Liu Chun has been very troubled lately.

There are so many people who come to visit him, whether it is a protégé who is old, or those who only have a one-sided relationship, and can't even name it, all of them come to the door, as if they think he can enter the cabinet and run to climb the relationship.

Wealthy families and representatives of businessmen from all over the world in Beijing also came to the door to send money and goods, but they were all rejected by him.

It's not that he refuses everyone, some people really can't refuse, he is the eye of the 23rd Hall of Chenghua, he has been working in the Hanlin Academy for more than 30 years, and has organized township tests and hospital examinations many times.

"You don't have to come again, the old man has no expectations for his career...... Let's make it clear, the old man will never be able to enter the cabinet."

Liu Chun met with everyone who came to visit him, and almost all said the same thing over and over again.

It's not that he is humble, or to create a low-key image to facilitate his future position, but that he really doesn't want to make any achievements in his career, and even he doesn't think he has the slightest possibility of being in the slightest.

Although he, like Yang Tinghe, is a native of Sichuan, the relationship between them is not harmonious, and no one in the cabinet has consulted him on the matter of promoting people to the cabinet, that is to say...... He is not allowed in the cabinet system, and no one treats him as his own, even if he gets into it by luck, what's the point? Was it used as a gunman?

I, Liu, have been in the dynasty for half my life, and I have already been an official, and I have even been in charge of the Ministry of Rites for three years, what else do you want? Do you have to be in the cabinet to reflect your value?

……

……

That night, Liu Chun returned home and was ready to rest after dinner, when his family came to report and another visitor came to the door.

I can't turn away the guests, but after all, I can't be too rude, Liu Chun took the greeting post and looked at it, and found that it was the head of the household Shangshu Sun Jiaotong University who came to visit at night.

"Really...... What is he doing here? Are you making fun of me?"

Liu Chun was patient and invited Sun Jiao into the mansion.

When the two arrived at Liu Chun's study, there were piles of books everywhere, but no one cleaned them up.

Sun Jiao said with a smile: "Like me, when I was in Anlu in the past, there was always someone to help clean up, and the study room was quite tidy, but after I arrived in the capital, there was no one to take care of it, and my surroundings seemed disorganized...... Luckily, I've moved my family and I'm finally living a much more comfortable life."

"Like-minded brother, I'm different from you."

Liu Chun reminded Sun Jiao: "I don't allow anyone to touch my things, otherwise why would this be?"

You old fellow, when you were brought to the capital by Empress Dowager Jiang, you didn't plan to live for a long time, and now you think about moving your family to your side, and you think that you have suffered a lot before...... And I, Liu, have been in the court for a much longer time than you, and there is no shortage of people around me to take care of me.

"If there is something to say, if it involves entering the cabinet, everything is not to be discussed."

Liu Chun's temper is not very good.

As soon as Sun Jiao saw Liu Chun's angry and corrupt appearance, he knew that his old friend had suffered a lot of blows in the cabinet recently.

Obviously, some people want to break their heads and want to enter the cabinet, you don't want to stammer, come to me to burn the cold stove, what does it mean? When the court pushes me into the cabinet, I don't even have a nomination on my side, are you making fun of me?

Sun Jiao said: "You are really worried about entering the cabinet!"

"You ......"

Liu Chun glared at Sun Jiao, as if to say, you really can't open any pot.

Sun Jiao said solemnly: "You can come to my house to talk about those who have it or not, so I can't come to you and have a good talk with you?" Others don't know your state of mind, don't I know your attitude towards joining the cabinet?"

Liu Chun thought about it, Sun Jiao knew very well that he didn't want to enter the cabinet, so there would be some ways to come to visit.

"Say it."

Liu Chunyi waved his hand.

You Sun Zhitong took the initiative to come to me, then you start first, what do you want to say, or what do you want to know from me, you can't let me talk to myself, right?

Sun Jiaodao: "Your Majesty's move may not be to find anyone to enter the cabinet, I found out a news, saying that His Majesty summoned four cabinet members and mentioned to them that he wanted to let Bohu enter the Hanlin Academy, and the four cabinet ministers refused, and then His Majesty proposed it

Increasing the number of candidates in the Cabinet."

"Hey, where did you hear that?"

Liu Chun asked.

Sun Jiao shook his head, indicating that he couldn't say it.

Liu Chun squinted: "Your Majesty summons the ministers, except for the parties, or only the palm seals of the celebrants, the pen or the chamberlain...... Zhitong, your source is not simple. You're not here to show me that you have someone in the palace, are you?"

"Cut, what are you talking about? When did I get complacent about getting to know the palace people? Don't you know what I am?" Sun Jiao said angrily.

Liu Chun nodded.

Sun Jiao understands his attitude towards entering the cabinet, and he also knows Sun Jiao's attitude towards the new emperor.

And both of them know that the attitude of dealing with them is not coy, and they really don't want to get involved in the court's grievances.

"Let's just say it, you don't have to say it to outsiders, it was Zichong who told me."

Sun Jiao exposed Fei Hong.

Liu Chun bowed his head, he didn't have a deep friendship with Fei Hong, or rather...... After Fei Hong returned to the court this time, he didn't have much contact with him, in fact, Liu Chun also knew how much pressure he would be under when he entered the cabinet as a person outside Yang Tinghe's faction.

This is not the first time Fei Hong has entered the cabinet, his past prestige is there, and it stands to reason that he can share power from Yang Tinghe, but in fact, this time he entered the cabinet, Fei Hong has completely become a marginal person.

Marginal people also have their own networks, but many times Fei Hong needs to be in contact with whom, which needs to be done secretly, which is also to avoid being chewed and gossiped, or being suspected by Yang Tinghe, and it will be difficult to deal with himself in the cabinet in the future.

