The end of the first year.
That afternoon, Dai Yi and Chen Kuanren carried the memorial and went from the room of the Supervisor of Ceremonies to the Palace of Qianqing.
After meeting Zhu Youtang, Dai Yi asked people to put the memorials aside first, and then divided them into six wooden trays, each holding memorials of varying importance, and the last wooden tray had the most memorials.
When Dai Yi arrived, Xiao Jing, who had arrived earlier, was reporting to Zhu Youtang the results of Jiang Rong's interrogation.
"...he offered tribute to Jiang, but he was not allowed to pay homage to the great scholar Li. Later, out of jealousy, he drafted a memorial to impeach the ministers for blocking their speech. No one instigated him. Dongchang inquired about the Jiang family. They have not discovered that he has any close contact with anyone, nor have they discovered that he has been entrusted with giving gifts..."
Jiang Rong's participation in the impeachment of three cabinet ministers had a very bad impact on the court.
Liu Jian did not shy away from suspicion. Recently, he had been helping Jiang Rong in the court to fight for the emperor's release.
Report me, and I will speak for him...
This reflects the magnanimity of the chief minister of the cabinet.
Zhu Youtang picked up a memorial, read it, and asked, "Where is Peng Quan?"
Xiao Jing said: "We are already on the way to Beijing. We estimate that we will arrive in the capital after mid-February."
"Um."
Zhu Youtang first took the most memorials on the wooden tray. These memorials were almost all the same.
Participate in the impeachment of Wang Yue, participate in the impeachment of the Zhang family brothers...
The emperor had previously spoken in the court. If anyone has any opinions about the northwest, feel free to mention it.
The imperial censor cannot directly express too many opinions on the situation in the northwest, otherwise no one will be able to afford anything that happens in the northwest. The best way is... to take Wang Yue's action.
As for participating in the impeachment of brothers Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling, it is purely incidental.
"Did anyone make irresponsible remarks about Bingkuan?"
Zhu Youtang read a few copies and found that there was nothing new in the content of the impeachment, so he asked one more question.
Dai Yi said: "Yes."
As he said this, he picked out two portions from another tray. What he said was that the emperor believed the words of the alchemist.
After Zhu Youtang read it, he didn't get angry and put it aside.
"What are the other two things that Bingkuan hasn't said yet?" Zhu Youtang looked up at Dai Yi, "In less than ten days, he will enter the Gongyuan."
Xiao Jing replied: "My servant went to ask about it the day before yesterday. Mr. Zhang said that before he enters the palace, he will list two things in detail."
"Okay, with his words, I feel relieved."
Zhu Youtang breathed a sigh of relief.
Now Zhu Youtang doesn't care much about ministers or the situation in the northwest.
All that is remembered is the three hexagrams calculated by Zhang Zhou.
…
…
Zhang Mansion.
Zhang Zhou almost never leaves home these days.
On this day, Wang Yue's eldest son Wang Chun came to visit.
Wang Chun came to see Zhang Zhou, not only to ask questions about the prophecy for his father, but also to inform Zhang Zhou about matters within the court... Wang Yue had great influence in the court, and he was also afraid of people in the court. His impeachment affected his performance in the Northwest War, so someone was always keeping an eye on him.
At the same time, Wang Yue also wanted to be bound to Zhang Zhou.
Wang Chun's words were somewhat provocative: "... Recently, some officials have been slandering you, sir. I'm afraid that after you enter the court, it will be difficult for you to integrate into your colleagues."
Wang Chun was here to send a message to Wang Yue.
Do you think that just because you are a Jieyuan, you can live in harmony with the civil servants of the DPRK and China?
It's better to concentrate on being a fawning minister and forget about taking the imperial examination.
We brothers can still support each other.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you have been frequently impeached recently, right?"
Wang Chun looked a little embarrassed.
"Your Majesty could have been a civil servant with peace of mind, or even a very human minister, but do you think he would concentrate on this?" Zhang Zhou smiled.
