The next day, the brothers came to the county town early in the morning. Zhang Shi went to prepare chicken and duck, wine and food as a ceremony, and visited Peng County Lieutenant's home. Zhang Yue, on the other hand, planned to go to the book store in front of the Academy to find some 'reference books' and the like, and then meet Zhang Shi.
Zhang Yue arrived at the academy first. The Academy is located at the foot of Huanghua Mountain to the north of the county government. As a major imperial examination county, Pucheng has a strong academic style, and so does the county school. Historically, there were more than a thousand students in the Academy during the Daguan Period, and it was praised by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty.
The Qipan Street in front of the county school gate, known as Huanghua Pavilion, has restaurants, teahouses, and ink studio paper shops. It is no less lively than the cross street in front of the county government office.
Although scholars in the Song Dynasty did not have the same benefits as those in the Ming Dynasty, who were exempt from taxes, labor, and even rice, those who could afford to study were from poor families.
For example, Ouyang Xiu and Fan Zhongyan, who came from poor families to become high-ranking officials, their stories of studying at a young age are talked about by readers.
However, their background was not low. Ouyang Xiu's father had served as an official in Mianzhou. Fan Zhongyan's biological father was also the secretary of Wuning Army Jieduzhang.
The poor family in the Song Dynasty refers to the common people who are a branch of the rich family. There are no prominent high-ranking officials in the family for a while. It was not until the Ming and Qing Dynasties that the poor class really achieved a class jump through reading.
Zhang Yue looked at the scholars wearing green cloth shirts on the street with envy. The bookboys followed around, while a few scholars talked loudly and pointed out the country as they walked, with high spirits between their brows.
My family was once a middle-class family, but due to the trouble caused by my second brother, I suddenly fell into the poor class.
The poor people's chances of getting ahead in the Song Dynasty were almost zero. Whether it was studying literature or martial arts, the second brother seemed to have such a talent for reading, but the family had spent hundreds of dollars on it over the years. Now it's Zhang Yue's turn. The only counterattack example he can think of is to fall for the enemy and wait to be recruited, like in Water Margin.
But this is even more unreliable.
Zhang Yue thought for a while and then walked to the bookstore. The bookstore was at the corner of Qipan Street and was just a front room.
The bookstore has a zigzag counter along the street. An old man wearing a scarf and a big smile is sitting behind the counter. The bookshelves on both sides behind the old man are filled with books.
"We have a collection of classics and history. I wonder which one you want to read? You seem a little unfamiliar with me!" The old man seemed to be greeting you attentively, looking at it with inquiring eyes.
Zhang Yue sighed in his heart that he really didn't like reading and had never even been to a bookstore.
Anyway, I’m not afraid of embarrassment.
Zhang Yue said: "May I ask the shopkeeper, how many books do you need to read to take the imperial examination?"
The old man chuckled and said, "Young Master wants to take the Jinshi examination. He is really ambitious. It is said that thirty years old masters the scriptures and fifty years old Jinshi. However, the Jinshi examination is not easy. It is difficult. It is difficult to say a word."
I like it, what?
Zhang Yue saluted and said, "My father-in-law is right."
The old man saw that Zhang Yue was like this, so he said in an old-fashioned manner: "If you are not completely sure, it is better to put the Ming Jing of various subjects first. Yes, the Three Rites is a way out. Here are the Zhou Rites and the Book of Rites. Xiaolangjun can buy them first. A detailed guide."
Zhang Yue kept the old man's words in mind, took Zhou Li from the other party, and read a few pages at a glance.
Under the aggressive gaze of the other party, Zhang Yue could not sit on the floor in the bookstore and read all afternoon like he did in his previous life.
He asked: "May I ask the store how much it will cost?"
"Two dollars and five hundred coins!"
Zhang Yue took a breath. He remembered that a book of about 600,000 words in the Ming Dynasty cost about two taels of silver, which was almost the income of ordinary people in two months.
Although the Song Dynasty also had engraving and printing, books were more expensive than those in the Ming Dynasty.
Zhang Yue remembered that in the collection world, books printed in the Song Dynasty were extremely valuable. Not only later, they were also highly sought after in the Ming Dynasty.
For example, the famous Song script was not invented by the Song Dynasty, but by the Ming Dynasty. Song fonts are square fonts specially designed for the convenience of engraving. They are called skin-shaped fonts, which are also specialized printing fonts.
However, craftsmen in the Song Dynasty used regular script to engrave calligraphy, which was very beautiful. And Jianben, also known as Jianyangben, is famous all over the world.
