When Pingqiuli and Huang Jin were playing the account idea of Yuxi Palace, at this moment, Jiajing was summoning Zhai Jian, the head of the Criminal Department, in Yuxi Palace.

It is said that the position of the head of the six departments is not high, and ordinary people cannot be summoned by Huang Ge in person. But those who are familiar with the politics of the capital know that Zhai Jian is now popular, and he is a close minister cultivated by the emperor and a future cabinet member.

Zhai Jian is fair and modest, he is lukewarm to anyone, and he is a maverick gentleman with no friends and no party, and it is precisely because of this that he has entered Jiajing's eyes.

Unlike the silent and indifferent expression when he was talking to other courtiers, today's Jiajing seemed a little enthusiastic, and he did not sit on the futon, but sat in the study with Zhai Jian and talked: "Zhai Stem, I heard that you are a Jinshi in the year of Hongzhi. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, Zhai Jian is a Jinshi in the eighteenth year of Hongzhi, awarded Shu Jishi, Zhengde Chu reorganized and repaired, and then became the head of the Criminal Department." Zhai Ke sat upright on the chair, and the whole person was like a pine tree.

"Recently, there has been a vacancy in the left servant of the Ministry of Officials, Yang Tinghe recommended you, with your clear hope, the ministers will not object." Jiajing was wearing a thick fur coat, which made people feel hot. Strangely, there was not a drop of sweat on his bleak face.

Zhai Ke had also heard about this, and he was quite excited in his heart. But his principle of life is that before everything is determined, he will never ask the right question, and everything should be in line with the times, and he should not be in a hurry.

Now when he heard the emperor talk about this, his expression remained unchanged, and he only said: "Zhai Jian's talent is insufficient, and now if he is in an important position, he is afraid that he will not be able to do it." ”

"No, no, no, if you Zhai Jian can't be this left waiter, I'm afraid that other people don't have this qualification." The emperor sneered, obviously having great resentment against the ministers: "Yang Shoufu's personnel appointment has been approved." Don't worry, go to this feast. ”

Zhai Jian had to nod: "Yes, the minister obeys the order." ”

Jiajing and Zhai Jian were both people who didn't talk much, and then, as if they couldn't think of what to say, the room was quiet.

After sitting for a while, an old eunuch tiptoed over and whispered, "Your Majesty, it's time to burn your feet." ”

Jiajing: "Okay. ”

Two eunuchs came over with a wooden basin, and the old eunuch took off the emperor's shoes and socks, put them in the basin, and rubbed them gently. The wooden basin is made of fresh pine wood, and when it encounters hot water, it exudes a faint pine fragrance.

It is said that it is a very undignified thing to burn one's feet in front of the courtiers, and if Yang Tinghe, Yang Yiqing, Mao Cheng and others were here, I am afraid that they would have already jumped like thunder. But Zhai Jian still sat there quietly, his eyes lowered.

Although the emperor was burning his feet, his eyes fell on Zhai Sai intentionally or unintentionally, and seeing him behave like this, Jiajing was a little satisfied in his heart: this Zhai Sai is an open-minded person who is knowledgeable and does not entangle small sections. This person is much more open-minded than the group of pedantins in the court, but he is a person worth using.

At this time, the old eunuch's hand stopped at his feet.

Jiajing noticed this and frowned and looked over: "What's wrong?" ”

"Your Majesty!" The tears in the old eunuch's eyes welled up and fell into the basin ticking: "Your Majesty, you have to take care of the dragon body." Your body ......"

It turned out that as soon as he took off Jiajing's shoes and socks just now, the old eunuch saw that the emperor's feet were covered with red spots, and when he pressed his fingers, it was a deep pit, and it took half a day to recover.

"Get out, get out, get out, mourn!" Jiajing was furious.

The three eunuchs hurriedly retreated.

Jiajing wiped his feet unhurriedly and began to put on his shoes.

Zhai Jian, who had been silent for a long time, slowly spoke: "Your Majesty still has to take care of the dragon's body, Your Majesty's body belongs to the world, and it does not belong only to you." ”

Jiajing sighed: "It's very good, but who can say for sure." Even if you are an immortal with profound cultivation, you don't have three calamities and nine tribulations, and if you pass it, you will become an immortal, and if you can't get by, you will be wiped out. As the saying goes, there is great fear between life and death, and there is no smooth sailing in cultivation. ”

Seeing that the emperor began to talk again, Zhai Jian couldn't interject, so he could only listen quietly.

