The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

It is actually not surprising that the children of aristocratic families take the imperial examinations in high school, because they have resources that others can't match, and the sons of ordinary merchants even won the Sanyuan, which has the greatest inspirational effect among the people.

Many candidates who failed in many trials and thought that there was an ulterior motive in the imperial examinations, and were already disappointed by the news, were encouraged by the news, and went back to their studies, picked up dusty books and continued to study.

Ordinary people have always been envious of the imperial examinations, but they participated in the imperial examinations, because there are few examples of the sons of common people being able to enter the imperial court, and the success of this merchant's son named Su Jin is suspected to have sowed the seeds of hope in the hearts of the common people. In the future, in the choice of the future path of future generations, reading and taking exams may also become a formal option.

Different from what the common people are fond of talking about, all the officials have mixed opinions about Su Jin being selected as the number one scholar. Yan Shu, Ouyang Xiu, Fu Bi and others are naturally happy for him, although they are not satisfied with the policy essay written by Su Jin in the palace examination. The content of the article is not very popular, but Su Jin's being the champion is of great benefit to Yan Shu. Yan Shu firmly believes that as long as he analyzes with Su Jin the inappropriateness of his ideas, Su Jin is such a smart person. Naturally, he will revise his views when the emperor summons him for detailed inquiries.

But to many officials, the emperor's hand-picked selection of Su Jin as the champion was a clear signal that the emperor agreed with Su Jin's ten suggestions. [

This point is not difficult to determine, although the reason given in the emperor's imperial edict is "sharp writing, convincing evidence, although the viewpoint is biased, but the sincerity of his heart can be seen from the writing; given time, he may be the pillar of the court." '.

Anyone with a discerning eye knows that this is just an excuse. How can the imperial court select scholars as the number one scholar just because the form of the article is perfect?This is like competing for an important position. It is impossible to hire you because you are handsome, but because you have something in your belly; See if the guy under you is good enough and strong enough.

The common people were lively and lively, but the court was a little gloomy, and some people began to speculate quietly in private.Is the emperor going to decide to carry out reforms in accordance with Su Jin's ten suggestions?This matter has a huge relationship, and soon this kind of speculation will form a rumor spreading secretly, and soon someone will visit secretly to discuss countermeasures, and a force of opposition will gradually form; Those who have rifts or those who do not interfere with each other have undoubtedly united this time, forming a unified alliance, and preparing to fight against the upcoming changes that will harm their own interests.

On the early morning of the [-]th, shortly after the announcement of the gold list, the imperial edict was delivered to Su's residence. Su Jin led the whole family to kneel down to receive the imperial edict, and generously rewarded the two servants who delivered the edict.

From the beginning to the end, everyone in the Su family still didn't believe the facts in front of them. All of this was like a dream, and Su Jin won the number one prize!

Su Jin sent away the two servants who delivered the decree and returned to the courtyard. Seeing that everyone was still standing in the courtyard blankly, he couldn't help but wondered: "What's wrong with you?"

Xiao Sui'er burst into tears, and shouted: "Master, you are the number one scholar, and this little servant girl will be so happy."

Rouniang and Huanniang also had tears in their eyes. Su Jin's every step of promotion is so incredible. Su Jin has witnessed many miracles, and this time is Su Jin's biggest turning point, and Su Jin's life It is their life, not only for Su Jin, but also for themselves.

Su Jin walked in front of Mrs. Wang with a smile, took Mrs. Wang's arm and said, "Mother, is this the lintel of Everbright Su's family?"

Mrs. Wang hadn't recovered from her surprise, she murmured: "Is this a dream? Don't wake me up, let me dream for a while."

Xiao Sui'er took Mrs. Wang's hand and shook it: "Old Madam, it's not a dream, the young master has really won the first prize, and the young master is now the number one scholar."

Mrs. Wang trembled, looked at Su Jin and said, "Son, is it true?"

Su Jin smiled and said, "Didn't you hear the edict delivered by the servant just now? Listen, the firecrackers and drums rang outside. It must be the common people who came to congratulate you. Don't you believe it?"

Mrs. Wang made an ah, and suddenly put her palms together and prayed to the sky: "Amitabha, the Bodhisattva has manifested, and my Su family finally has a number one scholar. I have to hurry to fulfill my vow. I made a vow with the Bodhisattva in Xiangguo Temple. "

Su Jin laughed loudly and said: "It turned out that it was my mother's credit. I made a wish in front of the Bodhisattva. I wondered that it was too easy for the number one scholar to come. I should go to fulfill the wish. I will accompany you to fulfill the wish in a few days. I can’t leave now, the imperial decree ordered me to go to see him immediately, my son is about to leave, you old man has to stay at home to help maintain, the congratulatory people will squeeze through the threshold.”

