In January of the second year of Jiayou (1057), the great ceremony of the literati of the Song Dynasty - another imperial examination began! There were countless imperial examinations in Chinese history, but this one was unparalleled! The history of Chinese literature was known as the "Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties" in the Tang and Song Dynasties. Among these six people in the Song Dynasty, 5 people gathered in this imperial examination. Several times Chinese history, only one was unprecedented! The remaining one was actually in the capital at that time. But he was too unique and did not play with these ordinary people...

Putting aside him, the other five people, led by the examiner Ouyang Xiu, chose him to follow Han Yu of the Tang Dynasty and carry out the ancient Chinese movement in the literary world of the Song Dynasty!

Before this imperial examination, all the literati and poets in the world regarded lyrics as their ability to pay attention to words. Whoever can modify them will be everyone! Such articles are all dangerous rhymes and strange words that pay attention to the extreme. Everyone competes for beauty to see who can play a flower job that has never been seen... As for the purpose of the article, no one cares about why the ultimate question of articles occurs in this world. Ouyang Xiu was very angry as a master of articles at that time! He has always advocated the restoration of ancient Chinese! Like the ancients, the first priority of articles is to make things clear! It is beneficial to the country and the people's customs. Articles are by no means fashion shows, and the imperial examinations are not T-shaped stages. This is to be passed down for generations, not just a temporary stepping stone!

On the 6th, he walked into the Gongyuan with such an idea, looking for an examination that meets his requirements. He found it. This is really an anomaly. The vast land of China is thousands of miles. It has been a hundred years since the founding of the Song Dynasty. The prosperity of culture and education is unprecedented since the writing. People who may have a spiritual connection with Ouyang Xiu were actually in Sichuan, a place in the distant border. Sichuan was an authentic old, young, and poor area at that time. Several times throughout Sichuan, and before this imperial examination, only two Jinshi were given.

One was a disciple of the surname Sun during the Tianxi period of Emperor Zhenzong of Song Dynasty. The other was born in 1024 of Emperor Renzong of Song Dynasty. His surname was Su, named Su Huan, and was from Meishan. In this year, when the local celebrating the birth of a new scholar in Meishan, a 17-year-old boy became silent. He was Su Huan's third brother: Su Xun.

In the years before, playing was the whole of Su Xun's life. At this time, he was shocked! The glory of the second brother and the smile of his father awakened some things in his heart. Is it like this? He began to study again. Pay attention to it again! This person's intelligence is unquestionable, but he is very playful. This point has created his life's depression.

When he was 17 years old, Su Xun really worked hard. Three years later, the next imperial examination began, and he passed the provincial examination at one time, moving towards the legendary bustling imperial capital along the path he had taken by his brother. At this time, he firmly believed that the world belongs to him, fame belongs to him, and everything belongs to him. But the result: he failed the exam...

At that time, he felt a little depressed or surprised, why didn't pass the exam? But there was no sadness. He knew that he was still very young, but he was only 20 years old, so he just took the exam again. I was so smart that I would definitely succeed. So he returned to his hometown with a light load. On the way back, he enjoyed the mountains and rivers of the earth, lakes and seas. His horizons were broadened and his mind became broader... Sadness also quietly came at this time...

His original intention of reading is to be fame and fortune, which runs through his life from beginning to end. But his personality is on another track. He is energetic, stubborn, and bold. These qualities are condensed into a person, which destined that he will not be obedient, especially those who he thinks are inferior to himself.

Su Xun was 20 years old at this time. He was just a vague boy before. He believed in books, memorizing rotely, and was desperate for fame and fortune. If he could pass this exam, he would go smoothly along the road of wealth and honor. But he failed the exam and returned to the nature of the world. It is hard to say that his mind is growing, and his knowledge is accumulating selectively according to his nature. If it weren't for others to teach him, he would be like what he would be!

This is his personal misfortune, but it is the luck of the entire literary history of the Chinese nation. History can prove that the growth of every extraordinary person has a process of self-awakening and self-improvement!

Su Xun walked back to Sichuan all the way. He saw the world outside the Jianmen and had the first setback in his life. All of these changed his mind. He was tired of books, and the "learning" such as the sound and silence used to test fame and fortune will no longer arouse his interest. He became a local stranger, young and gentle, not farming, business, or studying. Most of the time he traveled around, climbed to the lakes and seas, thinking about it. If he hadn't gotten married during this period, he would have been like a scattered immortal.

This kind of life lasted for several years, and the good days finally came to an end. His mother suddenly became ill and died ineffectively. Su Xun was in pain and sad. He decided to give his mother a glory, so he couldn't wait to grab the book he threw down that year. Fate and fame! No matter what, you must quickly get fame and fame!

