Chapter 364 Li Nuo's Imperial Examination Tutoring Class

Streets of Chang'an.

Recently, a rumor has been spreading all over Chang'an in a short time.

I don't know who first mentioned it, saying that the blood of the royal family can be used to refine a kind of elixir, and after taking it, it can prolong life and rejuvenate.

Such an outrageous rumor would not be believed by a fool, and the people sneered at first.

But when they linked this matter with the strange deaths of the dignitaries of Daxia and the fact that His Majesty practiced the art of longevity, they thought it was a bit terrifying.

His Majesty and the Emperor of Zhao succeeded to the throne at about the same time. Now, the Emperor of Zhao is about to die, and has passed the throne to the Empress.

But as an emperor of the five dynasties, His Majesty of Daxia seems to be not affected by the backlash of national destiny at all, but is getting younger and younger. People have been curious about this for a long time.

In the past, people could not imagine how to live forever, and only thought that His Majesty had achieved success in practice.

But when this matter is linked to the recent rumors, it seems that there is another reasonable possibility.

The powerful people in Daxia all have royal blood.

In the past year, more than a hundred powerful people were killed, including many princes and dukes.

Is His Majesty really practicing blood sacrifices with his own people?

People have always been curious about why His Majesty did not stop Li Xuanjing from taking revenge on the Twin Kings Rebellion last year when he slaughtered the powerful people. After all, they were all his people. Why did he watch an outsider slaughter the royal family?

If the rumors are true, then the mystery at that time can be explained.

In addition, the people of Caishikou said that when the Dali Temple beheaded the powerful people in batches, the stone slabs in Caishikou were stained with blood and could not be washed off. The blood of the powerful people completely penetrated into the stone slabs, and the bloody smell could be smelled across the street.

Later, the stone slabs were completely replaced by the Chang'an County Government, and the matter gradually subsided.

These things that caused a small-scale discussion at the time are now connected one by one.

Some people even put forward a theory that the reason why His Majesty wants to live forever is because he does not want to give up power.

At the beginning, he did not attend court for ten years because of the death of the crown prince, and he did not appoint a crown prince.

The people thought that he was disheartened by the death of the crown prince. Now it seems that the reason why he did not appoint a crown prince is most likely that he did not want to concentrate power in the hands of the crown prince.

As long as the crown prince is not appointed, the power of the court officials and the aristocratic families will be dispersed among the princes.

Once the crown prince is established, these forces will be concentrated on the crown prince, and when the power of the crown prince is concentrated to a certain extent, he will have to abdicate.

If His Majesty is really sad about the death of the crown prince, then after the Donggong case is revealed, for the sake of national stability, he should have established the crown prince as soon as possible and stabilized the court.

But the fact is that all the suggestions for His Majesty to appoint a crown prince have not been responded to.

When the people talked about these things privately, most of them had a gossipy mentality. Such things may be annoying, but for the people, it is a good thing.

The rich and powerful have a few good things, it would be best if they all died.

You see, after they all died, there was no more oppression of the people by the children of the rich and powerful in Chang'an, and no one obstructed the decrees and laws issued by the court that were beneficial to the people.

The people's lives are getting better day by day.

It is precisely because of their death that the people have a good life today.

As for whether His Majesty wants to be the emperor for a few more years, who cares?

Ordinary people will never have anything to do with the emperor in their lives.

A fortune-telling stall on the street.

Dongfang Qing looked at the fortune-teller with curiosity and asked, "Grandpa, is what they said true?"

Dongfang Xuan moved his lips and said, "This..."

A few days ago, he was sure that this was a rumor.

But now, he is a little unsure.

Yin-Yang magic is profound and there are too many unsolved mysteries. For many things, even if he is in the sixth realm, he only knows the facts but not the reasons, and is just copying the experience passed down by the family.

Things he doesn't know may not not exist.

Perhaps, in the ancient Yin-Yang technique, there really is a method of blood sacrifice to prolong life, but it has been lost until now.

The ancient book is not ancient, but the content recorded in it may not be false.

However, the book only records this incident, and does not write in detail the method of refining the longevity pill. Even if he captures a royal family, he has no way to verify it.

In this world, I am afraid that only the Emperor of Daxia knows what is going on...

The palace.

In the imperial study, Emperor Xia's face was as gloomy as water, and he said angrily: "Investigate who is the source of this matter for me, I will kill all his nine clans!"

