The wind of this era has a vital role and influence on a single person, and even the entire family.

Without the imperial examination, only by virtue of the recommendation and evaluation of the big and small zhongzheng can you embark on a career and get ahead. Too single channel makes personal reviews very important in this society.

Poor reputation, lack of virtue, and lack of character basically determine that this person has no chance to pursue a career.

The sons and daughters of the gate valve family and the royal family also pay attention to their own reputation, but they don't have to worry about their own morality and character.

Because no matter what their character and virtue are, they can rely on the almost monopolistic influence of the gate valve family behind them on the official career to find a good future.

However, if the reputation and reputation are damaged, and if they cannot be saved in time, then it is very likely that the entire noble clan will be affected because of the seriousness of the situation.

Lu Xidao watched Splash Li San's finger being broken by Xu Changting, which would damage his reputation for him, but this matter was not enough to involve the reputation of the family behind him.

However, it will make Po Li San and others wonder if Lu Xidao has a bright future with him?

As a result, more people who tend to be inflammatory, will wonder if Lu Xidao still has the strength to cover them, and he can still give them a bowl of stable rich rice to eat.

The children of the scholar clan rely on the interest network of the scholar clan behind them to rise to prominence in the officialdom, but if they do not put the interests of the scholar clan first when they are in high power, then such children of the scholar clan will often not be able to be an official for a long time, and they will also be excluded from the interests of the scholar clan.

Now in a teahouse not far from the Jiaofang Division, there are two children of the scholar clan who did not seek benefits for the family behind them, and were forced to resign, and even called the family traitors.

Wang Suguan to the third grade, Xiao Siyu official to the third grade, a former Ministry of Rites Shangshu and Guozi Priest Wine, a former Ministry of Rites waiter.

Sitting opposite now is the two of them, who have been close friends for many years, and Xu Zhongli, who has replaced the waiter of the Ministry of Rites and the priest of the country.

Since they are close friends, they naturally have a burst of yin and yang weirdness when they meet, and Xu Zhongli is not angry when he smiles, and he still politely pours tea and water for the two.

"On the city, my king is not as good as you. In terms of resourcefulness, he Xiao Siyu is not as good as you. But Xu Zhongli, have you done something too much today? Don't forget, it's only been half a month since you came back to Danfeng City. "Wang Su is already gray, and his age is probably over half a hundred.

The other person, Xiao Siyu, is a few years younger, in Xu Zhongli's words, there are many fewer wrinkles on his face, even his beard is white, and he looks old.

"Take history as a mirror, you can know the rise and fall, take people as a mirror, you can know the gains and losses. On the surface, the two adults seemed to be forced to resign because of the interests of the scholars behind them, but I, Xu Zhongli, didn't think so, and on the way back from Xining, I had been thinking about it. So, I don't want to follow in your footsteps. Xu Zhongli showed no mercy to the two of them.

Wang Su sneered disdainfully, while Xiao Siyu shook his head and looked disdainful.

"Xu Zhongli, can't you really hear what I just said scolding you? You don't really think I'm complimenting you, do you? Chengfu and resourcefulness, if you are really stronger than the two of us, then why did you go to the barren Xining back then, but Lu Rui went to the rich Dingzhou? Wang Su said with a sneer.

"That's because you all have a large network of interests behind you to support you, but it's a pity that I, Xu Zhongli, am from a poor family, and it is not easy to get to where I am today." Xu Zhongli sighed.

"Lord Xu's words are a bit duplicitous, right?" Xiao Siyu retorted: "You and Lu Rui are old rivals, let's say, what are you trying to do this time, you actually sent all the stupid boys of your family to the game." ”

"Xiao Siyu, I warn you, my patriarchal pavilion has already regained his sanity, and if you slander Changting like this, don't blame me for not recognizing you as an old friend." Xu Zhongli said solemnly.

Wang Su played a round on the side: "Let's get down to business first." Say, why do you want to put your family to use today? Although it is said that it is a friction between juniors, but in the teaching department to make such a big move, and when talking and laughing, other people's fingers were broken, did you teach this? Xu Zhongli shook his head silently, his eyes wandering back and forth on Wang Su and Xiao Siyu.

After a long while, he said: "The two of you have lived in the court for a long time over the years, but I, Xu Zhongli, am far away in Xining. So...... The two of you may know better than me why the imperial court was always unable to use troops against the Southern Tang Dynasty, and finally had to suspend the army, right? ”

The two looked at each other, a little puzzled why Xu Zhongli suddenly mentioned this matter, could it be that his son had a conflict with others, and he needed to rise to such a height?

The royal family and the family of the gate lord were natural enemies, although they were all loyal supporters of the royal family, but there was an insurmountable natural gap between them in terms of partisan interests.

This time, during the four-year military use of the Southern Tang Dynasty, the royal family and the family of the gate lords seemed to join forces, and secretly began to make war money, annex land, and buy and sell officials.

As a result, since the equalization of land, the land in the hands of the common people has been decreasing, but their land and the fertile land of each temple have multiplied.

In the end, Emperor Yuanhong had to suspend his troops against the Southern Tang Dynasty, precisely because the grain and grass could not be sustained, and the Yulu system was also destroyed.

However, the grain of the royal family and nobles, the family of the gate valve and the various monasteries was piled up, sitting on the ground and starting at a price, and even almost emptied the silver taels of the household.

"After the truce of the Southern Tang Dynasty last year, the two proposed the examination method, but soon after, the two were forced to resign from the ......." Xu Zhongli said.

The examination method was specially designed by Wang Su and Xiao Siyu for the drawbacks of the Zhongzheng recommendation system, and its purpose was to eliminate those incompetent and unscrupulous people who used the influence of the gate valve family to blend into the officialdom.

