The capital entered June, and it rained heavily.

The usually prosperous capital suddenly changed.

The ditches on both sides of Jingshi Street are mostly dung and soil, and as the rain rises, it drifts everywhere onto the street. Whenever a vehicle passes by, the muddy water splashes waist-to-waist.

Pedestrians who can't avoid it are a mess.

When Lin Yanchao sat in a sedan chair and returned home from the Ministry of Rites, he saw this scene.

This is also the reason why there is no sewer in Jingshi, so the people pile up garbage everywhere in the drainage ditch next to the street, which is fine on weekdays, and it is wonderful when it rains.

Lin Yanchao knew that Jingshi's handling of defecation and garbage was easy to cause plague, and the outbreak of severe plague in the north in the last years of Chongzhen was the last blow to the decaying Ming Dynasty.

Even in the Wanli year, there were occasional outbreaks of plague in various parts of the north.

How did people at that time know the relationship between the plague and hygiene?

Now the construction of this Beijing Street is the business of the Ministry of Industry, and the solution given by the Ministry of Industry is to ask someone to dredge it when the weather is fine, and let him flow when it rains.

Originally, this was okay, but over time, the people living on the side of the street continued to occupy the road, causing the ditch to be blocked.

So a few years ago, there was a man in the Ministry of Engineering who dared to do anything, and decided to dredge the ditch and demolish all the houses that dared to occupy the road.

As a result, as soon as the incident came out, the people's resentment boiled, and the people were greatly dissatisfied.

There was a man who was riding a horse in the middle of the matter, and was regarded as this Ministry of Labor, and was thrown on the head by the angry old Baixin, and he reported the matter to the emperor, and finally had to give up.

Lin Yanchao sat in the sedan chair, looking at the mud on the street and couldn't help but shake his head, looking at Ye Zhiqiu, the mechanism in the court was stiff, the people who did the work were demoted and dismissed, and the officials who were left behind were officials who did not dare to do things.

In the future, it will be difficult to carry out the reform of the law.

In the heavy rain, Lin Yanchao returned to the mansion.

There is a sedan hall in the house, so you don't have to get off the sedan chair outside the door, and when it rains, it is much more convenient to take a sedan chair than a carriage.

Lin Yanchao got out of the sedan chair, and immediately someone handed over towels and ginger tea. Lin Yanchao saw that his official robe was not wet at all, so he pushed the towel ginger tea to Zhanming.

At this time, the housekeeper Chen Jichuan stepped forward and said, "Master, Master Gu is here, and I have been waiting for a long time. ”

Lin Yanchao frowned when he heard this, and thought, it's time to come, it's still here.

Lin Yanchao immediately said: "Don't be in a hurry to see him, I'll talk about it after I change my clothes." ”

Chen Jichuan said yes.

Lin Yanchao changed into a family swallow suit, and after a long while, he came to the living room from the corridor.

At this time, the rain was falling heavier, and the rain was pouring down the eaves on the stone steps in front of the house.

Lin Yanchao walked to the door, but saw Gu Xiancheng wearing a green shirt, looking at the 'River Entering the Sea Chart' on the screen in the living room.

After Lin Yanchao came to the hall, Gu Xiancheng did not turn his head immediately.

Lin Yanchao knew that although the rain was loud, the other party already knew that he had entered the house, but he did not make a sound.

Lin Yanchao didn't speak, and watched the screen with him.

Suddenly, Gu Xiancheng praised: "Zong Hai, although this painting on your screen is not from the handwriting of a famous artist, it is majestic and magnificent, and the weather is extraordinary. ”

Lin Yanchao smiled and said: "You also know that I have never been good at appreciating paintings, and the ones I buy everywhere are hung here, and they look good, but Uncle Ling, you are smiling." ”

Gu Xiancheng laughed loudly: "You are Zhengsanpin Jingtang right now, who dares to laugh at you, and who in Beijing is so bold?" ”

Lin Yanchao smiled and said, "Uncle, don't wear a high hat, sit." ”

After the two sat down, Gu Xiancheng was obviously in a good mood today, and said: "Speaking of wearing a high hat, I think of a joke, which is about a Beijing Dynasty official who let off the officials and bid farewell to his division before leaving. The teacher said, 'Foreign officials are not easy to do, so they should be cautious'. ”

"The other party replied that a certain person has a hundred top hats, and he will give one to every person, so that he and his colleagues will not have a quarrel."

His teacher said angrily, "My generation is straightforward, why should it be like this." The other party said, the world does not like to wear high hats like my teacher, how many people can there be? ”

His teacher nodded and said, "Your words are not insightful." Then the other party said goodbye, that is, to others, I have a hundred high hats, and now there are ninety-nine. ”

After Gu Xiancheng finished speaking, he immediately laughed.