In the hall, Li Xuanjing stood with his hands behind his back and said: "It's useless. The book is not a unique copy. This matter has been circulated in various countries. It is better to prevent people from talking than to prevent rivers. The more people are not allowed to discuss, the more they believe that this is true..."

Emperor Xia said: "What can you do?"

Li Xuanjing said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I will arrange it..."

...

Chang'an.

In half a day, notices were posted all over the gates, street corners and other places where people gathered in Chang'an.

The notice was issued by the Dali Temple, which said that they had found the murderer of many assassinations of dignitaries.

This person is called Zhao Wuji, a master of boxing, who assassinated dignitaries to eliminate harm for the people.

The court has issued a reward, whoever can get this person's head will be rewarded with 100,000 taels of silver.

"100,000 taels, so high!"

"Zhao Wuji, I seem to have heard this name somewhere, and this portrait looks a bit familiar."

"Isn't he the martial arts master who assassinated the Qing family of Dali Temple last time? He was also offered a reward by the court last time, but the reward was not that high. He also killed these royal dignitaries?"

"It's possible. The last time he killed the Minister of Dali Temple, he probably wanted to eliminate harm for the people."

"Fortunately, he didn't succeed. If he had assassinated the No. 1 Scholar, how could we be where we are now?"

"But he was absolutely right in killing these powerful people. I hope this hero will not be caught..."

…

The murderer who assassinated the powerful man was found, and the previous rumors that His Majesty offered blood sacrifices to his compatriots to extend their lifespan were naturally dispelled without attack.

In just two days, the discussions about that matter in Chang'an gradually disappeared.

Some people chose to believe it.

And those who don’t believe it dare not discuss it anymore.

Regardless of whether the murderer is Zhao Wuji or not, Dali Temple's move is obviously to silence the people and prevent the people from talking about His Majesty.

Anyone who still can't see the situation clearly and dares to violate taboos at this time deserves to be arrested and convicted by the Mirror Department.

The only ones who dare to express opinions on these matters are the students of the academy.

The imperial government had always been very lax about the academy. Li Xuanjing, the minister of Dali Temple, covered the sky with his hands and killed powerful people like dogs. However, when the academy students united to protest in front of Dali Temple, he only imprisoned them for a few days and did not touch any of their hair. .

However, at this time, no students in the major academies discussed this matter.

Their minds were all attracted to another thing.

Early in the morning, a notice was posted on the outer walls of all academies in Chang'an.

Li Nuo, the minister of the Ministry of Justice, a member of the Zhongshu Sheren, and the top scholar in the first six subjects of the inspection censor, is planning to open an imperial examination tutoring class in Chang'an to teach students the six skills of the imperial examination.

There are many such tutoring classes for imperial examinations in Chang'an. Some are run by academies, and some are run by failed jinshi who have passed several imperial examinations. Even some officials in the court will make money legally through this method. Among them There are many former champions in a single subject.

Before the imperial examination, many students would spend a lot of money to get their advice.

I am afraid that no student will be interested in the imperial examination tutoring class offered by Li Nuo, the top student in six subjects.

Since the birth of the imperial examination system, mainland countries have only produced two No. 1 candidates in six subjects, both of whom were members of the Li family. One was Li Nuo and the other was his father.

And he is the only one who is the top pick in the six subjects.

I heard that when he was in the State of Zhao, he only gave some guidance to the students from a certain academy in the State of Zhao. After this year's imperial examination, among the Jinshi admitted by the State of Zhao, half were students from that academy, and five were top scorers in six subjects.

For most students, this imperial examination is the most likely one for high school. If you miss it, there will be no next time. Who doesn’t want to be guided by such a famous teacher?

There is a huge difference between the top and bottom of the gold list.

Even if the price of tutoring classes is high, they will still go there.

However, not everyone can go to the tutoring class for top students in six subjects.

Only those who rank at the top of their respective academies are qualified to be taught by top students in six subjects.

When this news spread, the top students in major academies couldn't sit still.

Although the results of some students are considered outstanding, they are still some distance away from being named on the gold list.

A choice this time may change their life's destiny.

Therefore, they will definitely try their best to sign up.

After these people register, those students who originally had strong high schools but could only be ranked at the bottom of Jinshi will certainly not sit still and wait for death.

If those who are inferior to them in Six Arts receive a huge improvement, they will definitely be squeezed out by then.

And a small number of students at the top of the rankings are also nervous.

