On the third day of February, Tang Tong took the retest, and the retest ended in one day. I went home and read a good book, and came to the Gongyuan on the afternoon of the eighth day of the second month, and after being searched first, I was given three candles, and I entered the Gongyuan with a pen box and a quilt, and stayed in the Gongyuan for one night. The test is the same as the township test. The next day, at dawn, the first test began.

In the first exam, the four books and texts were examined, and the exam questions were chapters and sentences in the mean. Although foolishness must be clear, although softness must be strong. Tang Tong first spent a day typing the draft, then half a day to revise, and then a day and a half to copy the article neatly in block letters and submit the paper on time.

On the twelfth, the second test of five words and eight rhymes, the exam question is the fourth chapter of the Analects. Tang Tong also took three days to complete. Fu De returned to Wendao, in the spring breeze of his homeland, when Xuanfu was fighting. The life and death of the brother are heavy, lest it be too late to help. Young and enlightened, wake up to the city of Beijing. The world goes with the dust, and I remember the old love.

The third test is the Five Scriptures and Questions. Questioning is Tang Tong's strength. This time, the title is not the Five Verses, but the interverse sentences of the Tao Te Ching; The Tao is very good. The name is famous, and the name is not very famous. Tang Tong begins with Lao Tzu's words; None, the beginning of the world; Yes, the mother of all things. Therefore, there is always nothing, and I want to see its wonders; Often, I want to see how small it is. These two have the same name and different names, and they are the same mysteries. Mysterious and mysterious, the door of all wonders. Then I talked about the past and the present, and I wrote a good article with facts.

Tang Tong found that the three questions actually have Taoist characters, which are related to the current emperor's addiction to Taoism, and the ministers follow suit, and now the exam questions are the same, this time the chief examiner is Qin Yunhou, and the deputy examiner Ye Wenyan doesn't know what they think...

The articles written by the ancients cannot be compared with them, nor can we understand the hardships of their chewing words. Let's talk about the nine days of the exam, on the common sense of the ink in the belly, one day is enough, to be closed in the examination shed for nine days and nine nights, eating, drinking, sprinkling and sleeping are all here, like going to prison. The poor conditions of the lifter bought food in the Gongyuan, and Tang Tong's diet in the past few days was sent by Xiao Ningzi from home, but it was too uncomfortable to stay in the examination shed. The weather is cold in February, each person is equipped with a brazier, the examination shed space is narrow, and it is most likely to catch fire when sleeping at night. At dawn on the tenth day, Tang Tong went out of the Tribute Courtyard. Xiao Ningzi, He Wang was waiting outside, Tang Tong didn't delay for a moment, the smell was too strong, he went home and took a bath immediately, ate whatever he wanted, and fell asleep.

The next night, Tang Tong called Yang Weibiao and Min Rongchao to come to the house for dinner, and now Chen Da also followed Tang Tong. Yang Weibiao said that it was originally your person, and it was not appropriate to stay by your side. Tang Tong stayed by his side and arranged to live in a side room in the courtyard, so that he could take charge of the affairs of the Zhenwei Martial Arts Pavilion. Plus Mao Shouxie's five people drank together.

During the banquet, Mao Zongxie said: "Chen Da should be a relative and follow Taiqucai, and he should go out to mix the rivers and lakes. It will help us a little more.".

Tang Tong immediately denied: "Chen Da is entangled in lawsuits, and if he has a military position, he will not be under the local government.".

In fact, Chen Da didn't want to stay in the barracks, he was also afraid of this. So he said: "I haven't seen any movement for a year since I came back, it should be fine, right?", saying that his eyes looked at Tang Tong, Chen Da was in awe of Tang Tong in his heart.

Seeing that everyone didn't squeak, Tang Tong still spoke first: "The military position is still kept, the rivers and lakes can also be mixed, don't be blatant, let a few of your apprentices do it when you come out to fight!".

With Tang Tong's words, Chen Da had confidence, when Chen Da returned to Beijing last year, Tang Tong asked Tian Gonghe to hand over the re-establishment street to Chen Da to take care of, because of the debt to Chen Da, Tian Gonghe agreed without hesitation. With the increase in the flow of people at Guangji Bridge, Chongli Street has also become a mixed place. The former lifeless Chongli Street has now become a bustling area of the outer city, where it is also crowded at night, the number of shops is gradually increasing, and the gambling houses and sound places continue until late at night, all of which are operated by Chen Da.

Mao Zongxie couldn't hold back as soon as he opened his words, "If you want to say who has a special vision, or we adults, it only took a year to rebuild the street, so that Chen Da can not only earn a lot of money, but also earn a reputation in the rivers and lakes!".

