldiers.

Throughout the spring offensive, the Song army went very smoothly.

Liu Fa, a famous general in the Northern Song Dynasty, was known as a "natural born general" at this time.His reputation in later generations is not obvious because his son participated in the mutiny, and the court deliberately concealed his achievements, which resulted in the "Song History" not giving him a biography.

This man was victorious in all foreign wars during the Zhezong Dynasty, beheading more than [-] people within two years.In the fourth year of Chongning in the Huizong Dynasty, he pursued hundreds of miles in the First World War and captured more than [-] Xixia troops.

This spring, Liu Fa led an army of 15 to attack and once again defeated Xixia in Gugulong (Ledu, Qinghai).

It's a pity that Liu Fa is too upright and doesn't know how to flatter.

For example, a few years ago, Emperor Huizong of Song Dynasty formulated Dashengle and sent officials to promulgate it to the world.Liu Fa, who was in charge of the frontline troops, did not greet the music awarding officer in person, and was actually dismissed from his post as Economic Envoy and Marquis of Sanya.

Now facing a big war, the imperial court had to reactivate it, because Liu Fa is the No.1 general in the Northwest!

This old man didn't have a good relationship with Tong Guan, and later fell into Tong Guan's hands.

Tong Guan labeled him a "deceitful emperor" and forced Liu Fa to go deep alone, but was flanked by the Xixia army.

Facing hunger and cold, tired and hungry, surrounded, and many horses dying of thirst, Liu Fa led his army to fight fiercely for half a day, and successfully broke through the encirclement by using the night.He was intercepted by the Xixia Army at Zhugu Gorge. Liu Falian and his horse fell off the cliff and broke his legs.The life and death of the main general is uncertain, and his subordinates are still fighting bloody battles, rushing out of the valley with the remnant soldiers.

And Liu Fa, who broke his legs, was discovered by the Xixia logistics force.

The famous general in the world died at the hands of a logistics soldier.

In this battle, the [-] troops led by Liu Fa were almost wiped out.The Xixia army took advantage of the victory to advance, and the Song army finally lost [-] troops!
Regardless of the future situation, anyway, in the spring of this year, news of the Song army's success was frequent, and the court's monarchs and ministers feasted and celebrated, and they had already given birth to the heart of destroying Xixia for three years.

……

Gongyuan, examination room.

The chief examiner of this year's provincial examination is Wang Fu, and the deputy examiners are Murong Yanfeng, Zhai Ruwen and Feng Xizai.

Wang Fu, one of the six thieves.

He relied on ingratiating Cai Jing to take the position, but under the guidance of Song Huizong, he had secretly united with Zheng Juzhong, and the relationship with Cai Jing was getting worse day by day.

Murong Yanfeng, Cai Jing's political opponent.

He was squeezed out by Cai Jing and demoted to Ruzhou magistrate.He was recalled by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Punishment all the way, and now he is a Hanlin Bachelor.

Zhai Ruwen, political opponent of Cai Jing and Liang Shicheng.

Liang Shicheng forcibly demolished the graves of the people and occupied the land to build gardens.Zhai Ruwen was impeached by Shangshu, but was excluded by Liang Shicheng and demoted to Xuanzhou magistrate.He was recalled to the court, demoted to Luzhou to be the magistrate, and then moved to Mizhou to be the magistrate.Because of the impeachment of Cai Jing's salt law for harming the people, Emperor Huizong of Song Dynasty called him back to Beijing as a Hanlin scholar.

Feng Xizai, a great Confucian, famous eunuch.

The relationship with Cai Jing is neither bad nor bad. He has cultivated party members for many years and has his own small circle.

Of the four examiners, one has already betrayed Cai Jing, two are Cai Jing's political enemies, and one is Cai Jing's potential rival.

Song Huizong's arrangement in this way is easy to make people associate, and the "anti-Cai" officials have already celebrated in secret.

You know, the last examiner was Cai Jing's loyal confidant Cai Xie!

The four of them were locked in the tribute courtyard waiting for the exam, and they didn't get along well because Murong Yanfeng and Zhai Ruwen were hard-working people.They didn't care whether Wang Fu fell out with Cai Jing or not, they only knew that Wang Fu was a treacherous minister and that Cai Jing was the same thing.

"Fu's qualifications are shallow. When he first became a scholar in the Hanlin Academy, he was ordered by the emperor to give a tribute." Wang Fu raised his glass and said, "The three ministers are mature and prudent. If I have any omissions, please give me your advice."

Feng Xizai said with a smile: "Your Excellency is the chief examiner, and I'm just a secondary examiner, how can we overwhelm the host?"

Wang Fu secretly scolded the old fox, and continued to say good things with a smile.He wanted to win over Murong Yanfeng and Zhai Ruwen to form an "anti-Cai alliance".

Feng Xizai, on the other hand, had the same thoughts.This person has been forming cliques, accumulating strength secretly, but also holding back, never confronting Cai Jing head-on.

Zhai Ruwen had no expression on his face, and poured himself a drink: "Selecting a scholar through the imperial examination is all about doing one's best for the government, so there is no need to say so much about Wang Xueshi."

Zhai Ruwen looked down on Wang Fu. When he made friends with Su Shi and Huang Tingjian, Wang Fu was still wearing crotch pants.He even dared to talk about Liang Shicheng and Cai Jing. He was just a mere Wang Fu.

"Eat wine." Murong Yanfeng said.

Zhai Ruwen raised his glass to greet him, and chatted with Murong Yanfeng, he didn't bother to look Wang Fu in the eye again.

