Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 305 Helping in times of need
After the examination hall confirms that all examination papers have been collected, the candidates are allowed to leave.

Lu Beigu staggered out of the examination room carrying his belongings, and squeezed forward with the crowd in the "Zhou" examination area.

His gaze was still slightly skewed, as if the towering walls of the examination hall and the lights of the distant streets were seen through a layer of shimmering water.

"Brother Lu!"

A familiar call pierced through the noise.

Lu Beigu looked in the direction of the sound and saw Su Shi and his son Su Xun, both pale-faced, supporting each other, while Su Zhe led the way, carrying large and small bags of exam supplies for the three of them, his knuckles red from the effort.

How did you do on the exam?

Upon hearing this familiar phrase, Lu Beigu couldn't help but chuckle.

"I didn't do well on the exam, and this snowstorm almost killed me!"

Su Xun was panting, and he looked visibly more dejected. It was clear that the old man had been tormented these past few days.

"That's right! My roof is drafty, and snow keeps getting into my collar. When I was copying my manuscript, the ink froze, so I had to breathe on it to thaw it. It was a very messy process."

Su Shi chimed in, and although he was physically weak, he still spoke very quickly: "How did you solve the problem in your 'Treatise on the Middle Tang Dynasty'? The problem seems ordinary, but it is actually extremely tricky. I pondered for a long time and could not put pen to paper."

Lu Beigu briefly said, "It's nothing more than comparing the prefectures and kingdoms of the early Han Dynasty with the regional military governors of the mid-Tang Dynasty to discuss the differences in their checks and balances."

Upon hearing this, Su Xun stroked his beard and pondered, "Oh? Using the Han dynasty to illustrate the Tang dynasty? That's a novel angle. I approached it from the perspective of 'the transfer of power and the lack of trust and favor,' but I'm afraid that won't catch the examiners' eye."

His tone was half self-deprecating and half expectant.

Su Zhe, who was standing in front of them, wanted to say something after hearing this, but in the end he held back.

Lu Beigu didn't want to be the one to spoil the fun. In fact, no matter how well Su Xun wrote his topic, his previous essays on calligraphy, poetry, and current affairs were still far inferior to those who could pass the imperial examinations.

The provincial examination administered by the Ministry of Rites was extremely brutal. Of the more than two thousand elite candidates from four hundred prefectures across the Song Dynasty, only about three hundred could actually pass the exam.

They walked out of the Ministry of Rites Examination Hall.

They rested briefly in the small square outside the gate, and Zeng Gong also came over with Zeng Bu and several other family members.

Although Zeng Gong looked tired, he seemed to be in better shape than Su Xun. His face still maintained that gentle and calm demeanor, but there was an undisguised tension in his eyes.

Lu Beigu noticed that Zeng Bu next to him had his lips tightly pursed and his hands trembling slightly, whether from lingering cold or from unsettled emotions.

Zeng Gong greeted them one by one and said in a gentle voice, "The exams are finally over. These three days of wind and snow have been tough. Are you all feeling alright?"

"It's alright, thank you for your concern."

Su Xun responded.

Zeng Gong then looked at Lu Beigu and asked with concern, "Your eyes also seem a little unfocused. Are you cold? Or have you been too mentally exhausted?"

"It's nothing, I'm just a little tired and my vision is a bit blurry. I'll be fine after a rest."

Lu Beigu waved his hand.

At this moment, Zhang Zai also squeezed out from the crowd. Although he looked haggard, his eyes were unusually bright, as if flames were burning within them.

Upon seeing Lu Beigu, Zhang Zai immediately strode forward, seemingly forgetting his fatigue, and said, "Beigu! In the examination hall, amidst the wind and snow, I shivered and suddenly thought of the theory that 'the Great Void is Qi,' and that the cold and heat of heaven and earth are also the gathering, dispersing, and changing of Qi."

"."

Lu Beigu really didn't have the energy to discuss it with him, so he patted him on the shoulder and pointed to the side, saying, "Look who's here."

Then, the brothers Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi walked out side by side.

Cheng Hao's expression was slightly solemn, but his steps were still steady. Cheng Yi, on the other hand, pursed his lips and frowned slightly, as if he was still thinking about the content of the exam.

After a few brief pleasantries, everyone thanked each other for their hard work.

