When Yang Mingshi arrived in Beijing, it was late March. As soon as he entered Fangshan County, he refused to sit in an eight-person sedan chair anymore, and only asked the post station to prepare a four-person sedan chair carrying bamboo silk, three mules, one to carry luggage, and two to let Feng'er and Xiaoluzi ride. Piao Yiyi walked for a day, stayed at Luhe Station the next night, and rested for the night. On the second day, the rooster crowed twice and rushed into the inner city, and handed a sign at Xihua Gate to meet him. After a while, Gao Wuyong trotted out all the way, panting and said, "Which one is Yang Mingshi?" The emperor called in! ”

Yang Mingshi came to the courtyard of the Yangxin Palace, and saw Emperor Qianlong standing at the door of the palace waiting for him. Yang Mingshi trembled, walked forward a few times, knelt three times and bowed nine times:

"Minister-Yang Mingshi knocks on the emperor Jin'an, long live the emperor, long live!"

When Qianlong saw him saluting, he walked down the stairs slowly, and when he picked up Yang Mingshi with his own hands, he said, "It's been hard all the way." But the complexion is okay. Why do you look at the dark circles under your eyes and don't sleep, okay? As he spoke, he entered the hall and ordered someone: "Give Yang Mingshi tea and sit down!" Yang Mingshi sat diagonally and said, "The body of the dog and the horse is so concerned!" The closer I got to Jingshi in the past few days, the more insomnia I had. The shadow of the first emperor always swayed in front of his eyes...... The first emperor has not been in the sixth year, after all, he went too early. Especially the ministers were uneasy, until the first emperor died, he still regretted the ministers......" As he spoke, his voice was a little hoarse and choked. Qianlong was quite sentimental in his heart, and said: "The first emperor Zigong is in the Lama Palace, Ming'er gives you the will to go to the Ling, and if you have any grievances, you can mourn before the Ling." ”

"Thunder, rain and dew are all Jun'en. How dare a minister be aggrieved? Yang Mingshi said in a trembling voice, "The minister is sighing that his fate is thin, and he can't confess to the first emperor." Qianlong couldn't help but be sad when he saw him, and said after a long time: "This is something that can't be done." In fact, the first emperor did not believe the words of Zhu Gang and Huang Bing. Several times he has been convicted, and as soon as your name is reached, he puts down his pen and wanders around the room, muttering, 'How can this person do such a thing?' Look again, wait a little longer......" Before he finished speaking, Yang Mingshi couldn't hold back any longer, hid his face and wept, tears poured out from his fingers, just because he couldn't be rude in front of him, he couldn't make a sound, he just had convulsions all over his body...... After a while, Fang wiped his tears and said, "The minister has lost his honor...... In fact, the first emperor had this sentence, and the minister was very content......" said Tears welled up again, and he was busy wiping them again.

Qianlong calmed down when Yang Ming was treated, and said, "I know your character and knowledge very well. I don't think the first emperor did something wrong, that was the situation at that time. Some cool officials misunderstood the intentions of the first emperor, and blindly took the matter of being strict and picky, and flattered them, so I issued an edict that 'the government is still lenient'. I'm sure you've read it. "The minister has already read it in Kunming." Yang Mingshi regained his composure and said, "The newspaper said that Sun Jiagan and Sun Guoxi were released, and the emperor's holy candle was disposed of very clearly!" As far as the minister himself is concerned, there is a lot of reflection these days. For example, when the emperor first implemented the apportionment of land into the mu, the officials and gentry paid grain in one piece, and the deficit was checked, all of which were effective good policies. The ministers were ignorant, and they were always prejudiced against the decrees of the people to pay for food as one, thinking that the emperor despised the scholars. This is sin. The punishment of the first emperor was not excessive. Qianlong listened with a smile and said, "It seems that Yang Songgong still has prejudices against 'raising incorruptible silver'? ”

"Don't dare to say prejudice." Yang Mingshi replied, "Returning the silver consumed by the fire to the public and distributing it to officials to raise incorruptible silver has indeed blocked the way for officials to blatantly embezzle taxes." But there are also three drawbacks, please pay attention to the emperor. ”

"Huh?"

