The days when I ransacked the house in Jinyiwei

Chapter 215 Came to Beijing to beg for food

North of the city, Cheng Mansion.

Cheng Minzheng, the chief examiner of the examination, was sitting in the study drinking tea, waiting for Tang Yin's arrival.

Cheng Minzheng was 53 years old at the time, and he was a scholar from generation to generation. He was a typical civil servant family.Since the great-grandfather's generation, the Cheng family has relied on the imperial examinations to become officials for generations.

His father, Cheng Xin, was an official to the Ministry of War in Nanjing.

Cheng Minzheng was a well-known child prodigy in Beizhili since he was a child.When he was 17 years old, Bing Dilian opened in the garden pond at the back of Cheng’s family, and he was the No.

When he was only 20 years old, he won the Huiyuan examination, ranked second in the high school in the palace examination, and entered the Imperial Academy as a scholar.Almost created the myth of Lianzhong Sanyuan.

Li Xian, the chief assistant of the cabinet at the time, took a look: Hey, this young man is good, and he has a bright future.

So Li Shoufu caught his son-in-law and married his daughter to him.

In addition to his father who is the Minister of the Ministry of War, Cheng Minzheng has another father-in-law who is the chief assistant of the cabinet.

It should be said that Lao Cheng got off to a good start.

Father is Shangshu and has a huge official network.I also strive for success, and became the second place in the year of the weak crown.

The spring breeze is proud of the horseshoe disease, and I can see the flowers in Chang'an at the end of the day.He also married the daughter of the chief minister of the cabinet.

The future is boundless, the future is really boundless.

However, Lao Cheng is capable of studying in the imperial examination, and his ability to be an official is average, and he is quite satisfactory.Relying on his early entry into an official position, hard connections, and hard-fought qualifications, he became the right servant of the Ministry of Rites.

Follow official promotion rules.After another two or three years, he will be promoted to Minister of Rites at around 55 years old.

And the Minister of Rites is the No. 60 cabinet minister in Tianzi.Not surprisingly, he can join the cabinet before the age of [-], and he is an extremely human minister.

This time, the emperor's kindness is mighty, and his best friend Li Dongyang is also strong.Recommended by Li Dongyang, the emperor appointed him as the chief examiner of the examination.

The chief examiner of the general examination is a temporary assignment, not a permanent official.But the civil servants above the third grade in the Ming Dynasty are crowded with each other to be the chief examiner.

The chief examiner of the general examination will become the teacher of the first, second, and third-class Jinshi in a whole subject.Political power can surge.

There are hundreds of Jinshi in one subject, and how many people will be able to make a fortune in the future.Even if someone becomes the chief assistant in the future, when they see him, they should respectfully call him "Master".

Cheng Minzheng was full of ambition.Before the start of the examination, he was planning to accept a few promised students who were already well-known all over the world.

If a person like Tang Yin, who is known as the head of the four great talents in the south of the Yangtze River, can become his promised protégé, he will have face in the first place.

Look, being able to be a teacher of great talents shows that my own talents are also the best in the world.

Second, the relationship between agreed students is closer than that of ordinary students.

If a young talent like Tang Yin with a bright future can be used by me.The strength of my network circle will increase a little bit.

Let's say that Tang Yin led Xu Jing to the gate of Cheng's mansion.

Xu Jing is the son of a rich man, but he is by no means a stupid son.People have a reputation for raising people.

Even if you want to spend money on bribing the examiners for the provincial examinations in Ming Dynasty, you have to be strong yourself.First of all, the handwriting is better.Secondly, you must master stereotyped writing and know how to choose words and make sentences.

Otherwise, even if the test questions are leaked to you, you don't know how to write an essay for the test.

Find someone to catch the knife, even if you write the article in advance, you can't memorize it.

The handwriting is not good, and the examiner who accepts bribes will not be able to circle your paper.

Xu Jing heard that Mr. Cheng, the main examiner of this conference, invited Tang Yin to the mansion for a talk.He turned his head: I'll go with you and establish a good relationship with Mr. Cheng. Doesn't the chance of winning this test increase by a few percent?
So Xu Jing asked Tang Yin to come with him.

Tang Yin did not refuse.Xu Jing had spent 500 taels or [-] taels of silver on him on this trip to rush for the exam.

The meticulous care along the way, the most attentive and considerate.

This bit of face should be given to Xu Jing.

The two stood in front of the gate of Cheng Mansion.

