There is an official office in the city, which the emperor specially granted Wang Hao and Liu the opportunity to meet the current governor of Southern Zhili.
Because some candidates have to wait until the next year to arrive in the capital, there were only about fifty people attending the visit this time.
"Everyone, are you okay?"
Every time someone comes, someone will surround them and say hello.
Tang Yin came very early and sat alone, looking alone.
Like Zhang Zhou, who was arrogant and unruly, Tang Yin also gained a reputation as a libertine after arriving in the capital. Others were only superficially polite to him. After a brief exchange of greetings, no one discussed matters of learning or examinations with him.
They probably think that if you are so awesome, we can’t afford to offend you.
When Wang Hao and Liu Ji arrived, basically the same number of people could come.
"Master!"
Everyone gathered around.
The students did not expect that Wang Hao and Liu Jiji would be so approachable. They would show up together as soon as they showed up, without letting anyone know about them or putting on any airs.
Especially now that Wang Hao is still a bachelor, he has been promoted a lot more than before. With Wang Hao's reputation, the candidates for this Jiangnan Provincial Examination will also have more face. In the future, he can become an official in the court and join Wang Hao's faction. The future is bright.
"Bohu!"
When Wang Hao came this time, the two people he cared about the most were Tang Yin and Zhang Zhou.
But Zhang Zhou hasn't shown up yet, so he can only say hello to Tang Yin first. Wang Hao admires Tang Yin very much, and even feels a little regretful that he didn't take Tang Yin as Jieyuan.
Tang Yin quickly saluted Wang Yao.
At this moment, someone suddenly asked: "Two masters, after entering the hospital today, you saw a lot of guards in royal robes. Why is this?"
One question made the atmosphere of the scene somewhat depressing and tense.
Wang Hao and Liu Ji couldn't help but look at each other. They obviously couldn't answer this question head-on.
Should we tell them that this meeting was actually arranged by His Majesty and specifically asked Zhang Zhou to come and meet us? As for arranging the Jin Yiwei, are you afraid that there will be some conflict and you guys will go up and beat him up?
Those of us who are teachers used to be able to talk and give guidance in front of students, but it is different today. We are also ordered to make connections for that person.
"Don't mind what's going on outside the window. We're only going to talk about knowledge today and nothing else." Liu Ji said with a smile.
"coming!"
Just as he was talking, someone came over to deliver a message.
Wang Hao and Liu Ji probably knew who was coming, but none of the students present knew.
They were all thinking that even the two masters did not need to be announced to enter the venue. Who is this big?
…
…
After the people came in, some of the scholars recognized him immediately.
"Zhang Bingkuan!"
The scene became noisy.
Zhang Zhou also didn't expect that he would become a celebrity not long after entering the capital.
He didn't come alone today, because there was a naughty kid waiting for him outside...
These Jinyi guards were not here to protect him, but Zhu Houzhao insisted on coming with him. Zhu Youtang couldn't handle it, so he finally sent someone to protect Zhu Houzhao.
Zhu Youtang made a three-part agreement with his son in advance, stating that he would listen to Zhang Zhou for everything he came here to do. Naturally, Zhang Zhou would not bring Zhu Houzhao in when he came to meet his classmates.
After meeting the teachers and classmates in the same department, Zhang Zhou also went to the Imperial College to participate in an "interview".
Zhu Houzhao will also follow.
Liu Ji and Wang Hao were both his husbands, so it would be a big deal if he was told that the prince was following him out for a walk.
Zhang Zhou stepped forward, looking very high-profile, and saluted Wang Hao and Liu Ji directly with his hands raised: "Student Zhang Zhou, I have met these two masters."
"Um."
Liu Ji smiled and nodded. He had no prejudice against Zhang Zhou.
On the contrary, Wang Hao's expression on the side was very tense. It could be seen that he seemed to regret promoting Zhang Zhou to Jieyuan now.
Ever since Zhang Zhou became Jieyuan, his actions have completely exceeded the scope of a scholar. Wang Hao, like those old-fashioned Confucian scholars, does not support his students doing those ridiculous things, and he does not want Zhang Zhou to be in the limelight. .
If Zhang Zhou had visited him earlier and he could have persuaded him, he might not have felt so alienated. Now that the two met again, Wang Hao seemed to want to show some distinction with Zhang Zhou.
"Sit down!" Wang Hao just greeted Zhang Zhou in the most ordinary way.
Then the students present took their seats.
There was no ranking. Those who came first sat in the front, and those who came later sat in the back. So Zhang Zhou sat in the last position.
…
…
During the regular meeting, Liu Ji and Wang Hao just made some expectations for everyone's exams in the coming year and asked everyone to go back and prepare for the exams.
nothing to say.
It was nothing more than the Deer Ming Banquet, and there was no banquet. After a brief explanation, Wang Hao went to the back hall first on the grounds that he still had something to do.
