At the end of April in Lin'an City, the willows are green, the sky is full of flying flotsam, the peach blossoms of the West Lake are in full bloom, the visitors are like weaving, the stream is endless, the laughter and laughter, the joy is in it, which is full of a large number of personable, wide robes and big sleeves of the new scientists.

The reason why they are said to be new scholars is because they have not yet passed the hall examination and are classified as "two rank jinshi". The reason why they are called "new sections" is because they are already registered court officials, and they are just waiting for "allocation".

But what makes people feel a little surprised is that the imperial examination in the second year of Xingqing, under the still lively and grand atmosphere, has a kind of loneliness.

It was lively and grand, because there was news from the imperial court that the emperor, who was in the period of filial piety, still rushed back from Sichuan and personally presided over the interview.

The reason for this is that because of the enrollment of the second phase of Jinling Lecture Hall and Jinling School in the spring of this year, many scholars and young people rushed to Jinling. Not to mention anything else, just the students of Taixue went to five or six hundred people to take the exam, although they may not all be admitted, but compared with the imperial examination, the chances are much greater.

Compared with the three-year period of the imperial examination, which recruits only three or four hundred people, the annual enrollment of Jinling Jiangwutang and Jinling Academy is more than 3,000, and the difference between the two is worlds apart.

Young scholars flocked to Jinling, and the loneliness of the imperial examination was natural.

After coming out of Taixue and walking on the royal street, he saw many young people wearing swords and swords, and the young Zhao Ruteng couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

Fair-skinned and handsome, with wide robes and large sleeves, and a graceful demeanor, coupled with the middle lift, Zhao Ruteng should be more high-spirited and look forward to being self-proud.

Zhao Ruteng is from Quanzhou, a disciple of the Great Song Dynasty, one of the scholars in the middle of the lift, waiting to participate in the palace examination, and the roll call outside the Donghua Gate.

But at this moment, Zhao Ruteng frowned slightly, and his interest didn't seem to be so high.

"What has become of the splendid Great Song Dynasty? Deviant, people's hearts are not ancient! ”

After walking for a while, Zhao Ruteng couldn't hold back and said it.

Compared with the bright lights and fireworks in the past, the business of today's restaurants is much worse, and the official prostitutes have almost disappeared, and the rise is those boxing gyms, dart bureaus, darts and the like.

Moreover, it is no more obvious that any cricket cockfight, even tea fighting, seems to have disappeared. Even if you want to bet on two, it's not easy to ask everyone to approve it, and everyone is cringe.

"In Taixue, there are only three or four hundred people, and people's hearts are fluctuating, and they all want to go to the field and ask for a piece of the pie in Jinling. The place where the country takes scholars, the place where the world's scholars gather, has declined like this. The Son of Heaven Xingwu Yanwen, who knows the pros and cons? ”

Hong Tianxi, who is also from Quanzhou, the son of an official eunuch, a friend of Zhao Ruteng, and a scholar of the same current department, has a round face and a slightly dark face, and is equally worried.

"The red scarf and green sleeves, the beauty is gone; Tai students went to the martial arts hall, the style of writing was weak, the martial arts were rampant, and swords were openly sold. There is chaos, I am afraid it is not the blessing of the country! ”

Zhao Ruteng's face sank like water, and he was indignant.

Without the dream of Qinglou, without the pink beauty, there are martial artists everywhere who are majestic and high-spirited, with swords and swords, as if they are about to fight if they disagree, and they are full of anger.

The charming Da Song gradually became strange.

"Brother Zhao, the emperor sent people to investigate the Bosi of Quanzhou City, charged high tariffs on spices and ivory, and begged to open a government office. I heard that many clans went to Liuqiu, with hundreds of acres of land per family, and exiles to help them cultivate, but is there such a thing? ”

Xin Yong, the grandson of Xin Qiji, interjected and came in.

Look at him tall and mighty, with a straight waist and a sword at his waist, he seems to be both civil and military.

Xin Yong and Hong Tianxi are friends, and they and Zhao Ruteng just met in Pingshui.

"That's true. Although spices, ivory and other items have decreased, the overseas trade of the city has recovered well. In addition to tea, silk and other things, the soaps, soaps, swords and other things of my Great Song Dynasty are also very popular with the merchants. Many merchants wanted to buy firearms, but I heard that the emperor was still hesitant. ”

Zhao Ruteng nodded and said it calmly.

He had a lot of complaints about the emperor, and the reason was that he did not take care of the Great Song clan. However, the emperor has a set of economics, and he still admires it.

You know, the emperor is a few years younger than him. He had just taken the imperial examination, and the emperor had already done a lot of things.

"I heard that firearms kill people and break armor hundreds of steps away, such a national heavy weapon, you can't easily give it to people!"

