After the announcement of the cabinet's announcement of Hu Zongxian's entry into the cabinet and the appointment of the secretary of the ministry, it soon caused an uproar in the government and the opposition.

Although before this, many officials secretly speculated that after Hu Zongxian was transferred back to the capital, he would definitely be reused by His Majesty.

But they never expected that His Majesty would give Hu Zongxian such preferential treatment.

Not only let Hu Zongxian enter the cabinet, but also let him serve as the secretary of the ministry, you know, since ancient times, the ministry is the head of the six, and the secretary is called "heavenly official" by hundreds of officials!

Now Hu Zongxian is not only a cabinet elder, but also a secretary of the ministry, these two things add up, it is not simply one plus one equals two, but one plus one is far greater than two!

To put it bluntly, at present, in addition to the emperor and the first and second assistants of the cabinet, the rest of the civil and military officials have to rely on Hu Zongxian's snort.

This is the real sense of power leaning towards the government and the opposition, not to mention, the current cabinet chief assistant Yan Song, is still Hu Zongxian's teacher!

Thinking of this, those officials couldn't help but gasp, but soon the officials reacted and began to send people to inquire about Hu Zongxian's preferences on weekdays.

At this time, near the bulletin board outside the cabinet, officials who had already rushed to hear the news were surrounded by people, including many high-ranking officials in scarlet robes.

In the crowd, I saw an official in a scarlet robe, after reading the contents of the paper posted on the bulletin board, he couldn't help but gasp, stroked his beard, and said with emotion: "Hey, Your Majesty really values Lord Hu...... No, Hu Ge Lao! ”

When the words fell, I saw an official next to him who was also wearing a scarlet robe stood up, and said with emotion: "In recent years, Hu Ge Lao has led the army to exterminate the Japanese in the southeast coastal area, repeatedly quelled rebellions, and made great contributions to the imperial court. ”

This official's words quickly won the approval of many officials present, and some people said with emotion: "Yes, after so many years, Hu Ge Lao has worked hard and made great achievements, and now, he has finally come out, and that is a "heavenly official"! ”

At this moment, a sharp-eyed official stood up, pointed to the piece of paper that was posted on the bulletin board, and then said, "Hey, you see, the handwriting on this piece of paper doesn't look like Yan Ge's handwriting?" ”

When the words fell, everyone reacted one after another, the current Hu Zongxian is not just a scholar of the Middle Pole Hall and a scholar of the Ministry of Officials, but also a teacher who is the first assistant of the cabinet!

Thinking of this, everyone's eyes couldn't help but flash a hint of fear.

And those officials who had previously made nonsense about Hu Zongxian because of Ma Ningyuan's case, their faces had become extremely pale at this moment, and their bodies began to tremble uncontrollably because they were too afraid.

After all, the current Hu Zongxian is already a secretary of the ministry, and he can crush their existence with a casual move of his fingers!

No, Hu Zongxian doesn't even need to do it himself, as long as he reveals his intentions in this regard, there will be countless people who will take action to curry favor with Hu Zongxian, until they will ruin their families and have no place to bury!

Just when the officials were terrified, they heard a long sigh.

Everyone followed the prestige, and saw an old man in a green robe, gray hair, and a rickety figure, with a complicated expression on his face, and said to himself.

"Alas, the old man and Hu Ge Lao are both from Jiajing's seventeenth year of Jinshi, Hu Ge Lao is now a scholar of the Ministry of Officials, a scholar of the Middle Pole Palace, and the old man has been standing still for so many years, but he is still standing still......"

Seeing this, many officials present were silent for a long time, and then stepped forward to comfort them.

……

Until Hu Zongxian returned to the post station where he was staying in a sedan chair, he still did not react from the shocking fact that Jiajing appointed him as a scholar of the Ministry of Officials and a scholar of the Zhongji Temple.

From going to the Qianqing Palace to meet His Majesty, to His Majesty's letting himself enter the cabinet, and being appointed as the secretary of the ministry, all of this is like a dream for Hu Zongxian!

