Lin'an in April, the beautiful scenery is incomparable, the Qiantang River in the south of the city, boating and fishing, there is the West Lake in the west of the city, the boat painting boat, there is quiet and noisy, you can take a break after dinner, you can have fun after drinking, this is the joy of Lin'an people, and it is also a place for them to find comfort when they are frustrated.

A small boat in the West Lake floated gently in the oars of the male in the west, sailing towards the lake, or sailing to a distant place that he did not know.

Two young scholars sat in the middle of the boat, and a small table divided the two between the two on the left and right, with a few side dishes on the table, and a pot of wine.

"Congratulations to Brother Jiang, you finally won the first class in high school, and the title of the gold list. With this background, he will be able to soar and rise to prominence one day. A scholar raised a glass to congratulate.

"Thank you, Brother Shen." Another scholar raised his glass and laughed.

The two raised their heads and drank together, a glass of wine in their stomachs, and they were full of pride.

They are none other than Shen Jin and Jiang Kai, who returned from going to sea with the Hui Yi fleet.

"Brother Shen's talent is far better than mine, if he doesn't win this time, it should be that the style of writing is not in harmony with the mind of the exam, next time I try again, I will definitely be able to go to high school!" Jiang Kai held the pot and filled the wine glasses in front of the two of them.

Shen Jin smiled a little sadly: "Brother Jiang doesn't have to comfort me." Then he raised his glass and said: "It's Brother Jiang, who is ranked first, and when the court directly confers an official, from now on, even if he embarks on a career in office, he will see you in the future, and he will be called Lord Jiang." ”

Jiang Kai raised his glass and said: "We are classmates and friends, Brother Shen will see the outside world when he says so, whether he can be awarded an official depends on the court, and it also depends on the opportunity, wait for a year and a half, three years or five years may not be, it is not good to wait for you to go to high school, I am still waiting for the award, no one in the court is difficult to be an official in this year, unless it is the top three." Don't talk about these worries, let's drink. ”

After the two of them drank together, they raised their chopsticks and ate a few bites of side dishes.

"What are Brother Shen's plans? Do you stay in Lin'an, or go back to Jiankang? ”

Shen Jin said: "It's also a dilemma, I didn't pass the imperial examination, I really don't have the face to go back, stay in Lin'an, I have nothing to do, sit and eat." After speaking, he lowered his head and ate the vegetables, and his face was difficult.

"Since you don't want to go back, let's stay in Lin'an for the time being, with Brother Jiang's talent, are you still afraid of sitting on the mountain?" Jiang Kai filled the wine glass in front of the two.

Shen Jin said: "Lin'an Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, talented people are everywhere, how can it be so easy to find something to do." "Raise a glass and drink again.

"Earlier, I heard that the Xuanwei Army made great contributions in Guangnan, and captured the prince who fled back to Li Yue, and ended the war in Guangnan a year ago, they should have been in Changguo, or you and I will go to Changguo another day, maybe we can find something to do in the Xuanwei Army." Jiang Kai said suddenly.

Shen Jin hesitated a little: "Although Lord Yang is approachable, but the return to Yi will not be over soon, and he should not return to Yi again in the short term, I am afraid that there is nothing to do to Xuanwei Army, so it is better not to cause trouble to Lord Yang." ”

Jiang Kai said: "If you don't go and see, how do you know that there is nothing to do." Isn't your needle disc still going to be transformed? Lord Yang attaches great importance to this thing, and after coming back last year, isn't he still interested in inviting you and me to continue working together? ”

Seeing that Shen Jin seemed to be a little moved, Jiang Kai immediately said: "It's so decided, when I go to the Ministry of Rites to vote for a thank you post in the past two days, I will accompany you on a trip to Changguo." Come, drink! ”

The two of them raised their glasses and touched them, and then drank another cup to their stomachs.

"Brother Jiang, it's not easy to get a first grade in high school, instead of waiting for the official to be sent and spending time, it's better to find a way." Shen Jin was grateful, as a good friend, he was happy for Jiang Kai from the bottom of his heart, but he was also worried about his future.

Jiang Kai sighed and said: "Brother Shen also knows that my family background is average, and it can even be said that I am poor, and there are only a few acres of thin land in my family, and there is no one in my ancestors as officials, and there is no connection in the court, where can I find any way, let's wait, I don't need to think about the position near the state capital, I can go to a remote place to be a county lord or a lord, or even a teacher, it is enough for me." ”

Shen Jin said: "Brother Jiang, don't be discouraged, although my family is lonely, but there are still some connections in the court, I will help you inquire another day, although I can't say that I will help you win an official position, but where there are vacancies can still be explored." ”

Jiang Kai poured the wine glass in front of him again, raised his glass and said, "Then thank you Brother Jiang!" ”

After drinking the wine in the cup, Jiang Kai said again: "Although my family is poor, I still can't do anything to take the initiative to seek officials, Brother Shen doesn't have to worry too much, the connections in the DPRK and China should be used in key places, and this kind of connections will be used less once, and the officialdom will be thin for every point." If the imperial court really doesn't send officials, I will think of other ways, it's a big deal to go back to my hometown, and I can have enough food and clothing. If it doesn't work anymore, I will go to join the army, and after two or three years in the Xuanwei army, I have learned a lot of things, and I should be useful. With my background as a Jinshi and Di, there will be a way out no matter what, and Brother Shen doesn't have to worry about me. ”

Shen Jin saw that Jiang Kai had said it to this point, so he didn't say more, raised his glass and said, "Okay, then I wish Brother Jiang all the best and send officials to take up his post as soon as possible." ”

After drinking together, eat a few bites of side dishes, then put down the bamboo chopsticks, leave all your troubles behind, and raise your eyes to enjoy the beautiful scenery of West Lake.

