Chapter 20 5. "Hundred Character Order" inscribed by Jiang Ting at the beginning: Xishan Wang is full of spirit but sad, with the setting sun and grass fading away

Back in the capital, Yang Du bragged about Yuan Shikai in front of Xu Zhijing.At this time, there were only six days left before the test, and he didn't dare to be distracted, so he and Xia Shoutian worked hard behind closed doors. After the trial, Yang Du felt very good about himself, but after the gold list was announced, his name was not seen.He used to think highly of himself, but unexpectedly he gave up again, feeling very annoyed in his heart.Although Xia Shoutian was among the top tribute scholars, he was calm by nature and not ecstatic. After comforting Yang Du, he continued to work hard.When it came time to set up the rankings in the palace examination, he unexpectedly ranked second in the first class of high school, and became the second place in the reform department.

According to the regulations, the top three were exempted from the imperial examination and directly entered the Imperial Academy, so Xia Shoutian was immediately awarded the editor of the Imperial Academy.Twenty years of studying hard in the cold window, Huang Tian lived up to those who cared, and the 28-year-old eldest son of the Xia Mansion finally became famous all over the world.When the good news came out, all Hunan officials in the capital felt very proud.It turned out that most of the Dingjias of the Qing Dynasty were occupied by Jiangnan Juzi. From the Shunzhi Bingxu Division to the Undergraduate Division, a total of 110 subjects were held. Among the Dingjias from Hunan, only Peng Jun, the champion of Jiaqing Yichou Division, Tanhua He Linghan, Tanhua Shi Chengzao from the Wuchen family, Tanhua Hu Dayuan from the Jimao family, Xiao Jinzhong from the Daoguang Yisi family, Gong Chengjun from the Tongzhi Guihai family, Huang Ziyuan from the Wuchen family, Cao Yisun from the Guangxu Gengchen family, Tan Hua Tan Xinzhen, No. 2 in Jiawu Division Yin Mingshou, Tanhua Zheng Yuan, Tanhua Wang Longwen in Yiwei Division, and Xia Shoutian are only thirteen people, so they are extremely precious.

For half a month, Xia Shoutian, the No. 2 in the new division, has been busy receiving favors and honors banquets, paying homage to the Confucian Temple, inviting teachers and teachers, and attending various banquets. .In contrast, Yang Du looked desolate and desolate.Liang Qichao and others comforted him and asked him to stay in the capital to participate in the reform.Although he agreed, he always felt depressed.Xia Shoutian said to Yang Du: "Xizi, you shouldn't be sad, you should be happy." Yang Du was puzzled: "What is there to be happy about losing your name to Sun Shan?"

Xia Shoutian said: "Do you still remember the matter of counting arhats in Biyun Temple with Guangjun that year? It seems that the arhats in Biyun Temple are efficacious." One sentence reminded Yang Du.Yes, counting the arhats that night, Xia Shoutian's omen is that he will be the leader of the world, and his omen is that he will be named prime minister.Since it has already come true in Xia Shoutian's body, doesn't it mean that one day it will come true for me too?Thinking of this, Yang Du was really happy, and he was full of energy to be a consultant for Xia Shoutian's purchase of a new house.At this time, the reform movement with far-reaching significance in modern Chinese history was kicking off.

First, Emperor Guangxu formally promulgated the "Ming Ding Guo Shi" edict.On the third day, Xu Zhijing recommended Kang Youwei, Huang Zunxian, Tan Sitong, Zhang Yuanji, and Liang Qichao to the Shu.A few days later, Emperor Guangxu summoned Kang Youwei for the first time, appointed him as the Prime Minister's Office Zhangjing, and authorized him to perform special affairs.Then he summoned Liang Qichao and ordered him to handle the affairs of the translation bureau with the title of Liupin.He also ordered Tan Sitong to go to Beijing quickly for great use.At the same time, two consecutive edicts were issued, abolishing the stereotyped examinations of the rural examinations and the childbirth examinations, and using policy theory instead.Then there was the sensational news that Wang Zhao, the head of the Ministry of Rites who supported leapfrogging, dismissed six officials of the Ministry of Rites at one time.During this period, orders to abolish the old system and implement the new policy were issued one after another.

