bookrandom Chapter 1335 Eat this set
Chapter 1335 Eat this set
Chapter 1335: Eat This
Because the emperor was seriously ill, the spring examination of the imperial examination in the eighth year of Yuanfeng was also postponed.
Before the spring exam.
The examination was supervised by the Imperial College.
Since the court implemented the three-house system, the examination supervision system has been reformed. Students in the upper houses can be directly appointed as officials, or be exempted from the provincial examination or the prefectural examination.
Later, with the expansion of the number of places in the Imperial College and Cai Jing's proposal to select students from prefectures and counties, a system was implemented in which half of the students were from poor families and half were from official families. This increased the appeal of the Imperial College, and it now became the first choice for scholars all over the world.
Today, students of the Imperial College no longer have to pass the supervised examination to obtain admission.
Passing the examination at the Imperial College can lead to direct admission to the provincial examination or even the palace examination.
The snow in Bianjing had just begun to melt. In front of the Minglun Hall of the Imperial College stood a dense mass of ancient cypresses, and the copper bells on the eaves jingled in the chilly wind. In the corridors, students were whispering to each other, talking about the secrets of the palace.
The news of the emperor's critical illness had already spread like wildfire, and the fact that Empress Dowager Gao summoned Sima Guang to the capital also caused a stir. Sima Guang was the banner of the old party and also a weather vane.
He had lived in Luoyang for fifteen years, and refused to come to the capital despite the emperor's repeated summons. This time, the emperor was seriously ill, so he went to the capital as soon as Empress Dowager Gao summoned him.
what does that mean.
Zhang Cheng sat alone in the east wing examination room, staring at the plain paper on the table in a daze. This question was about governing the country and benefiting the people.
Zhang Cheng picked up his pen to write, but suddenly remembered that in his previous test, he had vividly described the miserable situation of the weaving households in Huainan who "could not produce five pieces of cloth in three days, but were still urgently required to pay taxes". As a result, the examiner commented in red ink that "the language involves resentment".
At the same time, he was ridiculed and laughed at by his classmates.
How was the Imperial College examination this time?
As we all know, it is not difficult to take the examinations nowadays, but the examinations in the Imperial College are difficult.
But this time, Zhang Cheng thought about it and thought, Bai Letian once said that articles are written for the times. If you are demoted, then you are demoted. If you can't express your true feelings, what's the point of this fame?
This time, the examiner Cai Jing was walking through the red lacquer corridor with his hands behind his back. This Kaifeng prefect who advocated "widening the entrance to the Imperial College" had a gloomy look on his face at this moment - Sima Guang was back, how could the old party return to power?
The wolf hair brush hung on the Chengxintang paper for a while before Zhang Cheng finally put pen to paper.
On the Common Path of the Four Classes of People.
In the article, Zhang Cheng wrote that "Mencius said: "Yu suppressed the flood and the world was peaceful, Zhou Gong annexed the barbarians and drove away the beasts and the people were at peace, Confucius completed the Spring and Autumn Annals and the rebellious ministers and thieves were afraid."
…In the past, Guanzi understood the power of weight and weight, and Qi silk and Lu silk were all used as sharp weapons; Zhang Liang resigned from 30,000 households, and Emperor Gaozu got Xiao Cao to make plans. Now the exemption law is in effect, and the malpractice of officials requiring people to provide is eliminated. Every weaver has one more weaver every ten days, and silkworm women can earn 100 coins a day. This is the proof that “when you have enough food and clothing, you will know honor and disgrace”…
When he was writing with ink dripping, Zhang Cheng thought of his father in Zhejiang, speaking for the people.
He also thought about what Zhou Xingji had said to him. Thousands of ships were sailing on the banks of the Qiantang River, and each of these merchant ships was carrying knowledge that could save the people and benefit the world.
Thinking of this, Zhang Cheng continued writing.
After writing the essay, Zhang Cheng knew that the examiner would most likely not like it, but he didn't care and just handed it in.
When the paper was handed in, the evening drum started to sound and Cai Jing's hand trembled slightly as he took the paper.
