In the Imperial Palace, Emperor Zhao Zhen, Han Qi, and Zeng Gongliang were discussing state affairs.
After Yang Tian and Wang Anshi came to see him, Zhao Zhen said warmly: "I will give it to the two Qing families first. They have worked hard these days. It has been more than ten days since I entered the palace two days before the palace examination..."
Zhao Zhen first said a few words as if he were gossiping, and everyone in the hall understood some of the subtleties.
Then Zhao Zhen opened his mouth and asked them to re-describe the five volumes and the matter of Zhang Yue and Wang Kui's number one scholar.
At that time, it was given to Yang Tian and Wang Anshi.
The two of them read it over again in the hall, wondering if there was anything in the words that made the officials unhappy or if there was someone in this person's family who usually made the officials unhappy.
When Liu Yong failed to become a Jinshi, he couldn't help but complain. He wrote a poem that included the line "I endured the false reputation and sang in a low voice instead of a shallow drink."
A few years later, when Liu Yong took the exam again, the official saw his paper and couldn't help but said angrily: "This person is so good at 'singing in a low voice', so why do he want to be 'famous'? Just write lyrics."
This is the origin of Liu Yong’s mission to write lyrics.
Didn't Wang Anshi himself lose the top prize because of his saying, "Every child has his own friends?"
But this was the official family when they were young. After the tribute to Xixia and the Liao Dynasty, and the failure of the Qingli New Deal, the official family became more tolerant.
However, everyone present knew that Wang Anshi had some bad blood with the officials.
It's not just a matter of being the number one scholar. The officials invited him to go fishing and he ate the bait. The officials said he was treacherous.
A few years ago, Wang Anshi wrote a letter of ten thousand words to the officials, but nothing happened, and there was no movement at all. Later, Wang Anshi wrote the song Ming Fei, using Wang Zhaojun as a metaphor to express how frustrated he was in politics.
Later, the official asked Wang Anshi to repair the daily life in order to train him as a close official. Wang Anshi behaved very abnormally. He refused the appointment eight times and hid in the toilet without saying anything. Later, the internal officials abandoned the imperial edict and sent someone to forcibly return him.
When I go back, I won't give any face to the officials.
now……
Forget about Yang Wei, Wang Anshi twitched his eyebrows and said first: "Your Majesty, these five ministers and the two detailed officials have personally made detailed decisions. I don't know what is wrong, so I would like to ask your Majesty to give you an edict."
Seeing Wang Anshi acting like this, Han Qi and Zeng Gongliang's expressions changed a little. They were clearly trying to quarrel with the officials.
Zhao Zhen was silent for a while, and then said calmly: "I heard that some scholars do not hone their literary and artistic skills, but are diligent in asking for visits."
Wang Anshi said: "Reporting to your majesty, this is not based on literature and art, but on the behavior of scholars. If a scholar's behavior is inappropriate, he should first blame the officials who recommended him, or there may be a censor to correct him, but it seems that the officials caused this behavior.
Yes, it’s not that scholars are like this, but the current trend is like this, forcing candidates to have to..."
Han Qi and Zeng Gongliang watched Wang Anshi's eloquent and impassioned speech in front of the officials.
Han Qi glanced at Zeng Gongliang and whispered: "I really don't know your body."
Zeng Gongliang whispered: "Jiefu has such a temper. Back then..."
Of course Han Qi knew what Zeng Gongliang was referring to. When Bao Zheng was the herdsman of the group, he asked Wang Anshi to drink as his boss, but Wang Anshi refused to drink. In the end, it was very boring.
Wang Anshi stepped aside after speaking. The official looked at Yang Tian and said, "Why didn't Yang Qing say a word?"
Yang Wei said: "Reporting to your majesty, what Kao Jiefu said, although there is some contradiction and inappropriateness, but after all, what he said is to test both literature and art as well as the conduct of scholars, so it is difficult for scholars to do literature and art. I would like to ask your majesty to think twice about re-detailing the matter.
.”
Zhao Zhen thought for a while and said: "Since we are Yang Qing and Wang Qing, the palace examination still focuses on meritocracy, so these five volumes will not be sent back as originally planned."
Wang Anshi and Yang Tian bowed together and said: "Your Majesty is wise."
