The state assassin Shi Sima Xun, who was transferred to the remote area as a famous general of the clan, was dissatisfied. In the middle of the governance, don't drive and the state's pride, the words are resentful, that is, they are beheaded by the sitting, or shot and killed by themselves. There are often aspirations based on the south, and they are afraid of Zhou Fu and dare not send it. and the pawn, Xun planned for a long time, and finally raised troops to rebel. Don't drive Yongduan, Nanyi Sima Kui Cui admonished, Xun was killed, and he called himself Jiao, Guangerzhou Mu, and the king of the South China Sea. In November of the second year of Xingning, Xun raised troops to Hepu, entered Guangzhou in the north, and fell into Cangwu (now Wuzhou, Guangxi). Yi Mao, around Guangzhou Thorn Shi Zhou Chu in Panyu. The great Sima Wen watched the eagle and Yang generals, Jiangxia Xiangyi, and Yang Xuanxu to protect and save him for the conquest.

---------- excerpt from the introduction

In the spring and March of the third year of Xingning (365 AD), on the busy Guanlong Avenue, a long-distance stagecoach was galloping eastward, and a wooden sign was hung on the black wooden carriage, which read "Lianggu to Chang'an". The driver in front of him was restraining the four stagecoaches in front of him and driving steadily on the right-hand side at a moderate speed.

The more than a dozen passengers sitting in the carriage behaved differently, some were tired from the long journey that had been going on for more than ten days, and they tried their best to shrink their bodies into the comfortable seats, close their eyes, and rest in a half-asleep sleep with the bumps of the car. Although the post station system in Beifu is very perfect, coupled with the dense road traffic, it is not a very difficult thing for the people of Beifu to travel. But long-distance travel across state lines is still a very torturous physical and mental affair. Every day, as long as it is not a heavy rainstorm, the stagecoach must run on the road for four or five hours, rain or shine. Only a moment of rest is possible when the vehicle is overhauled in the middle of the change. I will run until it is almost dark and rest at the post station for one night, and the next day I must continue on the road early.

There are still some people in the car who rely on their youth and strength, coupled with the novelty of the road and new places, so that they open the windows and pay attention to everything that flies backwards in their eyes, and Yin Shen is one of them.

Yin Shen is a native of Dunhuang County, Liangzhou, and his family was originally the county of Tianshui County, Qinzhou, but later due to the Rebellion of the Eight Kings. His ancestors were officials in Luoyang. It's involved. So he resigned and returned to his hometown to avoid trouble. Fearing that the enemy would prolong the disaster, he moved his family to Liangzhou, and finally settled in Dunhuang County, the westernmost part of Liangzhou.

The Yin family was originally a big family, although they hid in the remote county of Dunhuang, but they were blessed by misfortune and escaped the scourge of wars in Guanlong and the Central Plains for hundreds of years, and instead used this time. It developed rapidly, and finally became a big family in Liangzhou, and many people in the clan also held important positions in Dunhuang, Liangzhou and other places in the Zhang regime.

Later, Zeng Hua took over the land of the seven counties of Liangzhou, and the Yin family's main branch was all moved eastward, but the Yin Shen family as a side branch stayed in Dunhuang County.

The Yin family is a family heirloom, and Yin Shen, who has been well educated and nurtured since childhood, quickly adapted to the education in Beifu. County school, county school, Yin Shen always has excellent grades. Last fall. Yin Shen ranked second in the Liangzhou State Examination. I am fortunate to be able to go to Chang'an to participate in the joint entrance examination.

According to the improvement of the local education system in Beifu Shangshu Province last year, the county, county, and prefecture hold a grading examination every autumn, and the first two examinations are for the selection of students from county schools and county schools. The state exam is a bit different. In addition to the selection of students for the local state school, the top 50 students in each state examination are admitted as first-class students, will be recommended by the state teachings, participate in the joint examination in Chang'an, and then according to the results and volunteers by Chang'an University, Yongzhou University, Chang'an Institute of Technology, Chang'an Medical College, Chang'an Academy of Agricultural Sciences and other "Beifu universities", and military-loving bachelors also have the opportunity to be admitted to Chang'an Army Military Academy, Chang'an Military and Political College, Chang'an Military Law Academy and other "military universities".