Lin Yanchao also laughed, but he was vigilant in his heart.

Gu Xiancheng laughed, and then said: "Zong Hai, a gentleman should treat people with sincerity, but he does not ask others to repay him sincerely, such as this student, one set in front of the teacher, one set in front of outsiders, although he can be deceived for a while, but if he can serve the teacher for a long time, the teacher will know him sooner or later." ”

Lin Yanchao said: "Uncle, why are you hiding words in your words." ”

Gu Xiancheng smiled slightly: "Why did Zong Hai say this. ”

"Uncle, you and I have been friends for many years, and what do you have to say. If you don't believe me, why did you seek me out in the first place? Is I, Lin Yanchao, the villain who betrays his friends and reports the news? ”

Gu Xiancheng immediately said: "Zong Hai, you know that I didn't mean that, I said this with the intention of being a teacher." Sooner or later, I will not be able to tolerate my teacher, and it is better to talk about this matter earlier, so as not to be like the one in front of the student and one behind the other. ”

Lin Yanchao smiled: "In this way, I am too careful." ”

Gu Xiancheng said: "Of course, it doesn't hurt to say anything between you and me, in fact, I Yu Zonghai had some opinions back then. ”

Lin Yanchao asked rhetorically: "Opinion? ”

Gu Xiancheng nodded and said: "Yes, or a little misunderstanding, just in the Jinshi meeting, in the same year that we were in Beijing, you walked the most diligently to Yuanfu's mansion." Although I have never said to outsiders that you are not, I feel that Zong Hai is a little attached to the ruling government, and he is not the backbone of a celebrity. ”

Lin Yanchao sneered in his heart when he heard this, you Gu Xiancheng was not much less than me when you walked around the Shenshi Mansion at that time.

Lin Yanchao said: "The teacher is my Lin Mou's Bole, without his support, I don't know where I am today?" It is not advisable for officials to visit the prime minister frequently, but it is not undesirable for teachers and students to move around frequently. ”

Gu Xiancheng said with a smile: "Don't misunderstand Zong Hai, it's because I'm not open-minded enough. Back then, when you went to that world for public negligence, and you did not hesitate to go to prison because of this, Gu knew that you were a real gentleman. In this dynasty, the ministers directly advised, there is Haigang Peak in the front, and you Lin Zonghai in the back, and you will be famous in history in the future. Gu repeatedly admires you. ”

"It's Zong Hai that you just mentioned, since you said it, then I will tell the truth, the matter of bringing down Zhang Whale is very big, Gu Mou has long put life and death aside, but in addition to Gu, there are many colleagues, so I have to ask Zong Hai to keep it secret for me again and again."

Lin Yanchao said in his heart, it seems that I am narrow-minded when you say this.

However, he didn't bother with Gu Xiancheng in words, but said: "Don't worry, no third party will know about this matter except for you and me, but you have to be careful of the people around you, they will not keep it a secret for you like me." ”

Lin Yanchao knew about this, even if he didn't report the news, someone had already secretly told Shen Shixing.

Gu Xiancheng said: "Zong Hai rest assured, of course I am measured in this matter, Gu Mou came today to bring up the old matter, and in the matter of Zhang Whale, are you willing to come forward?" ”

Lin Yanchao didn't answer when he heard this.

Gu Xiancheng waited for a while and said, "It seems that Gu is going to return in vain." ”

"Uncle, it's not that I don't want to, if I admonish Zhang Whale, I have no hesitation in this matter, but on the teacher's side, I can't explain it."

Gu Xiancheng said: "The teacher has been in the cabinet for ten years, and he has been in the country for five years, you want to inherit his mantle, so you don't want to embarrass him?" ”

Lin Yanchao thought to himself, knowing that you still came to persuade me?

Lin Yanchao said: "Uncle, you are wrong, the teacher never promised me anything. ”

Gu Xiancheng said: "Promise or not, it doesn't matter, Zong Hai, if you think that your teacher will appoint you to join the cabinet in the future, it is a big mistake, this matter of entering the cabinet requires the recommendation of the first assistant, but also needs the approval of the holy will." ”

"But today, the Holy Lord has made it clear to his teacher that he will cultivate you in the future, but he will not let you enter the cabinet and entrust you with political authority, do you know about this?"

Lin Yanchao was shocked when he heard this: "Is this serious? ”

Gu Xiancheng nodded and said, "Of course it's true!" This is said by the Holy Lord himself and Yuanfu, and very few people know it...... Who exactly relayed it to me, I can't tell you about it. But believe me, I didn't deceive you in the slightest. The Holy Father has already mentioned this matter, and the teacher knows about it, but has he never said a word to you? Don't show any mouth? ”

Lin Yanchao's heart was shaken, he looked at Gu Xiancheng, the other party's words seemed to be true, it didn't look like he was deliberately deceiving himself. It's not like it's just to sow discord and then make things up. Shen Shixing said that Gu Xiancheng wanted to bring down Zhang Whale this time, with the support of Quan Jue in the palace. Eighty percent of this news was passed on to Gu Xiancheng by this Quan Jue, but who is this Quan Jue?

