Runzhou Hanfu.

Han Xizai was sitting in the room, playing chess with Xu Kai. The black and white stones on the chessboard were densely packed with Zhenglie.

"Is Brother Han's condition getting better?" Xu Kai asked while twisting a piece and thinking about the chess strategy.

Han Xizai nodded: "It's better. The dizziness symptoms have been relieved and the pit of my stomach is no longer so stuffy. This Su Chen has really good medical skills."

Xu Kai smiled lightly and said: "The Su family has inherited medical skills for hundreds of years. There have been doctors in the past generations. It makes sense that he knows some medical skills."

Han Xizai became suspicious and said: "It's just that Sanlang of the family sent someone to Liuhefang to inquire about Su Chen's neighborhood. It's a bit notorious and unpleasant! This is strange. At such a young age, is he really misbehaving, or is he deliberately desecrating himself?

It’s so unpredictable.”

Xu Kai raised his head, glanced at the other party, and said in surprise: "Oh, is this happening?"

Han Xizai nodded and said: "Su Chen has been in Runzhou City for five years, but he has not shown any talent. He was dropped out of the academy in the state capital. He is just a student. Logically speaking, his talent is not outstanding.

However, you have also seen those two poems about heartfelt feelings and breaking up the relationship. I am afraid that no one in the entire Jiangnan Tang Dynasty could write them!"

Xu Kai also sighed: "Not only the Tang State, but also all these vassal states, no one in the world can be better than him!"

Han Xizai sighed: "It would be a pity if we don't bring such talents to our side and train them properly."

Xu Kai hesitated and said, "Did Brother Han invite him to take part in the imperial examination?"

Han Xizai shook his head and said: "I mentioned it to him, but he refused, saying that he was not good at writing beautiful articles and could not write parallel rhymes, so he chose to give up the imperial examination!"

"If you don't take the imperial examination and directly recommend him to the court, it will be troublesome after all!" Xu Kai was a little worried.

After the development of the imperial examination in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Jinshi Examination has almost become the only way for scholars to enter the official career. Except for some children of powerful people, most of the officials' children also choose the imperial examination, because there are many limitations to enter the official career through the shadow.

If you are recognized by scholars and want to get a higher confidential position, it will be more difficult and your development will be limited if you do not have an imperial examination background.

In this era, one can no longer become a high-ranking official just by being the son of a minister. The imperial examination broke the official career monopoly of the powerful and powerful class.

Han Xizai was suspicious and said: "So, this kid is very slippery. He might have been worried that the court would involve him because of his father's case, and someone would do something bad to him, so he chose to slander himself and become a playboy, so as not to be punished.

It’s not impossible to be implicated.”

"The possibility is very high!" Xu Kai agreed with this guess, and then analyzed: "His father Su Mingyuan is a criminal, and he is involved in the whirlpool of the crown prince and the King of Qi fighting for the right to the throne. The party struggle in the Manchu Dynasty is getting more and more intense. It is not clear who is behind the murder.

With his father’s power, it is reasonable for this boy to let himself go, pretend to be degenerate, and avoid the attention of certain people in the court!”

If Su Chen heard these two court officials analyzing him like this, he would probably burst into laughter. Are you thinking too much and thinking too much?

Han Xizai murmured: "If Su Chen is really talented, we still have to drag him back to the imperial examination, even if it is an unconventional examination!"

Zhiju means "Zhike", a temporary examination subject set up in the past dynasties, which began in the Han Dynasty; the emperor often called Zhizhao, raised questions, and personally gave advice to those who should be selected. Dong Zhongshu's virtuous countermeasures are an example.

The examination system in the Tang Dynasty was a special subject set up by the emperor to select "extraordinary people". Subjects were set up at any time and had many names. The most common ones were the virtuous and Fangzheng subject, the outspoken and admonishing subject, the erudite and macroci subject, etc. After Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty, the examination was

Beginning of actual discontinuation.

Xu Kai thought for a while and reminded: "Poetry and literary talent alone are not enough. You need to have real talent and practical knowledge, and the ability to govern and secure the country is what is needed for the rejuvenation of the Tang Dynasty.