Yang Mingshi looked up at Qianlong and said: "Since the silver consumption is returned to the public, the officials are not profitable, and they can't afford to levy fire consumption, offend people, and breed the heart of slacking off official duties." ”

"Hmm."

"Officials have clean officials and stolen officials, and there is a shortage of fat and suffering," Yang Mingshi said, "The fire is returned to the public, and those clean officials and capable officials, because they have no money in their hands, have some things to do, but they can't do it." Besides, those corrupt officials, the fat shortage is competing to make up, and the suffering is hiding from it. If you take the incorruptible silver, these corrupt officials may not be greedy for ink. ”

"Hmm."

"What is even more worrying is that the provinces are in control of the fire and silver consumption. Who among the officials is willing to save money for the imperial court? The organization must be reset, and people are superfluous - anyway, it is extracted from the fire and silver. Now a feudal division yamen in Jiangnan Province has to support three or four hundred scribes, masters, and procurement...... There are more and more names. This is why the government affairs are becoming more and more complicated. Your Majesty, the various civil servants of the Kangxi Dynasty's vassal division and yamen, how many of them have more than a hundred? If this continues, the court will not gain much, but there will be many more officials who are not officials on the heads of the people! ”

Qianlong listened carefully and nodded from time to time, but he did not attach much importance to these opinions. He summoned Yang Mingshi to come to Beijing, and did not want him to handle government affairs, but to choose a master for his sons. He groaned and said, "This article of yours has merit, you can write it out, and I will order it to go to the study for a meeting." But if there is a benefit, there will be a disadvantage, and you should not be paranoid, thinking that if there is a disadvantage, why should you prosper. A good trade-off is called 'can'. Well...... Although you are the secretary of the Ministry of Rites and the prince of the country is the priest of wine, you don't have to go to the hospital. Right now, I'm going to open Enke, and you will preside over the Shuntianfu Tribute Examination, and the good students will select a few people with real talents for me. After Enke finished sending the envoy, he entered Yuqing Palace to give a lecture, and I wanted to choose an auspicious day to ask my brothers to worship the teacher. As he was talking, Gao Wuyong came in and said: "Sun Jiagan, Sun Guoxi, and Wang Shijun handed over the sign, yesterday the emperor ordered to see them wherever they go, and the servants have already led them to the door of the hanging flowers." ”

"The minister has retired." Yang Mingshi got up and said a thousand times, bowed solemnly, and said: "Since the minister is on a mission, Ming'er will go to the Ministry of Rites." Qianlong also stood up and said, "Don't worry about it." Naturally, I have a will on the side of the Ministry of Rites. Well, there is one more thing, Sun Jiagan is going to serve as the deputy governor of the imperial history of Zhili. This time, the main examiner is you, and the deputy examiner is Eshan. When you come back and meet, if there is any discussion about personnel in the outside world, I will know at any time. Yang Mingshi agreed, and then asked: "Li Wei is going to be vacant?" Qianlong turned his face to look at Yang Mingshi and said, "Although Li Wei doesn't read, he is smart by nature. Thieves are good hands. Li Wei is not greedy for ink. You are a gentleman with lofty ambitions, a great Confucian in science, don't worry about the past anymore. And Li Wei is sick, and he has seen one day less and one day less, so I ordered him to hang up the title of Shangshu of the Punishment Department, and do some errands with me...... "Qianlong talked while walking, and sent Yang Mingshi to the eaves outside the hall, and said: "Call Sun Jiagan and Sun Guoxi in." ”

Yang Mingshi went south along Yongxiang, just out of the Tianjie outside the Qianqing Gate, he saw Zhang Tingyu send an official out of the upper study, but when he looked closely, he recognized that it was the current military department full of servants and the commander of the infantry army. Yang Mingshi was Zhang Tingyu's protégé, so he hurriedly stopped, and said with a long sigh: "Teacher, well!" ”

"It's a name!" Zhang Tingyu smiled and said, "Have you seen the master?" Okay, I'm going to enter the Green Palace as the king's teacher! Come, let me introduce you, this is—" Before he finished speaking, seeing that both of them were smiling, he asked, "You know each other?" ”

