Chapter 679: It's hard to support a combination of numbers, and it's not a good story for Gu Guo to forget his home

For most civil officials, the second grade is about unattainable in this life. Jinshi generally starts from the seventh grade, and all the way to the qualification examination, and if you can boil the fourth grade on the day of gray hair, it can already be regarded as a success. And even if he jumps to the third-rank political envoy or the fourth-rank prefect because of the recommendation, his future career may not be stable. Aside from the newly established positions of one grade, three princes and three orphans, being able to rise to the second grade Jingtang can already be said to be the ultimate in the life of a literati.

However, although there are not countless military attaches in the second rank, they do not have much weight in the court. Not to mention that there are thirteen commanders of the thirteen provinces, and there are at least dozens of governors of the five major prefectures. Above them, there are also the governors of the first rank and the governors of the first rank who are in charge of the governor's mansion, and then there are many nobles such as the prince and the uncle. Therefore, they are both positive and second, but the importance between literature and martial arts is worlds apart.

Therefore, Yuan Fang's Zhengerpin Governor can be said to be an idle position among idle positions. After all, Nanjing's five prefectures have long been inferior to Beijing's five prefectures, and the positions of governors are almost all fictitious, and the rest of the governors and governors are all indefinite. His monthly salary is 60 stone meters, because he is a high-quality official, four branches of rice and six cents of banknotes, with one stone of rice to 25 yuan, that is, 24 stone meters per month, 900 yuan, those who have a lot of money may not be able to make ends meet, but his life is more than enough.

He was a thrifty man, bought a three-entry house in Xinjiekou, hired two old servants, two grooms and a cook, and in addition to the four long-term followers brought down by Jingli, and lived a good life. On weekdays, in addition to going to the office, he grows flowers and grass at home, and even plays a game of chess with the hired servant. Because he has always been a doorman, few of the neighbors even know that this was once the commander of the Jinyi Guard, who once held great authority.

It was noon at this time, and it was quiet inside and outside Yuan's mansion. The early summer in Jiangnan is hot early, and the sun is unusually hot at this time, and a few sparrows are standing lazily on the branches, listlessly not one of them is willing to chirp. A thin old cat crouched in the shadows under the eaves, curled up in a ball and napping. The old servant and the cook all went to take a nap, and three of the four long-term attendants were not in the house, only one stood at the door of the study, but at this moment he seemed to be asleep. Only a few early cicadas chirped occasionally, and the quiet mansion became a little more angry.

"My lord, I didn't do it!"

In the study, Yuan Fang was not alone, but also a woman dressed in male makeup. Hearing this answer, Yuan Fang stared at her for a long time, and remembered the first time he saw her. At that time, although she was pale at the beginning of her serious injury, she was extremely attentive to her makeup and dress, which was different from the grace of a woman in the south of the Yangtze River, and the heroism of a woman in the north, revealing a stubborn meaning. At this moment, seeing those eyes looking directly at him calmly, and his lips were pursed tightly, he couldn't help but smile.

"I asked you to stay in the capital, but you sneaked down. I told you not to act rashly, but you went to beat that Liu Guanyi with a dull stick. If you dare to do it, then what else is there that you don't dare to do? With my hands on you, with my current ability, can I still do anything to you? ”

These words were plain and without any anger, but when Lin Sha heard this, he only felt that his heart shrank suddenly, and he could no longer maintain that tense stubborn face. After hesitating for a while, she lowered her head and admitted: "The subordinates just don't resented Liu Guan for using such despicable means to calculate the adult. Although you made him suffer a dumb loss when you were a chess player, God knows what kind of tricks people will fabricate when they get into his hands. The subordinates thought about it, so they had to use this simple means. Those civil officials have the most important face, and they give him a slap in the face like a fight in the market, look at how he, the imperial history of the left capital, still pretends to be blackfaced! ”

Yuan Fang, who had been looking cold just now, couldn't help but sigh when he heard this explanation. Although he was very dissatisfied with Lin Sha's assertions, he appreciated this simple and crude method. It is true that he took the lead with that move, but things can make a storm in the city, but it is Xu Hui who relies on it, and Zhang Yue came forward again, and the matter became even more troublesome, and Liu Guan naturally threw himself into a trap. It's just that if you want to really suppress this guy's arrogance, Lin Sha's stick is really good.

