Emperor Chongzhen was very happy.

Now that the court is short of money, several cabinet ministers have listed many strategies to quell the chaos and calm the people in front of Emperor Chongzhen, but they were forced to suspend when the final decision was about to be implemented. Reason for abortion: No money.

And the Guanglu Temple Qing Xu Liang in front of him is very real, and he directly pulled the villagers to donate money to the court, and he also donated a huge amount of 20,000 taels.

There is a precedent for donating money in the Chongzhen Dynasty. On the seventh day of the third month of the third year of Chongzhen, Nan Juyi, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, wrote to the court, hoping that the court would be opened. Subsequently, the wealthy households of Suzhou, Changzhou, Songjiang and Zhenjiang donated 9,838 taels of silver to the court. At that time, Emperor Chongzhen was happy and specially issued a decree to reward the rich who donated money.

The total amount of money donated by wealthy households in the four prefectures was only more than 9,000 taels, and Xu Liang and his fellow villagers donated 20,000 taels.

Xu Liang and Yan Qi were personally sent out of the Heart Cultivation Hall by Emperor Chongzhen, and this honor shocked both Xu Liang and Yan Qi.

The next day, at the court meeting, when Emperor Chongzhen was about to disperse the dynasty, he suddenly ordered the eunuch Wang Chengen to announce in the court: Yan Qi, president of the Beijing branch of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, gave a plaque of loyalty, ten pairs of southern pearls, and a number of palace jade. Xu Liang, the Qing of Guanglu Temple, was loyal to the country, rewarded a thousand taels of silver, and was promoted to one level.

As soon as this holy decree was issued, the ministers all looked at Xu Liang, the secretary of Guanglu Temple, who stepped forward to receive the decree of thanksgiving. In addition to Sun Chengzong and Xu Guangqi, several cabinet ministers, Zhou Yanru, Cheng Jiming and others were extremely surprised.

After the proclamation was read out, Cabinet Minister Cao Yubian was the first to stand up against it.

"Your Majesty! The old minister has something to say. Cao Ge Lao arched his hand, glared at Xu Liang, and said, "Your Majesty suddenly promoted Xu Liang, the secretary of Guanglu Temple. Even if Lord Xu has the merit of donating silver, the old minister thinks. These achievements are not the work of Kuang Fu Sheji, and they can be easily promoted to higher grades. It's inappropriate. ”

Emperor Chongzhen's face was slightly gloomy, and he said unhappily: "Cao Aiqing, I remember that Xu Liang has been fined for one year, and Xu Aiqing can still think of sharing worries for me under punishment, and this kind of character really makes me admire." ”

Cao Yubian shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, the court employs people, only meritocracy, if Lord Xu only donates silver to the court." The official was promoted to a higher level, and this kind of practice spread, which inevitably made the people of the world laugh! ”

At this time, Xu Guangqi stood up and said, "Lord Cao's words are wrong. His Majesty's reward of Xu Liang is to reward Xu Liang's character of sharing worries for the country. It's not just about donating money. If all of my officials in the Ming Dynasty are like Lord Xu, they can always think about worrying about the country, then. Your Majesty has rewarded you greatly, and the official thinks that it is not impossible. ”

"Old Xu Ge, this is a one-sided statement!" Cao Yubian shouted.

Xu Liang is already extremely disgusted with this old man Cao, and it seems that as long as there are good things for Xu Liang. Cao Lao Pifu will always jump out and stir up. Immediately, Elder Cao Ge smiled coldly and said, "If Elder Cao Ge can also donate 20,000 taels of silver to the court like an official." Xiaguan was the first to ask for credit for Cao Ge's old book! ”

"You!" Cao Yubian's face was red suddenly. Although he was not angry that Xu Liang had improved his rank so easily, he was also reluctant to give 20,000 taels of silver to the court. immediately brushed his sleeves and reprimanded: "The old man doesn't reason with you." ”

Emperor Chongzhen above was already impatient, and waved his hand and said, "I have made up my mind." You don't have to talk about it anymore. Retreat. ”

Among the ministers, although there were also a few people who were a little indignant about Xu Liang's promotion. But most people still came forward to say hello to Xu Liang with a look of envy.