Sun Jiao continued: "Your Majesty's intention is actually to be a person who wants to be more safe in the court, in the eyes of outsiders, you and your husband are inseparable, and it is impossible for you to enter the cabinet, but in my opinion, the more you are like this, the easier it will be for Your Majesty to push you out."

"So ......"

Liu Chun's eyes were full of doubts when he looked at Sun Jiao.

Sun Jiaodao: "So my suggestion is that if you are afraid of being targeted by Yang Jiefu, just go directly to the table and return to the field, just forget it."

As soon as these words came out, Liu Chun was instantly stunned.

Sun Jiao's "upright" suggestion was really unexpected.

But thinking about Sun Jiao's words carefully, Liu Chun felt that these words were very kind and pleasant, in his opinion, the person who persuaded him to retreat was really thinking about him, and the person who persuaded him to enter was harming him.

"There is some truth, but with the old man's current state, he can still last in the court for a few years, so why should he retire early?"

Liu Chun said an answer that surprised Sun Jiao.

Your old man Sun is very interesting.

I mean, I don't have any ambitions for a career, but I didn't say I'm retiring.

It's good for you to retire at this age, anyway, you have been away from the court for a long time, and you are used to the life of idle clouds and wild cranes, and you can live in your hometown for a long time.

And me?

I'm a lot younger than you, after the four dynasties of Chenghua, Hongzhi, Zhengde and Jiajing, in addition to returning to my hometown to guard the system, I have never left the court, and the work of the Hanlin Academy is very leisurely, so I don't have to worry about the busy government affairs, since I can live a clean life in the Hanlin Academy, isn't it good to be a monk for a day and hit the clock for a day?

Do I have to retreat if I don't advance?

There is no option to take the median value, not to advance or retreat?

Sun Jiao smiled, "So, you still have ideas......

"Hey, like-minded brother, I treat you as a confidant, don't treat me as a mallet!"

Liu Chun raised his hand to interrupt Sun Jiao's words.

Sun Jiao smiled again, this is also a joke that only happens among friends, and I am afraid that other people would have turned their faces a long time ago.

Liu Chun sighed: "It's not that I didn't want to quit, but in fact, I have a good life in Hanyuan, and it is not too bad to be able to do something for the court and fight for something for future generations." In fact, I think you are the same, why do you always want to quit? It's not too bad to mix around for a few more days in the DPRK to make people remember."

Sun Jiao nodded.

The two of them had similar ideas, and there was no need to dwell on them, so Sun Jiao said, "That...... If you have the opportunity to join the cabinet, even if it is only for a year and a half, you can change places and strike the clock, can't you?"

"Huh?"

Liu Chun suddenly realized that Sun Jiao came to him, not simply to persuade him to advance or retreat.

"Renzhong, I didn't mean to lay the way for you, you are also over the age of sixteen now, if you retire like this, it is good in my opinion, but if you stay in the court and enter the cabinet, it is much better than you staying in Hanyuan." Sun Jiaodao.

Liu Chun pursed his lips: "Zhitong, do you need to say this?" Who wouldn't want to be in the cabinet? Let me ask you, if you are given the opportunity to enter the cabinet, can you not enter? But now, when do you know better than me, you are no longer a person inside and outside in the important position of the head of the household department, and the cabinet is ...... Is it really something that ordinary people can get into? Once you're in there, you'll be able to stand firm?"

Sun Jiao nodded one after another, and at this point he finally figured out Liu Chun's thoughts.

Liu Chun has no ambition, but it doesn't mean that the fire in his heart is completely extinguished.

In other words, after Liu Chun experienced a narrow escape from death, he began to re-examine his life, and tried his best to suppress his ambition for his career.

This is also the reason why Sun Jiao did not persuade him to retreat, and he could not persuade him to advance.

Because Liu Chun was not like him, he was completely dead to the court.

"Okay, Renzhong, with your words, I will understand, if someone really asks me for my opinion in the future, then I will tell the truth......" Sun Jiao got up and left.

Liu Chun hurriedly stopped: "What do you mean by this?"

Sun Jiaodao: "Let's put it this way, Your Majesty has sent a message to the celebrant Zhang Gonggong, asking me to go to the inner hall tomorrow morning to discuss the matter, I guess most of the people will mention the matter of the cabinet candidates, and the time will ...... I may ......."

"Hey, don't mess around, I didn't say I wanted to enter the cabinet, don't fool me."

Liu Chun heard some clues and hurriedly refused.

Sun Jiao smiled and waved his hand.

I know what you want, what are you still pretending to be in front of me?

No matter what Liu Chun said, Sun Jiaotie was determined to put this old friend on the throne.

……

……

The next morning, when Zhu Si summoned Sun Jiao alone, he really mentioned the issue of candidates for the cabinet.

"Elder Sun, do you have a suitable candidate to recommend?" Zhu Si asked.

Sun Jiao would not mention Liu Chun when he came up, but said in a businesslike tone: "This kind of thing should be put on the court meeting, and the results of the court should be the main thing."

"Before the court pushes, can't we do a private communication first? As far as I know, in the past, Tingtui was often just a formality, and I was just used to decorate the façade, at the mercy of others, and finally nodded in agreement. In terms of personnel, is it really discussed in the court? Didn't someone decide first?"

Zhu Si was very aware of the awkward position he was in.

Sun Jiaodao: "If Your Majesty has to choose a candidate, then the old minister will propose one person, which is Liu Dongchuan, a scholar of Hanlin. He has been in the morning for a long time, and he has the most prestige, or he is the best candidate to join the cabinet."