Inside Jiqing Gate, a quiet street between the Gongyuan and the Qinhuai River.

This street, which is only separated by a wall from the Gongyuan, was originally called Gongyuan West Street, but because the ministers liked to live around the Gongyuan, this street was favored by many Wenchen because of the quietness in the middle of the noise.

Because of the large number of bachelors living there, it is now known as Bachelor's Street.

Yang Shiqi bought a set of two-entry courtyards here in the early years, and has been living here all these years.

In addition to him, people like Xie Jin, Hu Guang and others also live on this street.

By this time it was getting dark, and a knight rode a horse into the narrow street where only two carriages could be staggered.

Although he hadn't seen the knight on the horse clearly, the concierge of the Yang Mansion had already sensed that this was the second young master coming back with the familiar sound of horses' hooves.

Rob, the old butler who was guarding the gatehouse, hurriedly greeted him, and when the horse approached, he recognized that it was his second young master right away, and asked the porter to hold the reins of the horse. "The second young master is back, and the master is waiting for you in the study."

Yang Dao jumped off the horse, rubbed his somewhat cold hands, and untied the big gun and handed it to Rob. "Rob, this horse has been fed by the groom of the Marquis of Guangping today, don't feed it anymore."

"Holo." Rob took the big one and said in a low voice: "Second young master, talk to the master well, don't fight him again, the master is also for your good." ”

"I know ......"

Yang Dao took the lead in entering the courtyard, bypassed the shadow wall, and strode towards the corner room on the west side of the main house.

Rob, who was following behind, was old and frail, and couldn't keep up with his footsteps at all, so he couldn't help but sigh in his heart: It's good to be young!

The area of Yang's mansion is not large, originally only lived in Yang Shiqi's old family, and the two sons were arranged to serve the old mother in their hometown.

Yang's father died early, and Yang Shiqi was only one year old at the time. His mother became a widow at a young age, and then she married Luo Xing, who was a fellow acquaintance of De'an at the time.

Although Luo Xing is his stepfather, he treats Yang Shiqi very well, originally Yang Shiqi has changed his surname to Luo, because he saw Yang Shiqi mourning his deceased father at the time of the sacrifice, so he took the initiative to change his surname back to Yang for him.

It's a pity that Yang Shiqi is still underage, and Luo Xing was transferred to Shaanxi because he offended the powerful.

When he was in Shaanxi, Luo Xing, a southerner, couldn't stand the bitter cold in the north and died of illness.

His mother took him back to his hometown from Shaanxi, and never remarried, raising him as an adult.

Yang Shiqi treats his mother to filial piety, because his mother is not used to the atmosphere of Tianfu, so he puts his two children in his hometown to fulfill his filial piety.

But the two children were not around, and he did not teach much, so that both children were negligent in disciplining.

Originally, he liked the smart eldest son the most, but the eldest son was arrogant and indulgent, relying on his relationship to run rampant in the township.

During the Eastern Expedition to Dongying, he violated the military order, got involved with the royal family of Dongying, and was personally ordered to be executed by His Royal Highness.

At this time, Yang Shiqi woke up to the fact that his son still had to teach himself in order to become a talent.

He personally returned to his hometown to share with his mother, because the eldest grandson was taught crooked by himself, Yang's mother also blamed herself, no longer missed her hometown, and moved to the capital.

Originally, this small courtyard was only for the old couple to live very loosely, but after the mother came, there were the eldest son's wife and concubine, several children, and the second son, and this small courtyard was a little crowded.

When Yang Dao passed by the West Wing, he heard his sister-in-law teaching his nephew to write, but the three nieces were sent outside to play, so that they would not affect his brother's writing.

Yang Dao sighed in his heart, this sister-in-law is good anywhere, but she is too harsh.

Because he was not yet thirty years old, his husband went, and as a rule, he was to remarry.

If you don't want to get married, you have to spend money to buy a status.

A woman in her twenties can aspire to be widowed, without remarrying, and devote herself to raising her nephew to become a talent.

It's that the concubine room is too thin, and the children born in the concubine room are too harsh.

After the death of the eldest brother, she sold a few concubines, and the daughters born to the two concubines were the same as the little maids.

