Optimus One Pillar of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 81 The Conscience of Heaven and Earth
After leaving Gao Gong's house, because Gao Gong and Gao Yi were not familiar with Wang Daoqiu's other two room masters, they took Wang Daoqiu to visit the other two room masters of Wang Daoqiu. This was against the rules.So Gao Gong asked his servant to hitch a carriage, told him the address, and asked the servant to take Wang Daoqiu to visit Wang Daoqiu's other two room masters, as well as the chief and deputy examiners of this session.

Wang Daoqiu's other two room masters were unknown people in history. However, in the current Ming Dynasty court, their official reputations were pretty good, so they were selected as co-examiners for this examination.

At the two room masters, Wang Dao Qiu Yili completed the procedures, and then went to pay a visit to his chief and deputy examiners.According to the rules passed down from the official circles of the Ming Dynasty, if you pay a visit to your chief examiner or deputy examiner, you will be handed a "disciple assassin".

In an exam, the examiner was ordered to invigilate the exam, and the candidates relied on their ability to cross the single-plank bridge with thousands of troops.It is the candidate's own ability to pass the exam, and the examiner will judge the exam based on the facts, which is what it should be. It doesn't matter who gives favors and who receives favors.

In the early days of the Ming Dynasty, there was still a normal relationship between the chief and deputy examiners of the general examination and the candidates who passed the examination.But then I don't know which expert saw the political interests in it, so he started to mobilize his wisdom and carry out the operation.From then on, generations of smart people will continue to perfect this show operation.Then a so-called unhealthy trend of forming small groups between teachers and disciples naturally formed.

Anyway, the rule of Ming Dynasty's examination is that, as the examiner, if I select you, then you owe me a favor. From now on, you will be my disciple and you must serve me.As for the disciple, since you are my master, then if your master joins in, you should bring me as a disciple to make progress together.To put it bluntly, this so-called unspoken rule of master and disciple means that everyone automatically forms a small political gang and works together in the officialdom!

This kind of unspoken rule was severely criticized by later generations, who believed that it was one of the important factors that contributed to the intensification of party strife and political corruption in the Ming Dynasty.

But Wang Daoqiu has a different view on this. After all, where there are people, there are rivers and lakes, and where there are rivers and lakes, there are gangs, and there are small hills within the gangs.This is a natural phenomenon driven by interests. It doesn't matter whether you have unspoken rules such as tutors and disciples.

If you don’t believe me, just look through history and see which dynasties and generations he didn’t have partisanship in?Even if the imperial examination was later cancelled, did the party strife in the court ever subside?To put it bluntly, the operating model of the imperial court is actually the same as that of the underworld.The eldest brother needs his younger brothers to act as assassins, to attack the other eldest brother's forces, to help him seize territory, and to help him manage the territory below him.The younger brothers need to use the power of their elder brother to climb up step by step and gain a position.

So those who play politics are actually a gang of gangsters, but they play more high-end and more "respectable" than their counterparts on the street.Therefore, it is a necessity to form cliques in the official circle. If you do not have the unspoken rules of being a master or a disciple, they will still join together for various other "reasons" and join forces to enter the world.

Understand that it is impossible not to form gangs in the officialdom.Therefore, Wang Daoqiu did not resist the unspoken rules of the Ming Dynasty regarding teachers and disciples. Before going to visit the home of the chief and deputy examiner, he honestly wrote two "disciple assassinations" in a paper and ink shop on the street. , then took it with him and went to the home of his chief and deputy examiner for this examination.

In order of superiority and inferiority, Wang Daoqiu went to the home of Sun Chengen, the examiner first.Sun Chengen's home is very simple, an ordinary courtyard with three courtyards, so ordinary that there is nothing much to say about it.The only eye-catching thing is that according to his rank, the imperial court assigned him a royal guard wearing a flying fish suit to guard his home and protect him on his daily trips.

Arriving in front of the Sun Mansion, Wang Daoqiu revealed his identity to the Sun Mansion concierge and the Jinyi guards on duty at the Sun Mansion.When people heard that Wang Daoqiu was the Huiyuan of Jinke, their eyes were filled with little stars. The concierge hurriedly went inside to tell the news, and the Jin Yiwei also hurriedly stood at the door with his head held high and his chest high.

The grandson's room was not big, just a small courtyard with three entrances, so the concierge came out soon.He bowed his hands and saluted Wang Daoqiu, and said with a smile: "Master, please invite Mr. Hui Yuan to go to the middle hall to talk."

"Thank you very much." Wang Daoqiu returned the salute to the concierge and handed his salute to the concierge.

When he saw the greetings Wang Daoqiu had sent, the porter hurriedly declined with both hands and said: "No, no, no, Mr. Huiyuan, we have rules in the Sun Mansion. Visitors come to the door, regardless of whether they are rich or small, they will not be accepted. Even the master's gift from a few years ago On the sixtieth birthday, our Sun Mansion also returns all the birthday gifts to others afterwards. Therefore, please ask Huiyuan Lang to take back this salutation, otherwise the young man will not dare to let Hui Yuanlang into the house."

