Where to wake up tonight, the willow bank, the wind and the waning moon.

It was dawn, on the Tongzhou wharf, Zhang Xuan looked at it with his hands behind his back, but saw that in the strong wind, there were waves surging, the fully loaded boat was deeply drafted, and the white sails were bulging round.

In the foam of the waves, there are grains floating in the water, and a large number of waterfowl "quack" flying by, constantly diving downward, competing for food floating on the water.

It has been a while since the official document of the Nanjing Criminal Department took office, and according to the procedures of the past, according to the degree of the Ministry of Officials, the appointment of such an expatriate official will be delayed for a month and a half, but this time it is very exceptional.

When he received the letter of appointment, Zhang Xuan was stunned for a while, and now he is not treated like a street rat in the capital. He also inquired all day before he found out what had happened in the morning of the day.

Now, Zhang Xuan knows that his speculation this time is a complete failure.

Speaking of which, when he went to Nanjing to be the director, on the surface, he seemed to be promoted, but in fact he was not. The Ming Dynasty implemented the two-capital system, and Shuntianfu was the capital, which was the yamen of the imperial court and the emperor's palace, which was called Beijing; Yingtianfu is the accompanying capital, and it also sets up the imperial palace and the yamen of various ministries, which is called Nanjing.

It's a pity that, unlike Beijing, the six departments in Nanjing are all old and sick, and they don't take care of things much every day, and they are quasi-a nursing home.

Zhang Xuan is forty-eight today, and if he stays in Nanjing for another term, he will not want to make a difference in this life.

At this thought, Zhang Xuan's heart was already cold, and the whole person was empty.

He also knew that after he left, there was no possibility of returning to Beijing. This time I went to Nanjing, probably the last term of my life, with my notoriety in the court, as soon as the term of office expires, there is only one way to go home and retire.

So, after receiving the appointment to go to Nanjing, he did not immediately go on the road, but stayed in the capital for half a month. In the past half a month, Zhang Xuan has cashed out his house and industry in Beijing, and it is impossible for him to return to Beijing in the future anyway, and it is useless for these things to stay here.

Generally speaking, you can't find any good buyers in a hurry, and you are in a hurry to get rid of it, and you don't want to sell it for a good price. Fortunately, the Fangshan Weaving Bureau wanted to get an office in the capital, and it didn't suppress his price, so Zhang Xuan didn't suffer too much loss. But Zhang Xuan also knew that Sun Dan was taking care of himself, and Sun Dan had only asked him to meet him. But Zhang Xuan is also disheartened now, so he resigned.

For Sun Dan, he is still very grateful. Now, Zhang Xuan is notorious for his ugliness, and in the vast capital, he can't find anyone to talk to, and only he, Sun Jingyuan, still regards him as a friend. It is precisely because of such a confidant that Zhang Xuan doesn't want him to see his embarrassment at the moment.

The packing had been packed and the hired boat was about to arrive, so Zhang Xuan got up early in the morning and took the servants to the dock to wait quietly.

It's almost the height of summer, and the weather is hot, but it's strange to say that this early in the morning, a thin layer of white fog has risen on the Grand Canal.

This situation and this scene aroused Zhang Xuan's sadness, and he couldn't help but chant: "The city is heavy in the detention bureau, and the four fields are narrow." Seeing the West Mountain, nostalgia is written. ”

But after only chanting these four sentences, he only felt that his thinking was not smooth, but he couldn't read it anymore.

When he stroked his long beard with one hand and wanted to figure it out carefully, he heard a clear voice from the mist in the distance: "The sky is not as far as the eye can see, and it is chic." The fallen leaves return to their roots, and the mountains and clouds are full of camphor. Ruthlessness is still suitable, how can it be comforted? ”

As soon as these three sentences came out, they happened to enter Zhang Zhang's heart.

He turned his head to look, but saw Sun Dan and Huo Tao walking from a distance in Confucian robes.

Zhang Xuan was greatly surprised, and hurriedly shouted: "Jingyuan, Master Huo, why are you here?" ”

When the two of them came over, Huo Tao smiled and said, "Lord Zhang, Lord Sun heard that you were leaving today, so he specially asked me to see you off." Why, we are not welcome? ”

Zhang Xuan didn't expect Sun Dan to come over from the capital on purpose, and his heart was moved, and his eyes turned red: "Jingyuan, although it is said that there is such a thing as burning cold stoves in the officialdom, but Zhang Xuan is like this now, and he doesn't want to turn over again in this life." Jingyuan, why do you bother? ”

Huo Tao suddenly sneered: "Lord Zhang, burning the cold stove is a subordinate to a superior, Jingyuan is a person who wants to enter the cabinet, and he can't come to please you?" ”

He and Zhang Xuan are both Huang Jin's party in the eyes of outsiders, but in fact, they don't look down on each other very much, and they don't have any personal relationships on weekdays.

Zhang Xuan was blushed by Huo Tao's sneer, he was ashamed in his heart, and hurriedly shook it to the ground: "Zhang Xuan is rude, please forgive Jingyuan." ”

Sun Dan hurriedly helped him up, "Bingyong doesn't need to be like this, you and I have a lot of friendship, so you don't need so much etiquette." This goes to Nanjing, the mountains are high and the water is long, and I don't know when I will be able to meet you today. Oh, it's so sad! ”

Zhang Xuan was also sad in his heart, and he didn't know what to say for a while.

