Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 278 The New Generation of Educational Helpers – Hu Zongxian and Zhao Zhenji
Imperial College.

Outside Jixian Gate.

Yan Shifan stood with his hands behind his back, watching the students come and go, feeling as if he were in another world.

He used to study with Haiyue, Hairui, Lin Daqin, and Su Zhigao.

Those officials have either entered the Hanlin Academy or been transferred to local posts to serve as local officials who are the benefactors of the people.

However, he still returned to the Imperial Academy.

He was actually not very old. Many candidates in the Imperial Academy would stay for more than ten years, repeatedly taking the imperial examinations.

But now that my father is the Grand Secretary, he wants me to enter officialdom to help him. How can I waste my time here?

"Yan Donglou, oh Yan Donglou..."

"You must never again indulge in frivolous pursuits and neglect your duties!"

"You must pass the imperial examination with flying colors this time!"

Yan Shifan clenched his fist.

He strode inside.

The first thing he did, of course, was to find the tutor that Haiyue had recommended to him.

"Young Master Yan!"

"Oh! Brother Donglou is back!"

Along the way, upon seeing this person appear, the students were all excited, and many shamelessly crowded forward.

This is the son of the Grand Secretary!

If you can catch his eye, your future success is just around the corner!
Some people avoid it at all costs.

This is something we had a past conflict about.

Everyone knows this kid is petty, but I never expected him to be so successful now. I can't let him see this...

Yan Shifan, however, saw those people clearly. He still carried his little notebook with him, but his mindset was different.

Although the Imperial College was not as prestigious as the Hanlin Academy, it was still a place for cultivating talent, and the Yixintang Hall still exists today.

His return this time was intended by his father and Haiyue to allow him to recruit people and carry on the previous tradition.

Yan Shifan was quite adept at this task and was happy to do it.

Therefore, I always treated these classmates with gentle words, making them feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

The students were excited.

Even when his father wasn't the Grand Secretary, Young Master Yan was still this approachable.

Even though his father became the Grand Secretary, Young Master Yan was still so approachable.

That's really rare!

Yan Shifan reassured the students before inquiring about the whereabouts of that person.

"Hu Zongxian? Hu Ruzhen?"

"Yes, there is such a person. He just came from Southern Zhili and was admitted to the hospital."

“I saw that Chief Minister Wang was beckoning. Brother Donglou, you can go to the backyard to find him.”

Everyone chimed in, saying that they all recognized him.

Yan Shifan was somewhat surprised.

Hu Zongxian must have been a local elite who entered the Imperial Academy as a tribute student in this year's class. How did he integrate into the Imperial Academy so quickly?

Moreover, judging from the tone of his voice, Wang Ji, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, seems to appreciate him quite a bit?

"Right!"

"Otherwise, Mingwei wouldn't have recommended me!"

Thinking about it this way, I felt relieved.

go!
Looking for someone!

Upon arriving at the backyard, Yan Shifan went to the courtyard where the chief priest was located and saw a scholar in a blue robe carrying books walking out from afar.

This person was about the same age as him, with clear features and a handsome appearance. His eyes were particularly beautiful, like the moon reflected in a cold pool, calm yet sharp.

Yan Shifan strode over, smiled, and bowed: "Are you Hu Ruzhen? I am Yan Shifan..."

"what!"

Upon hearing this, the student in the blue robe quickly took a half step back and bowed respectfully: "It is indeed Mr. Yan in person. I am Hu Zongxian, a newly appointed student of the Imperial Academy!"

His tone was one of utmost respect for his teacher. As he straightened up, half of the worn-out lining of his sleeve was visible, giving him a simple and natural air: "I have long heard that you are well-versed in the principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals. May I ask for your guidance?"

"Hey! Hey!"

Yan Shifan waved his hand, a sense of goodwill rising within him: "Don't address me as 'teacher' or 'student' like that. Just call me Donglou!"

"Greetings, Brother Donglou!"

Hu Zongxian changed his tune, but the respect in his eyes remained unchanged.

His grades were not ideal.

