Yang Tinghe's heart tightened, and the emperor asked Song Nan why this matter? Since the resignation of Liu Daxia, the former secretary of the Ministry of War, due to the rebellion of Liu Liu and Liu Qi, the post of secretary of the Ministry of War has been vacant and is represented by Li Dongyang; At the critical time of suppressing thieves, the imperial court has not agreed on a candidate, but the competition between the inner court and the outer court for this position has been going on in secret.

When Song Nan led the army to the expedition, the cabinet deliberately let Lu Wan, the squire of the Ministry of War, accompany the thieves, and his intention was to let Lu Wan gild in the thieves, so that Lu Wan could calmly take over the post of secretary of the Ministry of War.

"There is indeed this matter, Lu Wan is the most suitable candidate, at first he made great achievements as the governor of Xuanfu, and he was originally the best candidate for the trilateral commander-in-chief, but then you Lord Song knew better than anyone else, so he had to move the right attendant of the military department; This time the thief is your deputy, and he has also made great achievements, and he is the only one in the position of the secretary of the military department. Yang Tinghe said indifferently.

Song Nan nodded and said: "Lord Lu is indeed extremely capable, and I don't have any opinion on him being the secretary of the military department." ”

Yang Tinghe sneered in his heart: "If you have an opinion, you can't do it, you don't have the right to speak about this matter." ”

I heard Song Nan continue: "The emperor asked me about Lu Wan's appearance in the suppression of thieves, presumably it was through guò that I came to know Lord Lu's ability, and when I was about to answer, it happened that the queen mother asked the emperor to move to the harem, so I did not return to the emperor." The emperor said that during the court meeting, he wanted me to express my opinion on Lu Wan's appearance in the army, so as not to raise objections. ”

Yang Tinghe frowned and said, "Could it be that someone said something to the emperor?" ”

Song Nan shook his head and said: "I don't know about this, what I'm thinking about is how to evaluate Lu Wan above the court discussion, whether to say good things with a clear conscience, or to say the facts in court?" ”

Yang Tinghe's heart was shocked, and he glared at Song Nan and said, "Isn't Lu Wan's appearance in the army good?" It is clear that Lu Wan was brave and strategic, and made great contributions when he suppressed the thief, wasn't that a joint performance by you and the prison army Zhang Yong? ”

Song Nan rolled his eyes and said, "This ...... Scholar Yang, you also understand the rules of our officialdom, and since the thief wins, I naturally want to let the brothers who followed me from birth to death get some rewards, but the result is there, and I don't care much about the small flaws. The excerpt of the meritorious service is based on such considerations, and all the generals who suppress thieves are to say some good things and get rewards, do I still deliberately pick my nose and eyes? ”

Yang Tinghe's brows furrowed into a pimple, and he said coldly: "Lord Song's officialdom is a quick learner, even so, why do you say that it is difficult to test Lu Wan?" ”

Song Nan shook his head and said: "Originally, it was just an ordinary promotion award, but Lu Wan is going to be promoted to the position of secretary of the Ministry of War, the Ministry of War is the head of the six departments, and is in charge of my Ming military affairs, which can be described as the key department among the key departments." The emperor's inquiry was also out of prudence in this position, and I had to cautiously put forward my opinion. ”

Yang Tinghe said: "Could it be that Lu Wan is inappropriate in the army?" ”

Song Nan said: "Is it inappropriate? I can't say, but he made a lot of mistakes, and I didn't dare to use him alone; In the battle of Weishan Lake, I originally asked Lu Wan to strictly guard the two lakes in the west to prevent the thieves from escaping westward, but the result was very disappointing to me, and Lu Wan still let the thief leader Liu Liu escape from under his nose. ”

Yang Tinghe was stunned and said: "The area of the four lakes of Weishan Lake is vast, how can a person be stopped if he wants to escape?" You're nitpicking. ”

The smile on Song Nan's face disappeared, and he said: "Scholar Yang, you are a layman, you are forbidden in the army, what is the reason to talk about?" If everyone finds reasons to find reasons, how can they win the battle? What should you do if you give an order and your cabinet officials prevaricate on the grounds? ”

Yang Tinghe was speechless for a while, what Song Nan said was also right, the commander in the army issued a military order, and the subordinates below had to implement it unconditionally, how could there be a reason to find a reason; Even if it is an impossible task, Song Nan is also on the side of reason, which is excusable, but the order is unforgiving.

