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The war in Liaodong was tragic, the soldiers were bloody, and the people of Liao were devastated, but there were many rumors in Beijing, and the people of the Ming Dynasty, who were enthusiastic about the same enemy, could not wait for the great victory they expected to smash the enemy's nest, and the feelings of fear, loss, and resentment can be imagined. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 info Not only are ordinary people complaining, but officials are also attacking and accusing each other to make up for hindsight, but for hundreds of thousands of people in the Ming Dynasty, the war in Liaodong is like an east wind shooting horses, and they are most concerned about their future, because the forty-sixth year of Wanli is also the year of Jinfeng Guizi, and the triennial township test is here again.

In April, when the war in eastern Liaodong was still raging, the Ministry of Rites of the two Beijings, together with the Hanlin Academy and the Zhan Shifu, began to draft the candidates for the chief examiners of the township examination in the three provinces of the two capitals, and at the beginning of May, the fifteen candidates for the chief examiners were determined.

According to the usual practice, only the major scientific examination provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Fujian will select the Hanlin Academy to revise and edit to be the president examiner, for example, three years ago, the chief examiner of the Zhejiang Township Examination of Yimao Branch was Qian Qianyi, the editor of the Hanlin Academy, who was born in Tanhua, and the township examination in some remote provinces will basically not send Hanlin to preside, as for Zhang Yuan, a young and powerful Zhan Shifu Qing Gui Lin official If he is an examiner, he is generally in Shuntianfu or Yingtianfu, and now, Zhang Yuan has been sent to distant Lingnan, which is obviously derogatory- Not only did the friends of the Han Society hold grievances for Zhang Yuan, but the Beijing sergeant also talked about it, saying that Fang Ge Lao was jealous that he could drive Zhang Yuan out of the capital, saying that Zhang Yuan opposed the four-way march plan formulated by Fang Ge Lao, Zhang Yuan said that it was extremely dangerous to divide the troops and join forces, and it turned out that Zhang Yuan was like a god, and Fang Ge Lao lost face, and because Zhang Yuan beat Fang Ge Lao's son, Fang Ge Lao was determined to take revenge and sent Zhang Yuan to such a far away place to be an examiner - Fang Congzhe also heard about these rumors, and he was really annoyed, he really wanted to demote Zhang Yuan out of Beijing, But this time he went to Guangdong to preside over the township test, obviously Zhang Yuan himself requested, he naturally instructed the Ministry of Rites to push the boat down the river, maybe Zhang Yuan is a stagecoach Xingdong likes to travel, last year he went to North Korea, and this year he will go south to Guangdong, but the rumors in Beijing say that he is jealous of his wisdom and jealousy, and deliberately excludes Zhang Yuan, which is really unreasonable, unreasonable!

…… The ninth day of August is the date of the township examination, and Yanjing City is more than 7,000 miles away from the land and water of Guangzhou, Zhang Yuan received the appointment is the eighth day of the first month of May, visiting and resigning, drinking and feasting, packing up, in the blink of an eye is May 17, although there is a Grand Canal directly to Hangzhou, but it is also very urgent to travel 7,000 miles in 80 days, and then do not set off to catch up with the period of the autumn in Guangdong, and can not be delayed any longer - on the 18th of May, two white-canoped boats by the Chaoyangmen wharf are waiting to set sail, both are Zhang Yuan's boats, he wants to take his wife and son to return to the south, It's really like being demoted out of Beijing for three years and not coming back - Shang Ran left Shaoxing and came to Beijing for almost two years, and he misses Shanyin's father-in-law and Huiji's brother and sister-in-law very much, so she went back to Jiangnan with Zhang Yuan this time, and she was pregnant again, so she just went back to Shanyin to give birth; Of course, Mu Zhenzhen and Xiao Mingqian have to go back, Zhang Ruiyang and his wife haven't seen this little good grandson yet; Wang Wei stayed in Beijing to take care of the bookstore and shops, and Wuling and Yunjin also stayed in Beijing to assist Wang Wei, Wuling sighed, he really wanted to follow the young master and grandmother back to Shanyin - Zhang Dai and the friends of the Han Society came to Zhang Yuan's trip, and first set up a bamboo tent under the big pine tree on the shore, and then the friends drank and wrote poems in the bamboo tent to complain about their feelings, Ni Yuanlu suddenly sneered: "Is Ruan Jizhi sick again?" ”

Since returning from an envoy to North Korea last year, Ruan Dacheng has rarely participated in the elegant gatherings of the Han Society, often refusing to come because of illness.