Just as the reform movement was being carried out in a strong form, a very subtle thing happened in Shuyuan. Not long after the imperial edict of Ming Dingguo was promulgated, Weng Tonghe, the main supporter of the New Deal and the master of Emperor Guangxu who co-organized the University and Military Affairs Minister, suddenly received an order to dismiss all positions and return home immediately on his sixty-ninth birthday.The day before, Weng Tonghe was still talking with the emperor about the grand plan of the new policy in the Hongde Hall, urging the emperor to accept Xu Zhijing's recommendation, promote Liang Qichao, Tan Sitong and others as soon as possible, reorganize the military aircraft department, and consider giving Yuan Shikai a heavy responsibility, the emperor nodded in agreement .Unexpectedly, a sudden change occurred overnight. Weng Tonghe was dumbfounded and puzzled. He wanted to speak to the emperor, but the emperor refused to see him.Helpless, he had to pack his bags and leave the capital with tears in his eyes.This incident had a great impact on officialdom and scholars.Some people say that this is a bad choice for the number one scholar in this subject, and that Xia Tonghe should not be selected. "Xia" means "Xia", and "Xia Tonghe" means "Xia" Tonghe.But more people think that this is just a joke, and there may be very complicated reasons behind it.

Immediately following the Empress Dowager Cixi took several measures.One is to appoint his confidant Rong Lu as the governor of Zhili to command the Beiyang armed forces including Yuan Shikai's new army.The second is to order his cronies, Shangshu Chongli of the Ministry of Punishment, and the commander of the infantry to take charge of the security of the capital.The third is to appoint the cronies Gangyi to manage the Jianrui battalion, and Huaitabu to manage the affairs of the officers and soldiers of the Eight Banners, the officers and soldiers of the Three Banners and the Shotgun Battalion, and replaced the capitals of some key departments.The result of these measures was to deprive Emperor Guangxu of his military power.Later, the Empress Dowager Cixi stipulated that all newly appointed provincial generals, governors, governors, admirals and other officials must thank her and see her majesty.This regulation actually deprived Emperor Guangxu of the right to appoint and remove ministers.The official circles of the capital were discussing these phenomena a lot.Yang Du recalled what Zeng Guangjun said in Biyun Temple that year about the open and secret scramble between the emperor and empress, and he had a premonition that the future of the New Deal had been cast in a heavy shadow.Yang Dugang was freed from the depression of failure in the examination field, and was dragged into depression by the changing and severe situation in the political arena.At this moment, he and Xia Shoutian received an urgent letter brought by Wang Kai's consignment difference.Mr. Xiangqi first congratulated Xia Shoutian's high school, saying that the success of his disciples had brought glory to his old face, and then ordered Yang Du to leave the capital quickly and return to the south.At the end of the letter, there are some words that make his students think deeply: "Bookworm, the ancients said that the moon is dizzy and the wind is moist, and the ground is moist and rainy, and it is said that the wind comes from the hole, and the tung milk makes the nest. You are in the whirlpool of right and wrong. Shen is about to be wiped out, don't you realize it at all?"

The situation in the capital is too unpredictable, Xia Shoutian saw that Yang Du was deeply involved in the whirlpool, and advised him to go back to Hunan and study for another three years with peace of mind.Yang Du finally made up his mind and went back to Dongzhou to study under his teacher's order.At this time, Tan Sitong had not yet entered Beijing, so Yang Du bid farewell to Liang Qichao, Xu Zhijing and others.Liang and Xu guessed that the main reason for him was that he failed the exam and was depressed, so they no longer insisted on staying, talking behind their backs, they could not help sighing that "Xizi is too concerned about fame and fame".

