The evening in the capital is very cold, and the snow on the roadside has not completely melted.

Yuan's Mansion is located in the small Yongfang, which is not a big house. The front of the door looks very ordinary, and the red lantern hanging on the Lantern Festival has not yet been taken off, and it is shining with a light red light at this time.

At this level, only the flamboyant temperament of Yan Shifan, the old man of the small pavilion, will build a luxurious mansion, and the real court bosses are usually very low-key.

Yuan Wei, like Xu Jie, spends a lot of time in Xiyuan now. Because he was withdrawn from affairs such as the "Chronicles of the Hindu", and the cabinet was only two people, he and Xu Jie, so that he was able to participate in more and more voting work.

It can be said that it is a creation to make people, obviously Xu Jie, who is only four years older than him, but when Xu Jie, when he was appointed to study in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, he was just a talent who repeatedly failed to win, resulting in a little unclear "teacher-student" relationship between the two.

Yuan Wei's height is on the short side, his skin looks fair, his eyes look dark, even if he is nearly sixty years old, his eyes also look bright.

Lin Haoran followed the housekeeper to the study, Yuan Wei, who was wearing regular clothes, was reading under the lamp, looking extremely focused, and the whole person was like a Confucian master.

"The lower officials meet Yuan Ge Lao!" Lin Haoran faced the Qingzi Prime Minister, who was not very famous in later generations, and said respectfully.

Yuan Wei raised his head and saw that Lin Haoran had arrived, and first couldn't help coughing twice with an itchy throat, and then gently raised his hand and said, "Ahem, if you are stupid, you are here, please sit down!" ”

"Xie Ge Lao!" Lin Haoran noticed that Yuan Wei's face was not good, but he sat down with a smile.

The housekeeper called Yuan Wei "Master" lightly, and raised the gift in his hand slightly.

Yuan Wei saw Lin Haoran coming with a gift, and immediately complained: "Didn't the old man tell you a long time ago? You don't have to bring any gifts when you come to the old man's house, it seems too raw! ”

"Xiaguan has a friend who passed through Cicheng, Ningbo on the way to Beijing this time, and heard that the rice cakes in the old hometown of the pavilion are in the world, so he brought some Cicheng rice cakes to Xiaguan! Xiaguan tasted it really much better than the rice cakes in the capital, and he also wanted to keep it for himself, but the old banquet in the pavilion was invited, but Xiaguan didn't dare to hide it privately! If the old man dislikes it, the lower official will take it back! Lin Haoran explained with a smile, looking half-joking.

Yuan Wei heard that it was a rice cake from his hometown, and he also felt Lin Haoran's intention to give a gift, so he turned his anger into joy and said: "You can't bring it back, the old man has accepted this rice cake!" Hehe...... Fortunately, the old man invited me today, otherwise such a good thing would have been ruined by you! ”

Like many Beijing officials, Yuan Wei also has a hometown complex. He didn't bother to look at any gold, silver and jewelry, but only the rice cakes from his hometown were one of his favorite delicacies.

He was not born in a family that was too wealthy, and he followed too many children when he was a child, especially like the Spring Festival, and he likes to eat this delicious rice cake during the New Year.

The butler originally wanted to mention that there were South Sea pearls and ginseng here, but seeing the old man laughing so heartily, he didn't know whether to mention it again for a while.

Lin Haoran gave gifts to people in later generations, and he didn't embarrass the housekeeper, so he took the initiative to say: "Xia Guan also brought ginseng to Yuan Ge Lao, but Ge Lao just coughed in his throat, but for some reason, he didn't know whether it was appropriate to take it?" ”

"The old man occasionally feels a cold, and he will be fine after a while!" When Yuan Wei heard talking about his physical condition, he waved his hand indifferently.

The butler saw that the two were talking harmoniously, so he withdrew and urged his subordinates to prepare dinner.

Yuan Wei held the latest issue of "Talking about the Past and the Present" in his hand, looked up at Lin Haoran and said approvingly: "Your latest publication in "On the Ancient and Modern" on the Strategic Significance of Yanyun's Eighteen Horsemen, the old man has just read it carefully a few times, and you have written it really well!" ”

Out of political and other considerations, although Lin Haoran no longer interferes in the affairs of "Talking about the Past and the Present", he often publishes some articles through "Talking about the Past and the Present".

When Lin Haoran heard about this matter, he said seriously: "Thanks to the praise of the elder of the pavilion, this is some rough opinion of the lower officials!" Although the eighteen cavalry of Yanyun have an apocryphal component, if the Ming Dynasty forms a sophisticated cavalry mobile army, this move will be of great benefit to the north. In this way, we can not only support all border passes, but also give Mongolia a nuisance and heavy blow, which will definitely strengthen our bargaining chips and combat initiative! ”

"Although your idea is very good and very feasible, Yang Bo is afraid that he will not agree to do this!" Yuan Wei put down the booklet in his hand, but shook his head bitterly.

