Daming Yuanfu

Chapter 1166 Double Ninth Festival (Part [-])
On September [-]th, Baiyulou was full of talents and guests.

During the Double Ninth Festival, when the golden autumn brings coolness, sweet osmanthus is fragrant, and the wind and frost are noble and clean, it is most suitable to climb high and look far away, appreciate chrysanthemums and compose poems.This festival was formed as early as the Warring States Period, and the custom of celebrating the Double Ninth Festival became popular in the Han Dynasty.

However, folklore is different. It is said that Mrs. Qi, the concubine of Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, was murdered by Empress Lu, and a maid named Jia in front of her was expelled from the palace and married a poor man.Jia brought the Double Ninth Festival activities that belonged to the palace to the folk.

Jia said to people: In the palace, on the ninth day of September every year, people wear dogwood, eat canopy bait, and drink chrysanthemum wine in order to live longer.Since then, the custom of Chongyang has spread among the people.

There is another record in "Continued Qi Xie Ji": "Huan Jing in Runan, studied with Fei Changfang for many years. Changfang said: "There will be a disaster in your home on September [-]th, and you should go there quickly, so that everyone in the family will do their best. Put dogwood sacs in them to tie their arms, drink chrysanthemum wine when climbing high, and this disaster can be cured. Jing Ruyan climbed the mountain with his family.... Today, people in the world go up to drink on nine days, and women wear dogwood sacs, and the cover begins here."

However, the origin of Chongyang is not important anymore. What is important is that this day has already become a trend in Ming Dynasty. Even the emperor has to visit Longevity Mountain in person, with dogwood pouches and chrysanthemum wine.

Of course, how to celebrate the festival in the palace has nothing to do with today's high pragmatism, he has his Double Ninth Festival.

Today, Baiyulou is the home field, hosting more than two hundred officials from the Real School, big and small, in Beijing.

There are many kinds of activities on Chongyang Festival, so there is no need to describe them one by one. In short, the white marble version of Fontainebleau Palace has become a grand gathering for literati today. pleasure.

The rest of the various leisure activities are also rich enough, and some people even played leaf cards in the courtyard, which also attracted many people to "watch the game".

Among the most widely circulated activities in the capital, there are probably only dice throwing and weaving activities that have not been brought in - after all, they are all officials, literati and bureaucrats, and it is still inconvenient to participate in these activities that are recognized as "playful acts".

The society is pyramid-shaped, especially in the Ming Dynasty, so most of the officials in the courtyard are seventh-rank and below, while in the Baiyulou, there are officials with higher status.

Not to mention the small conference hall on the third floor of the Baiyu Building, which is the real core home of today: the place where the "Ministerial Meeting" is held.

The convener of the meeting was naturally Gao Pragmatism, and he also acted as the host, but Xu Guoxu Cifu was still sitting at the top.There is no need to introduce the two people next to Xu Guo, they are naturally the other two real school elders, Zhang Xueyan and Wu Dui.

After that, there were several other participants in the meeting: Shen Li, Secretary of the Household Department, Liang Menglong, Minister of the Ministry of War, Yang Zhao, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Zhang Mengnan, Minister of the General Administration, Luo Zun, Minister of Taipusi, Tu Menggui, Minister of Guanglu Temple, Attendant of the Imperial Academy Han Ji, a bachelor in charge of the academy, Lu Shusheng, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy and Zhan Shifu, Zhang Yigui, a lecturer of the Imperial Academy and Jijiu of the Imperial Academy, Cheng Wen, the left servant of the household department, Song Zhihan, the right servant of the official department, and the right servant of the Ministry of Industry The servant Gao Yongchun.

Finally, Gao Pragmatic himself was added, and there were 16 people in total.

These are the most core members of the Real School in the center of the capital, and none of them are below the third rank—even if the members of the Hanlin Academy are not high in their own ranks (the Hanlin Academy’s particularity), they are enough to add titles .

Just look at these people, and you will know why even Xu Guo, the second assistant, has to take into account the highly pragmatic opinions.

The seven Shen Li, Zhang Mengnan, Luo Zun, Tu Menggui, Han Ji, Cheng Wen, and Song Zhihan are all Gao Gong's disciples, and among them Zhang Mengnan is not only a disciple, but also Gao Gong's wife and nephew.

Among the remaining people, Lu Shusheng is Guo Pu's good friend, while Zhang Yigui and Gao Yongchun are Guo Pu's students.As for Yang Zhao, he belongs to Zhang Siwei.

In this way, apart from the three elders, only Liang Menglong was left. Although Liang Menglong was a disciple of Zhang Juzheng, he was never suppressed by Gao and Guo, and was finally drawn into the Real School by Gao Yushi. Closer to high pragmatism.

