In December, snowflakes fell in the city of Nanjing.

The snow was mixed with rain and the occasional hail the size of a fingernail.

The weather was unpredictable, the ground became muddy, officials had to ride horses in sedan chairs when they came and went, and rain hats and rain boots became commonplace.

Since there was Xingningbo's earth-shattering participation, all the officials in Beijing have been in charge of their lives every day.

The focus is on whether there is a problem with the official uniform on the body, whether the collar color is taboo, and whether the boots are highly violated.

Officials below the fourth rank also have to toss their own beams and gates. The wrong knocker is replaced, and the extra corner door side door must be sealed. The height of the threshold must be carefully measured, and it should be cut off immediately if it exceeds half an inch. The paintings on the ridges and beams of the roof are strictly inspected, and as long as there is the slightest mistake, there are family members who carry paint buckets to climb the work.

At this time of the year, many craftsmen had nothing to do and were idle at home. Approaching the New Year, who will break ground and knock on the knock?

This year is different, the craftsmen in the capital, especially the carpenters and stonemasons, are busy hitting the back of the head.

The house beam painting of the right side of the Imperial History of the Metropolitan Procuratorate is illegal and repainted;

The gate in the rule of Tianfu should be opened incorrectly and rebuilt;

The eaves of the right temple of Dali Temple are super high-quality, knocked out;

Zhan Shifu Fu Cheng found a gazebo in his yard, this is still necessary, it must be demolished!

Without exception, the secretaries of the six departments and the staff outside the family all found problems more or less, and lined up to wait for the craftsmen to come to the door.

Taichang Temple and Honglu Temple are not idle, and even the pedestrian department and the Tai Hospital have joined in the excitement.

The craftsmen carried tools in and out of the officials' mansions all day long, and they had to work extra night shifts at every turn, and if they didn't have oil and water to catch every time, they would have to go on a collective strike.

Rao is like this, the craftsmen can't help but complain when they get together, the officials in the court can really toss, and they won't stop when the New Year is approaching.

Officials are also complaining, if it weren't for Xingningbo's participation in the court of more than a single digit, would everyone need this?

Many of the officials who fell in front of Xingningbo were either in the north or in the southwest, and the best end was to be relegated to the county government as a pawn history, and there was basically no future. Zhao Wei was the most unlucky in the former Ministry of Rites, he was hacked as soon as he left Beijing, and he died within two days, and the murderer has not been found so far.

Every time I think of Zhao Wei's fate, my former colleagues shudder and can't sleep well.

Since then, after clocking in and out of work, no matter how talented people who boast of themselves, they don't have the heart to linger in weathered places, so they all go home to pick up the "Imperial Message", pick up the Tai-Zu Chengfa and study hard, and the momentum is not inferior to the preparation for the cold window exam that year, and the students of the world squeeze the single-plank bridge.

If you fail in the scientific examination, you can do it again. was a copy of Xingningbo's ginseng, and he found fault with it, but his career will end here.

I have been diligent and conscientious for so many years, and I was laid off because of the wrong size of my official uniform, is it wronged?

While studying hard, many officials could not help but begin to reflect on themselves.

Why do you study?

Why are you an official?

Money and power, like flowers?

Cultivate literature and martial arts, and sell them to the emperor's family?

Admittedly, no one is exempt from vulgarity.

But at the beginning, sitting in Confucianism, listening to Confucian teachers teach the meaning of the Analects and the Scriptures, the principles of human ethics, what did I think and think, what did I want to do the most?

The memory is so long ago that it seems to be buried in dust.

Someone cleared the dust and found their heart. Some people are still confused and can't figure it out.

It also means that they will have a different choice.

From then on, the two will each take different paths, and they will go further and further.

However, whether it is the former or the latter, they are busy introspecting themselves at this time, and they have no time to trouble Meng. It was Xie Jin, who had formed a relationship with Meng Shishilang, and also temporarily died down under the persuasion of Yang Rong and Yang Shiqi.

The situation is unfavorable to oneself, and the Son of Heaven is obviously biased towards the side of the generals.

can study hard in the cold window and rank in the court, and none of them are stuffed with cotton in their heads. Waiting for the right time is the best choice at the moment.

Xie Jin and the others suddenly fell silent, making Meng Shishilang very depressed. Obviously preparing for a vicious battle, his fist swung out, but it hit the cotton, and all the strength in his body was useless.

