Chapter 238: Night Banquet (1)

In the evening, as the sun gradually set in the west, the tanuki helped Na Zhe comb his long hair with a shawl, put on a light royal blue silk shirt for him, and then Na Zhe himself put on whale skin boots from Qishan Island.

The tanuki slave hung a jade pendant around Na Zhe's waist, put the harmonica into a bag, and then handed it to Na Zhe.

"Childe, during the banquet in the evening, you better drink less bars, otherwise it will be uncomfortable for several days."

Na Zhe smiled and said, "Little raccoon slave, thank you for your concern, I will try to drink as little as possible." However, today's guests are the big names in the court, and I don't think I can retreat. Prepare the decanting soup, and if I am carried back, you will pour it down for me. So tomorrow morning, I'll feel a little better. ”

The tanuki slave nodded: "Childe, please rest assured, the slave family will be ready." ”

Na Zhe gently pinched the tanuki's nose and walked out of the house.

A steward of the Cao family was already waiting in the courtyard, and when he saw Na Zhe coming out, he greeted him and said, "Sir, the head of the family is already waiting at the gate." He told the villain to take you out, please come with me. ”

Na Zhe nodded: "I'm sorry for you, please lead the way." ”

The steward led the way in front diligently, and the two walked through several corridors and came to the gate of Cao's mansion.

There were three carriages parked outside the gate, and Cao Deshun was standing next to him, talking to two young men who looked like scholars.

Na Zhe walked over and said to Cao Deshun: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm late." Please don't be surprised, Brother Cao. ”

Cao Deshun turned around to see Na Zhe, and said with a smile: "Brother Xian, you don't have to be polite, I'll introduce you to two talents." ”

He pulled a young man of medium stature with clear eyebrows, "This is a classmate friend of the dog, named Zhang Hongsheng, the son of Mr. Zhang, a member of the household department." ”

Zhang Hongsheng made a forked hand salute, and then said: "I have admired your name for a long time, Xiaosheng is polite." ”

Na Zhe hurriedly replied: "Please don't be polite, you are Cao Yongxian's friend, I am very good with him, we are already friends, haha." ”

Zhang Hongsheng laughed and said: "A few months ago, I met Mr.'s brother Cui Daoshu Gongzi, he is gentle and elegant, and he is very similar to you. ”

The two chatted for a few words, and Zhang Hongsheng pulled a young man behind him and said to Na Zhe: "This is my friend and classmate Zhang Jinxi, who is also my brother of the same clan." ”

Cao Deshun added next to him: "That virtuous brother, this Zhang Jinxi's son and the dog are also friends, he and his brother went to Suzhou to study some time ago, so I missed going to you." Now that they have heard that you are coming, they have to ask you about the dog and a few of his classmates at your place. ”

Na Zhe look at this Zhang Jinxi son, he has a round figure, a chubby face, a fair complexion, and bright eyes.

Zhang Jinxi smiled before speaking: "Haha, that sir, Xiaosheng is polite." I heard that Cao Yongxian is living a very happy life with you, is it true? ”

Na Zhe nodded: "Yes, Cao Yongxian and his four friends don't want to go back to Jinling now." They wanted to build a academy in our place, and then they would gather some scholars from poor families to study and study. ”

Zhang Hongsheng asked, "May I ask the gentleman, where are they?" ”

Na Zhe replied: "We live on an island, which has a beautiful scenery and a pleasant climate, which is very suitable for living. So Cao Yongxian and they all said that it was like a fairyland on earth, and the five of them didn't want to come back. ”

Zhang Jinxi asked curiously: "Living on an island?" The conditions there won't be great, right? ”

Cao Deshun explained: "Virtuous nephew, you are wrong. Although it is an island, it is very bustling and lively. And there are many novel and interesting things, so Cao Yongxian and they don't want to come back. ”

Zhang Hongsheng was a little disapproving: "Uncle Cao, are you mistaken?" What can be new about a small island? ”

Cao Deshun shook his head: "Virtuous nephew, I have been there twice, and I will never be mistaken." Do you know where the perfumes, toilet waters, candles, soaps and other items that are now popular in Jinling City come from? ”

The two scholars shook their heads and said they didn't know, and Cao Deshun pointed at Na Zhe, "It's from them." ”

The two brothers were very surprised, they didn't believe it, but Cao Deshun has always been true to his word and will never lie.