From then on, he was 27 years old to 39 years old, and he studied hard day and night. The Three Character Classic says that he was "Su Laoxun, twenty-seven, started to work hard and read books." In 12 years, he went to Beijing to take the exam twice, and left with confidence and returned in a daze. He didn't understand why? Those people he looked down on could win the top ranking, but he wasted his time again? At the age of 39, he failed the imperial examination again, and he was depressed and could not relieve it, and he walked into the mountains and rivers again...

Misfortune never comes singly. Just as he walked towards Mount Lu, Jiangxi, seeking spiritual comfort, his old father passed away. Su Xun went to the funeral thousands of miles away, thinking about his parents' death in 12 years, but he was almost for no reason, but he still achieved nothing! One day, he was completely disappointed and threw all the articles he had written over the years into the brazier in front of his father's spirit... The historical opportunity appeared at this moment! Only by throwing away everything in the past can a new world suddenly become clear!

During his mourning period, Su Xun was bored and read all the thousands of ancient books he had collected at home. Those books are the uninterrupted light of civilization that the Chinese nation has inherited since ancient times. However, since Han Liu of the Tang Dynasty passed away for more than 200 years, wars have continued. No one can regain the prestige of Chinese literature. This beam of light is about to be extinguished...

With more than 200 years of blankness and expectations, some people are pursuing famously in the prosperous world, like Ouyang Xiu. Some people are silently thinking about something in a corner of the western border, like Su Xun. Abandoning the ties between fame and fortune, he returns to nature, and also follows this path. He is destined to be together with Ouyang Xiu. But he walks this path too slowly, too tired, and too silent!

From the age of 39 to 46, Su Xun finally hoped for a glimmer of hope in his life. He no longer thought about going to Beijing, but a celebrity finally came to Western Shu in the capital. This person's growth experience was somewhat similar to Su Xun, which destined that they would have a common language.

At this time, Su Xun was completely different from the past. When he was young, he became unrestrained and taciturn. The style of exam-taking style was replaced by his understanding, insights and solutions to all things in the world. He became a great scholar. The so-called great scholar was not only proficient in all classics, but also to be a one-on-one. He could reflect on himself inward and solve problems for the world. The articles written with such insights and minds were the authentic Chinese Confucian system from Confucius to Han Yuxing.

!Around 1053, Su Xun established his own academic system, and he wrote the most important articles in his life. But he was located on the frontier and no one cared about him. He was about to die of old age in his hometown and was unknown for life. But don’t be busy! The outside world is very wonderful, and suddenly there were wars and wars coming! Nong Zhigao rebelled! After that, the reputation of the Ghost-faced Marshal Di Qing was circulated throughout the south. The battle was successful and he flew over natural dangers. The reputation was missed until the fall of the Southern Song Dynasty...

But I would like to ask: Who can connect such a big event with a rural gangster in Meishan area of ​​Sichuan? The thing is so wonderful. This is actually Su Xun's spring! Nong Zhigao fled to Dali, and there were rumors that he would fight back. His breakthrough was Sichuan, which was close to Dali! One transmission was ten or a hundred. In the end, even the big men in Kaifeng could not sit still. In addition to transferring heavy troops from Shaanxi to Sichuan, he also sent a capable man: Zhang Fangping, the first three envoys!

Zhang Fangping, this man was an official and did not come from a Jinshi. Where did his knowledge come from? He was much stronger than Su Xun. It is said that the ranking of literati in the Song Dynasty, if the wisdom is used as the standard, he ranked second. He was only a little inferior to Su Shi, the son of Su Xun, who was not born! He could not forget everything at a glance. He once borrowed the "Three Histories" from others and returned it for 10 days, and he could remember every word in it. As for why he was so strong, he could not force himself. His family was too poor and his life became a problem. If he wanted to study, he could only borrow it. Reality forced him to remember it quickly and remember it...

Now, Zhang Fangping has stabilized the situation in Sichuan. After both military and political efforts, he still attaches importance to culture. He discovered Su Xun and paved the road to the imperial capital Kaifeng for Su Xun...

Zhang Fangping wrote a letter to Ouyang Xiu. This letter is quite a bit of a mystery. According to research, this is one of the only letters in Zhang and Ouyang. They are enemies!

Zhang Fangping was a confidant of Lu Yijian, and Ouyang Xiu was Fan Zhongyan's clique. He fought for decades and used up his means to the death. But as long as he returned to literature, they became humble gentlemen and warm-hearted. This was something that later the civil officials of the Shenzong, Zhezong, and Huizong dynasty could not compare with.

Su Xun left Meishan two years later and came to the capital. This was his third time to enter Beijing. This time, he became a miracle almost immediately. In a short period of time, he established contact with the top officials and famous officials in the capital. For example, Ouyang Xiu, Yu Jing, Tian Kuang, Wen Yanbo, Han Qi, Fu Bi and others received his articles and letters.

