Zhao Yao was packing up books in Mr. Meng's study. Hearing that the five great talents from Jinling came to visit Mr. Meng, he was not curious and did not go to watch.
The five great talents in Jinling often go up the mountain to visit Mr. Meng. Today is not the first time that they have come to visit Mr. Meng. Every time they come, Mr. Meng is very happy and looks better.
Li Jue and the other five chatted with Mr. Meng for a while. Seeing that Mr. Meng looked gloomy, they stood up and left. Before they left, Mr. Meng asked them not to come again in the future. When he leaves, they don't want to see him off. His old man said that he just wanted to leave quietly and did not need everyone to spend time on his death.
Mr. Meng also urged them to take the imperial examination, but Li Jue and the others did not agree. Of course, he didn't refuse the old man.
After Li Jue and the other five left, Mr. Meng invited Zhao Yao and Zheng Xilin to his house.
Seeing that Mr. Meng's face was full of exhaustion, Zheng Xilin persuaded him to take a rest quickly and wait until he had rested to talk about anything else. After hearing this, the old man deliberately said in a joking tone that he was going to sleep forever and would be able to have a good rest then, but he would not sleep for now.
Hearing Mr. Meng teasing themselves like this, Zheng Xilin and Zhao Yao didn't know how to comfort him for a moment.
Mr. Meng had long looked down on life and death. Although he felt a little regretful, facing the impending death, he did not feel panic or uneasiness, only calmness. However, there were some things in his heart that he couldn't worry about.
During this period, Mr. Meng did not wake up much. Every time he woke up, he would tell Zheng Xilin and Zhao Yao something. When he woke up this time, he called them to his side just to give him some instructions.
Zheng Xilin also wanted to persuade Mr. Meng, but he refused.
Mr. Meng sat on the edge of the bed with a calm expression and looked at Zheng Xilin and Zhao Yao kindly.
"I can't last a few more days. While I'm still awake, I can talk to you more."
Hearing what Mr. Meng said, Zhao Yao felt very uncomfortable. He knew that Mr. Meng didn't like to see them sad for him, so he didn't dare to show it on his face.
"Third uncle, if Mr. Meng has something to say, let him say it."
Zheng Xilin sighed slightly in his heart, and then said to Mr. Meng with a helpless face: "If you have any other instructions, just give them."
Mr. Meng was amused by Zheng Xilin's words: "I didn't have any instructions. I just don't worry about Li Jue and the others. I just told them to take the imperial examination, but they didn't answer."
"You clearly know that they will not agree to take the imperial examination, so why do you bother to do so?" Zheng Xilin said, "They will not take the imperial examination, and they will also prevent others from taking part."
"I know, but I just want to try." Mr. Meng said, sighing softly, "I overestimated my capabilities."
Zheng Xilin said deliberately: "You are almost dead, why are you worrying so much?"
"Mr. Meng, they are not as important as you think. Their non-participation in the imperial examination will not have any impact on the implementation of the imperial examination." Zhao Yao comforted Mr. Meng and said, "The imperial examination is very difficult. No matter how knowledgeable they are, they will not They will definitely pass the exam. I think they are afraid of failing, so they dare not take the imperial examination."
Mr. Meng did not expect this. He asked with surprise on his face: "Is the imperial examination difficult?"
"Of course it's difficult. It's even harder than the Imperial Examination." Zhao Yao felt that Mr. Meng underestimated the imperial examination. "It's a thousand times more difficult than the Imperial Examination. After all, this is to select talents for the imperial court. Besides, the imperial examination can It’s not just about writing articles, poems, songs, or music, but it’s about real materials.”
He added: "The five great talents in Jinling are very good at writing articles, poems and songs, but this does not mean that they can pass the imperial examination. I think they may not even be able to pass the simplest county examination."
Mr. Meng only knew the content of the Four Books and Thirteen Classics in the imperial examination, but he did not know what the specific test was. He thought that the content of the imperial examination was similar to that of the previous Zhengpi and Zhenzhi examinations.
In the past, at the final level of conquest and discovery, the emperor would personally test everyone. The emperor's previous examination questions were all based on the content of books such as "The Analects of Confucius". For example, the question "If three people are walking together, I must have a teacher", the candidates were asked to answer the questions.
"I don't know what will be tested in this year's imperial examination, but it will definitely not be a simple test of articles, poems and songs." Zhao Yao said seriously, "The imperial examination is to select talents for the imperial court, and the purpose of selecting talents is In order to benefit the people, and benefiting the people is not just about writing beautiful articles, poems and songs. To benefit the people, officials must do practical things, so the imperial examination tests practical things."
After Mr. Meng heard what Zhao Yao said, a puzzled look appeared on his old and haggard face: "What is the truth?"
"It's people's livelihood." Zhao Yao said again, "Of course there are other aspects to be tested, but people's livelihood is the main thing." At this point, Zhao Yao showed a sarcastic smile on his face, "How do children from aristocratic families know about people's livelihood? They don't even know how much a bucket of rice is. I don’t even know about money.”
Mr. Meng smiled and asked: "Your Highness, do you know how much a bucket of rice costs?"
