The night was as cool as water, and the sky darkened.

The princes departed.

Yan Shu was the last to go.

Zhao Jun saw that he wanted to stop talking before leaving, and seemed to have something to say to himself, so he offered to send him off.

Walking out of the Guanjia Palace, the smell of rice came to the nose.

The ears of rice swayed gently in the wind, and in the moonlight, two people strolled on the lawn of the palace.

The bamboo forest around them swayed, the fragrance of flowers came to their noses, and the reflection of the rockery covered them, hiding both of them in the shadows.

"Zhao Jun."

"Huh?"

"The official said that you can leave the palace tomorrow."

"Hmm."

"After leaving the palace, what are your plans?"

"You must settle down first, then read carefully, get the scriptures and meanings right, and then go to Bianliang City to take a walk and take a look."

"Well, that's the best, there is no shortcut to learning, one step at a time is true."

After Yan Shu finished saying this, Zhao Jun did not answer.

As they walked, they fell into a brief silence.

After a while, Yan Shu continued: "It's only more than twenty days before the township test, is it too late?" ”

"How do you know if you don't give it a try? The township test shouldn't be that difficult. ”

"It's really not that difficult, you explained the eight strands of the dynasty before, and the title is the text with the four books and five classics, my Great Song Dynasty is not so complicated, you just need to memorize it."

"Rote memorization is my strong point, and our later generations of liberal arts students also emphasize hard memorization, which should not be difficult for me."

"Don't be discouraged even if you don't get in, it's a big deal to let Your Majesty open Enke again next year, Kaienke is to change the original biennial or triennial imperial examination into once a year, which is not against the rules."

"Hehe, I'm too lazy to waste a year, I have a lot of things to do."

Zhao Jun smiled.

"In that case, it's for the best."

Yan Shu's lips squirmed twice, and then he said: "Zhao Jun, don't blame us, we also came here like this back then, and it is already extraordinarily generous for the official family to set this year's scripture as the "Book of Filial Piety", which greatly reduces the difficulty, and you have to work hard." ”

"I know."

Zhao Jun said: "I don't blame you, I just think I should be qualified to let you open a convenient door, and I don't want you to directly help me cheat and write answers, just adjust the difficulty of the exam and the proportion of scripture and righteousness." As a result, I didn't expect this to be okay, it just made me feel a little lost, and it seems that my importance is not so great. ”

"Nope."

Yan Shu shook his head seriously: "Your importance is very great, more important than our lives. But there are some examples that can't be opened, and if they are opened, the rules will be broken, and this is something that cannot be changed. ”

"Okay, I also know that it's really not a good thing to get special treatment, I'm not so small-bellied."

Zhao Jun shrugged: "I hope you can seriously teach me your exam experience in the future, there are more than 20 days left for the township exam, and there is still half a year to go in the spring festival, and in this half a year, it will trouble you." ”

It's actually quite simple to try people, that is, strategy, poetry, and scriptures.

Among them, the scriptures only require you to memorize one of the seven classics, and you can choose to apply for the exam independently.

The key is Jinshike.

The reason why he insisted on taking the Jinshi examination was because the status of the rest of the Ming Law Department, the Ming Jing Department and the System Department was lower than that of the Citong Jinshi in the officialdom, and they were discriminated against more seriously, and it was basically difficult to be promoted to a high position.

Only the first class of Jinshike can be promoted quickly, have a stable position, and have the possibility of becoming the prime minister.

Therefore, in the Northern Song Dynasty, there was a situation like Zhang Dan, even if he was admitted to the top three Jinshi and the first, but the ranking was relatively low, and because his nephew Zhang Heng won the top prize in the examination, he was ashamed of his low ranking and angrily refused to take the exam again.

The content of Jinshike is still based on poems and songs, and strategies, respectively, one poem for trial poems, one for fu, and one for each treatise, five strategies, ten posts of "Analects", and ten articles of Moyi in the six classics, which are normally the "Spring and Autumn" and "Book of Rites" with the largest number of words.

Therefore, even if you choose the relatively simple "Book of Filial Piety" as the content of the exam, when it comes to the Jinshi Course, you still have to take the other six classics, and you are still required to memorize the remaining six classics well.