Sun Chengen's reputation for being honest and honest was indeed well-deserved. He even refused to accept gifts for his sixtieth birthday.Since he has such a strong character, Wang Daoqiu will naturally succeed.So Wang Daoqiu still handed the salutation to the concierge and said: "Brother, please take care of this salute for the time being. After I went to see Master Sun in Zhi, I should take the salute back and I will never taint Master Sun's property." Clear your name.”

"Uh, that's it! Well, I'll leave the things in the concierge for you temporarily. But you must take them back when you leave, otherwise you will be punished. And your gift, the master will also If I return it to you in person, everyone’s faces will not look good when the time comes.”

"I understand, I understand, Master Sun's reputation for integrity is well known to everyone in the Ming Dynasty. I will never taint Master Sun's reputation. I will definitely take away the gifts after paying my respects. Please rest assured, little brother." "Then thank you Huiyuan Lang. I'm considerate! Please come in, Mr. Huiyuan, don't keep me waiting too long."

"Yes, yes, yes, thank you!"

After saying goodbye to the concierge, Wang Daoqiu walked forward along Sun Mansion Avenue.Soon, in the middle hall of Sun Mansion, I saw Sun Chengen, who was wearing a golden sword and sitting in the main seat drinking tea with great authority.

According to Daming's current etiquette, Wang Daoqiu bowed respectfully, and Xiao Sui stepped into the middle hall.Then he knelt down to Sun Cheng'en who was on the master seat, raised his hands on his disciple's stab, and sang loudly: "My disciple Wang Daoqiu, I pay my respects to my master."

"Huiyuan Lang is an outstanding genius. You are the future pillar of our Ming Dynasty. No need to be polite. Please get up quickly." As he spoke, Sun Chengen stood up from his seat, stretched out his hands, and helped Wang Daoqiu up from the ground.

Sun Chengen was so polite, Wang Daoqiu also thanked him hurriedly and thoughtfully. After getting up from the ground, he bowed again, stabbed his disciple again with respectful and straight hands, raised it above his head, and handed it to Sun Chengen.

Sun Chengen smoothly took over Wang Daoqiu's protégé, and helped Wang Daoqiu up again, and said kindly: "I am 66 this year, and I am thinking of retiring and returning to my hometown to live a few years of leisure. I'm afraid you, my disciple, will No need."

After saying this, Sun Chengen stabbed his disciple and handed it back to Wang Daoqiu.

Sun Chengen's meaning was very clear, that is, he was old, no longer interested in officialdom, and wanted to go back to his hometown to live in peace and quiet.So if Wang Daoqiu joins his hilltop now, he will not get any benefits from his hilltop in the future.

Wang Daoqiu was a smart man and naturally understood what Sun Chengen meant.But as a traveler whose soul comes from an "African country", he really likes an upright and honest official like Sun Chengen.After all, people like Sun Chengen, in Wang Daoqiu's era... were difficult to describe in one word!
Therefore, in Wang Daoqiu's mind, good officials like Sun Chengen, Yuan Hongyu, and Gao Yi who are clean and self-sufficient and have impeccable morals are his belief.And he will not abandon his beliefs or conscience just because those so-called "political resources" have no use value.Given the choice, Wang Daoqiu still hopes that he won't become one of those people: If you don't check, it's all a myth, if you check, it's all a joke.

Firmly believing in his heart, Wang Daoqiu did not take the protégé's sword handed back by Sun Cheng'en.Kneeling on the ground again, he said with determination: "Teacher has been honest and upright throughout his life, and he has set an example for us as scholars. It is the student's lifelong pride to be able to join the teacher's disciples. However, the students also know that the teacher is refreshing and proud, so today, The students swear an oath here. After entering the teacher's school, the students should warn themselves with the teacher's moral conduct. In their lifetime, they will not ask the teacher to do anything for the disciples, and the students will never help the teacher or the teacher's children to do anything in this life. Matters. The relationship between students and teachers is only based on righteousness and will never involve profit. Please accept the teacher as a disciple."'

After saying this, Wang Daoqiu knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to Sun Chengen respectfully.

Looking at Wang Daoqiu with a sincere and decisive face, the softest place in Sun Chengen's heart was touched.He once again lifted Wang Daoqiu up from the ground with both hands, and then said with a kind face: "My Ming Dynasty is so lucky to have you Wang Daoqiu. Well, since you are sincere, I will accept your disciple as a teacher. But As a teacher, you have something to say first. If you are to be like those young people who were once full of lofty ambitions and righteous, but later were confused by fame, fortune, glory and wealth, you will be returned to your disciples as a teacher. To show that I have nothing to do with you anymore. When the time comes, don’t blame me for being my teacher, and don’t care about your face.”

"Follow the teacher's order, students should obey the law and abide by the law throughout their lives, worthy of the conscience of the world."

"Okay, okay, okay, as long as you are worthy of the conscience of heaven and earth. You, my disciple, will be accepted by my master today."

(End of this chapter)