Royal Road

In the not-so-spacious hall, there are more than ten book cases, and a young scholar sits in front of each case. So many people crowded in the room, but there was no noise, only the rustle of the pen across the paper.

Chen Chong was also burying his head in copying books. He lives in Tunliu, he just came to the county house after the fifteenth of the first month. Originally, I only planned to copy a month's worth of books in the library and return home. Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the library, he was dazzled by the book collectors here, and he stayed until now. Fortunately, a dormitory specially prepared for scholars was opened in the library, otherwise he might not even be able to live in the post-house.

Rao is so, the money and food brought is also spent seven or eighty-eight. Just like now, before noon, his stomach began to whine and gurgled non-stop. Fortunately, there are a lot of hungry people in the study, and there are people who have forgotten to eat when copying books. His rumbling is not so noticeable.

But even if he was hungry, Chen Chong did not stop the brush in his hand, but became more focused. In his pen, one word after another fell on the yellowish paper, like flowing spring water, which made people feel refreshed. This is the twentieth book he copied. As long as he finished copying this volume, he could use the five volumes of white paper he exchanged for copying the bibliography he wanted.

Unlike others, Chen Chong hurriedly copied something after receiving the rewarded booklet. Instead, carefully remember every copy you have copied in your heart, choose the ones that are worth copying, and prepare to copy them back together. The paper booklet sent by the county government is quite thick, if you write smaller words, I am afraid you can copy more!

With such enthusiasm, hunger seems to be far away. Chen Chong carefully copied the words on the bamboo slips on the paper with one stroke, and he did not dare to slack off.

After writing for another half an hour, a bell rang outside the window. As if awakened by the sound, everyone put down the pen and paper in their hands, took out the wooden bowl they were carrying, and walked out.

Chen Chong hurriedly put away the paper and pen, got up and followed the crowd. This is when the library distributes porridge and water. Everyone can receive two bowls of hot soup twice a day. Sometimes it’s not rice porridge, but a broth with egg flowers and vegetables, and it can be consumed for half a day when paired with dry food.

For the poor people who went to the library to copy books, this is a rare delicacy. Naturally, Chen Chong would not miss this important meal.

There were still ten steps away from the penthouse, and a strong fragrance floated out. Chen Chong immediately secreted saliva in his mouth. The taste was fish soup!

Unexpectedly, there was fish soup today, and the scholars in front were also excited. I hurriedly arranged the queue and handed the bowls one by one in front of the servants who were guarding the soup pot. The servant was also a sleek person, not arrogant at all. Instead, he served the soup with a smile on his face, and from time to time he exhorted two greetings such as "Beware of hot hands." and "Is this weight enough?", which was extremely considerate Place.

Finally it was his turn. Chen Chong hurriedly handed over the wooden bowl. The servant ladled a full bowl lightly and handed it back: "Langjun, be careful of your hands."

Chen Chong took the wooden bowl and walked to the side table. At this moment, there were several people sitting side by side on the table. He was not too crowded and sat down next to another person. Today's fish soup is thick and creamy, with a few pieces of green onion floating on it, and it smells a little bit spicy with ginger. The fishy smell was completely covered, and only the little oily flowers floating above could be seen.

Such a bowl of soup, in this cold spring season, is simply appetizing! Chen Chong took out the dry food in his arms, shredded it and soaked it in the fish soup. The hard cakes were soaked in the soup and immediately became soft and delicious. Scooped it up with a wooden spoon, and he ate it happily.

They are all young people, and they have worked hard to copy books for a whole morning. Who cares about what they eat? There was also the sound of swallowing and drinking soup next to him. Chen Chong was worried about today's manuscript, and he ate faster than others. After a short while, I finished a bowl, got up and filled a bowl of soup, trying to fill my stomach with the soup.

At this time, someone next to him chatted: "Is it really possible to go to the Shangsi banquet hosted by the man?"

"Isn't it. I heard that anyone who copies a book in the library is eligible to participate in the banquet..."

