Prince De opened his palace and recruited talented people, regardless of civil or military affairs.

This news spread throughout Shandong in just a few days. Although the imperial examinations of the Ming Dynasty were divided into northern and southern provinces, there were still not many scholars who passed the examinations in the five northern provinces. There were countless scholars in the countryside who failed to pass the exams.

After hearing the news, he was eager to take action at first, and then hesitant - Crown Prince De was very domineering. If the court wanted to kill him in the future, or if he rebelled, wouldn't he be on a pirate ship?

Of course, there are also people who are thinking that if they take one step at a time, he will rebel, and what if he seizes the throne?

Thousands of people have different ideas, but what is certain is that for many people, this is indeed an opportunity!

Even the recruitment information spread along the Grand Canal and the Yellow River, all the way to neighboring Nanzhili and Henan.

In Qixian County, Kaifeng Prefecture, not far from Shandong, there was a big figure in the early years - Li Jingbai. He was once the governor of Shandong and had the title of Shangshu of the Ministry of War. However, in the early years of Chongzhen, he was convicted of "making friends with close servants, and

The punishment of "inferior theory, three years in prison, and redemption for the people if you lose"

, in other words, this is a proper eunuch. However, in the officialdom of the late Ming Dynasty, whether it was an eunuch or Donglin, it actually was nothing. At least it did not hinder their reputation after returning home. Although they were

Although their positions were reduced to serve the people, the Li family was still one of the top wealthy squires in Qixian County.

However, after Li Jingbai passed away a few years ago, the Li family seemed to have declined - no one from the Li family was an official anymore.

It can be said that Li Xin was deeply touched by this. There was no one in the court, and even paying for food had to pay a few more dan! Even though he was elected in the year of Dingmao of Tianqi, it stands to reason that the court should have chosen him long ago.

, but no, his father is a eunuch.

In fact, Li Xin's reputation in Qixian County was very good, and the locals spoke highly of him. The year before last, there was a drought and then locusts in Qixian County, resulting in almost no harvest. Even so, the Song County Magistrate in Qixian County still pressed for money and grain, and the people suffered.

It was unspeakable. After witnessing this scene, Li Xin naturally could not sit idly by. He went to see Magistrate Song and asked for orders for the folks in Qixian County. But Magistrate Song only had to confront

He had no choice but to go home and take out more than 300 dan of food stored at home to help the victims. The Li family only made a living by collecting rent.

In such disaster years when locusts and droughts occurred, it was obviously only a drop in the bucket. For this reason, he also composed a "Relief Song" and sent it to various wealthy households to encourage relief.

No matter how much food was donated, Li Xin's reputation was very good in several surrounding counties, but his reputation... was of no use as no one in his family was an official.

"Sir, Mr. Liu would like to see you."

On this day, as usual, when Li Xin was studying in the study, a servant came in to report.

Li Xin quickly put down the book and said:

"Please come quickly!"

The eldest son of Liu, Liu Shengzhen, was Li Xin’s friend. Not only was he a civil servant in the Gengwu year, but his father, Liu Lishun, was also the number one scholar in Jiaxu. Historically, when Li Zicheng captured the capital a few years later, Liu, his wife, concubines, and 12 servants surrendered.

They both died together with their two sons. Only Liu Shengzhen in Qixian County survived.

"Brother Liu, why are you so free today?"

Li Xin smiled as soon as they met.

"You and I haven't gotten together for a while, and today is a good day. I just made a jar of wine yesterday. You and I must get drunk today!"

There is no Qinhuai River in Qixian County for the frustrated taxis to go to the bosom of singing prostitutes to worry about the country and the people, so they can only drink to relieve their worries. After hearing this, Liu Shengzhen clasped his hands and said:

"Brother, I have something to do, so I brought some offal and stewed vegetables from Beiguan when I don't come here!"

Yes, Qinhuai was a place where people spent a lot of time drinking and sleeping on the legs of beautiful women. When the eldest son of the No. 1 scholar came to visit, he just brought some offal and braised vegetables.

Li Xin smiled.

"I haven't tasted it for a long time. Thanks to my brother, I can satisfy my appetite today..."

Instructing the servant to take the offal and stewed vegetables, Li Xin invited him to sit down in the room. After a while, several plates of stewed vegetables were served. After warming the wine, the two started chatting. As they chatted,

Naturally, the conversation came about Li Xin.

A little tipsy, Liu Shengzhen sighed:

"It's such a pity that Makuro is so talented and talented but has been buried until now. Are you going to the capital to take the exam this year?"

