Entering July, it would be self-deception to say that there were no new stories, as it was still a chaotic time of war.

However, from July to August, the court handled many matters, both large and small, most of which were overshadowed by the Imperial Examination… After all, this round of selecting officials through examination was by no means comparable to the hasty appointment of officials in Nanyang.

Firstly, this was the first Imperial Examination after the return to the old capital, with significant political implications. If the entire process went smoothly, and the court defended Tokyo after the ‘autumn,’ then even if The Filature of the Song was still at a disadvantage, still under severe military threat, and still facing the reality of vast territorial loss, the situation could at least be described as ‘stabilized.’

Secondly, because the war had effectively ended as early as January, even the Central Plains had time for some spring plowing and replanting. Coupled with the pacification of the military chaos in the Southeast and the great victory in Jingdong, although it couldn't be said that the political and economic order in various places had been fully restored, the most basic personnel transportation undoubtedly recovered to a certain extent.

In addition, due to Zhao Guan's compromise policy, this Imperial Examination simultaneously included formal state and imperial students examinations, the awarding of official positions to outstanding officials in the presence of the Emperor, the granting of state and imperial student status to wealthy households who redeemed displaced people from Hebei, and even allowed military children who met certain conditions to participate in the examination…

In a word, this round of Imperial Examination was extremely large in scale.

Of course, this was also an inevitable need, given that nearly all the officials in the Central Plains were vacant after the Jingkang Incident.

Besides, the Emperor's return to the old capital undoubtedly provided a strong moral and political stimulus to the scholar-officials in Jiangnan and Sichuan who had previously been idle or hesitant. Therefore, this time, the special Imperial Examination and the restoration of Tokyo prompted many people who already had official titles to abandon their previous hesitations and return.

Of course, it was hard to say how many came because they saw the opportunity and how many returned out of a sense of duty.

But in any case, with this Imperial Examination and the gradual start of the autumn harvest from south to north, the accumulation of materials, and the once glorious Tokyo, which had been devastated for three or four years, unexpectedly regained some of the prosperity of a golden age, causing some people to temporarily forget about the ‘autumn’ and relax a little, becoming even intoxicated.

However, in August, as the evaluation of the ‘righteous men’ who redeemed displaced people from Hebei was completed, and the state students' examination at the Imperial Academy ended, with the final palace examination approaching, some news suddenly came from the west, causing a stir in the court. Moreover, because the matter was too clear to be concealed, it quickly spread to the streets, causing countless students to discuss it.

And the imperial students, especially those who had just taken the exam and were about to take the palace exam, who could control their mouths?

The Emperor or the Chief Councilors?

If Zhao Guan and the Chief Councilors really went, they would probably speak even louder, fearing that the Emperor and the Chief Councilors wouldn't hear them.

In short, this matter quickly became the focus of Tokyo, especially within the Zhuque Gate in the inner city and south of Xiangguo Temple, the area centered on the former Imperial Academy and the Directorate of Education. The surrounding restaurants, small shops, and even street stalls could hear this matter being repeatedly discussed.

Among them, on a horizontal street just south of Xiangguo Temple, there were several restaurants… Logically speaking, the constant noise from Xiangguo Temple, where all kinds of military equipment were being produced day and night, and the frequent sealing off of the area by heavily armed soldiers, should have made business here bad. But in fact, because there were rumors that the Emperor had repeatedly come to the area incognito to inspect, these restaurants were doing thriving business, even more so with the influx of imperial students.

“Zizhi, Binfu, you two came from Sichuan. Can you analyze the beginning and end of this matter?”

At a table facing the street in one of the restaurants, the speaker was a loud-voiced man named Hu Quan, from Jiangxi. Because of his direct and intense personality, his advanced age (twenty-eight), and his extensive knowledge and outstanding literary talent, he was the so-called ‘older brother’ in the small groups of imperial students commonly seen in Tokyo these days.

Therefore, at today's gathering, he took the lead in rolling up his sleeves and starting the discussion before the dishes were even served.

