Putting down Mei Zhihuan's file, Zhu Youxiao breathed a sigh of relief and said slowly: "Go find this person, I want to talk to him." ”

"Yes, my lord, the slave and maid will go." Chen Hong respectfully agreed, and hurriedly went to find someone.

rehabilitated Zhang Juzheng, this did poke Zhu Youxiao's heart.

For Zhu Youxiao, this is indeed a good thing, because it represents an attitude of His Majesty and an encouragement to the reformists.

Today, His Majesty does not oppose innovation, but supports innovation, which can be seen from the rehabilitation of Zhang Juzheng.

Therefore, Zhu Youxiao felt that the benefits of this matter outweighed the disadvantages, and by the way, he could win a wave of people's hearts and appoint Mei Zhihuan at the same time.

After this period of research, Zhu Youxiao has confirmed one of his guesses. That is, among the officials of the imperial court, some of them are very backbone and thoughtful; But more officials in the court are really just bureaucrats, they prefer to follow the crowd, they prefer to look at the direction of the wind, and they are not so insistent, so to speak, what is good for them, they will do it.

These people become officials just to get promoted and make a fortune, and there is no ideal. Whatever is good for them, they preach.

Therefore, Zhu Youxiao felt that an official like Mei Zhihuan was particularly rare, especially to be able to fit in with him.

Taijoji Temple.

Everyone knew that Mei Zhihuan was summoned by His Majesty.

For a while, everyone was a little confused.

After all, it is really difficult for a place like Taichang Temple to attract His Majesty's attention, but now that I look at this appearance, I know that the situation is different, and the person who came is Chen Hong.

Speaking of which, Mei Zhihuan didn't expect it, he looked at Chen Hong in front of him, and asked with some hesitation: "Grandpa Chen, do you want to go now?" ”

Chen Hong nodded with a smile, and then said, "It's better for Lord Mei to hurry up, Your Majesty is still waiting for your lord." If it's a little late, Your Majesty will be displeased. ”

"In this way, then the lower official will go with his father-in-law." Mei Zhihuan hurriedly said.

Others don't know why he was summoned by His Majesty, but Mei Zhihuan has some thoughts in his heart. What he did, he knew after all.

How much time did you have for that question book?

The most critical point is that I wrote a lot of things in that book, and I am afraid that it was because of this that I was summoned by His Majesty.

It's just that I don't know what the result of this summoning will be, but Mei Zhihuan prefers to be a good result, otherwise, it won't be Chen Honglai who lets himself into the palace.

If His Majesty wants to punish the crime, he will naturally have Dongchang and Jinyiwei to do things. If you don't want to deal with yourself, the question book will be left behind.

Now His Majesty wants to summon himself, and it is clear that there is a good result.

There was some excitement in Mei Zhihuan's heart, not because his inscription was valued by His Majesty, nor because he would be rewarded if he was summoned by His Majesty.

The main reason for his excitement was that he guessed correctly, His Majesty really wanted to implement reforms.

In Mei Zhihuan's view, the Ming Dynasty has reached the point where it cannot be changed, and if His Majesty really has the heart to implement reforms, this is the hope of the Ming Dynasty.

Judging by all the things during this time, Mei Zhihuan felt that he had to have this idea, so he also said his thoughts, hoping to do something for Daming.

Now it seems that a good result has been obtained.

Mei Zhihuan followed Chen Hong to Xiyuan.

Speaking of which, this is the first time Mei Zhihuan has come here, but judging from the lush bamboo forests around it and the winding covered bridges on the water, the West Garden is indeed less solemn and solemn than the palace, and more relaxed and freehand.

This made Mei Zhihuan a little confused, judging from His Majesty's various styles, His Majesty should be a young and energetic emperor, with more ideas, how could he come to Xiyuan, a place suitable for retirement?

Of course, Mei Zhihuan didn't dare to ask this question, so he could only think about it in his heart.

Turning a green tile wall, accompanied by the faint fragrance of flowers, Mei Zhihuan walked to a lake with lotus flowers in full bloom and saw his majesty.

The emperor of the Ming Dynasty was indeed resting, and at this time he was lying in a rocking chair and rocking, with a table next to it, on which were tea, snacks, preserves, and some fresh fruits and vegetables.

Looking at this appearance, His Majesty really looks like he is providing for the elderly.

There was also a fishing rod not far away, and it seemed that His Majesty had just finished fishing.

Chen Hong waved his hands behind his back, and Mei Zhihuan stood in place very interestingly, watching Chen Hong come to His Majesty's side from a distance.

