Bianliang City, West Jiaolou Street.

Because of its proximity to the palace, it is the west corner tower street where the princes and nobles live and the important ministers of the court, and the mansions on both sides are high gate compounds, each competing for glory.

In the middle of the street, there is a quaint Sanjin Mansion, which was originally the residence of Wang Anshi, the governor of the Shenzong Dynasty, the minister of law change, and the minister of justice.

Later, he was given the kindness of today's official family, and was given to Wang Anshi's son-in-law, and now the bachelor of the Guanwen Palace, the inspector and the young guard of the school-Cai Bian lived.

Orange is orange born in Huainan, and orange is born in Huaibei.

Cai Bian and his brother Cai Jing are both from Cai Zhun, the squire of the Renzong Dynasty, although they are from the same source and have the same talent, but their conduct and governing philosophy are very different.

Cai Jing followed the path of Ding Wei, the traitor and the head of the five ghosts in the early years of the Northern Song Dynasty, but Cai Bian has always regarded his father-in-law Wang Anshi as an example.

Cai Bian has been an official for more than 40 years, Xining has been a scholar for three years, and has successively served as a living houser, a waiter in the Ministry of Rites, a scholar in the middle school, and a scholar Zuocheng.

"History of the Song Dynasty" recorded: "Guangzhou treasures are gathered, and nothing is taken." and migrated over, the people cleared it, and sent it with roses. ”

This is Cai Bian, when he lived in Chizhou, the people knew that he was honest and wanted to leave, so they saw him off with the most solemn etiquette of rose dew sprinkled on his clothes.

At this time, Cai Bian may not have thought that after his death, the nickname he received was what Wenchen wanted - "Wenzheng".

There is the Song Dynasty, a total of 18 emperors, 319 years of national Zuo, nicknamed "Wenzheng", but nine people.

......

Wu Zhi handed a greeting to the gatehouse, and after waiting for a while, an old man dressed as a housekeeper came and led Wu Zhi into the mansion.

Under a pomegranate tree in the backyard, Cai Bian, who is nearly seventy years old, is lying on a recliner, closing his eyes and pretending to sleep, bathing in the rare warm sun in this winter.

Seeing this, Wu Zhi didn't bother, just stood quietly aside.

At about tea time, there was a soft snoring sound in Wu Zhi's ears, and when he turned his head, it was Cai Bian who was already asleep.

Wu Zhi wanted to find someone to find a blanket to cover Cai Bian, but he felt that he was not good at walking around when he came to visit, and it would be very bad if he collided with the family members in the house, so after thinking for a while, he took off his coat and gently covered the old man.

At this time, Wu Zhi, who was originally nervous, calmed down in his heart, sat on the ground, stood aside, and waited quietly for Cai Bian to wake up.

This is an hour.

When the old monk Wu Zhizheng was settled, he suddenly heard a few old voices in his ears.

"But it's no wonder that you can make outstanding achievements in Yanggu County, just this kind of heart and character, you are better than the vast majority of officials in the world."

When Wu Zhi heard this, he hurriedly got up, carefully straightened his clothes, bowed to Cai Bian and said, "After entering Wuzhi at the end of school, I have seen Bachelor Cai." ”

"Don't be polite, the old man already knows what you mean, if you want the old man to help you, you still have to answer a few questions from the old man." Cai Bian took the crutches in his hand, waved his hand, got up tremblingly and said.

"Ask the boss to ask questions, and the students will know everything." Wu Zhi replied with a respectful face.

Cai Bian's crutches lightly clubbed the ground, his cloudy eyes shone with wisdom, and he said: "You have been in office for five years in Yanggu County, and you have made outstanding political achievements, so it stands to reason that you should have been promoted a long time ago, or as the governor of a state, or transferred to a Beijing official, but why are you unwilling to be promoted?" ”

"Students know that they are not knowledgeable, and the land of a county is already the limit, and they dare not take credit for progress." Wu Zhi said respectfully.

