On July 1st, it was not yet bright, but outside the Gongyuan there was already a sea of people and a lot of noise.
Although Hu Jing, Wang Gen, Li Guan, Jin Youzi, and Yang Rong also came outside the Gongyuan, they did not gather around the wall. They just stood by the river not far away with a leisurely look.
"I heard that the emperor wanted to build Baoen Temple and the Monument of Heroes, but the court only gave him 100,000 yuan. I don't know how the project will be built."
Yang Rong said with some confusion.
"It can be built."
"That's right."
"Yes."
"Um."
Hu Jing, Wang Gen, Li Guan, and Jin Youzi answered Yang Rong simply and concisely.
Yang Rong frowned and said, "Summer season has passed and Mengqiu has arrived, but it's still hot today."
"hot."
"That's right."
"Yes."
"Um."
Hu Jing, Wang Gen, Li Guan, and Jin Youzi answered Yang Rong again.
Yang Rong was depressed. The leisurely and romantic feelings of these people were all just pretending, and they were preoccupied with waiting for the results to be announced...
"When I first entered Mengqiu, it will take some time until the Liuhuo turns cold."
A deep voice came into Yang Rong's ears.
Yang Rong looked sideways and saw a man with a square face and a half-inch beard standing on the side of the railing, looking at him seriously.
"I am under the command of Yang Rong and Yang Mianren of Jianning Mansion."
Yang Rong took a step forward and saluted.
"Yang Pu Yang Hongji, the head of Huguang Stone."
Yang Pu returned the courtesy.
Yang Rong walked towards Yang Pu with a smile and sighed: "You and I are destined to be from the Yang family. Brother Hongji's demeanor must be that he is on the self-confidence list, right?"
Yang Pu smiled calmly and said, "If I'm sure, then Brother Mian should be in the top ten, right?"
Yang Rong laughed and said, "I was reckless. Brother Hongji, please don't take offense."
Yang Pu nodded slightly, looked at Yang Rong, and said with a serious smile: "Do you think it is really impossible to build the Temple of Repayment and the Monument of Heroes with 100,000 coins?"
Yang Rong's pupils condensed slightly, and seeing Yang Pu's seriousness, he said firmly: "One hundred thousand strings is absolutely impossible."
Yang Pu raised his head and looked at the Gongyuan. The gate of the Gongyuan slowly opened, and someone came out holding a scroll. Countless people swarmed up.
"The results are released, the results are released!"
Someone shouted loudly, with anxiety in his voice.
Yang Pu looked at Yang Rong who was indifferent and couldn't help but look at him a few times and said, "Aren't you going to take a look?"
Yang Rong said calmly and confidently: "The victory or defeat of the general test has been decided, so why bother to swarm into groups and bustle? Furthermore, the debate between you and me has just begun. If we just rush to the exam, wouldn't it be wrong?" Lost to you?"
Yang Pu burst out laughing and high-fived: "Brother Mian Ren is indeed amazing. Speaking of Baoen Temple and the Monument of Heroes, one hundred thousand dollars is absolutely impossible. However, one hundred thousand dollars is just the imperial court's contribution. Someone will fill the gap." .”
"Oh? Who can do such a great thing?"
Yang Rong was a little surprised.
I heard that Baoen Temple and the Monument of Heroes and Martyrs were commissioned by the emperor and built in the name of the loyal army and the heroes who served the country. How could other people dare to get involved in this matter without fear of attracting people's hearts and being punished and beheaded?
Yang Pu said slowly: "What if it's Tianjie Temple?"
Yang Rong suddenly understood, shook his head bitterly, and said: "I didn't expect this. Tianjie Temple is also the royal family's temple, and it can't be considered an outsider. With its funding, it can firstly show the royal family's favor, and secondly, it can promote Buddhism. The third one can inspire all people, so it is an excellent choice.”
"I don't have a good impression of Buddhism, but if Tianjie Temple can accomplish this, it will be a great achievement."
Yang Pu pointed to the crowd in front and said.
Yang Rong followed Yang Pu's gesture and saw Jin Youzi and others greeting him. He only waved in response and continued to talk to Yang Pu: "I heard that during the Hongwu period, the historians compiled the history books of the previous dynasties and completed it in Tianjie Temple. Is it true?"
