There are two stone lions in front of Zhou's house. Big red lanterns are hung high on the door, shining red all around.

The gate was locked tightly. Fang Yun went to the door and knocked three times with a copper ring.

"Wait a minute." a voice came from inside. Then the door opened and a middle-aged man in his forties appeared behind the door.

Fang Yun handed the letter and said, "Xiao Sheng Fang Yun. This is the letter sent by Cai he, the magistrate of Ji County, to master Zhou. I should have come a few days ago, but I was delayed, so I arrived today."

As soon as the porter saw that Fang Yun was wearing a boy's uniform, he immediately respectfully took the letter with both hands and said, "wait a moment, I'll give it to the master right away."

The porter was about to close the door, but hesitated for a moment. Instead of closing it, he hurried inside.

Fang Yun heard him say in a low voice as he walked, "Fang Yun? I seem to have heard the master mention it."

After a while, I heard a shout from inside: "here comes Fang Shuangjia? I'm angry!"

Fang Yun heard that the secret way was bad. Why did this man smell so strong? Did this man have a bad relationship with CAI he or something happened?

Fang Yun pinched the thick manuscript paper in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and stood still.

Through the open door, Fang Yun saw a middle-aged man in civilian clothes striding over.

When the man saw Fang Yun, his expression changed and he couldn't cry or laugh and said, "well, you Fang Shuangjia, how can you be so calm and relaxed when the court made a mess of porridge for you?"

Fang Yun looked confused, chaotang? On the hall where the king of the capital summoned the ministers? The ministers are making a mess for themselves? Fake?

Seeing Fang Yun's appearance, the man was amused and said, "don't stand there, come in and say you!" he shook his head.

Fang Yun bowed and said, "student Fang Yun has seen Lord Zhou."

The powerful six grade official did not have official authority. It was like an elder seeing a younger generation. He patted Fang Yun on the shoulder and said with a smile, "since it's Cai he's double armour, it's a family. You're welcome. Come in and say."

Fang Yunxin knew that a powerful sixth grade official could never be so enthusiastic about the people he met for the first time. Something must have happened, so he thanked him and said, "Lord Zhou, I've been busy these days and haven't been in contact with the outside world. What happened?"

Master Zhou smiled and said, "what else can it be? Of course it's your poetry. After Cai he got your town poetry, he immediately sent a letter to Lord Yuanjun. After reading it, the adult applauded the case, and then sent it to the holy courtyard and the literary minister. But the adult regretted it immediately and should send it later."

"Then it started?"

"The day was calm, and the next morning, there was an accident. The master of the Academy invited you to be knighted in the court hall. He said that you were not only the first former child student of double armor saint in Jingguo, but also the first child student of Jingguo to publish in Shengdao, the first child student of ten countries to write poems about Dafu, Mingzhou and Zhenguo, and the first child student of ten countries to write poems about Shengdao together He is the only talented person in the ten countries who obviously shakes the morale of the university when he is a child student. You have made great contributions to Jingguo and the human race, and you should be named the ninth generation County uncle. "

Fang Yun was surprised. Although the title and grade are different in the Shengyuan continent, there is also a corresponding relationship. The lowest Township man is equivalent to nine grades, and the highest Prince is equivalent to one grade. The county uncle is equivalent to six grades, that is, if he is granted the county uncle, county magistrate CAI must salute and greet him as an official.

If you can really get the county uncle, Fang Yun doesn't have to be timid. Life will be much better in the future. He won't even have to open a bookstore.

Jiudai County uncle, that is, his descendants can inherit this title in nine generations. He is very prominent in one house.

"But things are not going well?" Fang Yun asked.

"Zuo Xiang's people object. The knighthood needs to be recommended by the Ministry of war and the Ministry of officials, and then decided by the cabinet and the monarch. But 90% of the Ministry of officials are Zuo Xiang's people, and the Chamberlain of the Ministry of war is also Zuo Xiang's people, and the knighthood is precisely in the charge of the Chamberlain of the Ministry of war. Therefore, if Zuo Xiang doesn't agree, no one can knighthood for you unless the Empress Dowager tries to exclude public opinion."

"Why did Zuo Xiang stop me?" Fang Yun said. They went into the main hall and sat down on both sides of a table.

Master Zhou glanced at Fang Yun and said, "of course Zuo Xiang won't show up. It's Hong Shilang of the Ministry of military. His excuse is your song" old age ", saying that you have to write this poem before you become a child student. If you don't have experience at a young age, you will talk about the government, which will be useless in the future."

"No one refutes this ridiculous reason?"

"Of course, some people retort that you stop halfway through the examination room and wait until you have a literary position to write the whole poem. If you know how to advance and retreat and understand the rules, you must reuse it. But neither of the two sides can convince anyone. Some people praise you for your good poetry. Zuo Xiangyi says that poetry is a path; others say that you let the enemy's great scholars shake their courage, they say there is no evidence; others say that you must give a heavy reward if you can share the brilliance of three poems, Zuo Xiangyi People say that you are too young to encourage others. You should sharpen you. Only in this way can you understand how to serve your country in the future. "

Fang Yun sneered and asked, "have you heard any rumors? In my opinion, Zuo Xiang doesn't need to be targeted at me because of a poem."

