On August 25, Zhang Yue, Su Shi and Su Che, wearing green robes, boots and huts, went to Donghua Gate to wait.
The three of them nodded to each other when they met, and stood in front of Donghua Gate without saying much.
The rising sun slowly rose from the east of Bianjing City, dispelling the mist on the Bianhe River. The long city wall shrouded half of Bianjing City in shadow, and also drew a long shadow in front of Zhang Yue.
Zhang Yue breathed evenly and his mood fluctuated slightly.
Five months ago, I passed through this gate to go to the palace examination, and now I passed through this gate to go to the imperial examination.
At first he was still a commoner, but now he is an official.
Ranked third in the Interpretation Examination, second in the Provincial Examination, first in the Palace Examination, third in the Pavilion Examination, and so on.
The long tassel is already in hand, and it is today that my hand binds the blue dragon!
At this moment, the Donghua Gate has opened, and the people waiting to greet them are not Hemenguan or Xiaohuangmen, but five Confucian ministers, Hu Su, Shen Yu, Fan Zhen, Sima Guang, and Cai Xiang.
They were the examiners of the Royal Examination. Zhang Yueersu came forward and bowed to the five examiners at the door.
Why did the examiner come to greet him in person?
Because the real 'examiner' is still behind.
This kind of etiquette is truly worthy of the examination of the highest rules of the Song Dynasty.
Hu Su is the master of Xikun style since Yang Yi, and he ranks first among the five examiners.
As for Shen Yu, Fan Zhen, Sima Guang, Cai Xiang and other Zhang Yue, they all had more or less contact with each other.
Among them, Fan Zhen is a fellow from Ersu, and Sima Guang is an old friend from Ersu.
As for Cai Xiang, it seems that he has never been very friendly to the Zhang family, while Shen Xuan is hard to say. From the examiner's point of view, it seems that more people support Ersu.
Zhang Yue paid homage to the examiners one by one.
Hu Su and others did not dare to neglect him, so they called him Zhuangyuan Gong.
Although Zhang Yue's current official position is low, paying respect to the number one scholar is the courtesy that an official should have.
Zhang Yue and the others entered from Donghua Gate, passed through many palace gates, passed through the corridors, and arrived in front of Chongzheng Hall.
However, I saw many officials standing in the left and right corridors of Chongzheng Hall. The leader on the left was Han Qi, the Prime Minister of the Xian Dynasty, the leader on the right was Privy Councilor Zeng Gongliang, and the second was Ouyang Xiu.
In addition to the officials of the second government, there are also Hanlin bachelors and miscellaneous bachelors of Chongwen Academy, as well as ministers and other officials, who are listed in the two corridors.
When Zhang Yue arrived at Chongzheng Hall, he saw this scene. The elite civil servant leaders of the current dynasty included the current prime minister and future prime ministers.
They are standing here, all looking at those who are coming, their gazes are both sizing and scrutinizing, as if they are asking condescendingly, are the three of you worthy to join our generation in the future?
Zhang Yue and the others bowed low-key and followed Hu Su and the five examiners into the hall.
There are three desks and futons in the empty main hall.
After standing quietly for a moment, the official ascended to the palace.
Zhao Zhen, a slightly thin, elegant and comfortable official, walked up to the hall, and Zhang Yue and the others bowed and paid homage.
The imperial examination is Linxuan's strategy.
The eunuch on the side was about to hold the imperial edict for the examiner Hu Su and Juren to read it out. Zhao Zhen raised his hand to indicate that it was not necessary and personally stepped down to speak in front of Zhang Yue and the others.
"I have inherited the great authority of my ancestors and the great legacy of my late emperor. However, I am ignorant and ignorant, and I have no understanding of principles. Although I am diligent and diligent, I cannot go far. Although I govern, I do not make progress..."
Hu Su, the examiner, and the other three candidates were all surprised.
The officials are personally giving advice to the officials.
This is something that has never happened before...
Zhang Yue was also surprised. The official's personal questioning of the scholar also existed in his imagination. It's like the chairman personally asking you for advice on the company's future strategic direction and major policies.
This is Longzhong's countermeasures, peace and border strategy, this dynasty has been without incident for a hundred years...
But the problem is that Zhang Yue is still a newcomer.
Ersu was also shocked.
But Zhao Zhen said: "I have been working hard since I came to the throne. It is already the third century. However, my virtues have not yet been improved, my teachings have not been improved, and there are still many irregularities. Although the fields in the four directions have been opened, many people are still poor and helpless. Yes. Although the western and northern territories are safe, we still have to garrison heavy troops."
"The imperial court has exhausted all its resources, and now it has become more and more expensive. The soldiers are too many but not trained, and the officials are too many but not clear. Although the Imperial Academy is established and the people are taught to follow the order of Xiangxu, the rituals and music are not in place..."