Wen Zhenmeng was jealous and hateful, and said: "He is as healthy as an ox, how can he have any symptoms, since he has paid and sung with Yao Zongwen and Zhou Yongchun, and wants to cling to the powerful, my Han Society will simply remove him." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "By him, by him." ”

While speaking, Qian Longxi, Sun Chengzong, Qi Chengjiao, and Yang Lian also came to see off Zhang Yuan.

Qian Longxi said: "Yesterday, the East Palace issued a decree and ordered His Royal Highness the Acting Crown Prince of the Mansion to see off Zhang Zanshan. As he spoke, he asked the servant to carry the gifts from the East Palace to Zhang Yuan's boat.

Zhang Yuan hurriedly thanked the west.

Everyone in the Han Society is happy, the East Palace is very important to Zhang Yuan, Qian Longxi is the official of the Zhan Mansion, and he is not an idler.

At this time, Wu Ling suddenly walked quickly to Zhang Yuan's side and said in a low voice: "Young Master, Little Gao Gonggong said that Gonggong Zhong wanted to see the young master in Dongyue Temple and see off the young master." ”

Zhang Yuan raised his eyebrows, nodded, and said, "Please wait a while." He thought, "The eldest grandson of the emperor may also come." ”

Qian Longxi and Zhang Yuan said a few words, and then went back to Zhan Shifu to report to the crown prince Zhu Changluo, Sun Chengzong, Qi Chengjiao, Yang Lian, and Hong Chengchou also returned to their respective yamen, only Wen Zhenmeng and Zhang Dai from the Hanlin Academy wanted to watch Zhang Yuan sail away.

The eldest brother and his friends were too enthusiastic, so Zhang Yuan had to say truthfully: "Eunuch Zhong of the East Palace wants to say a few words to me in Dongyue Temple——"

Zhang Dai smiled: "You go, you go, we are waiting for you here." ”

Zhao Mengfu's stele carved Zhang Yuan in front of the main hall of the potential Dongyue Temple, saw Zhang Yuan and an old man with a face coming over, so he hurriedly greeted him, first looked at the old man a few times, and heard Zhang Yuan say that this is Wang Zongyue Master Wang, Gao Qiqian called "Master Wang", and lowered his voice to Zhang Yuan: "Mr. Zhang, my brother is also here, waiting for Mr. Zhang in the palace of the emperor and concubine in the apse." ”

Because last year, the emperor's eldest grandson was in distress in Dongyue Temple, so this time the vigilance was obviously strengthened, and the factory guards and patrol houses were all over the Dongyue Temple and beyond, which must have been arranged by Eunuch Zhong, who is now in power.

Walking to the apse, a big man flashed on the side of the corridor and sang to Zhang Yuan, but it was Keguang first, there was a striking scar on his right cheek, Zhang Yuan sent others to ask and answer with Keguang first, only to know that Keguang first participated in the battle of Salhu and was slightly injured, Mu Jingyan was more seriously injured, and was hit by two arrows, fortunately it was not fatal - Zhang Yuan exclaimed: "Uncle Mu sent someone to report the news yesterday, only said that he was promoted to the head of Qian, and did not mention the injury." ”

Keguang said first: "That must be cured." ”

Keguang is not good at words, he won't take the initiative to say anything, Zhang Yuan asked him to answer, his expression was extremely respectful, Zhang Yuan's accurate prediction of the battle situation in Liaodong convinced him - Zhang Yuan suddenly remembered something and asked: "I once read the battle report and learned that the Eastern Route Army wounded Hong Taiji, the son of Nurhachi, I don't know if it's true?" ”

