In the imperial palace, Emperor Zhao Zhen, Han Qi, and Zeng Gongliang were discussing state affairs.
After Yang Tian and Wang Anshi came to see him, Zhao Zhen said warmly: "I will give it to the two Qing families first. I have worked hard these days. It has been more than ten days since I entered the palace two days before the palace examination..."
Zhao Zhen first said a few words as if he were gossiping, and everyone in the hall understood the subtleties.
Then Zhao Zhen opened his mouth and asked them to re-describe the five volumes, as well as Zhang Yue and Wang Kui's top prize.
At that time, it was given to Yang Tian and Wang Anshi.
The two of them read it over again in the hall. They didn't know if there was anything in the words that made the officials unhappy, or if there was someone in this person's family who usually made the officials unhappy.
When Liu Yong failed to become a Jinshi, he couldn't help but complain. He wrote a poem that included the line "I endured the false reputation and sang in a low voice instead of a shallow drink."
A few years later, when Liu Yong took the exam again, the official saw his paper and couldn't help but said angrily: "This person is so good at 'pouring a cup and singing in a low voice', so why do he want to be 'famous'? Just write lyrics."
This is the origin of Liu Yong's order to write lyrics.
Didn't Wang Anshi himself lose the No. 1 Scholarship because of his saying, "Every child has his own friends?"
But this was the official family when they were young. After the tribute from Xixia and Zeng Liao, and the failure of the Qingli New Deal, the official family became more lenient.
However, everyone present knew that Wang Anshi had a grudge against the official family.
It's not just a matter of being the number one scholar. Officials invited him to go fishing and he ate the bait. Officials said he was treacherous.
A few years ago, Wang Anshi wrote a letter of ten thousand words to the officials, but the result was nothing. Later, Wang Anshi wrote the song Ming Fei, using Wang Zhaojun as a metaphor to express his political frustration.
Later, the official asked Wang Anshi to repair the daily life in order to train him as a close official. Wang Anshi behaved very abnormally. He refused the appointment eight times and hid in the toilet without saying anything. Later, the internal official abandoned the imperial edict and sent someone to forcibly return him. When I go back, I won't give any face to the officials.
now……
Forget about Yang Wei, Wang Anshi twitched his brows and said first: "Your Majesty, these five ministers and the two detailed officials have personally made detailed decisions. I don't know what is wrong, so I can ask for your Majesty's edict."
Seeing that Wang Anshi was like this, Han Qi and Zeng Gongliang's expressions changed a little. They were clearly trying to quarrel with the officials.
Zhao Zhen was silent for a while, and then said calmly: "I heard that some scholars do not hone their literary and artistic skills, but are diligent in asking for visits."
Wang Anshi said: "Reporting to your majesty, this is not based on literature and art, but on the conduct of scholars. If a scholar behaves improperly, he should first blame the officials who recommended him, or there may be a censor to correct him. However, it seems that I caused this behavior." Yes, it’s not that scholars are like this, but the current trend is like this, forcing candidates to have to..."
Han Qi and Zeng Gongliang watched Wang Anshi's eloquent and impassioned speech in front of the officials.
Han Qi glanced at Zeng Gongliang and whispered: "I really don't know your body."
Zeng Gongliang whispered: "Jiefu has such a temper. Back then, Bao..."
Of course Han Qi knew what Zeng Gongliang was referring to. When Bao Zheng was the herdsman of the group, he asked Wang Anshi to drink as his boss. Wang Anshi refused to drink, and it turned out to be very boring.
Wang Anshi stepped aside after speaking. The official looked at Yang Tian and said, "Why didn't Yang Qing say a word?"
Yang Wei said: "Reporting to your majesty, what Kao Jiefu said, although there is some contradiction and inappropriateness, but after all, what he said is to test both literature and art as well as scholar's behavior, so it is difficult for literature and art to change scholars' behavior. Your Majesty, please think twice about re-detailing the matter. ."
Zhao Zhen thought for a while and said: "Since we are Yang Qing and Wang Qing, the palace examination still focuses on meritocracy, so these five volumes will not be sent back as originally planned."
Wang Anshi and Yang Tian bowed together and said: "Your Majesty is wise."
Han Qi whispered: "Thanks to the officials for accepting the advice."
