In Beijing, in Weng Tonghe's mansion, a thin and black middle-aged man respectfully saluted Weng Tonghe:

"Teacher, I'm here."

Weng Tonghe looked at the middle-aged man up and down. He had not seen him for more than ten years. The handsome scholar back then had become an ordinary middle-aged man. He was just wearing a blue shirt as before, and the momentum of "pointing the country" in his eyes disappeared, and turned into a pool of water, unfathomable. If he used to be a sword, then now this man is the sword hidden edge.

"Sit down."

The middle-aged man was not pretentious and sat on the chair on the right, ready to listen to the teacher's lecture.

Weng Tonghe was a little angry and asked, "Ji Zhi (Zhang Jian's name), why didn't you come to the En-school exam? With your strength, you would definitely be sure to win the third grade, even if you don't win several times, don't you dare to try again?"

Zhang Jian defended:

"Teacher, the disciples don't come because they don't come because they don't have their brothers after repeated tests, but because Japan sharpens their knives and has unreasonable thoughts about our country. The disciples want to do something in the Northeast to help the country. Although Enko is important, it will still happen in a few years, but once this battle is lost, it will not be able to ease in a few years. If it weren't for the teacher's help, the disciples would have wanted to stay and prepare for the war."

Nodded with joy, Weng Tonghe said, "Ji Zhi, I have always been proud of you, and you are the first among the many disciples."

Zhang Jian said:

"It's all the teacher who loves you, and the disciples are frightened, but this time I brought some things to the teacher to see." After saying that, he handed over a copy of the paper.

Weng Tonghe took it, read the copy carefully, and his brows frowned from time to time.

The study room was silent, and only the sound of flipping the pages could be heard.

With a "bang", Weng Tonghe slapped the copy on the desk heavily.

Zhang Jian looked at him with inquiring eyes.

"Support the thief to be respectful!" Weng Tonghe gently spit out four words.

Zhang Jian said: "What do mentors plan to do?"

Weng Tonghe stood up and said decisively: "Immediately submit the report to the Empress Dowager and impeach Li Hongzhang."

Zhang Jian hesitated a little: "What the teacher said is the most correct, but..."

Weng Tonghe asked, "But what?"

Zhang Jian said: "Everyone in the government and the public know that you and Li Zhongtang have always had conflicts. This time, the Li Guangzhao case was plotted against Li Zhongtang again. If you impeach Li Hongzhang at this time, will it make people think that they are taking personal revenge and causing their mentor's reputation to be damaged?"

Weng Tonghe was furious and said loudly: "If you benefit the country from life and death, how can you avoid it because of misfortune and good fortune? Fame is just a drop in the ox compared to the country. If the country suffers huge losses because of cherishing feathers, it will not only be criticized by the people of the world. When you wake up at night, ask yourself, what will I be like?"

Zhang Jian stood up excitedly and bowed deeply to Weng Tonghe, "This is what my teacher said, and the cranes are so enchanting in the sky! The student also contacted the censor and wrote a letter to impeach him. Be sure not to let Li Hongzhang have a place and harm the country!"

Weng Tonghe had other plans: "You don't have to participate in this matter, you just need to prepare for Enko's future, and it's better to impeach Enko after he goes on."

"Disciples follow the teacher's teachings."

Seeing that it was getting late, Zhang Jian went back to Gaosheng Inn (the favorite of the students who took the exam). The boss was from Shandong, tall and tall, and very real: "Customer, you are back, probably because you are hungry. I will make you a midnight snack, which is considered to be a filial piety to the future top scholar."

Zhang Jian smiled and said, "That's thank you for your hard work."

The boss said, "Thank you so hard there. You are all the stars in the sky. Living in a small shop is a blessing for the small shop. You go back to your room first and the things will be delivered immediately."

When I returned to the room, I had a guest with high cheekbones and a slightly dark face.

Zhang Jian was stunned. Did he booked this room when he left? Looking back at the store owner, the boss was a little embarrassed:

"I'm sorry, the juren is not enough today, so the little guy took the initiative and made half of the room."

Zhang Jian understood the whole story of the matter, and had no intention of making things difficult for the boss, but just gently teased the boss:

"Do I the only one who has late-night snack?"

The boss's face was covered with sweat: "The juren is right, let's get another one now." After that, he went to prepare for the midnight snack.

Zhang Jian bowed to the slightly dark-faced guest and said, "In Zhang Jian in Xia Nantong, I'm happy with my brother." He said reluctantly:

"Yangdu, Xiangtan."

Zhang Jian was shocked and said, "Are you Yang Xizi, who is famous all over the world for the book "The New Chapter of Jishi"? I have been revered for a long time!"

Yang Du nodded expressionlessly.

Seeing that he didn't like talking to others, Zhang Jian stopped talking, put his simple luggage in his hand, and took out the book and looked at it.

After reading a book for only a dozen pages, the voice of the shop owner came from the door: "Two juren, the midnight snack is here."

Zhang Jian said, "Come in."

The boss walked in with a smile, holding a food box in his hand. He opened the food box and took out the wine and vegetables, a stack of fried browned thousand-layer cakes, a large plate of thin cut beef, a whole roast chicken, a plate of stir-fried vegetables, a plate of cucumber, and a bottle of daughter red. After the boss poured the wine into the amber cup, several fragrances came to his nose. Zhang Jian not only drank the sound of the song, but was not hungry, but also was so angry that his index finger was stirred.

"Boss, it's such a good craft."

"Journalist, I have a little meaning and I respect you two. After winning the top scorer, I will be grateful to you. I dare not disturb you, but I will say goodbye."