…Some people say that rice is expensive in Jianghuai, but the opening of Huguang to agriculture is just like the Zhengbai Canal irrigating Guanzhong. In the past, people criticized Shang Yang for "being able to benefit Qin but not being able to do justice to Qin". Now, by opening up trade and benefiting workers, the treasury is filled and the Western Army is provided with funds, which is in line with Confucius' teaching of "benefiting the people according to what benefits them"…
What a good article! Cai Jing's pupils suddenly shrank, but then returned to their calm state in an instant.
Who wrote this policy paper with the scent of ink still wet on it?
When Cai Jing wanted to look again, the other person had disappeared. He looked at the name Zhang Cheng on the scroll again.
Cai Jing was stunned and thought, who is this person? I have never heard of him.
……
On the other side, Sima Guang arrived at the capital on horseback.
The soldiers guarding the city gates saw Sima Guang and put their hands on their foreheads and said, "This is Sima Xianggong."
When the news spread, common people poured out from teahouses and wine shops, and in a short time surrounded the white horse carriage, so that Sima Guang's horse could not move.
One of the onlookers shouted, "Sir, please don't return to Luoyang. Stay in the capital and be a minister to save the people."
There was also an old man making pancakes, holding up a bamboo plaque tremblingly: "Sir, no matter how beautiful the peonies in Luoyang are, how can they compare to the living water of the Bian River that nourishes people?"
Sima Guang watched all this quietly, the snow on the branches fell on his knees. It was the old cloak of purple fur awarded by Emperor Yingzong, but fifteen years of wind and rain in Luoyang had dulled its splendor.
After Sima Guang arrived in Beijing, the first person he visited was the Left Prime Minister Wang Gui.
Sima Guang went all the way to Wang Gui's mansion, and there were still countless people watching, some even climbing trees and riding on roofs to watch.
The officers scolded.
The other party said, "I am not here to see the Prime Minister, but to meet Mr. Sima."
The officers wanted to drive these people down, but they refused. As a result, the roof tiles collapsed and the branches were broken.
Sima Guang entered the house and met Wang Gui.
Wang Gui had not been feeling well recently, but he still forced himself to meet the world-famous Sima Guang.
Sima Guang asked, "How is your majesty?"
Wang Gui said: "Your Majesty's pulse is like a thread hanging in the wind. Qian Yi used tiger and wolf medicine to hold on to the vital energy."
Sima Guang nodded and said, "I came to the capital not to be an official, but to present a memorial to the Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, on your behalf."
After saying this, Sima Guang took out the memorial from his sleeve and placed it on the table.
Wang Gui’s eyesight was blurry due to his old age, but he couldn’t help getting nervous when he heard about Sima Guang’s memorial.
After he took the memorial and read it carefully, he felt that there was nothing more incisive than this in the world.
I have heard that a strong root leads to a strong end, and a muddy source leads to a muddy stream. In the past, when Emperor Renzong appointed me to head the Censorate, when I first entered the palace, I immediately said that there are three virtues of a ruler: benevolence, wisdom, and martial arts; and three ways to govern: appointing officials, rewarding faithfully, and punishing surely.
During the reign of Emperor Yingzong, I presented a map of the years to him, and the preface to it read: "The way of a ruler is one, and his virtues are three."
Wang Gui thought this was Sima Guang's usual style.
To consolidate the roots and flourish the ends is the foundation of the world, while the root of order and chaos lies in the heart of the monarch. In the article, I teach everything in the tone of a veteran minister of three dynasties. Each paragraph begins with "I, your Excellency, have said this" to show that my doctrine is consistent.
Wang Gui said: "Inner cultivation of the three virtues of benevolence, wisdom, and martial arts, and outer use of the three arts to appoint officials, reward according to trust, and punish according to necessity, is the true way to be a sage within and a king without."
"Junshi's treatment of history is like a sharp knife. Where the blade passes, only bones are seen, not flesh. The same is true for his writing."
After reading it, Wang Gui became very alert.
Sima Guang's articles are both profound and comprehensive, and he is truly a useful weapon in the hands of Empress Dowager Gao.
