"We meet again." Hu Zongxian looked at Gao Hanwen, who was in the dust, and his tone was still so calm, but Gao Hanwen heard the vicissitudes of meaning.

Gao Hanwen looked at the senior official deeply, and at this time he knelt down completely in his heart, and kowtowed excitedly: "Subordinate Gao Hanwen visits the department. ”

Hu Zongxian walked over and stretched out a hand to hold him: "Don't talk about hypocrisy before the army, hurry up and talk about military affairs." ”

After Gao Hanwen got up, his eyes were red: "Military affairs have been mistaken by officialdom!" Ministry, the battle below cannot be fought. It's really a shame for the subordinates to come this time. We're all guilty! ”

Hu Zongxian is still very calm: "It is not a matter of time for the court, government, and military affairs to make mistakes again and again. It's only been a little over a month since you arrived in Zhejiang, and I can't talk about you. Did you copy Shen Yishi's house without copying the money? ”

Gao Hanwen couldn't hold back his excitement: "The ministry is really a minister who seeks the country!" Shen Yishi is known as the richest man in Zhejiang, and this time he confiscated his family wealth as much as a middle-class family. All the accounts are gone! The ministry, the weaving bureau and the Zhejiang officialdom are already a piece of sludge and muddy water! The situation in the southeast is so critical, facing the imperial court and the people, you have to stand up and speak! ”

Hu Zongxian looked at him and shook his head slowly, and then said: "I naturally want to say what the court said to the people. But for now I just want to say a few words to you. You don't care about it, do you? ”

Gao Hanwen: "Please teach me." ”

Hu Zongxian: "First, you shouldn't come out to be an official. Your talent is only suitable for poetry and elegance, but your personality is not good at being an official in your life. ”

Gao Hanwen was stunned for a moment, and then nodded deeply.

Hu Zongxian: "Second, since you have won the imperial examination, you should write a book in the Hanlin Academy, and you should not talk about national policies. The books of the saints are all for people to read, and they are useless for doing things. ”

Gao Hanwen was a little unimpressed at this time, and was silent there.

Hu Zongxian: "The first time I saw you at the post station, I couldn't tell you this. More than a month has passed, and you can do your best in Zhejiang according to what I told you at the time, which shows that you and I are still in the same way, and now I don't care if I talk to you about these words. Even though I know that it will be difficult for you to understand these words, and perhaps you will not understand them until the day of death, I will still say them. You know why? ”

Gao Hanwen raised his head: "The ministry must want me to do something, just say it." ”

Hu Zongxian: "This is your talent. You can hear the off-strings, and that's enough. Listen to me, after handing over these military supplies, return to Hangzhou immediately, find the Jinyi guards sent by the imperial court, take the initiative to plead guilty, and ask them to send you to Beijing immediately! ”

Gao Hanwen was shocked: "Ministry, I can do what you say, but I want to know why I want to do this?" ”

Hu Zongxian: "I can't tell you now. I asked you to do this, not only for yourself, but also for the sake of the court, so that I can fight this battle! ”

Gao Hanwen was shocked there, and only after a long time did he look at Hu Zongxian again: "I believe in the department." But if the subordinates do this, those silverfish who mislead the country and the people will let them go unpunished? ”

Hu Zongxian: "I'll give you some answers." In less than a month, the imperial court will set off a big case in Zhejiang, and none of those who mislead the country and the people will be able to escape! The most you are guilty of now is because you confiscated Shen Yishi's family wealth and did not handle the case effectively. If you stay in Zhejiang, you will be involved in them! ”

Gao Hanwen seemed to understand, but new doubts suddenly sprung up: "Why does the ministry treat me like this?" ”

Hu Zongxian's face immediately became grim: "As the governor of Zhejiang, under my jurisdiction, who is guilty and who is not guilty, shouldn't it be clear!" ”

Gao Hanwen was no longer puzzled, moved for a while, and knelt down.

Hu Zongxian looked at him and suddenly sighed: "If I could leave like this, I would have asked for it a long time ago." Actually, you're still a blessed man. ”

Gao Hanwen raised his head: "My subordinates will go back to Hangzhou overnight, and they must do what the ministry says!" After saying that, he kowtowed again and stood up.

Hu Zongxian: "Remember two, first, what I said to you tonight can only be buried in my heart." Second, you will be locked up in prison for a year and a half at most, and you will resign immediately after you are released from prison, and you will not be an official again. ”

Gao Hanwen arched his hands: "Late life remembered!" With that, he turned around and walked out.

Hu Zongxian also slowly walked outside the big tent at this time, looked at the starry sky, and suddenly shouted: "Someone! ”

The captain of the pro-soldier immediately walked over from the darkness: "Lord Ministry. ”

Hu Zongxian: "Send someone to inform General Qi immediately, and the army will rest on the spot and wait for backup!" ”

Captain: "Yes! ”

The two doors of Yang Jinshui's bedroom were wide open, the courtyard wall was high, and the stars in the sky seemed to be inlaid above his head, appearing so close. Yun Niang stood by the door, quietly waiting for the call from inside.

"Come in." Yang Jinshui's voice came from inside.

Yun Niang walked in, still standing quietly in the door, bowing her head slightly. From her demeanor, it can be seen that she has no idea what is happening outside in the past few days.

"Come, sit down." Yang Jinshui sat at the table and called to her.

Yun Niang walked over and sat down, only to find that the round table with rosewood and marble was now covered by a six-foot square satin, and there were obviously many things bulging under the satin.

Yang Jinshui looked at her: "It's lonely to live alone in a small courtyard these days, right?" ”

Yun Niang: "If Gonggong Yang has any orders, please say it." ”

Yang Jinshui sighed lightly: "Still don't want to call me a godfather?" ”

Yun Niang had no choice but to call softly: "Godfather." ”

"If you call this, I can tell you a few things." As he spoke, Yang Jinshui tore open the piece of satin on the table, revealing three things on the table: a one-foot-square rosewood box with gold flakes wrapped in four corners; a copper box about a foot long and five inches wide and five inches high, which was locked by a copper lock, which was already full of green patina; There is also one that Yun Niang usually plays here!

Yun Niang slowly looked away, lowered her head slightly, and no longer looked at the things on the table.

Yang Jinshui: "I calculated, you and I have been four years and three months, from the age of seventeen to the present is twenty-two. Godfather found you someone, you have been with him for the rest of your life. ”

Yun Niang raised her head: "Godfather, I don't want your old things, don't force me to go with anyone, let me go, I will be grateful for your kindness for the rest of my life." ”

"That's not going to work." Yang Jinshui shook his head firmly, "He gave you these things, and I promised him." I can't break my promise. ”

Yun Niang had already understood who Yang Jinshui was talking about, and couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Who?" ”

Yang Jinshui: "Shen Yishi." ”

Yun Niang was silent again, and said after a while: "I was originally bought by him with money, and since he still wants me back, I will be a slave for him." ”

Yang Jinshui's eyes showed a trace of sadness: "In this life, he will not ask you to go back to be a slave." ”

Yun Niang's eyes lit up, she looked at Yang Jinshui, and suddenly felt something unusual, and asked timidly: "He is no longer working with the Weaving Bureau?" ”

Yang Jinshui nodded and slowly stood up: "Don't do it, don't do anything." There is no need to work hard, and there is no need to be frightened, clapping both hands and leaving. He was a blessed man! ”

Yun Niang stood up suddenly, her voice obviously trembling: "Where did he go......"

Yang Jinshui was also moved at this time, stretched out his hand and slowly opened the rosewood box, took out the top page of the notebook with the words written, and the hand trembled slightly: "Here are a few words he left, ask me to read them to you." ”

Yun Niang looked at the note in Yang Jinshui's hand stupidly, and Shen Yishi's familiar words came into view!

Yang Jinshui's voice trembled slightly: "Hou Feihou, Wang Feiwang, thousands of rides back to Bishan!" After me, who recovered from the injury. A song "Guangling San", and then play it to wait for Yun Niang. ”

"He, he's dead...... Yun Niang's face turned white, frozen there!

Yang Jinshui: "Glued to the Weaving Bureau, glued to the messenger in the palace, where else can he go except die?" ”

Yang Jinshui's gaze slowly slanted at her, and found that tears welled up in her eyes, and then flowed down.

Yang Jinshui: "Are you sad?" ”

Yun Niang choked up: "Actually, he's not a bad person......"

"Good!" Yang Jinshui pressed one hand on the wooden box, "With your lines of tears, and your words to him, I can hand over these things to you." As he spoke, he opened the lid of the box.

- There's a stack of silver tickets in the box!

Yang Jinshui: "These things are the dowry he entrusted to me to transfer to you before he died." He said, you have a high heart, there are few people in this world who can match you, I have wronged you in the past few years, and I will discuss with you to let you go with someone. ”

Yun Niang had already sat down, lying on the table and sobbing.

Yang Jinshui: "Don't cry yet, listen to me." ”

Yun Niang was still sobbing, and said in a choked voice: "I don't want anyone's things." Godfather, if you and Mr. Shen really pity me like this, let me become a monk. I recited the scriptures to him every day, which is also regarded as paying off his debts......"

