The eastern suburbs of Beijing, by the Grand Canal leading to Tongzhou, the ten-mile long pavilion, the autumn breeze is bleak.

Wang Guoguang wore a brown brocade cotton robe, Zeng Xingwu Qingyi and white hat, Li Youzi cloth clothes and shoes, and Wang Seal square scarf Confucian clothes, everyone's expressions were like this late autumn weather, grief and loneliness were intertwined.

The betrayal of Zhang Siwei, a scholar of Shoufu University, formed a fatal blow to the Gangneung Party, and the court meeting was completely defeated, and the subsequent blows also followed.

On the ninth day of the ninth month of September, the above table impeached Zhang Juzheng's superintendent Yu Shi Qiu Hu, who was promoted to the squire of the Criminal Department, and jumped from a seven-rank official to a third-rank officer.

As a result, more recitals of impeachment and criticism of Jang Ju-jeong and the Gangneung Party flew like snowflakes to the General Administration, the Cabinet and the Celebrant Supervisor.

On September 11, Wang Guoguang, the secretary of the Ministry of Justice, was reappointed as the Ministry of Officials with Yan Qing, the secretary of the Criminal Department; September 12, the squire of the Ministry of Leather Officials; September 13, Zhang Xueyan Zhishi, the head of the household department; On September 15, Li Youzi, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, was impeached and dismissed for forming a party for personal gain, and the imperial court announced that he would never use it; On September 16, Liang Menglong, the secretary of the military department and the assistant director of the Jingying Rongzheng, resigned and returned to his hometown...... Correspondingly, on September 14, Wanli Quasi-Imperial Shi Leishi framed the chapter, and the Hanlin Academy, which was edited by the court staff because of Zhang Juzheng's seizure of love, edited Wu Zhongxing, reviewed Zhao Yongxian, Wailang Aimu, a member of the Criminal Department, Shen Sixiao, the director, and Zou Yuanbiao, the Jinshi, were rehabilitated and reinstated; On 17 September, at the request of Yan Qing, the new secretary of the ministry, Yu Maoxue, Zhao Yingyuan, Fu Yingzhen, Zhu Hongmo, Meng Yimai, Wang Yongji, and other conservative ministers who had angered Zhang Juzheng and were exiled and dismissed for various reasons were all recalled.

Wang Guoguang, the secretary of the ministry is still in charge of recommending talents, promoting advantages and eliminating disadvantages; Zhang Xueyan revised the "Wanli Accounting Record", so that the financial income from the end of Jiajing to the beginning of Longqing became a rich surplus in the first ten years of Wanli; Zeng Xingwu, who led a large army to quell the hundred-year-old rebellion of servants in the southwest hinterland; Wang Seal, for the official integrity, in the Metropolitan Procuratorate on the Qing Zhangtian acres, impartial law enforcement is not afraid of the strong, the people call it "Iron Imperial History", the name was written by Wanli in the imperial screen...... But today, this group of fathers and generals who were called the Jiangling Party in the past, the heroes who created the situation of Wanli Zhongxing, and the core figures of the reform of the new policy, have ended up with a reduction in their posts for the people, and they can only leave Beijing and return to their hometowns in disgrace, losing their power and losing the opportunity to continue to work for the great cause of Zhongxing.

The carriages and horses out of Beijing were complete, and the large and small boxes and cages were loaded on the carriages, and the family members and servants all looked gloomy.

There were hundreds of officials who came to see them off, and although the Gangneung Party had lost power, their protégés and former officials were still all over the court, and Wanli, Zhang Siwei and others could bring down the Gangneung Party, but it was impossible to purge all the officials from top to bottom.

It is indeed difficult for the Jiangling Party to escape the fate of the downfall, and there are many officials who dare not come under pressure, but justice is at ease in the hearts of the people, and there are still many people who come to send off the old gentlemen, such as Chen Wei of the left capital of the imperial history, Wu Dui of the right capital of the imperial history, Huang Jiashan of Wanping Zhixian County, and Zhang Gongyu of the imperial history of the capital of the city.

