In April of the thirteenth year of Wanli, the capital spent its time in the atmosphere of commemorating Prince Zhongxing. Since the emperor published the article "In Memory of the Old Mr." in the newspaper, everyone with respectability in the government and the public has followed suit and written articles to commemorate him.
The discussion caused by Zhang Juzheng's extraordinary honor was quickly submerged by this trend, and his image became taller and taller. Many articles even mythologized him - the court officials have already reported, please invite the prince of Zhongxing County to the Muzong Temple and accompany him. Kong Sheng.
Nowadays, the Zhang family has risen to the top and entered the ranks of honorable ministers. In addition to Zhang Jingxiu, the second-class county king, there is also the sixth brother Zhang Yunxiu who was awarded the title of earl for honoring Princess Shouyang.
At this time, except for those surnamed Zhu, the number of such prominent families in Ming Dynasty can be counted with one hand. Such wealth, like burning oil, can overturn in the blink of an eye if you don't learn to walk on thin ice.
The second-class prince Zhang Jingxiu was in the fog, and he became more and more cautious in fear. After all, as an upstart, the Zhang family's background is much worse than that of the old brands such as Ding Guogong and Ying Gong. Fortunately, Zhang Maoxiu, the biggest factor in instability in the family, has become much more honest.
On that day, Feng Bao committed suicide in front of Zhang Juzheng's bed to atone for his sins. The body was quickly swept up by the Wei Dynasty with a reed and taken away. Zhang Maoxiu, who was standing outside the door, felt that his small deeds were insignificant compared to his second brother Zhang Jingxiu. -In fact, Zhang Jingxiu, who was in the room at the time, was almost scared to death.
The side effect of this incident was that Zhang Maoxiu had too much to think about, and he always felt that his second brother's slightly dull expression concealed many secrets. After all, as the de facto eldest son, Zhang Jingxiu spent the longest time with Zhang Juzheng.
With the death of Zhang Juzheng and the change of status of the Zhang family, Zhang Maoxiu will encounter a tacit ceiling in the officialdom - neither the Zhengshitang nor the Ministry of Personnel will allow the Xun family to enter the private domain of civil servants, and Zhang Maoxiu will stop at the fourth rank. It was obvious, so his temper also restrained along with his ambition.
.......
During the Dragon Boat Festival of the thirteenth year of Wanli, Zhang Siwei had been acting Prime Minister for a month. The capital and the world were calm, and people had gradually accepted Zhang Juzheng's departure. After all, the earth can continue to rotate without anyone.
After Zhang Siwei won the posthumous title of Zhang Juzheng, he showed his high political quality in his second move. Xu Jie's grandson Xu Yuanchun was awarded the title of Juren, Shaanxi Provincial Envoy and Huazhou County Magistrate in Xi'an Prefecture: The taste here is very difficult to get, but Zhang Siwei mastered it so well that Zhu Yijun couldn't help but look at him highly.
Xu Jie passed away in the twelfth year of Wanli, that is, last year. The emperor and Zhang Juzheng did not treat him lightly because he obstructed the reform in his early years. Xu Jie was awarded the posthumous title of Grand Master and was given the posthumous title Wenzhen. Ying is the master of the family, when the day is suitable for arrogance and elimination, he will use his vigor and self-restraint to overthrow him. He will correct the chaos and oppose his bad government, so he will become a famous prime minister." He was fully praised for his actions in defeating Yan Song and bringing order to the chaos, and the coffin was sealed and he was named "famous prime minister". Mutually".
But Xu Jie is Xu Jie, and the Xu family is the Xu family. Xu Jie's death did not relieve the "imprisonment" of Xu Mansion: the emperor let go of the Xu Mansion, which was instigating the rebellion, because it was in front of Zhang Ju. The biggest concession on the throne.
Xu Yuanchun believed that his destiny in this life was to live in the field, so although he had the title of civil servant, he did not participate in the official selection. Unexpectedly, people were sitting at home and officials came from the sky. After receiving the appointment documents from the Ministry of Personnel, their heads were dizzy.
His father, Xu Fan, was also a little confused. It was a pity that the old man returned to the west. Xu Fan was punished by Gao Gong. After he was sent to the army and returned, his level dropped a lot. For a while, he didn't understand what the court meant. As for discussing with Xu Kun and Xu Ying - it is better not to ask them.
Seeing that Xu Yuanchun was still confused, Xu Fan said hesitantly: "This is always a good thing, right?"
Xu Yuanchun took a long breath and said: "If it is not a good thing, who would want to be an official? But we live at home guarding the fields and pay taxes on time, and no one can do anything to us. If we enter the officialdom, we will be unpredictable. .”
Xu Fan and his son tried to figure it out for a long time but came up with nothing, so they gritted their teeth and wrote a letter to someone to ask for a meeting with Li Zhi in Nanjing. Anyway, Xu Yuanchun can take office according to the date after receiving the appointment, there is still time.
The current editor-in-chief of Nanjing Daily, Li Zhi, is extraordinary—it is rumored that he was a commoner prime minister who carried the banner of "anti-Neo-Confucianism and restoration of true Confucianism" in the ideological and cultural circles of the Ming Dynasty. Compared with other masters of Xinxue, he is The achievements have been so far beyond their reach.
There are also rumors among the people that Li Zhi has been exchanging letters with the current emperor for several years. Feng Bangning, the proprietor of Nanjing Daily, was recently awarded a knighthood for his literary and educational achievements. No matter who among the two brothers has a say, they are more authoritative than Mr. Xu, the boss of Nanjing. high.
