As the Ministry of Rites exam in February approached, Han Gang studied poetry day and night, and gradually mastered the classics and allusions in the past few years, little by little, and his mastery of Confucian classics became more profound.

At the same time, he also made mock papers one day a day for the questions that might come out of the Ministry of Rites exam. There is no other way to exercise articles, just rely on familiarity. After a month, Han Gang's speed of writing is also more handy, and it has reached a higher level.

During this time, there have also been a little changes in the court.

Chen Shengzhi, the former prime minister, did not return to the prime minister after returning to the court after his term of office expired because of Wang Anshi's suggestion, but went to Xifu to serve as a privy envoy. He and Wu Chong were in the same privy council, relying on his qualifications as prime minister, but he simply suppressed Wu Chong. It is conceivable that this New Year, Wu Chong should be very depressed.

But on the other hand, Lu Huiqing, who was scheduled by the Zhongshu to be the same judge of Sinong Temple, changed the five-room official matter of the Zhongshu to the Son of Heaven. Wang Anshi intended to let Zeng Bu stay in the Zhongshu and send another person to take charge of Sinong Temple, but Zhao Wei vetoed his proposal - 'Hanlin bachelor has a high position, and should not be a subordinate official of the prime minister'. Judging from this change, the Son of Heaven should be showing the outside world that he has control over the personnel of the court - although Wang Anshi can propose that Chen Shengzhi sit in the position of privy envoy, he has decided to appoint Hao, and the Son of Heaven only wants to change, then he can change.

No one is surprised by this anymore. Since the beginning of the fourth year of Zhiping, the Son of Heaven has been the emperor for six years now, and it is impossible to obey Wang Anshi's words like the first year or two. Although Wang Anshi's position is still strong, those who have a heart can still see that the Son of Heaven has an increasingly obvious tendency to control the court.

Looking for this situation, Han Gang estimated that maybe in another year or two, there would be a vision in the sky, there would be a bit of a catastrophe on the ground, or the relatives of the Wang family would make some mistakes, and Wang Anshi would have gone out. But it doesn't matter to Han Gang, it is common sense that the tide rises and falls, even Zhao Pu, who is the founder of the country, has also been in and out of the political hall several times, how can Wang Anshi be an exception?

Han Gang married the daughter of Wang Anshi's family—through the exchange of birth dates and marriage letters, Han Gang already learned that his fiancée's maiden name was Wang Yi—not her father. Han Gang has never had the idea of clinging to Wang Anshi, and the power of his father-in-law in the future can be relied upon, but he must not rely on it, which is the most basic principle of life.

In the middle of the lunar month, Murong Wu heard the news and came to visit Han Gang. Relying on his relationship with Han Gang, he entered Wang Shao's mansion with a bit of luck.

After chatting for a while about the upcoming Ministry of Rites test, Murong Wu inevitably had to mention the marriage between Han Gang and the daughter of the Wang family, which had recently been rumored in the outside world.

After confirming the arrival from Han Gang's side, Murong Wu hurriedly stood up and congratulated Han Gang. After some exchange of etiquette, Murong Wu sat down again: "I didn't expect the rumors to be true, and now there are a lot of ...... outside who are jealous of Yukun you."

"It's all about seeing the scenery of the little brother, and I don't see the time when the little brother is suffering. The northwest border, full of dust, how many times has the younger brother been on the verge of despair? How many times have you survived? If you go back to three years ago, the younger brother wants to take a different and easier path. ”

Han Gang's current harvest is the due reward after paying the price, and of course he will not have any psychological burden.

Murong Wu sighed: "But who outside would consider Yukun's hard work?" ”

"Why should you take other people's thoughts to heart! Isn't there anyone jealous of you, Brother Siwen? Do you want to keep it on your mind all the time? ”

The Gongsheng who locked the hall has always been regarded as an alternative among the Gongsheng, and he was able to have an official body before the imperial examination, and basically came by relying on his father's shadow. It is far easier to obtain the qualification of tribute than ordinary scholars, and of course it makes people jealous. And Han Gang, although he did not rely on his father's shadow, but once a court official participated in the imperial examination, it was even more eye-catching. Han Gang himself didn't have much to attack, and his credit was vivid, so his background in irrigating the garden became the focus of ridicule.

But Han Gang didn't care...... The envious and jealous eyes, as well as the depression that can only be happy on the lips, are the things that make him the happiest.

Time flies.

The sound of firecrackers and the smell of gunsmoke filled the streets and alleys inside and outside Tokyo. On Chinese New Year's Eve, Wang Shao led his wife and concubines and children to worship his ancestors in the back garden. After Han Gang Yao congratulated his parents, he followed the Wang family to watch the New Year and listen to the bell of Xining for six years on the tower of Kaibao Temple.

On New Year's Day, Han Gang still gave up the opportunity to participate in the Zhengdan Dynasty Party and stayed in the room to study. As the night approached, the moon in the sky gradually became fuller from a hook.

New Year's lock. In addition to important institutions such as Zhongshu and the Secret Academy, which need to be on duty in shifts, making it difficult for Wang Shao to recuperate at home, such as the Yamen of the Third Class Courtyard where Wang Hou is located, have already taken long vacations.