Keguang said first: "Hong Taiji was injured by a firearm, injured in the front door, and was blind in one eye. ”

Zhang Yuan smiled: "Great, wonderful." ”

Hong Taiji is Huang Taiji, although Huang Taiji is not dead, but blind in one eye, since then his appearance is untidy, it is difficult to take over the power of Nurhachi in the future, Daishan, Amin, Mang Gurtai These people will not obey him, Nurhachi relies on his son and son-in-law to lead the Eight Banners Army to conquer the world, once he dies, these sons-in-law will fight for power will be tragic - Wei Zhongxian walked out of the apse, saw Zhang Yuan talking to Keguang first, and hurriedly said: "Mr. Zhang, brother has been waiting for Mr. Zhang for a long time." ”

Keguang retreated to the side first, Zhang Yuan followed Wei Zhongxian into the apse, the idlers in the apse were exempted, and even the Taoist priests were cleared out, Zhang Yuan entered the palace of the imperial concubine, and saw the eunuch Zhong and the two officials of the Wei Dynasty standing on the side, and the emperor's eldest grandson, Zhu Youxiao, was throwing money and playing, and when he got closer, he saw Ke Yinyue kneeling in front of the statue of the imperial concubine praying silently, with her buttocks against her heels, her upper body slightly arched, her waist and back stretched, and the gourd-like body shape wrapped in the palace skirt was thought-provoking, but Eunuch Zhong didn't look at it much, and obviously didn't feel anything-"Mr. Zhang, Guangdong is close to the South China Sea, and it is extremely far away, I really envy Mr. Zhang, you can go to the South China Sea to see the big whales. ”

Zhu Youxiao, who is fourteen years old, has not grown much taller than in the previous two years, and he is still thin, but his complexion is good, and the young man is unwilling to be restrained, and he is really envious of Mr. Zhang's departure.

Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "This is not to go to Lingnan to enjoy the mountains and rivers, but to select talents for the country." ”

Wei Zhongxian said: "Mr. Zhang, Lingnan is a barbaric place, why did Mr. Zhang go to that place!" Wei Zhongxian seemed to be very considerate of Zhang Yuan, perhaps sincerely, because the crown prince and the eldest grandson of the emperor saluted Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "Before the Tang and Song dynasties, Lingnan was a land of barbarian miasma, but since the founding of the Ming Dynasty two hundred years ago, Guangzhou has been a gathering of thousands of merchants, rich and luxurious in Suzhou and Hangzhou, and there are many Western people, rare treasures, strange customs and strange feelings, all of which have never been seen before. ”

Zhu Youxiao, the eldest grandson of the emperor, heard Zhang Yuan say this, and he was very yearning.

When Zhang Yuan and Zhu Youxiao were talking, Ke Yinyue stood on the side and watched with a smile, and when Zhang Yuan was about to leave, she took out a lacquer plate, on which were more than a dozen manna cakes, Zhu Youxiao said: "Mr. Zhang, this is a manna cake made by Mama herself, give it to Mr. Zhang to taste." ”

Zhang Yuan's heart moved, the absurd scene in Wenhua Hall on that rainy day last year came to his heart, his face was impassive, and he said: "Thank you Mama Ke, Mama Ke cherishes - Your Highness cherishes, studies hard, and cherishes your body." ”

…… The two white canopy boats left the Chaoyangmen Wharf one after the other, the Grand Canal in May was full of water, Zhang Yuan sat under the canopy window, and threw the dozen or so manna cakes into the water, Xiaohong gradually saw it, and came over and asked, "What is Daddy doing?" ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Feed the fish." ”

Xiao Hong gradually said: "Zhang Hongjian also wants to feed." ”

Xiao Hongjian said that he didn't say "I", he was talking about "Zhang Hongji".