People either sighed for a long time, or they were angry, and some people held an article and read it aloud with tears in their eyes: "Therefore, Master Zhang has been in charge of the country for ten years, there is justice and wrong in the world, and those who are grateful and want to cut their necks cannot be private, and those who take revenge and want to disembowelment cannot be falsely accused......."

The surrounding officials heard this person's recitation, either righteous and colorful, or silently wept, and their hearts were upset for Zhang Juzheng being falsely accused after his death and the expulsion of important ministers of the Jiangling Party. ”

Wang Guoguang recognized that the person who read the article was Wang Zuyan, the editor of the Hanlin Academy, but he didn't know who the black-faced Xiucai was, so he whispered to Wang Zhen beside him.

"It's a well-known prodigy Sun Zhisheng, I heard that he and Gu Xiancheng Sanyuan would be friends before, but I didn't expect to come to see me off," Wang Zhen said and smiled quite gratifyingly: "It seems that justice is in the hearts of the people, and we can have a clear conscience......

Wang Guoguang shook his head with a wry smile, and smiled at Zeng Xingwu: "It's still the old brother of the three provinces who sees the opportunity and resigns by saying that he is sick, so as not to make a fuss like us." ”

Zeng Xingwu sighed, "Those who go are worried about the country, after all, they are far away from the rivers and lakes, and above the temple, there are still Lai Rumo and Bingzhong to maintain." If we can go, we can be considered unofficial and light, and the two of them will have to endure humiliation. ”

Shen Shixing, Shen Rumo and Yu Youding, Yu Bingzhong, showed shame on their faces, and at the same time arched their hands and said: "I should have advanced and retreated with all the gentlemen, but because Qin Taibao and the monarchs repeatedly persuaded each other, I am really ashamed to stand in the middle of the court!" ”

Zhang Siwei defeated the Jiangling Party in one fell swoop, secured the position of the first assistant scholar, and won the trust of Wanli, but he was a traitor like him, and he was always a little sick, feeling that Yan Qing had always opposed Zhang Juzheng in the past, and his net worth must be more innocent than himself in Wanli's mind, and he sat in the most important position of the secretary of the six ministries, I am afraid that he will empty himself in the future.

So Zhang Siwei took a fancy to Shen Shixing as a good gentleman, and Yu Youding was not deeply trapped in the Jiangling Party, so he said to Wanli that he left the two of them in the cabinet as a help for his resistance to Yan Qing and Liu Shouyou.

Zhang Siwei is very cunning, he knows that these two still carry the stain of the Jiangling Party, it is impossible for Wanli to be truly trusted, let alone climb on his head, and he can only honestly do things for himself if he stays in the cabinet.

Shen Shixing's surname is weak and he looks forward to doing things, and when he sees Zhang Siwei staying, he is a little moved, but he can't get over his face; Yu Youding also felt a dilemma, his relationship with the Jiangling Party was not as deep as that of other people, and it was okay to stay and continue to work, but not everyone could play a gorgeous turn like Zhang Siwei, and he also felt embarrassed.

At this time, Qin Lin relieved them with a letter, and the three sentences on it were dripping with ink: "Although Taishi Zhang is dead, although the Jiangling Party is gone, the new policy is still there."

In order to prevent the new deal from dying, Shen Shixing and Yu Youding should stay!

The ministers of the Gangneung Party deeply agreed, and Shen Shixing and Yu Youding also breathed a sigh of relief, on the one hand, they could continue to be cabinet scholars and occupy a high position in the court, and on the other hand, they would not fall out with old friends and bear the stigma of being traitors, which was really the best of both worlds.

Shen and Yu, two scholars, even if they are the only remaining figures of the Gangneung Party in the middle and high-level of the DPRK, and they are also subject to Zhang Siwei.