Wang Yue could clearly be the minister of the Ministry of War with peace of mind at the beginning, and even being the left minister of the Ministry of War this time would not be a bad idea. However, Wang Yue knew that making friends with close friends would easily lead to criticism, but he still enjoyed it.
Wang Chundao: "Perhaps, my husband and my father are similar in being officials."
"Yes." Zhang Zhou smiled, "Like your father, I don't want to be a civil servant with mixed qualifications. If I really want to be a civil servant and make a difference in the solid officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, it will take less than nine years to pass the exam. If you can't come out, you may not be recognized by others until you are old enough to know your destiny. It's like asking for a fish by chance."
Wang Chun was puzzled and said: "Since you have known all this for a long time, why do you still need to take the imperial examination to become an official?"
yes.
Zhang Zhou felt that Wang Chun's question was too direct.
Why do we have to go back to the imperial examination when we have the opportunity to find a new path?
So what if I get the top score in the exam? After nine years of Hanlin Compilation and Compilation Examination, you will be promoted to the rank of Shidu and Shiluo. After completing the two nine-year exams, you will have the opportunity to be promoted to the rank of Bachelor of Shidu, the Bachelor of Shixuan, and even the chance to join the cabinet... Relying on meritorious service to get promoted? How to take credit for this? Relying on military merit like Wang Yue? Or is he effective in assisting the emperor and the prince?
Since you rely on assisting the emperor and the prince, why not just take a shortcut and enter the Hanlin Academy?
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "As a scholar, what can I do if I don't serve as an official? What am I good at as a civil servant and a military general? Or maybe I am a Taoist priest in the name of Dao Lu Si? I didn't understand what Wang Qianhu said."
That's how it works sometimes.
Maybe taking the imperial examination is a bit useless, but Zhang Zhou came to Ming Dynasty to experience the imperial examination, and he wanted to take this road of thousands of troops crossing the single-plank bridge.
If you don't want to be a civil servant, how about becoming a military general?
Without official rank, relying solely on the emperor's trust, he is just a sycophant after all, but relying on his title must be convincing.
"You can tell your father, don't worry. This battle may start when I enter Gongyuan. It's up to him to seize the opportunity!"
…
…
The first day of February.
That day was the day when Liu Jian, on behalf of the imperial court, paid tribute to Confucius.
Inside the Confucian Temple.
After the ceremony, Lin Han, the Confucian scholar's wine concubine, came over and invited him to have dinner in the Confucian prison next door, but Liu Jian refused.
Lin Han said somewhat apologetically to Liu Jian: "What Beiyong student Jiang Rong did, I have to worry about."
Liu Jiandao: "It doesn't matter."
Originally, Jiang Rong's participation in the impeachment of three cabinet ministers might damage the reputation of the three cabinet ministers. However, after this incident, Liu Jian, on behalf of the cabinet, has been sparing no effort to rescue Jiang Rong. On the contrary, it had the opposite effect, and the reputation of the three cabinet ministers among the literati was undermined. Reputation increases.
Many people originally thought that the civil service system in North Korea and China had been solidified and there were no channels for advancement.
After this incident.
Literati have also seen that even if it becomes more solidified, there is still a way to establish a good relationship with the civil service system headed by Liu Jian.
If you can't change, join.
Liu Jian left the Confucian Temple and was about to take a carriage back to the cabinet for duty, but before he could leave, he saw a carriage escorted by Dongchang fans.
The carriage stopped and Xiao Jing got off the carriage.
"Mr. Liu Ge."
Xiao Jing was very respectful to Liu Jian.
Liu Jiandao: "The ceremony has been completed, does Eunuch Xiao have any instructions?"
Xiao Jing said with a smile: "It is a decree that Jiang Rong, the supervisor, has been ordered to be sent from Dongchang to the Ministry of Punishment. After redeeming his sentence, he can return to Beiyong to continue his studies."
