Chapter 1027: Wang Yan of Yangzhou, Asking After You All

The river wind blew fiercely, bracing one's spirit.

The large boat traveled along the canal, and Wang Yan sat on a small folding stool on the deck.

Beside him was Wang Dongliang, who had followed him north to the capital against the cold snap, along with two sturdy attendants. One was to handle chores, the other to serve as a bodyguard. Wang Dongliang was, after all, still young and not yet capable of much. It wouldn't do for him to have to handle everything personally; that would be far too lacking in stature.

The four of them gathered around a small, raised fire stove, preparing canned tea with plenty of ingredients added, while eating white flour flatbreads and dried meat, toasted to a charred fragrance on the stove. It was warm, filling, and allowed them to watch the various scenes along the canal—it felt quite pleasant.

Yang Guang's construction of the Grand Canal was truly a feat for the ages. If Wang Yan had taken the land route, he would have been jostled for half a month; by water, it took no more than three to five days. Moreover, relatively speaking, the water route was safer than the land route. A few small bandits could occupy a hilltop and rob travelers with three or five men, but that didn't work on the water. Everyone was on a boat; if too few went, it wasn't enough, and if too many went, the consequences were severe.

After all, the canal transport was a lifeline, supplying the operation of Bianjing, a super-city with a population of a million. If something went wrong there, it would truly be a heaven-shaking matter, as mentioned before, plucking at the sensitive nerves of the Great Song's monarch and ministers.

Furthermore, water transport was relatively smoother, unlike the land route, which required enduring much jolting. The main issue was that the weather was currently unfavorable; otherwise, Wang Yan would have been in the mood to drift along the way. This was proper ancient tourism; although not particularly comfortable, it was always different from the modern feeling.

It was now late October. Scholars who had passed the provincial examinations had to reach the capital by November to register with the Ministry of Rites. The period following that would be for the Ministry of Rites to conduct various verifications of the scholars.

For instance, due to the inequality of educational resources, the competition in provincial examinations in places like Yangzhou and Jiangning Prefecture was too intense. Thus, it was inevitable that some would rack their brains, wanting to study in better places and then manipulate their household registration to those prefectures that were relatively much worse, in order to seize the provincial examination quotas of the original scholars there by relying on a more solid foundation. It was basically the same as the "college entrance examination migration" from one province to another a thousand years later.

Such situations naturally had to be eradicated, so the Ministry of Rites had to conduct inspections. When it came to this part of the verification, it was like a modern political review, requiring a thorough background check on the candidates.

This would continue until after the Lantern Festival, when the Ministry of Rites would hold the provincial examinations. After a month or so of grading, two hundred or so successful candidates would be determined. Then, in March, the two hundred-plus who passed the provincial examinations would participate in the palace examination to determine the final rankings. After waiting another five, seven, or eight days, the new successful candidates would be received by the Emperor and would also receive their subsequent appointments.

The preparation Ouyang Xiu had spoken of earlier was that within those five, seven, or eight days after passing the examinations, Ouyang Xiu could speak to friends in the imperial court, or even submit a memorial directly to Zhao Zhen. For such a small matter, as long as Ouyang Xiu gave a word, Zhao Zhen would not refuse.

It was just that Wang Yan most wanted to serve in the border regions, which was impossible, and he didn't care about other places. So, before setting off, when he went to pay his respects to Ouyang Xiu, Wang Yan had refused his good teacher's help; he truly could go anywhere.

Before departing, Wang Yan had truly done many things.

He had begun the marriage procedures with Hualan, going through the betrothal, asking for her name, consulting the omens, and presenting the bridal gifts—roughly equivalent to meeting the parents and then getting engaged with gifts. All that remained was to set the date for the wedding, which would have to wait until Wang Yan returned after the imperial examinations.

He had also received instructions from Sheng Hong and Ouyang Xiu, and had obtained Ouyang Xiu's calling card, or name slip—they were the same thing. It was equivalent to Ouyang Xiu's business card, stamped with his seal. Holding the slip, others would know at a glance that it was genuine, and he could meet Ouyang Xiu's friends in the capital.

This was something Ouyang Xiu had offered voluntarily, letting Wang Yan meet his friends. Expanding Wang Yan's network and establishing connections with various bigwigs—these resources were the greatest utility of Ouyang Xiu as a teacher. Of course, on the other hand, there was also the intention to show off his beloved disciple.

On this point, Ouyang Xiu trusted Wang Yan's performance completely; he would certainly bring him honor.

At his level, the only thing left to compare was disciples. Whoever had the most impressive disciple was the most impressive himself. There was naturally no need to say much about Wang Yan; as long as he didn't make any mistakes, he was destined to be a future prime minister. Furthermore, whether it was the inheritance of learning or the care for his own family members, Ouyang Xiu could be completely at ease after more than half a year of contact.

