A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 96: Gathering of Failed Students (Part )
Then some students found the seed test papers of the other few people, put them together, and asked the teachers to make judgments.

There is almost no difference between the two subjects of pasting scriptures and Mo Yi.

Only in the subject of poetry and prose did Song Xuan have a huge lead, while the other students' writings were a mess.

At this time, poetry is equivalent to math problems. If you know how to do it, you know how to do it. If you don’t know how to do it, you can only stare blankly or write a solution.

As for the policy paper.

Song Shou looked at Zhang Fangping's paper. What he wrote was similar to the main theme of Song Xuan. There are not so many ways to have the best of both worlds in the world. He could only do it.

Such a great country could be threatened by a small country like Xixia. If this were to be spread out, it would be laughed at by future generations.

"A red-hearted person becomes red, a black-hearted person becomes black!"

Song Shou took Zhang Fangping's test paper and looked at his way of answering the questions. It was certain that he was influenced by Song Xuan. He must correct it in time!
When Fan Zhongyan heard Song Shou's voice, he stood beside him and looked at him. He was sure that the two of them did not know the test questions, but they chose the same argument, so they were not stupid.

He set the questions just to screen out a few and see if the students have the ability to escape this trap.

How many ways are there in the world to have the best of both worlds?
If there was, it would have been used by our predecessors long ago. Do you really think that all the talented people in history are not as good as you, the younger generation?

If the candidate really came up with a solution that would satisfy both parties, Fan Zhongyan would like to take a good look to see if he could justify it.

The choice of war or peace also allows him to see the students' inner thoughts.

Although some people hide their true thoughts on the test paper, some things can still be seen.

"I think what Wang Yaochen wrote is quite constructive."

Zhang Shide had already put down Song Xuan's test paper and looked at Wang Yaochen's test paper:

"At least he didn't write nonsense like the questioner was naive or deliberately gave himself a scholar's opinion. Song Twelve is a young man with too much ambition. He needs to be tempered."

"Mr. Zhang is absolutely right."

Yan Shu spoke quickly.

Wang Yaochen finally did not disappoint.

He jumped out at the critical moment and blocked it for Song Xuan.

Although Song Shou was puzzled as to why Yan Shu, who was very optimistic about Song Xuan, did not argue strongly for him, but instead agreed to let Wang Yaochen take first place.

Fan Zhongyan also nodded slightly. He felt that Song Xuan's article should not be spread outside.

"But Wang Yaochen's poetry still needs some work." Yan Shu pointed at Song Xuan's poem, which had surpassed all the teachers and students in the academy.

“It’s not right to be tied for first place.”

Yan Shu knew that Song Xuan was a smart man and could not show that he was targeting him deliberately.

This kid has been suppressed at home for too long and is eager to soar into the sky.

But this is not the "Boy's Examination" in the capital, so it is not necessary.

Fan Zhongyan also didn't want Song Xuan to be ranked too high, lest he become proud:

"Song Twelve's copy of the sutra is too crafty, so he naturally cannot be ranked first. And this policy essay, even if the results are announced, it will only count as half of his essay, and the other half cannot be shown at all."

Several people listened to Fan Zhongyan's judgment on Song Xuan, especially Yan Shu, who agreed very much.

That's better.

Song Xuan, that kid, wants to make a big splash after three years of silence.

There's no need to fly so high.

Yan Shu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It would be enough for Song Xuan to be admitted to the academy. It would not be too late to show his prowess in the imperial examination in the future.

The academy's speed in grading papers was extremely fast, and students who had taken the exam before, such as Tiejing and Moyi, could make judgments.

As for policy essays and poems, one can tell them apart at a glance, and then take a closer look at the rankings.

……

"Come."

Song Xuan sat at the table, holding up his wine glass and said:
"Finally the exam is over, I can have a drink."

"Dry."

Everyone raised their glasses to celebrate.

Even Shi Jie, who was staying overnight, drank a glass of wine to thank Song Xuan, then returned to his room to catch up on some sleep.

He always believed that he had persisted for so long that he could not fail.

After the boring people left, Su Xun immediately took the initiative to pour everyone some cold beer:

"This is the first time I've made such a happy friend since leaving Sichuan. I'll do it first."

After Su Xun finished speaking, he drank heavily and laughed for a while.

Song Xuan poured him some wine:
"When we have time, we'll go to Sichuan and visit Sanlang's home."

"Okay, okay, it's a deal."

Su Xun really wanted to invite his friends to his home.

However, due to the road conditions in Sichuan, many people are unwilling to enter the province.

"If you have time, you can go to Jiangxi. Jiangxi's literary style is also very good." Bao Zheng burped and said:
"I've heard that the east-west route south of the Yangtze River, covering the Yangzhou area mentioned in the "Tribute of Yu," lies at the boundary between the Cowherd and the Bearded Woman. It borders the Qi Min region in the east, Xiakou in the west, Dayu in the south, and the Yangtze River in the north. It is rich in rivers and lakes, and abounds in aquatic products. During the Yongjia period, many people of high rank and noble descent settled here.

