Seeing Yin Zhongzheng leading the crowd out, the scholars outside the building bent down and saluted, like fallen wheat fields.

The Yin friends laughed and said a few words, saying: "Today all the wise men have gathered here to evaluate and recommend talents. I have a question: Confucius said: If a gentleman has nothing to fight for, he will definitely shoot! Bow and give way.

Lift it up and drink it down. The dispute is between gentlemen. Please try to discuss the dispute between gentlemen."

This passage comes from "The Analects of Confucius: Eight Hundreds". Everyone thought of the scene that had just happened and looked at Yang Anxuan, wondering if there was something behind the words.

The Analects of Confucius is a must-read classic for scholars. Ma Rong, Zheng Xuan, Lu Zhi and other sages have discussed it, and contemporary scholars such as Fan Ning have also discussed it.

Fan Fuzi promoted Confucianism, taught many disciples, and had great insights into the Analects. Many of the scholars who came to criticize it today are his disciples.

In order of eldest and youngest, the junior officials came forward to answer their names. Some of them quoted scriptures or were ingenious. What all the scholars talked about were the principles of respect, humility, etiquette, and concessions among gentlemen.

From Si Chu to Shen Chu, one hundred and twenty-six people were absent. Even Yuan He, who had been beaten, did not come down from the mountain. He shamelessly pointed at Sang and Huai and accused Yang Anxuan. Some people beat someone disrespectfully, and they are not a gentleman.

.

I don’t know whether it was intentional or not, but Yang Anxuan was called last. You have to know that the hundreds of people in front of him have repeated the meaning of this sentence more than a hundred times. Unless the last appearance can be refreshing, it will be difficult to stand out.

It is also advantageous to appear last, and have the most time to prepare. Yang Anxuan did not start with the gentleman like everyone else, but started with shooting.

"Shooting is one of the six arts, and it is also the way of benevolence. A gentleman's shooting must follow the etiquette and practice benevolence. If he misses the target, he does not complain about the one who is better than himself, but only seeks for others, and there is no competition. If he retreats and gets used to it, he will not compete.

What a gentleman."

The Yin friends stroked their beards together and smiled and said: "The best argument for a gentleman is to follow etiquette and practice benevolence."

Chen Shen sneered and exposed his shortcomings, saying: "To put it nicely, Mr. Yang just started hurting people. This is not what a gentleman did. Could it be that Mr. Yang is a hypocrite."

This remark is very vicious and denies Yang Anxuan's character.

Yuan He responded loudly: "Yes, bullying others with power is just a villain."

If it were confirmed that Yang Anxuan was a villain, his reputation would be ruined, and he would have no place in the scholarly community, let alone being classified as a top-notch person.

Yang Anxuan smiled and said: "Confucius said: Repay grievance with straightness and repay kindness with kindness. Yuan He has slandered me many times. How can a sinister villain like you treat me like a gentleman? If I hear you slander me again in the future, I will see you.

I'll hit you once, and even if the master sees you, he'll say it's a good beating."

Yuan He shrank his neck and looked at Chen Shen with a red face. Chen Shen snorted angrily and said, "Just now you kept talking about benevolence. Where did you learn the master's way of benevolence and forgiveness?"

Yang Anxuan responded loudly: "Don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you. This is Master's way of benevolence and forgiveness. Mr. Chen, please do it yourself."

Chen Shen's face turned red and he was about to rebuke angrily when his friend Qi Xianxian smiled and said, "I don't understand Master's kindness and forgiveness today. Yang Anxuan, I heard that you composed three climbing poems in a row on the Phoenix Tower. The first one is called

Excellent work. When I come to the Phoenix Tower again today, I might as well write another climbing poem."

Yang Anxuan accepted the promise with his hands raised, and then wandered in front of the building with his hands behind his back, as if in deep thought.

Envy, jealousy, expectation, curse, all kinds of thoughts focused on Yang Anxuan.

Yang Quanqi was nervous, and the veins on his hands twirling his beard were exposed. Only Yang Anxuan knew clearly that writing poetry was a test for him.

After pacing back and forth twice, Yang Anxuan stopped and chanted loudly: "Only the sky is above, and there are no mountains with it. When you look up, the sun is approaching, and when you look back, the white clouds are low."

Yang Quanqi's hands changed from twisting to caressing, and a smile spread on his face.

Yin friends sighed together and said: "Although this poem is simple, its momentum is extraordinary and it can be said to be a masterpiece. In the past, Cao Zijian completed the poem in seven steps, but An Xuan did not allow the sages to do it."

After thinking for a moment, Yin Youqi gave a comment, saying: "The lyrics are brilliant, outstanding, and talented in both civil and military affairs. He can be called a pillar."