Suddenly, the emperor's words exploded above his head like a thunderbolt: "Zhai Jian, if one day the United Nations Congress is launched, who of the two sons of the United Nations can inherit the unification?" ”

Zhai Xiang was almost breathless when asked by the emperor, opened his mouth, and said for a long time: "This is a family matter of Your Majesty, and it is naturally up to Your Majesty to decide with one word." ”

"Decide in one word, decide in one word...... The emperor sneered: "It's not easy to speak sometimes, just take the crown prince's throne as an example, some ministers want to be long, and some people want to be virtuous." Zhai Jian, don't be sloppy with Lian, answer Lian now, what do you think should be done? ”

Zhai Jian instantly regained his composure: "Whether it's a long or an idle, it's too early now." Standing up, the eldest prince is only two years old, and he has not yet grown into a person; Lixian, the two emperor characters are children, and the ministers are clumsy and can't see it. ”

"Yes, I can't see it, I can't see it, I'm still a child, and the older one can only talk and walk. The small one is still swaddling and can't speak. But the people behind them can't wait, and they have to fight. There is no family in the emperor's house, and family affairs are the affairs of the world. You have to choose one, only if the crown prince is certain, can people's hearts be stable. ”

Jiajing sighed and touched the red spots on his neck, and said, "On one side is Zhang Guifei, who is the most favored concubine of the United Nations, and Huang Jin, who is the most confidant, and, looking at the baby in swaddling clothes, although it is still small. But there is a sense of wit, and he loves it deeply. But if he is appointed, the ministers are afraid that they will not agree. ”

"That's true, the eldest prince Zhu Zaijing was born to the queen, and it stands to reason that he should be made the crown prince, even if the eldest prince is a fool, a cripple, and a blind man, the ministers will support him." Zhai Jian said: "This is the so-called axiom and human etiquette upheld by scholars all over the world. ”

"Renren Dali, yes, Dali, just such a courtesy, the ministers have forced Lian to be unable to reunite with the first emperor, and now they are beating the idea to Lian's son." When Jiajing thought of his eldest son, his face was full of disgust: "Looking at Zhu Zaidong, he seems to be a fool, he can't say everything, he is two or three years old, he smirks when he sees people, where is a little bit of being a son of heaven." However, the Lian is also afraid of the cabinet and the people of the Sixth Ministry, and today the Lian is not so much asking which of your two children can be the prince, but asking you, whether the Lian should choose to compromise with the ministers or choose peace... It's not just about setting up a prince. You say, "Who is the best prince to be the prince?" ”

"It's all good. Full text Zhai Sai thought that the emperor recruited himself today to ask about the case of Hegong. But he didn't want to talk about the prince, he could only tell the truth, and say whatever he wanted.

Jiajing was a little dazed: "What's all right?" ”

"Yes, it's all right." Zhai Jian replied: "It is also a good thing to choose the eldest prince as the prince. The eldest prince has a good personality, and he will definitely be a willing king in the future, and he will be supported by hundreds of officials, and he can maintain the stability of the political situation, but this is not an ordinary king; If the second prince is appointed as the prince, there will be a big conflict with the ministers after succeeding to the throne in the future, but the second prince is smart and will be a generation of Ming monarchs who will carry forward the past and forge ahead into the future. ”

When Jiajing heard this, he said for a long time: "It's only good that you dare to tell the truth in front of Lian. Huang Jin and Sun Dan are now all with bad intentions and cannot be trusted. ”

He sighed, his face flushed suddenly, and he gasped for breath.

Zhai Jian was a little worried: "Your Majesty, did you send the imperial doctor over?" ”

Jiajing touched a red pill from his body and swallowed it, only for a moment, the red on his face suddenly receded and turned into the color of Zhengben: "No, Lian just went crazy." Zhai Jian, you are ready to enter the cabinet as the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites. ”

Hearing this, Zhai Ke's heart was shocked, according to this, he was about to enter the cabinet.

Judging from the current situation, there are only four auxiliary ministers in the cabinet, among which Yang Shoufu is very old, and it is foreseeable that he will be honored in the next two years, and the reason why Yang Yiqing joined the cabinet is estimated to be to replace Yang Tinghe, and only he has enough qualifications and prestige to serve in the important position of Yuanfu.

