In the yamen of the ministry, Xu Liang listened to Wang Shangshu's covert explanation, and couldn't help but sigh that it was difficult to be a small official in the Ming Dynasty, and it was not easy to be a big official.

Wang Yongguang was a member of the second rank of the central government, in charge of the ministry, and his power was powerful for a while. However, with Wen Tiren's smooth entry into the cabinet, Wang Shangshu's sense of crisis became more and more intense. In recent days, on the issue of the reshuffling of several local prefects, the plan for the Ministry of Officials to report to the cabinet has basically been rejected by the cabinet.

In today's cabinet, the first assistant Zhou Yanru and the other two cabinet ministers: Cao Yubian and Wen Tiren, are basically in a group. And Sun Chengzong, a scholar of Wuyingdian University, originally had an errand between the military department and Liaodong, and spent most of his time in Liaodong, and basically didn't speak much about the affairs of the court. As for the second assistant to become the foundation, seeing that Emperor Chongzhen valued Zhou Yanru more and more, he shrank back and only talked to Zhou Yanru.

There is the last scholar of Dongge University, Xu Guangqi, although he is the emperor of the Son of Heaven, he has just entered the cabinet, and he has the least qualifications, and he has no say in the cabinet.

The plan of the Ministry of Officials was vetoed by the cabinet, and to put it bluntly, it was vetoed by Zhou Yanru, Wen Tiren, and Cao Yubian!

Wang Shangshu felt the crisis, he couldn't do it alone with Zhou, Wen, and Cao. He then targeted the alliance at Xu Guangqi, a scholar of Dongge University.

Why Xu Guangqi was chosen, Wang Shangshu also went through some careful consideration. First of all, although Xu Guangqi has the least seniority in the cabinet, he is the emperor of the Son of Heaven, and his favor is not much less than that of Zhou Yanru. Moreover, Xu Guangqi is also working alone now, and he has never heard of him forming a gang. Finally, and most importantly, Wang Yongguang really has no choice. There are only six cabinet ministers, and the three of Zhou Yanru have already formed a group, and the rest of the old officials are oily, and they can't slip their hands. It's really not very reliable. And Sun Chengzong has been in charge of military affairs for a long time, and he has always been decisive in killing, and has always scoffed at the matter of forming gangs. After choosing, only Xu Guangqi remained.

However, Xu Guangqi is not something that Wang Shangshu can lean on if he wants to. Everyone in the court knew that he was the emperor of the Son of Heaven, and his worth doubled. In the end, Wang Yongguang is also a Sven man who has read the books of sages, even if he wants to take refuge in the past. At least make the artistic conception of a gentleman's friendship as light as water, otherwise it will be too insulting.

It is too embarrassing to hug his thighs directly in front of Xu Guangqi, and it is too troublesome to be tactful, the simplest and most effective way is to find a person whom Wang Yongguang trusts and has a good relationship with Xu Guangqi as an intermediary.

Xu Liang is the middleman chosen by Wang Yongguang.

The official department Shangshu and the Dongge University scholar wanted to hold together, and Xu Liang was very happy to see it. After listening to Wang Shangshu's words, Xu Liang immediately patted his chest and said that he would express Wang Shangshu's meaning to Xu Guangqi at an appropriate time.

Xu Liang recently due to the preparation of the temple to pay tribute. and Taichang Siqing Fu Yu ran diligently to the palace. Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Etiquette, stared at him, and Xu Liang and Fu Yu couldn't be lazy if they wanted to. On this day, Xu Liang followed Li Tengfang and Fu Yu to make a special report to Emperor Chongzhen on the preparations for the ceremony of the Taimiao Temple in the Yangxin Palace.

Li Shangshu did not care about everything, and talked in a rambling manner for nearly two hours, Xu Liang and Fu Yu listened to it with bitterness, and joined together from time to time with a smiling face. Finally, even Emperor Chongzhen, who was behind the desk, was impatient to listen to it, and encouraged Li Shangshu with a few words of good words before sending the old man out.