As soon as the comment came out, everyone was in an uproar. Yin Zhongzheng spoke so highly of Yang Anxuan, and it seemed that it was definitely a high-quality product.

…………

The results of the evaluation and finalization were announced three days later. As expected, Yang Anxuan was tentatively designated as upper-middle grade (1), which will be confirmed after the general meeting of Dazhongzheng.

One hundred and sixteen people, a total of thirty-seven people were promoted and rated. Yin Dun did not participate in the evaluation to avoid suspicion. Two people from the Yin family were rated as fifth and sixth grades respectively; two people from the Deng family were rated as high-grade and two were rated.

To be promoted, one person from the Cen family will be promoted to a higher rank, and three people from the other noble families will be promoted to a higher rank.

Gongsun He achieved his wish and was promoted to the fifth rank. After the evaluation by the great Zhongzheng Xi Hui, he submitted it to Situ for review, and then he could be awarded an official by the Ministry of Personnel.

There were only nine people from poor families who were promoted to higher grades. Zhao Fangji, one of the Eight Masters of Tuoshui, was still at the sixth rank. As for Yuan He, not only was he not promoted, but he was demoted from the eighth rank to the ninth rank.

The Yang family paid homage to their ancestors and held a big feast to celebrate Yang Anxuan's appointment as a top-middle-class man. You must know that the people designated as a top-class man are the children of top families, which is an exception for the current fourth-class family of the Yang family.

Although it was only a review by the county officials and had to be reviewed by the Grand Central Committee, everyone knew that Governor Xi had a crush on Yang Anxuan, and the Yang family finally had the opportunity to change their family status.

At the beginning of the year, Yang Anxuan returned to his residence with the support of Zhang Feng. He couldn't remember how much he drank and felt dizzy.

The clan members toasted one after another, and even his uncle Yang Guang drank three glasses of wine with him.

Yang Anxuan understands the principle of "when one person attains enlightenment, chickens and dogs ascend to heaven", the tribesmen regard him as a step back into the top social circles. Being able to be used by others is not a blessing.

Looking at the dim yellow oil lamp, Yang Anxuan smiled stupidly, with many thoughts in his mind. The images of his past and present lives were intertwined in his mind, which made him both happy and sad.

Hu Yuan carefully served a cup of hot tea and said softly: "Sir, drink a cup of hot tea to relieve your hangover."

Hu Yuan was unwilling to be sent by his father as a follower to Yang Anxuan.

Although his father and eldest brother explained the interests to Chen and explained the importance of a good relationship with the Yang family, the dignified fifth son of the Hu family became a hostage and was ordered to do whatever he wanted, but Hu Yuan was unwilling in every possible way.

However, judging from the current situation, Yang Anxuan did not treat him as a follower, but treated him like a friend, which comforted Hu Yuan a little.

Hu Yuan learned from Zhang Feng that Yang Anxuan, a real critic in Fenghuang Mountain today, who was only sixteen years old, was designated as the second grade of the upper middle school. This made Hu Yuan feel uneasy.

The Hu family has declined and has become a refugee. No matter how great the foundation of Panlong Mountain is, it is just a candle in the wind and may be extinguished at any time.

Yang Anxuan was determined to be a top-middle grade person, and he could foresee a bright future. Being by his side would naturally make things better for him. Thinking of this, his resentment towards his eldest brother turned into gratitude.

In the future, traveling around with Yang Anxuan would be far better than staying in Panlong Mountain. Hu Yuan couldn't help but look forward to it.

Zhang Feng looked at Hu Yuan with some scruples. His family situation had changed due to the kindness of the young master. He wanted to serve the young master with all his heart.

Now there was an extra Hu Yuan in the courtyard, and even the task of serving tea and water was being robbed, which gave Zhang Feng a sense of crisis.

The children of the poor have long been in charge of the family. Zhang Feng was a little wary of Hu Yuan's arrival. This Mr. Hu would not steal his job.

Zhang Feng sat alone in the corridor, somewhat depressed, thinking wildly.

A few days ago, Brother Buffalo came to her home and borrowed a few liters of corn from his mother. When Brother Buffalo caught many fish, he gave them to his family. This kindness cannot be forgotten.

Brother Buffalo took two stones of corn and said with a smile that the government had given his family fifty acres of land and cultivated an additional thirty acres. It looked like the corn was growing well and it would be harvested next month. He would send the newly harvested corn to him then.

Give it a try to your aunt.

Seeing that the buffalo's clothes did not cover his body and that the half-grown man was wearing rags that exposed his buttocks, Sun took out some old clothes from the house that were unwanted by the battalion sergeants and stuffed them to the buffalo.

