At the same time, somewhere outside the city of Nanjing.

The cold rain is pouring down in the winter snow, as if trying to wash away the last remaining warmth of this cold season.

The pines on the mountain were bent on their backs, and the snow would not have shaken off had it not been for the unintentional help of the canopy eaves.

"Sister, the road on the mountain is slippery, be careful."

Zhang Anshi hugged Zhang's arm and said with a flattering face.

Zhang's family is now the eldest prince's concubine, although the princes have not yet been crowned princes and kings, but after all, Zhang's family is the concubine of the Yan clan who was personally crowned by Lao Zhu before his death, and his status is higher than the daughters-in-law of several other emperors, and he gave birth to Zhu Zhanji early Since Zhu Gaoxu's young and impulsive product died, Zhu Zhanji is a serious emperor's eldest grandson, and there is no threat to him.

It stands to reason that Zhang should not have anything to worry about.

But now in the face of his younger brother's flattery, Zhang's face is full of sadness, and he ignores it, and only when he sees the temple in front of him, his frowning brows are relaxed.

Zhang Shi stopped, motioned for the maids and eunuchs to disperse, and then lowered his voice and said to Zhang Anshi.

"You will talk about the matter of seeking officials after the New Year."

"But." What else does Zhang Anshi want to say.

Looking at this younger brother who didn't know anything, Zhang's face sank, and he scolded: "You don't know what the situation is in the court now?" In the first year of the law test, with the addition of Jingcha, your brother-in-law was busy all day and night and couldn't take care of his family, and there were many things to weigh, and if he was not careful, he would offend people! What's the mess you're causing him at this time? ”

Zhang Anshi was stunned for a moment, then reacted, and suddenly showed a look of frustration.

"Don't blame your brother-in-law, I know you also hope that we can live smoothly, but your brother-in-law has now reached the most difficult stage, don't drag him down." Zhang's tone softened a lot, and he continued to persuade softly.

Zhang Anshi sighed: "I understand, but I am not allowed to join the army, there should always be a place to go, and it is not a thing to play with Junji every day, right?" This time, the presiding officer of Jingcha is my brother-in-law's person, I think if I have the opportunity, it would be good to enter the temple to practice, sister, I am also not small, even if it is a relative, according to the rules of the dynasty, it should also be entered! ”

"Wait."

In fact, even if the Zhang family doesn't know much about the things in the temple, but looking at the way her husband and the think tanks discuss every day, she also knows the importance of these things in Jingcha, and the most important thing in this is naturally the officials.

Now, in addition to those officials promoted by Zhu Gaochi, the temple is vaguely dominated by the old school headed by the official department Shangshu Jianyi, of course, this is just a vague division of the general term, after all, between the same gentry class, it is not necessarily united Well, in fact, from the history of the Tang and Song dynasties, it is normal for the gentry class to fight in the nest.

Since the official department is a "heavenly official", he is in charge of the deployment, appointment and dismissal of all officials in the country, and at the same time it is actually the head of the six ministries, well, the nominal head of the six ministries is the Ministry of Rites.

In any case, don't look at the uproar of the Fa-changing faction, but if you take a closer look at the temple, you can still see that the conservative forces still have an absolute advantage.

Of course, this advantage will definitely gradually change over time, not to mention the distance, just the near, at the end of this year, the six temples will have to be moved.

After the big move, there will naturally be more vacant positions, and this vacant position will have to be topped by someone, either promoted by the original department or airborne.

After Zhang Anshi dropped out of the military academy, he couldn't go to Guozijian, let alone the Daming Administrative School, which had a longer school system, he aimed at this path and asked his brother-in-law to go to the emperor to ask for an official.

Zhang's tone softened a little, and sighed: "Jiangnan Quell, you also participated, and now you have some credit, and when there are not so many things in the court in the spring next year, Your Majesty is in a good mood, ask for it, it should always be able to grant an official position, and there will be a messenger to do it in the future, don't make people laugh." ”

Listening to his sister's persuasion, although Zhang Anshi understood that this was a rational choice, he felt very aggrieved, and couldn't help muttering: "Brother-in-law said that he was going to be a prince, my sister is pregnant again, our Zhang family is about to take off, who will laugh at me?" ”

Zhang frowned slightly and reprimanded: "The more you talk about it, the more outrageous it is!" ”

She turned to caress her bulging belly, and her eyes revealed a kind of maternal kindness and love.

