Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 151 Can my grandson be the number one scholar?
As Chen Qingsi expected, the news spread that he would be responsible for the imperial examination next year, and various invitations flooded in.

Chen Qingsi also saw the madness inside the imperial examination in this era.

Chen Qingsi didn't know how the imperial examiners at this period in history could withstand the pressure, or perhaps they didn't withstand the pressure at all. The distribution was decided according to the power of the official positions, forcing Li Zhizheng to further rectify the imperial examination and implement the imperial examination.

Nowadays, he receives articles and poems from scholars from all over the capital every day, including a large number of poems written in the prosperous Tang Dynasty style.

If you are invited by all parties, push it forward if you can. If you can't push it, then you have to deal with it.

Thanks to Laiji's timely intervention, the situation improved to a certain extent.

But not everyone buys Laiji’s account.

Such as Xu Jingzong.

On this day, Chen Qingsi received an invitation from Xu Jingzong.

Looking at the invitation in his hand, Chen Qingsi said without even thinking about it: "Go back and tell Mr. Xu that I will visit you on time."

A few days ago, Lai Ji gave Chen Qingsi a detailed introduction to the situation in Chang'an and the situation in the temple.

Based on her own experience, Chen Qingsi immediately judged that Xu Jingzong was the most powerful character in the temple.

This person who was later called the most treacherous official in the Tang Dynasty had an incredible resume.He was born in the Xu family of Gaoyang and was a scholar of the Sui Dynasty.In the Sui Dynasty, there was no number one scholar at that time. Scholars had a higher status than number one scholar and were recognized as great talents.

Xu Jingzong's father Xu Shanxin died at the hands of Yu Wenhuaji.

Xu Jingzong immediately defected to Wagangzhai, the most popular place, and became Li Mi's confidant.After Li Mi's defeat, he defected to the Tang Dynasty and resolutely joined Li Shimin's army, becoming one of the eighteen bachelors of the Qin Palace.

Xu Jingzong avoided the dispute between Li Chengqian and Li Tai. After Li Zhi became the crown prince, he became the crown prince's right concubine.

Li Zhi wanted to depose the queen and make Wu Zhaoyi his queen.Xu Jingzong stood firmly on Li Zhi's side and repeatedly advised Changsun Wuji to facilitate this matter.

Throughout his life, every time he stood in line was just right.

In his early years, Li Zhi was ostracized by his eldest son Wuji, so he was wary of prime ministers from beginning to end. Few prime ministers remained in his hands for a long time, and he often discarded them after using them, treating the prime ministers as chess pieces.

Therefore, after Li Zhi had been in power for so many years, except for Changsun Wuji, Li Ji, and Liu Rengui, no one had a real reputation.

The first two were the auxiliary ministers left by Li Shimin, and Liu Rengui was the prime minister who had risen to military glory. The situation was different.

Xu Jingzong was the only prime minister who was not demoted or punished by Li Zhi until his death.

The key point is that this guy's morals are like shit, and he can't be better than Li Yifu.

But it happened that everyone in front of him thought he was a capable minister. It was not until after his death that all the dirty things he had done were exposed one by one, making the world understand what kind of minister they were mourning for: in When Xu Jingzong passed away, Li Zhi mourned for him. He stayed away from court for three days and ordered all civil and military officials to go to Xu Jingzong's residence to mourn...

Then they poked a hornet's nest, and a group of people decided to give Xu Jingzong the posthumous name Miao.

Such a character is far more powerful than Li Yifu.

Chen Qingsi knew that he could deal with anyone, but Xu Jingzong couldn't deal with him.

He came to Xu Jingzong's house as promised.

Xu Jingzong's family lived in Yongjiafang, which was the residence of the princes and grandsons of the princes. Those who could live here were either rich or noble.

Chen Qingsi did not enter the square directly, but went around the street to the southwest corner of Yongjiafang.

There were regulations in the Tang Dynasty that the residences of princes and officials of third rank or above could face the street, and doors were allowed to be opened on the walls of the square.

The gate of the Xu family's residence faces the long street, so there is no need to enter the house.