At this time, the small square outside the examination hall was already bustling with people and crowded with carriages and horses. Servants, relatives and friends from various families were anxiously searching for and welcoming their own candidates.

Because the scene was too chaotic and everyone was physically exhausted, it was not appropriate to continue the conversation.

"My elder brother and I wish to return to the Imperial Academy. Would you like to come along?" Cheng Hao asked Lu Beigu, extending an invitation.

The three of them are now students of the Guangwen Academy of the Imperial Academy. After the battle with the Imperial Academy, the Cheng brothers were also assigned small courtyards there, which happened to be on their way.

However, the Cheng brothers usually had their own residence and rarely stayed at the Imperial College.

But now they definitely don't have the energy to go back to their original residence.

Lu Beigu felt dizzy and needed to go back to rest, so he nodded and agreed: "That's great, I was just about to travel with you two."

So he bid farewell to the three Su brothers, the two Zeng brothers, Zhang Zai and others, agreeing to meet again in the future to talk in detail. Then he and the two Cheng brothers wrapped their cloaks and clothes tightly and joined the crowd leaving the examination hall, heading north towards the Imperial College.

The streets of Kaifeng were muddy and difficult to walk on after the snow. All three were exhausted and didn't say much along the way, just silently making their way.

As Lu Beigu walked across East Street, he stumbled along, feeling as if the road beneath his feet was slightly distorted, forcing him to concentrate on watching where he was going.

Finally, the familiar gates of the Imperial College came into view.

Compared to the hustle and bustle outside the examination hall, this place seemed exceptionally quiet and deserted. However, as soon as one entered, one saw Yang Anguo standing in the courtyard, accompanied by several servants and a man who looked like a doctor carrying a medicine box.

"You're finally back! You've worked so hard!"

When Yang Anguo saw them return, he immediately came to greet them with a look of concern on his face.

He glanced at the three men's pale, exhausted faces, especially Lu Beigu's visibly dazed eyes, and quickly said, "I heard that the provincial examinations coincided with heavy snow, and I know how difficult it must have been for you. So I've ordered someone to prepare some hot water for you to bathe in and warm you up! And this is Doctor Wang from Anjifang in Tokyo. He's a highly skilled physician, and I've specially invited him to examine you. If you feel unwell, he'll treat you immediately. You're all still young, and your health must not be neglected!"

Yang Anguo's arrangement was truly a timely and thoughtful gesture.

Human hearts are made of flesh and blood. Seeing that this high-ranking official in purple robes had thought of this for them, the three of them were immediately filled with gratitude.

Lu Beigu and the two Cheng brothers bowed deeply to Yang Anguo with sincere hearts: "Thank you for your concern, Scholar! We are deeply grateful for such kindness!"

Yang Anguo helped them up, saying repeatedly, "You are the pillars of our Imperial Academy, it is your duty! Go quickly!"

The servants led them to a clean room that had been prepared in advance. The room was filled with steam, several huge bath tubs were filled with hot water, and there were several braziers next to it. It was warm and cozy, like a different world from the icy and snowy outside.

However, once inside, Dr. Wang did not let them take a bath immediately, but instead let them rest for a while.

Then, the doctor personally handed each of them a bowl of hot soup made from some unknown substance.

Lu Beigu took a sip; it tasted of ginger and contained some medicinal herbs, presumably for dispelling cold. He then drank it all in one gulp.

Once they had warmed up and their heartbeats had calmed down, Doctor Wang took the pulse of each of them.

Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi were just tired and cold, and were fine. They went to take a bath.

When it was Lu Beigu's turn, the doctor carefully examined his complexion and eyes, and asked, "Young master, are you feeling dizzy, or is your vision a little distorted?"

Lu Beigu nodded: "That's right. I noticed it occasionally in the examination room at the beginning, and it seemed to become more obvious after being exposed to the cold wind and snow."

Doctor Wang had him stick out his tongue for a look, then took his pulse again. He then smiled and said, "It's nothing serious. This isn't an eye ailment. It's caused by exhaustion from working hard these past few days, coupled with the invasion of cold into the body, causing blood and qi to rush upwards and stagnate in the head and eyes. A few acupuncture needles will help to loosen the stagnant blood and qi, followed by a hot bath to dispel the cold, and a good night's sleep. That should cure it completely."

Hearing the doctor speak so confidently and easily, Lu Beigu finally felt completely relieved.