Seeing the change in Zhang's expression, Zhang Anshi hurriedly apologized and admitted his mistake, and then changed the topic and said, "Sister, let's go in, it's cold, don't freeze the child." ”

Zhang snorted, and with Zhang Anshi's help, he walked into the temple with his legs raised.

This small temple is not small in scale, the architectural style is quite simple, the surrounding walls are made of green bricks, because it is winter, the temple is even more bleak, the trees are withered, and the outermost tiles of the roof have been broken and broken.

Walking to the door, an elderly monk wearing a gray-brown monk's robe greeted him, clasped his hands together and saluted: "Hello two donors." ”

Zhang's chin bowed and said, "Master, good." ”

Although the regulations of this small temple are not big, it is this rule, how many dignitaries come to ask for it, but I heard that it is very effective, so the Zhang family also came to ask for a sign for the second son who has not yet been born.

According to the factions within Buddhism, this temple should belong to the Vinaya lineage, there are many rules, and it is also very declining, if the historical line does not interfere, the Vinaya will be about to be in the Wanli period, will open the precepts in Qixia, Lingyin, Ganlu and other ancient temples, and then gradually prosper.

Therefore, the current Ming Dynasty is still dominated by Zen Buddhism and Tiantai, Huayan, Pure Land and other sects, and as for the Tantra that will shine in the future, it is still in a corner of the state.

At this time, Zhang stretched out his hand and pointed at his younger brother Zhang Anshi, and said to the monk: "This is my brother who is not a weapon, and today I will also come to ask for a sign." ”

The monk looked at Zhang Anshi and asked with a smile: "Zhang Gongzi, what do you ask for a signature?" ”

"There is indeed something I want to ask Master to explain." Zhang Anshi bowed respectfully.

Zhang gave another word of advice, and left first, and there was a host over there to receive him.

The monk smiled kindly, led him to a side room on the side of the Buddha hall and sat down, and ordered someone to serve tea and snacks.

After the two of them sat down, Zhang Anshi couldn't wait to ask, "Master, if I am sincere in signing this sign, can I be spiritual?" ”

Looking at the young man in front of him who didn't look very smart, the monk was stunned for a moment when he heard this, then shook his head with a smile and said: "There is no predestined thing in the world, some things depend on the destiny of heaven, but it also depends on manpower, but even if it does seem to be an ethereal thing, there is also luck in it, I don't know what the donor wants to know?" ”

The monk's "listening to your words is like listening to a seat" obviously fooled Zhang Anshi for the time being, and he said bluntly: "Master, I want to ask for a future. ”

The monk pondered for a moment and said, "In this way, I will first recite Buddhist scriptures for the donor, and if the donor's heart is really calm, the donor will decide whether to ask for it." ”

"Thank you, Master."

Zhang Anshi stood up, folded his hands and bowed, and then waited patiently.

Not long after, Zhang Anshi's ears sounded a clear Buddha name.

He followed the sound and saw the monk sitting on the futon of the Buddha hall across the door of the wing room beside him, holding a rosary in his hand, closing his eyes, and chanting something silently, but he couldn't hear the sound.

Gradually, the monk's demeanor became much more solemn, and his lips squirmed and he let out a low chanting voice.

This is a very esoteric and difficult Buddhist scripture, Zhang Anshi didn't understand it after listening to it for a while, so he simply sat cross-legged and continued to listen.

"Amitabha."

Finally when the monk finished reading, Zhang Anshi's eyelids were already a little heavy, but he still managed to open his eyes, and said with joy: "It's really wonderful!" ”

The monk brought him a small jar with a stick, Zhang Anshi calmed down, sighed, and rubbed his palms before extracting it.

Lottery, as one of the long-standing blessing activities in China, was Taoist at the beginning, but now it is very popular in the temples and temples of Buddhism and Taoism.

