Last time, Lin Ruhai suddenly went to the study of Mingqiao Courtyard, retreated left and right, and took the two letters to Zhang Wang. Zhang Wang's expression changed suddenly, and he was very solemn. But it turned out that the two letters were both from Beijing, one was written by Bai Yi, the first assistant of the current dynasty and a member of the cabinet university, and the other was written by Yan Li and Yan Fadao, a squire of the military department. Bai Yi's letter is full of two or three thousand words, and the letter tells him that from the end of March to the time the letter was sent, the southwest, northwest, and northeast borders of the imperial court have successively been stacked with swords and soldiers, although they will subside in a few days, or more than ten days, but the situation is unstable after all; Lin Ruhai, the general leader of Jiangnan Yanzheng, received a handwritten letter from the master in this case, and suddenly learned a lot of inside information, so why didn't he be surprised?

However, what made Lin Ruhai even more worried and frightened was another letter. The strict law of writing the letter is Lin Ruhai in the same year, he is frank and bold, has the style of being chivalrous, and is good at knowing military affairs, so after ascending to the top, he was first awarded a professor of martial arts, and then moved to the director of the Ministry of Labor, and then served as the deputy envoy of Ningshao Grain Road and military garrison, until the squire of the Ministry of War. Although Yan Li's letter came at about the same time as Bai Yi's letter, the letter did not mention side affairs, only that since last year, the sage wanted to grant Zhan Shifu Zhan Shifu Zhan Shifu could not succeed, and the court and China discussed more and more in the country, and every month there must be a letter to the officials and ministers to establish the prince, and in the same year, there was also a lot of desire to jointly play the emperor's eldest son - the full text was less than 100 words, and Lin Ruhai's heart was already pounding. So he hurried to his cousin, and consulted together, so that he could make a plan.

The two sat silently. After a long time, I heard Zhang Wang sigh: "I don't want to be peaceful for 30 years, but the border pass is so much." Traitors must be punished, traitors deserve to die, and the court is so careful, which is also counted in the law of reason. It's just a few places churning together, and there's always something unusual here. What does my cousin think?"

Lin Ruhai said: "The erosion of the border army is not news. But as long as the stable life has passed for a long time, those things that are civil, martial, unbearable, and bullshit will always come out. Breaking out in one place is probably just a coincidence, or if someone is too lonely on the road, and when he pulls one hand out, a gang will tease him. ”

In this chapter, I hope to know Lin Ruhai very well, and know that he has always been elegant and upright, but suddenly foul language and mean words appeared, which shows the anger in his heart. It's just that in the end, I couldn't help laughing and said: "I'm still growing up over the years, but when I encounter a little incident, I still can't suppress the fire." He pinched two letters in his hand, checked them in his heart, and said slowly: "Bai Zhenyu's letter, the matter is also clear. Although there were swordsmen, the side court was not really messy, but it exposed a lot of inside stories that were unknown before, and seven or eight were cleared out of the nails and moths. The court did not make it clear to the world, for fear that fools would disturb themselves, but instead stirred up the people's hearts. Sure enough, two or three months have passed, and Jiangnan is ignorant and unaware, and it is stable as usual. It can be seen that the problem of ringworm scabies does not hinder the overall situation. As for my cousin's worries, the situation of the border army can only have anything to do with the word 'money'. Nowadays, salt and tea are almost half of the annual income of the imperial court. If the border army has to make great efforts to straighten it out, the first one of the grain, grass, ordnance, armor, barracks, etc., must point to the silver money. If this is the case, then the Jiangnan salt is taxed, and I am afraid that it will be heavy again. ”

Lin Ruhai said: "It may not be heavy on this." There are regulations for salt classes and the like, and there is no reason for the imperial court to increase or decrease them at will. Moreover, it has not been said explicitly. So I'm not too worried about that. ”

Zhang Wang said: "My cousin is not worried about himself, that is, he is worried about the acquaintance of relatives. I remember that Wang Ziteng, who was transferred from the Jingying Jiedu envoy to the command of the nine provinces, and was ordered to go out of the capital to check the border, is also related to your Yue's family? Although the time has not been up to two or three years, and he has been patrolling one province after another, he has not been stationed in any place for a long time, but his position is not in the eyes of people, so he has to speak. ”