If they were to be ranked in the local provincial examinations, they would generally be outside the top 100.

Surprisingly, he was selected by the Imperial Academy and became a tribute student, going to the capital to study.

To be honest, Hu Zongxian was a little dizzy when he received the news, but there was no reason to hesitate about such a good thing, so he went to Beijing immediately.

After a period of adjustment, he established himself at the Imperial Academy thanks to his exceptional interpersonal skills. Now, upon seeing the son of the Grand Secretary again, he naturally and warmly approached him to make his acquaintance.

Yan Shifan enjoyed associating with such knowledgeable and sensible people, and they chatted and laughed all the way toward Yixintang.

This is the birthplace of the Yixin Society, and the emperor's calligraphy "The Mind Monkey Returns to Righteousness" is still hanging in the hall, so naturally they wouldn't abandon it.

Upon arriving at the courtyard, Yan Shifan discovered a student sweeping fallen leaves with a broom.

His back was slightly thin, but his spine was straight, like a green bamboo that refused to bend.

When he turned around again, I saw thick eyebrows and big eyes, a taut jaw, and a stubborn look.

"Brother Meng Jing!"

Hu Zongxian greeted them first, then introduced the two to each other. "My name is Zhao Zhenji, courtesy name Mengjing. I greet Young Master Yan!"

Zhao Zhenji's attitude was very indifferent; in fact, upon hearing that this man was the son of the newly appointed Grand Secretary Yan Song, he even kept his distance with a hint of respect.

One key reason is that Zhao Zhenji's level of academic achievement was much higher than that of Hu Zongxian.

At the age of six, he studied with his grandfather in Wugong County, reading a book every day. In his youth, he and his younger brother Zhao Mengji became teachers and friends, learning from each other. At the age of fifteen, he began to admire Wang Yangming and learned a lot about Yangming's philosophy. At the age of twenty-one, he passed the Sichuan provincial examination fourth, which earned him the praise of Yang Tinghe, who had retired to his hometown.

Moreover, historically, Zhao Zhenji was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the 14th year of the Jiajing reign, and he was initially ranked second in the first class, also known as the Bangyan.

However, when Jiajing was reviewing the papers, he disliked Zhao Zhenji's straightforwardness and placed him second in the second class. After the results were announced, he regretted it and in the next selection, he chose Zhao Zhenji as his first choice to become a probationary official and send him to the Hanlin Academy for further study.

"Could it be that……"

"Were both of you arranged by Mingwei to provide me with educational assistance?"

"Good good!"

Regardless of how well Yan Shifan himself learned, he had spent a long time with Jing Li of the Yixin Society, and his insight was first-rate.

After a brief interaction, it was discovered that these two individuals each possessed unique talents.

Hu Zongxian was worldly-wise and shrewd, while Zhao Zhenji was a bit arrogant, but he was also truly talented.

Yan Shifan immediately waved his hand and arranged for the two men to live with him in the same dormitory, becoming roommates and working together to prepare for this year's imperial examination.

"Brother Donglou is highly talented and ambitious. He does not rely on his father's influence but strives to succeed in the imperial examinations. He is truly a model for scholars!"

Hu Zongxian was naturally very willing and repeatedly praised him, saying, "If you pass the imperial examination in the future, you will surely use your outstanding talent and insightful knowledge to support the country and benefit all the people!"

Upon hearing of this man's ambition, Zhao Zhenji was equally impressed: "Brother Yan does not rely on his father's power, but instead establishes himself through the orthodox path of the imperial examination. Such spirit is truly the mark of a great man!"

"Ha ha!"

Yan Shifan smiled broadly: "You two are too kind. We should work together. If we succeed in the imperial examinations one day, we should join hands with you to repay the emperor's kindness and bring peace to the people. Only in this way can we live up to our lofty ambitions and our desire to save the world!"

……

"This kid can finally focus on his studies."

Upon receiving the news, Yan Song was overjoyed and said to Hai Yue in front of him, "Thanks to Mingwei's arrangements!"

