September 12, 1851, Nanjing Memorial Ceremony to Confucius

Like a puppet, Li Yunzhong went through the process of worshiping Confucius in sequence, singing praises, greeting the gods, offering gifts, drinking blessings, removing food, sending gifts to the gods... he knelt down and bent down, washed his hands and burned incense...

Finally at the end, when he was reciting the inscription in memory of Confucius, Li Yunzhong shook his head and said:

However, on the twelfth day of the ninth month in the second year of the Han Dynasty, in the year of Xinhai (Li Yunzhong secretly said: a good omen), on the 2402nd year of the Master’s birthday, all the soldiers and civilians of the Han Dynasty, Li Yunzhong’s Classics, prepared fresh fruits and thin dishes with reverence. Pay homage to the most holy teacher.

The text says:

1. Under Mount Ni, on the shore of Zhusi, Master Zhi surrendered and was entrusted with the destiny.

He was quick and eager to learn, he was determined to spread the Zhou Dynasty, he revised the Six Classics, and he insisted on his honor.

Traveling around various countries, caring for the people, preparing civil and military affairs, and transforming people with rituals and music.

He is happy but not upset, the Dharma is imitated by the universe, and teachings are set up in the apricot altar to promote human ethics.

2. After a thousand years of Taoism, one dynasty was destroyed, and the lonely Master Xiong became flesh.

After three disciples and disciples, the holy religion was revived and passed on to Ji Qian, who only kept its truth.

There are footprints all over the world, people who read and learn the scriptures are sincere and have a correct heart.

Recite poetry and read books to connect with the holy soul, read scriptures and history, and gain a clear understanding of the past and present.

3. Mencius’ mother moved three times to choose neighbors. After eight days of hard work, she had many disciples.

Despite all the hardships and hardships along the way, I will follow my moral principles and my entertainment will be based on my benevolence.

Wealth and honor are unjust, like floating clouds, the road is running smoothly, the phoenix sings and the lin appears.

Be humble and kind-hearted, and be considerate of the benevolent king. For the sake of future generations, you would rather be the fuel of a cauldron.

Fourth, travel thousands of miles to study, far away from your hometown, so that you can cultivate your integrity and cultivate yourself in peace and quiet.

Living together and conspiring together, playing the drum, harp and piano, there is harmony and friendship, and the sheng and chime have the same sound.

Learn the Analects of Confucius, poetry and ancient Chinese prose, be honest and generous, and enjoy the benefits of your life.

God knows the intention, the only way is to be kind and friendly, to travel successfully, to show off one's economic skills.

The holy way will be passed down forever, and it will last forever

Fu Wei Shang Xiang

This bullshit reminded Li Yunzhong of Wei Xiaobao's recital of the "Book of Heaven" praising Master Hong in "The Deer and the Cauldron".

Finally getting to the highlight of the day, Li Yunzhong announced to the scholars who came from all over the country: "The first imperial examination of the Han Dynasty has just begun. Please enter the examination room at once."

Li Yunzhong stared eagerly at the candidates entering the room and said, "One, two, three... Isn't this Zhao Liewen? Why did he run in too?... Forty-seven, forty-eight... These are not Zuo Zongtang's relatives and friends! ...Eighty-seven, eighty-eight...Three hundred and twenty-one. Looking at the empty space behind him, Li Yunzhong withdrew his gaze with satisfaction.

When Zuo Zongtang saw that King Han's eyes were dull and he was muttering to himself, he quickly took a few steps back, acting as if he couldn't hear anything.

"All the heroes in the world have fallen into my urn, haha..." Li Yunzhong wanted to imitate Li Shimin's famous sayings, but then he thought of his own petty fight and couldn't help laughing.

Li Yunzhong returned to the palace proudly and saw the three ladies sitting together listlessly, looking at each other in silence. Li Yunzhong wondered: "Why didn't you go to the women's examination room?"

Xu Yuexiang pouted and said, "Why didn't you go? My two sisters and I just came back from there!"

"Then why are you unhappy? Oh, I see, it must be because the candidates are too... not as many as you expected, right!" Li Yunzhong felt guilty when he saw the three ladies staring at him fiercely, "How many are there?"

Seeing that the two of them were unwilling to speak, Su Sanniang silently raised her index finger, unwilling to say more.

