Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 251 The Official
The following day, in the Forbidden City, at the Chuigong Hall.

Although the Erying Pavilion and Yanxi Pavilion were built in the first month of the second year of Jingyou (1093) for imperial lectures, the emperor is currently unwell, so since the beginning of summer, the lectures have been held in the Chuigong Hall, which is closest to his sleeping quarters.

The warm autumn sun shone through the tall window frames, casting long shadows on the smooth, golden brick floor. Sandalwood burned quietly in the gilded incense burner, releasing a calming, subtle fragrance.

Dressed in a purple robe, Yang Anguo, a Hanlin Academician, sat upright on a small stool below the throne, holding a scroll of the Book of Documents. He explained the essence of "Huangji" in the "Hong Fan" chapter in a steady voice and with clear words. He quoted from classical texts meticulously, without any personal opinions, as if he were reciting a commentary that he had already memorized.

On the throne, Emperor Zhao Zhen, dressed in a deep crimson robe, had his eyes slightly closed.

He had a thin face with little flesh on his cheeks, making his cheekbones appear somewhat prominent, and his expression carried the weariness caused by years of being troubled by national affairs and illness.

Yang Anguo's steady, unwavering explanation was like lukewarm water; it was harmless, but it didn't really arouse much of his interest.

"Therefore, the emperor established his authority, collected the five blessings, and bestowed them upon his common people."

Yang Anguo's voice still echoed in the hall.

"Minister Yang," Zhao Zhen suddenly spoke, his voice gentle, "what was the result of yesterday's competition between the Imperial Academy and the National University? Why haven't I heard you mention it?"

Yang Anguo was overjoyed, thinking, "I've been waiting for Your Majesty to ask!"
He put down his book, rose respectfully, and bowed deeply to the throne. His face instantly filled with a perfectly measured expression of excitement and emotion: "Your Majesty, I was just about to report this matter! In yesterday's competition, our Imperial Academy was fortunate enough to win!"

"Oh? You won?"

This result is quite surprising.

Zhao Zhen's previously unfocused gaze suddenly sharpened, and he leaned forward slightly, revealing interest: "Whom did the Imperial Academy send?"

"Liu Ji is the most prominent disciple of Hu Yuan."

Yang Anguo could no longer hide his excitement. Disregarding etiquette, he raised his voice several decibels: "That Liu Ji is arrogant and disdainful of others. His writing style is even more bizarre and strange, piling up obscure and obscure words, which is not the right path! Although our Imperial Academy is declining, fortunately, there are still some true talents who have not died out!"

Emperor Renzong (Zhao Zhen) was already used to Yang Anguo speaking ill of the Imperial Academy whenever he had the chance, and he did not stop him.

Yang Anguo took a deep breath, as if to exhale the pent-up anger that had been building up in his chest for many years, and began to tell the story vividly.

"In the three rounds of competition, the calligraphy was tied, the calligraphy of the Imperial Academy had a slight edge, but the current affairs strategy of the National Academy won back a point! Finally, the final exam was an additional question on historical essays, 'On Zhongda,' which determined the outcome!"

At this point, he became even more animated: "Although Liu Ji's work is ornate and full of allusions, its theme is still confined to the distinction between loyalty and treachery, and its scope is limited. But the work of Lu Beigu, a student of my Guangwen Academy..."

Yang Anguo paused for a moment, then solemnly took out a neatly copied manuscript from his sleeve and raised it high above his head with both hands.

"Your Majesty, I have dared to present this original manuscript of 'On Zhongda' to Your Majesty for your perusal! This article is truly the most extraordinary piece of writing I have ever seen in my life! Its broad historical perspective, lofty vision, and sharp criticism directly address the fundamentals of governance, prompting deep reflection! It not only surpasses Liu Ji but also far surpasses those of us who have spent our lives studying the classics! Your Majesty will know upon reading it that I am not exaggerating!"

These words carried great weight. Clearly, Yang Anguo was extremely confident, even confident enough to use himself as a stepping stone to elevate the author of this article.

Deng Xuanyan, the deputy chief of the right rank of the Imperial Attendants' Office who was standing to the side, quickly stepped forward, carefully took the manuscript that still smelled of ink, and bowed to present it to the emperor.

Deng Xuanyan was one of the eunuchs most trusted by Emperor Zhao Zhen. Last year, he was the Director of the Inner Treasury and the Chief Eunuch. This year, he was promoted to the Right Deputy Director of the Inner Palace Attendants Department, making him the second most powerful eunuch in the palace after Ren Shouzhong.

