Civil servants of the Tang Dynasty

"Zhao Pu is a rough man, he doesn't think too much, and he has already written a letter of allegiance in front of His Highness, but he wrote such a thing in his capacity as a general of Wanqijun, because he wants to change from now on. Don’t dare anymore, you can rest assured on this section.”

"If it weren't for my force, Zhao Pu would have come to his senses so quickly and walked on the right path? Scold me? There will be a time for him to thank me someday." Tang Cheng stretched out his hand and slapped his knee, "Since we are all our own people, I still look for him Why are you so uncomfortable? Mingzhi, you tell him that from tomorrow onwards he will be able to sleep soundly."

Speaking of this, Tang Cheng, who suddenly remembered something, paused, and fell into a deep thought. Zhang Liang, who knew his tune, gestured to Li Longji, and the two of them didn't speak.

After a while, Tang Cheng smiled and said: "By the way, Mingzhi, you can help spread the word. I need his cooperation for something."

……

The next day, after arriving at Wanqi Commander's Tent, Tang Cheng immediately reported to Wei Bo, saying that Zhao Pu's military discipline training had achieved results in recent days. .

"En", Wei Bowen suddenly asked after thinking for a while: "How are Ge Fushun and Chen Xuanli doing recently?".

"These two people are still in contact with Liu Youqiu, but perhaps because the New Year's Day has passed, their contact is less than that of the ten days. Since receiving the order from the general before the Human Day Festival, the subordinates have focused on The monitoring of them has been strengthened, and it is easy to catch people who are greedy for money in the two personal guards. The restaurant where the three of them often go has also placed one of our people in as a waiter. Judging from the results of monitoring from three aspects Look, the three of you knew each other when Liu Youqiu came to Chang'an to take exams in the previous dynasty. They are old acquaintances. In addition, there is a distant relative between Liu and Ge. As for what the three of them said in the wine shop, So far, nothing unusual has been found.”

"That's good. This general also knows that Prince Xiang is a calm person. The prince also said something when Chen Jianzhi and others launched a palace change to welcome Ersheng back to Beijing from Fangzhou. There should be nothing unusual in his mind." Holding the jade talisman, Wei Bo paused and said: "However, as a general of Wan Qi Lang, he has close contacts with foreign ministers. It's time for Ge Chen to beat him up. This time, let's choose the two of them. If the effect is good, After this time, the whole army can be deployed."

"General wise".

That afternoon, not long after Tang Cheng returned home from Wanqi, Wei Bo's personal commander, Wang Shun, arrived and said that the general had an invitation.

Compared with the first time to give way, Wang Shun is now used to the time-consuming errands given by Tang Cheng.

After sleeved the flying ticket, the smiling Wang Shun looked around and said in a low voice: "Master Qi is here, Master is not in a good mood right now."

With Wang Shun's words as the foundation, Tang Cheng deliberately slowed down when he arrived outside Wei Bo's study. Seeing this, Wang Shun, who was leading the way, twitched his mouth, looked at his sleeves, and finally did not speak, but he cooperated. Slow down your pace a bit.

The study room is originally the quietest place in the mansion, and even the servants are not allowed to come here unless they are called. In the quiet environment, Wei Rui's persuasive voice came faintly from the study room, "Fifth brother, just listen to me." My younger brother, Wan Qi is nothing compared to others, the sergeants are used to being strong-tempered, and if the bridle is too tight all of a sudden, it can only be too much, now don’t look at their faces, they are really resentful in their hearts, if things go on like this..." .

From the sound alone, Wei Rui really put his heart into it. After a pause, his voice came back to him and said: "If this is normal, the fifth elder brother would have to bow down to his younger brother, but now it is different from other times. My aunt has important matters to deal with, and Wan Qijun really can't have any problems at all. How about this? And after my aunt is done, how about my younger brother personally assisting my fifth brother to do this matter? At that time, even if the soldiers resented the mutiny It doesn't matter anymore, Brother Wu will bear it any longer."

When he got here, Wang Shun, who was walking slowly, was already approaching the door. He didn't dare to delay any longer, and waved to Tang Cheng to signal him to approach, then raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Needless to say the following things, but this time Tang Cheng didn't hold back anymore, and had a debate with Wei Rui in front of Wei Bo.