As for Jiang Mian, Yang Ji is older than Yang Tinghe, and now he is a little faint, and it is estimated that he retired earlier than Yang Tinghe.

And Mao Ji is a day of confusion, and everyone thinks he is an invisible person.

In this way, in the next two or three years, the cabinet will need to add a large number of new people.

According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty to enter the cabinet, it is necessary to be from the Hanlin Academy, and have courtiers and the emperor nod. According to these two hard conditions, in fact, the election of the cabinet of the Jiajing Dynasty in the next few decades is about to be announced. In addition to Yang Yiqing, Yang Shen, Wang Yuanzheng, and finally a Sun Dan.

He Zhai Jian was originally a Shujishi, and he had done the editing of the Hanlin Academy, and he got along well with his colleagues, so there was no problem for everyone to recommend it, and now the emperor nodded, and it was a sure thing to enter the cabinet.

That is to say, in the future, at least in ten or twenty years, the candidates for the five auxiliary ministers of the cabinet will be determined.

Yang Yiqing is estimated to be the best candidate for the next first assistant. However, he is also a lot older, and he is a transitional figure. Who will be the first assistant in the future?

Zhai Dui was scheming and scheming, so he immediately put his mind on the position of Shoufu. Yang Shen, based on his prestige, talent, and qualifications, should have no problem being the first assistant. However, Yang Ting and his father and son are on the same page as the emperor, and there is no problem for Yang Shen to enter the cabinet. But if you want to be the first assistant, Your Majesty won't give yourself trouble!

So, what about Wang Yuanzheng? No, no, no, he is not talented, his prestige is insufficient, and he can't control the scene.

Pinch your fingers and count, I, Zhai Jian, may really be able to achieve the position of Yuanfu. Not small... What about Sun Dan?

Zhai Jian was suddenly awe-inspiring, this person is talented, and he is also the leader of Shilin, and he has a close relationship with many old ministers such as Zhao Jian, Qiao Yu and others, and Bi Yunzuo is his wing...... There are also a group of students in important positions in the palace...... Not to be underestimated.

Personally, Zhai Jian has a good relationship with Sun Dan, but when it comes to the future power struggle, things have to be looked at from another aspect.

Zhai Jian calculated in his heart that he had already made up his mind, and slowly said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, the matter of establishing a prince must indeed be planned in advance. After all, for the ministers, if the prince does not stand for a day, the officials will be uneasy, and the people will be uneasy. ”

Jiajing stared at Zhai Sai up and down, his eyes were full of suspicion, and suddenly said, "Zhai Jian, do you also want to be a lobbyist here?" Say, which faction do you belong to? ”

Zhai Jian knew that it was not good to deal with it, let alone enter the cabinet as a minister, and today he was afraid that he might not be able to retreat from this jade and Xi Palace. From ancient times to the present, people talk about such major events as the establishment of the prince is a taboo for the ministers, and how many people are carried on it, and there are many of themselves.

He took a breath, looked at the emperor calmly, and said: "Your Majesty appoints whoever is the crown prince, that is Your Majesty's family matter, and the minister only has His Majesty in his eyes, and whatever His Majesty says, the minister will naturally do." As the minister just said, this kind of major matter naturally has to be based on His Majesty's will, and it has nothing to do with other people, and there is no need for anyone to make irresponsible comments. ”

"Well said." The emperor thought so: "Whoever unites does not stand up is a matter for himself." However, some flies always want to find a place to sting, but they are annoyed. ”

Zhai Jian continued to say quietly: "So, what Your Majesty needs to do now is to let everyone ......" His words were already a little explicit.

Emperor Jiajing became excited and interrupted Zhai Jian's words: "What you need to do now is to shut everyone up, it doesn't matter if they fight on their own, don't involve Lian's two sons." A hundred years later, is it possible that the two sons of Lian are still in heaven watching each other's flesh and blood and follow the actions of Xuanwumen? The United League will never give them that opportunity. He gritted his teeth and looked hideous.

Seeing that he had successfully planted this seed in the emperor's heart, Zhai Jian breathed a sigh of relief and knelt down and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, the minister retires." ”

"Go ahead!" The Emperor waved his sleeves.

When Zhai Jian retreated, the emperor took out an elixir from his sleeve and swallowed it in his abdomen, and after a long time, he felt that the elixir melted in his stomach, turning into a ball of fire rising from his stomach and rushing straight to the heavenly spirit. His whole body was on fire, and his eyes were red.