As they were talking, there was a sudden sound of breaking tiles from the west wing - it turned out that a bystander had collapsed the roof of his neighbor's house.
Sima Guang seemed not to have heard this, and continued to say to Wang Gui: "The most important thing is to open up the channels for people to express their opinions. In personnel matters, everyone should follow their strengths and not be treated in the same way. This was the drawback of the Xining and Yuanfeng eras."
Wang Gui thought to himself, no wonder Wang Anshi always said that the new law was not feasible, and it was Sima Guang too.
Wang Gui said: "I am old and ill, and most of the government affairs are now handled by Cai Zhizheng."
"From now on, the world will be in Junshi's hands."
Sima Guang did not comment upon hearing this.
After Sima Guang left Wang Gui's house, Fan Zuyu and Guo Lindu asked Sima Guang, "Teacher, are you going to the palace to see the emperor next?"
Sima Guang shook his head and said, "The flower festival in Luoyang is about to begin, so I should go back home."
After leaving this memorial, Sima Guang left Bian Jing without saying goodbye and returned to Dule Garden in Luoyang.
……
The bells of Daxiangguo Temple rang to pray for the officials.
Suddenly, bells and drums rang loudly inside the palace walls, and the chanting of hundreds of monks suddenly rose to a higher pitch. In the Purple Palace Hall, paper ash mixed with fine snow was seen flying all over the sky. It turned out that the Ministry of Internal Affairs was burning the Diamond Sutra for the emperor to prolong his life.
In the Zichen Palace.
Empress Dowager Gao, who was standing behind the curtain, angrily shouted, "Why didn't the Prime Minister try to keep you?"
Wang Gui was speechless. Sima Guang didn't say he was leaving.
Cai Que lowered his head at the side. He knew that although Empress Dowager Gao seemed angry at Wang Gui, she was actually directed at him.
He did not use the seal of the Secretariat, but used the seal of the Ministry of Personnel to invite Sima Guang back to the court, which was not a good idea. Moreover, he did not return to the court to serve as an official, but as the governor of Chenzhou.
Empress Dowager Gao was dissatisfied with the low treatment she gave Sima Guang when he returned to the court, and still gave him the official position of the prefect of Chenzhou.
So Sima Guang came to Beijing and then returned to Luoyang.
This move is really brilliant!
Now it was his and Wang Gui's turn to be scolded by Empress Dowager Gao.
Wang Gui said: "I am old and sick and incapable, please ask the Queen Mother to dismiss me from my position."
Empress Dowager Gao glanced at Wang Gui and realized that she had gone too far. Before Sima Guang and others returned to the court, she would continue to obey Wang Gui.
Empress Dowager Gao also saw that Wang Gui was in poor health, but she still said, "I am anxious. Your Majesty once said that he would use special ceremonies to recall Sima Guang back to the palace."
"But I have been so busy with the government's medication these days that I have neglected it."
Cai Que said: "Your Majesty, Sima Guang is also a minister. Your Majesty's order is an extraordinary ceremony, so there is no need to add any more."
Wang Gui lowered his head and looked at Cai Que. Just now in the capital hall, Cai Que told him that when the old party returns to power, they will strike first and kill those of us who are members of the new law party.
Empress Dowager Gao said: "King Wen personally visited me at Panxi, and Liu Bei visited me three times at my thatched cottage. These are the special rites."
"But I still order Liang Weijian to go to Luoyang, and you have to accommodate him."
When Liang Weijian, wearing a crimson round-collared robe, walked into the hall, flying paper ashes were falling on the hats of Wang Gui and Cai Que.
They thought to themselves, His Majesty is still here, and the Queen Mother is already so impatient.
Behind the curtain, Empress Dowager Gao looked at Sima Guang's memorial and couldn't help but praise it, saying, "What a good article! It really hits the nail on the head."
"Another decree was sent to Luoyang to summon Sima Guang to the palace to seal the imperial edict with purple clay!"
Cai Que sneered in his heart, the Queen Mother just fell for this.