This time the young master went to Luoyang without letting him follow him. He went to the military camp to practice when he had time. Because of his godfather Zhao Tian, ​​the soldiers in the military camp were very good to him.

Zhang Feng has a sweet mouth and diligent legs. For such a child who knows how to make progress and can endure hardships, the soldiers are willing to teach him everything. Zhang Feng can now ride a horse, and can hit a target with a five-dou small bow twenty paces away.

Pursing his lips, Zhang Feng made up his mind. He wanted to follow the young master closely, but he couldn't just rely on serving tea and water. In the future, he would also follow the young master to kill enemies on the battlefield, like Uncle Zhao did, in exchange for stability for his mother and sister.

…………

Some are happy and some are sad.

Chen Mansion.

Yuan He complained to Chen Shen with a sad look on his face, "... instead of being promoted, he was demoted. Mr. Chen, you have to make the decision for me. Last time Mr. Chen said that he would recommend me to take up a post in Yixing County, Yangzhou."

Sorry, I've thought about it. I'm afraid Xinye County won't be able to stay any longer. I'd like to ask Mr. Chen to reply to his preface. I'm going to leave for Yixing."

Chen Shen looked at this incompetent guy with boredom on his face. How could his brother use a person with a bad reputation and a lowered grade? If this person wasn't still useful, he wouldn't even bother to see him.

"Yuan He, I have written to my brother to recommend you. Please be patient and wait a little longer." Chen Shen comforted him and took a sip of water.

Yuan He was a little anxious, he couldn't wait any longer, and his stomach seemed to be reminding him with a dull pain.

"Mr. Chen, I have offended the Yang family. I am afraid that the Yang family will retaliate against me. Yang Anxuan even uttered wild words about beating me. Please protect me, Mr. Chen. How about Mr. Chen give me some money so that I can stay away for a while."

Chen Shen frowned and said in a deep voice: "I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to make enemies with the Yang family. It's better to go to the state and sue Yang Anxuan. My nephew was also bullied by Yang Anxuan last time. If you can vent his anger on his behalf,

, my eldest brother will accept it happily."

Yuan He is not stupid. He knows that Chen Shen treats him as a thug, but he has no chance of turning back. If he doesn't listen to Chen Shen, he will be unable to move forward in Jiyang City.

Asking someone to bring five thousand coins, Chen Shen said to Yuan He: "The Dazhongzheng review is in October. You will leave for Xiangyang immediately to publicize Yang Anxuan's misdeeds. This money will be used for your expenses in Xiangyang."

Yuan He said with a bitter face: "Xiangyang is expensive, so I'm afraid the money won't be enough."

Chen Shen's face darkened and he said coldly: "Five thousand dollars is enough for an ordinary family to live for half a year. As long as you don't stay in brothels or wine shops, that's enough."

When Yuan He said goodbye and left, Chen Shen slapped the table hard and cursed: "A greedy and short-sighted person can be bullied by me."

Chen Shen stood up angrily and walked alone in the garden.

The chrysanthemums in the garden are like brocade and have a light and elegant fragrance.

Chen Shen's mood gradually calmed down, thinking that Yuan He's trip to Xiangyang would not be of much use. The last time he wrote to Zhang Hui, he asked him to embarrass Yang Anxuan during the review of Dazhongzheng, but he was declined politely.

From this point of view, it is almost a foregone conclusion that Yang Anxuan will be ranked as a top grader.

Thinking that when Yang Anxuan is promoted to the top rank, the strength of the Yang family in the new field will be greatly increased. The Yin family has a close relationship with the Yang family, and Yin friends will not be confused until they are in the same year, and they can still serve as Zhongzheng for three to five years. The Chen family's children will inevitably be restrained from being promoted to a higher rank in the future.

Chen Shen became irritated. He knew earlier that he should not have listened to Wang Xu's instigation and got into trouble with Yang Quanqi. Now he was riding a tiger and couldn't help himself.

In this case, Wang Xu cannot be allowed to sit idly by. Since the state can't stop Yang Anxuan from finalizing the product, Wang Xu can be persuaded to persuade Wang Guobao in the capital and the King of Kuaiji will use his force.

After being reviewed by Dazhongzheng, it must be submitted to Situ for review, who also serves as the King of Kuaiji.

Yang Quanqi was moved from the prefect of Henan to the prefect of Xinye, but the king of Kuaiji was dissatisfied with him. Wang Xu also vaguely mentioned this in his letter. There was a royal treasure in the capital, and the king of Kuaiji would never sit back and watch Yang Anxuan be promoted to the top grade.
Chapter completed!