The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 215
Answer time is up.

For others, this topic is the first time they have seen it, but for Zhang Zhou, he has already deduced this topic countless times in his mind.

He even knew some of the sample essays in this year's palace examination from the articles of champion Lun Wenxu and Wang Shouren, but he didn't need to use the arguments and rhetoric of these people to add luster to his articles.

This kind of article was actually the last thing Zhang Zhou wanted to write.

Because from the perspective of social progress, the "government of ritual and music" is a false and empty proposition, which is close to the fact that the people have to eat their own stomachs, while the ruler requires the people not to break the ethics even if they starve to death.

The ruler's requirements exceed the needs of the people's survival, and everything will no longer serve the stability and progress of the society, but only serve "controlling the people". This will lead the rulers to think that what the people want is different from what the people really want. When the society is stable, this so-called etiquette can be maintained, but when the society is unstable and the people can’t even eat enough, the impact of etiquette on the people will be even greater.

How prosperous the rule of ritual and music is when the ruler sees it in peace, and how cruel it is when the ruler sees the collapse of ritual and music when he is in turmoil.

The backlash brought about by the suppression of human nature is a difficult problem that any ruler must face.

Zhang Zhou suddenly felt that he seemed to be "the two men of Lu" and became a different kind in the eyes of Confucian scholars who admired feudal ethics.

This involves the issue of "collective interest-based" or "human-oriented".

The rule of rites and music is obviously to suppress individual needs to achieve the balance of collective interests. From the perspective of social progress, this is a retrogression; only after individual interests are satisfied and individual interests are satisfied, collective interests can be discussed. It is the progress of society.

This is probably the same as what Guan Zi said, "If the warehouse is solid, you know the etiquette, and if you have enough food and clothing, you know the honor and disgrace".

Zhang Zhou's exposition must have the shadow of the progress of the times, and must also cover the interests of the rulers. In fact, what he wants to discuss is still to enrich the people and then talk about etiquette.

Didn't you say, Your Majesty, that you haven't figured it out after thinking about it for a long time?
Let me tell you now that etiquette is not created out of thin air, and the purpose of etiquette cannot be achieved by restraint alone. Only after your people have enough food and clothing will they observe etiquette.

If you want to get it, you have to pay first.

……

……

The weather was fine that day.

But at noon, the wind started to blow, and the wind was not strong. The test papers were all pressed with at least five or six layers of rice paper, which was very thick.

But the draft paper is a bit thin.

Zhang Zhou used a paperweight to press the paper on his desk several times, but the emperor didn’t leave that day, and sat there to invigilate the exam. Probably he also wanted to know that Zhang Zhou, who usually talked eloquently in front of him, was almost able to understand ghosts and gods, What is the state in the examination room.

It seems that just watching Zhang Zhou write articles is a kind of enjoyment.

"Your Majesty, it's time to eat." Dai Yi thought that the emperor would return to the Qianqing Palace early, but he didn't know that the emperor was still proctoring the exam until he didn't see anyone in the Qianqing Palace.

When he came over, he found that the emperor was still looking at Zhang Zhou with great interest.

The emperor occasionally looked at other people, but most of the time he glanced around and then returned his gaze.

"No rush." ​​Zhu Youtang said, "I want to sit here for a while today."

"Your Majesty, the Queen also invites you to come over..." Dai Yi added.

Zhu Youtang was not moved at all, and said coldly: "I want to personally test all the tribute students in the world. Is it important for state affairs or family affairs?"

Dai Yi could only stand aside with his head down, but he also took a peek at Zhang Zhou.

But Zhang Zhou also raised his head and was looking at him.

"Ok?"

Dai Yi was a little surprised.

Although the distance is a bit far, the examinees should not be busy answering the questions, and still want to look up?
Zhu Youtang pointed and said, "Is Bingkuan's article finished?"

Dai Yi couldn't answer.

He had just arrived and didn't know the situation at all.

Dai Yi asked: "Do you want to ask the inspector?"

"No, he'll hand it in when he's finished." Zhu Youtang smiled back at Zhang Zhou.

Dai Yi was ashamed.

I said in my heart, are you, the monarch and your ministers, taking the exam and invigilating the exam?Those flirtatious looks, those who didn't know thought you guys were colluding with the exam questions.

……

……

Zhang Zhou had indeed finished writing the article at noon.

But you can't rush to hand in the palace exam.

People come together and leave together, basically until dark.

Zhu Youtang waited for a while to confirm that Zhang Zhou's article was indeed finished, and he seemed relieved, and then asked Dai Yi beside him: "Can the prince study hard today?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, the Imperial Academy does not give lectures today, and the prince needs to study by himself in these two days."

During the palace examination, some lecturers in the East Palace also need to be the examiners of the palace examination, such as Li Jie, the young minister of Taichang Temple and a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, Jiao Fang, a young minister of Taichang Temple and a bachelor of the Imperial Academy, and Zhan Shifu. The three of them are both political integrity and ability among the lecturers in the East Palace. They are young Zhan and attendant to the bachelor Wang Jia. Soon a new Hanlin scholar will be selected from among them to fill the vacancy left by Cheng Minzheng.

The lecturer has to deal with reading papers for the imperial examination, so the student Zhu Houzhao can rest for three days.

Zhu Youtang said: "Let's go and have a look!"

Zhu Youtang watched Daming's most powerful 300 people take the imperial examination, and naturally thought of his son's studies.

Zhang Zhou has finished the exam and is just waiting to hand in the papers. He can rest assured to visit his son and want to catch up on his son's homework.

Before leaving, he nodded to Zhang Zhou, meaning, I'm leaving first, let's talk later.

