Xu Liang came out from Wang Yongguang, the secretary of the ministry, and Wang Shangshu was personally sent to the main gate of the yamen, which shattered the glasses of many officials in the ministry.

Xu Liang then went to visit Xu Guangqi, a scholar of Dongge University.

In the cabinet duty room, Cao Yubian watched Xu Liang Shi Ran come out of the duty room of Xu Guangqi, a scholar of Dongge University, and walked out with a smile on his face.

Elder Cao Ge suddenly felt uneasy. After the accident of Zhang Nianyun, the imperial history of the capital, there was no result under the investigation of Cao Gelao, and he was very jealous of this Guanglu Siqing who was inconspicuous and smiling all day long. Although there is no clear evidence that Ma Xiangyang, Zhang Nianyun and Zhou Lang were the ghosts of Xu Liang, Cao Ge Lao felt more and more that this series of things was inseparable from Xu Liang.

Cao Ge Lao put down the matter at hand, sorted out his official uniform, and walked to the front of the duty room of the first assistant Zhou Yanru. Zhou Shoufu, as the first assistant of the Ming Dynasty, is equipped with a separate duty room.

Elder Cao Ge took out the courtesy of the lower official to see the upper official, and knocked lightly at the door.

Elder Zhou Ge looked up and saw that it was Elder Cao Ge, so he said gently: "It's Elder Cao Ge, come in quickly." ”

Elder Cao Ge walked up to Zhou Shoufu and arched his hand: "Shoufu, the lower officials have already been to the Ministry of Officials, and according to your wishes, I have greeted Wang Shangshu." ”

"Hmm, what did Wang Yongguang say?" Zhou Shoufu asked.

"Wang Shangshu returns, and he will raise this matter at the Heavenly Empire meeting." Cao Ge said.

"Yes." Zhou Shoufu nodded and said: "Filling the vacancies of officials is originally a matter within the authority of the Ministry of Officials, since Wang Shangshu has already replied, then let's do it according to his wishes." ”

Cao Ge thought for a while and said, "This matter should have been raised by Wang Shangshu at today's court meeting, but it was postponed again and again. Xia Guan's heart is bottomless after all. ”

Zhou Shoufu smiled, pointed at Cao Ge Lao and teased: "You, this is a matter of concern." As he spoke, Zhou Shoufu leaned back in his chair, put on the majesty of Shangguan, and said slowly: "Put your heart in your stomach." The old man has already explained to the people below. The candidates for the imperial history of the capital, except for our people, no one else wants to go up. ”

When Cao Ge heard this, his heart was slightly calm. Thinking of what happened to Xu Liang just now, he said to Zhou Shoufu: "Shoufu, I see that Xu Liang, the Qing of Guanglu Temple, has been running diligently towards Xu Ge's old house recently, do you think Xu Ge will secretly play any tricks?" ”

Zhou Shoufu twisted his eyebrows and thought about it after hearing this, shook his head and said, "You are too careful." Xu Ge Lao has always been close to Xu Liang, the Qing of Guanglu Temple. The two of them walked closely, and there was nothing strange about it. It's just that Xu Ge is always His Majesty's teacher, if he says that His Majesty will be moved, and he will directly promote the imperial history of the capital without going through the Ministry and the cabinet, this is also somewhat possible. ”

When Cao Ge heard this, he smiled: "Shoufu said very much. But if Xu Ge dared to do this. Even if his person becomes the imperial history of the capital, this son will not be able to sit for long. Without going through the ministry and the cabinet, it was directly promoted by the emperor's decree. This is a big taboo for officials. ”

"Heh, this old man didn't expect it." Zhou Shoufu said with a smile.

Elder Cao Ge and Zhou Shoufu glanced at each other and chuckled in unison. The officials of the Ming Dynasty naturally have the unique style of the Ming Dynasty. Promotions and promotions must be carried out in accordance with the normal procedure, and they must first be recommended by the ministry, and then the cabinet will vote for them. In the end, Emperor Zhu's approval came into effect. Without going through the first two steps, the emperor directly ordered the promotion of officials, but this kind of official was spurned by the entire civil bureaucracy.