Yang Pu nodded and said, "Of course."
Yang Rong still wanted to ask, but he heard Jin Youzi shout: "It's hit, it's hit."
, Brother Yang, you hit! "
Yang Pu saluted and said, "Congratulations to Brother Mian."
Yang Rong returned the salute and looked at Jin Youzi. Seeing Jin Youzi's face glowing red and beaming with joy, he saluted and said, "Congratulations, Brother Jin. Allow me to introduce you, this is Yang Pu and Yang Hongji. Brother Yang, this is Jin Youzi."
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Jin Youzi and Yang Pu greeted each other.
Jin Youzi frowned and said, "I seem to have seen the name Yang Pu somewhere. Oh, I remembered it. Brother Hongji, you are also on the list!"
"Oh? What's your rank?"
Yang Rong asked quickly.
Jin Youzi squinted his eyes, thought for a while, and said, "It seems that he was seventeen or eighteen, I don't remember it. But brother Mian, you are fourth."
"Talented."
Yang Pu smiled.
Yang Rong smiled knowingly and asked, "Who is Huiyuan?"
Although those who pass the examination can be said to be Jinshi in essence, they cannot be called Jinshi in terms of title. They can only be called Gongshi, and the first one is called Huiyuan.
Only after passing the palace examination can one be called a Jinshi.
"Haha, it's Brother Wang Gen."
Hu Jing walked over in high spirits, and Li Guanzheng congratulated Wang Gen.
Yang Pu looked at Wang Gen. He had prominent cheekbones, sunken cheeks, round eyes, and light eyebrows. Judging from his appearance alone, this person could be classified as ugly.
However, his talent transcends his appearance.
This is Huiyuan, the fierce man who ranks first among more than five thousand people.
Those who are on the list are in a good mood. Although the imperial examination is not over yet, there is no need to worry. They have already obtained the qualifications to enter the imperial court and become officials.
However, the majority of those who were eliminated were all dejected and lost. There were still a few standing by the river, not knowing whether they planned to enjoy the scenery or jump in.
"Clang!"
After a few gongs, everyone couldn't help but look.
"For those who have failed, there is no need to be upset. You can still take the exam next year. But if you are short of money, cannot afford to stay in the capital for a long time, and are unwilling to return to your hometown and are tired of traveling, you can come to our Zhonghua Bookstore and we are looking for three hundred proofreaders. , room and board included, twenty taels of silver per month.”
"Clang!"
"If you want to come to Zhonghua Bookstore, you can come to me. You only need to work four hours a day. The rest of the time is up to you."
Zhu Zhi raised his voice and said solicitously.
"It's him?!"
Yang Pu shouted in surprise.
Yang Rong nodded and said: "I have seen this person selling exam papers for the previous dynasty outside Gongyuan. He is a shrewd businessman."
Yang Pu looked a little strange and said to Yang Rong: "You don't know his true identity?"
"What identity?"
Yang Rong was a little confused.
Yang Pu chuckled, shook his head and said, "Brother Mian Ren came to the capital, haven't you heard about the two kings' business?"
A look of surprise appeared on Yang Rong's face, he turned his head with difficulty, looked at Zhu Zhi, and said uneasily: "Don't tell me, this is one of the two kings?"
Yang Pu sighed: "He is the King of Liao. As for King Min, I heard that the Heroes Chamber of Commerce is being formed."
"What is the Heroes Chamber of Commerce?"
Wang Gen interjected and asked.
Yang Pu shook his head and said: "It is said that the news about Bao'en Temple and the Monument of Heroes has attracted the attention of countless merchants and scholars. An Hui merchant, Shen Yiyuan, talked with the two kings and connected merchants from all walks of life in the capital to supply corresponding goods to Bao'en Temple and the Monument of Heroes. .The person responsible for the coordination and dispatch of these goods is the Heroes Chamber of Commerce."
“How many forces were involved in the construction of Baoen Temple and the Monument to the Martyrs?”
Yang Rong asked in surprise.
Yang Pu replied: "As far as the current situation is concerned, the imperial court, vassal kings, Buddhists, Taoists, merchants, and scholars are all involved. Haha, I also learned the information from the merchants. As for whether it is accurate or not, it is difficult to say .”
Yang Rong felt something unusual.