They are all thousand-year-old foxes, what are you talking about "Liao Zhai"?
Murong Yanfeng and Zhai Ruwen knew why they were recalled to the court.As long as they don't offend the emperor, the harder they spray Cai Jing, the happier Song Huizong will be.Once they took refuge in any force, Song Huizong would be afraid instead.

Although the four examiners dislike each other, they still have to work together.

They have to work out the questions together and explain the questions so that the officials under them can correct the test papers.

It is also necessary to review the qualifications of candidates, arrange and announce the seats of candidates.

Finally, they also lead the marking.

The four of them have to review the thousands of examinees' certificates, and start working before the Lantern Festival.

"From Danyang, also surnamed Zhai. Brother Gong Xun, this is your junior." Murong Yanfeng picked up a letter of explanation and said.

Zhai Ruwen went over to have a look, and said with a smile: "The nephew and grandchildren are still young, and it's the first time they have explained it. It's good to see the world if you don't ask him to be named on the gold list."

Murong Yanfeng said: "Brother Gong Xun's family has a long history, and his nephews and grandchildren will definitely be able to go to high school."

"That's not necessarily true." Zhai Ruwen said with a smile.

While chatting, the two reviewed and signed the certificate of discharge, and arranged seats for the candidates who should be issued a certificate of discharge.

Although Murong Yanfeng is an upright person, there are still some small favoritism.For example, arrange a good position for Zhai Ruwen's grandnephew.Not next to the toilet, and not afraid of the wind and the sun.

Zhai Ruwen suddenly said: "Hey, this Zhu Ming and Zhu Chenggong seem to be the one whose poetry name moved the capital."

"It's more than just poetry," Murong Yanfeng said, "Two days before I entered the Gongyuan, I heard that Chen Zhimo was giving lectures by the Cai River, and Zhu Ming was that Chen Zhimo's disciple."

Zhai Ruwen asked, "Who is Chen Zhimo?"

Murong Yanfeng said: "Chen Yuan, Chen Guan's nephew, Yang Shi's apprentice."

"You're considered one of my generation." Zhai Ruwen shook his head and smiled wryly.

Zhai Ruwen became famous when he was young, and he was also a teacher and friend with Su Shi and Huang Tingjian. He is a very obvious figure in the Shu Party.

Today, regardless of the Shu party and the Luo party, they all belong to brothers and sisters, and even the Shu school and the Luo school are officially banned.

Not only did Zhai Ruwen give Zhu Ming a good seat, but the nine Yangzhou scholars who had bonded with Zhu Ming also broke up the seats that had been better arranged.

Zhai Ruwen asked: "Then Chen Zhimo, do you dare to promote Luo Xue in Tokyo?"

Murong Yanfeng smiled and said: "I asked my disciples to listen to it for a day. He claimed to develop new learning, but in fact he was not a school of any kind. Instead, he learned from others' strengths and put forward three theories of our principles, formulas, and Taoism. For the Tao."

Zhai Ruwen was surprised and said: "The people's daily use is the way, which is quite like my Shu study!"

Murong Yanfeng jokingly said: "Don't put gold on your face, it's not that I haven't read Su Zi's articles."

"Tell me, what are the novelties of the three theories?" Zhai Ruwen said while signing the trial.

Therefore, Murong Yanfeng began to preach the theory of Yongpai. He was locked up in the Gongyuan early on, and his disciples were only allowed to listen to it for a day.He knew the general theory, but he couldn't explain many details.

Zhai Ruwen put down his brush and thought, "Perhaps, we can support them in giving lectures."

Murong Yanfeng said: "I also think so."

The school to which the two belonged was officially banned.

They urgently need to support a school of thought, compete with the mainstream new learning, and correct the heresy in the new learning.

When the new school of thought becomes a climate, slowly add sand and add your own thoughts into it.

Until evening, Wang Fu came in suddenly: "You two scholars, we have urgent matters at home and need to go back."

Zhai Ruwen's face turned ugly instantly: "What's the urgent matter, more important than the imperial examination?"

Wang Fu said, "Young son is seriously ill."

Zhai Ruwen sneered: "Your Excellency is proficient in medical skills?"

Wang Fu said, "I know a thing or two."

Zhai Ruwen said: "Since you are not proficient in medicine, please stay in the Gongyuan!"

In the Ming and Qing dynasties, if the chief examiner dared to leave the Gongyuan, he would be 100% imprisoned after being reported.

It was allowed in the Song Dynasty, but other examiners must be informed, and leaving without permission is also a serious crime.

Cai Hei, the chief examiner of the previous session, left the Gongyuan halfway. Many people suspected that he leaked the exam questions, but they had to give up because they couldn't produce evidence.

Murong Yanfeng sneered and said: "If Your Excellency leaves the Gongyuan, I will go to Shushu to impeach and make this matter public to the world!"

Wang Fu was stunned for a moment, he didn't expect these two people to be so tough.

He was so angry that he walked away, full of resentment in his heart, and vowed to demote these two people from the court in the future.

Zhai Ruwen got up and went to the front and back gates of the Gongyuan. After inspecting the gate, he told the guards: "Cheer up, don't let anyone in or out. If anyone dares to approach the Gongyuan, arrest them immediately, and there will be no mistakes!"

"Yes!" The dispatcher responded quickly.

Gongyuan and the like have enough food reserves.

Someone sent meat and vegetable supplies, and they kept an eye on them the whole time, unless they could buy off most of the soldiers and handymen.

Ju Ming was very lucky to meet two responsible examiners.

(End of this chapter)