Chen Hong walked gently to his emperor's side and said cautiously: "Emperor, Master Mei Zhihuan is here." ”

Zhu Youxiao opened his eyes gently, glanced at Chen Hong beside him, and said with a gentle face: "Let him come over." ”

"Yes, Emperor." After saying this, Chen Hong returned to Mei Zhihuan's side again and said softly: "Lord Mei, Your Majesty has summoned you." ”

"There's Lao Chen's father-in-law." Mei Zhihuan said with a smile.

The two came to His Majesty's side together, Chen Hong stood aside, and Mei Zhihuan knelt down and saluted, "Minister Mei Zhihuan, see Your Majesty." ”

"Alright, get up." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said.

While saying this, Zhu Youxiao looked Mei Zhihuan up and down.

This is a middle-aged man in his 40s, judging from his appearance, he has a square face, good facial features, and a very righteous attitude between his eyebrows and eyes, and he can't see the slightest obscenity.

The fact that such an official is going to that station gives people a sense of being down-to-earth and reliable. Of course, you can't just look at people at the surface.

Because Zhu Youxiao knows that the Ming Dynasty is a dynasty with a more serious face, don't think about being an official if you look ugly, to use a more reliable sentence to describe it, it is that ugly people as officials affect the image of the court.

And in troubled times, the literati will also uphold this when they choose kings. If you are ugly, or if you look more obscene, you don't look like a king.

This sentence is about to die, and it can be said that the Ming Dynasty looks at the face much more seriously than the later generations.

From the perspective of appearance, Mei Zhihuan is a qualified Ming official, and he is also one of the more outstanding ones.

Retracting his gaze, Zhu Youxiao reached out and picked up the question book on the table, and said, "This is your question book, what is written in it, do you remember?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, the minister remembers." Mei Zhihuan bowed and said.

Zhu Youxiao nodded and asked, "Why do you want to take such a question book?" ”

"You should also know that there is nothing good about this book, and even if I don't cure your sin, there is nothing good to say about you from the outside. Whether I do it or not, I'm afraid you won't end well. ”

After saying this, Zhu Youxiao raised his head and looked at Mei Zhihuan with a smile on his face, waiting for him to answer himself.

Zhu Youxiao's words, Mei Zhihuan naturally understood.

The meaning of this sentence is actually very simple, that is, to say that what you bulge out is actually thankless.

If His Majesty disagrees, what will people outside say about themselves?

After thinking about this for a while, Mei Zhihuan knew that there would be no good results at all.

But if Your Majesty agrees, I'm afraid that my own criticism will be even more, and I will have to do things myself, so I may have to get involved, and I am afraid that there will be no good end at that time.

This is His Majesty asking himself.

Mei Zhihuan didn't speak for a long time, but the expression on his face was still very serious, and finally said slowly: "Kong said to be benevolent, Meng said to take righteousness, but his righteousness is exhausted, so benevolence." Reading the books of the sages, what you have learned, and now and in the future, you are almost worthy of it. ”

This sentence has been said by countless people, and Zhu Youxiao has heard it many times.

But this time, after Mei Zhihuan's mouth said it, Zhu Youxiao felt particularly powerful, so he asked slowly: "Don't regret it?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, although I have died a hundred times, I have no regrets!" Mei Zhihuan said loudly.

Zhu Youxiao nodded, put down the question book in his hand, turned to Chen Hong and said, "Send this question book to the cabinet and ask them to draw up a holy decree to rehabilitate Zhang Juzheng." ”

Taking the question book with both hands, Chen Hong bowed down and said, "Yes, Emperor." ”

Then he took the notebook and arranged for someone to go to the cabinet.

Mei Zhihuan didn't expect His Majesty to be so resolute, just a few words were just talked, and the matter was done, and his attitude was extremely firm, and he did not allow anyone to refuse at all.

Why does the emperor who is so good at it feel so happy?

Zhu Youxiao said slowly: "Since you said that Zhang Juzheng was rehabilitated, let's talk about it, in Zhang Juzheng's new policy, what can be ranked first?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, I thought it was a test law." Mei Zhihuan said with great certainty.

"I thought you would say a way to make it!" Zhu Youxiao said with a smile: "Then let's talk about why the test method?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, no matter what policy the court implements, it is the courtiers who do things after all; The people of the world look up to His Majesty, but after all, they only come into contact with officials. The officials represent the imperial court and represent His Majesty. ”

"Nowadays, corruption is rampant in the officialdom, officials pass the buck to each other, countless officials are invited in the name, but in fact there is nothing to do, always poetry and songs, Hengqin Township, and most of the players are luxurious songs. businessmen and magnates, who have no desire to serve the country, are drunk and dream to death all night; Officials and businessmen collude, oppress the people, expropriate and expropriate, and the people are not happy! ”

Zhu Youxiao's face did not change at all, and he listened quietly.

