Looking at the mountains and rivers

In the sixth year of Emperor Yong'an, on the third day of March.

At that time, Chun Wei had just unveiled the list, and the streets outside the Mu Wang Mansion were decorated with lights and festoons, and dozens of carts were bustlingly parked. Mu Wang Yang Jue hosted a grand banquet in the mansion, and the guests were all the upstarts who had passed this time.

The guest in front of the palace gate was not a servant, but a beautiful maid. This King Mu's lustful reputation is well-known in the entire capital. The maids in the mansion have different looks, whether enchanting or sweet, with all kinds of manners. Helping the distinguished guests walk into the warm pavilion in the palace.

At this time, the spring is cold, but the warm pavilion is full of warmth, Yang Jue raises his wine glass on the main seat, looking at the room full of upstarts, he looks overjoyed.

After drinking for three rounds, a young man stood up from his seat. He looked like he was only in his early twenties, dressed luxuriously, and greeted Yang Jue very familiarly: "I heard that this year's ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven, His Royal Highness King Yong strongly recommends you to host it on his behalf. , My father said that it seems that the position of the patriarch of the royal family must be held by King Mu in the future, so I would like to congratulate the prince in advance."

Yang Jue recognized this young man, he was Empress Dowager Gao's nephew, Gao Zhuo, the son of Gao Lu's servant, a son of a famous family in the capital.He laughed twice: "Uncle is very old, and those of us who are younger generations are just to share his worries for the old man. The affairs of the royal family are of great importance, so how can we make jokes at will. Speaking of which, Mr. Gao's Chunwei High School is the real one. Congratulations. Come and pour wine for Mr. Gao."

Gao Zhuo said with a sneer: "It's just relying on the family's shade to get a ranking." He seemed unwilling to talk more, only drank two cups, and went to chat with the people beside him.

During the banquet, there were a few people who knew the basics, and they had already chatted and laughed while drinking: "That Gao Zhuo was originally determined to win the first rank, but who knew that two of them were appointed by the clan's children, he was squeezed into the second rank every day. go."

Another person said: "It's also because he is unlucky. Which one of the Jinshi and ranks these years is not from a noble family. His Gao family ranks first among the four great families. It is not difficult to get a first rank. Who knows? This year, a man surnamed Wen appeared."

"Speaking of this man named Wen, I don't know what his background is. He has neither grace nor special gifts. He is really a humble family. How did he get the first prize?"

"Isn't that right? I heard that his paper was appointed by the adults of the two provinces. I don't know what articles are in it."

One of the people present sneered and said: "I am afraid that this kind of humble person will not be able to pass the selection test of the Ministry of officials, and most of them will go around like a headless chicken."

"Even if you pass the selection test, it's just a small official from the ninth grade. If you are transferred to Jingzhao Mansion as a supervisor, you will just be my cousin's dog." The person who spoke was the grandson of Grand Master Li. Son, his cousin is now the governor of Jingzhao.

The young masters of the aristocratic family laughed loudly, and the laughter spread from the half-covered window to the courtyard outside. The courtyard was cold and quiet, and there was a figure standing blankly.

It was a scribe who had just reached the weak crown, wearing a silk robe with extremely neat sleeves, but it could still be seen that it was a half-worn robe. Because he didn't take a car, he was shivering with cold all the way.Hearing the chatter and laughter from the window just now, the coldness penetrated into his heart even more.He no longer had the courage to push open the majestic door, so he only took two steps back shyly, wanting to retreat from the original path, at this moment, a voice sounded: "Is that Lan Yu in the yard?"

The scribe was slightly surprised, he was the number one scholar who was born in a poor family among those people just now, his surname was Wen, his first name was Zhi, and his style name was Lan Yu.He followed the sound and saw a person walking out of the shadow of the trees in the courtyard with a smile.

Wen Zhi knew this person, and hurriedly saluted, "Master Han."

Han Ping smiled and waved his hands. He turned his face and looked in the direction of the Nuan Pavilion: "Since you are here for the banquet, why don't you go in?"

Wen Zhi lowered her head: "I'm afraid there is no room for students in this banquet, and the students are about to leave."

At this moment, the banquet in the warm pavilion was in full swing, and the teasing words came one after another, and they also fell into Han Ping's ears. He smiled wryly: "Is it possible that Lan Yu is not good at drinking, but I know a place to drink tea." He Turning around, "Come with me."

Wen Zhi followed him out of the palace, feeling quite puzzled, after all, everyone knew that Lord Lantai Ling Han was the mentor of King Mu Yang Jue, and also a student of Prime Minister Wu Ya.For some reason, he would leave behind the feast in the palace and bring himself, a penniless junior, out.

