South of Anhui.

Leaving Jixi Town to the east, along the pine fence lush, the stream flowing between the valley, twisting and turning for about 20 miles, at the confluence of the Dengyuan River and the Longchuan River, you can see a whitewashed Hui-style building in the distance, hidden between the green mountains and green waters. Quietly observe the mountain-shaped topography here, towering Longsu Mountain in the east, jīguan mountain in the west, Tianma Mountain in the south, and Dengyuan River meandering in the north.

Since the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the country, the Hu clan has moved here, and has been cultivating and studying here for many generations. Because of its well-educated and strict style, in the past 200 years, I don't know how many elite children have gone from this place to the outside world. Their choices are different, or they are officials and rulers; Or the goods are colonized and businessed, and the industry is connected to the four seas...... But no matter what choice you make, you will run your business in full swing and bloom with dazzling brilliance.

However, in the end, no matter how brilliant it once was, or how downland, it will return to its roots and soul after the end of its life. It has become a fertile soil in the countryside and a spring in the mountains, forever guarding the place where generations have flourished.

Today, another member of the clan will be sent here to enter the place of eternal rest. It's just that its momentum is huge and the ceremony is grand, but it has never been seen in 200 years, and even a few decades ago, when the grandfather of this clan, Hu Fu, the former head of the household department, was buried, it was far from being compared with today.

Standing on the Tianma Mountain on the bank of the Dengyuan River, you can see thousands of heads and people like cháo as far as the eye can see. The soul flag, the memorial flag, the paper man and paper horse, the Anling house, the gold and silver mountain and other sè artifacts, Mi Zazaer laid out for several miles - these are all prepared for this great descendant of the Hu family, and when the ceremony begins, they will all be burned to him, so that he can live the best life in the yīn room, so that he will no longer be wronged by what happened when he was alive.

The green mountains bury the bones of the faithful, and the body is the same as the mountain. Today is the day of the burial of the late Ming Taibao and Haining Bohu Gong, the general constitution of the Duke of Merlin.

Since the decree of the imperial funeral came, the officials of Huizhou and even Nanzhili have gone all out to get busy and build a cemetery for Hu Zongxian...... Because the date of burial set by Qin Tianjian is the fourth day of the second month. When the relevant officials received the holy decree, it was already the root of the year, and it was only a little more than a month when it was counted as the New Year. At first, there was a lot of annoyance, thinking that in such a short period of time, it was impossible to build a cemetery regulated by the earl in the mountainous area dozens of miles away from the official road.

However, immediately after, they learned that Shen Ge Lao had personally helped the coffin to go south to come to Tianma Mountain to preside over Hu Taibao's funeral, and all the voices of the prison suddenly disappeared...... Everyone automatically filters out the idea that 'this can't be done', and all that remains in their minds is how to overcome the difficulties and complete the impossible task.

Therefore, the official gentry of Jiangsu and Zhejiang immediately mobilized to build the best cemetery on Tianma Mountain in Longchuan before the fourth day of the second month, waiting for Shen Ge to ...... Send Hu Taibao to be buried.

The project was led by the Governor of Jiangnan and the Ministry of Industry of Nanjing, and the design plan was given by the Ministry of Industry of Nanjing in conjunction with the best architectural experts in Jiangnan...... Of course, while waiting for the design drawings, there was no time to waste, and Tang Ruji, the governor of Jiangnan, ordered the collection of relevant building materials...... To build such a cemetery, there are more than a dozen kinds of materials needed for stone alone, and there are countless other rare materials such as Tianxing sand and yīn sunken wood. The origin of these things is east, west, south and north, and even if it is collected at any cost, it will take more than a year.

However, the governor of Tang was free to make a list of the necessary supplies and publish them in the major newspapers in the southeast. Soon, many big households took the initiative to contact him, saying that they had any materials and were ready to use them for their own grave repair, but now they are willing to contribute them to Shen Ge Lao...... Oh no, Mrs. Hu did his part.

Tang Ruji did not refuse to come, and asked them to send the materials to Huizhou in a unified manner...... Although the homes of some large families are hundreds of miles away from Huizhou City. But now on the southeast ground, if you can't even transport this little thing, are you embarrassed to be called a big family?

As a result, materials were continuously sent to Huizhou from all over the country. The local government had already requisitioned tens of thousands of people and tens of thousands of pack horses and livestock, and sent them to Longchuan day and night.

