The Prosperous Era of Longwan

Outside the Jiujiang Guard Commander's Office, four soldiers stood there, scratching their skin and looking around in boredom.

At this time, most adults living in the city will go home, and only those living outside the city will stay in the Yamen to rest.

The four of them were still thinking in their hearts. After the adults had left, it was time for them to sit down and rest for a while.

At this moment, two people walked out of the Yamen gate, and four soldiers quickly stood up.

"Has Wei Meng returned to Jiujiang City? Let's all come out for a drink tonight."

The person who spoke was Zhang Shigui. At the beginning of the year, Zhang Qing stepped down from the position of commanding officer and became the commanding officer of Jiujiang Guard. Now he comes to the Yamen on duty every day, but his son Zhang Hongfu, who was supposed to follow him, has gone somewhere.

The other one was naturally Wu Zhankui, who was one of the only two people to be promoted due to his military merits. He was successfully promoted to the position of commander of the Wei Dynasty by virtue of his achievements in suppressing the Japanese, but he also poured a lot of money into Nanjing privately.

After all, it is true that you have military exploits, and there are rewards from the court, but that is just a reason for your promotion. Whether you are promoted or not is not up to the official's whim, not to mention that Wu Zhankui's qualifications are still short, from Qianhu to Qianshi.

"He came back the day before yesterday. He went to my place yesterday and said he was going to meet his father-in-law tonight."

Wu Zhankui smiled and said, "Do you want to drink it at home or..."

"Just stay home. I'll ask someone to prepare when I get back."

Zhang Shigui replied simply.

"Speaking of which, the palace exam is over, and I don't know how Guangde did in the exam."

Wu Zhankui looked up at the sky and said.

"Well, we can't control this anymore. When Wei Meng returned to Jiujiang City, he probably wanted to come back and wait for the news. The results should be available in the next two or three days."

Zhang Shigui naturally understood that it would take more than ten days to send the news from Beijing to Jiujiang, but wouldn't the results of the palace examination be available?

As soon as they went out, before the horses were brought in by their own soldiers, the sound of "cracking" firecrackers came from the far street. The two people's movements were like a pause, and they both looked over.

As the sound of firecrackers approached, the sound of gongs, drums and suona also reached their ears, a festive tune.

The two of them couldn't help but look at each other, and it was Zhang Shigui who said: "It doesn't look like marrying a bride, will you try? I remember that no one from Jiujiang Mansion seemed to be on the list these few times, and I don't know what happened."

Wu Zhankui and Zhang Shigui stood there without getting on their horses, just waiting for the people over there to come over and see what was going on.

Soon another commander came out and asked people from the Yamen to come out. They were all attracted by the excitement in the distance.

Not long after, the festive procession approached.

"In the prefect's yamen, that must be Zhang Dianshi, and Master Lin is also there."

A commander looked at the team coming over and said.

"You can't really hit it, can you?"

Wu Zhankui had a premonition at this moment, but he wasn't very sure.

In fact, after Wei Guangde set off, Wu Zhankui asked someone about the results of the Jiujiang Prefecture's examinations several times, and the result he got was duck eggs.

However, the scene before him really shocked his thoughts.

Before, Wu Zhankui really didn't have much hope, but everyone from the yamen was here, so he couldn't help but not think too much.

Wu Zhankui kept some thoughts in his heart, especially such bad feelings, so naturally he would not express them openly.

Sure enough, when Zhang Dianshi, Master Lin and others from the prefect's Yamen saw the people outside the Wei Commander's Yamen from a distance, they immediately stepped forward with smiles on their faces and said, "Congratulations, Mr. Wei from your office, Wei Guangde, can be counted as a gift this time." Our Jiujiang Prefecture is proud of it. We ranked 271st in the general examination and were listed in the top 100 in the Beijing News. ’

Wu Zhankui was excited when he heard this. He grabbed Master Lin's hand and asked, 'Where's the good news? ’

"Ouch, please be gentle, it hurts."

Master Lin's hand was grabbed by Wu Zhankui and he immediately felt that the force was a bit strong. His hands felt pain and he shouted hurriedly.

Wu Zhankui immediately let go and said with a smile, "I'm sorry."

"I don't dare to work with you, Sir."

Master Lin immediately regained his smile and said.

"Master Lin, don't be surprised. This Wei Guangde is Wu Tongzhi's nephew. It's inevitable that you will be excited when you bring this good news."

Zhang Shigui quickly explained so as not to make people unhappy.

"Disrespect, it turns out Wu Tongzhi is Mr. Wei's uncle, so you can't escape from this glass of wine."

Master Lin also smiled.