Master Zhou pondered for a moment and said: "Then I'll tell you the truth. Zuo Xiang won't just aim at you because of a poem, but if you're the head of the double-A case ordered by county magistrate Cai, and county magistrate Cai is a student of Wen Xiang, and you're likely to become a university scholar or even a great Confucian, he has enough reasons to aim at you. What's more, you have a bad relationship with the famous Liu family? According to the news I got from Beijing, Liu Zizhi of the Liu family seems to have a little affection for you Some words are almost slander. "

"What did he say?"

"You're lazy and dependent on women. That's probably the kind of thing. In short, the capital's wind evaluation about you is very bad." master Zhou didn't say it deeply.

Fang Yun was livid and said, "was he born in a rich family, so he could slander our poor children?"

"Alas, there's no way. Zuo Xiang has great potential. Now no one dares to offend the Liu family. I suspect someone deliberately said you in front of Zuo Xiang and deliberately linked Sui mu with him, so Zuo Xiang won't speak against you in person, but if he doesn't speak, it's tantamount to acquiescence in criticizing you."

"How did the Empress Dowager react?" Fang Yun asked.

"The Empress Dowager naturally wants to be knighted for you, but now Zuo Xiang has the upper hand, and she can't commit public anger. However, your credit can't escape, so both sides will negotiate an acceptable result."

Fang Yun said, "you've been in officialdom for a long time. Can you guess the final result?"

"Alas, in fact, many people can guess that this kind of thing has never happened."

"Tell me about it," Fang Yun said.

"First, give some gold and silver, antiques or silk; second, seal it for your parents. Third, turn your credit into literary merit. Once you are admitted to the promotion or Jinshi official position, your grade can be directly improved. But as long as you don't officially be an official, your literary merit is equal to an empty paper."

Fang Yun asked, "are Zuo Xiang and others not afraid that I will be promoted after I become an official?"

Master Zhou wrote: "Once you are knighted, Zuo Xiang can't punish you unless you commit major crimes such as treason and treason. But if you are just a civil servant, Zuo Xiang has countless ways to target you. Even if you have just become a Jinshi and are a top-ranking official, so what? The official department is in Zuo Xiang's hands, and he can send you to a cold Yamen. Moreover, when can you become a Jinshi? Ten years Twenty years? "

Fang Yun didn't understand the official affairs of Jingguo. After master Zhou said this, he suddenly realized and completely understood the sinister intentions of Zuo Xiangyi.

Fang Yun bowed his head and lost himself in thought. Wen Xiang couldn't fight Zuo Xiang, not to mention himself. Now the Wen position is too low, so naturally he can only bear it. However, Zuo Xiang can only affect the official position, not the Wen position. There's no need to fear him. At most, he can't be a civil official. When Wen position gets higher and higher, he can think of a way to avenge one arrow. Instead of being silent, he might as well take this opportunity to gain a good reputation and unite against Zuo Xiang People.

Not long after, Fang Yun looked up and said, "can Lord Zhou write a memorial to show my heart to you and the Empress Dowager for me?"

"Naturally." master Zhou looked at Fang Yun curiously.

Fang Yun said with awe inspiring righteousness: "As a citizen of Jingguo, I naturally want to understand the difficulties of the officials of the imperial court. I take the initiative to request that the merit be converted into literary merit, so that I won't hurt my harmony under the eyes of the grass man and the tiger. I am deeply grateful to all the adults who asked me to be knighted. If I have the opportunity, I will thank them. But I am more deeply grateful to the adults who stopped me from being knighted. They are really for the country, the public and the human race. If I have the opportunity, I will Thanks a hundred times! "

Master Zhou was surprised. He didn't expect a young boy's words to be so loud. He was surprised at his decisiveness and choice. Since he knew he couldn't be knighted, he took the initiative to give way, leaving a good reputation for knowing the general. At the same time, he also ridiculed Zuo Xiang's people for fighting at this time.

"Is this wording too direct?" master Zhou naturally knows how to "thank you a hundred times" for the party games.

"Then I can't say that we will take back my credit at a speed they can't dream of, and then let them regret obstructing me!" Fang Yun said slightly angrily.

Master Zhou sighed lightly and said, "after all, you are a young man and become famous. After being humiliated, you should pay a tooth for a tooth. It's strange if you keep quiet. Well, I'll write a memorial according to your original intention, but change the wording a little. Of course, you won't lose your momentum. After all, you have made great contributions."

Fang Yun took a deep breath and said, "thank you, master Zhou. By the way, since I have made so many good poems, will our State Academy give me a reward? How about 1000 liang of silver?"

Master Zhou chuckled and said, "do you want a double reward?"

Fang Yun immediately said, "if the literary academy is difficult, I won't force it. I recently wrote two novels to sell and earn money to support my family, but the publication of the book needs the examination and approval of the literary academy, so I'd like to ask you for your convenience. In addition, if you like it, you might as well write a preface to my novel."

When master Zhou heard the preface, he thought that Fang Yun was really smart. Obviously, he came to ask for an audit in advance, but first asked the State Academy of literature to give a reward, and then retreated. Secondly, he refused. When he heard the preface, he was about to refuse, but his heart moved.