Duan Concubine's father, Cao Cha, is now the governor of Huguang.

Coincidentally, when the letter from the capital was delivered to Fei Maozhong, he was inspecting and supervising the autumn grain affairs in Jingzhou Mansion with Cao Cha.

Huguang wants to become a granary, and the area where Jingzhou is located is nourished by the Yangtze River and the Han River, and the land is flat, which is naturally the top priority of this work.

Because it was a royal letter, Fei Maozhong didn't dare to slack off at all, and immediately solemnly dismantled it.

Then Cao Cha saw Fei Maozhong's face solemn and uncertain.

In addition to the secret box direct performance, there are still some people in the local area who have this qualification to believe in the new rules of the imperial front, and the head of a province like Cao Cha is relatively helpless.

Although before going to the emperor, you must go through the post office, the general political envoy, the celebrant supervisor, and the imperial study, and there is absolutely no reliable secret box in terms of confidentiality, but after all, it is a letter presented to the emperor, and how many people dare to open it in advance?

But this is, after all, an invisible constraint on the governor of a province.

Now Fei Maozhong didn't speak, and Cao Cha couldn't directly ask what was said in the imperial letter.

He opened his mouth and said, "If Your Majesty has any orders, Fei will go to the politics first." Fei Shenzheng was ordered to patrol the grain with the governor, also to let Fei Shenzheng get familiar with Huguang as soon as possible. ”

Fei Maozhong suddenly collected his thoughts, bent down and said, "This matter is not in a hurry. What His Majesty ordered the officials to do is ...... in Jingzhou Mansion."

Accompanying Cao Cha to continue walking on the ridge, Fei Maozhong slowly explained the reason for the incident.

There is no need to hide anything at all, he did pass by Jingzhou to visit Fei Maoxian on the way to office. When that Zhang Baigui was summoned, it must have spread in Gangneung County later.

As he spoke, Cao Cha's footsteps couldn't help but pause, and he asked in shock: "The prince reads with you?" ”

Fei Maozhong nodded, with a wry smile on his face: "The lower officials can't understand how Your Majesty can have such thoughts." ”

The two continued to pace, and now it was Cao Cha's face that was cloudy.

He is the governor of Huguang, and his daughter is a concubine, and the concubine has only given birth to a princess.

Hu Guangzuo's participation in politics has made the name of a nine-year-old child known to the heavens, he has just arrived, how dare he do such a thing?

The cause of the incident is not important, and now the emperor throws out the words "the prince reads with him" is even more important.

Why should the local officials go to the table to praise the emperor's new cultural and educational achievements and connect them with the crown prince? Is it because he Cao Cha is the governor of Huguang?

The capital has already taken the opportunity of the re-planning of the imperial city to invite the East Palace to open a mansion and build a government, could it be that the emperor has any thoughts about the prince because of Fei Maozhong's behavior?

He can imagine what kind of turmoil this will cause among the important ministers of the court if this child is really sent to the capital, and the emperor will personally test and select a civilian child to be the prince's companion.

Does the emperor really have this will, or should he use this incident to remind his ministers: I haven't reached thirty yet, are you in a hurry?

The opening of the East Palace means that the wrestling between the current imperial power and the next generation of imperial power must begin to grow.

It is true that there are several emperors who have not lived past the age of forty, and when the emperor likes to drive the imperial expedition in person, it seems that it is indeed a serious move to open a palace for the East Palace now.

But the emperor had already officially canonized the crown prince the year before last, a ten-year-old child, why did the important ministers of the court ask the East Palace to open a mansion and build a government at this time?