Shang Jinghui came over from the adjacent cabin and said crisply: "Zhang Hongchuan, don't climb the window of the ship." ”

Twelve-year-old Shang Jinghui was already slim, his eyebrows were four or five points similar to Shang Ranran, a little thinner, he walked over and took Xiao Hongji's hand, stood beside Zhang Yuan and looked at the bubbling canal water outside the window of the boat, looked at Zhang Yuan from time to time, and said, "Uncle, are you very happy." ”

Zhang Yuan nodded and smiled: "Yes, I am in a good mood." ”

Shang Jinghui asked: "Is it because you want to go back to Jiangnan?" ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Yes, I miss my parents, I miss the small bridge in my hometown, and the flowers and trees of White Horse Mountain are thriving?" ”

Shang Jinghui pursed his lips and chuckled, and said: "I think my uncle is very reclusive and not very keen on his career, so why does my uncle have to go all the way to Beijing to take the exam, and stay in Shaoxing all the time?" ”

Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "First you have to make a name for yourself and then go into hiding, otherwise you will not be reconciled." ”

Shang Jinghui smiled and said: "Uncle can't go into hiding now, and I can't stay in Shaoxing this time - uncle, take me to Guangzhou, I want to take a sea boat from Guangzhou to Fujian to visit my father and sister." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "This is not good, the schedule is very tight, I have to go to Guangzhou at the same time, otherwise I won't be able to catch up." ”

Shang Jinghui said: "I'll be my uncle's secretary—"

Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "I have decided to hire Zong Yishan as a guest, you and I can't afford to hire it." ”

Shang Jinghui pouted and didn't say anything more.

…… Zhang Yuan and his entourage of two boats set sail from Yanjing on May 18, there was almost no delay along the way, there was a water post on the Grand Canal every six or seventy miles, there were also a few water stations on the waterway for a hundred miles, Zhang Yuan was in a hurry, often one line two water stations, arrived in Hangzhou was June 12, only stayed in Hangzhou for half a day, visited the director of the three divisions of Zhejiang Province, and rested in the garden by the West Lake that night, this exquisite villa was Zhang Yuan came to the garden with ten taels of silver per year, and the period of the ceremony was seventy years - Shang Ranran, Shang Jing Huiyue Downstream Park, Listening to Zhang Yuan's story about the process of pawning this garden from the hands of Wang Ruqian, a Hui businessman, this matter has now become a joke in Hangzhou.

On the evening of June 14, Zhang Yuan's boat arrived at Xixing Wharf, the well-known gentry of Shanyin and Huiji had already heard the news, and waited to greet them under the leadership of Xu Shijin, the prefect of Shaoxing. The goatee trembled, and he said, "Hongjian was less than half a year old when he left Sanyin, and now he has grown up like this—Ming Qian is not afraid of life. Said to Zhang Yuan: "Your mother is looking forward to it at home, I will take Hongjian and Mingqian home first, and your mother will know how happy she is when she sees these two grandchildren!" ”

The two brothers Luchun and Xujie, who have been staying at their grandfather's house for the past few years, squeezed in front of Hongjian and Mingqian at this time and said loudly: "Go home, go home, my grandmother is in a hurry." Grab Hongjian and Ming Qian's hands and leave.

…… Zhang Yuan stayed in Shanyin for three days, the visitors almost stepped on the threshold, many of them were from Shangyu, Yuyao, and even from Qingpu, Huating came all the way to the members of the Han Society, they learned that Zhang Yuan would preside over the Guangdong Township Test, expected that Zhang Yuan was going back to Shanyin by the way, so they came early to wait, what made them impressed was that many of them and Zhang Yuan had only met once at the Longshan Yaji three years ago, this goodbye, Zhang Yuan remembered their names, words and aliases one by one, the four sides of the entertainment, the spring breeze on all sides, no arrogance, It makes people feel like old friends for many years.

