Today, the ranking of the palace examination has spread, especially this time, the top three have been leaked in advance, which has aroused huge attention.

There is no shortage of thoughtful people in officialdom, and many people have begun to wonder, what does the imperial court mean by this? Is this an attempt to "solicit broad opinions"?

However, for the five officials who were smashed, as well as the son-in-law of Shen Li, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, this news is like five thunderbolts!

For the sake of the overall situation, endure humiliation and burden, and the last thing to wait for is Lin Tailai to be the champion? Wouldn't that be a beating for nothing?

Especially Shen Shangshu's only daughter blew up directly, left her parents and old family with her husband, and ran away from home.

And Shi Menglin had no intention of working at all, and returned home with heavy steps after noon.

He looked at the still dilapidated gate, sighed, and continued inside.

I also saw my own woman sitting in the hall, swallowing melon seeds, and while spitting out the skin of melon seeds, she said:

"Yikes! What the husband said is really good, as long as you put up with him and let him. What else, stay a few more days and watch him?

So is it just to let the concubine look at the champion? It's really unusual to have such a champion who beats people and smashes the door. ”

Shi Shizhi indifferently turned his head to avoid the melon seed skin, but the melon seed skin still fell on his shoulder, so he ruthlessly slapped it away.

Then he said, "Give me some face, and a few guests will come over in a moment." ”

Shi Shizhi has indeed sent someone to inform several other colleagues that they will gather today.

Not long after, Jiang Shichang, Wang Jiguang, Feng Jinglong and several other people visited, these people were either in the matter, the imperial history or the officials of the Ministry of Rites, and they had all been arranged to "smash the problem" package before.

Several people couldn't help but feel pity for each other and sighed together.

Not to mention in previous years, this time since Lin Tailai entered Beijing, their Qingliu forces have been constantly fighting.

Zhao Nanxing splashed dirty water, and was directly splashed back into a golden plum author, and he is still self-contained and low-key.

After that, the suppression of public opinion was cracked by Lin Tailai's continuous large-scale krypton gold for two months, and I heard that more than 2,000 taels of silver had been burned before and after, which was equivalent to six or seven sets of three courtyards in the prime area of the capital.

When it came to the exam, he suffered from Lin Tailai's neurotic vigilance, and all the small actions he prepared were ineffective.

After the test, Lin Tailai continued to maintain a high-intensity preemptive strike, frantically smashing, not only snatching away all the hot spots, but also deterring many people, and even the first scholar could not organize trouble.

Not to mention the palace test, their leader, Shen Li, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, was already bedridden and closed doors.

They were able to take the initiative to do something at first, but the more they went to the back, the more they found that they could hardly do anything, and the road seemed to be blocked by Lin Tailai first.

It's very unpleasant to be output by the enemy's face, and it's even more unpleasant to be output by the enemy's face repeatedly and repeatedly riding again!

But after being output by the enemy all the way, the enemy can still snatch the champion, that is, he is so unhappy that he wants to go crazy.

"There's still a chance." Shi Shiyi said to everyone: "As the saying goes, the future is undecided, everything is possible!"

According to my careful research, taking into account various factors, Tao Wangling, who ranked third in the palace examination, is more suitable to be the champion. ”

It can only be said that sometimes there seems to be a set of formulas in officialdom, and different people can come to the same conclusion.

The elements of Tao Wangling, a famous family in a large province of the imperial examination, a bunch of officials in his father's generation, an orthodox successor of Xinxue, and a close relationship with the first assistant, can be noticed by more than one person.

One of the guests, named Feng Jinglong, said: "But he is not our own people. ”

Shi Shizhi said very decisively: "It doesn't matter if it's not our own people, the most important thing at the moment is not to let Lin Tailai be the champion!"

Otherwise, we, including the great uncle, will become the laughing stock of the world!

It can even be said that as long as it is not Lin Tailai, the champion can be replaced by anyone! ”

Everyone agrees that if Lin Tailai becomes the champion, the five of them and Shen Shangshu will be nailed to the pillar of shame, and they will be laughed at for at least a few years.

Shi Shiyi said to Feng Jinglong: "If we want to persuade the emperor to change the champion, our weight is not enough, at least we need a group of ministers and ministers to come forward."

Therefore, in the past few days, we have to seize the time to act separately, lobby the ministers separately, and persuade Tao Wangling.

The highest official position among the Zhejiang people is Wu Shilai of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and Lu Da Sikou of the Criminal Department.

So I ask you, a Zhejiang person, to go with me and lobby Lu Da Sikou. ”

Feng Jinglong nodded solemnly and said, "I must do my best!" ”

If it is placed in other eras, it is simply a fool's dream and inadequacy for a few officials to want to do big things.

However, in the late Ming Dynasty, it was not uncommon for middle and lower-level officials to be extremely active politically, and it was not a problem to organize and make trouble, and they were even the main force in political struggle.