On the ancient road of Changting, the autumn wind was bleak, Wang Guoguang, Zhang Xueyan and others looked in the direction of Jingshi, and they were reluctant to move for a long time.

There was only one person they were waiting for: Qin Lin.

"Maybe Qin Taibao won't come," Wang Zhen sighed, and said with great remorse: "I regret not being at the beginning, I didn't listen to his unfavorable advice, so that the good situation went down the drain, and he just resented me, and it was a matter of course...... It's a pity that I didn't have a chance to apologize to him in person. ”

Some time ago, Qin Lin really did not have contact with the Jiangling Party, except for the text message that only contained three sentences.

Shen Shixing's lips twitched twice, and he muttered: "Foolishly, foolishly think that Qin Taibao still doesn't come, he overthrew Feng Bao and made great contributions, and is deeply trusted by His Majesty, this time he is not like us, he was not implicated, why bother to come to this trip and make Your Majesty unhappy?" ”

Wang Zhen glanced at Shen Shixing, his heart was very unhappy, and the expression on his face changed.

Shen Shixing said that, which means that he is actually worried that he will be in danger of angering Wanli and Zhang Siwei when he comes to send off his old friends, but he is not too affectionate, and he can't do anything too decisive with his surname, so he still comes to see him off.

Zeng Xingwu saw a few clues, and glanced at Wang Seal, now at this time, Shen Shixing can come to see him off, he is already very righteous, and he will not even worry about others in their hearts, so we have to blame and demand?

Wang Zhan finally didn't blame Shen Shixing, but he couldn't hold back in the end, and said in a deep voice: "Alas, it is only natural that Qin Taibao does not come to send him off, his holy family Youlong, and he is only the son-in-law of Taishi Zhang, no matter how he is involved, unlike us, others can't avoid him!" ”

Shen Shixing's face turned red, and he tugged at his beard and didn't speak.

However, Wang Zhan's words are right, at this time, the government and the opposition Shilin, the marriage between men and women is nothing, and even the in-laws are strangers to each other, and even political enemies are not uncommon, when Jiajing Xu Ge Lao married his granddaughter to Yan Song's grandson as a concubine, and when Yan Song was overthrown, Xu Ge Lao did not leave half of his feelings, and it can be said that he deliberately killed Yan Song's father and son.

Even if Qin Lin didn't come, the Jiangling Party would definitely not blame him, but would only be ashamed of himself, who would say that he didn't listen to Qin Lin's unspoken advice?

"Let's go, Qin Taibao won't come back," Wang Guoguang sighed, beckoned to the butler, and prepared to leave.

Zeng Xingwu, Zhang Xueyan, Wang Zhen and others turned around in unison, secretly sighing that they had no eyes at the beginning, they saw Zhang Siwei wrongly, and they also looked down on Qin Lin.

"Come, come!" Shen Shixing's hands trembled a little, pulled Wang Guoguang's sleeve, and said loudly: "Qin Taibao is here!" ”

In the direction of Jingshi, Qin Lin was wearing Xuanxi household clothes, straddle the night jade lion horse, and rushed like chasing clouds and lightning, and the speed was amazing.

"It's here after all, he's still here!" Zhang Xueyan was very excited.

Wang Zhen bit his lip tightly, and only breathed a sigh of relief after a while: "Qin Taibao has finally forgiven us...... If he doesn't come, I will be ashamed and uneasy on my way back to my hometown. ”

The former protégés of the Jiangling Party who came to see him off also discussed: "Qin Taibao is really loyal and righteous, and it is worth handing over!" ”

"Isn't that? The Grand Master of Jiangling married his daughter to him, and he didn't choose the wrong person! ”

Qin Lin rode his horse, and everyone who saw him off moved to both sides, and he rode straight to the outside of the long pavilion, turned over and dismounted.

Wang Guoguang, Zeng Xingwu and other important ministers of the Jiangling Party had already greeted him, and invisibly enshrined Qin Lin in the center, and everyone bowed their hands to greet him.

