Lin Tailai also didn't expect that when he asked Li Rusong for help, he would instead receive a big gift from Li Rusong.
But Lin Tailai was not a pretentious person. After bringing back a box of ginseng, he sent his servant Ding Guang to post a heroic message, inviting friends to discuss the literary world in two days. At the same time, each person was given two ginseng sticks to nourish the body.
Or it was because Lin Tailai was not that familiar with the situation in the literary circles in Beijing, so he had to brainstorm ideas.
Later generations' materials will only record that something happened in a certain year and month, but will not specify the situation of the literary circle in the capital, how many hills there are, and the specific organizational form.
Young officials with whom we were familiar, such as Shen Yongmao and Wang Xiangmeng, as well as fellow students from the Fu School such as Wang Yusheng, Jin Shiheng, Chen Yunjian and Shen Jue, as well as acquaintances from other places such as Zhou Yingqiu and Dong Qichang, all came over.
They were all his own people, so Lin Tailai didn't need to be secretive and directly explained his purpose:
"The situation is like this, the problem is like this. I will try my best to publicize the name of Wen in the capital within two months to reduce the criticism after the Chinese style."
Jin Shiheng said: "Normal people's way of becoming famous is to be brought into the circle by their seniors and then become famous step by step, but you will not take this path of becoming a grandson first.
Judging from your habit, you must just slap people in the face and step on them, so what else is there to discuss?
Just do it, and we'll cheer you up or help you connect."
Lin Tailai said: "So what I really want to ask is, how to slap people in the face, how to step on people, or who's face to hit and who to step on?
All in all, you have to choose the right target when you want to slap someone in the face. If you stomp on a random cat or dog, what impact will it have?"
When the words were spoken to such a specific level, everyone was speechless for a moment.
Besides, we are all decent people, and no one is embarrassed to point fingers and say, this senior can be stepped on, and that senior deserves a slap in the face.
Lin Tailai couldn't help but sigh: "It's a pity that the capital is not Jiangzuo, and there is no alliance leader Wang Lao here!
If Master Wang Laomeng were in the capital, how could he make me so worried!"
When you were in Jiangzuo, as long as you wanted to get a literary name, you didn't have to worry too much, just go to the alliance leader Wang Lao.
But in the capital, there seems to be no influential figure like Mr. Wang.
Zhou Yingqiu, the future general constitution of Pig Trotters and the Sun Wantian official, said: "If there is enough time, we can urgently transfer the leader Wang Lao to the capital."
Lin Tailai: "."
I thought that my bottom line was already very low, but I didn't expect that there were people around me who had a lower bottom line than my own.
Let's forget it! According to the historical trajectory, the old leader Wang has only two years left to live, so don't torment him.
Lin Tailai couldn't help but feel deeply disappointed and complained: "Don't you all have any ideas?"
No wonder this group of people didn't achieve much fame in history. The upper limit is right here.
It was Zhou Yingqiu who answered: "Since I received Brother Lin's invitation the day before yesterday, I have been making inquiries day and night in various places for the past two days, and finally I have some knowledge about the literary world in the capital.
I also spent a whole night summarizing the situation of the literary world in the capital, and I can share my experience with Brother Lin first."
Lin Tailai greatly appreciated it and said: "It's very good! Come and listen!"
Even if Zhou Yingqiu can't say anything useful, he should be encouraged just by his spirit!
Zhou Yingqiu replied passionately: "Actually, the literary world in the capital is not a circle, but is composed of a number of very complicated circles. Therefore, there is no figure like Mr. Wang in the capital.
Leader Wang Lao may be called the leader of the world literary circle, but it is impossible to unify the capital literary circle unless he can reach the rank of prime minister like Li Dongyang.
There are about four or five sub-circles in the capital that I can see.
So you don’t need to aimlessly look for opportunities, you just need to go through all the circles in a targeted manner, and you will naturally be able to promote your literary name in the capital."
Lin Tailai finally became interested and urged: "Tell me more about it!"
Zhou Yingqiu felt that her hard work was not in vain, and said more positively:
"The first circle is the court circle! It is mainly composed of Hanlin poets. They are close to the court, aloof and aloof. They do not participate in the disputes in the external literary world and are not affected by the secular literary world.
This circle mainly focuses on Taige-style poetry, classics and history, and the leader of this circle is Shen Shoufu! As long as Brother Lin can control Shen Shoufu."
"Cough! Cough!" Suddenly someone next to him coughed heavily, interrupting Zhou Yingqiu's words.
The person coughing is Shen Yongmao, who is glaring fiercely at Zhou Yingqiu. Be careful what you say, because not everyone has the right to be as presumptuous as Lin Tailai!
Zhou Yingqiu saluted Shen Yongmao and said, "I'm sorry! The sage teaches that one must be loyal to others. I only know Brother Lin, but not Mr. Shen Ge."
After Shen Yongmao was stunned for a moment, he asked Lin Tailai: "Where did you find these two people?"
Then he poached people directly and said: "If you, Zhou Yingqiu, fail the exam, you can come to Shen Mansion and become a retainer!"
Zhou Yingqiu replied: "I am from a poor background, and only Brother Lin, who is also from a poor background, can understand me best."