The more Cao Cha thought about it, the more he felt that this troubled water could not be waded in, and he opened his mouth: "Minshou, this matter, you are also in a dilemma now." ”

Fei Maozhong smiled bitterly: "What the governor said is right. If the lower officials had known that this would be the case, they would never have done such a reckless act. It's just that now Your Majesty has an order, and this child must be sent to the capital. ”

"This governor is the father of the concubine, and he must avoid suspicion." Cao Cha said slowly, "No matter what happens to that kid after entering Beijing, this governor will present His Majesty, I really didn't know about this matter in advance, the people accept it, you need to be considerate of this governor." ”

“…… It was the rise of the lower officials who were amazed by their talents, and the lower officials naturally had to bear it. ”

Fei Maozhong's mood was bitter.

There was an uncle who was the prime minister and state secretary, and his political acumen was never lacking. Even back then, he was a person who could see the danger of His Majesty asking why the country was rich, and made a stable palace trial strategy.

At that time, he knew how to avoid the whirlpool, but he was unexpectedly named the champion in the strange atmosphere of the imperial court at that time?

And now, Fei Maozhong originally thought that he was just making a good fate, but how could he expect the emperor to throw the words "prince reading" with his backhand?

The Fei family is already prominent enough in this dynasty, Fei Maoxian knows the danger, and he never wants to be admitted to the Jinshi again, and only thinks about this life because of his background.

Fei Maozhong himself does not expect or even resist re-entering the center, otherwise the Fei family will be feared by many people.

That's why he thought about just promoting the backwards and forming more good karma.

But now, self-defeating.

Fei Maozhong didn't dare to ignore the emperor's explicit orders, but there were many ways to buffer it.

He is still accompanying Cao Cha to inspect the grain, so he must do official business first.

The first manifestation of the response was to send someone back to Zhang's family in Jiangling County to give an order, asking Zhang Baigui to fast first and do his homework attentively. If you want to enter the Beijing Saint, what a big deal is this? The necessary preparation must have.

And during this period of time, there was also a letter handed to Fei Maoxian, explaining the situation in detail, and asked him to send a fast horse to Nanchang as soon as possible, and asked Fei Hong in Jiangxi University in Nanchang to help him get an idea.

The words were divided into two ends, and the Zhang family heard the news from Fei Maozhong, and was naturally surprised.

Zhang Baigui's grandfather, Zhang Zhen, didn't say a word, and took the lead in going to his father's grave, saying with tears in his eyes, "Your old man is really prescient."

For the Zhang family, Fei Maozhong naturally just said that the emperor had given great grace and wanted Zhang Baigui to enter Beijing to personally take the test.

The words "read with the prince" are never dared to say.

It's too sensitive, what should I do if the people of Pingtou are known to everyone?

Zhang Baigui himself was also quite confused, he never expected that he was called by that senior official more than two months ago to take the test, answer a question to congratulate His Majesty on his birthday, and then get such a result.

Want to meet Your Majesty?

The young Jang Baek-gyu is not very scared now, but he feels very nervous.

The Zhang family has experienced a lot over the years, and their lives are difficult, but his father said that Zhang Baigui also knew that this was the ancestral tomb with green smoke.

If he is appreciated by the emperor, not only will his own study path and future achievements be unimaginable, but the Zhang family will also be looked down upon in Jiangling County and Jingzhou Mansion.

The entire Zhang family didn't know how the Governor of Huguang and Fei Maozhong himself were afraid.

At Jiangxi University in Nanchang, Fei Hong was already sixty-six years old.

In fact, he already wants to return to his hometown, but he has the same idea as Fei Maozhong: the Fei family is already too eye-catching in this dynasty, bring more juniors, and form more good relationships, which is good for the Fei family and the country.

Why was Yang Yiqing able to be buried by the prince? Because he died in office, it was a difficult period for the Ming Dynasty to prepare for the Northern Expedition after the First World War in the sixth year of Jiajing.

Wang Shouren, who almost died once, had to stay in the Xuanfu, and Yang Yiqing, who was already close to old age, also had to work hard in the position of the General Staff.

Therefore, Fei Hong is ready, I am afraid that he will not be able to die safely in his hometown in Lead Mountain, and his bones will inevitably be bumpy all the way after death.