Yang Jinshui: "I said, what I promised him, I must do it!" ”

Yun Niang slowly raised her head again, her face full of tears: "Who did you tell me to go with?" ”

Yang Jinshui: "Gao Hanwen! ”

Yun Niang was stunned.

Yang Jinshui's face was so solemn: "This time there are thousands of mountains and rivers, and the ravines are vertical and horizontal!" What awaits you is not necessarily a blessing, but I am afraid that there is still a danger that cannot be passed. Lao Shen said, when the time comes, this copper box may save your life, and it can also save Gao Hanwen's life! Don't open it, smash it open when you can't get by. ”

Yun Niang cried bitterly.

……

On a moonless night, the starlight shone on the dark and dreary rubble field, and who would have known that it was once a place where fire was once boiling oil and flowers!

Yang Jinshui accompanied Yun Niang without lighting lanterns, and walked in silently from the backyard door of Shen Yishi's courtyard. Several dark shadows immediately guarded the courtyard gate and stood there.

Yun Niang faced the rubble, slowly knelt down, put down the basket in her hand, and took out the paper money.

Yang Jinshui lit the velvet for him, bent down, Yun Niang lit the paper money, and bowed deeply.

Yang Jinshui waited for him to bow a few times, and then patted his palm on the black shadow outside the courtyard gate. His attendant eunuch walked in with a guqin in his hand, handed it to Yang Jinshui, turned around and walked out again.

Yang Jinshui handed the guqin to Yun Niang: "Finally, play and sing a song for him, just sing the words he gave you, and let him know that I have done everything I should do." ”

Yun Niang was still kneeling, took the guqin and put it on the ground, slowly took out Shen Yishi's notebook from her arms, took a last look at the words written by Shen Yishi by the light of the fire ignited by the paper money, and gently put the notebook on the burning paper money, and the notebook immediately burned.

"Ding Dong", Yun Niang plucked the strings, swallowed a mouthful of tears with the section in "Guangling San" that should play the horn sound, and sang softly: "Hou Feihou, Wang Feiwang, thousands of rides back to the mountain......" She choked up when she sang this, and she couldn't sing anymore.

The piece of paper had burned white on the bank, but it was still a neat line of paper!

Suddenly, there was a breeze, and the paper, which had become white ashes, was blown up by the breeze!

"Alright." Yang Jinshui looked at the floating paper embers, and suddenly felt a chill hit him, and his voice trembled, "He has heard it." ”

Yun Niang was not afraid at this time, and watched with tearful eyes as the embers of the paper slowly floated down again, turning into countless fragments.

Yang Jinshui came over and pulled Yun Niang: "When the heart arrives, he will bless you." Let's go. I'll have a long way to go tomorrow. ”

Yun Niang slowly stood up with the piano in her arms.

Although there are lanterns hanging under the eaves of the gate, the people on the floor are still black and oppressed, and they can't see their real faces. But they all sat there quietly, very orderly.

The sound of horses' hooves looked so tired in such a night, and the people sitting all over the square stood up, and in the direction that countless faces were looking, Gao Hanwen's horse team walked tiredly towards the yamen.

In the face of so many people, Gao Hanwen's horse stopped, and the entourage soldiers behind him followed.

The head of a soldier asked in a loud voice, "Who is it?" What are you doing here? ”

A big man in the crowd greeted him and knelt down on one leg in front of Gao Hanwen's horse: "Xiaomin Qi Dazhu, on the order of Haizhi County, led the people of Chun'an to report to Lord Gao, and voluntarily joined the army to follow Hu Butang and General Qi to fight the Japanese Invaders!" ”

Gao Hanwen immediately got off the horse and said to Qi Dazhu, who was kneeling: "Haizhi County called you here?" ”

Qi Dazhu: "Actually, we came voluntarily. ”

Many voices shouted at the same time: "We voluntarily join the army!" ”

Gao Hanwen was a little excited, and helped Qi Dazhu up: "Okay, good." Is Haichi OK? ”

Qi Dazhu: "Lord Hui, Haizhi County is waiting for you in the back hall." ”

"Oh!" Gao Hanwen immediately threw the reins in his hand and strode into the yamen.

……

Originally, he wanted Gao Hanwen to lead Chun'an's strong men to the front line, but Gao Hanwen said that he was going to ask for guilt and send him to Beijing, Hai Rui glanced at Gao Hanwen, and he was silent.

Two people sat opposite each other, the two chairs were less than two feet apart, both of them were silent, after this fight in Zhejiang, two people with different personalities, life experiences, and tastes had an inseparable friendship.

It was Gao Hanwen who broke the silence: "There is one more thing. I have seen his account book at Shen Yishi's house, and there are some things to write down, and Brother Gangfeng may be able to use them one day. ”

Hai Rui looked at Gao Hanwen fixedly and nodded.

"I can't leave ink, I'll memorize it slowly, Brother Gangfeng remembers it with heart." Gao Hanwen said softly.

Hai Rui closed his eyes: "Please say, I can remember." ”

Gao Han's diploma memory slowly recited: "In May of the 39th year of Jiajing, the new silk was listed, and in June, the Nanjing, Suzhou, and Jiangnan Weaving Bureaus rushed to weave 100,000 horses of fine silk, and all of them were sent to the Inner Court Needlework Bureau. In July of the 39th year of Jiajing, Ying Tianbu's political envoy Yamen and Zhejiang's political envoy Yamen complied with the edict and purchased 50,000 horses of high-grade silk, 100,000 horses of medium-sized silk, and 100,000 horses of high-quality chintz cloth from Songjiang with the tax silver of the two provinces, and sent them to the Ministry of Industry in Beijing, so that the emperor could reward the officials of the vassal kings and the envoys of foreign vassals. In October of the 39th year of Jiajing, the weaving bureaus of Nanjing, Suzhou, and Jiangnan negotiated with merchants from the Western Regions about the trade of 200,000 pieces of silk, equivalent to 2.2 million taels of silver, and all of them were sent to the treasury of the Inner Court Division. Note: There is no need to make a credit to the account. ”

Hearing this, Hai Rui's eyes widened: "This is what you saw with your own eyes?" ”

Gao Hanwen nodded solemnly: "It's all recorded in Shen Yishi's account." Also, Brother Gangfeng must remember. ”

Hai Rui no longer closed his eyes: "Please say, I remember." ”

Gao Hanwen continued to recite: "In February of the 40th year of Jiajing, he received an edict from the master of ceremonies to the edict that the silk produced in Zhejiang should be traded with Western merchants in that year, and all the 120,000 pieces of silk stored in the previous year were sealed, and the new silk produced this year was 500,000 horses, and the silver was escorted to the household department to make up for the shortfall. In March, he received an order from the celebrant to escort 100,000 horses of silk sealed in the previous year to Beijing to reward Princess Li Hou's family. Back to here, Gao Hanwen stopped.

There was silence.

Hai Rui: "No? ”

Gao Hanwen: "He showed me these accounts. ”

Hai Rui stood up: "There is no distinction between home and country!" The court is not divided! The greed for ink in officialdom begins in the inner court! ”

Gao Hanwen: "Shen Yishi has been running the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau for 20 years, and I don't know how many unspeakable people there are!" Brother Gangfeng, you are the person that Prince Yu is optimistic about, and it is your duty to rectify the dynasty and rectify the officialdom one day! ”

Hai Rui: "When are you going to see Jinyiwei to ask for guilt?" ”

Gao Hanwen: "I can leave as soon as it is dawn." ”

After a moment of silence, Hai Rui suddenly asked, "What else did Hu Butang tell you?" ”

Gao Hanwen was stunned: "Why did you suddenly ask about Hu Butang?" ”

Hai Rui: "You just came from the Hubutang camp, who else will teach you to do this?" ”

Gao Hanwen looked at Hai Rui steadily, and sighed with emotion for a long time: "Hu Butang said that I am not an official. Now I believe it even more. Brother Gangfeng, based on what you just said, I also know that the officials of the Ming Dynasty are only competent for people like you and Hu Butang! ”

Hai Rui also looked at Gao Hanwen deeply: "I'm not an official either!" But with the conscience of heaven, it is just a point to be able to fight for this court and the people of the Ming Dynasty. If I can't fight one day, I will go back to my hometown and be alone. ”

Gao Hanwen's eyes welled up with tears: "One day, Brother Gangfeng will no longer be an official, and I will come to you." ”

Hai Rui shook his head: "My place is the end of the world, it's too hot, you can't get used to it." Besides, I won't like anything you like. Let's send each other thoughts from afar. ”

Gao Hanwen: "I'll come to you." ”

Hai Rui looked at him: "You are here, you still have wine and food." ”

Gao Hanwen: "Then it's decided. Brother Gangfeng, those righteous people outside the gate of the mansion can only rely on you to send to Hu Butang's camp. Let's go. ”

Hai Rui: "Then I can't send you either." When you get to Kyori, don't say anything. Only silence can lead to release from prison. ”

Gao Hanwen: "Domeng's advice, I remember. ”

This was the first post station from Hangzhou to Beijing Luyi, and it happened to be noon, and the team carrying Gao Hanwen's prisoner cart happened to have lunch here and feed the horses.

There is no threshold at the gate of the post station, and the four brocade guards all put on red brocade guards and rode horses to enter the post gate first.

