The scholars present are not ordinary people, and those who can be invited are naturally acquaintances, so-called talented and beautiful people.

Zhu Xu's sudden appearance made everyone stunned, and their eyes looked at Zhu Xu.

Zhu Xu walked out from behind the willow tree, looked up, except for the maidservant, there were only eight people in the entourage who were the protagonists, one woman and seven men, one of whom was Mao Bijiang!

Gu Hengbo hurriedly got up, stepped forward, bowed down and said, "Gu Mei, thank you, son." ”

Zhu Xu was a little puzzled, glanced at her, and said, "Miss...... Why? ”

Gu Hengbo naturally couldn't say that Zhu Xu drove away Mao Bijiang twice for him, smiled lightly, and turned around and retreated.

Gu Hengbo's only one action made several other men frown.

One of them looked slightly cold, and immediately stood up, greeted Zhu Xu with a smile, and said unusually politely: "It turned out to be Mei'er's friend, and you don't know your name?" ”

For this kind of hypocrisy of smiling and not smiling, Zhu Xu has seen a lot, and said with an impassive expression: "The surname is Zhu, and the word is Mu Yu." ”

"Zhu Muyu?"

The person who came secretly read a sentence, he didn't know which two words they were, let alone the origin, his face became more and more vigilant, and said: "I don't know where Brother Tai came from, how I got to know Mei'er, but I don't see Brother Tai's reputation." ”

The so-called 'reputation' refers to the literary name, and 'no reputation' means that the name is not known, which is a slight insult among scholars.

Zhu Xu had almost no experience in communicating with this kind of scholar, but he didn't hear the meaning inside, and said with a smile: "I just left home, traveled around, and heard that there is a literary society here, so I took the liberty to come, so I hope you don't be surprised." ”

It turned out to be a hairy boy. ’

Gong Dingxiao was disdainful in his heart, and said with an unchanged smile on his face: "Brother Zhu, only the talented and famous scholars here can participate, you still ask to go back, and I will not send it far." ”

Cao Bianjiao was behind Zhu Xu, listening to his indifferent eyes.

As soon as Gong Dingyu's words fell, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old man in the crowd stood up, and said in a clear voice, "Xiaosheng, you might as well invite this son to sit down, we have been chatting for a long time, and I also want to hear the opinions of others." ”

Gong Dingyu turned his head to look, frowned slightly, and then smiled, and said, "Brother Zhu, please." ”

Zhu Xu had already sensed Gong Dingyu's hostility, smiled, came to the crowd, raised his hand and said, "Come here, please don't be surprised, today's drink is invited." ”

The people here are not ordinary people, they are not short of a few taels of silver, and they don't care when they hear the words, but the corners of their mouths are slightly upturned, and he can save a fortune.

As soon as Zhu Xu sat down, he realized that the person who called him over just now was not a son, but a woman dressed as a man, with a delicate appearance and a calm demeanor, sitting in the middle of a group of men, it was faintly the core.

Except for Gu Hengbo and Mao Bijiang, Zhu Xu didn't know each other, but each of them had outstanding appearance and extraordinary temperament.

There is a large table in the middle of several people, full of wine utensils, quite exquisite, eight dishes, less dishes and more wine.

Zhu Xu nodded secretly, this should be the usual way of gathering for the scholar class now.

As soon as Zhu Xu sat down, the 'son' beside him raised his hand and said: "I heard just now that the son's name is Zhu Muyu, and he is in Xia Liuyin, and the word is pitiful." This is Chen Zilong, among the characters, this is Mao Xiang, the word is Bijiang, this is Gong Dingyu, the word filial piety is ......"

Liu Yin introduced them one by one, Zhu Xu was stunned at first, and hurriedly raised his hand, all polite: "I have admired the name for a long time." ”

Everyone else nodded reservedly and smiled silently.

Zhu Xu looked at this group of people and secretly sighed, he didn't expect to meet him in Ji/Nan.

This Liu Yin is Liu Ruyi, risking the frontier, needless to say, Chen Zilong is one of the four great talents in the south of the Yangtze River, a few years ago, there was a vigorous fuss in the society, there were them, but this Gong Dingyu, Zhu Xu took a few more looks.