The military attachés laughed all day long, and there was no sour ding that spat at them at every turn, and it was really a sunny day in the liberated areas, and the people in the liberated areas liked it so much!

Without the piles of impeachment recitals by the officials, the work efficiency of the General Political Envoy Department has been gradually improved, and the pace is obviously much brisker. For a trivial matter, I also have to participate in a book, and the general political councillor who is responsible for surveying and sealing the chapter is also annoying. It is a dereliction of duty not to carefully discern it, but if you look carefully, you will find that most of the transcripts handed by the officials are purely looking for trouble, which is really a waste of energy and time.

In this way, Zhu Di's daily work is much easier. Even if he loves his work as much as his father, he has no interest in exhausting himself. He would rather step on his horse, raise his long knife, and fight with the Tartars to the north, than to face a book full of books.

Being an emperor is not an easy career, but it is a good thing to be able to reduce the workload as much as possible.

For Meng, who suppressed the arrogance of civil officials and indirectly reduced his workload, Emperor Yongle became more and more pleasing to the eye.

Being favored by the emperor mostly means two things, either to be promoted or to get rich.

Zhu Di has always been very generous to people who are optimistic about himself.

With a stroke of the pen, the bounty was 100 taels, and Meng was appointed as the governor of the military capital and the governor of the military capital after the departure of Beiping, and he went to work after the year.

After receiving the edict, Meng pinched himself hard, it really hurt, it was definitely not a dream.

Zheng Erpin is the governor of the matter, which is one level higher than the command. This is a person sitting at home, and the pie smashed through the roof and fell on the head?

Zheng He handed the edict to Meng, and the smile on his face became more and more joyful.

"Our family congratulates Xingningbo on his ascension."

"Gonggong Zheng is polite." Meng and Zheng He are old acquaintances, and they have a lot less scruples when they speak, "I also want to congratulate Gonggong Zheng on his promotion." ”

Half a month ago, Zheng He was promoted to the eunuch of the inner chamberlain, ranking above Wang Jinghong. Before the celebrant and the imperial horse eunuch did not tremble, the inner chamberlain was the authoritative department of the twenty-four yamen in the Great Inner Palace, and as the head of the department that managed all the eunuchs, Zheng He could be called the first person among the eunuchs.

The eunuchs and palace people in the palace, when they see Zheng He, must be honored as "Zheng Gonggong". In addition to Zheng He, there are only a few people who have this treatment, Hou Xian and Wang Jinghong.

Dare to call your father-in-law if you don't reach the level? It's definitely sharpening your head and looking for death.

After receiving the order, Meng Xiao sent out two ingots of gold, he was an acquaintance, and the procedures that should be done were not exempt.

Zheng He was not polite, his sleeves were folded, and he was very skilled in business. After that, he said goodbye to Meng and turned around and went to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.

"Looking for Shen Hou?"

"Yes, we still have an edict here for the Yuanhou."

Meng grinned, asked Zheng He to wait a while, turned around and went to the back hall, and in less than a moment, Shen Xuan, who was dressed in a blue regular suit and only wore a hosta, walked out.

Rao is Zheng He's psychological quality is strong, and he is stunned for a moment.

Seeing Dingyuan Marquis like this, I think he is used to it in Bofu?

Seeing that Zheng He was stunned, Shen Xuan didn't speak, Meng had no choice but to speak, "Is Master Hou here to receive the order, or is he going back to the house?" ”

"Go home."

Shen Xuan stood up, and it was disrespectful to the Son of Heaven to accept the order in his regular clothes, even if he was the righteous son of Jinshang, he could not be sloppy in these aspects.

"Father-in-law Zheng, please."

"Master Hou, please first."

Shen Xuan is polite, and Zheng He is more polite than him.

As a eunuch reused by Emperor Yongle, there are not many people who can make him so polite. It is not that Zheng He ascended to the sky in one step, and his nature is domineering, but the position he is in determines that he must do this.

Whether it is to the prince, the king of Gaoyang or the officials of the outer court, they cannot have deep friendships.

A eunuch in the inner court, befriending ministers, currying favor with the prince, is too long?

In the eyes of the emperor, even if he doesn't lose his head, the position of the inner eunuch will be changed.

Walking out of Bofu, Zheng He was still thinking that the relationship between the Marquis of Dingyuan and Xingningbo was really deep.

