The orthodox ten-year Yichou Kedian examination paper was full of drama, and the champion designated by the eunuch got a decisive vote from the civil leader in the anxiety, laying the final victory.

If this scene spreads, I don't know what kind of earth-shattering waves it will set off in the literati subgroup.

It is recorded in the history books that Yang Pu was simple and upright, honest and quiet, and his personality was respectful and cautious. Even in the face of petty officials, he will not snub the other party, and always maintain the respect of Corporal Lixian.

The evaluation of the "three Yangs" of the cabinet at the time also believed that Yang Shiqi had a scholarly demeanor, Yang Rong had talent and insight, but Yang Pu was a noble character.

But it is just too gentlemanly, cautious in words and deeds. As a result, Yang Pu watched Wang Zhen in his later years as he was powerful and controlled the government, but he did not stand up to balance it.

After Yang Pu, the cabinet ministers were completely unable to resist the eunuch dictatorship due to lack of qualifications or ability, and basically became "paper elders".

It was not until the second period of the emperor's career as Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty opened that Li Xian, the cabinet minister of the Tianshun Dynasty, stood up and officially determined the position of the first assistant of the cabinet from the system and inherited part of the power.

"Ming Shilu" cloud: Everything is punished by (Li) Xian, the first Bing Guojun!

However, although the Orthodox Dynasty did not clarify the distinction between the first auxiliary, the second auxiliary, and the group auxiliary in the system. But in terms of power position, there is still the fact of the first auxiliary.

For example, Yang Shiqi was called by officials as "the senior minister of the four dynasties, and the second saint Yuanfu"

The word Yuanfu has the connotation of prime minister, and it also implies the respect of the head of his cabinet.

Yang Pu's final tone was unanimously approved in the unspoken rules of the palace examination papers. But it still makes many paper readers feel incomprehensible, among which Cao Nai, who is also a cabinet minister, is even worse.

Cao Nai was the cabinet minister who inherited the position of the first assistant of the cabinet after Yang Pu's death, and he was also cultivated by Yang Pu.

The signs of the eunuch Wang Zhen's dictatorship were actually revealed as early as the early years of orthodoxy. He used the eunuch's right to "approve red" in politics, and at the same time secretly encircled his cronies and cultivated party henchmen.

It's just that Wang Zhen's unauthorized power at that time aroused the vigilance of the Empress Dowager Zhang, who was ready to order him to be executed.

As a result, the little emperor Zhu Qizhen knelt down to plead, and the cabinet "Sanyang" helped to say good things, so that Wang Zhen was pardoned for his capital crime by extrajudicial grace.

As for why "Sanyang" helped Wang Zhen intercede, the reason is also very simple, they belonged to the political "alliance" at that time, and they jointly held the power of the dynasty and suppressed the imperial power.

If you want to do this perfectly, you must have your own people among the palace officials, who can win the emperor's favor better than Wang Zhen?

It's just that raising tigers will eventually be troubled, and the Empress Dowager Zhang collapsed in the seventh year of orthodoxy, and since then there is no one in the court who can suppress Wang Zhen.

At that time, he was extremely arrogant to hang Ming Taizu on the palace gate, and the iron plate of "ministers are not allowed to interfere in political affairs, and offenders will be beheaded" was taken down to show his power and majesty to civil and military officials.

At this time, Yang Rong has passed away, and the remaining Yang Shiqi and Yang Pu are not fools, Wang Zhenzuo is so obvious, and it is clear that he will not be fellow travelers with the civil official group in the future.

Book of Hundred Leagues

It is estimated that Wang Zhen has a similar idea in his heart, eunuchs have been fighting with civil officials for thousands of years, when did our family and you become our own people?

And the eunuch rights of the Ming Dynasty are to put it bluntly, but it is an extension of the imperial power, and now that he has no empress dowager's tight spell, he is still stupid to suppress the imperial power with you, right?

