Chapter four hundred and twentieth the sunset on the west bank of Banqiao
Why do scholars study? The classics say: "Cultivate oneself, manage one's family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world."
Some sages also said: "Establish a mind for the heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the living and the people, carry forward the unique knowledge of the past saints, and create peace for all generations."
A more realistic saying from the predecessors is: "There is a house of gold in a book, and there are thousands of millimeters in a book."
Qin Dewei, a famous poet of the Jiajing Dynasty, also said: "If you fight against the big golden seal, the sky is high and the white jade hall is high. If you don't have thousands of books, how can you serve the king?" This was also popular in Jiangnan for a while.
No matter which theory you believe, scholars want to go to the capital and give it a try whenever they have the opportunity. What if they become generals and become prime ministers, and they are the ones who will leave their names in history?
After Qin Dewei decided to go north, preparations began. In fact, there was nothing to worry about. It was easy to do if he had money.
Then before setting off, Qin Dewei also made up for the crowning ceremony. He has already become a master of Juren, and it is really unreasonable that he has not been crowned yet.
Besides, according to the Ming Dynasty system, anyone over the age of sixteen can begin to be considered an adult.
Of course, as a coming-of-age ceremony for a scholar, in addition to a name, there should also be a "word".
Mr. Wang Yijing, a professional master who was outperformed by others, came forward as an elder and gave Qin Dewei the name Huaiyuan during the crowning ceremony.
There is a poem that goes: "The Holy Lord works hard for the people and the years are prosperous. His virtue and majesty are far away and the dust is empty."
Qin Dewei's courtesy name is Huaiyuan, which is auspicious and pleasing and can express great ambitions, so there's nothing wrong with it!
Although according to the current social customs of the Ming Dynasty, most people call each other with "Hao" and rarely use "Zi", but even if it is a decoration, it still needs to be there.
Furthermore, there should also be a "number" that is most commonly used by scholars. After you become an adult, it is difficult for others to call you by your first name. If you don't have a nickname, it will be inconvenient to interact with others.
The "number" is chosen by oneself. Some people use it for their interests, some use it for landmarks, and some people just want to show off.
Qin Dewei struggled with this for several days. What number should he choose?
That day, when he was returning to his home from Wang Lianqing's house, he passed by the long Banqiao on the Qinhuai River. He saw the vastness of the place, the vastness of the place, and the water smoke, which was a solid green, which was pleasing to the eye and washed away the dust.
There are also celebrities who are alluring the city, wearing hairpins and hair on their temples, strolling hand in hand and leaning on railings, which is truly a scene of peace and prosperity.
It is indeed the only contemporary original scene without allusions among the "Forty Scenes of Jinling" drafted by the famous Jinling artist Mr. Qin himself, "Viewing Princesses on the Long Bridge".
At this time, Qin Dewei suddenly had an idea and had a "number"!
Under the bridge and by the river, there was an annex belonging to an unknown family. Qin Dewei knocked on the door and asked for a pen and ink. The owner immediately gave it to him. There was no one who did not know elegance hanging around here.
Qin Dewei first wrote the title "Banqiao Song" on the wall outside, and tourists passing by watched it.
Then Qin Dewei continued to write: "Three hundred years of spring in the old courtyard singing building, it is difficult to remember the wind, moon, orioles and flowers. The south alleys of the west chamber are full of fragrant streets, and the roads are covered with rouge marks.
Parking is available everywhere in the brothel. Who in Zhu's family does not welcome guests? When guests come to the river, they will be the kings and grandsons, and their souls will be cut off at the sight of peace.
At that time, on the side road of Hongbanqiao, there were a lot of incense and clouds weaving smoke. I could only hear people playing with silver zithers every day, and it was said that every family had a money tree."
These paragraphs describe the overall grandeur of the Qinhuai Old Courtyard.
"The imperial team's little pear garden has long been dedicated to the long live happiness of the Qianqiu period. After Emperor Wuzong's inspection tour, he was pitifully exposed to outsiders."
These sentences describe the origin and history of the Qinhuai Old Courtyard.
"Last night, the moon was high in front of the corridor, and I dreamed of orchids on the spring water. I vaguely remember the Qinhuai Road, and the luxuriant grass reaching Banqiao.
