Chapter 8, Mingjing Arithmetic

Although Zu Zhao had thought about it for a long time, he did not expect Chen Xianjun to come for this matter.

Inspection was the most important way to get an official in the Han Dynasty. Anyone who can obtain the qualification of inspection must be outstanding local virtues. Even so, the quota is limited every year, and the talents recommended by each county have to go through a certain competition.

Zu Zhao knows that he has a good reputation. He has been able to be filial to his elders and virtuous sergeants since he was a child, and he has studied poems and scriptures seriously. In addition, the family of his ancestors* does not lack the qualifications to participate in the inspection. But importantly, he is still young this year and has insufficient qualifications compared with other talented officials in the county. Throughout the past ten years of inspection history, the admitted are all weak and talented, and there has never been a precedent of an exceptional use by a 16-year-old teenager.

Of course, this does not mean that there is no opportunity. However, he has never considered stepping into an official career. The three generations of the ancestral family are prosperous, and the family is rich. With his own strength alone, there is no need to worry too much about the election. If you can't be elected as an official in the court, it's good to stay in the county to serve as an official. In case you are really selected into the court by chance and stay away from your family's sphere of influence, the gains outweigh the losses.

Now that the Han Dynasty is in decline, the Yellow Turban Uprising is about to begin, and the world will soon usher in an era of heroes. In troubled times, nothing is more advantageous than holding actual military power. Whether it is for survival or other means, only by truly mastering a strong army of your own can you establish a voice in this world.

Because of this, although being elected as an official in the DPRK is excellent for cultivating political qualifications and accumulating political capital, there will obviously be too many chicken ribs at this jux. Instead of being trapped in the temple, it is better to strengthen the power in the world. What's more, the Yellow Turban Uprising was originally a great opportunity to make contributions.

"It's really hard to be praised by the county lord. Although there is no clear limit on age, there has never been a weak crown in the past, and the younger generation is 16 years old and not deeply involved in the world. Isn't it a joke? After a quick thought in his mind, Zu Zhao politely declined.

"The ancestor is modest again." Chen Xianjun smiled deeply, seemingly only as if Zu Zhao pretended to be modest, but there were many strings behind his smile.

"Zhaoer, I have already told the county magistrate what I should say. This time, the county magistrate has really taken great pains to do it, and there are indeed no other outstanding candidates in the county this year. Don't think you are so great. The county will list you first. As for whether you can be nominated, it depends on your career. Zu Ju's tone gradually showed seriousness and stared at Zu Zhao with strict eyes.

Zu Zhao knows that although his grandfather is old, he is by no means a kind and duty-abiding old man. It can be said that his grandfather's family can develop into a powerful family today because of his unremitting and careful management. Whether it is worshipping Lu Zhi as a teacher at a young age, avoiding suspicion, or marrying with the Gongsun family, it is not difficult to see his grandfather's city and ambition. This request to participate in the inspection of Youbeiping County is obviously the hope that the ancestral family can step back into the officialdom.

Unfortunately, although my grandfather was ambitious, he lacked effective judgment on the general trend of the country.

However, even so, he still needs to get the support of his grandfather, so it is impossible to go against it at this time. Therefore, he deliberately pretended to be honest and smiled and did not deliberately answer the words. After all, he is more or less sure. This county inspection may not be able to make a successful election. In history, there are only a few people who are too young to enter the court as an official. This probability can not be broken.

"The eldest son has outstanding moral character and both literature and martial arts. He is really a rare talent in Xuwu County. Even if you are still young, as long as you have a heart for society and can do your best, why not? Chen Xianjun said with a smile.

"I thanked Chen Xianjun for being so loving to carry it." Zu Zhao said with a modest smile.

"Chen County said to me that this year, the county is still dominated by filial piety and integrity, supplemented by virtue and righteousness. However, classics and Ming calculation are not useless. There have been some rumors from Liu Taishou that there happens to be a vacancy in Cao Yu's history this year. Zu Ju said with some meaning.

Hearing this, Zu Zhao was completely relieved. It seemed that his grandfather's intention was not to let himself enter the court as an official through inspection. As long as there is the support of my grandfather behind it, it is not difficult to be an official in the county with the strength of my ancestors.

"The name of the eldest son's filial piety has been popular in the whole county, and filial piety has always been the most popular. I believe that if the ancestor son is named after filial piety, he will be sure." Chen Xianjun said decently.

Zu Zhao's filial name is indeed a little loud, but it has not reached the level of household name. After all, as a son of a family, his family is rich and carefree. No matter how attentive he is, he can't make the world filial enough. Therefore, he was very clear that Chen Xianjun's words were simply polite or perfunctory, and he did not intend to take the county inspection seriously.