Zhang Yue was dumbfounded when he heard this. How could this be a request for advice? It was comparable to an edict from a sinner.
The officials scolded themselves hard enough.
I think of the time when Fan Zhongyan proposed the Three Redundancies, and the officials used Fan Zhongyan to reform. However, after more than a year of reform, the official family dismissed Fan Zhongyan, Fu Bi, and Han Qi, a series of reform ministers.
Is it because the officials don’t want to change the law?
In terms of seeking strategies from then on, the officials did not cover their ears and steal the bell, and they were well aware of the current stubborn problems of the Song Dynasty.
The officials continued to appoint Fu Bi and Han Qi as prime ministers in order to eliminate the long-standing abuses. But why did the officials still follow the rules in the court?
Even if Fu Bi and Han Qi are such virtuous and dedicated officials, they can't make any claims when they are in office?
"...The officials in office at that time did not care about education, and those who governed the people mostly relied on grammar. Although there are many prohibitions and preventions in this dynasty, the people do not know how to avoid them, and they know the law and break it. The officials are too lenient in enforcing the law, and even the officials I know no fear, and I have no scruples in the land of fish and meat. Since I have been in office, the people have suffered more and more, and many people have complained against the imperial court."
When Zhang Yue heard this, he couldn't help but feel ashamed. The so-called humiliation of the emperor is the humiliation of the minister. The emperor even mentioned this. As an official, it is really shameful.
At this point, Zhao Zhen turned his back and said: "Since this year, there have been many disasters. In the sixth month of Renzi, the solar eclipse will be in the new moon. It rains during the festival, and the heating does not work. The rivers burst and hundreds of rivers overflow. I have been thinking about it for a long time. The fault lies with one person. Natural disasters and man-made disasters are not in vain. They arise from the lack of political cultivation.
...I want to seek treatment by inferring past lives and exploring the traces of treatment. Emperor Xiaowen of the Han Dynasty respected Laozi and the world became rich and prosperous. Emperor Xiaowu of the Han Dynasty used Confucianism and wasted his time at home. Is it not that there are disadvantages in governing the country, but that it is different in governing the world? …”
Zhang Yue didn't know what to say when he heard this. The fault is all mine.
This is not Meishan yet, and none of the ministers have misled me.
Although the Song Dynasty is in a bleak situation now, at least it can still make trouble.
Zhang Yue looked at Zhao Zhen's back and felt a little vicissitudes of life. He felt deeply that it was not easy for an official to be in his position.
As Ce asked, the country has reached this point. It is all my fault. I am extremely sad and heartbroken.
...The reason for the king's government is shaped by poetry and Taoism. Zhou Gong's poem "Bin" is the king's industry, and it is related to "Guo Feng". The king's Northern Expedition is also a major event, and it is recorded in "Xiaoya"...
Zhou Gong's poem "Bin" refers to the chapter "Broken Ax" in Bin Feng, the Book of Songs.
The national style is written by the common people, which is different from the elegant song written by the nobles, which records national events. The broken ax praises Zhou Gong's eastward expedition.
Duke Zhou's eastward expedition was a royal undertaking, but it did not appear in the chants, but in the national customs made by the common people.
As for King Xuan's Northern Expedition, it was also a national event. It did not appear in the ode, but in the elegant deeds of the nobles.
...Zhou used tombs to control the state, while Tang used prime ministers to control the branches. Qiangu is a big plan. Military division, the public. How can Chen Ping be right and say that the internal history should be held accountable? Wei Hongzhi's words are not suitable for the prime minister? The system of money and goods, the balance between weight and weight; the difference in fate and rank, the mutual support of virtuality and reality...
In the Zhou and Tang dynasties, prime ministers were used to manage finances.
Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty asked Zhou Bo, the right prime minister, how much money and food the country has every year, and how many cases are tried?
Zhou Bo didn't know, so he asked Chen Ping, the prime minister of Zuo. Chen Ping replied, "case matters belong to Tingwei, and financial matters belong to internal history. Why do you ask me?"
Emperor Wen of Han Dynasty was furious, so what do I want the prime minister to do?
Chen Ping said that the prime minister is to assist the emperor, appease the barbarians, harmonize the people, and enable officials to perform their duties.
Emperor Wen of Han was very pleased.
During the reign of Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty, Li Deyu was the prime minister and had monopoly power. Wei Hong said that the prime minister had a disagreement and took Qian Gu.
Li Deyu was furious and Shang Shu retorted, saying, "Hongzhi bitch, how can you speak inappropriately and blaspheme the Lord?"
Zhang Yue heard this and knew that the official family was asking about the power of the prime minister, that is, the system.
