Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 140
Fan Ning really didn't expect his fourth uncle Fan Tongzhong to come. In the past two years, he and his fourth uncle hadn't seen much, only by chance during the New Year and major festivals.

However, Fan Ning also heard that Zhu Yuanfu also valued him a lot, and even provided him with a bursary from the Zhu family.

Basically, the rich and wealthy in all places will focus on cultivating some outstanding talents from poor backgrounds for their own use, and the Zhu family is the same. Gao Fei, the county magistrate of Wu County, is an excellent talent funded by the Zhu family.

It is said that the Zhu family has sponsored dozens of outstanding poor children to study. Although the number is quite large, Fan Ning is really puzzled how the fourth uncle's virtue can be valued so much by Zhu Yuanfu.

"Ah Ning, I never thought that our uncle and nephew would take the imperial examination together!"

Fan Tongzhong took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "It's a good story to spread."

It's a good story if you pass the exam, and it's a joke if you don't pass the exam.

"Is there anything Fourth Uncle wants from me?" Fan Ning asked with a faint smile.

"Actually, it's nothing. It's just that I have a lot of information. I want to reveal a little inside story to you. It will be of great benefit to you in solving the questions."

"Thank you fourth uncle for your concern!"

Fan Tongzhong stretched his neck and lowered his voice, for fear that others would hear the secret if he spoke a little louder.

"I'll tell you two pieces of news. The title of this dissertation is 'Shun had five courtiers and the world ruled'. The news is absolutely reliable. I spent two pennies to get the title."

Fan Ning was amused in his heart. Before the exam, all kinds of guessing questions appeared one after another, but the questions were serious, as if they were real.

He asked quietly, "What about the other news?"

"The other news is about Zhou Zhen, the chief examiner. Someone investigated in Qizhou and found that he has a good relationship with Fu Bi."

Fan Ning was a little interested in the second news, which was related to Zhou Zhen's political color.

Generally speaking, the political inclination of the examiner has a great influence on the candidates' countermeasures. For example, a conservative examiner must have a negative attitude towards the answer sheet that is eager for change and innovation.

Fu Bi is a complex person. During Fan Zhongyan's reform, he was Fan Zhongyan's right-hand man, but when it came to Wang Anshi's reform, Fu Bi was a staunch opponent.

But it cannot be said that Fu Bi did not support reforms, he just opposed Wang Anshi's radical reforms, especially the young crop law.

It can only be considered that Fu Bi supports moderate reforms and is more of a reformist.

So, if you think that Zhou Zhen and Fu Bi are on good terms, you think Zhou Zhen is a reformer, and then criticize the conservative old law in the countermeasures, it is a big mistake to do so.

However, Fu Bi attaches great importance to people's livelihood, and Zhou Zhen should do the same. If he plays a role in people's livelihood, it is really a good way to bet on the problem.

"Why, you don't believe Fourth Uncle's words?" Fan Tongzhong couldn't help asking a little dissatisfied seeing Fan Ning smiling and not speaking.

"I don't believe it, I'm just very grateful to Fourth Uncle for telling me in time."

Fan Tongzhong rubbed his hands happily, and said again: "The second message is given to you for free, but the first message is about Uncle Fourth, which cost me two pennies. Why don't we share it, half of it for each of you?" How about it?"

Three black lines appeared on Fan Ning's forehead. He thought that his fourth uncle would be successful in the past two years, but he didn't expect that he was still the same as before. He changed ways to ask for money, and now his idea turned out to be on his own head.

Fan Ning thought for a while and smiled: "We have also bet on a few imperial examination questions for Xuezheng. Is fourth uncle interested?"

Fan Tongzhong's eyes lit up. Zhao Xuezheng's betting on questions is not available to everyone. It is pure nonsense that he spent two pennies on the exam questions, but Zhao Xuezheng's betting on questions is a real benefit.

He quickly waved his hand, "Between our uncle and nephew, don't mention money."

He is still a little smart, knowing that he must first give up his own small calculations.

Fan Ning then calmly said: "Zhao Xuezheng thinks that the chief examiner of Zhou puts more emphasis on Mencius, advocating that the people are more important than the emperor, and the countermeasures can start from the people's livelihood. As for the discussion topic, Zhao Xuezheng also thinks that it will come from "Mencius". Zhao Xuezheng believed that the scriptures and poems were the basis, and he did not prescribe them."

Fan Tongzhong was stunned for a while and asked, "But...where is the title of the bet?"

Fan Ning laughed, "Fourth Uncle, Zhao Xuezheng is not a roundworm in Zhou's chief examiner's stomach, how could he bet on specific questions.

