Chapter 3 Section 3 Shabby-dressed seventh-rank officials

Morning in Beijing is the best time.The air is damp and humid, taking a deep breath can cool people from the head to the bottom of the heart, this is the effect of the morning dew; if there is fog the night before, the air will be more fresh, and the branches and the ground will be full of clumps. Eggy dust particles.This is a very special landscape in Beijing.The birds jumped up and down with the breeze, chirping, and merrily, as if they called out the good scene with their beaks.Strange to say, when their calls stop, there must be a poisonous sun hanging in the sky, without a cloud, which is better than a steamer.

Emperor Daoguang's dragon chariot stopped at the gate of the Hanlin Academy early.Today, he suddenly decided to check the progress of the compilation of the national history. Emperor Daoguang changed his routine when traveling, except for one eunuch accompanying him and four personal guards, there were eight bearers.Not only is there no huge guard of honor, even the Taoist priests and dragon umbrellas are not used at all.Emperor Daoguang was the only simple emperor of the Qing Dynasty. When entering the second gate, the busy figures of the scholars of the Hanlin Academy were clearly visible. When Emperor Daoguang saw this, the boredom of the past few days was instantly driven away without a trace.

The eunuch Cao Jinxi who was on the left and right side, the old eunuch who was the most observant, noticed that the corners of the emperor's eyes were filled with smiles, so he took a few steps forward and shouted without losing the opportunity: "The emperor is here..." The end of Cao Jinxi's call was full of anger, and it didn't stop until Wen Qing, the academician in charge of the Imperial Academy, came out to greet him.With Wen Qing rushing out, the scholars who were busy stopped for a moment. After all the ceremonies, the big and small Hanlins took their positions.

The third door is the apprentice room of the Hanlin Academy. There are five quasi-scholars who were Keen in those days, and they are in charge of four reviewers (two each from Man and Han) and two bachelors (one each from Man and Han).The homework of Shu Jishi is nothing more than learning to compile national history, practice calligraphy and write poems, and Cheng Zhu Neo Confucianism is naturally among them.Then, it is to follow the adults to learn to do things. When compiling history in a prosperous age, other yamen can be ruined. As the only national history compilation institution in the Qing Dynasty, the Hanlin Academy must be dignified, because it is a symbol of the prosperity of the country.Needless to say, the Shujis were well-dressed and well-maintained, with a big shiny braid dragging behind their heads, all of them glowing red and full of spirits.Although the Xia Dynasty crown with carved gold seat in one color, the gown with five pythons and four claws, and the patchwork embroidered with orioles, it shows the affluence of the emperor's disciples everywhere, full of the mighty grace of the emperor, and they are all full of confidence in the future. The appearance of being in the world and full of economics.

Emperor Daoguang took a seat in front of the case, and Zhao Ji, a student of the imperial court, immediately brought up the topics selected by the Imperial Academy recently, which were nothing more than a few stereotyped poems and a few ancient sayings of sages to be engraved, all of which were transcribed in block letters on dragon pattern paper .The attendant readers, attendant lecturers, editors, editors, and the four reviewers of the Hanlin Academy brushed up both sides of the sub-station, and dared not speak out. Emperor Daoguang casually flipped through the daily lectures in front of him, and suddenly asked casually: "Has Zeng Guofan any new works? The review of the Imperial Academy is already a very important task. How can you say that 'satisfaction is useless'?" ?”

As soon as Emperor Daoguang uttered this indifferent question, it was nothing to him personally, but it was no less than a thunderbolt on a sunny day to the students.Because they know that Zeng Guofan in Xiangxiang is just a seven-rank reviewer of the Imperial Academy who has just been promoted for four months and three days!In that era, not to mention officials from the seventh rank, even officials below the fourth rank, who would the emperor be willing to keep firmly in his heart?But Emperor Daoguang now clearly called out the three words "Zeng Guofan"! Zeng Guofan, who was of medium stature and wore a seventh-rank official uniform but had an indecent face, stepped out of the inspection line on the right, knelt before the case, and said in a loud voice: "My humble minister, Zeng Guofan, pays respects to the emperor! My humble minister has owed the grace of the emperor, my humble servant." I plead guilty."

