After the end of the emergency discussion, the officials at all levels of the Jin Dynasty began to mobilize urgently, increased manpower, sent special troops to assist, improved food, formulated special rules for the imperial examination, opened up the supply of materials, strengthened public security patrols, and the army also strengthened the suppression of bandits to protect the safety of scholars along the way to Taiyuan.

In the official room of King Jin, Pan Liao and Zhang Qianyi were invited by Guo Song, and the two sat by the brazier with a little trepidation in their hearts, while Guo Song stood in front of the window with his hands in his hands and was silent.

After a long time, Guo Song asked, "Do you think there is anything wrong with my speech today?" ”

Pan Liao and Zhang Qianyi glanced at each other, Pan Liao shook his head and said, "I didn't find out." ”

"What about Sima Zhang, did you find anything wrong?"

"I can't say anything about it, but I think it's a little.... It's kind of refreshing. ”

"It should not be called refreshing, but unconventional."

Guo Song smiled bitterly, "Why doesn't the imperial court want to let go of the quota and give dozens or hundreds of places to each state, but it can't be done, because it will infringe on the interests of the powerful and noble families, the imperial court is controlled by the powerful and the world's families, and the local is controlled by the local families, as long as the quota is limited, even if there is an imperial examination, ordinary scholars have no chance, the imperial examination is just a fig leaf, but I ripped off this fig leaf and implemented the real imperial examination, the bottom scholars are happy, but the vested interests may not support it, so my words, It will be very harsh for many people. ”

Only then did Pan Liao and Zhang Qianyi understand the lord's concerns, and Pan Liao persuaded: "It is impossible to be exhaustive in everything, and it is impossible for His Highness to satisfy everyone." ”

Zhang Qianyi also said: "I believe that people of insight will support His Highness more, such as Yan Zhenqing and Li Mi both recognize His Highness." ”

"The truth is so, I may win morality, but in reality I will lose very badly, the two of you must understand a fact, the real grasp of the right to speak, grasp the general trend of the world, is not the majority of readers, but the major families, wealthy and powerful, to get their support is the key."

"Since Your Highness has a deep understanding, why do you want to ......." Pan Liao and Zhang Qianyi were really puzzled.

Guo Song sighed, looked out the window and said, "I want the fish, and I want the bear's paw!" ”

Pan Liao finally understood a little, and he asked, "Your Highness summoned the two of us here to solve the problem that the two of us can't have both!" ”

Guo Song nodded, "Today's words can't be passed on, only the three of us know." ”

The two nodded together, "Your Highness, please speak!" ”

Guo Song pondered for a moment and said, "I thought about it, what forces will be there that will influence the world?" The royal family, the family, the nobles of Guanlong, and the high-ranking officials of the imperial court, you will continue to add. ”

"Relatives are counted too!" Zhang apologized.

"And the local towns." Pan Liao also added.

Guo Song nodded, "In fact, there are still some great Confucians in the world, they also have appeal, you are all right, as Pan Changshi said, I can't satisfy everyone in the world, so which of these forces we can offend and which can't be offended, we must be separated." ”

Only then did the two understand Guo Song's true purpose, the banner of fairness and justice should be held high, but the interests of some special forces should also be properly considered, and one piece should be co-opted and cracked down, this is the idea of a mature superior.

Zhang Qianyi thought for a while and said: "The relatives of the royal family can be excluded, the royal family is our enemy, the relatives are actually dependent on the royal family, and the feudal town is also our opponent, these three are excluded first." ”

Pan Liao also said: "The high-ranking officials of the imperial court can actually be excluded, the so-called once a son of heaven and a courtier, these high-ranking officials seem to be glamorous now, but in fact they are just passers-by, and the real long-term ones are the families and Guanlong nobles, as for the Confucians, they are the representatives of the scholars, and His Royal Highness holds high the banner of fairness and justice, which is in their own right." ”

The three of them discussed repeatedly, and gradually unified their thoughts, among the major forces, they should firmly grasp the two of the family and the Guanlong nobles, envelop them, and fight other forces. ”

........

On the third day after Guo Song issued a declaration of exalting fairness and justice, the Jin Dynasty sent people to the state capitals of the world to post notices that Taiyuan would hold a scientific and military examination in April, and welcomed the world's talented people to come to take the examination, and those who passed the examination would be given reuse, on the condition that those who had obtained the qualification of township tribute, as well as those who had served as a captain or above in the imperial army and local regimental training.

The system is a kind of examination parallel to the imperial examination, which is generally held by the emperor to select special talents, and the martial arts examination is held by Wu Zetian in order to break the monopoly of the Guanlong nobles on the army, and Guo Ziyi is the outstanding person in the first martial arts.