Liu Ji smiled and greeted the students again, and finally encouraged Zhang Zhou, saying that Zhang Zhou had the "talent of the number one scholar", which was regarded as completing the errand given by the emperor, and then he also entered the inner hall.
"The top talent?"
After the two masters left, Zhang Zhou instantly became the target of public criticism.
Zhang Zhou was not interested in this group of people at all. His eyes only fell on the skinny Tang Bohu.
Different from Tang Yin's arrogance in provoking him several times in the past, the Tang Yin he saw this time was very low-key. Sitting there gave people the feeling of being trapped on the ground and did not say hello to anyone.
Wang Hao and Liu Ji left, and he didn't say anything about coming over to issue a gauntlet or anything.
Zhang Zhou said: "Everyone, I did something earlier and delayed the Luming Banquet. After arriving in the capital, I didn't want to have a literary meeting with you. I would like to express my apology first. There is still a small matter between me and the Prime Minister of Tang Yin and Tang Dynasty. Personal grudges need to be settled.”
After saying that, Zhang Zhou walked up to Tang Yin in full view of everyone.
Tang Yin also stood up.
Zhang Zhou took a good look at Tang Yin and felt that Tang Yin was a bit "unattractive". His face was thin and wrinkled. Maybe Tang Yin was not used to the dry weather in the north. In addition, Tang Yin still had a goatee... He was not thirty years old yet. It gives people the feeling of an old man in his forties.
That's it? Romantic talent?
"Brother Tang, we finally have a chance to meet." Zhang Zhou smiled.
Tang Yin's face was cold.
I had spent so much effort to find Zhang Zhou, issued a letter of challenge, and blocked people at the gate of the Imperial College, but I still didn't meet him.
Now it is known that Zhang Zhou did not take the ordinary path and was appreciated by the court by treating the plague. When Tang Yin learned about the situation from Wang Mao and was a little scared, Zhang Zhou took the initiative to show up.
Tang Yin said: "I have invited you several times before, why didn't you come?"
"There are too many things." Zhang Zhou said with a kind smile on his face, "I heard that Brother Tang has always wanted to discuss academic matters with me. It's better to meet by chance than to invite me. It's rare to meet you today, why not discuss it on the spot?"
Tang Yin frowned.
It's not that he doesn't dare, but that he wants to deal with it in a low-key manner now.
Zhang Zhou's publicity has attracted so much criticism, but Zhang Zhou is qualified to publicize it. He, Tang Yin, is just a Jiangnan Rural Examination Asian Yuan and lacks gold content.
What qualifications do you have to challenge Zhang Zhou?
Tang Yin said coldly: "You can judge your level by trying it out. This seems to be what Zhang Gongsheng said."
"Hahaha, that's right. Before, too many people knew that I was just a regular prisoner and thought I was a soft persimmon. They wanted to compete with me on my knowledge. But what is the comparison for learning? After becoming a Jinshi, I will be ranked among the highest in the imperial court. Class, isn’t it more useful than competing now? But I still feel that there seems to be some grudge between you and Brother Tang in the past life, so we have to compete!”
"Compared to what?"
Tang Yin was instantly inspired with the desire to win.
Be polite to you, do you really think I won’t dare to compete? Compare!
Zhang Zhou said: "We still have to rely on the coming spring to determine victory or defeat. In this way, if I can't be named on the gold list next year, then I, Mr. Zhang, will accept the promotion of people and officials, and I will never take part in the examination again!"
"ah!?"
The people at the scene were originally there to watch the excitement.
After listening to Zhang Zhou's words, a group of people felt as if they had been beaten to death.
Someone with good intentions on the side quickly pulled Zhang Zhouyi and said: "Zhang Jieyuan, even if you are talented, there is no need to take such an oath. How can you only take the exam once? If you fail... there will be a lot of opportunities in the future."
Tang Yin didn't expect that Zhang Zhou would dare to say such cruel words.
According to a normal bet, Tang Yin should also be reciprocal.
But Tang Yin thought that if he failed this time... he would never take the exam again. How could that be possible?
Is it that easy to get a Jinshi? Many talented people have gone through the baptism of several examinations. Even those in the old government departments dare not say that they can pass the Jinshi examination in one go.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Brother Tang, don't you dare to accept it?"
"you……"
Tang Yin originally asked himself not to lose to Zhang Zhou, but just by setting a flag, he felt that he had lost.
But he still gritted his teeth and said: "Why don't you dare? If I, Mr. Tang, fail the exam, then..."
"etc!"
Zhang Zhou stopped Tang Yin.
Tang Yin breathed a sigh of relief. He had been put on fire just now, and he almost made a vow in public that he would never take the exam again after failing once.
You can deny this kind of thing afterwards, but you probably won't be able to hold your head up and be a good person in the future.
Fortunately, Zhang Zhou stopped him.