In other words, except for the three elders, all the people in this small conference hall are related to Gao Pragmatism—the political resources left by Gao Gong, Guo Pu, and Zhang Siwei, the three chief assistants, can now be used He said it was all in his hands.

So, what about the other two elders?Gao Gong is Zhang Xueyan's bole, without Gao Gong's promotion, whether Zhang Xueyan, whose teacher left the center very early, can climb up is another matter.As for Wu Dui, needless to say, when Gao Gong was forced to retreat by Xu Jie, only Wu Dui went to see him off in person under the pressure of the whole court, and he was the hardest one among Gao Gong's disciples.

Even Xu Guo himself is Gao Gong's student, according to the current rules, when he meets Gao Yushi in private, he also calls Gao Yushi "Brother".

What is peaches and plums all over the world?This is the performance of Gao and Guo's first assistants who are full of peaches and plums.You know, there are so many of their students at the highest level of the center alone, so how many of them should there be at the local and lower levels?How many of these disciples are there?

As for Zhang Siwei, he took the exam relatively late, and he still can't see it at the highest level of the bureaucracy, but that doesn't mean he has no disciples - let's see in a dozen or 20 years?
What are political resources?This is political resources.

With this kind of political resources in hand, it is not something that can be stopped by stomping the capital's trembling, it is stomping the world trembling!

"The reason for the matter is probably what Qiu Zhen said just now." Xu Guo sighed softly, looked around at the people present, and said: "The reason why I invite you here today is to discuss the impact of this matter. , and how we should deal with it. You are not outsiders, you can speak freely if you have anything to say, brother Guohe Ziyu, brother Junze, etc., are all ears."

After saying these words, no one spoke immediately, on the contrary, quite a few people subconsciously looked at Gao Yushi, but unfortunately Gao Yushi was not ready to speak yet, and no tendency could be seen from his expression.

After a while, Zhang Yigui, the Imperial Academy's sacrificial wine, spoke first: "I just said that Mr. Pan Ge deliberately gave way to Xu Xuemo, but I have a question about this: even if Mr. Pan Ge wanted to give way to Xu Xuemo, he would You can go directly to the eunuch, saying that the cabinet is busy, and you are already old and lack of energy, so you can resign as the great uncle and recommend Xu Xuemo as his successor. Why did he make so many famous tricks and make the emperor dissatisfied?"

Xu Guo glanced at Gao Yushi and asked, "Seeking the truth, can you explain?"

Of course Gao Wushi had to explain, he nodded and said: "According to common sense, this matter should indeed develop as Senior Brother Zhigui (Zhang Yigui is Guo Pu's student, so Gao Wushi is a serious Junior Brother) said, but Pan Xinchang (Pan Sheng, from Xinchang, Zhejiang Province) may have other intentions in this move."

Zhang Yigui nodded and said, "I would like to hear the truth-seeking theory."

"Don't dare." Gao Wushi continued: "I think Pan Xinchang's move has at least two meanings: first, he is both the minister of the Ministry of Rites and the elder in charge of the Ministry of Rites. He also wants to express his position on this matter, so it is better to be more straightforward and hold on to this matter in order to gain a good reputation in the government and the public."

Zhang Yigui curled his lips slightly: "He also has a 'government and opposition reputation'?" However, he just said this, and he didn't seem to plan to expand on it.

Gao Wushi smiled and said, "Because I don't have many reputations, I'm getting old. If I have a chance, I still have to fight for it."

Then he paused slightly, and continued: "As for the second thing, I think he is just worried about our attitude."

"Oh?" Zhang Yigui frowned slightly, and asked, "How did you see that?"

Gao Wushi said: "The reason why Pan Xinchang was able to join the cabinet was that we were able to help him earlier. He would not have been unaware of this, but now that he is going to stand with Shen Yuanfu, this past favor seems a bit It's embarrassing, so how to make this embarrassment the least is something he has to consider."

The most difficult debt in the world to repay is the debt of favor. Even a scumbag often has to pay it back after he owes a debt of favor. No matter what Pan Sheng says, he is not yet at the level of a scumbag. Of course he will find it difficult , will also try to resolve this embarrassment.And when he had to stand in line, there were not many ways to resolve the embarrassment, so he had to act as if he did not take the initiative to give way.

As for others to believe it or not, anyway, he himself believed it.

It may be useless to cover one's ears and steal one's bell, but if you don't cover it up, it's a matter of attitude.

Tu Menggui interjected at this time: "I think embarrassment is only one aspect, and more importantly, he is afraid of angering us."

Gao Wushi smiled and didn't answer, but the tacit meaning was obvious.

Zhang Yigui nodded: "So, it makes sense."