Compared with Li Zhi, Xu Fan's current status is even worse than that of an ordinary white lady, because Li Zhi doesn't want to see his family at all. When Xu Fan was so crazy in the past, Li Zhi was still a tutor for the imperial examination - Yunni was completely different for thirty years, which made Xu Fan lament the impermanence of things in the world.
Arriving at the Nanjing Daily Trading Company, which occupies a huge area, Xu Fan handed over his name card at the door and waited for notification. After waiting for a while, I was invited in.
When I entered the door of the newspaper office, I saw that the people inside were like clockwork. Everyone looked attentively and walked with wind. It was just that workers with ink on their bodies walked side by side with scholars wearing kerchiefs. He actually saw several women walking in and out of some rooms with manuscripts in their hands.
Xu Fan was shocked and secretly praised the unique weather here. When I arrived at the door of the editor's office after asking, I heard someone inside talking loudly: "Confucius's moral values are of course enough to protect future generations."
Xu Fan was startled and stopped involuntarily. Listen to the voice and continue: "However, for thousands of years, the Chinese people have regarded Confucius's right and wrong as right and wrong, so they have no ears for right and wrong!" [Note 1]
After Xu Fan heard this sentence, although he often saw such words in "Nanjing Daily", but he heard the impassioned voice in it like a speech, he still stuck out half of his tongue.
At this time, someone behind him asked: "Who are you looking for?" Xu Fan turned around and saw a energetic old man standing behind him, who looked very familiar.
Xu Fan blurted out: "But Mr. Nanming?" Then he bowed and saluted: "Old Xu Fan, I have met the old gentleman, and I said goodbye-" He raised his head and counted several years.
When Wang Daokun heard that the gray-haired squire in front of him was Xu Fan, he hurriedly replied: "It turns out that Mr. Yangzhai, in the forty-fifth year of Jiajing, the two of us met when a certain person returned to Beijing to pay homage to Mr. Xu - your My memory is so good, now I forget to write when I pick up my pen, and forget about people when I turn my face away, so don’t be surprised if I look up to my bed."
The two chatted for a few words, and Wang Daokun said: "This is not the place for conversation. Are you here to see Li Zhi?"
Xu Fan nodded in agreement, and Wang Daokun smiled and said: "He is writing a manuscript and cursing people. If you are not in a hurry, come and sit at my place first." After saying that, he led Xu Fan to his room next to him. A servant came in and poured some wine. Tea.
Xu Fan asked curiously: "When did Mr. Nanming arrive in Nanjing? Why are you here?" He looked around.
Wang Daokun said with a smile: "In the past, Zhang Wenming was assassinated, and I was also arrested by the Jin Yiwei. After I came out, I resolutely resigned, and fortunately the emperor allowed it. In the past two years, I devoted myself to poetry and wine singing at home, but I was summoned by Li Zhi through Qi Jiguang. Come here and help him."
Xu Fan sighed after hearing this, and Wang Daokun asked about Xu Jie's death and apologized for not going to express his condolences in person. After chatting for a while, he asked: "Did Yang Zhaigong have any dealings with Li Zhi? He has eyes on the top of his head. Don't be angry with him for a while."
Xu Fan sighed and said: "Because the imperial court suddenly appointed a dog as an official, the family was a little scared, so I thought I would come to the 'Buyi Qingxiang' to get an idea. The door that can get in is still the legacy of my father." Seeing Wang Daokun showing doubts. , he explained:
"My late father once rehabilitated Yang Sheng'an, and his son Yang Youren has always been in contact with the Han family. Previously, a letter was sent to Mr. Zhuowu, so the old man came here shamelessly." Wang Daokun suddenly realized.
Yin smiled and said: "The rumors in the market are not trustworthy. There is no such thing as a 'plain minister'! Although the emperor and Li Zhuowu exchanged letters, they all discussed the learning of the sages, but Li Zhuowu also strictly abided by his duty and did not dare to talk nonsense."
After hearing this, Xu Fan looked a little embarrassed and said: "The farmers in the Han family have not only cut off contact with the officialdom in these years, but now they can't even understand the current situation - it can be regarded as a serious illness and they seek medical treatment."
Wang Daokun stroked his beard and smiled: "How old is this old man? Are you willing to listen to me talk about the truth behind this?"
Xu Fan had this intention, and when he heard the words, he said happily: "Mr. Nanming, please speak, I would be very grateful."
Wang Daokun said with a smile: "This must be Zhang Ziwei's handiwork. Therefore, when Prince Zhongxing was appointed Prime Minister, in order to break two hundred years of accumulated habits, he overcorrected and acted harshly, which made the officialdom suffer for a long time!"
After Xu Fan heard this sentence, he had thought it all through, raised his hands and thanked him: "That's right, thank you, old gentleman!"
Wang Daokun twisted his beard and smiled and said: "In that case, Yuanchun's nephew, the county official, can do it, it doesn't matter. If you don't want to do it, just pick up the book at home and take the Jinshi exam. This time, as long as you get on the list, With the emperor’s temper, the ranking given cannot be worse.”
After speaking, he sighed: "Not to mention Yang Zhai, I have only left officialdom for a few years, and there are more and more things that I don't understand. In the past ten years, although there have been no wars in the country, there have been great changes. Not to mention the feeling, it can be said to be a 'change that has not happened in a thousand years' - you are so sincere!"
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