Lin Ruhai said: "Wang Ziteng can also be regarded as a capable minister." It's not my turn to worry about this for him. Besides, the two of us are brothers and relatives, and you don't need to avoid anything, just say what you have to say. ”

When Zhang Wang heard him say this, he sighed and said, "So in my cousin's eyes, what really matters should be the message that Yan Fadao said, yes or no? It's just that the aftermath of the Xiheshu case is still there, and the vitality of the leading families involved has not yet recovered, which is really painful. If you do it again, if you can touch some margins, I am afraid that it is not the words 'broken muscles and bones' that can be brought over. The cousin was naturally frightened by this and the other. ”

Lin Ruhai sighed: "'Hurt the muscles and bones', how light! The net worth and life of a family and a family are all here, where can people be casually involved? However, there is Fan Taosheng in front of him, and the officials in the capital are among them, and they can't see through the intentions, so they rashly say that they want to talk about the establishment of the reserve, regardless of the fact that they are still in their prime, it is really not a wise move. ”

Zhang Wang frowned and said: "Fan Taosheng here, it is really the Plains Marquis Jiang family who is not like words, and he has done things too much, which has aroused the righteous indignation of Wenchen and even Shilin. There are also several Fan Chenggan's family who are interested in citing civil and military contradictions, and now they have to come forward to clean up. But it's just a Zhan thing. Zhan Shi is a good leader, but he has never shirked his position as a political envoy, who is the master, and a clear-eyed person can come out at a glance, how can he enter this bureau lightly?"

Lin Ruhai sneered: "You ask him how to enter the game? Naturally, he can only have such a heart in the first place, and only when there is a little turmoil, as if the situation is a little troublesome, he can't wait to jump out one by one, and want to fight for a great merit from the dragon." ”

Zhang Wang nodded and said, "Presumably so." However, this kind of great credit is never easy to earn. It is necessary to anticipate the opportunity before it can be targeted. I remember that although there are quite a few princes today, they are not very old?"

Lin Ruhai said: "The third son of the emperor got married last year. In the middle of next year, the fourth son of the emperor should also have a coming-of-age ceremony. The last two are indeed small. It's just that none of the six princes came out of the Middle Palace. In terms of talent and virtue, it has never been shown. Speaking of this, Lin Ruhai couldn't help but shake his head and said: "So according to me, today is really not as good as it was back then." Back then, Prince Rui and Prince Yizhong did have something to fight about, one occupied the eldest and the other was virtuous, and they were always equal. What is the case now? There is no definite number yet, so why should the courtiers be in such a hurry? Just look at it for two more years, knowing that it is not too late to make a decision on the endowment of temperament. ”

Zhang Wang said with a smile: "There is no prince since he ascended the throne today, and there are already three adults among the princes, and the people in the court can hold back until this time before speaking, I think it is strange." Presumably, every time there was a discussion before, he was immediately beaten back, and there was still the Emperor Taishang, so that he could be quiet for two or three years. Then he pointed to the letter in his hand and asked: "According to Yan Fadao, many of the courtiers are the eldest sons of the emperor?

Lin Ruhai said: "The emperor's eldest son is twenty-three years old this year, when I was in Beijing, he was only fourteen or five, and he did not go to the court, nor did he learn to manage political affairs, I have seen a few times at the New Year's Festival ceremony. I heard that the qualifications and knowledge are acceptable, but they are still among the ordinary. Besides, I didn't hear the rumor that he had any outrageous words and deeds. If the crowd wants to stand up, it should generally come from one 'long'. ”

Zhang Wang nodded and said, "It's also the usual etiquette." If there is no child in the middle palace, the eldest son is the eldest son. Even if it is simple and clear, there is nothing else to argue. Seeing that Lin Ruhai's face seemed to be uncertain when he spoke, he knew that what he thought was different, and he sighed in his heart, "Father and son", and then said: "Ruhai doesn't have to look at me like this." I just say that this method is the most simple, and others can't say much. is not as virtuous as that, virtuous and unvirtuous, who can and who cannot, the quarrel is turned upside down, and it may not be possible to come up with a person who is convinced by each other. I had a headache just thinking about it, let alone listening patiently to it one by one. ”