After several people discussed, and the caliber was unified, Shi Shizhi and Feng Jinglong went out together to lobby the great secretary Lu Guangzu.

Yesterday, the palace examination paper was completed, and most of the ministers who participated in the paper reading, except for Shen Shoufu, rested at home.

Therefore, Shi Shiyi and Feng Jinglong met Lu Guangzu very smoothly and talked deeply for half an hour.

Lu Guangzu did not directly agree or object, only said that it would take a day to think about it.

Shi Shizhi also expressed his understanding of this, and probably Lu Guangzu also needed to ask about the attitudes of all parties, and make a decision after comprehensive consideration.

In the end, Shi Menglin persuaded: "The father of Da Si Kou and Tao Wangling is the same year, and it is natural to bring up the younger generation. ”

After talking, Shi Shiyi and Feng Jinglong walked out, but as soon as they walked to the gate of the Lu family, they saw dozens of familiar men appearing outside the door!

Shi Shizhi stopped in astonishment and didn't dare to go out.

it! Lin Daguan outside the gate was also very surprised, he didn't expect to meet these two people, this is really a way in heaven that you don't go, and there is no door to hell, you have to break in.

I'm thinking about what to start with, isn't this ready-made?

Lin Daguan waved his hand excitedly and shouted, "You guys really colluded together!"

The business of the two of you has nothing to do with the Criminal Department, and you came to visit Lu Shangshu just after the end of the palace examination paper, what else can you do for it?

The rumors are really good, you must be planning to change the emperor list and praise Tao Wangling, who is also a fellow villager in central Zhejiang, as the top champion! ”

The righteousness is in hand, don't say a word, just start fighting!

Shi Shiyi and Feng Jinglong's sedan chair and servants were waiting outside the gate at the moment, and they suffered directly.

The horses were released, the cars were split, the sedan chairs were dismantled, and the people were lying.

But Lin Daguan didn't leave yet, so he blocked the gate of the Lu Mansion, shouting slogans in a mess.

Shi and Feng couldn't get out at all, so they fled back to Lu's house and asked Lu Shangshu for help.

Because of the particularity of its business, the Criminal Department itself is still a bit directly under the armed forces, and the Criminal Department is located in the west of the city, very close to the official residential area.

So the great priest Lu Guangzu quickly sent a servant, went out from the side door, and called someone from the criminal department to come to the rescue.

In less than half an hour, when he heard the report that three hundred guards of the Criminal Department had rushed over, Lu Shangshu, who felt that he had already taken control of the scene, beckoned Shi Menglin and Feng Jinglong to sit down and drink tea.

But after a while, Lu Shangshu felt that the teacup in his hand was still hot, so he saw Menzi rushing to the study and shouted in a panic: "The soldiers of the Criminal Department have all been defeated!" ”

Lu Shangshu was shocked and angry: "Three hundred against fifty, the advantage is so huge, why did it collapse so quickly?" ”

Menzi continued to report: "The gang of forest thieves pretended to be afraid at first, fought and retreated, and fled into the small alley to the east.

The soldiers of the criminal department chased after them, but the alley was narrow, and there were too many people to do it.

At this time, the forest thief led the family to suddenly make a counterattack, and under the cover of the big basket formation, he personally acted as an arrow to take the lead.

And the front row of the pawns of the criminal department couldn't stop it at all, and they were defeated in batches, and then they were completely defeated!

Moreover, more than a hundred routs fled into the mansion, all gathered in the front yard, and the forest thieves blocked the gate again! ”

Lu Shangshu was in a trance, thinking that he was not the Shangshu of the capital, but the governor of a border town.

Usually, I only see those nobles relying on fighting to solve contradictions, and they often gather hundreds of people to beat them up for this.

Could it be that in the civil and official circles, they also have to rely on force to speak?

Shi Menglin said at this time: "The forest thief only blocked outside the gate and did not dare to smash the courtyard, which shows that the forest thief still has scruples about the big sikou, so he can only ask the big sikou to retreat the enemy in person." ”

Of course, if Lin Tailai really dared to take action against the criminal department Shangshu, who was ranked as the seventh secretary of the imperial court, the result would not be bad.

Lu Shangshu took a deep breath, got up and walked out.

When they arrived at the front yard, they saw the defeat of more than 100 remnants of the chaotic army, and looked at the gate in panic, as if they were afraid that the enemy would come in.

Lu Shangshu ignored the garbage, and continued to walk with his head held high, and when he approached the gate, he paused slightly.

This is not to be afraid, but to brew the momentum of the seven kings of the imperial court to look down on the mundane! As long as Lin Tailai didn't rebel, he didn't dare to do it directly to himself!

Walking to the middle of the gate, Lu Guangzu was about to say something, but his eyes suddenly widened, and he almost thought that he was hallucinating.

Lin Tailai's thick arms were tied behind his back with a straw rope, and he stood outside the door with his head down!