Lin Tailai said: "Don't interrupt! Let's talk about the literary circles in the capital!"
Zhou Yingqiu continued: "Since the court circle is not suitable for stepping on people and slapping people in the face, you can entrust others to help distribute poems.
The second circle is the Langshu circle, which is dominated by middle-level officials of the ministry.
In fact, when the old leader Wang was still in the capital and launched the retro sect, he was considered to be in this circle.
This circle is divided into two categories in terms of content. The first category is purely literary, headed by five sons of the retro school such as Shi Xing and Zhao Yongxian.
The other type is more focused on academics and political discussions, with Gu Xiancheng from the Ministry of Civil Affairs giving lectures regularly, bringing together many figures."
Lin Tailai suddenly slapped his thigh and shouted: "So it must be Gu Xiancheng!"
Zhou Yingqiu then added: "I also think that stepping on people and slapping people in the face is the most cost-effective way to do it.
I asked my fellow villagers to find out that Gu Xiancheng lectures at Lingji Palace every Tuesday, and the day after tomorrow is the second day of December!
Therefore, Brother Lin can focus on academics in the near future. When the end of December comes, there will be a large number of year-end banquets, and then take the opportunity to work on poetry, either Zhao Yongxian or Shi Xing."
Lin Tailai nodded repeatedly, this arrangement was very reasonable.
Later I heard Zhou Yingqiu say: "The third circle is the Shanren circle, which is mainly composed of scholars who seek refuge with the powerful to find a way out. I don't recommend wasting time in this circle, they can't affect Brother Lin.
The fourth circle is the Taixue circle in the north of the city. Although these thousands of people are just Imperial College students with little future, after all, there are many people and they gather in the capital all year round, so they are still influential in terms of public opinion.
I suggested that Brother Lin go to the Confucius Temple of the Imperial College to burn incense during the first lunar month. There will definitely be a lot of people there at that time, so we can try to create a famous scene.
After all, Brother Lin’s time is too tight, so this is the only way.”
Lin Tailai responded: "That's fine. We'll discuss the details later. Is there anything else?"
Zhou Yingqiu added: "There is also a fifth circle, which is the circle of candidates, which only appears during exams. After the exam results are announced, these people are often the ones who complain the most.
If Brother Lin has sufficient financial resources and time, he might as well treat a lot of guests, and the quality should not be bad, and all the wine and beauties will be arranged.
Of course, it is unrealistic to invite thousands of candidates, but as long as each province is invited once and several influential scholars in the provinces are invited, most of the criticism against Brother Lin can be reduced.
Calculated, we need to invite guests more than a dozen times, interspersed in two months. Although the time is very tight, it is not impossible.
Based on the calculation of one hundred taels of silver each time, it would be at least more than one thousand taels of silver for more than ten times. I wonder if Brother Lin has so much funds on hand?"
Lin Tailai: "."
This time I went to Beijing with only one thousand taels in my pocket for living expenses. I didn’t expect to spend a lot of money at first.
But what Zhou Yingqiu said makes sense. If you can buy reputation with money, don't hesitate.
Or maybe my thinking is limited, I am used to free prostitution and using force to solve problems, and I have neglected the operation of buying people's hearts with money. If it doesn't work, just ask someone to borrow money.
"Look, look! It's up to people to plan things!" Lin Tailai said to everyone: "Brother Zhou's spirit of responsibility, responsibility, and hard work is worthy of your serious study!"
But Zhou Yingqiu has not finished speaking, "Finally, I suggest that the examiner in Brother Lin's hands should not be given to Shen Jue's clan brother, because there is not much new benefit to Brother Lin.
This examiner slot should be donated to an influential figure in another province or a certain field, so as to maximize the benefits.
For example, hasn’t Brother Lin always wanted to clear the old route of Wusong River? Wouldn’t it be nice to give the examiner’s quota to an official from the Ministry of Industry?”
Everyone was speechless. How dare you, Zhou Yingqiu, to speak out? Aren't you afraid of being beaten by others? Shen Jingren is sitting right here!
After Lin Tailai was silent for a moment, he said to Shen Jue: "Ask your clan brother if he is willing to be transferred to the Ministry of Industry after the exam is over."
Shen Jue nodded, "It should be no problem."
Then Lin Tailai said to everyone: "Next, please help me contact and arrange the treat. Just as Brother Zhou said, we will arrange one for each province!"
After that, Lin Tailai asked everyone to disperse. He was afraid that if Zhou Yingqiu continued talking, he would offend all his friends.
In the blink of an eye, two days later, it was the second day of the twelfth lunar month, which is said to be the day when Gu Xiancheng lectured at Lingji Palace.
There were no good opportunities for the Zheng family, so Lin Tailai, who could only concentrate on his academic work first, used his greatest perseverance to get out of the bed on the fire bed.
Lingji Palace is right at the foot of the Imperial City, very close to it, only a quarter of an hour's walk away.
Lin Tailai, a diligent and studious candidate, braved the cold wind and walked towards Lingji Palace on two legs. Counting the time three years ago, this was the second time Lin Tailai came to Lingji Palace to discuss academic matters with Gu Xiancheng.
To be continued...