He gritted his teeth and roared in a low voice: "Sun Dan, Huang Jin, you can toss hard, it doesn't matter if you fight yourself, and the two sons of Lian are also implicated." The Union will not let you go, well, if you want to make trouble, the Union will separate you, so that you will not see each other a few times a year, see how you still quarrel. ”

He strode to the front of the long case, opened the drawer, took out a roster of officials, flipped through it, and said, "Jiangnan Manufacturing still lacks a eunuch sitting in the hall, Huang Jin, you can go and stay there." Nanjing is the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties and a prosperous place in the world. Huang Ban, if you go there for a few years, Lian will not treat you badly. As for you, Sun Jingyuan, the minister really can't do anything with you. Sichuan still lacks a governor, you should also go and clean up for a few years, and return all your kindness. When the prince is established in the future and the situation is stable, you can come back again, which can be regarded as a kind of protection for you. ”

After muttering this paragraph, Jiajing didn't pass it on to his close attendants, but directly picked up his pen, wrote two copies of the decree for the release of Sun and Huang, and threw them into the drawer, ready to find an appropriate opportunity to announce it again.

Wang Lidao has stayed by the emperor's side for the past two years, and he has gained some weight and his skin has become whiter. But the whole person still looks tall and burly, and naturally has a majestic momentum.

Standing in front of him, I don't know why, Chen Hong always felt a little afraid.

He looked around, the courtyard where Wang Li lived was originally used by Emperor Wuzong to build weapons. Emperor Zhengde liked military affairs, and he had no confidence in the weapons and armor made by the Ministry of Industry of the Ming Dynasty, so he simply opened up a courtyard in Xiyuan, a small blast furnace, to build weapons.

Now, Wu Zonglong has been a guest for almost three years, but two young craftsmen in that group of craftsmen have stayed with Wang Daoren to become fire workers. And those small blast furnaces have also become Wang Xianchang's Dan furnaces.

Now, the steel charcoal in the Dan furnace is burning vigorously, and the flames in it have turned white, showing an extremely terrible high temperature.

Seeing that Chen Hong had arrived here, Wang Li smiled and said, "Gonggong Chen is not in Si Ping L, how can he come here with empty air." ”

Chen Hong pretended to be casual and said: "On the side of the celebrant supervisor, since His Majesty took back the power to approve Hong, there is nothing to do, so he will send the affection to the upper court, and the upper affection will be issued, and he will be allowed to be a concierge." Even my godfather, Huang Gonggong, is idle and bored, dozing off in the celebrant all day long. Chen Hong was also bored, I heard that some time ago, Sun Tzu Dan sent a lot of ore to you and asked you to refine the pill. I admire Wang Shenxian's methods, and the ore sent by Sun Jingyuan is naturally unusual. But I don't know what elixir the immortal chief has practiced in the past few days. Chen Hong was curious and wanted to come over to open his eyes. ”

He added: "Your Majesty's skills have become more and more refined in the past few days, and if there is a good elixir, it may help him reach a higher level." If Immortal Chang really cultivates a new elixir, Chen Hong can also go and report the good news to His Majesty and get some rewards. Hehe, don't joke about the immortal chief. ”

"Oh, that's right." Wang Li glanced at Chen Hong deeply: "It's time for you to come, the chlorite sent by Sun Jingyuan is indeed a rare good thing, Poor Dao melted this thousand catties of ore, and finally purified one or two essences." Later, it was supplemented by more than 100 genius earth treasures, and after 7749 days, a furnace of pills was finally practiced, with a total of 20 pills. Hey, I'm afraid that I won't be able to find this kind of ore again in the future, and this Dan will also become a masterpiece. ”

Hearing Wang Li say this, not only Chen Hong was surprised, but also the eyes of the few little eunuchs who came with him widened, and they all said: "If we can see this kind of high-grade elixir, it will be a rare blessing." ”

He called for Wang Shenxian to take it out and open everyone's eyes.

Wang Li suddenly sneered: "There are a few things that are bad about this elixir, and after practice, it needs to be contained in an iron box after an inch, and it can't be popular." There are so many people here, if everyone comes around to watch, the popularity is dyed, but the efficacy of the medicine is gone by six points. Gonggong Chen, you are the person next to Gonggong Huang, you want to see it, naturally it is possible, but other people want to see my elixir, hehe! After saying that, he didn't talk nonsense, and walked towards the house.

