On the way back to the capital from Huilongguan, Feng Quan and Qian Qianyi sat in the same carriage. Although Feng Quan did not accept Qian Qianyi's invitation to join the New Donglin Party, but joined the Scientific Progressive Party, the relationship between the two was not estranged.

After accompanying the emperor to complete the task of going to Tianshou Mountain to worship, they finally let go of a matter of their hearts and took advantage of the free time on the return trip to chat.

After chatting for a while about the recent news in the capital, Qian Qianyi hesitated for a moment, and then turned the topic to the examination of the prime minister's yamen recruiters.

"Brother Zhenlu, in fact, I have something I want to ask you for. I heard that you have served as the minister of the Prime Minister's Yamen this time, I wonder if you can tell Yu what the requirements are for the examination for the recruitment of personnel in the Prime Minister's Yamen? ”

Hearing Qian Qianyi suddenly mention this topic, Feng Quan couldn't help but look up at him, and then said with a smile: "Why does Brother Mu Zhai care about this?" Do you have any students or children who want to take this exam? ”

Qian Qianyi nodded and said: "Previously, after the Daming Times published the entry treatment of the Prime Minister's Yamen, many relatives, friends and nephews in the countryside were a little moved.

As you know, life in the countryside isn't easy these days. After all, the road to the imperial examination is too difficult, and Suzhou is a place with a flourishing literary style.

The prime minister's yamen is so high, and the conditions for applying for the exam are so low, so Yu wants to ask these relatives and friends to see if it is inconvenient for Brother Zhenlu to talk about the situation. Yu also went back and explained a thing or two to them. ”

Feng Quan lowered his head and pondered for a moment before he said bluntly to Qian Qianyi: "Although Yu was ordered to set up this prime minister's yamen, he actually didn't know how to handle this yamen.

If Brother Mu Zhai can recommend 1 or 2 talents, then Yu will not hesitate to accept them. However, there are two exams, the first is a written exam and the second is an interview.

What Yu can exert influence is only the second interview. If your relatives and friends are able to pass the first written exam, you can consider one or two things. ”

After listening to Feng Quan's statement, Qian Qianyi suddenly had a bottom in his heart, and he asked happily: "Can the content of this written exam be decided?" ”

Feng Quan thought for a while before saying: "This exam for the recruitment of the Prime Minister's Yamen will not be the only one this year.

If Brother Mu Zhai's relatives and friends did not pass the written exam this year, they might as well go to Yenching University for a year of study, and there should be no problem in the next exam.

In addition, Yu recently read the history of the Song Dynasty and wanted to ask Brother Mu Zhai about the life of Huaizong Zhao Yu..."

Originally, it was a little strange why the good Feng Quan talked about history, but he soon understood what Feng Quan's intentions were.

After chatting about Song Shi for a while, Feng Quan suddenly said: "Actually, Yu has a better suggestion. If your relatives and friends have enough courage and talent, you don't have to pass the exam to get an official position. ”

Qian Qianyi was a little stunned and said, "How do you say this? ”

Feng Quan smiled mysteriously before saying: "Prime Minister Yamen manages overseas affairs, and is about to select some personnel to be stationed in overseas feudal states to investigate local customs and maintain the relationship between the Ming Dynasty and the feudal states.

These personnel do not need any special qualifications, as long as they can pass the examination of His Majesty Yu He, they can be granted the qualification of officials, and if they can complete the two-year mission of special envoys abroad, they can officially register as officials.

Therefore, if your relatives and friends are not afraid of overseas storms, you can take a risk. Yu can recommend it to His Majesty, what does Brother Mu Zhai think? ”

Qian Qianyi really became interested, and asked casually, "I don't know where this overseas vassal country is?" But the Kingdom of Korea? ”

For Qian Qianyi, the only thing that can make him feel similar to the Ming Dynasty and not a wild land is the Korean Kingdom, which is known as Overseas Little China.

Other places are either treacherous on the road, or the climate is harsh, and there are many diseases, and the customs and customs are in no way similar to those of China, and they are not places where scholars and doctors are willing to let their relatives and friends go on adventures.

However, Qian Qianyi was obviously disappointed, Feng Quan shook his head and said: "The Kingdom of Korea, the Kingdom of Ryukyus, the Kingdom of Boni, the Kingdom of Siam and the Kingdom of Japan, the candidates for these five places have been decided..."

In the office room of Wuyingdian, Zhu Youzhen met with the five candidates for foreign envoys brought by Feng Quan.

Feng Quan pointed to these five people and introduced Chongzhen one by one: "This is Liu Yangyao, the second son of Silu Gong, the word Xingyuan. Although he is a member of Yi Zengguangsheng, he is quite famous and is a candidate to serve as a special envoy of the Joseon Kingdom this time. ”

With Feng Quan's introduction, Liu Yangyao, who was over forty years old and still tepid in front of the emperor, stepped forward to salute Chongzhen and say hello.

Zhu Youzhen lowered his head and glanced at the detailed information in his hand, and immediately understood the origin of this Liu Yangyao.

