The Beacon of Kyushu

Noon, Qionglin Garden.

Qionglin Garden is located in the west of Dongjing City and north of Shuntian Gate, with the unfinished Jinming Pond in the distance. The path in the garden is paved with blue bricks, with ancient pines and cypresses planted on both sides, extending straight from the gate to the Qionglin Pavilion in the center.

At this moment, numerous delicacies had already been laid out in the pavilion, and Zhao Guangyi personally came out to congratulate the new Jinshi. The Qionglin Banquet was held every three years. Although everyone was equal at the banquet, the space in the Qionglin Pavilion was limited after all. The second and third Jinshi were still not allowed to enter the pavilion. Those who wanted to drink with the current emperor could only drink in the pomegranate garden and cherry garden on both sides of the Yadao. Only the first-class candidates could gather with Zhao Guangyi in the Qionglin Pavilion to celebrate the new happiness.

However, where the emperor was present, there were naturally many rules. Even if he repeatedly stated that everyone was equal, how many people could really forget about their status and dare to enjoy themselves with the emperor? Therefore, by comparison, the second and third place Jinshi were able to be more carefree. The first place Jinshi, faced with so many delicious and tempting dishes, could only taste a little bit. Almost no one dared to let go of their appetite and eat as much as they wanted in front of the emperor.

Zhao Guangyi was still wearing the red gauze robe he wore when he called out the names. He sat on the sandalwood chair in the main seat of the pavilion, looking at the first-class Jinshi standing in two rows on the left and right, with an admiring smile on his face. "Everyone, you are all outstanding in your undergraduate studies, and you are the future pillars of our Song Dynasty. It is my great blessing that you can gather in Tokyo from all over the country and are willing to assist me. Today is the feast of Qionglin, and you can speak freely. You can say whatever you want to say to me without any reservations."

All the Jinshi scholars stood up immediately, bowed deeply to Zhao Guangyi, and said in unison: "Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor! I am deeply grateful for your grace. I will serve you wholeheartedly until my death!"

Zhao Guangyi nodded slightly and said, "Okay, okay, please take a seat, everyone. After three rounds of wine and five dishes, I will appreciate your demeanor one by one." As he spoke, the palace people outside the pavilion played classical music. The sound was elegant, dignified, grand and majestic, with a royal majesty.

The candidates followed the instructions and sat down again, listening to the beautiful music, facing the table full of delicious food, shyly picking up the chopsticks, and tremblingly enjoying the food. Their movements were light and slow, not daring to make the slightest sound, and they didn't look like men eating, but rather like ladies embroidering.

Zhao Guangyi was used to the shy demeanor of the candidates, and he poured wine and served food by himself. His behavior was much more casual than those Jinshi, and except for paying attention to the dignity that the royal family must pay attention to, he was no different from ordinary people.

After a while, Zhao Guangyi seemed to be full, holding the chopsticks for a long time without picking up any food. His eyes also shifted from the food on the table to the faces of the many Jinshi, "reading their faces" one by one. The Jinshi were very restrained just now, and now seeing Zhao Guangyi looking at them, they dared not act rashly.

Zhao Guangyi looked at everyone present for a long time. Then, he smiled and raised his wine glass, facing Lü Mengzheng who was sitting behind the first table on his left, and said, "Lü Zhuangyuan, I heard that you and your mother were driven out of the mansion by your father when you were young. For so many years, in order to support your mother, you either did some small business to make a living or went to nearby temples to pray for alms. Mencius said, 'Wealth and honor cannot corrupt, poverty and humbleness cannot move, and power and force cannot bend.' Under such a difficult environment, Lü Zhuangyuan can still devote himself to serving the country and always think about sharing my worries. It's really hard for you. However, it was also in this environment that Lü Zhuangyuan was able to write "Han Yao Fu" and enjoyed a high reputation among scholars before he passed the imperial examination!"

Lu Mengzheng hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind! Without your sympathy, my mother would have died of illness long ago, and Mengzheng would have regretted it for eternity. As for "Han Yao Fu", it was just something I wrote on impulse, it's really not worth mentioning."

