Idle courtiers

Chapter 206
Soon, Zhou Nan and Guo Shuban were invited by Jia Xuezheng to the state mansion.

On the other side, Yanqing prefect Lu Zhizhou had already brought his deputy Tong prefect and judge to wait there.

Seeing Zhou Nan, Lu Zhizhou held his hand affectionately and said with a smile: "I also heard that pedestrians are coming to Bizhou, and I am looking forward to it. I didn't expect Mr. Zhou to come so fast. I have already prepared a banquet. Hurry up." Take your seats!"

The two sides greeted each other and exchanged names and origins.

According to the official rules of the Ming Dynasty, when an official attends a banquet, he needs to discuss the seat, so that he can arrange where you sit.This seat is also very particular. In addition to comparing everyone's grades and whether you are a real job, you also have to report which year you were a Jinshi.

For example, if you are on the spring list in the second year of Jiajing, if you meet a Jinshi of the [-]th year of Zhengde, you have to call him senior.

On the order, but also on the ranking.Are you a first-class or a third-class, whether you are a Jinshi or a Jinshi.Whether you order Hanlin, whether you are a good scholar...there are many rules.

Lu Zhizhou is an old man in the officialdom, and he was No. 30 and No. 40 in the tenth year of Zhengde; as for Yanqing Tongzhi, he was No. [-] in the top three in Jiajing five years;

Hearing that Sanwei reported the name of the official, Zhou Nan did not doubt that he was there, and was about to speak.Guo Shuban next to him took the lead and said: "I probably don't know about Zhizhou. My master is a student of Tang Yingde." As he spoke, he secretly pulled the corner of Zhou Nan's clothes.

Zhou Nan suddenly realized that he was a little scholar, and he really couldn't show it.He smiled and said: "So that Lu Zhizhou and all the adults know that Da Sinong treats me like a nephew, but he dislikes my shallow knowledge and has always refused to accept him. My mentor is Mr. Wang Yuanmei and Wang Fengzhou."

Hearing what he said, the expressions of the three officials from Yanqing Prefecture lifted at the same time.Tang Shunzhi and Wang Shizhen are famous in the world, one is the head of Xinxue, and the other is the leader of the literary world.The Zhou Xingren in front of him is so young that he is ridiculously young. With these two teachers around, his future prospects will definitely not be small, but he can form a good relationship with him.

Immediately, everyone became even more affectionate, asking Zhou Nan to sit down on the left.

In addition to the officials of the state government, there were also a dozen or so local gentry present at the banquet today, and a dozen or so singing girls were invited to join in the fun.

For a while, the sound of silk and bamboo can be heard endlessly, and delicacies from mountains and seas are offered like flowing water.

Eating exquisite food and listening to the compliments from the officials of the fifth rank and the sixth rank, Zhou Nan felt proud.I thought to myself: People say that officials in Beijing are noble, but there are not many other things in the capital, but there are many officials. An official of the eighth rank is like a mustard seed.I didn't expect to come down to the place, but it was so beautiful.

That's right, I'm a pedestrian in the Department of Pedestrians. In the future, I will be a censor, a minister, or even the head of the Six Departments, and a doctor. My future is boundless.Don't look at the high ranks of the officials in front of you, but the future is just like this.Besides, if they offend me.In the future, I will be a speech officer, and I will make excuses at will, so that they can't afford to go around, no wonder they are so flattered.

It's a pity that I, Zhou Nan, am just a small scholar, and I'm not as good as a dog in the pedestrian department.Ruo Zhizhou and the others know my details, but they don't know how to feel about it?

After drinking for three rounds, everyone made out for a long time, and they talked casually.

Zhou Nan told him about the sacrifice ceremony to Confucius, Lu Zhizhou wanted to make friends, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, Zhou Xingren, the cost and manpower required for this sacrifice to the most holy master of Dacheng will be out of the state government. This official is on behalf of the herdsmen of the Son of Heaven, and it is my duty to educate the local people.”

Zhou Nan liked it very much, thanked her, and recalled the previous incident where the state school scholars were arguing to submit a letter, and felt a little worried, worried that if the group of nerds made a fuss, the ceremony would not be able to take place.