"Ahhh, is it possible that Lord Cheng wants to promote us?"

"Maybe it is to open the prefecture of the county government so that we can also enter school?"

It's impolite to talk so small at dinner. But after hearing this, who cares about etiquette! He listened to those people chatting with ears upright. Chen Chong's movements of drinking soup are a little slower, will Fu Jun really let them participate in the Shangsi banquet? Isn't that just for the gentry to be qualified to go? They are also okay?

However, after a bowl of soup was drunk to the end, the discussion over there did not say why. Chen Chong sighed, and after cleaning the wooden bowl, he quickly walked back to the book table. Instead of worrying about this, it is better to enrich your knowledge first, as long as you have a solid study, there will always be a bright future!

It's just that Chen Chong did not expect that this day will come so quickly.

A few days later, it was listed. As those few people said, the mansion invited the scholars from the library to a banquet. Rao was somewhat psychologically prepared, and Chen Chong was also nervous. Putting on his best clothes, he followed everyone in the library to the Zhangshui River.

The water in Zhangzhang is clear and turbid, and the water in Zhangzhang is clear from the Taihang Mountains. Zhuozhang water is divided into three sources, all from Shangdang, with more sediment and muddy water. Because of its great water potential, it was called "Lushui" in the pre-Qin period, so the riverside city was named Lucheng. Such a big river that infiltrates and nourishes the water and soil of one side is of course the most suitable place for a banquet in Shangsi.

The tents were not made of Lingluo, nor were they covered with brocade lichens. The Prefect’s Mansion simply selected a place with green mountains and green waters and set up a banquet with natural elegance. Therefore, even if the dress is simple and the background is not high, the public will not feel incompatible with the atmosphere here. However, when the new chieftain appeared in front of him, Chen Chong still felt ashamed.

The appearance of this mansion can hardly be described in words! Regardless of the face or the demeanor, they are all top grades, bright like a bright moon, bright like a breeze, and let people forget the vulgar when they see it!

The heart that had just been put down tightened again, and Chen Chong only felt sweat coming out of his forehead. How would such a celebrity test them? Reciting poems and composing fu, the harmony of music? Even if it's just a test of classics and history, it will not be so easy! As a poor man, even if he has read a lot of new books these days, his foundation is still poor, how can he show his talents in front of this man?

Not paying attention to the following group of scholars, as the prefect, Liang Feng first presided over the ritual. Different from the singing and singing witches on the riverside of Jinshui last year, this time is simple and solemn. The shaman offered water in a copper basin, and then washed the dirt with willow branches, and then took eggs and dropped it down the water to increase the blessing of the people.

After all this, the real spring banquet has just begun.

Without posing for a playful posture, Liang Feng sat on the main seat and said to the people below: "Today, you can enjoy the spring scenery. However, the Huns are in great power and threaten me to join the party. Therefore, today, I am a schoolmaster and select candidates. Ren Xian."

As soon as this word came out, the audience was in an uproar. It is not only the poor scholars present here, but also many children of the gentry. I am used to seeing Shangguan playing in the spring, but I have never seen this kind of use for school examinations during the Shangsi festival. How can we not surprise people?

However, some people were surprised, and others were overjoyed. Chen Chong held his hands on his knees, his body was trembling slightly, what those people said was really good, this is to be selected! But with so many people, can you choose yourself?

Chen Chong shuddered more and more when he heard the Fujun began to ask questions. too difficult! It turns out that Liang Feng's question is not difficult to explain, nor is it difficult to talk about the mysterious, but to ask for strategies! Regarding the topic of governance in one place, how can it be easy to deal with the white body scholars present in the examination school? With the pen and paper in his hand, Chen Chong felt empty in his head and couldn't think of how to answer. Just write some high-sounding words, and deal with it? After raising the pen several times and putting it down several times, Chen Chong gritted his teeth and started writing from farming.