Moreover, if you also want to have a grace worthy of enjoying the Taimiao and entering the Yingjie Palace, Fei Hong also needs to promote the new science in Jiangxi, a big province of science.

As a result, in Fei Maoxian's letter, they sent Fei Hong a thunderbolt on a sunny day.

"Stupid!" Fei Hong's hands were a little trembling.

The congratulatory watch was given to his nephew, but his son also had a share.

There is a prodigy in Jingzhou Mansion, who says that it is His Majesty's new study of culture and education, but who is the school in Jingzhou Mansion? It's Fei Maoxian.

The Fei family has produced the first prime minister and minister of state, what credit do you need? How many more suggestions?

It is enough that there are people in the court for each generation.

It is naturally good to have another important minister, but that will have to wait until the next Son of Heaven succeeds to the throne!

What now? The emperor said, "The prince reads with you."

Look at how many great clans' knives the emperor has moved for more than ten years!

Clansmen, honored relatives, gentry, and wealthy families......

The Fei family has already tied the good fate to the nine-year-old child? What do you want to do?

He knew that time was pressing, so he quickly wrote back.

In this matter, what the two cousins, Fei Maoxian and Fei Maozhong, do next, is important, and what happened to the DPRK is also very important.

The emperor acted like this because of the prodigy mentioned in a congratulatory note, and he definitely wanted to see the big from the small and do something!

One stone stirred up a thousand waves, and everyone knew that "Jiang Lang was talented", and Ren was an important minister like Fei Hong, and he would not think about this matter to the simplest and most simple point.

Even if the emperor really looked at anyone differently, at least he shouldn't be a nine-year-old child.

The Ming Dynasty is outstanding, is there a lack of about 20 talents?

Everyone only sees the word "prince", and does not think much about reading it.

The princes are all dignified courtiers, and there are not too many who want to be the princes, but does the prince need a real companion?

If it is after Xun Qi, it is just a scholar and a slave who is busy with his bag.

But the folk children were hand-picked to read with the prince, which is unheard of!

Therefore, this matter must not be true, and Your Majesty's move must have other profound meanings!

They just don't know, that's Zhang Juzheng!

……

Zhu Houxi naturally didn't expect that they would think of this move to such an extent, Zhang Baigui had not yet arrived, and Cao Cha and Fei Maozhong's "please sin" came in advance.

He was speechless.

In the capital, I didn't know the news yet.

At that time, except for Huang Jin, only Hai Rui was present.

Can Hai Rui be smiling everywhere with a big mouth?

But now, many people in the capital must know the news.

Because although Fei Maozhong's invitation to sin did not mention anything about "the prince's companion", Fei Maozhong expressed the attitude that "culture and education have not yet prospered, and the ministers should continue to work hard", so he almost wrote on his face that he should not be so frivolous and flattering.

Cao Cha said that he was glad to hear about this matter, and only then did he know that Xinxue was promoted in Huguang and had borne fruit, and he pleaded guilty for not caring enough about culture and education in the past. Then report on the autumn grain affairs in Huguang, and then say that the people of Huguang are grateful for His Majesty's kindness, and this year's harvest is all praying for His Majesty, and I wish His Majesty a long life.

Both of them went through the General Political Envoy, and they both mentioned the matter of the young child entering Beijing, and then they both pleaded guilty, why is this?

Isn't it good that a new generation of children has a genius?

Could it be that the emperor summoned this child to Beijing to take the examination to express his importance to culture and education?

The reaction of the two people is naturally due to other more sensitive reasons. Since there are other reasons, with the network and official quality of these second- and third-grade officials, how can they not communicate with friends in Beijing and outside Beijing to exchange information and opinions?

Zhu Houxi couldn't help but ask Xu Jie: "Didn't the State Hall say that the candidates for the officials of the East Palace will be submitted within this month?" Did you get it? ”

"Back to Your Majesty, not yet." Xu Jie replied as expected.