According to the statistics of Zheng Genglao, a scholar of the Southern Song Dynasty, the total number of words in the Song Dynasty version of the Seven Classics at that time was more than 800,000 words, and this is only the content. In addition, the major Confucian commentaries, interpretations, and explanations must be memorized, and all kinds of them add up, and you may have to memorize at least millions of words of scriptures and meanings when you are admitted to the Jinshi.

This is also the reason why it is said that there are thirty old Ming scriptures and fifty young jinshi.

Since Zhao Jun understands the history of the ancient imperial examinations, he naturally knows this, so he hopes to reduce the proportion of scriptures and righteousness and increase the proportion of policy and poetry and songs, this requirement is not too much in his opinion, after all, his importance is far higher than the entire imperial examination.

But for these Jinshi who have studied hard for decades and memorized many scriptures and meanings before they were admitted, it is completely unacceptable, because this involves their principle.

This is where the differences between the two sides come in.

However, their differences were finally resolved by Zhao Zhen, who was the emperor and ruled that the main subject of this year's examination was "The Book of Filial Piety", which would not violate the principles and regulations.

After all, "The Book of Filial Piety" is also one of the seven classics that must be examined, but due to the small number of words and low difficulty, it was basically not tested before.

Yan Shu was worried that they didn't agree to Zhao Jun's request, and Zhao Jun was a little dissatisfied in his heart, so he came up with an explanation to calm his emotions.

But Zhao Jun is not a person who cares so much, since they have their own principles, then just follow their principles, and now Zhao Zhen can come up with the best of both worlds, it is better.

"Hmm."

When Yan Shu heard Zhao Jun's words, he was relieved, and said, "Don't worry about these, you recite the scriptures first." Whatever we want to teach you, let's prepare. ”

In the end, he thought about it for a while, and then said: "Jingyi is actually dead, mainly strategy and poetry, this thing seems to be your strong point, but the content of the exam is within the prescribed range." Whether it is the format of the text or the poetry level, there are restrictions, not which one you want to copy can pass the test, no matter how good the copy is, you still have to follow the regulations. ”

This can be regarded as a tacit acquiescence, Zhao Jun can copy strategies and poems in the exam.

After all, is copying the future strategy poems considered plagiarism? It's hard to define, so you have to turn a blind eye.

However, even if you copy it, you have to pay attention to the format, for example, this year's college entrance examination questions are spring, and next year's college entrance examination questions are summer.

You copied an essay with a full score in next year's college entrance examination, even if the writing is good and the meaning is beautiful, it will not be the right topic this year, and it will not meet the meaning of the topic, and you will still get zero points.

Therefore, they feel that the scriptures and meanings are good through memory, and rote memorization is enough. But this writing format, poetry and even brush calligraphy need to be practiced, at least to learn to conform to the prescribed theme.

"I see."

Zhao Jun responded, although the imperial examination of the Song Dynasty was his strong point of strategy and poetry, but it should not be taken lightly, these are Yan Shu's experience as a person who came over, and it is still worth referencing.

The two of them chatted for a while, until they reached the door of the Chen Arch at the north gate, and after saying goodbye to each other, Yan Shu sat in the sedan chair waiting outside the door and left.

"Xiaolang."

Zhao Jun sent Yan Shu all the way to the gate of the palace, and a voice suddenly appeared behind him and startled him.

Looking back, Wang Shouzhong had already appeared behind him like a shadow, bending over, and bowing humbly to him.

Zhao Jun said speechlessly: "Old Wang, don't you eunuchs walk without a sound?" It's a little scary, okay. ”

Wang Shouzhong kept a smile on his face and said, "The official family is waiting for Xiaolang to go back." ”

"Are you spying on me?"

Zhao Jun took a step back, and said dissatisfiedly as he walked: "I can leave the palace tomorrow in a bright light, and I won't run." ”

Wang Shouzhong followed behind him step by step, and said with a cat on his waist: "The slave is not monitoring Xiaolang, but the official family said that Xiaolang is the lifeblood of the Great Song Dynasty, and we must protect Xiaolang's safety at all times." ”

"Isn't that still spying on me in disguise?"

Zhao Jun doesn't hate the feeling of being followed all the time, which makes him feel more secure, but he still asks.

Wang Shouzhong stubbornly shook his head and said, "It's not surveillance, it's protection." The official family said that Xiaolang can go all over Bianliang and even all over the Great Song Dynasty, but no matter where he goes, even if he is a mountain of swords and a sea of fire, he must protect Xiaolang's thoughtfulness, even if he uses the lives of the villains, and even the lives of the officials themselves. ”

"Is that so?"

