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Chapter 757
The Luoyang Palace Tianjin Bridge is located in front of the Duanmen of the Imperial Palace, across the Luoshui River.

The Tianjin Bridge uses two long thick cables to maintain side-by-side ships, floats on the water across the bank, and then connects them with iron locks. More than a hundred feet, its building is the image of the victory of the sun and the moon.

After the completion of Tianjin Bridge in the first year of Daye, it has always been the only place for civil servants to enter and exit Luoyang Palace. Later, when Li Mi attacked Luoyang, Pei Renji set fire to Tianjin Floating Bridge, and the bridge was destroyed and rebuilt.Because Tianjin Bridge is located on the central axis between Tianjie Street and the Duanmen of the Imperial Palace, it is also the busiest and busiest place in Luoyang. Generally, if there are any new orders to be promulgated by the imperial court, or if officials want to behead and abandon the market, it is here.In the Sui Dynasty, it was equivalent to the status of a vegetable market in later generations.

Now in the south of Tianjin Bridge, under the two side-by-side towers, there are many people.Countless Luoyang people crowded here.The reason why so many people watched this was because of the news that Li Chongjiu decided to upgrade Luoyang to an accompanying capital and set up Daxingtai in Henan Province.

It’s fine if it’s just a general station, but the new Henan Daxing station is said to cancel the original temporary organization and set up a permanent position instead.The Xingtai imitated the Shangshu Province, setting up the Xingtai, left and right servants, and six officials, instead of the original temporary Xingtai, where one person held multiple positions.

In addition, Luoyang's promotion from the government to the accompanying capital attracted even more attention, so after the news came out, countless Luoyang scholars who were interested in becoming an official flocked to Tianjin Bridge to inquire about the news.On this day, a notice was issued that all scholars who wish to seek an official can go to Duanmen to register, and after being screened afterwards, they can enter the court as an official.

As soon as the news came out, scholars swarmed in from all directions, almost crushing the Tianjin Bridge.

At this moment, in a Dong's restaurant next to the Tianjin Bridge, a man wearing a double-breasted long coat and a headband was sitting by the window drinking.At this moment, the scholars who were in the store had already rushed to Duanmen because of Zhao Guo's selection of officials, but now there are only a few people in the store.

And this man just ordered a jug of the most ordinary wine, and there was only a tight plate of broad beans on the table, and his dusty long coat had a few patches on inconspicuous places.

The man's surname was Ma, his first name was Zhou, and his courtesy name was Binwang. He was from Chiping, Shandong.Ma Zhou was lonely and poor when he was young, but he was diligent in reading and learning, and he was proficient in the Book of Songs.

So when he was 20 years old, he was recommended to be an official. Ma Zhou was originally an official of Li Tang Qi Gongshun, and Liu Lan was an official under Liu Lan. Later, Zhao Guo defeated Qingzhou and obtained Shandong.Ma Zhou was laid off and returned home, but he was not reconciled. This time he found an opportunity, bid farewell to his family, and prepared to enter Chang'an to seek an official career.
However, because of the battle between Zhao Guo and Li Tang, which coincided with the siege of the Tang army, Ma Zhou was stranded in Luoyang and could not go to Chang'an.Ma Zhou had almost exhausted all his money in Luoyang City, so he could only pay in arrears.

Ma Zhou pretended not to mind, but one time he asked the shopkeeper to bring a bucket of eight liters of wine, and drank it leisurely alone. The shopkeeper was amazed at Ma Zhou's extraordinary drinking capacity, and immediately felt that he was extraordinary, and never dared to ask Ma Zhou again. Zhou urged to owe money.

Ma Zhou was drinking alone in a restaurant that day, and when he saw Li Chongjiu's edict and the Luoyang scholars flocking to him, he couldn't help but feel emotional.In the past few days when the Tang army besieged the city, he saw with his own eyes how Zhao Guo treated the people of Luoyang.Ma Zhou couldn't help but compare Li Chongjiu. Since ancient times, no emperor has been able to treat the people so kindly.

