Huang Daozhou was originally in the Imperial Courtyard, and when he heard Xu Liang's call, he immediately put down what he was doing and rushed to Guanglu Temple. The three of them were in the office room, and Wang Qinian once again told Huang Daozhou about the stakes of the second assistant candidate.

The zodiac week was cleared at one o'clock, and I immediately understood. However, after pondering for a while, Huang Daozhou's face was worried, and he arched his hand towards Xu Liang and said, "My lord, Lord Wang's proposal is very important. However, this kind of thing is not very practical. First, compared with Wen Ge Lao, Xu Ge Lao must be still young in qualifications and has no natural advantages. ”

"It's because it's hard to do that I have to do it even more." Xu Liang's tone was very serious, and he said sharply: "Because of Cao Yubian's relationship, the first assistant Zhou Yanru and Wen Tiren have always had a bad impression of this official. Zhou Daofu used to take care of the face of the court Daofu, and he didn't attack the official clearly. However, after experiencing Cao Yubian's incident, although we did it simply and did not leave any obvious handles, Zhou and Wen are not easy to match, I believe that these two people have also come back at this moment and have doubts about their officials. ”

"If Wen Tiren is promoted to the position of second assistant again, then the official can basically pack up and go home!" When Xu Liang said this, he already represented his determination.

One evening, Xu Liang drove lightly and came to the door of Xu Guangqi's house. Although Xu Liang himself was too low in background and was only a lifter, it was impossible for him to be promoted to the position of a scholar, but Xu Liang decided to help Xu Guangqi ascend to the position. Whether in terms of personal relationship or fairness, Xu Guangqi can be regarded as someone Xu Liang can trust.

decided to help him, Xu Liang still had to probe Xu Ge Lao's tone first, don't do his best on Xu Liang's side, Xu Ge Lao is still in the dark, it won't be fun.

The housekeeper of the Xu Mansion saw that Xu Liang, the secretary of Guanglu Temple, came to visit, and hurriedly brought Xu Liang in. In Xu Ge's old study. Xu Liang saw Xu Ge Lao, who was reading the chapter.

Compared with when Xu Liang first met Xu Guangqi, Xu Liang looked at Xu Ge Lao at this time, and suddenly realized that Xu Ge Lao had aged a lot, and although he was well maintained, the wrinkles on his face were still inevitably revealed.

Moreover, Xu Ge has lost a lot of weight.

"Elder Ge. The lower officials have come to see you. Xu Liang stood in front of Xu Ge Lao and said gently.

Xu Ge Lao closed the fold in his hand, gave Xu Liang a friendly smile, beckoned Xu Liang to sit down, and explained self-deprecating while tidying up the table: "After Cao Ge Lao and Cheng Ge Lao left, the affairs of the cabinet suddenly became heavy, and the old man who couldn't handle the twists and turns in the cabinet would sometimes bring them home. Xu Liang. Don't say that the old man has violated the rules. ”

It stands to reason that court proceedings are state secrets, and cabinet ministers have no right to take them out of the palace without permission.

Xu Liang hurriedly shook his head and said with admiration: "What did the elder say?" The elder of the pavilion worked hard for the Ming Dynasty, and the officials admired it! ”

"Heh, Xu Liang Mokua old man." Xu Ge Lao waved his hand and said with a smile. He rubbed his eye sockets and looked at Xu Liang. asked: "Counting, Xu Liang, haven't you been to the old man's mansion for some days?" Come today. It's not just to visit the old man, right? ”

Xu Liang was slightly frightened, and arched his hand: "Recently, I have been busy with the affairs of the Qionglin Banquet, and there are more things. ”

Elder Xu Ge nodded slowly, and said: "This year's palace examination is the first palace examination since the emperor ascended the throne, and the significance is extraordinary, and the Qionglin banquet is an indispensable part of the palace examination. Xu Liangke has to prepare carefully, don't go out of business. ”

Xu Liang said: "Don't worry, the lower officials remember." After a pause, Xu Liang arched his hand and said, "Speaking of which, since Cao Ge Lao." After Cheng Ge Lao left the court one after another, His Majesty didn't seem to have the idea of adding cabinet ministers, Ge Lao, you are in the center, have you heard any remarks? ”

Xu Ge Lao glanced at Xu Liang, with a smile on the corner of his mouth, and said, "What, Xu Liang also wants to go further?" Immediately, Xu Ge Lao laughed first, waved his hand and said, "Xu Liang, although you are now in the third grade, you are too young. The elder of the pavilion, who is less than thirty years old, is too appalling to say it. ”

Xu Liang's face was slightly red, and he said embarrassedly: "The elder made fun of the lower officials." Xia Guan is from a noble background, and he has no chance with the cabinet university in this life. ”

"Hmm......" Xu Ge Lao was stunned, Xu Liang was born Xu Ge Lao didn't think about it for a while, he was silent for a while, and sighed: "Speaking of which, this is also the disadvantage of the court. Non-Jishi are not allowed to enter the cabinet to worship the prime minister, what kind of rule is this! Xu Liang, your own knowledge, the old man is very appreciative, but this is the origin of this person...... Alas...... At the moment, there is no good way. ”

