Chapter 1036: Prefectural Judge of Hangzhou

The street was crowded with people, and it was very lively. Whether they were wearing luxurious clothes or tattered rags, whether they were men, women, old, or young, they were all competing to see the protagonist on the street.

Wang Yan, with a large red flower wrapped around his chest, was riding on the back of a white horse, truly eye-catching.

Wang Yan rode on the horse's back, slowly rising and falling with the horse's steps, with a thousand-year-unchanging affinity and friendly smile on his face, waving and greeting the people watching on the street.

Halfway through, he even grabbed a child whose family was unknown and sat him on the horse's back, carrying him for a distance before handing him over to the child's father, who had been laughing but was desperately squeezing through the crowd to get over.

This situation was of course understandable; happiness is happiness, but children really do get lost in Bianjing. Especially in such a crowded situation, losing something or not having a child was not surprising at all.

However, as Wang Yan's gaze passed, he didn't see such a situation.

Thinking of these joints, Wang Yan, riding on the horse, couldn't help but think about how he should deal with these city foxes and village rats when he would be in charge of the Kaifeng Prefecture in the future. According to the normal promotion trajectory, he could really be promoted...

Thinking about the policies and guidelines in all aspects like this all the way, he rode the horse around to the Imperial Street, and from the Imperial Street all the way to the Jingcheng, and finally dismounted outside the Imperial Palace, joined the other scholars, listened to the rules explained by the Rites Official of the Ministry of Rites, and went in a grand manner to the Chongzheng Hall for an audience. It was that Chongzheng Hall that held major activities.

It is worth mentioning that the ranking of the successful candidates in this year's palace examination was the same as the order of the provincial examination.

Wang Yan was the top scholar, Feng Jing was the second, and Fan Chunren was the third. Feng Jing, the original top scholar, naturally had enough strength, but a Wang Yan who was "more enough" had come.

The palace examination was divided into three lists: the top ones were successful candidates, the middle ones were successful candidates by background, and the bottom ones were successful candidates by status. There were also other rules, which were not much different from the Ming and Qing dynasties, just a little different in the details.

The words spoken when proposing marriage at the Sheng family last year had all been realized by today...

The new successful candidates' worship and granting of official positions was truly a large-scale activity. When gathering the successful candidates and when the top scholar was riding through the streets, the officials in the capital who had been notified two days in advance and were qualified to participate and had time to participate in the grand court meeting had already gathered in the Chongzheng Hall for a meeting.

This procedure was roughly equivalent to a worker joining a new company; the department manager often had to organize old employees to get to know new employees; it was just such a meeting.

As the saying goes, "big things have small meetings, small things have big meetings." Before Wang Yan and the other new successful candidates arrived, it was just Wen Yanbo and other chancellors making work reports, talking about this year's work priorities, Zhao Zhen encouraging the officials with official clichés, and announcing some notifications of personnel changes. In this way, the time was passed.

Wang Yan and the others waited outside for a while, and then heard an official shouting: "The new successful candidates have an audience~"

The voice was loud and clear, and because of the special architectural shape, it was amplified and echoed far away...

The new successful candidates subconsciously tidied their clothes, smoothed out the wrinkles, and then, led by Wang Yan, stepped over the threshold of the middle main door of the three main doors that had been opened in the main hall.

Facing the gaze of a thousand eyes lined up on both sides, Wang Yan felt nothing, walked with his head held high, walked straight to the steps below the Emperor's high platform and stood still, paused for a few breaths, and hearing no rustling sound behind him, thought that the new successful candidates were all ready.

He said loudly: "Successful candidates of the Jichou year, pay respects to Your Majesty."

Following the fall of his voice, two hundred or so people bowed in unison.

Zhao Zhen waved his hand with a smile: "Everyone, rise. Our dynasty..."

It was another burst of official clichés, the gist being that after many years of reading and studying, they had finally achieved something, it was not easy to get here, and he put forward some requirements on the issue of being a person. After chattering for a while, Zhao Zhen let the people from the Ministry of Personnel begin to read the appointments.

This was also why, although only two hundred or so people participated in the palace examination, the grading took so long. After all, it was necessary to confirm a series of job transfers, as well as positions suitable for these new successful candidates.

And involving personnel appointments and removals, there were naturally some interest considerations. One radish, one pit; when new successful candidates take office, the original people have to move to other places; there are too many articles in this, and naturally, it takes a period of time to discuss and confirm.

The granting of official positions was read from back to front; this trick of pulling expectations was also something this group of people was very familiar with.

