The light green tea has an amber sheen and looks crystal clear, with a thin mist floating around. Take a sip and the clear tea fragrance spreads on the tip of your tongue, like sweet nectar flowing down your throat.
"Good tea!"
Zhu Rong took a few sips of hot tea. She also drank tea in Yunnan, but the tea she drank there was roasted tea, with salt, roasted rice, walnut powder, and sesame seeds added. The flavor was completely different from Hanrao tea, not to mention that the Zhuge family prepared fine tea.
"Slow down, no one will compete with you."
Meng Huo rolled his eyes at Zhu Rong.
How could Zhu Rong show weakness? He immediately stared back.
In the blink of an eye, a middle-aged man who looked a little gentle and dull walked in and said.
"Ji Chang! Sorry, I had some unfinished business just now, so I'm late."
"Brother Ziyu, we are here unexpectedly, so we are afraid of disturbing Brother Ziyu."
"Wherever you go, sit down quickly."
Several people each bowed and sat down again.
"Brother, let me introduce you. This one is Meng Huo, the son of Nan Mingbo, the leader of various tribes in Yunnan. This one is"
"Miss Zhu Rong! The heroine general who dares to fight with Her Royal Highness the Princess with real swords and guns!"
Before Ma Liang could finish his introduction, Zhuge Jin had already laughed and interrupted. It was obvious that Zhu Rong's reputation in Jianye City was much greater than that of Meng Huo.
Meng Huo's face was full of helplessness, and Zhu Rong, who had always been open-minded, rarely blushed and became a little embarrassed when he heard this.
Ma Liang then introduced to Meng Huo and Zhu Rong.
"You must have met each other from a distance during the enthronement ceremony before. This is Brother Zhuge Jin, who has won the trust of Your Majesty."
"I've met Master Zhuge."
"You don't have to be polite. If you don't mind, just call me brother like Ji Chang. Today I can see several pillars of the country, and the Zhuge Mansion is also very prosperous."
Zhuge Jin touched his beard and looked at Ma Liang with an obvious smile on his face.
"Your mother sent you this tea a long time ago and asked me to take care of you. It's better for you to live directly in the inn arranged by the priest. You won't be willing to come see me until the exam is over today."
Ma Liang coughed slightly and said seriously.
"I just found a place to study quietly. Don't blame me, Brother. No, as soon as the exam is over, I will come to apologize to Brother."
"You are quite confident."
Zhuge Jin nodded and expressed appreciation.
"In my opinion, it is not difficult to pass the big exam with your talent and learning. If you don't have this confidence, it will be difficult for you to win His Majesty's attention during the palace exam. The top three in the palace exam will be decided by your Majesty. Before that, it is difficult for anyone to guess, but Jinshi Your body is enough for you to go out and do things. I am not worried about your talents. On the contrary, there has been an undercurrent in the court recently, which may affect you."
Ma Liang's head moved. Before the imperial examination, he had a vague premonition that the failure of the Northern Expedition and Cao Cao's troops going south would cause turmoil in the court. However, with the examination imminent, he had no time to think about anything else and could only concentrate on studying. Now I hear Zhuge Jin's undercurrent surging, I'm afraid it's not an undercurrent, but that people from all sides have begun to take sides, and the differences are becoming clearer.
Ma Liang cupped his hands and said.
"I wonder what my brother has taught me?"
Zhuge Jin sighed and took a sip of tea before speaking.
"Just study hard and prepare for the imperial examination. How can you interfere in the affairs of the court now? Remember not to provoke people from the Koto family and the royal family."
Meng Huo and Zhu Rong shrank their necks at the same time, looking at Ma Liang secretly.
Ma Liang felt helpless when he saw the pitiful looks of the two of them. It didn't matter, he just listened to Zhuge Jin continue.
"The Grand Examination is prepared by the priest Zhang Hong, but the examiner who sets out the questions every year is appointed by His Majesty as usual. The examiner this year is Fa Zheng. Once you pass the examination, you will be a disciple of Fa Zheng. Remember to go and see him. Fa Zheng's actions are unpredictable and unpredictable, and his practice has offended many people, but he still ranks among the three masters, which shows his methods."
"If you can reach the top three in high school, you can go to the county to be a prefect. There are two vacancies recently. Alas, it's a pity that you will be dragged down because of your relationship with me."
drag?
Zhuge
Jin Gui is the ninth minister, a real important minister in the cabinet.
Who can influence the evaluation of the top three in the imperial examination? That is of course His Majesty.
