after being kidnapped by the general

It is difficult to become a subject of Yuanli.

Yuanli seldom accepts other people's recommendations, and more often recruits officials himself.Countless aristocratic families wanted to seek refuge in Yuanli but had no way to go. Gradually, they discovered one thing: most of the courtiers valued by Yuanli came from poor families, and there were very few children from famous families.

Some smart people have vaguely noticed that Yuanli seems to prefer children from poor families to famous scholars.

Perhaps it is because Yuanli's background is not good, so he feels more empathy for the children of the poor family.It is precisely because of this that it is more difficult for famous families to send their children to Yuanli and get them reused.Now that they have the opportunity to send their children to Yuanli in an open and honest manner, the famous families regard it as very important.

Jingzhou, Xiangyang.

Wang family.

Wang Qianzhi and several clan brothers were called to the inner hall. The patriarch told them that Yuanli would hold the imperial examination and asked them if they wanted to try it.

Several clan brothers looked at each other with great interest, and nodded in agreement after not thinking for a long time.The patriarch put his gaze on Wang Qianzhi who had been silent all this time, and asked, "Qianzhi, what about you?"

Wang Qianzhi is the smartest of the new generation of young people in the Wang family, and the patriarch has always valued him a lot.Since Wang Qianzhi completed his studies, they originally wanted to use their contacts to recommend Wang Qianzhi to the court as an official, but who would have thought that wars would break out in the world.Therefore, Wang Qianzhi has been staying at home all these years, studying, playing chess, and tending flowers and plants, and has never made any achievements.

"Patriarch, I also want to go and have a try." Wang Qianzhi was only in his early twenties, but he looked very steady, without the impetuous attitude of young people. He said, "I am not young, and my wife is also pregnant. Pregnant. Wen Gong, who is only a little older than me, is already the co-lord of Jizhou and Bingzhou, and a famous person all over the world, but I am still white. I feel ashamed, and I should leave home to work hard. .”

The patriarch pondered for a moment, and said: "You became famous when you were young, and you studied under the great Confucianism. If you want to be an official, you can ask your elder brothers to find an official position with King Chen for you. They have worked hard for many years, and they can be regarded as being by King Chen's side. Opening the door will make your official career much easier. Qianzhi, are you sure you want to go to Wengong's side? I want to make it clear to you first that Wengong is not Chen Wang, and there are not many scholars around Wengong. Most of the people he values ​​are poor families. If you go to Wen Gong's side, you may not be able to win Wen Gong's favor."

Wang Qianzhi smiled slightly, "Nowadays, the general situation in the world is clear, and Wen Gong and the general form a family of their own. Although Chen Wang has an emperor, it may not be able to make the world stable. It is enough to have a few brothers by Chen Wang's side. For the sake of the family, I should also Go to Wengong's side. As for whether he will be valued by Wengong, the patriarch does not have to worry. Since Wengong can hold such an imperial examination that is only based on knowledge, it can be seen that Wengong treats the students of the world with openness and fairness , is a person who is thirsty for talents, as long as we have our own abilities, how can we not be afraid of not being reused?"

Several tribe brothers listened quietly, and nodded when they heard this, "I have never heard of such a selection method before, but it is very novel. Students from all over the world gather together, and everyone only compares their academic scores. Interesting."

They were even a little eager to move, wanting to see with their own eyes what kind of results they could achieve among the crowd of students.

The patriarch nodded and sighed without hesitation for a long time: "In this case, the family will pack your bags for you, and you can go on the road as soon as possible. But before you go, I have a few words to tell you."

Several people listened attentively.

"This imperial examination is a fair and just competition of knowledge, and it is a true friendship through literature. I can already predict how many students will go to Jizhou to take the imperial examination this time, ranging from a thousand to tens of thousands. Among them, students from the north It must take the majority. Although children from poor families and scholars can participate in the imperial examination, you don’t have to worry too much. Those who can pass the imperial examination must be mostly scholars.” The patriarch said confidently, “If there are scholars who have passed the examination People in Jingzhou, you must go and get acquainted. When you are away from home, students in a place should support each other. As long as there are more people in Jingzhou, we Jingzhou scholars can also talk to Wen Gong."

The patriarch was not worried that the children of poor families would overwhelm the scholars in the imperial examination.

Scholars are educated by elites, and the educational resources they get and the children from poor families are different. In terms of knowledge, most of those who can enter Wengong Mansion through the imperial examination are scholars.