Over there, Huo Tao suddenly sneered again: "Lord Zhang is going to Nanjing, which can be regarded as a high promotion, so why do you want to do such a parting feeling, Huo Tao is here to congratulate Lord Zhang first." ”

Since Huo Tao appeared, he has been talking coldly, and anger suddenly rises in Zhang Xuan's heart. He lowered his voice and shouted: "Master Huo, what do you mean by saying this now, you and I are the same way when it comes to great etiquette." Besides, you are also the prefect of Yan'an now, haven't you also been promoted? ”

"Fellow Daoists?" Huo Tao smiled faintly: "The name of Lord Huo will not be mentioned again in the future, and now Huo Tao is an ordinary person?" ”

Zhang Xuan was surprised in his heart: "Why is this?" ”

Huo Tao's laughter became louder: "Anyone with eyes knows that I will be the prefect, and you are actually just a disguised match to do the main thing, is it not that Lord Zhang can see through it, and still dream of returning to the chaotic place of the capital one day to make a tide?" Hehe, Huo Tao doesn't want to go to Yan'an to make people laugh, it's better to go home and farm, and also want to be at ease. Today, I happened to come to Tongzhou to return to my hometown by boat, if it weren't for that, I wouldn't have seen Mr. Zhang! Hehe, now I have seen Master Zhang's people, and I greatly admire Huo Tao for your article, but Huo Tao greatly disdains the utilitarian heart in your heart. The Tao is different, do not conspire with each other, farewell! ”

After speaking, Huo Tao flicked his sleeves and walked away.

Huo Tao's words made Zhang Xuan so ashamed that he could barely raise his head, but there was a voice shouting in his heart: Zhang Zhang, are you willing, are you willing?

Sun Dan saw that Huo Tao spoke so directly, and he was amused in his heart, so he comforted Zhang Xuan: "Bingyong, Huo Tao has that temper, don't take it to heart." ”

Zhang Xuan raised his head, his eyes numb. suddenly asked: "Jingyuan, is Zhang Xuan really finished, and there is no chance to display his ambitions in this life?" ”

Sun Dan: Of course, in the next two years, what will happen to the politics of the Ming Dynasty?

After arriving in Nanjing, Zhang Xuan naturally would not be willing to work in Nanjing until he died of old age, and after Jiajing stabilized his position, he wrote a book to discuss the gift, and finally successfully returned to the capital, and since then he has ascended to a high position.

Besides, even if history changes and the great etiquette does not regenerate, with Zhang Zhang's talent and ambition, he will take other opportunities to take the position, and Sun Dan is still confident in this.

For Sun Dan, Zhang Xuan is just a talent in his pocket, and if Zhang Xuan comes out, he will naturally be of great use. If Zhang Xuan does not have the right opportunity to return to politics, there will be no loss for Sun Dan.

The first stage of the Great Rite is over, and there should be more than a year or two before the next explosion. In the past two years, the emperor will definitely not resign himself to his defeat, and will definitely seize every opportunity to consolidate the imperial power, just wait for his power to be stabilized, that is, the time to discuss again.

As for the ministers of the imperial court, Yang Tinghe is the minister, but there is a hidden danger, the three elders of the cabinet, plus the six Shangshu, are all old. In addition to Yang Shen, Wang Yuanzheng, and Sun Dan, the younger generation of officials do not have the right talents to go up. Even Sun Dan, he felt that he was quite inadequate, first, he felt that he was not very familiar with local government affairs. Secondly, the major affairs of the central government are not too clear, and it will take some time to study.

Two years, two years should be enough time to grow on your own.

Sun Dan comforted Zhang Xuan: "Bingyong, although the head of the Nanjing Criminal Department is an idle errand, it is not impossible to do things. ”

Zhang Xuan shook his head painfully: "Jingyuan, you don't have to comfort Zhang Zhang, everyone in Nanjing knows that it is just a place to retire, and Zhang Xuan knows it very well in his heart." ”

Sun Dan said: "Bingyong is bad, you said such a thing, Sun Dan was very disappointed." ”

Zhang Xuan looked at Sun Dan in surprise: "Why did Jingyuan say this?" ”

Sun smiled and asked, "Bingyong, I'll ask you." Did you ever be an official before you went to the Ministry of Officials? ”

Zhang Zhang: "Zhang Xuan has participated in seven examinations in a row since he was lifted, and this year he was awarded a Jinshi and went to the Ministry of Officials to be an official, which is also the first time. ”

"That's it." Sun Dan put away his smile and said, "I know your ambitions. However, have you thought about it, you haven't been an official for a day, even if you are in the ministry, all your energy is involved in the imperial examination. How much do you know about government affairs? If the court really sends an envoy down, will you be able to do it well? Although I went to Nanjing this time, I was able to do some practical things. In addition, I have a lot of free time, so I might as well walk around the south and see more, learn about people's livelihood, and make some preparations for the future. There is a saying in my hometown: opportunities are always for those who are prepared. Bingyong, you now complain when you encounter setbacks, this must not be like you! According to Sun Dan, it may not be a good thing that you were sent to Nanjing this time? ”

Zhang Xuan was ashamed for a while when he heard this, and then made a long gesture, and said sincerely: "Zhang Xuan has been taught, thank you Jingyuan for reminding me." ”

Sun smiled lightly: "Bingyong, who can say things clearly in the political arena." There is also a saying in the countryside: three poor and three rich will not grow old. In a person's life, anything can be born, who knows what the future will look like? ”

After laughing, he pointed to the water in front of him: "The boat is coming." ”