Huang Daozhou and Wang Qinian were both surprised, looked at Xu Liang, and asked, "My lord, what does Sun Ge Lao mean by this?" ”

Xu Liang sighed and said, "Sun Ge always wants to tell us through this blank piece of paper that he intends to do nothing about the second assistant, neither supporting nor opposing it. In other words, if we want to use the power of Sun Ge Lao, this method will not work. ”

Saying that, Xu Liang glanced at the two subordinates and said, "Haven't you noticed that since Yuan Chonghuan's death, Sun Ge Lao has suddenly been much more low-key?" In the past, Sun Ge Lao was going back to the capital once or twice a month, but now it's almost a month, have you ever seen Sun Ge Lao return to the capital? ”

Huang Daozhou and Wang Qinian both shook their heads.

Not only shook his head, Huang Daozhou also added: "Moreover, even for such a major event as the first palace test of the Chongzhen Dynasty, Sun Ge Lao did not come back. ”

Xu Liang felt very heavy and said in a low voice: "It seems that Yuan Chonghuan's death has dealt a great blow to Sun Ge Lao. ”

Huang Daozhou and Wang Qinian both nodded slowly.

Two days after Liu Neng impeached Wen Ge Lao in the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Rites wrote to Emperor Chongzhen again, accusing the cabinet minister Wen Tiren of being entangled with businessmen in the market, accepting bribes from businessmen, and other crimes. The hearts of all the ministers were a little numb, and the eyes that looked at Elder Wen Ge this time were a little gloating, but the eyes that looked at Liu Neng in the matter of the Ministry of Rites were full of pity.

The hearts of all the ministers were worried about the future of this bold and reckless little giving. is so persistent, I don't know how to offend a cabinet minister, this small career can basically come to an end.

Emperor Chongzhen was also a little disgusted, and looked at Liu Neng and Wen Tiren, the cabinet minister, with very unhappy eyes. In Emperor Chongzhen's opinion, Liu Neng has nothing to do, while Wen Ge Lao is purely ignorant of restraint and causes trouble for himself.

Wen Ge Lao was extremely angry in his heart. However, under the emperor's increasingly displeased look, Wen Ge Lao took a plea the next day, and then, according to the usual practice, Wen Ge Lao closed the door at home to introspect.

The so-called closed-door self-examination is naturally not really self-reflection, but the habitual style of every old minister in the DPRK and China, who has been impeached. Always have to make a show, go to the Tao to ask for the guilty fold, stay at home for a few days to recuperate, wait for the emperor's call, and then pat your ass and go to the court.

Wen Ge Lao introspected behind closed doors, and the first person to visit was Zhou Yanru, the first assistant of the cabinet.

Lord Shoufu personally arrived, and Wen Ge couldn't be trusted, so he immediately opened the main door and welcomed Zhou Shoufu in. After the main and guest seats are divided in the living room. The two gossiped for a while.

Zhou Yanru pointed out his intention, he looked at Wen Tiren, and said with a chuckle: "Brother Wen, if you are impeached for an insignificant matter, you don't have to plead guilty at all, let alone introspect behind closed doors." ”

Although Wen Tiren originally intended to be pretentious, he had a sincere expression of admitting his mistake on the surface, and said, "Shoufu." The official of the science and technology listened to the wind and heard the music, since the beginning of the beginning of the dynasty. Emperor Taizu clearly ordered the ministers of the court not to slack off. As a cabinet minister, the subordinate officials should naturally set an example. ”

Zhou Yanru was disdainful when he heard this, but he was very moved on the surface, and said: "Brother Wen is really worthy of being a model for my generation. It's just that there are so many government affairs in the DPRK and the central government, and the cabinet is already understaffed. Now that you have stacked picks again, where can I and Xu Ge deal with the two people in the cabinet. Saying that, Zhou Yanru comforted Wen Tiren and said, "Brother Wen, the old man has already delivered a message to Luo Yangxing, the governor of Jinyi and Wei. Let him find out the truth as soon as possible and return Brother Wen's innocence. ”

In fact, when Liu gave the first impeachment in the matter, Emperor Chongzhen casually handed over the matter to Jinyiwei for investigation, and now Liu gave the matter one after another impeachments, Emperor Chongzhen thought that one guest would not bother the two masters, and simply let Jinyiwei go to check the facts.

