Promotion and fortune in Song Dynasty

Early the next morning, when everyone gathered for breakfast, compared with Lu Ci who was particularly refreshed and radiant, Liu Qi, who had written Ci for most of the night, naturally looked extremely sluggish.

Because of the abundance of inspiration and the fact that he has always been strict with his lyrics, he actually wrote hundreds of scraps before leaving the three most satisfactory ones.

One piece expresses eloquently the joy of his entrance examination, one piece congratulates Lu Ci from Sanyuan High School, and another piece focuses on what he saw and heard about his entrance examination at Chongzheng Hall yesterday.

As a result, not only did he have bruises from staying up late at the moment, but he also yawned one after another after eating this small piece, and wiped away the few tears overflowing from the corners of his eyes from time to time.

At first glance, Lu Ci took a look at his excessively indulgent face, and managed to swallow the yellow accent that almost blurted out, "Did you masturbate too much?", and said leisurely: "Brother Liu Like Fan Jin, I was so excited that I couldn't sleep."

"Who is Fan Jin?"

Liu Qi asked casually, without thinking about it, just took out the folded congratulatory message from his sleeve, and handed it to Lu Ci with a smile: "I won three yuan for He Yuyu, and I made a special essay, and I hope Yuyu will accept it."

Zhu Yue and Teng Zongliang couldn't prevent him from doing such a trick suddenly, and immediately showed annoyance.

They originally thought that after entering the training center, they would think about it for a day before writing.

Unexpectedly, Liu Qi got ahead of her.

Lu Ci: "...Thank you."

If Liu Yong's is still clumsy, his can only be thrown into the gutter.

After seeing Lu Ci accepting it, Liu Qi also regained her spirits, and happily cleaned up the breakfast on the table.

Lu Ci had no choice but to remind: "It will be a wedding banquet in a while, and you are too full at this time, I'm afraid it won't be good."

Since he tasted yesterday's imperial meal, because the taste far exceeded expectations, Lu Ci couldn't help but look forward to the dishes at the Wenxi Banquet.

Liu Qi was stunned: "A wedding banquet? Today?"

Because Lu Ci's tone was so firm that even Liu Qi, who knew about it, almost doubted him.

After looking at Teng Zongliang, who was also in a daze, and making sure, Liu Qicai said cautiously: "I'm afraid I may have misremembered, there is no news about the wedding banquet today, but we just went to the meeting place together."

Lu Ci was taken aback.

Just at this time, the chariots who came to pick them up and rush to Quemen to gather also came.

Liu Qi simply used this as an excuse to squeeze Zhu Yue away openly, and took the same car with Lu Ci, and explained the activities of the next two months on the way.

Today is just to let the regular candidates in the top five, as well as some special scholars of the new subjects, rush to the Que gate to assemble, and then go to the conference hall together.

After arriving at the period collection office, Lu Ci, who won the first prize, had to preside over it. He personally made a point among the scholars, appointed the officials in the bureau such as rectifying bombs, in charge of nominating small records, etc., and then reported the names and surnames of the candidates to the Ministry of Rites. File with Yushitai.

There is no fixed number of ministers, ranging from dozens to more than two hundred, all determined by Lu Ci. There is no regulation in the imperial court to control this, only a fixed amount for the collection fee given.

Those who serve as ministers have many privileges, among which the Jinshi who come from a poor family value the most, that is, "daily food and drink, small records of income, and nomination papers are all exquisitely decorated and do not cost a single gold."

When there is no job, each person needs to pay a hundred guan for consumption such as catering.

Those who were born in poverty even had to borrow money to participate in the period collection. After two months, they had to be awarded an official position and then used the money given by the court to make up the debt, or they would sacrifice their face to ask family and friends for help.

Although everyone needs to bring their own saddles and horses to go to the Jiji Office, the degree of stinginess of the court can be seen, but Lu Ci still did not expect that he was so stingy that most of the expenses for the Jiji Ji were left to the scholars themselves level of raising.

What's even more shameless is that when thanking each other, everyone had to send 100 taels of gratitude to the emperor...

But what shocked Lu Ci the most was not the expense of several hundred taels, but the wedding banquet that he had been thinking about, and it would take at least a month to hold it.

Before that, he not only had to preside over the large and small affairs of the conference, but also had to lead other scholars to participate in a series of boring and tedious activities, such as pilgrimage, worshiping the yellow armor, recounting the same year, thanking the ancestors and saints, etc. ...