Deng Xuanyan respectfully placed the manuscript on the imperial desk. Zhao Zhen's gaze fell on it, but he did not pick it up immediately. He simply looked at the three characters "Zhongda Lun" quietly.

The hall fell silent for a moment, with only the faint scent of sandalwood incense wafting through the air. After a short while, Zhao Zhen stretched out his slightly withered hand and picked up the manuscript.

He read slowly, his gaze moving gently between the lines, but his expression was very focused.

Zhao Zhen was already highly cultured. Although he certainly couldn't compare to great writers like Ouyang Xiu and Wang Anshi in terms of writing, his aesthetic sense was still top-notch over the years.

Yang Anguo held his breath, nervously observing the official's reaction.

He saw that the emperor initially frowned slightly, as if he was pondering the opening words, and then his finger tapped lightly on a few words.

Looking further down, Zhao Zhen's gaze deepened.

When the last paragraph came into view, Zhao Zhen's body seemed to tremble slightly. He read it twice before slowly putting down the manuscript, looking at the caisson ceiling on the roof of the palace, and remained silent for a long time.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and Yang Anguo's heart was in his throat.

Finally, Zhao Zhen withdrew his gaze and looked at Yang Anguo again.

His face betrayed no emotion, he simply asked, "How old is this Lu Beigu? Where is he from?"

"Your Majesty," Yang Anguo hurriedly bowed and replied, "This young man is from Hejiang County, Luzhou, Zizhou Road. He is seventeen years old and has come to the capital to take the provincial examination of the Ministry of Rites next spring. He is studying under Zhou Dunyi, a doctor at the Imperial Academy. A few days ago, he was recommended by Zhou Dunyi to enter the Guangwen Hall of the Imperial Academy."

Yang Anguo's statement is a mix of truth and falsehood. The first part is probably true, but the part about "studying under Zhou Dunyi" is not so true, and the part about "being recommended by Zhou Dunyi to enter the Guangwen Academy" is completely false.

This was also because Yang Anguo understood the Emperor well and knew that even if his words contained some self-aggrandizing elements, the Emperor would not scrutinize them.

"A single historical essay can reveal profound truths from seemingly minor details, tracing the Sima clan's usurpation of the Wei dynasty back to the flaws in the talent selection system, and using history as a mirror to offer valuable lessons for the present day."

Zhao Zhen spoke in a calm tone, but the word "rare" was already his highest praise.

Yang Anguo was overjoyed and was about to offer a few more words of praise when the official changed the subject: "Minister Yang, you have served as the supervisor of the Imperial Academy for many years. Do you know that in the past ten years or so, nearly half of the Jinshi selected by the Ministry of Rites have come from the Imperial Academy?"

Yang Anguo's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, knows a little about this. Since Hu Anding took charge of the Imperial Academy, the academic atmosphere has flourished and many talented people have emerged. This is a blessing for the country."

Zhao Zhen, too lazy to listen to his insincere words, interrupted him and simply asked, "Is it because talented people are emerging in large numbers, or is it because the 'Imperial Academy style' has become so dominant that it has become almost a fixed formula, to the point that examiners can only appreciate essays that are bizarre, unconventional, and full of flowery language? If this continues, scholars all over the country will compete to imitate it, seeking only novelty and unconventionality, while forgetting the fundamental principles of the classics and practical matters concerning people's livelihood. Is this also a blessing for the country?"

The official's words were like cold needles, piercing Yang Anguo's back and instantly causing him to break out in a cold sweat!

Only then did he realize that the Emperor was fully aware of the drawbacks of the Imperial Academy system and even the tendency of the Imperial Academy to form a certain "academic clique"!
Regarding yesterday's competition, what the Emperor is concerned about today is probably far more than just the reputation of the Imperial Academy.
A thought flashed through Yang Anguo's mind like lightning—the Emperor was about to take action against next year's Ministry of Rites provincial examination, or even against the "Imperial Academy style" of writing that had dominated the examination halls for more than ten years!

The "classical prose style" advocated by Ouyang Xiu and others may really be about to usher in a turning point, and Lu Beigu's "On Zhongda" which appeared out of nowhere undoubtedly became the spark that ignited this change.

"Your Majesty's judgment is far-reaching!"

Yang Anguo dared not speak again.

Zhao Zhen's gaze returned to the "On Zhongda," his finger lightly pointing to the sentence, "To ensure that the pivot of checks and balances remains constant, and the door to justice remains open."

(End of this chapter)