Chen Hong, who had just turned around and came back, immediately changed his face when he heard such remarks. When he looked at Mei Zhihuan again, the expression on Chen Hong's face was terrifying.

Is this surnamed Mei crazy?

Or do you have a cramp in your head?

To say such a thing in the presence of His Majesty is to die!

The emperor valued him a lot just now, but he wasted such an opportunity!

Originally, Chen Hong thought that this Mei Zhihuan would be a newly rising boss in the imperial court, but according to the current view, the crime of not being imprisoned is the emperor's grace.

In this person's words, the Ming Dynasty is about to die! Can this be said casually?

Mei Zhihuan didn't stop, this time he was ready to say everything he thought in his heart, because he didn't know if he would have such an opportunity in the future, so he simply said more.

If it can be deafening and make His Majesty wary and change, it will also be worth it; If you are imprisoned for this, then you will die a well-deserved death.

"The minister thinks that the Ming Dynasty has reached the autumn of survival, if there is no reform, the day of the Ming Dynasty's demise is not far away! If you want to reform, the first thing to change is the rule of officials. Clarifying the rule of officials and selecting talents and appointing talents is the beginning of this innovation. ”

"Above the court, the officials are mediocre, and they are really overwhelmed. Therefore, the minister wanted to implement Zhang Juzheng's examination method, and the minister thought that Zhang Juzheng's reform examination method should be the first. After saying this, Mei Zhihuan did not speak again, but stood respectfully to the side, waiting for His Majesty's words.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Mei Zhihuan, and there was no look of joy and anger on his face.

Reaching out and taking a sip of the teacup on the side, Zhu Youxiao said slowly: "Is my Daming already so unbearable?" Coming to an end? ”

"I didn't expect that I would have to be the king of the dead country one day."

Speaking of this, Zhu Youxiao smiled self-deprecatingly and threw the teacup in his hand suddenly.

The teacup fell to the ground with a shattering sound, like a heavy hammer hitting everyone's hearts.

The people around hurriedly knelt down and said tremblingly: "Your Majesty is angry! ”

Mei Zhihuan didn't move, nor did he kneel down to plead guilty, just stood quietly.

After seeing this scene, Zhu Youxiao asked with a smile: "Aren't you afraid that I will kill you?" ”

"Shed blood for the Ming Dynasty innovation, and the ministers are willing to do it. There are not many people who want to innovate in all dynasties and dynasties. Let everyone go forward and succeed, the so-called is not the prosperity of the country and the health of the people. It's not that the minister doesn't know this, and the minister believes that the ancestors don't know it. ”

"But there are some things that you have to do even if you die. I hope that Your Majesty can investigate it in detail, so that the minister will die without regrets! ”

After saying this, Mei Zhihuan knelt directly on the ground and pestle the ground with his head.

Zhu Youxiao stood up from the rocking chair, walked to Mei Zhihuan's side expressionlessly, then bent down and stretched out his hand, gently supported Mei Zhihuan, and helped him up from the ground.

This scene left everyone a little confused.

What's going on?

Shouldn't Your Majesty be angry and pull this person out?

Even if you don't cut it, you have to hit it with a cane. How did this help up?

Even Mei Zhihuan's face was surprised, what was the situation?

Zhu Youxiao looked at Mei Zhihuan, stretched out his hand to straighten the official hat for him, and said slowly: "Daming's official hat is crooked, I gave you this one for you, I hope you can maintain it, don't let it be crooked." ”

Zhu Youxiao's words are naturally something to say.

Mei Zhihuan said respectfully: "Your Majesty, rest assured, if the minister's hat is crooked one day, it is because the minister's head is gone." Otherwise, as long as the minister's head is in one day, this official hat will never be crooked. ”

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said: "In all dynasties, there are those who change the law, there are those who succeed, there are those who lose, and those who change the law do not shed blood. If he is in his day, Aiqing dies because of changing the law, is Aiqing willing? ”

Hearing this, Mei Zhihuan directly picked up his clothes and knelt on the ground, and said in a firm tone: "In all dynasties, there were bloody sacrifices among those who changed the law in all dynasties. If there is a need to shed blood for the change of law today, please start with the ministers. ”

Zhu Youxiao stretched out his hand to help Mei Zhihuan up again, and this time a smile appeared on his face.

Stretched out his hand and gently patted Mei Zhihuan's shoulder, Zhu Youxiao said: "This sentence, I will be remembered in the annals of history, and future generations will remember Aiqing, knowing that there was once an innovator in the Ming Dynasty who was not afraid of death, whose actions could move the world and the earth, his qi could feel the sun and the moon, and his light could move through the ages!" ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Mei Zhihuan knelt on the ground again and said with tears streaming down his face.