The Qionglin Banquet is a banquet held for the new science and technology scholars, which originated in the Song Dynasty and was called the Enrong Banquet in the Ming Dynasty. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 infoOriginally, the emperor would give a banquet soon after entering the Shidenko, but unfortunately it was just in time for the death of the first emperor, so it was naturally postponed indefinitely. If it weren't for Zhang Sheng, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, it is estimated that Zheng De would never have remembered this matter.

The palace examination was held in March, and it is already the beginning of June, and most of the other jinshi have been released as officials, except for those who stayed in Beijing. However, those who can stay in Beijing are naturally the best among the Jinshi valued by the imperial court. However, Hu Lian was obviously not among them, he was awarded the right attendant of the Nanjing Criminal Department, although the official position seemed to be the highest among the people present, and it was amazing that he became a high-ranking official at the deputy ministerial level at a young age. However, compared with the three first-class jinshi who were surrounded by stars and moons not far away, he seemed a little out of place when he was alone. But fortunately, he is not alone, and there is a person who looks really sorry for the audience and was also excluded by everyone in the same year.

is also a fallen person at the end of the world, since they always have to greet each other, Hu Lian stepped forward and arched his hand, "Brother Tai, under Hu Lian, the word weight, may I ask who you are?" ”

Xu Zhenqing is also a frustrated person, he thought that he would be able to enter the Hanlin Academy with his talents, but he was defeated because of his ugly appearance, and this unexpected blow made him not come out of it now.

He was still in his sad world, unable to extricate himself, when he suddenly heard a greeting. raised his head and saw a person who was looking at him in the same year, and said with some embarrassment, "I'm sorry, Xu was thinking about things just now, and I didn't hear what my brother said, so I hope don't be surprised." ”

"It's okay, in Xia Hu Lian, the word weight, may I ask my brother's name?"

Xu Zhenqing arched his hand and said, "It turned out to be a heavy brother, under Xu Zhenqing, the word Changguo, you can call me Changguo." ”

It turns out that he is the unlucky guy who failed to be selected because of his appearance. This matter has spread throughout the officialdom of the entire Beijing Division, and Hu Lian has also heard about it, so fortunately, he looked at him, and he is really ugly!

"It turned out to be Brother Changguo, it seems that today's Qionglin banquet is the most frustrated for you and me." After Hu Lian finished speaking, he deliberately looked towards the group of jinshi.

Xu Zhenqing looked at it, and her eyes suddenly darkened, "Yes, maybe I shouldn't have come." ”

Hu Lian comforted, "Brother Changguo, why should he feel sorry for himself, the great poet Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty once said, 'I am born to be useful'." Even if you and I have not entered the Hanlin Academy, we may not be able to rise to the top in the future. ”

Xu Zhenqing glanced at Hu Lian gratefully, "What Brother Tai said is very true, Xu Mou ......" When he was about to say something, a voice like a male duck suddenly appeared.

"The emperor gave a banquet, and all the jinshi entered the palace to thank him."

Hearing this, all the Dengke Jinshi immediately stopped discussing and entered in turn. After everyone went in, Hu Lian said to Xu Zhenqing, "Brother Changguo, let's go in." ”

"Brother Xu, please." The two entered the temple side by side.

Those who attended the Qionglin banquet today. In addition to the first three people, there are more than a dozen proud scholars who were selected as the Jishi of the Hanlin Academy, and there are only two people, Hu Lian and Xu Zhenqing.

Zheng De didn't know what the Qionglin Banquet was going to do, seeing everyone seated, Zheng De got up and raised his glass, and said to everyone present, "Everyone here is the pillar of my Ming Dynasty, I hope you can make more contributions to the development and construction of my Ming Dynasty after being an official in the future, I salute you a cup, dry." After saying that, he drank it all.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The scholars were a little flattered when they heard this, and they all got up and drank their glasses.

"Since you are new science and technology scholars, in the future, the official side will naturally benefit my Ming people, I want to hear your evaluation of my Ming status quo, even if there are any inappropriate words, I will give you innocence at this Qionglin banquet. Of course, if you disagree with other people's statements, you can also refute them. "Although I haven't seen a pig run, I have eaten pork, but Zheng De, who said something about the scene, still knows it.

Hearing the emperor's words, all the scholars were eager to try. The purpose of their participation in the Qionglin banquet is naturally to be familiar with the emperor, how dare they not behave well when they have this opportunity. If it is appreciated by the emperor, it is natural that the career is a smooth and bright road, and it is not a problem to go straight up.

Next, the scholars were even more hollowed out what they had learned in their lives, and they cited and quoted scriptures to tell the current situation of the Ming Dynasty, and the voices of praise came and went. Of course, there are also people who pretend to make gestures and satirize the redundant officials and redundant members of today's court, all of whom are corpses and vegetarians, but almost no one said that the idea is just scratching the surface.

Zheng De sat on it with a smile on his face, and bowed his head slightly from time to time, as if he was very satisfied with someone's point of view, which made those scholars excited, and their voices were much higher and more hardworking. In fact, in the end, Zheng De couldn't hear anything, and just wanted to end this boring banquet quickly. Naturally, if those scholars who show off their literary talents know about this, they will definitely be stunned on the spot and at a loss.