"When entering the Taihang Mountain to suppress the thieves, Lu Wan opposed this proposal, feared, regardless of the huge cost of our army, insisted on building a large army to be trapped on the outskirts of the mountain, but he did not know that the thieves had established a walled fort in the mountains for self-sufficiency, and it was impossible to exterminate it even if it was besieged for ten years or eight years. It can be seen that his judgment ability is lacking and he does not know how to judge the situation. ”

"After entering the mountain, Lu Wan complained that the mountain road was difficult to walk, disturbing the morale of the army, and I had to let Xu Tai replace him as the commander of the soldiers and horses, and then Lu Wan drank and said some strange things every night; When attacking the cottage in the Valley of the Thieves, he led his men to attack the hillside from the side, but still achieved nothing; In the end, Jiang Bin led the people to attack successfully, which shows that his combat ability is also lacking. ”

"If you comprehensively evaluate this person, I think Lu Wan has some abilities, but he is more than brave enough to be timid, and he lacks some abilities.

Song Nan was stunned by his words, Yang Tinghe was stunned, he didn't expect Song Nan to give such a comment, if these words were said publicly in the court, Lu Wan, the secretary of the military department, would be in vain. Regardless of whether Song Nan's words are true or not, even if they are fabricated, no one doubts the comments of the commander of the army, not to mention that the other generals who followed Song Nan to suppress the thieves are all Song Nan's people, and they only need a little corroboration to confirm it, and it will be irretrievable.

Song Nan said silently in his heart: Lu Wan, I'm sorry, although it's all eggs and bones, and a small mistake is for you to put on the line, but I can't help it, who told the cabinet not to be righteous, Yang Tinghe knew that I would be overwhelmed if I took over the position of the regimental battalion, not only did he not dissuade but also instigated and encouraged, and I could only take you out to blackmail him.

Yang Ting and Mu Ran sat on the side of the desk, thinking of a countermeasure in their minds, the military department is the focus of contention between the internal and external courts, and it is easy for Lu Wan to make meritorious contributions and take over this position logically. As far as Yang Tinghe knows, Liu Jin has long proposed Jiang Han, the chief soldier of Ningxia, as a candidate, Jiang Han is a veteran of the border, in terms of qualifications, Jiang Han's qualifications are much older, but for some reasons he has not been transferred to the capital, but he has the title of a foreigner in the military department.

Song Nan pinched his bearded chin, secretly observed Yang Tinghe's expression, and knew that he had hit Yang Tinghe's weakness, what Song Nan didn't know was that it was Yang Tinghe's idea to let Lu Wan suppress the thieves gilded the throne, he played a package ticket in the cabinet, once this matter is lost, his prestige will also be swept away.

Originally, Lu Wan was excluded from the competition for the trilateral commander-in-chief, and this time he wanted to compete for the position of secretary of the Ministry of War, Li Dongyang and Wang Wei both felt that it was a risky move, but Yang Tinghe persuaded everyone that the ability to ensure Lu Wan's position was also a major event in Yang Tinghe's life.

"Scholar Yang, Scholar Yang?" Song Nan stretched out his hand and shook it in front of Yang Tinghe's eyes, Yang Tinghe woke up in shock, realized his gaffe, and saw Song Nan looking at him with a smile, there seemed to be deep meaning in his eyes, and his heart couldn't help but move.