In fact, many times the lottery is such a thing, it doesn't matter what you draw, the important thing is that you pray, and the lot you draw can guide the direction of your future life.

Zhang Anshi fixed his eyes and saw that it was a Zhongji sign.

"To run to the palace, you need to know the ancients, and you can't boast of riding a horse at the beginning.

Whoever is willing to be willing to follow the defeat, he is afraid of hardship. ”

This sign is also easy to understand, using the allusion of "Meng Zhi's anti-palace master", which refers to the defeat of the Lu State and the Qi State in the Spring and Autumn Period.

The monk explained: "Those who seek this sign should be patient and humiliated in everything, and should not argue with others. ”

Zhang Anshi breathed a long sigh of relief and thanked: "Thank you Master for your guidance!" ”

The monk nodded slightly and said: "The donor has both the Buddha's fate and is willing to the Buddha, which is a good deed. ”

After speaking, he took out a Buddhist scripture from the bookshelf in the wing, tied it with a red rope and handed it over.

Zhang Anshi took it and took a look, only to see that the words were neat and the ink was fragrant, and it was obvious that the writer was writing with heart.

He bowed his hand to the monk gratefully, and then took his leave, ready to wait for his sister's end to finish, and then return home to transcribe the scripture for his understanding.

After a while, Zhang also walked out.

"If your brother-in-law and Your Majesty agree, you will name the child 'Yong' in the future."

Zhang didn't know what to ask for, so he sighed leisurely, seemed to be relieved, and said.

Zhang Anshi was stunned when he heard this, and said, "Zhu Zhanyong? ”

The third generation of the old Zhu family, the first two words are naturally set, and the last word must also be next to the soil word, for the eldest son, it must be the emperor himself who set the last word, but for the second son, this power is handed over to the parents by default.

And Zhang's only expectation for this unborn son is that he can follow the golden mean and spend this life peacefully.

However, this child has not yet been born, and it is destined not to be so peaceful.

Under the escort of the attendants, the two were about to send the sesame oil money with their own hands, but they saw that the Daxiong Treasure Hall, which had just been closed, suddenly opened at this time, and the situation was a little paradoxical.

An old monk in a monk's robe sat on a futon, folded his hands and whispered something, and in front of him was an offering table full of objects.

On the futons on either side of the offering table, five monks stood, one of whom had his head buried low.

The old monk closed his eyes, and judging from the expressions of the five monks, the scriptures in his mouth seemed to be full of endless magic, making the listener indulge in it and forget the passage of time.

Although the Zhang sisters and brothers didn't hear anything, they still paused unconsciously.

"Do you remember the oath you took when you started?"

In the silent Daxiong Treasure Hall, the old monk's gaze fell on the face of the young monk who was buried very low, and asked slowly.

The young monk lowered his eyebrows respectfully and said, "Disciple remembers. ”

"If you can't do it, what if you can't?"

"Thou hast cast me out of the wall and returned me to the world."

The old monk narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he had a somewhat inconspicuous angry face, and seemed to return to normal in an instant, he said, "Then, have you done it now?"

The young monk shook his head silently, opening his mouth to say something, but the first word had not yet come out.

"That's enough."

The old monk interrupted the young monk's words, and said indifferently: "You have already lived up to the expectations of the teacher, no matter how much the teacher punishes you, it is meaningless, you go, leave here, and never have to come back." ”

The old monk's words made the young monk stunned, and after a while, he came back to his senses, and he looked at the old monk.

"Master!"

The young monk pounced and knelt down in front of the old monk and said, "Master, I beg you, let me stay!" ”

However, the old monk's next words pierced his heart like an ice pick.

"You have nothing to do with my Buddha."

When the young monk heard this, he was stunned, and muttered, "Why, why."

He asked not why he was expelled from the temple, but why he made such a mistake.

"Amitabha."

The old monk pronounced a Buddha name and said: "Origin and extinction are all the will of heaven." ”

Zhang, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but ask, "Master, why is this?" ”

The old monk didn't intend to break his vows and lie, and he couldn't bear to cut off the disciple's possible future, so he just shook his head.