Afterwards, I saw Hu Zongxian take a deep breath and force himself to calm down.

After this, I saw Hu Zongxian carefully take out a few house deeds in his sleeve, as well as 50,000 taels of silver tickets, and put them on the table not far away - these were exactly what Jiajing rewarded him not long ago.

There is no doubt that the location of those deeds is excellent, and they are the most prosperous streets in the capital, and they are only a few minutes away from the Forbidden City.

The touch of the paper made Hu Zongxian feel a trace of reality, and everything that happened today was like a slide, constantly replaying in his mind.

Hu Zongxian didn't expect that Jiajing would trust himself so much, it stands to reason that a high-ranking official like him will definitely have the emperor's eyes at home, which is a tacit understanding between courtiers and the emperor for a long time!

In Hu Zongxian's opinion, Jiajing could take the opportunity of giving his mansion to install eyeliner in his home, but Jiajing did not do this, but let himself choose slaves at will.

All of this shows the emperor's trust in himself!

After a long time, I saw Hu Zongxian come back to his senses, the look on his face was extremely resolute, and he secretly made up his mind, and said to himself silently: "Your Majesty, Weichen will definitely live up to your trust, and Weichen will fulfill the duties of the cabinet elder and be a good secretary of the ministry!" ”

"Your Majesty Shengming, Minister Hu Zongxian, I am willing to swear allegiance to Your Majesty!"

After Hu Zongxian finished speaking, he knelt on the ground with a solemn expression, and bowed three times in the direction where the Forbidden City was located.

After that, I saw Hu Zongxian slowly get up from the ground, and then took out a book from the accompanying luggage, and read it with great concentration.

Soon after this, he heard a knock on the door, Hu Zongxian saw this, put the book in his hand aside, and commanded.

"Come in!"

The voice fell, only to hear a 'squeak', the door of the room was pushed open, and after a while, I saw the post man in charge of managing the post station enter the room.

Hu Zongxian saw that Yicheng's face was embarrassed, and he looked like he wanted to speak and stopped, raised his eyebrows, and asked, "Is there anything wrong with looking for this official?" ”

When the post man heard Hu Zongxian's words, he immediately knelt on the ground with a 'plop', and only after considering the language did he say cautiously.

"Gift...... Elder Hu Ge, there are many officials outside who want to visit you, and you ...... You see......"

"Tell them that this official has been traveling all the way and is in poor health, let them leave!"

When Hu Zongxian heard this, he glanced at the post, waved his hand, and commanded.

When the post man heard this, his face showed a relieved expression, and immediately, he saw him slowly get up from the ground and said respectfully: "Obey, Hu ...... Elder Hu Ge, the lower officials will relay your words to them as they are! ”

For that Yicheng, such an ending couldn't be better, Hu Zongxian he couldn't afford to offend, and he couldn't afford to offend those officials outside.

With Hu Zongxian's words, he was able to go and persuade those officials who came to visit Hu Zongxian at the post station without any worries!

After that, the postman did not stop in the room for the slightest, but left directly.

After the post man left, I saw Hu Zongxian retract his gaze and said with emotion: "Alas, I actually got the news so quickly!" ”

After asking Yicheng to come forward and send away the officials who came to visit in an endless stream, Hu Zongxian picked up the previous book again and looked through it boredly.

Time passed slowly, and gradually, the sky was getting dark, and orange candles were lit up in the inn, and the streets were sparsely populated, and occasionally a few pedestrians who returned at night hurried away.

At this moment, he heard a slight knock on the door, Hu Zongxian saw this, put down the book in his hand, and commanded.

"Come in!"

When Hu Zongxian's words fell, I saw that the door of the room was pushed open, and I saw the previous post man walking in, and beside him, he was followed by the housekeeper of the Yan Mansion.

After bringing the people with him, the postman left the room with great discernment, and when he left, he also took the door of the room with him.