As for Zizhi, whose real name was Chao Gongwu, a man of twenty-five or six, simply smiled wryly upon hearing the question. “Brother Bangheng (Hu Quan), my family was originally from Jizhou. We only moved to Sichuan at the end of the Jingkang Incident to escape the chaos. It's only been two years, and I don't even know many important figures in Sichuan. Asking me about this matter is like asking a blind man for directions.”

Hu Quan didn't mind and simply nodded at someone else at the table. “Binfu, what do you say? Your family has been a famous family in Sichuan for hundreds of years, and Zhang Cao Si's (Zhang Jun) family has also been a famous family in Sichuan for hundreds of years. Surely there must be some interactions. What's more, your father should be serving under Zhang Cao Si right now. Surely you have some insights?”

The person called Binfu was only about twenty years old, clearly the youngest of the group. After thinking for a moment, he shook his head. “To be honest, Brother Bangheng, if you want me to guess, I can always guess, but…”

“Then guess.” Before he could finish, Hu Quan interrupted him bluntly. “We're separated by thousands of miles. Do you have to see it with your own eyes before you can speak?”

This remark made everyone at the table laugh, and many scholars and students at the surrounding tables perked up their ears… After all, this was a famous family from Sichuan, and this person's father seemed to be Zhang Jun's subordinate. Perhaps he was even involved in the matter.

“If you want me to guess, based solely on what I saw and heard in Sichuan, Zhang Cao Si (Zhang Jun) is capable of doing such a thing.” This youngest member of the so-called famous Sichuan family immediately replied seriously. “But this matter may not have been his sole doing.”

“How so?” Hu Quan asked impatiently.

“Firstly, although Zhang Cao Si (Zhang Jun) is in charge of transport for the five routes, he is only a transport commissioner, and has not been granted the title of military governor. Therefore, this matter must have been approved by Chief Councilor Yuwen, otherwise it would be a clear overstepping of authority.” The young man frankly stated. "Secondly, Wang Xie is the highest-ranking general in Guanzhong after Qu Da left. This matter concerns military affairs in Guanzhong, and Hu Jinglue (Hu Yin) is now replacing the former Wang Jinglue as the pacification commissioner of Shaanxi, and he will likely take charge of the military affairs of the five routes in case of war... Therefore, dealing with Wang Xie seems more like Hu Jinglue's responsibility. At the very least, Hu Jinglue must be informed."

Upon hearing Hu Yin's name, two people in a corner of the restaurant, one older and one younger, resembling father and son, both dressed as scholars and silently waiting for their meal, almost simultaneously raised their heads, showing a hint of concern.

“Yunwen, are you saying that this matter was a joint effort by the three top officials in Guanzhong, a carefully planned plot to kill Wang Xie, and Zhang Cao Si was merely the executioner?” The dishes began to be served, and Hu Quan poured wine for himself, but still spoke his mind without reservation. “Moreover, since it was a joint effort by the three top officials, perhaps the Emperor was already aware of the details. Even with our Emperor's previous style, it might have been at his instruction, but we just don't know it and are treating it as news?”

That Yunwen, the young man named Binfu, was naturally Yu Yunwen, a descendant of the Tang Dynasty chancellor Yu Shinan from a famous family in Sichuan. He didn't say anything, but after a slight hesitation, he nodded slightly… It was considered an acknowledgment of Hu Quan's explanation.

Not only that, but many people around him were also pondering, while the older of the two in the corner shook his head slightly.

Speaking of which, the recent shocking event was none other than the renewed conflict between generals and ministers in Guanzhong. Compared to the incident when Qu Duan detained Pacification Commissioner Wang Shu and whipped the Censor-in-Chief, this time it was even more excessive: Zhang Jun, the transport commissioner of the five routes in Sichuan and Shu, suddenly took action and directly killed Wang Xie, the highest-ranking military officer in Guanzhong!

The process was very simple and clear… Previously, Shi Dalang, a remnant of Song Jiang's gang, declared himself emperor in Xingyuan Prefecture (Hanzhong) and attacked the city. Because Yuwen Xuzhong and other envoys and ministers were already there in Guanzhong, the court did not interfere much.

