As we enter May, the weather suddenly heats up. Wu Kejiu and his cousin Cao Jucheng returned to Zhuangzi outside the city, studied with peace of mind, and prepared for the next year's liberation test. At this time, although there was no fixed examination for the imperial examination every few years, the interval was basically determined according to the convention.

On this day, Wu Kejiu was enjoying the cool in the pavilion alone, and Cao Jucheng hurriedly came in from outside, and said loudly from afar: "Cousin, why do you still have the heart to be so carefree!" Big things are wrong! ”

Wu Kejiu was taken aback and hurriedly stood up: "What's the matter?" The elder brother approached and spoke. ”

When he arrived at the pavilion, Cao Jucheng stomped his feet and said: "I just heard the news that Li Guanren has just left Xuzhou and returned to Beijing, and the thieves of the Du family entered Beijing with him, saying that they were on a study tour. What is hateful is that Li Guanren did not know who instigated him, and told the state officials that we were too unbearable to do last year, and we will not be able to explain it in the coming year. He is the imperial history of this dynasty, which of the state officials dares not to listen? Isn't this ruining our future! ”

Wu Kejiu only felt his head buzz when he heard this, and after a while, he said, "That old dog really did such a thing?" ”

"Shhhhh Cao Jucheng looked left and right cautiously, "Li Guanren is an important member of the imperial court, even in private, my cousin can't curse him, be careful that the wall has ears!" The arm can't twist the thigh, and we can't help Li Guanren, so we can only find another way. ”

Wu Kejiu said hatefully: "His words have been spoken, what can I do?" ”

"I have discussed it with my uncle, and this matter is unacceptable in Xuzhou. Since Li Guanren has returned to Beijing, we have no choice but to find a way from Beijing. Your cousin He Guanren is an official in Beijing, although the pavilion is idle, it is a place where the imperial court reserves talents, and it has always been noble. Let's go to Beijing in the same way, ask your cousin to come to the door, and quickly turn things over. It's just an explanation, it's not a big deal, as long as you have the help of your cousin, and a few powerful officials to talk about it, the state will eventually give face. This matter is done quickly, and it must not be delayed! ”

Cao Jucheng settled here from Fujian Road in order to solve the imperial examination. Li Dui suggested that he not give them a chance next time, and he was the most anxious.

Wu Kejiu thought for a while and said: "Although Uncle He is a pavilion idle minister, he also has some friends in Beijing. I've heard people say that he is very good with the prince of the imperial system, who is now favored by the court, and there must be a way. ”

Cao Jucheng said yes again and again, urging Wu Kejiu to hurry up and prepare for the packing, and the two also went to Beijing together.

At this time, the officials of the DPRK and China had already shown the momentum of dividing the party and establishing factions, and a large number of officials of the Shaozhuang faction, such as Ouyang Xiu, took Fan Zhongyan as the spiritual leader, and the other faction was only Lu Yi and Jian Ma. He Zhongli is sleek, wanders between the two factions, does not offend either side, and has good popularity. Xuzhou is located in the Central Plains, not far from Fengfu, even in Linying County, Wu Kejiu and others have also heard of it.

Although Li Dui's status is respected, I don't know how many people in the DPRK and China have a higher status than him, as long as he is supported by powerful people, even if it is just a sentence, it is enough to make what Li Dui said not count.

It's late May, the weather is getting hotter and hotter day by day, and there are cicadas chirping in the trees.

As soon as Li Dui settled down in the city of Tokyo, he handed out invitations and invited some fellow villagers and friends to gather. Since Zhongjinshi, he has been a local official, and he is not familiar with the capital.

Du Zhongxiao came to Li Dui's residence early, helped him with the front and back, and worked together.

Housing prices in the capital are high, not to mention middle- and lower-level officials like Li Dui, even high-ranking officials in the ruling government rent houses and live in many places. The house rented by Li Dui is in the inner city, and it is already quite cheap for five yuan a month.