Hu Zongxian naturally left a slight impression on the housekeeper of the Yan Mansion, but before he could ask, he saw the housekeeper of the Yan Mansion leaning down and said respectfully: "The master specially sent the little one over and invited the old Hu Ge to the mansion for a banquet!" ”

When Hu Zongxian heard this, a look of surprise suddenly appeared on his face, and then, he nodded and commanded.

"Well, I'm planning to visit the teacher sometime, so let's lead the way!"

"Yes, Hu Ge Lao!"

Subsequently, under the guidance of the housekeeper, I saw Hu Zongxian take the sedan chair that had been prepared and march towards the Yan Mansion.

……

At the gate of the Yan Mansion, as usual, many officials gathered who came to visit.

However, unlike in the past, on weekdays, the closed door of the Yan Mansion was opened for the first time today, as if it was going to welcome some distinguished guests.

Soon, those officials reacted one after another, the distinguished guest that Yan Mansion was going to welcome today was none other than Yan Song's student, Hu Zongxian, a cabinet veteran and secretary of the Ministry of Ministers who had just entered the cabinet!

Thinking of this, those officials who came to visit were in awe of Yan Song even more, and they were even more eager to hug Yan Song's big tree.

After all, Yan Song has been the head assistant of the cabinet for more than 20 years, and he has many henchmen, which can be described as a power leaning towards the government and the opposition!

In addition, his son Xiaoge Lao Yan Shifan also entered the cabinet not long ago, and now, even Yan Song's student Hu Zongxian has officially entered the cabinet, not only that, Hu Zongxian also has the errand of the Ministry of Officials!

In the eyes of others, Hu Zongxian was able to successfully enter the cabinet and concurrently serve as the secretary of the ministry, and the help of Yan Song, the first assistant of the cabinet, must be indispensable behind him, and at the same time, this also strengthened their determination to move closer to Yan Song.

After all, who doesn't want to be the next Hu Zongxian!

Just as the officials who came to visit were in a reverie in their hearts, the sedan chair that Hu Zongxian was riding had already arrived at the gate of Yan's mansion, and got down from the sedan chair with the support of the slaves.

As soon as Hu Zongxian got out of the sedan chair, those officials surrounded him like vultures, their faces full of flattery, and they began to try their best to get closer to Hu Zongxian.

Seeing this situation, the housekeeper of the Yan Mansion on the side coughed lightly twice, then stepped forward and said apologetically: "Everyone, I can't hide it, my master is looking forward to meeting Hu Ge Lao as soon as possible!" ”

When those officials heard this, they reluctantly gave up, and when Hu Zongxian saw this, he bowed slightly to the housekeeper, and then followed his footsteps and entered the Yan Mansion through the main gate.

After entering the Yan Mansion, you first need to go through a long corridor, the road is paved with neat stone bricks, and the two sides of the road are planted with green bamboo, and the color of emerald green is refreshing.

Along the way, Hu Zongxian did not have any communication with the housekeeper, and after the housekeeper took Hu Zongxian to his destination, he turned around and left.

Then, I saw Yan Song coming out of the room tremblingly under the support of Yan Shifan.

Seeing this, Hu Zongxian hurriedly leaned down and saluted Yan Song respectfully: "Student Hu Zongxian, I have seen the teacher!" ”

When Yan Song heard this, his face was full of smiles, he beckoned his thin hand to Hu Zongxian, and then said, "Ruzhen, you are here, come, let the teacher take a good look at you!" ”

When Hu Zongxian heard Yan Song's words, he immediately came to Yan Song's face, and after that, he saw Yan Song put his thin hand on Hu Zongxian's head and stroked it gently, as if he was recalling something.

Then, I saw Yan Song come back to his senses, look directly into Hu Zongxian's eyes, and said with emotion: "Ruzhen, I have really suffered you for so many years, and I, who is a teacher, didn't help much in the end!" ”

When Hu Zongxian heard this, a look of humility appeared on his face at the right time, and he responded: "Where, the teacher said that he was laughing, if you hadn't recommended the student to serve in Zhejiang, the student would not be where he is today!" ”

"Your old acquaintance will be remembered by the students for the rest of their lives!"