Han Gang immersed himself in hard study, preparing for the last sprint, while Wang Hou took his younger brothers and sisters to wander around the bustling street markets of Tokyo. Almost every day when I come back, I have to complain about the price at this time, "It's a little bit higher than last month." ”

Han Gang ignored him, looked at the book, and replied casually: "When it comes to the lunar month and the first month, of course the price will rise, and it is strange if the price does not rise." ”

"It's all rumored outside that it's because of the implementation of the city's law."

Han Gang's eyes were still looking at the book: "How much higher is it than when I was last year?" ”

"Of course, there aren't many, and the city is not a dry meal. But how many people will recall the old days? Or believe the rumors in your ears, it's easier to blame Wang Xianggong and the city law, right? Seeing that Han Gang finally let go of the book and cast a surprised look, Wang Hou raised his chin, as if he was a little proud, "I came up with it myself." ”

Han Gang pursed his lips and smiled. In the third day, when I was impressed, Wang Hou's insight and judgment were indeed getting better and better. He is not wrong at all, the masses are so good at inciting. Rising prices have caused resentment among the people to rise, and as long as they are given a goal, resentment will swarm towards it.

This is not because of inadequate education. Even a thousand years later, there is no joke that thousands of people flock to buy salt because of nonsensical rumors – at that time, universal education has been more than a few decades old. As individuals, humans can be very sensible, calm, and have excellent judgment. But once in a group, there are very few people who can still maintain the ability to think independently.

"From the very beginning, I was not optimistic about the market. The resistance is too great, and the gains outweigh the losses if they are forcibly implemented. Han Gang shook his head at Wang Anshi and the New Party's methods, "I don't know where you heard, have you ever heard of the saying that a dog jumps off the wall in a hurry?" Dogs are good at running, but not jumping, but when cornered, even dogs can still climb over the courtyard wall seven or eight feet high.

In fact, the same is true of the wealthy businessmen in the capital, first the equalization method took away their control of the transportation capacity of the Bianhe River, and the convenience loan took away their income from lending and interest. But because they still have a way to make money, they at least have a way to survive by exploiting foreign merchants and controlling the trade in Beijing, and they didn't dare to make trouble at that time. But as soon as the market law came out, the wealthy businessmen in the capital have been forced to the edge of the cliff, and it is not impossible for the dog to jump off the wall in a hurry, and it is not impossible to make a fuss and break the net. ”

"yes, that's the truth." Wang Hou understood and nodded. Then he smiled and asked, "Yukun, why didn't you remind your father-in-law?!" ”

"It's too late. It has been nearly a year since the promulgation of the Municipal Easy Law, and it has been half a year since the establishment of the Municipal Easy Service. Those who should be offended have been offended, and hundreds of thousands of yuan in cash have been sent to the treasury. At this time, how can there be any possibility of repentance? I can only grit my teeth to support it. Maybe the market law can be amended in the future, but not now. ”

Han Gang didn't continue, but presumably Wang Hou also understood that the New Party would never change the law at this time, otherwise the rest of the laws would be affected by a chain impact. It's like a dam, no matter how thin it is, it has the power to resist when the flood comes. But as long as there is a gap, it will collapse under the impact of the torrent.

"You're really ...... as a son-in-law," Wang Hou shook his head, "No matter how you look at it, you don't have the same heart as Wang Xianggong." ”

"Those who support what should be supported, those who oppose it. If the younger brother is a sycophant, will the prince recruit the younger brother as a son-in-law? Gentlemen are harmonious and different, even if they are as close as family. ”

Even if it is a father-son relationship, there are things that can be said and what cannot be said, not to mention that he is just a son-in-law who has just made a marriage? Unless Wang Anshi took the initiative to ask, why did Han Gang bother talking. Besides, even if the dog jumps over the wall in a hurry, the wealthy businessmen and their backers have no tricks.

Zhao Ji has been an emperor for a few years, and his position has long been stable. Wang Anshi himself controls the situation, and it is not easy to shake it. Could it be that they still dare to mutiny? The soldiers of the Beijing camp must have this courage, and the sows can go up to the wall. The wealthy businessmen and the group of people behind them may not make a fuss until after the beginning of spring.

It's just that Han Gang thought a little simpler.

The fourteenth day of the first lunar month is the eve of Shangyuan, which is the most lively time of the year. Han Gang didn't go to join in the excitement in order to study. But almost all of the Wang family is gone. The lantern festival in the capital is the most gorgeous in the world. Each yamen will hire famous craftsmen to build a mountain of lights, and compare with each other. The Son of Heaven will also go out of the palace tonight to watch the lanterns and have fun with the people. Wang Shao, as the chief assistant of the court, of course has to go with the car.

Chongrenfang, where the royal family's mansion is located, suddenly quieted down, far away from the gathering place of the downtown officials' mansions, and now it has become the most peaceful place in Tokyo. Han Gang sat under the lamp and read quietly. But in the second half of the night, an astonishing rumor spread inside and outside Tokyo, and also reached his ears with Wang Hou, who returned home

——The current prime minister Wang Anshi, at the Xuande Gate, was unexpectedly thrown off the horse by the soldiers guarding the gate.