Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

At that time, he had been demoted for six years, and there was no place in the hall that truly belonged to him.

Now, he has returned to the capital as the Minister of Rites.

Since the Qingli Reforms, his official career had been marked by ups and downs. After twelve years, he finally returned to the capital and went back to the imperial court.

Zhao Zhen, feeling nostalgic, said, "Han Qing, it's been a long time!"

As a monarch, Zhao Zhen never invested too much emotion in any particular minister.

However, the method is one thing, and the result is another.

The human heart is made of flesh.

Han Zhang and he, ruler and subject, had known each other for thirty years and were of similar age. After six years apart, how could they not have genuine feelings when they met again?

Han Zhang nodded, also deeply moved: "Fortunately, the Emperor has chosen him."

His journey has truly been difficult.

He passed the imperial examination at the age of nineteen, served in office for eighteen years, and at the age of thirty-seven rose to the position of Grand Academician of Zhaowen Hall, reaching the pinnacle of officialdom and presiding over the new policies.

However, just as he reached the peak of his life, he suddenly fell from grace and was demoted for twelve years.

He entered officialdom at the age of nineteen, left the capital at the age of thirty-seven, and returned to the capital at the age of forty-nine.

What is meant by great rise and fall?

This is what it means to experience dramatic ups and downs!

Zhao Zhen nodded slightly and said, "I have reflected on the Qingli New Policies afterward. The new policies were implemented too hastily, the people's reaction was too strong, and I was not firm enough, which ultimately led to their failure. What can be done about it?"

"Your Majesty is too kind!" Han Zhang quickly stood up, feeling somewhat uneasy.

The failure of the new policy was certainly the result of multiple factors.

The emperor's wavering attitude was also a significant reason.

However, how could such a thing be said aloud?

As the emperor, Zhao Zhen may have been overcome with emotion and uttered some of his true feelings.

However, as a subject, he could not give approval indiscriminately.

"Sigh!" Zhao Zhen shook his head and stopped talking about the past.

"In the fourth year of the Huangyou reign, I resolutely decided to reinstate you, which caused a great deal of controversy in the court. Fortunately, your political achievements were outstanding. You stabilized the border, strengthened the defenses, governed the people and cleaned up the bureaucracy. You did not disappoint me."

Emperor Zhao Zhen gave this newly arrived veteran official a name.

Outstanding political achievements!

Han Zhang remained silent.

This is the established process.

The monarch should appropriately encourage his ministers, while the ministers should report on their duties.

"Speaking of which, if I remember correctly, Han Qing's disciple Jiang Zhao is this year's top scholar?" Zhao Zhen said with a smile, looking at the old eunuch in purple robes.

The old eunuch quickly replied, "Your Majesty has a good memory. Jiang Zhao is the top scholar this time."

Zhao Zhen nodded slightly. He had carefully reviewed all the papers of the top thirty candidates in the imperial examination.

The papers of the top three students received particular attention.

Jiang Zhao was already famous throughout the world, and as Han Zhang's disciple and the number one, he naturally had a deep impression of him.

Zhao Zhen continued, "Minister Han is truly worthy of being called a pillar of the nation. Even while serving as an official in one region, he never forgets to cultivate talent for the country!"

Huiyuan?

Han Zhang was quite surprised.

He really didn't know about this.

He arrived in the capital at noon, rested for a few hours, and then went straight to the palace to pay his respects to the Emperor. He really didn't have time to pay attention to his beloved disciple's performance.

Unexpectedly, he came in first place?

Han Zhang was secretly pleased and quickly chose his words carefully: "Zichuan is a man of exceptional talent and reputation in the officialdom. Moreover, he is of excellent character, loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and concerned about the country and its people. He is truly a great talent of the nation."

Since his disciples had all achieved the highest rank in the imperial examination, he naturally had to praise them highly and give them a helping hand before the emperor.

If they all pass the provincial examination with top honors, it would be a huge loss if they dropped in the palace examination.

Most candidates only considered the top three scholars as a single tier, unaware that the top three scholars were also divided into tiers.

Among them, the top scholar (状元郎) received the most attention and had the smoothest career path.

As for whether the second-place finisher or the third-place finisher is better or worse, it's not easy to tell.

This is not to say that the runner-up is bad.

When it comes to talent and learning, those who rank higher are definitely more talented.

However, the third-place finisher is usually relatively younger.

In the field of scientific research, the top three scholars are often in their thirties or forties.

The second and third place winners are only one place apart, but they can be more than ten years apart.

Youth is always an asset, and it's really hard to distinguish the value of being second or third in the rankings.

Zhao Zhen nodded with a smile: "You have rendered meritorious service to the country!"

"Those who make contributions will be rewarded."

Zhao Zhen stood up, took out a sheet of Xuan paper, picked up a brush, moistened it with ink, and wrote several large characters on the paper: "Minister of the State!"

As soon as the ink dried, the old eunuch quickly lifted the calligraphy on the Xuan paper for Han Zhang to see.

Han Zhang was startled and quickly bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for bestowing your calligraphy."

Zhao Zhen nodded.

Han Zhang has achieved considerable political success, but he is already the Minister of Rites, a second-rank official, and the next step is to join the cabinet.

As a monarch, even if he favored Han Zhang, he could not possibly intervene to take sides.

The emperor is always the biggest beneficiary of the rules; he cannot dig his own grave.