He will leave Beijing tomorrow, Xia Shoutian is reluctant to say goodbye to his best friend, he proposes to go to Youjiang Pavilion today, and prepare a little wine there as a farewell party.Yang Du agreed. Jiangting is located in the You'an Gate in the south of the capital city.In the thirty-fourth year of Kangxi, Jiang Zao, a doctor of the household department, built three flower halls in the Cibei Temple of the Liaojin Ancient Temple. They were named Taoran Pavilion after the meaning of Bai Juyi's poem "Wait for the chrysanthemum and yellow home brew to be ripe, and get drunk with the king". But people in the capital used to call it Jiangting according to the surname of the person who built the pavilion.Jiangting is located outside the busy city, surrounded by depressions, which are not dry all the year round, reeds are overgrown, mallards and cranes are gathered, the clear field is quiet, full of the atmosphere of a mountain village, so it is a place for those in the capital who are tired of the hustle and bustle of the city. The best resting place for living officials and scholar-bureaucrats.Occasionally, when they have free time, they bring three friends and five couples here for a walk, watch the waterfowl drinking and reciting poems, seeking to purify their hearts for a day and a half.

When Yang Du and Xia Shoutian came to Jiangting, there were already many tourists here.They didn't enter the flower hall first, but walked around the depression, slowly away from the tourists, and when they entered the reeds, the surroundings became more peaceful and quiet.Looking around, the eyes are full of green reed stalks and leaves. Listening carefully, you can only hear wild ducks quacking and tits chirping; looking up, you can see the azure blue sky.Xia Shoutian said with emotion: "Heaven and earth endow the world with such beautiful scenery, but it's a pity that people in the world are busy with their livelihoods, fame and wealth, and rarely have the leisure to enjoy it. It can be said that they have let down the spring and indifferent youth."

