In the early spring of March in the 16th year of Chenghua, it was suddenly warm but then cold. The gate of the examination courtyard in Yanzhou Mansion was tightly closed, seemingly cutting off all contact between the inside and outside. The great master that everyone wanted to see was inside.
There is love in the door, but there are still people in twos and threes scattered outside the entrance gate of the examination courtyard, lingering for a long time.
Among the crowd are children who are participating in the academy examination. Even if they cannot see the Grand Master, they can still inquire about various trends here, and there may be some news that can help them pass the academy examination; there are also local students in the crowd who think they are qualified.
Gentlemen, the sweet-scented osmanthus blooms in August, you know.
Fang Yingwu, who belongs to the latter category, is also standing here, looking at the door with a wry smile.
Hearing that the great master of academic affairs was visiting Yanzhou Prefecture, he came all the way from Chun'an County in the hope of meeting him, but he neglected one thing.
When a person is asked to take an exam by a local college, if he cares about his image, to avoid suspicion, he will dismount and move directly into the exam hall, and then lock himself inside and outside, and usually no outsiders will be seen. Otherwise, there will be a lot of public opinion, and some things will not be explained clearly.
.
Of course, it is not completely certain that you will not see guests, but you must have enough reasons that can convince (fool) others, so that others feel that the meeting is reasonable and that they should go.
Fang Yingwu stood outside the gate of the trial courtyard, thinking a lot, but he couldn't find any "reason" in himself that would allow the Grand Master to summon him without any scruples.
Should I wait until the academy examinations are over before looking for opportunities? I'm just afraid that the Grand Master may suddenly leave at some point after the academy examinations are over, but he doesn't know it yet, and he won't be able to catch up even if he rushes to the evening market.
Or you can find someone to pass on the message, but his thoughts are really invisible. When you find someone to pass the message on, you must be absolutely reliable. Where can you find such a person in such a short time?
After standing for a long time, Fang Yingwu was a little tired. He saw a teahouse on the street and went to rest. But looking from a distance, the teahouse was also crowded. It seemed denser than outside, and most of the customers were there.
They look like scholars in long gowns, and most of them are children waiting for exams to pass the time here.
This can be regarded as an examination of economics. When Yingwu approached, he saw two groups of people in the tea house at war with each other, arguing about something.
Fang Yingwu looked carefully and saw a familiar figure among the crowd. He was fifty years old, with gray beard and hair. He was wearing an old green cloth shirt. If this wasn't Sister Lan's father, Master Wang, who was he?
Fang Yingwu was stunned for a moment, but he quickly guessed that this must be because Master Wang didn't give up and ran over to take the college exam again, but by chance he ran into it.
"You old fool, are you seeking death?" A young scholar in a brocade robe in the middle of the crowd jumped up and angrily cursed Master Wang.
When Master Wang heard the other party swearing, he said patiently: "It's true that I'm not the one below. Why should I say hurtful words to others? It would be detrimental to the dignity of our generation of scholars."
The young scholar in the golden robe didn't like to listen to Master Wang's chatter. When he heard that the accent was from another place, he yelled and cursed: "Is it reasonable to spoil other people's manuscripts? There are no people in the backcountry, so I sent a shameless old guy like you out to go there.
College examination? There is almost no one left!"
Not only the young scholars in brocade robes and Master Wang, there were also more than a dozen people making noisy surroundings. Fang Yingwu stood outside and listened. It seemed that there were children from Chun'an on one side and local children from Fucheng on the other.
It seems that there were geographical attacks on each other. The children in Fucheng scolded the children in Chun'an County for being mountain villagers. The children in Chun'an County cursed the children in Fucheng for being frivolous, so the war group expanded so much.
Fang Yingwu expressed his understanding of this. Let alone the fifteenth century, even in the twenty-first century, if you want to provoke a big melee, regional attacks will always be the most effective way.
Although I don’t know what the reason is, at this time I can only help my relatives but not take care of them. Those who try to help my relatives or not are idiots who will not please me inside or outside.
Of course Fang Yingwu was not stupid. He tried his best to separate the crowd, squeezed to the side of Master Wang, and first gently patted Master Wang to reassure him.
Then Fang Yingwu looked at the person opposite him, sneered at the young scholar in brocade robes and said loudly: "Is it possible that your Excellency is also a child? I think there is no one in Sichuan in this city, and they actually let you pass the county examination!"
As soon as Fang Yingwu spoke, someone in Chun'an County recognized him. Even those who didn't know him quickly became acquainted through word of mouth. Immediately, as if they had found a backbone, the others stopped talking and looked at each other.
The method corresponds to the object.
The young scholar in the golden robe did not show any weakness, pointed at Fang Yingwu and scolded: "Who are you, nosy? Are you in the same group with this old fool? What kind of cats and dogs dare to be on the ground of our Yanzhou Mansion?
act wildly!"
It had been a long time since he had been scolded so much. Fang Yingwu took a deep breath and said, "Okay, okay, may I ask your name?"
The young scholar opened his mouth and was about to answer, but his friend next to him interrupted and asked Fang Yingwu: "Who are you?"
This is not Chun'an County, but Yanzhou Prefecture. Most people across the street don't know who Fang Yingwu is. But someone soon pointed out: "This is Fang Jieyuan's son!" Everyone suddenly realized.