E Shan is a very stable person, the long fox has a half-foot-long beard on his face, his dignified facial features look very well-proportioned, and the corners of his mouth seem to be smiling from time to time. Zhang Xiang's smugness! At that time, I was still working as an errand boy in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Later, when I came to the Ministry of Officials to test the meritorious service, I was appointed as the governor of Guizhou at that time, or my suggestion! Yang Mingshi stood aside and smiled silently: In fact, in the first year of Yongzheng, he served as the deputy chief examiner of the Shuntianfu Tribute Examination, which was recommended by Eshan. For this reason, a big case was set off, not only Zhang Tingyu's cousin Zhang Tinglu was beheaded, but the case was widely implicated, and even Qianlong's own brother Hongshi was also involved in the party struggle and was given death by Yongzheng's decree. In the past, these grievances and grievances had something to do with Zhang Tingyu. Eshan is not a stupid person, so he naturally avoids this matter. Then he said: "There is nothing else to do in the middle hall, so I will retire." ”

"That's what I just said." Zhang Tingyu advised again: "Even if Li Wei follows on an errand, the commander of the infantry army should not take it lightly. There is a leak on it, and no one can afford to be guilty. Eshan said: "If you know your humble position, you must have twelve points of heart." After that, he stopped greeting Yang Mingshi, and nodded with a smile. Zhang Tingyu turned his face and smiled at Yang Mingshi: "Let's talk in the house." The two of them followed into the military plane.

There are only three rooms in the military aircraft department, which is located on the west side of the south entrance of Yongxiang, and was the resting place of the guards during the Xi Dynasty; Yongzheng used troops in the western Xinjiang, and the military side of the noon feather book was like snow, so he built a military aircraft department here to deal with military affairs. The Minister of Military Aircraft is concurrently served by the former Minister of Upper Study. The emperor was summoned in the Yangxin Palace, which was closer and more convenient than the upper study, so the minister of the upper study, who was also the minister of military aircraft, also handled government affairs here. Over time, the military aircraft here has gradually become the core of the cardinal, and the upper study is useless. Yang Mingshi followed Zhang Tingyu in, only to see a big kang in the east, the ground is surrounded by a large cabinet inlaid with copper leaves, the kang on the top of the table, the top of the cabinet is piled high are all scrolls, one by one marked with yellow sticks, as soon as you enter the door, the house is full of ink fragrance, there is no luxury at all, only the golden self-striking bell placed at the door, which is the only valuable utensil.

"The Prime Minister is nothing more than that, isn't it?" Zhang Tingyu seems to be overwhelmed with emotion! While inviting Yang Mingshi to sit down, he said, "I have been in the study since the forty-sixth year of Kangxi, and it has been almost thirty years. Yang Mingshi leaned over in the chair and said, "The teacher is loyal and cautious in everything." Since the founding of the country, the glory of grace has been the beginning and the end! Zhang Tingyu sighed: "The whole beginning is quite pertinent, and the whole end has to look backwards." I have been in three dynasties, and I have seen a generation of power such as Mingzhu, Suo Etu, and Gao Shiqi, 'I saw him build a tall building, I saw him sing and dance, and I saw his building collapse'. I am now under the great name, and I have many reproaches, and my deeds have been accomplished, and I am full of sorrow in the evening. I really want to retreat from the rapids! ”

Yang Mingshi looked at Zhang Tingyu intently, he didn't understand a little, so he specially called himself in, just to say these words? After thinking about it, he said, "Since the teacher has thought about it, it has nothing to do with it. ”

"I didn't call you here to tell you these things." Zhang Tingyu groaned, and his tone was very earnest. "The big officials have been doing it for too long, and some of them are difficult to ride tigers, and there are more than 70 officials in the Zhang family. There are as many as one or two grades, as small as eight or nine grades. With so many people, it is inevitable that there will be a mixture. Whoever has something happening can easily be brought to me—what I'm talking about is Tinglu's matter, not only do I not have jealousy, but I also appreciate you when I reflect on it—"

"Nakato—"

