prosperous age

Chapter 186 Chapter 185

The Hanlin Academy, established in the early Tang Dynasty, was an institution dedicated to the court, housing talents in literature, scriptures, divination, medicine, monks, calligraphy and painting, and playing chess, and accompanied the emperor on banquets and entertainment.

The Hanlin Academy in this period was more about recruiting people with special skills from all walks of life, especially in entertainment.

At the end of the Tang Dynasty, after the feudal vassals and towns separatized the world, they gradually became an important institution for drafting secret imperial edicts. It was not until the Song Dynasty that they became official officials and were in line with the imperial examinations.

In the Ming Dynasty, due to the establishment of the cabinet system, the Hanlin Academy gradually lost its responsibility to be the secretary of the emperor, and became a place for talent cultivation, responsible for compiling books and writing history, drafting imperial edicts, reading for royal family members, serving as imperial examination examiners, etc., with a clear status expensive.

Although the Hanlin Academy is only a fifth-rank yamen, because the original cabinet actually belonged to the Hanlin Academy, and therefore the rank of cabinet bachelors is still only fifth-rank, but the Hanlin bachelors have always been the highest-ranking group of scholars in society. The elite among the intellectuals at that time had a superior social status.

The glory of becoming a Hanlin bachelor also led a large number of scholars to join the imperial examination, hoping to be "pointed to the Hanlin" one day.

In the past, the scholars who entered the Imperial Academy often went together to report to the Imperial Academy.

However, this year is a bit special, as long as Wei Guangde gets this grace alone, even if this is the emperor's personal decision, it is not the choice of the Imperial Academy.

Wei Guangde has already learned from other sources the whole story of his being "pointed to the Imperial Academy". Except for not knowing what the emperor thinks, everything else is already very clear.

Fortunately, when Wei Guangde was at home in the past, every New Year's day, his father would talk about the family history when worshiping the ancestors, otherwise Wei Guangde would have thought that his family had something to do with Lao Zhu's family.

Sitting in the carriage to the gate of the Hanlin Academy, Wei Guangde jumped out of the carriage, "Find a place nearby to rest, you should have dinner."

Because Wei Guangde came to the Imperial Academy to report on the first day, it was impossible for Wei Guangde to bring Zhang Ji in, and he didn't know if he had an independent office, what he was assigned to do, and who was arranged to be in charge of his studies.

Asking Zhang Ji and Li San to find a place to wait, Wei Guangde walked outside the gate of the Imperial Academy, and issued the note from the Ministry of Rites to the guard on duty, and he let him in.

Wei Guangde was a little nervous at the moment, because it had been decided early in the morning that this subject would not accept concubines, so the Imperial Academy had no intention of accepting people, and he was invited by the emperor himself, so he didn't know whether he would be welcomed or not.

After a few steps through the door, Wei Guangde planned to find someone to ask him who he should be looking for. Although Yin Tai is now in charge of the Hanlin Academy, he still holds the title of Zhan Shifu's young Zhan Shi, so he may not be here now.

Wei Guangde had a strange face, so he was naturally seen by a Hanlin passing by. He walked behind Wei Guangde, stopped in front of him immediately, and asked curiously: "You are Wei Chuanlu, right?"

"Don't dare, underachiever Wei Guangde pays his respects to your lord."

This person was wearing a black gauze cap, a blue tunic with an embossed silver ornament, and a white pheasant on his chest. Wei Guangde immediately knew that this was a fifth-rank official when he saw the front of the person.

Wei Guangde didn't know this person, so he naturally knew that he was definitely not from Jiangxi.

"Hehe, let me call you Guangde, are you here to report at the Imperial Academy?"

The visitor obviously knew that he was a good scholar. In fact, the official circles in the capital had already spread the news a few days ago. This year, Emperor Jiajing appointed Wei Guangde to enter the Imperial Academy as a good scholar.

"Yes."

Wei Guangde replied respectfully.

"Don't be restrained, my name is Wu Qing, and I am a bachelor's student in this academy. You should go to Mr. Yin first when you are new here."

Wu Qing smiled, and then looked back, guessing that Wei Guangde might not know Taoism, so he continued: "Well, I'll take you there, anyway, I'll take you there."

"Thank you, Mr. Wu."

Wei Guangde immediately expressed his gratitude.

Wu Qing led the way, and Wei Guangde quickly chatted with him, knowing that he was only promoted to a bachelor's degree this year. Before that, he was only an editor, and he had to wait for several years to pass the exam before he was promoted.

"Maybe if I stay for a few more years, I will also be sent out to study abroad like Brother Ziyi."

At the end, Wu Qing said helplessly that the brother Ziyi he was talking about was Kang Siqian, the room tester of Wei Guangdehui.

The outside world said that the Hanlin Academy is noble and a prime minister, but how many people in the Hanlin Academy and how many people can cross that hurdle to become a bachelor admired by thousands of people and enter the cabinet.

