Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

If you win the imperial examination, you will go to worship Confucius.

Professor Wei from Yangzhou Prefecture School also came to serve as the master of ceremonies for the Confucius worship ceremony.

After a series of procedures, Zhu Ming and seven other candidates were allowed to enter the main hall of the Confucius Temple to worship.

Although Ju Ming had no negative impression of Wang Anshi, he always felt a little awkward when he saw the rankings in the hall, let alone a scholar at this time.

Confucius took the main seat, and all the accompanying sacrifices were arranged in the east, followed by Yan Hui, Mencius and Wang Anshi.

There was nothing wrong with this at first, but since Wang Anshi was crowned king, it has forced out people's obsessive-compulsive disorder. Confucius and Wang Anshi are kings, and Yan Hui and Mencius are dukes. The seats are not arranged neatly!

Ju Ming had a solution in his mind, which was to succeed in his rebellion and cancel the titles of the sages of the Confucian Temple.

Confucius should stop being the King of Wenxuan and become the most holy teacher.

In this way, wouldn't the confusion and awkwardness caused by the title be eliminated at once?

Damn it!

Ju Ming felt that he was a genius and had helped scholars all over the world solve a big problem.

After the worship ceremony was completed, everyone took carriages and went to the state government office to attend the deer-crowing banquet.

The Deer Ming Banquet in the Northern Song Dynasty was not yet popular, and remote areas were too lazy to spend money. It had to wait until the Southern Song Dynasty to spread it nationwide.

The Luming Banquet adopts a meal-sharing system in retro style, with the magistrate occupying the main position, and the general magistrate, recorder and military officer occupying the secondary positions. Not only all the Cao officials were present, but also senior officials of the state government, the magistrate and chief registrar of Xingdao County, as well as virtuous elders from the countryside inside and outside Yangzhou City.

Wang Chang and another escort scholar were also allowed to attend.

The eunuch extorted Yangzhou's public money. The cost of today's Luming Banquet was sponsored by local gentry and merchants...

As soon as Ju Ming and other Juzi arrived, the band started playing, and Zhizhou led everyone to get up and greet them.

The wise elders from Yangzhou came to express their congratulations.

One of them, Yang Zhizhou, personally supported him, not because of his distinguished status, but because the old man was 96 years old and was trembling when he walked and looked like he might collapse at any time.

Min Wenwei was also there, his face glowing. Most of this year's eight candidates were his students.

After everyone sat down again, Yang Zhizhou said: "Please ask Jieyuan, on behalf of Zhu Zi, to perform the ceremony of Xiangshe."

You can choose the local archery ceremony. You can have a formal bow and arrow, or you can use a throwing pot instead.

Ju Ming chose a bow and arrow. There were big red flowers tied to the bow, and there were also big red flowers on the archery target in the distance.

He tried to pull the bowstring, but Ju Ming didn't feel comfortable with it. This was a three-bow bow practiced by beginners. The distance between the archery targets is also very close, only five or six meters.

Pulling out the bow easily, Ju Ming took aim and shot.

With a whoosh, it hit the target.

"good!"

"Zhu Jieyuan's divine shot!"

"As expected of Lord Zheng, he is both civil and military."

"..."

The whole hall was cheering and admiring.

Although it is a small broken bow and it is shot at close range, it is quite difficult for the scholars. In previous years, they chose to throw pots instead.

The last time there was Jieyuan Archery was a hundred years ago.

Zhu Ming put down his bow and arrows and sat down. Yang Zhizhou raised his glass and said: "Today I am celebrating the promotion of a scholar for the country, and I am going to have a drinking ceremony in the countryside. All local sages and candidates, please drink this cup to the full. Congratulations to the Song Dynasty and congratulations to the officials!"

"Congratulations to the Great Song Dynasty and congratulations to the official family!"

Everyone shouted in unison and raised their glasses to drink. Even the 96-year-old gentleman took a sip.

After three rounds of drinking, the prefect and magistrate actually started sending money.

This is personal funding from officials, not preferential treatment from the imperial court.