It is not difficult for them to be on the list, what they want is a higher ranking.

The higher the ranking, the higher the start in the officialdom. If they do nothing and are caught up by those behind them, they are likely to waste several years or even longer in the officialdom.

A sage once said that learning is like sailing against the current. If you don't advance, you will retreat.

When others advance, you retreat.

For a time, all students who met the requirements, whether they were from aristocratic families or poor families, were all eager to sign up.

Chang'an.

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Chen Mansion.

Chen Tieniu was lying comfortably on the chair. Two young and beautiful maids stood behind him, gently holding his shoulders. Two other equally beautiful maids knelt at his feet and tapped his thighs.

There was a comfortable feeling in his body, but there was always a trace of sadness lingering in his heart.

This year, the imperial court suddenly carried out mandatory tax reforms, limiting the tax-free land for officials. The land originally owned by the local county magistrate was forcibly returned by the county magistrate.

He didn't dare to ask for the returned land.

He put the land in the name of the county magistrate in order to avoid paying taxes from the court. If he took over the land and the tax officials of the court investigated and discovered that he had evaded taxes over the years, wouldn't it be a waste?

The Chen family was able to go from being a poor peasant to being able to afford a three-story house in Chang'an City because he kept his head in his trousers and went through wind and rain, doing business between Daxia and Zhao, and accumulated the wealth that he has today. .

However, although you have money, but no power, you still have to act based on other people's opinions.

Fortunately, my son was determined. Not only was he admitted to Qingfeng Academy, one of the four major academies in Daxia, but his grades were also among the best in the academy. Coupled with the imperial court's expansion of enrollment in the past three years, it was certain that he would become a Jinshi next year.

It is really unbelievable that the eighteenth generation of the old Chen family could produce a Jinshi.

When his son becomes an official, he can buy more land without having to pay taxes, and he no longer depends on the officials.

Maybe, they also want to look at their own eyes.

At this time, a figure walked in from outside the door. Chen Tieniu looked happy, stood up and said, "I'm back. How was it in the academy today? No one bullied you, right?"

The young man wearing a Confucian shirt said: "Dad, don't worry blindly. The academy has its rules. No one dares to bully others casually."

Chen Tieniu smiled and said: "That's good, that's good..."

To put it bluntly, the Chen family only has a little money.

This small amount of money is still relative to ordinary people.

Most of the families behind the students in the academy are powerful and wealthy, and they are not something the Chen family can offend.

Although the tax reform of the imperial court is not very good, the legal reform is really good.

Nowadays, the children of those big shots no longer dare to bully others casually. They, small businessmen, also rarely live with dignity.

He patted his son on the shoulder and said, "Wash your hands and get ready to eat."

The Chen family's dinner was very sumptuous. There were more than ten dishes for the family of three, including chicken, duck, and fish.

During the dinner, the young man looked at Chen Tieniu and said, "By the way, dad, you have to prepare a thousand taels of silver for me. I will use it tomorrow."

Chen Tieniu was stunned and asked, "What do you want so much money for?"

Although the Chen family is rich, one thousand taels of silver is not a small amount.

The young man explained: "Li Nuo, the top student in six subjects, has opened an imperial examination tutoring class. Registration requires one thousand taels of silver. I passed the exam today. For only one thousand taels of silver, I can be tutored by the top scholar in six subjects for five days..."

Chen Tieniu said in disbelief: "So expensive?"

Because in the past, he was often bullied by local officials when doing business, asking for all kinds of food and drinks. At that time, he swore that the descendants of the Chen family would definitely pursue an official career in the future.

So he spent a lot of money to train his son when he was young, and hired many powerful teachers for this purpose. However, those teachers only charged a few taels or more each time. One thousand taels of silver only taught him for five days. This was not a money grab. What?

The young man said: "Dad, what do you know? He is the number one scholar in six subjects. If I can get his guidance, I will have a greater chance of becoming the number one scholar this year. Besides, one thousand taels is still cheap. Those disciples from big families, I have to pay ten thousand taels for five days..."

"The top pick?"

If his son can win the top prize, let alone a thousand taels, he will be willing to pay all his wealth. Chen Tieniu's eyes lit up and he said with great joy: "Okay, okay, dad will get it for you in a minute. This money has to be spent." , this money has to be spent..."

A smile appeared on his face and he said: "If you become an official in the future, we won't have to pay taxes on our land. We can also buy more land, recruit more tenants, open more shops, and earn more." The money will carry forward our Chen family..."