It is said that it is a prisoner car, and it is also divided into three, six, nine and so on. The prisoner car that Gao Hanwen was riding in was actually similar to a horse-drawn carriage, except that there was no curtain decoration for the door, so the people sitting inside could see it directly from the outside. In addition, a large chain was attached to the handlebar to indicate that the person sitting in the car was the offending officer.

After the four brocade guards entered, several soldiers escorted Gao Hanwen's prisoner car directly into the gate of the post station.

Soon, another carriage came and followed it into the gate of the inn.

The meal was served in a short time. There were three tables in the hall, four brocade guards sat at one table, eight soldiers sat at one table, and Gao Hanwen sat alone at a small table.

The postman brought different meals to the tables of the brocade guards and soldiers.

But no one brought food to Gao Hanwen's table.

The eight soldiers were a little surprised, and glanced at Gao Hanwen's side, and then at the Jinyi guard's side. Seeing that the four Jinyi Guards had already eaten and drunk by themselves, they didn't dare to say anything more, so they picked up their rice bowls and ate them.

Gao Hanwen also didn't say a word, sat there alone, and slowly closed his eyes.

With one hand, he put a rice basket on Gao Hanwen's table, then opened the lid of the basket and brought out the food and two bowls of side dishes from it.

Gao Hanwen opened his eyes, saw the food on the table, and immediately felt that this was not like the food given to the criminal officer at the post station, so he was stunned, raised his head and looked at the person who packed the rice basket, stunned!

- That person is Yun Niang in a cloth dress!

Yun Niang didn't look at him, set the meal, and walked out of the dining room with the rice basket.

Gao Hanwen turned to look at the four brocade guards.

The four brocade guards were eating with their heads buried in their heads, and no one looked at him.

Gao Hanwen slowly raised his head and looked at the roof, where he was distracted.

The prisoner car that sent Gao Hanwen and Zheng Michang and He Maocai asked for guilt followed the four brocade guards on the road with a distance of one hundred and twenty miles a day. Shen Yishi's four large boxes of account books and Yang Jinshui's secret music were secretly transported to Beijing five days later on an expedited 400-mile express journey. When Shenpai entered the city from Chongwen Gate, it was directly sent to the noon gate, and the internal supervisor signed the receipt list, and when it was sent to Yuxi Palace, it was already dark.

All the palace lamps were lit, and they were as bright as day. The doors and windows were closed tightly as before, and unlike in the past, Yuxi Palace, which had always heard the sound of a needle falling to the ground, was "crackling" at this time, and the sound of abacus and beads was even sky-high!

The four large wooden boxes were opened, and they were placed in the center of the main hall, and the two eunuchs kept taking out the account books from the boxes and sending them to the two long rosewood cases on the left and right in order.

On the long case of red sandalwood on the left there is a huge mahogany abacus that is one zhang long and one foot wide, and on the long case of red sandalwood on the right is also a huge mahogany abacus of the same length and width. Standing in front of the case is no longer the eunuch Bingbi and the cabinet member, but the twelve eunuchs temporarily transferred from the Needlework Bureau, the Scarf and Hat Bureau, and the Shangyi Supervisor. There are six standing in front of the long case abacus on the left, and six in front of the long case abacus on the right. The six eunuchs shared an abacus, and the six slender hands were quickly fiddling with the abacus on the huge abacus at the same time, sweating profusely, nervously counting the account books.

——The eyes of each eunuch only stared at the account book in front of the abacus, the left hand quickly played with the abacus without stopping, and the right hand waved at the same time to record the accounts, and the accounts written were actually neat fonts! These people don't know how to practice this kung fu with one heart and three purposes!

Lu Fang also came out of the veil of the Jingshe with a sweat profusely at this time, not wearing a palace hat, but still wearing a robe, scanning the front of the twelve eunuchs to see which bill had been calculated.

A eunuch in front of the long case on the left quickly finished calculating a bill, then put down his pen, picked up the bill and blew it on his lips, and then presented it to Lu Fang with both hands. Lu Fang walked over and took the bill.

At this time, a eunuch in front of the long case on the right also picked up a written bill and blew it on his lips, both hands presenting. Lu Fang walked over again and took the bill. Lu Fang took two bills with undried ink, stood under the palace lamp and looked at them carefully for a while, lifted the corner of the veil, and walked into the inner room lightly.

If it weren't for the light from the lights of the standing palace lamps that illuminated Jiajing's eyebrows, no one would have dared to believe it, at this time, he was only wearing a close-fitting cotton gown, and two slender arms were holding the huge red sandalwood royal case along the edge, and the person standing there was the long live master who wore a cicada-winged silk robe in winter and a Songjiang cotton robe in summer.

- He never sweated in the summer, but fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, and his ears fluttered slightly to listen to the sound of beads coming from the hall outside the veil, his eyes flashed, and he was looking at the bills placed on the imperial case.

The bills that have just been written out are clear and bright under the light of the palace lights. The camera slowly swept over from the top of the imperial case, and the words "Jiajing 21 years" can be clearly seen on the first page of the left head, and then a few more sheets, it is the words "Jiajing 22 years", followed by "Jiajing 23 years", "Jiajing 24 years", the number of pages is unequal, arranged in order, to the end of the second row of the imperial case, it is already "Jiajing 29 years", and there is no more. Jiajing closed his eyes and waited, his face as cold as iron, listening to the constant sound of abacus plucking outside the veil.

Lu Fang neatly placed the two bills in his hand on the desk in the third row.

Jiajing's eyes slowly opened again, looking at the two bills with the words "Thirty Years of Jiajing" written on the desk.

Lu Fang raised his eyes and saw the beads of sweat on Jiajing's forehead, and immediately walked to the side to wash his hands in the copper basin placed on the low table, and then walked to the other side to the golden basin resting on the high table and took the towel to ripple in the clear water, twisted it gently, walked behind Jiajing on the left side, stood on tiptoe, raised his hand, tried not to block his sight, and dried the sweat beads on his left forehead for him. After printing the left side, Lu Fang walked from behind him to the right again, stood on tiptoe and raised his hand, and printed the beads of sweat on his right forehead for him.

At this time, Jiajing seemed to have nothing to do, only the bill in front of him and the sound of abacus in his ears.

Lu Fang printed the sweat for him, quietly put the towel back to the golden basin, and then walked to the side of the veil from one side, lifted the line, and walked out.

According to historical records, Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty did not go to court for decades, but the economic income and expenditure of the entire Ming Dynasty have always been in his hands. It is said that in addition to cultivating Jiao and alchemy, what he paid the most attention to was calculating the financial income and expenditure of the entire country. As a result, later generations came to the conclusion that the Ming Dynasty's Hubu Shangshu, that is, today's Minister of Finance, was actually the Jiajing Emperor himself.

In Lu Fang's repeated comings and goings, the last corner of the imperial case was filled with the last two bills, which happened to be the words "Forty Years of Jiajing".

Jiajing's eyes were still shining, and he looked at the two bills fixedly. At this time, the sound of abacus in the outer hall also stopped, and the entire Yuxi Palace was silent.

Lu Fang looked at Jiajing fixedly, and found that the beads of sweat on his forehead had also been strangely collected, and the face that was still full of excitement just now was like a woodcut, without any expression.

Lu Fang gently walked to the hanger, took off Jiajing's Songjiang cotton robe, stepped behind him, lifted the upper shoulders of the cotton robe, and opened it in a half-squat. Jiajing's hands stretched out from the side of the imperial case to the sides of his legs, and Lu Fang skillfully aimed the rotator cuff interface at Jiajing's hands and lifted it up, and the cotton robe was smoothly put on Jiajing's body behind his back.

"How many taels is a million horses of silk in silver?" Jiajing asked suddenly.

Lu Fang was buttoning for Jiajing, and then replied: "The market price is different from year to year. Thirty years ago, Jiajing had a smooth sea voyage, and each piece of silk could be sold for 10 taels of silver in the mainland and 15 taels of silver when it was transported to the West. Thirty years after Jiajing, the Japanese were plagued by sea, and each piece of silk could only be sold for six to seven taels of silver in the mainland. ”

"That is to say, the one million horses of silk that Zhejiang officialdom have been greedy for ink and one stone in the past twenty years are no less than seven or eight million taels of silver!" Jiajing's voice was gloomy.

"Master Shengming." Lu Fang replied softly.

"Where did all this money go?" Jiajing's eyes flashed and he looked at Lu Fang.

Lu Fang knew at this time that he couldn't avoid his gaze, and replied directly: "You have to investigate thoroughly!" ”

"How do you check?" Jiajing then asked.

Lu Fang: "Back to the master, Hu Zongxian's secret decree has arrived at the end of the day, and he has been waiting to see him in the forbidden door of Xiyuan. ”

Jiajing: "Does anyone know he's coming?" ”

Lu Fang: "Back to the master, he came by secret order, and he didn't stay at the post station all the way, and no one knew that he was coming." ”

Jiajing: "Tell Hu Zongxian to come in immediately and show him the bad debts of Zhejiang officialdom." ”

Lu Fang: "Yes." ”

……

The battle ahead was tight, but a secret decree called him to enter Beijing within five days, Hu Zongxian was still wearing the dusty civilian clothes at this time, and he sat alone in the court room to wait. Three hours passed, and the tea continued, but there was no food. After two thousand miles of fast horseback, he was already very tired, and at this time he was hungry, and he couldn't help but sit down and fall asleep when he closed his eyes.