Although this Liu Yangao is only a mere student, his father is Liu Hanru, the political envoy of the late Yunnan Zuobu, and his stepfamily is the daughter of Li Jingbai, and his family background can be described as prominent.

Although Liu Yangao likes to read, he doesn't pay much attention to the imperial examination. In addition, when he was young, his father and brother died one after another, and he had to bear the burden of taking care of the family, so he simply gave up his career.

Although Li Jingbai is now in charge of one, he also knows that his foundation is insufficient. In addition, when Wei Zhongxian was in power, he made a unicorn auspicious rui in Shandong, and the book said: The factory ministers cultivate virtue and give birth to benevolent beasts.

Because this thing was too unscrupulous, not only the Donglin Party impeached him, but even Huang Liji and others looked down on him.

Li Jingbai knew very well that it was almost impossible for him to go further, but now he had to keep this white Shangshu.

Li Jingbai wanted to get a few trustworthy helpers, and he wanted to arrange a bright road for his family, so he inevitably set his eyes on the newly established department of the Prime Minister's Yamen.

He has a total of two sons and a daughter, the eldest son Li Linsun is not good at reading, but he is good at galloping horses and trying swords, gambling and drinking. In his hometown, he likes to gather a group of shogunate Qing guests to sing poems, and draw his sword and sing wildly after drinking, as a gentleman.

Originally, he wanted to recommend his own son to be a special envoy to North Korea, and when he returned to China after two years, he would be able to register as an official without having to take the imperial examination.

However, although the Joseon Kingdom was an overseas vassal state, it was most admired for Chinese culture. These North Koreans didn't learn much else, but they learned a lot about Chinese culture. Although there are aristocrats in the two classes who can't speak Chinese official, there are basically no people who can't know Chinese characters.

Although the Korean state has also experienced decades of war since the beginning of the Japanese War, these two classes of nobles still have not changed their bad habit of emphasizing literature over military force.

As an envoy of the Ming Dynasty, if you don't have a certain amount of talent, even if you go to the Korean Kingdom, you won't be able to form friendship with those two classes of nobles, and if something happens, you will naturally not be able to find someone available.

Although Li Linsun had a heroic spirit, he may not be able to convince the two classes of nobles of the Korean Kingdom, so he was vetoed.

Li Jingbai then remembered his son-in-law who gave up his career, and after Feng Quan's personal investigation, he thought that Liu Yangyao's talent and ability were enough to serve as a special envoy to North Korea.

After Zhu Youjian read the information, he asked him a question: "I want to ask you, what would you do if Houjin sent troops to invade Korea again during your time as an envoy in the Korean Kingdom?" ”

Liu Yang'ao lowered his head and thought for a while before replying: "The minister should persuade the king of Joseon to send troops to defend Pyongyang and the Taedong River, and then ask Donggang Town to contain it, if the Taedong River and Pyongyang can be saved, then North Korea will be saved." ”

Regarding his father-in-law's recommendation to him, Liu Yangyao, who seemed indifferent on the outside, actually wanted to come out and do something in his heart.

When he was young, he had to give up his career to concentrate on the family business because he had to take care of his deceased brother's orphans, younger brother and mother.

But now that his nephew and younger brother have grown up, and his family business has stabilized, he, the nominal head of the Liu family, inevitably seems to have nothing to do.

Although he just reads and writes at home, he occasionally gathers with a few friends to do some elegant acts of appreciating flowers, drinking, and writing poems, which makes people seem to have a very leisurely life.

But Liu Yangwu himself felt a deep loneliness. Although he has an indifferent temperament, he thinks he can live his whole life like this. But occasionally there is a longing in his heart, longing that when others mention him, he can say that he is Shen Qiu Liu Yangyao, not the second son of Silu Gong.

Therefore, after receiving the letter from his father-in-law, he thought about it for a long time, and still chose to go to Beijing, preparing to seek the position of special envoy in the domain. For this reason, he carefully checked all kinds of information about the Korean Kingdom.

Liu Yang'ao quickly noticed that the emperor did not agree with his answer, which made him start to think, he wanted to know why the emperor was dissatisfied with his answer.

Zhu Youzhen thought for a while and continued: "If the Datong River is lost, the Houjin army will come to Hancheng, and the people in the city will be panicked, and they will not be able to organize a defensive front. And how do you persuade the king of Joseon to behave? ”

Liu Yang'ao thought about it for a while, he had read several articles in the Daming Times in the past few days, and immediately said without hesitation: "The minister should ask the king of Joseon to let the city not leave, as long as the king of Joseon does not fall into the hands of the Houjin army, Houjin will not be able to overcome the full success."

Korea is still a vassal state of our Ming Dynasty, and His Majesty should set up ships at Ganghwa Island or the mouth of the Han River to meet them. ”

Zhu Youzhen clapped his hands lightly and said, "That's a good point." You are now my Ming envoy to North Korea, and I hope you will not forget what my Ming interests are. Regarding other precautions for serving as a special envoy, let Master Feng tell you when he returns. What's next? ”