Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 22 All other pursuits are inferior; only studying is superior! (4k)

Wende Hall.

The lights flickered, and the sandalwood incense wafted gently.

Emperor Zhao Zhen leaned against his desk with one hand and gripped his vermilion brush tightly with the other, announcing his comments on memorials.

In one corner of the emperor's desk, there were already many documents that had been approved, either memorials submitted by the cabinet or reports from high-ranking officials of the two capitals and thirteen provinces.

"Your Majesty, Minister Han has arrived in the capital and has come to pay his respects," an elderly eunuch in purple robes announced softly as he quickly stepped forward.

"Oh?" Zhao Zhen looked up and waved his hand, saying, "Let him in!"

"Yes." The old eunuch hurriedly went to report.

A moment later, Han Zhang, dressed in a purple robe, strode into the hall. His steps were so hurried that even the gold fish pouch at his waist jingled.

"Your subject Han Zhang pays his respects to Your Majesty!" Han Zhang bowed deeply.

Zhao Zhen looked up.

Han Zhang's temples were already streaked with gray, and his demeanor no longer carried the vigor and spirit of the Qingli Reforms era; instead, he exuded a calm and composed air.

Zhao Zhen sighed inwardly.

Han Qing is getting old!

I am getting old!

Looking at Han Zhang, who was still bowing his head in the main hall, Zhao Zhen waved his hand and said, "My dear minister, there is no need for such formalities."

"Give me a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Han Zhang got up and sat down in the seat bestowed upon him by the emperor.

When a high-ranking official enters the capital, he must pay his respects to the emperor immediately.

Generally speaking, the time is either the first day after arriving in Beijing or the second day after arriving in Beijing.

Han Zhang arrived in Bianjing at noon. He originally intended to visit the Emperor in a couple of days, but he was so overwhelmed with emotion that he couldn't calm down.

So he simply came to pay his respects.

As soon as he sat down, Han Zhang couldn't stop looking around.

He was filled with excitement and turmoil, eager to see the Emperor and to return to the Wende Hall.

He had come to Bianjing once six years ago, but that time he only came to meet the emperor and seek a reinstatement.

At that time, he had been demoted for six years, and there was no place in the hall that truly belonged to him.

Now, he has returned to the capital as the Minister of Rites.

Since the Qingli Reforms, his official career had been marked by ups and downs. After twelve years, he finally returned to the capital and went back to the imperial court.

Zhao Zhen, feeling nostalgic, said, "Han Qing, it's been a long time!"

As a monarch, Zhao Zhen never invested too much emotion in any particular minister.

However, the method is one thing, and the result is another.

The human heart is made of flesh.

Han Zhang and he, ruler and subject, had known each other for thirty years and were of similar age. After six years apart, how could they not have genuine feelings when they met again?

Han Zhang nodded, also deeply moved: "Fortunately, the Emperor has chosen him."

His journey has truly been difficult.

He passed the imperial examination at the age of nineteen, served in office for eighteen years, and at the age of thirty-seven rose to the position of Grand Academician of Zhaowen Hall, reaching the pinnacle of officialdom and presiding over the new policies.

However, just as he reached the peak of his life, he suddenly fell from grace and was demoted for twelve years.

He entered officialdom at the age of nineteen, left the capital at the age of thirty-seven, and returned to the capital at the age of forty-nine.

What is meant by great rise and fall?

This is what it means to experience dramatic ups and downs!
Zhao Zhen nodded slightly and said, "I have reflected on the Qingli New Policies afterward. The new policies were implemented too hastily, the people's reaction was too strong, and I was not firm enough, which ultimately led to their failure. What can be done about it?"

"Your Majesty is too kind!" Han Zhang quickly stood up, feeling somewhat uneasy.

The failure of the new policy was certainly the result of multiple factors.

The emperor's wavering attitude was also a significant reason.

However, how could such a thing be said aloud?

As the emperor, Zhao Zhen may have been overcome with emotion and uttered some of his true feelings.

However, as a subject, he could not give approval indiscriminately.

"Sigh!" Zhao Zhen shook his head and stopped talking about the past.

"In the fourth year of the Huangyou reign, I resolutely decided to reinstate you, which caused a great deal of controversy in the court. Fortunately, your political achievements were outstanding. You stabilized the border, strengthened the defenses, governed the people and cleaned up the bureaucracy. You did not disappoint me."

Emperor Zhao Zhen gave this newly arrived veteran official a name.

Outstanding political achievements!

Han Zhang remained silent.

This is the established process.

