It’s not that easy to find a companion to chat with…
Watching the gray-bearded leader leading his men away, Zhu Pingan sang the song "Not That Simple" in his heart, wanting to cry but without tears. It turns out that being an official is not that simple...
No matter whether it is a fight between gods or a quarrel between bigwigs, the procedures after the announcement of the palace examination results have to continue.
Next is the highlight of the palace examination announcement - the parade of officials on the imperial streets, where the top scholar rides a tall horse on the imperial streets of the imperial city, enjoying the glory of being praised by the people. Of course, the runner-up and third place scholars will also do the same, but they will fall behind the top scholar, and the other scholars can only walk.
In fact, the purpose of praising officials in the Imperial Street is to commend the top scholar and other successful candidates, to inspire the ambition of people all over the world, especially the students, and to encourage them to learn from the top scholar, take them as role models, work hard, study hard, take the imperial examinations, and serve the emperor of our dynasty.
Under the arrangement of officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple, Zhu Ping'an and the second and third place winners were led to the side hall. Because the imperial street praise officials are very concerned about their appearance, they must change the first and third place winners into festive and dazzling clothes.
In the side hall, the young eunuchs and palace maids had drawn the curtains early to divide the hall into three changing rooms. Zhu Ping'an and the other two were led in separately to change into the exclusive crowns and robes for the top three candidates in the imperial examination.
After entering the curtained room, Zhu Pingan discovered that the eunuch waiting inside was actually someone he had met once before. It was the eunuch who had winked at him when he was about to choose the golden rooster when he was selecting the reward in front of the emperor yesterday. The reason why he was able to be crowned the top scholar at this moment was more or less related to the wink of this eunuch.
"Oh, it's you, eunuch. Yesterday, due to inconvenience, Ping'an was unable to thank you on the spot. I hope you won't blame me. Thank you very much for your advice yesterday." After Zhu Ping'an recognized the little eunuch, he bowed and thanked him.
"Haha, you are too polite, Mr. No. 1 Scholar. I didn't do anything yesterday. The reason why you are where you are today is, firstly, the reward from the emperor. Secondly, it is because you are very smart. It has nothing to do with us." The young eunuch shook his head slightly and replied with a smile.
"You are joking, eunuch. Although Ping An is not talented, he knows how to repay kindness. If it weren't for your reminder yesterday, Ping An would have almost done something wrong."
"The top scholar is joking. We really didn't do anything." The expression on the young eunuch's face showed admission, but he said words of denial.
"May I ask what your name is, father-in-law?" Zhu Ping'an asked with a slight bow.
"It's not really a name, just a humble name. My common name is Feng Bao. I'm afraid it would pollute the ears of the number one scholar." The young eunuch said modestly.
Oh, your name is Feng Bao.
Zhu Pingan didn't realize anything when he heard it. Just when he was about to say something, he was suddenly shocked as if struck by lightning. Wait, what's your name, Feng Bao...
Feng Bao! This guy is a great man in the future. He is a fighting chicken among eunuchs. He is also the most important political ally of Zhang Juzheng in the future. The reason why Zhang Juzheng can laugh last in several confrontations with political opponents in the future is that Feng Bao, this political ally, has made great contributions. Whether it is killing Gao Gong or ravaging Shenzong together to hold the power of the Ming Dynasty, Feng Bao's role cannot be ignored.
In history, Feng Bao was a two-faced person. On one hand, he was extremely smart, well-educated, and ambitious. On the other hand, he was greedy for money and power. Some unofficial history records that Feng Bao was also lustful. He was a famous "eunuch politician". Later, he was not only the seal holder of the Silijian, the commander of the East Factory and the head of the Imperial Horse Bureau, but also a minister of state. He was powerful at the time. It can be said that he made the profession of eunuch the pinnacle!
Zhu Ping'an felt as if he was struck by lightning. He never expected that the young eunuch in front of him was actually Feng Bao.
As soon as the young eunuch Feng Baocai said his name, he saw the top scholar looking at him in amazement as if he had been struck by lightning.
"The top scholar..." The young eunuch Feng Bao was extremely surprised.
Zhu Pingan came back to his senses after the eunuch called him. He then looked at the eunuch Feng Bao and said formally, "Pingan thanks Eunuch Feng for what happened yesterday. Eunuch Feng has a good name. Whether you believe it or not, although Pingan has just heard of your name, he believes that Eunuch Feng will leave a strong mark in history in the future."
