It's approaching New Year's Eve, but things are not peaceful in the capital.
It turned out that the imperial court planned to implement a system of equal taxation on square fields in Hebei and Shanxi, but the gentry in Hebei opposed it.
More than a thousand people from Hebei gathered in front of the Sansi Gate and begged to stop the equalization of taxes. As a result, the capital was once in chaos.
However, Ouyang Xiu advocated in the court to continue the tax equalization system and clear the land.
This incident made Zhang Yue sigh at Ouyang Xiu's strength.
The equal taxation law for square fields existed as early as the Renzong Dynasty. It was intended to clear the land and hide the land. Why? At that time, wealthy households were annexing land, which was increasing day by day, but the taxes did not increase. The poor households continued to sell land, but the taxes did not decrease.
Therefore, it is necessary to clear the land, reclassify taxes, and clarify where the country’s revenue comes from.
The later Wang Anshi's square field equal tax law came from this, and even the Ming Dynasty Zhang Juzheng's new policy of clearing Zhang Tianmu also made reference to these.
But doing this is very offensive. But Ouyang Xiu did it anyway. It is only after time travel that we realize that Ouyang Xiu is not only a literary master, but also has great opinions and ambitions in politics.
Under Ouyang Xiu's initiative, the imperial court launched trials in Hebei and Shaanxi, but the end was seen. Thousands of Hebei people besieged the Third Division.
Not only did he hinder court officials from going to work, but he also made trouble everywhere, causing trouble and disturbing public order. No one would believe him if there was no force secretly supporting him.
Therefore, there is no need to think about this reform, and it will definitely be abandoned.
Ouyang Xiu was depressed because of this, and even Ouyang Fa was not in a good mood. When Zhang Yue saw Ouyang Fa, he looked sad.
Ouyang Fa said to Zhang Yue in private: "Dad, I am afraid that this initiative to equalize taxes will cause public outrage, even more than when he was demoted to Chuzhou..."
When Ouyang Fa said this, he let out a long sigh, unable to speak for a while.
Zhang Yue thought that when Ouyang Xiu was demoted for the first time, the excuse was that he had an affair with his sister's stepdaughter, but the real reason was that he was on the wrong side.
The same goes for officials in the Song Dynasty. The real reasons will not be put on the table and they will only make trouble in people's private lives.
But this time, Ouyang Xiu advocated equal taxation on every square field, which led to thousands of Hebei people coming to the capital to cause trouble. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that he was targeting Ouyang Xiu.
Zhang Yue said with relief: "My uncle is now the Deputy Privy Envoy. Not only does he hold a high position, but he is also highly regarded by the officials. There will be no more incidents in Chuzhou."
Ouyang Fa said: "Maybe so, but it's hard to guarantee... I also persuaded dad not to implement the Fangtian Equalization Tax Law, but dad didn't listen."
Ouyang Fa added: "Du Zhi, it would be great if you passed the Jinshi examination. Now that my father is in power, you can help him."
Zhang Yue said: "It is my duty to do so."
Not only Ouyang Xiu, but also Ouyang Fa was addicted to gold, stone and antiques. Some of them became so frustrating that he failed in the imperial examination for many years, but it was really good for himself.
The provincial examination is scheduled for the eighth day of the first lunar month, and the candidates are preparing for it, but as the year approaches, the capital becomes more and more lively.
On the 24th, the people in Bianjing invited monks to read scriptures until night, prepared wine and fruits to send to the gods, and burned family papers to replace money. Every household would put a stove horse on the stove, and then smear the stove door with wine dregs. It's called drunken command. They also have to light a lamp under the bed at night. It's called wasted light.
And in a wealthy family, a banquet will be held when it snows, and it will be lively with friends and company. Then use snow to sculpt a snow lion in the courtyard, and install snow lanterns inside to invite people to watch or go out to meet old friends.
If you are not at home and go out for a stroll, you will see that the streets and alleys in the market are full of printed and sold door gods, Zhong Kui, peach boards and peach charms.
