The spring of the seventeenth year of Wanli came very late.

Because of the case of the Shuntian Township Test, Yu Shenxing was forced by Shen Shixing to resign from the position of Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Rites.

When Yu Shenxing was in the reign of Zhang Juzheng, he admonished him for arbitrariness, and after Zhang Juzheng died of illness, it was he who stood up against the liquidation of Zhang Juzheng.

His character, as well as his square and fair attitude, have been unanimously appreciated by the court. This time Shuntian Township test, he was just doing his duty, but he was hated by the prime minister, and now his departure is regretted by countless people, which is considered a big loss to the court.

At the same time, Gao Gui was also demoted by Shen Shixing and went to Guangxi to serve as the magistrate.

Lin Yanchao was very helpless about the departure of Yu Shenxing and Gao Gui, he had a good relationship with Yu Shenxing, but Shen Shixing did not allow Yu Shenxing, which made him also in a dilemma.

When Yu Shenxing left, Lin Yanchao personally went to the Tongzhou wharf to see him off.

Yu Shenxing has been an official in Beijing for nearly 20 years, and his official position is a waiter in the Ministry of Rites, but he has no long things, when Lin Yanchao went to the dock to see him off, he saw that he only hired a small canopy boat, and his family and luggage were on the boat, which seemed very cramped.

Yu Shenxing didn't mean to be discouraged, and drank with Lin Yanchao at the restaurant next to the Tongzhou wharf.

It was snowing lightly outside, but there was a stove in the restaurant, and the two of them drank a glass very happily.

Yu Shenxing was very interested, and mentioned the matter of his party Zhongjinshi and said with a smile: "At that time, the Shujishi Pavilion was selected, located in the south of Jinshui Bridge, and I waited for the candidates to sit behind the case, and each case was named in the north of the book. There is a Jiangzuo in the same year, his case is very sunny in the sun, he saw that the case of the same year is in the shade, so the other party was unprepared, the other party's case changed his name and sat down, Jiang You disputed with him in the same year, and the other party flatly denied it. ”

At that time, there was a big quarrel, and Jiang You smiled when he saw more people in the same year, and tried to see how to solve it, so he just gave up. Later, Jiang Zuo's official position in the same year was only limited to the historian, while Jiang You's official work was very big in the same year. Zong Hai knows who this Jiang You is in the same year? ”

Lin Yanchao thought for a while and said: "But Brother Yuan, this branch is often famous, if it is said that Jiang You is the same year, but Zhang Xinjian?" ”

Yu Shenxing stroked his palms and said with a smile: "Zong Hai is really powerful. ”

Yu Shenxing sighed: "It is true that there are many extraordinary people in this subject in the same year, in addition to worshipping Wang Shanyin, the great uncle Zhu Zongbo, many of them can be called pillars of talent in the same year, this Zhang Xinjian is also a masterpiece, Zong Hai will be an official with him in the future, you can pay more attention." ”

Lin Yanchao said: "Brother Yuan, where do you put yourself, I think that there are three hopes, virtue and hope, talent and clear hope, but Brother Yuan is not lacking, but Brother Yuan is also a teacher of the Son of Heaven, and he will definitely have a chance to recover in the future." ”

Yu Shenxing said with a smile: "Thank you Zonghai for your words, this time I was angry with the ruling government and was forced to resign and return to my hometown, so many protégés and former officials, none of them dared to come to see each other, but Zonghai You sent me here, this situation is in my heart." ”

Lin Yanchao knew that coming today was likely to displease Shen Shixing, but when he was imprisoned, Yu Shenxing risked killing his head and contacted officials to rescue him from all sides.

