Promotion and fortune in Song Dynasty

After other people learned in their own ways, the reason why the government specially set up the three thousand coins to prevent the poor from needing to borrow money was because after listening to Lu Ci's statement...

Lu Ci's prestige among the Xinke scholars has naturally increased a lot.

Whether it's the Jinwu Guard clearing the way, or giving extra dishes, it's nothing compared to this.

This really caught the eyes of the officials, and the words could be heard by the officials!

For a while, in the eyes of these following Lu Ci, although most of them were still envious and jealous, but because of this, some Han family members who were exempted from the embarrassment of exempting foreign loans of thank-you money and period collection fees, quietly added to this complicated situation. A little grateful.

However, Cai Qi and Xiao Guan, who originally wanted to lure others with the promise of saving a lot of money, their promises suddenly became less attractive.

Lu Ci also saw something more interesting to him through this simple little test.

——How could the watch I handed over be delivered to the official so quickly?

However, to everyone's surprise, Lu Ci, who was well aware of this, not only did not make persistent efforts and continued to submit Chen Biao, but stopped the flag and drums, and stood still.

Lu Ci was naturally trying to avoid suspicion.

Although he was wearing a Luluo official uniform, he was still white and had no official position.

If he rashly relied on the inexplicable favor that the emperor had given him, and then came to point fingers and talk nonsense... I am afraid that before he embarked on an official career, he would be ready to pack up and return home.

So after testing the emperor's attitude, he calmed down completely before the court officials paid more attention and even hostility to him, and concentrated on the affairs of the stock market assigned to Dakui.

Three days later, based on the two lists submitted by Cai Qi and Xiao Guan, he made slight additions and deletions. In the end, each of them was assigned [-] jobs according to their specialties, and went to the Ministry of Rites according to the law.

Originally, the affairs in the Jiji Office were very limited, divided into details, and there were officials and servants, so it was not really necessary for the scholars to do everything by themselves.

Therefore, after the arrangements were made, Lu Ci immediately became more relaxed.

After more than ten days passed, it was time to thank you.

The exact day of thanking is chosen by Tai Shitai. Before that day, Lu Ci will present the thank you money collected by the ministers to the Ministry of Rites, and then write down the form of rites along the way.

——Of course the emperor didn't have the leisure time and interest to read the papers of more than 500 people one by one.

Lu Ci was almost numb to this.

"The ministers swear to be steadfast and follow the example of the previous practice. Only when the imperial edict is in the court can they be favored by picking fennel. Dedicate their lives to serve the country..."

Different from the Xie En poem, the theme of "Cidi Thank You Table" is to express loyalty, and the length requirement is much shorter.

Lu Ci has gradually adapted to the rhythm of thanking once for three days and worshiping once for five days, but he still writes decently.

After submitting the form, Lu Ci led a group of scholars to line up neatly, facing the gate of the palace with the monarch inside, and after listening to the chanting by the praisers, put on a pious look on their faces, and bowed down unequivocally.

Repeat this once more, regarding the thank you, even if you are done.

... The so-called thank you, but you can't even see the emperor's face, and you can count yourself as paying respects to the gate.

After wasting a whole day for such a ceremony for no reason, Lu Ci still had a decent smile on his face as he looked at the other scholars who were excited, but secretly determined not to stay in Beijing.

When the sky is high and the emperor is far away, he is at ease, and whoever he likes will worship him.

However, after thanking the emperor, he had to thank the sages and teachers who also made no contribution in his tribute examination.

The overall ceremony was no different from the one before the provincial examination, and everyone was familiar with it.

Lu Ci was forced to steal the limelight again.

Because of his status as the number one in the list, which attracted countless errands, he had to designate fourteen ministers for this ceremony, not to mention it, but also as a ceremony for personally offering food.

And the imperial court helped the ceremonial officer selected from the list, although in name he had to help him suppress disrespectful people, it was a pity that there was no such audacious person appearing this time.

It is regrettable that the other party cannot exercise such power.

Then, it is the worship of Huangjia, which is about the same year.