What Emperor Chongzhen said was really an ordinary reassuring word. However, the meaning of Li Shangshu's ears is extraordinary. came out of the palace of nourishing the heart, and sighed to Xu Liang and Fu Yu vigorously: The hard work of this period has not been in vain. Your Majesty is still very satisfied!

Then he had to pull Xu Liang and Fu Yu back to the yamen of the Ministry of Rites to refer to the sacrificial ceremony in detail.

Xu Liang saw the opportunity early, and bowed his hand to Li Shangshu apologetically: "That...... I'm really sorry, Lord Shangshu, before Xia Guan entered the palace, I got the news that Xu Ge, a scholar of Dongge University on duty today, was waiting to see me in the cabinet room. I'm afraid I won't be able to go back to the government with Master Shangshu. ”

Li Shangshu listened. A look of regret: "Since it is Xu Ge's old man who summons him, then he can't put it on hold, Lord Xu should go quickly." As he spoke, he grabbed Fu Yu's arm tightly with Taichang Siqing, and said, "Then Lord Fu will go back with the official to discuss and discuss." ”

Before Taichang Siqing Fu Yu left, his eyes looked at Xu Liang with a kind of desolation of torture.

The people on duty in the cabinet today are Cheng Jiming and Xu Guangqi. Xu Liang has already figured this out. Xu Liang unhurriedly enjoyed the scenery along the way in the palace, and soon arrived outside the cabinet gate. Inform the Han general who was guarding the gate, and soon Xu Liang was introduced into the cabinet.

The cabinet is actually a large hall partition, except for the first assistant of the cabinet, Zhou Yanru and the second assistant, Cheng Jiming, who have separate office rooms, the remaining four cabinet ministers, all of whom share an office room.

Sharing the office space with Xu Guangqi is Wen Tiren, who entered the cabinet at the same time. It's just that he is not here today, and Xu Guangqi is the only one in the room.

Xu Liang approached the room, Xu Guangqi was finishing writing a piece of the mimetic script in his hand, closing the chapter, Xu Guangqi looked at Xu Liang and greeted Xu Liang and said, "Since the old man moved into this cabinet, Xu Liang, you are still the first time to enter the palace to visit the old man, right?" ”

Xu Liang stood in front of Xu Guangqi's desk, and said with his hand: "Lord Xu is now a scholar of Dongge University, and his status is very different, how can the lower officials be as casual as before, and they can see it if they want to?" ”

After hearing this, Xu Guangqi pointed at Xu Liang and scolded with a smile: "Don't come." You are no longer participating in politics in Shaanxi, but Guanglu Siqing, the inner courtyard of this palace, as long as the palace door is not locked, you can enter and exit at any time, it is not easy to see the old man! It's just up to you to see if you have the heart or not! ”

Xu Liang's face was slightly red when he was said, he pinched the tip of his nose, and said curtly: "Lord Xu has taught him a lesson, and the lower officials must correct it!" ”

Xu Guangqi didn't really want to blame Xu Liang, so he stroked his beard and smiled when he heard the words.

Xu Liang followed and laughed, looked at Xu Guangqi, and saw that although Xu Guangqi was smiling, his expression could not hide his tiredness. He sincerely persuaded: "My lord, I haven't seen you for half a month, and you are a lot haggard." Although state affairs are important, adults should also pay attention to their bodies. ”

Xu Guangqi sighed lightly, his eyes swept over the pile of folds on the desk, and said: "In the past, when I was in the Ministry of Rites, I didn't think that I had entered the cabinet, and I suddenly realized that the state affairs were so heavy. Alas, we have two capitals and thirteen provinces in the Ming Dynasty, hundreds of prefectures and counties, and things are happening all the time every day. There are so many things that need to be decided by the Cabinet. ”

Xu Liang said: "State affairs are important, and the body of adults is also important. ”

Xu Guangqi shook his head slightly. Suddenly, he looked at Xu Liang and asked, "By the way, Xu Liang, you came out of Shaanxi." In the territory of Gongchang Mansion in Shaanxi, there is a leader of the People's Army. It's a woman, named Li Ting, do you know? ”