When the Zhang family and the others saluted the sesame oil money, returned to the main gate, and met with the maid eunuchs waiting outside.

I saw that this young monk was standing barefoot in the snow, not even a pair of shoes, carrying a burden and wearing a single coat, staggering down the mountain.

Zhang Anshi inquired just now, but this person didn't make any big mistakes, not even those child-seeking dramas that he made up in his brain, but he committed the drinking precept, but the rules of the law sect were strict, so he was not allowed.

Zhang had just asked for a sign for the child in his womb at this time, and he was in a good mood, but he hesitated for a moment, and still ordered: "This monk is pitiful, there is a lack of incense for the Buddha shrine in the house, and I asked him if he would like to go." ”

The young monk listened to the words of his subordinates, how could he be unhappy? promised again and again, but he felt that he had hit a fortune and met a nobleman.

So when the group returned to the Great Prince's Mansion, there was one more person.

But the Zhang sisters and brothers didn't know that they would be kind-hearted for a while, but they would bring endless trouble to themselves in the near future.

——————

However, at this time, Jiang Xinghuo in Nanjing City did not find anyone, and when he inquired about Yu Futong, he learned that Cao Duan, Gao Xunzhi, and Kong Xilu actually went to Mochou Lake to see the snow.

Where to see snow is not snow? Jiang Xinghuo shook his head, and had to endure the pain of skipping work for half a day and went to Mochou Lake.

At this time, on the Mochou Lake, the lakeside pavilion.

Mochou Lake is located on the west side of the Qinhuai River, and the Qinhuai River is connected, it is the second largest lake after Xuanwu Lake, has the reputation of "the first scenic spot in Jinling", if the historical line is not disturbed, and then the imperial court moves northward in a few years, this lake will become the private property of the Duke of Wei, but now it is a public area, and there are more than ten pavilions and pavilions around.

Now that it is a rare snowfall time in the south, in Jiang Xinghuo's previous life, it has become an undoubted "Internet celebrity check-in point", and I don't know how many young ladies come here.

But at this time, after all, it is important to pay attention to the reputation of the literary world, and this seat is really not someone who has money to sit on, fame and power, but above money.

The three of them sat diagonally opposite each other, and there were various melon and fruit pastries placed next to the table, and the wine was delicious.

At this time, Cao Duan, who was young and full of firepower, unconsciously took a glass of wine and drank it, and said.

"Gao is too often to break the bank."

At this time, Kong Xilu, who had a small quilt on his knees, twitched the tip of his frozen red nose and exhaled, feeling that the air was indeed fresh and was pulled out, he was not happy, but the two of them saw that he was not in a good state and had been stuffy in the house every day, so they pulled it out.

Well, that's fragrant.

Now enjoying the snowy scenery by the lake, but the heart is open-minded, and the stove is curling, which also provokes people to be a little smoked.

Gao Xunzhi was the east today, raised his glass and said, "Come, and drink this cup." ”

The three of them clinked glasses and drank, and Cao Duan asked curiously: "Let Gao Taichang laugh, I want to ask, what is the origin of this Mochou Lake?" ”

Reading a lot does not mean that everyone knows all the customs and customs, Cao Duan is a Henan native, and it is normal not to know the lake in Nanjing.

Whether it was Cao Duan's pretending to be humbly handed over as an introduction, Gao Xunzhi didn't mind, the wine table, if you don't have anything to say, find something to talk about.

"There is no Mochou Lake in this world."

Gao Xunzhi slowly introduced: "During the Six Dynasties, the Yangtze River flowed along the west side of Nanjing City, and the Qinhuai River converged under the Stone City, and later with the Yangtze River diversion to move north, it left a large area of siltation and a series of swamps, ponds and lakes, Mochou Lake is the largest of them, to the Southern Tang Dynasty, it was called 'Hengtang', because it is close to the Stone City, so it is also called 'Shicheng Lake'. ”

"Then why was it called Mochou Lake later? According to this time, should it be changed during the Song Dynasty? Cao Duan, who is young and has little qualifications, has appropriately played the role of praise he should have.