It only took seven days to pile tens of thousands of square meters of earth into Tianma Mountain.

At this time, the design drawings were also sent, and Tang Ruji and the big xiǎo officials of Jiangnan Province set up camp at the foot of Tianma Mountain, supervised the progress of the project day and night, and even celebrated the New Year on the construction site.

In this way, 30,000 soldiers and civilians were mobilized, day and night, regardless of the cost, and in just one month, a three-acre and complete earl's tomb was built in the north of Tianma Mountain.

When the silent coffin came to Longchuan and was invited to inspect the progress of the project, he saw that the tomb of Hanbai Yù, the pillars, the railings, and the Shinto workshop had all been built. On both sides of the Shinto Road, there are stone statues such as stone people, stone horses, stone sheep, and stone turtles, which are lifelike, and stand there noble and solemn. From both sides of the two-story granite worship platform, along the steps of the blue brick paved Shinto, you will see a huge tomb like a mountain bag in the shade of tall pines and cypresses.

If it weren't for the fact that the shed at the bottom of the mountain had not been demolished, the workers were still building the stone steps up the mountain, and the tomb in front of them was wide open.

Listening to Tang Ruji's invitation to merit, there are also two suspicious graves, and the regulations are exactly the same as here. Shen Mo said unhappily: "You want to provoke me again." ”

But Tang Ruji was already a very mature official, and he confidently said to Shen Mo: "Don't worry, this is the heart of our southeastern gentry to Hu Dashuai, and no one can say anything." He said with a smug smile: "In particular, the big families are enthusiastic to contribute money and people, which completely shatters the rumor that 'the big family in the south of the Yangtze River is eager to sleep on its skin and eat its ròu'." ”

Shen Mo smiled helplessly: "Even if the southeast is rich, it can't be such a flower, isn't this purely red-eyed?" ”

"The southeast is rich in the world, and it has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people." Tang Ruji smiled: "Even if you save more, others will want to pull out your máo all the time." It's the same whether you save or not, so why pretend to be poor? ”

Shen was completely speechless, but he was somewhat relieved by the self-confidence and high-spirited and different style of the southeast officials such as Tang Ruji.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is still some time before the auspicious time of burial. At this moment, on both sides of the Shinto, the cemetery is crowded with the civil and military generals and nobles of Nanzhi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, and even Liangguang and Shandong who are dressed in plain clothes and come to pay tribute...... It is also because it is expected that on this day, Tang Ruji will build this cemetery very open, and the open space in the light garden can accommodate thousands of people, and now it is full of hoarding.

With so many southeastern dignitaries present, it is natural that the guard work cannot be slackened a little, and the mountains and mountains, in the gardens and gardens, are full of sergeants who serve as guards. Outside the cordon, the inside and outside were crowded with people who came from ten miles and eight towns to see the lively crowd...... Filial piety such as cháo crying shocking wilderness. The flags are clustered around the table like a cloud, and such a grand funeral has completely opened the eyes of these people, in addition to being amazed, they are still amazed.

There are also long-lived old people, who saw the funeral of old Hu Shangshu when they were young, and always thought that it was incomparable. In his long life, whenever someone said that the funeral of someone was magnificent, they would be very disdainful and say: "That's the ...... you haven't seen Hu Shangshu" But at this moment, they have to admit that the current scene is several times more than that of the year.

However, at this moment, those who hold the wealth and destiny of the southeast, the real leaders have not yet appeared, but are waiting in the filial piety shed in the cemetery...... There are more than a dozen of these filial piety sheds, which were originally temporary residences built for Tang Ruji and other supervisors. After the project was completed, he did not let it be demolished, but let people decorate it again, so as to silence and pay tribute to the officials for temporary rest. Therefore, although it is a temporary building, it is very warm, and the tables, chairs, benches, tea and snacks are naturally well prepared.

But all those who are qualified to sit in it are all characters who call for wind and rain on one side. But compared to the easternmost and heavily guarded room, it's Xiǎo Wu Jian Dawu again.

This is the place where important people are met in silence.

At this moment, he sat alone, with a rosewood jiāo chair on the left and right, and there were less than twenty people sitting in total...... On the left sat Hu Zongxian, the governor of Jiangnan, Wang Xun, the governor of Fujian and Jiangxi, Wu Baipeng, the governor of Liangguang, and six governors, and on the right was the head of the wealthy family in the southeast headed by the nine families. These are the people at the top of the pyramid of wealth and power in the Southeast.