Therefore, almost as a matter of course, Wang Xie, the prefect of Fengxiang, as the closest and highest-ranking military officer in Guanzhong, was immediately appointed as the Commander-in-Chief to take overall command of the military affairs for suppressing the rebellion in Hanzhong.

However, he quelled the rebellion in Hanzhong for several months. The war between the east Jingdong and the puppet Qi had already started and ended, but he was still suppressing the rebellion… Even more shockingly, last month, in July, he actually allowed Shi Dalang to escape from the mountain ravines of Hanzhong!

No one knew whether it was a surprise attack on the Ziwu Valley or a deliberate advance on Qishan. Anyway, Shi Dalang suddenly appeared west of Chang'an, preparing to attack Chang'an.

Then, an even more absurd thing happened. Shi Dalang, whom the combined forces of Fengxiang Prefecture, Xingyuan Prefecture, Xihe Circuit, and the four routes of Sichuan and Shu, and even the co-defense of Xin Xingzong, the commander of the Wuguan garrison and the Central Army of the Imperial Guards, could not defeat, was wiped out in one battle by the Jingyuan Circuit reinforcements hurriedly sent by Hu Yin, and his head was displayed.

It was said that only Wu Jie, the military commissioner of the Jingyuan Circuit, led five thousand troops in the actual battle.

Wang Xie had an explanation for this. He meant that Shi Dalang's elite troops had already been wiped out by him, General Wang, in Hanzhong. Shi Dalang, who ran to Chang'an, was just an empty shell. Therefore, the credit and hard work were still his. Of course, Military Commissioner Wu also had credit, but it was inevitably a lucky one… You have to say, this statement still had some truth to it, at least the logic was sound and hard to refute.

As a result, Zhang Jun, the transport commissioner of the five routes in Sichuan and Shu, who had been stationed in Lizhou (Guangyuan, Jiameng area) near Xingyuan Prefecture, sent a letter saying that he would personally bring a large amount of wealth and materials to Xingyuan Prefecture to reward the troops, asking Wang Xie to wait for him before returning to Fengxiang Prefecture.

The following scene was almost identical to the mess that Zhao Guan had made in Yanling… Zhang Jun entered Hanzhong with a light cavalry, entered the military camp, first found Liu Qi, the director of Longyou in Xihe Circuit, who was considered his subordinate, and then had Liu Qi collude and gather the main generals of various armies before entering Xingyuan Prefecture openly to meet Wang Xie.

At this point, Zhang Jun had effectively taken control of the various troops in Hanzhong.

However, Zhang Deyuan was, after all, a cultured person. No matter how much he imitated, he wouldn't be as undignified as someone. He first had a meal with Wang Xie, and while eating, he kept talking about rewarding the troops. Halfway through the meal, he got up to go to the toilet, and when he came back, Wang Xie was already dead.

It was said that even Liu Qi maintained the style of a cultured general and did not personally take action. He simply had armored soldiers tie him up and then suffocated him alive with a wet cloth in the seat, without spilling a drop of blood.

Speaking of which, although there were precedents of Liu Guangshi, Ding Jin, Fan Qiong, and even Du Chong, and one could imagine that Wang Xie must have had the same reasons for his death as Liu Guangshi, after all, it was Zhao Guan who had previously made a mess with the authority of the emperor, and everyone had been accustomed to the recklessness of the Zhao Song emperors for many years.

This time, Zhang Jun, as a mere transport commissioner, doing such a thing could not help but make the upper and lower classes of Tokyo, who had been immersed in a cultural atmosphere, suddenly shudder.

Not to mention the special geographical environment of Sichuan. If Zhang Jun killed Wang Xie and took over the military power in the capacity of a transport commissioner, and then burned down the plank roads or something, it would be a big joke.

Therefore, it was no wonder that the censors submitted memorials one after another to impeach him, and the imperial students discussed it.

“Actually, it’s no wonder!”

After eating a lot of dishes and forcing the young Yu Yunwen to drink two cups of wine, the atmosphere gradually improved, but the loud-voiced Hu Quan suddenly stopped drinking and sighed.