Xu Liang coped with them one by one, caught up with Xu Guangqi, and said sincerely: "Lord Xu's maintenance of the lower officials is remembered by the lower officials. ”

Xu Ge said with a smile: "Others don't know the details of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, but the old man is clear. Xu Liang: You can donate your own money to the court, this kind of righteous act should be rewarded. The old man is just a matter of facts. ”

Xu Liang smiled shyly: "This little bit of caution from the lower officials can't be hidden from the elder of the pavilion. ”

Xu Ge said: "Xu Liang does things, but he can be worthy of his heart, as for the criticism of others, don't pay too much attention to it." ”

Xu Liang Shili said: "The lower officials have been taught. ”

Xu Ge Lao looked at Xu Liang and was very appreciative, and said, "Call Sun Yuanhua and Yu Dacheng tonight, you all come to the old man's mansion, and the old man will set up wine to celebrate Xu Liang's success." ”

Xu Liang was suddenly a little flattered, and said in surprise: "Then thank you Elder Ge." ”

Back at Guanglu Temple, the people of the Yamen learned that Xu Liang had been promoted to the third rank, and a group of people surrounded Xu Liang to say goodbye. Shen Congliang, the young secretary of Guanglu Temple, happily suggested: "Your Excellency is promoted, this is a great joy for our Guanglu Temple, I propose that all our Yamen people come and live tonight to celebrate for Lord Siqing." ”

"Good! That's exactly how it should be! The other subordinates echoed loudly.

Ji Zhong, the ambassador of the silver treasury, teased: "Lord Shaoqing is too stingy!" Our Lord Siqing was promoted, such a big happy event, where is the grade enough to set up wine in the guest house? According to me, let's just go to Fumanyuan, the most expensive place in the capital, to have a meal! ”

Shen Congliang was not annoyed by Ambassador Ji's words, and immediately said, "Okay, then go to Fumanyuan!" ”

When all the subordinate officials heard this, they all responded excitedly. Seeing this, Xu Liang interrupted them and said, "Thank you very much for your enthusiasm. It's just that it won't work tonight, and the official has other important things to do tonight. ”

The officials were stunned for a moment, and Shen Congliang said, "Since Lord Xu has something to do tonight, then tomorrow night, right?" As he spoke, he looked at Xu Liang.

Xu Liang saw that all the subordinate officials were looking at him with blank eyes, so he said heartily: "Okay, it's tomorrow night!" The private room on the second floor of Fumanyuan, you can order wine and food, and the official is invited! ”

"Oh, Lord Siqing is refreshing!" All the subordinate officials laughed.

At nightfall, Xu Liang's carriage stopped at the door of Xu Guangqi's house, and Xu Liang got out of the carriage. A young man came to greet him at the door.

"Brother Xu, you're coming pretty fast!" Yu Dacheng said with a smile.

Xu Liang said: "Brother Yu arrived earlier than me. ”

Yu Dacheng said: "Today is Xu Ge's old wine to celebrate Brother Xu, and I am stained with your light." He pointed to the inside of the house and said, "Ge Lao and Brother Sun are inside, Brother Xu should go in first." ”

Xu Liang nodded, took two steps, and suddenly stopped. looked at Yu Dacheng and asked, "Why didn't Brother Yu go in with me?" ”

Yu Dacheng looked slightly embarrassed. Said: "Wang Shangshu of the Ministry of Officials is also coming over tonight, and the elder of the pavilion has ordered me to greet him here." ”

Xu Liang was taken aback. Wang Yongguang, the secretary of the ministry, will also attend tonight's banquet. Xu Liang really didn't know. Since Wang Shangshu is also coming over, then as a subordinate, he should also greet him.

So, Xu Liang walked down the steps again, and smiled at Yu Dacheng: "It turned out to be Wang Shangshu, then I will accompany Brother Yu to wait here." ”

Yu Dacheng nodded, stood at the door of Xu Mansion with Xu Liang, gossiping, and after a while, he saw that the official sedan chair of Wang Yongguang, the secretary of the ministry, had arrived. The two of them smiled and greeted them.