Ask again: "Lu Zhizhou, the students of the state wrote a letter saying that the emperor sent eunuchs to be mine supervisors to collect taxes and harm the people. Is this true?"

After listening to him, Lu Shangshu snorted and said with a smile: "Don't worry about Zhou Xingren. The emperor sent mine supervisors to places like Fujian, Guizhou, and Shandong where gold, silver, copper and tin are produced. In Yanqing, there are only stones on the mountain. .”

Zhou Nan was puzzled: "What kind of books are the students still studying? Really, the wind has wrinkled a pool of spring water. What's the matter?"

Lu Zhizhou: "Most of the state students fail in their studies and have no hope of academic performance. They study in school all the year round, and there will inevitably be resentment in their hearts. Don't pay attention to them, they can't make trouble."

Zhou Nan suddenly realized that, indeed, most of the students in government schools failed to pass the Juren and Jinshi exams, that is, they lived on a little rice every month.But they have read a lot, and it is inevitable that they have some feelings of taking the world as their responsibility.Point out the country, inspire the words, and brush up the sense of existence.

To put it bluntly, it is a performance art of youthful blood.As the proud son of heaven, he is a gentleman who reads books.If you don't go to the book a few times or talk about the state affairs, it's not easy to greet people.

They want to submit a letter to express their feelings, yes, the yamen will also accept it, and just transfer it to the relevant department.The key is the process. As for the result, anyway, no matter whether it is the state students above or below, they don't care.

After thinking this through, Zhou Nan felt relieved.This feast of wine is enjoyable, and I don't feel drunk.

Seeing that the time was about the same, Lu Zhizhou hurriedly ordered the waiter to send Zhou Nan back to the state school to rest.

Speaking of this, some people may feel strange.Zhou Nan is an official of the imperial court, so he can live in a post house, why did he go back to the state to study?
It turned out that the post stations in the Ming Dynasty were dirty and messy, and the quilts were not washed black for a year, and it was not uncommon for them to be covered with small animals.No way, state-owned enterprises are like this.Whether the quilt is washed or not, whether the environment is clean or not, the salary of Yicheng will not be increased or decreased by a penny.

If it is an official passing by, it will be done.

Lu Zhizhou intends to make friends with Zhou Nan, so naturally he will not wrong the future speech officer.

There are more than 20 students living and boarding here all the year round in the state school. Although the place is dilapidated, it is still quite elegant.After returning, a big fat woman led the two of them into a secluded small courtyard.He quickly tidied up the room for Zhou and Guo and put on new bedding.

Although the woman is fat, her features are fairly straight, even though she is tall, her stature is about the same as Zhou Nan's.Guo Shuban is also considered a strong person, but standing beside her, he looks a little weak.

Zhou Nan was a little surprised that such a woman suddenly appeared in the state school, which was full of men.After asking, I found out that this woman is Jia Xuezheng's niece.The family was hit by a disaster, and the man in the family got sick and lost his labor force, so he helped cook in the school, and the students called her Mrs. Jia.

Guo Shuban saw that Zhou Nan was very satisfied with the room, so he rewarded Mrs. Jia with a bunch of money, and said with a smile: "Sister-in-law, there are more than 20 youths in this school who can't get enough to feed you. Are you not afraid?"

Mrs. Jia smiled when she saw the money.Squinting at Guo Shuban, he spit and said, "You are an unscrupulous person, and you are making fun of your sister-in-law. Those students are like weak chickens, who can't lift their shoulders or carry them, and can't do field work. If it wasn't for the husband who studied, there would be no woman in our country who would marry her, and she would be a bachelor for the rest of her life."

Zhou Nan was exhausted all the way, so he fell asleep and didn't wake up until the sun went down.Putting on the clothes and getting up, looking up, the snow-covered mountains in the distance have been reflected red by the sunset.I praised it: what a sunshine Jinshan.

This kind of beautiful scenery cannot be seen in the later generations of smog.

At this moment, I saw Guo Shuban limping into the yard.

Zhou Nan asked him where he had been all afternoon.

Guo Shuban laughed and said: "Zhou Xingren, you go to bed when you are drunk, and I am not interested in being alone, so I went to talk to the officials of the state government."