Chen Da was grateful to Tang Tong in his heart, so he raised his glass, "I salute Master Tong!" and the two toasted together.

"Fortunately, Shuntian Mansion Yin Zhang Zhengde has been transferred, otherwise this matter will be investigated, the current Shuntian Mansion Yin does not want to cause trouble, so there is peace today!", Tang Tong couldn't help but sigh.

"Thank you Tong Ye for maneuvering through this!", Chen Da did not forget to thank Tang Tong.

Mao Zongxie also reminded on the side, "Do it well!" As long as the adults become bigger and bigger, there will be more room for development.".

Min Rongchao also broke the tranquility at this time, "I also disturb from time to time, I salute Brother Chen with a glass of wine!", the two laughed at each other and drank dry.

Min Rongchao has a set of business, but officialdom connections still have to rely on Mao Zongxie. Let's just say that the relationship between this article test run is all handled by Mao Zongxie, and Tang Tong is just asking about the results. For important matters, Tang Tong negotiated with Mao Zong, and after carefully discussing the two and reaching a consensus, he handed them over to Mao Zongxie to make an envoy.

In order to straighten out the relationship between the two, Mao Zongxie called Tang Tong an adult, and Mao Zongxie was his master. Although Chen Da is now Tang Tong's personal entourage, as long as the time comes, he has to let him do what he is good at, Tang Tong's personal entourage is only He Wang and Ren Zhizhi. These people are all Tang Tong's team, and they are all Tang Tong's most trusted people.

In the early morning of March 16, Tang Tong ranked 29th, and the house was jubilant. That night, the Tang Mansion set up a banquet to celebrate, it was only a small-scale celebration, and they were all their own sworn friends, Mao Zongxie, Min Rongchao, Yang Weibiao, Chen Da, He Wang and Ren Zhizhi. Tang Tong drank a few cups at will and left the table, because he had to prepare for the palace test three days later, Mao Zongxie and others did not persuade him. There will be four questions in the palace exam, and Tang Tong only knows one, so he must prepare well. For the past two days, I locked myself in my study, even brought in food to eat, and studied hard in retreat.

Before dawn on the nineteenth, Tang Tong took He Wang and Xiao Ningzi and waited at the Huangji Gate. As soon as the day dawned, Tang Tong held a stationery box in one hand and a lantern in the other, and the tributes entered the main hall and stood. In the past, the emperor did not attend, and was replaced by a minister. Today, the emperor actually came to the court and came to the palace test venue in person. The tributes worship the emperor and shout long live. After Tang Tong stood up, he looked at the emperor carefully, it was the master he met last time. The tributes were all in place to start the exam, and the emperor stayed for a while before leaving. The exam lasts only one day, and there are four questions to be asked. Eat the dim sum given by the emperor at noon. Tang Tong first wrote down the questions he had done in advance, and then did the following questions seriously, Tang informed that the content almost didn't matter, the most important volume was clean and the handwriting was neat. First scribble the draft, and then copy it without a trace. Before dusk, he handed in the papers, and went home at noon

What happened next was something Tang Tong didn't know. Three days later, Qin Yunhou, the second assistant of the main cabinet, and Ye Wenyan, the deputy chief examiner. In order not to let the emperor see the article in favor of mining. Originally, Tang Tong's article had been in the top ten and was mentioned in more than 20 places. In the past, the emperor just looked at the top ten and pointed out the top three. Unexpectedly, the emperor read the ten volumes more carefully today and pushed the volumes aside. Qin Yunhou hurriedly asked someone to bring the last ten rolls, and the emperor looked at them casually this time, but Qin Yunhou found that the emperor only looked at the open source to increase the income of this volume this time, Qin Yunhou was not at a loss to the officialdom, and saw the emperor's thoughts, so he immediately remedied it, and asked someone to bring the rolls of more than 20 people, and put the rolls that threw out the top 20 Tang Tong in favor of opening the mine on the top. Before handing it to the emperor's case, the emperor turned over the last ten volumes, and looked at the one that had just been handed over, and the emperor read the first Tang Tong volume, especially the open source income This volume was read three times, and after reading it, he picked up the pen, and Zhu was the first in the second class. I didn't look at the exam papers again. I looked at the top ten papers again, and the top three of the first class were approved, and I waved it when I was a little tired. Qin Yunhou and Ye Wenyan hurriedly went to get the exam papers back, and the two of them withdrew.