Hong Tianxi immediately became nervous.

"The pros and cons of this, the emperor will consider it, and there are courtiers to assist."

Xin Yong thought for a moment and said with fascination:

"The emperor was erudite, proficient in iron smelting and firearms, and also knew the practice of soap and honeycomb coal. Now it has founded Jinling Lecture Hall, Jinling University Hall, and Song Dynasty Water Master School. The power of the Son of Heaven is not available in ancient or modern times! ”

"There is nothing in ancient and modern times, Brother Xin is a little exaggerated."

Zhao Ruteng looked at Xin Yong, as if he didn't understand his sycophants to the emperor.

"The emperor Xingwu Yanwen didn't say anything, he used cool officials, Xingda prisons, and Shida's ladies to roll their heads, openly selling swords, and the martial arts were in charge, and all kinds of things didn't seem to be done by Ming Jun. Emperors have always been arbitrary, and courtiers are mostly decorations, aren't they? ”

He glanced at Xin Yong and said with a smile:

"Brother Xian, isn't the emperor very respectful of your grandfather, and you are touting each other?"

Zhao Ruteng laughed.

Xin Yong's face turned red all of a sudden.

"Brother Zhao, it's not me who praises the emperor, but your little belly and chicken intestines, which are unbearable!"

Xin Yong blurted out in a hurry and scolded Zhao Ruteng.

The emperor openly proclaimed in the newspapers that his grandfather was a hero born at an ill-timed time, and although he had a good impression of the emperor, he did not boast about the other party.

This Zhao Ruteng, how can he say such two things when they meet for the first time?

"Tell me, how do I have a small belly, how do I make you unbearable?"

Zhao Ruteng was stunned for a moment, and then his face turned red and his ears turned red.

As soon as Brother Gongzi's temper came up, he even waived the other party's title.

"You are dissatisfied with the emperor, not only caring about the interests of the hundreds of people in your clan, but ignoring the interests of the people of the world; The emperor implemented the new policy, and the people of the world applauded, but only a few people in the clan such as you opposed it; If you don't do anything, the emperor will work hard, train soldiers and officers, and advocate martial arts, and you will be sneering; The emperor clarified the rule of officials, eliminated maladministration, and killed officials who brought disaster to the country and the people, and you said that he was a cool prison. You are upside down black and white, unfaithful and unjust, aren't you small-bellied chicken intestines? ”

Xin Yong's heart was straightforward and fast, and he said it all at once.

Hong Tianxi was secretly embarrassed. Xin Yong's words seemed to be directed at him. He and both of them are friends, and they don't know how to persuade them.

"You...... Unreasonable! ”

Zhao Ruteng was dumbfounded, he looked around nervously, and said a stupid word.

"Unreasonable? If you, Brother Zhao, are so unaccustomed to what you are doing today, why do you want to participate in the imperial examination of the imperial court? Eating the pot, he is still scolding and smashing the pot. Where is the backbone of your Zhao Song clan? ”

Xin Yong was full of words and did not back down.

is like Zhao Rushu, the former secretary of the Criminal Department, who followed Shi Miyuan to be a tiger and an eagle dog, and lost the face of the Zhao Song clan.

This Zhao Ruteng has many complaints about today, which makes him very unhappy.

"I, Zhao Ruteng, participated in the imperial examination to be a scholar, just to uphold the dynasty and rejuvenate the society. Why is there no backbone? ”

Zhao Ruteng was annoyed and ashamed, and came back indignantly.

"Zhengchao Gang, Xingsheji? The emperor is rich and strong, for the country and the people, you don't see it at all. You don't have the people in your heart, you don't have right and wrong, what kind of dynasty are you doing, what kind of society are you prospering? ”

Xin Yong's anger rose, and his voice became much louder.

Zhao Song clan, don't have too many wonders.

Zhao Ruteng and Xin Yong erupted on the street, and the passers-by watched. Hong Tianxi secretly complained and hurriedly stepped forward to persuade.

"Two virtuous brothers, why did you get pinched when you first met? Listen to me, say a word. Let's find a restaurant in front of us, sit down and open up. ”

Xin Yong has a straight temper and a good personality, and he is very close to him. Zhao Ruteng is his fellow countryman again, and he doesn't want these two people to fall out.

There is really no need to turn your face for the battle of words!

"The Tao is different, not the same! Jun Chou, such a person is less sticky. I've got something, let's go first! ”

Xin Yong said goodbye to Hong Tianxi, turned around and left.

"I don't know what to call a madman!"

Zhao Ruteng's face flushed, and he said indignantly, brushing his sleeves and walking in the other direction.

Hong Tianxi hesitated for a while, not knowing which one to follow?