Records of the King of Xin'an County

Every year when the new year comes, it is a day of celebration for the whole country of Tang Dynasty.Since the beginning of the Laba Festival and Zaoji festivals, everyone has been nervously and joyfully preparing for the New Year; until New Year’s Eve, when the New Year’s Eve is exorcising, and after the New Year’s Day, they walk around to pay New Year’s greetings; shortly thereafter, it is the most exciting Shangyuan Festival.The curfew was lifted for three days before and after, and almost a million people flocked to the streets of Chang'an to watch the lanterns and play, rubbing shoulders, singing songs with arms in arms, or whirling together, which is a scene of prosperity and prosperity.

However, this time the Lantern Watching in Shangyuan seems to be different from the past.Below the majestic lantern building standing in front of the imperial city, a special area is circled to perform a hundred operas.Those who breathe fire, swallow swords, play monkeys, and even tame wild animals such as leopards, lynxes, and gray wolves are dazzling enough.In order to prevent the crowds from crowding, a circular viewing platform was specially set up around it. Standing on the rising steps, no one has to worry about blocking the sight of the people behind, just like watching a polo match.

Until the end of the Lantern Festival, the lamphouse, tree, lighthouse, etc. were demolished one after another, but the observation deck remained in place.In addition, the demolished lamphouse, lamp tree and other wood were all transported into the observation tower. Hundreds of people came and went there every day, busy and busy with what they were building.

Some curious people observed for a few days and found that they seemed to be building two rows of houses, which were simple and undecorated, and even only built a shelf with a roof, and even the four walls were empty.However, these two verandah-like houses were built in front of the imperial city, neither fish nor fowl, and I don't know what someone is planning.

At this time, a new edict was posted outside the imperial city, saying that because of the previous rumors and the framing of the tribute fraud case that affected many people, the imperial court decided that all the examinations of Jinshi, Mingjing, Mingfa, etc. All have to take the provincial exam openly.Examination rooms have been built outside the imperial city. When the candidates take the exam, the examiners are all present, and the Jinwu Guards are responsible for patrolling the examination rooms.And all other literati and scholars who are interested in the provincial examination can stand on the observation platform and watch silently as witnesses.

As soon as this imperial decree came out, many state government's proposals for sending it were all uproarious.How important is provincial examination to them?It is nothing less than the key to determining the future of life, and it is impossible to treat it with caution.But now, those who stand out from the state capitals are regarded as the objects of pointing and pointing by others, which is a great shame.

However, more examples are very disapproving.On weekdays, in all kinds of literary and poetry gatherings, who doesn't recite poems and compose Fu in public?Who doesn't speak eloquently in front of other people, if the conversation is meaningful and calm, the more praises they get, the wider the reputation will be spread?Why, in the Wenhui Poetry Club, I can't wait for everyone's eyes to focus on me, but I can't make it when I test it?Is it an insult?

There were also similar voices of doubt among the court officials, who felt that the arrangement of the provincial examination was a bit too abrupt and completely inconsistent with the rules of previous years.Moreover, in the face of so many onlookers, if the candidates get nervous and perform abnormally on the spot, wouldn't this provincial test not be able to get enough talents?

Facing their puzzlement, Prince Xin'an said calmly: "A truly outstanding person can deal with them calmly even if there are huge crowds of people around. Such a person is the talent most needed by the imperial court. Moreover, there has never been a provincial test. How many people's requirements must be satisfied. How much or how little should be taken depends entirely on the ability of the candidates. If they really can't pass this test, it's because they still have shortcomings, and they have to continue to hone their skills."

"Furthermore, the provincial examination is like a literary meeting held by the imperial court, except that participants need to have sufficient qualifications to enter. Ordinary literary meetings allow others to listen from the sidelines. Why can't the provincial examination allow Beijing It is simply unreasonable for other scribes to watch? It is unreasonable to take the test behind closed doors. The scribes are not ordinary people, and they will never do anything that insults the gentlemen. The only way is to complete the provincial examination under their witness, and then get on the list in one fell swoop. Only by becoming famous can it be said that everyone expects it, and only then can all scholars be convinced."

Liu Jijiu's response was more straightforward: "If you can't even deal with such a situation, how can you deal with all kinds of emergencies smoothly in the future? People who are unpredictable at first glance are not suitable for officialdom. They have no self-confidence. Or those who find it unacceptable, don’t need to take the test, let them go. I believe that no matter which subject is passed in this provincial test, the people who get it must be excellent in character and talent!!”

Since both the chief examiner and the auxiliary examiner insisted so much, the other officials stopped talking.Some silently support and agree with their actions, some don't express their views, and some are secretly preparing to see their jokes-what's the use of arguing with them now?After the results of the selection of scholars come out, everything will naturally be known.

