Zhou Wenxin sat alone in the paperwork, leaning on the edge of the table, although it was an extremely lazy posture, but for some reason, there was a cold chill emanating from his body.

Yu Guang saw an old man over the age of sixteen walking at the door, this person was Wei Ming, the minister of the Zhongshu Order. Wei Ming's footsteps entered calmly, his body bones looked very stiff, and he was not affected in the slightest because of the 'accident' that happened two days ago.

"Lord Wei." The fierceness in Zhou Wenxin's eyes turned soft in an instant, he got up and saluted, and said apologetically, "I just got out of the morning court and asked you to come to the clerk's house, and the lower official really didn't want to go." ”

Wenzhai was a special place for the officials of the six ministries to discuss matters in the court, and since the emperor ordered Wei Ming to assist in the affairs of some of the ministries of rites, Zhou Wenxin also often discussed government affairs with Wei Ming here.

Wei Ming stroked his gray beard, and said kindly: "It's not in the way, I'm old, and I don't sleep much." I don't know why Lord Zhou invited me here? ”

"This is the newly drafted imperial examination reform system by the lower officials." Zhou Wenxin handed the fold in his hand to Wei Ming, "Your Excellency has been an official in the court for many years, and you know much more about the relationship and system between the court and China than the lower officials, so the lower officials want to listen to the advice of the adults before presenting the folds." The tired adults looked at it and did not hesitate to teach. ”

"Lord Zhou is polite, you and I are officials in the same dynasty, we are all sharing worries for the emperor and doing things for the people, why do you have the word 'bother'?" Wei Ming took the fold and looked through it carefully, nodding his head from time to time. Wei Ming secretly thought in his heart: This week, Wenxin is not a person who has been a scholar of the Ministry of Rites for several years, and the scientific examination system has already been a mess, but he didn't expect that after more than a month of rectification and combing, he really began to improve. In the use of this newly drafted system, not only did it not break the original balance between the DPRK and China, but it actually effectively took advantage of the party struggle. Although the partisan struggle between the DPRK and China is now anxious, as long as it is properly applied, it is also an excellent means of mutual supervision and restraint. Zhou Wenxin divided the examiners in charge of marking and reviewing into two halves, half of them were Huo Xiang's people, and the other half were some people who were gradually showing their intention to lean towards him. Moreover, this time it was also arranged for Shen Han, a university scholar, to select the top three candidates, and finally the emperor selected the top three candidates. Shen Han has always been neutral, never taking sides or sides, and will definitely be able to make the fairest choice. In this way, not only will no party be offended, but the fairness of the scientific expedition will be ensured as much as possible.

Wei Ming bowed his head and said: "Lord Zhou's new system is really refreshing, presumably this scientific expedition will not happen again to the cold things of other students who study hard." However, in previous years, it has always been the top three palace examination selected by the former Taifu Wen, and this time it is good for Zhou to choose Shen University, but if it is reviewed with Lord Wen, it will be more secure and more convincing. ”

"Your Excellency is really thoughtful, and the lower officials know what to do." Zhou Wenxin bowed slightly, the corner of his eye paused for a moment at the wound on Wei Ming's wrist, and asked, "Are you injured?" ”

"Oh, a few days ago, I went to Fengshan to sweep, and I accidentally slipped on the soles of my feet and fell, so I had some bruises. When people are old, their legs and feet are useless. Wei Ming said disapprovingly, while hiding his wrists in the wide cuffs without a trace.

Zhou Wenxin lowered his head and smiled, then raised his eyes again, looking at Wei Ming's eyes clear and calm. "Although Xia Guan doesn't know anything about martial arts, Xia Guan can still tell the difference between this abrasion and a sword wound."

Wei Ming was stunned, he didn't expect the other party to debunk himself so straightforwardly. Now that the other party has made it clear, there is no need for him to hide anything, and he said calmly: "Rats and sparrows, don't be afraid." ”

Zhou Wenxin said worriedly: "As a first-class official of the imperial court, my lord always doesn't like to bring a guard when he goes out, and there are only a few domestic slaves who can't do kung fu around him, which is really too unsafe." ”

Wei Ming said proudly: "I have always been upright and dedicated, and I have always been used to acting alone, haven't I come here like this all these years?" Besides, if you are always timid, wouldn't you sue those who steal chickens and dogs, and I am afraid that they will not succeed? ”

Zhou Wenxin persuaded: "Adults are honest and bright, so they are naturally not afraid of yin and evil spirits. But now it is different from the past, and now the filthy wind prevails in Beijing, and there are some hidden arrows in this world, even the strongest and most upright people cannot guard against them. Even if the adults are not for themselves, they must also think about the court and society, and must not let those who have a heart succeed. ”

Wei Ming didn't care about this matter, but when he heard these words from King Rui and Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites one after another, he couldn't help but be a little moved. Wuzi pondered, but heard a rush of footsteps at the door, looked up, and saw that it was Hubu Shangshu Ling Huang walking in.

Zhou Wenxin saw Ling Huang coming, and asked puzzledly, "Huh?" Why are you here at this time, Lord Ling? ”

Ling Huang was stunned for a moment, and said in surprise: "Didn't you ask me to come today, Lord Zhou, saying that you had something to discuss with me?" ”

"Yo! Look at my memory!" Zhou Wenxin slapped his forehead and suddenly realized, "I've been so busy lately that I forgot about it." It just so happened that I made an appointment with Lord Wei here today to discuss things, since everyone is here, if the two adults don't dislike it, why don't you sit down together and listen? ”

Wei Ming glanced at Zhou Wenxin deeply, then raised his eyebrows and said, "It's okay, anyway, the old man has time today." ”

Since Wei Ming said so, Ling Huang couldn't refuse, so he also sat down together. Ling Huang asked slowly, "Lord Zhou, why do you want to discuss with me when you ask me to come today?" ”

"It's not a big deal. Doesn't this see that the queen mother's birthday is coming, it just so happens that this year, King Rui is also in Beijing, so the emperor intends to hold a birthday banquet for the queen mother in the palace this time, and it is best to invite some neighboring Fanbang vassal countries to participate in the grand event, so as to show the wealth of our country. Zhou Wenxin said with a calm expression, which seemed to be unprovoked at first glance. It's just that the scale of the birthday banquet held in the palace is not small, and the cost must be much higher than in previous years, and the deposit of the Ministry of Rites is afraid that it is insufficient. That's why I thought about asking Lord Ling to come and see if the household department could allocate some silver taels for this matter? ”

"The Queen Mother's Birthday Banquet..."Ling Huang's brows furrowed more and more tightly when he listened, "How much does the Ministry of Rites cost?" ”

"It's not much, about a thousand taels is enough."

"One thousand taels?!" Ling Huang shouted, his mouth wide open almost enough to stuff an egg.

Zhou Wenxin and Wei Ming were taken aback by the other party's huge reaction, and Zhou Wenxin asked cautiously, "What?" Is there a problem with the household? ”

Wei Ming couldn't help but ask at this time: "In the past few years, the border has been stable, and there has been no war, so it stands to reason that the household bank should be quite abundant." Although 1,000 taels is not a small amount, the treasury can still allocate this bit of silver, right? What is it that Lord Ling has to say? ”

"Hey... Since Lord Wei is here today, then the lower officials will not hide it from the two of you. Ling Huang sighed again, as if he had made a great determination, before he slowly whispered, "Today's household department is a strong foreign cadre, and although there is silver in the treasury, it is not in my household pocket!" ”