He remembered very well that in history, this was a famous 'second minister', the thief came to surrender, the Manchu Qing Dynasty came to surrender, and the festival was shattered.

Liu Yin was thin, sitting cross-legged, dressed in a cyan Confucian shirt, tight and tied, quite a bit of the temperament of a turbid son.

She looked quite free, with everyone's style, after the introduction, she sat upright and looked at Zhu Xu and said: "I'm discussing the court situation, there are many controversies, I don't know what Brother Zhu thinks?" ”

Liu Yin didn't mean to take the school exam, but she was keen to discuss these, and she often said to herself that she hated to be a man.

She didn't, and the others, especially Gong Dingxiao and Chen Zilong, all looked at Zhu Xu seriously, obviously wanting to take the school exam to determine if they were qualified to sit with them.

Zhu Xu spread his fan between his legs, looked at Liu Yin and said with a smile: "I don't know what you just discussed?" ”

"It's Bei Zhili who arrested the gentry this time, what does Brother Zhu think?" Gong Dingyu said a little impatiently.

Gong Dingxiao's voice fell, Gu Hengbo smiled at Zhu Xu, and said: "Gong Gongzi thinks that this new policy of the imperial court is really a 'faint government', I don't know what Zhu Gongzi thinks?" ”

Hearing this, Gong Dingyu smiled lightly at Gu Hengbo.

Gu Hengbo lowered his head and smiled, with a smile in his eyes.

Liu Yin and Chen Zilong both frowned slightly, Gu Hengbo gave the topic a given, how else do you want others to answer?

Mao Bijiang had a good look on his face, regardless of it.

Zhu Xu glanced at Gong Dingyu and Gu Hengbo, these two were obviously showing affection, and they were abusing him as a single dog.

"The topic is a bit big...... Zhu Xu pinched his chin and laughed.

There are indeed many things to say about this matter, but what they can say may not be his original intention, and even one of them will not be his fundamental purpose.

Zhu Xu thought about it, thinking of a suitable entry point.

"We scholars naturally have to cherish our family and country, and don't make those sad and earnest words." Gong Dingyu said loudly when he heard it, sonorous and powerful.

Gu Hengbo leaned over slightly, looked at Zhu Xu and said: "Zhu Gongzi, if you don't have a big mind, how can you achieve great things, you must not be complacent, so that you have no motivation to improve." ”

Zhu Xu touched his nose, these two people are showing affection, they are abusing him!

Zhu Xu glanced at Liu Yin, who was with clear eyebrows on the side, and said with a smile: "Actually, this matter can be said in many ways. ”

Liu Yin's expression moved slightly when he heard this, and he said, "Master Zhu, please speak." ”

Everyone else also looked over, the corners of Gong Dingxiao's mouth were slightly upturned, and he stared at Zhu Xu with burning eyes, waiting for his words, and was already preparing to refute.

Zhu Xu poured himself a glass of wine without hurry, took a sip, and said: "First, although the imperial court said that it was to restore the ancestral system of 'Taizu', this is a great reason, but in fact, it is because the treasury is empty, and there are disasters in various places, which is an open source move, which is really helpless. ”

Everyone guessed this, and there was nothing to say.

"Second?" Gu Hengbo couldn't wait to ask.

Zhu Xu glanced at her and said: "Second, it is the imperial court that shows its determination to reform the new policy, and even the thousands of gentry in the northern Zhili court can brazenly attack, so those who oppose the new policy naturally have to be cautious about three points and five points of caution." ”

Everyone nodded quietly, which is also true.

Zhu Xu opened the conversation, so he had no scruples, and continued: "Third, the cabinet is reinstated, and the imperial court intends to reshape the prestige of the cabinet. ”

The matter of Wei Zhongxian's rebellion has not yet been reported, and as soon as Zhu Xu's words fell, Gong Dingyu said loudly: "Brother Zhu's words are very wrong. ”

The others, including Liu Yin and Chen Zilong, frowned, Zhu Xu's words were unexpected, they were the dead end they had just discussed, and they had never been involved, so they couldn't help but think about it.

looked at Zhu Xu and fell on Gong Dingyu.

