After Zhang Yue learned about Cai Que, he returned to his residence and wrote him a letter.
When he first arrived at Taixue, Cai did help him a lot. He always remembered this shrewd, capable and somewhat chivalrous Senior Brother Cai.
Zhang Yue wrote the first sentence of the letter: The water in Canglang is clear, and I can wash my tassels. The water in Canglang is turbid, and I can wash my feet.
This word is mentioned in Mencius and Fisherman.
If the water is clear, you can wash your body; if the water is turbid, you can wash your feet.
The fishermen used this advice to Qu Yuan, who wanted to die and did not want the turbid water to pollute his innocent body. He should live with the world and not be too aloof.
However, the first book Zhang Yue learned about was not from Qu Yuan or Mencius, but from a book called "Water of the Canglang" that he had read.
Many scholars who abide by their principles and are noble have suffered setbacks in their official careers due to their accumulation of life. Some people will always insist on proving that their original persistence was right, but some people can't help but finally collapse in their principles and go to the other extreme, completely Suitable for the world.
The reason why some people are so bad that they have no bottom line is because they were originally such people. They act without any psychological burden.
Therefore, we are not afraid of bad people, but we are afraid of good people suddenly becoming bad.
Zhang Yue wrote a long letter for Huang Haoyi to pass on to Cai Que, but he didn't know how many words the other party could hear.
After the letter was sent, Zhang Yue and his classmates were busy writing the papers.
On this day, Zhang Yue and his classmates were writing about Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, a pair of good friends.
Wang Anshi and Sima Guang lived very close to each other on Maxing Street. It seemed that the two had really been having an affair for a long time.
When he arrived at Wang Anshi's home, Zhang Yue was recommended by Wang Anguo. He could have brought all his classmates to meet Wang Anshi, but he was turned down.
Zhang Yue asked and found out that Wang Anshi was in a bad mood.
Wang Anshi is now the judge of Duzhi, and the court wants to reform the horse administration. He and Ouyang Xiu, who used to be the shepherd envoy, have different opinions, and the two are quite unhappy.
The two of them had just abolished the Tea Law not long ago. He, Fu Bi, Han Qi, and Zeng Gongliang had been supporting this matter, but Ouyang Xiu expressed his opposition.
However, Ouyang Xiu also knew Wang Anshi's temper, and the two of them were just gentlemen, and there was no deepening conflict.
Wang Anshi firmly stated that I am angry.
At that time, Lu Chongzhi, a member of the Ministry of Household Affairs, compiled a list of the three successive deputy envoys of Duzhi in the Song Dynasty, which was engraved in stone on the wall of the deputy envoy of Duzhi.
Wang Anshi wrote an inscription in the Duzhi Deputy Embassy Hall to clarify his political opinions.
The husband who unites the world's wealth is the one who manages the world's wealth, the one who manages the world's wealth is the law, and the one who abides by the world's law is the official...
This first sentence already expresses Wang Anshi’s political views.
That is, all financial power should be returned to the hands of the imperial court, financial management should be carried out according to certain methods, and officials who are good at financial management should be selected.
When Zhang Yue saw this, he understood Wang Anshi's political views very clearly. At this time, he happened to have a few words to say... It was hard for him not to be appreciated by Wang Anshi, and he fell in love with him from then on.
However, Zhang Yue had never met Wang Anshi, but Wang Anshi already knew Zhang Yue. You are from Ouyang Xiu.
That's right, Anshi knows you.
When Wang Anguo tactfully told Zhang Yue that he was rejected, Zhang Yue also felt very depressed.
Wang Anshi and Ouyang Xiu had a few words about the dispute over tea law and Ma Zheng. Although this incident did not affect their friendship, it affected Wang Anshi's mood when he saw Zhang Yue.
Zhang Yue was also stunned. He had been in Bianjing for so long and still hadn't seen Wang Anshi.
Next, Zhang Yue went to visit Sima Guang's house again.
They didn't see Sima Guang either, but Sima Guang responded politely with a letter, saying that he had little talent and limited knowledge and was involved in government affairs, so he was not good enough to educate the underachievers. He encouraged Zhang Yue and the others to study because "the day is not enough, and then the night". And tell them a few practical tips on how to read.
