MM Racing Chapter 20 Brothers' Casual Chat
Chapter 20 Brothers' Casual Chat
As the eldest son, Wang Min attached great importance to the upbringing of Wang Zhuo.
He could have been sent to the Imperial Academy in Bianjing, but because there were too many纨绔子弟 (spoiled brats) at the Imperial Academy in Bianjing, Wang Min sent Wang Zhuo to the Imperial Academy in Xijing instead.
Wang Zhuo studied in Luoyang at the age of fifteen, only returning home for the Spring Festival each year.
It has been half a year since we last met.
Upon seeing Wang You, he excitedly rushed forward to greet him.
"Second younger brother!"
Wang Zhuo ran over, and Wang You went to meet him.
Wang Zhuo has the demeanor of an elder brother and is very protective of his younger brother, Wang You.
Although Wang You thought his way of showing affection was childish, it didn't affect their brotherly relationship.
"It's been a long time since I've seen my second brother; he's grown quite a bit taller."
Wang Zhuo looked his younger brother up and down and said with a smile, "My mother wrote to me that my second brother went to Bianjing to participate in the prodigy examination and would come to Luoyang to find me. I've been looking forward to it ever since."
"My older brother has changed a lot too. My mother is already arranging to find me a sister-in-law," Wang You joked.
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Wang Zhuo glared at the grinning Wang You.
His younger brother has been sensible since he was a child, giving people the feeling of a little adult.
However, he often makes some nonsensical jokes.
"I'm serious, doesn't big brother want to know which girl Mother chose?" Wang You said playfully.
Upon hearing this, a hint of interest appeared in Wang Zhuo's eyes. Although it is true that parents should make decisions about marriage, it would be impossible for him not to be curious at all.
When he saw Wang You's ambiguous smile, he realized what was going on and said irritably, "You're teasing me again. Come on, I'll take you to try some Luoyang delicacies."
Wang You's only hobby is food. He has loved going out since he was a child, and he wants to try everything that sells food.
Not long after Wang Min took office in Shouzhou, he came to Luoyang to study and was not very familiar with Shouzhou.
Every year when he went back, Wang You would take him to try all sorts of delicious food.
"it is good."
Wang You pointed to the carriage road parked to the side: "Big brother, get in the carriage."
After the two brothers boarded the carriage, Wang Zhuo instructed the driver, "Go to the Yu residence."
Wang You must have come to Luoyang by boat from Shouzhou, not by horse-drawn carriage.
This carriage was clearly hired in Luoyang, so it's impossible that they didn't know about the Yu family.
"Is this restaurant called Yu Fu similar to the tofu restaurant in Shouzhou?" Wang You asked.
In Shouzhou, there is a tofu restaurant where all the dishes are made with tofu, and it is also known as a tofu banquet.
"It's not as pure as Tofu House, which only serves fish as its main dish. But Fish House's fish dishes are truly exceptional, with the most famous being the mandarin fish with clams and the crispy-boned fish."
Both of these dishes are imperial cuisine; I've heard that the ones prepared at Yu Fu are just as delicious as those in the palace.
Influenced by Wang You, Wang Zhuo, though not a foodie, still enjoys tasting delicious food.
He had been to most of the famous restaurants in Luoyang.
He Long was taking him to the fish restaurant, so the food must be quite delicious. Wang You was looking forward to it.
"By the way, how are your grandmother, father, and mother doing?" Wang Zhuo asked.
"Grandmother and parents are all in good health. Mother even made two sets of clothes for me to bring to my older brother, but I don't know if they will fit," Wang You said.
"My mother knows I'm growing, so she always makes my clothes a little bigger. Even if they don't fit properly, she can just find a fabric shop to alter them," Wang Zhuo said with a smile.
Mother hands line, wandering clothing.
Even though he was thousands of miles away, his mother still thought about making clothes for him.
Wang Zhuo then inquired about the situations of Wang Ping and Wang Mu.
Wang Ping is born out of wedlock and has not yet moved out to live alone, so he is not very noticeable.
Chatting idly along the way, the carriage stopped in front of a three-story restaurant.
The restaurant was very grand, with a plaque above the entrance bearing the inscription "Yu Fu" (Fish Mansion).