In the eyes of ordinary imperial examination scholars, this does not conflict with their interests, but when they hear the strings and know the elegant meaning, the major families in the world and the nobles of Guanlong immediately understood the deep meaning of holding the system and martial arts, and the conditions for participation are tailor-made for them.

There is a large manor covering an area of thousands of acres in the south of Jixian County, Youzhou, called Lu's Villa, here is one of the five views in the world, the ancestral house of the Lu family in Fanyang, like all the millennium families, the Lu family is also scattered, divided into seven rooms, and then each room out of a respected clansman to form the Lu clan association, by the clan will be the most powerful leader of the faction as the head of the family.

The head of the Lu family is called Lu Jingliang, he was once a scholar in the house, because he was implicated by his brother Lu Qi, and was demoted to Langzhou Sima, after Li Xilie's army captured Langzhou, he abandoned the official and returned to the ancestral house of the Lu family in Hebei, and was unanimously elected as the head of the Lu family by the clan association.

Although the Lu family is on Zhu Tao's territory, the Lu family's protégés are all over Youzhou, and Zhu Tao does not dare to move them easily for a thousand-year-old family like the Lu family, but treats the Lu family with great courtesy, and the Lu family does not object to the protégé to work for Zhu Tao, and the two sides get along well.

This is also the family's self-preservation technique, they will not ruin their reputation, but they will not offend the powerful clan.

At noon that day, a man of thirty-five or sixteen walked briskly into a courtyard, and he said at the door: "The head of the house is looking for me? ”

"Come in!" Lu Jingliang's voice came from the room.

The man walked into the room, the tall man is called Lu Lun, is the most famous poet of the Lu family at this stage, more than ten years ago, Lu Lun, who was just in his early twenties, showed his talent in the poetry world, and was known as the top ten poets of the calendar.

But also because of the fall of Yuan Zai and Wang Jin, he was implicated and almost imprisoned, but fortunately, there were many people who interceded for him, and he was not convicted, he immediately traveled around, and participated in the imperial examination several times, but he failed repeatedly, and he never came out, he was thirty-five years old, the country was chaotic, and the future was bleak, he was also disheartened, and returned to Professor Lu's students and became the chief professor in Lu's family study.

Lu Lun is Lu Jingliang's junior, and his uncle Lu Ran is sitting next to him, he bows and salutes, "See the head of the family, see the third uncle!" ”

Lu Jingliang smiled slightly: "How are you preparing for the exam?" ”

This Taiyuan imperial examination, the major families attach great importance to it, and have sent the best children to take the examination, and the Lu family is no exception, Lu Lun will lead three Lu disciples and three Lu disciples to Taiyuan.

Lu Lun hurriedly said: "Steward Wang went to Taiyuan ten days ago, he has rented a house, we are packing up, and we will leave for Taiyuan in three days." ”

Next to Lu Ran said: "This Taiyuan imperial examination is not limited to the number of people, advocating meritocracy, but the world's great talents are still in the family, in fact, it is still a competition between the major families, our Lu family is not well connected in the officialdom, but the study is longer than several others, if it is really fair competition, it is actually beneficial to our Lu family." ”

Lu Lun shook his head, "Third Uncle, we can't be optimistic too early now, we are just better overall, but if we only send the best children, the competitiveness of the major families is still among the best." ”

"Nephew Xian is right, we really can't be optimistic too soon!"

Lu Jingliang opened his mouth to take over the topic, and he said to Lu Lun: "This time I brought you here, in fact, it is to discuss another matter, an incident just happened, we got the news, Taiyuan will hold a system in April, the conditions are very harsh, you must get more than two township tributes, we looked at it, we can get two township tributes, only the major families can do it, I and your third uncle agreed that this system is actually tailored to the world's major families, is the means of Guo Song to envelop the family, to seek morality through the imperial examination, Using the system to balance interests, Guo Song is indeed very clever in this move. ”

Lu Ran also said: "There will be martial arts in April, and it is estimated that it is also to envelop the Guanlong nobles. ”

Lu Jingliang looked at Lu Lun and said, "Virtuous nephew, I remember that you are also a two-time tribute!" ”

Lu Lun hesitated and said, "I should not be the only one of the Lu clan's children who have received two township tributes, but there are several others, why doesn't the head of the family consider them?" ”

Lu Jingliang said lightly: "This time the system is not as simple as the imperial examination, it is an opportunity for Guo Song to enter the world's family, the Lu family must seize this opportunity, if I am not the head of the family, I will go, we think twice, or you go to the most appropriate, Guo Song will never let you start from the nine rank officials, you have to cherish this opportunity." ”

Lu Lun's heart was pounding, and the seeds of his career that had been silent for a long time began to germinate in his heart again, and he nodded slowly, "Okay!" I went to take the exam. ”