Chapter 1026

The list was posted on the open space outside the examination hall, and the scholars were all looking at the enlarged and bolded list of those who passed.

This is a real competition. Those who can pass the exam and obtain the qualification to take the provincial exam are only a few dozen people on average in each state. Large states like Yangzhou are basically the same, and even if there are more, they won't reach a hundred. Thousands of people compete for these hundred or so spots, one out of more than a hundred.

And this is not the end, just the qualification to take the provincial examination. When it comes to the provincial examination, it is all the scholars in the country taking the exam together, at least thirteen or fourteen thousand, and at most sixteen or seventeen thousand. Those who can pass as jinshi are at least one hundred and fifty or sixty, and at most two hundred and ten or twenty.

Calculated together with the provincial examination, every jinshi who passed the provincial examination stepped on the shoulders of ten thousand scholars.

Of course, it's not just jinshi who can be officials. After all, there are also jinshi backgrounds bestowed by the Emperor, as well as other subjects like Mingjing and children. It's just that jinshi can be high officials, this is certain; if you don't have a jinshi background, you can't reach the peak of power as a minister.

The Great Song has raised scholars for a hundred years, and there are really too many people who can be officials. There is really no shortage of officials, and the Ministry of Personnel is lined up. This reflects the superiority of jinshi, because they can definitely be officials, it's just a matter of the size of power, which is why the jinshi examination is so popular...

On the square, some are happy and some are sad, mainly more sad.

Those who saw their names were giggling and accepting congratulations from others. Those who didn't see their names were still unwilling to give up and looked for them on the list again and again. They had an infinite wish that one of these names could become their own, hearing others laugh humbly but unable to hide their pride, hugging their sad selves.

Suddenly, the scholars who were already buzzing became even noisier.

"Look, it's Wang Ziyan's answer sheet."

"What?"

"Let me see, let me see."

"Don't squeeze, don't squeeze."

It turned out that the minor official had posted Wang Yan's paper on the wall. Everyone wanted to see how Wang Yan, who had become famous in the past six months and was famous all over the world, had taken the first place.

So people scrambled to crowd to see the row of papers posted on the wall.

This was naturally not allowed, so the minor official beat the golden gong and shouted repeatedly for silence, suppressing the clamor of the scholars.

"Recently, there have often been idle rumors in the market, saying that Wang Yan's teacher and father-in-law are both high officials in Yangzhou, and if he wins the championship, there must be a reason for it. Master Ouyang is a great Confucian and famous scholar of the present age, and naturally disdains to do so. Judge Sheng is also open and aboveboard, with a clear conscience. Therefore, the state examiners discussed and specially posted Wang Yan's test paper here to calm the hearts of the scholars in Yangzhou.

Everyone in the world knows that Wang Yan's calligraphy is divine, extraordinary, and holy. Tracing and copying are not enough to show its form and meaning, so the original paper is posted here. However, the candidate's test paper must be sent to the Ministry of Rites for filing and examination to show the clarity of the imperial court. Therefore, you can observe, but not touch. If you violate this, you will bear the consequences yourself, don't say you weren't warned."

The minor official explained the reason, stated the taboos, and organized everyone to line up to observe Wang Yan's paper.

Because the paper was long horizontally and written from right to left, as long as you lined up and looked from this side to that side, you could complete the answer of Wang Yan.

Some failed scholars with flexible brains pulled seven or eight good friends to line up hard, agreeing that each person would remember how many words, piece together the complete answer, and then sell it for money. No classic interpretations or memorization, only poetry, prose, policy, and theory.

This is really a good business to make money. After all, there are thousands of people present, and it will take several days to line up to see it. Moreover, the test paper is paper, and the original of Wang Yan's answer sheet must be kept well, so it must be impossible to see it on a cloudy or rainy day, and it is impossible to let all the scholars see it, just a part is enough. It is destined that many people will not see Wang Yan's answer sheet at all.

They write it down, as long as the hand speed is fast, the first wave sells at a high price, and the expenses for this provincial examination can be earned back. This is just in Yangzhou. If they run to other states to sell, they can still make a profit. As long as they run fast, this wave can earn the family foundation of a small landlord.

If they are wiser, thinking of combining Wang Yan's previous poems and the answers to this imperial examination into a small booklet, they can still make a profit.

The difficulty is not high, it depends on whose action is fast...

The scholars looked at Wang Yan's paper in amazement, and they were convinced in their hearts. It was really much stronger, hard to look at its back, and they couldn't help but be convinced.