Lin Han next to him breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this.
A stupid young student under his command insisted on impeaching three cabinet ministers, but ended up falling into the hands of Dongchang. Although we haven't seen what it was like yet, he probably lost half his life, right?
Liu Jian looked cautious.
The emperor arrested Jiang Rong to give their cabinet face, and now he released Jiang Rong to give their cabinet face. When he released Jiang Rong, he specifically asked Xiao Jing to inform him... This face was enough.
"Where is Peng Quan, the commander of the Jianchang Guard?" Liu Jian asked.
Now Jiang Rong is released.
Then Peng Quan should be let go, right?
Xiao Jing shook his head: "He hasn't arrived in the capital yet, and we have to wait for His Majesty's instructions on how to deal with him. Mr. Liu Ge shouldn't ask anymore. Our family also knows that the life and death of a prison student is not that important after all."
Liu Jian took a breath.
Xiao Jing had warned them sternly before, and this time Xiao Jing came to warn him again.
Jiang Rong participated in the impeachment of you, arrested and released others, and gave you face, so you must reciprocate the favor and don't mention Peng Quan's impeachment of Zhang Yanling again.
Xiao Jing specifically mentioned "the life and death of supervisors", which was obviously a hint.
If you continue to pester him, there is no guarantee that Jiang Rong will not be taken back by Dongchang after he comes out of the Criminal Department. Whether he can come out of Dongchang alive next time is a matter of two opinions.
If Jiang Rong impeaches three ministers of your cabinet and dies in prison, no matter how hard you try, the blame will still be put on the heads of the three ministers of your cabinet. Do you think the literati will still praise you as much as now? You three, do you think you are noble and upright?
Everyone has been rescued, so let’s not mention it!
How could Liu Jian not understand that this was threatening him?
But people had to lower their heads under the eaves, so he nodded and said, "Don't worry, Eunuch Xiao, I won't ask any more questions."
In this way, Liu Jian gave up rescuing Peng Quan first.
…
…
Liu Jian returned to the cabinet room from the Confucian Temple, with a serious look on his face, and told Li Dongyang and Xie Qian about Xiao Jing threatening him when he saw him.
Both of them were smart people and understood the emperor's intention immediately.
Xie Qian smiled bitterly and said: "The guilty will not be punished, and those who accuse the officials will be punished first. It is really unreasonable."
Li Dongyang glared at him, as if to say, are you suggesting that Jiang Rong will be punished for reporting us?
Liu Jiandao: "I have thought about it. In the past few years, His Majesty has gradually relied more on the cabinet, and most of the proposals have been adopted. If this blocks the way of speech, then it will be difficult for us to stay out of it."
"Mr. Ge..." Li Dongyang couldn't listen anymore.
Now the emperor does not think that we are blocking the way of speech, and the ministers below do not say so. Are we still allowed to reflect on ourselves?
"Since last year, Your Majesty no longer relies too much on cabinet drafts when something happens, and he no longer summons people alone to ask for opinions. This is a bad sign. If we don't want to change, this situation will only get worse."
Liu Jian still has a sense of crisis.
Jiang Rong reported them not out of thin air.
Many people are afraid of these three people in their cabinet. No matter whether they serve the country or the people, or whether they have a clear conscience, at least they have the temperament that civil servants are closest to prime ministers after the Ming Dynasty deposed the prime minister.
The Ming Dynasty deposed the prime minister because it was afraid that civilian officials would take over power.
And they are developing step by step in the direction of covering the sky with one hand.
Li Dongyang said: "If because of this, even a general who reported the crime of a foreign relative cannot be saved, I'm afraid it can't be justified, right?"
Liu Jian shook his head: "Your Majesty has given us room for change. We can no longer just advance without retreating."
The advancement of civil servants is the retreat of imperial power.
Liu Jian doesn't talk much, but the truth is clear.