The silent gaze wandered over everyone, most of them, he had just seen in Nanjing in the autumn of last year, and he never imagined that they would meet again after less than half a year...... But he never wanted it to be in this way.

But time was precious, and he was not given a chance to grieve...... These governors were routinely not allowed to leave their provinces, but most of them were born in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and even Hu Zongxian was promoted from among the middle and low-level officials. When Hu Zongxian was alive, they had no choice but to avoid suspicion, but now that people are dead, there is no need to avoid suspicion, so they generously applied to the imperial court to send them the last ride.

This is human nature, and there are lingering fears about Hu Zongxian's case, no one wants to be that wicked person, so he agreed.

However, so many governors came to the funeral, coupled with Shen Mo, the former governor of the southeast, these people gathered together, even if they didn't do anything, it would also make people think about it. Besides, if something big happened at this time, but it caused trouble because there were no officials to control it, it would simply give people the opportunity to weaken themselves.

The better the situation, the more cautious it becomes. Xu Gelao's example was right in front of him, and Shen Mo didn't want to be the next target of group attack. In view of this, Shen Mo has strictly ordered all officials from all walks of life to leave and return as soon as possible after the funeral is completed today, and no one shall delay.

Therefore, only at this time before the funeral, at this moment when everyone is here, can we hold a meeting with the giants in all aspects and unify their understanding, so as to deal with the situation that will change dramatically, so as not to be caught off guard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Put away Hu Siluàn thought, silently settled his mind, coughed, and said slowly: "In this filial piety shed, I originally didn't talk about business. But now that the situation has reached a turning point, the future of the southeast will also encounter a great test, and I hope that the spirit of the marshal in the sky will forgive us. ”

When Shen Mo said this, his expression was grim, and everyone present knew that he was serious, and they all calmed down and listened quietly, lest they miss a word.

"Xu Ge Lao Zhishi is a foregone conclusion, who will take over his position after he leaves?" Looking at everyone silently, because time is precious, he rarely does not cover the clouds and mountains, but directly cuts through his confidants and says: "I heard that some people have been connecting in tandem recently, trying to try to push me up." Look at a few of them: "After all, it's a good heart, so I won't say who it is......" said with a change of face: "But this kind of big thing, without my own consent, is too bold!" ”

The men lowered their heads when they heard this, not daring to look him in the eye.

"It's also my fault that I didn't communicate my thoughts to you earlier," Shen Mo's expression returned to calm and said, "Now I will tell you clearly, I will not be the first assistant, even if the position is sent to me, it will never change!" ”

"Why, my lord?" Finally, someone couldn't help but say: "Xu Ge Lao is gone, there is only Li Ge Lao in front of you, Li Chūn Fang has no prestige and reputation, I'm afraid that's it, let him be him!" Saying that, Ba looked at Shen Mo and said: "If he also retreats, it should be your turn, and you don't take the initiative to fight for it, what are you afraid of." "There is a huge disparity in power between the first and second assistants, the southeast is becoming more and more prosperous and rich, and they, the high-ranking officials and nobles, have also made a lot of money, and they have become jealous of other provinces, and the people of the country do not suffer from poverty and unevenness, and some people must be worried about them.

The serious sense of crisis made the gentry in the southeast hope to have a strong leader to safeguard their interests; Although Shen Mo is doing a good job now, who knows if he will be able to cover it in the future, when open guns and hidden arrows come from all directions.

So everyone hopes that he can become the first assistant as soon as possible, so that everyone will no longer be worried.

However, Shen Mo now clearly told them that he would not seek this first assistant, how could this not disappoint everyone present?

"It's not that I don't want to be the first assistant," Shen Mo patiently explained to them, "but I am in Beijing and in the cabinet, and I know a little more about the situation of the country than you. The Ming Dynasty is in crisis, and it has reached the point where it is necessary to change the law to survive, and the first auxiliary position is a crater. After sitting on it, if you change the law and reform, you will offend countless people, and the more thoroughly you reform, the more people you will offend...... Even in the future, you will rise up against those who sit in that seat. And if you don't change it, you will become a corpse vegetarian meal, and you will also attract resentment, saying that you are a 'corpse vegetarian meal'. It's a sin to change it or not, and Xu Ge Lao understands this, so he has already had an idea. ”——

Segmentation –

Tomorrow's three watches, in addition, the sub-volume has been adjusted, which does not affect the reading......