The next morning, the morning was unfazed, and the officials of all sides finished the report in a decent manner, and then retreated into the queue. Don't talk more, see more.

Moreover, after the dispersal of the dynasty, several high-ranking officials and cabinet ministers also returned to their respective yamen with great tacit understanding, and there was no sign of stopping for any reason to discuss again.

When Xu Liang walked out, he heard the voice of Wang Chengen, the eunuch behind him: "Lord Xu stays." ”

Xu Liang turned his head, looked at Wang Chengen who came forward, and arched his hand: "What is the matter with my father-in-law calling the lower officials?" ”

Wang Chengen had an expression on his face that he wanted to laugh but didn't dare to laugh, and he said, "Our family is ordered by His Majesty to bring a message to Lord Xu. ”

Hearing that it was Emperor Chongzhen's message, Xu Liang's expression became solemn, and he said respectfully: "Listen to the holy message." ”

Wang Chengen held his head high, coughed lightly, and said: "Your Majesty said that in the matter of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, I want to ask for some money, not too much, let Xu Liang say to those people, give me 20,000 taels for Huahua first." ”

Xu Liang's eyes widened when he heard this, and when Wang Chengen finished speaking, Xu Liang asked in a shocked whisper: "Father-in-law, are you sure this is His Majesty's message?" ”

Wang Chengen nodded and said, "The emperor did explain our family like this. ”

Hiss! Xu Liang took a breath, looked left and right, pulled Wang Chengen to the side of the road, and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty...... How could such a decree be made all of a sudden? ”

Wang Chengen also looked left and right, lowered his eyelids, and whispered: "After you left the Heart Cultivation Palace yesterday, Your Majesty ordered someone to pass on Luo Du to enter the palace, and let Luo Du supervise and check some of the situation of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and your Liang Ji firm, and when you turn around, you will ask our family to bring you a message to Lord Xu." ”

Xu Liang nodded suddenly, and arched his hand towards Wang Chengen: "Thank you for your advice." ”

"Lord Xu is polite."

Xu Liang asked softly: "Dare to ask my father-in-law, how does Your Majesty feel after listening to Luo Dudu's reply?" ”

Wang Chengen seemed to think about it, glanced at Xu Liang, and said, "Our family should be in a good mood to remember Your Majesty, and he also praised you, Lord Xu." ”

"Huh?" Xu Liang was taken aback and said with a smile: "Father-in-law is laughing again." ”

Wang Chengen said: "Our family really didn't lie to you, His Majesty said with a smile at that time: I didn't expect this Xu Aiqing to be quite rich." ”

After Wang Chengen finished speaking, he looked at Xu Liang.

Xu Liang stared at him and asked nervously, "Just ...... That's it? ”

Wang Chengen nodded and said, "That's it." Well, our family has also said what should be said, and our family has to go back to life. With that, Wang Chengen arched his hand towards Xu Liang, and walked away to the Heart Cultivation Hall with his hands behind his back.

Xu Liang stood in place for a long time before wiping off his sweat and muttering: "I'm scared to death of the baby, I still think Chongzhen is going to hack my family property." ”

Xu Liang returned to the yamen of Guanglu Temple, ordered someone to serve a pot of tea, and drank a few cups to suppress the shock, and then ordered someone to call in Guanglu Temple, King Qinian, and told him to go out of the city to find Yan Qi, and prepare 20,000 taels of silver to send to the palace.

