The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 334 The Inflection Point of Fan Zhi's Life

The Hanlin Academy is located on the west side of Changqing Gate on the right side of the palace city, in an old building.

Since the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the Hanlin Academy has been established as a palace enshrinement institution. It has extensively recruited talents from all over the world who are good at literature, folk arts, classics, chess and painting, and even monks and Taoist scriptures for royal inquiry.

The Hanlin Academy itself is not an official official office. Since the Kaiyuan period, the status of the Hanlin Academy has increased dramatically and it has become an institution responsible for drafting edicts. Six Hanlin bachelors have been placed on duty in turn, called Hanlin bachelors, to prepare for the emperor at any time. Draft edicts.

Since Emperor Xianzong of the late Tang Dynasty, most of the Hanlin scholars could be promoted to prime ministers, and the Hanlin Academy gradually became a noble place in the eyes of the subjects, and it was regarded as a place for the imperial court to cultivate and store talents.

This situation changed in the fifth year of Tianfu in the Later Jin Dynasty.

Jin Emperor Shi Jingtang believed that the talent pool in the Hanlin Academy squeezed the power space of the Zhongshu Province. Especially the Zhongshu Sheren who were responsible for drafting imperial edicts were often overshadowed by Hanlin bachelors, and the division of powers and responsibilities was unclear, so he announced the abolition of Hanlin bachelors. , returning the power of drafting imperial edicts to Zhongshu Sheren.

In the tenth year of Tianfu's reign, the title of Hanlin bachelor was restored. Unfortunately, due to the chaos of the government and the confusion of official ranks, the status of the Hanlin Academy plummeted. The Hanlin bachelor itself had no rank, and was even more depressed after being suppressed. It became a place where the imperial court placed idle officials.

A few years ago, because Fan Zhi refused to join Li Ye's party, he was kicked out by Li Ye from the position of Minister of Household Affairs to the Hanlin Academy, where he lived idle with the false title of Hanlin bachelor.

A dilapidated courtyard, with a Hanlin Academy plaque hanging above the gate.

Early this morning, it started to rain lightly in the gloomy sky. Fan Zhi stepped into the courtyard door holding a holed oil-paper umbrella and holding a pile of dry firewood.

The rain came down hard, and the holey umbrella couldn't cover him. The splashing rain soaked half of Fan Zhi's old gray robe.

"Oh~ Master Fan didn't receive the imperial decree to draw up an edict for the Queen Mother, why are you still here carrying firewood?"

In the courtyard, several potbellied Hanlin officials wearing green sixth-grade official uniforms walked out of the hall holding umbrellas. They met Fan Zhi, who was holding dry firewood, soaked in rain and looking embarrassed, and ran into the courtyard with a bit of jealousy. Said sourly.

Fan Zhi put the dry firewood under the eaves, wiped the rain off his face, smiled bitterly at the holed umbrella, glanced at his colleagues who laughed at him, said nothing, and prepared to hold the dry firewood tightly to the stove. After a while, Make a fire and cook.

Seeing that Fan Zhi ignored them, a fat bachelor with a shiny face stepped forward angrily and grabbed Fan Zhi's clothes, hypocritically saying: "Scholar Fan doesn't want to cook today, why not come with us to eat and drink in the city. I heard that Qianming Temple on Gaotou Street There is a new restaurant called Taihe Restaurant next to it. The dishes are new and delicious. I am about to try something new. Why don’t we come together, Master Fan?"

The fat bachelor was so strong that Fan Zhi couldn't get away. He cupped his hands helplessly and said, "You can go on your own. Fan has a light diet, just some porridge and mussels."

"Hey~ We are all colleagues in the Hanlin Academy. There is no need for Bachelor Fan to be polite to us! Just leave!" The fat bachelor tightly grabbed Fan Zhi's sleeves and refused to let go.

"That's right! We don't need Master Fan to treat us, so what are we afraid of!"

"Why don't you be unhappy if you don't spend a fortune to have a meal and drink for free? You really don't know how to flatter me!"