Zhang Cheng? Tian Yi? Or is it Chen Ju?

Seeing that Lin Yanchao was silent, Gu Xiancheng sneered: "I knew that the teacher had never mentioned it to you once, but here he uses you to do things and give you expectations, what will happen in the future?" Over there, Zhu Shanyin and Shen Siming were cultivated to pave the future for them. Yuansuke's move like this, is it worth Zonghai for you to serve him like this? Gu is really unhappy for you from the bottom of my heart. ”

The more Lin Yanchao pondered Gu Xiancheng's words, the more he felt that what he said was not fabricated.

Since the last time the Son of Heaven came to his house in person and said some heartfelt words, Lin Yanchao thought that the Son of Heaven had relieved his doubts about himself. But in fact, the Son of Heaven is still wary of himself, and although he was promoted to the rank of Chamberlain this time, Gao Huai's expulsion to Nanjing is a good example.

Then the Son of Heaven told Shen Shixing that he was not going to let himself enter the cabinet, that is, before he abdicated in the future, he would look for a successor, and he was excluded here first.

Thinking of this, Lin Yanchao said: "Uncle, if you are a teacher, Your Majesty will not let me enter the cabinet and give it to him, will you tell me?" Needless to say, it is justified, in other words, it is a leak. ”

"The prime minister of the cabinet will preside over the administration of the country in the future, and he cannot be cautious. Once the teacher leaks half of the sentence, wouldn't it attract people's peeping, and the villain will cling to it in advance, so the teacher's move is very appropriate. It is reasonable for my teacher not to tell me about this, and I will not be displeased in the slightest. ”

Gu Xiancheng heard this: "Zong Hai, I'm not here to speak ill of Yuanfu. I have always known that you have great ambitions, enter the cabinet to govern, and in the future, like Zhang Jiangling and Zhang Yongjia, you will implement the merit change method in the world, but Yuan Fu can't let you enter the cabinet, why don't you find another backer? ”

"Backer?" Lin Yanchao asked rhetorically, "Is it the palace Quan Jue who revealed the news to you?" ”

Gu Xiancheng was stunned when he heard this, then nodded and said, "Yes, Zong Hai, you must not have prejudices before saying it." Among the inner prisons, there are not only traitors and evildoers like Liu Jin and Wang Zhen, but also loyal and upright people like Zheng He and Huai'en. ”

"This father-in-law ...... It's just that I can't get used to seeing Zhang Whale welcome everything and collect people's wealth to please the Son of Heaven. If Zong Hai can bring down Zhang Whale this time, this father-in-law will take you as a confidant, then with him by the side of the Son of Heaven a few words, then there will be a turning point in the matter of entering the cabinet in the future. ”

Lin Yanchao nodded, from Gu Xiancheng's words, he could hear that this Quan Jue not only has great power, but also has the trust of the Son of Heaven and can influence the decision of the Son of Heaven, so there is only one person.

"What else does this father-in-law want you to tell me? Did he want you to woo me? ”

Gu Xiancheng heard this and said: "Zong Hai ......"

Lin Yanchao sighed: "Uncle, let's ignore this matter for the time being, it is the righteousness to overthrow Zhang Whale, but for the intrigue and intrigue in the inner court, we have become pawns in his hands to fight for power and profit, so what is the difference between us and joining the eunuch party?" Such a person will be the governor of Dongchang in the future, how can it be the blessing of the country's society? ”

Gu Xiancheng said: "Zong Hai, don't think of the inner prison as so sinister, this father-in-law is a man of great benevolence and bravery, he personally promised me that he has no intention of getting involved in power, he wants to bring down Zhang Whale, there is both justice and personal grudges." ”

"So you believed him?"

"It doesn't matter if you believe it or not!" Gu Xiancheng said, "As long as you can bring down Zhang Whale, it is for the sake of the court to eliminate a big evil, why not?" ”

"Zong Hai, this father-in-law's words in front of the emperor are extremely weighty. If he pushes you to the cabinet, great things can be done. Zhu Shanyin, Shen Siming's generation is just a marionette, in terms of talent, governance, and wind power, how can they compare with you. ”

"If Zong Hai enters the court as the prime minister, he will support you in the palace, we will wave the flag and shout for you outside the palace, and you will preside over the center, and the country's major events will change within three or five years, and the world will be governed within ten years!"

Gu Xiancheng's words were impassioned, and his face was full of energy.