Little Dongliang was crowding in the crowd. After watching the excitement, he ran back to Ouyang Xiu's mansion.

He found Wang Yan, who was drinking tea with Ouyang Xiu, and excitedly reported the good news to Wang Yan: "Young master, you passed the exam! First place!"

"I'm already at the teacher's mansion, can I not know?" Wang Yan shook his head amusedly. "It's just the provincial exam, it's not too late to be excited after passing the jinshi exam."

"If I don't see the young master's name on the list, I'm always uneasy. And the young master's paper was posted, and I heard some scholars say they want to copy the young master's paper and sell it to other scholars."

Wang Yan gave a thumbs up to the witty scholars and waved his hand with a smile: "Go drink some water."

"Oh~" Little Dongliang responded, bowed respectfully to Ouyang Xiu again, turned around, and walked out.

"Senior brother, winning the first place in the provincial exam, is there really no fluctuation at all?"

"I just said, it's just that I have the qualification to go to the capital for the exam, what's so strange? It's right to pass the exam, if I don't pass, I'm afraid I won't be able to see people. With such a great reputation, if I can't pass the state exam, how can I show my face?"

Wang Yan took a sip of tea and looked at Ouyang Fa with a smile. "You are the same. As the eldest son of the teacher, you have always been known for your intelligence. If you don't pass the imperial examination in the future, you will suffer."

"If I don't pass, I don't pass. Didn't Dad also take the exam for seven years before he got the jinshi background?"

"The teacher is stronger than his ancestors, and now he is a generation of literary masters. Even if the teacher doesn't blame you, how do others see it? At that time, everyone said that the Ouyang family had a tiger father and a dog son, tsk tsk..."

Ouyang Fa, who was not angry at first, was drained of energy by the two sentences of his unlucky senior brother in the blink of an eye, pouting and unhappy.

Wang Yan laughed out loud, and was glared at by Ouyang Xiu. He had to comfort his big fat son: "My son, don't worry, a gentleman keeps his heart and is cautious when alone, just do your best. You are at such an age, how can you tease a child?"

The latter sentence was naturally said to his good disciple.

Wang Yan laughed it off, pretending he didn't hear it, and turned to say: "Just now the teacher asked the disciple how to establish a heart and a life. It is precisely because the disciple thought about what he had learned, and had some immature ideas, please ask the teacher to give some advice."

"Tell me." Ouyang Xiu straightened his sitting posture, his face serious.

Based on his understanding of his cheap disciple, this immature moisture was too big. His cheap disciple said so, which basically meant he was about to start discussing the Dao. This is an incredible thing.

Wang Yan smiled and said: "The heart that the disciple established is..."

To this day, the poem on cold chrysanthemums and the four sentences on establishing the Dao before entering the exam have at least spread throughout Yangzhou.

Of course, this Yangzhou refers to the upper class such as scholars, landlords, rich households, and bureaucrats in Yangzhou. In fact, Wang Yan's fame all over the world is also spread among these upper classes in the world.

In other words, these people are the world.

After all, farmers in the fields and workers doing various jobs in the city, except for a few occupations that have more contact with those people, others don't care about such things. Who would care about those useless things if they couldn't eat two full meals a year?

The day after the state exam ended, Ouyang Xiu called Wang Yan over to ask about those four sentences, but at that time Wang Yan excused himself to organize them, and it dragged on until today.

This is hiding one's clumsiness. Establishing a Dao system at eighteen cannot be explained by the word genius. And except for young people who are easily incited, no one will believe in the Dao established by an eighteen-year-old. Unless, Wang Yan is an eighteen-year-old prime minister, after all, his farts are fragrant, and people believe whatever he says.

So now Wang Yan is just telling Ouyang Xiu the prototype and the two core points, which is enough. He wants to spend a long time spreading and perfecting his Dao.

Although showing off was a temporary idea, the ending of showing off is necessary, and in ancient times, learning and officialdom promoted each other.

As mentioned earlier, being an official can study, and studying can be an academic valve. Once you become a mountain head that establishes a sect, you can master a part of the highest right of interpretation of learning. This can feed back to the officialdom, attack political enemies, and exclude dissidents.

Wang Yan wants to be an official, which belongs to peaceful evolution, not violent subversion of the Zhao Song regime. But no matter which of these two, it actually needs theoretical support, which is the legitimacy of carrying out some actions and even subverting the regime, just like finding a reason before fighting a war.

