On the south bank of West Lake, Nanping Mountain stretches horizontally. The height of the mountain is only a hundred meters, but the mountain body extends for more than a thousand meters. The mountain has grotesque rocks, shady trees, and a quiet environment. Many scholar-bureaucrats from the Song Dynasty often came here to talk about Zen and chant in order to escape the world. Jingci Temple was a holy place.
Jingci Temple is located at the foot of Huiri Peak in Nanping Mountain. It is an ancient West Lake temple as famous as Lingyin Temple. Every evening, the melodious bells float over the twilight West Lake. It is called the "Nanping Evening Bell" and is also one of the scenic spots in the West Lake.
In the side courtyard of Jingci Temple, in a pavilion, several new scholars with wide robes and long sleeves, full of ambition, were talking loudly, drinking tea and discussing Taoism.
"Brother Ma, Lin'an City is really changing with each passing day. It's an eye-opener for me!"
The slim scholar who spoke was Li Angying, 25 years old, from Panyu, Guangdong. In his early years, he was a disciple of Cui Yu, the envoy of Sichuan Province. He was a son of a famous family and was known as a child prodigy in Guangdong.
"Today's people are working hard to govern and take drastic measures. Since the implementation of the New Deal on Jiangnan East Road, it has also expanded to Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Sichuan and other places. From the following point of view, we may have to join this torrent of change."
Brother Ma's name is Ma Guangzu, also 25 years old, from Dongyang, Zhejiang, and a local wealthy family. He once studied under Zhen Dexiu, the minister of the dynasty and the Minister of Household Affairs. He is bold and upright, but has a more impatient temper.
"Brother Yu thinks so too. When the emperor is implementing the New Deal in various places, it is the time to recruit people. With the emperor's great talent and broad strategy, he will definitely reuse the new scholars like us."
Li Angying nodded and said with high spirits.
His advisor and Sichuan envoy Cui Yu was implementing the New Deal in full swing in Sichuan. During this period, he also exchanged letters with him about the New Deal.
In addition to the city's roads being converted to cement roads and stone roads, public toilets and sewers are also being built. The illegally built houses in the city were demolished one by one, and some private workshops were moved outside Lin'an City.
In addition to improvements in hardware facilities, improvements in software are also improvements in civil affairs. In addition to the intervention of the Anti-Corruption Department, there is also the implementation of the New Deal led by the Liangzhe Road Appeasement Department.
The boundary law prohibits foot binding, cricket and cock fighting, Guan Po gambling, and the establishment of martial arts and bodyguard bureaus...
Open mines and factories, build ships and cars, reduce business taxes, stimulate export trade, and prosper all industries...
A lot of waste is waiting for prosperity. Perhaps these four words can be used to describe everything in the Song Dynasty today.
"Lin'an City is like this, and the changes in Jinling City are probably even more extraordinary. The Song Dynasty has a promising future!"
Ma Guangzu's eyes were filled with expectations and a bit of worry.
"However, the emperor's appointment of cruel officials and heavy officials has harmed the interests of local officials and powerful families. It involves many people and is intricately connected. I'm afraid it will cause local commotion!"
The new regulations of the Jingjie Law stipulate that in order to prevent officials from committing fraud in the "Jingjie" and colluding with powerful officials, if there is a land gap of more than five acres, they will be dismissed from office and their posts will be recorded and will never be used. Moreover, after crossing the border, it must be verified every summer.
If you get the wrong five acres of land, you will lose your official position, and you will be punished with an iron fist. The harshness of the law is indeed shocking.
"What are you afraid of? Can they still rebel?"
Li Angying shook his head, disapproving.
"Cool officials are good officials. Your Majesty, suppressing the powerful and governing officials with an iron fist is the foundation of governing the country. With all the wealth concentrated in the hands of the powerful, but the court has no taxes, what can be used to implement the New Deal and train troops?"
Those cruel officials, such as Gao Dingzi, Xu Liang and others, were all close ministers of the emperor. Although their temperament was fierce and their methods were ruthless, they were all honest and dedicated, and none of them was corrupt and perverted the law.
Only these people can carry out the New Deal.
"Brothers, I'm not as optimistic as you."
Wang Wen, who comes from Wuyuan, Jiangxi Province, is tall and powerful. He looks more like a warrior on the battlefield than a scholar.
He said lazily, as if he was not interested in the imperial examinations that people all over the world were crazy about.
"It is important to implement the New Deal, and we are also disciples of the emperor. But the emperor's favorite disciples are all in Jinling Lecture Hall, instead of taking the imperial examination. If you and I want to stand out and attract the favor of the emperor, I am afraid it will be too much. Let's work honestly."
The three of them went to Beijing to take the provincial examination for the Ministry of Rites, and they all stayed in an inn. The three of them passed the provincial examination for the Ministry of Rites at the same time. They were of the same age, and they all had promising futures, and they quickly became close.
"Brother Wang, how do you say this?"
Li Angying was startled and asked in confusion.
In this dynasty's ancestral system, the king and the scholar-bureaucrats jointly rule the world. How could they, the second-ranked Jinshi, disciples of the Emperor, with a promising future, remain unknown and ignored by the Emperor?
Ma Guangzu also opened his eyes wide and looked at Wang Wen.
Although this man is tall and thick-set and possesses brute strength, he has a lively mind and is by no means a simple-minded and reckless man with well-developed limbs.
From then on, the king was equipped with a sword and was capable of both literary and martial arts. It is known that this person keeps up with current affairs and pursues the emperor's martial style.
"Two worthy brothers, if nothing else, do you have the "Military Soul Sword"?"
Wang Wen subconsciously grasped the hilt of his sword. With a single word, he made Ma Guangzu and the others shut their mouths.
