A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 4: Buying Game
Everyone in the Song Dynasty knew that Yan Shu could write poems at the age of five and essays at the age of seven.

He took part in the palace examination at the age of thirteen and was praised by Emperor Zhenzong of Song.

The child prodigy known throughout the world can be described as a child prodigy of the Song Dynasty.

However, Yan Shu admitted that when he was young, he could not write poems that would be applauded by others.

Especially the artistic conception of the quatrains written by this boy in front of him, which is really domineering!

Song Shou briefly talked about Song Xuan.

Yan Shu, who became famous as a child prodigy, began to seriously look at the free and easy young man in front of him, the former child prodigy.

"Twelfth brother, how old are you this year?"

"Sixteen years old."

Hearing Song Xuan's answer, Yan Shu sighed:

"Pity."

The boy's test usually requires one to be under fifteen years old. If one is older, he is no longer a child prodigy.

Song Xuan didn't feel it was a pity. At least he had a great time in Lema Town over the years.

"I heard that the entrance examination requires the submission of a policy essay." Yan Shu immediately said:

"I'll give you a question as a practice. If you answer well, I'll write a letter of recommendation for both of you."

Zhang Fangping, who had been watching the show, never thought that something like this would happen. How come it was his turn to write a letter of recommendation?

Song Xuan politely saluted with his arms crossed:
"I haven't asked for your name yet, sir?"

"Yan Shu."

Song Xuan nodded slightly and nodded repeatedly:
"It turns out to be Mr. Yan Shu!"

Zhang Fangping was shocked when he heard the name.

The name of the child prodigy Yan Shu was known throughout the Song Dynasty, especially for his many poems.

(There are more than 10,000 poems, and the two lines "Flowers fall helplessly, and the swallows return as if they were familiar" are the most widely circulated).

But Zhang Fangping was worried, where did his twelfth brother get to know Mr. Yan's new words?

Such a good poem should have spread throughout the Song Dynasty long ago.

How come he has never heard of it!

Song Shou, a local official, saw that the two students had completely different reactions when they heard Yan Shu's name.

Zhang Fangping, whom he considered a genius, showed great astonishment on his face, which was a normal reaction.

On the contrary, Song Xuan, who "fell from the realm of a child prodigy", looked as usual, without showing any surprise or unexpectedness.

It was as if Yan Shu was an insignificant person.

Song Shou was a little confused about this young student Song Xuan.

Does he really not know Yan Shu's name?
This is the official child of someone else's family.

The learning trend in Lema Town shouldn’t be so backward!

Or maybe Song Xuan was not interested in studying at all, so he didn't know the name of Yan Shu?

Song Shou didn't understand the problem.

Yan Shu was attracted by Song Xuan's calm and unmoved personality.

He smelled the same scent as his own from Song Xuan.

Everyone is extremely confident, so there is no need to bow down to others.

At that time, Yan Shu was thirteen years old and took part in the palace examination together with more than a thousand candidates from the Song Dynasty.

He was "calm and composed, and wrote in one go", which earned him the praise of Emperor Zhenzong of Song. He was granted the same status as a Jinshi and appointed as a Zhengzi in the Secretariat, becoming a young Jinshi and the youngest official.

So when he heard Song Xuan's answer, Yan Shu smiled:

"Why, Brother Twelve, do you think my letter of recommendation is not good enough?"

Song Xuan pondered for a moment before speaking slowly:
"Thank you, Mr. Yan, for your kindness. However, we all have to take the entrance examination. If we are recommended to enter the academy, won't we be criticized for nothing?"

"Hahaha."

Yan Shu couldn't help but burst out laughing. He knew that Song Xuan had been holding his breath for so many years.

I usually pretend not to study, but I’m actually memorizing all the time behind the scenes.

He wanted to recreate the drama of three years of silence and then a sudden explosion to satisfy his years of forbearance.

Yan Shu understood this mentality too well.

Because he entered the officialdom early, he met many such scholars.

Always wanting to prove my ability and make others shut up.

But Yan Shu knew that no matter what achievements you made, those who dislike you will always dislike you and will never change their opinion of you.

They will only seize on your shortcomings and magnify them infinitely, buzzing around you like a fly.

However, Yan Shu did not give Song Xuan any advice. He thought that Song Xuan was still young and needed more training so that he could avoid detours in the future.

After all, people can’t teach you, only things can really teach you!
In fact, Song Xuan had no objection to the letter of recommendation, but he did not know Yan Shu's other poems.

But he also knew that this person was a famous child prodigy in the Northern Song Dynasty, and had been in official circles for so many years. If he agreed directly, wouldn't he lose the character of a scholar?

He wanted to pull it off.

However, Yan Shu was very optimistic about Song Xuan, so he took back the letter of recommendation.

But Yan Shu did not give up, so he took out the jade pendant from his waist:

"Why don't we make this our bet? If you can answer to my satisfaction, I'll give you the jade pendant."

Song Xuan took it and took a look. It was a white jade carved phoenix pendant, which was very attractive.

Bird-shaped jade pendants were a trend in the Song Dynasty.

Then Song Xuan tied it around his waist casually:

"Mr. Yan, please feel free to ask any questions."

"Hahaha." Yan Shu clapped his hands and laughed:
"Okay, okay, I'm indeed a young man from the Great Song Dynasty, very proud."

Zhang Fangping never thought that his twelfth brother could do such a thing, and he grinned.

After learning that the other party was the prime minister of the current dynasty, he was not afraid at all and did not say anything to refuse.

If Mr. Yan dares to give it, then Twelfth Brother dares to take it.

What's more, in the Song Dynasty, shopping was a game that everyone was keen on.

From small items like clothes and dolls to large items like carriages and houses, everything needs to be prepared before being sold.

"Hey."

Song Shou also took off his jade pendant and slapped it into the hands of Zhang Fangping, the student he favored:
"In that case, I'll add a little something to the mix."

Yan Shu stroked his beard, did not refuse, and immediately spoke:
"The officials say that it is the scholars and officials who will govern the world together with me."

"Today, scholars are not upright, their desires are boundless but their vision is short-sighted."

"I want to restore the ancient ways and restore the ancient ways. What methods can I use to achieve this?"

When Song Xuan heard this, he realized that this was not Zhao Zhen's idea, but Yan Shu's own idea.

After all, he was demoted from the central government and came here because there were villains in the court.

However, most of the villains who surrendered to Empress Dowager Liu were Jinshi graduates and upright scholars and officials.

The magic bombardment belongs to it.

Song Xuan picked up the cold drink and drank it slowly, but he was not in a hurry to answer.

After all, the imperial examination has now eliminated quick shooters.

Before Emperor Taizong of Song, the quickest-witted candidates who could write quickly and submit their papers first would become the top scorer. However, in the third year of Chunhua (992), Emperor Taizong of Song directly dismissed the candidates who submitted their papers first. From then on, the imperial examinations of the Song Dynasty targeted the quickest-witted candidates, and those who answered quickly and submitted their papers early would definitely be eliminated.

Yan Shu signaled Song Shou to stand up, and the two of them walked to the river with their celadon wine glasses in hand.
"Gong Chui, who do you think will write the best essay between the two of them?"

"Of course it's Zhang Fangping, need I say more?"

"Hehehe." Yan Shu said quite proudly:
"Why don't we have a bet to see which of them is better."

Song Shou didn't hesitate at all: "What's the bet?"

(End of this chapter)