Moreover, Wang Yan had already established his own school of thought. He only needed to continuously perfect his theories to become a bigwig of a school, leaving his name in history. Ouyang Xiu simply didn't believe that anyone else's disciple could be as outstanding as Wang Yan; it was truly a great honor.

And regarding establishing his own school, Wang Yan had actually already begun to act.

After he explained some of his theories to Ouyang Xiu, the provincial examination results were released, and there were many gatherings inviting him. This time, Wang Yan did not refuse; he accepted all comers, participating in two a day, whether they were wealthy or poor—as long as they invited him, he would certainly go.

Different from the usual commercial mutual flattery and flowery poetry, this time Wang Yan directly began his self-promotion. At every banquet, someone would inevitably mention the four sentences he had spoken outside the examination hall that day, and he would then take the opportunity to bring up Ouyang Xiu's question, starting his answer from there. He had to state his theories and propositions to attract followers and enhance his influence.

Of course, because he was young and his theories were not yet perfected, the scholars viewed his propositions with a critical eye, rather than with a pursuit of learning—the gap here was huge.

This was also why a new school of thought always developed slowly. Because the first thing to win over was the recognition and even following of one's peers. It was impossible to conquer the leaders of the upper class. Because the bigwigs had too much baggage, the vast majority would rely on their age and seniority to deny others, and even resort to suppression. Moreover, this was a struggle for the orthodox path—it was truly a life-or-death matter.

On the other hand, it was certainly also because no one proposed a school of thought that was already perfect. Often, a school of thought or a school of learning had to first sprout, and then be carried forward by those who inherited it, continuously perfecting the theoretical foundation.

It was just like how Confucianism had been passed down to this day; it was because the leading bigwigs continuously absorbed the essence of other schools and actively leaned toward the rulers, which led to the prosperity of Confucianism.

But it was different with Wang Yan; the school of thought he proposed was complete from the moment it was put forward. It was just not fully displayed, leaving enough space for the future.

And most importantly, the school of thought he proposed was progressive. Anyone who listened to even a little bit, and went back to think about it in their spare time, would have to ponder: Wang Yan is right!

They would consciously help Wang Yan spread his school of thought and enhance Wang Yan's influence.

Not only that, Wang Yan had already begun to write down his own insights into learning, releasing a volume whenever he had the chance, letting the scholars take a look. And then, attracting bigwigs from various factions to come down and suppress him—that was when everyone would begin to debate the Dao. Thus, the Great Song would set off a new ideological movement.

Starting from the perspective of literature, setting off an academic movement, and then moving from the virtual to the real, influencing society, and eventually thoroughly changing and subverting society—this was Wang Yan's ultimate goal.

Whoever blocked his reforms would be dealt with. It could be said that rebellion was destined.

His reform achievements, even if it were his own Wang family dynasty, could not guarantee whether his descendants would be able to maintain them effectively. Moreover, he still had to have a "father" above his head, dancing in shackles; once the reform reached a certain level, people would inevitably want to discard him like a worn-out shoe.

If he didn't kick the old Zhao family down, any reform would be like drinking poison to quench thirst; the fundamental things could not be changed. Because once he touched those things, it would be the time for his death and the extermination of his clan. But the Great Song would indeed become prosperous, and the national destiny would be extended by another two hundred years.

Thus, the Great Song monarch and ministers would be happy and joyful, little by little collapsing back to their previous state, until they could no longer maintain it, and the country would be destroyed and the family ruined. Thus, in the history books of later generations, there would be Wang Yan's name. In the records, he was a great man who turned the tide, people criticizing the Great Song monarch and ministers, criticizing Wang Yan's difficult-to-change feudal blind loyalty, and also regretting that his heaven-spanning and earth-encompassing, shining-through-the-ages outstanding talent should not have been wasted on serving the old Zhao family...

History is just such a cycle.

"This is Bianjing? It's so big, I'm afraid one would get lost in the city..." Little Dongliang stood straight, even standing on tiptoes, looking at the magnificent, huge city in the distance.

"Is it beautiful?"

Wang Yan tucked his hands into his sleeves, wearing a fur cloak, the mountain wind blowing his lapels and his hair. The Bianjing in the distance was truly a huge city. Although Wang Yan had seen it a long time ago, he didn't see it often. After many years, seeing it again, it felt quite good.

"It's beautiful. It's still the Young Master who thought well; having come here to see it, I won't forget it for the rest of my life." Little Dongliang nodded repeatedly, looking at the huge Bianjing city with fascination.

Although the Great Song lacked the martial spirit of the Great Tang, the people of the Great Song yearned for Bianjing city just the same. After all, they always heard how good Bianjing city was, and couldn't help but imagine it. Helplessly, most people at this time would not leave a hundred-mile radius in their entire lives.