"Scholar Fan is busy drafting the decree for the Queen Mother, so I'm afraid he won't have time to drink and chat with us idle people."

Several other Hanlin officials began to ridicule.

The fat scholar grabbed Fan Zhi's sleeves tightly, and said with a sneer, "Why, is it true that the imperial court issued a decree randomly? Since the fifth year of Tianfu, it is not my responsibility to draft edicts. Even if a bachelor's writing can scare ghosts and gods, I'm afraid it won't be of any use."

Another Hanlin official laughed and said: "Guo Wei entered the court, and people in the government and the public were in panic. How could such a big thing as the establishment of an heir be the responsibility of the Hanlin Academy, and let you, a little-known scholar, be responsible for drafting the Queen Mother's decree?" ?”

"The Imperial Court's decree is only reported to the Hanlin Academy as usual, but in fact it is still left to the people in Zhongshushe to be responsible for the imperial edicts. Scholar Fan does not need to take it seriously!"

"Xueshi Fan used to be the Minister of Household Transfers. He is a serious civil servant. He is not a nobody!"

"Hahaha~~ If Brother Yan didn't tell us, we would have forgotten that Bachelor Fan was transferred from the Ministry of Household Affairs to our Hanlin Academy!"

"Hahaha~~"

A group of Hanlin officials stood in the courtyard holding umbrellas, surrounded Fan Zhi and laughed.

The fat bachelor smiled maliciously and said, "Will Bachelor Fan come with us to have a drink at Taihe Building?"

Fan Zhi sighed, shook his head and said, "Fan is not good at drinking, please don't make things difficult for Brother Li."

"Hmph!~ You have to go today if you don't want to, let's go!" The fat bachelor was annoyed and pulled Fan Zhi's sleeves out.

With a "hiss" sound, Fan Zhi's sleeves were torn, exposing most of his arms.

Fan Zhi was stunned and his eyes turned red immediately. This was a winter coat that his wife had stayed up late to make under the dim candlelight. Every stitch and thread was soaked in his wife's hard work.

The fat bachelor threw away the rag he was holding tightly in his hand in disgust, and said sarcastically: "You broke free on your own, you can't blame me! If Brother Fan is willing to reward me, I will pay you a hundred dollars, enough for you to buy a hundred pieces like this." Rags.”

"Hey~ Academician Li's words are wrong. This coat was sewn by my wife, and I can't buy it with the usual money!"

"Haha~ That's right, at least two coins!"

Several other Hanlin officials laughed.

Fan Zhi's face turned red and he was furious.

The fat bachelor sneered: "Hey~ Brother Fan is angry. Why, do you want to hit me?"

The Hanlin officer surnamed Yan said sarcastically: "Master Li, please don't embarrass me. If Guo Wei becomes emperor, maybe Brother Fan will rise to prominence!"

The fat bachelor let out a "poof" and cursed: "The traitors who seek to usurp the throne will be punished sooner or later!"

The Hanlin officer surnamed Yan wanted to join in the ridicule, but suddenly a thunderous shout came from outside the hospital: "Be bold! Be bold!"

All the Hanlin officials were shocked and hurriedly looked back, only to see a group of armored sergeants rushing into the Hanlin Academy.

A big man with a red face and a long beard wearing black armor came over with a knife, followed slowly by a young gentleman in a white robe and a green cloak, with a face like a crown of jade.

Zhu Xiu frowned and looked at this group of Hanlin bachelors with frightened expressions. They were a bunch of fat-headed and big-eared mediocre people, which were far from the image of the elegant people in the Hanlin Academy that he had imagined.

The rain gradually stopped, and Zhu Xiu waved her hand, indicating to Hu Guangyue to put away his umbrella.

"Who was making such nonsense just now?"

Zhu Xiu took two steps forward and asked calmly with his hands behind his back.

Pan Mei tightened her grip on the knife handle and glanced at everyone with murderous intent.

The bachelor surnamed Yan was so frightened that he lowered his head and shrank back, not daring to say anything.

Other Hanlin officials were also trembling with fear, and no one dared to respond.

