The number one scholar of the Song Dynasty

The Provincial Examination in the Song Dynasty had to test the meaning of the scriptures, with Chinese sentences in the scriptures as the topic, and the examinees wrote essays to clarify their meanings. Later, in the Ming Dynasty, it evolved into stereotyped essays.

Yang Lin will go to the capital to take the provincial examination in the spring of next year, so naturally he has to learn from the past. Fortunately, he has inherited the original memory and has a certain level of imperial examination.

Boring, Yang Lin really felt the boring life of scholars in the old era. In this era of severe lack of entertainment, he didn't even have to watch his mother's Jin Gongmei. Every day in this small courtyard, he was almost going crazy.

Covering his face with the book, his mind was full of random thoughts, when he suddenly heard the sound of sneaky footsteps.

"Stop!" Yang Lin knew it was her maid, Jin'er, without looking at it. She took down the book and it was her. The little girl was holding a basket in her hand, wearing a green narrow-sleeved short jacket, and a tight-fitting half-arm jacket. Cute double bun.Hearing Yang Lin's shout, Jin'er stopped in her tracks, still maintaining a shy and sneaky look.

"Hee hee, master, are you awake?"

In the past, Yang Lin was a righteous gentleman, everyone respected him, and the little maid who was close to him was not afraid of him, on the contrary, he had a feeling of admiration similar to that of an elder brother.

Yang Lin snorted coldly, and deliberately asked with a straight face: "What are you going to do?"

"Now that the water chestnuts are ripe, Sister Chunhua from the Chen Mansion next door invited me to pick water chestnuts. The young master is waiting for me to come back and cook for you."

As soon as Yang Lin heard that picking water chestnuts and going boating, such an emotional thing is not as interesting as reading the Analects here, so he smiled and said: "What's the fun of picking water chestnuts with the village flower, why not go with the young master, and let me clean up the water together. go."

Jin'er covered her mouth and snickered: "She's called Chunhua, not a village flower, the young master really knows how to make fun of people. It's good to go with the young master, but the young master is going to have a big exam soon, don't you need to read at home?"

"An insight into the world is knowledge, and understanding of human feelings is an article. Young master, I am full of knowledge, so I still need to read these. What can I learn when I am bored at home."

Wearing a long gown and holding a bone fan in his hand, Yang Lin turned around and asked, "How is it, young master's appearance?"

Jin'er found that the young master was not quite the same as before, she just thought it was the sequelae of his recovering from a serious illness, and didn't take it to heart.Hearing this, he said with a smile: "The young master is handsome and suave, let's go, or we won't be able to come back if it's too late."

Yang Lin pinned the fan to his waist. At this time, he wears the fan purely for the sake of looking good. Only fools really shake the fan in late autumn.Touching Jin'er's buns, he said with a smile: "What is the identity of the young master, how can he go on foot, go and inform Yang San to prepare a carriage."

Jin'er cheered and skipped to prepare the horse. Yang Lin stretched his waist and looked at the sky outside, feeling a little excited in his heart. After coming for so long, he finally wanted to go out to see Da Song's appearance.

In autumn, I look at the heart and look at Bilian through the water.Singing out of Zhao Nu's song, dancing into Jiangnan strings.

Outside the city of Yangzhou, the northern section of Baobao Lake, which is later called Slender West Lake, is Jiuqu Pool.

There are three or five small boats in the lake, carrying the people in the city, to go boating and pick lotus.

This season is the season when water chestnuts are fragrant. There are several hectares of lotus flowers in Jiuqu Pond, blue lotus stretching to the sky, and mature water chestnuts, which attract little girls to bend down and knees to pick them. It is a different kind of scenery.From time to time, clear and beautiful singing came from the lake, and those familiar with it knew that this must be a rich family visiting the lake with prostitutes.

Yang Lin sat on the bow of the boat, looking at the scenery of the south of the Yangtze River, fascinated.Jin'er has small arms and legs, but Cailing is very familiar, and the basket is already full after a while.

"Brother Wen Yuan!" Suddenly there was a loud shout from the boat next door, Yang Lin ignored it at first, but later the man kept shouting, Yang Lin remembered his surname Yang Lin and the word Wen Yuan.

Standing up and turning around, I saw several scholars standing in the bow of the boat next door, waving and shouting.

It can be seen that Yang Lin's popularity is good. After all, he is rich and generous, and he has always been the one who pays silently in the academy.Moreover, this person was originally a scholar who was extremely strict with himself, and he had no bad habits, so he couldn't even hate him.

The two boats docked in the lake, Yang Lin took Jin'er to board the boat, took a quick look, there were no less than dozens of people on the boat.There are maids and singers, scholars and officials, and it seems that the new imperial examinations gather here.

A middle-aged man in the center, with a white face like jade, and fluttering beard and hair, did not get up when he saw Yang Lin board the boat, and all the scholars and officials around him surrounded him.Of course Yang Lin recognized this person, he was Cai Jing, the magistrate of Yangzhou, and the future leader of the six thieves of the Northern Song Dynasty.This old man will rule Huizong's government for decades in the future, but he hasn't made a fortune yet.