Lin Yanchao said: "Where is Brother Yu, Yuan Fu is really a measured person, how can he blame the little brother for this trivial matter, but Brother Yuan may wish to stay for a while when he returns to his hometown this time, and after a while, the little brother will make a statement to Yuan Fu, and then Brother Yuan can go back to Beijing and have a good time with me again." ”

Yu Shenxing laughed loudly, and suddenly said: "Zong Hai, what do I have to worry about the affairs of the official career, for me, being an official is only in the word to serve the country, and it is just that Yu is far away, but the giant rape above the court has not been eliminated today, so I am unwilling." ”

Lin Yanchao asked, "But Brother Yuan is talking about Zhang Whale?" ”

Yu Shenxing nodded and said: "Exactly, something is unknown, Zong Hai has always been jealous and hateful, Zhang Whale has repeatedly offended you, even Yuanfu had something to do with Zhang Whale before, and asked the emperor to remove Zhang Whale, why didn't you move at all?" ”

Lin Yanchao was silent when he heard this, when Gu Xiancheng persuaded him to impeach Zhang Whale, he did not come forward at that time because of Shen Shixing's relationship.

Now that Shen Shixing and Zhang Whale have also broken up, he is still silent, which is a bit surprising. You must know that now which of the top three members of the court does not impeach Zhang Whale, and he used to call himself sick as an excuse, but now it is difficult to say.

Yu Shenxing saw Lin Yanchao's face and said suspiciously: "Could it be that Zong Hai also had something to do with Zhang Whale before?" ”

Lin Yanchao smiled when he heard this, he had gone to rescue Zhang Juzheng before, but he was not spared the pain of the edict and prison, and he bribed Zhang Whale. In addition, in the Ministry of Rites test, he also helped Zhang Whale cheat and get a person.

Although he also had Zhang Whale in his hand before, the two of them restrained each other, and it was okay for the two of them to disgust each other, and they wouldn't be alive or dead, but now that Zhang Whale's boat is about to sink, it is difficult to ensure that he will not die and the net will be broken.

Lin Yanchao flatly denied it: "Where is the matter, how can I have anything to do with Zhang Whale, it's just that this Zhang Whale can have today's rampant behavior, and it is also the fault of the Holy Indulgence, impeaching a Zhang Whale, it is hard to guarantee that another Zhang Whale will come, I am really lazy to do anything about this matter." ”

Yu Shenxing said with relief: "I see, Zong Hai really sees things thoroughly, but I think that for example, if a person kills someone, he can't be resurrected after death, and it is useless to pay for his life if he kills again, but if he is not punished with severe punishment, it is difficult to ensure that future generations will not learn from it." ”

"In addition to one Zhang Whale, there may be another Zhang Whale, but as long as he can act a little more restrained than his predecessor, then our efforts will be beneficial to the people of the world."

Lin Yanchao said solemnly: "But what Brother Yuan said is extremely true, it is a certain short-sightedness. ”

Yu Shenxing waved his hand and said: "How can a Zhang Whale be in the eyes of Zonghai, your ambition lies in the world, even if I am not above the temple, but I can also observe Zonghai's future actions on the rivers and lakes, and the state affairs will be entrusted to Brother Zonghai!" ”

After speaking, Yu Shenxing gave Lin Yanchao a long wave, and Lin Yanchao also raised his glass, and at this time, the wind and snow outside gradually became bigger.

A gust of wind blew in from the window, and snow seemed to fall among the hot wine.

Lin Yanchao was about to drink all the wine, while Yu Shenxing wrote a poem and said: "I have always dreamed far away, and I have been closed from now on." It is not like Zhongnan Road, and it is based on the world. ”

Since Lin Yanchao and Yu Shenxing worked together, they knew each other's talents, and in later generations, there were many words about the disadvantages of the times in the books of Gushan Bichen written by him, which mentioned that the imperial court tax was "heavy on agriculture and wide on business" and resentful, which coincided with his political views of "fattening and then killing", and the two got along very well during the period when they worked together in the Ministry of Rites.