Damn it! I still couldn’t get rid of “Father Fang Qingzhi”. Fang Yingwu felt bored. He closed his fan and lit the young scholar and said: “Stop talking nonsense, do you dare to tell me your name? Although this is the boundary of Fucheng, but
I don’t believe that there is no king’s law. We should do things for heaven, and we should get rid of you, a black sheep, from among the students!”
Fang Yingwu's words were so domineering and powerful that everyone in Chun'an County cheered and applauded loudly.
The young scholar in brocade robes was young and careless, and was frightened by Fang Yingwu's threat. But his friend, who was more mature, forcefully defended himself and said, "Does Fang, a member of a well-known family, have to use force to force others?"
Fang Yingwu snorted coldly: "Didn't you just rely on the locals to use your power to force this old gentleman? If you can do it, I can't do it? Everyone shows his true skills, and each has his own destiny in life and death. This friend,
Or are you hiding your head and showing your tail and not daring to tell me your name?"
The scholar in brocade robes could not stand the excitement and reported his family background: "I am Zhu Ruiqiang!"
Mr. Zhu's friend quickly stood in front, blocking Mr. Zhu behind him, and pointed at Master Wang and said: "Young Master Zhu has a dispute with this old gentleman, and there is no way to make it happen like this.
Friend Fang is also a respectable person, and the news of shouting and killing has spread. I'm afraid it will damage his reputation. From what I see, scholars still rely on their articles to judge the difference. How about letting the great master judge?"
This means that it depends on the results of the college examination.
The students in Chun'an County were scolded when they heard this. The admission rate for the college examination was not even one out of ten, let alone comparing old students like Wang Shu with the young scholars from the other side. Then the admission rate in Chun'an was almost
Must lose!
Because everyone knows that the probability of an old boy being admitted is much lower than that of a young boy. The reason is very simple. Old boys basically have little potential due to their age, and even if they become a scholar, they will be of little use.
As long as the great masters are clear-headed, who is willing to waste the opportunity and accept students who will soon be buried and will be of no use in the future? Young students have unlimited potential and will have decades of development time in the future. Maybe they can still be relied upon after they develop well.
For a Grand Master, under the same conditions, it is of course better to recruit young people. This world is never simple, and there are considerations of interests everywhere.
Therefore, there is a phenomenon that everyone is well aware of in college examinations. The older a person is, the harder it is to be admitted, and the more people are not admitted, the more years they will waste. This leads to a tragedy similar to that of Mr. Wang who was over fifty years old and was still a child.
Then he added: "But it can't be so unfair. I think as long as Mr. Wang wins, it will be considered a win. The loser will withdraw from the examination room and will not take the exam for the rest of his life! All the gentlemen present must be outside the south gate in front of everyone.
How about apologizing to the other party?"
Mr. Zhu's friend was a little hesitant. His suggestion that Mr. Zhu and Mr. Wang compare their college entrance examination results was indeed opportunistic and tilted the balance in his favor. But the bet proposed by Fang Yingwu was very tricky.
Withdrawing from the imperial examination for life? Can Mr. Wang's withdrawal, which has little time left in his life, and young Master Zhu's withdrawal be regarded as the same heavy price? As for the apology, it is nothing more than a matter of face.
Mr. Zhu felt that this kind of bet was almost certain, so why wouldn't he dare? Before his friend could think it through, he responded quickly: "I'll take this bet!"
After the crowd dispersed, Fang Yingwu asked Master Wang, "Why is Lao Taishan here?"
Teacher Wang snorted coldly. "I am a middle school student in the county. Can't I come to Fucheng to take the college examination?"
Fang Yingwu advised: "At Lao Taishan's age, he can just teach a few schoolchildren at home to make a living. Why bother working so hard for the mere fame of being a scholar?"
Thinking of Fang Yingwu's previous refusal to help, Master Wang felt a little dissatisfied, "I don't expect you this time, so why are you so nagging? Anyway, Huaxi is on the road of luck, I might get some luck."
Fang Yingwu changed the subject and asked: "Then why did you have a conflict with the Fucheng boy? Old Taishan, you are old and frail. It is better not to fight with others when you go out, otherwise you will hurt yourself."
Speaking of this, Master Wang sighed and said, "The Grand Master listed out the academic examination schedule the day before yesterday. Due to time constraints, this academic examination will be combined into one examination for every two counties.
It was decided that Fucheng and Chun'an County would be combined into one competition. It was really like competing for spots in the same competition, so the relationship between the children in the two counties was not good. And today I accidentally spilled the tea on the little brother surnamed Zhu.
On the manuscript, and then for some reason, the children from two counties in the teahouse started a quarrel."
It turned out to be like this. No wonder the two sides were at war with each other. Fame and wealth were behind it. Fang Yingwu finally understood.
Master Wang said worriedly: "If you make a bet with me, you will lose nine times out of ten, but it doesn't matter if you lose. I'll just end it."
Fang Yingwu said confidently: "Old Taishan, don't think too much! When you win the bet, they will naturally keep their tail between their legs. This time I have an idea to let you pass the college examination, and then you will be crowned and honored! But!
I also entrust you to help deliver the message."
He had made this idea from just now. Since he couldn't see the Grand Master, he would ask Master Wang, a candidate, to go to the examination room and send a message.
It turns out that the main problem is that I am worried about finding someone reliable. To put it bluntly, my behavior is cheating in the examination. I must be careful, otherwise it will be serious.
The appearance of Master Wang was like a flash of light suddenly appearing in the darkness. The reliability of Old Taishan should not be a problem, just let him deliver the message. (To be continued...)