Be a master through ancient times

Because Chu Ci and Zhang Songnian are old, and they are bold and generous, he was not isolated by everyone just because he came from a small place like Zhangzhou Prefecture. At the dinner party, he was even as comfortable as a live fish in the water.

Because all the people present were well-read poets and books, while they were drinking, they would inevitably have to make a drinking order to add to the fun.At the beginning, all the adults were still clumsy, and the sentences they uttered were either ordinary or directly borrowed from the ancients, but after the game, the literati's desire to win and lose took the lead, so they didn't care about these.

Chu Ci has never been good at poetry, so he just sat and listened to them happily. Seeing this, Zhang Songnian took advantage of the hot wine to go outside to have a wind, and quietly gestured for Chu Ci to go out with him.

Chu Ci understood, and quietly left the table while everyone was enjoying themselves.

Zhang Songnian drank some more wine tonight, and he was a little excited at this time. Seeing that Chu Ci really came out with him, he was very satisfied.

"Master Chu, do you know why the old man asked you to come out?"

"The teacher can call me A Ci, but the students can't afford to call me that. As for why the teacher called me out, the students don't know, and they dare not speculate."

"Haha, you don't have to be so restrained. In fact, it's not a big deal. The old man just saw that you don't seem to like drinking orders, so he asked you to come out and walk together."

Chu Ci noticed this too: "Doesn't the master like drinking orders?"

"I don't like right or wrong, but I'm not good at it, and I'm not interested. I remember. Ah Ci is not good at composing poems, right?" Zhang Songnian suddenly laughed. There is one failure, and that is the poem you made, which really makes people wonder how to evaluate it."

Chu Ci smiled awkwardly. He copied that poem rote. Fortunately, the township examination did not pay much attention to poetry. Otherwise, his position of Jieyuan might be handed over to others.

When Zhang Songnian saw this, he saved him a bit of face: "Since we are not good at poetry, let's only talk about articles, not poetry. I am afraid that no one knows about the ancient style of writing that I like?"

Zhang Songnian was very helpless. Since he became the chief examiner of the township examination, he could not escape the fate of being speculated.Those people ruined his family, and they also like to add oil and vinegar to it. His favorite articles were interpreted word by word.With all due respect, those interpretations are downright ridiculous.

"It's well known that you like the ancient style of writing. However, I'm afraid they are not so sure now." Chu Ci smiled maliciously when he thought of their entangled look, because he was the root cause of people's hesitation .

When people get to know Zhang Songnian, they should not only read his articles, but also know his deeds.When they know that none of the articles on Xie Yuanlang's examination paper that Mr. Zhang took back in the past imitated the ancient style of writing, they might not be able to laugh anymore.I am afraid that today, Zhang Songnian is still one of the primary targets of candidates for Xijiang province.

At this time, Zhang Songnian also recalled the astonishment and astonishment on the faces of the group of people when the paper was rewritten: "How can the old man let them guess so easily? If you want to gain fame, you can only do it by opportunism. Even if such a mediocre person enters the court , I'm afraid it's just a wine bag and rice bag."

Chu Ci can't comment much, so he can only divert the topic: "Compared with the ancient style of writing, students prefer modern prose. But no matter what kind of essay, as long as it can express ideas and express opinions, it is a good essay."

Hearing this, Zhang Songnian sighed slightly: "A friend of mine once said what you said. It's a pity that Lu Weixue and I were young and energetic at that time, and we always argued day and night, so we couldn't listen to his advice at all. The old man regretted it until Lu Weixue retired from his old age and returned to his hometown. If he had understood this truth earlier, he would have made more friends, learned more about the benefits of modern and ancient prose, and integrated it with what I have learned. More reason."

"You don't have to regret being a teacher. In the past, students used to listen to the old man's words. They lived and learned. As long as they are willing to learn, it is never too late. On the contrary, those people are just wasting their time in the school." Chu Words of consolation.

"Okay, let's not talk about this. The old man invited you out. Apart from taking a walk together, I also want to test your knowledge again. Listen carefully..."

The two answered as they walked, and they didn't return to the hall until the third watch gong was struck and the banquet in front of them was almost over.It was more than half of the night, enough for Zhang Songnian to get to the bottom of it. The more he asked, the more interested he became, and the questions he asked also spanned from the Four Books and Five Classics to other things.He felt that Chu Ci's answers always gave people a refreshing feeling. After discussing with him for a long time, even he had a new view on some things.

And Chu Ci also feels that Zhang Songnian is indeed worthy of being a Hanlin scholar who has studied poetry and books. His understanding of the article is never superficial, but digs deep into the meaning he wants to express, and communicates with him, some of which he originally Things that I don't quite understand can be easily solved.

In the next few days, Zhang Songnian often called Chu Ci over to exchange knowledge when he was not working, and sometimes called everyone together to discuss issues.Everyone held their own opinions and tried their best to persuade each other, so like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showed their magical skills. What these people said casually, if copied on paper and circulated, it would immediately become a well-known masterpiece.