Gong Dingxiao sat up straight, glanced at Gu Hengbo, and said with a smile: "Who in the world doesn't know that Wei Zhongxian has been impeached repeatedly, and it is the emperor who has protected him, and now he has made great contributions to the court, how can he accompany the funeral?" Even if the imperial court doesn't like the eunuchs, it won't deal with Wei Zhongxian in a short time, let alone Dongchang! ”

"What Gongzi said is," Gu Hengbo habitually followed, and said: "Dongchang was established by Taizong, and it is deeply rooted, how can it be easily abolished." ”

Liu Yin didn't jump to conclusions, looked at Chen Zilong and said, "Among people, what do you think?" ”

Liu Yin and Chen Zilong are very close, the two are extremely similar in conversation, cultivation, and knowledge, and they are very good friends.

Chen Zilong is not a mediocre bag, but the matter of Shuntianfu last time gave him a big blow, and he thought about it after hearing this: "The princes of the court have hated the eunuch party for a long time, and this matter shook the entire Ming Dynasty. ”

Liu Yin nodded thoughtfully, there are still three points of doubt in other people's words, and Chen Zilong's words he has to believe three points more, after all, his father is the Shuntian Mansion, which is close to the court.

Gong Dingxiao and Gu Hengbo looked at each other and smiled, the circle is also important, they need to increase their weight.

Zhu Xu raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "The words of the family." ”

Liu Yin felt that Zhu Xu's words were a little insightful, at least they hadn't discussed Wei Zhongxian's matter just now, so he smiled softly and said, "I don't know if Zhu Gongzi has other opinions." ”

Everyone's eyes unconsciously fell on Zhu Xu again, and they were all quite curious, wanting to hear if there were any other unexpected words.

Gong Dingyu is even more looking forward to it, if he can refute it a few more times, it will show his ability and vision even more.

Zhu Xu picked up the wine glass, took another sip, Jiangnan rice wine, delicious and refreshing, and said after a while: "I just talked about the imperial court, now let's talk about the emperor's intentions." ”

As soon as this sentence came out, everyone's expressions changed, discussing the current situation, political affairs are one thing, figuring out the emperor's mind is another, and it is easy to make taboos and not be liked by Shilin.

Zhu Xu naturally didn't have to care about these, and when the topic opened, he said directly: "Look at the court situation, one looks at the six cabinet departments, and the second looks at the emperor, although most government affairs come from the six cabinet departments, but the emperor's thoughts cannot be ignored." ”

"Since Zhang Taiyue, the emperor and the courtiers have become more and more centrifuged, especially after the 'national capital dispute', the emperor and the courtiers are almost opposed, and what the emperor wants to do, the courtiers will inevitably do everything possible to oppose and stop it. What the courtiers want to do, the emperor is unwilling to do, and this kind of secret 'fighting' has been going on for decades......"

"What kind of person is the current emperor, since he ascended the throne, he has pacified the construction of slaves, swept away the Donglin, banned the clan, reformed the military system, the political system, etc., is ambitious, eloquent, how can he be restrained by the courtiers, although this time it is aimed at the gentry, it has not not hit the morale of the courtiers, the intention of collecting the imperial power, and reminding the courtiers of the supremacy of the imperial power......"

Everyone listened in a daze, they discussed the current situation, they all focused on the present, where can they think about so much, especially to figure out the delicate relationship between the emperor's mind and the courtiers.

Zhu Xu couldn't hold it when he opened the chatterbox, and continued, "This is the first, the emperor wants to hit the momentum of the courtiers, so that they can abandon that inexplicable arrogance, be more pragmatic, and focus on government affairs. Second, it is a reminder to officials all over the world, that is, when the Ming Dynasty must be reformed, it is not necessary to dig bones and cure poisons! ”

A group of people were all frightened by Zhu Xu, and they all listened carefully, after all, not everyone can figure out the emperor's thoughts, and this courage alone is not ordinary.

"The most important point is the style of our emperor and the purpose of this turmoil." When Zhu Xu said this, he suddenly stopped talking.

Gong Dingyu is a young man who strives to be motivated, and he is particularly concerned about this, and he has forgotten to step on Zhu Xu to increase his weight, and hurriedly said: "The emperor's style of doing things, the purpose of this time?" Please also ask Brother Zhu to elaborate. ”

Liu Yin and the others also watched it, they all felt fresh, and they had never heard of this.