"Yes, in the end, it's cheaper for you and Lu Rui." Xiao Siyu said disdainfully.

Wang Su looked at Xu Zhongli quietly, cleared his throat, and deliberately lowered his voice: "What did you notice?" ”

"How did I change from the original Dingzhou Thorn History to Ren Xining Thorn History?" Xu Zhongli asked.

"Naturally, it's because Lu Rui has the Feng family behind him, and the Feng family is ...... in the palace." Wang Su swallowed the second half of the sentence back into his stomach halfway through speaking.

"If it is the meaning of the palace, since Lu Rui had the support of someone back then, he could change the history of the state from Xining to Dingzhou, then this time the two of you come back, it stands to reason...... The position of the country's priest wine should still be Lu Rui's. Xiao Siyu said thoughtfully.

"I only know that although the emperor agreed to the resignation of the two of you, the emperor has no intention of giving up the examination method. Otherwise, the position of the country's priest wine should be Lu Rui's. Xu Zhongli's expression became a little solemn.

Wang Su and Xiao Siyu nodded in unison, Xiao Siyu took a light breath and sighed: "The real purpose of the examination method is to eliminate some incompetent people for the imperial court, but this ...... But it moved the interests of the gate valve family, and we became victims, and became traitors to the Wang family and the Xiao family behind us. ”

"You mean, the emperor gave you the position of the prince of the country's sacrificial wine, and he wants you to continue to take the main exam?" Wang Su asked seriously.

Xu Zhongli nodded silently.

"Then what does this have to do with you sending your stupid boy to the fight between you and Lu Rui?" Xiao Siyu asked.

"He is testing the emperor's determination and bottom line through this move, and he is also testing the relationship between the emperor and the Feng family in the palace." Wang Su said quietly: "If Weiyang and Lu Rui's son have a big trouble, he Xu Zhongli can prevaricate on the grounds that Weiyang is stupid, and then plan what he should do next." But if no one cares about this matter, then it may also mean that there is a ...... between the Feng family in the palace and the emperor, which means that there is less resistance to the implementation of the examination method. ”

When Wang Su talked about the relationship between the emperor and the Feng family, he deliberately used his hands to open up some distance in the void instead of words, this kind of thing that can only be understood but not spoken, for the three people who have been immersed in officialdom for many years, it is naturally very familiar, and it can be understood in an instant.

Empress Dowager Feng and Empress Feng in the palace all believe in Buddhism, and spent a lot of money in the first two years, a life-size solid Buddha statue reshaped in Yongning Temple eleven, Empress Feng is also not far behind, and reshaped nine life-size Buddha statues in Yaoguang Temple last year.

This does not include the fact that when the two of them worship the Buddha on weekdays, they will reward Yongning Temple and Yaoguang Temple with some bits and pieces from time to time, including fields and so on.

The Great Wei Kingdom worships the Buddha, almost to the extent of almost obsession, there are no less than dozens of large and small Buddha halls in the palace, and some temples in Danfeng City are also dozens, almost every day there are gate valve families, royal relatives and nobles to worship the Buddha.

After returning from the Southern Tang Dynasty without success, the current emperor Yuan Hong was reflecting on the reasons for not being able to get an inch of land, in addition to the chaos in the court, Yuan Hong also gradually focused on the large and small temples and temples.

"Okay, let's not talk about these bad things. Let's talk about your stupid boy, so that you are not afraid of retaliation from others...... Xiao Siyu sighed, the chaos in the court made him anxious when he thought about it, and he didn't know how the emperor spent every day facing these bad things every day.

"What a silly boy, before I went to Xining, after my son practiced Buddhism in Yongning Temple, he had already returned to normal, okay?" Xu Zhongli snorted dissatisfiedly and continued: "I'll tell you Xiao Siyu, if my son Weiyang can't find a daughter-in-law, I'll go to your house when the time comes." ”

"My daughter is five years older than your son, and she is already married, I'm afraid you won't make it?" Xiao Siyu rolled his eyes and said.

Wang Su laughed on the side, pointed at Xu Zhongli and said: "You are not real, but you are really scheming, in order for your son to marry a daughter-in-law, you are talking nonsense with your eyes open." I remember when you wrote to me that when your family went to Xining to cross the Yellow River, Weiyang heard the roaring waves of the Yellow River, as if he had enlightened himself, and then gradually regained his senses. Why, now it has been changed to after seeing a doctor in Yongning Temple? After a while, you have to change your mind and say that you were before going to Yongning Temple to practice Buddhism? ”

"If conditions permit, it is not impossible to change to practicing Buddhism." Xu Zhongli said lightly with a teacup.

Xiao Siyu also smiled and quipped: "Brother Zhongli is now in a high position, not to mention that it was changed to before going to Yongning Temple, even if it is said that Weiyang has had a vision since birth, which caused Weiyang to be stupid and confused, and then I am convinced that I was awakened by the sound of the waves of the Yellow River by chance." ”

"If it's possible, I don't mind Brother Xiao excusing my son like this." Xu Zhongli said calmly.

is the so-called pity for the hearts of parents in the world, and now Xu Changting is almost at the age of marrying a daughter-in-law, and the stupid things when he was a child naturally don't want to be mentioned by others, so as not to affect Xu Changting's marriage.

Wang Su restrained his smile and asked, "Weiyang is also seventeen this year, right?" It's also time to talk about family affairs, among the many officials in the court, have you found a suitable daughter's home for Weiyang? ”

"The eyes of the gate valve family are higher than the top, and they have always looked at people with their nostrils, and my Xu family can't climb it." Xu Zhongli said coldly.

Wang Su and Xiao Siyu looked at each other and smiled, knowing that this was Xu Zhongli mocking the two of them, after all, they were from the Taiyuan Wang family and the Lanling Xiao family, although they are now traitors to the two families!