But there is also a person who is incompatible with this scene, Xu Zhenqing has not been very enthusiastic about officialdom since he was hit because of his appearance. So it's just a guy hiding in a corner and drinking. Unlike Hu Lian, he also stepped forward to say a word or two.

"Why doesn't Brother Changguo go up to participate in the debate, if he can be appreciated by the emperor, his career will be bright and open in the future." Hu Lian, who had just returned to his seat, looked at Xu Zhenqing, who had been drinking sullenly, and said this kindly.

"Brother Heavy Weapon has a good intention, Xu Mou understands it, but unfortunately Xu Mou is ugly, why bother to come forward and stir up the emperor's Yaxing, it's better to stay here." Xu Zhenqing laughed at herself.

Hu Lian didn't know what to say when he heard this, after all, the two had just met, and he couldn't say anything more than anything else, so he could only sigh at the injustice of God. I'm also glad that my parents gave me a decent face.

In a harmonious scene of joy and happiness of the guests of honor, the Qionglin banquet, which lasted for more than an hour, finally came to an end. The scholars are still unsatisfied, and some people secretly wonder if they have left a deep impression on the emperor, and some people feel that their talents have not been shown and are quite annoyed......

Hu Lian didn't think about it so much, since the moment he was not selected as a Shuji Shi to enter the Hanlin Academy, his career will be extremely bumpy in the future. So even if you don't get the emperor's appreciation today, it's reasonable, so you won't be nervous.

"Brother Changguo, it is Hu's luck to participate in the Qionglin banquet with you today. After saying goodbye today, Hu will rush to Nanjing to take office, and I don't know when you and I will be able to meet again in the future. Outside the Huagai Palace, Hu Lian said to Xu Zhenqing that if he hadn't stayed in the Criminal Department for so long, he might have gone to the Nanjing Criminal Department to take up his post. But no matter how unwilling I am, I'm going to leave now.

Xu Zhenqing also bowed his hand, and said with emotion, "If there is no heavy brother to accompany me today, Xu is afraid that he will be full of ugliness." If there is a fate in the future, you and I should meet each other. ”

"Is this Lord Hu Lian? The emperor has a decree to announce that you will see you. Hu Lian, who was about to speak, was interrupted by a small eunuch who suddenly appeared.

Hearing that the emperor wanted to see him, Hu Lian looked surprised. His performance in the Qionglin Banquet didn't seem to be very prominent, and the emperor didn't say anything to himself, why did he suddenly want to see himself?

Although many thoughts crossed my mind, it was only a matter of moments. After all, it was the emperor's call, so he couldn't be lazy, so he hurriedly said to Xu Zhenqing, "Brother Changguo, take care." So he followed the little eunuch and left.

"Take care."

Xu Zhenqing looked at Hu Lian's departing back and found that there was no one who was sympathetic to the same disease. couldn't help but sigh lightly, "It seems that only I am the most frustrated person in the Qionglin Banquet." ”

After saying that, he couldn't help but shake his head and left with a lonely expression.

……

"Your Majesty, Hu Lian is here."

"Let him in." Zheng De rubbed his somewhat stiff face, "Sure enough, these banquets are not people's at all, and it's really not easy to keep smiling all the time." ”

"Sit." Seeing Hu Lian coming in, Zheng De pointed to the chair in front of his imperial case, which stunned Hu Lian, who was about to bow down. I suddenly remembered that the emperor had issued an order quite individually after ascending the throne: If you are willing to be a dog, you can bow down and bow to me!

Thinking of Hu Lian, he couldn't help but secretly rejoice that he was lucky not to kneel, otherwise it would be no different from a dog. But he still bowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your seat." ”

Looking at the young official in his thirties, he really couldn't see a trace of military breath. However, the Ming Dynasty used civil servants to hold military generals hostage, so many civilian officials led troops to the battle, so there is really nothing to be curious about this.

"Among all the Jinshi who have entered the department this year, I am the most optimistic."

Hu Lian, who had just sat down, was taken aback by the emperor's words, and quickly got up and said, "The emperor has praised it falsely, and the ministers are not only among the top two in terms of knowledge, how can they be called 'the best'." ”

Zheng De waved his hand and said domineeringly, "I said you are, you are." ”

Hu Lian opened his mouth, but he really didn't know what to say, but there was also a hint of joy in his heart. To be honest, it is indeed a good thing to be able to get the praise of the emperor. I only heard the emperor continue, "I said that you can do it, and if you can't do it, you have to do it, so I said that you are the best, and if you are not the best, you have to give me the best effort." ”

Hearing Zheng De's words, Hu Lian was completely shocked, and the more he chewed, the more he felt that the emperor's words were quite meaningful.

"Do you understand what I say?"

"The emperor is wise, and the ministers are ashamed." Hu Lian looked at the young man in front of him, who was only a teenager, as if he was facing a wise man who had gone through the vicissitudes of the world, which made him feel ashamed, and at the same time gave birth to a trace of admiration.

Looking at Hu Lian's ashamed gaze, Zheng De was a little embarrassed. In the end, he is just borrowing from the wisdom of his predecessors. He coughed and changed the topic directly, "I came to you today to ask you, what do you think of my Ming army?" ”