Zhu Xu smiled and said, "Our emperor, we have done everything thoroughly. For example, in the case of salt administration, he completely abolished the previous salt households, salt introduction, and fundamental changes. For example, in the military system, he abolished the five armies' capital protectorates, military households, and guard posts, and established the Eighteenth Army. Another example is the form of government, where are the three divisions now? Governor, governor, so, this time the imperial court has the purpose of the imperial court, and the emperor has the emperor's intentions. ”

Chen Zilong faintly heard something, pondered it carefully, and did not speak with a calm face.

Gong Dingyu was very anxious, and hurriedly said, "What is the emperor's purpose?" ”

Gu Hengbo was also quite moved, stretching out his head to look at Zhu Xu.

Liu Yin frowned, although she has good knowledge, how can she guess this kind of government affairs, let alone guess Zhu Xu's thoughts.

She looked at Zhu Xu quietly, waiting for him to speak.

Zhu Xu took another sip of wine and said with a smile: "In fact, some things are not difficult to see, such as the reform of the political system, the cabinet, the six ministries, the reform of the central court is basically completed, and the local capitals, governors, and governors are also reformed almost, if you want to continue now, it is the prefect, the county, the relatively low-level official system, with the character of our emperor, it is bound to destroy and rebuild, so this time he seems to be going to the gentry, but in fact he wants to destroy the entire political ecology of Beizhili and re-establish the ......."

"The cost of this method seems to be a bit high, but in fact it is a political cost, and the cost in agriculture is very small, after all, there is not much grain in Beizhili, and there is more than a month of summer grain, which is enough to buffer, and it is a one-and-done solution. At the same time, it will also set a benchmark for reform, accumulate experience, and according to the emperor's previous style of acting, I estimate that it will not be long before he will be eager to forcibly promote it to the world......"

"With such a lesson as Beizhili, the governors and governors of all places must be cautious, even if they are unwilling, they must try to implement the new policy, otherwise if the emperor does it locally, they, the governors, will not want to be officials in peace, and it is foreseeable to be elevated, and then go to prison or go home to farm......

After all, Gu Hengbo was just a 'famous prostitute', listening to it in the clouds, he just looked at Gong Dingyu with wide eyes.

Gong Dingyu was already deeply caught in Zhu Xu's words and couldn't extricate himself, he felt that Zhu Xu's words were very reasonable, and he was thinking about how to cater to the emperor and how to ascend to the throne as soon as possible.

Mao Bijiang sneered in his heart, he thought that Zhu Xu was particularly capable of nonsense, he was also the court and the emperor, what he said was quite mysterious, but he was very capable of bluffing, and silently wrote it down, thinking that he could use it when he returned to Jiangnan.

Chen Zilong has studied more about the current government affairs, and the words of this 'Zhu Muyu' seem a little absurd, but in fact it is very likely, after all, the emperor in the palace is unpredictable, and he has always acted strangely, and who doesn't know what he wants to do.

At this time, suddenly a young man ran over, shouting as he ran, "News came from the capital, Wei Zhongxian conspired against him, the holy decree has been issued, Wei Zhongxian Ling Chi was executed, and the East Factory was abolished!" ”

Everyone's eyes widened, and they turned their heads to look at Zhu Xu incredulously.

Just now they laughed at Zhu Xu, saying that it was impossible to abolish the East Factory, but the news came so soon!

Gong Dingyu showed admiration, and there was a 'friendly' smile on his face.

Mao Bijiang looked shocked, and looked straight at Zhu Xu in disbelief.

Chen Zilong frowned, thinking about the big family surnamed Zhu in his heart.

However, Liu Yin was quite calm, picked up a glass of wine, and said to Zhu Xu; "Brother Zhu has quick thinking, long-term vision, and his chest is beyond the reach of the little sister."

"You're welcome." Zhu Xu took a sip of the wine glass and took a sip gently.

"This is the little sister's post," Liu Yin took out a red post with lotus flowers from his arms and handed it to Zhu Xu: "No matter when and where, if Brother Zhu comes, the little sister will sweep the couch to greet him." ”