On a square table are a few simple vegetarian dishes, and the pot on the side is not filled with fine wine, but just ordinary tea. ~Follow~Dream~Small~Say~щ~Suimеng~lā If anyone sees that these extremely simple foods are actually enjoyed by the two people in front of them, they will be surprised.

Because the two people sitting on both sides of the table now are the first and second leaders of the Yamen of the Ministry of War, Shang Shu Yu Qian and the squire Lu Jin! It is too unacceptable for a second-grade official and a third-grade official who has been named the governor of Shandong to only use these shoddy food.

After picking up the teapot and pouring a cup of tea for Lu Jin, Yu Qiancai smiled slightly and said, "Today I use such simple dishes to see off Shansi and congratulate you on getting your wish, don't be surprised." ”

"My lord, what you said made the lower officials embarrassed. Now that the court is short of money and food, our courtiers should naturally be simple and economical, and lead by example. What's more, it is already Lu Jin's honor to invite me, there are thousands of officials in the capital, but few people can get this invitation. Lu Jin hurriedly said politely, and at the same time his eyes swept his environment.

In fact, even the guest hall in the Yu Mansion where he is located does not look like what it should look like in the mansion of high-ranking officials in the court. Not only are there no extravagant and exquisite decorations, but even the furniture is made of the most simple and rough hardwood, which is almost no different from the furnishings in the homes of ordinary and low-class people.

Lu Zhen remembered that in the history books he had read before, he mentioned that Taiqian was an honest and self-disciplined and rare clean official. At that time, I thought that this was just the Spring and Autumn brushwork of later historians, after all, Yu Qian was a big hero, so he naturally had to put many advantages on him. But now it seems that all this is true.

Of course, in fact, he was still a little disappreciative in his heart, after all, in his opinion, whether a courtier is good or bad is not on these superficial efforts. An important minister of the court like Yu Qian really didn't need to be so wronged. However, he would not say this to his face.

Although he didn't say it, Yu Qian in front of him seemed to have seen his thoughts, so he said after taking a sip of tea: "Actually, I don't have to do this, and I have never shown such a shabby appearance in front of outsiders. In fact, I am so simple only because of myself – because I am still in the period of filial piety. It has been less than two years since my father passed away, and I, as a son, cannot keep filial piety in the township, so how can I still live in a mansion, drink fine wine, and eat delicacies? But today I will wronged you. ”

After listening to this explanation, Lu Jin's face suddenly showed a look of shame, and he quickly stood up, and respectfully arched his hand and said: "I see, it is Lu Jin's villain's heart, and I hope that adults will not be surprised." ”

"Hehe, you don't have to, and I don't blame you. In fact, this is also very good, at least eating these simple dishes can make me always experience the difficulties of the people, so that I can serve the country with all my heart. Yu Qian smiled and motioned for Lu Zhen to sit down and speak.

After revealing this verse, the conversation between the two finally got to the point: "Do you know why I want to feast on you today?" ”

"Aren't you going to see me off, and to congratulate me on finally getting my wish?" Lu Zhen replied casually.

Yu Qian smiled: "This is just one aspect, on the other hand, there are some things that need to be reminded to you." ”

"Your Excellency, please speak, and the lower officials will listen to you."

"Looks like you haven't seen the problem yet. Isn't it strange why when you pointed out that you were going to Shandong, the officials who opposed it suddenly fell silent? ”

"This ......" Lu Jin couldn't help frowning. To be honest, he also felt that there was something strange about it at the time, but when he thought about it carefully, he really couldn't think of a clue. Originally, he planned to go to Hu Hu to take a closer look, but after he dispersed, he was invited to his house by Yu Qian, so this question could not be solved for a while.

Looking at his appearance, Yu Qian understood that he hadn't found the crux of the problem yet, so he said: "Shandong has been extremely valued by the imperial court since ancient times, do you know who has this status?" ”

"Shandong...... Who ......" After Lu Zhen pondered again, his body suddenly trembled, and the answer had already been thought of by him: "What do you mean by the Yan Shenggong Confucian family?" ”

Confucianism has been the prominent study of the Central Plains Dynasty since the Han Dynasty, and it is an important means used by the imperial court to control the hearts of the people in the world. Although it was Dong Zhongshu, Zhu Xi and Er Cheng who made it flourish, when people needed to erect an idol, Confucius, the founder of Confucianism, became the only choice.

Because Confucius was held high on the altar by the royal family of previous dynasties, under the principle that a person has attained the Tao and ascended to heaven, the weight of the Confucian family in the court is naturally not light. So there is this Yan Shenggong Confucian family, which no matter how many dynasties have changed, but is always worshiped by people all over the world. The Duke of the Kong family, but he is real, and his status is not lower than that of those dukes in the court, which shows how grand his status is in the world.