The ladies looked at each other, all of them were extremely embarrassed.

Chen Hong coughed at this time: "Father-in-law, you wait for a while, Chen Hong, I will go and have a look first." ”

A few eunuchs said helplessly: "Father-in-law Chen, hurry up, let's just wait here." ”

When he entered the secret room of the royal man, there was no one around, and Wang Li took out an iron box: "Gonggong Chen, this is the newly refined elixir, please take a look." ”

Chen Hong opened the thick lid, but saw that there were two scarlet elixirs as red as blood inside, red and bright, and the crystal glow was cute. He picked one up and looked at it in front of him, only to smell a pungent fragrance, and said unconsciously: "Good elixir, good elixir." ”

"The main thing is that the material is rare." Wang Li said quietly.

Chen Hong pretended to be indifferent while making the pill and said: "Your Majesty has been very angry recently, and I don't know if this medicine is a hot thing, if it is dedicated to Grandpa Banzai, I don't know if he will be used." ”

"Oh, why is Your Majesty so angry?" Hearing what Chen Hong said, Wang Li paid attention to it, and carefully looked at the ghost in front of him.

Chen Hong sighed and pretended to say casually: "It's not because of who is safe and watery." ”

"Isn't that a case already decided, it's nothing more than that Wang Shu was greedy for the river workers' silver, and there are many officials in the court who have benefited from him. Just do Wang Shu directly, and then let everyone withdraw the money. By the way, Huang Gonggong seems to have gained a lot.

With Gonggong Huang's status in His Majesty's mind, it is not a big deal. ”

Chen Hong shook his head again and again: "Just for this case, it's actually not a big deal, in the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, according to the little money of hundreds of officials, if you are not greedy, I am afraid that the whole family will starve to death." Besides, people who don't have three friends and four friends, three relatives and six relatives. You become an official, people beg you, do it or not, people always have to talk about human feelings. After doing things, according to people's feelings, people always have to thank them. If you don't accept it, it will be unkind and hurtful. If you take it, a corrupt hat will be buttoned down, and you will lose your head if you don't get it. Hey, this official, let's not do it, it's not easy to grasp. As Mr. Sun said before, there are two sides to everything, and we must look at the problem dialectically. ”

Wang Li said with a smile: "Xiao Chen's father-in-law can see clearly, he is really a famous teacher and a high apprentice!" ”

Chen Hong: "No, a Nanhe River construction case implicated the godfather and his old man, this is still a trivial matter, the problem is with, someone has slandered in His Majesty's ear, saying that the godfather and Mr. Sun intend to meddle in the establishment of the reserve." This is a taboo for His Majesty! It's okay now, but my poor godfather is going to be sent to Jiangnan to make it, and Mr. Sun is going to Sichuan to be tamed. One is my godfather, and the other is my mentor. The thought of not seeing them for years makes me feel sad. ”

When Wang Li heard this, his body shook, his eyes lit up like a knife, and he looked at Chen Hong in a daze: "Seriously, how do you know?" ”

"Ah, I lost my words." Chen Hong pretended to be frightened: "Immortal Wang, just when I didn't say anything." If this thing gets out, it will be a loss of head. ”

Wang Li smiled: "If you don't say it, Wang Li is an outsider, and he has no interest in this kind of mundane thing." ”

"But too." Chen Hong looked a little embarrassed, and said: "Immortal Elder, somehow, our family feels kind when we see you, just like seeing our own parents, and we can't hide anything." He stuck out his tongue in shame: "I'll tell you the truth, only I know about this matter, just now I peeked at a holy decree written by His Majesty's imperial pen, on which there is a new appointment of godfather and teacher." God knows this matter, you know it, I know, and I ask the immortal chief not to say it. ”

Chen Hong kept pretending, as if he was very scared, but secretly his eyes kept rolling: Wang Xianchang is a person who is a teacher, as long as he tells him this, the teacher will know. Now the mountain rain in the capital is about to come and the wind is full of buildings, and the past two years are a period of great personnel changes, if you leave the capital, don't think about coming back again in this life, what else to talk about entering the cabinet, talking about what official residence is a product? This must be told to the teacher so that he can prepare early. It's a pity that the teacher doesn't know how many people are staring at, so he can't come to report the news. It's still me, Elf Chen Hong, who came up with such a good method.

[Dedication]