It was also at this time that Chu Ci realized what kind of people the winners of the imperial court were.Don't look at their flattery or uprightness, cunning or dullness in their lives, but their professional ability is not covered, and their knowledge is the best.Chu Ci couldn't help but imagine that if these people took the imperial examination together, it would be a scene of gods fighting.

Time passed, and soon, it was the fifth day of August.Early this morning, a notice was posted outside the governor's yamen of Nanjiang Province to inform candidates of the chief examiner and accompanying team of the rural examination.Zhang Songnian and others finally changed into the government, left the other courtyard, and were welcomed into the post house.

At this time, the people selected by Nanjiang Province to participate in this rural examination also came to visit the chief examiner in an endless stream.These selected personnel have undergone numerous investigations. Those who can be selected must have no students who participated in the rural examinations among the six relatives, and some of them have been eliminated on the grounds of avoiding suspicion.

On the evening of the fifth day of the fifth day, a horse banquet was set up, and on the sixth day, the door was closed.Before dawn on the eighth day of the lunar new year, candidates were already waiting in the areas circled by each prefecture for inspection.

After three gongs, the Tianhe four-year Nanjiang Provincial Examination officially kicked off...

Besides, Nan Fujian Province on the other side also began to check and enter the venue in an orderly manner at this time.In the examination room, someone noticed that some students seemed to be very calm. When they entered the examination room, the first thing they did was to clean the examination room. After cleaning, they sat inside and closed their eyes to recharge their batteries. The expression on their faces Extraordinarily calm, it seems that they are not in the key place to determine their fate at this time, but in any place.

Among them, the appearance of the older and experienced candidates is fine, and some young candidates who seem to be entering the arena for the first time can be so calm, such a temperament has to be admired.

However, what they don't know is that these people are not entering the arena for the first time.The three mock exams in Zhangzhou Prefecture have already turned them into "old fritters" in the exam room. At this time, they are familiar with every procedure, and they even guessed accurately when the guards outside will come to deliver water.The reason why people are nervous is nothing more than fear of the unknown.Once the unknown becomes the known, those jittery emotions will slowly fade away.

These students are very grateful to Chu Ci at this moment. If they hadn't held three mock exams against their academic ability, they would probably be as panic-stricken as other first-time candidates, and their mentality would be very different from usual.Once you become restless and irritable, it will definitely affect the mood of the answer sheet, and you can imagine what you will do in the exam.

Thinking of the devotion and care of the officials in the government, the determination of the Zhangzhou government students is even stronger. Next, they must take the exam seriously, so they can repay those who are full of expectations for them by obtaining fame.

……

In the evening on the eighth day of the eighth day, the candidates from all the state capitals in Nanjiang Province had barely finished their examinations.Chu Ci looked through the list, and was surprised to find that there were half as many candidates in Nanjiang Province as they did in Xijiang Province. A total of 7000 people took part in the provincial examination.

Judging from the usual number of candidates, the success rate is about 95 to [-]. This time the emperor allowed more people to be recruited, so in the end Zhang Songnian and the governor of Nanjiang negotiated and the success rate was about [-] to [-].In other words, among the students present, there were no more than ninety at most who were able to obtain the title of Juren in the end.

After Chu Ci figured it out, he couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable when he looked at the candidates whose faces were full of expectations.Most of them should know that they have no chance to go further, but they still came, with the slight expectation in their hearts.

Some of these people have weather-beaten hair on the temples, while others are still childish.There are masters and apprentices, fathers and sons, and even grandparents and grandchildren who take the exam together.Chu Ci couldn't imagine how they would feel when they learned that they had failed the ranking.

No wonder people always show admiration when they hear that someone was admitted from Nanjiang Province. In fact, their competitive pressure is much greater than other provinces.

"Lord Chu, do you feel a bit unbearable to look at the look on your face?" Xu Yizhou was patrolling with him. When Chu Ci saw him before, he thought he was only 25 or 30 years old. Who knew that he was only [-] when he asked later. He is in his thirties, and his child is as old as Chu Xiaoyuan, which is really surprising.

Chu Ci nodded: "I can't help but feel sorry for them when I think of them coming with hope, but leaving only disappointed. It would be great if the court could recruit more people."

Xu Yizhou also sighed, who said otherwise?The biggest regret in his father's life is that he failed to take the exam to raise someone to go back to Guangyao's family.Although this wish came true in him, seeing his father's lonely look every time he stood in front of his plaque, Xu Yizhou wished to give his father his fame.

Seeing that his mood had also turned bad, Chu Ci felt a little guilty: "Lord Xu, don't worry about it, I just sighed casually. Anyway, no matter how many more people the imperial court takes, there will always be someone who will regret it. I hope they can recognize the reality as soon as possible, find a career to support their families, and it will be better than spending time in this rural test field year after year."

After all, the examples Fan Jinzhong cited are still very few.