Daming talker

Chapter 534 How can you say it’s working in vain?
After entering the twelfth lunar month, the number of public banquets and gatherings in the capital suddenly increases, and this happens every year.

Even before the official closing time of the government office, drunken officials and scholars could often be seen on the streets.

Today, the Cabinet and the Ministry of Internal Affairs held a gathering of Suzhou fellows in Beijing, and Prime Minister Shen Shixing attended the gathering.

But the protagonist of today's hometown gathering is not Prime Minister Shen, but Xu Xianqing, the former Minister of Rites who had just been dismissed from office.

Just last month, a large number of censors, including Yunnan Province Censor Wan Ce and Jiangxi Province Censor Lin Kecheng, impeached Xu Xianqing like crazy, attacking Xu Xianqing for excluding colleagues, colluding with wealthy businessmen, flattering eunuchs, behaving improperly and accepting bribes.

In the end, Xu Xianqing was forced to retire, which was actually dismissal from office.

In the eyes of everyone, Xu Xianqing was really unlucky to have encountered such a disaster just before the New Year.

Because the canal was frozen, he had to stay in the capital temporarily to celebrate the New Year, which was extremely embarrassing.

In Prime Minister Shen's heart, he felt it was a great pity that his fellow countryman Xu Xianqing was deposed.

Because Xu Xianqing also came from the Hanyuan, he was the first in the selection, he edited the records, and he served as a lecturer, so his qualifications were very impressive.

He finally managed to get the position of Vice Minister of Rites, which was just one step away from becoming a Shangshu or entering the cabinet. However, all his efforts of more than 20 years of training were wasted.

In Prime Minister Shen's political planning and layout, Xu Xianqing played a very important role.

Prime Minister Shen's original intention was to let Xu Xianqing take over the position of Yang Wei, the old official of the Ministry of Personnel, in the future, but now it can only be said that his efforts were in vain.

Thinking of this, Prime Minister Shen sighed deeply. It would have been fine if you, Xu Xianqing, excluded your colleagues, colluded with wealthy businessmen, behaved improperly, and accepted bribes, but how could you have been caught flattering the eunuchs?

At today's party, the person who drank the most was Xu Xianqing.

Seeing Xu Xianqing drinking himself to death due to depression, a fellow Suzhou native said indignantly:

"Those censors are just bullies! Our Lin Jiuyuan has done all these things, such as ostracizing colleagues, colluding with wealthy businessmen, misbehaving, and accepting bribes. Do they dare to impeach Lin Jiuyuan?"

When the drunk Xu Xianqing heard the words "Lin Jiuyuan", he immediately put down his glass, looked up and shouted: "I was dismissed from office, it's all Lin Jiuyuan's fault!"

Most people who don't quite understand the truth are confused. Are you, Xu Xianqing, really drunk? Lin Jiuyuan is still in Suzhou. Can he take the blame for you?
Prime Minister Shen immediately rebuked him softly, "Don't say anything that is not conducive to unity!"

Xu Xianqing said with all his might: "In early October, Lin Tailai hosted a literary conference in Suzhou and formed a new literary alliance, labeling Shen Li, Zhao Yongxian, Sun Jigao and others as a "literary traitor group", which led to Zhao Yongxian being completely tied to the Qingliu forces!
Therefore, the Qingliu forces must fight back and regain their lost face! At the same time, they have to help Zhao Yongxian seek the position of Minister of Rites, and I have become a victim, this is one of them! "

Someone tried to smooth things over by saying, "We can't blame Lin Jiuyuan for this, can we? We can't let Lin Jiuyuan do nothing, right?"

Xu Xianqing added: "When I was under heavy criticism, the elders could have submitted petitions to save me.

Even though Mr. Shen and Mr. Wang are both from Suzhou, they have to avoid talking to each other, but according to convention they can entrust the matter to the Second Assistant, Lord Xu.

In the past, Shen Gong and Xu Ge Lao often cooperated and protected each other in this way.

But this year, a rift arose between Lord Xu and Lord Shen because of Lin Jiuyuan's control over the Yangzhou salt industry.

Therefore, when I was attacked, Lord Xu stood aside and watched, resulting in no one in the cabinet submitting a petition to save me!"

The hall was originally quite lively, but when everyone heard Xu Xianqing say this, there was a brief silence. After all, it involved interpersonal relationships at the highest level of the cabinet, which was quite sensitive.

Anyone who knows a little bit about the inside story knows that what Xu Xianqing said is actually not wrong.

Most of the salt merchants in Yangzhou today are from Huizhou, and Lord Xu is from Huizhou. He also received financial support from fellow merchants in his imperial examinations.