There were all kinds of messy positions, just as everyone thought when the Fanlou gathering ended after the examination; some went to local areas to be small officials, some were small officials in the central government, some were in the administrative system, some were in the military system, some were officials with real power, and some were library managers, or other things responsible for engineering, horse administration, statistics, and so on.

It wasn't until the last three people that Fan Chunren was appointed as the magistrate of Wujin County, Feng Jing was appointed as the prefectural judge of Ruzhou, and Wang Yan was appointed as the Assistant of the Directorate of Palace Buildings and Prefectural Judge of Hangzhou.

Of course, Fan Chunren and Feng Jing also had official titles in front, but they were a bit lower than Wang Yan's, and they were all Dali evaluators.

The official titles of the Song Dynasty were very long, such as the current civil chancellor Wen Yanbo's "Meritorious Official of Loyalty and Assistance, Right Remonstrance Grand Master, Participant in Political Affairs, Light Chariot Commandant, Marquis of Pingyang County, with a fief of one Battalion Commander, and granted a purple-gold fish bag."

After Wang Yan added the position of the Pavilion, and was granted a title of nobility, as well as other concurrent positions, it was also impossible to write it all in one line...

Hearing the arrangement about himself that was read out last, Wang Yan raised his eyebrows in surprise. He hadn't expected that he would be arranged to go to Hangzhou; now it seemed that he, a player who had been accepted as a disciple by the conservative Ouyang Xiu and had some signs of reformist thinking, was very favored by the reformists.

So the reason for this statement lay in the fact that the current Governor of Hangzhou was Fan Zhongyan...

Following the announcement of the appointments by the Ministry of Personnel officials, after waiting for a few more breaths, Wang Yan and the others bowed and knelt to perform the grand ceremony: "Your subjects kowtow to thank Your Majesty!"

Zhao Zhen waved his hand again: "Everyone, rise. Everyone is an official for the first time, it is necessary to..."

It was another burst of official clichés, requiring Wang Yan and the others to be for the country and the people, loyal to the monarch and patriotic, to be good officials, and not to be corrupt or harm the people's livelihood, and so on.

Up to this step, all the processes of the imperial examination had been completed. What needed to be done next was to go to the Ministry of Personnel to register, receive the official documents and official uniforms, and then they could return to their respective homes. Before taking office, there was a holiday of about a month, allowing the newly appointed officials to return home to arrange things, and only after all affairs were arranged could they go to take office.

Zhao Zhen looked at Wang Yan, who was standing solemnly in front, with a smile, and asked: "I heard that Wang Yan had long been engaged to the daughter of the Yangzhou prefectural judge, and was just waiting to get married after the examination. Do you need more time to take office? Since that's the case, I will give you another month to recuperate. After you get married, then go to Hangzhou to take office."

"I will do as Your Majesty decides."

"You are famous all over the world, and today you have entered the hall and become the top scholar. I wonder what your thoughts are?"

"Your Majesty is setting a question for your subject."

"Why, is the famous Wang Ziyan afraid to answer?" Zhao Zhen sat lazily on the small dragon chair, his round face full of smiles.

Wang Yan frowned and thought silently without speaking. After a few breaths, he bowed to Zhao Zhen, and then walked in the hall, as if Cao Zijian were alive...

Walking three steps to the left, he said loudly: "In the morning, I was a farmer's son; in the evening, I entered the Son of Heaven's hall."

With a "whoosh," the ministers present started buzzing. Don't think that rich people and powerful people have high quality; when they open their mouths to scold people, they still don't leave their mothers, and when they gather together, they are just as chaotic.

The ministers were surprised by Wang Yan's talent and pretentiousness, as if Cao Zhi were alive; such a scene was staged before their eyes, and they became the background board for this scene. Plus, Wang Yan's youth, which was hard to forget, really made people couldn't help but sigh. They couldn't help but whisper to the people around them; with thousands of people communicating together, wasn't it just a vegetable market?

Zhao Zhen didn't stop the noise, just sat there smiling and watching the Song Dynasty's national treasure show off his talent. Being able to be unaffected in a noisy city was naturally an admirable advantage, and he was looking forward to it.

Seeing Wang Yan walk three steps to the right, pause his feet, and then speak with a louder voice. He used vocal techniques again, and his voice penetrated the noise of the ministers, with the lingering sound echoing in the hall.

"Generals and chancellors have no inherent seed; a man should strive for self-improvement."

He said it with strength and force, with iron bones, and even carried a hint of murderous intent. Following the fall of his voice, the ministers also quieted down, for a moment captured by Wang Yan's demeanor, and even more by the sharp knife of time passing by, cutting into their hearts.

"Good!"