When Liu Qi was still babbling, he didn't notice that the little Taotie, who was still in high spirits just now, had no love in him, and leaned his head limply against the car window, his lifeless eyes completely emptied.

When they arrived at Que Gate and had to get off the carriage, the sullen Lu Ci managed to adjust his disappointment, smiled lightly again, and got off the carriage together with Liu Qi.

As soon as he got out of the car, the Jinwu guards standing not far away, tall and straight, wearing bright military uniforms, looking majestic and high-spirited, caught him with sharp eyes and lined up in a straight line without hesitation. The ground came to him.

Under the amazed gaze of the unsuspecting other Dengke scholars, the leader walked up to Lu Ci, stopped abruptly, then bowed his hands respectfully, and said in a deep voice: "Dear Xun Yiwei Habayashiro, General Qi Luo , I was ordered to point out the thirteen members of the Jinwu Guard, especially to clear the way for Lu Sanyuan."

After hearing Qi Luo's announcement of his official position, all the onlookers couldn't help taking a deep breath.

Although this dynasty paid less attention to military affairs and emphasized literature, military officers were despised by civil officials, but these new scholars, before the appointment of officials two months later, they were just white bodies.

The green Luo Gong robe that was bestowed yesterday only represented the emperor's regard and extra favor for them, but they were not really appointed to official positions.

Even after two months, the number one scholar, Lu Ci, who was awarded the highest official position, usually starts from the general as the supervisor and becomes the eighth-rank official.

But the Jinwu Guard who was responsible for Lu Cixing's unheard-of 'clearing the way' was actually the pro-Xun Yiwei Habayashi Langjiang, that is, the dignified fifth-rank upper-rank official!

What an honor!

Why is it Lu Ci again?How could it be Lu Ci again?

How much do the officials value him? !

If you don't want to have to try to establish a good relationship with Lu Ci and get a job in the conference center, I'm afraid it will be more than just staring at Lu Ci with burning jealous eyes.

Lu Ci seemed unaware of those fiery gazes, he just smiled and politely returned a salute: "Today there will be General Lao Qilang."

"I will follow orders, Lu Sanyuan doesn't need to be too polite."

Qi Langjiang was a little surprised that Lu Cifei not only lacked the arrogance of a literati, but also released a friendliness towards him, so he nodded quickly with a little discomfort, then stood up straight again, and took a step back.

After a while, he saw that all the Xinke scholars who had gone to the meeting place had arrived, so he took the lead and led the thirteen heroic Jinwu Guards to the place where the horses stopped.

Before leaving, he did not forget to say to Lu Ci: "Please also ask Lu Sanyuan to follow."

He strode to the side of the horse, took the lead and turned over cleanly, then got on the tall horse and went to Que Lai.

The thirteen Jinwu guards tacitly separated into two rows, and followed closely behind with serious faces. Lu Ci also turned around beautifully, jumped onto the saddle of a horse specially prepared for him by the court, and followed behind calmly.

Because it was the order of appearance, they had to be arranged according to the first order, so Liu Qi and the others were separated from Lu Ci.

After Lu Ci, Cai Qi, who was second in the list, and Xiao Guan, who rode the rented short-legged gray horse, were the second.

The horse that Lu Ci rode was an imperial army horse, which was an extraordinary steed, and because the Song Dynasty had lost a lot of territory compared to the previous dynasty, there were few horse farms, and there was not enough horses, so they were requisitioned first by the army, and the rest could be used for civilian use , they must have been poorer breeds or older horses.

Cai Qi had to look up at the vigorous and handsome Lu Ci in front of him, and the two rows of heroic Jinwu guards who cleared the way for him, and then at the gray old horse he finally rented, he couldn't help but secretly sighed. .

But such a little bit of melancholy was quickly washed away by the grand occasion.

Even if he didn't mention what he saw in later generations, even if he only saw the crowds of people at the Bianjing Lantern Festival, Lu Ci thought that he would no longer be surprised by the "large number of people".

Unlike Liu Qi, who had witnessed this scene with his own eyes, what Lu Ci thought was that even if all the families in Beijing with women waiting to be married were dispatched, plus some idlers who liked to watch the excitement, it would never be better than the Lantern Festival where all the people had fun. many--

As soon as the gate of the palace opened and the fast horses came out, the people who had been waiting on the street for a long time burst into deafening cheers!