Zeng Gongliang said: "The officials are tolerant."
Zhao Zhen said to the palace attendants: "Give tea to the two detailed officials."
The palace attendants immediately brought two cups of tea, and Yang Tian and Wang Anshi took them with thanks.
Zhao Zhen said: "This is the Xiaolongtu I use daily. It was made by Cai Qing when he was guarding Fujian Road. It tastes pretty good. You two can have a try."
Han Qi said with a smile: "In the past, when His Majesty worshiped heaven and earth in the southern suburbs, he only gave one cake to each of the Secretariat and the Privy Council. Ouyang often said that he only received one cake after serving as an official in the government for twenty years."
After hearing this, Yang Tian and Wang Anshi immediately stood up holding tea, drank it, and thanked them again.
Zhao Zhen said: "Two Qings, that Zhuangyuan scroll? How can you tell?"
Wang Anshi was about to speak, but Yang Tian was already rushing to say: "Your Majesty, I thought that I should follow the system at first. Wang Xiang appointed the official and said that I should abide by the old rules. But whether I should abide by the old rules or not, I ask your Majesty to make a judgment."
Wang Anshi also said: "What Yang Xiangding official said is absolutely true. I have made a statement before... Please give your Majesty a holy judgment."
Zhao Zhen said: "I have read your rules and made them sound true to each other. The palace examination system originated from Taizu Taizong and was inherited from Zhenzong. There have been many changes since I came to the throne. The purpose is also to select talents from among the people. Wang Qing is right. If the principle is not suitable for selecting talents, it must be changed. I think that in the future, the selection of candidates for the palace examination will be based on Wang Qing's method. The first examiner and the second examiner will choose different rankings, and the detailed selection officer will select separately. As for the current subject..."
"Have you just finished reading the ink scrolls of Prime Minister Han, Privy Council Zeng, Wang Kui, Zhang Yue and Jiang Yan?"
Han Qi and Zeng Gongliang both stood up from their chairs and said: "Report to your Majesty, I have all seen it."
"Jiang Yan doesn't need to discuss it. Let's talk about Wang Kui and Zhang Yue. What are the strengths and weaknesses of their articles?"
Han Qi took the lead and said: "Reporting to your Majesty, both of them are talented people. But if we really want to judge their merits, Wang Kui is more important in literary works, while Zhang Yue is better in reasoning."
Zhao Zhen said: "I also think Wang Kui is better in terms of labor."
Han Qi said: "Your Majesty, Yang Xiong is good at poetry, but in his later years he often lamented the carving of insects and seals. There is no need to do it in his prime."
"Meigao was good at writing poems but was not reused by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. He said, 'It is a matter of arrangement for poems, and it is like advocating for them to see them.' However, after the imperial court used poems to select scholars, it was too much to judge the position of minister."
"I observe that Wang Kui's poems and poems are full of elaboration, but the selection of the number one prime minister depends more on the ambition of a candidate. I remember that when Emperor Zhenzong was recruiting scholars in the past, although he usually liked literary words, the selection of talents paid more attention to the candidates' knowledge of instruments. . I still hope that your majesty can follow the system of the late emperor."
Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "The late emperor had this rule."
Zeng Gongliang said: "I also agree with the words of Prime Minister Han. The so-called number one scholar is first a king's minister and then a civil servant. Joining the prime minister, like Tao Jun's way, uses power to create the handle of things. His talents are nurtured and learned. Articles, if you look at the small ones, you can know the wonders of grass, trees, flowers and insects; if you look at the large ones, you can know the changes in the movements of cross-country fighting. The tools of the king are not enough to impart them, and the talents of carving and insects cannot be understood."
"From the perspective of law, the most difficult thing for the court is not to establish its laws, but to implement them. Choosing one for the first and second exams is decided before the exam. Yang Xiangding follows the story, which is the kingly way."
Han Qi, Zeng Gongliang, you and I have finished each sentence.
Zhao Zhen nodded slightly after hearing this and said: "Xiangguo Han, the Privy Council's words reminded me of the methods of our ancestors. In recruiting scholars in this dynasty, it is important to have profound knowledge and broad knowledge of weapons. I will give a king who can reach the heaven and earth. The talents of people are as high as water." The two questions of Taoism are intended to be like this.”