"There is indeed an allusion here, the Northern Song Dynasty "Taiping Huanyu Ji" records: Mochou Lake is outside the Sanshan Gate, and there used to be a prostitute Lu Mochou's home, hence the name."

Cao Duan smiled when he heard this, this kind of thing on the Fengyue field does have a great impact on the humanities and landscape, and people at this time don't feel anything, but take it as a graceful thing.

"Then our pavilion also has allusions?" Cao Duan asked again.

"Yes."

Gao Xunzhi smiled and said: "Emperor Taizu Gao and Xu Da, the king of Zhongshan, played here, the original name was Shengqilou, and the edict was 'Tang Muyi', and gave it to the Xu family, which is the industry of the Xu family." ”

Cao Duan didn't speak this time, nodded his head, and had a little guess in his heart.

"Come, eat hot pot."

This hot pot is not the same as the other hot pot, and it is not the same as the Sichuan-Chongqing hot pot in later generations, but in general, it still can't escape the category of copper pot shabu-shabu.

In fact, the hot pot thing, in the Northern Song Dynasty, the way to eat in the folk has been very common, the tavern in Bianjing, there must be a hot pot in winter, the Southern Song Dynasty Lin Hong's "Mountain Family Qing Offering" recipe, is also clearly written how to make hot pot, so it is not a strange thing, and it is not the turn of the traveler to invent the biggest difference in the early Ming Dynasty, I am afraid that it is the hot pot at this time, the main ingredient is still pheasant and other game.

I have to say that although the hot pot at this time is not as fine as that of later generations, some of the ingredients are better than the original.

I saw Cao Duan take the chopsticks, put a piece of meat in his mouth, savor it carefully, with an intoxicated look on his face, and praised: "Tender and juicy, with an endless aftertaste." ”

"If you like, you can eat it with your belly open." Gao Xunzhi said boldly.

"Then I'll be cheeky!"

Cao Duan unceremoniously put his hand into the bottom of the hot pot, scooped up a few chopsticks and stuffed the meat into his mouth, chewed and ate, and squinted his eyes in satisfaction.

The peasant boy has never eaten any delicacies from the mountains and seas since he was a child, which is understandable.

After a while, Kong Xilu, who had just come back to his senses after looking at the scenery outside the window, suddenly remembered something, turned his head, and said, "By the way, you that. Philosophy, how's the study? ”

Hearing this, Cao Duan suddenly paused, as if organizing his sentences.

Then, Cao Duan swallowed the meat in his mouth and said, "I'm still researching." ”

When he said this, he suddenly felt that the meat in his mouth was not fragrant.

"Oh."

With Kong Xilu's status, of course, he didn't want to deliberately attack Cao Duan, but he suddenly remembered it and asked.

"Kong Gong, what's wrong?"

Kong Xilu took a sip of wine, put down the glass and said, "I'm thinking about a few questions, I don't know if you and Xiao Gao can answer them." ”

Cao Duan was slightly stunned, and said briskly: "Of course, the younger generation knows everything. ”

"You say, when did this 'person' begin?"

Seeing that Cao Duan and Gao Xunzhi didn't seem to understand, Kong Xilu simply said more accurately: "When I studied cells before, I was thinking about these questions, such as 'human', from birth, he/she is counted as a 'human', or is it counted in the mother's womb?" If it is in the mother's belly, what is the sign to judge? How many cells are there to be a 'person'? ”

Cao Duan: "."

Gao Xunzhi: "."

Seeing that the two clever Confucians couldn't figure it out, Kong Xilu sighed.

Seeing the old man sigh, Cao Duan couldn't bear it, but he really couldn't understand this kind of question, so he had to say tentatively: "Why don't we change the question?" ”

"Then you say, where did this 'man' come from? The myth says that Nuwa Niangniang made people by kneading the soil, and when she was tired of kneading, she threw mud ideas to create people, but I have studied that no matter what kind of soil it is, when you look at it under a microscope, it is completely different from a person's body, even if there is a moving object in the soil, it is just a small insect (microorganism) attached to it, but there is no such thing as a 'cell'. ”

Cao Duan pondered for a moment, but this time he gave his own answer: "Perhaps, people are people?" It doesn't come from anywhere, but it is born and grown, and it has been there since ancient times. ”

Gao Xunzhi thought about it, and said the same thing.