Seeing that Yuan Fang still didn't speak, Lin Sha, who had always been calm, suddenly panicked, turned his heart sideways, and simply bowed to the ground: "If the lord is to blame, his subordinates are willing to be punished!" ”

"Then I'll punish you to go back to the capital, are you willing?" Yuan Fang still had a calm face, and when he saw her raise her head suddenly, he shouted in a deep voice, "You are no longer the chick you were at the beginning, you should know which is more important than Beijing, Nanjing and Nanjing!" If something goes wrong because you left there, can you afford it? For the sake of the mountain, the success fell short, don't you even understand this kind of truth? Although I have retired, it is not a soft persimmon that can be kneaded by others, so you don't have to worry about it. Straighten me up, don't think I don't know what you're thinking! ”

At this time, the door of the study was closed, and there was not even a window inside, so it was stuffy and unbearable. Excited by these words, Lin Sha's heart sank, and his already wet forehead was even more sweaty. Gritted her teeth and stood up straight, seeing that Yuan Fang Shen Rushui did not have any intention of letting go, she didn't dare to fight other ideas, so she didn't even think about it, so she lowered her hand and responded: "My subordinates will rush back." ”

Yuan Fang nodded, and was about to say a few more words, when he suddenly heard movement outside, he waved his hand at Lin Sha, and then walked to the door. The next moment, there was a gentle knock on the door, followed by a lowered voice from a man's voice: "My lord, there is urgent news from Beijing. ”

Hearing this, Yuan Fang immediately opened the door. Outside the door was the same long-retinue who had gone out in the morning, and he flashed into the room with agility, while the other long-retained servant standing outside was still leaning against the pillar under the porch and was napping, as if he had not noticed the slightest movement. After the former entered the house, he didn't look at Lin Sha over there, only bent down to salute Yuan Fang, and presented a letter with both hands

Yuan Fang took it apart and looked at it, flipped through it casually, and saw that the thick four pages of paper were full of inconsequential chatter, so he waved his hand to order him to withdraw, and after the door was closed, he returned to his seat, took another piece of paper, and selected a word from this letter according to the agreed secret number and wrote it on the paper, and after he finished writing, he read it again from beginning to end.

"The emperor built the Hongwen Pavilion, and the bachelor Yang Pu was in charge of the pavilion, and he also ordered the scholars to be educated and straightened the Hongwen Pavilion. The emperor is often fortunate to be the concubine Guo of Gyeongbokgung Palace, and there was a dismissal in the early dynasty, and there were quite a few words later, although the emperor could not listen. In recent months, the emperor has sent the imperial doctor five times to ask for pulse. ”

After reading it, he casually handed the paper to Lin Sha to read, and when he returned it with both hands in shock, he put it on the candle flame and burned it, and ordered: "There is very likely to change in Beijing in the near future, you go back immediately." The water and land routes from Nanjing to Beijing, no matter what method you use, you must ensure that these two roads are unimpeded. Also, after arriving in Beijing, the news will be delivered every day, regardless of the cost, and must be delivered to Nanjing as quickly as possible. ”

Although he had read the secret letter just now, Lin Sha had not yet thought about the worst aspect, so he was still a little hesitant. However, even if she didn't want to leave, she had already received the reprimand, and she didn't dare to disobey again, so she bowed and nodded. She didn't go through the main entrance, but quietly walked through the secret door behind the screen. After the mechanism was restored, Yuan Fang went out and coughed lightly. In an instant, the elder, who seemed to have been napping, rushed over with a spirit.

"You go and send a message to Hu Qi." Yuan Fang repeated the contents of the letter just now, and when the chief nodded, he gave another instruct, "Let him try to send the news to Chaotian Palace, and he also has a number in his heart, don't think that this world is too peaceful." ”

When the long man left, he couldn't help but look at the clear blue sky without the slightest cloud, and gradually became a little distracted. The current emperor has been a prince for more than 20 years, and his methods and scheming are extraordinary, and the current court is the same as this sky, and nothing can block the scorching sun. It's just that the emperor is too fast and too anxious, and Hongwen Pavilion is by no means a simple collection of literary scholars, after all, there is already a Hanlin Academy in the court, so I am afraid that it has the meaning of dividing the power of Wenyuan Pavilion.

If you want to coerce the military ministers, check and balance the civil officials, and indulge in sensuality, how long can the emperor, who is already in poor health, last?

Chaotian Palace, Xi Yi Pavilion.

Bow, bow, rejoice, prostrate, rejoice...... On a hot day in May, wearing that heavy sacrificial dress was already a great torture, not to mention kneeling and bowing under the loud shouting of the saluting officer under the sun. Zhang Yue, who was in the back position, was sweating profusely right now, and he saw more clearly the staggering scene of the old ministers in front of him. It was only a moment before he saw two elderly officials being carried to rest under the shade of a tree.