Zhao Guangyi shook his head and said, "No, this poem contains the great principles of the world. I happened to read it a few months ago and liked it very much. I hope that Mr. Lu will take the trouble to recite it in front of me and my peers, so that you will know that your title of No. 1 is well-deserved." "Since the emperor said so, I will obey your order." Lu Mengzheng smiled slightly and recited aloud, "There are unpredictable changes in the weather, and people are subject to misfortunes and blessings at any time. A centipede with a hundred feet cannot walk as fast as a snake; a rooster with two wings cannot fly as fast as a crow. A horse has a journey of a thousand miles, but it cannot go by itself without a rider; a person has lofty ambitions, but he cannot achieve them without luck. It is said that in this world, wealth and honor cannot corrupt, and poverty and humbleness cannot move. Articles cover In this era, Confucius was trapped in the State of Chen; Taigong fished in the Wei River because of his outstanding military strategy. Yan Yuan died young, but he was not a vicious person; Dao Zhi was old, but he was not a kind person. Emperor Yao was wise and virtuous, but he gave birth to an unfilial son; Gusou was stupid and stubborn, but he gave birth to a filial son. Zhang Liang was originally a commoner, and Xiao He was a county official. Yan Zi was less than five feet tall, but he was appointed as the prime minister of Qi; Kong Ming lived in a thatched cottage, but he was able to be the military advisor of Shu Han. Although the King of Chu was powerful, he was defeated in the Wujiang River and committed suicide; although the King of Han was weak, he had a vast territory. Li Guang had the power to shoot tigers, but he was never given a title until he was old; Feng Tang had the talent to ride a dragon, but he never had the chance in his life. Before Han Xin met the emperor, he had no food to eat. When he met the emperor, he had a three-foot jade seal hanging around his waist. When his time was down, he died in a sinister way. . Some are poor first and then rich, and some are old and strong but not weak. A person with a full belly of literature may fail to pass the imperial examination even though he has white hair; a person with little talent and knowledge may pass the imperial examination at a young age. A maid in a deep courtyard may become a prostitute or concubine when her luck runs out; a charming prostitute may become a wife when her luck comes. A young beauty may marry a foolish man; a handsome man may marry an ugly woman. A dragon may not meet its match, but it will swim among fish and turtles; a gentleman may lose his time and bow to a villain. Although his clothes are torn, he should always maintain a polite demeanor; although his face is sad, he should always be at peace. When you are in trouble, you should just be content with your poverty and do your duty; if you do not deceive yourself, you will surely be proud. A gentleman who is poor at first has natural bones; a villain who becomes rich suddenly cannot get rid of his poor body. If the sky is not right, the sun and the moon will not be able to get rid of their poverty. Light; if the land is not in season, the grass and trees will not grow; if the water is not in season, the wind and waves will not be calm; if people are not in season, good fortune and luck will not flow. Fortune and luck are already arranged by fate, who does not want wealth and honor? If a person does not follow the foundation and eight characters, how can he become a minister? I used to live in Luoyang, begging for food from monks in the morning and sleeping in a broken cellar at night. I could not cover my body with clothes and could not satisfy my hunger with food. My superiors hated me and my subordinates despised me. People said I was humble, but it was not because I gave up. Now I am in the court, fortunately I have the top position, I drink clear wine in front of the king, and meet heroes in the forbidden garden. It is not my ability, it is the time, the luck, and the fate. Alas! In life, wealth and honor cannot be used up, poverty and humbleness cannot be deceived, just let the cycle of heaven and earth repeat itself. "

Zhao Guangyi looked at Lü Mengzheng with admiration in his eyes. The other Jinshi present also nodded repeatedly, praising Lü Mengzheng's temporary adjustment of "Han Yao Fu". Some people who were not convinced by Lü Mengzheng's winning the first place just now were now convinced.

Seeing that everyone liked his article so much, Lu Mengzheng was naturally happy in his heart, but he still said humbly: "Everyone, I am not very talented and learned. Whether it is writing poems or dealing with people, I am far inferior to you. I hope you will not laugh at me and give me more guidance in the future."

Zhao Guangyi nodded in satisfaction, and looked at Li Hang who was ranked second. "Li Bangyan, I heard that you are generous and magnanimous, just like Qi Huangyang and Zhou Gongjin in the past! What's more, you are not only a good person, but also a better poet. I wonder if you can compose a poem in public for me and other Jinshi to appreciate?"

Li Hang pondered for a moment, then said: "Many people in the imperial court are in a row, and Yan Le's brilliance is the best in ancient and modern times. The imperial pen soars and writes on the jade office, and the imperial seal shines on the forest of poems. It will be passed down for thousands of years after being hung in the empty hall, and the jade engraving is worth ten thousand gold. Reviving civilization and knowing how to write, respecting Confucianism shows the will of heaven."

Zhao Guangyi listened to his impromptu poem, which was so beautiful and melodious that he could not help but praise him: "Li Bangyan, you are indeed talented and creative. I didn't make a mistake in choosing you! I hope that when you enter the officialdom in the future, you will not forget your original intention and achieve 'revitalize civilization and know how to write, respect Confucianism and see the will of heaven'."

Li Hang cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I will do my best for the Song Dynasty in the future to repay your kindness!"

Zhao Guangyi smiled with satisfaction, and then looked at Wang Dan who was in third place, "As the saying goes, 'a good father will have a good son'. Your respected Wang Hu is both virtuous and talented, but unexpectedly his son is even better than his father. Ziming, Shenggong and Taichu have both composed poems, why don't you also compose one to help with the drinking."

Wang Dan thought for a while before saying, "I am happy to decorate the forbidden forest with the banquet of the real immortals, and the new things in the Jade Hall are good for chanting. The stone carving of the heavenly chapters inspires elegance, and the imperial calligraphy shines through the ages. The momentum takes back the traces of dragons and phoenixes, and the high pitch flows into the sound of orchestras. The light condenses into jade cups and the nectar is moist, and the cold cloth bricks are shaded by medicinal trees. The land is precious every morning, and the golden palace is close, and the scenery is as clear as reaching the depths of a jade pot. I am able to accompany the grand gathering and watch the grand scene, and follow the holy heart of singing and music."

Zhao Guangyi thought his poem was pretty good, but not as good as the previous two. He just nodded and looked at Zhang Yong, who was ranked fourth. He had not paid much attention to Zhang Yong before, but when he looked at him again, he couldn't help but frown. (End of this chapter)