Chapter 101 Top of the List

Hearing the voice that suddenly appeared, several Jiangxi candidates looked sideways.

Instead, they saw a teenage boy, mousy looking, also carrying a koelan, grinning at them.

Everyone showed an odd look.

Readers are like that.

Usually, the ones with good grades say I didn’t do well on the test.

The ones with poor grades say I can do this question, it’s so easy.

Seeing that someone had actually come up and said such a thing, Mr. Tsang saluted the young man and said, “May I ask what your name is?”

The young man said, “Hall of Justice of the State Prison, Gu Xingzu!”

With that, bouncing around, he ran off with the koelan in his hand.

A couple of Zeng Kai’s froze.

The State Children’s Eunuch …… serious lifters, capable, who wants to go to the State Children’s Eunuch ah, that is the place where the second generation of ancestors go.

Hall of Justice …… Isn’t that a beginner’s class in the State House?

Who is Gu Xingzu …… unheard of.

At this time, that Zhou Shu suddenly said: “I heard, the State Tzu Chuan in recent times there is a duh strange thing, the emperor even appointed a relative as a doctor, this person is vulgar, is …… is called Zhang Anshi …… Oh, yes, yes, he teaches is the Hall of Justice.”

The crowd laughed at this statement.

Mr. Tsang smiled and said in his Jishui County accent, “No more, no more. When I get back, I’m going to tell my fellow townspeople about it, it’s so funny.”

…………

“How did the test go?”

As soon as Gu Xingzu returned to the National Zi Academy, he was immediately surrounded by several Zhang Anshi.

Gu Xingzu said: “The question is very easy, I thought of seven solutions, originally wanted to use the method of leaning to harness the question, but after careful thought, think of such a question, if you are still seeking to stabilize, it is really not good, so I used the method of reverse to do the question.”

Zhang Anshi cocked his thumb: “Good, this leaning note harnessing the law of the question is indeed stable, but is a large number of references to Zhu Xi’s commentary. On the contrary, this is the law of obedience and rebellion, it is different, guaranteed to shock the four seats.”

Zhang Anshi was not bragging, because the eight-legged essay of the Shunyi method only began to appear in the late Jiajing period.

The great thing about this style is that, when writing, the first four strands should be written from the order of the title down to the end of the title, and the next four strands should be written from the end of the title in reverse order and rolled up to the beginning of the title, so that such a style can be well-organized, layered, and undulating.

Such a brand-new eight lines of text, has been considered a remarkable leap forward, and so others are still using mules to pull the car, you have used a large truck.

Zhang Anshi rushed to be very pleased, Gu Xingzu made progress, dared to use directly on such a difficult formula.

Gu Xingzu, on the other hand, said, “Eunshi, I’m going to solve the problem, I haven’t solved the one that was set up in the first place.”

Hearing this, Zhang Anshi became furious: “Into your mother! It’s all over with the exam, so what the hell is the point of solving it.”

“Ah ……” Gu Xingzu’s mouth opened extremely wide, “But …… but… …”

Zhang Anshi said, “This eight shares is the most useless thing, after the test is over, don’t read those bad books in the future, follow us in the future, we will take you to fry fish.”

“Ah ……”

Qusong smiled thievishly and pulled out a big guy from his arms.

Gu Xingzu said accusingly, “But I still want to solve the problem ……”

Only, it was out of his hands at this point.

Zhu Yong and Zhang Yoking set him up and ran.

…………

The next day, Zhang Anshi was called to the East Palace.

As soon as Prince Consort Zhang saw him, her eyes reddened: “Your brother-in-law early this morning, he was dizzy and fell ill, and I don’t know what you do all day outside …….”

Zhang Anshi was anxious and immediately said anxiously, “I’ll go and take a look.”

When he reached the sickbed, he only saw that Zhu Gaoqi was very weak.

Zhu Zhanji, on the other hand, crouched in the corner of the temple, still crouching like a minion.

Zhang Anshi went up and looked at it roughly, and realized that Zhu Gaoqi was caused by fatigue, plus he was already in poor health.

Zhang Anshi glanced back at Zhang, “Sister, have you played with the palace?”