Because there were a few days away from Ye Xie, Lu Ci, who was physically and mentally exhausted by these two rounds, simply took advantage of his free time, except for drinking tea occasionally and making new friends who were pleasing to the eye, he turned over books related to law and justice.

Among these Jinshi who were admitted in the same year, Lu Ci only selected a few friends to make friends with, including Pang Ji who had met a few times.

However, Cai Qi and Xiao Guan, who were the second and best candidates, were excluded in his heart early in the morning.

Lu Ci's attitude is clear, neither is he particularly close to the northerners, nor is he too targeted at the southerners, and mostly treats them equally.

Especially for those who got a job, but neglected their duties, and passively slowed down their work, Lu Ci would punish them severely by dismissing them, no matter where they were from the south or the north.

After killing chickens and monkeys a few times, they completely suppressed some people's small thoughts.

Because everyone knew that Lu Ci was favored by the emperor, even though the scholars from the north could not help but murmur in their hearts, they did not dare to say anything.

Cai Qi and Xiao Guan kept fighting openly and secretly, and the only tacit understanding was when they came to Lu Ci, they pretended to be harmonious together.

As long as they can complete their duties, Lu Ci will treat them as ignorant.

——A struggle that even the emperor can't stop, even if he can control it, he has to pretend he can't.

Both Liu Qi and Teng Zongliang are good at communicating with people. Among the more than 500 new subjects, although most of them are not in harmony with their temperament, there are also a few who are rare to catch their eyes.

In this session, these two are the most like ducks in water, and they never forget to return home.

The only unshakable thing is that before they go to bed every night, they have to talk to Lu Ci, and talk about who they have made friends with during the day, so that they feel comfortable.

In contrast, Zhu said that he was going to be much quieter. Seeing Lu Ci reading the law book, he followed suit and followed suit silently.

This is not just because of his deep-rooted trust in Lu Ci.

The most important reason is that he knew that the time when he was appointed as an official was the day of parting, and he was so reluctant to let go, so he wished to stick together with Lu Ci openly and honestly all the time.

Not to mention that Lu Ci was reading law books, even if he, like Liu Qi, was reading some erotic brochures, Zhu said that he would probably be able to frown while opening his eyes and talking nonsense.

Seeing that Lu Ci could concentrate on even the most boring law in his eyes, Liu Qi couldn't help teasing: "Could it be that even a mere three yuan is already difficult to satisfy the ambition of a feather, and then Afterwards, I want to get a No.1 in Mingfa, as an icing on the cake?"

Lu Ci glanced at him: "There is nothing greater than the law to prohibit the people from doing wrong. If the golden rule is not clear, what's the use of drinking ice and tea?"

In the past few years of preparing for the tribute exam, when Lu Cifu realized that the law and justice regulations were not included in the exam content, he couldn't help being very surprised.

The Jinshi Department, which was originally used to select the most elite future officials, has for many years focused on complicated and flashy poems, but paid less attention to pragmatic and considerate policies. This alone is enough to make him feel incredible.

Now I also know that I don't even need to understand the law slightly, which is even more unreasonable.

Can recite poems and fus, but neither know strategy nor understand the law... What is the benefit of such talents who have been selected to be used in the world?

However, there are thousands of slanders, and when people speak lightly, Lu Ci can only choose to go with the flow.

Now that he is wholeheartedly waiting to be released to become a magistrate, he naturally has to read the basics of the law that he had no time to study carefully before.

I can't go to the court, relying on the assistant officials who are from the Ming Law Department around me, I might as well be a good litigator who understands the law.

Liu Qiyi was at a loss for words for a while, and felt that the words made sense in his heart, but he couldn't help but replied: "Jinshi is a subject, and the law and morals have been abandoned for a long time. Isn't it because the Dharma books are difficult, but the learning hours need to be intensive and uniform. ?Since there is a special examination of laws and regulations in Ming Law, there is no need for us to do so."

Seeing that there were no outsiders around, only Zhu said that he was reciting intently and silently. When Lu Ci spoke again, it was much more straightforward.