But Lin Yanchao was on the side, the more he listened, the more uninterested he became, and said after half a sound: "Uncle, we still say the same thing, if you want to bring down Zhang Whale, I will agree with both hands, but without the permission of my teacher, I will not come forward in this matter." ”

"Without the teacher, there would be no me Lin Yanchao today, please understand this matter."

Gu Xiancheng immediately brushed his sleeves and said, "Zong Hai, I thought you were a great husband who stood up to the heavens and the earth, but today it seems that you are really ...... I was so disappointed. ”

Then Gu Xiancheng sneered and said, "Even if I'm blind today...... Leave! ”

After saying that, Gu Xiancheng strode away, and Lin Yanchao immediately instructed his subordinates: "Quick, give Director Gu an umbrella and send it to the house!" ”

After the subordinates responded, they immediately sent Gu Xiancheng out of the house.

Lin Yanchao watched Gu Xiancheng go away in the living room, and after his figure disappeared into the rain and mist, he returned to the table, opened the ink cartridge and dipped the pen in ink, immediately wrote a name on the paper, and then put the paper in the envelope.

"Someone!"

Chen Jichuan came to the hall, and Lin Yanchao said to him: "Send a reliable person, immediately hand over this letter to Shoufu, and remember to hand it over to him personally." ”

Chen Jichuan immediately said yes, so he sent a confidant to rush to Shen Mansion in the rain.

And at this moment, in the Forbidden City, it is also raining heavily.

Several firefighters were hurrying through the corridors of the palace, and as they were walking, they saw a group of people coming from the opposite side.

The firefighters hurriedly avoided the corridors and knelt down.

The three of them wore bullfighting, sat in python clothes, and walked forward under the hug of dozens of eunuchs, they are the three most powerful figures in the current celebrant eunuchs, namely Zhang Cheng, the eunuch Zhang Cheng of the palm print, the eunuch Chen Ju of Bingbi, and the eunuch Tian Yi of the court.

"What's wrong? Panicked? Zhang Cheng asked.

The leader of the fire said: "Back to the sect master, the little ones are about to ask the imperial doctor to diagnose the emperor's pulse. ”

"What's wrong with the emperor?"

The three of them asked with concern.

The leading fire man kowtowed and said: "Zhang Dugong invited the monks of the Western Regions to give the emperor a secret medicine, and after the emperor took the secret medicine, he was very happy, so he summoned Tian Meiren, Zhang Cairen, and Xu Shuren...... Then the emperor had a sudden nosebleed, so we immediately went to the imperial doctor. ”

Zhang Cheng said: "Then what are you waiting for?" Don't go yet! ”

Several firefighters immediately ran away.

The three Da Jue immediately hurried to the Son of Heaven's dormitory, and if the Son of Heaven made any mistakes, they couldn't afford it.

But when he arrived at the door of the dormitory, he was stopped by the eunuch guarding the door.

"A few of our family want to see the emperor, get out of the way immediately!"

The eunuch guarding the door said: "The emperor has ordered no one to disturb, even the sect master. ”

Immediately, Tian Yi said angrily: "Okay, a few of you, even I dare to stop you, since Gao Huai arrived in Nanjing, you all know that the people in the prison are becoming more and more unruly, see how I teach you a few lessons." ”

Zhang Cheng's face was cold, he knew that after Gao Huai was transferred to Nanjing, Zhang Jing didn't even say hello to him, and installed his cronies in the Duzhi Prison.

Seeing this scene, Chen Ju knew that the Son of Heaven was not a big deal now, so he persuaded: "Father-in-law Tian is a little restless, now is not about the rules, it is better to see the emperor first." ”

"Please rest assured, the emperor's nosebleed has stopped, and the imperial doctor is just doing the same, and now the emperor is in high spirits, I don't believe you listen."

A few people stood outside the hall, and sure enough, they heard a few laughs coming from the dormitory.

The eunuch on duty said: "A few fathers-in-law should rest assured, they will be beaten and killed afterwards, and the villain will admit it, but he just swept the emperor's interest, so the villain really can't afford it." ”

At this time, everyone is not easy to insist, and everyone knows the temper of the Son of Heaven.

Zhang Cheng nodded and said with a smile: "You are loyal to the errand, you will not have it when you turn back, but you will be rewarded!" ”

The eunuch hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed: "The villain has thanked the sect master, thanked the sect master." ”

Zhang Cheng nodded and left with all the eunuchs, Tian Yi couldn't help complaining, saying that Zhang Whale was too presumptuous and didn't take the celebrant in his eyes.

Tian Yi looked at Zhang Cheng and Chen Ju as he spoke.

Chen Juyun smiled lightly, not saying a word from beginning to end.

And Zhang Cheng said a few good words for Zhang Whale, who didn't know that he said silently in his heart, godfather, Zhang Whale is so rampant, but he is taking trouble on himself, it won't be long before I will avenge you.