Once the Dao system is established, there will be followers and political power. Whether it is collecting officials as younger brothers or attracting a large number of scholars to believe in his theories, it is power. It's like Confucius had three thousand disciples, those who could fight, those who had money, those who did well in learning, everyone had everything.

Wang Yan used the study of the mind, the unity of knowledge and action, the investigation of things to reach knowledge, and the application of the world, paying attention to the combination of virtual and real, movement and stillness, which is dialectics. Of course, it is impossible to be all things of the study of the mind, and there is more of his personal will.

That is, some forcing person can't write it out, otherwise, can't he, Wang Mou, create a school of learning?

Ouyang Xiu is not giving advice, but asking questions. Some questions Wang Yan can answer, some questions Wang Yan says he needs to think about again, and some questions he says he hasn't considered.

These are of course not important, but what Wang Yan has already said is enough to shock Ouyang Xiu. An eighteen-year-old young man has initially formed his own academic system and proposed a very advanced theory, just waiting for the accumulation and perfection of time and practice to become a school of his own, which really scared Ouyang Xiu.

As for Ouyang Fa on the side, he was already stunned. His learning was not enough, and he didn't understand. But he knew very well that the more he didn't understand, the more awesome it was. Besides, his father's mouth didn't close, which explains the problem...

For a long time, Wang Yan called softly: "Teacher?"

Ouyang Xiu was shocked, and then he came back to his senses. Looking at Wang Yan, who was still smiling, he couldn't help but sigh: "I have nothing to teach you."

This is the truth. In terms of learning, Wang Yan has already formed a school of his own. In terms of dealing with people, Wang Yan is also first-class and comprehensive, and flattery makes people not feel disgusted at all, like a spring breeze. He has a good body, strong martial arts, and great courage. He really dares to go out and kill people. He is a real strong man. A player like Wang Yan is awesome in everything he does, and he really can't teach him.

Wang Yan shook his head repeatedly: "Where did the teacher say that? The disciple is still young after all, and it is precisely because I need the teacher's urging and care. I remember when I was admitted as a disciple, the teacher mentioned Han Changli's teacher theory, the disciple doesn't have to be inferior to the teacher, and the teacher doesn't have to be wiser than the disciple.

Even if the disciple has some small achievements in learning, the teacher is loyal to the monarch and loves the country, for the country and the people, speaks righteously for friends, is not afraid of wind, frost, cold, and rain, and pursues pragmatic learning. Such a sincere heart is what the student wants to learn for a lifetime."

Ouyang Xiu laughed out loud, his hands made a sword finger, pointing at his beloved disciple: "You, you..."

Ouyang Fa sighed, his body that was sitting upright collapsed, and his hands were placed on the table to support his big fat face. He still has a lot to learn from his unlucky senior brother...

This was another long conversation, until the sky was about to turn dark, Ouyang Xiu realized that he had kept Wang Yan for a long time, delaying Wang Yan's return home.

Just at this time, Sheng Changbai found him and bowed to Ouyang Xiu in a stiff manner: "I have seen Master Ouyang."

"Changbai is here to find Ziyan, right? Just right, let's have dinner together."

Ouyang Xiu is of course also familiar with Sheng Changbai, and now Sheng Hong is actively leaning towards him.

Of course, if there was a choice, Sheng Hong would actually prefer to lean towards the conservatives. But he didn't have that relationship, how would the big shots of the conservatives know who Sheng Hong was? Ouyang Xiu is right in front of him, and he is still strong, so this is not a multiple-choice question.

So plus Ouyang Fa and Sheng Changbai playing well, Ouyang Xiu is not unfamiliar with Sheng Changbai, and he quite appreciates him. A thirteen-year-old little adult can already be said to be mature, and he is not stiff, which is very rare.

Sheng Changbai hesitated, not knowing how to speak, Wang Yan smiled and said: "Teacher, I won't have dinner here. The teacher knows about the marriage with the Sheng family, and today I want to talk about it."

"That's great, that's great, you are already eighteen, it's time to get married and have children, so I won't keep you, go."

Wang Yan bowed to Ouyang Xiu to say goodbye, followed Changbai talking and laughing, and came to the Sheng Mansion all the way, and saw Sheng Hong in the study.

Asking people to prepare wine and food on the table, Sheng Hong asked: "Why did you stay with Master Ouyang for so long today?"

"I talked to the teacher about the ideas of how to establish a heart and a life that I have organized recently."