Zhang gave Zhang Anshi a meaningful glance, “This kind of minor illness, naturally, cannot be labored for Your Majesty to worry about.”

Zhang Anshi instantly felt the depths of his sister’s mind.

If the Prince is weak and sick, is not fun, if there is a headache and fever to report, the emperor loves his son, certainly will worry.

But on the other hand, wouldn’t there be other ideas?

This child is so weak and his grandson is still young, if anything happens to him, what will happen to the kingdom in the future?

Once such a thought is born, then the two brothers of the Crown Prince, whether it is Zhu Gaoxu, or Zhu Gaoxu, who has already assumed the vassalage, will have the opportunity to take advantage of it.

Zhang Anshi nodded, then said to his brother-in-law with concern, “Brother-in-law, you have to pay more attention to your health.”

“It’s not the matter of the imperial examinations, the examination hall of the imperial examinations, the deployment of personnel, and the supply of food, many matters, not a single point can not make a mistake.” Zhu Gaoqi sighed: “Now it is finally finished, but …… I’m afraid that this is still just a beginning, the future does not know how it is.”

Zhang Anshi hurriedly comforted, “Don’t worry, it will be fine.”

Zhu Gaoqi is still worried: “Not to mention the end of the Tang Dynasty to the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, at that time, the South Dynasty and the North Dynasty dislike each other. To the Yuan Dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty to establish the South and the Han Chinese science and technology, will be this Han people, to the North and South distinction ……”

The phenomenon described by Zhu Gaoqi is actually that after the Mongols came to dominate the Central Plains, they only recognized the northern Han Chinese as Han Chinese and set up a special exam for them to take the imperial examination, while the southern Han Chinese took the examination for the Southern People’s List.

Since then, the situation of division between the North and the South has intensified, instigated by well-intentioned people.

“Emperor Taizu Gao Ding the world, originally wanted to bridge the north and south, so that my Ming returned to unity, there is no north and south, but where do you think, this examination has become a pretext for breeding suspicion.”

Zhu Gaoqi exhaled a long breath and added: “You must think that this palace is exhausting its efforts because it is afraid of Father’s chastisement. Ai, Anshi ah, what I am worried about is the Jiangshan of Daming!”

“We Ming to restore the rightfulness of the Han Dynasty, but only a few decades, we must not chill the hearts of the South, nor the hearts of the northern scholars, this is the foundation of the country, can not be shaken.”

Zhang Anshi comforted, “Brother-in-law don’t think about this for now, first recuperate in these few days.”

After a pause, Zhang Anshi couldn’t help but say, “If brother-in-law has any failures, what will you teach sister and Zhanji and me to do?”

Zhu Gaoqi nodded.

Zhang Anshi went out of the bedchamber, and Zhu Zhanji chased after him.

Zhang Anshi said with a few rare moments of solemnity, “Your father is sick and you are still hiding in the corner, do you still have a conscience? If you treat your father like this today, how can you still be filial to your uncle in the future?”

Zhu Zhanji drooped his head and looked sad: “I’m also afraid that something will happen to father, I’m just used to standing there, A-Uncle taught me to keep my eyes and ears open, and to be careful and cautious of everyone else except my own family.”

Zhang Anshi’s face milded down, stroking his head, and patiently said again, “Good boy, well, your father is not in any serious trouble, and he will be fine after a few days of recuperation, so don’t look so worried.”

Zhu Zhanji said, “I’m not only worried about my father’s condition, but also …… also …… also …… Imperial Grandpa, I don’t know what happened, suddenly sent a few people to teach me to read, and taught me to memorize the Four Books every day… …I …… I ……”

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “You are now learning knowledge. Learn well, it doesn’t matter. Look at your uncle, today can have such achievements, is not because of good learning? You have to learn from your uncle.”

Zhu Zhanji said bitterly, “But …… Uncle ……”

Zhang Anshi put away his laughter and said angrily, “Alright, don’t say anything after that.”

Zhu Zhanji cocked his head and thought, “Can you really rule the world after learning the Analects?”

Zhang Anshi said very directly, “No.”

“But why do they say it’s okay to learn?”

“And you shouldn’t always believe what those people say.”

“Then I won’t learn.”