The monarch should appropriately encourage his ministers, while the ministers should report on their duties.

"Speaking of which, if I remember correctly, Han Qing's disciple Jiang Zhao is this year's top scholar?" Zhao Zhen said with a smile, looking at the old eunuch in purple robes.

The old eunuch quickly replied, "Your Majesty has a good memory. Jiang Zhao is the top scholar this time."

Zhao Zhen nodded slightly. He had carefully reviewed all the papers of the top thirty candidates in the imperial examination.

The papers of the top three students received particular attention.

Jiang Zhao was already famous throughout the world, and as Han Zhang's disciple and the number one, he naturally had a deep impression of him.

Zhao Zhen continued, "Minister Han is truly worthy of being called a pillar of the nation. Even while serving as an official in one region, he never forgets to cultivate talent for the country!"

Huiyuan?

Han Zhang was quite surprised.

He really didn't know about this.

He arrived in the capital at noon, rested for a few hours, and then went straight to the palace to pay his respects to the Emperor. He really didn't have time to pay attention to his beloved disciple's performance.

Unexpectedly, he came in first place?
Han Zhang was secretly pleased and quickly chose his words carefully: "Zichuan is a man of exceptional talent and reputation in the officialdom. Moreover, he is of excellent character, loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and concerned about the country and its people. He is truly a great talent of the nation."

Since his disciples had all achieved the highest rank in the imperial examination, he naturally had to praise them highly and give them a helping hand before the emperor.

If they all pass the provincial examination with top honors, it would be a huge loss if they dropped in the palace examination.

Most candidates only considered the top three scholars as a single tier, unaware that the top three scholars were also divided into tiers.

Among them, the top scholar (状元郎) received the most attention and had the smoothest career path.

As for whether the second-place finisher or the third-place finisher is better or worse, it's not easy to tell.

This is not to say that the runner-up is bad.

When it comes to talent and learning, those who rank higher are definitely more talented.

However, the third-place finisher is usually relatively younger.

In the field of scientific research, the top three scholars are often in their thirties or forties.

The second and third place winners are only one place apart, but they can be more than ten years apart.

Youth is always an asset, and it's really hard to distinguish the value of being second or third in the rankings.

Zhao Zhen nodded with a smile: "You have rendered meritorious service to the country!"

"Those who make contributions will be rewarded."

Zhao Zhen stood up, took out a sheet of Xuan paper, picked up a brush, moistened it with ink, and wrote several large characters on the paper: "Minister of the State!"
As soon as the ink dried, the old eunuch quickly lifted the calligraphy on the Xuan paper for Han Zhang to see.

Han Zhang was startled and quickly bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for bestowing your calligraphy."

Zhao Zhen nodded.

Han Zhang has achieved considerable political success, but he is already the Minister of Rites, a second-rank official, and the next step is to join the cabinet.

As a monarch, even if he favored Han Zhang, he could not possibly intervene to take sides.

The emperor is always the biggest beneficiary of the rules; he cannot dig his own grave.

Therefore, if Han Zhang wants to enter the cabinet, he has no choice but to engage in political struggles on his own.

As compensation and a reward, he simply bestowed a piece of calligraphy as a commendation.

Han Zhang understood Zhao Zhen's meaning perfectly.

Therefore, Han Zhang respectfully accepted the calligraphy.

When the emperor and his ministers spoke, they never mentioned anything about the cabinet.

That night, at Fanlou.

The Hu women danced, and the pipa played softly.

A nobleman drinks wine, a madman inscribes poems on the wall.

From time to time, successful candidates would tap their cups with chopsticks and recite "Riding on the spring breeze, the horse's hooves are swift," while unsuccessful candidates, their eyes reddening, would dip their cups in wine and wildly write "Laughing loudly, I go out the door," drawing cheers from many onlookers.

Laughter and chatter filled the air as they talked about everything under the sun.

For a moment, the scene was both noisy and bustling.

The vast majority of these people were students from Huaizuo.

After seeing the list of successful candidates at noon, Jiang Zhao, out of celebration, invited students from Huaizuo, as well as several newly made friends such as Su Shi and Su Zhe, to a banquet for drinking and merrymaking.

Due to time constraints, there were still the palace examination and the examination for junior scholars after the provincial examination.

After taking the exam, many people were eager to return to their hometowns.

At that time, these friends' schedules will become very scattered, and it will be difficult to get everyone together during that period.

Therefore, the ten days or so between the spring examination and the palace examination are the best time for celebration.