Zhou Nan became suspicious and joked: "Guo Shuban, do you think you are blind? Go to someone to talk to, but you will become crippled? It's obvious that you got into a woman's bed, and you haven't really recruited it? You and I are newcomers. Don't make trouble."

According to the official discipline of the Ming Dynasty, officials were not allowed to have sex with prostitutes.In other words, you can find a few prostitutes to drink flower wine and listen to music, but not overnight.

It's okay down here, the magistrate covers the sky with one hand, even if people know about it, who would dare to talk nonsense.But here is Gyeonggi, and there are many officials.If the judges know that they want to punish you, they will come to a business, and there will be trouble.

He does not mean that.

Guo Shuban thought that Zhou Nan knew about his scandal, his face changed drastically, and he hurriedly hissed, seeing that there was no one around.Cai said: "Pedestrians keep your voice down, don't let the husband of Mrs. Jia's sister-in-law hear."

Zhou Nan was so shocked that his eyes almost fell to the ground: "Sister-in-law Jia, you can also talk... I admire, I admire..." Guo Shuban and Sister-in-law Jia only met once, and they have sex so quickly ,Amazing.

Seeing Master Zhou was so excited, Guo Shu felt proud.But he pretended to be miserable, and said: "I heard people say that a woman in her forties knows how to love and serve others the most, especially the fat ones. I intend to try, but that woman is simply It's just a vicious tiger, I'm done, she's still not happy, but she teases her four times, pity my old bones, I'm about to be shaken apart."

"How do you know that you love others? If you feel so distressed, you want to eat people!"

Speaking of this, Guo Shuban's expression was full of a big man, and he couldn't bear to look back.

Zhou Nan was speechless for a while, and then envied and hated: My master is so full that the water overflows, but you are going to have fun without telling me.Don't know etiquette, really hateful!
After being annoyed for a long time, he said with a straight face, "You said you were fat, and you were out of breath. Guo Shuban, how important is it to come to Yanqing to officiate this time, but you go to seduce a woman from a good family, what crime should you be? If you are not on official business, my lord will never show mercy, and will hand you over to the state government to enforce the law impartially."

"Yes, yes, what the old man said is true, the lowly position is also muddled, there will never be a next time."

"Do you still think about the next time?"

Guo Shuban: "Don't dare, dare not. In fact, this sister-in-law Jia is a flirtatious person, and she didn't know about it with other students before. Her husband also knew about this, but he pretended not to see it. Cough... Actually, I have seen it a few times, but I can bear it."

Damn, this is interesting.Zhou Nan came to his senses immediately, and in the name of the organization, he ordered Guo Shuban to explain the problem.

It turned out that sister-in-law Jia's husband had been ill since he was a child and had been in poor health, so he was not very successful in that matter.Usually, just after a confrontation, they are defeated within a few breaths.Therefore, 36 is seven years old and has no children.I found the doctor for his pulse, and said that it was because of the lack of yang energy that the offspring were difficult.

There are three types of unfilial piety, the greatest of which is having no descendants.My body is failing day by day, and I lose my labor power.Without children, if you are old in the future and have no children to support, you can imagine the future.

He was anxious, so he discussed with his wife, there are so many gentlemen in this school, how about borrowing some seeds.

Mrs. Jia naturally refused at first, unable to stand up to her husband's entanglement, so she tried a few times.It's a pity that the gentlemen in the school have broken their bodies from reading and are not very satisfied.Seeing that Lao Guo is in good health today, when the child grows up, he will definitely be a good hand in the field.As for the genetic gene of baldness, it doesn't matter.

After listening to Guo Shuban's explanation, Zhou Nan praised: "Mr. Guo has a big heart and a great compassion in giving alms. However, this matter will stop here. If it happens again, I will drive you back to Beijing immediately."

Guo Shuban smiled wryly and said: "How dare there be a next time, just this afternoon, the old man will have to take care of it for at least three to five days before he can recover."

There are still six days before Confucius' birthday, and Lao Guo has been completely squeezed out. The thief went to the building, and he was not afraid that he would cause an accident, and Zhou Nan felt at ease.

