As the carriage drove along, Zhang Yue opened the curtain and looked at the morning view of Bianjing.
The street is empty, except for a few publishers with straw ropes holding blacksmith signs or wooden fish, walking through the doors and announcing the dawn along the street.
With the long sound of iron plaques beating, some people opened their doors and made donations to the monk who came to beg for alms.
Zhang Yue couldn't help but said: "There is no need to report to Yuan Rong on the fifth watch. A piece of iron will pass through the door by itself."
The carriage traveled for a while, and as the sound of the iron sign faded away, many people also heard the sound and started to work on the streets one after another. The merchants coming from Chenzhou Gate carried goods on peace carts or donkeys and horses, and entered the city to sell their goods. The convoys and horse teams stretched along the entire street.
When the carriage entered the East Cross Street, the restaurant had already heard the bell. The firewood under the stove was warm and bright. The shirtless and sweaty guys were beating pancakes by the stove. There were piles of pancakes in front of the door. A small tower-like steamer was placed there, with white gas rising from bottom to top.
The breakfast food in the morning market is freshly baked, and breakfast favorites of Bianjing people such as fried sausage, sheep and goose, cakes, porridge, blood soup, sheep blood, powder soup, etc. are all lined up on the roadside.
For those who don’t have time to sit down and eat, there are snacks such as sesame cakes, steamed cakes, glutinous rice cakes, ice cream, etc. for sale to passers-by rushing to the morning market.
As the carriage traveled from the south to the north of the city, Zhang Yue saw the scene in Bianjing from sleeping to waking up.
Just like a woman who is too lazy to dress up and paint her eyebrows, she gradually reveals the most magnificent scene in front of the world.
When Zhang Yue saw the carriage leaving the Baosi Iron Tower and getting closer and closer to his eyes, Bian Jing finally woke up.
The shop doors on the street are opening one after another, and the waiters are busy washing the door panels and picking out the banners. The waiters at Cailou Huanmen stood in front of the door to greet guests, as well as the guests leaving the inn in a hurry, all blending into this morning scene in Bianjing.
After getting off the carriage, you will find Kaibao Temple.
The octagonal thirteen-story building in front of you is covered with brown glazed bricks, which look like they are made of iron. It is the Kaibao Temple Pagoda. Later generations had a more familiar name: Kaifeng Iron Pagoda.
This tower was built under the order of Song Taizong. After it was completed, Song Taizong found that the tower tilted slightly to the northwest, so he asked the craftsmen what was going on.
The craftsman said that there has always been a northwest wind in Bianjing, and it will blow properly in less than a hundred years. However, in the fourth year of Qingli period, the tower was not straightened, but was destroyed by thunder and fire. Song Renzong couldn't bear the destruction of the tower, so he rebuilt it, giving it its current appearance.
The candidates came to the gate of Kaibao Temple one after another and got off the carriage. The candidates gathered in small groups, supporting each other, each carrying a test box, a pile of luggage and quilts.
At this time, the temple gate was not open, and the gate was guarded by Kaifeng government officials.
Zhang Yue looked around in the crowd for a while, then suddenly waved and shouted.
"Senior brother, senior brother!"
Guo Lin saw Zhang Yue hurriedly withdrawing from a group of classmates and running towards Zhang Yue quickly with the test box on his back.
When I took the Pucheng County exam, my brothers and sisters took the exam together, and now they are in the same place for the preparatory exam. I can't help but marvel at the wonderful fate.
Guo Lin patted the dust on Zhang Yue's clothes, straightened the wrinkles on his clothes, and then said: "If you want to correct your essay, you must first correct your clothes, otherwise you will not be able to leave a good impression when you bow to the examiner."
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "Okay, thank you senior brother. Senior brother, if your bun is loose, I will help you tie it down."
Guo Lin was stunned and smiled: "Okay."
"This is not Brother Zhang, Brother Guo."
Zhang Yue looked and saw that it was He Qi and Wang Kui.
