On June 15 of the sixth year of Wanli, Zhang Juzheng, who returned to his hometown to bury his father, was urged by the present and the request of the hundred officials to return to the court as soon as possible, after a bumpy journey, he finally returned to Beijing, leaving Beijing for three months and four days. After arriving at the Keinan Station, he stayed here for a night at the behest of the Emperor.

Early the next morning, Zhu Xixiao, the governor of the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, rushed to Jingnanyi and respectfully invited Zhang Juzheng to go to Zhengyang Gate to review. It stands to reason that such a military parade can only be held when the commander returns to the dynasty or when the emperor returns from his trip.

Now Zhang Juzheng is enjoying this special ceremony, which is really a special honor from the emperor. Subsequently, the eunuch Zhang Hong, the eunuch of the special ambassador of the present day, held a banquet to wash the dust, and the queen mother of the two palaces also sent their internal officials to express condolences, giving eight treasures, golden nails, Sichuan fans and imperial cakes, fruits and teas.

After being so full of wine and food, Zhang Juzheng, surrounded by hundreds of civil and military officials, returned to the mansion in Shamao Hutong. Not long after he arrived home, another eunuch came to deliver the decree, and now he remembered that he was tired from the journey, and asked him to recuperate at home for ten days before entering the cabinet to serve.

said that he was resting at home, but Zhang Juzheng was not idle for a day, after all, he had been out for more than three months. Although in the past three months, it was still up to him to decide on major events, but he still needed to know about the changes in the situation during this period, and when he asked someone to inquire about it, many officials also took the initiative to come to him to report it. Therefore, the people who came to his house every day to pay their respects came and went like a marquee.

After working in this way for a few days, until the evening of the sixth day, Zhang Siwei, an auxiliary minister of the cabinet, came to visit, and because he was an important guest, Zhang Juzheng ordered to meet him in the study.

At this time, according to the emperor's order, the major events in the DPRK and the Central Committee were reported to Zhang Juzheng, and he was responsible for the small matters, and because of this, Zhang Siwei has been uneasy in his heart. After thinking about it again and again, he decided to come to Zhang's Mansion first, firstly, to express his three-month parting feelings to Shoufu, and secondly, to explain the events that had happened in the past few months in person in detail.

The four auxiliary ministers of the cabinet all went to Zhengyang Gate to welcome Zhang Juzheng's return that day, but Zhang Siwei was the first to pay their respects. Therefore, he showed special affection, and he ordered someone to make Zhang Siwei a cup of new tea brought back from his hometown. Zhang Siwei took a sip and immediately praised:

"This tea is really fragrant, the tea soup is green and quiet, and it is also very beautiful."

Zhang Juzheng said with a smile.

"This is the tea produced in my hometown of Yiling Prefecture, where it is located in the high mountains, and it is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, so this tea has a fragrant and thick taste."

"Yes," Zhang Siweiqi immediately complimented.

"Tasting this tea taste, I think it's not much worse than Longjing."

"It's rare that you like it,"

Zhang Juzheng said with a smile.

"I've come back this time and brought a lot, and I'll have someone bring you two cans later."

"Thank you, Shousuke."

Zhang Siwei is a Jinshi in Jiajing for 31 years. Father is a big salt merchant in Shanxi Fujia province, he is a Shujishi born, capable of doing things, but also a capable minister, during the Longqing period, Zhang Siwei to be familiar with border affairs, to promote peace with me and the cabinet of the first assistant high arch. In terms of age, he is only three years younger than Zhang Juzheng, but he looks respectful. Looks like a junior.

Zhang Juzheng was not surprised by this for a long time, and after gossiping for a while, he took the initiative to ask.

"I heard that Lu Tiaoyang handed me an excerpt to Jinshang, saying that he wanted to return to his hometown?"

Lu Tiaoyang has always been Zhang Juzheng's most powerful assistant in reform, and what is even more rare is that he is not jealous of political enemies.

Zhang Siwei didn't expect Zhang Juzheng to ask this as soon as he came up, the relationship between the ministers has always been delicate, so he had to answer cautiously.

"It's true, in the three months since Shoufu left, Lu Ge Lao handed over two folds to Jinshang."

"He's very determined!"

"Lu Ge Lao is really not as good as his body and bones day by day, he usually had asthma in winter, but now he also commits it on a hot day, sitting there is like pulling a bellows, and as soon as he speaks, he first hears a phlegm in his throat."

"Elder Lu Ge is sixty-two years old, right?"

"Probably."

"In my opinion, Lu Ge Lao wants to ask for Zhishi, I'm afraid he has a heart disease."

"Heart disease?" Zhang Siwei's eyes showed surprise.

"Yes, it's heart disease!"

Although there was a smile on his face, Zhang Juzheng's eyes were like torches when he looked at Zhang Siwei.

"In October last year, the family died, and now the queen mother has to take away the love, which really caused a storm, and the valley is guarding the system at home, and the group of ministers of the Hanlin Academy have flocked to the cabinet to ask Lu Ge to sit on the throne to replace the valley. This is a farce, and the responsibility lies with those who are them, not Lu Gelao. But after this incident, Lu Ge always felt a little embarrassed when he saw Bugu, but in fact, Bugu never blamed him. Lu Ge is always an honest man, and I guess his request for Zhishi should have something to do with it. ”

For Zhang Juzheng's confession, Zhang Siwei's heart naturally did not dare to agree, and the ministers of the Hanlin Academy supported Lu Tiaoyang to replace the first assistant, and Zhang Juzheng was naturally extremely angry when he heard about it. After keeping filial piety at home, he returned to the cabinet, and when he saw Lu Tiaoyang, his face was still pale, and he talked to him for a few days. was so frightened that Lu Tiaoyang didn't dare to come out, and he couldn't find a way to show his heart. But now that Shousuke says so, this is also a gesture, but the victor always shows magnanimity to the weak who are powerless to resist.

From the bottom of his heart, Zhang Siwei naturally sympathized with Lu Tiaoyang, but he was good at judging the situation and felt that it was better to offend Lu Tiaoyang than to offend Zhang Juzheng. After thinking about it, he took the opportunity to provoke and said:

"Shoufu's evaluation of Lu Ge Lao is extremely acceptable, but in my opinion, Lu Tiaoyang's request for Zhishi this time has another reason."

"Ah, what's the reason?"

Zhang Juzheng's eyebrows raised slightly.

"This time, Shoufu returned to his hometown to bury his father, Lu Ge Lao guessed that he could temporarily master the pavilion, and in those days, I saw that he still had some joy on his face. Subsequently, a holy message was sent to the Cabinet of Ministers, and all major matters should still be decided at your discretion. Lu Ge didn't say anything after hearing this, and he went to the recital on the same day and asked Zhishi to return to his hometown. ”

"It's not my intention to do this today, so why should Lu Ge Lao bother?"

His brows furrowed, and Zhang Juzheng's face became a little unnatural.

"Lu Ge Lao is unwilling to be worthy, and in the eyes of outsiders, he is also suspected of shirking responsibility. Today, it is necessary to transfer 200,000 taels of silver from the Taifu Temple to the inner court, which is obviously unruly, not only Lu Ge Lao, but also a few of your auxiliary ministers, do not say a word, is this also a major matter that has no rules to follow? Do I have to deal with it myself? ”

Although it was Lu Tiaoyang who was blamed, Zhang Juzheng brought Zhang Siwei and several other ministers in, which only made Zhang Siwei blush and explained in a low voice.

"Lu Tiaoyang is the second assistant, he doesn't express his position, we stand up and say that the east and the west, isn't there a suspicion of overstepping the bounds?"