On the night of June 17th, the guests and friends dispersed, the old house of Dongzhang restored the tranquility of the past, Zhang Yuan bathed and sat in the patio with his father to enjoy the coolness, a bright moon moved to the sky above the patio, the clear light was sprinkled, the patio corridor was clearly visible, the sound of children frolicking on the wooden building could be heard, the nine-year-old Lu Jie was teaching the three-year-old Hong gradually and the two-year-old Ming Qian to read the "Three Character Classic", Hong gradually and Ming Qian were young after all, Ming Qian, who had just passed the age of one, could not even speak clearly, the little brothers read a few sentences and refused to read, and the two were good teachers. Determined to teach these two little cousins, Hong gradually couldn't be forced, and shouted sharply: "My father is the champion, no one can read my father, my father - my father reads 500 books a day." "Five hundred, in Xiao Hong's opinion, is already an extreme number.

Upstairs, Zhang's mother Lu Shi and Shang Ran laughed together, and Zhang Ruiyang on the side of the patio also twisted his beard and smiled, and said to Zhang Yuan: "Hong gradually and Ming Qian will stay at home, and in two years, please Yishan enlighten them, Yishan is extraordinary." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "My son is going to Guangdong, and I am asking Brother Yishan to handle the official documents of the case for his friends. ”

Zhang Ruiyang nodded and said: "Okay, very good, it's great to have wings to help you, you don't have to worry about their studies, I will find a famous teacher for them to teach." ”

There is a big vat in the corner of the patio, there is a five-foot-high jasmine in the jar, the summer is the season of jasmine blooming, the jasmine under the moon is like jade and snow, and the fragrance of flowers is rippling in the moonlight - Zhang Yuan sat on the bamboo chair and listened to the old father, smelling the fragrance of the flowers, the scene was like a dream, and listened to the old father say: "You are going to leave for Lingnan tomorrow, and you haven't visited Mr. An's house yet, although Mr. An'an is in Yuanzhou, but his wife is still in Huiji, you always have to go to see your wife." ”

Zhang Yuan replied: "My son plans to go to see him early tomorrow morning, and then set off." ”

Zhang Ruiyang nodded, and suddenly said: "That second Miss Wang is still unmarried - okay, I am sleepy for my father, you should rest early, it is a long way to Guangdong, it is really hard, so sleep peacefully." ”

Zhang Yuan agreed, watched his father go upstairs, and sat alone by the patio for a long time, and before he knew it, the moonlight moved away, the courtyard was dark, and the jasmine flowers silently revealed their fragrance——...... Zhang Yuan didn't know when he fell asleep, and when he woke up, it was already dawn, because he drank a few more cups last night, his head hurt a little, and he lay on the bed and told Wu Ling outside to quickly let the kitchen prepare water, and he wanted to take a bath - Wu Ling muttered: "Didn't the young master take a bath last night, why do you want to wash it again?" ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Don't be wordy, hurry up." ”

Get up and take a bath, have breakfast, the big stone came to report that someone came to pick up the young master, Zhang Yuan went out to see, a carriage stopped outside the bamboo fence gate, the two healthy servants with the car were a little familiar, I can't remember where I saw it for a while, and there was a person who looked like a steward with a smile on his face and said with a forked hand: "Zhang Gongzi, my lord ordered the villain to pick up Zhang Gongzi to go to Xinghua Temple to enjoy the flowers." ”

Zhang Yuanxin said: "Flower appreciation, is it the season for apricot blossoms to bloom?" ”

The steward was very enthusiastic: "Mr. Zhang, please get in the car, my lord will wait for Mr. Zhang to go." ”

It was difficult to resist the enthusiasm, Zhang Yuan got into the carriage, and the coachman drove the carriage through the Fuxue Palace, but saw a doorman catching up from behind, panting and saying: "Young Master Zhang, the county lord is invited." ”

The steward said to the manzi: "My lord invited Zhang Gongzi to enjoy the flowers. ”

Menzi glared and said: "The county lord has something important to discuss with Young Master Zhang, and the matter of the county lord has been delayed, who can afford to bear the responsibility - Young Master Zhang, please hurry up, the county lord is waiting in the house." ”

Zhang Yuan got out of the carriage, confessed to the steward, and went to Shanyin County with the man.

The spring breeze is swaying, and the apricot blossoms are like snow.

End of book