In a firewood house near the city gate, Ning Jiang met Bai Zijin and his grandmother.

Bai Zijin said in a low voice: "I disappointed Brother Ning." ”

Ning Jiang shook his head and said, "This is a crime of non-war, no wonder Zijin." ”

Xiao Meng comforted beside him: "Bai Gongzi don't be discouraged, come back in three years, and you will definitely be able to pass the exam by then." ”

Ning Jiang looked at the city wall in the distance and sighed: "Three years later...... Three years later, I am afraid that there will be no imperial examination. ”

Bai Zijin looked at Ning Jiang in astonishment: "Brother Ning means ......"

Ning Jiang said: "This matter, it is a little difficult to explain to Zijin, I just want Zijin to know that there are thousands of avenues in the world, and there is not only one way to take the imperial examination, rather than following the stream, it is better to follow your own path." In today's world, all paths are blocked by a great road called the imperial examination, but when this avenue collapses, everyone will be in a desperate situation, and only those who can find their own way can come out of the darkness and become a shining star in the coming darkness. ”

Inside the house, Old Madam Feng listened to Ning Jiang's words and let out a long sigh.

That evening, although the showers had stopped for several days, the weather had become cooler.

Bai Zijin brought hot water from the farmer's house, who temporarily rented the firewood house to them, and washed his grandmother's feet.

Old Madam Feng looked at him and sighed again. Baizi Jin said: "Grandma don't worry, Mencius has a cloud: the heavens will descend on the Si people, and they must first work hard and work their muscles and bones." Although Sun Er was frustrated this time, he will never be discouraged, as Brother Ning said, there is more than one way in the world. ”

Old Madam Feng said: "That's it! That's it! Our hundred schools, after all, do not have the life of the imperial examination. Fumbling around, he took out scissors, cut the corners of the small jacket he wore on his body, took out a book with a cowhide as the cover, and handed it to Bai Zijin: "Grandson! ”

Bai Zijin looked at the book in a daze: "Grandma, this is ......"

Old Madam Feng said: "This is the "Yin Fu Art of War" handed down by hundreds of families, it is said to be written by Jiang Taigong, of course it is or not, in fact, it cannot be examined. Back then, your grandfather found this book of war, studied it every day, and only then did he repeatedly establish military exploits and be awarded the national pillar. Your father also relied on this book to defend against the barbarians in the north, and step by step he became the captain of the light car! ”

Baizi Jin was surprised: "In that case, why is grandma only taking it out now?" ”

Old Madam Feng sighed: "Success is also because of this book, and defeat is also because of this book." This book has passed through heaven and earth, hiding all kinds of life and death opportunities, your grandfather, your father since getting this book, has been addicted to it, unable to extricate himself, no longer has any interest in the Four Books and Five Classics, your grandfather has finally been admitted to Xiucai, your father is addicted to the art of war, and even failed to pass the government test. However, today, after all, it is still the world of Confucianism, this book is the culmination of the soldiers, the strategy of the Taigong, even if you learn it to the extreme, I am afraid that you can only be like your grandfather and father, even if you have repeatedly built military exploits, after all, you have not been able to have a good end. I originally hoped that if you could take the road of the imperial examination, it would be better, this "Yin Fu Art of War" is a treasure book of troubled times, in this prosperous era of Confucianism, it is useless, but ...... Alas. ”

The Art of War? Bai Zijin took the book of war on the cover of cowhide, only to feel as if there was an electric light running between the book and his fingertips, and the blood in his body seemed to be boiling.

After his grandmother fell asleep, Bai Zijin lit a candle and looked at the "Yin Fu Art of War", and soon, he fell into it deeply, and what he recorded in the book actually included Dunjia, Qimen, battle formations and other various military knowledge that he had never seen before.

He finally understood why his grandfather was just a showman, and his father was not even a showman, but on the battlefield, he was also an enemy. Indeed, in the Confucian world, this "Yin Fu" is completely useless, but it is undoubtedly a bright pearl in Chinese history.

Suddenly, he looked up at the window, turned around and took a stack of Shu notes from the bookshelf, polished the ink, and copied it word by word to the Shu note by candlelight.

……

***

On the morning of the second day, Bai Zijin carried his grandmother on his back and came to the ferry and carried his grandmother onto the boat bound for Gu Chu County.

