In the middle capital, Mansion Street, there is a big mansion with blue tiles and red walls, and there are two big characters "Pavilion Mansion" on the gold-inlaid wooden plaque above the courtyard gate of the mansion.

This is where the official residence of the first assistant of the cabinet is located, and because the housing prices in the capital are expensive, most of the courtiers can apply for cheap public housing official residences. Cabinet ministers, on the other hand, enjoy additional benefits and have special official residences, which are the official residences of the first and auxiliary ministers.

Different from the usual, today the lamp hanging under the gate of the official residence has become a white mourning lamp, the courtyard door is wide open, and the people standing by the door are also wearing linen and filial piety, and there are many carriages parked on the road in front of the door.

Someone in the family of the first and auxiliary ministers of the Cabinet has passed away. Soon there was news in Zhongdu that Gu Shoufu's wife died last night.

At about nine o'clock in the morning, a group of military police first came to the residence of the chief assistant, and stood guard inside and outside the residence as if they were facing a great enemy, and after another half an hour, several light carriages with very ordinary appearances came under the escort of a small group of cavalry, and the carriages carried the royal insignia.

This is the royal carriage, no need to ask, people also know who is sitting in this carriage, it must be Your Majesty, not only Your Majesty came, but also Queen Zheng Ling, Imperial Concubine Shi Zhao and others, after all, they and Mrs. Gu have known each other for many years, at this time, they naturally want to come over to worship.

When Zhu Mingzhong got off the carriage, Gu Yanwu, supported by his son, had already walked out of the gate. With a snow-white beard, he looked extremely haggard, "Your Majesty, the Empress, and the Imperial Concubine ......."

When I learned that His Majesty and the Empress were coming, I really felt flattered.

"Ningren ......"

Seeing Gu Yanwu as if he had aged a few years overnight, Zhu Mingzhong helped him, just patted his hand, and then stopped talking, at this time, the comfort of words did not have the slightest meaning.

Walking through the hall and coming to the mourning hall, what came into his ears was the sound of the monk's recitation, Zhu Mingzhong's footsteps were heavy, he was thoughtful, looking at the tablet in the mourning hall, although Zhu Mingzhong could not understand Gu Yanwu's grief after the death of his wife, but he thought that in another time and space, Gu Yanwu's several degrees of despair. He wept and worshiped in front of his wife's spiritual throne, and composed a poem: "Aunt Zhen Ma Jian is in Jiangcun, sending Ru Huangquan's six-year-old grandson." met underground to tell his father and grandmother, and there was still one survivor. ”……

took the incense stick, thinking about the poem full of tears of the bereaved people, Zhu Mingzhong read silently.

"Mrs. Gu walked all the way, and told the ancestors underground that I have been ...... in the Ming Dynasty."

After paying homage to Mrs. Gu, under the guidance of Gu Yanwu's son Gu Derivation, he walked to the back house, and on the way Gu Derivation said softly.

"Your Majesty, my mother died last night, and my father was really grieved, so I just want to fold it up and ask Zhishi to return to his hometown, and ask Your Majesty to forgive ...... sins."

Gu Yanwu has no children in his life, Gu Derivation is his heir, and now he is serving in the Criminal Department, in addition to this heir, there is also an episode that Gu Hongshen, the son of Gu Yanwu's youngest brother Gu Shu, gave birth to two sons many years ago, named Shishu and Shitang respectively, Gu Shu thought twice and decided to make Shishu the heir of Gu Yigu, the son of Gu Yanwu's early death, and let him accompany his grandmother, who died last night, Wang's family, to have no children and set up a grandson, which is also the origin of the six-year-old grandson in Gu Yanwu's poem.

"Yes, I know!"

Zhu Mingzhong nodded slightly, he was really startled by the twist and turn last night, Gu Yanwu actually wanted to return to his hometown, you can imagine the blow to him from this matter.

But the problem is that it is impossible for Zhu Mingzhong to let him return to his hometown now. The cabinet is still inseparable from Gu Yanwu. The current cabinet is Gu Yanwu, the first assistant, and there are five cabinet ministers, they are Fang Yizhi, Zhang Huangyan, Zhu Daxian and Qian Lei, and the newly added Zhou Peigong.

Speaking of all talents, they will always be revealed, just like Zhou Peigong, when Gu Yanwu recommended him as the governor of Jiangxi, Zhu Mingzhong didn't even know that this person had been an official in Daming for many years, and he never thought that he could also attract the attention of the cabinet on his side, and finally after weighing it again and again, Zhu Mingzhong planned to elect him to the cabinet last year, this person is indeed useful, and he is also a graduate of Qinghe Academy. Of course, there is also Yao Qisheng, but Yao Qisheng did contribute to the Ming Dynasty after Li Ziyuan's fall.

In fact, in the past few years, many characters who are familiar with the braided drama have entered the court, which can't help but make Zhu Mingzhong sigh that gold can shine wherever it is, just like Zhu Mingzhong never thought that it would be Li Guangdi who would take over as governor of Liaoning.