Your Majesty is going to suppress the Xunchen faction?
Brother Shi asked me to pay a visit to Master Fazheng. Could it be that he wanted me to distance myself from the relationship.
Ma Liang's head shook, but he said calmly.
"Thank you for your advice, brother. Liang is studying just to fulfill his ambitions. He has no idea of promotion or joining the ranks. It is not a bad idea to start as a county magistrate. There are tens of thousands of people in a county. Although it is not as good as a county, it is enough for Liang to show off. ambition."
Hahaha, okay!
Zhuge Jin smiled happily, but there was a trace of regret on his face.
"You don't want to argue, but fate has already labeled you."
He paused, looked at the three of them, and said in relief.
"Forget it, let's not talk about this. Then I will tell you about the new official selection system that started from the last imperial examination."
Anything new?
From the beginning, Meng Huo and Zhu Rong didn't quite understand what the "drag" and "starting from the county magistrate" were about. The imperial examination hadn't started yet. How could I know that Brother Ma couldn't be in the top three in high school?
But it was difficult for them to interrupt and ask questions, so they couldn't help but get excited when they heard about the new official selection system.
Zhuge Jin looked at the expressions of the other two people and found it interesting, so he explained seriously.
"The ones just now were those who passed the big test, and now we are talking about those who failed the big test. In the past, those who failed could only go back to continue studying, or be arranged to teach in academies. Now there is an additional way to directly enter the imperial agency and be assigned as pavilion chief to manage the countryside."
"The law of the Chu State is that the land belongs to the state. The gentry has lost its foothold and most of them entered the county town with money to develop business. The court can take the opportunity to project its influence from the counties to the towns, promoting the use of fertilizers, planning of water conservancy irrigation and crops Crop rotation. This is what Lord Situ has planned for scholars to go to the countryside."
Meng Huo was puzzled. There were few scholars in Yunnan and not many literate people. Scholars were a scarce resource there. Of course, some tribes care, and some tribes don't care.
"Why go to all this trouble to let scholars govern towns and villages?"
Upon hearing Meng Huo's question, Zhuge Jin looked at Ma Liang with a smile on his face.
"Ji Chang, you."
Ma Liang only pondered for a moment before answering.
"Because of the new law, the structure of the court and the aristocratic families has undergone new changes. In the past, the aristocratic families based on land could only manage business. To use a popular saying at the moment, 'the land has not disappeared, it has just changed its form to accompany it. By your side. The so-called scholars going to the countryside is the purpose of the imperial court to prevent aristocratic families from re-expanding their influence in the countryside in another way and to ensure farming and food."
Zhuge Jin nodded, very satisfied with Ma Liang's return.
"Not bad, not bad. As expected of Ji Chang, he was able to figure out the key points in a short time. Another point is that this move can not only strengthen the court's control over the lower levels, but also test the officials' ability to do things."
"Shishis go to the countryside for a three-year term and are dismissed at the end of the term. Those with good political performance can become sixth-grade township heads or even fifth-grade county magistrates, as good as some Jinshi who are obsessed with studying. Those with poor political performance can also continue to participate in the imperial examination. As for Those who are corrupt and perverting the law, hehe, those old fools can't catch the clues, and a few stupid young people, who are just ten miles away from the countryside, are you afraid that they can't find any evidence? At that time, they will be directly transferred to the Criminal Law Department and will never be hired."
Seeing Meng Huo smacking his tongue slightly, Zhuge Jin smiled.
"Haha, don't be afraid. This is also a new way to prove your talents through hard work. Some people are not good at reading, but they are really capable of doing things."
The few people talked for a long time, ranging from their experience in serving as officials and governing, to local customs and sentiments, to the situation of the three-party forces. Everyone had something to gain and the host and guest enjoyed themselves.
When leaving, Ma Liang and others saw someone playing the piano in the pavilion in the distance in the courtyard. The sound of the piano was melodious, like a stream flowing.
Ma Liang just bowed from afar, then turned and left.
Meng Huo and Zhu Rong followed behind and couldn't help but wonder.
"Brother Ma, who is this?"
Ma Liang just shook his head and said nothing.
After walking out of Zhuge Mansion, Ma Liang took a long breath and looked up.
Brother Kong Ming is loyal and righteous.
Therefore, success is a waste of talent. Ji Shu, who displayed his talents and ambitions, also made extraordinary achievements for the Chu State, but he was unable to do so.
"It's very cold at high places."
Ma Liang murmured softly.