Zhang Anshi gritted his teeth and said, “Come, Uncle will teach you a truth. You sit down.”

So Zhu Zhanji sat on the steps in front of the temple.

Zhang Anshi said, “Do you know that there is a kind of grave robber in this world?”

Zhu Zhanji was appalled, “There are still such people?”

Zhang Anshi said, “The first thing this grave robber has to learn is the art of Feng Shui. Do you know why?”

Zhu Zhanji then looked at Zhang Anshi in confusion and said, “I don’t understand.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Learning the art of Feng Shui is not because grave robbers learn this and can find luxurious tombs based on Feng Shui alone. Rather, it was because those honorable and well-heeled people were convinced of those Feng Shui practitioners, and when they chose their own tombs, they would often pick on a good location for the tomb based on the advice of the Feng Shui practitioners. In this way, those grave robbers, as long as they follow the feng shui masters and know which some places are auspicious locations for feng shui, they will surely be able to find big tombs there. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Letting you learn the Four Books and Five Classics is not for you to rely on the Four Books and Five Classics to govern the world, these things are useless, but after you have learned these things by and large, you have figured out the minds of the hundred officials, and the readers. After mastering their minds, you can harness them and make them work for you, which is the same thing as a grave robber.”

Zhu Zhanji listened and brightened up, “Got it.”

“But you mustn’t really believe their words; once you do, you lose.”

Zhu Zhanji nodded desperately.

Then he added, “Then who do I believe?”

Zhang Anshi’s hand changed into an inverted eight, then placed it under his chin and head, “You guess.”

Zhu Zhanji said, “It’s not going to be Uncle, is it?”

Zhang Anshi said, “We are family, if we can’t even trust our family members in the world, then who else in the world is trustworthy?”

Zhu Zhanji will be convinced to nod his head, said, “But …… I read yesterday, listening to the masters said, Han Wendi killed his uncle Bo Zhao.”

Zhang Anshi was furious and said with wide eyes, “Damn it, these Confucians have strayed away from our uncle and nephew, we must take more precautions in the future.”

When Zhu Zhanji saw that Zhang Anshi was angry, he didn’t dare to speak.

Zhang Anshi, on the other hand, lowered his voice and said, “In the future, I will secretly teach you the real learning, you do not tell others …….”

Zhu Zhanji looked at Zhang Anshi with a suspicious gaze.

…………

Nanjing Tribute House.

This place is adjacent to the Fuzi Temple.

Here, Xie Jin four examiners, has long been seated.

In the coming days, they will need to review thousands and thousands of rolls.

From these, more than four hundred gold-standard people were selected.

This is definitely an intense job, after all, countless candidates’ lives depend on this small paper.

Although it is a bit funny for future generations, the world’s elite, who regarded the eight-legged essay as everything, suffered all their lives just to make a good essay that could soar to the top of the world.

But for the readers of this era, especially for Xie Jin and others, this is no more sacred.

Two days of marking in a row.

Almost everyone was tired.

From being fresh in the beginning, it’s become nothing but boring.

In fact, the vast majority of people can’t even make it to the point of the paper, so it can be considered a non-starter.

Reading more articles like this will only wear you down.

After a long time, someone suddenly said, “Huh ……”

A voice broke the silence in this otherwise extremely quiet Minglun Hall of the Tribute Courtyard.

The one who made the sound was Hu Yan, the priest of the State Scholarship Academy.

As one of the four examiners, at this moment, Hu Yan’s face was grave.

He then got up and walked to the examiner, Xie Jin.

“Duke Xie, this article …… is somewhat alternative.”

Xie Jin heard alternative, the first reaction is disgust, subconsciously, said: “Some readers, claptrap, such articles …… are really not in the stream, such crazy students, not to cure is good!”

It’s also true that once in a while, the markers always come across a couple of crazy people.

The word “alternative” is never a good word, which also means deviation from the way of the world, which is the most disgusting for people like Xie Jin.

Hu Yan is a bitter smile and shook his head and said, “Not also, not also, Xie Gong, you and see the style of this text.”

Xie Jin had to endure the disgust, mainly because his impression of Hu Yan now is also very bad, Hu Yan this person, on the surface of the obsequious, in fact …… not honest.

