Fu Song

Chapter 201 New situation

After the storm, there is naturally a rare calm.

In July, Bianliang was full of wind and clouds.

King Jing Zhao Zhe stumbled extremely hard this time.

He was ordered to study at home and think about his mistakes. All the duties he held were removed, and even the guards of the palace were cut down.The one who is currently responsible for the guards of the palace is the Yuqian Banzhi sent by the palace.

As for those aides who have been with Zhao Zhe all the time, it is even worse. Some of them were arrested by the Imperial City Secretary, disappeared and never appeared again. Bianliang.

For those aides who were born as literati, it can be said to be a slap in the face. Deprived of their writing since their birth, these people were fundamentally cut off from the possibility of becoming an official.

However, Xiao Cheng thought that it was a good thing for King Jing that these people were driven away from King Jing.These people are really not qualified for the post of a prince's staff.They were all brought together when King Jing was serving as a conciliator in Hebei. They were all able to win battles on the battlefield, food, logistics and other military affairs. Reserve battle, they will lose everything.

Right now King Jing seems to have completely lost, for him, it might be a good thing.

Originally, Xiao Cheng disagreed with King Jing's current aggressive strategy.

The spring and autumn of the official family is in full swing, you are a prince, what do you want such a big name for?What do you need so much power for?Wouldn't it be enough to work hard?
Now that King Jing is dishonest, he has to be honest.

He even struggled to get out of the house.

Zhao Jing, King of Chu, seems to have won a complete victory, and he has a few more responsibilities. The alley where King Chu's mansion is located, is full of carriages no matter day or night, and countless people are trying to find a way to enter the mansion to meet his superiors. his side.

But think about it after King Jing returned to Beijing last year, isn't it the same scene?

If you don't do things, you won't make mistakes. If you do more things, the chances of making mistakes will increase greatly.

In particular, Zhao Jing, king of Chu, did not have the talents of Zhao Zhe, the king of Jing, nor Zhao Zhe's virtue of strict self-discipline.

And although the official in the palace attaches great importance to power, and has destroyed his own son in order to monopolize power, it does not mean that this person is a fool. In fact, he is very smart.

Of course he can now tell which of the two sons is stronger.

After a few years, when he is old and frail and has to consider handing over power, he will of course choose a stronger successor for Da Song.

At that time, Jing Wang Zhao Zhe did not have a chance.

So throughout July, Xiao Cheng was very happy.

Father finally listened to his words, and at the last moment, made a cut with Zhao Zhe, even on the surface.But this statement has already satisfied the officials in the palace.Of course, this also has a great relationship with Xiao Yu's strong professional ability.

Xiao Yu had been an ostrich for a period of time since he became the third envoy, until he absorbed and digested all the manpower of the former third envoy Zhou Ting and then integrated it with his own. .

Great effect!

Only half a year has passed this year, but compared with last year's fiscal revenue, it has reached [-]% of last year's.

And this was done under the circumstances of the war in the Northwest and Hebei.

With such achievements, even if the official Zhao Suo doesn't like Xiao Yu, he has to admit that Xiao Yu is an excellent treasurer.

With more income, of course, you can do more things.

Xiao Yu finally stood firm.

And Xiao Ding became the marching chief of the Western Expedition Army, with the military power in his hands, and the forces are penetrating to the west, everything is going according to Xiao Cheng's original idea.

The pieces of the jigsaw puzzle are being embedded into the magnificent picture conceived in Xiao Cheng's mind.

In July, the biggest event in Bianliang's official circles was that the prime minister of the Eastern Mansion, Russell Luo Jieshan, said he was sick.

Of course, this is an external statement.

In fact, Russell has always paid attention to health preservation. Although he is in his sixties, he looks like a man in his fifties.

He was bored by the emperor.

And the reason why he was annoyed by the emperor was that, just as Xiao Cheng predicted, Luo Shi stepped into the quagmire of the King of Chu.

In mid-July, Princess Chu's birthday.With King Chu's current limelight, there are naturally countless people who come to celebrate his birthday.