He smiled slightly, and did not say anything about the disadvantages of selecting scholars through poetry and prose. He only reiterated the importance of the law: "Brother Liu is wrong. You can find others to do trivial and mundane tasks for you, because if you do it yourself, it will seem to delay the main task. , Overqualified, but by no means I don’t know how to do it.”

"When we go to the place, everything from judging the case to trivial daily matters is inseparable from the law. Brother Liu, can you really rest assured that you can leave things that you know nothing about to others to decide?"

Zhu said that he was attracted by Lu Ci's words, and couldn't help raising his head. Hearing this, he nodded in agreement, and cast a reproachful glance at Liu Qi, who looked guilty.

Because of her high school affairs, and the fact that she has been chatting a lot with scholars of the same age these days, Liu Qi is just full of energy, and she is still a little flustered at the moment.

After hearing Lu Ci's words, the tail that had just been raised was severely suppressed again.

He coughed lightly and said awkwardly, "Then let me take a look."

Lu Ci smiled: "Okay."

However, the test was over, and it would be an extravagant hope to expect Liu Qi to study calmly as before.

He patiently read along for a while, then his mind drifted to other places, and suddenly remembered something, he couldn't help asking Lu Ci: "Listen to what Yu Yu said just now, don't you intend to stay in the center, and plan to go somewhere else?"

Lu Ci glanced at him meaningfully, and said leisurely: "Brother Liu is wrong. It's not my turn to decide where to be an official."

The truth is this truth.

Especially for the top of the list of Jinshi subjects, the official positions that were first conferred in previous years are basically fixed.

After all, I want to stay in Beijing.

But Liu Qi was inexplicably convinced from the bottom of his heart that if Xiao Taotie was determined to achieve his goal, he would definitely be able to achieve it...

After Lu Ci reminded him to speak carefully, he expressed his inner thoughts: "However, if I have the opportunity to choose, I really prefer to serve as an official in a local area."

Liu Qiyi was speechless for a moment.

Being able to stay and serve in Beijing not only symbolizes favor, but also means gaining power.

It also means that every move is under the watchful eyes of the public, and it is easier to be impeached and attacked, but it is also easier to fall into the eyes of officials.

At the local level, you can also rely on accumulating qualifications and performance, waiting for the annual official assessment, and if there are no mistakes, you can also rise steadily.

But this is only on the bright side - when it comes to the stage of assessment and promotion, I don't know how many people will be stuck to death.

When Kou Zhun was most powerful, he had suffered deep resentment for blocking the promotion of many people who had no merit or fault.

But this also proves that when the powerful deliberately make things difficult, local officials can be said to be helpless.

What's more, isn't it because of working so hard that one day he can be transferred to Beijing?

Like Lu Ci, after gaining the title of Sanyuan Jidi, who has been seldom seen for decades and is destined to have a bright future, but wants to go to the local government to earn qualifications, I am afraid that the whole court will not be able to find a second one. come.

The corners of his mouth twitched, and he suddenly thought that according to the official system, the imperial court would not let the same person know the same place for more than a certain period of time, but would transfer people away once their term of office expired.

He was instantly blessed, and couldn't help blurting out: "It's because of Yu Yu, shouldn't it be an idea to take this opportunity to taste dishes from all over the place?"

Lu Ci was used to Liu Qi guessing his thoughts at every turn, but he would never admit such thoughts in front of Zhu Shuo.

——Do you think he doesn’t want the image?

Lu Ci smiled slightly, and said without hesitation: "Brother Liu is too good at joking. If it's really for your appetite, where else's food can compare to the imperial food in the palace?"

When Liu Qi heard it, he also somewhat agreed, and couldn't help but doubt his guess just now.

Just as he was about to open his mouth, he suddenly frowned at Zhu Shuo, who was expressing his disapproval for bothering Lu Ci with nonsense, when he suddenly changed his words to the other party: "What's Zhu brother's plan? "

Zhu said calmly, "Let nature take its course."

Liu Qi said "oh" with a smile, and wanted to tease him a few more words, but Lu Ci never forgot what Zhu said many years ago. He couldn't help but care about the longing for recognizing the ancestors and returning to the clan: "Brother Zhu is ready Take the time to go back to Suzhou recently, or wait a few more years?"