In the evening, the poor people in Bianjing who have no money to celebrate the festival dress up in groups, dress up as women and ghosts, beat gongs and drums along the street, and go door to door begging for money. This is commonly known as hunting night beards, which is also a folk method to drive away evil spirits.
Many of the candidates in Taixue couldn't help but play in the street all day or even all night long, still feeling unsatisfied.
During this period, several groups of people came to visit the streets of Labrangyue, but they all declined.
Zhang Yue lamented that although Bianjing was good, it was really not a place to sit down and study and learn.
Zhang Yue not only refused to go, but also told them not to fight bravely on the streets and cause any trouble. If they were imprisoned by the Kaifeng Mansion or had committed something and got it to the ears of the examiner, it would really ruin a thousand years of Taoism. .
Ten years of hard work is really a waste of time.
Apart from visiting Ouyang Fa and Chen Xiang a few times, Zhang Yue just stayed behind closed doors to study. He didn't even go to his brother's.
It's not that Zhang Yue is really indifferent to these.
Just after the self-study exam list was posted, Zhang Yue understood that this provincial exam would focus more on poetry than the interpretation exam, so he couldn't help but feel trembling. He knew that his poetry was a weak link, so he kept asking Chen Xiang for advice on how to improve it.
Fortunately, it is an examination article. As long as it is a stylized work, there is room for improvement. It would be impossible for Zhang Yue to write a masterpiece of poetry that is handed down from generation to generation, but he can still work hard to write a poem that is impeccable.
As long as the attitude is up to the mark, it doesn't matter even if the improvement is not much, there are some benefits if you can make some progress.
It’s New Year’s Eve.
The envoys of Jinzhong Mingjiao Square led thousands of people in various disguises and drove them from Jinzhong to outside Nanxun Gate.
In the homes of common people, people sit around the stove to celebrate the festival.
Zhang Yue returned home that day.
There are loud sounds of firecrackers outside. To be honest, I used to spend the holidays at home but I didn’t think there was much freshness. But after spending two New Year’s Eves in Bianjing, I miss the feeling of celebrating the festival very much now.
When I arrived at home early in the morning, my brother and sister-in-law were busy, and Zhang Qiu was also helping.
Zhang Yue went to do something, but Yu pushed him away and said, "I know you are busy with the exam and it's not easy to do anything. I'll rest in Xi'er's study. I'll call you later when I worship my ancestors."
Zhang Yue came to Zhangqiu's study, thought for a while, and wrote a poem and a fu on New Year's Eve as the theme.
After finishing writing, there was a loud sound of firecrackers outside. Zhang Yue put the article into the poetry bag he carried with him, then left the study, and the family worshiped their ancestors.
Zhang Yue also said that the ancestor worship was still the same as before, but this time it was more grand than before.
Zhang Yue heard his brother keep mumbling something, so he went to the side and eavesdropped, but he heard that he was repeatedly saying something to protect himself from the provincial high school examination.
Zhang Yue couldn't help but be moved.
When it was time for the New Year's Eve dinner, Guo Lin arrived, and Huang Lu arrived a moment later.
It was Zhang Yue who invited them here.
It’s not easy for everyone to be in a foreign land.
The Zhang family, including Guo Lin and Huang Lu, had New Year's Eve dinner around the fire, and everyone was having a great time.
The sound of firecrackers kept coming during the dinner.
After the three of them drank wine and set off firecrackers, they wandered into the courtyard, took a bamboo ladder, climbed up the courtyard wall, and sat on it to watch the night view of Bianjing on New Year's Eve.
During the festival, three classmates sat side by side on the courtyard wall and chatted, swinging their feet.
The flames of firecrackers illuminated the night from time to time, and the smell of saltpeter drifted everywhere along the night wind. Facing the night scene, the three of them thought about the big exam in eight days and talked about their prospects for the future.
Being young is so good, as if everything in the future seems to be at your fingertips.
Everyone is looking forward to everything they dream of, and it seems like it will come soon.
At this moment, Zhang Yue just wanted to let time go slower.
He doesn't want to just stride forward so that he can see more scenery along the way. He would rather walk slowly, keep all these bits and pieces of beauty in his heart, and never forget them for the rest of his life.
Just like this moment.