When the three little girls saw Yang Dao, they all smiled and shouted softly, "Second Father".

Yang Dao nodded and said gently: "It's cold outside, my brother wants to learn words, you can go to my study to play." ”

A few little girls smiled and nodded.

Hearing the movement outside, Pang Zi opened the window and said, "The second uncle is back, and Grant Thornton is playful again today, and the two hundred big characters have not been written until now." ”

Yang Dao turned his head to look at his nephew with a sad face and said, "Just after the New Year, my heart has not been withdrawn. The sister-in-law doesn't have to be anxious, give Grant Thornton some time to adjust. I'm going to see my father and check on Grant Thornton's schoolwork later. ”

Coming to the corner room, he knocked on the door. Yang Shiqi's voice came from inside: "Come in by yourself." ”

Yang Dao pushed the door in, a small study, surrounded by all kinds of books, and on a desk in the middle, an oil lamp emitted a dim yellow faint light.

Yang Shiqi was wearing a pair of tortoiseshell glasses produced by Ma's Liulifang, and was looking at Yang Dao who came in through the lenses.

"The Marquis of Guangping is now evil to the emperor, although the emperor still cares about his grandson, but the decline of their family is a foregone conclusion. You are now intimate with the Marquis of Guangping, which makes me unhappy. ”

Yang Dao looked at his father, who was a little old in front of him, since the death of his eldest brother, he had obviously aged down.

Relenting for a moment, he did not refute his father's words, but sat down opposite his father. "Father wants me to participate in the Autumn Festival again?"

Yang Shiqi sighed before he said: "I know that your literary style is mediocre, and you have done your best to be admitted to Xiucai." But now that the court is more formalized, you can't be an official, you still have to take this road after all......"

Yang Shiqi said this because he himself was a typical example of being an official without scientific examination. But in his time, the number of literati in the Ming Dynasty was small, and a little talent could be reused.

He is smart by nature, and his years of study tours have allowed him to accumulate a wealth of knowledge, so he can enter the Hanlin Academy after being appreciated by Emperor Hui.

But now this road is no longer possible, even His Royal Highness Taisun has made a lot of talents and people to serve in official positions, but those are low-level officials, and it is even more difficult to be promoted.

Yang Dao also sighed and said: "Father, the child is stupid by nature, and he was able to show off his talent at the beginning, and it was also thanks to you......"

"There is still more than half a year before the autumn season, as long as you devote yourself to studying and counseling your father, a meritorious name may not be able to be obtained."

"But that's not the way a child wants to go......"

"Will the father still harm you?" Yang Shiqi's face became stern, and he said in a deep voice: "You have been boasting about the magnificence of overseas since you came back from the West, doesn't your father know your thoughts?" ”

Yang Dao knew that he had avoided the choice for a long time, and now he couldn't hide anymore.

He got up and knelt down, faced Yang Shiqi and said, "Father, the child is not filial...... and then bowed down.

Yang Shiqi felt a chill in his heart, and his body couldn't help but tremble. After a while, he suppressed the fear in his heart, and said as gently as possible: "You are also old now, if you hadn't gone to sea with Your Highness for three years, you would have married early." Being a father is not a person who does not know how to be flexible, and if you have any plans, your father can also take care of them for you. ”

Yang Dao raised his head, and his originally dignified face also showed a solemnity. He said firmly: "Father, the child wants to join the Navy!" ”

Sure enough, it's the worst option......

Yang Shiqi couldn't control the panic in his heart, and said tremblingly: "Dao'er, as a father, you are the only son now......"

Yang Dao said firmly: "Please forgive the child for being unfilial...... father, now that Grant Thornton has grown up, although he is young, he is more talented than me, and my father does not have to worry about no successor." Besides, the child also wants to get married this year, even if he enters the navy, he will not leave home this year, and he will always leave a blood for the Yang family. ”

Yang Shiqi couldn't control his emotions anymore, and shouted: "What's so good about the navy?" Even if he is the commander of an army, he is just a soldier. Wei Gong's sentence outside the Donghua Gate is a good man, have you forgotten it! ”

Yang Dao remained silent, and said stubbornly: "Father, that is the former Song Dynasty, and hundreds of years have passed. Now that it is the Ming Dynasty, His Royal Highness Taisun attaches great importance to the navy and military generals, where is this military general worse than Wenchen? ”

"Taisun ......" Yang Shiqi sneered and said: "You young people keep calling His Royal Highness Taisun one by one, but you know that he is a grandson, not even a prince!" His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is bent on putting things right, and now that the emperor is old, in a few years, it will be the world of His Royal Highness the Prince! ”

Yang Dao was stunned for a moment, looked at his father and said, "But they are father and son after all!" ”

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince doesn't have only one son!"