The boat is leisurely, drifting with the wood pulp, the breeze, the slanting sun, the clear water, the willows, the fireworks in April, the boating on the West Lake, the beautiful scenery of the world, nothing more than this.

Lin'an City is as prosperous as before, the wind and the sun are beautiful, the crowds are surging, and in the crowded crowd, you feel the infinite vitality and vigorous vitality.

Yang Congyi had no intention of watching others, and of course no one paid attention to him.

After entering the city from Qingbo Gate, go straight east along the main street to Qinghefang, turn to the south and go on the royal street, squeeze in the crowd for a long time, and finally arrive at the Yamen in front of the palace, it is not early.

When he arrived at the yamen, Yang Congyi immediately took out an order to identify himself to the guards and forbidden troops.

After the guards saw it, they didn't say much and let them go immediately.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is also the first time I have come to the front of the palace, and I haven't asked where to report without asking?" Yang Congyi put away the appointment paperwork and asked the four guards in front of him with a smile.

The head of the guard team asked, "Your Excellency was ordered to be transferred from other places to the front of the palace?" ”

Yang Congyi smiled: "Exactly, I just arrived today." ”

"If it is not written on the appointment where you will serve, then go to the errand to grind the case, and they will arrange it for the adults." The head of the guard squad stood where he was.

"Thank you."

After thanking them, Yang Congyi saw that they had no intention of leading the way, so he raised his legs and entered the yamen in front of the palace.

There was no one walking around in the yamen, and it was a little empty and deserted.

After some searching, I finally found a room with a plaque on the door of an annex that read "Errand Grinding Case".

I saw that the door of the room was wide open, and there were two servants standing by the door, and there was no sound from them, and I wondered if there was anyone inside.

The sun was in the west, and Yang Congyi didn't hesitate, so he stepped forward directly and said: "Yang Congyi, the military supervisor of Xuanwei under Xia, came to report on the order of the former division of the palace. With that, he handed the appointing document in his hand to the officer.

The messenger glanced at Yang Congyi, and then took the document in his hand and said, "Wait a minute, my lord." "Turn around and go into the house.

After a while, the messenger came out and smiled at Yang Congyi: "Your Excellency, please let Lord Yang in." ”

Yang Congyi put the package outside the house, raised his hand to thank him, tidied up his clothes, and then entered the house.

As soon as I entered the room, I saw that it was very spacious, and there were several bookshelves around it, and the shelves were not books, but documents and documents, and there were a lot of them, almost full.

There were four bookcases in the room, but there was only one official, and the whole room was a little empty.

The only official, dressed in a green official robe, was sitting in front of the book case and reading the documents, and when he heard Yang Congyi's footsteps entering the house, he put down the Chinese book in his hand and looked up at the people who entered the room.

Yang Congyi hurriedly stepped forward and saluted: "Xiaguan Yang Congyi, I've seen adults." ”

The green-clothed official was expressionless and replied, "No need to be polite. ”

After Yang Congyi stood still, the official said: "Yang Congyi, Shaoxing 16th September 15th into martial arts, in the martial arts for one year and three months, after the examination in advance, in Shaoxing 18 January began to serve as the ocean return to the Yi superintendent, during this period concurrently served as the Xuanwei Army supervisor, and single-handedly established the Xuanwei Army, and then sailed to sea, in the South and Western Oceans led the Xuanwei Army many meritorious services, Shaoxing 20 years in July back to the Yi fleet returned to the Great Song Dynasty, August to Mingzhou Changguo County to serve as the Xuanwei Army supervisor, in September was ordered to go south to Guangnan to clear the Li Yue barbarians, In three months, more than 20,000 barbarians were strangled, countless barbarian grains and grass and ordnance were burned, the barbarian army was cut off from the grain and grass baggage, and the barbarians were forced to finally withdraw from the border of the Great Song Dynasty. However, after the Xuanwei Army arrived in Qinzhou, you divided the Xuanwei Army into two as a supervisor, led the army without authorization while the commander was still in charge, attacked three times, disrupted the original deployment, and violated the regulations of the unified army. Do you have something to say? ”

Yang Congyi's heart was secretly shocked when he heard this, no wonder after Xuanweijun returned to Qinzhou, He Jianjun did not let him go to Yongzhou to report the battle of Liangshan in person. Since the court said that he made a mistake and would not be held accountable because of his merits, he just accepted it, what else could he do, what twists and turns were there, he was not clear, too many explanations were futile, and even caused more trouble.

So he replied: "At that time, the situation in Qinzhou was compelling, and the lower officials had to insist on going their own way, but that was indeed a big mistake, and the lower officials did not defend themselves, no matter how they were punished, the lower officials accepted it." ”

Yang Congyi's posture was very low, and his words were as blunt as possible, and his face was pleasant, and he looked like he obeyed whatever the official said, and he looked very deferential.

Sure enough, the official's expression relaxed slightly, and he said, "Very good."

Then he took a piece of paper on the bookcase in his hand, glanced at it and said: "The Great Song Dynasty has not had a foreign war for many years, and there are few wars in the south. You have been in the Xuanwei Army for three years, and it is time to change places. Although I made a mistake this time and deprived you of your reward, I have a great merit, and I am specially promoted to Wu Yilang and transferred to the front division of the palace. From this day forward, you will be the head of the temple. Starting tomorrow, I will go to the military case to take up the position of secretary. ”

When Yang Congyi heard the word "promotion", although he didn't know what official position Wu Yilang was, he was sure that he was undoubtedly promoted, and he was immediately overjoyed.