"Oh? Tell me about it."

Sheng Hong is also very interested, nothing else, the four sentences of his cheap son-in-law are too awesome, even if he is already an official, he must admit that those words are right, he thinks so.

The so-called high-sounding, nothing more than this.

Wang Yan immediately told Sheng Hong and his son about his gains, as well as Ouyang Xiu's questions and his answers.

Of course, Hualan also came to serve dishes and set wine during the process, her eyes full of affection, because the marriage was really going to be decided. She also saw her sluggish father and brother, only hearing a bunch of messy words that were not very clear, forming higher-level words that were completely unclear, knowing that Wang Yan was saying something very powerful. Also taking advantage of the opportunity of her father and brother being sluggish, she stayed for a while longer, watching Wang Yan talk eloquently, and could also communicate with her eyes...

The Sheng father and son didn't eat or drink, Wang Yan was talking about big principles while not delaying eating and drinking.

After a long time, Sheng Hong came back to his senses and sighed: "Ziyan is truly a genius, a genius. No worry about jinshi, no worry about jinshi..."

If there was no "no worry about jinshi", Wang Yan would think that Sheng Hong still had sage books in his heart.

"Uncle is over-praised, there are so many talents in the world, ten thousand people take the exam to compete for the two hundred jinshi positions, how difficult it is." Wang Yan shook his head repeatedly. "Just do your best."

"Nephew is too humble, today's words will definitely shock the court when they reach Bianjing. In time, nephew will also be a generation of literary masters who establish a sect, and will definitely leave a name in history."

"Brother Wang has already established the Dao, and attaining the Dao is just around the corner."

Sheng Changbai also didn't understand, but he had read many more books than Ouyang Fa, and his foundation was much deeper, so he probably understood some meaning. The worship of his future brother-in-law was really overflowing.

Wang Yan shook his head amusedly: "Uncle, now that I have passed the exam, let's discuss the marriage."

"What else is there to discuss about the marriage? Didn't you already find a matchmaker and raise the wild geese fat? Just find a day to come over."

"Thank you, Uncle, for your fulfillment. Since that's the case, I will come to the mansion the day after tomorrow to propose marriage and ask for the name. After I return from Bianjing, I will choose a day to get married."

"Let it be decided like this."

Sheng Hong waved his hand, this kind of thing doesn't need to be said much, now whoever stops Hualan from marrying Wang Yan, he, old Sheng, will go crazy. This precious son-in-law must be held tight.

He turned to say: "Next month you will set off for the capital, and you will be gone for half a year, so you can rest assured at home. When you arrive in the capital, you don't need to stay in a hostel. The Sheng family has a mansion in the capital, which is always maintained by someone. I have already written a letter to explain it the day before yesterday, so just stay there with peace of mind. If you have friends, you can live there together, don't worry about expenses, our Sheng family is not short of a little money, Ziyan just rest assured to take the imperial exam."

"Thank you, Uncle."

"We are all one family, why be so polite?" Sheng Hong waved his hand generously, showing the style of a rich man.

Bai Juyi said that living in Chang'an is not easy. Living in Bianjing is naturally not easy, perhaps even more difficult. In terms of economic prosperity, the Great Song is naturally stronger than the Tang Dynasty.

Famous Su Shi and Su Zhe couldn't afford a house. Wang Anshi's reputation was not bad either, and he was a two-term prime minister. After he was dismissed, he had no place to live without public housing.

The mansion of the old Sheng family in Bianjing is quite luxurious, with such a large family, and rockery and landscaping. This shows that the old Sheng family is really a local tyrant.

Wang Yan's perfume, soap, etc. are now sold out, in short supply, the caravan is developing well, the silk shop and raw medicine shop are also making stable money, and there are hundreds of acres of good fields at home. He can naturally afford a house in Bianjing, but it is only two or three rooms, a single-door courtyard in a remote place. He couldn't afford a big mansion like the Sheng family...

Sheng Hong didn't care about the marriage, he told Wang Yan about the various processes and precautions of the provincial examination and the palace examination, and of course emphasized the catching of the son-in-law under the list, the Emperor bestowing marriage, etc. The thought of being afraid that Wang Yan would run away was written on his face without any cover, and he felt very insecure.

Wang Yan could only face it with a smile. After all, he would be gone for half a year, and he still had a great reputation. It was normal for his father-in-law to be a bit anxious when he arrived in the capital and received an unimaginable welcome...