Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 7 A Prodigy, a Talented Scholar from Huaihe River Region! (4k)

The north wind howled, and the world was covered in silver.

For the scions of prestigious families, this was undoubtedly a good opportunity to indulge in refined pursuits, compose poems, and indulge in pointless lamentations.

For impoverished children, the elderly, the sick, and the disabled, this is undoubtedly another difficult time, and it remains to be seen whether they can get through it.

Jiang Zhao took each step steadily, becoming more and more stable with each step.

The pageboy, Hesheng, has already gone to the riverbank to arrange the delivery of the letter.

Yangzhou, situated on the coast of the Yangtze River, was a thriving commercial center. Almost every day, several merchant ships would sail to Bianjing (Kaifeng), and delivering messages along the way was naturally a simple task.

Jiang Mansion, Qingwu Courtyard.

This is the courtyard where Jiang Zhao's mother, Hai Shi, lived.

The courtyard faces south and receives excellent natural light.

As soon as Jiang Zhao stepped into the courtyard, he saw several maids serving him, followed by a sandalwood table facing north with two chairs on either side.

A thin, middle-aged man in a long robe and brocade belt was warming himself by the stove, while a gentle woman with simple makeup and a fan half-hiding her face was tasting pastries. The two were chatting and laughing softly.

Further down, the seating area is divided into east and west sections, with three chairs on each side.

Sitting in the head seat on the left was a child of about seven or eight years old, wearing a tiger-head hat, dressed in silk, and with a longevity lock hanging from his arm. He held a cup of honey perilla water in his hand and occasionally popped a bite or two of fruit into his mouth. He looked quite adorable.

In the right-hand seat, there was also a child, about three or four years old, dressed similarly.

As soon as Jiang Zhao entered, several maids hurriedly bowed respectfully: "Young Master."

Upon seeing this, the two children quickly put down what they were holding, stood up, and bowed respectfully, saying, "Big brother."

Jiang Zhao waved his hand, walked forward, and bowed to the middle-aged man and the gentle woman: "Father, Mother."

The slender middle-aged man was Jiang Zhao's father, Jiang Zhong, the current head of the Jiang family; the gentle woman was Jiang Zhao's mother, Hai Xirui, the third daughter of the Hai family.

Because of the clan rules of the Jiangning Hai clan, Jiang Zhong did not take a concubine. The two children were his brothers from the same mother. The older one was named Jiang Xiao, and the younger one was named Jiang Xu.

A gentle smile appeared on Hai Xirui's face. She waved her hand softly and called out, "Zhao'er."

Jiang Zhao nodded slightly in response, then looked at his two younger brothers and said seriously, "Remember to eat properly."

"Yes." The two children nodded quickly and gave up their seats.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, the left was considered the most honorable position. Jiang Xiao, who was older, went to the head seat on the right, while Jiang Xu, who was younger, went to the second position on the left, thus freeing up the seat at the head of the left.

Jiang Zhao calmly sat down, waved his hand, and said, "You may all leave."

The maids bowed again and withdrew in an orderly fashion.

Jiang Zhao looked at the two children and asked, as usual, "How are your studies?"

Eight-year-old Jiang Xiao had already passed the early education period and formally enrolled in the largest academy in the area—Plum Blossom Academy.

That was also the academy where Jiang Zhao enrolled, but because of Han Zhang, he didn't stay there for very long.

Four-year-old Jiang Xu is still young and is beginning his education in the clan school.

"It's alright," Jiang Xiao replied, sounding somewhat unsure.

He was a good student, but he hadn't been in school for long. Most of the students in his class were twelve or thirteen years old, and at eight years old, he was just at the bottom of the class. He could barely keep up with the pace of his studies.

Compared to his older peers who were already quite famous at the same age, he was far behind.

"I'm pretty good; I'm among the top students in our clan school," Jiang Xu said confidently.

Jiang Zhao nodded and said, "If you are bad, work hard; if you are good, strive harder."

"Yes, big brother." The two bowed solemnly.