Li Dongyang and Xie Qian looked serious, and they seemed to understand that Liu Jian was not alarmist.
Xie Qian said: "Whose opinion does your Majesty listen to more on this matter? The Duke of Yin, the Duke of Factory? Or the Queen? Or... Zhang Bingkuan?"
According to Xie Qian's intention, since we can no longer interfere in the military affairs of the northwest, and we can no longer mention Peng Quan's participation in the impeachment of Zhang Yanling, we should know what the emperor's next step is, right?
In this matter, the emperor should not consider his own countermeasures in everything, but always ask for others' opinions.
So whose opinion is more important than ours?
Li Dongyang further analyzed Xie Qian's issue: "Zhang Bingkuan has always been a scholar. If he intends to intercede for Peng Quan, he can still tell him the right and wrong. But I am afraid that the Queen will put pressure on His Majesty."
If you report the Zhang brothers to the Chinese civil servants, they will still be punished by the factory guards, let alone a military commander with no status?
When Peng Quan did this, whether you call him upright or stupid, in short, he committed a crime.
Now, in order to protect his brother-in-law, the emperor has threatened even the chief minister of the cabinet not to allow the matter to be mentioned again.
In this case, relying on Zhang Zhou's words is of no use?
Liu Jian looked at Xie Qian and said, "Yu Qiao, can you go see Zhang Bingkuan?"
"What?"
Xie Qian was startled.
At this time, you actually asked me to see Zhang Zhou?
I'm a cabinet minister, so I'm just going to meet a Gongsheng student? Besides, I'm not good at socializing with young scholars, so why don't I go to Li Binzhi?
Li Dongyang said: "I'll go."
Liu Jian shook his head: "It is most appropriate for Yu Qiao to go. There is no need to visit or send someone to invite him. Just find a reason to meet him. If he wants to serve in the future, he will still be able to deal with him. If you ask him anything, he will probably answer."
At this time, all Liu Jian could think of was to take a different path.
It would be inconvenient to communicate with people like Dai Yi and Xiao Jing, and there would be suspicions of collusion between foreign ministers and middle-ranking officials.
Instead, ask Zhang Zhou directly. It is simple and clear, and you may be able to get different information.
…
…
Xie Qian went to see Zhang Zhou on the same day. The method he used was very simple. He sent one of his coachmen to deliver the greeting card to Zhang Zhou's house.
Then he didn't come to the door and sat down in a nearby teahouse, drinking tea while waiting for Zhang Zhou to arrive.
In his opinion, Zhang Zhou knew that he wanted to meet, and he had to give face no matter what.
result……
Zhang Zhou didn't come in person, but just asked his servant Jia Laoshui to send a letter.
"What do you mean?" Xie Qian sat there, looking at the naive Jia Laoshui, still a little confused.
Zhang Bingkuan.
Who gave you the courage to come out even if the cabinet minister came to see you in person?
You have to come to your door, wait at the door to see you, and be polite enough before you are willing to see me, right?
Jia Laoshui didn't quite understand these politics. He said: "This old gentleman, my father said that even if you come, it is not convenient for him to meet. My father said that everything you want to know is in this letter." List them all, and if you still have any questions you want to ask, he won’t be able to answer them.”
When Xie Qian heard this, he thought that this boy was quite mysterious.
He knew I was coming, he knew what I wanted to ask, and he listed all the questions I was concerned about.
Xie Qian then opened the letter and couldn't help but wonder what was on it.
Two sentences.
The first sentence: "There must be a road before the car reaches the mountain, and the soldiers will come to cover it up with water and earth."
The second sentence: "Good deeds and evil deeds will be rewarded in the end, and good deeds will not deceive others."
Xie Qian frowned slightly, as if he roughly understood the meaning of two of the sentences.
The first sentence refers to the situation in the northwest, and the second sentence refers to Pengquan.
(End of chapter)