After thinking about it for a while, Zhao Jun couldn't help but be a little moved, raised his head to look at the dark night sky, and said in a low voice: "This brother didn't recognize it in vain. ”

It was getting darker and darker, and when he returned to the wooden house where he lived, he had already seen Zhao Zhen standing there from a distance, surrounded by palace maids carrying lanterns for lighting, and when he came, Wang Shouzhong and the palace maids retreated by themselves, leaving only him and Zhao Zhen.

"Eldest grandson, what did Uncle Tong say to you?"

"It's nothing, it's just that I feel a little embarrassed that I can't open the back door, and I can understand it, although it's not blatantly cheating, but it's not good to be too partial to me."

"If only you could think so."

Zhao Zhen smiled, turned his head and looked at the room that had been cleaned up.

In fact, there are not many things, just a big suitcase, a backpack, in addition to clothes and laptops to take away, Zhao Jun will leave the books behind.

At that time, Zhao Zhen will find some people to specialize in studying those primary school textbooks, although the content in them involves junior high school at most, but as long as they can be sorted out and printed into a book, there will be no problem in doing primary school basic education for the Great Song Dynasty in the future.

"It's not a matter to stay in the palace all the time, since you have the idea of changing the Great Song Dynasty, you naturally have to go out and walk around, but the palace will always be your home, anyway, you live outside the Xihua Gate, and you can come back if you want to come back."

Zhao Zhen patted Zhao Jun's shoulder and said with a smile.

Zhao Jun nodded.

He could feel the sincerity of his old ancestor.

Compared with those scholars and doctors, in fact, Zhao Zhen has more willingness to change the Great Song Dynasty and protect his Zhao family.

"Alright, let's get some rest early."

Zhao Zhen said.

Seeing that he was leaving, Zhao Jun also replied with a smile: "Brother, remember to abstain from sex and eat more Liuwei Dihuang Pills!" Give me a few more little ancestors as soon as possible. ”

Zhao Zhen staggered when he turned his head, almost fell, and left only one sentence before parting: "Take care of yourself." ”

Looking at the back of Zhao Zhen leaving, Zhao Jun smiled and went back to the house to rest.

Zhao Zhen had already helped him buy a house on Qingtai Street in Changqingfang some time ago, just outside Xihua Gate.

It's definitely not okay to stay in the palace all the time, once the back garden is blocked for a long time, the concubines in the harem will definitely have grievances. Second, he had to go out for a walk and see the situation of the Great Song Dynasty in order to formulate reform opportunities, and he was always in the palace.

So it's time to go out for a walk.

The mood was stable for the night.

Although I am full of expectations for the world outside the palace, this expectation is at most curious about ancient society, architecture, and humanity.

As for yearning, not so.

There is the prosperity of the modern motherland and the convenient environment of the new era.

No one aspires to a backward, feudal country, even if it is the country where their ancestors lived thousands of years ago.

The next day, early in the morning.

Zhao Zhen and the others got up early in the morning to go to the court meeting.

The Renzong Dynasty was very diligent in the early days, and Zhao Jun held a meeting with them for seven or eight days recently, which had been interrupted for too long and could not be delayed any longer.

He got up in the morning and glanced at Zhao Jun, and the two talked for a while, and told Wang Shouzhong to settle everything and leave.

After Zhao Jun washed up, he ate a breakfast sent by the imperial room, which was still ordinary porridge and steamed buns, so he pulled his suitcase, carried his schoolbag, and followed Wang Shouzhong to Xihuamen like a college student.

Xihua Gate is on the left side of the vertical arch hall of Yanfu Palace, separated by Jiying Hall and Huangyi Palace, not far from the place where Zhao Zhen went to court. However, he walked the double road on the west side of Yanfu Palace, passed through the Longtu Pavilion, but could not see the vertical arch hall.

Under the leadership of Wang Shouzhong, the eunuchs and palace maids who came and went back to the road were surprised to see a young man dressed strangely swaggering on the road of Yanfu Palace.

In a few moments, he arrived at the gate of Xihua Gate.

There were a large number of guards standing guard at the gate, and under the gate stood several young men, watching him expectantly.

One of them, about thirty years old, was burly and had a resolute face.

Three words were tattooed on his face - Gong Shengjun!

(End of chapter)