"No. 1 Scholar, you must be joking. I am just a servant doing chores in the palace. I don't deserve your thanks. Besides, I am just a eunuch. What's the use of a good or bad name? How dare I expect to leave a mark in history? No. 1 Scholar, please don't be joking with me." Feng Bao shook his head, as if he thought of the sad thing that happened to him, and sighed with some disappointment.
"There are 360 professions, and every profession has its top talent. Why should you underestimate yourself, eunuch?" Zhu Ping'an said to comfort him.
"But I'm just a eunuch. What future do I have?" The young eunuch Feng Bao said self-deprecatingly.
The current Feng Bao is nothing like the shrewd, powerful and domineering person described in future history books. Instead, he has a sense of inferiority and is a little bit unconfident.
This is a rare commodity. If you invest now, the future returns will be huge. Zhang Juzheng's future success will also depend on this person, so why don't you get a piece of the pie
Suddenly, Zhu Ping'an remembered a very popular joke in modern times, which was just right for this moment. It was truly the right time, the right place, and the right people.
So, Zhu Pingan suddenly raised his voice and interrupted Feng Bao righteously, "Sir, please forgive me for not agreeing with what you said!"
"Oh? Why do you say that, Mr. Number One Scholar?" Feng Bao was somewhat puzzled by Zhu Ping'an's sudden excitement.
"Why do you say that?"
"May I ask, sir, do you know who wrote the world's greatest comprehensive history book that 'explores the relationship between heaven and man, comprehends the changes of ancient and modern times, and forms a unique opinion'?"
"May I ask, sir, do you know who improved the papermaking technique, allowing the world's civilization to be passed down through the ages, reducing the cost of paper, allowing poor children to learn the words of the sage, and allowing all scholars in the world to enjoy the grace and glory of this person? Who did it?"
"May I ask, sir, after Wu Zetian abdicated, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang ascended to the throne. A few days later, Crown Prince Li Zhong led the imperial guards to force the emperor to abdicate and launched a coup. The ministers were helpless and Emperor Zhongzong burst into tears. Who volunteered to kill the rebels with a sword, causing them to collapse and saving the country from collapse? Later, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, the Vietnamese chieftain Mai Xuancheng rebelled against the Tang Dynasty. Who took the small road that Ma Yuan of the Eastern Han Dynasty took when he went south to attack the enemy chieftain and pacify the southwest in one fell swoop?"
"May I ask, sir, who is the man who braved the sea and made seven voyages to the West to spread the might of our Ming Dynasty thousands of miles away?"
After Zhu Ping'an repeated the question "Why do you say that" in a rising tone, he threw out a series of rhetorical questions, which swept through the young eunuch Feng Bao like a raging tornado, washing his brain.
"Sima Qian... Marquis Cai... Yang Sixu... Duke Zheng..." The young eunuch muttered to himself involuntarily under Zhu Ping'an's storm of words.
"What are their backgrounds? What do they have in common?" Zhu Ping'an struck while the iron was hot and asked another series of questions. "When Eunuch Feng just belittled himself, didn't he also belittle them?"
Under Zhu Ping'an's verbal storm, the young eunuch Feng Bao's eyes suddenly lit up. At this moment, a seed of ambition took root in his heart!
Although Sima Qian was not orthodox, he was also castrated by Emperor Wu of Han and was a eunuch; Cai Lun, Marquis of Cai, was a eunuch and a eunuch; Yang Sixu was a eunuch and a eunuch; Zheng He, Duke of Zheng, was a eunuch and a eunuch!
They can do it, they can leave their names in history, why can't I!
The seed of ambition in the young eunuch Feng Bao's heart quickly took root, sprouted, and grew vigorously!
"Thank you, Mr. Number One Scholar, for awakening us!" The young eunuch Feng Bao looked at Zhu Ping'an with shining eyes, and thanked him from the bottom of his heart.
"Eunuch Feng, you're joking. I didn't do anything." Zhu Ping'an copied the expression that the young eunuch Feng Bao had at the beginning and denied it with a slight smile.
Then, the two looked at each other, understood each other, and laughed.
The wheel of history whizzes by without stopping, rolling over a stone, bumping a bit, and moving forward... (To be continued.)