Without exception, everyone liked his articles, but smiled bitterly at his people.

Su Xun was very puzzled. Did he do something wrong? Looking back, he came to the capital with a purpose, Confucianism was worldly, and if he was poor, he would be safe, and if he was prosperous, he would help the world. He saw various problems in the Song Dynasty in reality and wanted to do something for the people of the world. These ideas and even solutions were clearly expressed in articles and letters. Then why did the celebrities in the court ignore him?

This is his fate, and he came in the wrong time. If it had been more than 10 years ago, the war with the Western Xia was started, and the Song Dynasty broke all old customs and habits, and would adopt any useful ideas. It would not be difficult for him to win fame and fortune when he appeared at that time. But more than 10 years later, it was not allowed to promote talents beyond the level, and the hierarchy of the Song Dynasty was already unbreakable. Everyone is within the system. What kind of sage do you have to be able to give you an exception?

What's more, Su Xun's specific approach is too fierce. For example, in a letter to Han Qi, he asked Han Qi to start a massacre and kill a group of lazy soldiers, and his morale was immediately boosted. Is the method right? Yes! Di Qing did this. But today's Han Qi is no longer the young husband on the northwest battlefield. Killing people? Han Qi is as noble as the wings flying in the sky, condensed like the ice and snow on the top of the snow mountain, and never do those rough work anymore.

For example, when Su Xun spoke up for Fu Bi, he said accused him. Starting from the Qingli New Policy, he did not make any achievements until he took office, and did not give face to the prime minister at all. After all, this was what the sub-saint Mencius taught Su Xun to do. Mencius said, "If you say great men, you will despise him." This is the code of action for the sub-saints throughout their life. If Mencius saw King Hui of Liang, he was rude and said, "I don't look like a monarch." It seems that you are not like a monarch! Is it bold and reckless to violate the highest Confucian purpose of the monarch - the monarch, the ministers, the father, the son? No matter whether you are a saint or not, you don't despise the superiors like this? But Mencius did it! In troubled times, only by using such means can those in power convince the people in power. An example is how Zhuge Liang persuaded Sun Quan.

Su Xun was like this, and he was still confused, leaving a bad impression on the entire power level without knowing it. To put it bluntly: if it weren’t for the good luck, it was just like Ouyang Xiu’s imperial examination, it would be possible for him and his two talented sons to return to Sichuan again. But this is not a big mistake. Did Confucius and Mencius get any good fruits when they traveled around the country? Confucianism itself has huge flaws that are irreconcilable and not perfected by the founder!

Confucianism is a world-wide and must solve specific problems arising from the world. This is an accident. Specific problems should be treated specifically and solutions should be found in reality. Many times, problems appear with the progress of the times, so solutions must also be innovative. This is like the relationship between new viruses and new vaccines. But what about Confucianism? The solution is not studied in reality, but in ancient books to find annotations and answers. This is why "the ancients say" is always the beginning when you look at various ancient Chinese documents. Everything depends on how the ancient ancestors solved it, and then we all copy it... Does this work?

Therefore, as a requirement for the progress of the times, great scholars have long been useless! Not only now, even in the Northern Song Dynasty more than a thousand years ago, Su Xun had met his mortal enemy - the three deficiencies of the minister Wang Anshi, who "the changes of heaven are not worthy of fear, the ancestors are not worthy of law, and people are not worthy of politeness."

At this time, Wang Anshi was a herd judge in the capital, responsible for the whole country's horse raising (by the way: due to ancient wars, horses were important strategic materials. Therefore, the horse raising officials were a very prominent official position in ancient times. It was definitely not as mentioned in "Journey to the West": Bi Ma Wen was an insignificant minor official). They met at Ouyang Xiu's house. They disliked each other when they first met. Both of them had the same stubborn temper, the same pride, and happened to be the same self-taught oneself. Where can I find such an ideal enemy? Lao Su and Wang Anshi became enemies, and Da Su Xiao Su later had a long disagreement with Wang Xianggong. Of course, this is all a story.

Jiayou's two-year imperial examination finally began. The person who could almost represent the entire brilliant and brilliant Song Dynasty culture - Su Shi and Su Zizhan, finally emerged!

Regarding Su Shi's talent, it is a myth in China. His name is called "Poxian". Of course, that happened after his name was Su Dongpo.

In fact, these two words are not wonderful at all. On the contrary, it was a painful memory of Su Shi personally. However, it was since then that his literary talent and calligraphy and painting were extraordinary and saints, reaching the level of being the first talented man in the Song Dynasty.
Chapter completed!