Several people responded to the patriarch's words, and the patriarch said again: "Although Wen Gong is surrounded by people with bad backgrounds, it is not that there are people from Jingzhou among them."

Wang Qianzhi thought for a while and asked, "Are you talking about Zhou Gongdan Zhou Wenning, a branch of the Zhou family, who is now highly valued by Wen Gong?"

"That's right," the patriarch stroked his beard and nodded slowly, "I used to have some friendship with the Zhou family. I will write a greeting letter for you. When you arrive in Jizhou, you can take this greeting letter to go. When you meet Zhou Gongdan, your words must be polite enough, and it is best for Zhou Gongdan to appreciate you."

Several people agreed again, and the patriarch stopped talking and waved them away.

However, Wang Qianzhi and several clan brothers did not separate, but gathered in Wang Qianzhi's room to discuss the content of the imperial examination.

They didn't talk for long, and a servant came to report that Wang Qianzhi's friend had come.

Wang Qianzhi hurriedly said: "Please invite them here."

After a while, three young men in green shirts walked in with a smile.

These three are Wang Qianzhi's good friends in the school, the tall one is called Xu Kang, the other two who look similar are a pair of brothers, the older one is called Xiang Feijin and the younger one is called Xiang Feizhang.

The faces of the three were faintly excited. After meeting each other, Xu Kang asked directly: "Brother Wang, do you want to go to Jizhou to take Wen Gong's imperial examination?"

Wang Qianzhi understood, smiled and nodded, "You should go too?"

Xu Kang rejoiced and said: "That's right. We are originally from the north. You also know that I am from Jizhou, and the two brothers from the Xiang family are from Bingzhou. I came to Jingzhou to escape the war. Now that I have the opportunity, it is time to go back It's a plan."

The two brothers of the Xiang family nodded.

Although the three of them came from noble families, since the cholera in Baimizhong, many families and celebrities in the north fled to Jingzhou, Jiaozhou, Yizhou, Jiangdong and other places to escape the war, and their families were no exception. *And once they leave the original place where the family is based, the original land and connections will fall apart. They are foreigners, and it is difficult for them to mix into the upper class of Jingzhou. If they don't do something, they will only slowly decline until they become poor family.

Now the imperial examination in Yuanli is their chance to return to the north, and they dare to return to the north, and they have also made a determination that ordinary people can't imagine.The manors and fields they accumulated in the north have been taken away by others, and this time they returned to the north to start from scratch.The two brothers Xu Kang and the Xiang family thought for a long time, they didn't want to refuse such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so they prepared to come to find out about Wang Qianzhi. If Wang Qianzhi went to Jizhou together, they would take care of each other.

After listening to their thoughts, Wang Qianzhi nodded in praise and said: "You have a good idea. Wen Gong just won Jizhou, and there must be a shortage of people around him. This is the time when all things are going to be destroyed. If you do well, you can quickly He can take the lead. Moreover, Wen Gong is already one of the best princes in the north. He has made such achievements before he reached [-]. The future achievements are beyond your imagination. I once sent someone to inquire about the officials under Wen Gong’s command. The Duke takes great care of his subordinates, and has made many ordinary people extraordinary and famous all over the world. If you can become the subordinate officials of Wen Gong, then you will have a good future. Although Wen Gong recruits only the officials Not Bei Zhouchen, but you can't underestimate it either."

Xu Kang smiled, and patted him on the shoulder, "Brother Wang, how could I be like this? Don't worry, if I'm lucky enough to become a subject of Duke Wen, maybe the status of the official is better than that of the official." The courtiers of the Northern Zhou Dynasty should be more popular."

Xiang Feijin raised his finger and let out a "hush", sweating profusely, "Xu Kang, don't say that anymore!"

Xu Kang also knew that he was wrong. He could think about it in his heart, but he must not say it in the open. He slapped himself on the mouth and apologized to the people in the room.

The others pretended not to hear them, and after they agreed on a time to travel, Xu Kang and the three left.

Five days later, a group of people took a carriage to Jizhou.

The young man had never traveled far before, so he couldn't help being elated.Talking and laughing with each other and looking at the scenery will pass a day.They didn't think there was anything wrong, but after more and more students were rushing around, Wang Qianzhi and others realized that other students were reading a book in their hands during the interval of their journey.

Seeing this scene, they who were not nervous at all, couldn't help but feel a little anxious.In the next few days, the few people stopped playing around, and each held a book and buried themselves in the carriage to study hard.