Having completed his daily task of learning as the eldest brother, Jiang Zhao turned his gaze to his mother, Lady Hai: "Mother, Fu Bi, the Grand Secretary who presided over the Qingli New Deal, was originally demoted to the position of Prefect of Bingzhou. Now, the Emperor has ordered him to be promoted to Minister of Personnel and Commissioner of the Southern Court of Xuanhui. This is a major political trend."

This time, taking advantage of the spread of the good story, Master Han was determined to take a gamble and wrote many letters to Bianjing, even sending one to his grandfather.

My mother comes from the Hai family, and my maternal grandfather, clad in purple robes, holds a high position in the imperial court. I request that my mother write a letter asking my maternal grandfather to speak well of Master Han at the appropriate time, so as to facilitate his reinstatement.

Han Zhang is Jiang Zhao's master, and therefore, he can use his master's identity to directly contact Jiang Zhao's grandfather, Jiang Zhi, through Jiang Zhao.

But the Hai family is different; they are Hai Xirui's maternal family. If one wants to contact the Hai family, one must use Hai Xirui as an intermediary to avoid being impolite.

Unfortunately, Hai Ruixi was Jiang Zhong's wife, a woman who lived peacefully in the inner quarters of the house.

In this world, once women are involved, one is destined to avoid suspicion, making things very difficult and leaving almost no room for maneuver. This is why Han Zhang did not bring up the Hai family.

Fortunately, Jiang Zhao is a sensible and thoughtful disciple.

"Okay." Hai Xirui nodded in agreement.

The child was a prodigy, mature and steady, so Mr. Hai simply let him be.

Jiang Zhong interjected, "Why not include this matter of making Zhao'er famous in the letter as well?"

Hai nodded repeatedly, for it was a great thing to make Zhao'er famous.

Jiang Zhong stroked his beard and said in a deep voice, "Over the years, I have accumulated a lot of connections. I have written some letters to Sheng Hong of Quanzhou, Li Zhi of Cangzhou, Li Zheng of Changshan, and Qizhou. You can arrange for someone to send them to them together. It has always been difficult for scholars to cultivate their reputation. A good reputation is beneficial for a lifetime. We must not be careless when we have this opportunity."

As he spoke, Jiang Zhong took out a stack of letters from the desk beside him. At a glance, there were at least twenty or thirty letters.

Such a stack of letters would take several days to write, clearly indicating that Jiang Zhong had made preparations in advance.

In fact it is.

Jiang Zhong was a self-aware man who knew that he was only mediocre and capable of maintaining the status quo. He only rose to the rank of sixth grader because of the help of his father and wife.

Now that the eldest son is exceptionally talented and has finally found an opportunity to make a name for himself, he deserves our full support.

In terms of making a living, he relied on his father for the first half of his life, and on his eldest son for the second half.

"Thank you, Father and Mother." Jiang Zhao bowed deeply, his words sincere.

My father lacked political acumen, but he had a good grasp of the big picture and was exceptionally adept at interpersonal relationships. He got along well with all the prefects, assistant prefects, and vice prefects of Yangzhou who were his fellow graduates in the imperial examinations, and they could be considered his friends.

It's just a trivial matter of gaining fame; those with power and influence wouldn't mind helping out and doing a favor.

Bianjing, Wende Hall.

Candlelight illuminates the flying eaves and brackets, the fragrance of sandalwood wafts through the air, the blue-tiled windows exude grandeur, the vermilion pillars are so thick they can be embraced by two people, and the lifelike dragon-patterned glazed palace lanterns shine brightly.

On the dragon throne, Emperor Zhao Zhen, in the prime of his life, leaned slightly forward, his body resting against the imperial desk, his hand tightly gripping a memorial, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

It is nothing more than the continuation of offspring.

As an emperor who ascended the throne at the age of twelve, Zhao Zhen had been in power for more than thirty years. He worked diligently to govern the country, ensuring its stability and the well-being of the people, making it a rare period of peace and prosperity.