Haiyue smiled and said, "With Donglou's intelligence, he should make a name for himself in the imperial examinations and bring honor to his family through his achievements. Uncle, just wait for that day to come."

"Sigh! He just can't seem to settle down..."

Yan Song never praised others in front of his son to avoid arousing jealousy, but what pleased him most at this moment was the pure friendship this man showed to his son.

To be honest, if Yan Shifan had been more ambitious and spent less time in the pimp alley, he would be a proper official with the title of Jinshi today, having such a close friend.

Hopefully, this time we can prove them wrong!
Thinking of this, Yan Song stroked his long beard, feeling it was time to return the favor: "Mingwei has been serving as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy for nearly three years now. I wonder what his plans are for the next step?"

These words were spoken casually, yet they revealed the unique domineering presence of the Grand Secretary.

Haiyue's answer was decisive: "The Hanlin Academy is a place for cultivating talents. If I can continue to study the classics and history here, it would be my great fortune."

Yan Song raised an eyebrow: "You want to continue your studies at the Hanlin Academy?"

"Yes!"

Haiyue knew the other person was surprised.

Although the Hanlin Academy was prestigious, it held no real power.

But he really didn't want to leave the Hanlin Academy now.

After completing his three-year term as an editor, he planned to proceed step by step to become a compiler and continue to accumulate seniority.

To put it bluntly, it's about following Zhang Juzheng's path.

Haiyue opposed the Ming Dynasty's system of promoting officials because those Hanlin scholars were aloof and did not experience actual local government affairs, making it difficult for them to have a down-to-earth perspective on governance.

Without sufficient life experience, it's easy to be impractical when it comes to governing a country.

However, he possessed a visionary perspective that would be remembered by later generations, and he was well aware of the deep-seated problems of the Ming Dynasty, the contradictions among social classes, and various injustices.

At this critical juncture when the crisis of rule was becoming increasingly severe, the only way to prolong the life of the Ming Dynasty was to dismantle the old pattern of interest distribution.

Once you have a clear goal, there's really no need to go to the local area and personally experience the hardships of ordinary people.

Moreover, unlike Zhang Juzheng...

Haiyue had already cultivated her team early on.

Many of the core members of the Yixin Society have now been sent out of Beijing to gain experience in local areas.

This group of people went out with lofty ideals, but they inevitably encountered setbacks everywhere, and even suffered serious injuries.

At this critical juncture, a leader is needed to remain in the capital to stand up for them and completely unite this political force.

If Haiyue herself were to go out at this time, even if she were assigned to a position of real power, which would be quite helpful in terms of seniority, it would be a loss if her home were robbed and her foundation was damaged.

"it is good!"

Upon hearing this person's choice, Yan Song closed his eyes slightly, tapped his knuckles lightly twice on the table, and then slowly said, "With your talent, it is indeed not advisable to show your brilliance too early. The prestigious and respectable position of the Hanlin Academy is just right for you to bide your time and cultivate your abilities..."

He paused briefly at this point, his voice soft yet carrying immense weight: "In my many affairs at court, I also need the advice and planning of a talent like Mingwei!"

That's already quite direct.

It's practically saying outright, "If you assist me now, you'll be my successor to the position of Grand Secretary in the future."

After all, there is a significant age difference between the two.

Fortunately, the difference was too great.

Yan Song thought to himself, Zhang Cong had been in power for ten years, and no matter how capable he was, it would be remarkable if he could remain as the Grand Secretary for more than ten years.

After stepping down, this person's power will have been fully developed.

He could be considered as a future successor.

one.

The best candidate, of course, is the son, Yan Shifan. When recommending someone virtuous, one should not avoid relatives; when recommending someone not virtuous, one should not avoid relatives either.

However, if we consider the possibility that the other party is not capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility, then having this person succeed them would be an excellent choice.

Upon hearing this, Hai Yue sat up straight and solemnly took out a memorial: "I have indeed thought about the new policies, but they are not yet fully developed. Therefore, I have written this memorial to present to Grand Secretary Yan for his review!"

(End of this chapter)