Yang Du said with a smile: "You come here once in a while, and you find it interesting. If you stay here for a long time, you will definitely suffocate to death." Just as he was talking, he saw a man with a shotgun coming from a distance, and the man was followed by a dog, so he pointed to the distance and said, "If you don't believe me, ask this man how he is?" Xia Shoutian said, "Okay, let's go and have a casual chat with him." The man approached, and he was indeed a hunter. He was about thirty years old, his face was black and dirty, his hair and beard were messy like thatch, his clothes were dirty and torn, and there was a wild duck hanging on an old single-barreled shotgun. The dog was rough and bony, as if it had been hungry for days. "Brother, what kind of game did you hunt?" Seeing that the hunter was approaching, Yang Du went up to say hello. "It's unlucky today. It's been a long time and I haven't caught anything. It's just this wild duck." The hunter took off the single-barreled shotgun, and the wild duck moved from the back to the chest. Yang Du remembered that this wild duck just happened to be something to drink with, so he asked, "Sell it?" "Sell." Seeing that the visitor was buying game, the hunter's gloomy face immediately brightened. "How much?" "One hundred Wen." The hunter intentionally doubled the price. "Okay, sell it to me." Yang Du took out a piece of silver worth about 200 Wen from his pocket. "Sir, I don't have any money to look for." The hunter was telling the truth, he didn't intend to do business here. "Don't look for it anymore." Yang Du has always been generous, he said a hundred taels of silver, and when he was proud, he could give it to someone he didn't know. "Thanks for that." The hunter got a bargain, with a smile on his face. Xia Shoutian asked, "Brother, do you live in this area?" "Yes, my home is five miles away from here." "What do you usually do?" Xia Shoutian asked again. "Grow crops," the hunter replied. "When I'm free, I'll hunt some wild animals in this depression, touch some fish and shrimps, and exchange them for two coins. Are you from the city?" Xia Shoutian nodded. "I know you're here to relax. I'll take you to a place where the scenery is better than here." Maybe it was because of the extra 100 Wen in return, the hunter suddenly became active and enthusiastic. Yang Du and Xia Shoutian walked for more than a mile under the leadership of the hunter, and suddenly saw a row of tall and straight poplar trees in front of them. There was a winding stream beside the tree, and the crystal clear stream flowed quietly into the reeds. In the middle of the depression, there is a small flat stone bridge across the stream, and there are several rough stone benches beside the stone bridge.The view here is broad and poetic, and compared with the depression just now, it has a different kind of interest.After walking for an hour, the two were also tired, so they sat down on the stone bench to rest, and called the hunter to sit together.The hunter sat down, and the lean dog curled up at his master's feet, wagging its tail. "Brother, how many people in the family can survive?" Xia Shoutian asked. "Seven people in the family eat." The hunter sighed, "What kind of life, it's really hard to live in this world." The hunter's face returned to the previous gloomy.Xia Shoutian couldn't ask any more questions if he was blocked by one sentence. Looking at his clothes, we can tell that life is quite difficult.Yang Du suddenly thought of a way to comfort him, and said loudly, "Brother, don't worry, you will get better within two years of Chinese New Year." "How can it get better?" the hunter asked with a frown, obviously this did not bring him any excitement. "The emperor has issued an edict to reform the law, have you heard?" "The emperor wants to change the law?" The hunter was very surprised, "What law to change, what kind of law to change?" This place is only 20 or 30 miles away from the Forbidden City. They are really the people at the foot of the emperor, but they are ignorant of the earth-shaking reform. Yang Du, who is keen on this matter, can't help feeling frustrated. : "The emperor wants to change the law, that is, to get rid of the old law and establish a new law. After the new law is established, the country will be prosperous and strong, and the life of the people will be easier." "Instituting a new method?" The hunter seemed to understand, "Excuse me, sir, does the new method say that the land will be distributed to us farmers?" Divide the fields!Isn't this what the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom advocated back then?Where did he want to go!Yang Du shook his head. "If we don't divide the land to us, will we be able to pay less grain to the government in the future?" the hunter asked again. Light Fu!In the past few years, the compensation has made the imperial court impoverished. The emperor can't wait to increase taxes and taxes to the provinces. None of the scholars who advocate reform dare to say lightly on taxes.Yang Du had no choice but to shake his head helplessly. The hunter was completely disappointed, his face was terribly gloomy.He stood up and said: "Without dividing the fields and harvesting a lot of grain, how can farmers live better? This reform is useless! The two gentlemen are here to watch the scenery by themselves. I am going to hunt for a living. " After he finished speaking, he called out "Laifu", the thin dog immediately stood up, trembled a few times, and then followed the master away. Xia Shoutian looked at Yang Du's stupid look, and said, "What does a man who farms and hunts know! Isn't it boring for you to talk about