However, when these words spread, the two examiners, one old and one young, received praise from many Chinese people in Beijing.Especially those scholars who had no chance to pass the county and government examinations were far more interested in watching the provincial examinations than ordinary scribes.After all, the unique experience of watching the provincial examination may also sharpen their own state of mind and enable them to face the failure of the county and government examinations more calmly.

At the end of January, the day of the provincial examination finally arrived, and the order of the Jinshi examination was arranged before all the subjects, and it was arranged on the first and second days.In the early morning, more than a thousand examinees from the prefectures of the Tang Dynasty came early to the newly built test house outside the imperial city with their prepared test boxes and baskets.

Wang Zixian originally planned to come here alone, but he didn't want Wang Zimu to be really worried, so he came to live in the vine garden one day earlier, and insisted on coming with him: "How can you let brother face such an important matter alone? ? If I can't go with my brother, I'm afraid I will miss it for the rest of my life."

Mr. Song listened to it, and couldn't help laughing: "It's just a journey, so why not just let him see you off?"

So, the helpless Wang Zixian had no choice but to agree.After arriving outside the imperial city, Wang Zimu was a little more nervous than him, and checked him several times to see if everything in the test box was complete: "Brother, do you need to prepare a cloak? I think everyone else has prepared it." A lot of warm clothes... Do you need to bring some spares for pens, inks and inkstones? Just in case?"

Wang Zixian couldn't help but sighed: "You can rest assured, I bring all the usual things, it's okay. If you are like this when I go to the province to test you, when it is your turn in the future, it is difficult to sit and lie. Ning, restless? It’s just staying in the examination room for two days and answering two papers, why should you care so much?”

Wang Zimu bowed his head to be taught, and said: "I will always watch from the observation deck..."

"Alright, if you read too much, you won't feel that there is anything special about the provincial exam." The prince offered.

At this time, several clerks sent by the Ministry of Officials held the roster and rolled their names. The first to enter were the students of Guozijian, then the students sent by Jingzhao Prefecture, Henan Prefecture, and Taiyuan Prefecture, and then those from other prefectures. example.After carefully checking their paperwork, the clerks will only let them go after confirming that they are correct.

This year, not many students from the Imperial College took the provincial exam, and Wang Zixian was not familiar with them.However, because they both came from Guozijian, there was always some friendship, and soon they exchanged names.After learning that the young man in front of them was the famous Prince Xian according to the rumors, the rest of them couldn't hide the strange look on their faces.Wang Zixian didn't care about their gazes or opinions, and only smiled slightly.

While they were talking, a few people came to the side of Kaoshe.Take a closer look, the hastily built test house looks like two long corridors surrounded by thick barriers.The walking barrier is about one person high, and you should hardly feel the howling cold wind when you sit inside.However, the barriers can block the cold wind, but they can't block the eyes from the observation deck outside.Because of the extraordinarily high roof, it is impossible for any location in the test house to be completely concealed.

"I hope there will be no wind and snow in these two days." A student of the Imperial College smiled bitterly. "It's okay at the moment. If the wind and snow add up, even if we are frozen stiff, we still have to continue the exam." During the exams in all halls, everyone would avoid the seats by the door to avoid catching cold at night.Now there was nowhere for anyone to hide, but to get through the night shivering in a cloak.

Everyone said yes, feeling that this was not only a test of their ingenuity, but also a test of their physical strength and health.

At this time, a team of Jinwu Guards came to check whether there were any items they should not have brought with them.But standing not far from several Jinwu guards, were two handsome young men dressed in fox fur, luxurious accessories, and extraordinary manners.One of them glanced at them, as if just looking at them casually, and turned his eyes away after a while.

Prince Xian slightly hooked the corners of his lips, with a smile in his eyes.

"That's... Tianshui County King and Xin'an County King!" Almost all the students of Guozijian are the children of high-ranking officials and nobles, and there are always those who know the clan.After this person called out the titles of the two county kings, all the sons sent from other state capitals followed the reputation——Xin'an County King, whose reputation has been resounding throughout Chang'an, turned out to be like this.

Wang Zixian squinted his eyes and had to admit that he was both proud and jealous.It was clear that he was the one who advised Xuan Qi to hold power in his hands and step into an official career. The higher he climbed, the better he could protect himself and his family.And after he shed all the pretense, as if his blemishes had been washed away, he became more dazzling, more exciting, and made him feel even more heartbroken.

However, now that so many people look up to him with various thoughts, there must be people who will try their best to approach him in the future, and he will be appreciated by more and more people—he couldn't help it He wanted to hide him in his arms forever without being known by anyone.

Such contradictory thoughts also made him laugh.

So, he simply stopped looking, walked into the test house, and chose a position that was most likely to be seen by the people on the viewing platform—since Xuan Qi had already made plans for him and paved the way for him, then he Therefore, under the watchful eyes of everyone, she must seize the title of this year's No. [-] and become famous all over the world! !