Officialdom is like a big dye vat, and those who enter here have to dye the color of the court more or less.

They are no longer the hot-blooded scholars of the past, they have been in the officialdom for more than four years, and they already understand that if they want to show their ambitions, they must participate in the open and secret battles in the officialdom.

Not to mention their little shrimps, even if it is a phase battle in the current dynasty, they may have the opportunity to ascend to the throne after a life-and-death struggle, and they can use what they have learned in their lives.

Even if they don't have that much ambition, if they want to glorify their ancestors and want to be the wife of the official in the future, they also need to participate in the court battle to have a chance to take the position.

In the current court environment, there is no fairness at all, and there is no inevitability in the promotion of official positions and personal ability, and the main thing is to follow the right person.

It is certainly the best choice to be appreciated by the emperor, such as Yan Wei, Guo Pu, Yan Ne and Li Chunfang are the emperors with green words, so they have been exceptionally promoted and have stood in high positions.

It's just that more people can only tie up with Yan Song or Xu Jie, and take refuge in these bigwigs, so that they can find opportunities for promotion or entrusted with important tasks.

Like the powerful Yan Dang, he not only occupied many important positions in the court, but also sent Prime Minister Yan Maoqing Yan Zheng to make Hu Zhi the governor of the canal, and the position of governor in various places occupied most of them.

The effect is also obvious, Hu Zongxian climbed the towering tree of Xu Dang, from a small Jiangsu and Zhejiang patrol to become the "governor of seven provinces" in one fell swoop, and fully displayed his talents.

Yang Futian and others are young and ambitious, and they sometimes gather here to Lin Haoran, naturally not for a banquet. But he hopes to unite under Lin Haoran's command and obey Wu Shan's instructions, so as to find a way to be promoted.

Looking at the battle between the Xu Party and the Yan Party around the river embankment, although they are just spectators now, they don't mind participating in the battle at the right time, so as to grab their own interests.

Lin Haoran looked at the ambitious people with satisfaction, but some things were not easy to say in public, even if he really wanted to make a fuss about Yan Shifan's "disobedient move".

Xiao Jinian is a righteous gentleman with a heart of concern for the country, and after drinking, he immediately asked very seriously: "Brother Lingnan, if someone uses the incident of the embankment to create public opinion, will there be turmoil in the southeast?" ”

Yang Futian and the others refused to jump to conclusions, and looked at Lin Haoran one after another. Although Lin Haoran is the youngest, his official position and wisdom have long been above everyone else, and he is already the backbone of this small group.

Lin Haoran smiled wisely, put down the wine glass and shook his head lightly: "Have you ever seen any dynasty or generation that caused turmoil among the people because the imperial court was unwilling to work hard to build a river embankment?" ”

"No?" After all, Yang Futian and the others were not ministers who cultivated history, and asked suspiciously.

Lin Haoran shook his head again, looked at everyone with certainty, and said, "No! The so-called turmoil in the southeast is just Xu Ge's alarmist words, at most, it is to deepen the disappointment of some people with the current imperial court! ”

"Then why did Elder Xu Ge say that?" Long Chizhong interjected, looking confused.

Yang Futian couldn't help but respond for Lin Haoran: "The crying child has milk to eat!" Look at the gang of salt merchants complaining about their misery every day, and even many officials sympathize with their plight, saying that Yan Maoqing's increase in salt tax is killing the salt merchants to take their eggs, and saying that the salt merchants are miserable, but if you go to the brothels in Suzhou and Hangzhou, the richest people in the world are still the salt merchants in Lianghuai! ”

Lin Haoran glanced at Yang Futian, but Yang Futian blinked proudly with his small single eyelid full of flesh, showing his shrewdness in the world.

"Where does the emperor care about the chaos in the southeast, he actually cares about his reputation, and whether he will be scolded by the people of the southeast behind his back!" Ning Jiang took a sip of wine and felt authentic.

Long Chizhong had good intentions, and immediately looked around vigilantly, fortunately, there was a wide field of vision here and guards in the distance, but he still told Ning Jiang to say less in the future.

Lin Haoran has an understanding of everyone's temperament, Ning Jiang, a person whose eyes can't tolerate sand, is appropriate to be a local governor, and Yang Futian is appropriate to be a ministry official.

Xiao Jinian and the others slowly digested this discussion, they really can't blame anyone in this court, although they all made their debut by reading the book of sages, but the more they are in a high position, the more treacherous they are.

After everyone had eaten wine and tea, some people left for something, but others chose to continue using tea here.

Zhang Wei is nearly forty years old and seems to be very stable. Unlike Yang Futian, who can speak well, he has always been a taciturn personality, and he seems to be unable to get along with many people.

"Thank you brother for your hospitality, and please send a carriage to take me back!" Zhang Wei saluted Lin Haoran, but he made a request.

His usual carriage is rented, and today he was intercepted by Yang Futian from the entrance of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. It's just that he went to the thatched house, and when he went back, he was told that Yang Futian was drunk and wanted to stay in the Lin Mansion.

Lin Haoran did not agree immediately, but smiled and invited: "Brother Hongtu, please come inside and talk!" ”

Zhang Weihu glanced at Lin Haoran suspiciously, but he didn't refuse, he just followed him back to the flower hall, but saw that Yang Futian and Ning Jiang were both eating sugar water here.

When he saw this scene, he couldn't help but think of the past when they went to Beijing together to take the exam, and then only the four of them stayed in Beijing as officials, and more than four years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The night sky of the capital is so deep, as if it is connected with the underworld, and it seems that at any time, it can suddenly poke down a bloody mouth and tear someone apart ferociously.

Just when the small gathering of the same department in the north of the city ended, a bad scene was staged in the Dongchang Zhao Prison in the east of the city.

"This father-in-law, I really don't want to die! I'm old and young, and I have to take care of them! A man's panicked voice came out, begging in horror.

A father-in-law's voice faced the pleading man, but said indifferently: "I can't help you now, you have to die here tonight, this is your life!" Do it! ”

"Don't! Please, spare me this life! The man screamed in panic, but he was already tied to his chair until he could no longer make a sound.

The next morning, it was a sunny day.

Just when all parties were still speculating about how the saint would choose, a piece of news suddenly spread in the capital: He Jiu committed suicide in prison last night, leaving a confession admitting to framing Xu Jie, pointing out that destroying the embankment and flooding the fields was really a fictitious thing.