……

……

It was not until the sunset at the west mountain that the winding and sealing were officially carried out.

When it was time to hold the lights, all the examinees regrouped and put all the things used in the exam in the exam basket. Unlike the strict queuing when entering the arena, basically whoever completed it first went to the front row when leaving the arena, and then the ones who completed it were in the queue Stand anywhere.

Zhang Zhou saw Tang Yin's figure in the crowd.

Seeing him, Tang Yin had a complex expression, and bowed to him.

He didn't say much, even if he wanted to say a few words, he had to wait out the palace gate first.

Guided by the deacon, a group of people walked out of the left gate slowly, and walked out the last palace gate along the left gate of Chang'an.

After they came out, everyone could finally say a few words before preparing to leave.

"Brother Zhang." Lin Ting came over to greet Zhang Zhou first.

Before the exam, he actually wanted to get close to Zhang Zhou. Before Zhang Zhou met Yuan, he waited for the news with Zhang Zhou, but he sent Zhang Zhou away before he could wait. This time, of course, he wanted to congratulate him.

Zhang Zhou smiled and cupped his hands at him.

"This is Zhang Bingkuan, right? I've heard of you for a long time." Another person came over, very young and enthusiastic.

The other party also reported his family name: "Xiangyuan, Shanxi, Liu Long."

Liu Longnian is only in his early twenties, and he was Hongzhi's 12-year Tanhua in history. He seems to be very talkative, and because he is a military member, young people also have some common language.

Many people were also gathering towards Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou can roughly understand it as... Now that the palace test has just ended, there is no need for the big guys to seek friendship in the same year, because they don't know who will rank higher and who will be lower in the future, but if they want to build relationships, it is better to come to Zhang Zhou. , Say hello to him first and make him familiar...

Not for anything else.

The reason is that now everyone knows that the emperor trusts Zhang Zhou, and the tribute students of this subject take Zhang Zhou as their meeting source.

Come say hello to Huiyuan, is there anything wrong?
Another person passed by Zhang Zhou, who was ranked second in the general examination, Lun Wenxu, the number one undergraduate student in history.

"Guangdong, surnamed Lun, styled Bochou."

"Courtesy."

Zhang Zhou returned the gift.

Lun Wenxu came from a humble background, but from Lun Wenxu onwards, the Lun family began to prosper. Lun Wenxu's three sons, the eldest son Lun Yixun was ranked second in the 12th year of Zhengde, the second son Lun Yiliang was a Jinshi in the 16th year of Zhengde, and the third son Lun Yishen was a Jinshi in the 17th year of Jiajing... The Guangdong faction is headed by Chen Xianzhang, and the current Guangdong faction in the central court also has Chen Xianzhang's disciple, Zhengde's cabinet minister Liang Chu in the early years of Jiajing, and Lun Wenxu's relationship with Liang Chu after entering the dynasty Well, Lun Wenxu's daughter married Liang Chu's grandson.

Someone didn't want to come over to say hello.

But seeing that there are already a few people here, there are also more people approaching.

"I'm Xia Fengxi. Be polite."

"Courtesy."

Another celebrity, Zhang Zhou thought to himself, this "rich lame man" also lived up to his reputation.

Historically, Fengxi was ranked second in undergraduate studies, and there were rumors that his article was already selected as the No. [-] scholar, but he was demoted to No. [-] because of his lameness, leaving the No. [-] to the majestic Lun Wenxu.

In the early years of Jiajing, Fengxi became a Hanlin bachelor. He was the vanguard in the Zuoshunmen incident at the climax of the Dali Discussion.

"Under Lu Dong, please be polite."

"Sun Xu, everyone, farewell."

……

There were quite a few people who came to say hello, some of whom Zhang Zhou didn't want to see, but they came here to get acquainted.

Some people don't want to have a relationship with anyone at all, and their own network of relationships is relatively thick.

For example, among the Gongsheng students in the same department, there are Xie Qian’s younger brother Xie Di, Yang Tinghe’s younger brother Yang Tingyi, Wang Hua’s son Wang Shouren, etc. Zhang Zhou also found that in fact, the 12th year of Hongzhi’s Jinshi in this department looks inconspicuous. The lack of a chief assistant minister was mainly related to the lack of selection of Shu Jishi, but it still has hard power.

Zhang Zhou greeted a group of people.

Tang Yin, however, finally moved closer after a long delay, and bowed respectfully to Zhang Zhou.

"Brother Tang, why are you so polite?" Zhang Zhou laughed.

Tang Yin said: "I would like to thank you for your kindness."

The others got into their own carriages, and Tang Yin came to thank him at this time, probably knowing that it would not be easy to see Zhang Zhou in the future.

"We are both degenerate people in the world, you and I have been criticized for being involved in problems, and helping you is also helping myself." Zhang Zhou explained with a smile.

Tang Yin's previous arrogance and arrogance disappeared from his face, and he said politely: "If there is anything you want to drive, please make it clear that you will never hesitate to die."

I have to leave after speaking.

This time only an old servant came to pick him up, not even a carriage.

It seems that Tang Yin's living conditions in the capital immediately became difficult after he lost Xu Jing, a big benefactor.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Brother Tang, do we still count on our previous bet?"

"Ok?"

Tang Yin turned around and looked at Zhang Zhou, puzzled.

Your division is so strong, you actually want to pull me into your division?Are you sure you're not playing with me?
Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "I still remember the bet, I hope you will score higher than me in the imperial examination, otherwise, you may have to accept experience in my teacher's school. I will accept apprentices on behalf of the teacher, but it will be very strict."

Tang Yin didn't answer, and after cupping his hands again, he turned and left.

(End of this chapter)