"Master Hu." A voice sounded softly in his ears, Hu Zongxian's eyes opened suddenly, and he quickly stood up.

Standing beside him was Lu Fang!

Hu Zongxian hurriedly bowed: "Your Majesty Hu Zongxian has seen Gonggong Lu ......"

"No need." Lu Fang hurriedly hugged him, "I know that you are working hard, but there is no way, the emperor is waiting." Come with me. ”

Hu Zongxian hurriedly followed Lu Fang out.

Yuxi Palace returned to its original appearance in an instant, two red sandalwood long cases were quietly placed there, the abacus and those eunuchs were gone, only the big wooden box sent by Shen Yishi was still two mouthfuls at this time, and it had also been covered and re-sealed and placed in the center of the main hall.

Lu Fang led Hu Zongxian in gently and walked to the veil.

Lu Fang: "Long live Lord, Hu Zongxian is here." ”

Hu Zongxian immediately knelt down in front of the veil: "Hu Zongxian, the governor of Zhejiang, knocks on the holy driver!" ”

Jiajing's voice came from inside: "Come in." ”

Hu Zongxian was stunned for a moment, this is the emperor's fine house for cultivating Jiao and refining the Tao, usually except for the special edict of the monks, only Lu Fang and Yan Song can enter, at this time, when he heard the emperor call himself in, he couldn't help but raise his head to look at Lu Fang, and then said in fear: "The ministers are respectful of the saints, the essence is the place where the saints cultivate, and the ministers dare not trespass." ”

Lu Fang lifted the veil line: "You are a general knowledge." Long live the emperor said, only Yan Song can enter here alone, and it is also because Yan Song uses people like you to support the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, if he can enter, you can also enter. Come on in. ”

How many mysteries of heaven's heart are hidden in these words, and how much love and compassion are contained! Hu Zongxian didn't know whether he was excited or nervous for a while, and he knocked his head down and bumped into the mountain: "Yes." He got up and walked in slowly.

Jiajing sat cross-legged on the futon, and Hu Zongxian knelt there about three feet away from him.

"The battle was hard." Jiajing's tone was very peaceful.

Hu Zongxian: "It is the duty of a minister to serve the country loyally. ”

Jiajing: "I heard that Qi Jiguang has fought tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers with thousands of people, and he has won four battles in a row. Well played. ”

Hu Zongxian: "Entrust the emperor to Hongfu, and rely on the soldiers to use their lives." And the people of Zhejiang also sympathized with the imperial court, and there were many righteous people who helped fight against the Japanese. ”

Jiajing: "It's the officialdom that is greedy for ink, and the support is not good!" Is it? ”

Hu Zongxian was silent.

Jiajing's eyes flashed again, and he stared at him closely: "Loyalty to the country, honest work, these are your strengths." is too tactful, refuses to offend people, and allows his subordinates to be greedy for ink with the people in the court, and turns a blind eye! Now that there is no pay for the war, how can you, the governor, be a governor? ”

Hu Zongxian's head fell again: "Weichen is not a talent in the frontier. When His Majesty saw him in March, he asked for his resignation. ”

"Don't use resignation as an excuse!" Jiajing's tone became stern, "What 'the water is clear and the water is turbid' is not used in my Ming Dynasty, and I am not the king of the turbid world!" ”

Hu Zongxian lay there: "Weichen never dares to have such a thought. ”

Jiajing: "What's that mind?" The place you manage is already greedy for ink like this, don't you know? ”

Hu Zongxian: "Officialdom is greedy for ink for a long time, and ministers have heard of it. ”

Jiajing: "Why don't you play for me?" Is it afraid of offending Yan Song, or is it afraid of offending Yan Shifan! ”

Hu Zongxian was silent again.

Jiajing: "Talk back!" ”

Hu Zongxian: "Yes. Back to the emperor, although the minister is the governor of Zhejiang, he has a job, and many things are not necessarily clear. ”

Jiajing: "That's good. I'll let you see it all now. Lv Fang. ”

Lu Fang: "The slave is here." ”

Jiajing: "Take him to the imperial case to see those bad debts." ”

Lu Fang: "Yes." Master Hu, get up. ”

Hu Zongxian kowtowed again and stood up with his hands on the ground.

Lu Fang was beside him: "Come on." With that, he led him towards the imperial case with the bill.

Physical and mental strength has been used to the limit, Hu Zongxian suddenly felt that everything in front of him was blurred, his eyes were a little black, and he followed Lu Fang's vague figure towards the imperial case, and as soon as he walked to the side of the imperial case, he felt that he couldn't hold it anymore, and he was about to fall down immediately, so he hurriedly held the edge of the case with both hands.

"Master Hu!" Lu Fang was taken aback.

Hu Zongxian still held on to the imperial case, but he couldn't answer.

Lu Fang hurriedly came over to support him.

Jiajing was also shocked: "What's wrong?" ”

Lu Fang: "Master." On a hot day, thousands of miles came, and he waited in the court room for so long, and he hadn't eaten since noon, he was tired. Just eat something, don't worry, master. ”

Jiajing: "Help him sit down, and give him a bowl of lotus seed soup." ”

Lu Fang: "Yes." He replied and went to help Hu Zongxian.

Hu Zongxian grabbed the edge of the imperial case tightly with both hands: "Father-in-law, how can a minister sit on the throne!" ”

Lu Fang no longer forced him, ran to a golden basin with a large piece of ice, took out a porcelain cup from the basin, opened the lid, and walked to Hu Zongxian again.

Hu Zongxian still held on to the edge of the imperial case with both hands to stabilize his body, and there was no way to pick up the bowl.

Lu Fang: "The emperor has a decree, you can sit and eat." ”

Hu Zongxian still stood there strongly.

Jiajing's eyes looked at Lu Fang and Hu Zongxian: "The person who commands thousands of troops and horses, let him stand and drink, he can hold on." ”

One sentence was like a great infusion of anger, Hu Zongxian immediately let go of his hands, took the bowl in Lu Fang's hand, and drank the bowl of lotus seed soup with a mouthful in both hands. After drinking the bowl of soup and handing the bowl to Lu Fang with both hands, the person was actually standing there steadily.

has been with Jiajing for decades, and Lu Fang sincerely admires this master in these places, and he has different ways to control any kind of person. With a light sentence, a person who was about to fall stood there again, Lu Fang glanced at Jiajing, then at Hu Zongxian, nodded, and motioned for him to go to see the account.

Hu Zongxian turned around, looked at the bill on the imperial case, and began to look all the way.

Jiajing closed his eyes again at this time and meditated there.

The more Hu Zongxian's eyes looked, the more shocked he became! Although I already knew the bottom in my heart, I was still shocked when I read these accounts, and I was stunned after holding my breath after reading them.

"Done?" Jiajing opened his eyes.

Hu Zongxian walked in front of Jiajing in a few steps and knelt down: "It's shocking, and it's hard for the minister to excuse the crime of negligence." ”

Jiajing looked at him: "The five governors, the three governors, the political envoys, and the Yamen according to the inspection envoys, so many people are not greedy alone." Of course, it is the sin of negligence at most. ”

Hu Zongxian: "Negligence and misconduct of the country is also a serious crime. ”

Jiajing: "You are not in the cabinet, let alone the first assistant, and it is not your head to mislead the country." ”

This is alluding to Yan Song! Hu Zongxian was taken aback and didn't dare to answer again.

Jiajing: "A Zhejiang stared at a weaving bureau for 20 years and coveted a million pieces of silk, as well as two capitals and twelve provinces, as well as salt, tea, copper, iron, porcelain, and cotton yarn, how much did they add up?" Yan Song's head is really worth it. ”

Hu Zongxian was really shocked, knelt there, and looked at Jiajing.

