Amid the sound of fireworks and firecrackers, the first year of the apocalypse has finally come to an end, and it is an eventful year, a year that everyone talks about. Although it is the New Year, there are still a few happy and a few sad, but this year has finally passed.

From the first day of the new year to the fifteenth day of the new year, the yamen of the Ming Dynasty all went to work, and there was no recital to pass in, and there was no recital of the ministers. Everything seems very quiet and peaceful, and it looks like a peaceful scene in the world. Although the Emperor of the Apocalypse was anxious, there were some things that he couldn't hurry. The women who accompanied the harem had a good year, except for occasionally thinking about the plan for this year, the Emperor of the Apocalypse also rested well.

The sixteenth day of the first lunar month is the day of the Great Pilgrimage, and although it is a Pilgrimage, it does not discuss any political affairs. It is just a ceremony held in the imperial court in imitation of Zhou etiquette, and it is the highest etiquette.

On this day, the brocade clothes and guards set up the honor guards, the teaching workshop department displayed the great music, the etiquette department displayed the national letters, congratulatory tables, and tributes, and also set up the picket officials of the imperial history to supervise those who loved to doze off or talk to each other for a long time. When the time comes, the emperor ascends to the throne, the drums are sounding in unison, and the officials kneel down to congratulate them, and they salute like a ritual. After the ceremony, the group shouted long live, long live.

After the whole set of etiquette, the Emperor of the Apocalypse was also very tired, but he also had to fight his spirits. After all, after the whole set of rituals, there is also a very important feast, and the emperor and the ministers have to eat together.

However, there are few who can eat, and some of the old ministers have fainted in the process of saluting, and those who have not fainted are all SAIC. Most of the people who can eat are military attachés, which naturally attracts the disdain of countless readers.

After the Great Dynasty Meeting, the entire court returned to laziness, and everyone was still immersed in the atmosphere of the New Year. There is nothing going on in the imperial court, and everyone is turning a blind eye.

In the blink of an eye, it was February, and something actually happened in the first month. The rebellion in Sichuan gained a decisive advantage. After Sun Chuanting led his men and horses to recover Luzhou, he pursued the victory and captured the two cottages of Hongyan and Tiantai.

After this, Sun Chuanting decided to divide his troops into two routes, in which he led the Ming army to continue to advance head-on. The surrendered general Luo Ganxiang attacked Lanzhou City, the last stronghold of Luxury Chongming, under the attack of soldiers and horses from two roads. The city of Lanzhou was captured in three days.

Luxury Chongming's father and son led the remnants of the defeated army into Guizhou, preparing to take refuge in Shui'an Bangyan. When the time came in February, the reinforcements led by Yuan Keli and Zhu Xieyuan were only 100 miles away from Guiyang, and Sun Chuanting smashed the whole army in Lanzhou City, ready to wave his army into Guizhou at any time.

After the imperial court got the excerpt of the war report, everyone from the Emperor of the Apocalypse to the ministers breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, the imperial court also received an excerpt from Zhu Xieyuan and told him about the king of Shu.

Although some people were quite skeptical, the Emperor of the Apocalypse tried his best to disagree with the public. The decree was issued to praise the king of Shu. Except for this one, everything was calm.

But when the time came to February, the court had something to do. There are two main things, the first is the imperial examination, this year is the year of the big competition, and the examination will be held in March.

No one dares to slack off on such a talent ceremony, but the court is very experienced in such a thing, and it is naturally done in an orderly manner. The Emperor of the Apocalypse couldn't intervene either. According to the previous rules, there were two examiners. The main examination is because of the cabinet university scholar who came from the jinshi. The deputy chief examiner should be an official above the left deputy capital of Shangshu and above, which has been the practice for many years.

According to this official, the cabinet recommended two people for the Emperor of the Apocalypse, and the chief examiner was Sun Shenxing, a cabinet scholar and a scholar of the Ministry of Rites. The deputy chief examiner is Yang He, the imperial history of the left capital, and both of them are well-known and have a good reputation in the Shilin arena.

The Emperor of the Apocalypse didn't have any thoughts about this matter. Naturally, let go and let the people below do it. However, a holy decree from the Emperor of the Apocalypse stunned everyone, because it was about martial arts. The Emperor of the Apocalypse is going to personally inquire about the martial arts examination this year, and he has already held the palace examination in person, using the same method as the official imperial examination.

As soon as the news came out, everyone was in an uproar for a while. In the Ming Dynasty, all of them were heavy and light on martial arts, and the Wuju people were just a place where the hereditary nobles were gilded. Emperor Apocalypse's approach was opposed by officials, but the reasons for opposition were not sufficient, after all, martial arts were held every three years, and it was not a big deal to improve his status.

However, the actions of the Emperor of the Apocalypse made the eyes of one kind of people shine, that is, those hereditary military nobles. If the status of the military test can really be changed to the same as the test, then their juniors will be able to raise their eyebrows, which is a direct way to improve the status of military attachés.

For a while, the imperial court quarreled because of this matter, and there was no such fierce opposition to the change of the military system in Liaodong. The Emperor of the Apocalypse receives countless twists and turns every day, but it is like a stone sinking into the sea, and there is no news.