According to Yang Pu, Tianjie Temple is the main investor, but now there is a Heroes Chamber of Commerce, which gathers the strength of all parties to participate. The dominant position of Buddhism is bound to be diluted
.
No matter which day the Great Baoen Temple and the Monument of Heroes and Martyrs were built, whether it was a businessman or a scholar, the first thought after coming to Baoen Temple would be:
There is also a part of my hard work in this...
instead of:
Buddha saves all peoples, Amitabha.
"The emperor is suppressing Buddhism?"
Yang Rong was keenly aware of this and turned his gaze to Yang Pu. He saw Yang Pu was calm and solemn, as if he had already seen through everything.
It's already July now, and it's only more than half a year before spring next February. If we leave the capital and go home, it's probably a long way. It's probably time to return home when we reach home and wish my parents an early New Year.
Because the interval between the two imperial examinations was not long, many people who failed did not plan to go home.
It’s okay not to go home, but you still need to eat, right?
If you have money, stay in an inn, shake your head every day, and study the meaning of scriptures, then no one will care about you...
But if you don’t have enough money to support yourself for half a year, you can’t be a homebody, right?
There are not many paths open to those who have failed, but there are still a few:
First, roll up your sleeves, move your ankles, and run to the Imperial College to be a supervisor.
Advantages: Take care of food and housing, and have a group of people to discuss knowledge with you.
Disadvantages: You have to listen to the Imperial College’s arrangements for what books to read and what classes to take. You can’t make up for your shortcomings freely, and you can’t sleep in. If you don’t have discipline, you will be beaten...
Second, he rubbed his face and went to live with his second aunt, his third cousin, his fourth aunt, and his fifth aunt.
Advantages: control, and possibly food. Free and able to learn.
Disadvantages: There are a lot of eye rolls, which tests your mental endurance. Those who are not thick-skinned often cannot choose.
Third, workmanship.
Advantages: food, accommodation, and pocket money.
Disadvantages: tiring, embarrassing, time-consuming...
In the eyes of literati, everything is of inferior quality, but if we are educated, then if we are asked to do work, wouldn’t that mean we are engaging in inferior things?
Too embarrassing.
So many people left, either to visit relatives or friends, or to go to the Imperial College. However, Zhu Zhi still recruited people. After all, there were many people from poor families. It was embarrassing to have a place to work, but they still dealt with writing. It was embarrassing, how could it be lost? go?
Besides, if you want to be an official, if you don’t practice thick black skills, how will you become a big boss in the future?
"To celebrate the joy of being on the list, I'll treat you to a guest. I won't come back until you get drunk today. How about that?"
Hu Jing suggested.
"The palace examination is the day after tomorrow. It's not good to be drunk at this time, right?"
Yang Rongwan refused.
Hu Jing said confidently: "It's just a palace examination, I'm very afraid."
Indeed, unlike the provincial examination and the general examination, there is no elimination of people in the palace examination.
In other words, if you are on the examination list, you have passed the palace examination.
The palace examination is nothing more than selecting the top three in the first class, and then ranking the second and third class.
In fact, the palace examinations in the Tang and Song Dynasties eliminated people, and the elimination rate was very high, roughly one-third or two-thirds of the people were eliminated.
As for why the palace examination did not eliminate people, but instead eliminated people in one batch?
This has to do with traitors.
It happened during the Song Renzong period in the Song Dynasty. At that time, people were often eliminated in the palace examination. People worked hard and passed so many examinations. After passing the provincial examination and the general examination, you eliminated people in the palace examination.
It's enough to screen them once and admit it, but there are always a few unlucky ones who will be screened out several times after coming to the palace examination.
This is a bit bullying, so why don't you change some people to screen?
Some people have been bullied enough and think that Song Ting is blind and they clearly have talents and they have to use them.
After being screened out again, this person gritted his teeth and shouted: You don't need me, right? Wait and see, you will regret it someday.
So this man, full of anger, packed his luggage and left.
I stopped serving the Song Emperor and went to Xixia Li Yuanhao.
The bullied man, named Zhang Yuan, was regarded by Li Yuanhao as the Grand Master, Shangshu Ling, and Zhongshu Ling of Xixia. He was the Prime Minister of Xixia and the thorn in the heart of the Northern Song Dynasty.