Zhu said that he pursed his lips, hesitated, and finally sighed softly: "It will be a few years."

He has no intention of coveting the assets left by his father, but now that he proposes to return to his old surname, it will inevitably attract suspicion and be obstructed.

Lu Ci patted the back of his hand, and said warmly, "Brother Zhu, would you like me to come and help you?"

In Lu Ci's opinion, if he wants to get his assets back, he might have to work hard, but if he just wants to return his father's surname...

As long as he is dispatched, it should be easy.

But after all, this is a private matter that Zhu said. As an outsider, if Lu Ci wants to participate, he must get the approval of the person concerned.

Zhu said that his heart warmed up.

But he didn't want to bother brother Yu Yu with these unpleasant housework, and he also had his own ambition, so he shook his head and said apologetically: "It's not difficult to return to Fan, but it's not too urgent to abandon Zhu. Brother kindness."

Lu Ci didn't know what happened to Zhu's family after Zhu said that his biological mother remarried, but he hadn't done anything for many years, so it wouldn't be particularly good if he thought about it.

Zhu said that his fledglings were still fledgling, and he still had scruples for the time being, so it was inevitable.

Lu Ci's thoughts turned, but his face remained silent. He only smiled and comforted Zhu, saying that he would not touch the other party's thoughts for the time being.

Liu Qi intentionally changed the subject, and said, "It's okay to worship the yellow armor. Among these Jinshi who are listed on the list, the most indispensable must be someone who is older than you. It's just that you are the same year, you have to thank Zhu Brother."

As soon as these words came out, they successfully attracted the two to look at him strangely.

Liu Qile said: "Among us, the only one who is a little younger than you is Zhudi, isn't it? If Zhudi is not there, and Yuyu is the leader and the youngest at the same time, then he has to worship himself Is it gone?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he made himself laugh, and couldn't help laughing to himself.

"..."

Lu Ci and Zhu Shuo looked at each other, tacitly ignoring Liu Qi, who had an inexplicably low smile, and continued to read the boring law book calmly amidst his laughter.

The author has something to say: Notes:

1. When thanking the court, the number one scholar will lead all the scholars to express their gratitude.

The list that appears in the article is the "Bill for Jinshi and Dixie Emperor" written by Wei Jing, the number one scholar in 1184

"It's just the gate of worshiping the king", the specific ceremony of thanking the emperor, etc. are from "Old Stories of Qiantang"

Thank you at the door of the pavilion, you need to enter the thank you silver hundred taels. "Long Edition"

2. Pay homage to the sage (Confucius) and teacher (Yan Hui, Duke of Yan State)

'Three days before the sacrifice, the number one scholar was sent to fourteen ministers.The supervisor of ceremonies is disrespectful in suppressing his duties. '

3. About worshiping the yellow armor, in the same year:

"The one who recommends the oldest person will be worshiped at the top of the list; and the one who is recommended the youngest person will be worshiped at the top of the list, which is called Xu Huangjia." "Preface to Sending Professor Liu Bocheng"

In this ceremony, only the teeth are sequenced, regardless of the rank of the first class.

4. About Law

In 979, the examination of law and righteousness was once added to Jinshi and other subjects.

However, since the Department of Classics and Law (one of the various subjects, which specializes in the examination of scriptures and laws and regulations) was restored in 985, there is no need for Jinshi to study Dharma books.

Therefore, there are actually quite a few Jinshi who are legally illiterate...

5. Seeing someone curious about Fan Zhongyan's rank in history, I specifically mentioned that he was the 97th Jinshi, but he was already 26 years old at that time.

In history, Fan Zhongyan restored his old surname at the age of 29. "The World of Worry and Joy: The Biography of Fan Zhongyan"

6. I mentioned to you in the notes before that even if you become an official, you can continue to take the tribute exam.Let me add a little more here. Although it can be tested, it cannot be selected as the top of the list ("General History of the Chinese Imperial Examination System Song Dynasty Volume [-]"