“No wonder what?” Chao Gongwu put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth while asking… Young people's communication does not need a straight man, because everyone can't help but talk about their own mind.

“No wonder this matter has caused such a stir.” Hu Quan sighed. “I just realized the reason… Have you counted how many years the war between the Song and Jin has been going on?”

“Does this even need to be counted?” One person at the table replied casually. “One and a half years of Jingkang, two and a half years of Jianyan, exactly four years!”

“That’s right, the two countries have been at war on all fronts for a full four years.”

Hu Quan shook his head repeatedly. “In these four years, the Jin people have come every autumn, from Hebei to the Central Plains, causing untold suffering and devastation… Zizhi’s entire family moved from Jizhou to Sichuan and then returned here, so he must have seen a lot. Not to mention me, from seeing the rise and fall of local bandits and rebels in Jiangxi and seeing the dilapidated towns along the way to the capital, I feel that this world is chaotic enough to be called a chaotic world.”

“Indeed.”

Yu Yunwen, remembering the turmoil within Sichuan and Shu after the Jingkang Incident and what he had seen along the Yangtze River to Jingxiang and from Jingxiang to here, was also filled with emotion… Especially those almost empty cities, which shocked the only twenty-year-old youth.

“And in a chaotic world, if we believe Yunwen's guess, with the approval of the envoy minister, what's so serious about a court official killing a general who has harmed the country? Is it more serious than the Jingkang Incident? Right now, all systems, people, and affairs should be focused on resisting the Jin. However, people want stability, and some people don't want to think about the Jingkang Incident, nor do they want to think about the fact that the two emperors are still imprisoned and humiliated in the north, nor do they want to think about the fact that the two rivers have fallen and millions of people are being slaughtered. They only feel that the current Emperor seems to have some ability, has defended the Yellow River, and has returned to the old capital, so they want to curl up and enjoy temporary peace in Tokyo. As a result, Zhang Cao Si's actions in the west easily tear open the scar, making it seem out of place. This is the fundamental reason why there is such a stir this time…” Hu Quan continued to speak freely and recklessly, tearing open the scar in public, causing the scholars and students at several tables in the restaurant to fall into awkward silence.

Hu Quan didn't care at all and continued to expose the wound without stopping: “But have these people ever thought about the fact that after this Imperial Examination, as soon as the weather turns cold, there may be movements from the Jin army? I don't know how many people, after this Imperial Examination, will easily follow the bandits like Liu Yu and Hong Ya of the puppet Qi if there is another siege of Tokyo?”

The atmosphere became more and more awkward, but the people at the same table had been together for a long time and knew the temperament of this talented man from Jiangxi, so they didn't dare to persuade him, but just shook their heads.

On the other hand, Yu Yunwen, the youngest little brother in the group, was talented and good-natured and usually well taken care of by everyone, so he spoke up at the right time:

“Brother Bangheng, don't worry. Not to mention that I was just guessing, even if there are one or two inappropriate people in the court, it won't affect the overall situation. The Emperor and the Chief Councilors always understand… Not to mention that the work in the Great Xiangguo Temple is non-stop day and night, the moats around Tokyo are deep, the city walls are reinforced, and the Bian River is being cleaned and deepened. Obviously, the central government does not have the slightest slack heart.”

Hu Quan nodded immediately, but then shook his head slightly: “It is true to this point, but not true to that point… It is now, but what about in the future? I'm just afraid that the Emperor is young and will be deceived by others after only two years of rallying. It's not like he hasn't been deceived before…”

As soon as this remark came out, even though the heat of autumn had not yet dissipated, the restaurant could not help but become cold for a moment.

Speaking of which, the scholars and students around had already heard the general details of the people at this table. Obviously, this was a group of young and particularly militant imperial students.

Of course, imperial student groups are naturally militant. What's more, the current Emperor does not allow peace talks at all, so if you want to become an official, you can only advocate war. Therefore, not to mention ordinary imperial students, even those unusual imperial students who came to the capital by redeeming the Hebei displaced people are all hawks.