Afterwards, cultural relics flourished, and the profits from tea, smelting, gold, silk, and rice provided annual expenses for county officials, accounting for about half of the country's income.

Bao Zheng praised Jiangxi and said: "The most important thing is that the number of successful candidates for the imperial examinations there is among the highest."

Jiangxi was also the first choice for many students in the Song Dynasty to study abroad.

After all, Yan Shu was the representative of Jiangxi people at that time.

Later, Yan Jidao, Ouyang Xiu, Wang Anshi, Zeng Gong and Huang Tingjian all made the brand of Jiangxi scholar-officials shine particularly brightly.

Zhang Fangping also took over the conversation:

"I did meet a student from Jiangxi in the same examination hall. His surname is Zeng, and his name is Zeng Yiyou. He is quite knowledgeable."

"My exam room actually has the son of Huang Zhongli, a prominent figure from Yuzhang. He became famous because of the high school admissions of the Song Qi and Song Yang brothers, and the academy he founded is also well-received. I'm a little confused as to why his son chose to apply to Yingtianfu Academy."

Bao Zheng also talked about the people from Jiangxi he met.

Huang Zhongli was the grandfather of Huang Tingjian. He founded his own academy and was born into a wealthy family.

He invested all his wealth into the academy, and its reputation spread throughout the local area.

Not only does he cultivate the children of his own family, but he also cultivates the students around him.

Song Xuan nodded.

Zeng Gong, one of the Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties, was also from Jiangxi.

I wonder if he is related to the guy named Zeng who took the same exam as Fang Ping.

After all, since Zeng Gong’s grandfather’s generation, there have been many people in his family who have passed the imperial examinations.

Because of the exam in the second year of Jiayou, it was not only the Su Shi brothers who passed the exam at the same time that became a famous story.

The three brothers of the Zeng family, their cousin, and their two brothers-in-law also passed the imperial examination and became Jinshi.

The Huang family originally had eight Jinshi (imperial jinshi), and in order to make it perfect, Huang Tingjian's grandfather and his two brothers also passed the imperial examination when they were almost sixty years old, along with Su Shi and others.

After this, the name of the Ten Dragons of Shuangjing became famous throughout Jiangxi. Among the thirteen children of the Huang Zhongli brothers, ten were Jinshi.

"There are so many people in the world who are good at reading." Song Xuan put down the wine glass in his hand:

"It's a pity that many officials do nothing after becoming officials."

"Is Shi Er Lang worried about not being able to get into the academy?"

Bao Zheng felt that Song Xuan shouldn't be so lacking in confidence.

Song Xuan sneered: "I don't think it will be a big problem to get into my own academy. I guess the ranking won't be high either."

He has been keeping it to write.

He tried to act conservative, figuring Fan Zhongyan wouldn't depose him. "If my twelfth brother can't get into the academy, who else can?"

However, Su Xun didn't care. No matter how powerful others were, they could never be more powerful than my good brother!

"Hahaha." Song Xuan patted Su Xun's shoulder:

"What I mean is that we are the ones who need to be officials and benefit the people!"

Everyone burst into laughter, and even Bao Zheng had a helpless smile on his face.

In fact, to put it bluntly, studying is the stepping stone to officialdom.

12. He always speaks so bluntly!

When we become officials in the future, our identities will be different.

Song Xuan didn't hold it in his hands, but directly took out a bucket of beer and let everyone drink as much as they wanted. There won't be many opportunities to drink in the future.

At the same time, inside the Qing Building.

Liu Sanbian, who had failed the imperial examination for the fourth time at the age of 40, was drinking alone. He left Beijing in anger because of his failure. The sad song "Yu Lin Ling - Han Chan" he wrote to say farewell to his lover Chong Niang was well-known in Tokyo.

But it couldn't change his miserable ending of not being able to make the list, and he didn't want that.

Even Liu Sanbian didn't have the chance to curry favor with Prime Minister Ding Wei by relying on his good Cuju skills like his brother did.

Of course, this was not the first time Liu Sanbian broke up with Chong Niang. After he failed the exam for the second time, a huge rift appeared between them.

Anyway, every time Liu Yong wrote a poem, Chong Niang's value and business became prosperous.

Liu Sanbian failed in his official career and wasted his life. He called himself a white-robed minister, but in fact he was very eager to "get ashore" in his heart.

It was not until many years later when Emperor Renzong took power and paid attention to the "group" of failed candidates that he and his brother were able to pass the imperial examination and changed their name to Liu Yong.

"Zhong Fang, now that the exam is over, let's have a good drink."

