After the storm, there is a rare calm.

In July, Bianliang was turbulent.

King Zhao Zhe of Jing fell very hard this time.

He was ordered to study at home and think about his mistakes. All the positions he held were removed, and even the palace guards were reduced. Now the person responsible for the palace guards is the Imperial Banzhi sent from the palace.

As for the staff who had been following Zhao Zhe, it was even worse. Some of them were arrested by the Imperial City Division and disappeared, never to be seen again. Others were deprived of their writings and were kicked out.

To Bianliang.

For those staff members with literary backgrounds, this was a complete blow. Deprived of the letters they had been born in, these people were fundamentally cut off from the possibility of becoming an official.

However, Xiao Cheng thinks that it is a good thing for King Jing that these people were driven away from King Jing. These people are really not qualified to serve as a prince's staff. They all served as pacifiers for King Jing in Hebei.

The skills gathered around them when working are basically all about battlefield decisive battles, food, grass, logistics and other military and political affairs. If they are asked to intrigue and engage in a brutal political struggle in the capital, and the battle for the reserve, they will lose everything.

.

At the moment, King Jing seems to have lost completely. For him, it may be a good thing.

Originally, Xiao Cheng did not agree with King Jing's current aggressive strategy.

The official family is in its prime. Why do you, a prince, need such a big name? Why do you need such great power? Can't you just immerse yourself in work?

Now that King Jing is not honest, he must be honest.

He had trouble even leaving the house.

The King of Chu, Zhao Jing, seemed to have won a great victory, and he had a few more responsibilities. The alley where the King of Chu's residence was located was full of carriages, day and night, and countless people were trying to find a way to enter the palace to see him.

His side.

But think about it, after King Jing returned to Beijing last year, wasn’t it the same scene?

If you don't do things, you won't make mistakes. If you do more things, the chances of making mistakes will greatly increase.

In particular, King Zhao Jing of Chu did not have the talents of King Zhao Zhe of Jing, nor did he have the strict self-discipline of Zhao Zhe. Once he was successful, he would inevitably stumble a lot.

Although the official in the palace values ​​​​power very seriously and would destroy his own son in order to monopolize power, it does not mean that this person is a fool. In fact, he is very smart.

Of course he can now see which of the two sons is stronger.

In a few years, when he is old and frail and has to consider handing over power, he will of course choose a stronger successor for the Song Dynasty.

At that time, it is not that King Zhao Zhe of Jing has no chance.

So throughout July, Xiao Cheng was very happy.

His father finally listened to his words, and at the last moment, he made a break with Zhao Zhe, even on the surface. But this statement has already satisfied the officials in the palace. Of course, this is also in line with Xiao Yu's powerful

Business ability has a great relationship.

Xiao Yu had been an ostrich for a period of time since he had been appointed as the Third Chief of Staff. It was not until he absorbed and digested all the manpower of the former Third Chief of Staff Zhou Ting and integrated it with his own that he took out the means to rectify the Third Chief of Staff.

.

The effect is amazing!

This year is only half a year old, but compared with last year, fiscal revenue has already reached 70% of last year.

And this was accomplished despite the war between the northwest and Hebei provinces.

With such achievements, even if the official Zhao Suo disliked Xiao Yu, he had to admit that he was an excellent financial minister.

With more income, of course you can do more things.

Xiao Yu finally stood firm.

And Xiao Ding became the general manager of the march to the west. He had military power in his hands, and his forces were penetrating to the west. Everything was going according to Xiao Cheng's original vision.

The pieces of the puzzle are being embedded into the magnificent picture conceived in Xiao Cheng's mind.

In July, the biggest event in Bianliang's official circles was that the Prime Minister of Dongfu, Russell Luo Jieshan, announced that he was ill.

Of course, this is an external view.

In fact, Russell has always paid attention to health care. Although he is in his sixties, he looks like a man in his fifties.

He was fed up with the emperor.

And the reason why he was disliked by the emperor was because, just as Xiao Cheng predicted, Luo stepped into the quagmire of King Chu.

In mid-July, Princess Chu's birthday was held. Given the current popularity of King Chu, naturally countless people came to congratulate her on her birthday.

As the chief assistant, Russell would not be able to come to congratulate Princess Chu on her birthday no matter how thick-skinned she was.

But the problem is that his second son's daughter-in-law is gone.

His second son, Luo Huan, served as a secretary in the Imperial Academy. He was a noble official and did not have much to do. His main task was actually to take care of Russell.

This is also the dignity given to the prime minister by the court.

