The 19th day of the first lunar month was a good day chosen by the people of Qing Mo Shanren for Wu Ling and Yun Jin. The wedding was organized according to Shaoxing customs. The sedan chair was very festive with drums and music.
Yun Jin, who was usually cheerful and neat, was shy at this moment. The joy of a wedding does not distinguish between rich and poor -
After sending the newlyweds into the bridal chamber, Zhang Yuan and Shang Danran returned to the bedroom in the courtyard. The weather had turned warm. Since yesterday, Zhang Yuan had people stop burning charcoal under the floor for heating. However, it was still quite cold at night, so the brazier still had to be prepared.
Next door, Mother Zhou softly sang Shaoxing nursery rhymes to coax Xiao Hongjian to sleep——
At night, it became quiet.
Zhang Yuan and Shang Danran looked side by side at the white magnolia plant outside the window. In the candlelight, they saw small flower buds on the branches, like tiny snowballs. Shang Danran took a deep breath, and the faint cold fragrance filled his heart and spleen.
Zhang Yuan also took a deep breath and said: "Dan Ran, I want to tell you something -" Since the memorial requesting to be sent as an envoy to North Korea has been submitted, it is time to inform Dan Ran of this matter.
After listening to Zhang Yuan's words, Shang Danran asked: "Do you have to go, Zhang Lang?"
Zhang Yuandao: "What I see on paper is shallow, but I know that this matter must be carried out in detail. Making good friends with North Korea is one of them, and more importantly, Liaodong. I must personally inspect it. The country seems to be peaceful, but in fact it is seriously ill.
So we should first find a way to treat the symptoms and preserve the country's fortunes for a few years, and then gradually cure the root cause -" Speaking of the last few sentences, his voice lowered, as if he was talking to himself.
Shang Danran was silent for a while, then he hugged Zhang Yuan's left arm, put his face on Zhang Yuan's shoulder, and asked, "When will you leave and when will you be back?"
Zhang Yuandao: "We will leave before mid-March, and we will be able to return to Beijing in about July or August."
Shang Danran said: "Well, you can't be with us even when Hongjian celebrates his first birthday. Also, Zhenzhen will give birth in March or April, so you can't be with us either!"
Zhang Yuan shook his head: "There's nothing we can do about it. You just have to worry more."
…
However, to Zhang Yuan's surprise, Emperor Wanli had not published the memorial to the imperial censorship and the canonization of the crown prince of Joseon. It was enough that he did not approve the memorial to confer the crown prince of Joseon. How could the imperial censor delay it? So on the 20th of the first lunar month, the officials
Kezuo sent a memorial to Xu Shaoji asking the emperor to determine the date for the inspection of the capital. On the 25th of the first month, Fang Congzhe, the chief assistant of the cabinet, asked again for the date of the inspection of the capital as soon as possible. However, Emperor Wanli ignored them all, and in the blink of an eye it was February.
The Beijing inspection originally scheduled to be held on the 28th of the first lunar month and the second day of the second lunar month had to be postponed——
On the sixth day of February, Fang Congzhe reported to Emperor Wanli that the Beijing inspection was overdue and asked him to select a day after the official election on the 12th of this month. The general election is one of the six selection methods and is held every February. The candidates for selection are all
Those who come from various sources and are conferred official positions for the first time, such as last year's new Jinshi Guanzheng who have not yet been conferred, those who have passed the tribute examination and served in prison to achieve the qualifications for being conferred, and those who are current officials who have completed the examination and should be promoted, demoted or transferred
This kind of selection has long been established according to certain rules. It does not require the emperor's decree. The officials will carry out the selection according to the usual practice. Of course, the selection results must be reported to the emperor for approval——
On February 12, the general election of the Ministry of Civil Affairs for the 45th year of Wanli was held as scheduled. Hong Chengchou, who had been monitoring politics in the Ministry of Punishment, was appointed as the head of the Jiangxi Qing Officials Department of the Ministry of Punishment because of his outstanding ability and the lack of officials in the Ministry of Punishment.