"Listen to me." Zhang Tingyu said, "I, this is not hypocrisy, although Tinglu's death is deserved, when I think of it, my heart hurts like a pinprick, this is human affection." From the point of view of heaven, you are not wrong, and I also think that it is still good for the Zhang family to set such an example for the Zhang family. Yang Mingshi sighed and said: "Zhongtang is magnanimous and considerate, which is grateful and admirable, and the students have understood." Zhang Tingyu looked at Yang Ming gently, and said: "My protégés are all over the world, and there may not be many who hold heavy weapons." You are now going to the palace to wait for Brother. I walked the same path as when I was younger. If this errand is done well, the future is limitless. But this difference cannot be taken lightly, and there are also unsuccessful ones in the royal family. This master is not easy to be. Tinglu suffered this loss back then, he leaned on Hongshi, thinking that he had nothing to fear, but as a result, he was bloodied under the knife, and the iceberg collapsed. ”

Yang Mingshi's eyes were blazing when he heard it, and he said for a long time: "I have taken everything that the master said to heart, and I have a moral relationship with my brothers, insisting on the middle and not partiality, and following the sentiment to guide reason." I will not fail to fail such a sincere teaching. ”

"Those are the words." Zhang Tingyu said with a smile, "You have been studying and running errands all these years, you may not have this knowledge, I just gave a few words in vain." So saying, he got up. Yang Mingshi also got up in a hurry, and Zhang Tingyu sent him out, and said, "The emperor asked me to arrange a house for you in Beijing." If it's too luxurious, don't forgive me, there is a courtyard outside the Donghua Gate, which was originally Cao Yin's property. If you have returned to the public, the emperor has rewarded you. You just move in—it's also closer to Yuqing Palace—is there enough people? When I enter the house to read the papers, I always need a few helpers, do you want me to pick a few old points to follow up? Yang Mingshi said with a smile: "Can't the eighteen-room examiner still see it?" I only look at the falling rolls and the top 30. - Speaking of which, I also want to recommend a person to the teacher-" Then he told Xiao Luzi about the situation, "Now that he is cornered, I have violated my mother's precept by leaving him." No matter where it is, the prime minister will send him an errand to eat, and I will save people to the end. Zhang Tingyu said: "Since he knows a little bit of literature and ink, let him do miscellaneous work in the military machine Zhangjing room." As he spoke, he came out and instructed the eunuch Xiao Sula who was guarding the door, "Call He Xiaosong of Shanxi Grain Road, Yi Yongshun of Henan Grain Road, and Liu Kang of Jinan Grain Road to come in." He happened to turn his face and saw Fu Heng coming, so he asked, "Sixth Master, are you going to see the emperor?" ”

Fu Heng looked at the big iron sign erected in front of the door of the military aircraft department, "Hundreds of civil and military officials and princes are not allowed to trespass", and said with a smile: "I didn't see the emperor." The master asked to buy a book a few days ago, and she just sent it in, and when she came out, she ran into Ah Gui from the Internal Affairs Office and pulled me to play a game of chess. Ah Gui wanted to take the palace test of this subject with Enyin Gongsheng. He doesn't know the rules. Isn't that Yang Mingshi? I asked him to go. Zhang Tingyu said with a smile: "Manchurian flag people, do you have to be a deputy standard, and you still have to go to the literary field to get famous?" You don't have to ask me when you look for Yang Ming. Tell him to prepare a case in the flag, hand in the study seal, and make it clear during the palace test. Fu Heng smiled and said, "Accept the advice" and went out of the Long Sect.

Qian Du went from Henan to Jinan, and entered the Li Wei shogunate without any trouble, and originally wanted to go to the Yamen, the governor of Beijing, to make a living, but he didn't even see where the yamen was opened, and he had another branch, first saying that Li Wei was asked to go to Gubeikou to parade the army, and then there was a will, and the governor Li Wei was removed and reappointed as the secretary of the military department. When Da Sima naturally came to the uproar, but the vote to take office was delayed. Seeing that filial piety and honesty from all directions have entered Beijing, the traffic is busy. The rich chariots and horses, the servants are like clouds, and the poor cloth and green shirts are alone. or looking forward to self-pride, or hesitating and wandering, the streets are bustling. The hotels are occupied by people from all over the world who come to jump the dragon gate. Walking through the streets at night, the lights are shining everywhere. There are all kinds of writers, those who compose poems, and those who recite ink scrolls. Qian Du is only forty years old, and he has not fought for many years, seeing this scene, his ambition rose sharply, so he revealed his wind to Li Wei and wanted to enter the field to try. There is no reason to stop this kind of good thing. Li Wei took one hundred and sixty taels of silver and gave it to him, "Since it is an exam, it is inconvenient to live here with me." You just have to go and win the level, and it is also my lottery to be promoted. If it doesn't go your way, just return it to me. Qian Du had money and no worries, more and more interested, rented a small house at the front door, figured out ink scrolls during the day, tried to write from beginning to end, and went out at night to meet the text, and after a few days he met a lot of literary friends.