Moreover, there is an old official next to Lin Tailai, and Lu Guangzu can recognize it, it is Zhao Zhigao, the left attendant of the ministry, who is also from Zhejiang.

I saw that at this moment, Zhao Zhigao's eyes widened angrily, pointed at Lin Tailai, and scolded sternly:

"Who said that our Zhejiang ministers would collude and promote Tao Wangling to the top? How did I not know?

You are also a person who is about to enter the imperial list, why don't you have the ability to distinguish rumors? Believe what you hear?

How dare you listen to the wind and rain and make trouble in the court of the Great Priest? ”

Lu Guangzu: "??? ”

What kind of drama is this? It was so sudden that I couldn't react for a while.

Glimpsing Lu Shangshu appearing at the door, Zhao Zhigao continued to spray two sentences at Lin Tailai:

"If I hadn't stopped you, you'd have caused a terrible disaster! You must apologize to the Grand Priest! ”

Lin Daguan still lowered his head and said nothing.

Zhao Zhigao turned to Lu Guangzu, arched his hand, and said with a righteous face: "Lin Tailai heard that we Zhejiang people want to promote Tao Wangling as the champion, it is really ridiculous.

I have already persuaded Lin Tailai to take the blame, please deal with it with the big priest, I will never intercede! ”

After finishing speaking, Zhao Zhigao really didn't drag the mud and water, threw down Lin Tailai, who had already tied himself, and walked away directly.

Lu Guangzu's cheeks twitched and twitched, and he was speechless for a long time.

It is difficult to deal with the arrogant and domineering Lin Tailai, and it is even more difficult to do it for Lin Tailai, who is bound to commit crimes!

If he "acts according to law" now and takes advantage of the situation to put Lin Tailai in the prison of the Criminal Department, then this quasi-champion will definitely be absent from the Confucius Ceremony the day after tomorrow and the Golden Palace Ceremony the day after tomorrow.

Then it set a bad precedent of using judicial means to directly interfere in the selection of champions and force the superiors of fellow villagers, and what can you get?

All the political and moral pressure will be concentrated on themselves, and in the end, what will a thousand people refer to? Out of the window?

The enemy will not reason with him, and he will definitely alarm the Son of Heaven, so how can he explain his motives to the Son of Heaven?

Is it worth it for the sake of a champion? The champion has no real power.

But thinking about it the other way, if you directly let Lin Tailai go now, you will be very unwilling! The idea is not clear!

Lin Tailai's opportunity to become a prisoner is so rare! If you miss this time, there may not be a next time!

While thinking about it repeatedly in his mind, Lu Shangshu's eyes wandered unconsciously, and suddenly found new details.

If you Lin Tailai is really sincere, can you use the thickest cowhide rope for the rope that binds your arms?

What is a straw rope? As long as you Lin Tailai use your arms hard, this straw rope will be broken, right?

Also, since you Lin Tai are guilty of binding yourself, why are there dozens of big men standing around?

Is this preparing to break out and continue to fight as soon as you disagree?

Lu Guangzu hesitated for too long, which made Lin Daguan feel impatient, so he raised his head and urged: "It's too urgent, beg to slow down!" ”

Lu Shangshu subconsciously answered: "The tiger has to be in a hurry." ”

At this time, Shi Shiyi heard the news, and also walked out of the mansion and stood beside Lu Shangshu.

Lu Shangshu looked back on the history and asked, "How so?" ”

And Shi Shizhi replied coldly: "Don't you see Shen Dazongbo, Xin Zixiu, Li Shida, Shi Kunyu, Li Lai, Cai Shiding, and Fang Wanshan? ”

A lot of things are not convenient to say directly in public, so I can only hint as much as possible.

But Lu Shangshu was a little confused, what does this mean? Can you make it clearer?

Then he came to his senses, he no longer hesitated, waved his hand at Lin Tailai and said:

"This department does not mean to favor fellow villagers, and it does not care about you in general! Go ahead! ”

This is a public commitment not to make trouble on the issue of champions.

Lin Daguan used his arms hard, directly broke the straw rope, and walked away with his subordinates scolding.

Shi Shiyi was a little anxious, and questioned Lu Guangzu regardless of etiquette: "Great Sikou! Why let the tiger return to the mountain? ”

Lu Guangzu said in confusion: "Didn't you persuade me to release people?"

When you mention those people, don't you specifically remind me not to repeat the mistakes of the past, fall into the trap of Lin Tailai like them, and lead to ruin? ”

Shi Shiji: "."

When he mentioned those "martyrs", he implied that Lu Guangzu and Lin Tailai were very harmful! Therefore, it should be worth it to deal with Lin Tailai at any cost, even if it is the same death!

Is this Lu Da Sikou really stupid, or is he pretending to be stupid?

Shi Shiyi didn't want to speak, turned around and walked out, and when he arrived at the intersection, he couldn't help but look up to the sky and sigh: "The erector is not enough and the plan!" Those who disturb the world will be clothed today! ”

(End of chapter)