Jiang Zhaoli stood at the head of the left, holding a piece of slightly charred lean meat with his chopsticks, savoring it with great concentration.

This is a novel cooking method that Fanlou is developing. It involves pan-frying in a hot pan with little oil, neither steaming nor deep-frying. It is called pan-frying, but it is not quite like pan-frying.

It combines the tenderness of steamed vegetables with the smoky aroma of pan-fried ones, and the specific texture can be perfectly controlled by the chef's skill. This method was discovered by chance, and it has a unique and novel flavor.

However, because the method had not yet been fully mastered, Fanlou was not officially sold to the public.

After all, the hot pan and cold oil combination can create a unique and delicious flavor if handled well, but if handled poorly, it can make people feel nauseous.

To avoid damaging its reputation, a large restaurant like Fanlou is unlikely to take the risk before it has fully mastered the business.

Of course, if one truly masters this method, it might have a new name.

saute!
This is a dish that was given to me by the manager of Fanlou Restaurant.

When the top scholar visited Fanlou to celebrate, the manager naturally greeted him with a smile.

During the meal, the manager of Fanlou asked Jiang Zhao if he had any preferences, intending to show goodwill.

Jiang Zhao doesn't have any particular hobbies.

If we're really talking about it, it's just that I love to eat.

Thus, this newly researched dish was served, and Jiang Zhao was invited to offer his comments.

Of course, the shopkeeper also wanted to know whether this approach would be acceptable to scholars.

After all, scholars value elegance and refinement.

Compared to steamed and fried dishes, stir-fried dishes are best eaten immediately after being cooked. Oil often adheres to the food, and there is a risk of oil dripping onto your clothes when picking up the food.

That's not very elegant!

Furthermore, it's neither steamed nor fried, making it somewhat of a hybrid, and I wonder if it might offend the taboos of scholars.

Jiang Zhao picked up a piece of meat, chewed it carefully for a while, and couldn't help but nod slightly.

Today, as a novice cook, the skill level is naturally far from reaching its peak a thousand years later.

However, when it comes to stir-frying, not only is the heat control important, but the seasoning is also crucial.

A skilled chef can maintain the minimum standard of a dish by using spices for seasoning.

At least the dish Jiang Zhao ate was of a standard quality comparable to that of a normal dish in later generations.

On one side, the shopkeeper was looking at Jiang Zhao with anticipation.

"The combination of meat and vegetables is just right, light and not greasy, truly excellent." Jiang Zhao commented earnestly, "If the bowl were filled with bamboo strips, or if it were a porcelain bowl that is slanted to the left and right, it would remove the greasiness and keep the lightness, adding an elegant touch, which would be even better."

In short, plating!

The customers of grand restaurants are often people who come to discuss business or other matters; the taste is one aspect, but the ambiance is another.

Stir-frying is bound to be oily, so having a small bamboo basket to separate the oil from the vegetables would be much better.

Of course, it would be even better if a special bowl were made with oil flowing out at an angle on both sides and the bottom holding the oil.

"This old man thanks Jiang Huiyuan for his guidance."

The shopkeeper was overjoyed and bowed respectfully.

No wonder he was the top scholar!
These two suggestions are very practical!
Jiang Zhao smiled gently, waved his hand, and was about to say something when a shout came.

"Zichuan! Jiang Lang of Huaizuo, you've come first in this year's imperial examination. How can we not have celebratory poems?" Su Zizhan shouted from afar, holding a sheep-hair brush.

Jiang Zhao looked up.

To the right of the table, Su Shi, Su Zhe, Zhang Heng, and others were in high spirits and had already picked up their pens to compose poems. Dozens of candidates and tribute students gathered around, occasionally speaking up and making a fuss.

Even just by looking at it, you can feel the extraordinary lively atmosphere.

When Su Shi called out "Jiang Zhao," the eyes of dozens of candidates and tribute students immediately turned to him, their faces full of expectation.

"Zichuan, can you compose a poem or a lyric?" Zhang Heng egged him on.

Upon hearing this, many people stood up and joined in the commotion.

"Jiang Huiyuan, could you compose a poem?"

"Come, come, let's compose poems and write lyrics."

"Zichuan, play a song!"

The jeers and jeers were incessant.

"it is good!"

With the atmosphere set, Jiang Zhao also became interested and got up to walk over.

A scholar in a blue robe hurriedly went outside and shouted, "Jiang Huiyuan is about to compose a poem!"

The shout abruptly halted the noisy conversation in Fanlou.

boom!
Suddenly, perhaps a porcelain bowl fell to the ground, a buzzing sound arose abruptly.