Tu Menggui said to Gao Yu: "If Pan Xinchang has such thoughts, then I have another worry: since he has won the Minister of Rites...will he also give up his position as a cabinet minister?"

This question is a bit interesting, because it is reasonable for Pan Sheng to let go of the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, but it would be more ruthless to let go of the position of the cabinet minister.

Except for parents who treat their children, there is probably no one who treats others so well.

Before Gao Wushi could answer, Han Ji next to him spoke first: "Don't mention it, I also have the same worries - since he is in the first year of junior high school, he is not afraid of being a fifteenth year again."

Both of them expressed their opinions in the same year, and Cheng Wen also said: "Yes, according to what Qiuzhen just said, the strength of the maritime merchants in Jiangsu and Zhejiang is quite strong. Since Pan Xinchang can be forced to stand in line, then there is It might force him to resign from office two years earlier and replace Xu Xuemo."

Song Zhihan, who was in the Ministry of Officials, also analyzed: "I also agree. Since Pan Xinchang offended the emperor by this move, he must have given up his heart, and maybe he was preparing for a complete abdication. It's just that he It’s not a small sacrifice, I don’t know how much benefit those sea merchants promise?”

How much benefit is promised, the answer cannot be obtained by guessing, only by checking.However, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are too far away, so it is not very convenient to check, and it is impossible to figure it out now.

Gao Wushi murmured: "It doesn't matter what they promised right now, I think we should prepare for the worst first: If Pan Xinchang really wants to give up his position as elder, what should we do?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was not in a hurry to speak, and each began to think.

After waiting for a while, Han Ji suddenly asked Xu Guo, "What do you think of Cifu?"

Xu Guoxian sighed, and as expected, he shook his head and said, "If he really wants to 'give up the virtuous', we have nothing to do with it, and we can't even object to it. I think it's better to keep calm and wait for the matter Sure enough, we will make plans after such a development.”

Everyone shook their heads slightly when they heard these words, and Han Ji waved his hands again and again: "Everything is done if it is not forewarned, and if it is not forewarned, it will be abandoned. How can we not have a contingency plan in advance for such a major event?"

Xu Guo glanced at him, but said nothing.He knew that Han Ji's words were probably selfish, because among all the people present, Han Ji's position was the one with the most hope of "two steps into the cabinet".

He is now the de facto leader of the Hanlin Academy. According to the tradition of Daming, this position is very convenient to join the cabinet.Generally speaking, he can be transferred from the Hanlin Academy to serve as Minister of the Ministry of Rites or Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Rites, or Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Rites. Generally speaking, this is to prepare for entering the cabinet, and the transfer is usually less than a year. will enter the cabinet.

Han Ji is so close to joining the cabinet, of course he will be most sensitive to the position of the cabinet ministers.But it's no wonder he is, Xu Guo is his same year, but he has been in the cabinet for a long time and even became the second assistant. Why should he wait blindly?

However, Han Ji is not the only one who is expected to join the cabinet. Shen Li, Minister of the Household Department, is also the next popular candidate to join the cabinet within the Real School.

Shen Li is 53 years old this year. If he was in a rural area, he would naturally be at the age to entertain his grandchildren, but for a court official, this is a very suitable age, mature enough but not too old.

He also has many advantages. Not only was he once Zhu Yijun's lecturer in the East Palace, but when Zhu Yijun became the emperor, he was also in charge of lectures on Jingyan Day, and even "part-time" several times, teaching eunuchs in the inner study.In other words, he not only has a close relationship with the emperor, but also has a close relationship with the people around the emperor.

On this point, he can even be compared with Shishi Bank.

It's just that before Zhang Xueyan and Wu Dui entered the cabinet first, Shen Li was a step behind and got the position of Minister of the Household Department.

This matter itself was forced by helplessness, because Zhang Siwei resigned Ding You suddenly, and the Ministry of Households, an important place in the hands of the practical school, had to be in charge, so Shen Li was transferred here.And it was precisely because Shen Li was transferred to be the Minister of the Household Department that Han Ji was able to take charge of the affairs of the Imperial Academy.

Speaking of Ding You, Shen Li still has a big advantage: his parents both died in succession in the sixth year of Wanli, so he didn't return to the center until the ninth year of Wanli, and now he has the advantage of "not having to worry about Ding".

At this time, Shen Li spoke up: "In my opinion, if Pan Xinchang really wants to give up the position of Ge Lao, the person who will be replaced at that time may not be Xu Xuemo."

Gao Wushi narrowed his eyes slightly, and Xu Guo had already asked, "Isn't it Xu Xuemo? Who could it be?"

Shen Li said expressionlessly: "Wang Xijue."
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PS: I didn’t sleep well last night, and I was terribly sleepy when typing tonight. If there are some typos in this chapter, please bear with me.

(End of this chapter)