What Shen Xuan thought about was that next time he went to the house, he would bring the official uniforms and court uniforms with him. Otherwise, if you run in trouble, it will always be troublesome.

Meng is currently touching the gold ingots one by one, and his eyes are shining.

If you are promoted, you will be rich, and if you have another beauty, your life will be complete.

That night, Shen Xuan climbed over the wall and crossed the house as usual, and Meng Zheng was holding the I Ching to study.

Looking at the court clothes and official clothes that Shen Xuan brought casually, Meng blinked, is this to be permanent?

"Yes."

Shen Xuan walked to the table and poured himself a cup of tea, Meng picked up the gold medal that was put together with the official uniform, saw the engraving clearly, and was not calm for a moment.

"The Left Governor of the Rear Army?"

"Yes."

"Genuine products?"

"Yes."

“……”

"How?"

"Nothing."

Meng supported his head with one hand, full of sadness, he thought that the speed of his promotion was enough against the sky, but compared to someone, he was a scum.

People really can't be compared, every comparison is tears.

Shen Xuan put down the teacup, held Meng's jaw with one hand, and pecked his lips.

Sorrow flew suddenly.

"Ziyu?"

"It's time to rest."

Leaned over, scooped the person up, turned off the lights, and talked about it in bed.

As the governor of the Ming Dynasty, he should have a military general's style, crisp and neat.

The next day, Shen Hou changed into court clothes refreshed, Meng yawned, pinched the corners of his forehead, and looked pensive.

He began to seriously consider whether he would suffer a loss or take advantage if he lived with this beauty. Essentially, the likelihood of losing money is significantly higher.

Raise your head, sigh, just look at it, what else can I do?

Just as he was thinking, Shen Xuan had turned around and pulled him up from the collapse, and a warm towel covered his cheeks.

Meng Chang breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the man in front of him, with a jade belt in a court dress, a seven-beam crown, trimmed eyebrows and black eyes, handsome and unparalleled.

Pinched his forehead again, well, seriously, he wasn't so bad.

Before dawn, the doors of the houses were opened.

The civil officials in the sedan chair and the military attache on horseback lined up in a long column from the southeast of the city to the gate of heaven.

The sedan horses were preceded by personal guards carrying lanterns, and the two horses passed by, and there was a brief bustle in the queue. The military attachés hugged their fists one after another, greeted them on the horses, and all the civil officials put down the sedan curtains, tilted their heads together, and put on a posture of disdain for them.

"Marquis Dingyuan, Xingningbo, polite."

Shen Xuan and Meng hugged their fists in return, and said no more words in greeting.

The sky is bright, and the door of Fengtian is wide open.

The military generals of Wenchen lined up and entered the palace on the left and right stones.

After being promoted, Meng's position also changed, and it was no longer Shen Xuan who stood in front of him, but Wuyang Hou, and Zhang Fu, who was tied for Xin'anbo.

Xu Huizu, the Duke of Wei, still did not appear in the court.

Emperor Yongle was obviously not angry, and let his brother-in-law out of prison, but he dismissed his official position and Lumi, and only retained the title of Duke of Wei, and thought about it behind closed doors at home.

This situation is very similar to that of Geng Bingwen, Marquis of Changxing. But the Manchu civil and military were clear that there was an essential difference between the two.

Xu Huizu has his back to the Wei Mansion, and he is the emperor's brother-in-law, the uncle of the three princes, Zhu Di will not be serious about him no matter what. Maybe one day I'll reactivate it when I think about it.

What about getting rid of Lumi? There is a queen's sister, the younger brother of the Hou Ye, plus two generations of accumulation, no one can starve Xu Huizu to death.

Geng Bingwen is different, if the emperor remembers this one day, it is unlikely that it will be activated, and it is even more likely that he will be sent to see the first emperor.

Therefore, since the new emperor ascended the throne, Geng Bingwen has lived more simply, trying to minimize his sense of existence, for fear that the emperor will be remembered one day. Similar to his actions, there are also Sheng Yong and Ping'an.

Sheng Yong was ordered to guard Huai'an and handed over most of the military power to the commander and deputy general sent by Zhu Di. Ping An handed over the handsome seal, and wanted to resign from the military post of the governor, but after being rejected by Zhu Di, he simply complained of illness and closed himself in the house.