Li Yunzhong cooperated: "There are a hundred people? That's right, there are only more than 320 people in the men's examination room..." Seeing the three ladies shaking their heads, he added: "Is there only ten? It's impossible, right?"

Su Sanniang and the other three lowered their heads and shook their heads in denial.

Li Yunzhong was confused. Could it be that the three of them were playing tricks on me, a thousand female candidates! They were actually very happy, but they just didn't want me to feel embarrassed. Thinking of this, Li Yunzhong was moved, "You are also serious, am I that kind of person?"

A thousand people! It’s too late for me to be happy! How can I be angry?”

Seeing that they didn't speak and just shook their heads, Li Yunzhong was shocked. Ten thousand? Impossible. There are not that many literate women near Nanjing! Could it be one? Thinking of this possibility, Li Yunzhong laughed loudly and said, "I'm laughing so hard."

Okay, only one person came..."

Su Sanniang, Hong Xuanjiao, and Xu Yuexiang stepped forward to surround Li Yunzhong and beat him, complaining, "I told you to laugh at me... beat you to death, you bad guy."

Li Yunzhong surrendered with both hands and shouted, "I was wrong, Madam, please calm down." Seeing that it had no effect, Li Yunzhong held them in his arms and kissed each of them, "You want to rebel? Let's see how my husband will deal with you tonight.

!”

Su Sanniang broke away from Li Yunzhong's arms and said angrily: "Humph! None of you men are good!"

Li Yunzhong was shot while lying down and innocently said: "What does this have to do with me?"

Xu Yuexiang explained with a hum, "In the beginning, more than fifty people participated, but later their families took them back. Sister Hong argued with them and was laughed at by them!"

Li Yunzhong kissed Hong Xuanjiao again and said flatteringly: "Thank you for your hard work, madam. When the next scientific examination is held, I will order my family not to object to a woman's participation in the scientific examination."

Hong Xuanjiao smiled and said: "You are so proud, that woman is a great beauty. I think she is like a sheep entering a tiger's mouth, but in the end she cannot escape from your clutches!"

Li Yunzhong asked in confusion: "Am I very perverted?" Seeing the three of them blushing and nodding like chickens pecking at rice, Li Yunzhong said in disbelief: "No, I'm not the kind of person who is very hungry, even if she is tall.

No matter how beautiful she is, I won't like her. Your values ​​​​and mine are different—it should be appreciation."

Three days passed quickly, and Li Yunzhong and Zuo Zongtang finished correcting the 100 papers in less than a day, ranked them, and prepared to release the results the next day.

Wang Qinglu and Li Shiqi returned to the inn, put down their pen and ink, came to the private room to drink tea, and couldn't help but talk about their feelings about the exams.

Li Shiqi has been in a state of excitement since she left the examination room. "I didn't expect that the exam questions in Nanjing are so simple. Brother Wang, I have a hunch that I will definitely pass this time." Seeing Wang Qinglu's sad face, he persuaded again.

: "Brother Wang, I'm not telling you, you should change your habit of being nervous when you enter the examination room! But it doesn't matter now, the Nanjing scientific examination is so simple, you will definitely not be nervous next time, maybe you can win the top prize!

"

Wang Qinglu took a sip of tea and said with a wry smile: "Brother, you guessed wrong. I have never been nervous. On the contrary, I answered all the questions above, and... how should I put it, nine out of ten times!"

Li Shiqi said with envy: "I knew that Brother Wang would be interested in these things, but I didn't expect that not only would you not be nervous, but you would answer the questions very well. Nine times out of ten, you would be the top pick!"

"Alas! I'm just afraid of winning the top prize!" Wang Qinglu sighed after being told the central issue.

"Pfft... No, Brother Wang, this... there are still people who despise the number one scholar in the world! You don't have a fever, right? Or are you confused by the exam?" Li Shiqi touched Wang Qinglu's forehead and was extremely surprised.

Wang Qinglu took Li Shiqi's hand away and said: "If I win the first prize, it will be difficult to become famous. Maybe even the emperor of Yanjing will know about me. Why don't we find out all the eighteen generations of my ancestors and change them?"

You can’t change your name by changing your ancestors! I’m hesitant about whether to become an official for this big man!”
Chapter completed!