Commanding his subordinates to make melons and fruits in the shade of the courtyard, Li Dui said to Du Zhongxiao: "Those who came here today, except for a few of my friends, are mostly people from the capital in their hometowns, as well as their relatives and friends. We had no one to rely on in the capital, so we had to rely on the villagers. It's just one thing, Dr. He from Changshe County, Benzhou, is the cousin of the Wu family of 'Qixiangju'. Their relatives always have to help the Wu family speak, you know in your heart, don't contradict it. ”

Du Zhongxiao Gong claimed to be. Now that he is focusing on his career, he has to put aside his grievances with the Wu family for the time being, how can he contradict the current officials. Although Du Zhongxiao is young, there is still some sense of proportion.

After everything was cleaned up, Li Dui sat on the Hu bed and rested alone. Of course, there are endless benefits to being an official in the capital, but compared with the locality, the days are much cramped. Nominally, the amount of money has increased, but there are many fewer benefits that are not on the table. Moreover, the price of goods in the capital is high, and it is really difficult for him to raise a large family. Dozens of salaries, the rent went to five times, plus a lot of miscellaneous expenses for raising horses, there is not much left every month.

The sun rises, and the first to arrive is Hongo Shinshi Shin Yuwan. He is a member of the Changshe like He Zhongli, a Jinshi in the first year of Jingyou, and now he is guarding the official in the capital, and the days of waiting for Que are the most difficult, and he will go wherever there is a meal.

After the two sides saw each other, Li Dui pointed at Du Zhongxiao and said: "This is the son of Du Xun, the Jinshi of Benzhou, Du Zhongxiao." Du Xun and I used to study together when we were young, and we were very good friends. His son has reached adulthood, has completed his studies, and has traveled to the capital with him. ”

Xin You finally praised him again and again, and he was very affectionate to Du Zhongxiao. In fact, he doesn't even know who Du Xun is, but Xianggong Jinshi is always a scholar, so it's right to show favor. Waiting for Que is the most difficult, Xin You has been in the capital for a few months, and he is so anxious. As long as you see someone with real power, you must show favor and try to see if there is a way.

The guest and the host sat down, and Xin Youzhong finally introduced the current situation in the imperial court to Li Dui. At this time, the major events in the DPRK and China were nothing more than the northwest, and the forbidden army was defeated in a row, and it was no longer possible to maintain the offensive momentum. replaced Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi, the two had different opinions, one was the main attack and the other was the main defense, and there was no ending to the discussion.

Li Dui said: "Since the commentator is impatient, why not go to the northwest to make contributions?" When the imperial court is employing people, it will inevitably be favored. ”

Xin Youzhong smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Bian Shuai Piguan, which one is not picking up someone he knows?" I am not familiar with the Northwest Marshals, and I am powerless to go. One is not good, it is idle in the northwest, it is better to stay in the capital for a while. ”

Hearing this, Li Dui couldn't say anything. The Northwest is about employing people, but not everyone is welcome. Several Jinshi in Xuzhou are all from small families, and there is no one to help them in the officialdom, and it is difficult to get them if they have a good opportunity.

Du Zhongxiao listened on the side, sighing in his heart. In the eyes of the common people, once they won the Jinshi, they would carp and jump into the dragon gate, and they would not be ordinary people from now on. In fact, everyone has their own suffering, and the ups and downs in officialdom are no less than ordinary life.

After saying a few words, I still returned to the people of Xuzhou.

Li Dui said: "Now Dr. He in the pavilion is in the same county as you, and he is very proud to hear him, didn't you go to ask him?" ”

Xin You finally shook his head again and again: "Don't talk about Dr. He, I think about being a fellow villager with him, and I don't know how many times I have begged." It's just that this person said a thousand good things, but there was no news afterwards. I once asked someone to ask, but Dr. He never mentioned my matter to others, which shows that he is unreliable. I have been in the capital since the end of the year, and it seems that it will be half a year, alas, there is no hope until now. ”

Li Dui looked at Du Zhongxiao on the side and shook his head slightly. He Zhongli is a person, although he has been appreciated by many people, but he is too tactful to do things unreliable, but he didn't expect that he would not even help his fellow villagers.