Gao Yanei was right. The pair of bracelets was indeed a business transaction, and no matter how you looked at it, it had nothing to do with helping someone.
"Okay, I admit that the pair of bracelets was an equal exchange." Zhang Shixun was realistic.
From the heart, it was indeed a great bargain to exchange a piece of jewelry that was extremely cheap in later times for a three-story house in the capital, at least that was what Zhang Shixun thought.
"Just admit it, brother."
"So, you're here to make a deal with me today, right?"
"yes."
"The general asked me to be an official, and I gave him the earrings. Is that what you mean?"
"Brother is a wise man. This is exactly what Dad meant."
"The problem now is that your father hasn't yet been appointed as an official, and I'm not your nephew. In other words, the path of patronage won't work. Am I understanding correctly?"
Gao Yanei nodded and said, "Yes...that's right."
"Since this approach doesn't work, why did you even tell me about Mao?"
"Don't be anxious, just listen to me."
"Come and talk to me after your father becomes a senior official." Zhang Shixun said, pretending to push him out.
"Don't push me, I haven't finished talking yet."
"you say."
"My father said that you can recognize him and change your last name to Gao."
"Shut up! I am the only one left in the Zhang family. You want the Zhang family to be extinct... Get out!" Zhang Shixun's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
"Okay, this is what I expected. I won't force it."
"Since you expected this, why are you still telling me?" Zhang Shixun stood at the kitchen door, his hands on his hips, looking ferocious. "You're clearly taking me for a fool."
"I just said there are two ways, and I only mentioned one."
"I don't want to listen." Zhang Shixun turned around and continued cutting meat.
Gao Yanei said, "Brother! Why are you so angry? Aren't we here to discuss this?"
Zhang Shixun said nothing and put the chopped mutton on another plate.
"Brother, the next method will definitely work, but it will take a little more effort and take a little longer." Gao Yanei said as he observed Zhang Shixun's expression.
"How long?" Zhang Shixun asked. This question was very important. If it was delayed for a few years, it would lose its meaning because the Jin army would launch a large-scale attack on Kaifeng in a few years.
"It won't take too long. It will be done after the New Year."
Zhang Shixun thought about it and decided that it was only half a year, which was not unacceptable. "Please be more specific and don't be long-winded."
"One way is to take the military examination... Don't worry, my father will arrange everything for you in advance and make sure you can pass the exam smoothly." After Gao Yanei said this, he stared at Zhang Shixun, fearing that he would not agree.
"Martial arts examination?" Zhang Shixun rolled his eyes. This was a good idea.
"Well! First, you take the Jie exam. If you pass it, you can take the provincial exam, and finally the palace exam."
"Tell me more in detail, how will the test be conducted?"
"The examination will be held at the place of household registration, and will be conducted by personnel sent by the Ministry of War. The first test will be archery and horseback riding. If you can pass the archery and horseback riding, you will then be tested on policy essays and the Seven Military Classics."
"What about the provincial exam?"
"The provincial examinations and the Ministry of War examinations are all about the same content, just a little more difficult. If you can pass, it's time for the palace examination. Once you pass the palace examination, you're guaranteed a spot. The emperor's presence is just a formality."
"Can I get a martial arts champion?" Zhang Shixun asked tentatively.
"This... depends on the emperor's intention. No one can influence the emperor. If you are lucky, it is not impossible." Gao Yanei complained in his heart. This guy is really getting more and more greedy. He hasn't even dealt with the military scholar yet, but he has already started thinking about the military champion.
"Okay, I won't force you to be the top martial arts champion." Zhang Shixun frowned and said, "But now there is a problem..."
"Brother, please tell me."
"I only have some clumsy strength. I can neither ride a horse nor shoot an arrow. As for the strategy you mentioned, let alone the strategy."
"I've told you, my father has arranged everything for you. You just need to show up. My father will take care of the rest. You don't need to worry about it." Gao Yanei smiled.
Zhang Shixun said, "Don't you want me to worry about it? Tell me the details of General Gao's arrangements."
Gao Yanei smiled mysteriously: "You will know when the time comes."
"No, I want to know. This is a deal. I need to know the details."
Gao Yanei hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, but you have to promise not to tell anyone else."
"There's no need to explain this."
"It's like this." Gao Yanei lowered his voice and said, "A few days before the exam, I will reveal the content of the exam to you, brother. You just need to memorize what you need to memorize. As for the examiner, you don't have to worry about it. My father will take care of everything for you. I guarantee that you will pass."
"You have to write the policy paper for me too." Zhang Shixun added, "I have never come across this before, how can I take the exam?"
"Of course. Someone will write it for you in advance. You just need to memorize the answers." Gao Yanei said, patting his chest.
By this time, things were almost over. Zhang Shixun stopped talking and pulled out a hairpin and a sky star from his pocket. He asked, "Choose one of the two. Which one do you choose?"
"Ah!?" Gao Yanei was caught off guard. "Give it to me right now! Do you trust me so much? Aren't you afraid that I won't do anything for you after I take the thing?"
"I didn't tell you to choose. I told you to choose first."
"Oh." Gao Yanei looked at the hairpin, then at the stars in the sky, undecided.
They are all good babies, I want them all.
"Speak quickly, which one do you want?" Zhang Shixun was impatient.
Gao Yanei gritted his teeth and said, "The Star in the Sky, I want the Star in the Sky."
"Okay, I'll keep it for you."
"Brother, you can rest assured. My Gao family is loyal to the government and righteous to our friends. If you don't believe me, go and ask around. If anyone says that the Gao family has done anything ungrateful, you can cut off the head of my Gao Chengzong's Six Yang and kick it like a ball."
"Does your Gao family have such a good reputation?"
"That's absolutely true." Gao Yanei patted his chest and said, "Although my father holds a high position and great power, he is also a man of loyalty. The emperor promoted him from humble beginnings, and he repaid the emperor with unwavering loyalty, never betraying the emperor's grace. He will always remember his friends, family, and even ordinary people who have done him a favor."
"So, your Gao family can be called a loyal and righteous family?" Zhang Shixun said with a hint of sarcasm.
"I can hear that. You're hinting at something, and your tone seems to suggest suspicion." Gao Yanei was no fool; he could hear the sarcasm in Zhang Shixun's voice and explained, "You might not know others, but I'll use the example of the great scholar Su... Oh! By the way, you should know about the great scholar Su, right?"
"Well, it's Su Shi, Su Dongpo, right?"
"That's right. When Daddy was young, he worked as a servant to the great scholar Su for two years. Later, the great scholar Su saw that my daddy was both civil and military...Brother, why are you pouting?"
"No." Zhang Shixun denied it. In fact, he really curled his lips. It would be strange if he believed Gao Qiu, who was both civil and military.
"It seems that you don't believe that my father is capable of both literature and martial arts?"
Zhang Shixun smiled and said nothing.
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