"There are talented people from generation to generation, and they have led the way for hundreds of years."

In the face of the aging of the cabinet ministers, there will naturally be a new generation of officials to replace them, and according to Zhu Mingzhong's plan, Gu Yanwu and Fang Yizhi, they are of the same age, and their abilities are not up or down, no matter who dies, one of them can be the first assistant, and Zhu Daxian and Qian Lei's ability is much worse, so after them, Zhang Huangyan should take over as the first assistant, and in this process, young cabinet ministers like Zhou Peigong will be introduced, so that the inheritance from generation to generation can ensure the stability of the cabinet.

But now Gu Yanwu can't leave, because Zhu Mingzhong doesn't want Fang Yizhi to take over as the first assistant for the time being, even if he is 69 years old.

On the one hand, there is a heart to stay, but on the other side, there is a heart to go, but after chatting in the study for a while, Gu Yanwu once again proposed Zhishi.

"Your Majesty, last night Neiko died, the minister cried bitterly, thinking about recent years, often feel dizzy, a little hard work on the body heat dizziness, heart shaking hand trembling, "seventy hanging car, ancient and modern Tongyi", the minister is seventy years old, I implore Your Majesty to allow the minister to return to the forest, dancing cranes in the world of Shengping, singing poems between the spring pavilion, is not also a prosperous era of beautiful talk? ”

Facing Gu Yanwu's request, Zhu Mingzhong said with a smile.

"I came here today because of personal friendship, but you talked about it! Ning people, you have worked hard for me all your life, after the change of Jiashen Tian, you have been the will of the people for more than ten years, so loyal, how can I not know? After that, as an auxiliary minister, you have been working on state affairs for more than ten years, and you are also an outlier among my Ming auxiliary ministers. Although non-military merits are not knighted, since the founding of the country, I know in my heart, last year I said to the prince, if he dies in the future, you are worthy of enjoying the heroes of the Taimiao, how can you be enshrined in the father to return to the field for retirement? ”

After that, Zhu Mingzhong waved his hand and said.

"Don't talk about it again."

According to the rules of the dynasties, after the death of the monarch of the dynasty, the successor monarch should designate a meritorious person next to the monarch who entered the temple during his reign. In history, many emperors in the prime of life, in order to show their favor to the minister, often pointed out in advance that a minister would be worthy of enjoying the temple in the future, which was a favor to the minister.

"Your Majesty's imperial grace is immense, can the ministers not know?"

Glancing at His Majesty, seeing His Majesty's expression, Gu Yanwu said in a firm tone.

"The courtiers of the Song Dynasty and my dynasty who are worthy of enjoying the Taimiao also have begging for permission."

"Not really."

Glancing at Gu Yanwu, Zhu Mingzhong said with a smile.

"If you are seventy years old, why is there still an eighty-rod dynasty? Besides, what is the reason for Wuhou to "do his best and die for himself"? ”

Originally, the answer between the monarch and the minister has reached this point, and it should not be said anymore no matter what, at this time, as a courtier, you only need to thank you. And Gu Yanwu, who had already made up his mind, heard that His Majesty had compared himself to Kong Ming, and suddenly felt that he couldn't bear it, so he got up and saluted.

"Your Majesty, the Marquis of Wu is appointed to the army, and the minister is fortunate to travel in the peaceful and prosperous era, and the two seem to be incompatible."

Looking at Gu Yanwu seriously, Zhu Mingzhong shook his head and said.

"No, when has the world been peaceful? That Jiannu still occupies the Western Regions, and is waiting for the Dan Kingdom to prepare to offend my Ming Dynasty again! Besides, since he is the most important person in the world, how can he use the excuse of "peace" to escape and comfort himself? Besides, I can't bear to let you go, so can you bear to leave me? ”

After that, Zhu Mingzhong looked directly at Gu Yanwu and said nothing.

Jun'en is as deep as the sea!

If it were someone else, it would be necessary to be grateful at this time anyway, but Gu Yanwu shook his head and sighed bitterly.

"Your Majesty, it's not that the minister doesn't know how to repay the king's kindness, it's just that the minister's intention to go has been decided!"

Gu Yanwu's answer made Zhu Mingzhong stunned, he didn't expect the other party to be so stubborn, although he was a little displeased, but looking at Gu Yanwu's white beard, he had indeed worked too hard all these years.

"I really can't bear to let you go!"

Tilting his head and thinking about it, Zhu Mingzhong nodded and said.

"However, since you have made up your mind, if I insist on staying again, it seems that I am not right, that's it, that's it."

Looking at Gu Yanwu, Zhu Mingzhong often sighed, and then said.

"However, since you are leaving, there is one less person in this cabinet of mine, before leaving, can there be a suitable candidate to recommend one to join the cabinet?"