Therefore, if Han Zhang wants to enter the cabinet, he has no choice but to engage in political struggles on his own.

As compensation and a reward, he simply bestowed a piece of calligraphy as a commendation.

Han Zhang understood Zhao Zhen's meaning perfectly.

Therefore, Han Zhang respectfully accepted the calligraphy.

When the emperor and his ministers spoke, they never mentioned anything about the cabinet.

That night, at Fanlou.

The Hu women danced, and the pipa played softly.

A nobleman drinks wine, a madman inscribes poems on the wall.

From time to time, successful candidates would tap their cups with chopsticks and recite "Riding on the spring breeze, the horse's hooves are swift," while unsuccessful candidates, their eyes reddening, would dip their cups in wine and wildly write "Laughing loudly, I go out the door," drawing cheers from many onlookers.

Laughter and chatter filled the air as they talked about everything under the sun.

For a moment, the scene was both noisy and bustling.

The vast majority of these people were students from Huaizuo.

After seeing the list of successful candidates at noon, Jiang Zhao, out of celebration, invited students from Huaizuo, as well as several newly made friends such as Su Shi and Su Zhe, to a banquet for drinking and merrymaking.

Due to time constraints, there were still the palace examination and the examination for junior scholars after the provincial examination.

After taking the exam, many people were eager to return to their hometowns.

At that time, these friends' schedules will become very scattered, and it will be difficult to get everyone together during that period.

Therefore, the ten days or so between the spring examination and the palace examination are the best time for celebration.

Jiang Zhaoli stood at the head of the left, holding a piece of slightly charred lean meat with his chopsticks, savoring it with great concentration.

This is a novel cooking method that Fanlou is developing. It involves pan-frying in a hot pan with little oil, neither steaming nor deep-frying. It is called pan-frying, but it is not quite like pan-frying.

It combines the freshness of steamed dishes with the caramelized aroma of pan-fried dishes, and the specific texture can be controlled according to the chef's skill level.

This was a method I discovered by chance, and it has a unique and novel flavor.

However, because the method had not yet been fully mastered, Fanlou was not officially sold to the public.

After all, the hot pan and cold oil combination can create a unique and delicious flavor if handled well, but if handled poorly, it can make people feel nauseous.

To avoid damaging its reputation, a large restaurant like Fanlou is unlikely to take the risk before it has fully mastered the business.

Of course, if one truly masters this method, it might have a new name.

saute!

This is a dish that was given to me by the manager of Fanlou Restaurant.

When the top scholar visited Fanlou to celebrate, the manager naturally greeted him with a smile.

During the meal, the manager of Fanlou asked Jiang Zhao if he had any preferences, intending to show goodwill.

Jiang Zhao doesn't have any particular hobbies.

If we're really talking about it, it's just that I love to eat.

Thus, this newly researched dish was served, and Jiang Zhao was invited to offer his comments.

Of course, the shopkeeper also wanted to know whether this approach would be acceptable to scholars.

After all, scholars value elegance and refinement.

Compared to steamed and fried dishes, stir-fried dishes are best eaten immediately after being cooked. Oil often adheres to the food, and there is a risk of oil dripping onto your clothes when picking up the food.

That's not very elegant!

Furthermore, it's neither steamed nor fried, making it somewhat of a hybrid, and I wonder if it might offend the taboos of scholars.

Jiang Zhao picked up a piece of meat, chewed it carefully for a while, and couldn't help but nod slightly.

Today, as a novice cook, the skill level is naturally far from reaching its peak a thousand years later.

However, when it comes to stir-frying, not only is the heat control important, but the seasoning is also crucial.

A skilled chef can maintain the minimum standard of a dish by using spices for seasoning.

At least the dish Jiang Zhao ate was of a standard quality comparable to that of a normal dish in later generations.

On one side, the shopkeeper was looking at Jiang Zhao with anticipation.

"The combination of meat and vegetables is just right, light and not greasy, truly excellent." Jiang Zhao commented earnestly, "If the bowl were filled with bamboo strips, or if it were a porcelain bowl that is slanted to the left and right, it would remove the greasiness and keep the lightness, adding an elegant touch, which would be even better."

In short, plating!

The customers of grand restaurants are often people who come to discuss business or other matters; the taste is one aspect, but the ambiance is another.

Stir-frying is bound to be oily, so having a small bamboo basket to separate the oil from the vegetables would be much better.

Of course, it would be even better if a special bowl were made with oil flowing out at an angle on both sides and the bottom holding the oil.

"This old man thanks Jiang Huiyuan for his guidance."

The shopkeeper was overjoyed and bowed respectfully.

No wonder he was the top scholar!

These two suggestions are very practical!

Jiang Zhao smiled gently, waved his hand, and was about to say something when a shout came.

"Zichuan! Jiang Lang of Huaizuo, you've come first in this year's imperial examination. How can we not have celebratory poems?" Su Zizhan shouted from afar, holding a sheep-hair brush.

Jiang Zhao looked up.

To the right of the table, Su Shi, Su Zhe, Zhang Heng, and others were in high spirits and had already picked up their pens to compose poems. Dozens of candidates and tribute students gathered around, occasionally speaking up and making a fuss.

Even just by looking at it, you can feel the extraordinary lively atmosphere.

When Su Shi called out "Jiang Zhao," the eyes of dozens of candidates and tribute students immediately turned to him, their faces full of expectation.

"Zichuan, can you compose a poem or a lyric?" Zhang Heng egged him on.