These state and state examination leaders can be said to be the top group of students in Beifu, they are promoted by the people of Beifu, and once they perform normally in the joint entrance examination and are admitted to those "national studies", they will go to school for the last time in their lives and become national students. Of course, after completing the four years of study, they also have to take a separate examination, and only this time is called the scientific examination, can they obtain the qualification of jinshi, and thus work as officials, prosecutors, judges, physicians, and so on.

Due to the different distances between the states of Beifu and Chang'an, Shangshu Province stipulates that the state examination of each state will be held every autumn, and the corresponding joint examination will be held in the second year, leaving a year for the students of each state to rush. Yin Shen is the first batch of lifters after the restructuring, and the joint examination that will be held in the autumn of this year, which he went to Chang'an in advance, will be the first time after the restructuring.

Yin Shen looked at the scenery of Yongzhou outside the window, and sighed secretly in his heart, it is really the essence of Beifu. After the continuous governance of several "fierce people" such as the general, Che Guanglu (Guanglu doctor Che Yin), and Wang Guoshi (Pingzhang State Affairs Wang Meng), Yongzhou has become the most important and wealthy place in the world. The dense network of water canals and dams, the criss-crossing roads and bridges, the endless fertile fields, the endless green forests, and the busy but happy people all make everyone who sees it feel a sense of comfort and peace, which is simply the world of great harmony pursued by many literati in ancient and modern times. And what kind of person will be the generals and others who govern this place like this? After "years of education" in Beifu, Yin Shen knew from the mouth of the missionaries that the general was a prophet with a sacred mission; In the admiration of the teachers, I knew that the general was a national prince who respected education and learning, and loved talents, Che Guanglu was a well-known and well-educated man who moved the world, and Wang Guoshi was a great talent who was excellent in both civil and military affairs and good at military and political affairs; In various newspapers and periodicals, it is known that the general is a wise and wise leader who loves the country and the people; And in the admiration of many "hot-blooded" young friends, I know that the general is an invincible and invincible god of war. Yin Shen sometimes thinks in his heart, no matter what else, the general can do this, and he can be regarded as a generation of heroes.

Just as Yin Shen was crawling on the window frame and thinking a lot, several people on horseback, carrying long bows and knives, and carrying luggage flashed past the carriage, and soon fell far behind the carriage.

Yin Shen knew that when many ordinary people had to make long-distance trips, such as military service, participating in martial arts competitions, and going on pilgrimages to Chang'an and Huangling, they simply prepared their own horses, dry food, and utensils, and slowly advanced along the avenue along the way. If you catch up, you will spend the night in the shed of the post station, and if you can't catch up, you will simply sleep in the wild. First, you can save a lot of money, and secondly, you don't have to be so nervous to hurry, which is very hard, but this way is extremely slow, far less than a stagecoach, and not as comfortable as a stagecoach. Therefore, such as students who go to school, business travelers who do business, or officials who are transferred. Still willing to ride a stagecoach.

Just past the time of application. The sky, which had only been gloomy just a moment ago, gradually turned dark. Eventually, it turned into a continuous and heavy rain. The coachman drove the carriage on the road in the rain for a while, and finally said to everyone in the car: "More than one mile ahead is Jingzhao Xianyang Weilian Station, if we continue to rush to the Xianping Station twenty miles east according to the itinerary, I am afraid it will be difficult to arrive before dark in this heavy rain, it is better to rest overnight at Weixi Station, and continue to rush tomorrow." ”

Seeing that it was difficult to stop in a short time after the heavy rain, everyone also understood that it would be dangerous for the carriage to travel in the dark. Especially in the dark night in the heavy rain, so I also agreed to the coachman's suggestion.

When they arrived at Weilianyi, Yin Shen and the passengers got off the carriage and walked into the post inn with their luggage, while the coachman drove the empty car straight to the carriage parking place behind the post station.