So the problem is not here, but rather that this loud-voiced imperial student from Jiangxi, by publicly discussing the Emperor's past, inevitably has a suspicion of ‘criticizing the Emperor.’ Unfortunately, the so-called past of the current Emperor, when linked to the words imperial students and criticizing the Emperor, cannot help but remind people of the unjustly killed Chen Dong.

It can only be said that this person is so unafraid that he is truly courageous and truly a hawk!

In fact, as soon as this remark came out, not to mention the scholars and students around him who were silent for a moment, even the people at the same table did not dare to speak anymore. Only Yu Yunwen, perhaps because he was young, remained calm and continued the discussion as usual:

“Your disciple still thinks Brother Bangheng is overthinking it. The Emperor ascended the throne in a hurry as a prince, and at first he had no calculations or plans, so he was temporarily deceived by Huang Qianshan and Kang Li… Since then, everything has been determined, and there has been almost no wavering in the past two years.”

“I still have doubts.” Hu Quan still shook his head frankly. “I am not only worried about the Emperor, but also worried about some people… However, if I am talking about the Emperor, since I have come to take the exam this time, if I can be selected, I will naturally do my duty as a minister and give advice at all times. The only thing is that some people, although they are not malicious, are pedantic and ruin the country. Moreover, these people can manipulate the classics and deceive the people, so I worry that I will be helpless in the future, so that I will sit back and watch the Emperor be deceived by such people.”

Only then did the people at the table breathe a sigh of relief.

Chao Gongwu also took the opportunity to ask: “Brother Bangheng, did you encounter or hear anything?”

“That’s right,” Hu Quan, picking up his chopsticks, suddenly smiled. “Do you remember? When I first entered the capital, because I was about the same age and was from the south, many people in the Imperial Academy saw that I had extensive social connections and guessed that I was Chief Councilor Hu’s younger brother…”

The people at the table also laughed.

But in the laughter, one person suddenly thought of something: “Speaking of which, I recently heard that Chief Councilor Hu’s father and younger brother also came to Tokyo, and they were summoned by the Emperor as soon as they entered the capital. Is Brother Bangheng referring to this? But Chief Councilor Hu’s father is a world-renowned Daoist scholar, and his younger brother, who is the same age as Brother Bangheng, is also quite famous. Is there something wrong with them?”

“Of course there is something wrong!” Hu Quan said seriously. “I learned about Chief Councilor Hu's father Hu Anguo's words to the Emperor from Liu Zihui, and I found them very wrong!”

Liu Zihui was the younger brother of Liu Ziyu, the Chief Secretary of the Privy Council, so his words were naturally credible. Hu Quan was a prominent figure in the Imperial Academy, and Liu Zihui, who was about the same age as him, also had some interactions with him, so it was normal for him to tell him some political secrets.

As a result, the restaurant became quiet again, and many people pricked up their ears to listen, while the father and son in the corner turned a deaf ear and just lowered their heads to eat as before.

“How so?” Chao Gongwu was the first to hold back.

“The Emperor asked him how to deal with the current situation… What about defending Tokyo, promoting loyal and good people, selecting talents, and prioritizing military affairs? They can be regarded as the theories of famous Daoist scholars; advising the Emperor to personally worship the imperial tombs, open more lectures, and guard against officials forming parties, can also be regarded as saying something… Only when it came to the end, this person actually strongly advised the Emperor to cultivate qi!” Hu Quan finally showed a mocking expression. “The Emperor asked him what qi is? What is the use of qi? He said that qi is the Way, and cultivating qi is cultivating the Way, and the victory or defeat of warfare, the strength or weakness of the army, and the courage or timidity of the generals are all directly related to the qi cultivated by the ruler. If the Emperor cultivates a body of upright qi, then the government orders will be communicated throughout the world, the barbarians will submit, and the four seas will be stable… It's simply absurd!”

Having said that, Hu Quan was gradually getting angry, but the people at the table clearly had some caution about the ‘qi’ in the mouths of famous Daoist scholars, and it seemed that some people really believed it, which made Hu Bangheng completely angry.