Of course, he abandoned the darkness and turned to the light, and joined forces with his beloved student Zhu Qizhen to jointly take charge of the court and create a peaceful and prosperous era, which will be famous in the history books.

In view of this situation, "Er Yang", just like Hu Hu's thoughts now, began to lay out his strength to deal with Wang Zhen after he retired in old age.

Cao Nai was the person chosen by Yang Pu, and he began to support him from the moment he became a lieutenant, and he walked step by step to the center of cabinet power.

In fact, it is not only Cao Nai, but also Chen Xun, the next cabinet chief assistant, who is also a new force selected by Yang Shiqi, and even Yang Shiqi's nephew!

It can be said that the extremely perfect imperial examination system of the Ming Dynasty not only provided a steady stream of new forces for the civil and official groups, but also bred countless small interest groups.

Coupled with the officialdom methods such as protégés and fellow villagers in the same year, the small group became a large group.

Fortunately in the early Ming Dynasty, Ming Taizu Ming Chengzu was more violent, relying on means similar to the White Terror, and the killing of human heads was hard to suppress the inflated ambitions of the civilian clique.

In addition, there is also the existence of a clique of honorable relatives, which also makes the civilian clique dare not be too presumptuous.

After the change of the orthodox dynasty of Tumubao, the Xunqi group was finished, and there was no counterbalance power.

To tell the truth of the eunuch group, there are eunuchs like Wang Zhen, Liu Jin, and Wei Zhongxian, who can still break their wrists by relying on the factory and health secret services.

Once there is a lack of top leaders, no matter in terms of volume or quality, without the blessing of reserve talents in the imperial examination system, it is not a level opponent at all with the civil official group, and at most it will compete for a while.

Not to mention other forces, the emperor of the clan himself can't believe it, and he is raising pigs. The backbone of the military general was broken, and the famous generals such as Qi Jiguang in later generations were just lackeys in front of Zhang Juzheng.

In the end, the civilian clique looked around blankly, and there was really no one who could fight!

Since there is no opponent of the same power, let's review the original intention and continue to fight with the emperor......

So there were all kinds of strange events in the Jiajing and Wanli dynasties, and in the end, the emperor also admitted it, and simply slacked off, Lao Tzu was afraid that you would not go to the head office, right?

Honestly, it doesn't work either......

The civilian-bureaucratic clique has gone through so many rounds of fighting, and various interest groups have long been unable to hold their hands and can only fight endlessly.

Since you don't have an opponent, fight yourself!

So it split into the Qi Party, the Zhejiang Party, the Min Party, the Donglin Party and other factions, and began to fight endlessly, which was the essence of the final party struggle in the Ming Dynasty.

Just fought and fought, the Ming Dynasty was killed, the emperor was hanged, and it ended perfectly......

Cao Nai, as a civilian combatant trained by the "Three Yangs", has courage and courage, and dares to be tough with Wang Zhen.

However, his qualifications are too shallow, the city government is not deep, and he seriously lacks experience in struggle, so he is not the opponent of Wang Zhen at all.

This point was also revealed after the palace examination, and as soon as the examiner finished reviewing the test papers, he couldn't help but come to Yang Pu and asked.

"Yuanfu, why did you choose Shen Yichen's test paper, he is a member of the eunuch party!"

Looking at Cao Nai's breathless appearance, Yang Pu was a little disappointed in his heart, which was precisely the reason why he chose Shen Yichen.

"Is Shen Yichen really a member of the eunuch party?"

Yang Pu sighed and asked rhetorically, who characterized Shen Yichen?

"It's not a member of the eunuch party, so why did Wang Zhen help intervene in the marking of the papers?"

has been an official for many years, Cao Nai also has some understanding of Wang Zhen's character, this person likes to form a party and promote his own people to the top.

On the contrary, for those courtiers who were slightly dissatisfied, or even fought against them, Wang Zhen would immediately use thunder to strike, and he would not show mercy.