It was Zhao Zhen who clapped his hands and called it good. He smiled and commented, "Simple and easy to understand, catchy; when today's event spreads, this quatrain will definitely be passed down through the ages. Very good, very good!"

Following the fall of his voice, the ministers began to chime in; twenty characters, they praised it from all angles. Just kidding, who wasn't a successful candidate...

After being lively for a while, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were served, and Wang Yan wrote down this poem on the spot, and gave this poem that Wang Yan plagiarized a name, called "Jichou Third Month Eighteenth at Chongzheng Hall Responding to the Holy Question," with the time, place, person, and cause all clearly explained. Everyone left their names, and in the future, it would be another beautiful story, very good, very good.

Finally, they broke up, and the group went straight to the Ministry of Personnel to receive their official documents and uniforms. On the way, everyone congratulated each other and wished each other to rise to the clouds.

But when they arrived at the Ministry of Personnel, Fan Chunren caused trouble. Because he refused the official position, saying he wanted to take care of his old father. Clearly, Fan Chunren was still sensible and didn't cause trouble for Zhao Zhen during the grand court meeting, but came to the Ministry of Personnel to say it, letting the Ministry of Personnel report it up again.

After such a toss, they finally broke up and went home.

Ouyang Fa, who had been waiting outside for a long time, approached and asked: "What official positions are the three brothers?"

Wang Yan rubbed his head and smiled: "I am the Prefectural Judge of Hangzhou, Brother Dangshi is the Prefectural Judge of Ruzhou, and Brother Yaofu is the Magistrate of Wujin County. You don't need to worry about where Wujin is, because Brother Yaofu refused, wanting to stay by Fan Gong's side to take care of him."

Seeing the little chubby boy looking at himself, Fan Chunren nodded with a smile: "That is indeed the case; my father is old, and although the prescription Ziyan prescribed has been adjusted very well, I still don't feel at ease."

"What did the Emperor say?"

"Of course, I didn't refuse in the hall, but said it when we went to the Ministry of Personnel to receive the official documents and uniforms later." Seeing the little chubby boy's innocent little eyes, Fan Chunren smiled, "Actually, I had planned this before. If I don't take the examination, my father won't be at ease. But if I leave my father's side, I won't be at ease. There is no perfect solution, so it had to be this way."

"Brother Yaofu is truly filial." Sheng Changbai cupped his hands and bowed on the side.

"Let's go, let's talk when we get back. Today is a happy day, Brother Ziyan, why don't we drink a few more cups of wine?" Feng Jing proposed on the side.

"That's exactly what we should do. The return date is set, so we must drink to our heart's content. Dongliang, go back and have a barbecue; we'll celebrate at home today."

"Yes, young master." Little Dongliang nodded with a smile, and asked again, "Just now the young master said the return date is set, I wonder when we will return to Yangzhou?"

"We'll leave tomorrow afternoon after paying a visit to Chancellor Wen."

Ouyang Fa asked curiously: "Why is the senior brother in such a hurry?"

"The capital is a place of right and wrong, not convenient for staying long. Moreover, the wedding date has been set for the end of this month, so it's good to go back early to prepare; why stay in the capital? Let's go, let's go."

Wang Yan waved his hand, threw the two sets of official uniforms into the carriage, and got into the carriage lightly...

Wen Yanbo was a very legendary person, mainly because he could live very long, having been in charge of the world several times, and also having been demoted several times for various reasons, being sent to travel to various places back and forth according to the Song Dynasty tradition. He was a firm conservative, and even more a firm opponent of Wang Anshi's reform. Later, he supported Sima Guang in changing Wang Anshi's reform, and also supported Sima Guang in ceding the places conquered during the Shenzong period to Western Xia, in exchange for peace; he was a compromising conservative.

Big shots always have many merits and demerits. Especially big shots who live long, there are more rights and wrongs.

However, Wen Yanbo treated Wang Yan and the others quite well, without a serious stinky face, always smiling, and even enthusiastically greeting Wang Yan and the others to drink tea.

He said: "Ziyan didn't come to visit me when he first arrived in the capital; Xiren had already explained to me that he is a cautious person."

"It was the student who was afraid of adding trouble to Chancellor Wen."

Wen Yanbo shook his head, didn't dwell on this, and turned to ask: "Do you know why you were made Prefectural Judge of Hangzhou?"

"I think it's because everyone says Wang Yan has the ambition to reform, so Fan Gong wants to weigh the student's weight. What does Chancellor Wen think?"

"Then does Ziyan really have the ambition to reform?"