That afternoon, Qian Du had just taken a nap, washed his face in the basin with sleepy eyes, and was just about to open the ink scroll when he heard someone outside shouting about him. When Qian Du looked into the courtyard through the door, he met a few friends in the Dalang Temple Library, one was called Ji Yun, one was called He Zhi, one was Zhuang Yougong, and the other was from the Internal Affairs Office, but he was a flag man, named A Gui, and came in with a few family members to talk and laugh. As soon as he entered the door, he smiled and said: "This courtyard is full of pomegranates and green red and green, it is really satisfying!" Smell your nose! Zhuang Yougong smiled and looked at the article drafted by Qian Du, and said: "The old master has something new to figure out." Mr. Yang is a great master of science, and he doesn't like to use words the most, and the article must be novel and emotional, so as to enter his old man's insight. Sun's main exam is to have clear liberal arts and sciences, thick and powerful. Ah Gui was the youngest in this group of people, and he didn't participate in the tribute test, so he got closer to Ji Yun, and Ah Gui smiled: "Wengui is calm and clear. In this article, I only feel that I am stubborn and stubborn. What does Brother Xiaolan think? ”

"Pomegranate flowers." Ji Yun praised again and again, "One word is one mouth, and every word is a pearl!" Qian Du hurriedly said: "Where do you dare to do this!" Ah Gui smiled: "Ji Xiaolan is a talented man in Hejian, don't fall for his rhetoric." 'Pomegranate Flower' is said to be in the middle of the look, 'a medium mouth' is said to be 'not in the mouth', and the words are competitive with pigs and chickens - it is also thanks to his quick thinking. ”

When Ah Gui explained this, everyone immediately burst into laughter. Ji Yun said: "At a young age, he is still a flag man, and it is really unambiguous to have such a delicate heart - to tell you, the article hates life, the more you think about it, the more you are a confused article bullshit circle, how can there be any rules?" With this kind of work, it is serious to eat and drink at night. He Zhiye said: "We came together to invite Old Master Qian to eat wine in front of the corridor of Guandi Temple." Qian Du said with a smile: "I have disturbed you a few times, where did you come to 'invite' me, but I actually said that it was just to ask for an account." Let's go, it's time for me to have a treat! ”

So they went out of the shop. In fact, the Guandi Temple is next door, only a stone's throw to the south. This is the most fragrant temple in Beijing, the restaurants and shops are full of frying and frying, the fragrance of flowers, wine, meat, and fruit are stirred together, and it is impossible to tell what the fragrance is, five people squeezed in the crowd for a long time before choosing a shop called "Gao Jin Old Restaurant" to come in. The guy was serving food to the guests with a towel on his shoulder, and he was so hot that he was sweating, and when he saw them come in, he sang: "Wukui, the old guest has come to Gao Jin's house!" - Upstairs, please! ”

"This voice is special." Zhuang Yougong couldn't help but smile, "It's really auspicious!" After that, the five of them climbed the stairs and chose a large room on the street, and they all sat down. Everyone ordered food, and a total of six taels and three pieces of silver. The money here is paid, and Dr. Tea makes tea, and the food is already served like water.

"It's never fun to sit and eat and drink." Then He Zhi was very refreshing, holding his hands and sleeves to pour wine for everyone, and said with a smile: "Why don't you give an order?" Ji Yun smiled: "Speaking of the order, there is also a joke." Chen Liuliu Liu Jiming is the prefect of Jinan, and the following county commander surnamed Gao is a very talented person, and the two get along well, and it is not etiquette to meet them. Partial to the same acquaintance but the surname Gao can't get along, every time they meet, they must have the surname Gao to attend the court, and the two of them have a mustard. Once he ate wine, he gave an order and said, 'The left hand is like silk yarn, and the right hand is like an official eunuch.' If it weren't for this official eunuch, how could you use so many silk yarns? The man surnamed Gao then answered: 'The left hand is like an aunt and aunt, and the head is like a husband.' If it weren't for this husband, how would you get so many aunts and sisters? This Tongzhi was furious, and just scolded 'beast', and the Gao County Order continued to order, 'The left hand is like chaff, and the head is like a urine fart.' If you don't eat these chaff, how can you release a lot of urine and feces fart? 'A feast was sparsely beaten, and each went away......"