His friend's words made Li Xin look bitter.

"It's not that I won't go. It's that...it's time and fate."

He knows his own family affairs well. Even though he passed the examination, he can wait for the imperial court to select officials, either as a county magistrate, or as a prefectural scholar, or a county scholar.

Official. But he will definitely not be elected - who makes his father an eunuch?

But even if I take the exam this year, can I pass the Jinshi exam?

Looking at his lost friend, Liu Shengzhen suddenly asked.

"Brother, I heard that Prince Shanling De moved to Lushun and opened a government office in Lushun. He is currently in Jinan and recruiting members regardless of their civil or military background. Brother Mu Bai is a versatile person in both civil and military affairs, so why don't you give it a try?"

Li Xin shook his head and said.

"Although Crown Prince De has great military achievements, he can be domineering. If he breaks with the imperial court in the future, how will I deal with it? My father is already infamous, how can I ignore the Li family?"

After hearing this, Liu Shengzhen advised.

"My dear brother is surprised by what I said. Although Crown Prince De is said to be domineering, he is also loyal to the affairs of the country. He went south to fight against the captives, traveled thousands of miles by sea, and went straight to Huanglong. He protected everything without losing anything. One after another, he made extraordinary achievements.

, if he intends to rebel, how can he

Will you agree to go to Lushun to open a mansion? I think my brother thinks that although the prince is domineering, he is also a sincere and loyal minister, and he will never do anything disobedient. Moreover, even if the prince disobeys him in the future, the wise brother will never leave again.

It’s too late, so why not give it a try?”

Hearing this, Li Xin was silent for a while, a little moved, but also a little afraid.

Although his ambitions are far from lofty, Li Xin has always wanted to become an official. However, since his father was dismissed from office and returned to his hometown, after many years of failed attempts, and because of his father's relationship, the election of an official has been far away.

It is inevitable that there will be some resentment in Nian's heart.

Then I thought about it, so what if Prince De is planning to rebel in the future? Prince De may not be a wise master! If he is a wise master and conquers the world, it will also be a blessing to the people of the world.

Although this idea frightened Li Xin, for so many years, because of his father's status as a "eunuch", he had no hope of being elected as an official and was not even favored by local officials. He always harbored a trace of resentment in his heart.

“Go try it!”

Looking at his thoughtful friend, Liu Shengzhen, who didn't know what he was thinking, continued to persuade him.

"Although Prince De is easy to kill, he was able to use his clan to allow the court to break the two-hundred-year vassal ban and command his army to open a palace. This shows that he is definitely not an ordinary person. He must have a keen eye for pearls."

After thinking about it again and again, the desire in his heart finally made Li Xin nod and say.

"Thank you, Brother Liu, for your advice!"

Liu Shengzhen immediately laughed and said.

"Why did you come to give me some advice? Come and have a drink with me to congratulate my virtuous brother for showing off what he has learned..."

In fact, he came here just to persuade his friend not to give up on himself and to find a way to advance even if he could not pass the imperial examination.

…

Tongzhou, North Zhili, is the actual end point of the Thousand Mile Grand Canal. Most of the passengers and business travelers coming from the north come from the canal and abandon their boats and cars in Zhangjiawan, Tongzhou Prefecture. However, Zhangjiawan here is no longer as prosperous as it was yesterday.

Donglu's reception

Two consecutive invasions of invaders have destroyed everything here. At this time, at the Zhangjiawan Pier, which was burned to ashes by the Donglu, a scholar wearing a square scarf and a gray cotton robe looked at the people in front of him.

A friend bowed his head and said.

"I am not going to Jinan for the sake of glory, nor to cling to the rich and powerful. I am only willing to use my own strength to attack the Eastern captives from the north, protect my people, and protect my religion! A few wise brothers will stay behind, and I will go now.

Got it!"

"Kan Heng take care!"

"Take care of yourself!"

Amid the reluctance to say goodbye, Yan Yingyuan stepped on the gangplank and boarded the ship. He stayed on the ship and when the ship was sailing, he still bowed and waved to his friends who were seeing him off.

Although this parting is less than a thousand miles away, it may be difficult to see again in this life!

When his friend's figure disappeared from sight, Yan Yingyuan thought to himself that although he had been elected for many years, he had never waited for the imperial court to select officials. This time, Prince De's opening of the Mansion allowed him to see the opportunity, which of course really attracted him

Yes, I'm afraid it was because of the proclamation that the prince wrote calling on scholars all over the world to resist the invaders. This was also the reason why he chose to go south.
Chapter completed!