When Lin Ruhai heard what he said, he couldn't help but laugh and said, "When you were in front of your grandfather, you said the same. It's just like this, I was lazy and idle, and I voted for him, and next year there will be the most age difference, but it is the most compatible. ”

Zhang Wang said: "But it just fits the word 'situation'. That kind of experience and situation is difficult for people to have much ambition. It's just that the creation is magical, and the sky is unpredictable, who would have thought that there would be such an encounter in the future. Turning it in vain allowed me to pick up the grace of heaven and the blessing of accidents. Speaking of this, he couldn't help but nod and sigh, and then said: "You don't have to talk about it back then." In today's situation, since Yan Fadao wants to invite you to jointly guarantee the promotion, there must be a side competition in the future. There are no children in the middle palace, and everyone is young, so this competition comes from the prince's mother's family?"

When Lin Ruhai heard this, he showed admiration, and only said: "Looking up to his knowledge, it is no wonder that people have lamented that the testament of Duke Wen Zhao has restrained talents several times. So he told him one by one: "The emperor's eldest son's biological mother Liang Concubine, the mother's original cobbler, this is the only one, there are many voices in the court - there are many concubines in the palace who have the prince, and among them are noble people. Concubine Liang's background is about the lowest, except for her, only the eldest princess and Concubine Li, the biological mother of the fourth prince, was originally a daughter of the Ping family. The second son and the third son of the emperor are all from Zhou Guiren, and her father Zhou Chao is now the head of the ministry. Wu Guisheng's sixth son, her father Wu Tianyou, has been the Xuanfu envoy for two terms, and returned to Beijing in a blink of an eye. And there is also a Wu Guifei in the palace, who is the cousin of her family. The highest status among the concubines is Zhuang Yi Shen Guifei, whose mother is Princess Weidi, who is now a cousin, and has been raised in the palace since childhood. Although the fifth prince born to her is only ten years old, I have also heard in Yangzhou that she is smart and clever, and has won the favor of the Holy Saint - in such a situation, why don't you teach the world to think about more things?"

Zhang Wang sneered: "Young son of the deep palace, what smart words and deeds can you have? Strange Dao, even a person like Yan Fadao, can't help but want to pull you together for the emperor's eldest son. It's just that how do they know what kind of person the emperor's eldest son is? According to Ruhai, the emperor's eldest son is just mediocre, and if the throne is established, after ten years, the younger brother will grow up, and he is not afraid that he will be the Prince Rui and the Prince Yizhong?"

Lin Ruhai nodded and sighed: "So now the situation in Beijing, I don't even dare to think about it." But people sit at home, and things come from outside the door. You also saw that Ding Tao and Xie Ji were newly appointed. Ding Tao was promoted in order, step by step, and it is needless to say that he is diligent and loyal. But that Xie Ji, as soon as he came, picked up a few things that were stumbling with Yangzhou Jinshen County, colluding and intertwined so that ordinary people didn't dare to start, he dared to start, advance and retreat, kill and cut, that action is really not ordinary shrewd and capable. Although I temporarily suppressed him with the overall situation and the official position, if I set a precedent for everything, how can there be any reason not to follow the law later?"

Zhang Wangdao: "If I am not mistaken, the salt merchants of Yangzhou are ordinary officials who refuse to touch themselves, and they have always followed the path of the clan relatives with the surname of the country? Although they all belong to the Jiangnan faction, they can see a lot of the source of grass. Xie Jicheng learned from his own family, and he was unscrupulous, so I am afraid that there is something to do here. As he spoke, he stretched out his five fingers and shook his palm towards Lin Ruhai.