Walk into the hotel

It was already filled with dozens of people, and it seemed that the sudden spring rain had disrupted the journey. Among the passengers who accompanied Yin Shen were three merchants who belonged to the same trading house, and four of them belonged to the Liangzhou Assassin Cao Governor who went to Chang'an on business. The other two were Liangzhou priests who were going to study at Chang'an Theological Seminary. They quickly found their respective seats. The merchant found that one table was actually full of merchants from Qinzhou who were familiar with the trading company, so he squeezed in; The officials and a table of officials who had been transferred to Sizhou from Shangjun, Jincheng and other places were huddled together, and they soon became acquainted; The priests, on the other hand, were huddled together with a group of pilgrims returning from the pilgrimage. And soon discussed the Holy Day ceremony of this year in the Chang'an Grand Temple.

The remaining Yin Shen was not without a place to go, the officials, merchants, and priests in the same car were very enthusiastic to greet Yin Shen to sit at their table, and the passengers at the same table were also very happy to greet Yin Shen after knowing his identity, asking him to sit down. The identity of the people is very high in the minds of the people of Beifu.

Yin Shen was reluctant to go to any of their tables, not because he had an opinion on these people, but because these three tables were already very crowded, and if he was added, it was estimated that it would not even be convenient to pick up dishes.

At this time, a person stood up at a table next to him and said loudly: "This classmate (Khan!) Come to me. Our table is pretty empty. ”

Yin Shen turned his head to see that a burly young man was there to greet him, and his table was really a little vacant due to its remote location, so he was not polite, and arched his hand to the passengers in the same car: "You are all too crowded, I am not small, it is even more inconvenient to sit down, I should go and sit there." ”

Everyone no longer insists on it, and it is okay to laugh, it is all in the journey, so there is no need to be so particular.

Yin Shen squeezed through the crowd with his luggage to the man's table, only to find that the man was wearing a short and narrow cotton shirt on the top and large wide trousers on the bottom, in addition to a cotton robe that was over the knee, he also wore a suede sheepskin collar gown, and a wool felt hat on his head, typical Qiang people's dress. The rest of the passengers at the same table were dressed as Han, Qiang, and Tuyuhun.

Yin Shen arched his hand and sat down, and the young man who greeted him just now introduced himself first: "My name is Yao Chen, from Qinghai County, Qiangzhou, these people are all my classmates, and they are also the people of Qiangzhou last year, rushing to Chang'an to prepare for the joint entrance examination this autumn." ”

Yin Shen's Dunhuang County is next to Bailan County in Qiangzhou in the south, so he naturally knows the situation in Qiangzhou. In the second year of Xingning, Zeng Hua announced the cancellation of the Qinghai General and Pibo General after the major restructuring, and changed the state and county. General Pibo changed the area to Banzhou, governed Wencheng (now Lhasa South), divided Shannan County (now western Tibet, southern Tibet) to govern Pibo City, and Qamdo County (now eastern Tibet) to govern the newly built Qamdo City that Yao Jin was ordered to build (because Zeng Hua did not know where Qamdo was, so the Qamdo in Beifu was more than 100 miles away from the current Qamdo); Dangxiang County (now northern Tibet), Zhidangxiang City (now Amdo County, Tibet).

The Qinghai General ruled the district of Qiangzhou, governed Xining City, and set up Qinghai County (under the jurisdiction of the north and west regions of Qinghai), and governed Xining City; Hequ County (under the jurisdiction of the southern part of present-day Qinghai), governing Yushu City; Hetao County (under the jurisdiction of the eastern part of present-day Qinghai and the southwestern part of Gansu), Zhiang City.

Zeng Hua commemorated the Qiang people who followed him in the southern and northern wars, not only set up Dangxiang County under Banzhou, but also named Qiangzhou under the rule of the entire Qinghai general. As soon as this order came out, the world was in an uproar. The Qiang people are nothing more than the people of Xirong, who are eligible for such glory.