"In the late life, learning is shallow, and morality is shameful. Yu Xiao is just a fur, let alone honesty and self-serving, it is really not. The late life thought that the inspection should be decided only after the elders observed his words and deeds. This time, it is the honor of the county lord, and it is an honor for the late life. Everything is according to the arrangement of the grandfather. Except for filial piety, he should do his best. Zu Zhao said in a regular manner.

"So, sure enough, it will be decided by Zi Zhenggong." Chen Xianjun turned to Zu Zhao and said lightly.

Zuju is a strong person, preferring to carry forward the future of his grandson and the ancestral family. Earlier, in the process of chatting with Chen Xianjun, he had some ideas, but now he still pretended to think for a while.

"If you say that you are virtuous and decent, this boy is still qualified, but ten thousand is not enough evidence. On the contrary, he has studied the classics. Zeng learned from Lu Zigan, a great scholar in the world. Last year, he also wrote his own broken sentence annotations of the Book of Songs and the Analects of Confucius, which is also a small result. Zu Ju's words were very casual on the surface, but his expression was very praised. In fact, he was promoting his grandson's academics.

In his spare time last year, Zu Zhao made some notes on the most familiar poetic scriptures and Analects, one is to break sentences, and the other is appropriate interpretation. In fact, they are directly recorded in these two books, and there is no independent book at all, and I have never thought of making it public.

"Oh, isn't it?" Chen Xianjun obviously looked at Zu Zhao and asked with great interest.

"Evening is just a self-deprecating and despicable opinion. How dare you laugh generously?" Zu Zhao said.

"Chen Xianjun, if you trust him, please make Zhaoer famous for his classics." Zuju picked up a tea spoon and scooped a spoon of hot tea and poured it into Chen Xianjun's tea bowl.

"It's still Zi Zhenggong who knows Mr. Zu, so the matter is settled. At the beginning of next month, I invited the three old men in the county to discuss this matter together. If there is no accident, I can submit the official document to the county at the end of next month. Chen Xianjun said decisively.

"Please forgive the rudeness of the late life, and please think twice. Late students have shallow classics. If they are famous for their classics, I'm afraid they may not be fully sure. Late life may have some experience in Ming arithmetic. I can't say how outstanding it is, but I believe it will be more certain than the classics. After some thought, Zu Zhao still said.

"Calculation clearly?" Chen Xianjun was a little surprised. Although Zu Ju had mentioned clear calculation before, he thought he was just saying it casually. It is not only complicated and difficult, but also the most unpopular subject in history. Even if you can be selected as an official, you can only be a subordinate official for a lifetime, and there is no prospect for an official career. It's simply a thankless selection of subjects.

"This boy has been able to do arithmetic since he was a child. In the past, it took seven or eight people to sort out the accounts in a row for many days, but the boy only calculated for two days and sorted them out clearly, and there was no difference. Many gentlemen and accounts in the family say that the boy is agile and smart, but a talented wizard. Zhao'er, have you figured it out?" The first half of the sentence was to add light to his grandson, and the second half was obviously a warning. It can be seen that he doesn't want his grandson to choose an unpromising career.

"Is it really such a genius?" Chen Xianjun heard for the first time that Zu Zhao still had such ability, and even had some doubts, thinking that Zu Ju deliberately exaggerated in order to promote his grandson.

As early as the Qin Dynasty, there was a 99 multiplication table, but on the one hand, the ancients did not have many opportunities to learn, and on the other hand, it has always been dominated by academics such as poetry, calligraphy and etiquette. Naturally, it is not so easy to come into contact with arithmetic. What's more, the 99 multiplication table is only basic arithmetic, and multiplication and division alone cannot solve all mathematical problems. Zu Zhao knows more or less about algebraic operations such as multiple equations, and the handling of accounts is naturally superior.

Compared with classics, arithmetic does not need to involve so many major principles. Moreover, thousands of years later, the classics are still dominated by ancient Confucianism, and it is impossible to produce more new patterns.

In addition, what he hopes most now is to stay in the county to seek an official status. Since the county government has been rumored to have a vacancy in Cao Yu history, even if it is not a promising official position, at least he has a certain status and can directly establish a relationship with the county government.

"The learning is extensive and profound. Even if I was lucky enough to be selected, I'm afraid I won't be able to convince the public. What's more, when I answered in front of the county government, I was laughed at by people. The art of arithmetic focuses on the technique. As long as it is solid and careful, even if there is a mistake, it will not be embarrassing. Zu Zhao said very seriously. On the surface, these words were to Chen Xianjun, but in fact, he was answering his grandfather's words.

Zu Ju meditated for a while, and finally frowned and nodded slowly.