Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 1741 Life
Amidst the heavy rain and snow, Tongguang's ten-year imperial examination was held as scheduled.

The scientific examination, which was once a hot topic, has become less popular this year.

No one talks about it anymore because everything is a fact.

After the imperial examination reform, we have taken the exam three times. Many vested interest groups have emerged. A new path has begun to take shape. Many things are not so easy to go back to.

This year, the departments of construction and medicine were added, and they are divided according to the course.Agricultural science, which was the first to be added, has received its third imperial examination, and Ming Calculation and Mingfa has received its second. Everything is proceeding step by step.

There are faint rumors in the court that the next scientific examination in three years' time may slightly reduce the number of Jinshi admissions, compressing them to less than a hundred people.It has not yet been decided who the approximately ten extra spots will be allocated to.

Reform has never stopped.

People must be responsible for themselves and their families.

The number of candidates this year is also the highest in history, nearly 4000.

The farthest comes from the Erie Valley.

They took the Bingong Jinshi exam, which is a separate quota.After passing the exam, you can be an official in Daxia or return to the Yili Valley to be an official, just like the story of the former Tang Dynasty.

There are also people from places like the Seven Sacred States of the Grassland coming to do scientific research.They are geographically affiliated with Liaodong Road, and they also use Liaodong's quota.To be honest, their level is still very poor and there is almost no chance of passing the exam.

But no matter what, these Han, Xi, Khitan, and Tatar students still have to give it a try. The important thing is to participate.What if the examiners were collectively blinded or blinded by lard and admitted them?
It doesn't matter if you fail the exam.As township tribute scholars recommended at the county level and who passed the state examination, they are already "high-end talents" in the local area. At worst, they will return to their hometowns to become small officials and minor officials, focusing on cultivating their children and grandchildren.After several generations or more than a dozen generations, maybe they will pass the exam?

The world's elites danced gracefully under the baton of the imperial examination without daring to make any mistakes.

……

Shao Shude stood on the tall building and looked at the students filing in.

The cold sleet was beating in front of him, and he stared at the entrance intently as if unaware.

"Life is short, it lasts only a few decades. I have done so many things, whether they are sins or merits. Haha!" Shao Shude flicked his sleeves and walked down the tall building.

His face was unusually rosy, as if his heroic ambition to fight on the battlefield had returned when he was young.

He remembered the heroism of the Zhelu Army City, where he shot three arrows in a row and killed two of Li Keyong's men.

He recalled the scene in Jinyang City where he cut off the copper locks with an ax and distributed the money and silk in the treasury to the sergeants.

He remembered how Tuoba Sigong was afraid of the military power outside Youzhou City and fled without fighting.

He recalled the tens of thousands of people marching along the Yellow River during the attack on Helong, showing their arrogance and ambition.

He remembered the Battle of Shengaoyi in Guanzhong. The soldiers' morale was so high that they defeated more than [-] men of Meng Kai and drove them into the Wei River.

He recalled that when Huang Chao retreated, all the troops were fearful, and he was the only one who pursued bravely to the gate of Wuguan City.

He thought of the difficult battles after leaving the east.

He thought of the reforms that were implemented after a lot of effort and effort, and after his hair turned white.

He thought of too many people.

……

Only the Spring and Autumn Period can tell me that I have sinned. There is a similar saying in the West: Only God can judge me!
People in this world are not qualified to judge me.

After leaving the Ministry of Rites, he went straight to the Longxi County Mansion in Anyefang.

The boots creaked through the crystal clear rain and snow as they entered the central hall, passed through the courtyard, and came to a bedroom full of medicinal fragrance.

Several people waiting outside the bedroom door hurriedly saluted. Shao Shude waved his hand and went straight in. He lifted the hem of his robe and sat on the hut in front of the bed.

The old man on the couch looked gloomy. After seeing Shao Shude come in, a slight smile appeared on his face.

"Your Majesty, I have remembered many old events in Jinyang." Chen Cheng said softly.

Shao Shude raised his head, thought about it, and said, "I remember it too."

"At that time, I still had some selfish motives." Chen Cheng sighed: "After the difficulties, it was not that there were no civil servants to lead the army. The thousands of sergeants who came from the Zhaoyi Army were all good men, and I still wanted to lead them. But later I found that I really can’t carry it away.”

"I have forgotten many things, but I still remember what happened that year." Shao Shude laughed unconsciously and said: "Chen Qing said at that time, 'To be honest, general, I didn't leave last year because I had some selfish motives.' Now Only then did he realize that he was not the material to lead troops. He was left with little support and could no longer maintain his position.'"

Chen Cheng also smiled.

40 years later, looking back on those past events brings a lot of emotion.

"Lao Li was a little disappointed when I saw you coming." Shao Shude laughed and said, "Later, he came to me in private several times and said that outsiders cannot be trusted."

Chen Cheng always maintained a faint smile.

It is normal for a small group that has been working well together to suddenly join a group of outsiders and replace his original position of "providing advice".

But groups always develop, and there are always new people joining.

Li Yanling is actually very good.

He knows the limits of his abilities, works hard to do his job well, and is always improving.With such old brothers and colleagues, what else is there to say?
Whether it's kindness or resentment, at this point, it's time to look away.