Na Zhe smiled slightly: "If Gui Kunzhong doesn't believe it, won't he know if he goes on a trip?" Now Cao Yongxian and the others are living very freely, they read every day, play football, and sometimes go to the construction site of the academy to help, and their lives are very fulfilling. ”

Zhang Hongsheng said: "That gentleman, I would like to go and see, but the family probably won't agree." You are far away from home, and you are not very famous, and my grandfather and father will not let me go. ”

Cao Deshun smiled: "Haha, virtuous nephew, if you want to go, this matter will be wrapped up in a certain family." I'll find a way to convince your grandfather and father to agree with you two brothers. ”

Zhang Jinxi was a little unconvinced: "Uncle Cao, what good way do you have?" ”

Cao Deshun stroked his beard: "Two virtuous nephews, the academy was built by my Cao family, of course I have to go all out." I have sent people to make a big deal in Jinling City and the surrounding areas to recruit those who come from poor families. If anyone wants to go to the academy on the island to study knowledge, they will first give each person ten yuan for settling in. After arriving at the college, food, clothing, housing, and all school supplies are free of charge, and each person is given five yuan per month as pocket money. If they write books and speak there, we will be rewarded. ”

The two brothers glanced at each other, and they couldn't help but smack their tongues: "The Cao family is really generous!" They were so generous that it was estimated that they would attract a large number of scholars there. What else do we have to worry about, they even sent the heir of the family, it seems that the Cao family is going to do a big job on that island. ”

Na Zhe asked, "Brother Cao, how is the situation of recruiting scholars?" Are there many applicants? ”

Cao Deshun said with a smile: "Brother Xian, the registration offices set up by my Cao family in several shops are very crowded, and according to the guys in the shops, the scene is very hot. Just before I left the house, several shops sent me the list. I took a cursory look and there were already hundreds of people signing up. ”

Na Zhe was very surprised: "There are so many people! But the academy has not yet been built, and if hundreds of people go together, there will be no place to live! You can't let these scholars be crammed into shacks, right? ”

Cao Deshun said: "Brother Xian, my idea is to select fifty people to go to you first from the hundreds of people who have signed up. Then gradually increase the number of places, so that those scholars who are really poor and eager to learn can devote themselves to the study of knowledge. ”

Zhang Hongsheng interjected: "Uncle, you have to choose carefully!" You can't let those ruffians who want to spend some money get in! ”

"What the virtuous nephew said is right, my Cao family will carefully select scholars. My initial idea was to ask them to issue a letter of guarantee signed by their teachers, classmates, and neighbors, and then take a written test. After passing the written test, ask some students to interview them to avoid confusion. ”

Zhang Jinxi said excitedly: "Uncle, there is no loophole in this way, you really have a way!" ”

Na Zhe suggested: "Brother Cao, the exam is a good way to select talents, but you should pay attention to one thing, the exam is likely to select some nerds. Their strength is rote memorization, and they have absolutely no problem with the written exam. You have to do your best to do a good job during the interview. So as not to pick out a large number of nerds. ”

Cao Deshun nodded: "Brother Xian's reminder is very timely, I really didn't expect this." We really can't let those scholars who can only study hard enter the academy, that will only cultivate a group of bookworms, and it will also make the academy lifeless. ”

Zhang Jinxi said: "Uncle Cao, if you can say that your father will interview those scholars, our brother's going to the academy will be inseparable." ”

Cao Deshun said with a smile: "The virtuous nephew is reasonable, Ling Zun is full of poetry and books, if he can participate in the interview, it is definitely a good thing." I also want to invite Seo Hyun and Seo Kai brothers to participate, so that the examiners for the interview will be weighty enough, hahaha. ”

Na Zhe stomped his feet: "Brother Cao, can't we leave yet?" My feet were numb. ”

Cao Deshun patted his head: "I'm confused enough, we can't talk anymore, otherwise we will definitely be late." Two virtuous nephews, you hurry up and get on the bus, let's go. ”

Cao Deshun pulled Na Zhe into the car, and the Zhang brothers also got into the car.

The convoy moved slowly, with many guards and servants following around the carriage.

Na Zhe asked: "Brother Cao, what is the life and deeds of that Han Xizai, do you know?" ”

"Brother Xian, I know something, so I'll tell you about it. This Han Xizai, whose name is uncle, is a native of Beihai, Qingzhou. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, his great-grandfather Han Jun served as Taichangqing; grandfather Han Yin, served as the imperial history; His father, Han Guanghe, served as the secretary and young eunuch and the Pinglu Observation Envoy.

Han Xizai's home was under the rule of the Later Tang Dynasty at the time. After Tang Zhuangzong Tongguang four years, Yedu mutinied, Tang Zhuangzong fate general Li Siyuan led a large army to conquer, but Li Siyuan's army also mutinied, and Yedu rebelled with the army, supporting Li Siyuan as the main.

Li Siyuan is the emperor, that is, the Later Tang Mingzong. Tang Mingzong appointed Wang Gongyan as the assassin of Dengzhou, and separately appointed Huo Yanwei, the envoy of the Tianping Festival, as the envoy of the Pinglu Festival. Under the pretext of retaining the soldiers, the prince refused to go to Dengzhou to take office. Huo Yanwei led a large army into Tunzizhou, preparing to attack Qingzhou, but Wang Gongyan knew that he was invincible and fearful, so he reluctantly went to Dengzhou. In July of this year, Huo Yanwei entered Qingzhou and sent troops to chase Wang Gongyan and kill him. Other soldiers involved in the incident were also beheaded at the same time, including Han Hee-jae's father, Han Kwang-hee.

Han Xizai studied hard since he was a child, and later lived in seclusion in Zhongyue Songshan to study, about 20 years old when he traveled to Luoyang, and participated in the scientific examination, in one fell swoop. ”