A problem arose when he went there. Regardless of whether Russell knew about it or not, it annoyed the officials anyway, so an edict was issued, and Qinggui Siye became a local military state.

Zhizhou.

Luo Huan was released.

Everyone is sensible. Just after Luo Huan left Beijing, Russell fell ill at the right time.

Luo Song, who was involved in political affairs, got a big advantage. Because of Russell's illness, he took over the post of prime minister on behalf of Russell, and he felt happy and excited day by day.

Generally speaking, according to past practice, after Russell had been ill for a period of time, he would beg for the body from the officials on the grounds that he was ill. The officials would naturally not agree and would send an imperial doctor to diagnose and treat the prime minister's body. However,

After repeated treatments, the Prime Minister's health never got better.

So, if he goes to Zhezi again to beg for the bones, and again he refuses, and so on again and again, Russell will eventually get his wish and go home to recuperate.

As the former chief assistant of the Song Dynasty, the officials would not treat him lightly.

The title of a duke is indispensable. As for whether it is a big country or a small country, it is difficult to say.

However, in Xiao Cheng's opinion, Russell would definitely not be given the title of Duke of a big country.

When someone leaves, someone comes.

Whether it is Ma Xing on Shaanxi Road or Xia Jie on Hebei Road, they both have the greatest hope.

If Luo Song wants to correct his duties as acting prime minister, he must make political achievements during this period. Otherwise, when Xia Jie or Ma Xing returns to the court, with their merits, Luo Song will have no choice but to

All the joy is in vain.

Of course, at Xiao Cheng's level, he was not able to participate in such a high-level plan. Even if he had thousands of plans, people thought he was just a lucky scholar who had made some achievements on the border.

So Xiao Cheng is concentrating on his studies now. After all, the Jinshi Examination in September is just around the corner.

By August, Bianliang City has become extremely lively.

Princes from all over the empire gathered in Bianliang City.

These people can be regarded as the elites of the Song Dynasty, and the Jinshi examination in September is to select 300 people from these elites to become reserve officials of the empire.

Facing these people, Xiao Cheng did not dare to have any confidence. Now, he is basically under the guidance of Master Cen, and is conducting the final test assault. In fact, his academic progress has not been much, mainly just some

Test taking skills.

The candidates for the chief examiner, deputy examiner, and grader have already been selected. What Master Cen is doing now is to train Xiao Cheng and others based on the likes and dislikes of these people.

At this time, Xiao Cheng finally understood why Master Cen had such a great reputation.

Master Cen’s understanding and evaluation of these people can be said to be deep in his bones.

No wonder the students taught by Mr. Cen have such a high rate of passing the entrance examination. To achieve this, the daily investment will definitely not be small. Of course, the return rate is also quite high.

"As long as you don't make stupid mistakes, it is inevitable that you will pass the exam today." Master Cen said with a smile. "Firstly, your knowledge has already reached the level. Secondly, if you don't look at the monk's face and look at the Buddha's face, who calls you a great master?"

Where is Song Caishen!"

"Isn't it true that you have to copy the paper if you don't know your name? How can you tell that it's mine?" If he could cheat without any sequelae, Xiao Cheng would not be hypocritical. Speaking of which, these days he has also interacted with many elites from all walks of life.

When they met, except for a few people who were stupid because of reading, most of them were real top people. Xiao Cheng was not sure of winning.

"The writing style also has the content of the answer sheet!" Master Cen said with a smile: "For people like you, everyone will use your examination paper to study. And when planning the topic, you will probably use the northwest affairs.

Make an argument. Although you can't mention specific people or things, no one has a more detailed understanding of Northwest than you. So even if many people talk about Northwest, the examiners will still be able to identify you at a glance.

Separate yourself from the crowd."

"Awesome!" Xiao Cheng exclaimed.

"But you must also be mentally prepared." Master Cen said: "There is no problem with you passing the test, but because of your identity, your ranking will never be too high. There are three hundred people, and I estimate that you will be around thirty.

.”

"I have no requirements for this, even if I am the 300th." Xiao Cheng said with a smile: "With this status and stepping into this door, the future will depend on personal ability and luck!"

"There is a big difference between Jinshi and Tongjinshi!" Master Cen shook his head and said: "If you really want to become Tongjinshi, you will have no chance to enter the political hall in the future. Only Jinshi, and a shujishi, will be possible in the future.

Enter the Political Hall."

"Is that so?" Xiao Cheng really didn't notice this.

"You can go back and check it carefully." Master Cen said with a smile: "Although there is no explicit rule, it is an unspoken rule and it is acquiesced by everyone."
To be continued...