Many "celebrities" found Zeng Hua to theorize about this matter, and Zeng Hua first read the Hu Ling, pointing out that he had long regarded the Qiang people as a Chinese clan, and they were also the people of Yan and Huang. Then Zeng Hua took out a stack of documents, which recorded that in the more than ten years since the Qiang people were subsumed into Beifu, there were 370,000 Qiang people in the army, and more than 59,000 people were killed in battle. More than 96,000 people were disabled. The names are being recorded one by one. Zeng Hua pointed to these names and said solemnly: "These hundreds of thousands of names. Isn't that enough? The crowd was speechless.

When the news came out, the Qiang people were all grateful for Zeng Hua's kindness, and they were even more desperate for him and Beifu.

Soon, the guys who made a cameo cameo brought the wine and food, and the hungry and tired people hurriedly ate and drank, and after a while, a few glasses of hot wine were served. The people who didn't know each other well quickly called each other brothers and began to exchange their own information.

"Have you heard of that? Jiang Zuo was originally Jiaozhou, and Sima Xun raised troops in Hepu to rebel. A red-faced official said, "I heard that we have already reached Panyu in Guangzhou, and the Duke of Huan of Jingxiang has sent General Yingyang to lead troops south to reinforce them." ”

"Sima Xun? I've heard about it. Another official shouted loudly, "Our county guard was born in the Changshui Army, and he heard of this Jin Hu Ben when he followed Lord Gan (Gan) out of Jingxiang and into Liangzhou. ”

"Then tell me what is going on with this Sima Sect Earth Tiger General?" The businessman next to him hurriedly answered, involving Jiang Zuojin's room, and the businessmen who liked to listen to all kinds of news were very interested. They all knew what it meant to be a county guard from the Changshui Army. And as his subordinates, he can naturally hear a little bit of the inside story.

In order to show off his "close relationship" with the county guard, the officials who drank a little too much began to blow their spirits: "Sima Xun originally led the history of Liangzhou Assassination, and finally the general entered Liangzhou. He lost his name, so he had to be reassigned to the history of Sizhou Thorn. In the Northern Expedition of Jingxiang to recover the old capital, he made a little contribution, and was finally sent to Jiaozhou by Duke Huan. ”

Hearing this, everyone here knows in their hearts that the people of Beifu, regardless of their occupation, can be said to be a group of people who are most concerned about political affairs in the world, and they have been cultivated into a habit by various newspapers and propaganda. They understand that Sima Xun is not Huan Wen's descendant, and his identity is embarrassing, how can he stay by his side with confidence? Jiaozhou is Sima Xun's best place to go.

"I heard that after Sima Xun arrived in Jiaozhou, he was very angry, not only resentful of Duke Huan, but also resentful of Jiang Zuo, so he rebelled. It's just that he was afraid of the old man Zhou, who was the governor of Guangzhou and the military of the two states, so he didn't dare to raise troops until he died. ”

"So Zhou Xiao is not as good as Zhou Xiao, Zhou Xiao is in Panyu, Sima Xun doesn't dare to take the lead." A clerk in the same car with Yin Shen took over the topic, then took a sip in the eyes of everyone and slowly continued, "I am from Yizhou County. Back then, the general and Duke Huan regained Yizhou together, and Lord Zhou once sat in charge, and I heard about this boss. In order to avoid fighting with the general, the old man of Zhou asked for his life from Duke Huan and moved to the South China Sea. For more than ten years, Mr. Zhou has worked hard for Jingpingguang and Jiaozhou. It was precisely because Old Master Zhou was so well respected in the two states of the South China Sea that Sima Xun did not dare to make trouble under his old man's nose. ”

Everyone knows a little bit about the relationship between Zeng Hua and Huan Wen, Zhou Fu and others, and now more than ten years have passed, and many people, including Zhou Fu, are no longer alive. Thinking of this, everyone couldn't help but sigh and drank a few more glasses of wine.