Lin Haoran sighed secretly in his heart, nodded lightly and agreed: "Xiaguan knows this, Yang Bo's strategic idea is to strengthen the defense of the north, and even take the initiative to sacrifice the initiative to fight!" If there is really such a cavalry, it will undoubtedly increase the friction between the Ming Dynasty and I, and then the pressure on the defensive deployment in the north will increase. At that time, I will once again come to the city, and I am afraid that the position of the secretary of his military department will be lost!"

"You see the problem very thoroughly! Yang Bo is extremely controlling, and the transfer of the south and the north that you proposed earlier has already annoyed him! As long as he is still the secretary of the military department, as long as he can still gain the trust of the emperor and Yuanfu, you will definitely not be able to do this! Yuan Wei met Lin Haoran's gaze and analyzed with certainty.

Lin Haoran looked at Yuan Wei so seriously, but responded with a smile: "Xia Guan also threw out this idea, as for what Yang Bo thinks and does, this is actually his business, Xia Guan has never thought about it so much!" ”

It is naturally false to say that he doesn't want to do more, but he is now only the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites, and the affairs of the Ministry of War are handled by Yang Bo with full authority, but there is no room for him to interfere at all.

Yuan Wei didn't seem to believe Lin Haoran's words, but he glanced at Lin Haoran deeply, because he faintly heard a rumor: this left attendant of the Ministry of Rites was quite interested in the throne of the Ministry of War.

It was then that the butler walked in to remind him that the meal was ready.

Yuan Wei nodded lightly, and invited Lin Haoran to the dining room to eat together.

For tonight's banquet to Lin Haoran, the left waiter of the Ministry of Rites, the Yuan family seems to attach great importance to it. Mrs. Yuan not only instructed the kitchen to prepare Cantonese-style dishes, but also asked Yuan Wei's eldest son Yuan Longhui and second son Yuan Longhuang to accompany him and greet this distinguished guest warmly.

Yuan Wei's eldest son, Yuan Longhui, entered the office from the official shadow and is now the secretary of Shangbin Sicheng. It's just that this kind of second-generation official has no future, but not everyone can be like Yan Shifan, who can enter the cabinet in the name of serving his father and become a powerful little pavilion elder.

Yuan Wei's second son, Yuan Longhuang, was born in Guozijian, and he had already won the tribute quota of Beizhili Juren three years ago, but he did not choose to join the office, but decided to give it a try.

The two Yuan Gongzi saluted Lin Haoran respectfully, and then the four of them sat down in turn.

Yuan Longhui has already entered the official career, and his temperament seems to be very cheerful, and he takes the initiative to toast Lin Haoran. Yuan Longhuang is still the image of an honest scholar, but in the face of Lin Haoran, who is about the same age as himself, he seems a little shy.

Lin Haoran knew that Yuan Wei would definitely have important things to talk about in a while, so he seemed to entertain Yuan Longhui in a measured manner, and at the same time toasted Yuan Wei.

Yuan Wei drank a glass of wine with Lin Haoran, and when he stretched out his chopsticks to put a piece of chicken clip with butter into his mouth to chew, he suddenly had symptoms of vomiting.

In the face of this sudden change, the Yuan family immediately panicked, this is the backbone of their Yuan family.

The housekeeper hurriedly found a copper basin, and the eldest son Yuan Longhui used his palm on his back to smooth his father's qi, but he boldly guessed: "Dad, have you eaten something unclean in the palace?" ”

"I'm in the palace...... What unclean things can you eat! After Yuan Wei vomited some food residues and bile, he replied angrily.

Yuan Longhui thought of the palace's attention to food, and he also felt that he was guessing wildly, so he nodded with a confused face: "This is also true!" ”

Lin Haoran watched this scene from the side, and faintly felt that something was wrong, and couldn't help but remember that his wife mentioned to him last night that his father-in-law suddenly vomited.

Yuan Wei took a sip of water, and said to Lin Haoran with a little humility: "The old man is rude in front of Zuo Zongbo!" ”

"Yuan Ge Lao not only has to help the emperor cultivate the Xuan, but also has to assist the emperor in handling the affairs of the world, which is a model for our courtiers. Now that he is in poor health, the lower officials only hope that the elder can take care of his body! Lin Haoran immediately expressed his attitude.

He is not a person whose eyes can't tolerate sand, and people are clearly unwell, so it is naturally impossible to say anything, and he also picks some good words to pay tribute. In this Ming officialdom, except for Gao Gong, an official who relies on the identity of the emperor, no one dares to take it seriously, and too many officials still tolerate each other.