Tang Cheng respectfully and calmly said that the key to leading the army is authority, and if authority is not established, orders will not work.Wei Rui looked at him with a gloomy face and said that things should change according to the times and not stick to established laws; Stupid, impatient, impatient and whimsical...

The debate between Tang Cheng and Wei Rui was not nonsense, both of them could justify themselves and make sense, and because of this, the soft-tempered and soft-hearted Wei Bo didn't know who to listen to.

Tang Cheng was arguing with Wei Rui, but he was both happy and irritable in his heart. He was happy that Wei Bo and Wei Rui would never take the initiative to call him when he was talking to Wei Rui before, but today he was uncharacteristically obvious. In order to achieve results, under the repeated brainwashing and serial offensives of the guards, Wei Bo has gradually moved to his side without him realizing it. At this time, it is time to increase the fire Time; and what made him irritated was because the firewood for the fire was not supposed to arrive, it was this time that he had agreed with Zhang Liang yesterday, why Zhao Pu's dead goods hadn't arrived yet.

Could it be that Zhang Liang didn't notify Zhao Pu?Tang Cheng kept talking, and his heart was as anxious as a cat's paw scratching.

Just when Tang Cheng was about to be completely disappointed, a boy in the gatehouse knocked on the door and came in, saying that Zhao Lang would see him.

"What is he here for?" Not only did Wei Bo find it strange, even Wei Rui who was talking stopped talking when he heard the news.

"Zhao Pu must have come here for his subordinates," Tang Cheng said with a cold smile.

"Let him in." After dismissing the servant, Wei Bo pointed to the big screen that covered the couch in the room, "You two should listen too."

Tang Cheng was not wrong at all. After Zhao Pu went into the study to exchange greetings, he began to attack Tang Cheng wantonly. He said it more than three times just to avenge his personal revenge.

Behind the screen, Wei Rui listened to Zhao Pu's loud voice, and turned to look at Tang Cheng with sarcasm in his eyes.

Tang Cheng didn't look sideways, and only by holding his breath did he suppress a red tide that looked like anger on his face.

Soon, Wei Rui's sneer could no longer be maintained, because Zhao Pu on the other side of the screen, after attacking Tang Cheng, actually... expressed his heart to Wei Bo sincerely.

Hearing Zhao Pu's voice on the other side of the screen so sincere that he was crying, and then seeing Zhao Pu even knelt down on one knee to pay homage to Wei Bo to show his loyalty and sincerity, Tang Cheng was deeply moved, shit, this is what Zhang Liang said "No mind"?Only Zhao Pu's acting skills are inferior to those second-rate actors in the later generations!

Regarding Zhao Pu's "sincere refuge", Wei Bo on the other side of the screen was silent for a while, obviously a little stunned by this scene, even the three people he regarded as absolutely trustworthy were arranged by the third uncle in advance Yes, it is not his own confidant.Conscience of heaven and earth, since he took up the post of Habayashi, since when did General Wei of Fuyuan enjoy this kind of treatment?I was a little confused for a while.

After being stunned, Wei Bo, who was impatient with Zhao Pu's attack on Tang Cheng just now, suddenly became calm and drizzled. He helped Zhao Pu himself, brought him tea, and after soothing him, he generously promised to supervise the military discipline of Zhao Pu's department Immediately stop the implementation, Zhao Pu is naturally grateful, and then repeat what he said just now.But even so, when Zhao Pu left, he did not forget to put some eye drops on Tang Cheng.

After sending Zhao Puqin to the door of the study and seeing him walking away, Wei Bo said angrily: "He's gone, come out."

After what happened just now, Wei Bo's troubles when he began to listen to the debate between Tang Cheng and Wei Rui have disappeared, and now he is really full of red and full of air.

"Zhao Pu was forced to wake up by the military discipline." The proud Wei Bo was laughing out loud when he suddenly remembered that Tang Cheng had heard Zhao Pu's words, so he immediately stopped smiling, "Wu Que, I've wronged you! This Zhao Pu is just a vulgar bastard, for the sake of this general, you don't have to argue with him from now on."