The carriage was already bumpy, but within a few days, their backs were sore and their eyes were dizzy from the shaking.

Xu Kang stretched his waist, and said in great pain: "I thought we had enough knowledge, and this journey would be easier. Who would have known that we would have to study hard on the way?"

Wang Qianzhi was still reading the book seriously and was not affected at all.Hearing this, he straightened up and rubbed his sore neck, and said with a wry smile: "I am also very confident, but seeing that the students along the way are all studying, I always feel that if I don't study, I will not be at ease."

Everyone nodded again and again, and after a short rest, they began to read again.

In September, students from several nearby states rushed to Ye County.

When Wang Qianzhi and others got off the carriage, they were overwhelmed by the prosperity of Ye County.

There are people coming and going on the street, most of them are students in long gowns.There are common people buying and selling things on both sides of the street, shouting and shouting one after another.

The scene was lively, the ground was flat and clean, and in a daze, everyone thought they had come to Luoyang a few years ago.

They raised their heads and looked at the city wall behind them. The tall and majestic city wall was majestic and majestic, and a powerful momentum rushed towards them.Everyone looked at the street for a long time before regaining their minds. They couldn't help but sigh and think, this is the capital of Duke Wen, it's really magnificent.

Xu Kang and the Xiang family brothers were looking for a place to live. They asked Wang Qianzhi and the others, "Brother Wang, do you want to come with us?"

Wang Qianzhi smiled apologetically, "I won't let you find a place to live. My clan brothers and I want to visit an adult first."

The two Xiang family brothers looked at Xu Kang, Xu Kang smiled and said tentatively: "Brother Wang, do you know any adults in Ye County? I wonder who it is?"

There is nothing that cannot be said, Wang Qianzhi said conveniently: "He is also from Jingzhou, and now he is serving as a minister next to Wen Gong, Lord Zhou."

Xu Kang and the others gasped, their eyes brightened, and they stared at Wang Qianzhi.

It turned out to be an important minister beside Wen Gong!

The three of them were so excited that they couldn't help but give up such an opportunity, so they went up to him cheekily and said, "Brother Wang... I also admire Master Zhou very much, can you take us to meet Master Zhou?"

Yuanli and Chu Hechao had just been sent out of the mansion by Zhou Gongdan, when they saw this group of students who came to visit Zhou Gongdan.

The students didn't know who the two of them were, but they also knew that those who could enter and leave Zhou Gongdan's mansion must be either rich or noble, so they saluted Yuanli and Chu Hechao respectfully, "I have seen the two adults .”

Yuan Li looked at their faces, then looked at the carriage and dusty clothes behind them, and knew that they were students who came to Jizhou.He who had never met Zhou Gongdan's relatives couldn't help being very interested, stopped and asked, "Who are you?"

Even though Yuanli looked young, Xu Kang and the others were still a little cautious, Wang Qianzhi took the initiative to say: "Master, I am a student who came from Jingzhou to take the imperial examination. Because my father is old with Master Zhou, I asked the students to come and visit Master Zhou."

Because I don't know who he is, but judging by his young age, I guess he should be an official who has just embarked on an official career. Wang Qianzhi's attitude is neither humble nor overbearing. the wind.

Oh, this is a person from Jingzhou who came to find a senior who is also from Jingzhou.

Yuanli nodded knowingly.

This is also an ancient rule. After the development of imperial examinations, students from one place would also visit senior officials in the same place when they went to Beijing to take the exam.

Zhou Gongdan in the back asked curiously: "Oh, are you old with me? Who is your father?"

As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone immediately knew that he was Zhou Gongdan, and quickly saluted Zhou Gongdan again, "The student has met Mr. Zhou. My father, the king, is from Xiangyang, Jingzhou."

Seeing that they had something to say, Yuan Li smiled, nodded with Zhou Gongdan, and left slowly.

Chu Hechao tapped the handle of the broadsword unhurriedly with his fingers, glanced over the students, and left side by side with Yuan Li.

Wang Qianzhi looked sideways at the backs of the two of them, with hesitation in his eyes, and asked in a low voice: "May I ask Mr. Zhou, who are these two?"

Zhou Gongdan smiled and said: "It's just my two colleagues. Come, let's go in and talk."

Zhou Gongdan said so, and Wang Qianzhi didn't think too much about it.He quickly responded, ordered the servants to take gifts, and followed Zhou Gongdan into the Zhou mansion.