"Later, I had to be appointed the governor of Suizhou. Did your heart freeze after you came?" Shao Shude joked.

"Suizhou is actually pretty good." Chen Cheng shook his head gently: "His Majesty brought three thousand elite troops to take office, and was supported by Marshal Zhuge. Xia Sui Town was your Majesty's sooner or later. At that time, I was deliberately planning to eliminate the generals in the town. Unexpectedly, His Majesty is even better at this. After the four towns of Xia Sui, Shuofang, Tiande, and Zhenwu were unified, they were then integrated into the Dangxiang tribes, and the situation was complete."

"I'm so lucky to have Chen Qing." Shao Shude sighed and said.

After he finished speaking, there was a long silence in the room.The snowflakes hit the window lattice and made a rustling sound.

The north wind whimpered, like a call to the soul.

"Old Chen, do you still have any unfulfilled wishes?" Shao Shude suddenly said: "Old brothers, there are priorities. I am walking a few steps late and have some concerns, which I can handle for you."

"Your Majesty..." Chen Cheng shed two drops of turbid tears from the corners of his eyes, shook his head gently and said, "My life has been complete and I have no regrets."

Shao Shude was silent.

Are there really no regrets?There are many regrets in life.When you are young, young, middle-aged and even old, you taste regret, remorse, reluctance, sadness, all kinds of tastes one by one. How many people are truly completely relieved when they leave?
"Is there anything else you want to say to me?" Shao Shude asked.

Another long silence.

"Your Majesty, take care of the dragon body." Chen Cheng's vague sigh rang out in the silent room.

"Okay!" Shao Shude nodded and said no more.

When they parted, the differences between the monarch and his ministers had long since disappeared.

Decades of planning, decades of exhaustive consideration, decades of handling government affairs, decades of affection.In the face of these, what does a little disagreement, disagreement, dispute, and confusion mean?

The monarch and his ministers faced each other in silence, but everything was silent.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and Chen Cheng's sons came in to visit several times.When he saw Shao Shude, he was respectful and very nervous.

Shao Shude said a few pleasant words to them, and then sat on the bed.

Medical officers from the Imperial Medical Office also came in from time to time.In fact, they were already at their wits' end and just talked about personnel matters.

Shao Shude didn't look at them either, sometimes he just kept thinking about something.

People came and went without attracting his attention.

How many people in this world can occupy a place in his heart?Less and less.

Gentle yet firm social changes feel strange to many people.

Why doesn't the world where his old brothers leave one after another feel strange to him?
He thought of Li Keyong's murmur before his death: "I'm tired..."

Yes, his life is too rich and he has done too many things, so why isn't he tired?
"Your Majesty..." the medical officer of the Imperial Medical Office reminded softly.

Shao Shude came back to his senses and looked at the bed.

Chen Cheng was already furious and kept looking at him.

He clutched his bony hand.

"Your Majesty, take care." Chen Cheng shed tears again.

"You go first to recruit warriors for me, and I will come later." Shao Shude said.

The corners of Chen Cheng's mouth opened slightly, and he slowly settled on this.

The imperial doctor looked on, wanting to step forward but not daring to do so.

Chen Cheng's children and grandchildren also crowded in. They wanted to cry but did not dare to cry for fear of disturbing the saint.

After a long time, Shao Shude let go of Chen Cheng's already cold hands, stood up and tucked him in, and said: "The Ministry of Rites, Honglu Temple, and Taichang Temple will work together to handle the funeral. My old brother is gone, how can I not be without him?" Pomp and circumstance.”

After saying that, he left the bedroom and came to the courtyard.

The sky has darkened, and the rain and snow have not stopped.

He walked casually into the rain and snow, and the guards quickly held up the umbrella cover.

The wind and snow are getting heavier and the north wind is getting stronger.

Even with the umbrella cover, the rain and snow still fell on Shao Shude mercilessly, even blurring his eyes.

The last journey of life is actually so obscure, dark and difficult to distinguish.

At this moment, warm lights slowly lit up in the streets and alleys of Luoyang.

Every family sat together and enjoyed dinner calmly and peacefully.Occasionally, there were a few laughters of satisfaction and joy, which seemed to be the most beautiful music in the world.

Shao Shude walked faster and faster, and became more determined as he walked.

What was the initial ideal?Don’t you just want to see the peaceful scene of thousands of lights?

He recalled the scene when Yang Yue was given a banquet at the head of Xiazhou City and asked him to send troops.

In the crucial battle of life's rise, Yang Yue confided in his heart, saying that he was loyal to Xia Sui's Wanjia Denghuang.

It is said that loyalty is not absolute, but it is absolutely disloyal.Is Yang Yue loyal?

Everyone has a different definition of loyalty, so why be harsh?Seek common ground while shelving differences and tolerate each other for the sake of the country. There are not so many black and white things in the world, but more complicated and changeable grays.

At this moment, just as at that moment.

The lights and laughter of thousands of houses in Luoyang were the signposts in Shao Shude's stormy journey in his later years.

With their guidance, you will not be confused in life, and finally accept the ending moment calmly.

(End of this chapter)