The King of Hades is easy to see, but the little devil is hard to deal with, and the seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister's door.

Cheng Wang, the old porter, stopped the two of them.

Tang Yin took out the name card of worshiping the door: "Yingtian Juren Tang Yin, come to pay a visit to Mr. Cheng."

Cheng Wang accepted the name card: "Ah, it's Tang Juren. Our master has been waiting for you for a long time."

Turning his head, he shouted to a young servant: "Brother Rui, lead Mr. Tang to the master's study."

Xu Jing followed Tang Yin to enter the mansion, but Cheng Wang stopped him: "Who are you?"

Xu Jing replied: "Jiangyin Juren Xu Jing, come to see Mr. Cheng."

Cheng Wang's old face slumped, as if Xu Jing owed him two taels of silver: "The mansion of the minister of the Ministry of Rites, any cat or dog can enter?"

"Go! Go! Go!"

Tang Yin explained: "Old man, this Xu Juren came with me. He is my best friend."

Cheng Wang's attitude towards Tang Yin is different from that towards Xu Jing.His son Cheng Zhong is Cheng Minzheng's personal servant and is well-informed.

Cheng Wang knew that Tang Yin was a great talent that the master valued.

Cheng Wang calmed down, and said to Tang Yin: "Tang Juren. Our master only said he saw you, not your good friend."

"We don't dare to lead people into the mansion casually."

With sharp eyes and quick hands, Xu Jing stuffed a bank note into Cheng Wang's sleeve.

But it happened suddenly, his bank notes were stacked upside down, and Cheng Wang couldn't see the number.

Cheng Wang believes that the denominations of ten taels and eight taels are the denominations of ten taels.

However, taking advantage of others, he put away the arrogant and rebellious expression just now: "Ah, Tang Juren has been in the countryside for a long time, so he may not know that there are many rules in the Beijing official residence."

"Master didn't say he saw you, so I can't let you in."

"But since you came with Tang Juren, I can't let you stand at the door and wait."

"How about this, you sit in the porter for a while, drink a cup of tea, and wait for Tang Juren."

Xu Jing is a wealthy Jiangyin family.Jiangyin is also a prosperous and prosperous place in the south of the Yangtze River.Cheng Wang said that he "has been in the country for a long time".

There is no way, in the eyes of these old capitals, out of the forty-nine cities, they are all rural areas.When foreigners come to Beijing, they are all stinking countrymen from other places, and they come to the capital to beg for food.

If Xu Jing hadn't given Cheng Wang a bank note, he wouldn't even let Xu Jing enter the concierge.

Tang Yin strode into the mansion.Xu Jing entered the gatehouse.

Cheng Wang gave Xu Jing a small Mazha: "Xu Juren, let's just sit down for a while! Those local officials of the fourth and fifth ranks who come to visit the master on weekdays can't even get a Mazha."

Xu Jing understands the ways of the world: "Ah, thank you, old man."

Cheng Wang said again: "If you are a sixth-rank or seventh-rank official, I won't even let the doorman in. You have to stand at the gate and wait."

"Come on, I'll make you a pot of tea. Although it's high-strength, the water in the capital is good, and it's high-strength. It tastes better than the tea in the countryside that costs a few taels of silver per catty!"

Xu Jing is thankful again.

Cheng Wang went out of the concierge and came to the waiter.He said to the old man in the tea house: "Here comes a beggar from the countryside! The pot is smashed high."

The old man in the tea shop turned around to make tea.

Cheng Wang took the opportunity to take out the bank note that Xu Jing gave him from his sleeve to see if there were any taels.

Open it and see that it doesn't matter, Cheng Wang staggered and almost fell down!
I saw a big book on the bank note, "Take two hundred taels of flat silver from Kushi with the ticket."

Cheng Wang was dumbfounded.The beggar in the countryside is too generous!A shot is 200 taels?
You know, those magistrates and county magistrates from other places who come to visit Cheng Minzheng at the mansion will reward Cheng Wang ten taels of silver at most.

Cheng Wang put away the banknotes, and quickly patted the old man on the back of the tea house: "Make the best Yuqian tea, that's a distinguished guest! I'm from Fugui Township in the south of the Yangtze River, and I'm not used to drinking Gao Sui."

Cheng Wang returned to the concierge with the teapot in his hand.The attitude changed: "Ah, Xu Juren, this is the best tea before the rain. Please use it, please use it."