Only the best students of the Jinling Martial Arts Hall can obtain the Military Soul Sword upon graduation, and it is given by the Emperor himself, which is extremely honorable. Among the graduates, those who were awarded the "Military Soul Sword", such as Cao Youwen, Meng Gong, Yu Jie and others, have all achieved great success and have a bright future, which is really enviable and jealous.
"Brother Wang, the emperor established the Jinling Military Lecture Hall in order to rectify the military equipment and train the troops to become stronger. What does this have to do with the imperial examination? The "Military Soul Sword" is just a short sword to show the emperor's favor. I'm afraid it can't explain it. What."
After a moment, Ma Guangzu thought about it and said it.
He actually also carries a sword, but he didn't bring it with him today.
"That's right! Although the emperor founded the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall and the Song Dynasty Naval School, he also established the Jinling University Hall and the Jinling Normal School. Although the emperor organized military preparations, he also attached great importance to civil affairs. He came all the way from Sichuan to preside over the palace examination, which is proof of this. .”
Li Angying shook his head and disagreed with Wang Wen.
"No, no, no! Two good brothers, you only know one but not the other."
Wang Wen smiled and immediately rejected Ma Guangzu's idea.
"Brother Wang, I'd like to hear the details!"
Ma Guangzu and Li Angying were both interested.
This dignified scholar of the Song Dynasty, with both civil and military skills, seemed to be much more interested in the emperor and the Jinling Martial Arts Hall he founded than in the imperial examination.
They wanted to hear what this gentleman could say.
Under the gaze of the two friends, Wang Wen spoke out calmly.
"Two worthy brothers, whoever was awarded the sword "Soldier Soul", apart from the emperor's disciples, were all awarded important positions. In the first period, brothers Cao Youwen, Cao Youwan, Yu Jie, Meng Gong, Lu Wende, etc., one All of them rose to great heights overnight, became officials in the border areas, and remained in the emperor's heart."
As Wang Wen spoke, his saliva flew everywhere and his eyes shone.
"On the other hand, you and I, who are new scholars, even if they are awarded an official position and have no way out, we still have to start step by step. The hardships will last for many years. If we are unlucky, we will never have the chance to be proud in our lives."
Cao Youwen, Yu Jie, Meng Gong and others became commanders of tens of thousands of armies as soon as they graduated from the Jinling Martial Arts Hall. When he passed the imperial examination, he had to start as a minor official of the eighth or ninth grade. To become a minister of the country like Cao Youwen, except for the right time, place and people, it would take twenty or thirty years.
One can imagine the importance the emperor attached to the students of the Jinling Lecture Hall.
"Brother Wang, I heard that you studied hard at Lihua Mountain in Dongqian Lake and learned the work of Lu Xue and Lu Xue. From what you said today, your utilitarianism is clearly revealed, and it is true!"
Li Angying laughed and said it.
"Brother Wang, a gentleman should cultivate himself, manage his family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world. He should do everything carefully and don't think of success overnight. Brother Wang, you don't seem to be such a person."
Ma Guangzu smiled slightly, with some surprise in his eyes.
This Wang Wen was a chivalrous man, good at riding and shooting, and he did not seem to be eager for quick success.
"Two worthy brothers, it would be fine if they were not today. I don't have to go to the Jinling Martial Arts Hall, I just want to get to the position quickly and show off my skills. The huge civil bureaucracy of our dynasty has been established from the bottom up. On the other hand, if you don't have 20 or 30 years, you can't even hope to reach the fourth rank and above. Most officials spend their entire lives doing nothing. I don't want that."
The word "system" was a new word proposed by the emperor and was widely circulated in newspapers.
Ma Guangzu and Li Angying looked at each other and nodded.
Those who live well, such as Wei Liaoweng, the minister of war, and Zhendexiu, the minister in power, will take twenty years. How many people are there in the world?
For example, Li Angying's mentor Cui Yu, the envoy of Sichuan Province, was still subordinate to others in his fifties. He was only a local official when he was almost sixty years old. Feng Tangyi was old, but Li Guang could not be granted the title.
"Two good brothers, life is short. If you don't make contributions, it will be nothing. Brother Fool, you are unwilling!"
Wang Wen took out a newspaper and placed it on the table.
"This is a poem written by the emperor in the late autumn of last year after sending off the first graduating students of the Jinling Martial Arts Hall. Take a look."
"In the cold autumn of Independence, go eastward across the Yangtze River to the head of Bailuzhou. See the mountains all red..."
"Sad and lonely, I ask the boundless earth, who is responsible for the ups and downs?"
Li Angying read it softly, but Ma Guangzu immediately picked it up without even looking at it.
"Brother Ma Xian, it turns out that you have also read this newspaper. Tell me, which sentences do you like the most?"
Wang Wen immediately became interested.
"Of course it's those words: Qia is a classmate of a young boy who is in his prime. He is full of scholarly energy and scolds Fang Qiu. He points out the country and inspires writing. Isn't this a portrayal of you and my brother who have passed the exam today?"
Ma Guangzu said, his face flushed and full of ambition.
The four great joys of life, ranked first in the gold list. Now that we are in great glory and have a bright future, it is the time to guide the country.
This poem is just right, expressing the thoughts of these proud men.
"Brother Ma Xian, I appreciate these words just like you. However, with these earnest words of advice and hope, His Majesty is referring to the graduates of the Jinling Martial Arts Hall, not to you and me, the new scholars."
Ma Guangzu and Li Angying looked at each other and nodded.
This song "Qinyuan Chun. Jinling" was written by the emperor after the graduates of the Jinling Martial Arts Hall left. It was obviously a message to the students of the Martial Arts Hall, not to the new scholars.
But what does this mean? Are these national talents who have been in poverty for decades inferior to graduates who have only attended the martial arts school for half a year?
