At the end of April in Lin'an City, the willows are green and catkins are flying all over the sky. The peach blossoms in the West Lake are in full bloom. There is an endless stream of tourists, laughing and having fun. Among them are a lot of elegant Xinke people with wide robes and long sleeves. Scholar.
The reason why they are said to be new scholars is because they have not yet passed the roll call of the palace examination and fall into the ranks of the "Two Lists of Jinshi". The reason why they are called "new subjects" is because they are already registered court officials and are just waiting for "distribution".
But what makes people feel a little surprised is that in the imperial examination in the second year of Xingqing, although it was still lively and grand, there was a kind of loneliness that waxed and waned.
It was lively and grand because news came from the court that the emperor, who was still in the period of observing filial piety, still rushed back all the way from Sichuan to personally conduct the interview. It is self-evident that he attached great importance to the imperial examination.
This is due to the enrollment of the second phase of Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall and Jinling Academy this spring. Many scholars and young people rushed to Jinling. Not to mention anything else, there were five to six hundred students from Taixue alone who took the exam. Although not all of them might be able to pass the exam, compared to the imperial examination, the chances were much greater.
Compared with the imperial examination, which only recruits three to four hundred people every three years, the annual enrollment of Jinling Lecture Hall and Jinling Academy is more than 3,000. The difference between the two is huge.
Young scholars flocked to Jinling one after another, and it was natural that they would feel lonely after taking the imperial examination.
After coming out of Taixue and walking on Yu Street, he saw many young people carrying swords. Young Zhao Ruteng couldn't help shaking his head and sighing.
Fair and handsome, with wide robes and long sleeves, and graceful demeanor, coupled with the fact that he won the imperial examination, Zhao Ruteng should be high-spirited and look forward to his own glory.
Zhao Ruteng came from Quanzhou and was a descendant of the Great Song Dynasty clan. He was one of the scholars who won the imperial examination this time. He was waiting to take part in the palace examination and had a roll call outside Donghua Gate.
But at this moment, Zhao Ruteng frowned slightly, and his interest seemed not to be that high.
"What has become of the romantic and beautiful Song Dynasty? It is apostate and deviant, and people's hearts are not ancient!"
After walking for a while, Zhao Ruteng couldn't help but speak out.
Compared with the old days of feasting, feasting, and fireworks, today's restaurant business is much worse. The official prostitutes among them have almost disappeared. Instead, boxing gyms, martial arts schools, and escort agencies have emerged.
Moreover, what is most obvious is that cricket and cock fighting, and even tea fighting, seem to have disappeared. Even if you want to take a gamble, you can't get everyone to approve it. Everyone is timid.
"There are only three to four hundred people in Taixue, and people's hearts are wandering. They all want to ask for land and ask for houses, and get a share of the Jinling pie. The place where the country recruits scholars, the place where scholars from all over the world gather, has declined like this. The emperor is promoting military affairs. Literature, who can know the pros and cons?"
Hong Tianxi, who also came from Quanzhou, was a son of an official and a good friend of Zhao Ruteng. He also passed the imperial examination and passed the imperial examination. He had a round face and a slightly darkened face, and he was equally worried.
"The red scarf and green sleeves make the beauty disappear; the imperial students went to the martial arts lecture hall, the writing style is weak, the martial arts are rampant, and swords are openly sold. The chaos is so chaotic that it may not be a blessing to the country!"
Zhao Ruteng's face was as dark as water, and he said angrily again.
There is no Dream of Brothel, no Pretty Lady in Pink, and everywhere there are majestic warriors with swords across them, as if they are about to fight if they disagree with each other, and they are full of violence.
The romantic and enchanting Song Dynasty gradually became strange.
"Brother Zhao, the emperor sent people to inspect Quanzhou City's shipping department. They charged high tariffs on spices and ivory, and they opened a government office in Liuqiu. I heard that many clan members went to Liuqiu, and each family had hundreds of acres of land. There are also exiled people who help them colonize, is this possible?"
Xin Yong, Xin Qiji's grandson and a bachelor's degree scholar, intervened.
Looking at him, he is tall and mighty, with a straight waist and a sword on his waist. He seems to be both civil and military.
Xin Yong and Hong Tianxi are good friends, and they only meet Zhao Ruteng by chance.
"That's true. Although there are fewer spices, ivory and other items, the overseas trade of Shibosi has recovered well. In addition to tea, silk and other items, soaps, swords and other items from the Song Dynasty are also very popular among Tibetan merchants. Many of them are favored by Tibetan merchants. The Tibetan merchants want to buy firearms, but I heard that the emperor is still hesitant.”
Zhao Ruteng nodded and said it calmly.
He criticized the emperor quite a lot because he did not take care of the Song Dynasty clan. However, he still admired the emperor's economic skills.