However, Zhao Xuezheng believes that the countermeasure is to test people's livelihood, which is enough. As long as you have enough understanding of people's livelihood, no matter what kind of problem it is, you can handle it, especially in agriculture. I suggest that my fourth uncle work hard. "

Fan Tongzhong left disappointed. For him, he needed to get an accurate topic, and then pay someone to write an article. Just telling him a range was meaningless to him.

Fan Ning stood at the door and watched Fan Tongzhong go away, he couldn't help shaking his head secretly.

In fact, Zhao Xuezheng didn't bet on the question at all. Fan Ning hinted that the fourth uncle would take the agriculture exam for the sake of his uncle and nephew. countermeasures.

But even such an article, it is estimated that the fourth uncle Fan Tongzhong would not be able to write it. It is undoubtedly a dream to pass the imperial examination with such a level.

At this time, Xuezheng Zhao Xiuwen came from behind and asked with a smile: "What good news did your fourth uncle bring you?"

"He brought me a question, saying that the topic of this year's imperial examination was leaked, and it was called 'Shun had five ministers and the world ruled'."

Zhao Xiuwen laughed, "This question was a county examination question three years ago, but your fourth uncle still remembers it."

Zhao Xiuwen smiled and asked, "Is there any other interesting news?"

"The other thing is about Zhou Zhen, the chief examiner. There is news from Qizhou that he has a good relationship with Fu Bi."

Zhao Xiuwen nodded, "This kind of news has always attracted people's attention. It was like this 30 years ago. Every candidate will speculate on the examiner's character, likes and political leanings, from the solution to the provincial test."

"Does Xuezheng think this speculation is meaningful?" Fan Ning asked again.

Zhao Xiuwen smiled slightly, "The benevolent sees benevolence, and the wise see wisdom."

"What do Xuezheng think?" Fan Ning was still not reconciled, and continued to ask the bottom line.

Zhao Xiuwen shook his head, "According to my experience, if you don't care about the examiner, then you will not be influenced by the examiner, because you will not cater to him to do the questions, and you will not easily go to extremes.

For example, some candidates feel that Zhou Zhen and Fu Bi are close, and they think he is a reformer. Then when they deal with the problem, they often support the reform and criticize the old system with a clear stand, thinking that they will win Zhou Zhen's favor.

I don't know if I can win Zhou Zhen's favor, but I know that this kind of paper may not even have a chance to be put on Zhou Zhen's desk, and it will be "clicked!" 'Dropped, few examiners would like the grandstanding paper. "

Fan Ning nodded silently. What Zhao Xuezheng said was right. Taking a slanted sword would not only lose one's true colors, but often backfire. Maintaining one's true colors is the kingly way.

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Changzhou County School is located in the south of the city, not far from the Examination Institute. It was originally a part of Pingjiang Prefecture School. Later, the two schools were split, and the county school occupied significantly less land than the Prefecture School.

In terms of scale alone, Changzhou County School is not as good as Wu County School, but the quality of Changzhou County School is the best in Pingzhou Prefecture, which can be seen from the number of people who pass the test each time.

Of course, this also has a lot to do with the population composition of Changzhou County. More than [-]% of Changzhou's population of more than [-] lives in the county seat. There are very few towns outside the city, except for a few towns in the north.

Precisely because the county has a large population, the wealth of the residents is generally higher than that of Wu County, and the investment of parents in their own education is also stronger than that of Wu County, so gifted teenagers emerge in endlessly.

Every time the imperial examination boys take the exam, Changzhou County has to take away most of the places for tribute candidates.

This year, Changzhou County is even stronger. They have publicly shouted the slogan of winning five tribute candidates a few months ago.

Three days before the imperial examination, ten county scholars also concentrated in Changzhou County School for final preparations.

In a spacious lobby, ten county magistrates from Changzhou County sat upright in a row, and a middle-aged man was explaining the situation of this year to them.

The middle-aged man is Guo Yun, only 37-[-] years old, and currently works as a student in Changzhou County. He is young and full of energy.

Perhaps because of his youth, Guo Yun seemed very strong and dared to take the initiative to attack. Most people dare not say that he has all the quotas, but he dared to speak out publicly, without considering the feelings of other counties.

However, although he is rather arrogant, he still has real talents and practical learning. In other words, his outrageous words are just a strategy, and he still attaches great importance to his opponents in private.

Guo Yun also drew a diagram of the situation, and said to the ten young county scholars: "Although our overall strength this year is much stronger than in previous years, we must not take it lightly. Only by knowing ourselves and the enemy can we win every battle.

In fact, we also have opponents. According to what I know, we have at least three opponents, one each in Wu County, Wujiang County and Kunshan County.

The No. 1 county magistrate in Wu County is called Fan Ning. It is said that he is Fan Zhongyan’s cousin, but he was born in a poor family. I heard that he only started learning tea at the county school. I knew he was not from a scholarly family. Such an opponent is terrible. is true genius. "

(End of this chapter)