- No wonder!

Lu Ci was obviously unprepared for the excitement of the people in this extremely densely populated city who were rejoicing like a new year's festival at the moment, and was instantly shaken so that his mind was buzzing.

The concern that the official Zhao Heng said was like a joke was obviously not aimless.

All the streets and alleys are crowded with spectators, and people are still unable to pass by shoulder to shoulder. Scholars and commoners below the princes gather, and they even compete to be the first to get the position that can best see these new scholars.

Although Gongqing Haojia disdained to compete with them for those positions, he was not to be outdone, and displayed various colorful curtains on the balcony of his home, swaggering in the wind, and at first glance, there were hundreds of them, which was extremely spectacular.

Today's restaurants, large and small, are making a lot of money, and Le can hardly close his mouth from ear to ear.

They managed to rent out all the private rooms above the second floor simply by relying on the selection of young ladies who would soon be husband-in-law and reserved among these Xinke scholars.

After occupying a good seat, these fragrant and delicate guests competed to see these high-spirited and promising young men in green clothes from the window.

On the first floor where the bustle outside could not be seen, they were crowded with their servants, ready to listen to their orders at any time and go to catch their son-in-law.

Even General Qi Lang who was in front of him was startled by this frightening battle, and couldn't help frowning.

Before, he felt that it was a big deal to dispatch a full fourteen people for such a trivial matter, which was tantamount to being supported by the new champion.

Take a look now...

As far as those people's eyes are shining and they look like wolves and tigers, it's still a matter of whether they can be stopped!

However, it was too late to regret, General Qi Lang had no choice but to bite the bullet, shouted loudly, drove away the crowded crowd in front of him, and while waving his whip and horse, tried to give Lu Ci and the hundreds of Xinke Scholars behind him, Create a one-way passage for horseback riding.

It's just that the moment Lu Ci showed up, the crowd erupted again.

People who don't know much about the inside ways know that those who can lead out on the way to the Juji Institute, except for the champion of the Jinshi Department, don't think about it at all.

When Lu Ci won the Provincial Yuan at the young age of seventeen, he had already become popular in Bianjing through the tabloids in the city, but because Lu Ci rarely went out, the people who knew him were comparable to those who knew his name. much less.

Even if they talked about how Lu Ci won the two yuan, what he didn't dare to think was that Lu Ci could--

With sharp eyes and a good memory, he was the first to drink it out: "Oh, this time it's actually Sanyuan Jidi!"

There are also those who just came to watch the fun and don't know much about the previous situation, so they first yelled: "It's out, it's out, it's all out... The leader is the number one scholar, right? How can he be so tall and tall? Like a military officer?"

This sentence immediately aroused laughter from the surroundings, and someone mocked: "What kind of eyes are you? They are officials from the Jinwu Guard, and they were specially sent by the officials to clear the way for the new champion!"

"Which one is the new champion? Hey, you're crowding me! Do you have eyes!"

"Why is he so good-looking? Is it really him?"

"What a handsome little gentleman! I'm afraid he hasn't reached the crown yet!"

"I've already walked out, how can I have a fake?"

"There are families with young ladies in the city, and they are going to fight for their heads now."

"The officials specially sent so many people to escort, maybe it's just to prevent the new champion from being snatched away?"

"One, two, three, let's come out third, even if it's not Tanhua? Why doesn't he look as good-looking as the second place?"

Xiao Guan accidentally heard it clearly, his face flushed suddenly, and the hand holding the rein couldn't help tightening.

Some people commented: "In my opinion, this number one scholar is too handsome, just like this, he should go to the flower."

Someone sneered at him and laughed at him: "What bad idea did you come up with? Since he has the talent and knowledge to be the number one scholar, how could the officials be willing to let him take the third place and do what to do for the top prize? In this way, more than a dozen Jinwu guards were sent out. The gesture of clearing the way for him can be seen, the officials do not know how much they like him!"

……

Lu Ci only ignored all the various discussions that came out of the mouths of the beaming crowd.

Some people enjoy this noisy and terrifying posture, such as Liu Qi, Cai Qi and others, who only feel that ten years of hard study are the extraordinary glory of this time; Zhu said that they just want to get through this journey that is neither long nor short.

After realizing that countless coveted eyes fell on him, poor Lu Ci almost shuddered, obviously the one who most wanted to leave quickly.