At this moment, Zhang Dianshi next to him had already taken out a yellow piece of good news and handed it to Wu Zhankui with both hands. He smiled again and said: "I heard a few days ago that Wei Zhenfu was promoted to a thousand households. I don't know if he is in Jiujiang Fucheng." , if Wei Qianhu was not in the city, Wu Tongzhi would have to handle this glass of water and wine. ’

When Wu Zhankui opened the good news and looked at it, he immediately became excited and said, "I'm sure you'll take care of me."

Zhang Shigui couldn't help but join in when Wu Zhankui opened the good news. Not only him, but also several ministers nearby had also joined in to read the good news. Sure enough, it said Wei Guangde, with a score of 271 in the general examination, and there was a seal of the Ministry of Rites on it. Covered, the real thing will try the good news.

The one who reacted quickly immediately ordered his soldiers: "Go back to the mansion and tell me that I will have a wedding banquet at noon today." ’

After saying that, he put his hand on Wu Zhankui's shoulder and said with a smile: "Master Tongzhi, this meal will befall you."

"It's easy to talk about."

Wu Zhankui answered the words cheerfully, and then ordered his soldiers to order food from the best restaurant in Jiujiang Mansion. He also arranged for someone to deliver news to Wei Meng Mansion, and handed over a soldier guarding the gate, "Go inside and tell the adults that today Let’s go out and drink at noon.”

After giving a series of instructions, he smiled at everyone and said: "My brother-in-law returned to the city two days ago and is also waiting for news. Let's attack the local tyrants. If we don't serve the best wine and food in Jiujiang City, we will destroy it today." to his house."

When the two fast horses rushed out of the city gate of Jiujiang Prefecture and rushed towards Ruichang County and Hukou County, the two big houses in Jiujiang City were also bustling with firecrackers outside the gate, and countless banquets were opened in the yard. A large number of dignitaries, gentry and wealthy businessmen came to congratulate him.

At this time, on the pier outside Nanjing, a young man got on the boat and ordered the boatman, "Let's sail."

The ship left the dock lightly and sailed into the center of the river, then spread its sails and sailed upstream driven by the wind.

The young master looked at the vastness of the river and then looked back at the Nanjing City Wall towering in the distance, with a smile on his lips.

I remember last year when I talked with my sister about the topic of men marrying when they are older and women marrying when they are older, I thought it was interesting how shy my sister looked.

His mother was gone, and his father only valued his half-brother. It was still not easy for him and his biological sister to depend on each other, and he had to worry about his sister's marriage.

The young master sighed deeply in his heart and turned his head to look at the river ahead.

In the past, my father thought that the other party's family background was too low. Also, for a family like his, my sister's marriage partner must be at least a Jinshi or a third-grade military attache or above.

It's fine now. My father has relaxed and allowed himself to go and have a look. I hope everything goes well.

In that mansion, his sister was his only concern.

Gradually, the boat sailed farther.

Beijing, Jiujiang Guild Hall.

Several servants stood in the hall holding trays, waiting for the tributes to come out.

Not long after, Lao Kan came out followed by Wei Guangde, Zhang Ke and Xia Kefan.

"Master Jinshi, please accept the Jinshi uniform."

The leading soap official bowed and saluted.

Wei Guangde knew that the palace examination was actually just the beginning of the entire palace examination ceremony. After the palace examination, there would be a passing ceremony, an honor banquet, and the number one scholar on behalf of all the Jinshi would go to express their gratitude and pay homage to the ancestor's temple, and perform the ceremony of releasing vegetables.

There are many procedures for the palace examination, and it cannot be completed in just one exam.

Looking at the contents in the tray, including Jinshi clothes and boots, several people quickly stepped forward to take them with both hands.

"The grand ceremony will be held tomorrow. All the regulations are the same as those for the palace examination. Please don't waste time, Jinshi masters."

The leading soap official reminded him again.

"Thank you."

"Good work."

Wei Guangde and others thanked him politely, and then asked others to give him money. Only then did the officials go away happily.

Wei Guangde looked at the Jinshi attire on the tray. The hat was a bit special. The main body was in the shape of a black gauze hat, but the wings were much shorter, only about five inches long. There was also a foot-long ribbon tied to the wings.

The Jinshi uniform is a dark blue Luo robe, edged with green Luo, with wide sleeves without killing, a green leather belt, decorated with black horns, and a tail hanging down the back.

There was also a locust wood wat board, which Wei Guangde felt was almost the same as what the ministers wore except for the color of the clothes.

"I have to go to bed early tonight and get up early tomorrow."

Xia Kefan looked at the Jinshi uniforms on the tray carefully and said.

"Yeah, it's time to get up early again."

Lao Kan also nodded and went to wait outside the Daming Gate tomorrow morning at Yinshi, and then participated in the passing ceremony, but there were not many of them in this group.

"Go back to the house and rest. We'll see who gets the hairpin tomorrow morning."

The hairpin is an honor that can only be obtained by the top scholar among Jinshi, and there are no other honors even for the second best scholar.