Hearing this, Tang Cheng held back for a long time before saying in a sullen voice full of unwillingness: "Yes".

"Fifth Brother", Wei Rui, who was standing on the side, was waved away by Wei Bo just as soon as he opened his mouth, "Lao Qi, it's rare for me to be happy today, you stay and have a few glasses of wine with me, and don't say anything else."

……

After arriving at the commander's account the next day, Wei Bo's first order to Tang Cheng was to immediately cancel the military discipline inspection of Zhao Pu's department.

The general had an order, but Tang Cheng had no choice but to obey. After withdrawing from Zhao Pu's department, he turned to Ge and Chen's two departments.

When Ge Fushun and Chen Xuanli saw Tang Cheng rushing towards them with his guards, the expressions on their faces at that moment were really wonderful.

As long as Tang Cheng didn't see this, he was still the same as in Zhao Pu's army, not greeting or being polite, and staring at him with a cold face.

I don't think Ge Fushun's patience is even better than Zhao Pu's. Only twelve days have passed, which is just in February, and he went to Wei Bo's private house to see him. Although the words are different, the meaning is the same as Zhao Pu's. Park was no different back in the day.All in all, there is one sentence: the final general will serve him sincerely from now on, and the general will follow the lead in everything. Besides, it is natural to say bad things about Tang Cheng.

That night, Wei Bo, who was full of joy, hosted a special banquet for Tang Cheng to have a drink. When the wine was hot, Wei Bozhi said loudly with satisfaction: "Wu Que, since you joined our army, you have made great achievements. You will be rewarded for your meritorious deeds. You must be punished, say, what do you want? This general will definitely not refute you."

"Thank you, General." After hearing the words, Tang Cheng stood up and pondered for a moment, then said with a slight smile: "The season has already passed in February, and the examination of the Ministry of Rites is about to start. If the general is convenient, the subordinates want a The quota of the Jinshi department".

Chapter 2: The Eve of the Scientific Examination

Chang'an, Princess Taiping's mansion in Zhenguo.

Looking at the face in the mirror with still delicate skin for a long time, Princess Taiping Li Lingyue smoothed the crow's tail fine lines around her eyes with her fingers and then smiled softly. A person in her fifties can still maintain her appearance no matter what. It's something to be proud of anyway.

It is said that the Lishan Hot Spring has the power of keeping the face young, and it seems that there is some truth to this statement, but it is a pity that the people sent by the Minister of Rites disturbed the hot spring today.

In the past few years, Princess Taiping has always had a hard time living a leisurely life in the days before the scientific examination. There are as many as 3000 people, and the selection is really a labor-intensive job. Talent, education, family background, and background are all taken into consideration. It means that the work that has been done before has to be reorganized.It was not easy to determine who that person was before, and many had even made a wish through the wind. At this juncture, if someone is removed at this juncture, it may not only offend one person, or even a family in the end. Princess Taiping, who was trying her best to win people's hearts at this time, really didn't want to do it.

The more he was afraid of something, the more he would come. This is why the Minister of Rites sent someone here. Seeing that the scientific examination is about to start, the originally planned quota has to be changed.

It's all because the person who greeted the Minister of Rites is too big. Empress Wei, who has never asked about the scientific examination in the past two years, suddenly asked for a place in the Jinshi Department. How could the Minister of Rites refuse?

As foreign relatives, members of the Wei family can be officials because of En Meng, and they don't need to take the Jinshi examination at all, so who has such a big face to ask the queen to be his lobbyist?

After the servants in the palace combed her hair, Princess Taiping looked at her with satisfaction, and then picked up the red letter of greeting from the Minister of Rites that had been placed on the dressing table long ago.

"Tang Cheng, Gongsheng of Dongdao Township in Shannan", Princess Taiping was taken aback when she saw this name, "It turned out to be him?".

Princess Taiping was stunned, and the palace servant who was holding the golden step hairpin for her tilted his hand vigorously, and the tip of the hairpin poked Li Lingyue's face. It came out.

When Jin Bu shook the hairpin and landed on the ground, there was a crisp sound of "snap", the palace attendant didn't realize it, and stared blankly at the drop of blood on the princess's face, and was stupefied.