Jiajing: "It's hard to be a man, it's not difficult to be an official." It's difficult not to be a villain and be a good official. Yan Song has the grace of knowing you, you don't want to be grateful, this is unwilling to be a villain, I understand you. Don't forget, you are my Ming official, not his Yan Song's official! Let me ask you again, what happened to the flood in Chun'an and Jiande in May this year? ”

Hu Zongxian: "Ma Ningyuan has a confession, and Weichen has submitted it to the imperial court." ”

Jiajing: "Ma Ningyuan's confession is known only to God. I want to ask you now, how did the Xin'an River embankment break? ”

Hu Zongxian suddenly raised his head and replied passionately: "Your Majesty, the ministers have the sincerity of their hearts and souls!" ”

Jiajing: "Say! ”

Hu Zongxian: "I have a hundred trillion people in the territory of the two capitals and 13 provinces of the Ming Dynasty, and the emperor shoulders the ancestral society, and governing the country is like cooking a small fresh!" In the first month of this year, the Tatars crossed the glacier from Hexi to Shanxi, and millions of soldiers and civilians in Shuntianfu were short of food; In February, there was a famine in Jinan, Shandong; In March, there was another famine in Beijing; In April, there was another famine in Shanxi; In May, there was civil strife in Dongchuan Tusi; In leap May, the Jiangxi refugees rebelled and attacked the Tai River, and the Sichuan Miao people rebelled and invaded the Huguang Boundary. This month, there were earthquakes in Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Ningxia, killing and injuring soldiers and civilians. What's more, the war on the southeast coast has reached the decisive moment again! State affairs are so difficult, if a big prison is raised, involving the cabinet and the six ministries and nine divisions, the world will be in chaos immediately! Now that the emperor asked about the breach of the Xin'an River embankment, the minister was speechless and could not be right. I implore the Imperial Court to conduct another thorough investigation in due course. The minister's hard work is not just for the grace of Yan Ge Lao's knowledge. Yan Song has been in power for 20 years, whether he is greedy or not, whether others are greedy under his brand or he himself is corrupt, the emperor knows him better than Weichen. ”

Jiajing stared at him tightly, and turned to Lu Fang for a long time: "Lu Fang." ”

Lu Fang: "The slave is here." ”

Jiajing: "Do you know what is called public loyalty?" This is called the public loyalty system. Speaking of this, he turned to Hu Zongxian: "Okay." In the face of what you just said, I won't ask about the Xin'an River breaking now. Speaking of Yan Song, I don't know more than you. You want to exonerate him, and I want to exonerate him. But the only one who can really exculpate himself is himself. You will take these bad debts to see Yan Song overnight now. Don't say that I told you to go, and don't say that you have already seen me, just say that you came to Chen to play the southeast to fight against the Japanese at my secret order, and by the way, show him these accounts you found in Zhejiang. ”

Hu Zongxian was even more shocked: "Your Majesty, if the king is not secret, he will lose his ministers, and if the ministers are not secret, he will lose his body." Wechen would rather face the monarch and the cabinet with a frank face. What the emperor ordered his ministers to do this, the ministers implored to make it clear. ”

Jiajing: "I told you to do this so as not to lose your minister!" I asked you to do this just to see if I and you have the wrong person. ”

Hu Zongxian was stunned again, and said for a long time: "Back to the emperor, when the minister entered Beijing in March this year, he went to see Elder Yan Ge, but he was turned away. The minister begged to see him at this time, and he would not see the minister. ”

Jiajing waved his hand: "I know about the last time he didn't see you." It's not that he doesn't see you, it's that Yan Shifan won't let you see him. Now that I have asked Yan Song to let Yan Shifan move out, you can meet him this time. ”

After decades of eunuch career, Hu Zongxian can be regarded as seeing the court situation and officialdom very thoroughly, but this kind of thing is arranged by the emperor, and it is arranged so carefully, he is still very shocked. Whether he received the decree or not, his heart was blank at this time, and he was stunned.

Lu Fang interjected and said loudly: "Lord Hu, don't you understand the emperor's painstaking efforts? ”

Hu Zongxian woke up, so he had to kowtow: "The minister obeys the order." ”

Jiajing looked at Lu Fang: "He can't get out of the palace." You send him. ”

Sending Hu Zongxian away, Lu Fang returned to Yuxi Palace, and saw that Jiajing was still meditating with his eyes closed, so he went to the side of the dragon bed to lay a futon for him. After laying out the futon, he brought the basin of water again, put it in front of Jiajing lightly, and twisted the veil: "Master, it's almost time, it's time to rest." ”

"What kind of person do you say this Hu Zongxian is!" Jiajing didn't open his eyes, let alone pick up the handkerchief, but suddenly asked.

Lu Fang's hand stopped there, thought for a while and replied, "The slave has to make an analogy, which may not be appropriate. ”

"Say." Jiajing opened her eyes and looked at him.

Lu Fang: "According to the slave, he is like a daughter-in-law." ”

Jiajing: "What do you say?" ”

Lu Fang: "There are in-laws above who have to be filial, and there are husbands in the middle who have to take care of them, and there are so many children to work underneath." It's hard work, and it's not pleasing at both ends. ”

"Like." The corners of Jiajing's mouth also showed laugh lines, but they quickly disappeared again, "What he said is not unreasonable." Two capitals and thirteen provinces, the east wall has been repaired, the west wall has fallen again, and now that Yan Song has been replaced, others may not be able to be a good family. I hope that there are some things that Yan Song has also been concealed. ”

Lu Fang: "Shengming is no more than a master." If even people like Hu Zongxian don't want Yan Song to fall now, it means that it is not the time. The pass is to find out what Yan Shifan and they are doing without Yan Song. If you don't find out the ironclad evidence, it's really hard to move them. ”

Jiajing was silent for a long time, and suddenly asked again: "Shen Yishi's account records that he has sent 2.1 million pieces of silk to the palace in 20 years. Where are these silks used, and whether the minions of the Needlework Bureau, the Scarves and Hats, and the Shangyi Supervisor are also greedy for ink, you also have to check! ”

Lu Fang: "Back to the master, the slave has already arranged for someone to investigate." It's time for the card, and it's time for the master to rest. I still have to see Yan Song when the time comes. ”

"You have to rest, you have to rest. I just sit here and wait for them. With that, Jiajing sat down and closed his eyes.

Lu Fang sighed silently, so she had to move another futon and put it on the ground next to Jiajing, sit cross-legged, close her eyes and take a nap with him.

Yan Song was woken up from the bed, and at this time, he was wearing a long gown and standing quietly in the study, waiting for Hu Zongxian to come in.

The first to be sent in were the two large wooden boxes carried by the Yan family, which were placed in the middle of the study, and the family retreated.

Hu Zongxian walked in slowly, standing by the door and looking at Yan Song.

Yan Song's eyesight has long been gone, although the porter sent Hu Zongxian's post first, but at this time, Hu Zongxian suddenly appeared in front of him from the battle situation in the southeast against the Japanese, he couldn't believe it, and his old eyes widened and looked at the familiar figure at the door quietly.

It was the middle of the night, and a cool breeze blew in from outside the door, blowing Yan Song's sparse hair, which had turned from white to yellow, messily.

Hu Zongxian's heart was sour, and then he thought of kneeling down: "Hu Zongxian is employed to meet the elder of the pavilion." ”

Hearing the voice, Yan Song knew that it was really Hu Zongxian who came, but he still asked, "Is it Ruzhen?" ”

Hu Zongxian: "Returning to the pavilion, he is a disciple. ”

There were no speculations and expectations at this time, and Yan Song showed the real calm of an old man who had experienced vicissitudes: "It's good to come, it's good to come." Sit down and speak slowly. As he spoke, he sat down on the recliner behind him, and then stretched out his finger and pointed to the chair next to him.

"Yes." Hu Zongxian kowtowed, stood up and sat down beside Yan Song, looking at him fixedly.

Yan Song also looked at him and stretched out his hand. Hu Zongxian was stunned for a moment, then stretched out his hand and put it in Yan Song's palm.

Yan Song was waiting for Hu Zongxian to speak, but Hu Zongxian didn't know where to start, the hands of the two people seemed to be shaking like this, and they were silent for a while.

"I'm eighty-one, and you're fifty-six, right?" Yan Song spoke first.

Hu Zongxian: "Yes. The disciple is fifty-six years old this year. ”

Yan Song: "Your hair has turned a lot grayer?" ”

Hu Zongxian: "Yes. In just the past few years, it has become seven white. ”

Yan Song: "White-headed junior brother, it's hard to see each other. ”

Hu Zongxian looked at Yan Song's old face: "Teacher, when I entered Beijing in March, my disciple once came to ......."

"Don't say it." Yan Song interrupted him, "It's Yan Shifan who won't let you in, I know it." ”

After another silence, Yan Song clenched Hu Zongxian's hand: "In this world, sometimes a disciple is better than a son." This time you entered Beijing by secret order, right? ”

Hu Zongxian pondered for a moment before replying, "Yes." The emperor wanted to inquire about the war against the Japanese in the southeast. ”

Yan Song: "The southeast half of the wall is on your shoulders!" I heard that it was hard to fight, and it was a good fight? ”

Hu Zongxian: "This is the last major thing that a disciple can do, no matter how difficult it is, he has to calm down the Japanese invaders." ”

Yan Song was gloomy: "Don't think like this." Among the people I use, you are the only one who can take on the most responsibilities, and the court should work for a day when you use you. Ask you one thing to tell me truthfully. ”

Hu Zongxian: "Teacher, please ask, the disciple must reply truthfully." ”

Yan Song: "You went to Yingtian to borrow grain from Zhao Zhenji, how did he lend it to you?" Is he willing to borrow it as soon as you go, or is he willing to lend it to you because you have no choice but to transfer military rations? ”

Hu Zongxian: "Back to his teacher, no matter what, Zhao Zhenji still lent Nanzhili's grain to Zhejiang. Each man is in charge of a province, and he has problems. ”

Yan Song: "What's the difficulty?" Did someone above greet him and not let him lend grain to Zhejiang? ”

Hu Zongxian was silent again: "Teacher, the disciple knows what to do, and the disciple does not dare to speculate on unfounded things. ”

"You're really good at being a daughter-in-law!" Yan Song sighed, "Actually, I'm just a daughter-in-law, a generation older than you." But if I can hide it, I want to hide it. can hide it back and forth, and finally hide it. Ruzhen, being a daughter-in-law is so difficult, only our junior brother knows her suffering. But there are so many people who are still vying to be this daughter-in-law. Xu Jie wants to fight for my daughter-in-law, and Zhao Zhenji also wants to fight for your daughter-in-law, they really want to fight, I will give it to him when the time comes, and pacify the widows, you can let it too. ”

Hu Zongxian raised his head and looked at Yan Song, how dare he answer, so he had to remain silent.

