Jinshi who entered imperial academy were generally called Jishi Shu. He is not an official yet, but he can already enjoy the treatment of the seven-product official. After the internship expires, the emperor can be assigned to the official department after an interview in person. In the eighteenth year of Daoguang, the 27-year-old boy was successfully admitted to Jinshi, ranking 42nd among the top three, and was able to enter imperial academy, officially becoming the favorite pupil of Zhang Mu, the military minister. At the expiration of the three-year internship in the Hanlin Academy, Daoguang made an instruction that "it's ugly, but it can be of great use if you got it right" after interviewing Lao Zeng, and the official department immediately arranged for Lao Zeng to be reviewed by imperial academy.
1. Be cautious about promotion, and always be vigilant and careful.
Since the 21st year of Daoguang as a imperial academy review, Lao Zeng has officially set foot on his official career. In March of the 23rd year of Daoguang, Lao Zeng took an examination of Hanlin Zhanshi by imperial edict (equivalent to competing for employment and reporting on work). As a result, he successfully passed the exam and was promoted to be a lecturer at Wu Pin Hanlin Academy. I used to feel that I didn't rank as high as others and I didn't lack anything. However, the emperor arranged for him to give lectures in imperial academy, and he always felt that this was really a mighty favor, which could be said to be a special reward. Thanks to the virtues of my ancestors, I am grateful to the emperor. I have always felt that I must always be in a state of fear and vigilance and try my best to serve my country, so that I can repay this royal grace.
In May of the 25th year of Daoguang, Lao Zeng was promoted again, and this time he was promoted to the right bastard of Zhan Shifu's right spring workshop. Lao Zeng said this in his letter to his younger brother: Thanks to his grandfather's Yu Ze, he won extraordinary honors frequently. This promotion was unexpected. He is afraid and introspective from morning till night, and he feels that he really doesn't have enough virtue to undertake this great responsibility. Brothers must always write letters to explain their mistakes. We must ensure that the virtues accumulated by the Zeng family through the ages will not begin to degenerate. Perhaps we can maintain complete peace and avoid the danger of coming quickly. I should always be in awe and not be proud of being in a government office. This is the way to carry happiness.
As the saying goes, "when the water is full, it will overflow, and when the moon is full, it will lose money." When anything develops to the extreme, it will go to the opposite side and go downhill, that is, the extremes meet. In this way, doing things like this and being an official like this is the inevitable law of the development of all things. When you or your family are lucky, you must learn to protect your interests and Thailand, and accept it when it is good to avoid the ultimate sorrow. Being in officialdom, the old man once knew this truth, so he was modest and cautious in everything and didn't pursue perfection. It is precisely because Lao used to be an official in Beijing and contacted with high-level dignitaries every day that he can see through life in time, be prepared for danger in times of peace, and look at the rise and fall of family honor and disgrace from a higher angle.
2, know how to keep the benefits and protect the Thai, not without errands.
In March of the 26th year of Daoguang, Lao Zeng talked about his work in a letter to his parents: he wrote home for the last time and said that he had tinea, which meant that he was unwilling to take the division test. I'm trying to cure it now. If it can be cured, I will still take the exam. If it can't be cured, I won't take it. In short, it doesn't matter whether you take the exam or not. I passed the exam, but I got more salary. If you fail the exam, it is no different from not taking the exam. Many Hanlin students take the exam every year, but few of them get in. They just want to be safe I hope parents don't pin their hopes on whether they will get a division of labor.
Three months later, Lao Zeng's letter to his parents was still about work: no work was assigned this year, and Liu Ge failed to pass the exam in the countryside. Presumably, the adults in the class are very worried and ask themselves to be happy that he has not assigned a job. Too full will suffer, too high a seat will easily lead to ruin, the sun will set at the top, and the moon will be incomplete when it is round. This is the eternal truth. I thought I didn't know anything, so I became an official and got a bachelor's degree. I have been promoted many times, and my grandparents and parents are very healthy. The Zeng family can be said to be in full swing. Hanlin in Beijing has no good things, but there are good things at home. He is very uneasy, but he is lucky and hopes that the whole family will be safe.