Wen Tiren listened, and his heart was moved. However, he still took care of his face, shook his head and said: "At the court meeting yesterday, I saw that the emperor was a little dissatisfied with me. I think that I am a dignified cabinet scholar, and I have been impeached one after another in a small matter, and if this matter is not investigated, how can I save face? ”

Zhou Yanru saw that Wen Tiren had said this, and he was still in the sedan chair, so he couldn't help but be a little displeased, thought about it, and persuaded again: "Yesterday, the emperor looked displeased, in my opinion, it was probably not aimed at you, Brother Wen, but angry that the Ministry of Rites was in the middle of the matter." ”

"That being the case, the official wants to take advantage of this matter to give some people with bad intentions the same color!" Wen Ge Lao thought of Liu Neng's face in the matter of the Ministry of Rites, not afraid of the sky and not afraid of the earth, and he gritted his teeth with hatred at this time.

Zhou Yanru was taken aback, and said in surprise: "What, Brother Wen wants to attack the little Ministry of Rites?" Alas, Brother Wen, it is a privilege for the officials of the Dao Dynasty to listen to the wind and hear, and even the emperor cannot interfere......"

Wen Tiren sneered, his eyes flashed with hatred, and he shook his head and said, "Lord Shoufu said that he was laughing." What is the Ministry of Rites for things? If there is no one behind him, how dare he be so bold and impeach a cabinet minister? Hehe, the old man is magnanimous, and he will never embarrass a small matter at this time, if this falls into the eyes of the ministers in the court, what will I become Wen Tiren? ”

Zhou Yanru breathed a sigh of relief, and asked curiously, "Then, who does Brother Wen want to deal with?" Ah, could it be that Wen Ti has already found out who is behind it? ”

The resentment in Wen Tiren's eyes is even stronger! He said angrily: "Now some young people don't know how high the sky is, it seems that it is time to teach them how to learn to understand the rules." ”

Zhou Yanru was slightly stunned when he heard this, and then he thought that someone seemed to meet the standards of "young man", and he suddenly realized.

Xu Liang saw that for two days in a row, Elder Wen Ge did not go to the court, and when he inquired with other ministers, he heard that this Elder Wen Pavilion had already closed his door at home to reflect on himself.

Xu Liang immediately felt that the opportunity had come. Seeing that several important agendas in the court had been agreed, Emperor Chongzhen swam his inquiring gaze to the ministers, Xu Liang bit his teeth, stomped his feet, and strode out of the ranks, and said loudly to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, Xu Liang, the minister of Guanglu Temple, has something to play." ”

"Oh?" Emperor Chongzhen suddenly looked surprised, every time the Guanglu Siqing held a court meeting in the image, he hid behind a group of ministers, either his eyes were blank, or his eyes were wandering, or he yawned for a long time. As soon as he was about to doze off, this, this seems to be the first time he has heard that Guanglu Siqing will have something to do.

"What's the matter with Xu Aiqing? Come on! Emperor Chongzhen asked with great interest. At this time, the eyes of the ministers in the court also fell on Xu Liang, and they were all curious about what Xu Liang would propose.