With a sigh of emotion and a heart-wrenching silence, Yan Song's eyes looked at the two wooden boxes placed in the hall in a daze: "You brought these two boxes?" ”

Hu Zongxian: "Yes. ”

Yan Song: "Ruzhen." It's been twenty years, when am I going to have your stuff. Every time I enter Beijing, I greet you and don't send anything. I use you, I have never had these thoughts, just for the country. They all said that I, Yan Song, would welcome the emperor by virtue of being able to write a good hand. If that's the case, can I sit in the position of the first assistant of the cabinet for 20 years? Two capitals and thirteen provinces, wars, disasters and famines, officialdom battles, which thing can be calmed down by writing green words? What do you rely on, the main thing is to have people like you to support you underneath! Ru Zhen, there are different people, from the beginning I have treated you as a countryman, and I want you from beginning to end! When you go, take the box out. ”

Hu Zongxian's heart was excited and sour, and his eyes finally became wet: "Teacher, these two boxes of things are not gifts. ”

"Oh?" Yan Song looked at him slowly, "What is it?" ”

Hu Zongxian: "It's an account book. ”

Yan Song was silent immediately, obviously thinking sharply there, and only looked at him again for a long time: "Is it copying Shen Yishi's account book?" ”

Hu Zongxian: "Yes. ”

Yan Song immediately asked, "How much property has been copied out?" ”

Hu Zongxian replied in a low voice: "Twenty-five weaving houses can weave 10,960 horses of silk, 100 horses of silk in stock, and more than 10,000 taels of silver. ”

Yan Song was stunned for a moment, sat there, and looked ahead blankly.

Hu Zongxian immediately felt that Yan Song's hand, which was still a little warm just now, suddenly became cold, and immediately held him: "Elder Ge, this result is not an accident. Don't be anxious just yet. ”

Yan Song's empty eyes slowly turned to look at him: "State affairs are unbearable." The southeast resists the Japanese, the northwest resists the Tatars, the northeast resists the barbarians, and the famine in several provinces, all of them are counting on Shen Yishi's family wealth at the moment, how can there be only these! ”

Hu Zongxian: "Shen Yishi's money was greedy, and it must be thoroughly investigated, and the accounts are here." ”

Yan Song's eyes slowly looked at the two boxes: "These are these two wooden boxes?" ”

Hu Zongxian pondered for a moment and replied, "Yes." ”

Yan Song suddenly became excited: "How can you send these account books to me!" ”

Hu Zongxian could not answer.

Yan Song: "This involves the Weaving Bureau!" No one can read these accounts except the emperor. Ruzhen, you are so confused! ”

Hu Zongxian had no choice but to reply: "Yes." ”

Yan Song: "An official for decades, he has been a secretary of the military department in the court, and he has been a governor and governor below, how can he not understand such a thing?" Immediately carry the account book away, wait in the court's room, and send it to the palace in the morning. ”

Unable to explain or answer, Hu Zongxian had no choice but to look at Yan Song deeply: "Pavilion Elder, what if these accounts involve Xiao Pavilion Elder and other people in the court?" ”

Yan Song: "That is, you can't live if you do it yourself!" ”

Yan Song's attitude made Hu Zongxian's heart fluctuate, and what made him feel most gratified was that no matter how the history books of thousands of generations evaluated him, he had no guilt as a person who was promoted and reused by Yan Song. He knew that the emperor was going to summon Yan Song at the end of the day, and he wanted to send the account books to the palace before that, and truthfully report Yan Song's attitude to the emperor.

Hu Zongxian: "Ge Lao, that disciple is leaving now, immediately send the account books to the palace." ”

Yan Song didn't answer immediately, he thought about it again, and then looked at him: "Ruzhen, you have made a big mistake in this matter tonight. When you get to the palace, don't say that you came to me first. ”

Hu Zongxian was stunned: "Can this be hidden from the emperor?" ”

Yan Song: "Only concealment!" If the emperor knew, I didn't look at the account books, and I wouldn't be blamed. The key is you, if you give me these account books first, you will be a bully! Ruzhen, I'm eighty-one, and it doesn't matter if I'm dead. The overall situation of the southeast cannot be without you. Listen to me, don't say it when you get to the palace. ”

Hu Zongxian: "Jingshi is full of people from Jinyiwei and Dongchang, and they may also know when the disciples come to the house." Ge Lao, if you take the guilt, you will bear the guilt, and the disciple can't even burden the teacher. ”

Yan Song was a little anxious: "Confused! No matter who says you've been here, I don't admit it. I'll take care of it. ”

Hu Zongxian's tears overflowed, and he knelt down in order to cover up, and adjusted his breathing: "The disciple listens to the teacher." I'm leaving. ”

Yan Song: "Let's go, go out the back door." ”

Hu Zongxian kowtowed deeply, then got up and hurried away.

On the dog days, it was already bright at the beginning of the day. Yan Song's two people stopped in front of the stone steps of the main hall, and Lu Fang immediately walked down and hugged him as before: "Ge Lao, you haven't slept well, your eyes are red." ”

Yan Song: "I can't sleep well, let's serve the emperor for a day." ”

Lu Fang didn't say anything anymore, and slowly walked up the steps with him in his arms and walked into the house.

"The old minister knocks on the emperor." Yan Song's body slowly bent down with difficulty.

"Don't salute, sit down." Jiajing sat on the futon and immediately looked at Lu Fang.

"Yes." Lu Fang agreed, and sat down on the embroidery pier on the side with Yan Song in his arms.

After sitting down, Yan Song vaguely saw Hu Zongxian kneeling in front of the right side of the Jiajing futon, and two large wooden boxes had been opened and placed in front of the futon.

Twenty years, the emperor's fine house only his own foreign ministers can come in, today Hu Zongxian can actually kneel here, and kneel by the open account book wooden box, of course the old Yan Song understands that it is the emperor's will for Hu Zongxian to carry the account book to see himself at night!

Jiajing's eyes were firmly fixed on Yan Song, and Yan Song's face was as calm as water.

Jiajing looked at Hu Zongxian again, and Hu Zongxian knelt there, bowing his head slightly.

Jiajing spoke: "Elder Yan Ge." ”

Yan Song left his body: "The old minister is here." ”

Jiajing: "These are two boxes brought by Hu Zongxian from Zhejiang, do you know what they contain?" ”

Yan Song: "Back to the saint, I don't know." ”

Yan Song really did as Hu Zongxian played, and as soon as he came, he covered up for Hu Zongxian, and Jiajing's heart suddenly surged with a sour taste, and even he couldn't tell whether it was sour or jealous for a while, and his face, which had always been silent, also had a complicated expression.

Only Lu Fang stood on the side and felt Jiajing's reaction, and that heart couldn't help but lift.

"Hu Zongxian." Jiajing suddenly faced Hu Zongxian.

Hu Zongxian still lowered his head slightly: "Weichen is here." ”

Jiajing: "Do you know why the tablet is dedicated to the 'Heaven and Earth Monarch'?" ”

Hu Zongxian was stunned for a moment and replied: "The sky is overthrown, the earth is loaded, and the king's parents and teachers are responsible for nurturing and teaching him." ”

Jiajing sighed: "There is one more sentence, that is, to take care of it." For the obedient courtiers, sons and disciples, the king's parents, teachers and teachers are all cared for. There is a saying among the people in the south, there are not many cubs, but only one good cub. The people of the north also have a saying, called the calf guard. I hope that those in the south and the north will only take care of their sons, and not even protect their unworthy descendants. ”

Yan Song and Hu Zongxian both lowered their heads.

Jiajing: "Actually, I'm also a calf protector. But I don't protect all calves, and if I want to protect them, I only protect calves like Hu Zongxian! Hu Zongxian, tell your mentor what is in this box. ”

Hu Zongxian whispered: "Yes." This box contains the account books of Shen Yishi's family wealth. ”

Jiajing's eyes looked at Yan Song again, Yan Song raised his head to look at Jiajing, his eyes were full of the kind of very lonely gaze that only an old man has.

Jiajing's heart softened suddenly, he stopped looking at him, and turned to Hu Zongxian: "Tell the elder Ge what is written in it." Hu Zongxian: "Yes." These account books record the amount of silk money used by Zhejiang officialdom from the 21st year of Jiajing to the 40th year of Jiajing, which is equivalent to the market price of silk in each year, totaling nearly 8 million taels of silver. ”

Jiajing asked Yan Song directly: "Elder Ge, what should you do about this matter?" ”

Yan Song stood up: "Holy Lord, all the people involved in Shen Yishi's account should be dealt with immediately, and all the money that is greedy for ink should be strictly recovered." ”

Jiajing: "It's been 20 years, and it's not so easy to chase it. The few people who should be handled immediately now are Zheng Michang and He Maocai. They are all people recommended by Yan Shifan. ”

Yan Song knelt down: "I will immediately dismiss Yan Shifan so that he can take Zheng Michang and He Maocai." ”

Jiajing was silent, and there was silence in the house.

