Chapter 1: Feather Cloak (6 Up)

finally saw Yan Jiming eat deflated once, and Shi Chaoyi was very happy in his heart. simply deliberately found some deviant topics to chat with Wang Xun. And Wang Xun was originally a gentleman who didn't learn and didn't know how to do anything, and he didn't have any other skills, misinterpreting the meaning of the ancients, and far-fetched nonsense was his forte. Recently, I held back my anger and had nowhere to vent, and with the help of three points of alcohol, I actually extended several topics to the top.

The more he chatted, the more Shi Chaoyi felt that he hated to meet each other late, picked up the wine cup, and proposed loudly: "Come, let's have another round of drinks." To be clear today's words! Also to be able to fight and drink with Mingyun today! ”

"!" Wang Xun also felt that he had a very good chat with Shi Chaoyi. Raise the cup and drink it all.

Seeing that these two guys smelled like each other, Yan Jiming had no choice but to pinch his nose and lose one. After drinking, before Shi Chaoyi spoke, he asked with a smile: "This year's spring boudoir has ended, I don't know if the results are out?" The last time I was eating and drinking here, I vaguely heard that the two elder brothers of the Qin family were preparing to enter the exam. With their talents, they must not be easily buried! ”

"I don't know. It's been a long time since I've seen either of them! Wang Xun shook his head, with a hint of disappointment in his words. The list hasn't been released yet, but both of them are reading materials, and the result shouldn't be too bad! At least, for their father's sake, the examiner wouldn't dare to scrap their papers easily! ”

Since the last time they held a banquet in Linfeng Tower to entertain Zhou Xiaofeng and others, the Qin brothers began to study behind closed doors. Immediately, Yu Wenzhi went to Anxi with Feng Changqing, and Ma Fang entered the East Palace to prepare for the prince's Qianniu. In the past, a group of good brothers who were almost inseparable day and night are now difficult to see each other. Many topics that are unique to young people in their growth stage, Wang Xun can no longer find the right person to share. The loneliness in his heart is getting deeper and deeper, and even if he walks in the crowd, he feels a little inseparable.

"Oh!" Yan Jiming pouted and nodded slightly. He didn't really care about the results of the Qin brothers' exams, but wanted to take the opportunity to divert the topic and no longer let his ears be poisoned by Wang and Shi. At this moment, seeing that Wang Xun's brows were faintly depressed, he moved his mind to explain, and soon added with a smile, "Could it be that Brother Mingyun also wants to give it a try?" With your current situation, you must disdain the Ming Sutra. And there is no hurry to discuss the strategy. (Note 1)

The Datang Imperial Examination project is complicated. History, arithmetic, policy, and law are all within the scope of choice. But the most difficult, and after coming out, the most important thing for the imperial court is only strategy. Therefore, there are clouds among the people, thirty old Ming Jing, and fifty young Jinshi. It is said that it is easy to get the Ming Jing subject, but it is difficult to get out of the policy subject.

However, if you pass the policy exam, you will be able to qualify for at least the vacancy of the prefectural ordinance. In the Ming Classics examination, he could only copy official documents in various ministries or localities, and he was a copyist for a lifetime!

Wang Xun is not as old as the weak crown, and he has already obtained the six-rank martial arts, so of course there is no point in going to the Ming Classics to take the exam. If you go to the strategy like the Qin brothers, your skills will be too poor. Fortunately, although he was arrogant in his mouth, he was very self-aware in his heart, and seeing that Yan Jiming had misunderstood his meaning, he shook his head and said with a smile: "Admitted to Jinshi, I guess there is no hope in this life." Speaking of layout planning, just figuring out the meaning of the question is enough to suffocate me in the examination room! ”

"Is it that hard to get into the Jinshi? Don't even dare to end up with a talent like Mingyun? Hearing the two talk about scientific research, Shi Chaoyi couldn't help but interject. Among the people he knows, Yan Jiming is the first to read a lot of books. In terms of talent and affinity, Wang Xun is still ranked above the former.

"Where do I have any talent!" Unexpectedly, his nonsense words were taken seriously by Shi Chaoyi, Wang Xun hurriedly smiled and waved his hand.

"Brother Mingyun, don't be too humble. You are well-read and have a strong memory, and my little brother is sincerely admired! Unexpectedly, Yan Jiming began to praise Wang Xun's good memory.

"Exactly? If Ming Yun fails the exam, it can only be said that the examiner has a crooked heart. Shi Chaoyi did not hide his admiration for Wang Xun and echoed loudly.

At this time, Wang Xun really blushed a little. While waving his hand, he explained with a smile, "I really can't." Don't make fun of me again. I have seen the articles of the two elder brothers of the Qin family with my own eyes, and I am afraid that I will not be able to reach that realm no matter how hard I read it for ten years! ”

"The two Qin brothers think they have worked the article! It's a pity that the last time we got together was short, and I couldn't ask them for advice. I couldn't bear to see Wang Xun embarrassed, Yan Jiming began to change the topic again.