Take a moment to sit down. Shen Congliang, the Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple, saw that Xu Liang was back, so he turned into Xu Liang's house with a smile, sat on the side, and chatted with Xu Liang. He arched his hand and said: "My lord, it is now the end of May, this year is the year of the palace examination, according to the experience of previous years, the next main task of Guanglu Temple should be to prepare for the palace examination." ”

Xu Liang listened and was stunned for a while before he asked in surprise: "Isn't the palace examination something that the Ministry of Rites should worry about?" What does it have to do with us? ”

Shen Congliang explained: "Originally, this palace test was supposed to be held in mid-March, but it was only due to the war in the northwest and Liaodong. The palace examination has been postponed repeatedly, and the Ministry of Rites has set a date for the eighth day of the eighth month of August two days ago. After the results of the palace examination came out, according to the system, the court should give the "Qionglin Banquet" to reward the new science and technology scholars. ”

Xu Liang listened, nodded slowly, and said solemnly: "The Qionglin banquet is a big event. You can't be sloppy. That's it, Lord Shen. You are solely responsible for this matter, and all the people of the yamen are under your command, and you will arrange for them to do what they have to do. As for the money, how much do you want, you report the amount, and I will go to the household department. ”

Shen Congliang heard that Xu Liang delegated power so vigorously. Obviously, he trusted himself very much, and he was about to slam his chest: "Don't worry, my lord, the lower officials will definitely do this well." After guaranteeing it, Shen Congliang suddenly came up again and asked in a low voice, "My lord." The number of the silver...... Or is it according to the number of roads sacrificed in the Taimiao last time? ”

Xu Liang thought for a while, nodded and said: "The number of roads is still the same number, but the court has no money recently, you tell Yinku Ji Zhong, press down a little and save some money for the court." ”

When Shen Congliang heard this, he almost laughed out loud, and said in his heart that this Lord Xu is really funny, he is making fake accounts here, and he is saying that he wants to give money to the court in the name of it.

Two hours later, Wang Qinian came back from the outer city, hurriedly ran to Xu Liang, and arched his hand: "My lord, Sun Ge has entered Beijing." ”

Xu Liang stood up from his chair and asked eagerly, "Where is Elder Sun Ge now?" ”

Wang Qinian said: "The brothers of Tsing Yiwei have been staring at Sun Ge Lao's whereabouts, after Sun Ge Lao entered the city, he did not stop all the way and went directly to the palace. ”

Xu Liang listened, and solemnly instructed Wang Qinian: "Qinian, you go directly to the noon gate to guard, once Sun Ge Lao is out of the palace, no matter how late it is, you must take Sun Ge Lao to the Dongjiang Courtyard." I still have some things that I want to explain to Elder Sun Ge face to face. ”

Wang Qinian knew that what Xu Liang was going to do next was about filling the vacancy in the imperial history of the capital, which was very important, so he immediately responded, took two Tsing Yi guards and ran outside the noon gate.

So Sun Ge Lao just entered the palace to see Emperor Chongzhen, and he didn't even return to his home in the capital, so he was taken to the Dongjiang Courtyard by Wang Qinian.

The next morning, the adults of the previous dynasty were surprised when they saw Sun Chengzong, a scholar of Wuyingdian University, standing in front of the queue.

Cabinet Elder Cao Ge looked at Sun Ge Lao, who was standing in front of him, with a straight waist, and couldn't help muttering in his heart: This Sun Chengzong didn't return sooner or later, but he rushed back at this juncture when the imperial history of the capital was filled, was it a coincidence or deliberate?

At today's court meeting, all the officials know that the highlight is the selection of the imperial history of the capital.

Sure enough, after everything was done, Wang Yongguang, the secretary of the ministry, stepped forward to report: "Your Majesty, the post of Imperial History of the Imperial Court has been vacant for more than a month, and the ministers please select a virtuous person to fill this vacancy." ”

After Wang Shangshu finished speaking, the officials in the entire hall were in high spirits, and the cabinet scholars, the six departments and nine secretaries and other important ministers of the court all cheered up and paid attention to the development of things.

Emperor Chongzhen was not surprised at all, and asked Wang Yongguang gently, "Is there a suitable candidate for the ministry?" ”

Wang Yongguang said: "Fan Yin, the imperial history of the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, the thirty-eighth year of Wanli, has served as the director of the Ministry of Industry, the Senator of Huguang, etc., and the qualifications are very suitable for the post of the imperial history of the capital. ”

Half a month ago, the adults in the court basically knew about the candidates mentioned by Wang Yongguang, and after Wang Shangshu finished speaking, all the ministers looked like they were calm and clear.