A thousand years later, there were still people who had never left their county in their entire lives, and many people who wanted to see Beijing but couldn't. A spontaneous trip was actually a luxury.

"Let's go. Let's go have a big meal and drink, and then have a good sleep. Sitting on the boat these past few days, the jolting has made my body feel soft."

Wang Yan stretched his limbs in the wind, then turned and got into the carriage, and the group went down the small hill toward the city.

This carriage had been arranged by Sheng Hong to pick them up; the father-in-law had prepared everything comprehensively, arranged it quite properly, and was very attentive to his precious son-in-law.

Thus, they jolted all the way to the city gate, and after the imperial guards and minor officials guarding the gate verified their documents, they finally entered Bianjing city.

"Son-in-law, where shall we go to drink?"

Seeing Wang Yan and the others entering the city like country bumpkins, walking slowly and looking around everywhere, the capital steward sent by Sheng Hong had to ask.

"Naturally, we must go to the Fan Tower. I hear the Fan Tower is the premier restaurant in the capital. Since we've come to the capital, we must go and experience it."

"Son-in-law is absolutely right. We must go and take a look. Then we shall walk straight ahead. The Fan Tower is not far outside the Jingcheng, and it is truly grand."

Wang Yan nodded with a smile, and just like that, he followed the steward, along with the two attendants who were also very talkative, drifting along the crowded long street, feeling the prosperity of Bianjing.

This made the Sheng family's capital steward very surprised; he thought the son-in-law lacked authority and was not strict in managing his household. He naturally already knew Wang Yan well; after all, his great reputation and the love story of him seeking to marry the eldest young lady were still circulating in the capital, most favored by young ladies in the boudoir and prostitutes in brothels. With this reputation, his own son-in-law probably wouldn't even have to spend money when visiting brothels in Bianjing.

But he had a strong opinion about the boy who was jumping around and the other two attendants who wouldn't stop chattering—what kind of family had such servants? The son-in-law was far too easy to bully.

But seeing the son-in-law responding to every sentence and patiently explaining things to the servants, he didn't know what to say; it seemed the son-in-law didn't care at all.

He couldn't help but think: worthy of being a gentleman with such a great reputation.

Little did he know, if Wang Yan were ever serious, with just one look, anyone in the household would be trembling with fear.

The Wang Yan of the past might have relied on seriousness to feign majesty, but at his current level, if he still had to keep a deadpan face to manage people, that would truly be a wasted life...

After drifting for a long time, they finally saw the Jingcheng wall, and finally arrived at the entrance of the Fan Tower.

The steward cupped his hands: "Son-in-law, don't worry about the cost inside. The Master has instructed that all expenses are to be covered by the household. Son-in-law, eat and drink with peace of mind; we will wait here."

"Let's go together; everyone should have a taste."

"Uh... how can we sit at the same table as the son-in-law? And the expenses here are quite high, we..."

"Let's go. It's just a meal and a drink, after all. I imagine you haven't been to the Fan Tower to eat either; let's experience it together. We aren't soliciting prostitutes, so how much can a meal and drink cost? Don't use the household's money; consider it my treat. After all, I have hundreds of acres of good farmland at home; if I can't afford a house in Bianjing, can't I afford a meal in Bianjing? Say no more, just eat and drink."

Wang Yan didn't waste any more breath, turned around with his hands behind his back, and led Little Dongliang and the others into the Fan Tower, which looked like a high-consumption establishment at a glance.

The steward looked at the two sturdy attendants who had eager expressions, shook his head, and had no choice but to pull the Fan Tower's welcoming waiter, who had a look of disdain, to instruct him to look after the carriage, and then trotted to catch up with Wang Yan and the others.

He also saw that Little Dongliang and the others had all gone in without any pretense, which was why he made up his mind to follow and experience it.

It wasn't that he couldn't afford it; after all, as a steward looking after the house in the capital, although he was also a family servant, he had the power, and he didn't know how much money he had skimmed over the years. But there were many eyes and ears, and one shouldn't show off wealth, so the steward had truly never been here.

Wang Yan was just inviting them casually; after all, it wasn't his own home, and he would have many dealings with this steward, so treating him to a meal to win him over would also save some unnecessary trouble.

He was naturally not visiting the Fan Tower for the first time; he had also mixed in Bianjing before. It was just that the time was a bit far off, and he didn't know how many masters behind the scenes had changed. Now it belonged to the early days of the Fan Tower, which had only been built for a few decades, and it had a different style.

Wang Yan led them, following a waiter of seventeen or eighteen, who was handsome and spoke in a practiced manner, to a scattered table on the first floor. He said very politely that the private rooms were all full, asked them to make do, served the tea that had already been widely spread, and ordered a large pile of dishes before leaving.