reforms with him? Come on, let's go to the pavilion and fry this duck." , have a few cups to your heart's content." The two walked out of the depression and came to Jiangting, picked a tabletop near the window, handed the wild duck they bought to the bartender, and asked him to have three meals of one duck: steamed meat, stir-fried offal, and bone soup.Then I ordered a pot of Wanlichun, a famous wine imitating the Tang Dynasty, and ordered four dishes, and the two began to drink. Xia Shoutian was very interested, talking about poetry, talking about Hanyuan anecdotes, talking about the life of his classmates in Dongzhou in the past few years, he was quite proud of himself.Yang Du already had something on his mind, and after being rushed by the hunter, he lost interest even more.He casually entertained Xia Shoutian's high-spirited speeches, and the hunter's phrase "this reform is useless" always surfaced in his mind from time to time. The boss, Rong Lu, is the Queen Mother's best friend, and Rong Lu also controls Nie Shicheng's Wuwei Army and Dong Fuxiang's Gan Army. The combination of these two troops far exceeds the new army.If the Queen's Party really takes action, how can the Emperor's Party resist it?The reformation method, it seems that it is more ominous than good!After swallowing a few glasses of wine, Yang Du's mind was full of tangled thoughts, and worries about the country and the people surged up with the wine. Watching a few tourists writing poems on the newly painted white powder wall, he came from the account room I grabbed a big brush on the counter, walked quickly to the wall, thought for a while, and quickly wrote on it: While Yang Du was brushing his brush on the wall, Xia Shoutian kept paying close attention to it. When he read "Xishan Wang Qi is so sad, and the sun is setting and the grass is dying", he unconsciously shouted: "Xizi, you are too pessimistic!" After all, he was at the happiest moment of his life, and he was inexplicably grateful for the kindness of the royal family.Although he suffered the national humiliation like many scholars, and he was also saddened by the deteriorating state affairs, he believed that the government plan of the empress dowager was still wise, and there were few foreign insults. The music loses the righteousness of sorrow and joy.He was also thinking in his mind that he would compose a song to correct Xizi's decadent mood.After Yang Du finished writing, he sat down on his seat again.He said: "Your song "Hundred Character Order" is well written, but the tone is a little too deep. Let me play a bright tone for you." So he took the pen in Yang Du's hand, dipped it in thick ink, He also went to the powder wall and wrote down in one go: When Xia Shoutian's "Hundred Character Order" was about to be finished, a new Jinshi of Jinke slowly walked into the pavilion.He had just sat down, and when he swept his eyes outside, he recognized Xia Shoutian from the back.It turned out that in the Qing Dynasty, after the general examination, the Enrong Banquet was held as usual, which was a very grand banquet.All the new Jinshi of the subject and all the officials who participated in the examination of the subject, including the minister of examination, the minister of reading papers, the envoy of Luan Yi, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, etc., were present.At the Enrong Banquet, the No. 1 Scholar occupies a seat alone, the No. 2 and Tanhua share a seat, and the other Scholars share a seat with eight. In this way, the three of Dingjia will attract extra attention. When the banquet is over, all the people present These three people are very familiar.He introduced to a few friends at the table: "The person who wrote the poem over there is Xia Shoutian from Hunan, who is second in this year's exam." "Really, is that the No. 2 man?" "I heard that he is still a governor's son!" "Wait for me to take a look." While speaking, someone left his seat, walked around the table, looked carefully at Xia Shoutian's front from another window for a long time, and then returned to his seat and said loudly: "What a second place guy, young and handsome, really talented Merry!" After shouting like this, all the tourists in Manjiangting knew the news.As soon as Xia Shoutian wrote the pen, many people surrounded him, some admired, some admired, some were curious, and some joined in the fun.The new Jinshi separated from the crowd and forced his way in. He bowed to Xia Shoutian and said, "Brother Nian has also come to visit Jiangting, why don't you call me?" Xia Shoutian was stunned, thinking: He is such an affectionate person, but why don't I recognize him!The man hurriedly took out a big red name badge from his pocket, with a few lines of black characters printed on it: Jinshi of the 1898 Division, born in Yinlianqi, Ruizhou, Jiangxi, Shiwu Layman, named Mubai.It turned out that he was also a Jinshi of Jinke.Xia Shoutian hurriedly returned the salute, and said with a smile on his face, "Brother Mu Bainian, you are here too, what a pleasure to meet you." "It's rare to meet this time, please let Brother Nian go and sit at my table. Several of my friends want to see Brother Nian's beauty and listen to Brother Nian's sweet cough." Yin Lianqi stretched out his hand while talking, took Xia Shoutian's arm and walked out.Xia Shoutian said: "Brother Nian kindly accepted it, and I have a friend who is waiting for me over there now!" "It's easy to say, easy to say, let's invite Brother Nian's friends over for a party after we've had a few drinks." Yin Lianqi couldn't help Xia Shoutian's explanation, and forcibly pulled him to his drinking table.The onlookers saw that this was also