Outside the neighborhood, looking at the magnificent mansion, Chen Qingsi was dazzled for a moment: This is too luxurious.

The Xu family's residence is so exquisite that it even surpasses the palace where Li Zhi lived.

Generally speaking, high-rise buildings were not favored in architecture of this era.

However, the Xu family's residence is all built with high-rise buildings. Looking up from the outside, the houses one after another are connected together. The scene is extremely spectacular, and it feels like being in a modern high-rise building.

Maybe modern people don't think so, but if you replace all the steel and concrete with carved wood and red tiles, and then experience it, the artistic conception is completely different. "Mr. Chen, please! My ancestor has been waiting for a long time."

When he went out, he was greeted by a young man, handsome and polite.

As soon as Chen Qingsi heard this, he knew that the young man in front of him was the protagonist this time.

"Please!"

Chen Qingsi returned the favor politely, and the two of them walked into the mansion one after the other.

The interior of the house is even more luxurious, with doors, beams and purlins decorated with red oil and gold paintings.

The word "luxury" is well deserved.

"Haha, Mr. Chen, Xu is so polite!"

A slightly prosperous Confucian scholar with a rosy face came out.He was dressed in a blue Confucian scholar's attire, with a red face, sharp eyebrows and phoenix eyes, and every move he made was elegant and elegant.

Chen Qingsi was a little surprised. The Confucian scholar in front of him was undoubtedly Xu Jingzong, but Xu Jingzong was in his sixties this year. The Confucian scholar in front of him, not to mention over sixty, was even forty or so.

It's really indescribable.

With Xu Jingzong's appearance, who wouldn't regard him as a highly respected scholar at first glance?
No wonder Li Shimin couldn't help but admire: Among all the ministers, you are the most virtuous.

"It is said that Xianggong Xu has skills in maintaining good health and has the demeanor of a god. When I saw him today, it turned out to be true."

Chen Qingsi's words were not meant to be flattering at all, but were based on facts.

Xu Jingzong proudly twirled his beard. This god-given appearance is also one of his most proud features.

"Sir please!"

Xu Jingzong welcomed Chen Qingsi into the house, and the two exchanged greetings and compliments.

As a Confucian leader in the temple at that time, Xu Jingzong was well-spoken and had all kinds of words and phrases in his words. His rich knowledge was beyond the reach of Chen Qingsi.

Is this the true level of the Eighteenth Bachelor?

Chen Qingsi has been in this era for more than two years, and he has not neglected his studies. However, compared with the literary scholars who have been immersed in the literary world for a lifetime, he is far behind. However, he is more knowledgeable and interesting in conversation, so he is not completely at a disadvantage. .

Xu Jingzong suddenly pointed to his grandson Xu Yanbo who was sitting quietly beside him and said, "Mr. Chen, how about watching my grandson?"

Chen Qingsi said: "The divine instrument is bright and beautiful, the eyes are bright and the eyebrows are sparse, and the weapons are dignified and sincere, so you are a Xun Xun son!"

Xu Jingzong said: "Send in your article!"

Xu Yanboy submitted his manuscript as promised.

Chen Qingsi took the manuscript and looked at it carefully.

After appreciating articles more often, Chen Qingsi's level of appreciating and criticizing articles has greatly improved.

The articles in the manuscript submitted by Xu Yanbo are light and elegant, full of the beauty of diction. They are the popular Xu Yu style and are of extremely high quality.

Chen Qingsi did not know whether Xu Yanbo wrote it himself, but he was certain that it was not written by Xu Jingzong.

Xu Jingzong's poems and essays are also in the same style, but everyone has long been unable to write such articles.

Chen Qingsi said truthfully: "The writing style is like that of Xu Yu, and the words are exquisite and gorgeous. It can be seen that the person who wrote it is full of knowledge."

Xu Yanbo looked delighted. The article in the manuscript was indeed written by him.

Xu Jingzong loved his grandson very much and was particularly strict with him. Therefore, he was only eighteen years old and could already write good articles.

Xu Jingzong was not polite and said bluntly: "Can my grandson be the number one scholar?"

Not trying to hide it at all, just so direct.

(End of this chapter)