"Your Majesty!" Xu Liang said loudly: "Since the resignation of the cabinet, the position of second assistant has been vacant for a month. Now that the state affairs are heavy, all of them are pressed on Zhou Shoufu alone, and every day Weichen sees Zhou Shoufu dealing with the government without sleep and food, and Weichen's heart is really panicked. Therefore, Weichen wanted to recommend to the emperor that Xu Guangqi, a scholar of Dongge University, take over the post of deputy assistant to the cabinet, so as to share the worries of the emperor and the court. ”

Xu Liang's words can be described as a stone that stirs up a thousand waves, and the Jinluan Palace. Immediately, it became lively, and many ministers looked at Xu Liang in surprise and discussed in a low voice. Zhou Yanru, the first assistant of the cabinet, looked at Xu Liang's eyes for a flash, and then disappeared. And Xu Guangqi's eyes when he looked at Xu Liang were complicated with a hint of emotion.

These words really aroused the fragile and sensitive nerves of Emperor Chongzhen. Emperor Chongzhen listened, looked at several cabinet ministers with a deep groan, saw Xu Guangqi, and nodded slightly. I went to find another person, and it turned out to be a long time. But he didn't see anyone else.

Chongzhen couldn't help but ask in surprise: "What, didn't Wen Aiqing come to the court?" ”

The ministers looked at each other and remained silent. When Zhou Yanru saw the emperor asking, he told Emperor Chongzhen the meaning of Wen Ge's old plea for self-reflection.

In the end, Zhou Shoufu also suggested: "Your Majesty, the election of the second assistant is a major event in the court. Now that Elder Wen Ge and Elder Sun Ge are absent, according to the old minister's opinion, whether to wait for Elder Wen Ge to come to the court before discussing this matter. ”

Xu Liang listened to Zhou Yanru's words, and couldn't help but secretly say brilliantly: It seems that Jiang is still old and spicy. Zhou Yanru in order to keep Wen Ge Lao. successfully won the second auxiliary place, and did not hesitate to drag Sun Ge Lao into the water.

Only Xu Liang and Huang Daozhou, Wang Qinian knew: Sun Ge Lao is actually since Yuan Chonghuan's death, Sun Ge Lao basically ignores the affairs of the court, and even the palace test is absent, how can he come back!

After listening to Zhou Yanru's words, Emperor Chongzhen frowned slightly, and he couldn't help but recall in his heart that Xu Ge Lao would enter the palace to report to him no matter how late he had a big event, and that Wen Ge Lao had not made any achievements except for causing a bunch of cases recently.

Emperor Chongzhen glared at Zhou Yanru, of course, in order to take care of Zhou Shoufu's face, Emperor Chongzhen said with a pleasant face: "Zhou Aiqing, the second assistant of the cabinet was originally a matter of the cabinet and the ministry, well, I think the candidates for the second assistant are only Xu Ge Lao and Wen Ge Lao." Zhou Aiqing, in your opinion, who should be the second assistant? ”

Zhou Yanru said loudly: "The old minister recommends Elder Wen Ge." ”

Emperor Chongzhen turned to Wang Yongguang, the secretary of the ministry, and asked, "Wang Aiqing, what is your opinion?" ”

Wang Shangshu glanced at Zhou Yanru, and in Zhou Shoufu's expectant eyes, he said indifferently: "The minister recommends Xu Ge Lao." ”

Zhou Yanru's face changed, and then he looked at Emperor Chongzhen nervously.

Emperor Chongzhen pondered for a while, pointed at Xu Ge Lao, and said, "Then Xu Ge Lao will serve as the second assistant of the cabinet." After that, Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand and said, "Retreat." ”

"Wait for the emperor!" The ministers shook their heads in unison. Xu Liang listened carefully, and it seemed that Xu Ge Lao's voice was particularly loud.

An hour later, in Wen Ge Lao's mansion, there was a sound of rattling in Wen Ge's old study, and the two waiting maids were yelled out of the house by Wen Ge Lao and guarded at the door, trembling.

Shoufu Zhou Yanru came in a hurry, pushed open the door and entered, and saw fragments of dishes and bowls in the study. Dense there is no place to put your feet.

"Brother Wen?" Zhou Yanru asked.