It is one level higher than the number one scholar Zhang Yuan's Sixth Grade Compilation. Hong Chengchou can be said to have a prosperous official career. However, since Zhang Yuan, Wen Zhenmeng, Ruan Dacheng and others have already been appointed, they will not be promoted or demoted until they pass the examination in three years. Of course, there are also
The exception is the emergency election, which usually results in temporary promotion or demotion only for good political performance or dereliction of duty——
The election of the Ministry of Personnel does not cover a wide range of areas. If the three parties want to achieve the purpose of eliminating dissidents, they must hold a Beijing inspection. For example, Ding Yuanjian, the director of the Ministry of Rites, Lu Dashou, the doctor of the Zhejiang Department of the Ministry of Household Affairs, Ma Defeng, the doctor of the Ministry of Punishments, Fu Mei, the director of the Ministry of Punishments,
Li Feng, the former doctor in the Ministry of Justice, Li Pu, the former doctor in the Ministry of Household Affairs, and Yang Lian, the official in the household department. These Donglin officials below the fourth rank can be demoted together through the Beijing Inspectorate, while the left minister of the Xiangcheng Bureau is also the minister of the Hanlin Academy.
The bachelor Weng Zhengchun, the right minister of the Ministry of Personnel and the bachelor of Hanlin Academy Wang Tu, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites Sun Shenxing, and the Imperial Academy Jijiu Zhu Guozhen, these Donglin bigwigs of the fourth rank and above, although the capital inspectors themselves submitted letters to report their political achievements and merits and demerits to the emperor.
However, the officials can still use their powers to force these people to resign. Zheng Jizhi, Wang Dazhi, Yao Zongwen and others have already made a list and want to expel all Donglin's party and officials close to Donglin on the list from the capital. At that time
Wu Daonan is isolated and helpless, and he must also resign——
On February 15th, Fang Congzhe saw that the emperor still did not issue an order, so he suggested that the inspection be carried out on February 28th because of the approaching Beijing inspection.
On February 18, Fang Congzhe once again proposed to Qianshu that the Beijing inspection should not be approved on February 28, and asked the emperor to issue an order. Emperor Wanli still ignored it, which left Fang Congzhe and the officials of the Ministry of Civil Affairs at a loss.
When one of the Three Kings of Donglin, Xingxing, was appointed as a doctor in the Ministry of Civil Affairs, he used the Beijing Chaos to denounce officials from other parties. Now it was the turn of the three parties of Zhejiang, Chu and Qi to retaliate, but Emperor Wanli still did not approve the period of the Beijing Chaos.
, This made Fang Congzhe, Zheng Jizhi, Wang Dazhi and others very confused.
…
At dusk on February 19th, Zhang Yuan returned to his apartment in Lige Old Hutong after the Hanlin Academy dismissed his office. Before he could sit down, a white horse came running in to present his famous assassin. Wang Dazhi, a doctor in the Literary and Anthology Department of the Ministry of Personnel, came to visit. Wang Dazhi is now a Beijing official.
He is a very popular figure among the people, and many officials are working for him in order to get promoted in the imperial police. Zheng Jizhi, the Minister of Civil Affairs, is old and feeble, and the power of the imperial police is basically in the hands of Wang Dazhi——
Wang Dazhi originally had a good relationship with Zhang Yuan, but since Zhang Yuan and Fang Congzhe completely broke up due to the big debate, Wang Dazhi has never seen Zhang Yuan in private again. Wang Dazhi came today because of the Beijing inspection.
He knew that Zhang Yuan was not included in Ding Si's Beijing inspection. He wanted to hear Zhang Yuan's views on this Beijing inspection. The most important thing was why the emperor had not approved the holding of the Beijing inspection so far?
The guests and hosts sat down and served tea. Wang Dazhi first asked Zhang Yuan why he wanted to go to Korea as an envoy. Zhang Yuan explained a few words casually. Wang Dazhi didn't mean it, so he changed the subject and said: "The emperor has refused to conduct inspections in the capital so far. He doesn't know where to go."
Why do you think about it? Governance by inaction cannot be so inaction. Even the Beijing inspection is not held every six years. How can this government not be corrupted? "
Zhang Yuan said bluntly: "The emperor is wise and knows very well that the Beijing Chariot has now become a big stick in the party struggle. Therefore, it is unthinkable to leave all the memorials about the Beijing Chariot in the center."
Wang Dazhi was speechless, and after a while he murmured: "I'm afraid the Jingchao won't be able to delay the process."
Zhang Yuandao: "Since the beginning of the dispute over the foundation of the country, the emperor has been delaying it like this."
Wang Dazhi shook his head, chatted with Zhang Yuan for a few more words, and then stood up to leave. Zhang Yuan walked out of the door and said with cupped hands: "I first arrived in the capital. I have been cared for by Mr. Wang, and I have always been grateful. I might be presumptuous to say something.