Doctor Wang immediately took out silver needles and performed acupuncture on several acupoints on his head and neck.

After waiting for a quarter of an hour, and after the slight soreness subsided, Lu Beigu indeed felt his mind was much clearer, and the annoying feeling of tilting was also greatly reduced.

"Won't acupuncture interfere with taking a bath?" he asked.

"You can't take a bath after cupping, but acupuncture is fine. Just don't soak the areas with needle marks, like the head and neck. Also, your lungs are cold, so try to soak the area below your chest and don't compress your lungs to avoid putting extra strain on them."

After giving his instructions, Doctor Wang left without even prescribing any medicine.

Lu Beigu couldn't wait to take off his dirty outer robe, which was covered in cold dust and mud, and immerse himself in the hot soup. The warm water enveloped his cold and stiff body, and the intense comfort made him feel like he was in heaven.

The fatigue, cold, and tension of the past few days seemed to be gradually drawn away in this steamy warmth.

Soaking in hot water, as his body gradually warmed up, Lu Beigu relaxed and felt more at ease to talk.

Cheng Hao scooped up a handful of hot water and applied it to his face, let out a long sigh, and slowly said, "In this provincial examination, Mo Yi was actually fine, but the last few questions on the Guliang Commentary really took a toll on my mind."

Cheng Yi nodded and continued, “Especially the question ‘Qiu Zuo Jia’ requires a deep understanding of the military tax system in the ‘Rites of Zhou’ and the examples in the ‘Spring and Autumn Annals’. Ouyang’s question is extremely profound.”

As he spoke, he looked at Lu Beigu in the bathtub next door and asked, "What's your opinion on this issue?"

Lu Beigu submerged most of his body in the water, feeling the heat permeating his limbs and bones. Upon hearing this, he replied, "Du Yu's interpretation of 'Qiu Chu Dian Fu' does indeed conflict with the original meaning of the Guliang Commentary and the style of 'writing' in the Spring and Autumn Annals. However, I believe its error lies not in its interpretation, but in confusing the wartime need for militia preparedness with the practice of extortion and tyranny."

The three of them, warmed by the hot soup, began to analyze the questions of the provincial examination in detail, one after another.

This is an indispensable part of the "checking answers" process after the exam.

When the topic turned to the poems "A Bountiful Year with Abundant Grain" and "Ode on Understanding Changes to Keep the People Tired," Cheng Hao smiled after hearing Lu Beigu's answer: "Your ode starts with the idea that 'the Way is constant, but the law is not.' In addition, your argument is lofty, tracing back to the Suiren, Youchao, and even the gains and losses of the Three Dynasties. The allusions are appropriate, and the topic is very closely related. I suppose it must be at least a first-class poem."

Lu Beigu said a few humble words, then turned to ask about the policy essays of the Cheng brothers.

Cheng Yi's expression became more serious: "The current affairs policies all hit the nail on the head, especially the three topics on the floods in Hebei, the money shortage in Sichuan and Shaanxi, and the problems with the grain transport in the Yangtze and Huai River regions. The officials of the court will surely have a debate on these issues. My answer is just one person's opinion, and it is still unknown whether it will meet the examiners' expectations."

Clearly, Cheng Yi was not very good at these kinds of current affairs.

When discussing the final essay, "On the Middle Tang Dynasty," Cheng Hao pondered and said, "This topic was unexpected, yet it was also reasonable. Ouyang Xiu, when compiling the history of the Tang Dynasty, must have had profound thoughts on this."

"This kind of difficult exam only happens once. There are more than two thousand people in the provincial examination of the Ministry of Rites, and only two or three hundred people in the palace examination. If you pass the provincial examination of the Ministry of Rites and enter the palace examination, the environment will be so comfortable. You will be in the main hall, where you will be protected from the wind and rain, and you will be served the finest food from the palace."

As the hot water cooled down, the servant brought more hot water and poured it into the bucket.

The heated discussion paused, and the three enjoyed the hard-won peace that came after this arduous scientific expedition.

After taking a bath, Lu Beigu's body warmed up completely, and even the tips of his fingers regained their color.

And indeed, Doctor Wang's acupuncture was incredibly effective. The discomfort in his eyes had disappeared, leaving only a feeling of complete comfort and languor.

After washing up and changing into clean robes, Lu Beigu felt as if he had been reborn.

(End of this chapter)