After the court meeting the next day, three cabinet ministers were called by Zhu Youtang to the Qianqing Palace to talk.
What was being discussed was the candidate for the examination for next year's examination. They did not decide directly. They just asked the three of them to go back and think about it and discuss it in detail later.
The three of them returned to the pavilion to check in.
Xie Qian said: "Your Majesty is uncharacteristically different this year. There are still more than two months until the examination. Why do you want to appoint the examiner so early?"
Li Dongyang analyzed: "Is it related to His Majesty's eagerness to select talents? Your Majesty has recently reviewed the promotion records of the six official positions such as Langzhong, Yuanwailang and Principal in the past few years. It may also be related to Li Guang's suicide in fear of committing a crime. His Majesty's recent comments on There are many more inquiries about court affairs than before.”
After Zhu Youtang's health improved, he seemed to have more energy to ask about the affairs of the court. The emperor specifically asked about many things that he had not asked before, and even sent people to check them.
The three people in the cabinet who have the most stable grasp of the emperor's movements are those in the cabinet.
Liu Jian sighed quietly: "Maybe it has something to do with Jiangnan's Jieyuan..."
During Liu Jian's conversation, he brought up an "unspeakable" topic.
In the DPRK, Zhang Zhou's identity is still a closely guarded topic.
There are not many people who know the details, and even fewer who know the basics. Only those who have contact with the inner court officials will know some details. However, at the court level, the interactions between internal and external officials need to be taboo, and it is impossible for anyone to talk about Zhang Zhou openly.
Li Dongyang said: "Until now, Jizhi has not seen this person. After the other students arrived in Beijing, they were all eager to meet the master, but he is different. It is useless to send people to invite him."
Xie Qian changed the subject and said: "Wang Shichang has some memorials to impeachment, but they have been ignored by His Majesty recently. There is also no follow-up to the previous proposal to increase the number of Hanlin bachelors. Now Zhan is in charge of government affairs and the Hanlin Academy. Things and edicts all come from the hands of Keqin, will he be a little overwhelmed?"
Cheng Minzheng is now under the cabinet and can be regarded as half a cabinet elder.
The imperial edicts to be drafted by the cabinet, the affairs of the Hanlin Academy and the Zhanshifu were all in his hands. There was no second Hanlin bachelor in the Ming Dynasty, and several bachelors and lecturers were responsible for their respective responsibilities.
In today's Hanlin system, except for the three cabinet members, no one can compare with it.
Liu Jian did not answer this question.
Because in the past, when topics related to Cheng Minzheng were mentioned in front of the emperor, the emperor would not talk about it directly.
Everyone could see that the emperor intended to make Cheng Minzheng the fourth member of the cabinet.
Li Dongyang seemed to have thought of something and suggested: "Perhaps you can suggest to your majesty that Keqin will take the exam in the coming spring."
Xie Qian smiled and said: "In accordance with your Majesty's wishes and the rules of the past years, there will be two examiners for this exam, and one person must be appointed from the cabinet. You are the most suitable one."
Vaguely, it seems that the two candidates for the examination in February next year have been decided.
…
…
In the Qianqing Palace.
Xiao Jing is reporting on Wang Yue's situation after returning to Beijing.
The emperor was very concerned about Wang Yue's movements in Beijing. Since Wang Yue, the general who led the army, was dismissed and returned to Beijing, and he was a famous general, he specially sent people from Dongchang to secretly investigate to see who Wang Yue interacted with and who he met. Check whether there are any complaints or unusual movements to determine whether there is any alien intention.
"...Does it mean that after Wang Yue returned to Beijing, he went to visit Bingkuan? He is well-informed. Did he give any gifts?"
Zhu Youtang heard that Wang Yue had gone to see Zhang Zhou, and asked with interest.
Xiao Jing thought to himself, Wang Yue was not well-informed, but I was the one who made him well-informed.
It was me who gave him the guidance when he went to see Zhang Zhou.