"This year's test questions are from "Zhizheng Zhenglu". Your unique insight in policy questions really caught my eye, so I took them out specially and handed them to the emperor together with the other papers." He turned his head and smiled. Laughing, "The emperor also appreciates your literary talent, so I made an exception and hand-picked it. You will not let the emperor down in the future."

Wen Zhi was stunned for a moment, and then realized that the Lan Tailing in front of him was the examiner for this year, and he naturally knew that the emperor's hand-picked selection was all clichés.In recent years, the rankings in the spring examinations have been drawn up by officials from the two provinces, and there is no doubt that it is Mr. Han who prompted him to be named the No. [-] scholar.

While talking, Han Ping had already stopped. He pushed open a door and smiled at Wen Zhi: "Here we are."

Wen Zhixin stepped into this courtyard suspiciously, it was next to Prince Mu's Mansion, it seemed to be a separate courtyard to the south of the Palace, its structure was far inferior to the luxury and chic of the Palace.

"here is?"

Han Ping smiled: "This is the other courtyard where Prince Yan, the fourth younger brother of King Mu, lives." He pointed his finger into the room, "Please come in."

Wen Zhi also heard a little about this fourth son of Prince Mu's Mansion, only that he was born blind and rarely went out, but he didn't know why Han Ping brought him here.He hesitated and walked outside the door, and a young steward opened the door inside, as if he had expected him to come, and smiled gently: "Master Wen, the young master has been waiting for a long time."

Wen Zhi hurriedly said: "I don't have an official position, I'm not an adult."

The steward still smiled: "Master Wen is the number one scholar in Jinke, and his success is just around the corner. Naturally, many people will call you your lord in the future."

Wen Zhifang had just heard a lot of sarcastic remarks, but now she was being flattered, her ears couldn't help getting warm, and she walked into the room a little cautiously.

The room was lingering with a very light fragrance of water, Wen Zhi was respectfully invited to sit down, and watched tea again, and then the curtain of the back room was slowly lifted, and a young master came out from inside.

Wen Zhi immediately stood up, even though he had met the noble children of the entire capital at the Flower Exploration Banquet a few days ago, he had never seen such a noble young man. Extravagance.

"I'm Wen Zhi, I've seen Mr. Yan."

The young master nodded: "Wen Zhi, Wen Lanyu," he suddenly smiled, "Do you want to be known to the world?"

Wen Zhi was slightly startled, he looked into the young master's clear eyes, only to feel that there was nothing in them but they could penetrate people's hearts, he lowered his head and said: "I was born in a humble cottage, I only want a place for safety, how dare I say that?" It is well known in the world.”

Yang Yan smiled: "Looking for a place for stability? Wen Lanyu, your predecessor, Mr. Gu Huayang, had lofty aspirations, but he never had a place in the capital throughout his life, let alone a moment of stability."

Wen Zhi raised her head in shock: "Young master knows my teacher."

"In the past, Mr. Huayang answered correctly in front of the Imperial Palace, and he revealed his talent when he talked eloquently. In the fourth year of Yongkang, Gu Huayang published a letter "Lun Yi Di Shu", but this letter was discarded by Ruizong. A year later, Yanyu invaded the northwest, and Prime Minister Wu Ya had seven strategies to retreat from the enemy. In this way, Mr. Hua Yang had already foreseen this chaos, and his insight was still higher than that of Prime Minister Wu Ya." Yang Yan lowered his eyes, Sighing softly, "It's a pity...he, like you, came from a low family background, and was squeezed out in the officialdom, demoted again and again, and finally died of illness in Yanzhou."

Wen Zhi thought of the teacher's life experience, and thought of his own situation now, his expression darkened. He picked up the teacup as a disguise, forgetting that the young man in front of him was blind.

"I don't know why the young master invited me to come here?"

Yang Yan said in a low voice: "Everything in the world can't be saved once it loses its original meaning. You have to be cautious about everything that is slight." They're much smarter."

Hearing this, Wen Zhi couldn't help being both surprised and sighed. What surprised him was that this young master had read his article and was able to say it casually.What I lament is that it is rare to have such a son of the clan who knows people, but he is born with defects, and he lives in a deep house.Even if he is a good horse for thousands of miles, it is difficult for this person to be a bole.

Yang Yan didn't seem to notice his regret, he tilted his head: "In a few days it will be the official selection test, do you have any favorite official position?"

Wen Zhi smiled wryly: "If I pass the selection test by chance, I will probably be assigned the post of county magistrate or chief bookkeeper."