As soon as the two brothers got out of the carriage, a servant greeted them warmly and invited them inside.
Wang Zhuo requested a private room on the second floor. The waiter led the two to the room and served them a pot of tea.
After Wang Zhuo ordered the food, the waiter left.
"By the way, I saw a line from Fan Zhongyan's 'Yueyang Tower' carved on the huge stone by the entrance of the Imperial College in Xijing. How come I've never heard you mention it before, big brother?" Wang You asked.
"The words on that stone were there when I arrived. Didn't I mention them?" Wang Zhuo asked, somewhat puzzled.
"My older brother definitely didn't mention it."
Wang You didn't dwell on that, but instead asked, "When Grand Chancellor Fan was demoted and banished from the capital, everyone avoided him like the plague, yet the Imperial Academy in Xijing displayed Grand Chancellor Fan's words outside its gates. Didn't anyone stop him?"
Do you know who the Director of Studies at the Imperial Academy in Xi'an is?
"Who?"
Wang Zhuo smiled and said, "The current Director of Studies in Xijing is a direct descendant of the Kong family."
"No wonder," Wang You said, suddenly realizing.
Since the Western Han Dynasty dismissed all other schools of thought, the status of Confucius has been elevated to an unprecedented level.
Throughout history, emperors have consistently bestowed honors and rewards upon the Confucius family.
It is said that dynasties last for a hundred years, while noble families last for a thousand.
By the Song Dynasty, those ancient families that had existed for a thousand years had all disappeared, except for the Kong family, which continued to exist.
Even during the Yuan and Qing dynasties, which were established by foreign ethnic groups, the Kong family maintained a revered status.
The unique position of the Confucius family meant that it was almost impossible for emperors of all dynasties to grant them any real power.
Therefore, the Imperial College almost became the base of the Confucius family.
After all, with Confucius's influence in the hearts of scholars, there was no need to worry about the situation where his disciples and former officials were spread all over the world if the Confucius family was in charge of education.
Since it was the Kong family who made them stand outside the door, no one dared to say anything.
After all, the phrase "concern for the country and its people" is indeed very suitable as a school motto.
"I heard that it was because of Fan Da Xiang Gong's petition to the emperor in his early years that Luoyang was built, which led to Luoyang's current prosperity."
The Imperial College in Xijing was also renovated at that time. To express his gratitude to Prime Minister Fan, the Director of Studies placed his words outside the Imperial College when Prime Minister Fan was in trouble.
"Unfortunately, the Emperor still has no intention of sending Minister Fan to court," Wang Zhuo sighed.
Wang You also sighed slightly. Fan Da Xiang Gong's memorial to the throne requesting the construction of Luoyang must be an attempt to move the capital.
After all, when the Liao army marched south, the court officials were so frightened that they could hardly escape.
It was only through the strong advocacy of Grand Chancellor Kou, who persuaded the late emperor to personally lead the expedition, that the Liao Kingdom was finally defeated.
Unfortunately, the late emperor and most of the court officials at the time were terrified of the Liao Dynasty, and even after the victory, their fear of the Liao Dynasty remained unchanged.
Surprisingly, after winning the battle, they took the initiative to seek peace.
Finally, an alliance was signed. Although the Liao Kingdom recognized the Song Dynasty as its elder brother, the Song Dynasty was still required to give its younger brother some benefits every year.
It was nominally a gift, a fig leaf left for the Song Dynasty.
However, after the outbreak of the Song-Xia War, the Liao Dynasty took the opportunity to press its army into the border, not only forcing the Song Dynasty to increase its annual tribute, but also changing the tribute from a gift to a payment, tearing away this fig leaf.
After the Song-Xia War, the Emperor appointed Fan Da Xiang Gong to implement new policies.
After the failure of the new policies, Fan Zhongyan was demoted to a local post, and the plan to move the capital was never put into practice before it was even submitted to the emperor.
Before the new year, the emperor reinstated Fu Xiangong as prime minister, and then successively recalled officials who had been demoted due to the new laws to the capital.
Just when everyone was speculating that the Emperor intended to implement reforms again, he issued an edict appointing Grand Chancellor Fan as the Prefect of Yingzhou.