Everyone knows the details. Jinda could be said to be a popular candidate for the No. 1 pick before, but the relationship between him and Yan Song's father and son is so tense. There is a high probability that the No. 1 pick will fly, but I don't know who will win the No. 1 pick in the end. It should be It is said that all four of the top five candidates are possible.

At night, in the back house of the Wei family in Jiujiang Prefecture, the noisy day finally calmed down. Mother Wei and Father Wei were also discussing undecided matters in their bedroom.

"My son has passed the imperial examination and is about to become a Jinshi official. So let's talk about how much money we should send to the child and let him smooth over there."

Ever since Wei Guangde left Jiujiang Mansion, Father Wei has been quite normal, but in Wei's mother's opinion, his son must be able to be named on the gold medal list, and he is almost in the top spot.

Father Wei was a little dismissive of this before. After all, Wei Guangde was still young, and he didn't think there was anything good about his child becoming an official at such a young age.

I just didn't expect that Wei Guangde really gave the old Wei family credit and passed the exam in one try.

To sum up, Wei Guangde failed once in the provincial examination, and he won consecutively in other imperial examinations, which was very impressive.

"I still say the same thing, just give me 10,000 taels. I think that's enough."

Father Wei sat by the bed and said: 'I told the waiter at the beginning that I would give him another five thousand taels of silver if he came to the capital. Now I have promised to give him ten thousand taels, which is already a lot. It is enough for him to live in the capital. ’

"But didn't you say that official exchanges of courtesy cost a lot of money? The family doesn't lack that kind of money. At most, it's just something the boss can keep less of."

Wei's mother still insisted that the 10,000 taels of silver that Father Wei said was a bit too little.

"I gave him 10,000 taels of silver from Guangde at the beginning, which is already a lot. If I give him another 20,000 or 30,000 taels of silver as you want, then the boss will have too little. After all, the eldest son is a man of literary talent. I should inherit more.”

The current Ming Dynasty operates according to the eldest son inheritance system from top to bottom, which is also the most basic principle of the patriarchal system.

Naturally, the Wei family cannot be free from vulgarity. As the saying goes, "it is necessary to establish a direct descendant for the purpose of eldership rather than virtue, and to establish a son for the purpose of nobleness but not for seniority."

Although the "Da Ming Ling Hu Ling" of the Ming Dynasty clearly stipulates: "For all legitimate concubines, unless there is an official influence, the eldest descendants will be eliminated first. When analyzing family property and land, they will not care about wives, concubines, or maids, but will be divided equally according to the number of children." "The son of an adulterous child shall receive half of the share according to the number of children. If there are no other sons, the person who should succeed him shall be the heir, and he shall share equally with the son of the adulterous child. If there is no suitable person to inherit, he shall inherit the full share."

But in real life, or in the eyes of most people, the majority of the family property still has to go to the eldest son, the eldest son. The Ming Dynasty implemented the monogamy system.

Of course, you can also take concubines.

As for the provisions of the Ming Dynasty Order, not many people pay attention to it. Perhaps this order will only be implemented after a family dispute over property, and that is only if there is no will.

Father Wei naturally thinks the same way. As his eldest son, Wei Wencai should get most of his savings.

He gave Wei Guangde 20,000 taels of silver, which was almost one-third of the family property, which was enough.

But obviously, Wei's mother still felt that it was too little for her younger son, and half of the family property should be given to Wei Guangde.

"Forget it, let's wait until the results of the Guangde Palace Examination come out. After all, with his ranking, he should only be in the top three, and he may not be able to stay in the capital."

Father Wei looked at his wife and said, 'If Guangde can stay in Beijing and serve as a capital official, we will send him 20,000 taels of silver. If he is sent abroad, it will be 10,000 taels. ’

Having said this, Father Wei frowned again and said: "If we really go down to the place, he may not need any money there. I think it is better to write a letter and let him know. It is better to give the money to Zhang Hongfu to help release it.

I remember Guangde once said before that it seemed that he could make more money from lending than buying land, so he didn’t use the money I gave him to buy land. Not only was it hard to buy good land, the main reason was that he felt that money Earn less. "

"He knows nothing. If this is the case, just buy all the land for him with ten thousand taels of silver. How can we buy the land and earn stable money by lending it out? Now that the children are all Jinshi, our family can also use his In the name of buying more fields, you can write to the boss later about this matter."

Mother Wei's interest in land became active again when she heard what Father Wei said. In the past, the family did not have a formal official status, so it was difficult to escape taxes after buying land. But it is different now. Her son has become a Jinshi, and with a tax-free official status, his family can also Hoarding land openly and honestly.

"I think it's okay to purchase some land for the boss. The boss won't object and it will all be in Guangde's name. I will write a letter about this later."

Father Wei nodded and said.