Therefore, the Yangzhou salt industry has always been tacitly accepted as the sphere of influence of Lord Xu, and no one else would compete with Lord Xu.

But in recent years, Lin Tailai has continued to infiltrate the Yangzhou salt industry. In particular, this year he established a system of holding merchants and formed a salt industry guild, allowing Lin Tailai to gain great control over the Yangzhou salt industry.

But the nature of these actions is equivalent to constantly encroaching on Lord Xu's sphere of influence.

Lord Xu must have been very dissatisfied with this and must have expressed his dissatisfaction and protest to Prime Minister Shen.

But Prime Minister Shen could not give up his support for Lin Tailai, nor did he force Lin Tailai to give up the salt business, so a rift arose.

In previous years, Prime Minister Shen and Deputy Prime Minister Xu were very cooperative and jointly fought against the "Three Reds" and the Qingliu forces, but this year there was a clear estrangement between the two.

Therefore, when Xu Xianqing was besieged frantically, Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue were unable to speak. Wang Jiaping originally supported the Qingliu forces, and Xu Ci Fu stood idly by. Then Xu Xianqing would be doomed.

Prime Minister Shen put down his wine cup and slowly said to Xu Xianqing: "Did others tell you these words?
Have you ever wondered why others told you these things? "

Xu Xianqing was drunk and said, "No matter what the purpose is, are these inside stories true?"

Prime Minister Shen looked at Xu Xianqing deeply and advised: "If you think so, I suggest you don't live in Suzhou when you return."

Just as Xu Xianqing was about to say something, Shen Yongmao, a military official, stepped forward and said, "Senior Xu, please don't blame others too much. I know that you and Lin Jiuyuan have a personal grudge.

A year ago, Lin Jiuyuan supported Zhao Zhigao as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, which blocked your way; and Lin Jiuyuan's massive expansion of the Suzhou weaving industry also made you dissatisfied. After all, your Xu family is a major weaving machine owner and the chief manager of the Weaving Industry Office.

However, I still think that we should not let personal grudges cloud our minds and ignore the root of the problem.”

Some outsiders who were invited to attend and were not very familiar with Lin Tailai were shocked again when they heard this. Who on earth is this Lin Jiuyuan?

From the few words we heard just now, we learned that Lin Jiuyuan controlled the literary world, manipulated the Yangzhou salt industry, and was also involved in the Suzhou weaving industry. How much energy does one person have to engage in so many businesses at the same time?

After the party, Shen Shoufu and his son returned home together.

Due to his status, Prime Minister Shen had many things he could not say publicly or to others, so he could only vent his anger in front of his son.

“When Xu Xianqing said those words just now, I was too embarrassed to refute!
I think back to this year, I was like a free worker for Lin Tailai!"

Shen Yongmao tried to appease him, saying, "Father, you are too kind! Didn't you just help Lin Jiuyuan arrange for a left vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel, a governor of Xuanfu, two scholars of higher learning, a deputy minister of the Ministry of Personnel, two directors of the Ministry of Rites, and a prefect of Songjiang Prefecture?
The other purpose is to provide support for the Yangzhou salt industry reform and the dredging project of the lower reaches of the Wusong River.”

Shen Shixing sighed: "But in order to appease Yang Wei from the Ministry of Personnel, I didn't arrange many of my own people!
Moreover, even Xu Guo, with whom he had cooperated for many years, is now going to part ways. Doesn't this seem like working for Lin Tailai for nothing at his own expense?

Sometimes I just wonder, how did things turn out like this? "

Shen Yongmao chose to speak with data: "My second brother wrote to me saying that as of last month, the industries directly under the Lin Group have occupied 6% of the Yangzhou salt industry, 15% of the Suzhou silk industry, 8% of the Songjiang Prefecture's commercial cotton cloth, 15% of the Suzhou Prefecture's money and grain collection business, 30% of the Suzhou Prefecture's rice market, and 20% of Suzhou Prefecture's large-scale projects.

And all of these industries mentioned above have shares in our Shen family! So how can you say, father, that you are working for nothing at your own expense? "Shen Shoufu: "."

Is it because I have been in a high position for too long that I have become out of touch with reality and can no longer see the current situation at the grassroots level?

I heard that Wang Ao, the Grand Secretary during the Hongzhi reign, built three gardens after he retired and returned to Suzhou. How could I be worse than Wang Ao, right?

Shen Yongmao added: "By the way, my second brother also said in the letter that the Xu family of Huqiu relied on their special relationship with our Shen family and were always dissatisfied with Lin Jiuyuan.