Xu Liang smiled bitterly: "Don't make fun of the lower officials. Saying that, Xu Liang's expression was neat, he leaned forward, smiled strangely at Xu Ge Lao, and asked softly: "Ge Lao, now that Cheng Ji has resigned, this time the auxiliary position is vacant, Xia Guan wants to ask Ge Lao in private, what are the plans of the second assistant position?" ”

When Xu Ge heard this, he was stunned for a while, then his face changed, he hurriedly got up, walked to the door of the study, gently closed the door, and then stood in front of Xu Liang, calmed down, and then said nervously: "Xu Liang, what nonsense are you talking about!" The position of secondary assistant is chosen by His Majesty and the courtiers, and the old man just obeys the emperor's orders, what can he do? ”

With a snort, Xu Liang couldn't help but laugh first when he saw Xu Ge Lao being so nervous, and also stood up, looked at Xu Ge Lao, and said, "Why is Ge Lao so nervous!" This place is the study room on the old mansion, only you and me, the words of the lower officials, from the bottom of their hearts, why don't the old men be honest with each other? ”

Xu Ge looked at Xu Liang for a long time, then slowly shook his head and said, "Xu Liang, the old man and you have long been friends. The old man also believes that if you say it, you are also thinking about the old man. In fact, I won't tell you that on the night of Cheng Ge's resignation, the old man thought about this matter carefully. It's just that after thinking about it, the cabinet is the second assistant, and it is only appropriate for Wen Ge Lao to take over. ”

Xu Liang sneered disdainfully: "You said Wen Tiren? What kind of virtue this person has, presumably the elder knows better than the lower officials. ”

Elder Xu Ge sighed lightly and said helplessly: "Let's not talk about Elder Wenge's conduct. Speaking of qualifications alone, the old man is beyond his reach. Wen Ge is always a Jinshi in the twenty-sixth year of Wanli, Shu Jishi. At the beginning of His Majesty's accession to the throne, he was already a secretary of the Ministry of Rites. And the old man is a Jinshi in the thirty-second year of Wanli, although he is also fortunate to be selected as a Jishi, but the time of joining the office is six years later than Wen Ge Lao! Moreover, the old man and Wen Ge entered the cabinet at the same time, before entering the cabinet. Wen Ge is the old man's official. Let's ask if there is an old man in Wen Ge, how can the position of the second assistant be the turn of the old man? ”

After listening to Xu Ge's words, Xu Liang knew it in his heart. It seems that in the bottom of this Xu Ge old heart, he doesn't have any ideas about the position of the second assistant. It's just that because his qualifications are not as good as Wen Tiren, he has no choice but to do it. I simply gave up this thought.

Xu Liang had a faint smile on his face, and after Xu Ge Lao finished speaking, Xu Liang said: "Xia Guan admits that what Ge Lao said is not wrong at all. In the cabinet, let's not talk about Sun Chengzong, a scholar of Wuyingdian University with old qualifications, but when it comes to Wen Tiren, you are much inferior to the old man. ”

Elder Xu Ge glared at Xu Liang and reproached: "Since you know Xu Liang, why do you come to ask me?" ”

Xu Liang sneered, and solemnly arched his hand towards Xu Ge Lao: "Say a thousand and ten thousand." Xia Guan just wants to ask Ge Lao one sentence, the position of the second assistant, does Ge Lao want to sit on it? ”

When Xu Ge heard this, his face was unnatural for a while.

Xu Liang said: "Pavilion elder, the court is in a high position, and those who are capable live in it." Xu Ge is full of economy, is he willing to live a mediocre life, and can't stretch his ambitions? ”

Old Xu Ge's face flushed. Under Xu Liang's persecuted gaze, he finally couldn't hold back. Flicked his sleeves and said categorically: "If the old man doesn't dare to think about it, it is also a lie to deceive himself." It's just that...... Alas, it's useless for the old man to fight...... The position of the second assistant is none other than Wen Ge Lao. ”

Xu Liang listened and snorted lightly. said: "Even so, could it be that Elder Ge is so willing to watch Wen Tiren ascend to the top?" ”

Xu Ge said: "There will always be a chance in the future......"

Xu Liang raised his voice and interrupted Xu Ge Lao: "There is no chance!" ”

This shout startled Xu Gelao, and he looked at Xu Liang in amazement.