Unlike the dazed palace servants, Princess Taiping frowned suddenly because of the pain. Seeing the blood dripping on her face, her expression changed immediately. She grabbed the brocade handkerchief on the dressing table to wipe off the blood beads, and carefully looked at it in the Jiang Xin mirror. After seeing no trace of the wound on his face, he let out a breath of relief.

"Princess forgive me", at this time the palace servant finally came to his senses, knelt down and kowtowed again and again, "For the sake of my servant's dedicated service these past few years, I ask Your Highness the Princess to spare this servant."

"Come here", following Princess Taiping's faint order, several palace servants who were preparing dresses outside the dressing room came in.

"Some mistakes can't be made." After saying something to the Qin Gongren who kowtowed like garlic on the ground, Princess Taiping waved her hand: "If you drag it on, you will be punished with a staff of eighty. Pass a message to the second steward, read it in the Qin Palace. In the past few years, it is considered hard work to run errands, and after her death, the family's pension will be doubled, and in addition, arrange a better job for her brother in the village outside the city to support her parents, go!".

"His Royal Highness, please be kind..." Qin Gongren, whose whole body was limp as mud, was half dragged and half helped out before finishing his sentence.

After carefully looking again in the Jiang Xin Mirror in front of her, and making sure that there were no traces on her face, Princess Taiping picked up the greeting card from the Minister of Rites again.

After a while, she stretched out her hand to hold the red rope tied to the dressing table, and not long after, a servant walked in lightly.

"Is the steward at the mansion?" Seeing the servant nodding, Princess Taiping continued: "Please come here quickly, the steward."

After a while, the butler, who was slightly fatter, arrived.

"A few days ago, I asked you to find out about Tang Cheng's details, did you get any results?" Said in the mouth, Princess Taiping handed over the greeting card.

"Tang Cheng?" The butler thought for a while before he recalled such a person, "I have given the princess's order that day, and I will continue to explain it. It should be rewarded after such a long time." After finishing speaking, the butler called in a The palace maid whispered a few words.

After the maid left, the butler frowned and said, "Lu Jili is too irresponsible, when is this kind of post?".

"It's not that he didn't take the responsibility, it's that he couldn't take it at all." From the makeup box, she chose a golden step hairpin carved from ice flower and hibiscus jade, and Princess Taiping said softly while wearing the hairpin: "This Tang Cheng It was ordered by my sister-in-law who wanted to imitate my mother's queen."

"Empress Wei asks for a quota for Tang Cheng?" It wasn't until Princess Taiping nodded and brought the golden step hairpin to jingle, that the butler was sure that he heard it right, but the more so he was, the more surprised he was. "Based on his status, how could he get on the line with Queen Wei, let alone...".

"I asked the boy sent by Lu Jili to deliver the greeting cards. The root of this matter is Wei Bo." Looking at herself in the mirror, Princess Taiping suddenly smiled, "Look at what Yazhengyuan and Tang Cheng did after entering the Yulin Army. The matter, the eight-character test that the princess gave him that day underestimated him, maybe Li Sanlang is laughing at me."

At this moment, the palace servant who had gone out just now came back with a thin album, Princess Taiping took the album and looked down carefully.

The more Princess Taiping looked at her face, the more serious she looked. There was surprise in the solemnity, and she appreciated it more. She looked more carefully at the back, and raised her head from time to time while watching. After thinking about it, I will smile heartily.

"In recent years, this is the most ignorant time for this princess to know people. This Tang Cheng is actually a talent with unique ideas." To find such talent."

"Princess, what do you mean?" The butler pondered Princess Taiping's thoughts and said, "Recently, Li Sanlang's rapid progress in the Wanqi Army is due to Tang Chengliang, or...you can give Tang Cheng's identity to Webster Let out some rumors?" At this point, the head steward nodded the greeting card in his hand, "In this way, even the troubles in front of us will be settled together."

Hearing this, Princess Taiping thought for a while and shook her head with a smile, "Li Sanlang is a concubine, and he is the third eldest among his brothers. He is working so hard now, but the county king is fighting for a prince. What else can he do?" Thinking about the boss? Now that he is willing to work hard, it saves my princess's hands. Speaking of which, Tang Cheng is also doing things for me, so let him do it with peace of mind."