After settling in, he turned his head and saw the Ning Jiang brothers and sisters riding horses, galloping towards this side. Obviously at the critical juncture of the important government test, and he was hopeless this time, Ning Jiang still took the time to send him off, Bai Zijin was grateful, in the world, the most difficult thing was not the icing on the cake, but the charcoal in the snow.

Ning Jiang got off the horse, handed the reins to his sister, came to Bai Zijin, and said, "Zijin, why don't you wait a few more days, and we will send the old lady home with you?" ”

Baizi Jin said: "With Brother Ningjiang's learning, he will definitely be able to be promoted, and then he will be busy with next year's spring, and the younger brother has a lot of help from his brother, and he will never let Brother Ning bother again." ”

Ning Jiang said: "Zijin doesn't need to see the outside like this, you and my brother have a ......"

"Because of this, the younger brother must not drag down Brother Ning anymore," Baizi Jin snapped and bent over, "I also ask my brother to promise that he will enter the Dingjia in the spring next year." ”

Ning Jiang looked at him seriously: "I not only want to enter the Ding Jia, but I also want to be the champion!" ”

The top three in the palace test are called "Ding Jia", and the hundred sons hope that Ning Jiang can enter the Ding Jia, which is already a very high requirement, but Ning Jiang is directly pointing to the head of the Ding Jia, which can already be said to be rampant. Bai Zijin was not surprised when he heard this, but smiled and said: "It is worthy of Brother Ning Jiang!" ”

took out a cloth bag from his arms and held it with both hands: "This thing is a gift to congratulate Brother Ningjiang on the title of the gold list, and I also ask Brother Ningjiang to accept it." ”

Ning Jiang took it suspiciously: "This is ......"

Baizi Jin said: "Please also ask Brother Ning Jiang to promise the younger brother, after the title of the gold list, open it again." ”

Ning Jiang saw that he said solemnly, so he didn't ask again, and said, "I know!" He solemnly put away the cloth bag and said: "Longyou Shoal finally enters the sea, I also believe that Zijin is definitely not a thing in the pool, and sooner or later he will be able to make a splash." ”

Bai Zijin arched his hand and bowed deeply: "With the words of the elder brother, if the younger brother can't get ahead in the future, he will be ashamed of his brother, and the brother can rest assured, Zijin is definitely not a person who gives up on himself." Brother Yongquan's kindness, Zijin can not repay, only to walk out of his own way in the thousands of avenues, to live up to his brother's expectations. ”

Ning Jiang returned the salute: "Zi Jin's words are heavy!" Since you call me a brother, and you have fellowship with righteousness, what kind of grace do you talk about? Zijin is going, have a good journey, if you have any difficulties, just come to me. ”

Bai Zijin said: "Thank you, brother, Zijin knows!" ”

While speaking, a group of people on the other side walked over, and the one who walked in front was Zheng An, the doctor of Jin Ziguanglu, and behind him, he was followed by his daughter Zheng Xiuxiu, who reluctantly followed.

Coming to Bai Zijin, Zheng An smiled and said, "Why is the virtuous nephew leaving?" It's not a big deal if you don't get lifted, so stay in my house for a few more days......"

Bai Zijin didn't say anything, just arched his hand and said, "These days, I've bothered adults!" ”

Zheng An said: "The virtuous nephew is serious, you and I are two families, and they are also world friends." He waved his hand again and asked a servant to bring the silver taels: "These silver taels, the virtuous nephew might as well accept them and treat them as entanglements on the road." ”

Bai Zijin had already received funding from Ningjiang last night, and he didn't want to have anything to do with the Zheng family anymore, so he refused to accept it. Zheng Anqiang pushed for a while, and when he saw that Bai Zijin insisted on not accepting it, he didn't force it anymore, and said a few words of cherishment.

At this time, the ship was about to leave, and the hundred sons of Jin Dynasty Ning Jiang and Ning Xiaomeng said goodbye, and did not pay attention to the people of the Zheng family, turned around and got on the boat.

The boatman untied the rope tied to the ferry, and propped the boat away. Ning Jiang stood at the ferry, watching the two ancestors and grandchildren of the hundred families go away.