Yang Dao was shocked, looking at his father, a look of fear appeared on his face. He was already kneeling on the ground, and at this time he bowed down again. "Father, be cautious in your words and deeds! This Yang family should be honored and disgraced, but it is all tied to you! ”

Yang Shiqi also felt speechless, and pretended to be an understatement and said: "I just said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is not dissatisfied with the grandson. ”

Yang Dao knew very well that this matter would not be so simple, it was not a secret that Wenchen was dissatisfied with the prince, and it was not a day or two that they wanted to bewitch the prince Yi Chu.

As the most trusted subordinate of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, my father is afraid that he will not be able to get rid of it in this matter.

Thinking of this, he also became frightened, and said in a trembling voice: "Father, the child has something to understand. ”

Yang Shiqi felt a little remorseful in his heart, and said gently: "Get up and speak, why don't you do this." ”

Yang Dao straightened up, but did not get up from the ground, but asked, "Why is the emperor so kind to His Royal Highness the Grand Sun?" Now that there is only a grandson in this court, I don't know that there is a prince, has my father ever thought about the reason behind this? ”

"The emperor is a martial artist, so he naturally prefers the grandson of a martial artist to the prince who favors Wenchen."

What the father said was just an appearance, and the child thought that the most important reason for this was that the emperor agreed with His Royal Highness the governing concept of the crown grandson. And His Royal Highness the grandson's concept of governing the country, the child has been studying in Yulin Weixue in the past few years, and he can also experience one or two, that is, balance. ”

Yang Shiqi had always disliked this second son, thinking that he was paranoid and stupid, but he didn't expect that this son would still be reasonable with him now.

"What is balance?"

"The eunuchs control the economy, the civil servants are in charge of civil affairs, and the nobles are in charge of military affairs. These three families cannot be one of them dominant, they cannot be strong and weak, only when these three families are balanced, will the court be stable. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is biased towards Confucianism and Wenchen, which will lead to an imbalance in the imperial court, so this is the reason why His Majesty is unwilling to reuse him. ”

Yang Shiqi didn't expect his son to have such insight, and asked: "In this case, as a disciple of Confucius, what is wrong with planning for Wenchen?" ”

Yang Dao said firmly: "My father is afraid that he misunderstood the relationship between Confucianism and literati, and between literati and scholars. There is a sentence written on the wall of Yulin Weixue: 'Thoughts belong to ideas, and politics belong to politics'. Learning literature does not mean that it is Confucianism, Wenchen is not necessarily Confucianism, and this writing is not created by Confucianism! ”

"This is a ridiculous statement!"

Yang Dao felt that he couldn't communicate with his father normally at all, so he was angry for a while and asked, "Isn't it even more perverse that 'I love my teacher, and I love the truth more'?" ”

When Yang Shiqi heard this, he calmed down and sneered: "This is also written on the wall of Yulin Weixue...... I already knew. The yellow-haired child dares to question the doctrine of the sage, of course, this is a big rebellion! ”

Yang Dao asked rhetorically: "In that case, why would the emperor allow this sentence to stay on the walls of Yulin Weixue?" ”

Yang Shiqi wanted to say more, but Yang Dao said again: "Father is afraid that he has always been secretly dissatisfied with His Royal Highness because of the eldest brother, right?" ”

Yang Shiqi was shocked, his body trembled, and through the lenses, Yang Dao could still see his father's eyes red.

Yang Dao opened his mouth and said: "The eldest brother is to blame, if the father hates His Royal Highness Taisun because of this, then the ordinary people who were killed by the eldest brother for no reason should not hate our Yang family even more!" ”

"This is slander!"