But it was just a temporary stop, who knew what Zhang Zhou was thinking.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Brother Tang, I didn't want to waste too much time in the examination room, so I made this kind of oath, but you are different. You don't have to make the same oath as me."
"What do you mean?" Tang Yin felt that his head was a little big.
Are you making a bet with a madman?
If I fail the test once, I will not take the test next time. You are so desperate and have no regard for the future. This is really unprecedented!
Zhang Zhou naturally has this confidence.
He knew that if he failed, it would be unnecessary for him to prepare for another three years and take the exam again. Even the emperor had arranged another path for him to enter the court, so why not change his mind?
If he really had to prepare for another three years, he would be afraid that the examination status would not be as good as it is today, and each session would be worse than the last. He didn't want to be a repeat student, it would be too tiring.
Zhang Zhou said: "Brother Tang, how about this? If I fail, I will no longer take the exam, and if you fail, or if you succeed, you will be ranked lower than me, and from now on you will join the same division as me. What do you think?"
When the people around heard this, they all started talking.
What kind of competition is this?
Tang Yin sneered and said, "You want me to become your teacher?"
"Wrong, I just asked you to join the same disciple as me. From now on, you will be my junior brother, and I am the senior brother. From now on, we will have someone to look after you in court, or whatever you do in the future, you have to listen to me."
Tang Yin gritted his teeth and refused.
Someone on the side reminded: "Zhang Jieyuan, you seem to be at a disadvantage if you do this."
"Yeah, you didn't pass, you didn't pass the imperial examination, and he failed or was ranked lower than you, and he just became your junior brother, what does that mean?"
A group of people were talking about it.
Everyone seems to feel that this competition is very unfair.
Zhang Zhoulang said: "Everyone has his own ambitions, so what should we think about? I just want to take the general examination once, and if I fail, I will never take the imperial examination again. But Tang Yin has his ambition in high school. If he fails, or the rankings are different, I...I am willing to advance and retreat together with him. Rivals in the literary world can also become brothers in the same discipline, so why not?"
This was Zhang Zhou's last protection for Tang Yin.
Now the examiner has not changed. You, Tang Yin, also went to see Cheng Minzheng early. You are still so flamboyant. If you are destined to be involved in the case, I want to save you.
If I say that you are my junior brother who has never been to the school...does this sound like a good reason?
As for the disciples...
It's a bit ridiculous to rashly accept others as disciples when you are in the same imperial examination.
But if I join the same master, and the master is just made up by me, then from now on it won’t be me, the senior brother, who will say what he says?
Zhang Zhou said: "Brother Tang, do you dare to accept this competition?"
Tang Yin was looked around by everyone and found that every one of them looked at him with malicious intent.
Originally, he could just walk away, but when he thought about the previous visits to Wang Hao, Wang Hao felt a sense of regret for him. He thought about how he failed to challenge Zhang Zhou several times and was despised by Zhang Zhou... Even if he didn't want to, he didn't want to. Take it, take it too.
"Okay!" Tang Yin agreed.
Now the crowd became lively.
Someone advised: "Bohu, you have to be careful. It is not a good thing to be someone's junior disciple."
Some people also asked: "Who do you want to be your teacher?"
He didn't even know who his master was, he only knew that he wanted to be from the same sect. Such conditions for inviting a bet were unheard of.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Well, I'll just wait for you to go to high school, Brother Tang. I'll take my leave!"
"etc."
Tang Yin said, "What if you and I both get Jinshi, and my rank is higher than yours?"
Tang Yin thought that in this competition, there seemed to be some conditions that had not been fulfilled in the final gathering.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "At that time, you and I were ministers in the same palace, taking care of each other, but we still insisted on competing? Brother Tang, don't you have no courage?"
"Why don't you dare!" Tang Yin couldn't get off the stage now and could only be led by Zhang Zhou. "This agreement was made in public. You Zhang better not break your promise. If you break your promise...become my teacher, I will also I won’t care about your vow not to take the National Examination again.”
Tang Yin can be regarded as "showing mercy".
This left a "way out" for Zhang Zhou.
If you fail the exam and become my teacher, I will treat your vow today as invalid.
Zhang Zhouxin said, "I'm going to break the contract. Why don't I break the oath to worship you as my teacher, and then abide by one and violate the other?" Is there something missing in your mind, Tang Yin?
Are you crazy about reading? !
Zhang Zhou said: "Then you all, I have to go back and study hard, so as not to fail in the next year and lose the qualification to participate in the Spring Festival in the future! You can also tell what happened today to everyone in the capital, and what I want to do is This last ditch effort! Let’s support each other with you!”
The fellow examiners present looked at each other.
It is said that Tang Yin is bohemian, but when he met Zhang Bingkuan, he was really nothing compared to a big witch.
Today was an eye-opener.
(End of chapter)