Before he could finish speaking, everyone was already laughing. Zhuang Yougong started the sentence:

There is a cloud in the sky, snow falls, half of the plum blossoms, half of the pine forest, and the remaining scattered frost, sent to the peach blossom spring.

After that, raise a glass and everyone will have a drink. He Zhi received the order:

There was a thunder in the sky, and it rained, half of it hit the plantains, half of it sprinkled the creek forest, and there were still scattered rains, which were sent to the soul-breakers who returned home.

Qian Du interface chanted:

A gust of wind in the sky, three wine urns fell—

"No, no," Gui and He Zhidu shouted, "how can there be such a thing?" Penalty for drinking! Zhuang Yougong said: "What knowledge do you Shanzuo people have?" There was a typhoon blowing there, and the 3,000-pound bell in the temple was blown out for hundreds of miles! If you overturn the wine shop, what is the rarity of leaving three urns of wine? So he punished Ah and He for indiscriminately ordering wine. Ji Yun smiled: "I'm also very upset about this!" So Qian Du continued:

One urn for Li Bai, one urn for the poet, and half an urn of Du Kang wine, for Tao Yuanming!

"It's only two and a half urns, what about the half urn?" Zhuang Yougong asked.

"Leave it to Zhuang Yougong! - If you are so oriented towards him, you naturally want to bribe and bribe. Ji Yun said, and said, "If you want to say so, I have it too." Then he said:

There was a gust of wind in the sky, and 50,000 gold fell--Qian Zhuangzi swept the tornado--30,000 yuan was busy to operate, 10,000 gold to buy land and property, and 5,000 gold to donate a future. There are 5,000 gold left, travel all over the world, and visit beautiful women everywhere!

When the crowd heard this, they couldn't help but applaud loudly: "This silver is a place!" Ah Gui danced with his hands and said with a smile: "It's really interesting, compare Zhuang Yougong!" "I have to go down, there are three guests downstairs, and the most conspicuous one is Fu Heng. Everyone knew that he was noble, so they hurriedly stood up and gave up their seats, and said, "Sixth Master Fu is here!" Come into the table, we're talking about the wine order here! Fu Heng made a gesture, and the Yuan Pavilion Yue Zhi was really extraordinary.

"Today, the old master is the east, eating and drinking." Ah Gui introduced the people at the table one by one, and then turned back and said: "This is our master, Fu Heng, the sixth master of the flag affairs of the Internal Affairs Office. This is the third master of Leminle, the grandson of the old military sect of the pioneer Qige-who is this? Fu Heng smiled and said, "He just came from Nanjing, so you naturally don't recognize him." This is the grandson of the pioneer Jiangning weaving Mr. Cao Neem Ting, Cao Xueqin. ”

"Don't dare, Cao Zhan." Cao Xueqin bowed to everyone and said calmly, "I rely on your friends to take care of you." ”

Everyone looked at these three people carefully: Fu Heng was noble and calm, elegant and dignified; Le Min is heroic, but disheveled; Only this Cao Xueqin is unique, wearing a moon-white poplin robe, which has been ground to the sparse cloth pattern, and washed cleanly and cleanly. A pair of half-used mille-feuille shoes with a patch on the snow-white socks. In terms of broad jaws, a pair of small eyes are pitch black, as if he is always smiling, only when he stares at people, he brings out a trace of deep melancholy, and occasionally looks forward to it, and seems to be proud of everything around him, and his temperament immediately attracts everyone.

"As I said, I won't be able to show me without you." Fu Heng smiled at Cao Xueqin, "Come, let's get in and be a part of it!" He took out two ingots of silver and gently put them on the table: "Set up the ring, and the top two winners will take it!" ”