The sun sets on the west bank of Banqiao, and the old courtyard is full of romantic dreams. The fragrant trees don’t know that their children hate them, but they line the bottom of the fan with peach blossoms.”
These few sentences mean to miss and reminisce. It seems very abrupt, but after others think about it, they suddenly realize. Mr. Xiao Qin must have written his reminiscences in advance before he left Nanjing!
Finally, I saw the signature: "Jinling Qin Banqiao."
This is the first time Mr. Xiao Qin, a famous Jinling artist, has made his account public.
The surname is Qin, the given name is Dewei, the courtesy name is Huaiyuan, and the nickname is Banqiao. As a scholar, Qin Dewei’s name finally comes alive!
Anyway, there is no limit to the quantity of the number, and it can also be changed. We will talk about more suitable ones in the future.
During the major exam season that happens every three years, the time between the two exams is really short. It seems that just a few days after the provincial exam, it’s time to start again and catch up on the next exam.
In the last few days before leaving, Qin Dewei stayed with Mrs. Gu during the day and slept at Wang Lianqing's house at night.
It was not until the beginning of October that Qin Dewei boarded a ship from Longjiang Pass and headed north to the capital on a rustling autumn morning.
Traveling with him were Chen Feng, who was in the same year as the provincial examination, and Xu Gu, the son of the famous hermit Xu Long.
In fact, these two people should be from Gu Dongqiao's group, but this time they insisted on going with Qin Banqiao.
Xu Long even asked Wen Zhengming to find Qin Dewei to intercede for his son Xu Gu.
Qin Banqiao, the leader of the township party, doesn't care. We are all fellow villagers when we go out, so let's stay together.
In addition, Wang, Ma, Zhang and Zhao, who were originally serving as county government servants, have all sold themselves to Qin Dewei and become domestic slaves.
Originally, they did not have a formal establishment in the county government, and they did not feel it was a pity to leave the county government. Isn't Mr. Xiao Qin bigger than the county government?
This time Qin Dewei went north, and these four people came with him as his entourage. Anyway, everything at home has been settled by Qin Baotou and Yuanfeng Bank, so there is no need to worry about anything.
Going north this time, Qin Dewei had nothing new to say, and he had to rush for time, so he didn't have many stops on the way.
When passing by Yangzhou and Huai'an, I asked Li Chunfang and Shen Kun, and they found that neither of the two future top picks was interested in participating in the examination this year.
In addition, I met with Mr. Wang Yiqi, the Prime Minister of Hecao, in Huai'an Prefecture, and then there was nothing else to do on the way.
At the end of October, when the weather was about to get cold and freezing, Qin Dewei came to the capital again. This time he didn't have to find a guildhouse to stay temporarily, he had his own place to stay.
Before departure, Qin Dewei had already made an agreement with the Feng family in Songjiang Prefecture and bought the house in Wugong Hutong.
Moreover, when I left Beijing last time, I left all the keys with Xu Miaoxuan, so I must clean them in advance.
At this time, the main hall of the house was already occupied by his mother, the Zhou family, and Zeng's father-in-law had already been elected to office again.
After Qin Dewei paid a visit to his mother, he learned that when his father-in-law returned to Beijing to resume his duties, he met Master Xia, the Minister of Civil Affairs, and they hit it off.
Perhaps Master Xia could feel that Zeng's stepfather, who loved martial arts, was the talent who could make up for his own power's military shortcomings.
Then, just like the original historical trajectory, Zeng's father-in-law selected officials as the censor of Liaodong. From the perspective of officialdom ethics, this was a high promotion.
Selected from the county magistrate as a censor named Xingqi, it is considered a promotion. If you can be selected as a prestigious censor who is known as patrolling the sky on behalf of the hunter, you will be promoted even more.
Qin Dewei smiled bitterly. The inertia of history was still so strong. Master Xia and Zeng's father were really destined to have the same age. They were executed in the West Market in the same year.
Since his mother lives in the main courtyard, Qin Dewei continues to live in the east courtyard, while Chen Feng and Xu Gu live in the west courtyard.
After the two settled down, Chen Feng came to see Qin Dewei and invited Qin Dewei to visit Zhang Chao, the provincial examination master.
Qin Dewei thought for a while and agreed. The etiquette of scholars should be the same. Others, including Xia Shangshu and Wang Shangshu, should be put aside first.