Now, as soon as the notice of recruitment of scholars by the Zhao State court came out, scholars from Luoyang came from all over the world, asking for an official position, which shows that Zhao Guoshi has won the hearts of the people at the moment, not inferior to when Li Yuan first entered Chang'an, the children of Guanlong rushed to join him scene.

Ma Zhou also changed his mind in his heart. Since Zhao Guo is so popular, why did he travel thousands of miles to Chang'an to join an official and directly find opportunities in Luoyang? Will he be able to stand out in the future?Ma Zhou thought that no matter which country between Tang and Zhao could win the world in the end, it was worth going to serve by himself just because Zhao's court treated the people well.

Thinking of this, Ma Zhou drank the wine on the table in one gulp, then strode out of the restaurant with his robes lifted, crossed the Tianjin Bridge, and went straight to Duanmen.Precisely because of these small turning points, this famous official of Li Tang in history did not go to Chang'an to join Li Shimin in the end, but served as an official in Zhao State in Luoyang.

In Luoyang Palace, Li Chongjiu looked at the roster of Luoyang Scholars, there were hundreds of people on it, and many of them had names that he had heard of even later generations, such as Cui Renshi, An Xiren, who came from Boling Cui, one of the five surnames and seven wangs. The young hero of Zhong'an Bungalow.

There is also Zhang Xingcheng, courtesy name Deli, a native of Yifeng, who studied under Liu Xuan, a famous Confucian in Hejian, who was once promoted as Xiaolian.After Wang Shichong was defeated, Zhang Xingcheng hid his name in the fields, but this time he came to serve on his own initiative.

As for Ma Zhou, needless to say his name, he is a famous official who can be regarded as a momentary Yuliang with Zhang Xuansu in later generations.

When Li Chongjiu saw Ma Zhou's name, he immediately said to the guards outside the door: "Call this Ma Zhou to see me in the palace immediately!" After Li Chongjiu spoke, the royal chariot in the palace was carrying Ma Zhou in just a moment. From the hotel in the south, I arrived directly at the Luoyang Palace.

Li Chongjiu looked at Ma Zhou, but when he saw his plain appearance and simple clothes, but his extraordinary bearing, he couldn't help but admire him from the bottom of his heart.

"Cao Min Ma Zhou pays homage to His Majesty, long live my emperor!"

Li Chongjiu immediately said: "Pingshen."

After Ma Zhou got up, an attendant showed Ma Zhou his seat, and Li Chongjiu immediately asked straight to the point: "Ma Zhou, you have offered to serve my great Zhao Zhinian, but I don't know where you can help me?"

Ma Zhou cupped his hands and said, "Return to Your Majesty, please forgive the arrogance of the grassroots. Whether it is promoting talents, money and valley administration, rites, music, poetry and books, knowing how to use soldiers, laws and criminal laws, civil engineering and farmland, you all know a thing or two. It all depends on what your majesty does." Use grass people."

Hearing Ma Zhou's tone of voice, Li Chongjiu smiled and said, "Since you say that, I won't ask these questions. Let's talk about the rise and fall of dynasties in ancient and modern times."

Ma Zhou was not at all blamed, and opened his mouth and said: "The grass people have seen the previous dynasties, since Xia, Yin, Zhou, and the world of the Han family, they have been passed down one after another. The most are more than 500 years, and the few are as long as four to 60 years. Accumulating virtues and careers, can be kind to people. However, the Wei and Jin have fallen, and Zhou and Sui, and they died in only 30 or [-] years, and only [-] or [-] years. It is all because the entrepreneurial king did not do any kindness, and he kept his own life when he was alive. It is reluctance, and there is no virtue to be remembered in future generations. Therefore, it was passed on to future generations, which led to a man shouting and the world collapsed. Although His Majesty has pacified the world, but the accumulation of virtue is declining, you should spread the virtues so that there is room for kindness, so that you should be thrifty For oneself, the favor should be bestowed on the people of the world.”

Li Chongjiu nodded when he heard what Ma Zhou said. Although this is the opening remark of Confucianism, it is quite innovative.