If Shen Yichen was not a member of the eunuch party, how could he get Wang Zhen's help, isn't the answer obvious enough?

"I don't know why Wang Zhen intervened in the old man, but Shen Yichen is definitely not a member of the eunuch party."

"If it were, Wang Zhen would have made a move earlier in this palace test, and even instigated His Majesty to appoint it in front of him."

Yesterday's conversation between Wang Zhen and Zhu Qizhen in the palace test, Yang Pu also vaguely heard it.

Yang Pu has also dealt with Wang Zhen for many years, and in the early years, he could even be regarded as a political alliance, and he must know each other better than Cao Nai.

Wang Zhen has been powerful in recent years, and his style of acting is almost unscrupulous, if Shen Yichen is really the champion in the eunuch party, he would have already pressured the reader to read the paper from all sides, how can there be any 8-8 draw.

In addition, the Holy Upper Hall tried to be curious about Shen Yichen's article, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but Wang Zhen did not take advantage of it, but chose to persuade.

Based on these two points, Yang Pu is almost 100% sure that Shen Yichen and Wang Zhen did not reach a consensus of interests behind his back.

I have to say that Jiang is still old and spicy, even if Wang Zhen sent the ceremonial eunuch to publicly help Shen Yichen, wanting to create a fait accompli for fellow believers.

But it still didn't escape Yang Pu's eyes, and directly saw through the essence behind it.

"Even if Shen Yichen is not a member of the eunuch party, he has a lot to do with Wang Zhen, why would Yuan Fu take such a risk?"

"It's better to jointly elect Yang Hongze to be the leader, he is a protégé of Lord Hu, sincere, and has the righteousness of literati!"

To be honest, Cao Nai still couldn't understand Yang Pu's actions, instead of taking unnecessary risks, it was better to let others take the position?

Unexpectedly, Yang Pu shook his head and replied after hearing it: "Wan Zhong (Cao Nai), you are wrong." ”

"Am I wrong?"

Cao Nai was even more surprised now, what was wrong with him?

"Think about it, since Shen Yichen didn't reach a consensus with Wang Zhen, why did Wang Zhen choose to help him?"

"Because Shen Yichen ......"

Cao Nai subconsciously wanted to say the reason, but halfway through the words, he suddenly had an epiphany!

Seeing that Cao Nai didn't speak, Yang Pu nodded and added: "That's because Wang Zhen saw Shen Yichen's potential and thought that this son was not a thing in the pool, so he would show favor." ”

"This kind of talent can't be suppressed. If we choose to deliberately suppress today, then in the future, even if he does not join the eunuchs, he will stand on the opposite side of us. ”

"Do you expect one more ally or one more enemy in the future?"

Speaking of this, Yang Pu recalled in his mind the shock of seeing Shen Yichen's article for the first time in the palace examination.

That open-minded, low-key and calm is rare, and the future is certainly immeasurable.

Wang Zhen's assist in intervening in the marking of the papers today made Yang Pu firm in his inner thoughts, so that he would choose Shen Yichen against public opinion.

Even a district eunuch has such courage to win over, as the head of the cabinet, is he not as good as him?

"Lord Yuanfu is old and seeks the country, and the lower officials are far inferior!"

Cao Nai, who had figured everything out, realized the gap between himself and Yang Pu, and bowed with a long bow in his heart.

"Wan Zhong, in the future, remember to plan and then act, think and decide. Wang Zhen is not simple, and Shen Yichen's son is also not simple. ”

……

Shen Yichen of the Chengguo Mansion didn't know that he was in Yang Pu and had been praised so highly.

On the contrary, even if he knew, he could only smile bitterly at this moment.

I don't have that ability now, I can participate in the battle between civil officials and eunuchs, and it would be good to win the infighting between the children of the high-ranking mansion compound in front of me.

