"Who is your Excellency?" Xiao Rui looked at the man dressed as a middle-aged scribe in front of him, and was very puzzled. A Central Plains man could actually command a group of Turks? After carefully recalling the Turkic information, Xiao Rui suddenly realized: "Zhao Deyan?"
Zhao Deyan's smile got even bigger, "I'm not talented, I'm just a mere mediocre person."
Su Lie shouted angrily: "It turns out that you, a betrayer of the country, gave me your life!"
Xiao Rui stretched out his hand to stop the furious Su Lie and stared at Zhao Deyan calmly while recalling Datang's intelligence and evaluation of this person.
Su Lie's reaction was not what Zhao Deyan had expected. He had been relying on Jieli for many years, who hadn't seen him before? There are many such things. Some people call themselves traitors to the country, some people call themselves villains, some people call themselves too many classics to forget their ancestors... No matter how ugly they are, I have heard them all.
On the contrary, it was Xiao Rui's calmness that surprised Zhao Deyan.
"Does Prince Consort Xiao think so of me too?"
Xiao Rui shook his head, "For those who don't understand, Xiao will not comment. Everyone's behavior is a personal choice. There is no love without reason, and there is no hatred without reason. Although you have devoted yourself to the Turks for many years and hold a high position, You are deeply trusted by Jie Li, but you are still dressed as a Han, which shows that you have not forgotten that you are a Han. If you appeared in front of me today wearing Turkic clothes, you would be a dead person by now."
Zhao Deyan ignored the arrogance and threats in Xiao Rui's words. Instead, as if he had met a confidant, he clapped his hands and praised, "What a saying, 'There is no love without reason, and there is no hatred without reason.' Based on this statement, Xiao Prince Consort I am my confidant. If the relationship were not hostile, I would really like to have a drink with my consort."
"Consort, would you like to hear my story?"
Xiao Rui stretched out his hand and pointed at Yumen Pass behind Zhao Deyan: "Aren't you afraid that I am stalling for time to wait for rescue?"
The admiration in Zhao Deyan's eyes grew stronger, "The prince is an upright person. I know you want to delay time, but since you dare to ambush here, then you are not afraid. The full force of Yumen Pass can only count for a few thousand old and weak defenders. We can only rely on Guancheng to fight back. If you dare If you come out of seclusion, you will die."
Xiao Rui smiled bitterly and said: "It seems that your Excellency has decided on Xiao today. So, let's listen to Mr. Zhao's story."
After saying that, he waved behind him, meaning that someone would bring tea leaves. Zhao Deyan also generously asked people to carry a set of low tea tables, blankets, and cushions. Xiao Rui and Xiao Rui sat opposite each other, boiling water and making tea, like a pair of old friends who had known each other for many years.
Su Lie, Cheng Huaimo and other second-generation people all stood behind Xiao Rui, all with different expressions. Zhao Deyan glanced at them and didn't pay attention, but slowly told about his experience.
"I am a native of Luoyang who was born in the fifth year of Emperor Kaihuang's reign. My ancestors were officials. When my father's generation fell into poverty, my family opened an ordinary bookstore to make a living. Before I was twenty years old, I had been studying peacefully, and I had always wanted to I wanted to serve the country and restore the glory of my ancestors, but my family fell into decline and no one recommended me. In the first year of Daye, Emperor Daye promulgated a decree to implement the imperial examination to select talents, which was the first of its kind in ancient times. At the age of twenty, I seemed to see the path to becoming an official, and I was happy Sign up to take the exam.”
Xiao Rui gave the other party a cup of tea, "What happened next?"
"Thank you very much. It turns out that when tea leaves are boiled and brewed, the aroma is fragrant. In the past, we wasted a lot of money by drinking tea." Zhao Deyan took a sip and said with emotion.
"I thought that the poor family would finally have its day. But I didn't expect that although the law was good, the people who implemented it were a group of ignorant officials. Almost all of them came from wealthy families. When I was screening and correcting the test papers, I saw that they were not children of famous families. Throw it all away.”