Wen Tiren slowly raised his head and looked at Zhou Yanru, but Zhou Shoufu was taken aback. Because the eyes of the good and dignified Wen Ge Lao at this moment are like an extreme killer who is ready to strike a fatal blow at any time! Dead cool, ruthless.

Zhou Shoufu was so frightened that he stood at the door, not daring to move, for fear that if Wen Ge Lao's emotions were out of control, Zhou Shoufu would hurt himself.

If that's the case, then I'm too wronged as the first assistant.

Fortunately, after a while, Wen Tiren's expression gradually returned to normal, and then he looked at the ground of the study and there was indeed no place to put his feet, so he beckoned Wen Shoufu to go to the small pavilion in the mansion.

As soon as Zhou Yanru stepped into the small pavilion, Wen Ge Lao said word by word: "Now that I think about it, the purpose of impeaching me in the matter at first was not to bring down Wen Ren, but to try to make it impossible for me to preside over the palace examination!" I think at this time, most of the people behind the scenes thought of setting a trap for the old man! It's a pity that at that time, all my body and mind were cast on the palace test, who would have thought that the people behind the scenes were constantly recruiting, and their purpose was to ask me to surrender and plead guilty, and then take advantage of the opportunity of my absence to unite with the villain Wang Yongguang of the Ministry of Officials, and suddenly attack while I was away! Hey, it's really calculating! ”

Zhou Yanru also guessed who was behind the scenes. And then this kind of thing, although he is the first assistant, he can't do anything to him on the spot?

"Brother Wen, the matter has come to this point, it's useless to say more!" Zhou Shoufu said.

"No!" Elder Wen Ge hissed angrily and shouted: "The old man has never been insulted by such a big insult in the ups and downs of officialdom for decades since he was a junior sergeant!" If this revenge is not avenged, the old man swears not to be a man! ”

The murderous aura on Wen Ge Lao's body made Zhou Shoufu shudder with fear.

Xu Ge Lao was successfully promoted to the second assistant of the cabinet, and Xu Liang contributed a lot. Xu Ge Lao is a Taoist person in the end, after the matter was completed, he invited a few close colleagues to have a small gathering in the private room of the guest house, which was regarded as a thank you to Xu Liang, and by the way, he introduced Xu Ge Lao's own connections to Xu Liang.

In other words, from this day on, Xu Liang can be regarded as truly entering the core layer of Xu Ge Lao. What was surprising and surprising was that Xu Liang actually saw Zhu Chunchen, the Duke of Chengguo, at the banquet, which made Xu Liang have to sigh: Xu Ge is not simple.

After this incident, the court seemed to be much calmer. And the arrangement of the first palace test of the Chongzhen Dynasty to screen out the new science and technology scholars has finally surfaced.

In addition to the dozen or so people in the first class who became the Shujishi of the scholars' dreams, Yu Xinke Jinshi will basically arrange to study in Guozijian for a year to understand the history and political system of the Ming Dynasty, so as to lay the foundation for future work.

Xu Liang remembered that Xu Jiang, the eldest son of the Xu family, was ranked 36th in the second class, which was considered an upper-middle ranking. Originally, there should have been no mandate problems with his arrangement.

However, when Xu Changkun took Xu Jiang with him, he found Xu Liang with a pale face and told Xu Liang about Xu Jiang's arrangement.

Xu Liang was shocked: "What?!" Go to a small county in Liaodong to be an official? Or is it a canonical history? ”

I can't help but let Xu Liang not be angry, because Xu Jiang's treatment is really shocking. At this time, Liaodong was already the front line in the eyes of the Ming Dynasty and the Tartar armies, and there were frequent wars and turmoil.

Xu Liang turned out the frontier map of the Ming Dynasty again, searched around the map of Liaodong, and then found the small county town located in the east of Jinzhou City.

Xu Liang was so angry that he scolded: "What do the officials want to do?!" Isn't this going to death for nothing?! (To be continued.) )