Wang Yongguang got off the sedan chair, saw Yu Dacheng and Xu Liang, nodded slightly, and said: "Some affairs of the ministry have been delayed for some time, but Xu Ge has been waiting for a long time." Xu Liang, Yu Dacheng, go in with the official. ”

Wang Yongguang is a heavenly official of the Ministry of Officials, and he met Xu Liang and Yu Dacheng, two young officials. The tone naturally took on the posture of a heavenly official.

The three of them went in and exchanged pleasantries with Xu Ge Lao in the house for a while, and Xu Ge Lao ordered the banquet to be opened.

The reason for tonight's banquet is to celebrate Xu Liang's grade and mention the third grade, and Xu Liang is the protagonist of the banquet. I was poured several glasses of wine in a row.

The people sitting at the banquet were basically acquaintances, although Wang Yongguang was the secretary of the ministry and Xu Liang. The relationship between Yu Dacheng and the others is a little rusty, but since Xu Ge can invite Wang Shangshu to the wine table. That shows that in the eyes of Xu Ge Lao. Wang Yongguang can also be regarded as his own person.

Xu Liang greeted Xu Guangqi, Wang Yongguang and others each gave a glass in return, slightly drunk. In his mind, he was thinking about the purpose of Xu Guangqi inviting Wang Yongguang over.

If it is simply to congratulate Xu Liang, then it is called Sun Yuanhua, Yu Dacheng and Xu Liang himself, and there is no need to call the officials of the Ministry of Heaven as well! Among them, there must be Xu Gelao's purpose.

Sure enough, the wine has passed three rounds, and the dishes have five flavors. Elder Xu Ge touched a glass with Wang Shangshu, and said slowly: "Your Majesty has already talked to Elder Sun Ge, and there are new changes in the court." ”

Wang Shangshu obviously understood people, so he nodded in a deep voice and said, "What do you say?" ”

Only Xu Liang, Sun Yuanhua and Yu Dacheng were three young people at the wine table, and they looked at Xu Ge Lao and Wang Shangshu playing dumb riddles there for some reason.

Xu Ge Lao said: "Sun Chengzong is still a scholar of Wuyingdian University, but he is no longer the secretary of the military department, and he is in charge of the defense of Liaodong. ”

Wang Shangshu had a sudden expression on his face, nodded slowly, and then asked: "Who did Your Majesty fall in love with the vacant military department Shangshu?" ”

"Zunhua Governor Liang Tingdong!" Xu Guangqi said.

Wang Shangshu thought about Liang Tingdong's situation in his mind, and said in a deep voice: "Liang Tingdong is a jinshi in the forty-seventh year of Wanli, and he has served as the director of the Nanjing Military Department, a senator in Xining, and a deputy envoy of the Yongping Military Garrison. It is not surprising that His Majesty thinks of this person. ”

Xu Guangqi chuckled a few times.

Wang Shangshu asked, "Why is the elder laughing?" ”

Xu Guangqi glanced at Wang Shangshu and said disdainfully: "Liang Tingdong is a person with average talent, but his virtue is not flattering!" I really don't know how His Majesty fell in love with such a person! ”

When it came to the character of others, Wang Shangshu kept silent.

However, Xu Liang and the others were stunned. Sun Yuanhua's face turned pale, and he asked eatingly: "Teacher, this, when did this happen?" ”

Xu Guangqi sighed lightly and said, "Yesterday, His Majesty summoned the cabinet ministers into the palace to discuss this matter. As he spoke, seeing Sun Yuanhua's strange face, he gave him a reassuring look. turned to look at Wang Yongguang and said, "Your Majesty has made up your mind, and the court push is a matter of the past few days." Tonight, I specially invited Lord Wang to celebrate Xu Liang's promotion, but there is also one thing that needs Lord Wang's help. ”

Wang Shangshu said: "The old man is serious. The official and the elder of the pavilion are now in the same breath and advancing and retreating together. The elder of the pavilion has orders, and it doesn't hurt to say it directly. ”

Xu Guangqi pointed at Sun Yuanhua and said, "Yuanhua has been a squire in the military department for more than a year. Originally, if Sun Ge was in charge of the military department, the old man didn't have anything to worry about, but now that Liang Tingdong has come to power, Yuanhua had some holidays with Liang Tingdong in his early years, and the old man was worried that Liang Tingdong would embarrass Yuanhua. ”

Wang Shangshu glanced at Sun Yuanhua and said, "This official understands, the pavilion always wants to change places for Lord Sun?" ”

Xu Guangqi nodded.