"Lu Fang." Jiajing turned to look at Lu Fang, "Are Yan Shifan directly involved in these account books?" ”

Lu Fang immediately replied: "Back to the master, Yan Shifan is not involved in the account books. ”

Jiajing: "Then there is no reason to dismiss Yan Shifan." asked Yan Shifan to withdraw from the cabinet first, but the Ministry of Works still let him be. ”

Lu Fang: "Master Shengming." ”

Jiajing: "Yan Shifan withdrew from the cabinet, and others did not protect their shortcomings. Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng also withdrew. Adjust the cabinet team. Shoufu is still Yan Ge Lao, let Xu Jie take care of the facts, and make up Li Chunfang and Chen Yiqin. ”

That's the big adjustment! Including Lu Fang, the three of them were a little surprised.

Jiajing: "Did you hear what I said?" ”

Hu Zongxian couldn't answer, Yan Song and Lu Fang immediately replied: "Minister, the slave heard it." ”

Jiajing: "Then draw up the decree immediately." ”

Lu Fang: "The slave is the purpose." ”

Jiajing looked at Yan Song who was kneeling on the ground again: "Old Yan Ge." ”

Yan Song: "The old minister is here." ”

Jiajing: "After the draft decree, you and Lu Fang will first call Xu Jie, go to the cabinet, and let Xu Jie's decree be announced." Remember, tell those people to look at the transcription of the bad accounts, and then announce their will. Then it was agreed that a person should be selected to be the governor of Zhejiang, and immediately take Zheng Michang and He Maocai, and recover Shen Yishi's greedy property. ”

Yan Song: "The minister's decree." ”

Jiajing's gaze turned to Hu Zongxian again: "Hu Zongxian." ”

"Wechen is here." Hu Zongxian raised his head and looked at the unfathomable emperor.

Jiajing: "The war in the southeast is tight, no matter how hard you work, you have to rush back today." The Japanese must be leveled this year, and if you need as much military as you need, you will ask me, and I will give you the pot and sell iron. You also have to ask about the cases in Zhejiang, which ones should be investigated, which ones should not be investigated, and how to investigate. ”

Hu Zongxian kowtowed: "The minister will go back to Zhejiang, and everything will be done according to the emperor's holy will." ”

Jiajing looked at Yan Song and Lu Fang again: "A few of us know about Hu Zongxian's coming to Beijing, don't spread it." ”

Yan Song and Lu Fang: "Ministers and servants understand. ”

Everything in officialdom is regulated, how the seats are arranged, who sits where, who speaks first, and who says anything, all mean that everything is normal. A slight shift in the seat and a change in the order in which the speech is spoken, means that there is a change.

Today's cabinet is immediately sensitive to change. Yan Song still sat in the middle seat, Lu Fang sat on his left, and Xu Jie sat on his right, all of which were still the same. But Yan Shifan, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng were no longer divided into two sides of the row as before, but placed a large case on the side, three chairs side by side in front of the case, so that the three of them could sit together, and the case was full of the bills that Jiajing had read the night before.

But people tend to think about these changes in the direction of benefits, and Yan Shifan thinks that this arrangement is to facilitate them to look at the accounts together. Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng even thought that this was a sign that Yan Shifan was about to leave the cabinet, and no one thought that they would leave the cabinet together today!

The three people sitting on it were silent, and the three people who watched the accounts were even more silent, and the atmosphere was unusually dull.

The more I looked at the account, the more shocked I became, and the surprise was different. Yan Shifan's face was sweating more and more, and although Gao Gong and Zhang Ju's faces were grim, they couldn't suppress the excitement in their eyes.

"Brute!" Yan Shifan slapped the long case coldly, shocking everyone.

Yan Shifan's sweaty face turned red at this time: "Greedy for ink and misleading the country!" These brutes have killed us all! ”

Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng still lowered their eyes and did not pick up his stubble.

Lu Fang looked at Yan Song, Yan Song's eyes were full of desolation, and he turned to look at Xu Jie.

Xu Jie spoke, no longer calling him Xiaoge Lao, but calling his words: "Brother Donglou, this is a cabinet meeting, pay attention to etiquette." ”

Yan Shifan: "Things are all like this, what's the use of etiquette?" ”

Xu Jie: "What should I do according to Brother Donglou's meaning?" ”

Yan Shifan: "Take people!" Chase the stolen goods! Immediately arrest Zheng Michang and He Maocai! ”

Xu Jie: "How to catch it?" Who to send to catch it? ”

Yan Shifan raised his head and looked at Yan Song and Lu Fang: "Dad, Father-in-law Lu, I recommend Luo Longwen or Yan Maoqing to take over as the governor of Zhejiang and handle this case." ”

Yan Song slowly closed his eyes, Lu Fang didn't look at Yan Shifan, Yan Shifan was stunned, so he had to look at Xu Jie.

Xu Jie: "If I remember correctly, Zheng Michang was recommended by Luo Longwen to Xiaoge Lao at that time, and He Maocai was recommended by Yan Maoqing to Xiaoge Lao. Brother Donglou, do you think sending these two people to take over as the governor of Zhejiang can investigate this case well? ”

"Xu Ge is always a mirror!" Gao Gong said loudly, "The state affairs have been delayed by these people to this point, do we have to make mistakes again and again today!" I propose that Tan Lun be the acting governor of Zhejiang to investigate and handle this case. ”

"You're a rod to bring down a boat full of people!" Yan Shifan roared again, "Zheng Michang is Zheng Michang, He Mao is He Maocai, if you find out who recommended it, then they are still officials appointed by the emperor, can even the emperor be held accountable!" ”

"Shut up!" Yan Song snapped him off, and then turned to Lu Fang, "Father-in-law Lu, let Elder Xu Ge make the decree." ”

"Okay." Lu Fang took out the holy decree from his sleeve and handed it to Xu Jie.

There was already a purpose, not only Yan Shifan, but also Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng were also surprised.

Of course, Xu Jie already knew that there was a will, and he also knew that there were three people who came out of the cabinet this time, so when he stood up to receive the holy decree, he slowed down his movements as much as possible, and his voice was dull: "There is a will, Yan Shifan, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng are kneeling to listen to the will!" ”

Yan Shifan, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng hurriedly walked from the front of the desk to the middle of the lobby and knelt down.

Xu Jie slowly read out: "Fengtian carrier, the emperor's edict said: The cabinet is in charge of the center of the country, the upper is the first to inherit the will, the lower is the leader of the hundred officials, the national fortune of Kyushu, the people's livelihood of hundreds of millions of yuan, what kind of abyss should it do, live up to the trust of the society!" There are cabinet members Yan Shifan, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng who are often impetuous, and they attack each other and delay state affairs......"

Reading this, Yan Shifan was stunned, Gao Gong was stunned, and Zhang Juzheng was also stunned.

At this moment, seeing the following content, Xu Jie was also stunned, staring at the holy decree and stunned, and then slowly looked at Yan Song.

Yan Song had already closed his eyes again.

Xu Jie looked at Lu Fang again, but Lu Fang looked out of the door.

Xu Jie's heart was confused, but he had to read the holy decree again, so he had to continue reading, but his tone was already very slow and low: "...... I listened to Yan Song and Xu Jie's suggestions, and removed Yan Shifan, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng from their positions as cabinet members. ”

Yan Shifan, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng all raised their heads, and they all looked at Xu Jie!

Xu Jie could only look at the holy decree, and then read it with difficulty: "The three of them will still serve in their original positions when they go back to the headquarters. The cabinet is still headed by Yan Song, and Xu Jieshi is in charge. In addition, Li Chunfang and Chen Yiqin were transferred to the cabinet and served as cabinet members. Chin this. ”

There was silence.

Yan Song couldn't be silent anymore, and opened his eyes to look at the three people kneeling there: "Yan Shifan, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng are thanks." ”

Yan Shifan, Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng all kowtowed: "The ministers are grateful." ”

As soon as he finished saying this, Yan Shifan knelt there and raised his head suddenly: "I'm not a cabinet member anymore!" But I'm still a cousin in the ministry. I still recommend Luo Longwen or Yan Maoqing to the cabinet to take over as governor of Zhejiang! ”

Gao Gong also raised his head: "I recommend Tan Lun to be the acting governor of Zhejiang!" ”

Zhang Juzheng also answered: "I seconded Gao Gong and recommended Tan Lun to be the acting governor of Zhejiang!" ”

Lu Fang spoke slowly: "Don't recommend you, there is an edict, the governor of Zhejiang and Zhao Zhenji, the governor of Nanzhili, will be transferred." ”

All three were dumb there.