I saw him directly slap the chopsticks in his hand on the table and sternly changed his color, which made everyone in the restaurant startled together: “So absurd, but Liu Zihui actually thinks this qi is useful… I say, if in the future the Emperor is surrounded by such wasters who persuade him to cultivate qi, and then the Emperor really goes to cultivate qi, don't talk about recovering the two rivers, I'm afraid Tokyo will be lost again!”

These words finally startled the two people in the corner to look up together, but after a while, starting with the old man, they lowered their heads and slowly ate their meals.

“It’s really absurd.” The youngest Yu Yunwen also flushed. “The courage and timidity of the generals lies in whether the Emperor can reward and punish properly; the strength or weakness of the army lies in whether the military equipment, food, and wealth are sufficient, and whether the soldiers are properly trained; as for the victory or defeat of warfare, it lies in observing the destiny and doing everything in one's power… If there is really time to cultivate qi, it would be better to help dredge the Bian River on the river embankment! No wonder Chief Councilor Hu has been following the Emperor for a long time, but he is generally recognized as not knowing how to use troops. If he is burdened with this kind of father who teaches him from childhood, it would be strange if he knew how to use troops!”

“My mind is made up.” Hu Quan, seeing that everyone except Yu Yunwen had many hesitations, suddenly stood up and looked around with awe. “After three days, at the palace examination, I will risk my future to express my opinion directly to correct the hearing!”

The surrounding people were stunned for a while, but no one dared to persuade him.

“I will do the same…” Yu Yunwen was probably drunk a few cups, coupled with being too young, could not help but excitedly respond.

“You don’t have to do this.” Hu Quan said seriously. “Yunwen, I ask myself to have the ability to recognize people. I have long seen that although you are young, you are a person with strategy in your chest, unlike me, most of whose abilities are in writing and words… If I can be the Censor-in-Chief in this life, you will be the material for the Chief Councilor… Therefore, I will do it myself in three days, and you should cultivate yourself and concentrate on your career, waiting for the future… You must know that the country is in danger, and the Emperor’s mind is concerned with the millions of people in the world. Since you and I have the heart to save the world, how can we let the Emperor’s side be given to those pedantic and misguided people in vain?”

As soon as these words came out, no students present dared to remain neutral, and they stood up to express their support and comfort. Even the two people in the corner who looked like father and son finally looked up in surprise and were失態for a long time.

In this way, a group of over-energized imperial students, tormented for half a day over a meal, and finally dispersed, but did not know where they went to let loose. Only at this time, the father and son in the corner, who had finally finished a meal with great difficulty, finally spoke for the first time.

The younger one, that is, Hu Yin’s cousin and adopted brother Hu Hong, said carefully: “Father, should we still hire a woman who can cook on the Bian River embankment?”

The older one, naturally Hu Yin’s adoptive father and uncle Hu Anguo, was also the ‘pedantic and misguided person’ who taught the Emperor to cultivate qi, but he shook his head repeatedly: “The country is in difficulty, and it is also hard work on the river… This time the Emperor does not believe my theory, and several chief councilors also say that my theory is absurd. I originally wanted to return to my hometown to teach, but the war situation is unclear after autumn, so I cannot easily abandon the monarch and the father. Only then did I stay and accept a government position… At this time, our father and son have no power to restrain a chicken and cannot help the country. Let’s just make do with it, why waste manpower?”

Hu Hong wanted to say something but stopped, but could only nod his head.

ps: First of all, I want to thank the seventieth cute. In any case, I must first thank the on-萌such things that represent the greatest support for both the author and the readers themselves, 虎皮金刚葫芦娃, is also an old book friend... thank you.

Then, today is Uncle Xiong's thirtieth birthday... I didn't want to wish him a happy birthday, because he is already a person with a family, a wife, and even children, and a Ghost Bear (if I remember correctly), while I am the same age as him, but just a social phobic single dog living in a rented house... I can't help but be sour.

But after being sour in the middle of the night, I still have to wish him a happy birthday, and then go get a bottle of fatty happy water to comfort myself.

Finally, I wish all book friends in the world to embark on the path of reality... Good night.