However, the Kong family is also very clear about their identity, in order to protect their own family prosperity, they have never been involved in the affairs of the court, and few people in their family have stepped out of the Shandong territory, so they are not well known to ordinary people.

But in the territory of Shandong, the status of the Yan Shenggong family is too lofty, that is, the local political envoys and yamen have to be polite to them, and if there are any errands, they have to discuss with the Kong family. This is not only because of their identity and the respect for the Confucian family by officials who are also scholars, but also because after thousands of years of uninterrupted development, the power of the Confucian family has long spread to every place in Shandong, and the government has to rely on the Confucian family to govern the place.

As the absolute authority of the conservative Confucianism, the Confucian family naturally supported the sea ban in today's Ming Dynasty, which can only be inferred from the reaction of those conservative courtiers in the court. Now, Lu Zhen actually crashed into Shandong, the base camp of the old Kong family, and wanted to open the sea ban there and make a career, which was several times more difficult than elsewhere.

After figuring out the trick, Lu Jin couldn't help but gasp, and his expression became nervous: "This is very bad...... I don't know if there's a way to change places......"

Yu Qian smiled bitterly: "I'm afraid this is too difficult." Although those people in the DPRK and China have been suppressed by you for the time being, their true intentions will not change, and they will still oppose your decision to open the sea with all their might. And now that you yourself have proposed to go to Shandong, which is the most difficult and resistant, to implement this new policy, they will naturally not give you a chance to regret it. ”

"Yes, this matter was decided in front of His Majesty, and the will has already been conveyed, how can it be changed again?" Lu Zhen shook his head again and smiled bitterly, deeply regretting his hasty action.

Originally, he just wanted to strike while the iron was hot, and take advantage of the opportunity for the ministers to be suppressed by himself in terms of momentum to completely finalize the matter. But now it seems that he was in a hurry, and he took action without a comprehensive consideration of the whole thing, and in the end it was himself who was unlucky.

"So you must be mentally prepared for this, the matter of opening the sea is difficult." Yu Qian reminded solemnly.

Lu Zhen drank all the tea in the cup, and then nodded: "Xiaguan has already understood, this matter must be extremely difficult, maybe there will be some disputes with Yan Shenggong's family." When the time comes, I will really become the public enemy of the world's scholars. ”

Looking at Lu Jin's face full of confusion and worry, Yu Qian could only say words of encouragement: "Actually, you don't have to be so depressed, and things are not so desperate." After all, the Yansheng Gong family is not in the court, and for the sake of their own reputation, they don't dare to go too far, as long as you act properly and don't do anything illegal, it is not so easy for them to oppose even if they want to. ”

"Xia Guan understands, I will do it with all my heart. This opening the sea is not only my long-cherished wish, but also the best means for me to get rid of the current predicament. ”

Seeing that Lu Zhen had regained his fighting spirit, Yu Qian smiled with satisfaction. He likes the virtue of being young, and although he will be worried, he will soon regain his confidence, which is a mentality that many officials in the DPRK and China cannot attain.

Next, Yu Qian talked to Lu Zhen about how to be an official in the local area and how to make subordinate officials and the people obey him. These are all the experiences he gained when he was an official in Henan and other places, and he said slowly at this time, which really benefited Lu Zhen a lot.

In this careful advice, the coarse tea and vegetarian dishes on the table became less simple, and the two of them ate while talking, and soon ate all the four or five dishes, and even drank the tea in the pot.

At this time, Yu Qian gestured to the servants who were guarding outside. Lu Zhen thought he was going to add water to the two of them, but the other party took a huge package and put it on the table.

"This is ......" Lu Zhen looked at the gray cloth package and couldn't help but ask a little strangely.

"Shansi, you are going to Shandong to create a new situation, and I have nothing to help you with, so I can only borrow flowers to offer Buddha and take this as a gift." Yu Qian said, and then unwrapped the package, revealing the true face of the things inside.

Lu Zhen looked at it, and his breath was short. Inside are a yellowed shipbuilding drawings, as well as logbooks and route maps!

"This is the relevant information left by the eunuch of the Three Treasures when he went to the West, and it has been stored in the yamen of our military department since then. This time, knowing that you were going to take full charge of the matter, I ordered someone to find it out of the storeroom. Yu Qian patted the stack of pages with his hand and said.

Lu Zhen had already gotten up again, bowed and saluted: "Thank you for helping me so much, with these paperwork materials, I am more sure that I can do this." ”

Indeed, these valuable materials left by Zheng He are much more practical than any help, which is the experience of predecessors. Otherwise, if Lu Zhen really wants to go to Shandong to restart the road, the time and price he needs to pay will be several times more than that......