Lu Fang: "There is also an edict, Zhao Zhenji is not very familiar with Zhejiang affairs, you can recommend suitable candidates to participate in the investigation of the case of Zheng Michang, He Maocai and others who embezzle ink." ”

This time, it was Zhang Juzheng who immediately answered loudly: "The new Hai Rui of Chun'an Zhi County in Zhejiang Province and Wang Yongji of Jiande Zhi County are upright and upright, and they can assist Zhao Zhenji in investigating the case!" ”

Xu Jie's damage by Jiajing Yin was a little bit, and he was worried that King Yu couldn't defend Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, and at this time it was an opportunity to show his intentions, and he immediately answered: "I think Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng are suitable candidates for promoting King Hai Rui Yongji." Ge Lao, Lu Gonggong, these two people are available. ”

Lu Fang said: "Assist in handling the case, as long as the person is reliable." Elder Yan Ge, what do you always think? ”

Yan Song: "Yan Shifan, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng can go back to the ministry." Invite Li Chunfang and Chen Yiqin, and the cabinet will draw up votes together. ”

Yan Shifan was the first to stand up, turned around and walked out. Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng also slowly stood up and waved at Yan Song, Lu Fang and Xu Jie.

Xu Jie's eyes looked at the two of them deeply, Zhang Juzheng met his gaze, but Gao Gong didn't look at him, turned around and walked out. Zhang Juzheng had no choice but to follow out.

The sunlight outside the cabinet door was so dazzling, and the figures of these two people stepping out of the threshold also dissolved into the sunlight with Yan Shifan, who left first.

At this time, the West Garden, because it is located in the west of the Forbidden City, is named, its land includes the Shichahai Sea in the South China Sea today, this is the royal garden, take the water of the Hui River, the forest is shaded, and there is no Hillhouse. Emperor Jiajing moved here in the twenty-first year of the "Renyin Palace Change", and only then did he build several halls here. Several times the construction was carried out, and several times it was burned in an inexplicable fire. In the first fire, there was a saying that the official was sparse and the feng shui was not suitable to build a large hall, and the original intention was to persuade Jiajing to move back to the Forbidden City Palace. Jiajing was furious, and the feng shui speaker ate the court staff, and there was no advice after that. Of course, the cabinet duty room was moved from the Wenhua Hall in the Forbidden City. This makes the cabinet members have to walk a long distance along the sea every time they come to duty, and the scenery is good in summer and winter, but it is hard after all.

Today, there was a sudden change, Yan Shifan, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng came out of the palace wall of Yuxi Palace, leading to the forbidden gate of Xiyuan, and there was only this road, the sun shines on the water, the weeping poplars have no wind, and the cicadas are singing. The three enemies were all more energetic, no one stopped to let the other go alone, and there was wind under the steps, and those who didn't know seemed to think that the three people who were less than a few feet apart were a group.

Yan Shifan walked in the forefront, and Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng's front and back feet were nearly parallel. There was a tie, both of them were defeated, Yan Shifan's heart was like boiling water, Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng were not happy, and the two did not look at each other. There is still a fight ahead, and there are naturally different things to worry about.

Suddenly, Yan Shifan stopped in front of the two, and a stone path was about a few feet wide, and he stood in the middle of it and turned around. The two of them were blocked, looking at each other, and the scorching sun was on their heads, facing each other there.

"Pulled me off the horse, and thought that the two of them had enjoyed the Forbidden City and rode the two of them to carry me. So you're still walking. Yan Shifan's loud voice did not lower in a place like Xiyuan, and it actually caused the cicadas on several trees beside them to stop chirping.

It's so quiet, so quiet that people will have tinnitus instead.

"Both legs in life are used to walk. Could it be that Xiao Ge's old legs are so far away from the horse that he can't even walk? Gao Gong has never been afraid of him, his voice is not as loud as his, but his tone is not lower than him.

"Gao Suqing!" This place is just at the corner, Yan Shifan is standing at this time a little at a loss, because his face is facing the sun, his eyes are wide, he is uncomfortable by the sun, and he is still staring at the high arch, "'Young and young away from home', if you are really willing to walk, you should understand today that you can go." If you still want to wait for the chair of the cabinet chief, let me tell you, Xu Jie hasn't even sat down yet. Even if Xu Jie sits, it will not be passed on to you, there is still a student Zhao Zhenji in Jiangnan who is waiting, and there is also a student Zhang Ju waiting next to you. ”

It's not just sour, it's close to provocation. And this heart-wrenching argument is exactly where Gao Gong has experienced deep grievances against Xu Jie, but at this time Zhang Juzheng is by his side again, no matter how serious Gao Gong's temperament is, he will not argue with him about this topic, looking at the big face that is illuminated by the sun, and replied: "I don't have a father who is the first assistant, and I have never wanted to be the first assistant!" After saying this, a person walked straight towards Yan Shifan, who was blocking the road.

Yan Shifan didn't let him, Gao Gong didn't want to leave the stone road and detour to the grassland, the arms of the two of them met in a foot of land, Yan Shifan used his dark energy, and Gao Gong had already stored dark energy, this touch was indistinguishable, after all, let Gao Gong go over.

Those who love to quarrel have always been afraid of two kinds of people, one is to let you jump like thunder, but he is as calm as water, and the other is to pick you up and shoot you away. Gao Gong made the second move today, leaving Yan Shifan there angrily, but in Xiyuan, he couldn't chase after him with his robe, and then his anger could only be sprayed at another person, that is, Zhang Juzheng, who was still standing there.

"Prodigy Zhang." Yan Shifan and Gao Gong are the same age, and when he was called a name, he was still called a name, but now he doesn't even call him a name in the face of Zhang Juzheng, who is younger than him, just like the elders call the juniors, but also because he hates him more than Gao Gong in his heart, "You have been reading since you were a child, and you should know the allusion of Kong Beihai, another prodigy in the Three Kingdoms." ”

"It's been a few hours, and it's not inevitable." Zhang Juzheng replied calmly, "Does Xiaoge always want to say that Zhang could read when he was young, but he can't become a tool when he is older?" ”

"Clever." Yan Shifan spoke faster, "If it is just not successful, it is Kong Rong's blessing, but I am afraid that if I am smart, I will be mistaken by my cleverness and invite death." ”

Zhang Juzheng: "Kong Rong was killed by Cao Cao, but I don't know who Cao Cao is in the Ming Dynasty." ”

In fact, Yan Shifan was not under Zhang Juzheng, and immediately sneered and said: "Cao Cao is not the only one who has killed those who think they are smart since ancient times!" ”

Zhang Juzheng is still as calm as water: "Taishi Gong said, 'People are inherently dead, or heavier than Mount Tai, or lighter than Hongmao'. If he wants to be able to sacrifice his life for the country, Zhang accepts it calmly. ”

"You dare to talk to me about the country!" Yan Shifan was close to roaring, "The treasury is empty, we are trying to make up for the shortfall, but you are drawing salaries from the bottom of the kettle, when have you thought about this country, you have thought about my Ming Dynasty!" ”

Hearing him tell the truth, there was no one around at this time, Zhang Juzheng also knew that today's confrontation would come sooner or later, and it happened that there was a stone pier under the weeping poplar on the side of Haizi, so he simply sat down: "I really want to hear how you guys make up for the deficit for the Ming Dynasty, and how we draw salaries from the bottom of the kettle." Please advise. ”

He sat down, and it was infuriating! Yan Shifan's two big eyes quickly patrolled, there was no place to sit nearby except for the stone pier, he walked in front of Zhang Juzheng in a few steps, although he still had a condescending posture when he was standing, his eyes looked down at him: "The household department, the military department, the Ministry of Industry and the palace are all waiting for money, and you are also the one who reached out to ask for money at the beginning of the year, and finally negotiated a business of 500,000 horses of silk with Western merchants, you want to find two people who don't want to stop it!" Zhang Taiyue, touch his chest and think about it, using others as guns, just to overthrow us, where have you and your teachers learned from those science and mind! ”

"Xiao Ge Lao doesn't pay attention to what he said." Zhang Juzheng didn't look at him, only looked at the water, "Ma Ningyuan was punished, you recommended Gao Hanwen." Chang Boxi and Zhang Zhiliang were executed, and King Yu recommended Hai Rui and Wang Yongji. It's all about implementing national policies. If you want to say that King Hai Rui used Ji as a spear by us, then Gao Hanwen was recommended by the elder of the small pavilion, why do you also oppose your set of changing rice to mulberry? There is also Hu Zongxian, a pillar in the southeast, the dry city of the country, Yan Ge Lao is a confidant, he opposed your strategy from the beginning, are they also our guns? ”

After a few questions, Yan Shifan was choked, and his face turned even redder: "Good question, good question!" The person I recommended has now been arrested, and the person you recommended is still making waves there! Today, you were stunned to go to Zhejiang again, and arrested Zheng Michang and He Maocai, but you didn't want to break Hu Zongxian's elbow! Stir it up, stir up the war in front of Hu Zongxian and have no military supplies, eat the defeat, stir up the chaos in the southeast, and destroy the Ming Dynasty, Lao Tzu is nothing more than to accompany you to complete your life! ”

Speaking of this, Yan Shifan was already out of breath, and spit out a mouthful of thick phlegm at Zhang Juzheng's feet, then turned around and strode towards the forbidden gate of Xiyuan.

Zhang Juzheng slowly stood up, still not moving, and did not look at Yan Shifan, who was gradually moving away, and turned his worried eyes to look at the sunlit water in Haizili.