You know, the emperor is a few years younger than him. He had just passed the imperial examination, and the emperor had already accomplished many things.
"I heard that firearms can kill people hundreds of steps away and break armor. Such a nationally important weapon cannot be taught to people easily!"
Hong Tianxi immediately became nervous.
"The emperor will consider the pros and cons, and there are courtiers to help."
Xin Yong was thoughtful and said with fascination:
"The emperor is knowledgeable and proficient in smelting iron and firearms. He also knows practical things such as soap and honeycomb briquettes. Now he has founded the Jinling Lecture Hall, the Jinling University Hall, the Song Dynasty Navy School, etc. The ability of the emperor is unparalleled in ancient and modern times!"
"Nothing has happened in ancient and modern times. Brother Xin must be exaggerating."
Zhao Ruteng looked at Xin Yong, as if he didn't understand his flattery towards the emperor.
"The emperor promoted martial arts without speaking in words. He used ruthless officials, established prisons, and the heads of scholar-officials. He openly sold swords and warriors were in charge. All these things do not seem to be the actions of a wise king. The emperor has always been arbitrary in everything, and the courtiers are mostly for decoration, aren't they? "
He glanced at Xin Yong and smiled:
"My dear brother, does it mean that the emperor admires your grandfather so much that you are complimenting each other?"
Zhao Ruteng laughed.
Xin Yong's face suddenly turned red.
"Brother Zhao, it's not that I'm flattering the emperor, it's that you are so petty and disgusting!"
Xin Yong blurted out in desperation and directly criticized Zhao Ruteng.
The emperor openly promoted his grandfather in newspapers as a hero who was born at the wrong time. Although he had a good impression of the emperor, he would not praise him.
How could this Zhao Ruteng say such two things when they first met?
"Tell me, why am I so petty and so unbearable to you?"
Zhao Ruteng was startled, and then his face turned red.
When the young master's temper got worse, he even stopped calling the other person by name.
"You are dissatisfied with the emperor because you only care about the interests of the few hundred people in your clan and ignore the interests of the people all over the world. When the emperor implements new policies, everyone in the world applauds, but only a few people in your clan oppose it. For example, the emperor worked hard to train soldiers and officers, and advocated martial arts, but you ridiculed him; the emperor clarified the official administration, eliminated bad government, and punished officials who caused harm to the country and the people, but you said it was a cruel prison for officials. You confuse right and wrong, are unfaithful and unjust, aren't you a chicken-hearted person? ?”
Xin Yong was outspoken and said everything at once.
Hong Tianxi was secretly embarrassed. Xin Yong's words seemed to be directed at him. He and these two people are both good friends, and they don't know how to persuade them.
"You...are unreasonable!"
Zhao Ruteng was dumbfounded. He looked around nervously and said something resentful.
"Unreasonable? If you, Brother Zhao, are so displeased with today's actions, why do you want to take part in the imperial examination again? You are still cursing and smashing the pot while you are eating. Where is the backbone of your Zhao Song clan?"
Xin Yong was eloquent and did not give in.
Just like Zhao Rushu, the former Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, who followed Shi Miyuan to act as a tiger and a hawk, and brought shame to the Zhao Song family.
This Zhao Ruteng had many complaints about today's world, which made him feel very unhappy.
"I, Zhao Ruteng, took part in the imperial examination to be a scholar, just to uphold the principles of the government and prosper the country. Why do I have no backbone?"
Zhao Ruteng became angry with shame and came back angrily.
"Adjusting the policy of the dynasty and revitalizing the country? You don't care at all that the emperor enriches the country and strengthens the army and serves the country and the people. You have no regard for the people and have no right and wrong in your heart. How can you rectify the policy of the dynasty and build the country?"
Xin Yong's anger rose and his voice became much louder.
The clan of Zhao and Song Dynasty should not have too many weird things.
Zhao Ruteng and Xin Yong started spraying in the street, and the soldiers and people passing by gathered to watch. Hong Tianxi complained secretly and quickly stepped forward to persuade him.
"Two good brothers, why did you get into trouble when we first met? Listen to me and don't say a word. Let's find a restaurant in front of us, sit down and talk openly."
Xin Yong has a straightforward temper and an honest personality, and we get along well with him. Zhao Ruteng was his fellow countryman, and he didn't want the two of them to fall out.
There is really no need to fall out over a verbal dispute!
"If you have different ideas, don't work together! Junchou, it's better not to stick to such people. I have something to do, so I'll leave first!"
Xin Yong said goodbye to Hong Tianxi, turned around and left.
"I don't know what the so-called crazy husband is!"
Zhao Ruteng's face flushed, he said angrily, and walked away in another direction with a puff of sleeves.
Hong Tianxi hesitated for a moment, not knowing which one to follow?