As the chief assistant, no matter how thick-skinned Russell is, it is impossible to come to congratulate Princess Chu on her birthday.

But the problem is that his second son's daughter-in-law has gone.

His second son, Luo Huan, served as secretary in the Imperial Academy. He was a dignified official who didn't have much to do at ordinary times. The main task was actually to take care of Russell.

This is also the dignity given by the court to the prime minister.

This time there was a problem.Regardless of whether Luo Su knew about this matter or not, this matter angered the officials anyway, so an edict came down, and the Qinggui Siye became the magistrate of a military state in the local area.

Luo Huan was released.

Everyone is sensible. Luo Huan just left Beijing when Luo Su fell ill at the right time.

Luo Song, who is in charge of political affairs, picked up a big bargain. With Russell's illness, he acted as the Prime Minister, but he was full of happiness and extremely excited every day.

Generally speaking, according to past practice, after a period of illness, Russell would beg for bones from the government on the grounds that he was ill. Naturally, the government would not allow it, and would send an imperial physician to treat the Prime Minister's body.But the treatment came and went, and the prime minister's health was always not getting better.

Ever since, he begged for the bones again, refused again, and again and again, Russell would finally get his wish and go home to recuperate.

As the chief assistant of the former Emperor Song Dynasty, the officials naturally would not treat him lightly.

The title of a duke of a country is indispensable. As for whether it is a big country or a small country, it is hard to say.

However, in Xiao Cheng's view, Russell would definitely not be able to obtain the title of Duke of a big country.

When someone goes, someone comes.

Whether it's Ma Xing on Shaanxi Road or Xia Jie on Hebei Road, they are the most hopeful.

And if Luo Song wants to rectify the role of acting prime minister, he must make political achievements during this period of time, otherwise, when Xia Jie or Ma Xing returns to the court, with their credit, Luo Song may only be able to do so. It's empty joy.

Of course, with Xiao Cheng's level, he is still unable to participate in such a high-level plan. Even if he has a thousand plans, people will think that he is just a scholar who was lucky enough to make some contributions at the border.

So Xiao Cheng is now concentrating on his studies. After all, the Jinshi examination in September is just around the corner.

By August, Bianliang City has become extremely lively.

Students from all over the empire gathered in Bianliang City.

These people can be regarded as the elites of the Song Dynasty, and the Jinshi examination in September is to select [-] people from these elites to become the reserve officials of the empire.

Facing these people, Xiao Cheng didn't dare to have the slightest confidence. Now he is basically taking the final exam assault under the guidance of Mr. Cen. In fact, his knowledge has not improved much, mainly because of Test-taking skills.

Candidates for the chief examiner, deputy chief examiner, and graders have been announced. What Mr. Cen is doing now is to train Xiao Cheng and others according to the likes and dislikes of these people.

At this time, Xiao Cheng finally understood why Master Cen had such a great reputation.

Mr. Cen's understanding and evaluation of these people can be said to be three-pointed.

No wonder Master Cen taught such a high percentage of students in the pilot test.To do this, the usual investment will definitely not be small.Of course, the rate of return is also quite high.

"As long as you don't make low-level mistakes, your pilot test today is inevitable." Master Cen said with a smile. "Firstly, your knowledge has already arrived, and secondly, if you don't look at the monk's face to see the Buddha's face, who told you that I am the God of Wealth in the Song Dynasty!"

"Isn't the name copied? How can I tell that it's mine?" If he could cheat without sequelae, Xiao Cheng would not be hypocritical. When we met, except for a very small number of guys who are stupid in reading, most of them are really top-notch people, and Xiao Cheng is not sure of winning.

"The style of writing and the content of the answer sheet!" Mr. Cen said with a smile: "For people like you, everyone will use your exam papers for research and research. And for the topic of strategy, you will probably use the affairs of the Northwest Let's make an argument. Although you can't mention specific people or things, no one can have a more detailed understanding of Northwest than you. So even if many people talk about Northwest, the examiners will still be able to tell you at a glance. Distinguish from the crowd."

"Amazing!" Xiao Cheng exclaimed endlessly.