Unlike Yin Shen who listened attentively, Yao Chen and the others were not very interested in this, they were more interested in destroying the bottles of wine on the table. Soon, the dozen or so people at this table, except for Yin Shen, were already red-faced and hot, and they couldn't help but open their clothes and shout louder and louder.

Yin Shen watched carefully while drinking with Yao Chen and the others

These people, especially Yao Chen. I saw this heroic man who was about the same age as himself, with long and strong arms and some loops on his legs, which was the result of years of practice in riding and shooting.

Inadvertently, Yin Shen found that a talisman bag hanging around Yao Chen's neck was dangling in the collar of his coat, Yin Shen couldn't help but be stunned, it turned out that he was also carrying a Shenwudu talisman. The Shenwudu talisman is a characteristic of the Qiang people, and it is also a way for them to express their gratitude to Zeng Hua. When every Qiang person performs the weekly prayer, his parents will ask the child's godfather, that is, the missionary or priest, to write on a piece of yellow-mounted paper, "Holy prophet, Shenwu Dadu Protector." Changshun is immortal. Then put it with the child's hair in a small bag of cowhide and sew it up. This talisman will follow the life of the Qiang people, and even death will be buried with it.

Yin Shen knew that the Qiang people were the most devout group of Saints, and they were also the most loyal to Beifu and Zeng Hua. But Yin Shen understands better that the Qiang people are so sincere to Beifu and Zeng Hua is not as some people say on the surface, but Zeng Hua's clever means to win people's hearts are clever. He had read books on financial and economic subjects unique to Beifu and newly opened up, and Yin Shenneng knew that the Qiang people were so hardworking. Except that Zeng Hua treats them equally. Give them equality and respect that they didn't get before. There is also Zeng Hua who brought them unprecedented wealth, yes, it is the former Huaiyin Marquis Han Xin's method of driving the people of the Three Qins to lure them.

If the general had not let the Qiang people get the treasures of the Western Regions, Liangzhou, and Yanwei, if the general had not distributed the fertile and vast pastures of Qiangzhou, Xizhou, Hezhou, Shuozhou, and Pingzhou to the Qiang people, and if the general had not used good cotton, tea, silk and other items to trade cattle, sheep and horses with the Qiang people on an equal footing, would the Qiang people still be so loyal to Beifu and the general?

Come to think of it. Yin Shen somewhat understands the relationship of interests mentioned in "The Theory of National Wealth" (which was written by Zeng Hua shamelessly based on the knowledge of political economy and economic principles he learned in middle school and university).

While Yin Shen was thinking wildly, Yao Chen, who seemed to be drunk, suddenly turned sideways and whispered to Yin Shen: "Brother Yin, did you also come to Chang'an in advance to invest in the article strategy?" ”

Yin Shen was stunned for a moment, and quickly understood what Yao Chen meant, and then asked rhetorically, "Isn't Brother Yao like this?" ”

Yao Chen smiled softly: "That's true, don't hide it from Brother Yin." This time, the younger brother wants to apply for the Chang'an Army Military Academy. ”

Yin Shen couldn't help but be taken aback, the Chang'an Army Military Academy was the highest military academy in Beifu. There are tens of thousands of officers in the army who want to apply for the examination. And there are tens of thousands of students who want to apply for the college every year. Every year, two-thirds of the places in the Chang'an Army Military Academy are recruited from the military, and only one-third of the places are admitted from the students of the joint entrance examination. In this way, the competition Yao Chen faced was too fierce.

Yin Shen thought for a moment. I quickly figured out why Yao Chen was so confident. Zeng Hua's excuse is to continue the Zhongzheng system, so he set up a tradition, all civil officials and deputy generals above the fourth grade in Beifu have the opportunity to recommend students to the national culture every three years, and the recommended students in addition to adding ten points in the joint examination, will also be the joint examination admission council priority discussion, if the land is indeed a great talent but "joint examination mistakes", can also be admitted, compared to other students to have a much better chance of winning, so every year many students will go to Chang'an to find Chang'an civil and military generals from various states, Submit your own essay strategy, show your talent, and ask for a recommendation. After the reform of the Beifu school system, this article was also retained, didn't I go to Chang'an in advance for this?