Only Zhang Jian and Yang Du were left in the room. Zhang Jian raised his wine glass:

"Ju Ren Yang, I am so happy to meet you today. I am so happy. I am so stupid. I will respect you first."

Yang Du was reluctant to do this cup, and the two made up the meal and chatted, and gradually there was no gap. Yang Du expected that later, he had already called Zhang Jian "Brother Ji Zhi", and Zhang Jian's name was also changed to "Brother Yang Xian".

Both of them were originally mysterious people and had very high vision. At first, they were just chatting with wine and meat, and slowly turned to the article. After a moment of conversation, they found that the other party was extraordinary and couldn't help but become competitive. The two learned men actually broke the wine and decided to tell the difference between them on the wine seat until they had eaten the wine and meat, and the moon was still unable to tell the outcome. The two looked at each other and smiled.

Yang Du said: "Nantong Zhang Jizhi's great ambitions are truly worthy of his reputation."

Zhang Jian said: "Brother Yang is too rewarded. Brother Yu just wants to do something for the country. I don't know what his brother Kunpeng means?"

Yang Du stood up and chanted, "The phoenix soars thousands of feet, but does not live in the sakura; the scholar is in one place, but does not rely on the master. I am happy to farm in the fields, but I love my hut; I am proud of the piano and the book, and wait for the time of the sky."

... … すThe red candles in the sea were burning with smoke. The tablet of "The Great Sage of the Great Master Wenxuan King" was in the high ceremony. Weng Tonghe led the examiners of the 18th house to bow to the tablet.

After worshiping, Weng Tonghe stood up and shouted, "Open the dragon gate!"

The two vermilion doors in the middle of the tall Panlonghua table opened with a creaking sound. The educators from the imperial examination lined up in a long line, carrying baskets in one hand and lanterns in the other.

Yang Du walked over with great enthusiasm.

Zhang Jian walked over calmly...

In the court, Weng Tonghe: "People like Yang Du are just capable of bewitching the kings, not knowing how to serve the country and the people, but just like Ma Su, with a thousand words in their belly and no strategy in their hearts!"

Yang Du's pen was free and he took a stroke of his pen;

Zhang Jian was not in a hurry, and after thinking about it, he wrote it one by one;

An obese candidate, with all his body removed, shouted loudly in his position: "Good articles, you must win the undergraduate degree."

, it turned out to be crazy.

Each candidate has different forms, and when the actual examination room is revealed.

A few days later, ten sealed test papers were placed on the table of the Gongyuan. In the undergraduate examination, if a paper marking officer appreciates a certain test paper and draws a circle on it, then the advantages and disadvantages can be determined based on the number of circles on the test paper. The ten test papers on the table have naturally been screened and have the most circles on it. If nothing unexpected happens and both the queen mother and the emperor agree, then the undergraduate three-level, top scorer, second-level, and Tanhua will be produced from these ten candidates.

Weng Tonghe Dou Siser picked up a paper and asked, "Who was the first to look at this paper?"

A reviewer said: "It's me."

Weng Tonghe: "Tell me, how good is it?"

The reviewer: "The text and classics are well-made and the inheritance is magnificent..."

Weng Tonghe's face changed and said, "I'm confused! What kind of classics and strategies are used to transform the magnificent? It's obviously full of nonsense, and it's extremely ridiculous! I'm sure that its author is the crazy student Yang Du!"

He threw the paper aside and said angrily: "I have reminded you a long time ago not to let Yang Du get into a crazy student, but you still let him get into a mess! If I hadn't seen through it at a glance, wouldn't it embarrassing for everyone?"

This scolding made everyone feel embarrassed.

Weng Tonghe picked up another test paper, and before he could speak, the smile on his face spread, "This test paper is different. He observes everything with his heart, controls current affairs with reason, integrates knowledge and action, and has the style of Mr. Yangming. It seems that the top scholar in the current subject must be this person!"

Several examiners had already seen the clues and responded together: "You are keen to recognize talents, and this test is indeed the best!"

Weng Tonghe said sternly: "It is related to the national talent ceremony. If we don't show our public intentions, what else can we say?" The lies and dangers of the Song Dynasty for the people, so we are ashamed."

Gaosheng Inn, in the guest room, Yang Du was lying on the bed, piling his hands behind his head, closing his eyes to rest. Fu Pei's skeleton secretly released the results today, why are you not in a hurry?"

Yang Du chuckled slightly: "Brother Ji Zhi? You and I are the heroes in the world, why should we learn from those pedantic people? Just watch me sit here firmly, and someone comes to report the good news."

Zhang Jian: "You are sure of that?"

Yang Du sang: "The world has not yet been released from the cottage and has three points to decide..."

As soon as I said this, a noisy gong and drum suddenly sounded outside the door, and then the sound of firecrackers came! Then, the noisy voices and mixed footsteps rushed into the house.

Yang Du asked, "Brother Ji Zhi, how about it?"

I heard someone outside the door ask loudly: "Is Mr. Zhang Jian and Mr. Zhang staying here?"

Yang Du's face suddenly turned pale.

Zhang Jian came out of the house and a newspaperman asked, "Is it Mr. Zhang Jian?"

"yes"

The newspaper pulled away the red paper in his hand and reported loudly:

"Report! Mr. Zhang, the son of Jiangsu, is famous for his wife"

"The first place in the Guisi exam in high school will be ranked first!"

"I awarded the Hanlin Academy for editing"

"Okay, the top scholar" everyone next to him cheered together.
To be continued...