Kaibao Temple is where the Imperial College Examination was held. As for Fan Zuyu, Huang Haoyi and the others, the examination venue was not here.
He Qi saluted Zhang Yue and said with a smile: "Sanlang, we are also from Fujian, and we have the friendship of fellow villagers. We have made an agreement here. If anyone passes the exam in the future, or becomes successful in the future, we must not forget it. Old friend."
Zhang Yue said: "Of course we don't dare to forget, but we are afraid that Brother He will forget us."
He Qi raised his head and smiled: "Where did this come from? Brother Zhang is appreciated by your wealthy husband. I'm afraid you will forget He in the future."
"If you have any unhappiness in the past, please don't take it to the bottom of your heart."
Zhang Yue said: "I don't dare to take this seriously."
Wang Kui cupped his hands to Zhang Yue and said, "I would like to congratulate Sanlang on his success."
Zhang Yue said: "Thank you, Brother Wang, for your kind words."
So everyone bowed to each other and dispersed with discordant faces and hearts.
Sun Guo looked at He Qi's back and couldn't help but said, "Why did this person come to make amends with Sanlang today?"
Huang Lu said: "It's probably because the rich husband praised Sanlang that day. Nowadays, no one in the capital knows Sanlang's name."
Sun Guo nodded and said: "Most likely. This person is capable of bending and stretching, which is quite impressive."
On the side, He Qi said to Wang Kui: "Zhang San is in the limelight now, so sincerity cannot be disputed. I will show my favor to him for the time being. This time I still fight for victory in the examination room. There is no need to cause more trouble, so as not to ruin the mood of the examination."
Wang Kui said: "That makes sense."
He Qi said flatteringly: "Brother Junmin, such a trivial matter is not worth mentioning. I think this time, Guo Ziyuan is none other than you."
Wang Kui smiled and said: "There are so many talents this time, I can't be 100% sure."
Although Wang Kui's words were modest, he showed a hint of arrogance.
Wang Kui looked around, but saw a familiar figure in the crowd, and his expression changed.
Wang Kui said to He Qi: "Brother He, just wait for me. I'll have a few words with an acquaintance."
He Qi nodded and said: "Forget it, the exam is about to start, don't delay."
Wang Kui nodded, and then walked aside. In front of him was Gui Ying, who was disguised as a man.
Wang Kui walked up to Guiying, looked around, and said in a panic: "Why are you here? Didn't I ask you to wait at home?"
Guiying looked at Wang Kui with soft eyes and whispered: "I can't let you go in my heart, so I came to the examination room to have a look. Don't drive me away. I'm right next to the examination room. I just want to take a look from a distance." "
Hearing this, Wang Kui felt warm in his heart and said softly: "How can I be willing to drive you away? How can I feel at ease when you are here? When I write, you will be the only one I care about."
Hearing this, Guiying was moved and said: "If I cause trouble for you, I will leave immediately, but...but I still want to see you enter the examination room. I have been having nightmares these past few nights, dreaming that you passed the Jinshi exam, and you don't want to be an official. Me. You won the No. 1 prize and walked across the street with a beautiful hairpin. You are extremely beautiful, but no matter what I call you from beside the horse, you can't hear a word."
Wang Kui smiled and said: "What nonsense are you talking about? Am I the one who has a bad heart? You go home well and don't stay here. I will finish the exam in three days."
"Okay." After hearing this, Guiying left, reluctant to leave before leaving.
Wang Kui felt a little guilty when he returned to He Qi.
But He Qizhi saw something and said with a smile: "Brother Junmin, I don't know if the rich lady will come today."
"What?" Wang Kui's heart trembled.
He Qi said with a smile: "It's just a joke. Brother Wang is going to Qingyun. If he wins the number one prize, not just a rich lady, but also the prime minister's own daughter."
Wang Kui forced a smile. At this time, the door to the examination room was opened.
At this time in the examination room.
Several examiners are present.