Lin Ruhai understood, nodded and said: "Every move in Jiangnan has always been led by wires in the capital. I am also a person in the bureau, and although I am worried that there is something deeper involved between these two letters in addition to the coincidence, I still dare not think about it. Yang Yixiang understood that he was outside, but he just dispelled my doubts. ”

Zhang Wang smiled: "I'm really not afraid." So he got up and stood in front of the bookcase, first spread out a large piece of paper, and then took a pen to sketch a few strokes on the paper, which is the outline of the circle of Kyushu; and marked the three southwest, northwest, and northeast border passes mentioned in the letter of Jingshi, Yangzhou and Bai Yixin in thick ink, and described the water and drought roads connecting the Beijing division in light ink; then, took cinnabar, stone blue, garcinia cambogia, and indigo, and circled the places where the emperor's eldest son-in-law, Cui Lun, Zhou Guiren's father, Zhou Chao, Shen Guifei's uncle, Shen Liang, and Wu Guiren's father, Wu Tianyou, belonged to and served in the state, county, camp, and guard. Then, take another large piece of paper, fold it in half, and write the above four Jinshi subjects, seat teachers, those who are now serving in more than six departments in the same year, the current upper peak and upper peak subjects, and seat teachers, and on the left are write the names and surnames of the officials and generals involved in the three border gates, their origins, subjects, seat teachers, in-laws, and relatives, etc., as well as fill in the same information of the officials who succeed them; When writing, there may be something that I don't know, Lin Ruhai is next to me to tell him one by one, and Zhang Wang is clearly marked.

In a short time, the picture is finished. I saw that the first picture was clearly colored and rarely overlapped, and the second picture was like a spider web. Lin Ruhai frowned, looked at the two pictures carefully, but here Zhang Wang took a piece of paper and cut it into many thin strips, each with a name written on it, but they were all called "Four Kings, Eight Princes and Seventeen Marquis" by Wang Ziteng, Jiang Zining and other people in the world, and wrote twelve or thirteen in one breath, and then asked Lin Ruhai to add red, green, yellow, and blue colors to the note according to their respective promotion and debasement experiences in the past five years. As a result, not only Wang Ziteng made the note in four colors due to the circulation of his duties, but also Haining Hou Qian Yongyu, Jinrong Hou Xi Mianzhu, Peng Chuanhou Lu Huang and other five people's names have four colors. Zhang Wangyu pointed to the two pictures and said: "Sure enough, as my cousin thought, Bai Yi and Yan Li's letters have their own connections. Look at these two, they are the largest on the ground and the most personnel involved in the Shen Juma brothers, and the momentum in the court is also the most victorious. However, this year, the three border offenders have been dismissed, and they are all related to his department. The ones who filled in the back were all from the other three factions. In recent years, the princes have grown older, and the powerful people of their mothers have gathered in the capital, but the seats left behind are not the usual replacements, but the children of military generals and nobles are mostly - this is not because one or two people are powerful, and they must have been planning now. ”

Lin Ruhai listened to his words, was silent for a while, and said astringently: "I see." I thought it was just a few months away, but I didn't want it to happen 10 years ago. And not only the court and the martial arts secretly competed fiercely, but even the two saints were also insightful. It's a pity that I have been sitting in the well all the time, worrying about the saints in vain. ”

Zhang Wangdao: "Why is it for nothing to worry about the saint? My cousin is worried, it is the courtier's festival to be a courtier." And these detailed associations are not unthinkable to my cousin, but they are upright and right-minded, and besides, they are just focused on their duties for Jia's cousin-in-law's injury, and they don't think about these superiors. ”

Lin Ruhai said: "Yangzhi's words are to reproach my childlike state." I do deserve that. For the sake of a person's personal love, he was discouraged, and even his own daughter was almost left behind, and his eyes couldn't see the long-term. ”

Zhang Wang said: "But now that my cousin is cheering up, it will be different. He handed the two pictures to Lin Ruhai and asked, "The dark tide of the imperial court is turbulent, which is not what I want today." According to my cousin's opinion, or what should I do?"