Ma Zhou continued: "Today there is chaos, and the power of the people and the country is less than one-tenth of what it was at the peak of the Sui Dynasty. Your Majesty should take pity on the people. In the past, Tang Yao lived in a house with earthen steps in Maoci, and Xia Yu wore poor clothes and poor food. Even though the grassroots thought so Your Majesty does not need to go back to this matter today, but Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty spared a hundred gold and stopped the battle of the people on the terrace. Emperor Jing was exempted from the special edict because of the beautiful red ribbon on the government that hindered the female workers. You can live in peace and happiness. Your Majesty was born in a humble family, so you will be able to take pity on the suffering of the people. The Luokou warehouse was stored in the previous dynasty, and Li Mi got it. The eastern capital accumulated cloth and silk, and Wang Shichong took it.

This can be considered as a supplement to what Ma Zhou said just now, first save yourself, and then give favors to the people, especially in the rise and fall of a country, only in the people's joys and sorrows, it can also be regarded as a summary of the success and failure of the past dynasties, which is a rare insight in this era.

"Caomin has heard that people-oriented people will surely make the common people happy. Your Majesty created the imperial examination law to prevent the monopoly of the elites and nobles, and to recommend talents from the people. This is a move that is beneficial to the past and present. Caomin believes that this can be the law of all ages. The imperial examination system treats the noble families equally, does not despise the humble families, does not favor the noble families, and checks and balances each other, this is the long-term way."

This sentence can be regarded as reaching the bottom of Li Chongjiu's heart. This is a practical way of governing the country.

How could a talent like Ma Zhou be missed? Li Chongjiu immediately said: "Your words are in line with my wishes. Virtuous people should not be buried in the countryside. I have decided to promote you as a member of Zhongshushe."

Ma Zhou heard that Li Chongjiu did not place him in Daxingtai, Henan Province, but placed him directly in Zhongshu Province. Obviously, he wanted to keep him by his side to summon him at any time. He was very grateful for the respect of the emperor.

Ma Zhou got up and thanked him immediately.

After Yinma Zhou entered Zhongshu Province, Henan Daxingtai was also preparing to be established.

In addition to selecting local scholars from Luoyang as officials, Li Chongjiu also transferred many talents from Youjing.For example, Gao Jifu from the Bohai Gao clan was a younger brother of Gao Xudao, Minister of Rites, and was regarded as the most outstanding descendant of the Bohai Gao clan.Because Gao Xudao was about to retire, he strongly recommended Gao Jifu to Li Chongjiu, allowing him to continue to occupy a place in the court for the Gao family.

In addition to Gao Xudao, there is also a courtier from Guanzhong who betrayed Li Tang and became an official of Zhao. His name is Dai Zhou, his style name is Xuanyin, and he is from Anyang. He was Wang Shichong's subordinate and guarded Hulao Pass with Wang Xuanying.

After Hulao Pass was broken by Li Shimin, Dai Zhou was captured. Li Shimin appreciated him and let him join the Tiance Mansion as a soldier Cao joined the army, but Li Shimin was deprived of military power by Li Yuan soon after.Dai Zhou was unwilling to become an official of Li Shimin, so he secretly returned to Luoyang and decided to serve Zhao Guo.

In addition, Xiao Xian, who was in the south of the Yangtze River, did not forget to show his performance, and recommended two talents to Li Chongjiu.

They were Cen Wenwen, the Minister of Zhongshu of Liang State, and Liu Ji, the servant of Huangmen. These two were officials under Xiao Xian's command and important ministers of Liang State. This time Xiao Xian also recommended them to Li Chongjiu. He hoped that Li Chongjiu could Enable them.
So when Li Chongjiu looked at the list of officials in his hand, this series of names that would be heard by later generations, he couldn't help feeling that all the heroes of the world were in my trap. The gentry in Hebei were unwilling to follow, and now that they captured Luoyang by themselves, the gentry who came from all directions to vote, the contrast between before and after is too great.

(End of this chapter)