More Hanlin, in fact, are sent to the provinces to serve as academic advisors. Only a very small number of people have the opportunity to return to the center to serve as ministers of the six departments or inspectors. They still have the opportunity to continue to attack the cabinet ministers, and more people do it outside. The first level of chief executive is over.

Soon, Wu Qing took Wei Guangde to a public house.

"Master Yin should be inside. Today, Shu Jishi reported that he will not fail to come."

Wu Qing smiled at Wei Guangde, then clasped his fists together, turned and left his private room.

After Wei Guangde saluted Wu Qing respectfully, he took a look at the rather grand public house and walked over there.

Today is the day when Shu Jishi enters the Imperial Academy, and as the head of the academy, Yin Tai will naturally arrive.

After the clerk brought Wei Guangde into the room, Wei Guangde hurriedly bowed to Yin Zhan, "Wei Guangde, a late student, pays his respects to Mr. Yin."

"Guangde is here, sit down."

Wei Guangde felt pretty good to Yin Tai, so he didn't put on any airs, but showed Wei Guangde very kindly. After the clerk served tea, he said, "I think your teachers should all mention something. After you, you still have a long way to go in terms of knowledge, so I won't say much.

Now that you have received His Majesty's grace and been selected into this Imperial Academy, you can settle down and study hard in the past three years. With His Majesty's regard for you, you will surely have a prosperous day in the future.

It's just that, before that, when you enter the Hanlin Academy, you should calm down and don't worry about those things outside, especially those in the court.

Even if you really have any ideas, tell me first, don't take Jinshi to the yamen of the Ministry of Rites like last time, do you know how bad the influence is? "

Wei Guangde just sat down for a while, when he heard what Du Yintai said, he knew that he was reminding himself, so he quickly got up and saluted: "Student remember."

Although Wei Guangde has an official status, he has no official position. On such occasions, he can only call himself a student, and he cannot even use the words "lower official" and "lower position".

"At that time, it was Meng Lang, a student. He only did such a thing when he first heard about the disaster in Shanshan and Shanshan and the court's failure to rescue him. He will not do it in the future."

Wei Guangde hastily added.

"Sit down, don't be nervous, it's not so restrained."

Yin Tai smiled and waved for him to sit down.

At this moment, Tao Dalin, the No. [-] scholar in the current department, and Tao Dalin also came together, and entered the house to meet Yin Zhangyuan, and Tanhua Jinda also arrived shortly thereafter.

The three of them are editors and editors, so naturally they are not comparable to Wei Guangde.

The three of them paid homage to Head Yin, and exchanged greetings with Wei Guangde.

After talking in the public room for a while, Yin Tai called the scribes to handle their entry procedures and assign them errands.

Wei Guangde is a good scholar, but Yin Tai hadn't thought about assigning him to follow that bachelor before, and needed to discuss it with the bachelors.

The Imperial Academy has positions such as serving as a reader, serving as a lecturer, compiling, editing, and reviewing, and then there are titles such as doctor of the Five Classics, classics, serving books, and waiting for edicts, but these are all miscellaneous officials of the eighth and ninth grades.

The Imperial Academy didn't plan to recruit Shu Jishi this year, so naturally the existing bachelors didn't plan to take anyone with them before. In the past few days, Yin Tai was delayed by other things, and he didn't have time to ask if someone wanted Wei Guangde to go over to help , so I just arranged for him to have a public room first, and I took some books from the Library Pavilion to read.

Although there are many officials in the Imperial Academy, there is actually nothing to do.

Attendant readers and attendant lecturers both publish scriptures, lecture on scriptures and history for the emperor and the prince, and act as consultants.

Compilation is to master the history of the country, master the actual records, record the emperor's words and deeds, lecture on the history of the scriptures, and draft manuscripts about ceremonies; editor is responsible for compiling records, revising the history of the previous dynasty, the actual records, and the summary; review is to master the history of the country, Proofreading.

Shujishi are the students who attend to the reading and teaching of the bachelors. They give lectures to the emperor and the prince. The preparation work is usually arranged for them, the Shujishi, to look through ancient books to find the source.

Attending to read and lecture to bachelors is often also the task of compiling books. Naturally, it is also done by Shu Jishi, copying and revising.

But in the current dynasty, because there is no crown prince, Emperor Jiajing doesn't often hold sutra feasts, so naturally the scholars have nothing to do, they can only study and play, but there is no shortage of manpower.

Wei Guangde's position is naturally a bit embarrassing.

In such an environment, Wei Guangde had a premonition early in the morning. After all, he knew that Jinke did not plan to take a good scholar, and it would definitely take time to resettle him, so he was not in a hurry.

Wei Guangde was led to his own public house. The scribe in charge was named Lu, Lu Bu, a very interesting name.

The public housing has been cleaned early in the morning. Although there are many people in the Hanlin Academy, there are more public housing.