"I observed many of the answers given by the scholars in the field were not correct, or the meaning was missing, or the words were weak. Zhang Yue's essays gained the meaning, but Wang Kui's wisdom was better in his words."
"The more I read the chapter, the more I learned that the king has the talent to connect the world and the people. It can be said that he understands my heart and breaks down the big topics into reason. When I read the article on the field, I saw his sentence "The king leads the people, and the whole world is one", which can be said to praise the national government. Yu Jinshizhizhi!"
Han Qi and Zeng Gongliang also bowed and said yes.
"The king's way is at the top, so that the soldiers and the people follow it; the domineering is at the bottom, so that the soldiers and the people fear and respect it. Only when kings and tyrants are promoted simultaneously can the four seas be unified and China can be created. This is what I meant when I wrote the title. Of course, Wang Kui's writing has a strong rhyme. There is leeway, his movements are calm, and his wording is superb."
Han Qi said: "Your Majesty, I heard that during the exam that day, Zhang Yue was the last person to submit the paper. But Wang Kui wrote very fast, which is an interesting thing."
Zeng Gongliang said: "Of course, in the past, Mei Gao was a quick thinker. He was able to accomplish what he was told and received many gifts. However, Sima Xiangru was good at writing but was late, so he wrote less but was better than Mei Gao. Therefore, it is said that Mei Gao was quick and his horse was late. It is also."
Zhao Zhen laughed after hearing this.
At this time, Wang Anshi suddenly said: "Your Majesty, in the second year of Jiayou, Zhang Heng ranked first in the palace examination. In the fourth year of Jiayou, Zhang Dun ranked fifth in the palace examination. If you order Zhang Yue again at this moment, I'm afraid... I'm afraid that hundreds of people will do it." talk."
Everyone looked sideways at Wang Anshi after hearing this. Are they still insisting at this time?
Zhao Zhen walked on the sidewalk: "I understand. Let me discuss it one more night. The two detailed officials will come tomorrow to take the list."
Yang Wei and Wang Anshi bowed and said yes and then stepped back.
At this time, Zeng Gongliang said to Zhao Zhen: "Your Majesty, I have heard that Zhang Yue and Zhang Dun are called clan brothers, but they are actually blood brothers."
Zhao Zhen was stunned and said: "Is there anything else?"
Zeng Gongliang said: "I heard that this is indeed the case, but it is a long story. I wonder if your majesty can allow me to explain it slowly."
Zhao Zhen nodded.
Han Qi said: "Your Majesty, Zhang Heng asked to be released...and now he has left Ruzhou."
"I understand."
Step out from the imperial palace.
The sky is filled with sunset, and the rays of rays of light shine on the palace walls, which is really beautiful.
Yang Tian, whose face was covered with glow, suddenly stopped. When Wang Anshi saw Yang Tian stop, he couldn't help but turned around and asked, "What's the matter, Mr. Yang?"
Yang Tian asked: "Jiefu, has Zhang Duzhi offended you before?"
"This has never happened." Wang Anshi shook his head.
"Then why did you put Zhang in trouble so many times?"
Wang Anshi sighed deeply when he heard this, put his hands behind his back and said, "Mr. Yang, do you think I really can't see that Zhang Duzhi's writing is better than Wang Junmin's?"
Yang Tian was surprised and said: "Since you can see it, why choose Wang Junmin?"
Wang Anshi raised his hand to the sky and said: "Mr. Yang may not believe it, but am I doing this for the sake of the rules and regulations of this dynasty?"
"Oh, then I have to ask Jie Fu. What Zhang Duzhi said violated the rules and regulations of this dynasty?" Yang Tian asked.
Wang Anshi hesitated after hearing this, and finally shook his head and said, "Mr. Yang doesn't know me."
"Huh!" Yang Tian sneered when he heard this.
Wang Anshi strode away: "Han Gong doesn't know me, Zeng Gong doesn't know me, and the officials don't know me either."
After that, Wang Anshi left the imperial garden alone.
Yang Tian saw Wang Anshi's back and couldn't help but said: "Who could know you are like this?"
After saying that, Yang Tian sighed and left with his hands behind his back.