"Lord Song, it turns out that there is such a secret in it, and we are waiting for the recommendation vote based on what Lord Song's merit report said, but I am confused." Yang Tinghe tried his best to maintain an indifferent posture and hide his embarrassment with a smile.

Song Nan smiled: "That's, it's not the cabinet's fault. ”

"Then Lord Song plans to tell the truth in the court? Or does Lord Song have other ideas about the selection of the military department's Shangshu? ”

"Where is it, how can I, Jinyiwei, the secretary of the Ministry of War, have the right to speak, and this matter should be decided by the emperor. The emperor inquired, and the courtiers could only tell the truth. The question of candidates, Lu Wan, there are still others, I hope Lord Lu will not be jealous of me, I just play truthfully. ”

Yang Tinghe pondered for a moment and said, "Lord Song, let's put it in our hearts, do you think Lu Wan can be qualified for the post of secretary of the military department?" ”

Song Nan laughed and said, "Are you telling the truth?" ”

"Naturally, it's true."

Song Nan said with a smile: "The easiest thing to do in the world is to be an official, don't say it's Lord Lu, just pull someone on the street to be the secretary of the military department, and he is very capable." ”

Yang Tinghe was stunned and said, "This is your Lord Song's attitude towards important positions in the imperial court?" ”

Song Nan said: "Isn't it? It's just the difference between doing well and doing badly, if Lord Lu is the secretary of the military department, and there are wise scholars in the cabinet to guide him, he will definitely do a good job, and I don't worry about this at all. ”

Yang Tinghe's heart was relieved and said: "Lord Song's words are really unpredictable, in that case, why do you plan to give an unfavorable evaluation of Lord Lu in the imperial court?" ”

Song Nan looked at Yang Tinghe's eyes and said, "Scholar Yang, because I'm not happy, I'm unhappy, I'm not happy. ”

Yang Tinghe said angrily: "If you Lord Song are unhappy, you want to pull people off the horse? ”

Song Nan said: "You're right, because someone made me unhappy, watching me jump into the fire pit but didn't even persuade me, and planned to push it up." ”

Yang Tinghe said: "Where did this come from? ”

Song Nan said: "You Yang Daxue know in your heart that if I accept the position of commander of the regiment and battalion, I will be besieged and isolated by my relatives, but instead of giving me a reminder, you persuade me to accept it, this person who makes me unhappy is you." If you make me unhappy, I will let Lu Wan not be the secretary of the military department, let Liu Jin's people take the military department, and let all the military departments and household officials in the six departments of your outer court be taken away, so that you people who are pretentious but narrow-minded will be marginalized, and from then on there will be no weight to speak in the court, this is the price you pay for making me unhappy. ”

Yang Tinghe's face turned red, and then he turned pale, and said angrily: "Lord Song, you are too presumptuous, I will present my words to the emperor today, and let the emperor decide." ”

Song Nan sneered: "Do you like to go or not, the emperor hasn't slept yet, you have to go early." ”

Yang Tinghe said angrily: "Send off guests." ”

Song Nan sneered and said: "Scholar Yang, I will go to the palace tomorrow morning, and the emperor has new arrangements for my position, I only hope that you and the cabinet will not talk nonsense." If you spoil my business, I will ruin your business, and we will break up. I don't care who is the secretary of the military department, but it is a big deal for your cabinet. As far as I am concerned, I still have the Jinyi Guard Yamen, and it is not uncommon to have any regimental and battalion military positions, what I am fighting for is just a face, how to choose, the university scholar will do it himself, and say goodbye! ”

Song Nan led the big black horse and got on the horse, and walked directly through the courtyard gate, the sound of hooves suddenly sounded, and gradually went away.

Yang Tinghe's face was pale and gritted his teeth, and his family cautiously stepped forward and asked, "Master, dinner is ready, and Mrs. asks if you want to eat." ”

Yang Tinghe stood up and sighed and said, "Sue Mrs. Sù to use it first, don't wait for me, come here, change clothes!" I'm going to my teacher's house to discuss business. ”