Compared to the past, his reign was free of the "Candlelight and Axe Shadow" ceremony and the "Fengshan" ceremony of Emperor Zhenzong, so there were relatively fewer troubles.

However, a growing and thorny problem has slowly emerged.

He has no son!
The biggest problem is that an emperor who is over forty years old has no son to inherit the throne.

If an emperor without a son were to die unexpectedly, the country would be thrown into turmoil, and the common people would suffer as a result.

Originally, Zhao Zhen also had a son.

But, for some reason, they were all destined to die young.

The eldest son, Zhao Fang, died on the day he was born; the second son, Zhao Xin, died five years ago at the age of three; the third son, Zhao Xi, died two years ago at the age of two.

Now, as emperor, he has not had a new child born for two years.

This means that he has entered a period of limbo without a son to inherit the throne.

In such circumstances, if anything were to happen to him, the country would be thrown into chaos. The ministers governing the empire were filled with anxiety, and memorials concerning the continuation of the imperial line arrived incessantly. Zhao Zhen sighed deeply, his heart filled with helplessness and melancholy.

To be honest, even during the time when the Empress Dowager ruled from behind the curtain and oversaw everything, he had never felt so helpless.

At that time, he at least had the assistance of regents, and his power grew larger and larger, allowing him to live a life with hope.

But now, as he grows older, the issue of having an heir has gradually become an unbearable pain in his heart, and he feels increasingly lonely and helpless.

For the first time as emperor, he felt helpless.

The crucial point is that he still has no solution.

Human energy is limited, and so is that of an emperor.

Even if he tried his best to favor his concubines, they just couldn't get pregnant. What could he do?
Moreover, at the age of forty-four, he could clearly sense that he was becoming less capable of producing an heir.

Zhao Zhen sighed and picked up a new memorial.

Despite being childless, life must go on, and no memorial to the throne can be neglected.

"Han Qing?"

Upon seeing that the signature was Han Zhang, Zhao Zhen was taken aback and began to read it carefully.

The memorials sometimes discussed the daily administration of the prefect, sometimes reminisced about the past, mentioning how the emperor overruled public opinion to appoint a scholar in his thirties to a high position, and sometimes expressed his sorrow, unease, and frustrations with his unsuccessful career.

The letter was not obscure at all; it was very simple and straightforward.

If we're talking about strengths, then it's undoubtedly sincerity and genuine emotions!

Each simple sentence expresses genuine feelings and implies a heart of loyalty to the emperor and love for the country.

After reading it once, Zhao Zhen sat upright on the dragon throne, lost in thought.

In the imperial court, the political landscape is ever-changing, and the ministers of the six ministries are frequently replaced.

However, in Zhao Zhen's heart, there were still a few people who were different from the other ministers.

One of them is Han Zhang!
Firstly, the emperor and his minister were of similar age.

The two were less than two years apart in age. Although he ascended the throne at the age of twelve, the Empress Dowager had ruled from behind the curtain, and he did not truly hold power until he was over twenty years old.

Coincidentally, Han Zhang was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) during that period.

Although they were ruler and subject, they were of similar age, which inevitably led to some mutual appreciation.

Secondly, Han Zhang rose to prominence as a junior advisor to the crown prince.

Although he was called the crown prince, he was more of an assistant to the emperor.

Thirdly, Han Zhang was someone he had truly mentored.

Whether it was Fan Zhongyan, Fu Bi, or Yan Shu, Zhang Dexiang, etc., they were almost all people from the time of the late emperor, and had been selected and promoted by the late emperor.

For the first ten years of his reign, the Empress Dowager ruled from behind the curtain, and almost all the capable ministers were selected and promoted by the late Empress Dowager.

Only Han Zhang was someone he had carefully cultivated and promoted step by step after taking power.

From passing the imperial examination to becoming a junior advisor to the crown prince, then a prefect of a state, and finally a high-ranking official, he rose step by step to a position in the imperial court, governing the country.

Of course, success and failure both stem from the monarch.

Ultimately, it was his wavering attitude towards the new policies that led to Han Zhang's demotion and career setback.