Yuan Wei also slowly eased up, and instructed the housekeeper next to him: "I can't touch the oil these days, didn't Uncle Zuo give Cicheng rice cakes just now?" Tell me to fry some in the kitchen! ”

The butler hurriedly agreed, and hurriedly went down to make a statement.

After this small change, this banquet did not have the same cheerful atmosphere as before, but Yuan Longhui was a relatively sociable person, but he continued to mobilize the atmosphere of the wine table.

Yuan Wei took a small bite of the dishes that were not stained on the table, and suddenly pointed to the silent and introverted second son and said to Lin Haoran: "Ruoyu, Xiao'er Longhuang is a reading material, and he has passed the Shuntian Township test before!" Now the old man plans to let him participate in this examination, but the time for registration has passed, so you can be accommodating and help him report his name for this examination! ”

When Lin Haoran heard this, he was stunned for a moment, and then he bowed his hand in a proper manner: "Yuan Ge's old words are serious, this matter is just a gesture, and the next official will do it tomorrow!" ”

Although his tone seemed calm, and he directly took the matter down, but there were turbulent waves in his heart.

In order to ensure the fairness of the imperial examination, it was stipulated that some people could not participate in the imperial examination, such as the relatives of the chief examiner, who could not participate in the imperial examination of that year.

As the highest level of examination conducted by officials, this point is even more important.

If Yuan Longhuang participates in this examination, then according to the usual practice, Yuan Wei is not suitable to preside over this examination, and the candidate for the chief examiner of the examination will be produced among Li Chunfang, Yan Ne and Dong Fenzhong.

Of course, many of the conventions of this dynasty also do not work, with Yuan Wei's degree of favor in front of Jiajing, it may not be impossible to break this convention, and Yuan Wei is still the chief examiner of this examination.

At this time, the housekeeper personally sent the rice cakes up, and Yuan Longhui and Yuan Longhuang looked at Yuan Wei nervously.

Yuan Wei picked up a piece of rice cake with chopsticks and put it in his mouth to chew, and soon smiled, nodded and praised: "The old man has lost his appetite in recent days, but fortunately you sent the rice cake!" ”

Lin Haoran was modest, but the Yuan family finally put their minds at ease, and the atmosphere at the wine table was said to be back to normal.

After eating, the two went to the living room for tea.

Yuan Wei invited Lin Haoran here, naturally it was impossible just because of the small matter that his son signed up for the examination, after taking a sip of tea, he said seriously: "Since this dynasty, the number of cabinet ministers is usually four or five, and now there are only two left, the old man and Yuan Fu, which is by no means a norm!" Not to mention that compared with other periods, the number of ministers in the sixth year of Jiajing was as many as seven, and the reason why everyone doesn't have much opinion on this now is why do you know why? ”

"Lord Yuanfu has delegated power, fulfilling the promise of returning the government affairs to the ministers at the beginning of his tenure, so that the authority of the main hall of each ministry is no less than that of ordinary ministers!" Lin Haoran hesitated for a moment, and then responded seriously.

Yuan Wei pinched the lid of the tea and splashed the tea lightly, glanced at Lin Haoran approvingly, and then asked: "It's just that this pattern is very delicate, especially after the death of King Jing, the officials of the Yuwang family headed by Gao Gong are very eager to break this situation, do you know why?" ”

"If the emperor decides to expand the number of cabinet ministers, then my father-in-law will definitely enter the cabinet, and at least two of Yan Ne, Dong Fen and Li Chunfang will also enter the cabinet, and there will be several vacancies in Shangshu at that time!" Lin Haoran didn't know what Yuan Wei's idea was, and responded honestly.

Yuan Wei took a sip of tea and said with certainty: "You are a smart person, with the current situation, it is not a good thing for your father-in-law to enter the cabinet, it is better to preside over this year's external inspection!" ”

"Elder Ge, do you mean that this balance may soon be upset?" Lin Haoran knew that Yuan Wei was right, if he was not absolutely sure that he would get rid of Xu Jie, his father-in-law would be better than entering the cabinet, so he asked solemnly.

Yuan Wei glanced at Lin Haoran in surprise, then nodded heavily and said, "Yan Shifan will be escorted to the capital next month, but he may be holding something in his hand that will shake the entire court, so I hope you don't add fuel to the fire!" ”

"I don't know if this is just the meaning of the elder of the pavilion, or if there is someone else's meaning?" Lin Haoran's heart moved slightly, and he asked seriously.

Yuan Wei put down the teacup, looked at Lin Haoran's eyes and said directly: "This is actually what Yuanfu meant!" ”