Sun Yuanhua listened, his expression was grateful, and he looked at Wang Yongguang expectantly. When he heard that Liang Tingdong was going to take over as the secretary of the military department, he immediately felt extremely bad. In the early years, when Liang Tingdong was the head of the Nanjing Military Department, Sun Yuanhua was not ashamed of Liang Tingdong's personality and had deep contradictions with this person. Now that feng shui is turning, Liang Tingdong was actually taken by Emperor Chongzhen, and he was going to be the secretary of the military department, with Liang Tingdong's personality of retribution, Sun Yuanhua would be framed and killed by Liang Tingdong when he worked under him.

Wang Shangshu lowered his head and thought for a while, then looked at Sun Yuanhua, nodded, and said, "This official remembers that the governor of Denglai in Shandong has been vacant for a while, and Lord Sun can go to fill this vacancy." It's just that the people in Denglai are fierce, and they are not very peaceful. ”

Sun Yuanhua immediately said with a grateful face: "Lord Shangshu can rest assured, as long as he is transferred out of the military department." Wherever you go, you are willing to go to the lower officials. ”

Wang Shangshu said to Xu Guangqi: "Okay, another day and morning, this official will ask His Majesty for an order." ”

Xu Guangqi said: "That's it, Lord Wang. ”

Xu Liang and Yu Dacheng saw the two bigwigs in front of them, and in a few words, they changed the direction of Sun Yuanhua's career, and looked at Sun Yuanhua's eyes and couldn't help but be happy and envious.

In Xu Liang's mind, although the governor of Denglai is in charge of a small place, only a small part of the Shandong Peninsula, he is also a feudal official, and his weight and power are much greater than that of a military squire!

Sun Yuanhua immediately toasted Wang Shangshu again and again, expressing his gratitude.

A banquet let Xu Liang know Sun Chengzong's latest whereabouts.

Two days later, Xu Liang sent Dai Feng and Sima Qiudao to Tongzhou to take office. Since Sun Yuanhua had already learned that he was about to be transferred to Denglai, he was not very enthusiastic about the recruitment of troops in the capital, and he was bent on ending it as soon as possible. It just so happened that Sun Chengzong also knew the bottom of the recruits recruited this time, and agreed to Sun Yuanhua's proposal to hand over 40,000 recruits to Dai Feng, the general soldier of Tongzhou, as soon as possible.

So, Xu Liang followed Sun Ge Lao and Sun Shilang, with Dai Feng, Sima Qiudao and 40,000 recruited recruits, and marched from Nanyuan to Tongzhou.

After the news that Yang Guodong, the former commander-in-chief of Tongzhou, had been transferred to a certain city in the south of the Yangtze River to serve as the chief soldier, he suspended all the construction of the city defense of Tongzhou City, gathered his troops, sorted out the roster of the Tongzhou army, seized the granaries and arsenals, and waited for the new commander-in-chief to come over to handle the handover, so that he could rush to the splendid world in the south of the Yangtze River as soon as possible.

The handover process of the old and new general soldiers in Tongzhou was presided over by Sun Gelao himself, and the handover process was extremely smooth. When Dai Feng and others were busy deploying and placing 40,000 recruits, Sun Ge Lao invited Xu Liangtong back to the capital.

Before going back to the city, Sun Ge specially invited Xu Liang to sit in the same carriage with him, saying that he wanted to chat with Xu Liang.

The chat is naturally fake! The carriage walked for a while, and when Sun Ge saw that there were few pedestrians on the official road, he stopped chatting with Xu Liang, looked directly at Xu Liang, and said in a deep voice: "Xu Liang, the old man is going back to Liaodong!" (To be continued......)