Han Qi whispered: "Thanks to the officials for accepting the advice."
Zeng Gongliang said: "The officials are tolerant."
Zhao Zhen said to the palace attendants: "Give tea to the two detailed officials."
The palace attendants immediately brought two cups of tea, and Yang Tian and Wang Anshi took them with thanks.
Zhao Zhen said: "This is the Xiaolongtu I use daily. It was made by Cai Qing when he was guarding Fujian Road. It tastes pretty good. You two can try it."
Han Qi said with a smile: "In the past, when His Majesty worshiped heaven and earth in the southern suburbs, he only gave one cake to each of the Secretariat and the Privy Council. When Ouyang participated in politics, he often said that he only received one cake after serving as an official in the court for twenty years."
After hearing this, Yang Tian and Wang Anshi immediately stood up holding tea, drank it, and thanked them again.
Zhao Zhen said: "Two Qing family, how can you tell about the number one scholar scroll?"
Wang Anshi was about to speak, but Yang Tian was already rushing to say: "Your Majesty, I thought that I should follow the system at first. Wang Xingxing appointed the official and said that I should abide by the old rules. But whether I should abide by the old rules or not, I will ask your Majesty to make a decision."
Wang Anshi also said: "What Yang Xiangding official said is absolutely true. I have made a statement before... please give your Majesty a holy judgment."
Zhao Zhen said: "I have read your rules and made them all sound. The palace examination system originated from Taizu Taizong and was inherited from Zhenzong. There have been many changes since I came to the throne. The purpose is also to select talents from among the people. Wang Qing is right.
The principle is that if it is not suitable for selecting talents, it must be changed. I think that in the future, the selection of candidates for the palace examination will be based on Wang Qing's method. The first examiner and the second examiner will choose different rankings, and the detailed selection will be selected separately. As for the current subject..."
"Have you just finished reading the ink scrolls of Han Xiangguo, Privy Council Zeng, Wang Kui, Zhang Yue and Jiang Yan?"
Han Qi and Zeng Gongliang both stood up from their chairs and said: "Report to your Majesty, I have all read it."
"Jiang Yan doesn't need to discuss it. Let's just talk about Wang Kui and Zhang Yue. What are the strengths and weaknesses of their respective articles?"
Han Qi made the first comment: "Reporting to your majesty, both of them are talented people, but if we really want to judge their merits, Wang Kui is more important in literary works, while Zhang Yue is better in reasoning."
Zhao Zhen said: "I also think Wang Kui is better in terms of labor."
Han Qi said: "Your Majesty, Yang Xiong is good at poetry, but in his later years he often lamented the carving of insects and seals. There is no need to do it in his prime."
"Mei Gao was good at writing poems but was not reused by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. He said, 'For writing poems, we should arrange them, and when we see them, we should advocate them'. But later, the imperial court used poems to recruit scholars, and it was too much to judge the position of minister."
"I observe that Wang Kui's poems and poems are full of elaboration, but the selection of the number one prime minister depends more on the ambition of a candidate. I remember that when Emperor Zhenzong was recruiting scholars in the past, although he usually liked literary words, the selection of talents paid more attention to the candidates' knowledge of instruments.
.I still hope that your majesty can follow the system of the late emperor."
Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "The late emperor had this rule."
Zeng Gongliang said: "I also agree with the words of Prime Minister Han. The so-called number one scholar is first a king's minister, and then a civil servant. He works with the prime ministers, and is like Tao Jun's way, using power to create the handle of things. His talents are nurtured and learned.
"Articles, if you look at the small ones, you can know the wonders of grass, trees, flowers and insects; if you look at the large ones, you can see the changes in the movements of cross-country fighting. The tools of the king are not enough to impart them, and the talents of carving and insects cannot be understood."
"From the perspective of law, the most difficult thing for the court is not to establish its laws, but to implement them. Choosing one for the first and second exams is decided before the exam. Yang Xiangding follows the story, which is the kingly way."
Han Qi, Zeng Gongliang, you and I have finished each sentence.
After hearing this, Zhao Zhen nodded slightly and said: "The words of Prime Minister Zeng of Han Dynasty reminded me of the method of our ancestors. In this dynasty, it is important to select scholars with profound knowledge and broad knowledge of weapons. I will give a king who can reach the heaven and earth. The talents of people are as high as water."