Shi Chaoyi didn't know the difference between true talent and deviance, stared at a pair of big eyes, and said sullenly: "If even someone like Mingyun can't pass the exam." Those who are in the exam probably don't have any real skills, just gnawing on books! This kind of exam, it's better to have than not! ”

"There's some truth to what you're saying, but it's not necessarily all right!" Yan Jiming saw Shi Chaoyi's vigorous nonsense, shook his head, and explained to him with a smile, "Back then, the purpose of Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty to carry out the imperial examination, and the selection of talents for the country was only one of them. More importantly, through the imperial examination, the common people of the scholar clan can see a hope for changing their future. And people from different backgrounds standing in the same court can also enable decision-makers to hear the voices of different parties, and take into account the interests of both sides when making decisions. It's not too biased, and then make a joke about why not eat minced meat! ”

This explanation is in place, but it obviously exceeds Shi Chaoyi's ability to understand. The latter blinked his eyes for a long time, but he didn't get the essence of it thoroughly. On the contrary, he was very unconvinced and argued: "If the person who is admitted has no real ability, how can he make a long-term decision?!" Isn't it just as confusing? If you don't get it right, it will delay the emperor's major event! ”

"Passing the imperial examination just means that he has the qualifications to be an official. It will take many years of experience to really influence the decision-making of the court! Yan Jiming had no choice but to explain to him from the beginning the detailed rules for the selection of materials for the imperial examination in the Tang Dynasty, as well as the specific process of obtaining official positions for the scholars. When it was over, I didn't forget to take Tanhualang Zhang Xun as an example to let the other party understand the difficulties of the official career.

Who would have thought that Shi Chaoyi would not listen, but when he heard it, he immediately found out the flaw from Yan Jiming's words, "According to what you say, being admitted to the Jinshi and being an official are still two different things!" So what is the pretense of opening a science and taking a doctor? Zhang Xun took the third exam, but he could only be a county magistrate for so many years. Those who took the fourth and fifth exams, if they don't have a hard backer behind them, aren't they still on the waiting list? ”

Since Li Linfu took power, it has become an indisputable fact that the selection and promotion of officials in the Tang Dynasty have become more and more nepotistic. At this point, even if Yan Jiming had the intention to cover up for the court, he had no way to start. Just when he was in trouble, he heard Wang Xun interject again: "But isn't it? The Jinshi in the Kaiyuan period still have those who remain in the Beijing Division to fill the vacancy! Last time I saw one in Pingkangli, wearing a green robe, but standing on the street to help people write letters to their families. It looks like they are in their sixties, and I don't know if I can make up for an official and a half-time position in this life! ”

"What's the difference between that and not taking the test?" Shi Chaoyi listened to Wang Xun's support for his views, and became more and more unrestricted, "The function of selecting meritocracy is gone, and the hope of changing the future has also been wiped out." Who will fool with an empty shelf for the imperial examination? It's better to tell the people directly, don't bother, do what you have to do! Save people from studying hard all their lives, but in the end they can't leave anything behind! ”

"Definitely. No matter how well you read, it is better to have a good family background. For the disrespect of the world, Wang Xun has felt a lot in the past few days. He himself didn't have much experience, so when Shi Chaoyi mentioned it, he immediately vented the anger in his stomach according to the other party's words.

"Haha, then it's better to change to the test method!" Shi Chaoyi laughed, "Why are you making it so complicated?" It's simply bigger than who's grandpa. There are no questions written on the exam paper, and candidates are asked to write the family tree directly! Three generations of grandparents and grandchildren who have never been officials continue to go home to farm. He has been the prime minister's center, and he has been the pastor's place of assassination. Those who have been servants directly took over Grandpa's water and fire sticks. You don't even need to learn how to shout at Tang Wei, you are used to listening to it! ”

"It's not proper, it's not proper, you have to schedule shifts. Otherwise, the position is estimated to be not enough. For example, if the father has served more than two terms of assassination, only his descendants can teach the history of assassination. If you have only been a one-term, or have not even completed one term, you will be given a county order at most! Wang Xun took a big sip of wine and added with a smile.

He and Shi Chaoyi have just come into contact with a lot of things that they couldn't imagine before, and the psychological gap is too big, so they have become a little cynical. The other is Wen Tianwu, who is not used to the imperial court, and takes the opportunity to play on the topic. Therefore, you say a word, I say a word, and I do everything in my power. Yan Jiming began to listen, and felt that a few drunken words were harmless. The further back I go, the more I feel that the two friends are too open-mouthed. It doesn't matter if you complain in front of yourself, if you are listened to by someone who cares about it on other occasions, it will inevitably cause a lot of trouble.

Thinking of this, he couldn't bear it anymore. After coughing a few times, Zhengse interrupted, "Two brothers, some words today are too much!" The imperial court did have many drawbacks in the selection of officials. But it's not necessarily as unbearable as the two said. Besides, if it weren't for the shadow of our fathers, would we still be able to go so smoothly in our careers? Since we have benefited from it, what qualifications do we have to make irresponsible remarks here? ”

Note 1: The Ming Jing was a way of scientific research in the Tang Dynasty. Excerpt the Confucian classics in sections and ask the candidates to fill in the blanks. to compare familiarity with the texts. Because the difficulty is relatively low, even if you pass the exam, you can only go to each ministry to act as a small official, responsible for copying and writing.

Note 2: According to the weekly system, a man performs the crown ceremony at the age of 20, which means that he has reached adulthood. Wang Xun is eighteen this year, so he was not crowned.