Since Yangzhou produced gold and iron money was too heavy, the two chief officials actually sent money directly. It is said to be money, but it is actually an alloy of gold and copper (including impurities). The texture of pure gold is too soft.

Yang Zhizhou gave each candidate five guan grants, Li Tong awarded each person four guan grants, and the other village sages gave one or two guan grants.

Ju Ming received a total of more than 40 guan, which was enough for him to survive in Tokyo until the end of the imperial examination if his food and accommodation were poor.

For the sake of giving money, Ju Ming decided to be gentler on these rural sages when they rebelled in the future.

What a repayment of kindness!

…

Over at Xingyuan Mansion, a deer roaring banquet was also being held.

Yangzhou selected eight candidates from hundreds of candidates, and the admission rate was less than 2%.

The admission rate for the imperial examination in Xingyuan Prefecture was as high as 30%, and Li Hanzhang easily passed the examination.

After the shooting ceremony, the transfer envoy also raised his glass to toast.

After everyone drank a few glasses of wine, Lu Rong, the academic advisor, suddenly laughed and said, "Today I am recruiting scholars for the country. I have something to cheer you up. Please bring it up!"

More than a dozen handymen appeared with food trays in their hands, and a smell of fragrance could be heard from all the way.

Boiled corn is placed on the food plate, and chopsticks are inserted into the corn cob for easier eating.

When everyone had two corns placed in front of them, Lu Rong said quite proudly: "This overseas immortal food is as crystal clear as jade, and it is called corn. It is still fresh and tender now, and it is delicious whether boiled or roasted. After a while, it will After it is fully mature, it can also be ground into corn flour for consumption. Please give it a taste to all your officers, colleagues, officials, and wise men!"

The transfer envoy had long known that Lu Rong was planting new crops. When he smelled the fragrance, he moved his index fingers. He grabbed the chopsticks inserted into the corn cob and asked, "Should you just chew it? It would be an eyesore."

Lu Rong said: "You can also peel the grains and eat them."

The transfer agent then peeled off more than ten corn kernels and put them in his mouth, regardless of the slight heat.

Although it is not "sweet corn", it is still sweet and delicious, with a waxy texture that leaves a lasting fragrance on the lips and tongue.

"This is truly immortal food!" the transfer envoy praised.

It was too laborious to peel, so the transporter ate it for a while, then just started chewing it. This feeling is different, much better than before.

Everyone present tasted it one after another and were all impressed by the taste of boiled corn.

A village sage asked: "May I ask the academic officer, how much is the yield per acre of this thing?"

Lu Rong said: "According to Mr. Zhu of Xixiang County, if corn is sown in fertile fields, the yield of corn should be more than four dan per mu. But it is best to interplant beans and sweet potatoes, and the yield per mu will be at least two or three dan. And this No matter the land, it can be planted in barren mountainous areas, and the yield is about one or two stones per acre."

The Deputy Transport Envoy exclaimed: "Such a high-yielding product should be promoted throughout the world!"

Another village sage asked, "I'm so adventurous, could I ask for some seeds?"

Lu Rong smiled and said: "Since they are immortals, those with talent and virtue can plant them first. Today, I will not give any gold or silver to the Deer Ming Banquet. I will only give each lifter three kilograms of corn and ten kilograms of sweet potatoes. The virtuous villagers here, each family You can buy ten kilograms of corn and twenty kilograms of sweet potatoes. There is also a farming book written by Mr. Zhu from Xixiang, which explains how to grow corn and sweet potatoes. You can copy it and take it home."

"Inspire people to learn benevolence and righteousness!" The villagers were overjoyed.

Lu Rong added: "It's already winter when the sweet potatoes are harvested, so it's still very early. You can come and copy the agricultural books first."

Everyone tasted the deliciousness of boiled tender corn and thought it was something good. They guessed that grinding it into corn flour would also be delicious.

It is estimated that in two or three years, when the novelty wears off, wealthy people will only eat tender corn and will no longer eat food made from corn flour. Too rough and tastes bad.