For scholars studying in Jianzhou, it may be because local books are sold cheaper than elsewhere, but even so, this book of Mencius with more than 60,000 words is worth more than two thousand dollars.
This week's ritual is the Jianben version, the characters are written in willow script, and the scarf box version is used, which is a pocket book.
Having said that, it seems that the imperial examination books of the Song and Ming dynasties liked to have small characters. In addition to saving costs, it must be for the convenience of scholars to carry, rather than for cheating.
"Well, it's not too expensive."
Zhang Yue read a few more pages of the Book of Rites, and then asked: "How many pages dare I ask..."
The old man smiled and said: "I want money for three strings."
Zhang Yue calculated that it would cost more than five guan to buy two books for one Sanli Ke. In the Song Dynasty, an ordinary person earned between 75 and 100 qian a day, which was about two to three times a month.
With the money I have, let alone one book, I can't even afford half of it.
This expense is like a parent spending 6,000 to 7,000 yuan to buy a computer for a child to learn computer science.
Zhang Yue put down the book and said, "Is it cheaper to buy two books together?"
When the old man heard this, he perked up and said, "Well...seeing that the young man is so popular, let's count him as Eight Guan!"
Zhang Yue nodded: "It's not expensive, it's not expensive, but I don't have that much cash at the moment. If I come back tomorrow, please ask the store to keep it for me!"
The old man's smile faded: "It doesn't matter."
After Zhang Yue left the bookstore, he completely gave up his plan to buy books, and then went to find Zhang Shi in the restaurant.
Zhang Shi was ready at this moment, but he saw that Zhang Shi had prepared two large food boxes, carrying them one after another on a load. They were filled with sheep wine and snacks, all of which were the best in Pucheng.
Zhang Yue also helped Zhang Shi carry a sack.
It really made Zhang Yue feel a little ridiculous to bring gifts to his door like this.
Pengxian Lieutenant had been serving as an official in Pucheng for several years, and he was ready to spread his old bones here. He built a mansion in the city, not far from the county government office.
The two knocked on the door and asked to see them, and a military officer came out to greet them.
The military academy informed Captain Peng that he had a guest with him and asked them to wait in the concierge first.
The two sat for a while before a man came forward and said, "Today there are distinguished guests at the county captain's house. You can follow me to the hall to talk."
Zhang Shi was taken aback and said, "How can this be resolved?"
The gentleman smiled and said: "Don't worry, Mr. Da Lang, I'm just talking to the noble man. This noble man happens to know you, Zhang Erlang. Don't worry, just say whatever you want. That's right, put these gifts aside and report to the county later." Mr. Wei."
Zhang Shi saw that the water gift he had prepared was not taken seriously and was put aside. When he heard the other party's instructions again, he felt uncomfortable disobeying, so he had no choice but to agree.
The two brothers followed the gentleman and came to a hall after several turns.
But I saw a man in his thirties and an old man talking in the hall with Peng Xianwei.
The two of them first saluted Captain Peng, who smiled and said, "Does Dalang still recognize this Mr. Wu Dalang?"
Zhang Shi was shocked when he saw it and said: "Wu Dalangjun! I'm disrespectful and disrespectful."
This man in his thirties stood up from his chair and said with a faint smile: "Zhang Dalang, you are well."
After the two exchanged their greetings, Zhang Shi said to Zhang Yue with a smile on his face: "This is the eldest son of the Wu family in Xiuli. Come and pay your respects. He usually has the best friendship with his second brother."
Zhang Yue saluted while trying to figure out who this person was from his memory.
Finally Zhang Yue remembered the origin of this person. There are four major Jia clans in Pucheng County, namely the Zhang, Wu, Yang and Huang families. Compared with the four major families of Jinling in Dream of Red Mansions, Jia Shi, Wang Xue and others are not much concessions at all.
The leader of the four major A clans is the Zhang family. Zhang Dexiang, the first prime minister of the later Fujian people in the Song Dynasty, was from the Pucheng Zhang family. So far, since Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty started the examination, only fifteen children of the Zhang family in Pucheng have been on the gold list. They can be said to be the most prominent family in Pucheng.
By the way, are the Zhang Yue brothers the Pucheng Zhang family?
Yes, but it is a sparse tribe.
To what extent? When Prime Minister Zhang Dexiang returned to his hometown, he built a Zhoujin Hall for the Zhang family to study and invited famous teachers to provide free study for the children of the family.