Before he had time to greet his classmates, Yang Lin clasped his fists and said, "Student Yang Lin, I have met Mr. Fu Zun."

From the looks of Cai Jing alone, he definitely doesn't look bad, and he even has some celebrity demeanor.He chatted, laughed and feasted with the scholars in the painting boat, and he was integrated into one body without relying on his identity. He laughed and said, "Wen Yuan doesn't need to be too polite. You are our Jieyuan in this subject, and you are going to help us Yangzhou scholars." Feel proud and strive to win the Guichan Palace."

Yang Lin thought to himself that if he wanted to make a difference in the Song Dynasty, he would have to rely on this treacherous official in the next few years. As for their loyalty and traitor, it was not that important.

If one really aspires to be an upright official with a clean sleeve, he may not be able to enter the court. When the time comes, he will go south, and if he has no power in his hands, he will die and be righteous. It is really useless to leave a false name in future generations.A real man is born in troubled times, so he can't be powerless for a day.

"Students must do their best not to embarrass the lord."

Cai Jing's expression changed. I heard that this kid is a pedantic nerd, but I didn't expect that he could talk.

Yang Lin continued: "Students heard that today they admire Fu Zun's literary talent, excellent calligraphy and painting, boldly assert that Fu Zun will be used, and congratulate him in advance."

Cai Jing's heart skipped a beat, his hand holding the wine glass trembled slightly, and when he looked at Yang Lin again, he raised his eyebrows slightly.On the mouth, he said lightly: "There are so many talents around the official family, so I, the relegated old official, will get my turn, Wen Yuan, don't speak nonsense."

The longing in this guy's eyes was about to overflow, and what he said seemed to be self-effacing, but in fact, he meant some questioning. Yang Lin understood it, and after he sat down, he turned and said to Jin'er: "Go to the side of the boat and call Yang San, get off the boat and go back to Jin'er." The government asked my father to prepare a generous gift, saying that I will visit the magistrate tonight."

Chapter 3 Father and Son Together

At the beginning of the Chinese lanterns, the bustling city of Yangzhou is unabated, and the restaurants and brothels are brightly lit.

When Yang Lin returned to the mansion, the moment the door opened, he saw two carriages at the door.

"Lin'er, you're back." Yang Tong rubbed his hands and stood aside, looking like he had been waiting for a long time.

His father was obese and could not stand for a long time, Yang Lin frowned and reprimanded: "Yang San, why don't you move a chair for my father."

"Hey, don't talk about him, it's my father who stood up for me. For my father, Lin'er put aside her scholarly integrity to visit the magistrate. I feel bad for my father."

Yang Lin was speechless for a while, Yang Tong took it for granted that he visited the magistrate, thinking that he was running for him to bribe the exam, he never thought that it was for his own future.

The image of myself as an upright gentleman has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people after more than ten years of accumulation by my predecessor.But this is not a bad thing, of course reputation is useful, especially in this era.

Yang Lin, who had no intention of defending himself, opened the vehicle behind him, only to see that it was full of jewels, and the rich merchants of the Song Dynasty were not short of money, especially in places like Yangzhou.

"Yang San, let's go. Dad, you are waiting for my news at home, don't worry about it."

After speaking, Yang Lin got into another carriage and rushed to Cai's mansion in the dark.

Cai Jing's mansion is not far from Yang's house, just across a street. After handing over the name cards, they were led in without notification.

It seems that Cai Jing has already ordered, hehe, how can this old thief be so indifferent during the day, this guy's pursuit of power may have reached the point of madness.

"Master has ordered, please ask Yang Jieyuan to talk in the study."

Yang Lin's identity is Xie Yuan of the government examination, so he will definitely become an official. Even if there is no daytime business, he would be polite when he walked to the magistrate's house. After all, Cai Jing is not the traitor who has power over the government and the public.

Entering the study room, the red candles shone brightly like daytime, and there were several calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall for Cai Jing to observe.Cai Jing's calligraphy and paintings are really not blown out. If it weren't for his status as a treacherous minister, later generations should praise this calligrapher and painter even more.

Cai Jing was dressed at home, with a white cloth wrapped around his head, his hair was wet, it seemed that he had just bathed.

Yang Lin adjusted his long gown outside the door, straightened his crown, sang his name loudly, and then stepped into the room.

"Student Yang Lin, I have met the Fu Zun."

"Wen Yuan, why did you come here late at night?"

The old thing is really good at pretending, Yang Lin cursed from the bottom of his heart, but said respectfully: "I am here to congratulate the nobleman on his promotion, and he will be able to enter the temple and help the community."

Cai Jing's face sank like water, and he waved his hands with a smile: "Oh? Wen Yuan's news is good enough, I don't know it yet, so are you sure that my house can enter the court?"

There are only two concubines in the study at this time, standing behind Cai Jing to serve, Yang Lin glanced around, stepped forward and said: "The student has something to say, and he must speak to the master alone."

Cai Jing waved his hand, and the two concubines paid back, leaving only two people in the study.

"Fu Zun, the student's attainment of Zhong Jie Yuan is nothing more than taking shelter from the Fu Zun's care, how can he not repay his kindness. Even if he is an official in the same hall in the future, the student will follow the Fu Zun.