This is the third day he has spent in Chaotian Palace, and the day after tomorrow will be the official sacrifice to the Tomb of Filial Piety. Because the officials of the accompanying etiquette department are all skilled in etiquette, and they have practiced three times, there is no stupid person who can do this part, and those regulations and rituals are now all familiar with it. When the time comes, when you go up the mountain, it will not be as hot as the flat land, and the mausoleum is early in the morning, so naturally there will be no heat stroke caused by repeated drills like now.

It was easy to get to the end, and all the officials got up one after another. At the forefront, Liu Guan, who was knocked with a stick, was not absent, and the strength of the stick was just right, leaving only a black blue on the forehead of this distinguished person, as if it was just a normal kowtow. It's just that now that the Yongle Emperor, who is prone to thunder and rage, has been in charge of the guests, and the ministers rarely have a hard meeting or kowtow like pounding garlic to beg for mercy, this piece of black green is naturally very conspicuous.

Zhang Yue saw that everyone was unconsciously avoiding the Lord Du Yushi, and couldn't help but glance at the dark green, and then he talked to Zhang Xu on the side, and then they went to the shady pavilion on the side. At this time, a miscellaneous Taoist came up with a bucket and served a bowl of mung bean soup to everyone, and a few people drank it, and someone whispered: "Our Lord Liu has been in Nanjing since he hit Nanjing, and I heard that the excerpt to Beijing is a three-day book, and it has never been broken." ”

"Ahem, don't mention this. Now it's an evil gate, and the city of Nanjing is full of chickens and dogs! A concubine died in the house of Lord Mu of Nanjing, and some messy news came out; The first sons of Dingguogong's family broke their heads for trivial things; Wuding Hou is even better, the concubine Niangniang sent a few rewards, and the family made a fuss about such a small matter. ”

Although Zhao Qian is not as proud as before, he is a square person after all, and he is unwilling to mix with these gossip. Seeing that Zhang Yue was also sitting on the side and silent, he got up and said hello. Zhang Yue stood up, and the two of them went to the shade of the big willow tree next to them. Although the ancient willow is at least a few decades old, and the branches and foliage are luxuriant, the blazing sunlight still spills down from the gaps in the leaves, and the body is mottled and unclear.

At the beginning of the military department, one was the second-grade Shangshu who replaced Fang Bin and won the trust, and the other was the best five-grade Lang who often met the king's favor, but now although he has arrived in Nanjing, it is the first time to face him face to face like this. Looking at each other like this at this time, Zhao Yi found that Zhang Yue was as good as before, and he looked even calmer than before; But Zhang Yue saw that Zhao Yan's temples were completely white, and there were countless wrinkles on his face, and he looked at a miserable old look.

"Three years for the guest to send Longsha, looking at the end of the clouds and not seeing home. Only the moon outside the city was surrendered, and the tears fell from the people's beard. ”

Hearing Zhao Qi suddenly chant such a poem, Zhang Yue was slightly stunned, and was about to ask, but saw Zhao Yan turn his head: "I have been out of office since the Hongwu period, and it has been more than 30 years, and now there is no point of improvement, and it is not far from the day of Zhishi." At the beginning, I didn't take care of you, but now I want to ask you for something. ”

Zhang Yue was pondering the poem that Zhao Xian had just written, and when he heard this old Shangshu say this, he hurriedly replied: "If the subordinate can do it, he should do his best." ”

"The Yuan Festival is in its prime, and there will be a time to show off your talents in the future. I only hope that when you are very valuable in the future, you will be able to pull me a hand on the day when someone falls into the well. I am the only one in the Zhao family, and most of the rest are attached to the door, and I can take care of them for a day, if I am not in office, then the Zhao family may be ruined. ”

Seeing that Zhang Yue seemed to have questions, he smiled bitterly again, "I know what you want to say about Yuanjie, but if there is a finished instrument in the family, I will not be cheeky to entrust this matter to others." When I was young, I thought that having the world in my heart was a great ambition, but now that I am old, I understand that if Gu Guo forgets his home, even if he is clear, he will be ruined in the hands of future generations. You are still young, and I am telling you this, but I hope you can take it as a warning. Although I am not very powerful in Nanjing now, if you have any difficulties, just come to me. ”

It is common for the old and young to carry photos in the officialdom, because what Zhao Meng asked for was not difficult, Zhang Yue agreed after a little thought. Only Zhao Qian's feeling of forgetting his home deeply touched him, and he managed to persuade Yang Shiqi to take his son to his side, but not so that this one would not die with regrets? Although he is still young, what Zhao Xuan said is indeed true, but he can't forget it.