This is also the agricultural book he only read when he came to the library. Most scholars copy books, only picking up the Five Classics and various commentaries, and don't care much about the books in other lists. This is also the intended meaning, after all, the foundation of scholarship is the history of Confucianism. However, the books copied by Chen Chong are broader.

For one thing, too many people copied the Scriptures and the transcripts were enough, and the library deliberately diverted and asked scholars to copy more other bibliographies. Chen Chong did not want to compete with others, so he chose many transcripts of books on geography and farming. The second is also a little bit of his own thoughts. As long as the library is not closed, one day, he will be able to see those commentaries on the history, and even choose the best ones to copy them and take them home. But miscellaneous books are not enough. Even if he is, I am afraid he is not willing to use precious paper on it. So if you can read more, read more, copy it again to deepen your memory. In this way, I know it will be a bit broader. Since it can be a book, it has its own precious things, how can you miss it?

Now it seems that this choice is really right. At least the writing is not empty.

A essay has been written for more than half an hour, and many people around him have already handed in the answers, and Chen Chongcai barely finished it. After careful examination twice, he swallowed and handed the answer sheet to the servant. However, after handing it in, Chen Chong felt regretful again. Is his writing too straightforward? Originally it was farming, but it was written in a flat and straightforward manner. How can there be half the writing? Doesn't this kind of answer make people look down upon?

It was almost as if he was in a charcoal stove, Chen Chong only felt that his heart was burning with fire, and he was afraid and regretful, and he wanted to leave the table immediately and escape cleanly. However, the manuscript reading was much faster than expected. He didn't have much time, and he has already started to comment on the best ones, and asked him by roll. There was no way to escape, and Chen Chong felt completely desperate looking at the scholars who came forward one by one.

Sure enough, most of them were gentry, and some of them were praised by the monarchs. Also, the gentry are intricately rooted and deeply rooted, and many people are very aware of current affairs and can answer more questions naturally. And if they weren't gifted, who else would have the opportunity to contact these unfamiliar children?

It was just frustrated, a clear voice suddenly sounded: "Where is Chen Wenhuan?"

A jealous, Chen Chong sat up straight: "Little, that's the kid!"

Chen Chong reacted when the jade man looked on the main seat, got up quickly, walked quickly to the front, and bowed down to salute again: "The kid is Chen Wenhuan, see the mansion."

Liang Feng glanced at him up and down: "Are you a copywriter in the library? I remember that among the people who copy the most, you have your name."

Chen Chong couldn't kneel down! Fujun even paid attention to the number of copied books? He concentrated on holding up a blank paper book, but he had to copy a few more copies than others, and he didn't expect to get into the eyes of the monarch! But he actually wrote such a bad essay. Has he already wasted his best opportunity?

Unexpectedly, Liang Feng smiled: "I never thought that there are still people who start with farming. How many farming books have you copied?"

Chen Chong stammered: "Yes, there is such a thing...Agriculture, farming is the foundation of people's livelihood, so I just want to know about one or two..."

"It's rare to have this kind of heart." Liang Feng nodded, "Taige should be the talent of the world, but there must be people with down-to-earth feet to benefit the people. Although your ideas are not new, they are also desirable. Where. Tomorrow to the county, wait for dispatch."

As soon as this was said, there was a buzz in the audience. Who would have thought that a poor scholar could win the eyes of the man by virtue of farming! Isn't it all selected in the world? How could such a measure of material? !

However, what the monarch said, who would dare to refute it? Chen Chong's head was dizzy, and he shivered and bowed. Was he selected? Can you enter the county mansion if you are valued by the mansion? Even if it's just for a small official, it's much faster than I thought!

A surge of enthusiasm rushed into the eyes. Chen Chong gritted his teeth and controlled himself not to cry on the spot. He was poor since he was a child, and his life experience is not outstanding, let alone those who are well-known to learn, but the monarch still ordered him because of his diligence and his intentions. This kind of Shangguan is what he dreams of, and he can be a man who lives forever!

I can't live up to this appreciation!

Knocked deeply to the ground, Chen Chong kept his tears, and bowed to the people on the stage again.