But neither Zhang Xu nor Zhang Yue had any connection with Zhang clan studies, which shows how alienated they were. There was nothing we could do about it. There were only a few thousand members of the Puchengzhang clan, and it was not that easy to ask for relatives.
There is also one for the Yang family.
The famous official Yang Yi came from the Yang family in Pucheng. At the same time, he was Zhang Dexiang's father-in-law and the leader in his official career.
Although the Yang family is not as influential as the Zhang family in the government now, it is still a powerful family in Pucheng. The mother of Zhang Shi and Zhang Yue was from the Yang family in Pucheng. At the same time, his aunt was also married to the Zhang family. His uncle Zhang Yu was a Jinshi and is currently the head of Wuxian County in Suzhou.
However, Zhang's father's road to the imperial examination was not smooth, and the Yang family gradually looked down upon Zhang Yue's family. After Zhang's mother died of illness, the two parties broke off contact. However, the second brother was the top scholar in the county and when he was appreciated by Chen Xiang, the Yang family sent people to the door to recognize this relative. Zhang's father Zhang Shi did not have any objections, but he kicked the second brother out and would come. People were humiliated...
If it hadn't been for this incident, Zhang Shi and Zhang Yue would have approached the Yang family to resolve the matter when they were forced into desperation by Zhao Yasi.
There is another branch of the Huang family. Huang's father and son, Huang Guan and Huang Xiaoxian, are both famous officials and famous literati.
The four major A clans marry each other, and the Wu family in Xiuli is also one of the four major A clans.
The Wu family's father and son are five Jinshi in one discipline. His father, Wu Daiwen, was a minister in the Ministry of Rites, and his four sons were also Jinshi. The eldest son Wu Yuguan paid homage to political affairs and became the deputy prime minister. This is not the former but the current prime minister.
The fourth son, Wu Chong, was a Jinshi in the fifth year of Jingyou's reign and is currently the judge of the Qun Mu Department.
The Wu Dalangjun in front of him is named Wu Anshi, and he is the eldest son of Wu Chong. He did not go to Beijing with his father, but studied in his hometown county. He was a classmate with Zhang Yue's second brother. When Zhang's father was still alive, Wu Anshi came to visit him with courtesy during the Chinese New Year.
In this chapter, Yue couldn't help but sigh again that his second brother had unlimited benefits as a scholar, and he could even make friends with the second generation of a real official.
Zhang Yue greeted him respectfully.
Everyone sat down in rows, Zhang Shi Zhang Yue sat at the bottom, and two platoon soldiers presented tea fruits to Zhang Shi Zhang Yue's brothers.
When Wu Anshi saw Zhang Yue, he smiled and said: "Erlang is handsome and handsome, and he can be said to be the best man. Today, when I see Sanlang, he looks a bit like his brother. He is indeed a real brother."
Zhang Yue felt comfortable in his heart. Talented people like me just like others to praise others for their merits besides talent.
The old man on the side did not speak, and Wu Anzhi did not introduce him to the two of them. Zhang Yue thought to himself that maybe his two brothers were not worthy enough to know each other.
Lieutenant Peng County chuckled and said: "Zhang Sanlang is not only that, he and his nephew are also classmates and good friends."
Zhang Shi said quickly: "This time, Lieutenant Peng County came to help for Saburo's sake. Our whole family is very grateful."
Lieutenant Peng Xian smiled and said: "It's a trivial matter, not worth mentioning."
Just then, a man came up to the hall and whispered a few words to Peng Xianwei.
Lieutenant Peng County stood up and said, "I have some business to do. I'll come back as soon as I go. I won't accompany you."
Everyone stood up to see each other off, but the old man sat down and nodded.
Zhang Yue and Zhang Shi didn't know who the old man was, so they were secretly surprised to see him so supportive.
There were only four people left in the hall. Wu Anshi smiled and said: "The young master and I just happened to be talking about your brother. Erlang and I have been classmates for three years, and our friendship is like close brothers. I still remember that when Erlang first entered the county school, even though he was the youngest, he talked about poetry. All of the articles and classic meanings impressed me and my classmates!"
Zhang Shi said with a smile: "Dalangjun is so complimentary, but my brother-in-law often said that he was under the care of Wu Dalangjun when he was in the county school. Our whole family is very grateful."
Wu Anshi said with a smile: "It's all a matter between classmates. It's our first time to meet Zhang Sanlang, but from my point of view, he has a bright future. I think he must be more talented than his brother." Bar!"
After Wu Anshi finished speaking, the old man on the side also turned his gaze to Zhang Yue and looked at him.