But the words to this point, Xie Jin still picked up the examination paper to see, this look, but the face is also heavy.

This style of writing is the eight-legged essay no mistake, not a word more, not a word less, belonging to the most serious eight-legged.

There is also absolutely nothing to pick on, whether it’s breaking, taking on, starting, middle, or after.

The breaking of the subject is very moderate, but when it comes to the bearing of the subject, the meaning becomes deeper and deeper, and it begins to cascade into the exposition of the saint’s point of view.

And this kind of wave like a wave of the situation, but Xie Jin has never seen before.

Compared to the other eight …… this article is eye-opening, yet it is by no means of the offbeat variety.

“The original eight shares, actually can be written in this way?” Xie Jin was greatly surprised: “I really don’t know which one of the talented person made.”

It’s just a shame that the papers are paste names.

Xie Jin didn’t know the answer either.

Instead, all of a sudden, but will Hu Guang, Yang Rong two people also attracted to, especially Hu Guang, Hu Guang was also a scholar, he will be the examination paper after reading, then love to say: “This article candidates, must be our Jiangxi people.”

When the crowd heard this, they couldn’t help but laugh, while Xie Jin said, “How can I see that?”

Hu Guang said: ”That goes without saying? You see this article, very sophisticated, only our Jiangxi talent, can do so old-fashioned! And so the style, really a precedent, the old man read countless articles, have not seen someone so innovative, in my humble opinion, must be Jiangxi talent undoubtedly.”

Xie Jin also could not help but laugh: “must be the Jishui County talent, I heard, Jishui County in the past two years, and out of a few virtuous, could it be one of them?”

Among these four people, most of them were from Jishui County, only Hu Yan was more miserable, he was from Nanchang Prefecture in Jiangxi Province, he stroked his beard and said, “But is that the one called Zeng Jie?”

Yang Rong coughed and said, “Gentlemen, we are examiners, so guessing the name of a candidate is ultimately inappropriate.”

When the people heard this, they seemed to understand, so they took their seats again.

Xie Jin took the test paper, pondered for a moment, raised his pen, and wrote the verdict on this paper.

………………

In the Five Military Commanders’ Palace.

Several governors were sitting idly together.

At this time, Qiu Fu said, “I heard that recently, the lifters in the capital have been restless, and soon the list will be unveiled, so I don’t know what is going to happen.”

Speaking of this, Zhu Neng came to energy, smiled and said, “You do not know it, I heard that …… Gu Cheng s grandson really went to the test.”

“Oh?” Duke of Wei Xu Huizu said, “Those of us, but there are no children or grandchildren to go to the test, I’m ashamed to say.”

Zhu Neng exuberantly said, “Those who did not go to the exam are only good, you are not aware, Gu Chengdu cried, he and I drink, crying heartbreakingly, said that his grandchildren had to go to the exam, the day before the exam, that night, his grandchildren also cried.”

“Crying? For what.”

“It says that he can’t do the questions.” Zhu Neng eyebrows fluttered colorful said: “You think about it, this question will not do, he examined a what? Hey …… finished, finished, disgraceful, poor Gu Cheng a lifetime of fame, was this grandson lost, if the white paper, it will be a laughing stock.”

Qiu Fu laughed and scolded: “浜忎綘杩樼瑧寰楀嚭鏉ワ紝鏀炬閭ｄ竴澶╁晩锛屾垜浠彁浜嗚€侀厭锛屽幓鐪嬬湅浠栵紝浠栦篃涓嶅鏄擄紝灏辫繖涔堜竴涓瓩鍎匡紝鍐嶅璇翠簡锛屾垜浠殑鍎垮瓙锛岃繕鏄姪鏁欏憿銆�”

Zhu Neng then held his face: “Hey, I actually forgot this, haha …… haha …… my son has been pitched for so long, finally now also raised his eyebrows, can pit others, glorious ancestors ah! ”

Chu Neng let out a pig-killing laugh.

For several days in a row, rain fell in the capital.

Zhang Anshi with four people, in the Qixia ferry fried fish for fun, here, it is his world, no one can control, and therefore the pain is incomparable, not happy.