When Hu Zongxian said this, he paused for a moment, and then continued next.

"Besides, when the food and salary on the front line were insufficient, wasn't it also the teacher who tried your best to mediate behind the scenes and fully support the students?"

When Yan Song heard Hu Zongxian's words, his face couldn't help but show a look of amazement, as if he was caught in a memory.

Then, I saw Yan Song come back to his senses, shook his head imperceptibly, and looked at Hu Zongxian apologetically, and said slowly: "Ruzhen, you see, this person is easy to talk nonsense when he is old, I invited you to the house today to celebrate you, how did you get involved in these unpleasant topics!" ”

When Hu Zongxian heard this, a trace of panic flashed on his face, he lowered his head and said respectfully: "According to the students, the teacher's body is still very tough!" ”

Yan Song seemed to be quite useful to Hu Zongxian's words, only to see that his face was full of smiles, stroked his beard, withdrew his gaze from Hu Zongxian's body, and then commanded.

"Okay, don't stand outside, let's go, let's go in, let's get drunk today!"

After that, Hu Zongxian followed Yan Song's steps and entered the room.

The table in the room is full of all kinds of delicacies, and even a lot of rare game.

At the table, there are also several slim maids, who are responsible for serving food and wine for everyone.

Subsequently, Hu Zongxian, Yan Song, and Yan Shifan sat at the same table, and after they sat down, they saw the maid on the side come forward and fill the wine glass for them.

"Come, Ruzhen, the teacher toasts you and congratulates you on your official entry into the cabinet!"

When the words fell, I saw Yan Song tremblingly get up from the seat, pick up the wine glass, and say to Hu Zongxian quite solemnly.

"Teacher ......"

When Hu Zongxian heard this, he hurriedly got up from his seat, picked up the wine glass very respectfully, and touched the wine glass in Yan Song's hand, and Hu Zongxian's wine glass was naturally lower than Yan Song's wine glass.

With a crisp sound, I saw Yan Song raise his head and drink all the wine in the cup.

Seeing this, Hu Zongxian also drank the wine in the cup.

After drinking a glass of wine, the maid on the side was about to step forward to pour wine for Yan Song, but was stopped by Yan Shifan on the side with his eyes.

Seeing this, Yan Song couldn't help but flash a trace of displeasure on his face, and reprimanded: "It's rare to meet such a good day today, I want to drink a few more glasses!" ”

When Yan Shifan heard this, he immediately lowered his head and cautiously said comfortingly: "But father, your body is ......."

Before Yan Shifan's words were finished, he was coldly interrupted by Yan Song: "Isn't your father still alive, what is a few glasses of wine?" ”

Seeing this, Hu Zongxian, who was on the side, also stood up and said comfortingly: "Teacher, Xiao Ge is right, you should really pay more attention to your body!" ”

However, today's Yan Song seems to be very interested, and even though Yan Shifan and Hu Zongxian have repeatedly persuaded him, they have not been able to change his determination.

Afterwards, everyone started to drink a cup of you, and I drank it one by one, and then Yan Song fell down first because he was not strong enough to drink, and in the end, it had evolved into Hu Zongxian and Yan Shifan pouring wine into each other.

Seeing that Yan Shifan was already drunk and unconscious, Hu Zongxian instructed the maid to take him down to rest, then personally supported Yan Song, and under the guidance of the maid, slowly walked towards Yan Song's room.

……

After sending Yan Song to the room, he asked the maid for a bowl of decanting soup, helped Yan Song up, and carefully served it with a spoon.

In this process, Yan Song gradually woke up, and then, I saw him sit up from the bed, shook his head, looked at Hu Zongxian, and said with emotion.

"Alas, Ruzhen, it seems that people can't accept old age, I think when the teacher was young, it was a thousand cups and not drunk, even Xia Yan, the first assistant of the cabinet at that time, ......"

When Yan Song said this, as if he realized something, he stopped talking stiffly, and his eyes were full of loneliness.