When Cai Bian heard this, he snorted coldly, slammed his cane with a heavy pestle, and said in a deep voice: "If you don't want to tell the truth, leave the house." ”

Wu Zhi was silent for a moment, made a deep gesture at Cai Bian, and said straightly: "But I don't dare to deceive the boss anymore, just because now that the power and treachery in the DPRK and China are in power, Wu Zhi only wants to protect the people of one side to live and work in peace and contentment, but he does not want to enter the court as an official, and live a life of intrigue all the time." ”

"This is still the truth, you don't have to worry about me being angry with you, but the old man hates Cai Jing more than you." Cai Bian said angrily.

"The old man asks you again, if you are in a high position one day, what will you do?"

Wu Zhi straightened up when he heard this, and said with a righteous face: "Students want to learn Fan Wenzhenggong, since the worries of the world first, and the joy of the world after the world." ”

"Good! Just look at your performance as an official and today's words and deeds, and the old man will believe you. ”

Cai Bian nodded, but in his heart, Wu Zhi had passed the test, and then said again: "If the old man is so stunned to speak for a small county order that you have never known, it will inevitably be true, Wu Zhi, let me ask you, do you have a teacher?" ”

"The student's family has been poor since he was a child, and then he was favored by Pan Taigong, the former governor of Enzhou, and he was included in the door wall, and gave the student the word Tianling, and now the family is clumsy, and she is the daughter of Pan Taigong." Wu Zhi responded.

Cai Bian smiled when he heard this, the wrinkles between his eyebrows were crumpled together, and for a while he seemed to have returned to his youth, and said with a happy face: "Since you have married the daughter of Taigong Pan, then he is your old Taishan, and it doesn't hurt if you worship another teacher; Wu Zhi, would you like to worship the old man as a teacher? ”

Wu Zhi's body was shocked, he bowed down solemnly, and said with an excited face: "I will not give up on you, and the students are willing." ”

"That's very good."

Cai Bian stroked his gray beard with satisfaction, and said, "Only like this, the old man can not only accept you as a proud disciple, but also be able to do something about what you ask for." ”

……

In the middle hall of Caifu, hang a portrait of Wang Anshi, under the portrait, place an offering table, and two Taishi chairs, one in the center, one on the side.

On the offering table, six ceremonial bundles are placed: celery, lotus seeds, red beans, red dates, longan, and dried lean meat strips.

Cai Bian led Wu Zhi into the middle hall, came to the portrait of Wang Wengong, and said: "The old man has learned everything from the prince of Mount Tai, so you can worship his ancestor." ”

When Wu Zhi heard this, he knelt on his knees respectfully and kowtowed three times.

After knocking and getting up, Wu Zhi helped Cai Bian to sit down in front of the Taishi chair in the center, and a housekeeper led an old man in a purple official robe with a goldfish bag around his waist and walked in and sat on the Taishi chair on the side.

"Today, the old man has received a good apprentice, and I specially invite Brother Duff to come to witness."

Cai Bian said to the old man in the purple-robed official robe, and then turned his head to look at Wu Zhi.

"This is a matter of the Privy Council, Lord Zheng Juzhong, Duke of Yan Guo."

When Wu Zhi heard this, he was shocked in his heart, but he didn't show the slightest expression on his face, and bowed to Zheng Juzhong without humility or arrogance: "I have seen Lord Zheng in my later life. ”

"You're welcome, today you worship Yuandu as a teacher, and in the future, you will call me Shibo."

Zheng Juzhong didn't take the shelf, only said with a smile, and after a while, he turned straight and opened his mouth towards Wu Zhi.

"Get down on your knees."

Wu Zhi knelt down as he said, and he heard Zheng Juzhong's voice sound again.

"Bow to the teacher."

Wu Zhi kowtowed three times when he heard this, and then heard Zheng Juzhong's voice sound.

"Disciple serves tea."

Wu Zhi got up, took a cup of hot tea from the butler's hand, respectfully handed it to Cai Bian, and said, "Disciple Wu Zhi, please use the tea for the teacher." ”

……