Xu Liang persuaded Xu Ge Lao bitterly: "My Xu Ge Lao. You're in your sixties now! Think about it, how many more years can you work in this court? Three years? Five years? The opportunity waits for no one, and if you don't fight for it at this time, do you have to wait until Wen Tiren retires with honor, and then take the position? Ge Lao, at your age, it's too late to fight! ”

Xu Ge's face changed, he looked at Xu Liang in a daze, his expression changed for a long time, and finally gradually became firm, solemnly bowed to Xu Liang, and said gratefully: "Xu Liang's words woke up the person in the dream, it was the old man who was obsessed!" As he spoke, Xu Ge's old waist suddenly straightened, and a sense of superiority suddenly appeared, looked at Xu Liang, and said in a firm tone: "You are right, this opportunity is rare, not to be missed!" ”

Xu Liang suddenly said happily: "The elder has this determination, and the lower official is willing to be the pawn of the elder and help the elder of the pavilion!" ”

Xu Ge stepped forward gratefully, held Xu Liang's hands, and said eagerly: "The old man has Xu Liang's help, and he will be more confident in success!" It's just that how to start now, in the old man's heart, there is no discipline at all. ”

When Xu Liang heard this, he smiled like a cunning fox, patted Xu Ge Lao's hand, and said: "Ge Lao, before the lower official came to your mansion, he had already thought about it for the elder of the pavilion, and the lower official thought that the top priority at the moment was to win the position of the chief examiner of this palace examination. ”

"Huh?" Xu Ge Lao looked at Xu Liang suspiciously, and asked, "Is there any deep meaning to this?" ”

Xu Liang said: "The elder of the pavilion also said that this is the first palace test of the Chongzhen Dynasty, and its significance is extraordinary. ”

Xu Ge's old eyebrows moved, and he also understood what Xu Liang meant. This is the first palace examination of the Chongzhen Dynasty, and Emperor Chongzhen must attach great importance to it, if Xu Ge Lao himself can serve as the chief examiner of this palace examination, it will also be an extremely important qualification for Xu Ge Lao himself.

Xu Ge was moved, and then frowned, and said to Xu Liang embarrassedly: "But the old man heard Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, say that the chief examiner of this palace examination has been prepared. ”

"Who is it?" Xu Liang asked.

Elder Xu Ge sighed and said, "Elder Wen Ge was in charge of the Ministry of Rites before he entered the cabinet, and now he is the honor of the cabinet minister, and he is the most qualified candidate to serve as the chief examiner of this palace examination several times. The chief examiner proposed by the Ministry of Rites is Wen Gelao. ”

Xu Liang sneered: "Since it was drafted, it has not been explicitly announced." Maybe something will happen? ”

Elder Xu Ge suddenly looked at Xu Liang in disbelief.

Xu Liang squeezed his eyebrows for a while.

Xu Liang talked with Xu Ge for a long time before he said goodbye.

The next day, when Xu Liang went to court, he met Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, outside the noon gate, so he leaned over with a smile and arched his hand: "Lord Li, you came so early today." ”

Li Tengfang had a very good impression of this Guanglu Temple Qing Xu Liang, and when he heard this, he chuckled and said, "Lord Xu came quite early." ”

Xu Liang politely looked at a piece of music in Li Tengfang's hand, and asked casually: "Yo, Lord Li wants to play the book today?" ”

When Li Tengfang heard this, he put some folds into his sleeve cage and explained to Xu Liang: "Seeing that there are only a few days left before the palace examination, this official is about to recommend the examiner candidate for this palace examination to His Majesty. ”

Xu Liang let out a long sigh, then arched his hand, and said with an embarrassed face: "It turned out that this was the case." Scold...... Speaking of the palace test, the lower officials had a reluctant request. ”

Li Tengfang said: "Lord Xu is polite. ”

Xu Liang approached Li Tengmang and whispered: "Lord Li also knows, Xiaguan's Guanglu Temple has been busy preparing for the Qionglin Banquet after the palace examination for a while, and Lord Li folded up, most likely to report the situation of this palace examination to His Majesty, right?" ”

"Yes." Li Tengfang really didn't treat Xu Liang as an outsider, nodded and admitted it.

Xu Liang became even more enthusiastic, rubbing his hands, looking very embarrassed, and whispered: "Master Li knows the official, and the few words I wrote are really not neat, and every time I have to write a recital, I have to sweat a lot." The lower officials want to pay homage to Master Li, you will do this again. After the dispersal of the dynasty today, the lower officials will report the preparations for the Qionglin banquet to your elder, and you will write it into the fold. In this way, the official has been fulfilled, and the official has been saved from having to report it separately. ”

Guanglu Temple Qing Xu Liang's handwriting is ugly, which is no longer a secret in the court. Li Tengfang thought for a while, and said secretly: If the situation of the Qionglin banquet is also added to his own twists and turns, it will also seem that his own twists and turns are more comprehensive. When he raised his eyes, he saw Xu Liang looking at him expectantly, and his expression was a little respectful. This attitude greatly satisfied the vanity of Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites.

Look, the dignified and upright Guanglu Temple Qing all ask this master to do something!

Li Tengfang stroked his beard, smiled heartily, patted Xu Liang's shoulder, and said, "Lord Xu is too outward!" This kind of petty favor, as long as Lord Xu speaks, how can this official not help! That's it, this twist and turn, it's not too late for this official to go up tomorrow. ”

"Thank you, sir." Xu Liang's face was full of gratitude, and when he lowered his brows, the corners of Xu Liang's mouth smiled strangely. (To be continued.) )