The two people who had made Zhu Di suffer a big loss in the Jing Disaster, and who had done in-depth research on Zhu Di, knew very well that they didn't want to hang on to the southeast branch, and their future lives must be low-key and low-key.

However, such a low profile may not really save their lives.

Zhu Di is a person in temperament, and the biggest characteristic of a person in temperament is that he does not hide if he has kindness, and he will take revenge if he has revenge.

If no miracle happens, after Zhu Di pressed the civil officials in the court and freed his hand, it was only a matter of minutes and seconds to deal with Sheng Yong'an and the others who were stabbing in his heart.

In the sound of ceremonial music, Zhu Di walked the imperial road into the Fengtian Palace and ascended to His Majesty.

Two classes of civil and martial arts worshiped together.

Zheng He was dressed in a newly made regimental collar sunflower shirt, standing on the imperial steps, the music stopped, and the announcement began.

Today is not a great dynasty, and as the end of the year approaches, there are not many official duties for courtiers to perform.

The one-year tax collection work has ended, the silver banknotes and grain are put into the warehouse, the points are clear, and the household officials are recorded and filed, even if it is a great success.

The Criminal Department and Dali Temple have gradually become idle, although there are still public security cases in various places, but murder and theft, beheading and sentencing, will not be delivered at this time, and it will have to wait until after the first month. Even the most heinous condemned prisoners will not be beheaded in the first month.

The officials of the Ministry of Officials should be placed next year, and they will not be troubled at this time.

The military department is changing blood, and the Shangshu servants of the Jianwen Dynasty have taken the initiative to beg for bones, regardless of whether they are in the year of establishment or more than half a hundred, just give up their positions. Don't you have a little eye, waiting for the emperor to order? Then it's not about giving way, it's about taking off your head.

The Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Rites are the only two government departments that are busy, and Huang Fu, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, and Li Zhigang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, are both a little thin, and they are obviously tired during this time.

In the early dynasty, the officials of the six ministries came out one by one, and after reporting the work, the Dali Temple Qing and the Imperial History of the Metropolitan Procuratorate made a supplement, and everyone said together that since the new emperor ascended the throne, production has resumed, the people have lived and worked in peace and contentment, and the court has swept away the traitorous ministers, and the river is clear and Haiyan.

As for the remaining bloodstains on the court, the colleagues who were demoted to the army not long ago were completely ignored.

The military attachés don't have much to report.

The only thing worth worrying about is that the internal war in the Northern Yuan seems to be easing, and the northern border is infested with Mongolian rangers, which must be guarded again.

However, His Majesty has ordered the king of Gaoyang County to garrison Kaiping, and has arranged heavy defenses in the northern frontier, so of course these rangers will not be cheap.

Listening to the courtiers' reports, Zhu Di occasionally nodded or asked rhetorical questions, and remained silent most of the time.

The courtiers have gradually become accustomed to the silence of the Son of Heaven, and no longer easily figure out Zhu Di's thoughts. It's really impossible to guess the emperor's mind, and if he guesses wrong, the consequences are quite serious. It's better to do things honestly and talk about the past year first.

However, Emperor Yongle obviously did not intend to let the courtiers get their wish, and when the early dynasty was about to end, he suddenly issued several wills one after another.

"Ordered Beipingzhou County, a total of 219 people who abandoned their official posts and took refuge in the soldiers to avoid death and conquer Xingzhou."

That is, when Zhu Di raised the army, he was unwilling to send it with him, but he did not surrender to Emperor Jianwen, and the officials in Beiping could pay money to avoid death and be assigned to the army.

"Convict meritorious heroes of capital crimes."

As soon as this order came out, the eyes of the heroes of the Jingjing martyrdom lit up, but the face of Zuoban Wenchen was as pale as earth.

Listening to Zheng He's edict on the imperial steps, Meng secretly smacked his tongue, is this clearly supporting the military generals? In other words, how unkind is Emperor Yongle to civil officials? Iron coupons are not counted, and an extra layer of protective cover is added. From now on, no matter which official dares to spit on righteousness and awe, the generals rush up with iron coupons and knock their heads off, and they can only be regarded as unlucky for the other party.

"Lingzhen Yuan Hou Gu Cheng Town Guizhou, Dingyuan Hou Shen Xuan Town Beiping, Xingning Bomeng Town Daning."