Yao Chen seemed to see through Yin Shen's thoughts, and continued with a smile: "Originally, there were many Qiang generals I could find, such as General Jiang, General Yeli, and even my family's uncle, General Leopard (Yao Jin). It's just that they are all guarding the Quartet now, not in Chang'an, so I can only go to the Governor of the Guards to seal and leave. I can go to the governor, he not only has an old relationship with our Qiang people, but also has some relationship with our clan, but he has nothing to do with martial affairs. ”

Speaking of this, Yao Chen said meaningfully: "Brother Yin, you are a person from Liangzhou, and the first person to ask to see should be Master Xie of the Tongzhi Army, but I don't know if Brother Yin has the ambition and martial arts?" ”

Yin Shen understood as soon as he heard it: "Brother Yao is relieved, I have no ambition to go to Chang'an Army Military Academy, I just want to go to Chang'an University." If Brother Yao doesn't bother, you can go with me when I go to see Lord Bingtai (Xie Ai). ”

Yao Chen laughed: "Brother Yin is really a wonderful person. Brother Yin, if it is convenient, you can prepare an article with me and visit the adults. ”

Speaking of this, Yao Chen was still unsatisfied, turned his ear sideways, and said more softly: "On the surface, this system is the continuation of the Zhongzheng system by the generals, but in fact, it allows the old ministers of Beifu to take advantage. My uncle came from Jizhou, "

"Uncle Gui...?"

"My uncle is a subordinate of General Leopard, and he is the old Flying Feather Army. Now he is under the command of the Xiang army under the Governor's Mansion of the garrison city. Yao Chen explained.

Yin Shen nodded, he knew very well what it meant to join the general's old Feiyu Army with Yao Jin, and the commander of the Xiang Army was also a captain of Zhaowu at the very least, no wonder he mentioned Jiang Nan, Ye Lixun, Xian Lingbo, and Yao Jin were like a few treasures.

"When my uncle was in Jizhou, the local family wanted to send their daughter to him as a concubine, and wanted to form a family with him as an in-law." Speaking of this, Yao Chen's tone became a little mocking: "In this restructuring, the biggest shock is the Kanto Zhuxinzhou. The general opened the department and took the scholars, regardless of the county, only based on knowledge; Conferring officials and knights, not looking at family history, only talking about talents, why the Kanto families are so anxious. ”

Hearing this, Yin Shen's heart couldn't help but become solemn. Yes, all the general did in Beifu was to destroy the old system and establish a new system of his own. Although this system has seriously damaged the interests of the Jiang You family, who is standing behind the general? The scholars of the Han family, the defeated family, and the Qiang people who fought the world with him, under the leadership of the general, these people have formed a solid alliance and have a solid foundation, which is no longer something that the Jiangyou family can shake. Yin Shen suddenly thought of a point, in Beifu, knowledge is no longer in the hands of a few people, but in the "banner" of education without class, wide and open up the wisdom of the people to the general public, and now even the Qiang people have begun to raise scholars to enter the examination, which is almost a death knell for the families to use knowledge to control the government. A few years ago, in order to resist the Juntian system and the major reform, several of the Kanto families raised troops to plot rebellion, but they were killed by the general, and at the end they also buckled the hat of Shi Zhaohu's widow, which was left in history for 10,000 years. On the one hand, many families were afraid of the general's vicious methods, but on the other hand, they slowly understood that Zeng Hua had taken a salary from the bottom of the kettle and swept away their advantages and reliance, so they adopted other strategies and prepared to marry and combine with the new nobles of Beifu to regain their political advantage.

In Yin Shen's thoughts, everyone soon had almost eaten and drunk, and then left the table intermittently and went back to the room to rest, and they would continue to hurry tomorrow. Yin Shen and Yao Chen talked more and more speculatively, and soon became good friends, and finally agreed to meet in Chang'an, and then said goodbye and went back to their rooms to rest.