Xu Liang's heart moved, and he nodded slowly: "A rare female leader in the people's army, the lower official is an official in Shaanxi, and I have heard some of it. The lower officials heard that although Li Ting was a daughter, he was not inferior to those male leaders in leading the troops, and he was among the local people's army in Shaanxi. Her fame is also very loud. How? How did the adults remember to ask this person? ”

Xu Guangqi rubbed his eyebrows and said worriedly: "The old man also learned about it two days ago, half a month ago, His Majesty issued a secret decree to Yang He, the governor of the three sides, asking Governor Yang to try to escort that Li Ting's secret into Beijing. Now that Governor Yang has just recruited Li Ting's men, the army's morale is unstable, but he is in a hurry to escort Li Ting into Beijing, and the old man is worried. Governor Yang's move will cause dissatisfaction among the surrendered people's army. It's just that this is His Majesty's will. Alas......"

Xu Liang asked in surprise: "So, then Li Ting has been escorted on the road?" ”

Xu Guangqi nodded heavily and said, "The day before yesterday, the excerpt of Yang He, the governor of the three sides, just arrived, saying that the men and horses escorting Li Ting had been on the road for several days, and it would not take long to reach the capital. ”

Xu Liang sighed, and his heart was uncertain.

Xu Guangqi finished speaking. I was in a state of apprehension for a moment. The two of them were silent for a while, and Xu Guangqi asked Xu Liang: "By the way, Xu Liang, you went to the palace to see the old man today, but is there something?" ”

Xu Liang hurriedly gathered his mind and glanced back at the door of the office room. Seeing that no one was coming, he bowed his hand to Xu Guangqi and said softly: "A few days ago, Lord Shangshu Wang of the Ministry of Officials called the lower official over, and asked the lower official to bring a message to the lord, saying that when you are free, I want to find an elegant place to invite the adult to sit down, drink tea, and chat or something." ”

Xu Guangqi looked at Xu Liang with scrutinizing eyes.

Xu Liang was stunned and said: "Xia Guan thought for a long time, thinking that although you are now a scholar of Dongge University, you are a newcomer in the cabinet, and there are not a few allies in the court to help you, and you don't take advantage of it. Xia Guan thought that since Wang Shangshu had that meaning, it would not hurt for the adults to go and meet him...... What do you say, my lord? ”

Xu Guangqi's eyes blinked a few times, stared at Xu Liang, and asked, "It's just Wang Shangshu alone?" ”

Xu Liang was stunned for a moment, and said solemnly: "Wang Shangshu is alone, there are no other messy people." ”

After hearing this, Xu Guangqi lowered his eyebrows and closed his eyes and pondered for a while before opening his eyes and saying, "Recently, the state affairs have been heavy, and I am afraid that there is no time." After His Majesty tells the Taimiao, there should be a moment of time, well, you go back and tell Wang Shangshu, the time will be set at that time. ”

Xu Liang was overjoyed when he heard this, and said with a smile: "Xiaguan will go and reply." ”

Xu Liang left the palace, turned to the yamen of the ministry, and conveyed Xu Guangqi's meaning to Wang Yongguang, the secretary of the ministry, and returned to the Dongjiang Courtyard.

In the Dongjiang Courtyard, Yahuan Rou'er saw that Xu Liang had returned home, so she was busy preparing hot water for Xu Liang to wash his hands and face.

Xu Liang entered the backyard and went to the room of the eldest lady Feng Suqin, and saw Feng Suqin holding an account book, and while looking at it, he turned the abacus in front of him with a loud sound, and his delicate eyebrows wrinkled slightly.

Seeing this, Xu Liang sat down next to Feng Suqin, glanced at the account book in her hand, and asked, "Lady, what are you counting?" ”

Feng Suqin glanced up at Xu Liang and said, "Liang Ji's accounts for March have come up, and the income has decreased a lot, and I am calculating it." ”

Xu Liang sighed, saw that Yahuan Rou'er had come in with a basin of hot water, motioned for her to put it at her feet, took the towel from Rou'er's hand and wiped her face, then took off her official boots under Rou'er's service and began to soak her feet.