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "Chancellor Wen overestimates the student; it's just a prefectural judge. Moreover, the student hasn't taken office yet, the local conditions are not understood, practical affairs are not refined, and national affairs are not clear. The student knows that Chancellor Wen doesn't support reform, and the student is not trying to please Chancellor Wen. The word 'reform' is truly too heavy, shaking people's hearts, and even more shaking the foundation of the country. Moreover, foreign enemies are surrounding, watching covetously; if one is not careful, the whole game will be lost, so it's really hard to move lightly. How would the student dare to talk about reform?"

Wen Yanbo didn't intend to let Wang Yan go, and continued to pursue the question: "To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, to establish a life for the people, to continue the lost learning for the past sages, to open peace for all generations; these are the words you said, which are truly the long-cherished wishes of our generation. According to your opinion, should we reform or not?"

This couldn't be answered with empty words. Wang Yan pondered for a moment and replied: "Reform is for strengthening the country, and strengthening the country is for unifying the world and having peace under Heaven. The student thinks that there is nothing that remains unchanged. Times change and the world changes; there is absolutely no established law that can rule for ten thousand years. Making some adjustments is necessary. But one must not be impatient; major affairs of the court affect the whole body with one move. The so-called 'governing a large country is like cooking a small fish,' the heat must be controlled perfectly."

Wen Yanbo didn't commit himself, drank another cup of tea, and looked at Feng Jing and Fan Chunren on the side: "The three of you are truly destined; you were the top three in both the provincial and palace examinations, and in a few years, it will definitely be a beautiful story praised by the world."

"We didn't expect it either, it was such a coincidence." Feng Jing cupped his hands and responded with a smile.

Fan Chunren smiled without losing politeness; after all, his father was the one Wen Yanbo and others had fought down, so he was already very sensible to come over.

Wen Yanbo could see his little thoughts at a glance, and smiled: "I already know about Yaofu's matter, and I will write a letter to ask Fan Gong."

"Chancellor Wen, this student can make the decision. It's really because my father's health is not good, and he has been worried for half a year since I came to the capital. If I go far away to be an official, I really can't be at ease. Please, Chancellor Wen, say a few good words in front of the Emperor to fulfill this student's filial piety."

Wen Yanbo drank tea and shook his head: "The Emperor values affection, but we also have to ask Fan Gong."

Coming to Wen Yanbo's mansion, they didn't say anything nutritious, which could be considered as testing Wang Yan's camp. Everything else was just the care of seniors for juniors, teaching some experience in being an official, and so on.

In general, Wen Yanbo was a person with cultivation, didn't put on airs, was kind to people, and could even be considered humorous. When it didn't involve factional strife, this person was still quite good.

After visiting Wen Yanbo, Wang Yan and the others went to Old Bao's mansion to say goodbye.

Old Bao's feeling now was quite good; his work was going smoothly, anyway, if it wasn't smooth, he would spray, spraying whoever he caught. Don't look at the fact that he wasn't a chancellor, but he wasn't afraid of Wen Yanbo either; even if he was three levels lower, he would spray whenever he caught the opportunity, so his work was very happy.

And Bao Yi's physical condition had greatly improved, no longer the look of being about to finish at any time, and he was full of spirit every day, able to eat and drink. Without such a worry, Old Bao's life was also very happy.

He also pulled Wang Yan and the others to teach them a lot about the way of being an official, and waited for Wang Yan to check Bao Yi's condition, changed the prescription, and said that in three months, they could start having intercourse. By the way, he also checked Bao Yi's wife, Cui, determined that there was nothing wrong, and said that there was a high probability of giving birth to a healthy child.

Amidst the happy farewell of Old Bao's family, Wang Yan took a large group of people and boarded the ship heading south without a sound, leaving the capital.

Feng Jing wore a coat, looked at the stars in the sky, drank a cup of hot canned tea with many things added, and sighed: "Thinking about it now, the trip to the capital is like a big dream."

Wang Yan ate the burnt dried meat and said: "It will be fine when we reach our post; that will be reality. Look at Brother Yaofu, he doesn't have so many sighs."

Fan Chunren just smiled and looked up at the stars all over the sky.

This was very boring. Passing by Ouyang Fa and Changbai who were eating and drinking fiercely, Wang Yan asked: "Dongliang, do you say the capital is better, or Yangzhou is better?"

"Hmm..." Little Dongliang was silent for a while, chewing the dried meat in his mouth and muttering: "Before going to the capital, the capital was better; after going to the capital, Yangzhou is still better."

"Hey, I underestimated you before; you, a little book boy, speak with such height." Ouyang Fa raised his head.

"I'm even two years older than you." Little Dongliang rolled his eyes, ignored the little chubby boy, and continued to eat meat.

He also looked up at the stars in the sky; going home, really good... ===== CHAPTER 1037 =====