Thinking of this, Lin Yanchao said: "But Brother Yuan doesn't have to say that, as long as Lin can still speak in the court, he will definitely run for you." ”

Yu Shenxing was stunned for a moment, and then said: "Zong Hai doesn't have to take it to heart so much, it will make it difficult for you to do it in front of Yuanfu at that time, but if you have a time to enter the cabinet to worship the prime minister, you don't suspect that someone is pedantic and stubborn, and Yu is willing to serve." ”

Lin Yanchao was pleased when he heard this, and immediately toasted Yu Shenxing with a glass of wine and said, "A word is a certainty." ”

After that, Lin Yanchao will send Shen Xing to the ship, and when he said goodbye on the dock, Yu Shen Xing stood at the stern of the boat and waved to himself again, and Lin Yanchao saw the other party go away.

Yu Shenxing offended Shen Shixing and was kicked out of the court by him, and because of this incident, the relationship between the two became closer.

Thinking about it, he still had the idea of taking refuge or relying on the Zhejiang Party, but now it seems that Zhu Geng is too slippery, Shen has always had no friendship with him, and joining the Zhejiang Party may not be a good choice.

On the contrary, Yu Shenxing is kind to himself, and more importantly, he has the same political views, and he can become a reliable political ally for himself one day.

On the occasion of parting, Yu Shenxing introduced Feng Qi to Lin Yanchao, Feng Qi is a Jinshi in the fifth year of Wanli, one subject longer than Lin Yanchao, he is Yu Shenxing's Shandong hometown, or Nian's son, the current deputy envoy of Henan according to the Department of Justice Feng Zilu is Feng Qi's father, and he is also the same year as Yu Shenxing.

The Lim's peripheral henchmen are also expanding.

"Master, Yu Shilang's boat is gone, let's get on the sedan chair and go home!"

Chen Jichuan put on Lin Yanchao's overcoat, and Lin Yanchao nodded.

"Fengtian carries the emperor, and the system says, the court is in an eventful autumn, and I ask for horse bones with a thousand gold......"

In the hall of the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites after the spring of the seventeenth year of Wanli.

Shen Chengyi, the right attendant of the ministry who had not been in office for a long time, was reading the holy decree in the ya.

Since Zhu Geng, Lin Yanchao and other officials are all listening to orders.

But listening to Shen Zheng continued: "...... Tezgarin Yanchao was appointed as the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites and promoted to the rank of general doctor......"

Lin Yanchao listened to the order, this is to promote himself to the left waiter of the Ministry of Rites, to replace the vacancy after Yu Shen walked, and it can be regarded as Shen Shixing's reward for going out of the mountain.

As for the general doctor, it is a loose rank, and the first award of the third rank official is a good doctor, and those who have completed the three-year examination or have outstanding political achievements can be promoted to the general doctor.

The name of this loose official can be given to three generations.

When it comes to Lin Yanchao, it is his grandfather Lin Gaoshu, who is now also a doctor of the three grades.

For Lin Yanchao's promotion, the news has been transmitted to the Ministry of Rites more than ten days ago, and the officials below have already congratulated a wave, so there is nothing new, in fact, after Yu Shen walked, Lin Yanchao began to take charge of the four divisions, and decided on small matters alone, and only discussed with Zhu Geng on major matters.

After Shen finished announcing the decree, he congratulated Lin Yanchao with a smile: "Congratulations to Lin Butang, he will be Uncle Zuo in the future." ”

Lin Yanchao smiled, from the right waiter to the left waiter, don't look at it as a horizontal transfer, but the power in his hands is much greater.

Of course, if you are promoted from the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites to the right attendant of the Ministry of Officials, it will be another step up.

And Shen has always been a bit arrogant in the past, but today he is very close to him. Lin Yanchao glanced at Zhu Geng, but when he saw that he was also pinching his beard and smiling, his heart was bright at the moment, okay, now the question is not whether I want to join the Zhejiang Party, but whether the Zhejiang Party needs me.

The three of them took their seats at the moment, and the other officials knew that the three bigwigs had something to say, so they all knew the opportunity to retreat.

"Zong Hai moves as an official every year, and he really has a great future." Shen said with a smile.