This ferry is also beginning to come into order, and this place is turning into a transit point for countless ferries and merchant ships.

Zhang Anshi even planned to set up the headquarters of Brother Shipbuilding here.

But by this time, the time for the release of the list had finally arrived.

Although he had relaxed for a few days, Zhang Anshi was still quite nervous.

In fact, he didn’t know if the method worked or not.

However, Zhang Anshi got up early in the morning and first called Zhang San.

Zhang San piled on the smiles and said, “Your Excellency, getting up this early today?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Have you printed the book you were taught to print last time?”

“A few months earlier to start printing.” Zhang San said, “These months down, looking for a number of printing workshops, just your son to print 100,000 books …… this whole city workshop, small all looking for all, to the present day, also only printed out 80,000 books.”

Zhang Anshi scolded, “If it is not enough, you can go to seek the booksellers in Zhenjiang and Suzhou to print it, you …… guy.”

Zhang San only grimaced bitterly and didn’t say anything.

Zhang Anshi said, “Go fetch the sample book.”

Zhang San went off in a huff as if he had been pardoned, and a few moments later, returned panting, handing a sample book to Zhang Anshi.

But I saw that on the book cover of such a book, it was written: “Zhang Anshi’s eight-legged pen talk” seven words.

Zhang Anshi said, “Distribute them to booksellers everywhere and tell them to sell a book for three taels of silver, not a penny less.”

Zhang San seemed to be shocked, exclaimed, “Selling so expensive, other books, are only sold for one or two hundred Wen, Gongzi, you still know the eight shares? Ahem …… what I mean is that the booksellers may refuse to get on this book.”

Zhang Anshi said: “Then put out my brother Yang Shiqi’s name to come, really not, you hit my teacher Hu Yan recommended can, in short, hurry up on the book, do not nagging, the bookseller to sell a book, we give them fifty money rebate is.”

“Oh.” This time, Zhang San no longer talk more, nodded and went to be busy, but he still has some loss in his heart, after all, …… it is inevitable that he will be ridiculed for going here.

Zhang Anshi was instantly in a better mood.

This printing, too, cost him more than ten thousand taels of silver.

Whether it’s a loss or a gain depends on Gu Xingzu.

Let’s hope it’s not a bloodbath.

Then, Zhang Anshi met up with the three murderers in the capital, and then sought out Gu Xingzu and flew all the way to the Tribute Academy.

To the outside of the Tribute Academy, the place is already crowded, not only more than tens of thousands of readers to see the list, there are also many good people.

There are also some Xiucai, although they are not qualified to take the examination, but also hope to come to increase their knowledge.

Plus a few that are counting on giving the news to get the wedding money.

Quite a number of cargo men, seeing this opportunity, picked up various kinds of food, weaving in and out of the crowd, so lively.

At this point, the crowd is loud.

Zhu Yong relying on his tall stature, in front of the road, squeezing away many weak readers, soon, Zhang Anshi a few, has appeared under the list.

Of course, the list hasn’t started posting yet, so everyone is just waiting against a blank wall.

Many people in the back of this were talking, saying all sorts of gossip and speculating about the results of this one.

Of course …… southerners and northerners with accents have a lot of hatred for each other.

There are already quite a few northern scholars, began to complain: “This examiner are all southerners, and are all from Jiangxi, must look down on our northern scholars.”

“Back when Emperor Hongwu was around, they would rather go toe-to-toe with him than admit us.”

Naturally, there are also southern readers provocative: “This examination, than the nature of who is doing well in the article, willing to gamble to admit defeat, are all readers, there is no skill is not as good as refused to recognize the account?”

“What did you say? What did you say?”

The crowd was in an uproar.

Fortunately, here, has long been installed a number of wearing civilian clothes of the five cities military division lieutenant, busy people separated.

It didn’t take long, but a number of readers automatically parted a path.

With that, several readers appeared under the list.

These few people, wearing Confucian shirts, but all of them are glowing, looking at the extraordinary appearance.

Apparently, many readers recognized them, so they heard people whispering, “These few, they are all talented people from Jishui, I had the chance to read their essays, and I’m really impressed.”

“That one is Tsang Kai, and that one is called Zhou Shu, and the other one is called Zhou Mengqi …… These three …… have the best articles.”