The fat bachelor mustered up some courage, stood up and said in a deep voice: "Who are you? How dare you lead troops into the palace?"

Zhu Xiu glanced sideways and stared at him like an idiot.

Pan Mei pointed her hand and shouted: "The person who just spoke was this fat man. I heard his voice. Who is the other one? Come forward!"

The fat bachelor said angrily: "My Excellency, Li Tao, is a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy. May I ask who you are? You broke into the imperial palace privately and brought soldiers into the Hanlin Academy. Do you know what the crime is?" A Hanlin official named Yan also stood up and said calmly. "My Majesty, Yan Li, was admitted to the Hanlin Academy as a Jinshi in the eighth year of Tianfu's reign. I wonder if you dare to state your name?"

Pan Mei glared and said, "It was these two bitches who were talking just now, and their voices were exactly the same!"

Li Tao became angry: "Why did you insult us?"

Zhu Xiu waved his hand and said without interest: "Tie him up and send him to Dali Temple. Send someone to inform Xianggong Su."

Pan Mei waved with a grim smile, and several tiger-like Tiger Wing soldiers stepped forward and pushed Li Tao and Yan Li down.

"Let me go! I am the nephew of General Hou Yi, a distinguished Hanlin scholar. I am bound to the imperial court for no reason and am guilty of conspiracy!"

Yan Li struggled and screamed in horror.

The fat bachelor Li Tao shouted angrily: "I am a student of the crown prince and grand master Dou Zhengu. I warn you not to do anything wrong!"

In desperation, Li Tao reached out and slapped a soldier in the face, which immediately angered Pan Mei. Without saying a word, Pan Mei kicked Li Tao hard in the stomach. Li Tao screamed and fell to the ground, his fat body curled up in pain. In a ball.

Zhu Xiu looked at the two of them and said sternly: "If General Hou and Mr. Dou know that you two are talking arrogantly today, I am afraid they will clean up the house with their own hands."

The soldiers stuffed cloth balls into their mouths to prevent them from making any noise.

Two fat-headed and big-eared men were tied up tightly with hemp ropes, struggling and roaring as they were dragged away like piglets.

The other Hanlin officials were so frightened that they fell to their knees and buried their heads in silence.

Zhu Xiu looked around and saw a thin scribe standing in the corridor, holding a piece of broken sleeve cloth in a daze. One sleeve was broken, exposing most of his arm.

"May I ask if you are Bachelor Fan Zhifan?" Zhu Xiu stepped forward and saluted with a smile.

Fan Zhi came back to his senses, glanced at him, cupped his hands and said, "It's Fan."

"I'm waiting for the imperial edict to Zhu Xiu, and I've met Bachelor Fan."

Fan Zhi was stunned and looked at him again: "Are you also working in the Hanlin Academy? Why have I never seen you before?"

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "The post of the Imperial Academy was only posted yesterday. It is also the first time for the Imperial Academy to come here. Naturally, Bachelor Fan has never seen it."

"Then these soldiers..." Fan Zhi was confused, a mere Hanlin waiting for an edict, just like a Hanlin bachelor, has no rank and false title, how can he have the power to mobilize troops?
"Oh~ these are all the soldiers of my Tiger Wing Army, and I also serve as the Deputy Commander of the Tiger Wing Army. The Tiger Wing Army is also one of the forbidden troops guarding Miyagi, so I have the right to lead troops to walk in Miyagi." Zhu Xiu said in a tone. A few casual explanations.

"Tiger Wing Army"

Fan Zhi was stunned for a moment and then gradually understood.

The Tiger Wing Army is one of the forbidden armies affiliated with the Imperial Guards' Military Division. Currently, the Imperial Guards' Military Division is headed by Wang Yin.

Although Wang Yin was appointed by the Queen Mother, everyone actually knew that it was Guo Wei who made the decision behind the scenes.

The Queen Mother supervises the country and takes control of the court, but it is Guo Wei who actually exercises power.

The young man in front of me must also be a general of the Ye Army under Guo Wei!
No wonder he is qualified to lead troops within the palace city.