Mrs. Wang nodded hurriedly and said: "Okay, I am sitting at home, my son will go, don't let the officials wait for a long time to annoy the officials."

Su Jin nodded in agreement, then turned her head and softly told Rouniang Huanniang Xiaosuier to take good care of the old lady. When the congratulators came, Rouniang stepped forward and beat her up, and told the dynasty to be more vigilant. All congratulators were kept in the outer house. Under the surveillance of the two towers, there were many barriers between the outer house and the inner hall, so that if something happened, it would not affect the backyard.

After a while, a lot of people gathered in front of the main gate, and the sound of firecrackers, gongs and drums sounded congratulatory. Su Jin hurriedly opened the side gate on the west side, got in a carriage and went straight to the palace.

The Su family happily welcomed the guests and gave rewards everywhere to announce the good news. In the early morning of that day, all the Jinshi of Zhao Zhen gathered in the Daqing Palace. I paid homage as a minister.Yesterday they were still clothed in cloth, but now they are officials and family members. The Jinshi scholars are beaming and wearing the royal uniforms, black gauze hats, and thick-soled official boots, all of them are in high spirits. [

The hairpins of Wushapu of every Jinshi are decorated with green leaf velvet flowers, while the flowers of Su Jin, Han Jiang and Wang Anshi have silver branches and leaves, decorated with emerald feathers, and the flowers are also bright red; The ends of the horns are all tied with long ribbons, and when the head and neck are turned, the ribbons are fluttering, which seems to have the potential to ascend to heaven.

Each of them also gave a symbolic imperial wat. Of course, unlike the ivory or jade wats of the ministers, these wat boards are all made of locust wood, but these are too elegant. Sooner or later, the locust wood in your hand will be replaced by ivory and jade. Quality, as long as they win the Jinshi, a bright future is waiting for them, what is impossible?

Zhao Zhen enthusiastically gave some lectures to the Jinshi. From these beaming faces, Zhao Zhen got great satisfaction. The future of these people is given by himself. They are lost in the crowd, and these people have studied poetry and books for more than ten years, and in the end they are full of talents and knowledge only for the royal family to use. This is the charm of power.

The audience was over, according to the rules over the years, the emperor gave a banquet at Qionglin Garden in the west of the city at noon, and this was the famous Qionglin Banquet.

Su Jin once heard a play called "The Female Consort" in later generations. When he was still young, the actor who disguised himself as a man on the stage once sang: "I also went to the Qionglin Banquet, and I also beat Ma Yu. In front of the street." Su Jin was deeply impressed by the proud and self-satisfied attitude when singing.

Only after I grew up did I know that the Qionglin Banquet was given by the emperor after passing the college entrance examination in ancient times. Being able to attend this banquet is a dream of scholars. I never thought that I would be able to attend the Qionglin Banquet in a grand manner after traveling back to the Song Dynasty for thousands of years. Unbelievable.

On the wide grass beside the Dragon Pond in Qionglin Garden, more than 200 scholars participated, accompanied by more than [-] court officials. The Qionglin Feast held by the emperor started on time at noon. Yan and their seats are even higher, and it is not difficult to understand why this is the case. After all, Jinshimen is the protagonist today, and Zhuangyuan Lang is the protagonist among the protagonists.

All kinds of delicacies from mountains and seas were put on the table, and the wine and delicacies were also poured up one after another. The court ladies wore flowers and butterflies and walked among more than forty tables.

The banquet lasted until the end of the day. During the banquet, an official suggested that the number one scholar in the department should write a poem according to the occasion. Su Jin did not hesitate to raise his glass and chant:

Entering the official crown according to the imperial edict, come back to Xuan to look at the sky.

The cloud is in the form of a five-color talisman flag cover, and a thousand official miscellaneous pendants are exposed.

Yan Xi happens to come to the Niu Girl Festival, and Luan Zhang shines on Bi Kui.

Contribute poems to Chen Ya's foolish ministers, but see Gengge's weather.

Everyone applauded in unison, the work of Kou Zhan can blurt out, and it is so neat and well-behaved, with a radiant look between the lines, it is indeed an excellent work for the occasion, and it is worthy of the name of the number one scholar.

Su Jin bowed his hands and thanked with a smile, not at all ashamed of pirating posterity's poems. There are too many piracy, he has already felt at ease.