"Of course I know." Although Zhao Yao is a prince, he often goes out of the palace to play around, and often buys things outside the palace. He knows the prices of things outside the palace very well. Furthermore, every time he buys something, he will specifically ask about the price. Sometimes, he would go to the rice store to inquire about the price of grain. "A dou of rice in the capital costs 20 yuan, and a dou of rice in Jiangnan costs 18 yuan." When he took his four brothers to visit Jinling City before, he also went to the rice store to inquire about the price of food in Jiangnan.
Mr. Meng did not expect that Zhao Yao really knew. There was a surprised expression on his face, and then he listened to Zhao Yao talking about the prices of various dishes, cloth, and various wines in Jinling City... He was stunned for a while.
Mr. Meng didn't know a lot about the prices of these things Zhao Yao mentioned. Over the years, he has devoted himself entirely to studying knowledge, and it can be said that he has heard nothing outside the window. He cared little about things other than reading. However, he has always been concerned about the price of food.
The chaotic times caused by the previous dynasty left countless people without food and starving to death. At that time, grain was sold at sky-high prices, and even dozens of taels of gold might not necessarily buy a bucket of rice. Since then, Mr. Meng has been very concerned about the price of food, but he doesn't care much about the price of things other than food.
"Your Highness, why do you know this?" Mr. Meng didn't know the prices of various vegetables, nor the prices of pork, chicken, duck, and goose, but Zhao Yao knew everything.
Zhao Yao said matter-of-factly: "That's what I asked."
Mr. Meng was shocked, but at the same time he was very ashamed. He always wants to do something for the world and the people, but he doesn't even know these basic things. A person who has lived for eighty or ninety years is worse than a ten-year-old child.
He suddenly felt that he was a little ridiculous and a little hypocritical. If he really cares about people's livelihood, it is impossible for him to not know about these things that are directly related to people's lives. Compared with His Highness the Tenth Prince, he was really ashamed.
Zhao Yao not only knew the prices of grains in the capital and Jiangnan, but also the prices of grains in many places in Lingnan. He even knew the prices of food in Annan and other countries.
Zheng Xilin unconsciously switched to the state of a teacher and asked Zhao Yao: "Do you think the prices of these things are expensive or cheap?"
"It's not expensive. Compared with the previous dynasty when it was most prosperous, it can be said to be very cheap." Zhao Yao learned about the prices of various periods in the previous dynasty. "The emperor and father decreed to lower the price of food, just to make the people more comfortable." I can afford to buy food to eat." The price of food has increased a bit now. When Grandpa Huang first established the Great Zhou Dynasty, a bucket of rice only cost five or six dollars.
"The emperor and my father are right to implement the policy of rest and recuperation. Now half of the people can not only have enough to eat, but also have surplus food at home." Rice from Annan Kingdom is widely planted in Lingnan, Yunnan, and Qiongzhou. Get up, and then more people will be fed.
"Mr. Meng, don't worry about the imperial examination anymore." Zhao Yao brought the topic back, "Father will not let anyone sabotage the imperial examination."
After hearing this, Mr. Meng felt relieved. He stopped talking about the imperial examination and talked about the things behind him.
"I'm dead. Bury me immediately. Don't let other people come to pay homage to me..." At this point, he breathed a little. "I don't like the excitement, and I don't like many people in my spirit." Crying and crying in front..."
Mr. Meng explained the matter in a tone that had nothing to do with him, as if he was talking about other people's matters. Zheng Xilin and Zhao Yao listened quietly.
After talking for a while, Mr. Meng finally couldn't resist the deep sleepiness and fell asleep.
Zheng Xilin quietly retreated with Zhao Yao.
"Third uncle, do we really want to handle his funeral affairs as Mr. Meng told us?"
"This is his wish. It's better to fulfill his wish. Don't let him go and feel uneasy." Zheng Xilin understood Mr. Meng's mood, "He didn't want his funeral to become...a battle for power..."
"Yes, a few of the people who came to mourn were sincere, but basically they were all hypocritical."
While they were talking, Tong Xi came over and whispered a few words in Zhao Yao's ear.
After hearing this, Zhao Yao hurriedly said to Zheng Xilin: "Third uncle, I have to go back to my room beforehand."
"Go ahead."
Zhao Yao hurried back to his room, where the secret guard was already waiting in the dark.
"Your Highness, I have traced the whereabouts of those people." The secret guard reported, "They went to a village outside Jinling City. This village is owned by the Jiang family of Caobang."
Zhao Yao looked shocked at first: "The Jiang family of the Cao Gang, the leader of the Cao Gang?" Then he raised the corner of his mouth and said with a smile, "I didn't expect the Jiang family to value me so much."
"Your Highness, I have also discovered other things."
"whats the matter?"
As soon as Zhao Yao finished his words, Tong Xi had a scroll in his arms.
"Your Highness, everything I have found out is written in this scroll." It's not that the secret guard doesn't want to report it to Zhao Yao in person, but the things recorded on the scroll are very difficult to talk about.
Zhao Yao did not rush to open the scroll and read it, but asked: "These people in Jinling won't stare at me anymore, will they?"
"No, they are waiting for Mr. Meng to die."
When Zhao Yao heard this, he immediately frowned and asked with a cold face: "What do they want to do?"
The Kawen card is so powerful. If you give me two more days to sort it out, I will definitely be able to smooth it out. Before smoothing it out, the number of updated words will be a little small. I will definitely update more when the glitches stop.
Finally, I humbly ask for monthly votes!