Xu Jing took a sip and said, "It's really good tea. The old man took care of it."

Xu Jing secretly smiled in his heart: what dad said is true, there is no one who spends money in the world.

It must be that the old man went out and looked at the bank note I gave him, and knew the amount.Otherwise, why did the attitude change?
Cheng Wang began to chat with Xu Jing: "Don't think I'm just a janitor in the servant's mansion. Let me tell you, my son is doing well!"

"My son is our master's personal servant! He can also read and write, and he serves pen and ink in the master's study every day."

After hearing this, Xu Jing's eyes lit up: "Ah, your son is so promising! He is actually someone close to Mr. Cheng."

Cheng Wang stroked his beard proudly: "That's natural. Have you ever heard that an ant beside the Tathagata Buddha can become a fairy?"

"One of our fathers guards the gate for the master, and the other serves him personally. The officials in the capital will give us a little favor when they see our fathers."

Speaking of this, Cheng Wang realized that he was exaggerating.He quickly went back to make amends: "Ah, I'm talking about those petty officials of the fifth and sixth ranks."

Xu Jing secretly laughed in his heart: The fifth-rank and sixth-rank court officials gave you face?what are you?Just a watchdog.

But Xu Jing is very interested in Cheng Wang's son.In other words, he is very interested in the exam questions of this subject.

Xu Jing said with a smile: "I'm a native of the southern countryside. I don't have much knowledge. Today, you can condescend to talk to me a few words, let me gain a lot of knowledge. Thank you."

After speaking, Xu Jing took out another bank note and handed it to Cheng Wang.

Cheng Wang looked at the denomination, and it was another 200 tael bank note!
He said on his mouth: "How embarrassing this is", but his hand was very honest, and he took it and stuffed it into his sleeve, with a sincere and fearful expression on his face.

Xu Jing smiled and said, "You were right just now. The ants around the Tathagata can become immortals!"

"I also want to enjoy the fairy spirit. Let's see when your son will be free. I will hold a big banquet in the Wanfu Building in the capital for you and your son."

Wanfulou is the most expensive restaurant in Beijing.

When Xu Jing, a wealthy man from the south of the Yangtze River, came to Beijing, his consumption principle was not to eat the best, but only to eat the most expensive.

Cheng Wang was flattered and kept rubbing his hands: "Oh, Xu Juren, oh no, Mr. Xu is too polite."

Juren of Ming Dynasty can be called "Master".A change in title is a change in attitude.

Xu Jing began to draw big cakes for Cheng Wang again: "I am easy to make friends with. As long as you are congenial, if you give one or two thousand silver, you will lose a few more dice in the game."

The rebellious old porter, the old capital city Cheng Wang, was completely conquered by Xu Jing, a local rich man.

Cheng Wang repeatedly praised: "If my son can make a friend as generous and heroic as Mr. Xu, it is really a blessing from three lives!"

Let's talk about Tang Yin's side.

Tang Yin entered Cheng Minzheng's study and saluted him.

Cheng Minzheng saw that Tang Yin was not only good at writing, but also more dignified and a standard official appearance.He likes this junior even more.

Cheng Minzheng is a great Confucian, a man of great talent and learning.Naturally, they have a lot in common with Tang Yin.

The two chatted about poetry and stereotyped art for an hour.It's just like seeing each other late.

Cheng Minzheng took a sip of tea, and finally started to talk about business: "In fact, the test is not only based on talent and learning, but also depends on luck."

"Wang Shouren, the son of Wang Hua's family, is only famous in Jinghua, but he still failed in two subjects."

The main examiners of the previous examinations accepted the agreed students, and only those who were talented but not very well-educated were accepted.

Wang Shouren's father, Wang Hua, is now a bachelor of the Imperial Academy, and his status is too sensitive.No examiner dared to make an appointment with Wang Shouren.

Tang Yin didn't know why Cheng Minzheng brought the topic up to luck.

Cheng Minzheng finally made his intention clear: "I plan to accept you as a student, how about it?"

Although Tang Yin is wild and unrestrained, he is not stupid, nor is he inattentive.He knows what a promised student is.

As a Juren, he naturally knew what the chief examiner meant.

Tang Yin remained silent.

Cheng Minzheng said again: "You have such a great talent, it shouldn't be difficult to answer the questions with mediocrity, right? Show me your handwriting again."

Accepting the agreed student does not mean giving up the question.Just ask students to make marks in the answer.