Yang Dao shook his head and said, "Father, this is true. ”

Yang Shiqi put his hand on his forehead, trembling and sighing, "You go......"

Yang Dao knew that his father didn't want to show his weakness in front of him, but he couldn't leave because of that. He persuaded again: "Father, His Royal Highness the Taisun has now mastered the strength of the Ming Dynasty, and when the emperor is in charge of the expedition, the Ming Dynasty's troops are in the hands of His Royal Highness except for the border army." Even if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to be easy to store, I'm afraid he can't help it! As a minister, his father should promote peace between the prince and grandson, how can he not be a minister and have the intention to provoke? ”

"Presumptuous! Is a father such a man? ”

Yang Daochang sighed, bowed down, and said firmly: "Father, the child is now more sure of his determination to continue to follow His Royal Highness Taisun, and I hope that my father will promise." ”

Yang Shiqi sneered and said, "How can a father be a fool, how can he put the family in danger?" If you want to go, go for it. However, after the reward, you will go to the Xie family with your mother to propose marriage. ”

Yang Dao understood as soon as he heard it, his father was originally hesitant between Miss Xie and Miss Jian, but now he has made up his mind.

Although his father's official position is not obvious, he only has five grades, but as the first auxiliary minister of His Royal Highness the Prince, he is also literary and graceful, and his status among the ministers is not low.

As the second son in the family, it was originally impossible for him to marry a high-ranking official or nobleman, even if he married, at most he was also the concubine of a big family.

But after the eldest brother Yang Ji was executed, he was the only son of the Yang family, and now his marriage is worthy of the concubine of the big family.

Jian Yi once mentioned that he had a niece, the age of cardamom, and he had not yet said that he was married. And Xie Jin's brother, Dr. Taixue Xie Lun, also has two daughters in his family.

Yang Dao himself is a favorite of the Xie family. On the way to the West, he had contact with Xie Zhen and Xie Zhenliang, and the dragon and phoenix in the Xie Zhen period were not only outstanding in appearance, but also brilliant in writing.

His father is a doctor of Taixue, and his mother is a descendant of Ouyang Xiu, he is so good, his sister should not be bad.

On the contrary, it is the Jian family, except for Jian Yi, who is in a high position, everyone else is not outstanding.

Following His Highness for most of the world, Yang Dao's vision is now higher.

Now that my father chooses to understand the family, does he fancy that the understanding family is now very close to His Royal Highness?

I'm afraid that's a big part of that.

But this is also in line with Yang Dao's intentions, he is not at all dissatisfied with marrying the Xie family, and he is even looking forward to it.

Because he exposed a little privacy in his father's heart, he agreed to the path he chose, which can be regarded as a blessing in disguise.

He is not afraid that his father will go all the way to the dark and turn himself into the enemy of His Royal Highness Taisun, and the people who can still be reused from the period of Emperor Jianwen to the Yongle period will not be the kind of brainless.

People like Fang Xiaoru would have died a long time ago.

Because of solving this problem, when he woke up the next day, Yang Dao was very happy, and after breakfast, he said to his mother: "Mother, you find out the set of bronzes I brought back from Rome, and after school today, I am going to go to Yun Niang." ”

His sister-in-law happened to come in from outside the door, and when she heard Yang Dao's words, she said, "A cheap concubine, where do you still need to take care of you?" ”

Yang Dao had no intention of changing this sister-in-law, but said: "Yun Niang has settled down in Yulin Weixue since she left her eldest brother. She is diligent, capable, and has been well received in Yulin Weixue, and has many suitors. When I came back this time, I learned that she was married to Yu Linwei, a widowed general as a step-room, it is said that the general was very fond of her, my Yang family couldn't live with her before, her husband has a great future, and he should ease the relationship between the two sides. ”

Grandma Yang Dao, who was sitting at the top, said: "That Yun Niang is also a hard-working person, and now that she has a good home, she should celebrate her and send her the peony golden hairpin in my box." ”

Hearing that Yun Niang actually married a general step-room, a wife, and now she is going to be a widow, Yang Dao's sister-in-law's face showed a smile that seemed to be smiling but not smiling, as if crying but not crying, quite a feeling that things in Hedong for thirty years and thirty years in Hexi were not people.