"Whether the scientific examination quota is given or not, how will Lu Jili's answer?".

"Yes, why not? If you give it, it will not embarrass Lu Jili too much, and it will also satisfy my sister-in-law and even Li Sanlang. Why don't you do something that kills three birds with one stone?" Princess Taiping stretched out her hand to accept the card, He picked up the thrush pen on the dressing table and wrote a few words on it.

"Remember, after this major event is over, you should go to see Tang Cheng in person. It seems that this kind of people will be a little inferior to Li Sanlang if they stay under Li Sanlang's hands. It's better to recruit them."

……

Tang Cheng took advantage of Wei Bo's high ambition and asked him for the quota of Jinshi. Although Wei Bo hesitated for a while and then agreed, Tang Cheng was still uneasy. All the things in the past are less important than this one.The result of this matter is not only related to his purpose of coming to Chang'an, but also related to his long-established ideal.

If he wins a Jinshi, he will have three months of family leave after the Ministry of Officials passes the examination to select officials. With these three months as a buffer, the affairs in Chang'an should be settled, and he can go there quickly Leaving Chang'an, I took my family to practice the ideal of one county and one state on my own one-acre three-point land.

This is not the reason for coming to Chang'an to make such a big circle!

With his current status, he really couldn't go to Princess Taiping's mansion. After Zhang Liang sent the message to Li Longji, Tang Cheng, who was worried about gains and losses, was looking forward to the arrival of the final news.After a lapse of 300 years, he once again experienced the mood of later generations after the college entrance examination.

Finally, three days later, he got the long-awaited news from the smiling Wei Bo.

After the final confirmation, Tang Cheng's heart was suddenly empty when a big stone fell to the ground with a "bang", and then a strong excitement surged into his heart. There are banquets and horse-riding parades, but the dawn of ideals is finally revealed and the first buds begin to bloom.

"It's only a few days away from the scientific examination. You don't have to work too hard in the army these few days, and you can make up for your studies." Looking at Tang Cheng with a surprised face, Wei Bo smiled and walked down from the handsome desk to take pictures. He patted him on the shoulder, "I will take you to Wang Shangshu's mansion of the Ministry of Officials after you get your name on the gold list. I heard that the Ministry of Industry has been interested in you for a long time. This general can't let them snatch you away."

"Thank you, General." Tang Cheng looked at the natural respect and appreciation in Wei Bo's eyes, and felt for the first time that he was afraid to look at him.

After handing over the matter of monitoring military discipline to Tian Shuanghu, the meritorious Cao Shenjun, Tang Cheng hardly went to the Habayashi Army for more than ten days, and Wei Bo deliberately didn't look for him again.

During this period of time, Tang Cheng seems to have returned to the days in Jinzhou's study room. Every day when he wakes up, he is accompanied by books. In addition to that, he was more focused on reciting poems silently, after all, Jinshi was determined by this.

In a few days, Tang Cheng searched hard, turned out all the poems he could think of in his mind, and carefully sorted them out. After that, he used these titles as blueprints, combined with the poems and mediocre knowledge he had learned since time travel. Analyze it for safety.

The morning star has risen before it sets, and the Jade Rabbit has not yet rested in its eastward rise, so he worked so hard until the eve of the scientific examination. When Tang Cheng picked up the stack of silently written poems, he felt nauseous just looking at it.

Gritting his teeth and reading through it again, he took the copper basin that had been prepared earlier, and burned the stack of poems one by one in the basin.

That night, Tang Cheng, who went to bed early, had a hard time falling asleep. He didn't fall asleep until the second watch. After a short sleep, he walked into the examination room of the Ministry of Rites with anxiety.

Chapter 2 The Sudden Counterattack

The imperial examination, hosted by the Ministry of Rites, started at six o'clock in the morning and ended at six o'clock in the evening, but Tang Cheng didn't take that long. Not long after noon, he came out of the imperial city with a box containing the four treasures of the study and some vegetables, rice and water. up.

Today is a big day for Tang Cheng to participate in the imperial examination. These days, he followed Su Can and came to Ford to serve him in the exam. He said that he was waiting for the exam. He said that he was waiting outside after he was sent to the Suzaku Gate. There was no ceremony. You can't enter the imperial city with the entry and exit slip.