In mid-February, the Emperor of the Apocalypse finally issued this holy decree, and from now on, martial artists will also have palace tests. Everyone knows that this is another reform, and many ministers already have a feeling that this young emperor will definitely not end here, this is just the beginning.

In addition to the uproar caused by the imperial examination, there is another thing that is being carried out in an orderly manner, that is, external inspection! The Jingcha of the Ming Dynasty was divided into two parts, some were internal inspectors who were Beijing officials, and outer inspectors were local officials. The internal inspection has ended a year ago, and the external inspection has just begun.

In fact, the holy decree of the external inspection has long come down, and after the New Year, someone will report to the ministry, this day is the third day of the second month, and a person came to the gate of the capital.

It was a middle-aged man in his thirties, dressed in a white silk gown with a beard flowing across his chest. There was a gentle smile on his face, but there was no sharp light in his eyes. Behind him was an old servant, leading two horses, looking like a dusty servant.

Stopping at the gate of the city, the middle-aged man sighed softly, and a complicated look flashed on his face. He muttered to himself: "Yuan has a good plan, and he must be able to use it this time." ”

"Young master, are we going to the inn to rest? It's getting late! Seeing the middle-aged man standing there without moving, the old servant seemed to be a little anxious, walked to the man's side, and said in a respectful tone.

Glancing at the old man, the middle-aged man said softly, "Find an inn to live in!" I'm just a Qipinzhi County, and there won't be any good location in the post house, so let's find a place to live by ourselves! ”

There was no surprise on the old servant's face, he knew the young master of his family, and he had long expected him to say this. He just wanted to remind his young master that it was not too early and it was time to enter the city.

As soon as the two of them walked into the city gate, a person greeted him, saluted the middle-aged man, and said in a respectful tone: "Dare to ask, but Lord Yuan of Zhaowuzhi County?" The little one is the housekeeper in the palace of Lord Yushihou, and he has been waiting here for a long time! ”

Looking at the middle-aged man in front of him, Yuan Chonghuan's brows furrowed slightly, and he pondered for a long time before he smiled and said, "It turned out to be Steward Hou, and I haven't seen him for a few years, and I'm getting younger and younger!" ”

Lord Yuan laughed, the old decay is no longer good! My family asked the little one to wait for Lord Yuan here, and invited Lord Yuan to live in the house! Steward Hou's attitude was unusually respectful, he knew that this Lord Yuan had a good relationship with his master, and it was a real good family.

Nodding with a smile, Yuan Chonghuan stroked his beard and said gratefully: "Brother Hou is really polite, but it is better to be respectful than to obey his fate, and it is annoying that Steward Hou will lead the way!" ”

The group followed Steward Hou like a city and stopped, after turning a few streets, in front of a courtyard. This is a three-entry courtyard, which is worth a lot of money, and few imperial historians can live in such a house.

This is the mansion of the Marquis of Shanxi Province, as a gentry family in Henan, the Hou family has been an official for generations, and the family is quite rich.

The housekeeper stepped forward to explain a few words, and someone ran in quickly to report, and a middle-aged man came out after a short time.

"Elemental Brother, I haven't seen my demeanor for a few years!" This person is the Shanxi Dao Yushi Hou Sui, and he has not yet walked to Yuan Chonghuan's side, so he has already said with a smile.

Shaking his fist at Hou Sui, Yuan Chonghuan bowed and said, "Brother Hou, there is a lot of trouble!" ”

"What did the elements say? You and I can't go against each other, that's the real good of the family, let's go in and talk! Saying that, Hou Sui pulled Yuan Chonghuan inside, with a happy smile on his face.

The two of them walked into the hall and saw a little boy of three or four years old there, holding a book in his hand, looking up and down, left and right. The general appearance of a porcelain doll, a serious look, looks really cute.

Looking at this child in surprise, Yuan Chonghuan asked Hou Sui on the side in surprise, and said, "This is a virtuous nephew?" ”

"Well, it's four years old, and it's naughty!" Although Hou Sui said this, deep love flashed in his eyes.

Walking to the child's side and slowly squatting down, Yuan Chonghuan took off the jade pendant on his waist, and said to the boy with a smile: "Uncle is here for the first time, this is a meeting gift for you!" As he spoke, he handed the jade pendant to the boy.

"The elder doesn't dare to resign, thank you, uncle!" Smiling at Yuan Chonghuan, the boy respectfully took the jade pendant.

Looking at the boy with shock in his eyes, Yuan Chonghuan looked at Hou Sui and said, "Brother Hou has a successor!" It's quite possible! Does the nephew have a name? ”

"There you have it, Daimyo Fangyu!" Hou Sui looked at his son with a satisfied smile on his face.

"Hou Fangyu, good name! Presumably Uncle Shi's handiwork again! Yuan Chonghuan looked at Hou Sui and asked with a smile.

Nodding slightly, Hou Sui couldn't laugh or cry, but still said in a deep voice: "It was my father who got the name!" Glancing back at the maid, Hou Sui said in a deep voice: "Take the young master to the back!" ”

When there was no one in the house, Hou Sui looked at Yuan Chonghuan calmly, and said with a serious face: "Three years ago, you went out to Zhaowuzhi County, and it was a pity for you to be a brother. Now that you're back this time, my brother must go to the book to protect you, so that you can get what you want! (To be continued......)