"Beiping, Shandong and other counties will be taxed in the summer of next year."

After the edict was announced, Zheng He bowed when he stepped down.

The civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty agreed in unison.

Meng, who had just been appointed as the town guard of Liaodong, had his eyes almost out of the window.

He, guarding Daning?

Looking at Zhang Fu with an envious face, and then at the Marquis of Wuyang who winked at him, Meng was very suspicious that Emperor Yongle was hit on the head by a flying stone from outside the sky, otherwise, how could he let him be guarded by one party, or King Ning's original territory?

Is Daning a good town?

Close to Liaodong, the neighbors are not very kind, except for the Tartar, who is a privet.

During the Xiaoice period, half of the year was winter.

Let his small body be thin and slender to wrestle with this group of strong men? I can't hold out for half a round.

Meng really wanted to cry.

endured a few endurances, but in the end I couldn't hold back, and when the temple burst into tears.

Zhu Di's eyes were very good, and he asked, "Xingningbo, why is this?" ”

Meng came out of the column, "Back to Your Majesty, the ministers feel that Your Majesty is Longen, and they cry with joy." I was afraid of being entrusted by His Majesty, so I couldn't stop crying. ”

"Xingning Bo is really a loyal minister of the country!"

"Your Majesty."

Meng wiped his tears and returned to the team.

That's all it takes, and there's really no second way but to bite the bullet.

Fortunately, Shen Xuan is in Beiping, and the king of Gaoyang County is in Kaiping, so he can take care of him. Liu Zhen, the governor of Liaodong, is not familiar with him. It doesn't matter, feelings can be cultivated, walk around more, and soon get acquainted.

If you think about it, there's nothing wrong with going to Daning.

Temporarily avoid the rights and wrongs of the court, and often go home to visit relatives, and by the way, be neighbors with Shen Houye, I can't say it, I am more comfortable than in Nanjing.

As for whether it will be hacked in the court, Meng is not worried.

There is Daoyan, and the good fate of Wuyang Hou is formed, and there is always a buffer in case of trouble.

What's more, Emperor Yongle went out of the border fortress seven times, and ran to the north at every turn to fight with the Tatar Wara Raiders, as a Daning guard, there are definitely a lot of opportunities to face the saint.

As long as you gain the trust of the emperor, let him wind and rain, and he can not move.

Meng thought very well, and after returning home, he also pulled Shen Xuan and discussed the future life of his neighbors.

I just adjusted my mood, and I had expectations for the days ahead, but I didn't want to be realistic and picked up the bricks again, and gave him a hard time, and I slapped it on the back of the head.

Looking at the King of Gaoyang County sitting opposite, Meng's head was buzzing.

"King Jun, please say it again, the officials didn't hear it clearly." Meng's expression was serious, but his voice trembled a little, "What did you just say about Duoyan Sanwei?" ”

"Ah," Zhu Gaoxu finished eating a piece of dim sum in two bites, and poured down a cup of tea, "Duoyan Sanwei is making trouble with his father, and he wants to cash in the grassland, and his father has a headache." ”

Later, Zhu Gaoxu was a little embarrassed, and seemed to feel that his father was not doing this very authentically.

“……”

"Hinningber?"

Meng turned his head, covered his face, raised his hand, and signaled that the king of Gaoyang County didn't need to say any more.

He knew the way!

Zhu Yuanzhang can calculate the official's fortune to the copper plate, and Zhu Di will be generous.

Promoted to a first-class uncle, issued a free death iron ticket.

He was promoted to the governor of the capital and gave a hundred taels of gold.

Not only because of his performance in the court, but also the matter of foreign aid asking for salary is waiting for him!

Meng teary eyes.

Sure enough, my heart is not black enough, and I really can't let my guard down at any time when I work for Lao Zhu's family!

In this world, why is it so difficult to live in peace for a few days!

"Hinningber?"

"The lower officials have nothing to do."

Meng Yi gritted his teeth and stomped his feet, wasn't it just the matter of the grassland and the white strip?

We're not afraid!

However, since it is to solve problems for the emperor, the benefits should be given more, right?

Wiping away his tears, Meng Shishilang turned his gaze to Zhu Gaoxu and bared out a mouthful of white teeth.

Rao is a self-proclaimed warrior of Gaoyang County, and the king of Gaoyang County is also cold in the back.

Shouldn't there be an extra brazier in the house?