The young man nodded and said, "Don't worry, dad, I will definitely work hard to prevent this money from going to waste..."

…

Li Nuo, the top student in six subjects, taught in a tribute courtyard in Chang'an.

A total of 500 people from the four major academies in Chang'an, as well as some small academies, successfully registered.

The number of applicants was well over 5,000, but he only admitted 500.

These five hundred people are all outstanding students from Chang'an.

The fees were not uniform for everyone. Students from poor families received nothing from him, but those from wealthy families had to charge a huge fee of 10,000 taels.

Although this also caused dissatisfaction among some people, their dissatisfaction had no effect.

When classes start, you and I agree. If you don’t go to the class, you don’t have to pay the fee.

However, those children from wealthy families who were charged high fees eventually paid the full amount of tuition honestly.

Hand in, they only lost 10,000 taels.

If you don't pay, if the quota is squeezed out by others, or if the seventh grade is squeezed into the eighth grade, or the eighth grade is bumped into the ninth grade, the loss will be far more than 10,000 taels.

Faced with such injustice, they can only hold their noses and admit it.

A few days later.

Chen Mansion.

Chen Tieniu looked at his son who had returned home and couldn't wait to ask: "How was your teacher's teaching?"

Chen Qi's face still had a hint of reverence, and he nodded and said: "Sir, you taught me well. I learned a lot from today's class. I believe that my calligraphy and painting skills can be improved before the imperial examination." building……"

He originally thought that the top scholar in six subjects, both in calligraphy and painting, was only as good as an academy student.

After seeing it with my own eyes today, I realized how naive his thoughts were.

The teachers of the academy are compared to him, just like the fireflies are compared to the bright moon, and the streams are compared to the vast sea.

This thousand taels was the most valuable thing he had ever spent in his life.

Chen Tieniu's old face also showed a look of relief. The ancestral graves of the old Chen family were really smoking. The first scholar who came out would be named on the gold medal list. If he could win the top prize, even if he was the top prize in a single subject , after his death, he can face his ancestors with his arms crossed.

These days, people from big families have begun to visit frequently, wanting to get married to the Chen family. The Chen family has become very prosperous, just now...

Chen Qi returned to the room and just sat down at the desk when a maid came in, squatted next to him, grabbed his arm and said: "Master, your arms must be tired from writing and drawing today, please give me some help." You rub it..."

In the past, Chen Qi would have closed his eyes and enjoyed it.

But today, when he saw the maid squatting there and rubbing his arms seriously, he felt some inexplicable uneasiness in his heart, and it was difficult to enjoy all this with peace of mind.

He reached out and held the girl's wrist and said, "No, I have to read a book later, you go and do your work."

The girl nodded obediently and was about to leave when Chen Qi suddenly asked: "Ping'er, how did you come to my house to be a maid?"

When the girl heard this, she was startled for a moment, then her eyes gradually turned gloomy, and she whispered: "The harvest was not good that year, and my parents couldn't pay the rent to the landlord, so they sold me to Yahang in exchange for money. Rent, and later, the master bought me back from Yahang..."

Chen Qi nodded and said, "I understand, go ahead and do your work."

The girl said respectfully: "Yes, Master."

Looking at the girl's leaving figure, Chen Qi was thoughtful.

The sage said that the purpose of Confucianism is to let the people of the world live a good life.

Being a slave and a maid, humiliating yourself and serving others in exchange for a chance to survive, does that count as living a good life?

Frankly speaking, they studied Confucian classics just to prepare for the imperial examination. Although he admired those Confucian officials who sacrificed themselves for the sake of reform, he did not approve of it.

The Master said today that if you are poor, you can only benefit yourself; if you are prosperous, you can help the world.

This caused him to think deeply.

He was born into a wealthy family. He grew up in fine clothes and fine food. He had a lot of silver stored in his home and a mountain of grain stores. But how much silver could he use and how much food could he eat?

There are more than a dozen dishes for each meal at home, and the leftovers thrown out every day are measured in buckets.

However, there are still many beggars begging on the streets of Chang'an.

There are countless wealthy families in Daxia like the Chen family, and there are even more aristocratic families whose wealth rivals that of the country. They are a small group of people, but they occupy a large amount of land. I don’t know how many people at the bottom have no land to farm, and they can only sell their children and daughters...

Is this really right?