"What? Jiang Lang from Huaizuo wants to write lyrics?"

"Let me see!"

"Oh dear, this is truly a very refined matter!"

One by one, the candidates and those who had passed the imperial examinations rushed up the stairs.

A spoiled brat suddenly rammed into people, his roar shaking the dust off the beams: "Make way!"
Before long, Jiang Zhao was surrounded by hundreds of scholars and tribute students, and many more were still on their way. Some even spontaneously called on their friends and family to squeeze in and join the fun.

In no time, the elegant room that Jiang Zhao had specially booked to celebrate was packed with people.

This was written by Jiang Lang of Huaizuo!

In the center, surrounded by hundreds of people, two tables in front of Jiang Zhao were combined into one large desk. Su Shi held the desk, Su Zhe pressed down the paper, Zhang Heng held the inkstone, Zeng Gong ground the ink, and Zeng Bu read the poem.

Jiang Zhao paced back and forth for about ten steps before making his decision.

Others write lyrics, he selects them!

With a flourish of the brush, the first line of the poem was born on a sheet of Xuan paper over ten feet long.

"The emperor values ​​heroes, and literature teaches you all!"

Before the ink had even finished, another stroke of the pen was made. Zeng Bu was startled and recited the poem: "Of all things, only studying is noble!"

"it is good!"

"Okay!"

"Jiang Lang of Huaizuo, your reputation is well-deserved!"

Praise was endless.

Just from those two lines, you can tell that this poem is at least of a high standard.

In particular, the saying "Of all things, only studying is noble" has inspired many scholars.

Jiang Zhaowei closed his eyes, seemingly deep in thought.

Several hundred people remained completely silent without making a sound.

After a few moments, Jiang Zhao once again splashed ink and wielded his brush.

His repeated remarks caused a stir among the crowd.

Knowledge is gained through diligence; one can read thousands of books by the light of a firefly.

"The three winters' worth of food is now sufficient; who will laugh at my empty stomach?"

This implies that studying is difficult, and also serves as a way of encouraging students to learn.

"Like rain after a long drought, or meeting an old friend in a foreign land."

"The wedding night, the day of passing the imperial examination."

Upon hearing these two lines, even Zeng Gong, who was over forty years old, applauded them and spontaneously recited the poem.

An elderly scholar with white hair plucked out several strands of his silver beard, tears streaming down his face: "Forty years of wasted years in the imperial examinations, and now this young man has told me all my joys and sorrows!"

These two sentences perfectly summarize the great joy of life, making them truly captivating.

"In the morning he was a peasant, in the evening he rose to the emperor's court."

"Nobility is not inherited; a man should strive for it himself."

A scholar from a family that valued both farming and scholarship waved his hand and pounded his chest, exclaiming, "Jiang Lang understands me! Jiang Lang understands me!"

"One must study diligently from a young age, for literature can establish one's character."

The court was filled with high-ranking officials, most of whom were scholars.

His writing is full of brilliant phrases, surpassing even the best in Bianliang, one sentence after another.

The poem, consisting of over nine hundred characters, is written on more than ten sheets of Xuan paper.

Until the very last sentence, the entire building fell silent.

The lingering charm was captivating, and the entire building was filled with intoxication.

After composing a poem, Jiang Zhao threw down his pen.

At first glance, many people are still savoring the experience.

Jiang Zhao smiled, not surprised at all.

This poem, "The Prodigy's Poem," was a must-read text for elementary education during the Song and Ming dynasties, and it is the only one that is on par with the "Three Character Classic"!

This level of skill is no joke.

"The emperor values ​​heroes, and literature teaches you all."

This one line alone sealed the poem's place in history.

To put it simply, this means that the emperor valued outstanding talents and used the imperial examination system to educate and select students.

In short, one should express gratitude to the emperor.

And "a timely rain after a long drought, meeting an old friend in a foreign land; the wedding night, the moment of passing the imperial examination" has become the ultimate definition of the pinnacle of life.

Incredibly powerful!

It must be said that there's a story behind the birth of Wang Zhu, the original author of this poem.

It happens to be this year, the second year of the Jiayou era!

"Of all pursuits, only studying is noble!" A white-haired scholar recited, remaining silent for a long time.

One scholar, with tears in his eyes, said: "This sentence should be engraved in the Confucius Temple Stele Forest to inspire the aspirations of scholars throughout the world!"

"Zichuan's talent is truly unmatched in a century!" Su Shi once again expressed his assessment.
The lingering sound resonates long afterward!
(End of this chapter)