Zhu Houxi looked at him and was silent for a moment.

Xu Jie's heart beat faster and tried to restrain himself.

"You are the chief of the imperial study, and someone has asked you around the corner." Zhu Houxi retracted his gaze and said lightly, "I want to ask Jinyiwei and the inner factory, who have you seen after being on duty in the past few days?" ”

Xu Jie suddenly left the bookcase he was sitting on and knelt down, and Gao Gong and another imperial study companion also did the same.

"I don't know what Your Majesty means, so please make it clear to Your Majesty."

Zhu Houxi gradually felt the difference between him and Yan Song.

Compared with Yan Song, there is absolutely no need for Zhu Houxi to make it clear in everything, and Xu Jie is more non-sticky.

Zhu Houxi really didn't ask explicitly, but didn't he just finish watching Cao Cha and Fei Maozhong's recital?

Looking at the three of them, Zhu Houxi slowly opened his mouth: "After I saw the congratulatory table of Hu Guangzuo's participation in politics, I was also amazed by the literary talent of the nine-year-old child, so I ordered him to be sent to Beijing to take the test. If you are really talented, you can click to read it for the prince. There are already a lot of important ministers in the capital who know about this matter, right? You go to the Wenhua Hall to urge, and the candidates for the subordinate officials of the East Palace should be submitted quickly. ”

"Commandment." Xu Jie still didn't get up after speaking, and then said, "Since this is the case, the minister can return to Your Majesty." In the past few days, Chongxiang State Affairs, Yan Shangshu, and Yang Shangshu have indeed asked the minister about this, and the minister has never heard His Majesty mention it in the imperial study, let alone say anything in vain. ”

"I really haven't mentioned it these days, and you're right." Zhu Houxi nodded, "In this way, it seems that I have other arrangements or other strict orders, which makes the ministers uneasy without knowing it." Okay, you go to the Wenhua Hall to urge, Gao Gong, you go to the Ministry of Culture and Education to call Yan Song to come, and I ask about the imperial school. ”

"The minister commands." Gao Gong is also very shocked in his heart now.

He is not the chief, and he is only a jinshi in the eleventh year of Jiajing, and no one has asked him about this matter yet, so he really just found out.

Now on the one hand, the emperor asked the State Hall to come up with the candidates for the subordinate officials of the East Palace as soon as possible, and on the other hand, he asked himself to call Yan Song.

Xu Jie is Yan Song's protégé! Since he was going to the State Palace, why didn't he just take a few more steps to the Ministry of Culture and Education?

Both of them could see that the emperor's face was not very good-looking, and staring at Xu Jie just now to ask him to take the initiative to answer something, it even revealed that he was actually a little angry.

The emperor grew older and more powerful, and now his majesty grew.

During the time when Xu Jie was the chief of the imperial study, the atmosphere in the imperial study was actually relatively dignified. The emperor's attitude towards Xu Jie, it seems, always carries some admonition.

At this point, Xu Jie listened to Yan Song talk about his previous experience as the chief of the imperial study, and he was also psychologically balanced. According to Yan Song, he was like this at that time.

But Zhang Bi chatted with him two days ago, but it wasn't like this. Is it because Zhang Bi and the emperor are fellow countrymen?

When Xu Jie arrived at the Wenhua Palace, when the State Council was not held, the ministers of state worked here.

And when Xu Jie arrived in front of Zhang Fujing, he just said solemnly: "Chief Assistant, Your Majesty has asked about the candidates for the subordinate officials of the East Palace, I don't know when it will be submitted?" ”

Zhang Fujing looked at Xu Jie's expression, and slowly spoke: "Please Zisheng to tell Your Majesty, and the royal selection will definitely be performed within the month." ”

Xu Jie came here to ask this sentence, and then said goodbye and returned to the imperial study.

Zhang Fujing walked out of the main hall where he was the prime minister and minister of state, stood under the eaves and looked northwest.