But I still want to tell Mr. Wang clearly——"
Wang Dazhi came closer and said in a low voice: "Zhang Xiuzhuan, please speak."
Zhang Yuandao: "The sages have done nothing for themselves. Back then, Donglin rejected dissenters and refused to be tolerant. How could we have imagined that there would be such a cold situation today? Now the three parties are so powerful that they want to eliminate Donglin, but they have never thought about their own way out.
I hope Lord Wang will think twice."
Wang Dazhi was silent, cupped his hands, and got into the sedan.
Zhang Yuan stood with his hands behind his back in front of the golden pillar gate, watching Wang Dazhi's sedan go around Shichang Street and heading south, thinking: "Ding Si Jingcha, the three parties drove out Donglin. Three years later, Prince Zhu Changluo ascended the throne.
Donglin's party revolted and all the officials of the three parties were demoted. The officials of the three parties were unable to confront Donglin and had no choice but to rely on Wei Zhongxian. This led to the most painful consequences of the party struggle in the late Ming Dynasty. This consequence is something I must avoid.
, don’t you know that Wang Dazhi can’t listen to my good advice?”
As dusk fell, the high walls and cornices of the imperial city in the west began to blur. Mu Zhenzhen walked to the door with a big belly and called out: "Master, it's time for dinner."
Zhang Yuan was about to turn around and enter the door when several people turned around from Shichang Street and strode towards Li Ge Old Alley. Zhang Yuan had a very good ear and could not see people clearly, but he heard that the voice belonged to a manservant of his brother-in-law Shang Zhouzuo.
The male servant said: "This way, we're here, ah, that's Uncle Zhang, the one standing in front of the door -"
Zhang Yuan glanced at it and saw six people coming. Walking alongside the Shang servant was a border guard officer who looked unfamiliar. The person following the officer seemed to be Mu Jingyan. Taking a few steps closer, it turned out to be Mu Jingyan.
Jing Yan said with great joy: "It's true, Uncle Mu is here."
Mu Zhenzhen quickly stepped out of the door. Zhang Yuan gave her a hand. When Mu Zhenzhen saw that it was really her father, Mu Jingyan, she was so happy that she shouted: "Daddy——"
The five people quickened their pace and quickly arrived in front of the door. Mu Jingyan, a big man with a yellow beard, suddenly saw his daughter Mu Zhenzhen's shy and pregnant look. He couldn't help but was stunned. They forgot to salute Zhang Yuan. The officer crossed his arms to Zhang Yuan.
He said: "The humble job is Du Qinggang, a hundred households under General Du of Yansui. I pay my respects to Mr. Zhang." The three people behind him also bowed to Zhang Yuan.
Zhang Yuandao: "Have you received my letter, General Du? It's very good. Please come in and talk. Uncle Mu has come at the right time. I'm really going to give birth next month, so I'm looking forward to Uncle Mu's arrival."
Mu Jingyan had known that his daughter was really Master Zhang Yuan's personal maid, and would be Zhang Yuan's concubine sooner or later, but when he saw his daughter with such a big belly, he felt a little embarrassed and didn't know what to say.
Zhang Yuan greeted Du Qinggang and Mu Jingyan in the entrance hall. Du Qinggang first introduced the other three to Zhang Yuan, pointed at two strong soldiers in their thirties and said: "Master Zhang, these two were originally Shaolin monks.
, after returning to secular life, he served under General Du and was General Du's personal bodyguard. This one's name is Hong Ji, and this one's name is Hong Xin."
Zhang Yuan thought to himself: "There are Shaolin monks, that's great." He cupped his hands and said, "You two are serving the country in the army, they are very respectable."
Du Qinggang introduced the man who was nearly fifty years old to Zhang Yuan. This man was not dressed as a sergeant, but as a civilian. He was of medium height, not physically strong, and had a dull expression. Du Qinggang said: "This is Master Wang Zongyue, a famous internal boxing master."
.”
Zhang Yuan raised his eyebrows and was overjoyed. Wang Zongyue was a master of Tai Chi and the ancestor of Yang Luchan, but he turned out to be from the Wanli period.
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The update is late, so I can’t send my Lantern Festival greetings to my book friends. It’s a pity, but many of my book friends got up early the next day to read. It’s a belated blessing. I wish my book friends a happy family and good luck!
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