Chen Zhu, the imperial censor in the palace, and Sima Guang in the Zhimi Pavilion have the highest official positions. Although Chen Zhu pays for himself, although he is the chief examiner, he must also value Sima Guang's opinions.
As for Li Dalin, the school manager of Mi Pavilion, Yang Hui, the school manager of Jixian, has the lowest official position.
Chen Zhu is a cautious person and has been supervising the candidates very carefully since entering the examination room. For example, the family records and test papers handed in by the candidates must be carefully read one by one, and if the printing does not follow the procedures, they must be reprinted.
This move made many Mi Feng officials and copywriters who colluded with outside bookstores secretly shout that they were awesome. Now they lost many opportunities to manipulate them.
But having said that, these people have already become elites. At first glance, their methods have been cracked, but who knows if there are any new tricks.
As the chief examiner, Chen Zhu certainly knows that he has a heavy responsibility.
He does have some people to take care of him. Fortunately, the people he asks are all talented people, but who knows if other examiners have people to take care of.
If everyone has something to take care of, then the selected candidates will be mixed, and once there is a big difference between good and bad, he will be held responsible for the review in the future.
The national examination is heavy on the classics, so it is still necessary to select some people with real talents and practical knowledge.
Therefore, while he was on guard against the methods of these subordinate officials, he also had to keep an eye on Sima Guang and Li Dalin.
Fortunately, Sima Guang and Li Dalin beside him are recognized as upright and honest people.
In particular, Sima Guangji had an official reputation.
He became famous at a young age, and was later trained by Prime Minister Pang Ji. After Sima Guang entered the official career, he was always loyal to Pang Ji.
This loyalty is not just casual. The latter part of Pang Ji's official career was extremely unsatisfactory and he was demoted along the way. Sima Guang followed Pang Ji and never left him.
Pang Ji took the blame, and Sima Guang went to Shu several times willing to share the blame with him. After Pang Ji died, Sima Guang took care of his family again.
For a politically frustrated person, Sima Guang appeared to be very loyal, which was appreciated by people at the time. Not only that, Sima Guang's integrity in writing was praised by many people.
But even so, Chen Zhu didn't think that Sima Guanghui didn't even have a single candidate he wanted to take care of.
Before the exam, he tested Sima Guang's tone several times, but he pushed him back without leakage.
This person is not only terrible for his integrity, but also terrible for his stability. This reminds Chen Zhu of a saying: "Those who are talented and gentle must be very talented."
At this time, the candidates entered the room and several examiners stood up.
Candidates for Zhuke and Ming Jingke entered from the same place and took the exam in the back hall. As for the examiners, the candidates in front of them were all Jinshi subjects.
There is a saying that 'burning incense and entering the earth as a gift, waiting for the scriptures to be revealed with angry eyes'.
Because in the Jinshi department, generals and generals are often extremely obvious. As for the Ming Dynasty, it is just for academic study, so there is such a saying.
Facing the entrance of all the Jinshi, several examiners did not dare to neglect.
Divide into groups of ten Jinshi and bow to the four examiners.
After Zhang Yue entered, he was taken here along with the crowd. He saw the four examiners on the stage.
He certainly recognized Chen Zhu, and there was another person beside him who he also recognized. Isn't this Sima Twelve Zhang?
He really is Sima Guang, why did he lie to me?
Zhang Yue couldn't help but despise Sima Guang in his heart.
When it was Zhang Yue's turn, the ten Jinshi immediately lined up. Zhang Yue and Chen Zhu faced each other, but they didn't show any familiarity with each other.
When Zhang Yue saw Sima Guang, he saw that he was looking straight and serious.
Everyone looked at Yi with great respect.
Then Zhang Yue was taken to a monk's room according to his seat number.
When Zhang Yuefang entered, he heard a lock behind him, and it turned out that he was locked inside.
Zhang Yue looked around the monk's room but saw that there were tables and beds. He would have to fight here for the next three days.