"Keep your head up." "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!" Emperor Daoguang looked down carefully, and saw that Zeng Guofan, who was kneeling in front of the case, was a little fatter than when he was introduced, and his complexion was rosier than before, but those triangular eyes still made people feel uncomfortable no matter how they looked at them, if it wasn't for the thick eyebrows covering them , it's almost impersonal.Emperor Daoguang regretted leaving this man in the capital.Looking at Zeng Guofan's attire again, although the seventh-grade men's clothing was washed clean, there were a pair of big patches on the elbows. Compared with the people around him, it was not only shabby, but also deliberately embarrassing!Emperor Daoguang's mind suddenly appeared in the Qianlong period, the shadow of Jiangxi governor who deliberately wore old official uniforms for many years in order to win the reputation of frugality in the eyes of the emperor. , just blindly pretending to be poor and being sour, and even dressed as a beggar when entering Beijing. He had to wear the word "clean" from the mouth of Emperor Qianlong, which made everyone in the officialdom in Jiangxi still old-fashioned, and made people angry. Shang shouted: "Jiangxi is now occupied by the beggar gang!"

Emperor Daoguang had the shadow of the governor in his heart, so the tone of his question was unavoidable: "Zeng Guofan, your official uniform is very old, why don't you change it? Prestige to the world. As a seven-rank reviewer, you are an official of my Qing Dynasty. You are going in and out of the Imperial Academy in this way, how do people in the world think of my Qing Dynasty? Tell me, is what I said right?" "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the edict!" The lecturers and reviewers fell to their knees. "Zeng Guofan, what do you think?" Emperor Daoguang asked Zeng Guofan without looking at others.

Zeng Guofan's forehead was covered with beads of sweat, and he replied very carefully: "What the emperor said is true. I am sorry for the emperor's grace. But I think that the emperor's appointment of me to be a review by the Imperial Academy is nothing more than to let me While concentrating on compiling history and writing books, at the same time, I study the principles of ancient and modern sages governing the world and people, and read the books of sages so that I can be a good official in the local area in the future. Just relying on appearance and clothing to decorate the facade of the Imperial Academy, the humble minister would have failed the emperor's grace and the expectations of the Qing Dynasty. Besides, the humble minister did not want to borrow money to dress up and deliberately please the emperor. Please be aware of the emperor."

Hearing Zeng Guofan's words, Emperor Daoguang was slightly startled, and then asked again: "Zeng Guofan, I'm here to ask you, you are now a reviewer, and you have received your salary from the treasury. It is impossible for your salary to buy more than your daily expenses." A new dress, right? You have to be honest, you can't take tricks!" Zeng Guofan thought about it for a while, and replied calmly: "Thank you for the imperial edict! After I was introduced by the emperor, I received a salary of thirty-three taels of royal silver from the national treasury on the same day. I have not been on duty. The introduction was delayed for half a year, and the guild hall was owed 70 guan in silver for board and lodging. The minister used the clothes of the aristocrats to change the seven-rank official uniform to 30 guan, and made trousers and boots for one, two or three guan. The rest of the silver was in addition to Hand it over to the guild hall, and donate two taels of incense, fire and silver to the ancestral hall of the ancestors, six taels of honor to the grandparents of the high hall, and four taels of honor to the parents. The students sewed large patches on the two sleeves to reduce friction when writing, so as to prolong the life of the official uniform , so that I can squeeze out some money to buy some useful books for myself and my nephew in Xiangxiang. My minister is blessed with Tianen's job in the Imperial Academy, so I dare not take any chances, let alone play tricks in front of the emperor. Your Majesty, please pay attention."

A few words made Emperor Daoguang happy.He looked at Zeng Guofan's triangular eyes, which looked awkward no matter what, and smiled helplessly: "Zeng Guofan, this matter is over. I'm here to ask you, what's the matter with 'It's useless to eat and sleep well'? " Zeng Guofan kowtowed and replied calmly: "If you go back to the emperor, I have owed you the grace of the emperor. I hope the emperor will forgive you." Emperor Daoguang sighed: "Cough! Since I came to the throne, I have worked hard every day to restore my great Qing Dynasty, Kangxi and Qianlong. I only hope that you will concentrate on studying and doing things, and that the monarchs and ministers will work together to maintain the country's destiny. You don't want to It’s time for discussion. Get up, I’m tired too, it’s time to go back to the palace.” "Congratulations to the emperor, long live my emperor, long live, long live!" The excited voices of the young and old Hanlin in the Imperial Academy were heard far away.When Zeng Guofan stood up, he realized that his clothes were soaked with sweat.