Early the next morning, the palace test was released. Champion Hao Qixiang, Bangyan Huo Shoudian, Tanhua Zheng Liang, Chuan Yu Tang Tong. This news was brought back to the Tang Mansion by Xiao Ningzi, and the house was full of joy, and the people who came to congratulate him continued one after another. Tang Tong was overwhelmed, and some unimportant guests had to avoid. Then there was the pilgrimage exam, which Tang Tong used to refuse some visitors.

Three days later, I want to go to Qin Yunhou's house to worship Xie Enshi, Tang Tong went early in the morning, worship Xie Enshi is just a formality, and when everyone arrives to worship again, Qin Yunhou will say a few words, and in a few days to take the exam, it is related to any position for you, and no longer stay together, I strongly advise everyone to go back and read well, so everyone dispersed.

That night, Tang Tong and He Wang brought two packets of dim sum to visit Ye Wenyan, the deputy chief examiner who was also a teacher. Ye Wenyan lives in Sushang Lane near the Liwen Gate in the outer city, and when he came to the second courtyard with the plaque of Ye Mansion, just like ordinary people, the dignified second-class master is so shabby, and he is not a Qingliu celebrity. Compared to the lively Qin Mansion, it couldn't be more deserted here.

knocked on the door a few times, and after a while, an old family member opened the door, it was the driver of the day, Tang Tong handed over the name post, and after a while, the old family came to the door again, and invited Tang Tong to go in. Ye Wenyan had already moved to the living room, and as soon as Tang Tong entered the living room, he put down his snacks, bowed and saluted: "The student has seen the teacher!".

Ye Wenyan raised his hand and said, "Sit down!", at this time, the old family came to serve tea, and Ye Wenyan said politely: "Please drink tea!".

Tang Tong tasted it, it is not a famous tea and it is a very ordinary tea. Ye Wenyan said: "Your article is very well written, and the legend is well deserved, but the teacher does not agree with the view of mining.".

Tang Tong didn't argue with Ye Wenyan, and said truthfully: "That's just that my ideas can't represent the mainstream, and the teacher doesn't have to care!".

Ye Wenyan knew that Tang Tong was dealing with himself, and persuaded without concealment, "Nongsang is the foundation of the country, mining is very damaging to farmland, and disturbing the people and promoting corruption, the emperor seems to be very enthusiastic about this, as a courtier, he should persuade the emperor!"

Tang Tong hurriedly nodded in agreement, "The teacher is right!" It's me who owes it to thought.".

At this time, a woman's voice came: "Dad! Who are you training?".

Tang Tong looked back and saw a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl appearing in front of him, with handsome eyebrows and eyes looking forward to Shenfei, and a slender waist and jade belt dancing heavenly veil. This is Ye Wenyan's only daughter Ye Qingyue, and Song Yunshi, the fifth lady who is rumored to be like Xia Zhan, is really not bad at all. Tang Tong recovered from his distraction and introduced himself: "I'm here to meet my teacher, hello little junior sister!".

The youthful and innocent Ye Qingyue looked at Tang Tong carefully, and said with a smile: "You are Tang Tong of Jinke!"

Tang Tong looked at her in amazement, "Little junior sister has seen me?".

Ye Qingyue looked at Tang Tong's face and said with a smile: "Now that the capital has spread all over the city, Tang Tong, who has a scar in the word, has won the first place in the second class, isn't it obvious".

Tang Tong touched the scar on the left side of his face, and suddenly smiled with realization, "It seems that you have to be careful to recognize it when you go there now.".

"Being able to come today shows that Lord Tang is a person who values affection and righteousness, and my father also mentions you from time to time.", Ye Qingyue said this for a reason, no one came to apprentice for a day today, and when she heard that someone was coming, she was curious to see who it was, and as soon as she came in, she saw that Tang Tong was coming, and she said this sentence with feeling.

"I had a friendship with my teacher in Xuanfu, so I should have come to visit.", Tang Tong responded humbly.

Ye Qingyue listened and looked back at her father, Ye Wenyan said seriously: "I saw that you are not simple in Xuanfu, and now you have finally got what you want, you have to be loyal to the king and love the people, don't let me down!".

Seeing that her father was about to start a lecture again, Ye Qingyue saluted and withdrew. Then he said to Tang Tong about honesty and dedication, don't form a party, flattery and so on. Tang Tong kept nodding and listened carefully.

Before leaving, Ye Wenyan did not forget what Tang Tong took, "You take these back and go, I never accept any gifts."...

"This is my home-made dim sum, it's not worth a few dollars, if you don't believe it, please take a look!", Tang Tong said and opened them one by one, all of them were home-cooked snacks for the New Year, looking serious.

Seeing that it was a gift from ordinary relatives, Ye Wenyan couldn't find an excuse, so he had to accept it.