Zhu Yi's words in front of the house, Shen Yichen always felt a little uneasy when he recalled it.

This kind of uneasiness is not worried about Zhu Ji and Lin's actions, he is uneasy about Zhu Yi's surveillance.

After all, there are many secrets hidden in his body now, such as colluding with the "anti-thieves" wanted by the government, cooperating with overseas Japanese criminals in smuggling, and even collecting evidence of Wang Zhen's crimes.

Any one of these things that broke out can be called a felony of exile and murder, even if Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, can save himself in the end, it is estimated that his fame and future will be greatly affected.

And to put it mildly, when he has no value, will Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, still protect it?

Shen Yichen didn't have much confidence in this.

So early on the morning of the second day, Shen Yichen came to the teahouse box where he often met with Canghuo and others, ready to ask and discuss countermeasures.

At the beginning, Ye Zongliu sent Canghuotou, Zheng Xiang, and Wang Neng to Beijing to send money, and then Shen Yichen asked Zheng Xiang and Xu Fengyuan to return to Fujian, and then stayed to deal with overseas smuggling trade.

Wang Neng was also arranged by Shen Yichen to go to Yingtianfu and escort his mother Shen to Beijing all the way.

It is also said that at present, there is only one person left by Shen Yichen's side, and it is really a bit stretched.

"Shen Gongzi, has something happened?"

Canghuo looked at Shen Yichen's hurried appearance, and asked first.

"Canghuotou, have you noticed any suspicious people around me recently?"

Shen Yichen knew that Canghuo had been secretly protecting himself, and if there were Zhu Yi's monitors by his side, then he would definitely be able to find clues.

"Yes."

Canghuo nodded and said, "Shen Gongzi, there have been a few suspicious people around you, but their actions are very hidden, and they haven't taken a closer step, so I didn't make a move." ”

"After all, I am following Shen Gongzi alone, in case it is the other party's plan to divert the tiger from the mountain, if I leave, I will fall into the trap."

Sure enough, someone is monitoring themselves!

Shen Yichen nodded, he didn't mean to blame Canghuotou, it was true that in the case of insufficient manpower, it was best to wait and see what happened.

There are people outside the house who monitor themselves, but what about inside the house?

Shen Yichen was a person who didn't worry about the Chengguo Mansion at the beginning, and he didn't even ask for the maidservants and maids who served, and the whole courtyard was by himself and Ah Niu.

Now it seems that it is easy to dodge with open guns, but it is difficult to defend against hidden arrows, even if you are vigilant and take precautions. But as long as you still live in the Chengguo Mansion, there is no way to guarantee absolute privacy and security.

After all, it was impossible for him to let Canghuo and others settle in the mansion, and doing so was tantamount to self-destructing.

For some reason, the picture of Wang Shan's incriminating evidence on the desk suddenly appeared in Shen Yichen's mind.

He had a vague hunch, maybe he didn't think much about it, the evidence of the crime was indeed seen, and this person was most likely Zhu Yi!

With Zhu Yi's means, what will he do?

"Shen Gongzi, is there any trouble?"

Seeing Shen Yichen's solemn face and deep in thought, Canghuo opened his mouth to ask.

"Nothing."

Shen Yichen didn't want to affect Canghuotou, so he pretended to smile relaxedly.

Then he continued: "Canghuotou, do you have a way to catch a suspicious person who is following me?" ”

"There is a way, but then you won't be able to protect Shen Gongzi."

"It's okay, you just do what I say."

"By the way, there is a silver ticket here, you can go and buy two adjacent courtyards, just be secluded."

After that, Shen Yichen took out a thousand taels of silver ticket from his arms and handed it to Canghuotou.

Soon the mother Shen will go to Jingshi, and now it is definitely impossible to live in the Chengguo Mansion in this situation, and she will have to move out herself.

In addition, Wang Neng will also bring a group of people over, and he has to arrange their accommodation, and at the same time, he has to consider the issue of guards, so two mansions are indispensable.