However, the crowd was too turbulent, the audience was too dense, and even the Jinwu guards who cleared the way were struggling to move, and they were trying their best...

Otherwise, this calm and composed number one scholar would most like to hurry up, even if he fled in a desperate situation, he would fantasize about completing this difficult road quickly.

Seeing Lu Ci's appearance, the girls in green clothes who were watching this line of people on the large and small balconies first widened their eyes in disbelief, blushed and exclaimed in unison, and then cast hostile glances at each other.

It's just that they were determined to win, and just as they wanted their servants to move quickly, they saw the Jinwu guards carefully separate out a few people and surround the leader champion.

Seeing this, they couldn't help but sigh together in disappointment.

But it's okay, they don't have a chance for the time being, and the same goes for everyone else.

When you go back, you need to tell your parents quickly to see if you can get there first... If it really doesn't work, just wait for the day of the wedding banquet.

The author has something to say: Notes:

1. According to the "Shaoxing 18 Years of the Same Year Xiaolu", the main activities of the period collection include: thanking the ancestors, paying homage to the first poems and sages, giving a wedding banquet, paying homage to Huang Jia's remembrance of the same year, publishing a small record of titles, setting up monuments with titles, etc.

On the 29th of April, roll call, go to the collection office on the [-]th, thank you on the [-]th, worship Huangjia on the [-]nd of May, in the same year, go to the Guozijian to thank you on the [-]th of May, set up the inscription stone in the tribute courtyard of the Ministry of Rites around the [-]th of May, and then It's a wedding banquet.

Depending on the reigning emperor, the order of activities often changes, but the content of the activities is the same.

2. The period collection is also called the Zhuangyuan Bureau. Before Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty, it was held in Xingguo Temple in Kaifeng Prefecture ("Mengxi Bi Tan").

3. The Zhuangyuan Bureau has functions such as correcting bullets, in charge of small records of topics, appraisers, coders, accountants, appraisers, meals, wine and fruits, and prison gates, respectively in charge of various affairs during the miracle period.These positions are nearly one by one by the number one scholar, but they must have the name and surname of Shenlibu, Yushitai'.

The privileges are just like the ones mentioned in my article, and, "If you don't work with the ministers, you will not get much money if you pay, and if you don't touch the cup and spoon, nothing is too uneven!" ("Yan Yi Yi Mou Lu")

It was not until the seventh year of Jiading (1214) that the number of ministers and the qualifications of candidates were controlled. Priority must be given to the number one scholar, the top ten in the provincial examination, the students of Taixue Shangshe, Xie Yuan and famous people.

3. During the period of the episode, the No. [-] No. [-] player must always stay in the No. [-] round, while others can stay outside, and there are even people who do not participate in the episode.

However, there are very few people who don't participate in it, because "the money of the same year is secret, and when they meet in the official career in the future, they will be overwhelmed."

4. Until the 6th year of Shenzong Xining became a government appropriation (but there is also a fixed amount, the total is about [-] guan), the new recruits paid for the fundraising activities according to the first level. "Changbian" records, "the poor may be called lending to others".

5. Appreciation: The earliest "appreciation" was to send silver, and each person had a full amount of 100 taels of silver.However, it is estimated that the emperor was embarrassed later, so he did not accept this thank you gift, and instead asked everyone to write a "table" to praise the emperor. ("Living in the Song Dynasty")

6. Official appointment: From 977 to 1057, that is, during the three dynasties of Taizong, Zhenzong and Renzong, No.1 was Jiancheng, which was the 37th rank of the 27 ranks of civil officials. From the eighth rank, the second and third were Dali Pingsi, It is the 28th rank, and it is the ninth grade; it is passed to all states.

Tongpan is to send and serve officials, Shangzhou Tongpan is Zheng Qipin, Zhongzhou Tongpan is Cong Qipin.

Others in the first class will try the elementary office (from the eighth rank), the county magistrate; the second rank and below will be judged as the Secretary Buwei (the 37th rank of the 37th rank of civil servants, from the ninth rank).

The biggest advantage is that they can all be exempted from the selection exam, that is, they can be directly awarded officials after passing the exam.People in the fifth class still have to pass the official examination, and they can only go after there is a vacancy. ("General History of China's Imperial Examination System-Song Dynasty Volume II" p620-621

According to the second one of "Song Hui Yao Collection Draft Election", after the tribute examination in 977, the top three were awarded 20 yuan (equivalent to [-] guan).