In the next two days, Zhou Nan started working.He first went to the state government to collect funds, and then learned etiquette with Jia Xuezheng, and arranged for craftsmen to make the ceremonial staff needed for the day.Post a message to the local gentry and scholars to invite them to attend at that time, and they are too busy to touch the ground.

Sure enough, as Lu Zhizhou said, the students of the school jointly signed a letter, and after brushing up their sense of presence, they died down and went to class normally.

Mrs. Jia has quick hands and feet, quick work, and tidy up the house.Zhou Nan was very satisfied with this.It's just that her cooking skills are really bad, she is like pig food, and she is indistinguishable from Xiaolan, and she shines for a while.Fortunately, the ingredients are fresh, and they are all delicacies from the mountains, so there is no harm in eating them for a few days.

Her husband's name is Song San, whom Zhou Nan met a few times.This man was small and thin, panting three times when he took a step. He wore a sheepskin jacket and curled up in the house to warm himself up all day long. He always had a gentle smile on his face when he met everyone.

Judging from his face, he should be suffering from chronic diseases such as asthma or tuberculosis.

Zhou Nan looked down on this green-haired turtle, so naturally he didn't bother to talk to him.

Mrs. Jia's skin has become fairer these days, and she is so fat that she is drenched with water and moisturized, but Guo Shuban's complexion is a bit bad.Zhou Nan suspected that the woman had a deep sense of taste and would not let her go. The two adulterers got together a few times afterward.

They want bad things if they continue to develop like this. They just hope that this job will be finished quickly so that they can return to the capital.

"Old Guo, there is no plowed land in the world, only exhausted cattle." On this day, Zhou Nan was about to beat Guo Shuban without a trace, when a servant came in and said, "Master Zhou, Zhizhou Lu has something urgent to ask you to go." Yamen speak."

Zhou Nan stopped talking, followed the yamen servant to the prefectural yamen, and when he arrived at the back yamen, he saw Lu Zhizhou and Jia Xuezheng talking about something solemnly.

Seeing him, Lu Zhizhou said: "Pedestrian, I am afraid that the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the most holy master of Dacheng cannot be held the day after tomorrow. I can only apologize for troubling Mr. Zhou this time. I have prepared a car and horse to see him off. , I don’t know when the pedestrians are going to leave?”

Next to him, Lu Zhizhou's master repeatedly bowed his hands to apologize, and said that my elder had prepared Cheng Yi for passers-by, as a token of his affection.

Cheng Yi is travel expenses. In ancient times, superiors, relatives and friends wanted to travel far away. As subordinates or relatives and friends, they gave him a sum of money to spend during the trip.

It is already very polite for a fifth-rank magistrate to give travel expenses to an official of the eighth rank.

Of course Qian Zhounan wanted it, but the annual exam was coming up soon, and political achievements mattered.

Seeing Lu Zhizhou's appearance a little anxious, Zhou Nan felt strange

Seeing his puzzled face, Jia Xuezheng explained: "The students of the state school jointly submitted a letter to the school administration office of Shuntian Prefecture, and it happened that a person named Zou Yinglong from the Ministry of Rites found out about it. After receiving this letter of love, I want to come and check it out tomorrow morning. It is said that the school is going to be closed."

Zhou Nan felt strange and asked: "Scholars talk strange things and vent their anger. This kind of thing happens several times a year for any official. This Feng will investigate the matter, what can he find out, and what result will he get? ?”

Could it be possible to accuse the students of arbitrarily discussing state affairs and arrest them all?The Ming Dynasty couldn't help but say that arresting people with this crime would be against scholars all over the world.

Zou Yinglong and Zou Ge were also born as scholars. Didn't he understand the reason that every member of the scholastic community could drown him by spitting?
Lu Zhizhou's teacher said: "It's already the end of the year, and we need to accept the evaluation during the work."

Zhou Nan suddenly realized: "Damn it!" It turned out that this guy was also here to make political achievements and prepare for the Beijing inspection once every six years.

If you want to make political achievements, can't you go to other places? How can you get together with me?
The problem is, he is a majestic six subjects, so he can't afford to mess with him!

(End of this chapter)