Lin Yanchao thought to himself, he was a big fart, and the Son of Heaven would not let himself enter the cabinet.

Lin Yanchao said: "Don't dare to be, I will have to rely on the support of the two ministries in the future." ”

Listening to Lin Yanchao's words, Zhu Geng and Shen always smiled knowingly.

Zhu Geng said with a smile: "Where is Zong Hai, several of us are Yuanfu's henchmen, everyone is in the same boat, of course, we have to be in the same boat, as for the cooperation, it is a matter of course." ”

Lin Yanchao nodded, Zhu Geng's care is really not fake, he has been in office for less than half a year, and now in addition to the officials of the Ministry of Rites, other places where he can call the shots, basically even people and dogs are his fellow villagers in Shaoxing.

Shen ***: "With Zong Hai's words, we are relieved, the current case of the Shuntian Township test, the emperor and hundreds of officials are urging, what is Zong Hai's strategy?" ”

Lin Yanchao replied: "I don't dare to take Miao Ce, I have already reported this matter to Yuan Fu separately, and I believe it will not take long to solve it." ”

Shen Zhengyi, Zhu Geng glanced at each other, thinking that he really deserved to be a proud protégé, and Shen Shixing did not discuss this matter with them, but found Lin Yanchao.

At the same time, Zhu Geng and Shen have always known that this time in the case of the Shuntianxiang test field, the Zhejiang Party led by Zhu Geng smeared oil on the soles of their feet before they went into battle, and did not carry the matter down, which made Shen Shixing very angry and the consequences were very serious.

Thinking of this, Zhu Geng broke out in a cold sweat on his back, and then said with a smile: "I knew that if Zong Hai didn't make a sound, it would be a blockbuster, with you in the Ministry of Rites, I can worry a lot about foolish brother." ”

Shen was silent for a while and then said: "Gao Gui has been demoted to the magistrate of the priesthood of the Ministry of Rites, and the priest of the Shrine is the head of the four divisions of the Ministry of Rites. ”

Zhu Geng glanced at Shen Yi, this time Shuntianxiang tried to cheat the case, they originally planned to let Lin Yanchao come forward to replace Zhu Geng in this matter, and return the position in the priesthood of the priesthood.

At the moment, Lin Yanchao doesn't seem to have come up with a solution, but Shen has always taken the initiative to throw out this matter, and it seems that he intends to show favor to Lin Yanchao.

Zhu Geng also knew that he wanted to vigorously win over Lin Yanchao, so he said: "If Uncle Zuo has any candidates in his heart, he might as well recommend it to Shaozai." ”

Lin Yanchao knew that the priest was one of the four divisions, and he was his direct subordinate, and if he changed someone to deal with him, although he could clean it up, it would not be good for his reputation.

Lin Yanchao said at the moment: "Yu Yuli, a member of the Criminal Department, is a safe man with both ability and political integrity, I think he will be competent." ”

Shen Yi nodded when he heard this, and Zhu Geng also agreed, so this matter will not be far from ten.

Then Zhu Geng asked: "By the way, the new right attendant of the Ministry of Rites, is there a candidate for the Ministry of Officials?" ”

Shen ***: "As usual, five days after the vacancy, it will be submitted, and then it can be publicized, I have heard ......"

Zhu Geng and Lin Yanchao both pricked up their ears at the same time, and Shen consistently lowered his voice and said, "...... If nothing else, it will be Xu Zhangyuan. ”

From Shen Zheng's mouth, it is basically a certainty.

Xu Xianqing stayed up for a year, and finally was promoted to the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, which was really what he wanted.

Soon Shen Yi said goodbye, and Zhu Geng and Lin Yanchao also knew that the affairs of the Ministry were extremely busy, so they did not stay together.