Lin Ruhai took the picture in his hand, frowned and thought for a while, and said: "There is no child in the middle palace, if you establish a prince, the mother family of the prince of Jiaen will be unfavorable in the middle palace." The middle palace is unstable, and the court is uneasy, so it is definitely not a proper move. In fact...... Now that it is in its prime, the selection of the sons of the family to fill the palace, and the addition of a few princes and princesses to the harem can also show the well-being of the heavenly family. ”

Zhang Wang clapped his hands and smiled: "This is really a clever move, find another way, and win by surprise." Teach those who have fought for nothing with bare eyebrows and white eyes, just wave your hand here, and you will start all over again. It was only a few years ago that he made a decree to pray for the emperor and the queen mother, and he was exempted from entering the palace for these two sessions. But if it is directly called from the lord's family, the favor is too much, and I am afraid that it will be another wave. As he spoke, he shook his head, showing embarrassment. I didn't want to raise my eyes, but I saw Lin Ruhai standing in front of the window, so I asked, "What's the matter, what did my cousin think?"

Lin Ruhai woke up and said with a wry smile: "Yang Zhi is keen." That's what I just remembered. My second brother Jia Cunzhou, the eldest daughter was selected as the princess's companion that year, and she was the later concubine of Zhuang Yi. Shen married into the harem, and she was a concubine. Now, she is serving as a female official of the Lincai Palace. If you really intend to raise your martial arts and grace and honor today, I am afraid that in less than three or five months, an angel will come to Rongguo Mansion. ”

When Zhang Wang heard this, his face changed, and he said: "The Jia family of Rongguo Gong has always been the same as the Wang Ziteng family. Wang Ziteng himself is also the leader of the Four Kings and Eight Kilometers, and the entire family is also deeply rooted in the capital. And now you are leading the Huaiyang salt class...... Cousin, this situation is a little different!"

Lin Ruhai smiled bitterly: "What's the difference? ”

Zhang Wang said categorically: "There is no such reason, knowing that there is a cliff ahead, you have to go down one way." ”

Lin Ruhai said: "But what else? When my father set up the Rongguo Mansion for me, he had the meaning of keeping watch over the old world. Although the Jia family has gone today, more than ten years of kindness are there. And Yu'er, who has also been in front of her grandmother's knee for the past five or six years. And there is no such thing, even if it is good to marry two surnames, I have no way to get out of trouble by myself. ”

Since he said this, Zhang Wang could only sigh, bow his head and frown, and try to think about it. After thinking for a while, he suddenly raised his head and asked Lin Ruhai: "My cousin thinks that the situation in front of me is gloomy, and the princes need to be experienced. If it is to be realized, it is possible to succeed in five years?"

Lin Ruhai shook his head and said, "Ten years may not be enough. Yang Zhi didn't see that Prince Rui and Prince Yizhong had fought for more than 15 years? Otherwise, how could the Xiheshu case be reported and half of the court would be broken off in an instant. It's all because of the deep years and deep entanglements. Speaking of this, he felt that it was not right, and asked: "What are you asking about? Although it is not as good as when Emperor Wei was now, and there is the Emperor Taishang, such a thing involves the society and the country, and it has never been possible to judge it day and night...... Five years, not like you would say. ”

Zhang Wang smiled: "Actually, five years is still a long time." I just want to say a year or two. In the next year or two, we will not be able to reach a conclusion, and we may not even be able to see some directions and prospects clearly. But in my cousin's predicament, I think it's only in the morning. ”

Lin Ruhai hurriedly asked, "What do you say?"

Zhang Wang said: "My cousin's worries are, to put it bluntly, an excuse for the capital. In-laws are very close, and they are categorically not allowed, which is not the way of human affection. But there are several other places, and there are teachers and students, the same year, etc., but they can't push the same. In that case, why didn't my cousin preemptively cut down the forces on this side? Avoid the cusp of the storm in front of him, and save a useful body for later. After all, if the Rongfu is really lucky, the time when it needs to borrow strength should be five or even ten years later. If the cousin had broken down because of such and such things before, it would be a big disadvantage to the relatives. ”

Lin Ruhai's eyes flashed twice, and he lowered his eyebrows and asked, "So Yangzhi is persuading me to resign?"