Zheng An also looked at the passenger ship going downstream, brushing his short beard and smiling, although the Zheng family and the hundred families have dissolved their marriage, he always has to do it, so as not to go to Beijing as an official this time, and someone will grasp this matter to speak. At this time, he already knew the reason why Bai Zijin appeared early yesterday, and it can be seen that Lian Tian felt that Bai Zijin was not worthy of his Zheng family's daughter, so it was okay, so that he could start planning to marry his daughter into the palace of Hexiang County or the son of the same family, and further strengthen his capital in the court.

Alas, it really shouldn't have been this family affair from the beginning.

Beside him, Ning Jiang said lightly: "Father Xuan can still be afraid of the next generation, and the doctor is not young!" There is a way not to bully young people into poverty, today the doctor feels that he has been cheap, and he will not regret it in the future! ”

Turned around and took the sister who led the horse, and strolled away......

***

After a series of showers, this year's cold snap came early.

Although the weather is cold, there are more and more flower boats on the Xiechuan River, and the atmosphere of Tongzhou City has become more and more tense.

On the fifth day of September, there are students because of the name of the ancestors and the examination questions, like a small wave, occasionally mentioned, and then soon no one asked, the seventh day of September poetry examination for many students, is the most nervous day, after all, poetry is far more important than the scriptures to pay more attention to the play, hard reading for twenty or thirty years, but in the poetry on the spot play is not good, there is everything.

This was followed by the questions and theories of the ninth year of the first month.

The so-called policy theory is equivalent to an argumentative essay in another world, which requires a discussion of one thing, but it may involve a wide range of things, from how to pacify the barbarians, to the people's livelihood, laws, etc., various types of topics may appear, and they are often outside the Four Books and Five Classics.

That day, after noon, Ning Jiang walked out of the examination room, raised his head, and saw his sister waving at him in the restaurant opposite.

The daylight that flowed at noon shone on the pretty face of my sister leaning out of the window, young and delicate, and attracted people on the road to look up at her.

Ning Jiang walked into the restaurant, and his sister greeted him: "Brother, why did you come out so quickly?" ”

Ning Jiang smiled: "This time the question is relatively simple. ”

In the restaurant, some of Xiucai's relatives were also waiting here, and when they heard Ning Jiang's answer, they were all glad that it was relatively simple, that's good, that's good.

Ning Jiang ate in this restaurant, and after their brother and sister left, another hour passed before other students walked out one after another. Someone asked them if the questions in today's exam were really simple, and then they looked at the questioner with a depressed face.

That night, all the taverns and green buildings in Tongzhou became lively.

The students who have been nervous for many days, taking advantage of the fact that they have not yet released the list, let themselves relax completely, there are laughter and laughter everywhere, on the Xiechuan River, the lanterns are colorful, and on the Luopei Lake, there are also several gorgeous flower boats, the warblers sing and swallow dances, the flowers are red and green, the cups are changed, and the chips are staggered, one by one, although two days later, some people are on the rise, and some people are still struggling in the mud, but it does not prevent them from temporarily forgetting all their troubles at this moment.

That evening, Xiaomeng also asked the hired mother-in-law to help them prepare a table of good wine and food, and after they were full of wine and food, the brother and sister took their boats and played in Luopei Lake.

On the second day, it began to rain lightly again, and once the autumn rain started, it was endless, and even Tongzhou City, which was lively last night, seemed to have become much more depressed.

The flower boats, wandering in the rain, occasionally singing, the sound of the piano came, the distant Kongshan, the bright red mountain maple leaves, covered with a misty light veil, but more intoxicating.

Ning Jiang, who had nothing to do all day, took his sister and walked around the street for a day, seeing that the weather was getting cold, and the winter jackets, cotton pants, etc. were also about to start to prepare, and the younger sister was developing again, and the chest pocket and heart clothes were slowly starting to be too small, and the eldest brother was like a father, and Ning Jiang could only ask a little.

Finally, it's time to release the list.

The release of the state exam is different from the government exam, in the government exam, because it is necessary to invite the three strategies of heaven and man to open up the Wenqu Yin Mansion, all the children have to gather in one place and wait for the three adults to read out their names. During the state examination, all the showmen only need to stay in their residences and wait for the good news to come and ask for rewards.

Despite this, Xiaomeng, who was anxious to know the news, was still early in the morning, and he had to take his brother to the front of the government office to wait for the release of the list......

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