After Lin Yanchao returned to the palace, the first thing he did was to summon Chen Jichuan and instruct him: "After returning to the house, prepare a generous gift and send it to the Xuzhangyuan mansion." ”

Chen Jichuan didn't ask, but immediately said: "The villain will do it." ”

After Lin Yanchao returned home, he was promoted to Zuo Shilang, and there was a congratulatory gift in the officialdom.

Lin Yanchao received a few distinguished guests, and then asked the students to come forward and go back to the study by themselves.

The study is Guo Zhengyu, Yu Yuli, Lin Cai, Zhong Yuzheng, Yuan Zongdao, Sun Chengzong, Fang Congzhe and others, and the backbone of the Lin Party is here.

Everyone was chatting, and at this time, Chen Jichuan entered and whispered: "The eunuch Zhang Whale of the Admiral Dongchang ordered someone to send a congratulatory gift, will the master accept it?" ”

And everyone was surprised, how could Zhang Whale give Lin Yanchao a gift at this time. The relationship between the two is not good, and Zhang Whale is still on the cusp of the limelight, giving gifts to Lin Yanchao, most of them are not good.

Lin Yanchao's eyes were grim, and he touched the table with his hand, and his heart said that he should have come.

"Come with me to see it!"

"Be careful, teacher." Sun Chengzong reminded.

Lin Yanchao nodded, and when he came outside with everyone, he saw that the person who came was a captain of Dongchang, and respectfully handed Lin Yanchao a post.

Lin Yanchao went to see Zhang Whale's congratulatory gift, but saw that it was a big bonsai, Lin Yanchao looked at the big bonsai with his hand, but saw that it was more than a zhang high.

Lin Yanchao said: "The congratulatory gift given by Father-in-law Zhang is chic, I don't know which room I can put it in." ”

Then the captain of Dongchang said: "The governor confessed before, he said that sooner or later the lord of the ministry will want an official residence, and the future house will definitely be bigger than the current one, and he came today to congratulate him in advance." As for the fact that it can't be placed in the house now, it doesn't matter, you can put it outside the house. ”

Lin Yanchao smiled when he heard this: "Then I really thank Gonggong Zhang, you tell him, just say thank you!" ”

After the captain of Dongchang left, everyone was indignant, and some people said that Zhang Whale deliberately looked down on Lin Yanchao, which meant that Lin Yanchao's house was too small, and it was far worse than his current status.

But Lin Yanchao knew that Zhang Whale sent this tree to another meaning.

After all the guests left that day, Chen Jichuan asked Lin Yanchao: "Master, what is the purpose of this whale to give you this thing?" ”

Lin Yanchao said: "It's very simple, this bonsai is too big, the house can't accommodate it, so it can only be transplanted outside the house, what he means is that the temple can't accommodate me, and he wants to drive me out!" ”

Chen Jichuan was taken aback: "Master, ......"

Lin Yanchao sighed: "Back then, I had to listen to my teacher's words early, and it would be good if I didn't get too close to Zhang Whale, but now that he has been impeached by hundreds of officials, it will be over sooner or later, so he has a poisonous plan to drag me into the water." ”

"It's despicable, sir, this whale actually has this hand, but what countermeasures do you have?"

Lin Yanchao said: "I expected this for a long time, and I was prepared, but it is difficult to crack it, this is all the cause planted back then, and it can't be avoided!" But fortunately, a lot of things have been done in the past few years, and Chengzong and they can gradually provoke the beam, even if I go to the field now, it's nothing. ”

Lin Yanchao said in his heart, even if this matter is poked out, the Son of Heaven is just a moment of anger, and now Xu Zhenming, the imperial history of Tuntian, told him that he tried to plant sweet potatoes in Gyeonggi, and the corn was a great success, and he had the merit of planning this matter, as long as Shen Shixing was still in the court, he still had to make a comeback.

Chen Jichuan was very anxious and said: "Master, I don't think you will lose, this whale is a life if you lose, but if you lose, master, you will be dismissed." We can remove Zhang Whale's official, but save his life in exchange for him to keep his mouth shut, so that the master can be safe? ”