Han Xizai sighed: "Yes, this is what I want to say. After several contacts, this Su Chen has brought me many surprises, writing lyrics, medical skills, and commenting on national politics and current situation. Yesterday, I asked him about the situation in the north and asked him

Put forward some opinions. That boy Su Chen analyzed it very clearly and concluded that the Song Dynasty Congress violated the laws of the Later Zhou Dynasty.

Chai Rong's strategy of "first north then south" before his death was changed to "first south then north", and he gave up attacking the Liao Kingdom. After occupying Jingnan, this year's Spring Meeting took the lead in attacking Chu, and then separated Tang and Shu.

Wait for the annexation of the Shu Kingdom, then attack the Southern Han Dynasty, and finally outflank the Tang Kingdom. These remarks made me suddenly enlightened!"

Xu Kai pondered for a moment and said suspiciously: "He is young, has no contact with court affairs, and has no source of information. How can he infer these current affairs?"

"This is what I am curious about, and I don't know if the prediction is accurate. If the Song Dynasty really implements this strategy, then Su Chen is really a great talent, worthy of our strong support and cultivation; if it is not accurate, then it is just talk on paper, let's take another look

Bar!"

As soon as Han Xizai finished speaking, a guard came to the door quickly, clasped his fists and reported: "Master, there is a secret message from the northwest!"

"Bring it in." Han Xizai put down the chess piece in his hand, turned around and shouted to the door.

The guard quickly entered the room and handed the secret letter to Han Xizai.

To the northwest of the Tang State was the land of Ezhou and Jiangzhou, and to the north it faced the Song State across the river. It was once densely bordered by the Nanping State, Chu State, and Shu State. It was the northwest gateway of the Tang State in the south of the Yangtze River and an important place for defense.

"Letter from Dog!"

Han Xizai's sixth son, Han Qian, served as a partial general in the Jiangzhou camp and had access to a lot of frontline information. In addition to sending it to the Privy Council and the Ministry of War in Jinling City as soon as possible, there was also a message that would be sent to Han Xizai through internal communication within the family.

Able to see in time, understand the situation in advance, make plans and respond.

"The Song army launched a surprise attack after the beginning of spring. In just half a month, they had conquered four cities in the Chu region and reached Changsha Prefecture."

Xu Kai's face changed when he heard this, and he said in surprise: "What's wrong, how can those princes in Chu resist the separatist rule?

A look of worry suddenly appeared on Han Xizai's face, and he nodded: "There was civil strife in the Chu region ten years ago, and our Tang general Bian Hao led his troops to capture Changsha. The Ma family surrendered, and Southern Chu was destroyed. But later, the Chu general Liu Yan,

He raised troops and defeated our Tang army, and continued to occupy the Chu land. In the end, Ma Xichong, the queen of Chu, surrendered to the Later Zhou Dynasty.

, was granted the title of Commander of the Yulin Army by Zhou Shizong in Daliang City, while the Chu land was actually divided by Liu Yan, Wang Kui and other Chu generals. Although it was still called the Chu Kingdom on the surface, in fact, it had long existed in name only and was in disarray. Now it was defeated by the Song Army of the Tiger and Wolf Division.

Attack, according to this trend, I am afraid that within a month or two, all of Chu will fall."

Xu Kai also said anxiously: "In this way, the Song State took Jiangling Mansion in Jingnan and Changsha Mansion in Chu State, and separated Shu and Tang from north to south, making them unable to communicate."

Han Xizai frowned, suddenly remembered something, and said in surprise: "Hey, doesn't this coincide with Su Chen's analysis?"

Xu Kai suddenly said: "Of course! It's basically the same. Then the Song Army's next target is Shu?"

"It's very possible!"

Xu Kai cupped his hands and advised: "Brother Han, the leader of the court and the faction have too many conservatives. Jingchu will be completely destroyed, and the lips will die and the teeth will be cold. Brother Han should return to the center of Jinling as soon as possible to take charge of the overall situation and make plans in advance to support the Shu Kingdom."

Han Xizai hesitated for a moment and said: "There is still time, don't rush, let's see how our Jinling official will react after getting this news! If the official is not in a hurry, it will be useless for me to worry..." After finishing speaking, he
Chapter completed!