Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 200 Promoted to Deposed Envoy

Facing the three people's bows, Chen Qingsi's eyes first flashed with surprise, but she quickly recovered and stepped forward to help the three people up one by one, each saying a few words of encouragement.

The three of them said goodbye and left.

Just when Chen Qingsi watched the three people leave and was about to go back to the house, he heard someone calling him. When he turned around, he saw a well-behaved and gentle middle-aged man. But judging from his clothes, he was a high-ranking man. The steward of a large household.

"Mr. Chen, my husband invites you to visit Qujiang on the Si Festival the day after tomorrow to meet friends with poetry."

He said and handed over the greeting card with both hands.

Zhou Kui behind him stepped forward to take it and handed it to Chen Qingsi.

Chen Qingsi opened the greeting card casually and asked casually: "Who is your husband?"

The steward raised his head and said with a bit of complacency: "My husband is Cui Gong, Cui Xinming, the direct head of the Qingzhou house of the Cui family in Qinghe."

Chen Qingsi looked at the greeting card in her hand and couldn't help but raise her eyebrows. The greeting card was written with the attitude of an old-timer.

"The king's article "Shi Shuo" and the poem "Yellow Crane Tower" are quite famous, and his literary talent is the best in the south of the Yangtze River. I read it yesterday and admired it very much. Such exquisite poems and prose have the style of the past. I never thought that this barren land in the south of the Yangtze River would How can I give birth to a man like you, who is comparable to the heroes of the Central Plains? As the Shangsi festival is approaching, I specially invite you to go on an outing, recite poems and compose poems..."

Seeing this, Chen Qingsi was unhappy. He knew how much he really weighed.

But the poems he used were either Han Yu or Li Bai, or they were famous poets such as Cui Hao and Gao Shi.

What does it mean to have the style of the past?Admire it very much?
Han Yu is known as the Great Master of Articles and the Wen Zong of all generations. He is the leader of the Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties. Even Su Shi and Ouyang Xiu had to respectfully address him as "senior". What the hell?
Needless to say, the immortal Li Bai was relegated. Cui Hao and Gao Shi also played an important role in the poetry world. How could Cui Xinming come to do this with a shameless face?

"Cui Xinming?"

He asked to himself, looked at Zhou Kui beside him and said, "Do you know him?"

Zhou Kui had only been in Chang'an for a short time. In the circles he usually interacted with, he had never heard of Cui Xinming. He said honestly and honestly: "Never heard of him."

Chen Qingsi nodded solemnly and said, "Neither have I!" He glanced at the steward and said, "Go back and tell your husband that I have something else to do the next day and I won't be able to get away."

He said and went back to the house, completely ignoring the steward.

At this time, the people who came with Zhang Jianzhi, Guo Daifeng, and Xu Yanbo had not dispersed yet, and they all laughed out loud.

You said something, and I discussed it in a low voice.

"Who is Cui Xinming? Never heard of it?"

"Who do you think you are when you invited Mr. Chen and didn't come to the door in person?"

……

All kinds of sounds came into his ears, and the steward ran away with blushing face and shame.

Chen Qingsi walked into the house and met his wife Xiao Miaochen.

Xiao Miaochen heard the commotion outside in the inner room and came out to see what was going on. He was so happy when he saw that Mr. Qi Bai was the top scholar, second in the class, and most popular among the students. He stayed here to congratulate him.

Chen Qingsi was still a little unhappy. Seeing Xiao Miaochen, she couldn't help but ask: "Madam, does she know Cui Xinming of the Cui family in Qinghe?"

"The name sounds familiar!" Xiao Miaochen frowned slightly, looking cute and charming, and suddenly smiled: "I remember, my father said that this person is indeed extremely talented and writes excellent articles. But he is arrogant and conceited. He felt that the articles written by the people in the world were nothing more than this, so he wrote poems and chanted them himself. He was of noble birth and was highly respected by the world. He also became more and more arrogant and began to insult the world's scholars. He was banned by the Cui family. Why did Lang Jun mention him? ?”