The two questions on Taoism are intended to be like this."
"I observed many of the answers given by the scholars in the field were not correct, or the meaning was missing, or the words were weak. Zhang Yue's essays gained the meaning, but Wang Kui's wisdom was better in his words."
"The more I read the chapter, the more I came to realize that the king has the power to connect the world and the people. It can be said that he understands my heart and solves the big problems in the sense of reason. I read the article on the field and saw his sentence, 'The king leads the people, and he is one from all over the world.' It can be said that he praises the state of the country."
Yu Jinshizhizou!"
Han Qi and Zeng Gongliang also bowed and said yes.
"The king's way is at the top, so that the soldiers and the people go and follow it; the domineering is at the bottom, so that the soldiers and the people fear and respect it. Only when the kings and tyrants work together can the four seas be unified and China can be created. This is what I meant when I wrote the title. Of course, Wang Kui's writing has a strong rhyme
There is room for improvement, his movements are calm, and his wording is superb."
Han Qi said: "Your Majesty, I heard that during the exam that day, Zhang Yue was the last person to submit the paper. But Wang Kui wrote very fast, which is an interesting thing."
Zeng Gongliang said: "However, in the past, Mei Gao was very talented and quick in thinking. He could accomplish what he was ordered to do and received many gifts. But Sima Xiangru was good at writing but was late, so he wrote less but was better than Mei Gao. Therefore, there is a cloud that Mei Gao was so fast and his horse was late."
It is also."
Zhao Zhen laughed after hearing this.
At this time, Wang Anshi suddenly said: "Your Majesty, in the second year of Jiayou, Zhang Heng ranked first in the palace examination. In the fourth year of Jiayou, Zhang Dun ranked fifth in the palace examination. If you order Zhang Yue again at this moment, I'm afraid...I'm afraid that hundreds of common people will do it."
talk."
Everyone looked sideways at Wang Anshi after hearing this. Are you still insisting at this time?
Zhao Zhen walked on the sidewalk: "I understand. Let me discuss it one more night. The two detailed officials will come tomorrow to take the list."
Yang Tian and Wang Anshi bowed and said yes and then stepped back.
At this time, Zeng Gongliang said to Zhao Zhen: "Your Majesty, I have heard that Zhang Yue and Zhang Dun are called clan brothers, but they are actually blood brothers."
Zhao Zhen was stunned and said: "Is there anything else?"
Zeng Gongliang said: "I have heard that this is true, but it is a long story. I wonder if your majesty can allow me to explain it slowly."
Zhao Zhen nodded.
Han Qi said: "Your Majesty, Zhang Heng asked for release...and now he has left Ruzhou."
"I understand."
Step out from the imperial palace.
The sky is already filled with sunset, and the rays of rays of light shine on the palace walls, which is really beautiful.
Yang Tian, whose face was covered with glow, suddenly stopped. When Wang Anshi saw Yang Tian stop, he couldn't help but turned around and asked: "What's the matter, Mr. Yang?"
Yang Tian asked: "Jiefu, has Zhang Duzhi offended you before?"
"This has never happened." Wang Anshi shook his head.
"Then why did you put Zhang in trouble so many times?"
Wang Anshi sighed deeply after hearing this, clasped his hands behind his back and said, "Mr. Yang, do you think I really can't see that Zhang Duzhi's writing is better than Wang Junmin's?"
Yang Tian was surprised and said: "Since you can see it, why do you still choose Wang Junmin?"
Wang Anshi raised his hands to the sky and said: "Mr. Yang may not believe it, but am I doing this for the sake of the rules and regulations of this dynasty?"
"Oh, then I have to ask Jie Fu. What Zhang Duzhi said violated the rules and regulations of this dynasty?" Yang Tian asked.
Wang Anshi hesitated after hearing this, and finally shook his head and said: "Mr. Yang doesn't know me."
"Huh!" Yang Tian sneered when he heard this.
Wang Anshi strode away: "Han Gong doesn't know me, Zeng Gong doesn't know me, and the officials don't know me either."
After that, Wang Anshi left the imperial garden alone.
Yang Tian saw Wang Anshi's back and couldn't help but said: "Who could know you are like this?"
After saying that, Yang Tian sighed and left with his hands behind his back.