Yang Yan nodded: "If you are sent out to be the county magistrate, you will be promoted to the county magistrate after a few years. If you behave well and win the respect of your superiors, you may be transferred back to the capital in ten years or so. , to be a minister of the Shangshusi, or the chief historian of Beppu. For a child from a poor family, being able to rise from the fifth rank in only 20 years is regarded as a prosperous official career. If this is the case, you are at least more magnanimous in your official career than your predecessor Much more." When he said this, he changed the topic, "But your colleagues in the same department are different. They came from aristocratic families, and they entered the court by virtue of their kindness. At least they are fifth-rank officials. After 20 years, they will naturally be A third-rank official, but what about you? You are a peerless jade, and you can only be stepped on by these people and be a stepping stone."

A tremor crept up from Wen Zhi's back to the top of his head, and the most fearful thing in his heart was uttered by the blind young man in front of him.Of course he knew that if he didn't want to follow in the teacher's footsteps, he could only let those gentry children ride high on top of his head, be ordered by them, and flatter them timidly.My aspirations and ideals will eventually be wasted here, but... is there another way?

"The high-ranking Wuhan clan and the low-ranking no-gentry clan have always been like this in our dynasty. The people in power today are all aristocratic families. With their temperament, how can they allow the common people of the common clan to compete with them for power and profit. Take the current court as an example. , people born in common clothes are only one out of ten, and the highest official position is only Huangmen servant." After Yang Yan finished speaking, he lowered his voice, "Wen Lanyu, do you want to compromise in such a court, or want to show off your ambitions? What about being well-known all over the world?"

Wen Zhi gritted her teeth and smiled wryly: "Young master also said that my dynasty has always been like this. If this is the case, where is there room for me to show my ambition?"

Yang Yan chuckled lightly: "Since such a court is unbearable, why not build a new court."

"The new court?" Wen Zhi's eyes widened, and he felt a little terrified in his heart. It sounded a bit rebellious, but he didn't rush to reprimand, nor did he run away, but just listened quietly to Yang Yan's words go down.

Yang Yan nodded: "A new court, no matter the gentry or the common people, the capable will live there. Even the children of the humble family can also be among the pivots of the two provinces, the Taifu, the Taibao, and even the official to the prime minister." His voice It is very light, but it has the power to seduce people. "This world is a big car. Some people can only linger in the mud under the wheels, and some people barely cling to the wheels and stumble forward. Wen Lanyu, with your talent, You shouldn't be like them, don't you want to be the driver of the horse?"

In this case, Wen Zhi never thought about it before, he looked at Yang Yan in shock, until now, he realized that he had misjudged this young master.He may be extremely intelligent, he may have the knowledge of people, but the most shocking thing is that he has the ambition of Yunlong.

He suddenly raised the hem of his clothes, bowed down and bowed down: "Do you really think I can be a driver?"

"I believe in my eyesight," Yang Yan smiled faintly, "But, do you trust me?"

"Forgive me to speak bluntly, since the death of King Mu, the Northwest feudal towns have supported their own troops, and the entire court has been controlled by the aristocratic family. The clan's children have no one to use. The Yang family has been in power for a hundred years, and the foundation has been shaken." He said. When I got here, I worshiped and bowed my head again, "I didn't know until I saw the young master today that the Tian family's strength is not exhausted, and there is still a hero. It's a pity..."

"What a pity?"

"It's a pity that the young master is traveling in shallow water. Whether he can break through the sky is still unknown, and his official career is meager. As I said just now, even if he is lucky enough to pass the official selection test, he will inevitably have to be transferred as an official, and he will not be able to assist the young master."

Yang Yan smiled: "It's not necessarily a bad thing to be transferred to an official. When you first entered the officialdom, you can't help but have an unruly heart. If you stay in Jian'an, you may lose your edge. Given time, you may not be able to return to the capital." All he said was this sentence , and said, "I heard that Mr. Hua Yang gave lectures at an academy in Yuexi. There were pines and cypresses in front of the academy and cranes in the courtyard. It was called Songhe Academy."

Wen Zhi nodded: "That's where I study."

"Among your classmates, Li Yushan, Liu Shi, and others all have the appearance of good ministers. I heard that most of them are not going well in their official careers, and they are still serving as staff in Befu. If you are familiar with them, you can introduce them to me if you have the opportunity in the future."

Wen Zhi naturally understood the meaning of his words. Since he wanted to cling to the giant dragon, he didn't refuse at the moment, but just bowed his head: "Young master, I will remember everything. I only hope that one day, I will be able to help you for the sake of Qingfeng." Skyrocket."

In the next 20 years, Wen Zhi, Li Yushan, and Liu Shi were called the "Eight Scholars of Songhe", and they were the mainstays in the court. Among them, Wen Zhi was the first civilian prime minister in the Dazhao Dynasty.The first time he stepped into the political situation, it was on this night that the conversation with Yang Yan, who was still the fourth son at the time, began in the South Courtyard of Prince Mu's Mansion.