"Yes, the little one understands."

Canghuotou didn't ask much, and quickly accepted the silver ticket.

After instructing Canghuotou, Shen Yichen did not return to the mansion, but went to the Fusi station in Beizhen.

Now that you have decided to start counterattacking and moving, you must use thunder means to leave no trouble.

He also planned to ask Zhao Hongjie's Jinyi guard to help investigate the people who drank with Zhu Ji that night, what they heard, and what role Zhu Yi played in it.

To do this kind of thing, Canghuotou doesn't have this ability, and there is no more professional than Jinyiwei in Daming.

……

On the 17th day of March in the tenth year of orthodoxy, Zhu Qizhen came to the Wenhua Palace, ready to listen to the reckoning in front of the officials who read the papers.

Yang Pu and other three cabinet ministers, each holding a test paper for the first standing, they are the top three in the Yichou Science Hall examination.

After the salute, Zhu Qizhen said to Yang Pu: "Yang Aiqing, let's start." ”

To be honest, kneeling in front of the emperor is a bit boring for the emperor, after all, the ranking has been set by the ministers, and if nothing else, he will have a hand-picked name.

"Minister, obey."

After Yang Pu received the order, he was ready to kneel down to read the paper, but Zhu Qizhen sympathized with his advanced age, so he avoided kneeling and reading the paper, just standing and reading the paper.

"The minister is right: the minister is not in a hurry to use the virtuous, and the virtuous is not before self-cultivation. Non-self-cultivation is not the foundation of taking people, and non-using virtue is not the key to governance. ”

Although Yang Pu is old, he can be said to be full of energy when he reads the article aloud at this moment.

In addition to the loud voice required for reading the paper itself, it was more of the sage avenue in Shen Yichen's article, which made Yang Pu feel a sense of literati's heroic spirit.

Hearing this beginning, Zhu Qizhen's eyes lit up instantly, he already knew that this was Shen Yichen's article!

Sure enough, his vision is right, Shen Yichen is talented and brilliant, and the paper readers have also been elected as the champion volume!

As Yang Pu's last word fell, Wang Zhen took the test paper and placed it on the imperial case, and then Cao Nai took a step forward, ready to continue reading the paper.

According to the rules and procedures, it is necessary to wait for all three test papers to be read, and then the emperor will determine the ranking.

As a result, an unexpected situation occurred, and Zhu Qizhen did not follow the rules at all. When Shen Yichen's test paper was placed in the imperial case, he had already written the words "First Grade" and "First Place".

This scene stunned the public readers present, let alone reading twelve volumes, now that they haven't even finished reading three volumes, the champion has already been hand-picked, how to go about the follow-up process?

Looking at everyone's surprised expressions, Zhu Qizhen said indifferently: "Isn't this Shen Yichen's test paper?" Since it is expected by everyone, let's directly handpick the champion. ”

After these words came out, including Wang Zhen, they were dumbfounded, and the seal of the test paper had not been opened, even if the emperor knew who the candidate was, he would pretend not to say it.

"Your Majesty, do you want to make a decision after listening to the remaining two articles?"

Wang Zhen opened his mouth to persuade him, the law of the ancestors is immutable, and the process still has to be followed.

"No need, this is the champion I selected, or the three yuan and six heads!"

Zhu Qizhen did not listen to Wang Zhen's opinion, but chose to be willful.

The orthodox ten years of Yichou Branch is the first Zhengke after Zhu Qizhen's pro-government, and he has complete decision-making power.

He took a special fancy to the champion selected in this palace test, not to mention that Shen Yichen also won Zhu Qizhen's heart, and he couldn't find any problems in all aspects.

Why do you need to discuss this son again?

There are three elements in the world, and there are no six songs in the world, Shen Yichen will become my minister in the future and create a peaceful and prosperous world!

154 Handpicked champion (2-in-1)