Brother Song Taizu

Chapter 43
"Hey~, although the three kings have unparalleled talents, this matter is ultimately due to the nature of a young man. He wanted to compete for the throne too much and was too impatient. The officials made him a direct bachelor of the Privy Council just to let him learn, but it turned out that After such an incident, I heard that he still wanted to be a governor, which is simply nonsense!"

On the side, Fan Zhi, who was sitting opposite Wang Pu and drinking, could not help but frown slightly and couldn't help but said: "I know that you love the second young master, but the matter of the state crown prince is not something that we two former courtiers should get involved in. You Today, we have talked a lot, do you really think we are still prime ministers?"

Wang Pu couldn't help but blush when he heard this, but he continued to explain: "Of course I know that today is different from the past, but since the end of the Tang Dynasty, the world has been dominated by power politics, the collapse of etiquette and the destruction of music, which has led to the rise and fall of the country. They are all tied to one person. The late emperor was such a mighty man, but wouldn't his death mean the destruction of his country?
Suppressing troubled times should not rely on the personal ability of a certain tyrannical king. In terms of ability, how many kings in history can compare with the late emperor?On the contrary, it should be the construction of a complete system and the unity of all ministers. The three kings are certainly amazing and talented, but precisely because of this, this may not be a blessing to the country. "

Fan Zhi was noncommittal when he heard this. In fact, by this time in the early Song Dynasty, people were already thinking that Si'an was the absolute trend in the world. However, no one knew how to make the world stable. The predecessors had already killed the road. If you follow the example of the sages, you will die faster. From the emperor to the traders and pawns, no one is not confused. So naturally everyone has their own ideas about where to go next.

To be honest, the Northern Song Dynasty did indeed follow such a path. It was almost the only dynasty that uprightly claimed that when the king was strong, the country was weak, and when the king was weak, the country was strong. On the contrary, it was able to build a set of order that lasted for hundreds of years. Come out, and the person who laid the foundation for all this is really Zhao Er in history.

But Wang Pu said: "I don't want to form a party with the two kings. I just see his high character and respect him. Isn't this also okay?"

Fan Zhi smiled bitterly and said: "Today's world is still dominated by military politics, and officials are also from military backgrounds. How are you treated? What can you do?"

"Of course I don't want to do anything, and I can't do anything. I just think that the three kings' participation in the imperial examination is too much nonsense. Mr. Fan, has the title of the first subject of poetry been decided?"

"Do you have an idea?"

"How about we just use the topic of encouraging students to learn?"

"Encouraging Learning?"

Fan Zhi was stunned for a moment, then looked at Wang Pu meaningfully.

This Wang Pu is determined to offend Zhao Guangmei.

As the saying goes, poetry expresses aspirations. Although the imperial examinations of the Five Dynasties did not attach too much importance to poetry like the Tang Dynasty, and even almost went so far as to select poetry for officials, it was still the early Song Dynasty at this time, and the weight of poetry was still quite high.

However, this poem is not just about literary talent. Otherwise, Du Fu in the Tang Dynasty would not have failed every time. The most important thing is to express his ambition through poetry.

As for encouraging students, as the name suggests, it is to persuade people to study hard. In fact, this theme is barely suitable for the imperial examination, but Zhao Guangmei will definitely be embarrassed.

Zhao Kuangyin arranged for him to become a Privy Councilor, just to let him study hard and hone his skills. However, he was too impatient and was so anxious to take the imperial examination that he bet with Zhao Kuangyin to become a military governor.

How do you want him to write this poem?
If you don't study hard yourself, do you still want to persuade others to study hard?

By then, even if this poem is well written, I am afraid it will be discussed and criticized by people all over the world.

Of course, it doesn't mean that Wang Pu is deliberately trying to please Zhao Guangyi. He doesn't actually have to please anyone. Whoever becomes emperor in the future actually has nothing to do with him, because he is a figure destined to be marginalized as soon as Zhao Kuangyin comes. No accident. Even if he can survive to the next day, there is no reason to use him again.

Not everyone can become Feng Dao. In history, isn't Feng Dao the only one who can achieve that level of roly-poly?

In this regard, Fan Zhi is actually the same as Wang Pu. They are two people with no so-called future. On the contrary, they have less worries when doing things. After thinking about it, Fan Zhi said: "You are an assistant in the examination of poetry and Fu." You are supposed to come up with the questions and I will come up with the ideas. I have no objection to whatever questions you come up with."

.........The next day, there will be a small court meeting.

All the prime ministers and deputy prime ministers were surprised to find that Zhao Guangmei, who had never gone to court, actually came to court dressed in his characteristic small official uniform, and stood behind Zhao Pu with a serious face.

Asked quietly: "Should I stand here?"

Then Li Chuyun said from behind: "That's my seat."

He is the deputy to the Privy Council. At least in name, he is the second in command of the Privy Council.

Zhao Guangmei looked back at him, thought for a moment and said, "It's my seat now, you stand behind me."

Seeing this, Li Chuyun couldn't help but reveal a wry smile and retreated silently.

Zhao Kuangyin was naturally surprised and asked: "Third brother? Why did you come to court?"

Zhao Guangmei said politely: "Reporting to the officials, my brother has something that I want to announce in front of the ministers. I can't tell you in private. Oh no, I want to tell you."

"What makes you take it so seriously?"

"I heard that there is a lot of resentment towards me in the city of Kaifeng, especially among the candidates and supervisors. They say that because I was 'publicly promoted', I blocked the quota of someone in Kaifeng Mansion. These people seem to me. The controversy between right and wrong is quite big, so I would like to ask the officials to make the decision for me."

"Oh? Is there such a thing?"

Zhao Kuangyin was stunned when he heard this, and then a pair of tiger eyes swept over the ministers unceremoniously. He really didn't believe it if no one was taking the lead in this matter, or even deliberately spreading rumors.

As early as the Later Zhou Dynasty, the officialdom had actually formed an unspoken rule that non-jinshi could not be prime ministers. However, at the same time, there was actually a patch for public recommendation, so it was actually normal for courtiers to go back and take the imperial examination. thing.

The so-called public recommendation, the most important word is public reputation. Generally speaking, some people may become officials because of their meritorious service for certain things, but this is not the proper way to take the imperial examination. For the sake of their future future, they may use this method to make up for the imperial examination. , it doesn’t matter even if the level is not good enough, even if you hand in a blank test, you can make an exception and be admitted later through the "exit test" method, and you will still be awarded a Jinshi quota.

Although this method, which is similar to a bug, is suspected of destroying fairness, after all, the Five Dynasties are in troubled times. In troubled times, how can knowledge be more important than doing things?

Although Zhao Kuangyin intends to abolish the system of public recommendation and official registration, this is only the first year of the founding of the country. Isn't it not abolished? It is not abolished. This is the national law. Since it is the national law, why can't my own brother? Going?

Moreover, as far as Zhao Guangmei's contribution to the destruction of the Northern Han Dynasty is concerned, even if he is not a royal relative, there is nothing wrong with using the official recommendation. Isn't the back door of the official recommendation just reserved for people like him?
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Kuangyin said: "It is human nature to be jealous of talents and talents. Third brother, how do you want me to make decisions for you?"

Unexpectedly, Zhao Guangmei said: "I think these candidates are right!"

(End of this chapter)