The sun in early spring and February was still weak, and it looked like a sunset just after noon. The sky was dry and cold. Lai Fu, who was circling around outside the Suzaku Gate, saw Tang Cheng coming out of it, and suddenly He ran over in a hurry.

After running close, Lai Fu hurriedly took the box from Tang Cheng's hand, while carefully scrutinizing the face of the high official.

After the box was out of his hands, Tang Chengcheng stretched his arms and chest in front of the Suzaku gate for a while. Today's exam is really frustrating. Who would have thought that in the Tang Dynasty, the most important exam room for the ceremony of ethics and talent in the world would be It was held under the verandah, simply put, under the eaves that are ventilated on three sides. What's it like in February weather and the draft blowing in the hall?When Tang Cheng was in the examination room, he heard with his own ears the sound of a poor man in thin clothes chattering with cold teeth while taking the test.

It would be nice to have two cups of hot tea to warm up when the weather is extremely cold, but although there is hot water provided by the Ministry of Rites, no one dares to drink it. If you move your body, the examiner will stamp a red seal on the test paper, which means cheating suspected.With this mark, even if the paper is full of flowers, it will be lowered immediately.For this reason, Tang Cheng, like other candidates, ate cold meals under the cold roof at noon.

To say that these two points are not a big deal, the most uncomfortable thing is the book for candidates to answer questions. He couldn't even put his legs down, so he didn't dare to sit down again. At the beginning of the exam, there was a rural tribute student who came to Chang'an for the first time to take the exam. His hands and feet were a little heavy. The unlucky ghost was thrown out and disqualified from the exam.

The weather is cold, the food is cold, and you can't stretch your legs and feet for a few hours. No one can look good.

Seeing Tang Cheng's gloomy face, Lai Fu's heart skipped a beat, "It's bad, the high official didn't pass the exam this time."

"The Ministry of Rituals has a dark heart, and one visit to this place is enough." After moving his body away, Tang Cheng looked at the scholars and family members waiting with their necks open, and waved his hands: "Go, go back." .

Back at the residence, the door that greeted him first glanced at Laifu, who shook his head slightly with a sullen face.

When Menzi saw Laifu and shook his head, he immediately put away the ready smile on his face, and swallowed the auspicious compliments that had reached his throat.

From then on, I walked all the way to the second courtyard, and every servant I met along the way looked at Laifu's face like Menzi, and then I was much more cautious when I saluted Tang Cheng after looking at it. The prepared carp was quietly put away.

The carp jumping over the dragon gate was originally a prize for the scientific research scholars, but now that the high officials have not passed the test, wouldn't it be exciting to present this dish.

Tang Cheng, who was physically and mentally exhausted, didn't care about people's behavior. After entering the room, he ordered water and meals to be prepared, took a hot bath, and then fell asleep after eating a delicious meal.

Seeing Tang Cheng like this, the subordinates became more and more convinced of the guess that the senior officials did not do well in the exam. At present, everyone in the small mansion moved lightly and even spoke at three volumes.So when Lai Fu saw the guards of the Wei Mansion rushed in and insisted on seeing the high official who had just fallen asleep, he couldn't help saying that it was a bit of persuasion.

The official is tired and in a bad mood today, can you come back tomorrow?

"Tomorrow?" The guard shook his head, seeing that Laifu was still dissuading him, he pulled his neck and shouted anxiously: "Master, Mr. Tang, Wang Jun has something important to see."

"You are so unruly," Laifu heard the guard yelling, and immediately stretched out his hand to pull him away.

At this moment, the door creaked open, and Tang Cheng, who was sleepy, came out, "Wang Jun, are you on duty? Come in and sit down, Laifu, what are you doing?".

Seeing that Tang Cheng still had a smile on his face when he was talking to Wang Jun, Lai Fu breathed a sigh of relief, "No reason".

"Bring tea", after waving his hand to order, Tang Cheng let Wang Jun into the room.

After Wang Jun entered the room, he closed the door casually. Seeing his unusual behavior, Tang Cheng stopped in his tracks, "What happened?".