Xiao Jing smiled and said: "I gave it. The gift was very generous. But after nightfall, Mr. Zhang sent someone back. He also made it clear that he was not Li Guang and would only accept the gifts he deserved. If it was given by others, he would not even dare to touch it. Touch, and ask Mr. Wang not to think about giving gifts again in the future."
"Ha ha!"
Zhu Youtang heard that it was very interesting, so he smiled and said, "It's okay if he accepts it. It would be nice to know more about Wang Yue. If he doesn't give it away, he will be uneasy and think what I am going to do to him."
Xiao Jing could tell that the emperor felt that it was natural for Zhang Zhou to accept Wang Yue's gift.
If Zhang Zhou didn't accept it, it would make Wang Yue think more, thinking that the emperor might want to remove him from his position or kill him.
In addition to liking to make friends with internal officials, Wang Yue was also suspicious.
Xiao Jing asked: "Do you want to inform Mr. Zhang?"
In fact, Xiao Jing also understood that the emperor wanted to appease Wang Yue in some ways. If Zhang Zhou accepted Wang Yue's gift, which would make Wang Yue feel more at ease in staying in the capital, then it would be regarded as Zhang Zhou accepting bribes. Not only would the emperor not care, On the contrary, it will be supported.
"No!" Zhu Youtang said, "Is Bingkuan in the East Palace today?"
"Yes. Mr. Zhang will give a lecture today."
Zhang Zhou had already begun to lecture before he passed the Jinshi examination. However, he came at a time when he was not lecturing in the Hanlin Academy. In name, he was here to check for gaps and provide after-school tutoring, but in fact, he had become Zhu Houzhao's main source of knowledge. point.
Zhu Youtang said: "Ask Bingkuan and see what his impression of Wang Yue is. I want to give Wang Yue the post of Minister of War and let him serve as an official. He is old and healthy and can go back to take care of himself."
Xiao Jingxin said that this Wang Junmen had been in wars all his life, with ups and downs. Now the emperor seemed to be very respectful to him and wanted to give him the title of Minister of War before he could become an official, but in fact he was not at ease with him.
Perhaps Your Majesty has also considered that King Yue is not willing to be subordinate to others. Even Tu Yu, whom he recommended back then, is now the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Would he be willing to be the left minister of the Ministry of War in the court?
…
…
Zhang Zhou taught Zhu Houzhao in the East Palace.
Zhu Houzhao seemed like a good student who listened carefully.
After class, Zhang Zhou went over to explain the situation and stated that he would not come again before or after the year.
"Why?"
Zhu Houzhao was still a little curious.
It was clear that Zhang Zhou had been giving him more and more lectures recently, and he liked listening to them more and more. Why did he suddenly stop?
Zhang Zhoubai glanced at him and said, "The prince is really forgetful. He forgot that I have to prepare for the national examination?"
"Tch, going to the palace once or twice will delay your exams? Where can I study?" Zhu Houzhao said with disdain, "If you don't want to come, just say you don't want to come, and you still have to make so many excuses."
Just as he was talking, Liu Jin on the side had already brought tea and prepared one for Zhang Zhou.
"Your Highness, Mr. Zhang, please have tea." Liu Jin said with a smile.
Zhu Houzhao said: "Is your butt healed? You've been doing a lot of activities recently."
Liu Jin smiled and said: "Thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince's concern, my slave's injuries have completely healed. Mr. Zhang, you don't have to release it yourself, just leave it to my slave."
As he spoke, he took the tea bowl that Zhang Zhou took a sip from, took it and slowly placed it on the table.
Zhang Zhou said: "Eunuch Liu, you're welcome."
You are a slave of the royal family, not mine. I don't know how to talk to you when you are so respectful.
"Zhang Zhou, after you finish the exam next year, remember to come back as soon as possible. I'm waiting in the East Palace to take care of you. It's best that you pass the exam by then. If you fail, I will look down on you."