Another village sage asked curiously: "It is said that Mr. Zhu got fairy food from overseas. Has he really met the gods?"

Lu Rong smiled and replied: "I don't know either."

Li Hanzhang said: "The younger generation has friendship with the Zhu family and his son. Mr. Zhu is a scholar of heaven and man, and understands all things. That gentleman's tea is made by Mr. Zhu. Even Mr. Chen, a famous Confucian in Jiangnan, and Xue Zhenren, a Taoist monk , were impressed by Mr. Zhu’s knowledge and character. Now the two of them stay in the mountains, consulting Mr. Zhu day and night.”

"He is really a master in the world!" The transfer envoy couldn't help but admire, "Chen Zhimo (Chen Yuan) is from the same hometown as me. A hundred years ago, the Chen family, father and son, once passed the exam, and the family education has a long history. Chen Zhimo also worshiped the great Confucian as his teacher, and his knowledge became even more advanced. He is willing to stay in the mountains and ask Mr. Zhu for advice, which shows how broad and lofty Mr. Zhu's talents are. I wish I could ask him in person!"

One Cao official said: "Such an eminent scholar should be recommended by the Cao envoy."

The transfer envoy waved his hand and said: "Don't disturb the scholar's practice and scholarship. His son Zhu Chenggong has already resigned. Will Mr. Zhu accept the conquest? In his view, the glory and wealth of such an outstanding person are just passing by."

Lu Rong said: "Of course. When I interacted with Mr. Zhu, he kept silent about the classics and meaning, and even his poems were clumsy. He obviously didn't want to be an official. But Mr. Zhu did not hide from the world. Everything he said and did was focused on people's livelihood. Not only did he seek immortal food from overseas, he was also proficient in agriculture. I heard that the paddy fields he managed for rural landlords increased the yield per mu by 20 to 30%, and this method was also written down in the agricultural book."

The village sages present were overjoyed when they heard this and couldn't wait to copy the farm books.

Anyway, Lu Rong was a good braggart. The more famous Zhu Guoxiang was, the smoother the promotion of corn and sweet potatoes would be.

After the deer singing banquet, the transport envoy visited Lu Rong alone: ​​"Can you share the corn and sweet potatoes with me?"

Lu Rong smiled and said: "The messenger is a virtuous person, so he can cultivate immortal food."

The transfer envoy said: "One hundred catties of corn and one hundred catties of sweet potatoes. I will let my servants take them back to my hometown (Fujian)."

"After the sweet potatoes are harvested, they will be sent to the envoys." Lu Rong was very happy because the new crop could be spread to the south.

The transfer envoy became more interested in the Zhu family and his son. After returning to Cao Yamen, he summoned Li Hanzhang and asked, "Chen Zhimo is really in the mountains of Xixiang?"

Li Hanzhang replied: "I have been living here for several months and study with Mr. Zhu every day."

The transfer envoy asked curiously: "Chen Zhimo is already a famous Confucian, what can Mr. Zhu teach him? Is he also teaching agriculture?"

"No," Li Hanzhang said, "Mr. Chen was requested by the Zhu family and his son. He realized it a few months ago and wanted to establish a sect to promote Confucianism."

"Establish a sect?" The transshipment envoy was horrified.

Li Hanzhang said: "This school is inherited from the "Book of Changes", and the daily use of the people is the Tao. The purpose of use is to seek benevolence and use the Tao to benefit the people of the world and benefit the country. There is also the theory of "I am the foundation", taking me as the rule, Take the family, country and the world as the square. If I am square, the family, country and the world will be the same. I am not a small self, all the people are me. If all the people are square, the family and the country must be square, then the country will be peaceful and the people will be safe."

The transshipment envoy understood it carefully and began to ask for details. Li Hanzhang tried his best to answer, but there were some things that he couldn't explain.

The transshipment envoy had countless doubts in his heart, so he simply wrote a personal letter and sent someone to Daming Village in Xixiang County.

He is a member of Cai Jing, at least on the surface. While he is following people's influence, taking bribes and perverting the law, he also has some academic pursuits.

Corrupt officials are not allowed to advance?