One day later, Zhang Yue and others arrived at Zeng Gong's house.
It turned out that Zeng Gongshou was elected to serve as a judicial officer in Taiping Prefecture and joined the army. However, he served for only one year before he was recommended by Ouyang Xiu to the capital to serve as a collation of the palaces and pavilions and a director of the Jixian School.
Zeng Gong did meet Zhang Yue and the others.
Zeng Gong was very polite to a few people and even left a few people to eat under his roof.
This made everyone feel very useful.
As for Zeng Gong, he was secretly surprised when he learned from Zhang Yue's words that he had been busy writing papers these days.
It’s not a pleasant experience to apply for a job. It depends on the person’s face, and you often get rejected. It’s common to wait for a whole day without getting any results.
Zeng Gong had traveled extensively in the past, and he had a deep understanding of the hardships involved. This was a matter of bending down and asking for help.
He, Su Xun, Su Shi, and Su Che all had this experience.
But who has ever heard of Han Zhongyan and the others doing it?
If Zhang Yue was really the son-in-law of the Wu family, why would he go out to write papers again?
A few days before the exam, a well-connected person will bring you to the chief examiner and the deputy examiner's house to sit there.
Zeng Gong looked at Zhang Yue and thought to himself, no matter whether this person is his sister-in-law or not, with such integrity and talent, he will not be a thing in the pool in the future.
Zeng Gong suddenly said at the table: "I have seen something recently. People who can maintain their integrity when they are poor will rarely bully others when they are rich."
"But on the contrary, people who flatter others when they are poor will often bully others when they are rich. Why do you think this is? Is this the way the world is?"
Everyone was deep in thought after hearing this. Zhang Yue said nothing. Huang Lu said: "Mr. Nanfeng, I don't think it means poor and rich."
"Why?"
"It is precisely because they can maintain their integrity that they can rise from poverty to prosperity. It is precisely because they do not bully others with power that they can always maintain wealth. However, it is difficult for people who flatter others to become wealthy when they are poor. As for those who deceive others from wealth, it is easy to rise from riches to poverty. ."
Zeng Gong was delighted when he heard this and said, "These words are very insightful."
Zhang Yue and Huang Lu looked at each other and smiled.
Zeng Gong looked at Zhang Yue and asked, "What do you think of Du Zhi?"
Zhang Yue said: "The reason why accomplished people can persist in their integrity is because they think about meritorious deeds in good times and bad times and rely on themselves to find a place, so they achieve greatness from poverty. If you only insist on yourself and do not make meritorious deeds, or even stand on your own laurels, you will not be able to achieve success." If you want to make progress, it's better to be flattering and asking for help."
"Therefore, I believe in six words throughout my life, and that is 'Don't give up on yourself, rely on yourself'."
Zeng Gong nodded slowly.
After dinner, Zeng Gong sent Zhang Yue and the others out.
The streets are busy with traffic at the moment, and this is the busiest time in Bianjing.
Looking at this bustling night scene, Zeng Gong said to Zhang Yue: "It is difficult to make a decision when you are young, but once you make a decision, you must persevere, but there is no need to wrong yourself. If you have difficulties in the future, just come to me, and you don't have to feel that you owe me anything." of kindness.”
Zhang Yue asked in surprise, why was Zeng Gong so kind to him?
Zeng Gong raised his head and sighed: "I don't know why when I see you, I think of the days when I was alone in Bianjing. It is good not to give up on yourself and rely on yourself, but you must also know how to obey authority. You must know that along the way, and Not everything goes smoothly all the time. When you encounter difficulties, you should ask for help without any shame."
Zhang Yue looked at Zeng Gong and felt that there was a line that could describe it, that is, he saw the fragility behind his stubbornness.
At this moment, Zhang Yue was holding his breath and couldn't let go. There was always a thought in his heart that repeatedly told him, why bother to work so hard? Just ask the second aunt or the Wu family for help, it's just a little effort.
Zhang Yue was moved and said: "Thank you, Mr. Nanfeng."