Little Dongliang pouted with dissatisfaction: "Young Master, he just looks down on us. I don't believe there are no private rooms."

The steward smiled and replied: "That must be because we are not elegant, implicating the son-in-law. They were also quite polite; it's already not bad that they didn't mock us."

"Hmph, that's because my Young Master didn't announce his name."

"Say less. They treated us politely, and we aren't listening to music or looking for any famous courtesans; it's not bad to have a table to be served." Wang Yan waved his hand and nodded friendly to the people around him.

Little Dongliang's voice was a bit loud, attracting the attention of others.

At this moment, at a nearby table, a tall and thin man, about thirty years old, with spirited eyes, a small mustache, and clothing that was neither rich nor poor but very clean, stood up and walked over to bow to Wang Yan.

"I am Feng Jing from Jiangxia, courtesy name Dangshi. I am here in the capital to take the examinations. I have long heard of the Fan Tower's name and came here specifically to experience it. Just now I heard that you have a great name; may I ask for your honorable surname and name?"

Wang Yan raised an eyebrow. It was truly the Great Song, where one couldn't fight, but the culture was brilliant. A country bumpkin entering the city to see the world in a top-tier club, and he had encountered a famous figure.

This Feng Jing, in the original history, was the top scholar of this year's imperial examinations, and he had even won first place in all three levels. Of course, there was no such saying now, but provincial, provincial, and palace examinations—being first in all was real. He was a veteran official of four reigns: Renzong, Yingzong, Shenzong, and Zhezong, with deep seniority. His father-in-law was Fu Bi, and he had even married two daughters to him. An interesting point was that he would also serve as the prefect of Yangzhou in the future.

He was not on good terms with Wang Anshi and had a relatively good relationship with Sima Guang and others. That is to say, he was a member of the conservative faction. During Wang Anshi's reforms, he submitted a memorial opposing Wang Anshi and was very much at odds with him.

It could be seen now that Feng Jing was still quite arrogant; hearing what Little Dongliang said, he came over directly to ask for his name. Of course, Feng Jing was also smart and didn't come to ask recklessly.

After all, Wang Yan was eating here with a bunch of attendants; this was not the style of a bigwig's son. If he were a Bianjing local, a bigwig wouldn't need to announce his name. He concluded that Wang Yan was also here to take the examinations, had a little money, and came to experience it.

However, Feng Jing was not very aggressive and had no intention of challenging him; after all, he had introduced himself very politely and even stated his courtesy name, bowing politely to Wang Yan, who looked young at a glance.

Then Wang Yan naturally couldn't be rude, so he stood up with a smile and returned the greeting to Feng Jing solemnly. Since Wang Yan had stood up, Little Dongliang and the others naturally couldn't sit, so they had to stand aside one by one.

Only hearing the young master Wang say with a smile: "I am Wang Yan from Yangzhou, courtesy name Ziyan. I have met you, Brother Dangshi."

Feng Jing was stunned for a moment, gave a start, and then asked tentatively, even more politely: "Are you the Yangzhou Wang Ziyan who wrote 'Knowledge from books is shallow, one must practice to know the truth,' 'To establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a life for the people, to inherit the lost learning of the past sages, to open peace for ten thousand generations'?"

It was fine when reciting the poem, but for the later four sentences, Feng Jing still recited them loudly and clearly. This caused the originally bustling main dining hall on the first floor of the Fan Tower to fall silent, and eyes turned toward this side in unison.

And the people at the surrounding tables had already stood up.

More than a month had passed since the provincial examinations, and Wang Yan's four sentences had long since spread. In a place like the capital, it was impossible not to know. And in this Fan Tower, the consumers were all high-class people with culture, so they naturally remembered these sentences vividly. Every time they heard them, they were so deafening and so shocking to the heart.

Wang Yan, who was being watched, was still smiling. He cupped his hands to Feng Jing: "Unworthy, it is indeed me."

After speaking, he looked at the people who had gathered around, turned, and walked a few steps to the platform in the center of the main dining hall. This was a place for top-tier courtesans who spoke well, looked good, and were multi-talented to perform publicly.

He walked onto the stage and bowed solemnly in all four directions.

"Wang Yan of Yangzhou, asking after you all."

His voice was like a thunderclap, using vocal techniques and the partial amplification provided by the building itself, allowing his voice to spread in all directions, and everyone heard it clearly.

Little Dongliang stood on tiptoes, looking at the crowd that had been captured by Wang Yan's momentum, bumped into the Sheng family's capital steward with a smile, and gave him a wink.

Look, I didn't say it wrong, my Young Master's name is very useful... ===== CHAPTER 1028 =====