After a long pause, Zhao Zhen sighed and muttered to himself, "Six years have already passed since the implementation of the new policies!"

"The once spirited and vigorous Grand Secretaries have all aged into old men."

Zhao Zhen was a nostalgic person.

Especially when his children died young, he became more nostalgic, imagining how wonderful it would have been if his children hadn't died young.

After reading the memorial and pondering for a while, Zhao Zhen had already made up his mind.

For emperors without children, what they care about most is their posthumous reputation.

Because emperors are figures who are recorded in history books, if their posthumous reputation is flawed, they will have to bear the infamy for a thousand years.

By employing a reliable former official like Han Zhang, whom they had personally promoted, regardless of whether he would advise on establishing an heir, at least they would have more protection in terms of maintaining their reputation after death.

Just then, a eunuch in purple robes hurriedly entered the hall and reported, "Your Majesty, Vice Censor-in-Chief Jiang and Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Hai request an audience."

"Oh?" Zhao Zhen raised an eyebrow slightly. "Your timing is quite perfect."

In his memorial, Han Zhang mentioned the famous story of "Han Men Li Xue" (standing in the snow at Han's door), so Zhao Zhen naturally learned about the relationship between the families.

Centered around the master and apprentice, the three factions—the Qingliu Hai family, the Yushi Jiang family, and the Han family of the Han lineage—are interconnected and share common interests.

This is not surprising.

In the ups and downs of officialdom, the relationship between master and disciple is often very stable and common.

If we really talk about it, the master-disciple relationship is so intertwined that their lives and fortunes are intertwined, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it's comparable to that of father and son.

As for Han Zhang and Jiang Zhao, Han Zhang practically raised his apprentice from scratch, making their situation particularly special.

Disciple, disciple, disciple means son.

Like Han Zhang and Wang Yaochen, they were both disciples of Yan Shu, sharing the same lineage, which later evolved into a distinct faction.

However, it's not unusual for factions to exist.

Where there are people, there are bound to be stances and personalities, and thus, there will inevitably be cliques. Even upright censors have their own factions and stances. On the contrary, the absence of factions is far more frightening.

Zhao Zhen waved his hand, "Let them in."

He had already made up his mind, but it would be better to go through the necessary procedures.

Time flies, but the good story continues.

In an era when literature flourished, the story of respecting teachers and valuing their teachings perfectly fits this version of events.

Jiang Zhao is a child prodigy, which perfectly meets people's expectations.

Therefore, [Hanmen Lixue] has almost fully benefited from the version's advantages.

From the day Han Men Li Xue (Standing in the Snow at Han's Door) began, ten days later, the story of "Han Men Li Xue" spread throughout Huainan.

Half a month later, the first group of wealthy businessmen either went to Beijing or returned to their hometowns, spreading the good news in a small circle.

A month later, the New Year passed, and the candidates officially entered the capital, awaiting the spring examination. They talked with each other, and their stories became very popular.

Three months later, the imperial examinations ended, and the successful candidates returned to their hometowns and dispersed, their stories spreading far and wide.

Ouyang Xiu, a leading figure in the literary world, praised him, saying, "He truly deserves to be called a prodigy of Huainan!"

The renowned scholar Fan Zhongyan praised him, saying, "A genius of extraordinary talent, a man of talent from the left bank of the Huai River."

The renowned scholar Yan Shu praised him, saying, "This young man is full of ambition, believing in the Way and not conforming to the times. One day, when he stands in the court, he will surely become the backbone of the nation!"

The great Confucian scholar Shao Yong praised, "Even the calculation of the Jiazi cycle using plum blossom divination cannot compare to Zhaolang's pure heart!"

The great Confucian scholar Sun Fuzan said: "A unicorn from Huainan, a jade tree from the Han family. If this young man could enter the Hanlin Academy, he could continue the literary tradition of Huainan!"

In addition, many influential Confucian scholars and officials praised it, attracting everyone's attention.

There are even rumors that Emperor Zhao Zhen knew of him.

Jiang Zhao has become famous throughout the world!
(End of this chapter)