Emperor Chongzhen nodded slowly, looked at Zhou Yanru, the first assistant of the cabinet, and asked, "First assistant, what is the opinion of the cabinet?" ”

Zhou Shoufu replied: "The person Fan Yin, the imperial history of the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, Wang Shangshu has also mentioned it to the minister, and the minister himself has no opinion, but Cao Ge Lao and Xu Ge Lao seem to have different opinions. ”

Emperor Chongzhen looked at Cao Yubian and Xu Guangqi.

Elder Cao Ge arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that the position of the imperial history of the capital has special powers, and it is not possible to simply consider the seniority, but to examine the person's familiarity with the affairs of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, as well as the official character. The minister believes that the post of imperial history of the capital should be selected from within the Metropolitan Procuratorate. The ministers recommended all to Nakata-sama. ”

Wang Shangshu smiled coldly when he heard this: "Cao Ge Lao doesn't dare to agree with this, in terms of familiarity with the affairs of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Master Fan, as the imperial history of the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, is it not as good as a small Duzhong!" ”

Cao Ge Lao's eyes widened, and he sneered: "Wang Shangshu knows Fan Yin so well? How did I hear that since this Lord Fan came to work in the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, he has been enjoying flowers and birds all day long, and has nothing to do? Have you forgotten all about the affairs of the Metropolitan Procuratorate? ”

"You!" Wang Shangshu said angrily: "Cao Ge has to talk about evidence!" ”

"Lord Wang wants evidence?" Cao Ge Lao-for-tat: "Then you might as well invite Wang Shangshu to Nanjing for a walk and inquire on the spot!" ”

Wang Shangshu's anger surged, so he waited to argue again, and suddenly remembered Xu Liang's explanation, so he snorted lightly and kept silent.

Above, Emperor Chongzhen said: "Okay, there is no need to fight. Then he turned to Xu Guangqi, another scholar of Dongge University, and asked with a smile: "Xu Aiqing, you also have a candidate?" ”

All the ministers in the palace looked at Xu Ge Lao, waiting for Xu Ge Lao to also put forward a candidate. Unexpectedly, Xu Ge Lao stood firmly in place, without the slightest intention of being out of the ranks, he arched his hand towards Chongzhen above, and said indifferently: "Back to Your Majesty, the old minister thinks that the people recommended by Wang Shangshu and Cao Ge are very suitable, and the old minister has no objections. ”

Yes? Elder Xu Ge's words surprised several adults who knew about it. Elder Cao Ge glanced at Elder Xu Ge several times, and said in his heart: Xu Guangqi released his words a few days ago, and he wanted to mention Senator Zhao from Guangdong, why didn't he mention it now? Could it be that he knew that he couldn't compete with me, so he simply gave up and admitted defeat?

Cao Ge thought about it, and suddenly saw a strange smile on the corner of Wang Yongguang's mouth, the secretary of the ministry, and was suddenly shocked: No, this Xu Guangqi did not admit defeat, he should have turned to support Wang Yongguang!

Cao Ge Lao's heart tightened, and then he looked at Zhou Yanru, the first assistant in front of him, and saw Zhou Shoufu's face was calm and clear, and Cao Ge Lao's hanging heart was slightly lowered.

Emperor Chongzhen looked at Zhou Shoufu and asked, "Shoufu, the candidates of the Ministry of Officials and Cao Ge Lao are not unified, in your opinion, what should I do?" ”

Zhou Shoufu had long expected this situation, and when he heard this, his eyebrows twitched, and he arched his hand towards Emperor Chongzhen: "Since there are two candidates, let's do it according to the old rules, and decide on the candidates!" ”

Emperor Chongzhen listened, nodded slowly, and was about to signal to Wang Chengen, the eunuch of Bingbi on the side, but unexpectedly, another person suddenly stood up among the ministers, and said in a loud voice: "Xu Liang, the minister of Guanglu Temple, recommends one person!" (To be continued.) )