Fan Zhi was silent for a moment, bowed in salute, said nothing, and his expression was neither humble nor arrogant.

Several other Hanlin officials kneeling aside were panic-stricken. They didn't expect to offend someone from Ye's army.

Zhu Xiu looked around: "Master Fan, please, let's talk in the room."

Zhu Xiu walked towards the central hall. Fan Zhi hesitated and followed behind.

Pan Mei led his people to guard the surroundings, pointed at several Hanlin officials and said, "Drive these drunkards out. I will be upset when I see them."

The living room is simple, with a few short tables, a few musty futons, and a piece of wild cursive written by Zhang Jiuling imitating Zhang Xu hanging in the middle.

Zhang Jiuling also served in the Hanlin Academy for many years, and was later reused by Xuanzong and became a famous prime minister, making great contributions to the prosperous Kaiyuan era.

Such a person naturally became the object of admiration and pursuit among the scholars of Hanlin Academy.

Responding to the case, Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "As for welcoming the heir, I asked Master Fan to draft an imperial edict. I wonder how prepared Master Fan is?"

Fan Zhi looked at him blankly: "The person from Zhongshushe is responsible for this matter, and it is not Fan's turn to write it."

Zhu Xiu was stunned for a moment and became anxious: "The imperial court has issued an order to let Xueshi Fan be responsible for drafting the imperial edict. Doesn't Xueshi Fan not know?"

Fan Zhi looked confused and murmured: "Since the fifth year of Tianfu, very few Hanlin bachelors have written and drafted imperial edicts. When ordered by the imperial court, they usually notify the Hanlin Academy according to the old system. The real writers are still a few people from Zhongshushe."

Zhu Xiu stroked his forehead and said with a wry smile: "This time is different from the past. At the court meeting that day, Mr. Guo personally invited the Queen Mother to write orally, and Bachelor Fan was responsible for writing."

Fan Zhi looked unbelievable. He thought of something and hurriedly said: "I heard that at the court meeting that day, someone recommended someone to Duke Guo and the Queen Mother. Could this person be?"

"I'm here!" Zhu Xiu smiled wryly.

After working on it for a long time, it turned out that Fan Zhi received the notice from the court, but he thought that he was just going through the motions according to the old rules, and that the person who actually wrote the pen was still handed over to Zhongshu Sheren, and he was completely unprepared.

Fan Zhi murmured: "So, Duke Guo and the Queen Mother really asked Fan to write this imperial edict?"

"There is no need to doubt it, Master Fan. Duke Guo has made it clear that you are solely responsible for this matter. After writing it, it will be submitted to the Queen Mother for review, and then she will be issued with imperial approval."

Zhu Xiu smiled bitterly, "We don't dare to delay such a big thing. Fortunately, we still have time. I would like to ask Mr. Fan to come up with ideas as soon as possible. If I'm not talented, I can provide Mr. Fan with some ideas."

Fan Zhi stared at him blankly. A few strands of loose hair fell down his cheeks. His face was thin, his eyes were slightly hollow, his forehead had deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and he was dressed in torn old clothes. He looked like a down-and-out middle-aged man.

Suddenly, Fan Zhi's eyes turned slightly red, with tears shining, and he became a little excited.

"Mr. Zhu Jun laughed. It's just that Fan has never been sent by the imperial court for many years. It has been almost ten years. He has never written any major documents. I thought that the imperial court had forgotten Fan."

Fan Zhi choked and wiped the corners of his eyes with a moved expression.

Zhu Xiu knew that he had been suppressed by Li Ye and others for many years. He was depressed and frustrated in the Hanlin Academy, and his ambitions had been almost wiped away.

He and his wife lived in poverty, but they were content and stable. However, when he was a Jinshi in high school, his ambition to do something practical for the court and the people has always been buried deep in his heart and cannot be forgotten.

Today, he suddenly received an order from the court, asking him to be responsible for drafting the imperial edict to welcome the heir to the throne. Fan Zhi could not believe that such a heavy responsibility was suddenly given to him.

(End of this chapter)