Chen Qingsi handed her the greeting card in his hand.

Xiao Miaochen smiled when she saw him. She knew her husband's temperament and said, "I didn't expect that after so many years, my habits have not changed and I am still so arrogant."

"ignore him!"

Chen Qingsi didn't take this matter to heart. "Mr. Lang!"

Xiao Miaochen suddenly shouted.

Chen Qingsi asked: "What's wrong?"

Xiao Miaochen hesitated for a moment and said with a smile: "It's nothing. Cui Xinming is too arrogant. Even among the five surnames, he is not liked by others. If Lang Jun despises him like this, he is afraid that he will hate him for the rest of his life."

Chen Qingsi just smiled. Li Zhi's attitude was so decisive that a fool followed Cui Xinming and ignored Cui Xinming at all.

On the day of Shangsi Festival, new scholars formed a group to have sex with prostitutes. They imitated the ancients in Qujiang Pool and drank wine in Qujiang River, which raised the style of Jinshi to another level.

There is no doubt that this imperial examination reform, both in terms of system and details, has come to a successful conclusion.

Zhang Jianzhi, Guo Daifeng, and Xu Yanbo were awarded the title of first-grade Jinshi and were directly awarded the eighth-grade official position. The second-grade Jinshi was awarded the ninth-grade official position. The third-grade Jinshi was not directly admitted, but was registered by the Ministry of Personnel. Awaiting vacancies.

The direct recruitment of the first-class and second-class officials undoubtedly showed Li Zhi's determination to implement the imperial examination.

In response to the success of the imperial examination, Li Zhi also issued a new order. The imperial examination was changed to once every two years, and there were certain restrictions on candidates.

In order to avoid uneven quality of candidates, the provincial examination results are used as the benchmark. Candidates who do not have an A grade are not allowed to participate in the imperial examination continuously. Those who get a grade below [-]-C are not allowed to take part in the imperial examination for five years, those who get below a grade of [-]-C are not allowed to take part in the imperial examination for five years, those who get below a grade of [-]-C are seven years, and those who are below a grade of [-]-C are not allowed to take part in the imperial examination for ten years.

The purpose of the imperial examination is to attract the best talents. What's the point of joining in the fun of people who are barely passing or even failing?
With the improvement of the system and the increase of influence, the weight of the imperial examination will become higher and higher.

On this day, when the imperial examination gradually subsided, Chen Qingsi was once again summoned by Li Zhi.

But now, Chen Qingsi comes to the palace every now and then.

Li Zhi often told him about things in the temple and listened to his opinions.

Chen Qingsi arrived at the Wude Hall where Li Zhi was.

"His Majesty!"

Chen Qingsi bowed and said hello with some expectation.

The imperial examination has ended, and it was still a great success.

As the examiner, it's time for me to reward based on my merits.

Li Zhi looked at Chen Qingsi below and suddenly smiled and said: "Ai Qing, have you ever thought about how I will reward you for your great contribution?"

Chen Qingsi said against her will: "I never thought about it."

Li Zhi was noncommittal and continued to ask: "Then how do you want me to reward you?"

Chen Qingsi once again said respectfully: "It is enough to be able to serve the imperial court. No matter how your majesty rewards you, I will accept it with gratitude."

Li Zhi nodded with satisfaction and said: "I will promote you to Dr. Chaosan first!"

Chen Qingsi was slightly surprised, but she immediately bowed and thanked him.

This Dr. Chaosan is a fifth-grade official, which is one level higher than his current official position. It is indeed a promotion.

But Dr. Chaosan is just a civil official without any real power. He is usually given as an extra reward and an extra salary.

The smile on Li Zhi's face suddenly disappeared, and he said with a solemn expression: "My dear, I secretly ordered you to be deposed as the envoy. You go back and make preparations. You will leave for Lingzhou today to check the situation there. .”

(End of this chapter)