Don't think that the papers are vague.It is easy for the examiner to make an agreement with the candidate.For example, what is the sound of the first word in each line when solving a problem.Take mediocrity as a secret.

Before the exam, look at the candidate's handwriting to be sure.

Unexpectedly, Tang Yin actually said to Cheng Minzheng: "Master, the student claims to have some knowledge. I am confident that I can stand out in the examination and take the palace examination."

"Even without the help of a teacher, students can still be nominated for the Xingbang, and even get on the Gold List."

"There are always thousands of horses, but Bole doesn't often have them. Students dare not compare themselves to a thousand-mile horse, but you are Bole."

Tang Yin's words implied a deep meaning.First of all, he did not call Cheng Minzheng "Master Cheng" or "Cheng Butang", but directly referred to him as the teacher.

It means that Tang Yin has agreed to be attached to Cheng Minzheng and be his good student.

Secondly, Tang Yin explicitly rejected Cheng Minzheng's help.

The translation of this sentence is: Teacher, without your help, I can become a tribute, and go to the palace to try to get a Jinshi.

You don't have to worry about it.

But not letting you help doesn't mean I'm not attached to you.

You are still my teacher, like a real father.

In the future, when I become an official, I will also miss your kindness.You let me go east, I will never go west.

Cheng Minzheng was rejected out of kindness, instead of being angry, he was overjoyed.He is a man of talent.What's more, Tang Yin is such a talented person who can be counted in the whole world?
Moreover, Cheng Minzheng saw the shadow of his youth in Tang Yin.

When our old Cheng was young, he was as confident as him.In front of Zhongjieyuan, Zhonghuiyuan, and Zhongbang, I also told my father that I can still go to high school without asking someone to help me.

Cheng Minzheng praised Tang Yin: "Sure enough, you are a great talent in the world, and you have a plan in your chest! I will wait for your title on the apricot list, and you will even be on the gold list!"

"At that time, I will hold a banquet for you in the mansion to celebrate for you!"

During this visit, Tang Yin did not become Cheng Minzheng's promised disciple.The two just admired each other and became friends who forget the year.

Cheng Minzheng did not disclose the question to Tang Yin either.Although Lao Cheng is not very capable, he still has a bottom line.

But Xu Jing got on the line of Cheng Minzheng's servant.

There is only half a month left before the test.On the fifth day before the exam, the exam questions must be determined.

Cheng Minzheng spends every night pondering the exam questions in his study.

The exams in Ming Dynasty are by no means like some TV dramas in the later generations made up nonsense, where the examiner gives a question with a dozen words, and the examinee writes an essay and the job is over.

The general examination will take 22 questions in three sessions and nine days.

In the first three days, there are three questions about the book and the four questions about the scriptures.

Two sessions and three days, one examination, five strategies, one each of edict, imperial edict, table and internal medicine.

In the last three days, there are five topics on classics, history, time, affairs, and policy.

The papers are divided into two volumes, South and North.Some of the questions for southern candidates are different from those for northern candidates.

Among them, the most important ones are the book meaning and classic meaning questions in the first round, which account for a large proportion of the "circle".

Whether it is the ancient imperial examination or the modern college entrance examination, the principles of the questions are similar.

There are basic questions to test basic skills, and there are also score questions to distinguish personal abilities.

Although Cheng Minzheng was the chief examiner, he did not answer all 22 questions.

He is only responsible for the classics.

In the scripture question, he deliberately made a weird and tricky question.It is similar to the most difficult question in mathematics for the college entrance examination.

He is very satisfied with this question.Whether it is an extremely smart talent, a mediocre talent, or a mediocre talent who doesn't understand shit, it all depends on whether the candidate can solve this question.

What Cheng Minzheng didn't know was that when he was busy writing the exam questions, Cheng Zhong, his personal servant who was grinding beside him, kept glancing at the paper from the corner of his eyes.

On the ninth day of February, the Gong Yuan opened, and students came to enter the Dragon Gate with examination materials.

Chang Feng walked with Wang Shouren and Zhang Cong and came to the front of the dragon gate.

Chang Feng glanced at the word "Gongyuan", which is the ideal and pursuit of many generations of scholars.

The three entered the dragon gate.

Not long after, Tang Yin and Xu Jing also entered Longmen together.

As the head of the Ministry of Rites sounded the gong, the 12th year of Hongzhi's examination officially began.

(End of this chapter)