Yang Dao hung the gift he was carrying next to the saddle, mounted his horse, and went straight to the Xiamaqiao Farm in the east of the city.

There was a delay today, and it was a little late to go out, but Yang Dao didn't dare to ride his horse in the city.

It is strictly forbidden to set up horses in the Heavenly Mansion, whether you are a super noble or a second-grade minister, you will not be able to escape punishment.

The fine is a trivial matter, and anyone who sets a horse must kill his horse, which makes everyone dare not violate the law.

Now, although because the emperor vigorously raises horses, there is no shortage of horses in the Ming Dynasty, but a horse is still worth a lot, because if you indulge in a while, you will be killed, and everyone will feel distressed.

Out of Chaoyangmen, Yang Dao met several classmates who were also riding out of the city, and several people walked together, chatting about the recent personnel changes.

Five hundred of their six hundred Lin Wei students who followed His Royal Highness Taisun to the West were all asked to leave by all sides of the imperial court, and there are only one hundred left, and with the reduction of personnel, everyone also attaches importance to the friendship of their classmates.

Now, the children of Xungui and those soldiers who were born as orphans also have no saber-rattling atmosphere, and they can only feel amused when they see that the junior students are still divided into Xungui's children and orphans' children.

Only when you go to the battlefield will you realize that all identities are false, and only the friendship of classmates is real.

Whether it is a noble or an orphan, they will dare to hand over their backs to each other's comrades-in-arms in the future.

The hundred people who stayed behind were naturally carefully selected by Zhu Zhanji and were able to serve as middle-level generals, except for a few Wenchen's children who wanted to continue to take the scientific expedition route, most of them would choose the future path during this time.

"Zhenglu, you have convinced your old man, why are you so happy today?"

The right path is Yang Dao's word, he nodded with a smile and said: "Exactly, I can't help but be happy when I think of being able to command warships and crisscross the seas in the future." ”

The man who spoke was called Guo Ang, a descendant of Cheng An Hou Guo Liang, he was born in a noble family, and his future development path was originally in the army, without Yang Dao's troubles.

Seeing Yang Dao's sneer, he couldn't help but say jealously: "You can join the navy, but unfortunately I can't, and I can only enter the young army in the future." ”

He is the third-generation eldest grandson of Cheng Anhou, and even if he joins the army, he can only be in the army. It is impossible for the family to let the future Cheng Anhou venture to the sea and not leave home all year round.

"The young army is His Royal Highness's pro-army, and its development in the future will be no worse than that of the navy."

"But you can't see the spectacular sunrise and sunset, the boundless sea, and the beautiful scenery of the coconut grove beach."

Wucheng Hou Shizi Wang Shu smiled and said, "I'm afraid you can't bear that exotic beauty, right?" ”

Guo Ang was stunned for a moment, several people looked at each other, and they couldn't help laughing.

As young people in their mid-twenties, they look forward to joining the Navy, not because they like to drift at sea.

Being able to endure a few months of wandering certainly has the adventurous nature of young people, but also mainly because of the wonders of overseas and all kinds of beauties.

After entering the Yulin Health School, the low-level students were already doing morning exercises. After the few of them came to the military aircraft to order the book, they went to the library to read books together.

Although they are now close to graduation, they no longer have to attend classes every day. But because His Royal Highness Taisun is busy now, he hasn't had time to arrange them yet.

The reason why they are so active is that in a few days they will hold an exam, pass the literary competition, conduct an assessment of discipline, strategy, celestial phenomena, etc., and then decide their position.

According to the rules of Yulin Weixue, when they enter the army, they will at least be a deputy general manager. But those who stay can only hold the position of President Qian.

Even so, most people are still willing to stay, and serving as a thousand commanders in the young army is better than being a garrison in other armies!

If there are many people and few locations, then you have to go through the assessment.

Everyone is a classmate, and now they are at the same level, so they naturally don't want to go to the army, he is the general manager, I am the deputy president, and if you go, you have to be one level shorter, and you have to be managed.

So at this juncture, everyone is more motivated to learn.