It can be seen from Lao Zeng's letters that he has a very clear understanding of himself. Lao Zeng's ten-year career as a Beijing official has been promoted rapidly, which can be said to be smooth sailing. In addition to being promoted repeatedly because he entered imperial academy at that time, he was worshipped by Zhang Mu, a senior minister of the military department of the dynasty, favored by Zhang Mu, and was also inseparable from Lao Zeng's own diligence and ability. When the water is full, it will overflow, and when the moon is full, it will lose money. The benefits of this world are endless. You must be self-aware and know how to accept when you are well. When Lao Zeng was an official in Beijing, he usually studied, made friends and worked hard, but he was not arrogant and impetuous as an official. He keeps very peaceful, which is also the cultivation of his official career, and it is worth learning!
Throughout the ages, many people have done something, and when they call the roll, they become self-expanding and complacent. There was hope for further progress. As a result, because of an careless move, I lost the whole game and burned my career. As the saying goes, "He who travels a hundred miles is half ninety." Many times it seems to have been successful, and it is only one step away from the final victory. The more this moment, the more cautious, be prepared for danger in times of peace, and make plans early. At this point, Lao Zeng continued to set a good example for us. Whether it is a ten-year career as a Beijing official or a ten-year military career, there are plans to retire before, trying to avoid misfortune and leaving room for manoeuvre.
3. Be prepared for danger in times of peace.
In October of the 29th year of Daoguang, after an imperial decree promoted him to be the minister of tournament shooting, he wrote a letter to his younger brothers: He usually hates the red tape of officialdom, which is vulgar and hypocritical, and these things are not good for the national economy and people's livelihood. But in this position, you can't jump out regardless. I hope my younger brothers can make a little progress and have a little capital to honor their parents at home, so I plan to quit my job and go home to be a free and idle person. Now my younger brothers are frustrated in the imperial examination, but they are busy here. Everything is concentrated and no one can help them. Every time I think about it, I feel that I can't see the other side of the sea.
In April of the second year of Tongzhi, Lao Zeng said in a letter to his ninth brother that my brother was so determined to resign as governor that the passbook he wrote for his brother a few days ago would certainly satisfy him. In the letter, "It is very difficult to be a man and do things in troubled times" said what I wanted to say. Our brother has always been conscientious, so he will retire at the first opportunity in the future. Maybe they can finish the task well and avoid a catastrophe! The whole trick of undertaking a major event lies in the word "Qiang Ming". The five aspects of learning, questioning, thinking, distinguishing and acting in The Doctrine of the Mean are "thinking must be clear, and softness must be strong." Nothing can be done without gas, nothing can be done without strength. Self-cultivation and family planning should also be based on aboveboard.
Don't underestimate the philosophy of making progress in times of peace, which often hides the great wisdom of life. Han Xin, a hero of the Western Han Dynasty, was discredited because he didn't know how to make contributions to Gao Zhen. And Xiao He, in order to save his stigma, bought a lot of land, and finally let the high-impedance Liu Bang put down his suspicions, and died unsatisfied. Lao Zeng did a good job at this point. Ceng Guoquan, his younger brother, cut off the pass, besieged the city and pulled out the village, laying countless cities. But Lao Zeng seldom put the credit on his younger brother, but on others. After conquering Tianjing (now Nanjing), he persuaded his younger brother to resign and retire. His wisdom in life is admirable!
There is a popular saying that "an official should learn from Zeng Guofan and a businessman should learn from Hu Xueyan". Know the way of blessing, be diligent and capable in officialdom, and always be cautious; Require family members to write letters frequently to exhort them to make mistakes, seek good fortune and avoid disasters, so as to avoid degeneration in the family; Know how to keep profits and protect Thailand, accept when it is good, and always have a peaceful mind; Be modest and prudent in everything, and don't pursue perfection excessively; Know how to retreat, be prepared for danger in times of peace, and often make retirement plans ... this is Lao Zeng's way of being an official. It can be seen here that Lao used to be a practical, careful, thoughtful and far-sighted person. It's amazing that he doesn't cling to greed and always stays awake! Studied it! Line up.
& lt end of chapter 27 >