Zeng Xingwu smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Qin Taibao, you really shouldn't come!" It was known to His Majesty and Zhang Fengpan, and it was inconvenient. ”

Qin Lin waved his sleeves, stood tall and jade, and said angrily: "All the old gentlemen went to the country and returned to their hometowns, but the disaster of the party has reappeared. ”

Wang Guoguang, Zhang Xueyan and others were inexplicably moved, Shen Shixing and Yu Youding looked at each other, and at the same time felt that their ears were feverish, they were originally from the Jiangling Party, and they hesitated for a moment whether to see them off or not, Qin Lin was a big celebrity who helped Wanli bring down Feng Bao, and he was just Zhang Juzheng's cheap son-in-law, and he was not implicated, but he resolutely came to see him off.

Zhang Gongyu in the crowd of send-off people was dazzled and smiled, and his thumb was raised, and he kept saying to the people around him: "Do you see it?" Qin Taibao is my old brother, hehe, loyal and benevolent, that's a top one! ”

Someone sighed: "I didn't expect him to be a brocade-clothed warrior, and he actually compared how many scholars and doctors he ......"

What happened to the brocade-clothed warriors? Zhang Gongyu glared at him: "Zi said, benevolence is far away?" I want to be benevolent, Si Ren is the most important, this benevolence and righteousness are not martial arts, your brother still needs to study more. ”

The onlookers still had such feelings, and the people of the Jiangling Party who had experienced it were even more moved, and they all said that Zhang Jiangling had a spirit in the sky, and they must be very pleased to see that there is a good son-in-law like this.

"Actually, the old man is looking forward to Qin Taibao coming, but he doesn't want him to really come," Wang Guoguang sighed, tears flashed in his faint old eyes, and he held Qin Lin's hand tightly.

Zeng Xingwu understood what he meant, and explained: "I hope you will come, prove that Zhang Jiangling did not choose the wrong person to marry his daughter, and prove that there is a young generation like you in the court, even if we go to the country and return to our hometown, there will be successors in the court; I don't want you to come, because I am afraid that I will be detected by His Majesty and Zhang Fengpan, the prime minister, and it will be unfavorable to you. ”

"There are Shen Pavilion elders and Yu Pavilion elders in the court to maintain the overall situation, and I am a brocade-clothed military minister, which is really insignificant!" Qin Lin said modestly with a smile.

No! Zeng Xingwu, Wang Guoguang, Zhang Xueyan and Wang Zhu spit out words almost at the same time, and several important ministers of the Jiangling Party in the past stretched out their hands at the same time and held Qin Lin's hand: "It's a pity, it's a pity that we didn't know Qin Taibao's intentions earlier, we saw the wrong person, we saw the wrong Zhang Siwei, and we saw you wrong!" If we can know these things in advance, we will definitely look forward to Qin Taibao! ”

"Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Liu, it's so polite!" Qin Lin was extremely modest, with a sincere expression of fear on his face.

"It's too late to regret it!" Wang Guoguang let out a long sigh and said in a low voice: "If there is a day in the future, we can stand on the court again......"

As he spoke, he looked at Qin Lin with earnest eyes, and at the same time added strength to his hand, squeezing Qin Lin's hand hard.

Feeling the strength coming from the palm of his hand, Qin Lin smiled with satisfaction in his heart, he also held Wang Guoguang's hand hard, and shook it up and down: "Yes, there will be that day, and I am willing to conspire with all the old gentlemen when the time comes." ”

Good! The eyes of Wang Guoguang, Zeng Xingwu and others became eager again, and their mood when they left Jingshi became very different from before.

It's just that everyone has a suspicion in their hearts, Qin Lin came to see him off, isn't he afraid that Wanli and Zhang Siwei know?

"If you hurt Qin Taibao because of this, you will be ashamed and uneasy!" When Wang Zhan parted, he was still a little worried.

(To be continued)