It is the responsibility of the cabinet ministers to recommend people to enter the cabinet, and Gu Yanwu did not refuse this, he had already considered the candidate, so he thought for a moment before speaking.

"Li Yindu, the secretary of the Criminal Department, Zhu Yizun, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and Yao Qisheng, the governor of the Northeast, can all be candidates for the cabinet."

Seeing that His Majesty was silent, Gu Yanwu said again.

"However, Yao Qisheng has been clear, and things are reversed, although he is talented, he is not suitable to be a cabinet minister, well, Li Yindu and Zhu Yizun can both enter the cabinet, but the minister is inclined to Li Yindu to enter the cabinet."

"Oh?"

Zhu Mingzhong looked at Gu Yanwu and smiled,

"Why him?"

"Your Majesty, the reason why the minister recommended Li Yindu to join the cabinet is not because the minister is an old friend with him, but because of his ancestral and current hometown."

Li Yindu was only 13 years old at the time of Jiashen, and he felt the pain of losing his country and was determined to oppose the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty. At the age of 18, he bid farewell to his hometown, and when he went out to study, he became close friends with Gu Yanwu, Fu Qingzhu, Qu Dajun and others, and later became a cloth official to the criminal department. "Since there have been celebrities, the cloth clothes have sensationalized the Quartet, and it has not been as prosperous as the public." It's said that he is Li Yindu.

"Tell me about it!"

"Li Yindu's ancestors were from Hongdong, Shanxi, and then moved to Guanzhong and settled in Fuping Dongxiang, his ancestral home is Shanxi, and now he is from Shaanxi, and I have not seen the important ministers of Shanxi for many years!"

Gu Yanwu's words made Zhu Mingzhong nod slightly, and he could hear the meaning of his words.

"I have no prejudice against the people of Shanxi!"

Liquidation of Jin merchants and Shaanxi immigrants, many people think that as an emperor, he is prejudiced against Shanxi, but in fact he never did.

"The minister knows, but the world doesn't know!"

After thinking about it, Zhu Mingzhong nodded and said.

"Then after Li Yindu enters the cabinet, who should be responsible for the book of the Criminal Department?"

His Majesty just asked here, and Gu Yanwu smiled over there.

"This candidate should be selected by the new chief assistant, and then handed over to His Majesty after being voted by the cabinet!"

Gu Yanwu, who has already decided to give advice, naturally knows where he should order it, he can recommend the minister, but the minister, it is better to hand it over to the next first assistant. In this way, it can be disliked.

Zhu Mingzhong naturally understood what he meant, so he smiled.

"You're letting Fang Yizhi be kind to others."

Gu Yanwu hurriedly said.

"All the grace is from above!"

He was also not surprised when His Majesty mentioned Fang Yizhi, and even the reason why he was determined to do it was precisely because he knew that Fang Yizhi could do all this.

Nodding slightly, Zhu Mingzhong said again.

"Since you have decided to return to your hometown, then I will not keep it, but I will have to wait a little longer, your old house is dilapidated and needs to be renovated, and it is inconvenient for this silver to come out. You have a great credit to my Ming, so this silver should be ...... by me."

Glancing at Gu Yanwu, who was grateful, Zhu Mingzhong said.

"You've really worked hard all these years, and you'll go back when the house is repaired. As for the position of the minister, he asked Li Yindu to fill it. Tell him about this first, and then I will make an order when I turn around. ”

Seeing that His Majesty had already gone far away, and Gu Yanwu still couldn't hold it for a long time, Fang Yizhi put his hands on him and said.

"Your Majesty's kindness to the virtuous brother is really comparable to that of extraordinary ministers."

Gu Yanwu didn't say anything, just patted the back of his hand with his hand, and said after a while.

"Mizhi, I have already sent a message to Your Majesty!"

"Ahh

Looking at Gu Yanwu in surprise, Fang Yizhi's eyes were full of disbelief.

"You're ......"

"In the future, state affairs will be kept secret......"

After sending Fang Yizhi and the others away, Gu Yanwu, who was already exhausted, sat on the chair with his son's support, let out a long sigh of exhaustion, stroked the sparse white hair on his forehead, and his voice suddenly became extremely old and deep.

"Over the years, I have been running around for more than 30 years, and now, I can finally take a break......"

Gu Derivation didn't expect his father to say this. After thinking for a while, although he couldn't understand his father Zhishi, he asked when he thought of his father's rush and hard work.

"Your Majesty agreed?"

"Hmm,"

Hmmm, Gu Yanwu didn't speak again, squinting at the roof, for a long time, only breathing heavily. At this time, it was dusk, the sky was dark, the shadows of the trees were gloomy, and the cold wind on the first floor penetrated the door, which made the calligraphy and paintings on the wall sound from time to time, and it seemed that the house was lonely and unbearable. Looking at this empty room, Gu Yanwu sighed, and he said silently in his heart.

"Okay, it's easy now, when I return to my hometown, my husband will accompany you well......"

As he said this, tears flowed from his eyes again......