"But you also have to be mentally prepared." Mr. Cen said: "You have no problem in the pilot test, but it is also because of your identity. Your ranking will never be too high. There are [-] people, and you are estimated to be around [-]. .”

"I have no requirement for this, even if it is the [-]th place." Xiao Cheng said with a smile: "With this status, after stepping into this gate, it will depend on one's ability and chance in the future!"

"There is a big difference between a Jinshi and a fellow Jinshi!" Mr. Cen shook his head and said, "If you really want to become a fellow Jinshi, you will have no chance to enter the political affairs hall in the future. Only Jinshi, and Shujishi, will be possible in the future." Enter the government hall."

"Is that so?" Xiao Cheng really didn't notice this.

"You can go back and check carefully." Mr. Cen said with a smile: "Although there is no explicit regulation, it is an unspoken rule, and it is tacitly accepted by everyone."

"You said that I am around thirty, so I still have a chance to be selected as a good scholar." Xiao Cheng laughed.

"I'm afraid the officials won't want it!" Master Cen sighed. "Your father will not be an obstacle for you to become a good man. When you grow up, your father will have already retired. The problem lies with your elder brother. Now it seems that it will be a matter of time before your elder brother is ranked in the top class. If Not surprisingly, he will even become the youngest Taiwei in the Song Dynasty. Do you think the official family will give you a chance to enter the political affairs hall? Your elder brother holds the military power, so he can't be away for a long time, and he will come back sooner or later. So , you can only stay in the place.”

Xiao Cheng smiled: "Who knows what will happen in the future! Thank you Master for your advice. I'll pass the exam first. If I really want to pass the exam, the officials can't block the sky with one hand!"

"Sometimes, you can really cover the sky with one hand!" Mr. Cen said with a smile. "On this matter, the two governments and the officials are on one side. This is a way of balance. If you can really return to Beijing or even enter the Zhengshitang one day, your elder brother may need to be dismissed and returned to the field."

Xiao Cheng nodded: "It's still early! It's too unrealistic for me to think so far away now."

"That's right, who knows what will happen in the future?" Mr. Cen waved his hand: "Let's not talk about that, let's review some taboos again. This can't be careless. I fell on this. Chongwen, time is the most important thing for people who are going to be in an official career. One step late, but every step is late. Big advantage, if you take the pilot test for the first reference, then you will have a lot of time for others!"

"Master Lau is here!"

Just when Xiao Cheng was working hard to study carefully and make the final sprint before the exam, a few men walked up the bustling Bianliang street.

Everyone looked dusty and exhausted, but a few men still walked on the street with their heads held high.

The leading person was none other than Qin Min.

For them, Bianliang was too big, and there were too many people.

After entering Bianliang City, they undoubtedly lost their way.

"Brother Qin, what should we do? Where can we find Mr. Gao?" A man rubbed his stomach, and there was a gurgle: "Brother Qin, I'm so hungry!"

"I'm hungry too!" The others were also frowning.

Including Qin Min, the money they carried with them had already been used up.Originally, there was still some money, so Gao He took the first step and went to Bianliang City to find a place for everyone to stay. Now that Gao He couldn't be found for a while, several people were suddenly in trouble.

Qin Min took out a jade pendant from his bosom, which was the only valuable thing on his body.Looking at a pawn shop at the corner in front, he said: "How much is this worth? If you pawn it, it should be able to last for a few days. We guys, can we still starve to death here? Even if we carry big Bao, as a coolie, we can also support ourselves."

"But we're here to avenge justice!" a man whispered.

"We'll talk about it when we find Mr. Gao!" Qin Min was silent for a moment, then shook his head.When they reached Jingji West Road, some bad news about King Jing had spread, and after Gao He went out to inquire for a while, Qin Min had to wait for several leaders to say these things when he came back.

In short, King Jing's situation is very bad now.Gao He suggested that everyone should not go to King Jing, this matter needs to be discussed slowly.

"Before we find Mr. Gao, we need to find a job to support ourselves, and we need to find a place to settle down for the brothers who will arrive next!"

(End of this chapter)