After a while, he spoke: "Please come over to the state ministers." ”

After saying that, he waited at the door, his brows furrowed.

He had already received Fei Hong's letter, and he naturally knew what Xu Jie's unusually serious expression represented: Your Majesty is not happy.

Could it be that it is really as Fei Hong said, the prince is still young at the moment, and His Majesty chooses to read with him, that is, he attaches more importance to the prince's studies, and it is good to study with his heart?

But Zhang Fujing also has his thoughts, and in the process of going up, he really killed too many people.

If in his office, the East Palace is opened and the government is built, after the crown prince ascends the throne in the future, how much will he take care of his contributions, right?

Zhang Fujing was puzzled, with his understanding of the emperor, His Majesty should not be unhappy about this matter.

Isn't the opening of the East Palace and the establishment of the government after the canonization of the crown prince the righteousness?

Doesn't Your Majesty understand your own suffering?

Or is it that with His Majesty's current achievements and prestige, he also needs to worry about the fact that the power of the East Palace will become stronger and stronger after many years, and what will he do with the crown prince?

Not really, right?

was already at a sensitive time, and soon, Zhang Bi and the others came out of the side hall where they were, and Zhang Fu greeted them down the steps.

"Let's talk about it here, Your Majesty sent the chief of the imperial study to ask about the candidates for the East Palace."

His face was as solemn as Xu Jie's, so everyone's hearts thumped.

At this time, Gao Gong had just come to the Ministry of Culture and Education, and found Yan Song and said that the emperor wanted to see him.

"Su Qing knows what's going on?" Yan Song asked with a smile.

Gao Gong is much more refreshing, anyway, Yan Song will know immediately when he arrives at the imperial study.

He even felt that since the emperor sent him to find Yan Song, he wanted Yan Song to prepare first, anyway, His Majesty made it clear that he was asking about the imperial school.

So Gao Gong said: "It's for the sake of imperial learning." ”

The imperial school should be more standardized, and find a wider place, which is all something that the Ministry of Culture and Education is planning.

"Thank you Su Qing." Yan Song arched his hand at him.

It would have been better to know what was going on earlier.

It is said that this is also the benefit of setting up the imperial study, and the companion of the imperial study is not as good as the eunuch and only listens to the emperor after all. If there is anything on weekdays, there are really important ministers who ask about it, and the subtle words and body hints can convey information.

With His Majesty's intelligence, he naturally would not be ignorant of this.

But there are actually two wonderful things about the existence of the Imperial Study.

First, His Majesty is wise and wise, and he himself acquiesces to this, so that there is less suspicion between the monarch and the minister, and more information is transparent.

Second, it is just acquiescence, so if the imperial study and the courtiers cross the line, it is also overstepping.

Whether to take this or not, the initiative is still with the emperor.

Gao Gong was the one who accompanied the emperor all the way to the north, and he felt that he knew the emperor's temperament a little better than Xu Jie.

So he figured it out on the way over, and the emperor asked him to come to Yan Song, just to treat this matter as an official business. Since it is mentioned that the courtiers are uneasy and privately ask about the emperor's attitude, it is obvious that there is already some suspicion.

The emperor should be unhappy because of this suspicion, so he first told Gao Gongming that it was for the sake of imperial learning.

This means that he can tell Yan Song first.

Sure enough, after arriving at the imperial study, the emperor opened his mouth directly: "I want to choose some companions for the prince to read from the people and know the sufferings of the people. ”

Yan Song immediately knelt down: "The minister is ashamed ......"

"It's a joke." Zhu Houxi looked at Xu Jie again, "The opening of the East Palace and the construction of the government are logical. You people, don't spend much time on official business, what do you do with your mind? If I think it's not the right time, I'll refute it then. Could it be that if the external troubles are a little quieter, you will feel that the world is peaceful, and it is already time for the monarchs and ministers to only look at ten or twenty years later? ”

(End of chapter)