Kong Xilu looked at these two people in disappointment, and Xia Worm was speechless.

After another sip of wine, Kong Xilu sighed and said regretfully: "It's a pity, I knew this was the case, I didn't have to come here on purpose." ”

Hearing him say this, Gao Xunzhi asked curiously, "What?" ”

"In winter, everything will fall silent, and snakes and bears will fall into a deadly dormancy, there must be some truth in this, but it's a pity! Pity! ”

Kong Xilu said a word without a word, then drank and ate food, and didn't mention anything else, but obviously looking at his expression, he was not very happy, which made Cao Duan a little at a loss, originally pulled Kong Xilu out, it was his idea, but now the old man was even more depressed, and Cao Duan was also a little helpless.

Gao Xunzhi felt that it didn't matter, he picked up the wine glass: "Today's snow scene, wouldn't it be a pity if you don't have fun?" Come, drink this cup full! ”

At first glance, he looks like an old drunkard.

"Come!"

Cao Duan was stunned, and drank the wine in his hand arrogantly, and after a while, his face began to turn red.

Kong Xilu seemed to have let go of something at this time, and he also responded cheerfully: "Then come again!" ”

Only Cao Duan's expression moved slightly, as if he was thinking about something, until Gao Xunzhi urged, he came back to his senses, he picked up the wine cup and took a sip, and then poured it again.

Seeing this, Kong Xilu and Gao Xunzhi both thought that he was drunk and laughed.

However, Cao Duan just smiled, didn't explain anything, and continued to raise his glass, he knew in his heart that although he was a little drunk, he was still able to stay sober, and he was not really drunk.

Instead, he suddenly figured out a proposition.

At this moment, suddenly the door of the compartment was pushed open, and Gao Xunzhi just wanted to say something, but saw that the person who came was not someone else, it was Jiang Xinghuo.

"Why is the national teacher here?" Gao Xunzhi was surprised.

Hearing this, Cao Duan and Kong Xilu stood up suddenly.

Jiang Xinghuo said with a smile: "There are no idlers in the world, only idle people." ”

Seeing that the three of them were drinking and eating hot pot, the stove in the compartment was burning red, and a window was open facing the snowy scene of Mochou Lake, but it was like a fairy-like day, which made Jiang Xinghuo envious.

Jiang Xinghuo didn't say anything, as if he was supposed to be on duty, but he just sneaked out to drink.

A moment of effort.

Jiang Xinghuo had already drunk four or five cups, and he was still full of interest, not drunk at all, but instead pointed at the lake in front of him.

"The sky and the clouds and the mountains and the water, the top and bottom are white, the shadows on the lake, but the long causeway is a trace, the lake pavilion is a little, the boat is a mustard, and the people in the boat are two or three grains are just such a beautiful scenery, wouldn't it be a pity not to do some big things that will leave a name in history?"

Of course, Gao Xunzhi and the three of them knew that if there was really something important, the national teacher who was usually in charge of everything would never look for them to drink, and their spirits were shocked at this time.

In fact, Gao Xunzhi can still be a little cold-eyed, but he has seen that since the three debates of "Wang Ba Yi Li Ancient and Modern", Cao Duan and Gao Xunzhi have been studying excitedly every day like chicken blood, and this state has now lasted for nearly half a year, and it has only eased up a little.

And if Jiang Xinghuo is compared to a chess player, he has been hanging these two chess pieces for so long, and when he comes to the door at this time, it means to reactivate, and it doesn't look like he wants to take an ordinary chess path, I'm afraid he will come up to kill him.

But now in the Ming Dynasty, in December of the first year of Yongle, it is about to reach the end of the year, what will Jiang Xinghuo do? Gao Xunzhi couldn't figure it out anyway.

Jiang Xinghuo didn't need him to guess, and directly revealed the answer.

"I want you to publish two articles."

(End of chapter)