Zhang Wang said: "When you return, the countryside will be ruined, and you will not return? Not to mention the rivers, lakes, mountains and wilderness, maintaining the heroic spirit is also a gentleman's kindness." ”

Lin Ruhai said: "Why don't I have any intention of going into hiding? I wanted to go to school five or six years ago. However, the job is urgent, but there is no one behind him for a while. ”

Zhang Wang laughed and said: "You say this, but everyone in the world underestimates it! Why don't you know that others can't do it? There are many talented and virtuous people in the world, and there are many capable people in the court, so where there is no irreplaceable reason? Not to mention that my cousin, the salt official, has been appointed for the third term in a row, and there has never been such a precedent. This is the supreme grace and trust, and the monarch and the minister get along. But if the sea and the present get along, others don't expect the monarch and the minister to get along? If you really make people's eyes red and do something, your cousin will not be able to start and finish well, delay the important affairs of the court, and let down Jun's grace, it will definitely not be what your cousin wants, right?"

Lin Ruhai said: "This is natural. It's just that the current situation is like this, and if I resign, I'm afraid that someone will take advantage of the opportunity to make trouble and ruin the overall situation. ”

Zhang Wang said: "It's not Emperor Wei today. What's more, the Emperor Taishang is still there. With him, it is the needle of the sea god, and no matter how big the waves are, they can be calmed down. As for the daily affairs of Yanzheng's side, my cousin has been ill for three or four months, and he has been unable to serve for more than ten days, hasn't he also been stable and stable?"

Lin Ruhai lowered his head and thought for a moment, and said, "It's okay." It's just that I've already recovered from my illness, so I'm going to have to put a little more thought into it this time. ”

Zhang Wangdao: "I always remember when I was in the study together, my grandfather taught "Leaving the Teacher" and "Chen Qing". Runzhi looked at "Out of the Teacher" and did not forget, such as Hai'er heard "Chen Qing" and recited, waiting to understand the meaning of the text, and even made the brothers cry with their heads and cry silently. At that time, I was also here today, and I was moved together-why don't my cousins reminisce about the past and tell their hearts bitterly?" Seeing Lin Ruhai's expression change when he heard this, he said: "Now that the old lady is over eighty years old, her body and spirit are vigorous, and she is surrounded by children and grandchildren in front of her knees. But there is only one thing on my mind, that is, Aunt Lin and Uncle Lin died early, which made the white-haired person send the black-haired person. When my cousin was young, he was nurtured by the old lady and the old lady, but since he went to Beijing at the age of seventeen, he has had little contact with Changzhou.

Lin Ruhai sighed and said, "My grandparents have not repaid their kindness, how can Ruhai be at ease? I will start writing and resign from the court. ”

The two cousins agreed on an idea, and Lin Ruhai immediately drafted his resignation. Here, Zhang Wang first soaked the previous few pictures and writing paper with water, personally splashed them under the roots of the plane tree outside the window, and then returned to the room, and waved his pen to form a picture of "Lanxi Bamboo and Stone". Tucheng, Fang smiled: "Sure enough, I was not in a state of mind before, and I couldn't be free and calm." So he called Zhang Hui, Wu Yuan, Lin Shan, Shen Ping and others who were waiting outside the courtyard, and Zhang Wang showed them the painting, and asked the good craftsman to mount it. When everyone turned out of the door, Lin Ruhai said: "In your own home, you don't have to be like this. Zhang Wang smiled: "Just fooling my boy." The young man is inevitably curious, and after such a while, he knows not to think about it more. ”

In the next few days, Lin Ruhai was as usual. After the government affairs are finished, they come to look for the father and son, or discuss the homework, or point out the article. Over there, the Hong family took Lin Daiyu to enjoy the famous temples, Taoist temples, gardens and landscapes around Yangzhou one by one. In the blink of an eye, in early June, on the sixth day of the first month, the next day was the granddaughter of Hong Yu out of the cabinet. Because he was married from Yizhen Hong's own family, the Lin Mansion prepared a sedan car early in the morning, preparing the Hong family to take Daiyu, and Zhang Wang, Zhang Hui's father and son escorted him to travel. The group boarded the carriage and got on the horse, and was about to set off, when suddenly there were soldiers galloping in front of them on stagecoaches, turning over and dismounting in front of the salt government, and crashing into the door. Zhang Wang already felt something in his heart, and when he saw Lin Ruhai taking the paperwork and looking at him, he knew that what he expected was not bad, so he ordered Zhang Hui to escort Hong and the others first, and he arrived later. The two cousins went back to the study and opened the letter to take a closer look.