Zhu Houzhao knew that he would be separated from Zhang Zhou temporarily. This separation would last for more than two months, and he was still a little sad about the separation.
Zhang Zhou has taught him a lot recently, and he has benefited from it.
The two of them are not teachers and students, but more like friends.
Happy New Year.
Zhang Zhou said: "I still remember doing business with the prince, but the bookstore has not been opened yet. It is in the market promotion stage, and the results are pretty good so far. We will make a fortune together in the coming year."
"Okay, getting rich is great. I like getting rich the most!"
…
…
Zhang Zhou came out of Wenhua Palace and prepared to leave the palace with Liu Jin leading the way.
But it was Xiao Jing who came in a hurry and informed the emperor that he wanted to inquire about Wang Yue.
"You don't have to go to see the saint, do you?" Zhang Zhou asked.
"No, if you have anything, just tell our family and we will tell them." Xiao Jing said.
Zhang Zhou nodded: "Wang Weining paid a visit to my house that day. In addition to being grateful for saving his life, he also asked me if there was any way to help him get Count Weining's title back."
"ah?"
Xiao Jing was shocked.
You Zhang Zhou are really straightforward.
Who asked you, why are you telling me this?
The emperor was already wary of Wang Yue. After you said this, wouldn't the emperor have driven him out of the court earlier?
Zhang Zhou said: "But I said, I can't do anything about it. Later, his gift was sent back to him."
"This... is what it should be." Xiao Jing was ashamed.
If you don't send it back, Your Majesty and I will still have no way to deal with him. After all, Wang Yue's every move is being watched. Not only you, but even I don't dare to stop him for the time being. We will wait until the limelight passes before we take another look.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "But I told him that it is not completely impossible to get a knighthood."
Xiao Jing smiled bitterly and said: "Mr. Zhang, please don't make fun of our family. We are in such a mood that you are making us feel up and down one after another. Can we finish talking at once?"
"Okay." Zhang Zhou nodded, "I told him that the Tatars might go south again, and they might go out in full force to grab a wave and leave. He asked me if I could calculate when it would be, and he said no. If I have other help, he can apply to His Majesty and lead the troops to win a beautiful battle, and maybe he can get his title back."
"Eunuch Xiao, please judge, is he not bragging?"
Xiao Jing's face stiffened when he heard this: "I'm really not bragging, he has such abilities, but Mr. Zhang, can this kind of thing... be counted?"
Zhang Zhou said: "It's a little difficult, but it's not impossible. Anyway, we just need to be prepared first? If we make a mistake, it will be nothing more than a waste of manpower and material resources. In the end, there will be no big losses, and there is no need to make a big fuss that will be known to both the government and the public..."
When Xiao Jing heard this, he immediately smiled and said: "If it can be calculated, it is really the case. Anyway, we are just making some preparations internally, and no one will announce it to the public. Then our family... will report to His Majesty?"
Zhang Zhou probably understood from Xiao Jing's reaction.
For Wang Yue, this was an opportunity to regain his title, but for Xiao Jing, as long as things can be accomplished, just making suggestions is also a meritorious service.
"Is it really okay? I'm also afraid that this will bring some trouble to the court..."
Zhang Zhou also seemed to be afraid of trouble.
Xiao Jing said with a flattering look on his face: "If you can really calculate when the Tatars will come, you can predict the enemy's attack first, so that the Ming Dynasty's border areas can be prepared, and then the Ming Dynasty soldiers have the opportunity to kill the Tatars with superior force, and boost the military power. , How can such a good thing be trouble? Your Majesty is too late to be happy."
"Mr. Zhang, to be honest, if it hadn't been for your words, perhaps His Majesty would have given Wang Shilang a Minister of War and asked him to retreat. Now that you have said it, he might have to stay in the court for a while longer. Two years to win this battle before leaving. Your Majesty also hopes to stabilize the border."
(End of chapter)