Sitting in front of his desk, Wei Guangde drank the tea brought by Lu Bu, chatted casually with him, and learned about the situation in the Imperial Academy.

These things were unknown to people outside the courtyard, and they happened to be free now, so Wei Guangde learned about the situation from Lu Bu.

"So, there are not many things going on in the Imperial Academy, and everyone is free?"

Wei Guangde asked for a long time, then frowned.

"That is to say, there is still some work to do in writing, editing, and reviewing, and there is nothing else to do. Those bachelors and adults often just read the books they like, and they say they are editing books.

If you really want to study the book seriously, it can only be done by the emperor's decree, so they will work hard. After all, you can see the effect after putting in the effort. "

Meishang, this is easy to understand.

The emperor asked people to repair books, and naturally they would be rewarded and supported financially.

"Then take me to Zangshu Pavilion tomorrow. I'll find some books to read first."

Wei Guangde told Lu Bu, "By the way, can I bring my own book in for reading?"

"No prohibition."

Although he didn't know what book Wei Guangde said he wanted to read, all the books in the Hanlin Academy's library were gone, and there was no shortage of books to read, but when faced with Wei Guangde's question, the scribe still answered.

"Do you eat by yourself at noon in the Yamen or is there a cafeteria?"

Wei Guangde asked again.

"Usually eat by yourself. The cafeteria has been closed for a long time, and people don't want to eat the food there."

Lu Bu replied.

"One more thing."

Wei Guangde finally expressed the question in his heart, "I have seen the official system of the Ming Dynasty, how is the salary of the nobles paid?"

Wei Guangde now only has an official status but no job title. He wears a blue collar shirt but has no patch. He feels a bit nondescript about himself.

Although those who watch politics wear the same clothes, they don't last long, as short as three to five months, and as long as one year, they will be appointed to the official establishment, but I have to stay in the Imperial Academy for three years.

"Salary? A good man does not have a salary."

Lu Bu was taken aback by Wei Guangde's question, and then he said: "In the past, the adults who came to the Imperial Academy didn't have any salary, they just received some subsidies from the ministries, and they were all transferred from the ministries. When the time comes, Master Wei will go directly to the courtyard Just take it."

"No salary? How much subsidy is there?"

Wei Guangde asked curiously.

"The Ministry of Households gives one tael of silver for lamp oil, the Ministry of Punishment and the Shuntian Mansion give one tael of silver for pens and inks, Guanglu Temple subsidizes two and a half taels, four and a half taels of silver per month, other things such as this house are considered subsidies from the Ministry of Industry, they Also responsible for repairs, I was sent here, and the salary was allocated by the Ministry of War.”

Hearing Lu Bu's words, Wei Guangde blinked, I only have four or five taels of silver per month?

Is this money enough to eat and drink?
"It's just a little money?"

Wei Guangde still didn't believe it.

"It's quite a lot. It's about the same treatment as a seventh-rank official, and it's better than an in-service official. At least I didn't give you a treasure."

Lu Bu immediately said, "As far as I know, even if you are an editor, the real money you receive is only three liang of silver every month, and there is a stone of rice and some silk banknotes, which are worth more than five liang of silver. All you get is cash."

"This is to impoverish labor and capital."

Wei Guangde roared angrily in his heart, no wonder the officials wanted to embezzle. According to this salary, what would the county magistrate do with the few taels of silver per month?
After Lu Bu went out, Wei Guangde propped his head on the table with his left hand and began to meditate.

I still think about buying a yard in the inner city, what a fart.

How much is four taels of silver per month enough for the salary of the Ming Dynasty?
Wei Guangde had to reconsider the matter of buying a house. He only had more than 2000 taels of silver in his hand, and he spent more than half of it to buy the yard, leaving only a few hundred taels in his hand. How long would he be able to stay in the capital?

Now Wei Guangde's monthly expenses are about tens of taels, which does not include shopping and human relations.

These days, the price of books is very high. Just that Taoist book, with more than 40 volumes, dare to ask for 100 taels of silver.

Well, if Wei Guangde bought a house in the capital, the remaining money would be enough to buy a few more sets of books.

I don't know if my letter has reached Jiujiang?

Wei Guangde's family letter was brought by a businessman back to Jiujiang. This is what the guild hall is used for these days. Anyone who lives in Jiujiang in the capital can find the guild hall.

I don't know if the family will send money to me, otherwise I really dare not buy this house, so I have to keep the money for backup.

Although Wei Guangde estimated that his father would definitely prepare a sum of money for himself, after all, he hadn't got it yet, and he didn't know how much, whether it was a few thousand taels or tens of thousands of taels.

No, then I can only buy a house first, and if it is not enough, I can borrow some money first. If the family does not give me the money, I can only wait for Zhang Hongfu to send the interest of the released money to the capital, otherwise I will not be hungry in the capital for three years. You must die.

(End of this chapter)