“They should be sure to win this time, but I don’t know if they’ll make the top list.”

Many people looked at the Tsang Kai few with envy.

There are times when you do have to be convinced when you come across certain people who can do a better job of writing than you can by lying down.

Tsang Kai seemed unimpressed by all this and just smiled. Instead, he saw Gu Xingzu between glances and couldn’t help but say, “Isn’t this wise brother, the Gu Tongnian we met last time?”

Gu Xingzu looked at Zeng Kai, then up at Zhang Anshi.

Zhang Anshi said, “Fool, say hello to someone.”

Gu Xingzu then went up and said, “Hello again.”

Seeing this, Zeng Kai said, “Last time you said you did well on the exam ……”

The words were not too loud or too small, and though the place was noisy, they were heard by those who were on the side.

These people who heard it then looked at Gu Xingzu oddly.

That’s refreshing, and there are people who say they did well on the test.

This guy wouldn’t be a ……

Someone muttered, “I know him, he’s the grandson of a marquis who studied under Zhang Anshi.”

“Hahahahaha ……”

Someone, I don’t know who, let out a big laugh.

For a moment, the list-watchers were pleasantly surprised.

Even Mr. Tsang Kai couldn’t help but lose his smile, but said, “Gu Tongnian, they’re just joking, don’t mind.”

On the contrary, Zhang Anshi was on fire and said in a cold voice, “Can a joke be made like this? Why can’t you mind? Damn, it’s fortunate that my fourth brother didn’t bring any gunpowder, otherwise, none of you would be able to run away.”

When the crowd heard this, they were shocked.

Tsang Kai was also dumbstruck. On that side, Zhou Mengqi tugged at Tsang Kai’s sleeve, signaling him to stop worrying and read the list.

Zhang Anshi then, also stopped paying attention to them.

Just then, finally a gong rang, ready to release the list.

For a moment, the crowd shrugged.

There was also no one who bothered about Zhang Anshi’s amazing words just now.

Everyone held their heads high, waiting for the messengers to post a list, on the high wall.

And the crowd grew quiet.

It’s only very occasionally that someone suddenly shouts, “Haha, I won, I won.”

More people …… are just extraordinarily nervous.

Zhang Anshi didn’t see Gu Xingzu’s name.

However, see a few surnamed Zeng did not go, the heart will roughly understand that there should be a list after.

So continue to wait patiently.

Gu Xingzu felt this hundred claws scratching his heart for the first time, and he looked at it again and again, and was disappointed again and again.

When it comes down to it, you can’t help but feel a little lost inside.

Been doing the questions for so long …… hey ……

Right at this moment, someone cried out, “The Heavenly Ranking is here, the Heavenly Ranking is here.”

With that, a piece of red paper was taped to the wall.

The vast majority of people, who are used to being at the back of the self list, look all the way forward.

Zhang Anshi was not exempt from this, and by the time he saw the tenth place, he already had some anxiety in his heart.

Maybe …… this Gu Xingzu is considered to be folded, it doesn t matter, go back and beat up will be good, it s just a pity …… that he lost so much silver.

When he saw the third and fourth, he saw the names of that Zhou Mengqi and Zhou Shu.

At this time, has begun to talk: “Damn, how the front again are all Jiangxi people, are that Jishui County …… injustice …… injustice ah …… ”

The second place …… is Tsang Kai.

Zhang Anshi glanced at Zeng Kai in surprise, never expecting that this guy was this powerful.

Tsang Kai, on the other hand, had a lost look on his face.

Like it was a bad test and a disgrace.

Zhang Anshi continued to look upwards, and suddenly, a name appeared in Zhang Anshi’s eyes, “Gu Xingzu.”

Zhang Anshi’s entire body was confused.

He thought to himself that with Gu Xingzu’s level, it would be good enough to win the list.

How is it possible that just …… is ranked #1?

Behind them, there was chaos and shouting and cursing everywhere.

…………

Thanks to HJZ665 for being the 14th ally in this book, a million thanks, hats off, love you.

P.S. The next chapter will be updated on August 9th at 0am. This book was first published in the starting point, welcome to read it in the starting point app.