Shi Yannian waved his hand generously and asked the wine doctor to bring two jars of good wine first.

When the wine doctor saw that it was another big customer coming, he knew that the commission from selling wine today was enough, so he quickly brought the wine jars over to serve the customer.

Shi Yannian sat down beside him and saw Liu Sanbian drinking alone. He felt that he looked familiar, so he said enthusiastically:
"This brother looks familiar, why don't we have a drink together?"

"It does look familiar."

Liu Sanbian is certainly not a pedantic person.

In order to gain the emperor's favor, he even wrote lyrics to "flatter the emperor."

However, Song Zhenzong was not Jiajing. He did not like Qingci and even ordered that "those with frivolous words" would be severely condemned. With the increasing severity, he failed the imperial examination on his first try.

After they greeted each other, Shi Yannian's eyes showed surprise.

It turned out to be Liu Sanbian!
Even though Liu Sanbian is ten years older than Shi Yannian, the two of them are "sick friends who failed the exam" and failed every time from the first to the fourth time!

The two of them always meet during exams. When they sigh that their names are not on the list, they also feel helpless when they look at each other unintentionally.

Such a fateful entanglement, although they had never spoken to each other before, the overlapping lives made them quickly break the strangeness and develop a sense of familiarity.

Bosom friend!
Shi Yannian raised his glass repeatedly.

"Brother Liu, why don't you stay a few more days? I heard that during this year's academy exam, a student named Song Xuan wrote excellent poems and essays, and was praised by the former top scholar Zhang Shide. You could also learn from him."

When it comes to poetry and prose, no one in the entire Song Dynasty can surpass Liu Sanbian.

He also inquired about the poems of those who passed the imperial examination, but none of their poems were widely sung.

Liu Sanbian was not so humble as to learn the poems and essays written for an exam by a student who had never left home.

However, Liu Sanbian participated in the imperial examinations four times and found that young talents were really like nobles crossing the river, and in each session there were many candidates who were better at taking the exam than him.

Your previous experience has no advantage over them.

On the contrary, repeated failure will continue to torture you and make you more sensitive.

Therefore, when hearing the poem written by a student, Liu Sanbian was not very interested, but waved his hand:
"No, I'm just going to go back to my hometown."

"Hey, there's no rush to leave, Brother Liu. We've all taken the academy exam, hoping to achieve even greater success in the imperial examinations under the auspices of Lord Yan. Could it be that Brother Liu has completely given up?"

Shi Yannian's question made Liu Yong a little dazed.

When he left Tokyo, he did feel a sense of pride in his heart, as if he was not going to take any exams.

But as time went by, the heroic spirit in his heart completely disappeared.

He has been devoted to the imperial examination from his youth to middle age, so how can he give up?
The sunk costs are too high.

And this is also a knot in Liu Sanbian's heart.

If he fails to pass the imperial examination in his lifetime, he will die with regrets.

"Of course not."

Liu Sanbian's mouth did not harden, but he said:

"Then I'll stay and see the talented people in this academy. I'll definitely learn a thing or two."

"That's right. Even though the academy exam is over, Brother Liu can still treat it as a study tour and study here for a while. I'm sure that Master Fan won't refuse."

Shi Yannian also wanted to get ashore.

As for the great poet Liu Yong, they felt a sense of sympathy for each other.

When everyone gets together, he will have more motivation to persevere.

Liu Sanbian is actually the one who most desires to get ashore.

Because he is not like Shi Yannian, who can take the path of Yin Bu. Shi Yannian is unwilling to take shortcuts!

"Come, let's drink this cup together."

Shi Yannian raises his glass here and invites Liu Sanbian to drink until he is drunk today.

……

late at night.

Dou Chou's master, Dou Yuanbin, was sitting in front of his son's bed at this time.

He heard the news from the servants at home early in the morning and rushed here directly. Seeing his son's broken leg, his face was full of anger.

Dou Yuanbin almost thought that he would never see his son again.

Doctor Wang said hello and left the ward.

It’s true that little Dou Chou is no match for big Dou Chou.

It stinks so fucking bad.

"Tell me the whole story from beginning to end."

Facing his strict father, Dou Han endured the pain in his legs and told his whole story of coming to Songcheng to take the exam from beginning to end.

Dou Yuanbin held his breath, pinched his beard and listened to his son's retelling.

He quickly caught onto Song Xuan's words, "So what if he's the son of a prime minister?"

Dou Han's mouth was dry when he spoke, and then Dou Yuanbin opened his eyes:

"Have you checked Song Twelve's family background?"

"checked."

Before Dou Han wanted to break his legs, he sent someone to investigate.

"Ah."

Dou Yuanbin came from a prominent family, so he naturally looked down on such insignificant people.

He was very skillful in doing this in the court, and said with a cold expression:

"Whether there's evidence or not, it was this guy who sent someone to break your legs."

(End of this chapter)