"Since the beginning of the imperial examination, a new trick has emerged called submitting papers!"
"Submission?" Yuchi Baolin muttered in confusion.
Zhao Deyan smiled: "It seems that this is a son of an official who does not need to take part in the imperial examination. He does not know what submitting papers is. The general meaning is that if you want to be admitted in the imperial examination, you must first choose a wealthy family to give gifts and get protection from one party, and then Only then can you show your talent in the imperial examination, and you may eventually be hired by the court."
What? ? ? Isn't this fraud? Yuchi Baolin exclaimed.
Xiao Rui added with emotion: "To put it bluntly, it means submitting a letter of nomination to a famous family, which means that you are willing to be loyal to the family and become their vassal from now on. Then they will review the test papers and you will have a place on the gold list. Otherwise, don't even think about it. Selected to be an official.”
"This is unreasonable. The imperial examination is to select officials for the country. How can this be like selecting slaves for each family?" Yuchi Baolin said in an indignant voice.
Zhao Deyan smiled with emotion, "What a familiar child's saying. Back then, I also spoke uprightly like you and angrily complained about the unfairness of the imperial examination. It's a pity that I ended up with a tragic end of family ruins. I had no choice but to be alone. Go far to the northern border."
Xiao Rui somewhat understood the other party and explained to Yuchi Baolin: "Before the imperial examination system, the imperial court had always used the nine-grade Zhongzheng system, which was similar to the earlier filial and honest examination system. In fact, it was all a game between the nobles themselves. Anyone who can Those who serve as officials are all children of aristocrats. A helpless and talented person from a poor family will not be able to get in."
"Emperor Daye was a great emperor. The imperial examination system was also the first of its kind in ancient times. It was to break the constraints of the noble families. If the court was all their people, where would the government orders come from? Should they listen to the emperor and the court, or should they listen to the noble families? ?”
"It's a pity that the officials responsible for conducting the imperial examinations are all descendants of aristocratic families, so there is a danger of submitting for exams. Even in the Tang Dynasty today, there is no good way to stop the evil of submitting for exams."
Cheng Huaimo reminded in a low voice: "Brother Xiao, don't talk nonsense. Emperor Daye is a famous tyrant."
Xiao Rui laughed loudly, "Tyrant? How many years has Emperor Daye died? Everyone in the world knows whether he is a tyrant. There is nothing that cannot be said. If a country wants to truly stand up, then it should face up to the gains and losses of the previous dynasty. A court that only knows that slandering its predecessors is a sign of cowardice and incompetence. There is no hope for such a court. Only those who dare to face up to the rights and wrongs of their predecessors, and then stand on the shoulders of their predecessors and walk a broad road that transcends ancient and modern times, can be regarded as A truly powerful nation.”
"You go back and tell His Majesty these words intact, even in front of him and the civil and military ministers. I, Xiao Rui, also said the same."
After hearing these words, a group of second-generation people stood there stunned and stunned. Su Lie's eyes were filled with admiration.
Zhao Deyan's face was full of astonishment, and he immediately stood up and bowed towards Xiao Rui and gave a big gift: "Zhao Deyan admires Xiao Rui's broad-mindedness and insight! The people of the country are lucky to have you in the Tang Dynasty!"
Xiao Rui returned the gift with his hand, smiled and joked: "Mr. Zhao, if your words reach Jie Li's ears, I'm afraid it will be detrimental to you."
However, Zhao Deyan said openly and aboveboard: "You should always be honest with others, and speak bright words to people of the bright side. Your consort is the target that Jieli Khan has told you to kill, and I will definitely take you back today. The thing about eating the emperor's salary and being loyal to the emperor, It’s a pity, please forgive me, Prince Consort.”
Yuchi Baolin scolded: "Zhao Deyan, just because you suffered injustice in the imperial examination, you joined the enemy country to take revenge on the Central Plains? What kind of scholar are you?"