Hu Zongxian knew that Yan Song remembered the past, after all, Yan Song overthrew Xia Yan, the former head of the cabinet, and sat in his current position, and Xia Yan was also a teacher and friend for Yan Song.

Xia Yan and Yan Song were originally fellow villagers, it can be said that Yan Song was able to go from the prince of the country to the position of the second assistant of the cabinet, and Xia Yan's assistance was indispensable behind him, but later, due to different ideas, the two sides gradually broke up.

It only took a short time for the two sides to become out-and-out enemies from the existence of teachers and friends, and in the end, Yan Song stepped on the body of Xia Yan, the former head of the cabinet, and sat on the throne of the head of the cabinet, and this sitting was more than 20 years.

Just as Hu Zongxian was still thinking about what way to comfort Yan Song, he only heard Yan Song's voice ring in his ears.

"Ruzhen, as soon as this person gets old, he is easy to think of the past, and those things in the past are like engraved in his mind, and he can't forget them!"

"Teacher, you ......"

When Hu Zongxian heard Yan Song's words, he just wanted to say something to comfort him, but he was interrupted by Yan Song waving his hand and making a speech.

"Okay, listen to the teacher, when the teacher was still the son of the country, Xia Yan was already in a high position at that time, and the teacher tried every means to get closer to him in the name of his fellow villagers in order to cling to him, and later ......"

Yan Song said for a long time, starting from his acquaintance with Xia Yan, the former cabinet chief, to the gradual breakup between the two sides, and then to Yan Song's overthrow of Xia Yan and the end of sitting on the cabinet chief.

Everything that happened in the middle, Yan Song did not have the slightest reservation, and told Hu Zongxian everything.

After telling the ins and outs of the matter, Yan Song seemed to have unloaded some burden, and his face was full of light.

Then, I saw Yan Song withdraw his gaze from Hu Zongxian's body, and said to himself: "But the teacher doesn't regret it, even if the teacher is given another chance, the teacher will still make a move on Xia Yan, if he doesn't die, then the teacher will die!" ”

Because he had been talking for too long, Yan Song suddenly felt that his mouth was dry, and when he just wanted to pour himself a cup of hot tea, Hu Zongxian, who was not far away, had already taken the lead and handed the hot tea to Yan Song's hands.

Yan Song took the hot tea, took a sip, looked at Hu Zongxian, and said unhurriedly: "Ruzhen, what do you think after listening to it?" ”

When Hu Zongxian heard this, after thinking for a while, he immediately responded: "Teacher, according to the students, you and the former cabinet chief assistant Xia Yan are both at fault!" ”

Yan Song seemed to have expected Hu Zongxian to give such an answer, and then, he looked directly into Hu Zongxian's eyes and said word by word.

"Ruzhen, you have to remember that if you want to survive in the officialdom, you must first be hard-hearted, except for yourself, everyone can be sacrificed!"

"Only by surviving can there be a future!"

"Officialdom is sinister, one step into the void, is a loss of the whole game, only by keeping this in mind at all times, can you prevent those open guns and arrows, you have now entered the cabinet, and as a secretary of the ministry, you should be more careful everywhere!"

"Do you know, behind the scenes, I don't know how many people are staring at you, you must pay more attention, the teacher is old and can't teach you much!"

"When the time comes, the teacher will step down from the position of the head of the cabinet, and there will be no one to protect you, and you, the secretary of the ministry, will become a thorn in their side!"

When Hu Zongxian heard Yan Song's words, he was also quite moved, and then, he saw him kneeling on the ground very solemnly and said in a deep voice.

"Student Hu Zongxian, thank you for your teaching!"

"Well, get up!"

Seeing this, Yan Song's face couldn't help but flash a hint of relief.

He knew that Hu Zongxian had listened to his words and kept them in mind.

But at the same time, Yan Song's heart couldn't help but flash a trace of worry.

He is worrying about Yan Shifan, in his opinion, the current Yan Shifan is the first person to be smart, but there is no big picture at all.

If he is not there in the future, how can he fight those people? (End of chapter)