a Jinshi of the new department, so they added three points of respect, made a gap, let them go out of the circle, and then followed behind them, and kept admiring as they walked, with a look in their eyes. Infinite envy. Seeing this scene, Yang Du felt uncomfortable.It is like this in the world: there are many who praise success, but few who appease the loser;It highlights the warm and cold side of human feelings and the hot and cold side of the world, and it also has an inspiring side.Yang Du thought silently: Hold on to this breath, and earn all the glory in the world after three years! "Sir!" A delicate voice called Yang Du back from his thoughts.He turned around and saw a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl standing beside him with a smile.The woman was wearing a lotus green dress, with a well-proportioned figure, delicate facial features, fair skin, and a charming aura between her eyebrows, especially the tranquil and pure expression in her smiling face, which made people fall in love at first sight. Give birth to love. "Did you call me?" Yang Du immediately jumped out of frustration, his face full of spring. The girl nodded. "Please sit down!" The girl was a little shy, and sat down next to Yang Du. "What can you do with me?" Yang Du asked kindly.The shyness just now added a bit of girlish beauty.Yang Du thought, with some embellishments, she could really be said to be the most beautiful woman in the world. The girl took out a peach-shaped bean-green silk fan from her bosom, and said softly: "The "Hundred-Character Ling" inscribed on the white wall by Mr. On the silk fan, I wonder if it is possible?" "Okay, okay, I'll write it for you." Such a beautiful woman took a fancy to her inscription and asked to write it on her fan. It's really interesting.Smelling the fragrance of makeup and powder quietly leaking from the fan, the 24-year-old Sanxiang talented scholar unconsciously felt his heart tremble. "Miss, what's your name?" Yang Du was not busy writing an inscription, holding the girl's silk fan and admiring it carefully. "My name is Jingzhu." Jingzhu.Yang Du's mind floated up the green bamboos in his hometown, and then he looked at the quiet bamboo in front of him, dressed in green, it was really a beautiful and quiet green bamboo. "From your accent, do you seem to be from Jiangsu and Zhejiang?" Yang Du looked at Jingzhu affectionately. "Sir, you are right, I am from Suzhou." Jing Zhu replied, her voice was still soft and thin. "How many years have you been in the capital?" "More than two years." "Are you here with your father today, or with your brother?" Yang Du unconsciously thought of his younger sister who went to Guide Town with him a few years ago. She was about the same age as this girl at that time, and she often had to copy the newly chanted poems for her. "I came with the master." Jing Zhu's voice was softer and thinner, her head was slightly lowered, and a slight blush appeared on her face. "Master, teach you what master?" "Teach me to play the pipa, the flute master." Jing Zhu lowered her head, and her eyes seemed to be full of water under the long eyelashes. Yang Du didn't ask anymore, he already had a little idea of ​​Jing Zhu's identity.There are many prostitutes from Suzhou in brothels and troupes in the capital. They are either laughing or performing arts. In short, they are all poor people with low status. It seems that Jingzhu is one of them.Yang Du borrowed a small pen from the seat next to him, and Jing Zhu rubbed the ink for him.Holding his breath, Yang Du copied his new work on the small and delicate silk fan in regular lower case letters.Jing Zhu has been watching intently, and she is full of gratitude for this young talent with regular facial features and sharp edges and corners.From his meticulous handwriting, she could see that this man liked and respected her.Jingzhu is often loved by others, but rarely respected as an equal by others.What a rare gift this respect is to her! "Thank you, Mr. Yang." When Yang Du finished writing the line "Xiangtan Xiangtan Yang Du inscribed in Jiangting in the midsummer of 1898", Jingzhu knew the name of the poet, and she expressed her gratitude to Yang Du with an extremely sincere heart. "There is also a "Hundred Character Order" on the powder wall, which was written by my friend. I will inscribe it on the back for you!" Yang Du turned over the other side of the silk fan. "Thank you, it's unnecessary." "You don't know, he is the second best in this class!" "I know, everyone here was talking about it just now." Jing Zhu said disapprovingly, "Although he is the second in the list, I don't think his song is as good as yours. I like words, not the second in the list." At this moment, when people not far away are surrounded by Xia Shoutian laughing and laughing, the two plain words of this Suzhou girl who may have been reduced to the lower class are like a stone. There were thousands of ripples in his heart.His heart was shocked, there is such a girl with unique insight but otherworldly in the world!He regretted meeting her too late, and when he remembered that the mule cart had been booked, he felt very melancholy.Seeing that Jingzhu had stood up, he had no choice but to pass the silk fan over.Jing Zhu took the fan, smiled at Yang Du, said softly "Thank you, Mr. Yang", then turned and left.The light wind blows her thin lotus green dress, like a fairy girl who is about to leave the world, Yang Du looks at it bewilderedly.After walking a few steps, Jing Zhu turned around again and smiled brightly at Yang Du who was still staring blankly.Yang Du woke up like a dream, and said loudly: "Miss Jingzhu, we will meet later!"