Feng Suqin was accounting for the accounts while chatting with Xu Liang about a few words. After Xu Liang finished soaking his feet, he changed into cotton shoes and socks worn at home. Feng Suqin also stopped dialing the abacus, stared at the numbers on the account, and pouted angrily: "This Liang Ji's business can't be done!" ”

Xu Liang said: "What's the matter?" ”

Feng Suqin said: "Liang Ji's total income in March has decreased by 40% compared with the previous months, nearly 30,000 taels of silver. Liang Ji's well salt, coal mines, field products, and profits in Shaanxi are not as good as before. That damn trilateral governor Yang He didn't cut our Liang army enough, and he also suppressed our Liang Kee's business in every way, it's really annoying! ”

When Xu Liang heard this, he said suspiciously: "Yang He, the governor of the three sides, set up the Pingliang Salt Transportation Envoy in Pingliang for our well salt business, and I know about this. But Liang Ji's coal mine is in Hanzhong, how can Governor Yang suppress it? ”

Feng Suqin glanced at Xu Liang and said angrily: "Xianggong, you only have Guanglu Temple in your eyes for a while, where will you pay attention to Liang Ji's business!" Since you were transferred to Guanglu Siqing and left Shaanxi, the eunuch Hu Gonggong, the eunuch in Shaanxi, has long hugged Governor Yang's thigh, and with the help of Grandpa Hu, it is not easy for Governor Yang to suppress the Liangji Coal Mine? ”

Xu Liang was stunned, and suddenly became so angry that the roots of his teeth itched, and scolded: "This old horseman is still too idle to panic!" Don't do practical things all day long, and do your best to target me Xu Liang! Scolding, Xu Liang walked back and forth in the house, very annoyed.

Seeing this, Feng Suqin persuaded: "Forget it, who made Yang He the governor of the three sides, and his official position is greater than that of Xianggong." We can't afford to provoke, can't we still hide? It's a big deal that our Liang Ji business in Shaanxi is not done, and it is all transferred to Jiangnan and Jingshi. ”

Xu Liang paused when he heard this, and said unwillingly: "No! Liang Ji finally got the current scale in Shaanxi, and it was transferred like this, and the loss was too great! ”

"What then?" Feng Suqin asked with a glare.

Xu Liang muttered: "I'll think about it again, think about it again......"

After two more turns, Xu Liang stopped and said to Yahuan Rou'er: "Rou'er, go and call the iron head." ”

The iron head was in the front yard, and he soon stood in front of Xu Liang.

"Young Master, are you looking for me?"

Xu Liang said in a deep voice: "I just got the news that Yang He, the governor of the three sides, has sent someone to escort the fourth lady Li Ting to the capital division. You go and arrange it, and I want to make the fourth lady Li Ting unable to go to the capital! ”

Hearing this, Tietou made a one-size-fits-all gesture and asked, "Young Master, do you want to keep your mouth alive?" ”

Xu Liang was so shocked that he waved his hand again and again, and said, "No, no, no, you can't kill Li Ting yet." Seeing that Tietou was looking at himself inexplicably, Xu Liang beckoned: "Come here, I'll tell you what to do." ”

When Tietou leaned his head over, Xu Liang attached it to his ear and muttered carefully for a while. Hearing this, the iron head nodded excitedly, turned around and ran out to arrange people.

Xu Liang looked at the sky and muttered, "I don't know if I'm doing this, is it right or wrong?" Then he quickly shook his head and threw away the doubts in his mind, and secretly encouraged himself: I did this, I was forced by Yang Lao Pifu, even if I did it wrong, the responsibility could not be all on my head, at least Yang Lao Pifu should bear more than ninety percent of the responsibility! And I am the victim of oppression, and I should be sympathized with by the majority of Ming officials and people.

Well, that's it! (To be continued......)