Lin Jiuyuan was so desperate that he burned down the front yard of the Humble Administrator's Garden, and only then did they calm down a little.

So my second brother hopes that you, father, will come forward to talk to Xu Taishi, the head of the Huqiu Xu family, and warn them not to continue to commit suicide.

Also, Lin Jiuyuan said that the Humble Administrator's Garden was too large, and covering an area of ​​200 acres was a pure waste, and the Xu family simply could not fully renovate such a large area.

The Xu family of Huqiu should allocate 110 acres of land to local people of virtue and promise to carefully repair the garden."

Prime Minister Shen asked in confusion, "Why is it 110 acres?"

Shen Yongmao replied: "According to my second brother's guess, the largest garden in Suzhou today is the Humble Administrator's Garden, which covers 200 acres.

The second largest is the former Yilaoyuan and Dongzhuang site, both of which are 80 acres of land.

If 110 acres were cut out of the Humble Administrator's Garden, only 90 acres would remain, and the 110 acres cut out would be enough to ensure that it would become the new largest garden in Suzhou."

Shen Shixing was speechless for a long time. His son's ability to guess Lin Tailai's thoughts was almost as good as his own ability to guess the emperor's thoughts!
Shen Yongmao asked, "Can it be done?"

Prime Minister Shen thought about the large amount of economic data he had just heard, gritted his teeth and said, "Do it!"

Prime Minister Shen is not ambiguous in official matters, nor is he ambiguous in personal affairs. It is not without reason that he is scolded by the Qingliu forces.

As the New Year approaches, the whole country celebrates. No matter how people in the capital complain, hate, admire, or miss them, it cannot affect the mood of Lin Tailai who is far away in Suzhou for the time being.

This New Year may be the most lively and joyful New Year since Lin Tailai traveled through time.

During the Chinese New Year last year, he was still working hard in the capital to prepare for the imperial examination.

Second brother Lin also came from Yangzhou. The four brothers gathered at the Lin Mansion in Canglang Pavilion to celebrate the New Year. There are nearly ten people in the next generation.

Lin Guozhong, "Old Man Lin", has long been upgraded to "Grandpa Lin". He has to be upgraded because no one dares to use the title of "Old Man Lin" casually anymore.

On New Year's Eve, more than 20 people from three generations of the family, including men, women, young and old, gathered in the central hall.

With music and singing in the courtyard and lights on the tower, the Lin family now has an air of wealth and prosperity.

However, the casual conversation among family members was still simple and honest. Grandpa Lin grabbed Lin Ah Si and asked:
“Everyone says you are the Nine Yuan True Immortal, so I pretended to believe it, but is the double-season rice you talked about accurate?

This year, I failed to successfully grow double-season rice on the few acres of land I cultivated at home. "

Lin Tailai replied, "Of course it can be done! It just requires repeated experiments, and it may take ten or eight years! Dad, you should understand the principle of Shennong tasting hundreds of herbs, right?"

Boss Lin came over again and asked, "Why do you want to renovate the new garden?"

Lin Tailai said proudly: "If our Lin family wants to become the most powerful family in Suzhou in the future, we should own the best garden in Suzhou!"

Boss Lin didn't want to talk about Yuanzi, nor did he care whether it was the first wealthy family, but talked about his son:

"My eldest brother will be fifteen after the Chinese New Year, almost an adult, but he still has no stability and no skills.

I told him but he didn't listen. I'll trouble you, my fourth brother, to discipline him. Then he will be afraid of you."

Lin Tailai suggested: "Let him practice martial arts, take the martial arts exam in the future, and then enter Suzhou Guard?

There is no one with the last name Lin in Suzhou Wei at present. According to the regulations of the Ming Dynasty, people are considered adults at the age of sixteen and can join the military service. "

After thinking for a while, Boss Lin replied, "That's great. I'll just have to trouble my fourth brother to help me."

At this time, Lin Tailai thought of his sons, whose specific marriages had not yet been finalized.

He turned his head and saw that Mrs. Fan and Mrs. Huang were no longer making noise during the New Year and were sitting and talking with Secretary Bai and Sun Lianlian.

So he walked over and asked, "Have you two decided? Who will marry into the Shen family? Who will marry into the Xu family of Huating?"

Huang Wu Niang said in embarrassment: "I can't figure out which one is better."

What she was afraid of was that after choosing one side, she would be outdone by Madam Fan on the other side in a few years, and that would be embarrassing.

In fact, Mrs. Fan has a similar mentality.
Lin Tailai said with a headache: "Tomorrow is New Year's Day, and later I have to visit the Shen family to pay New Year's greetings, so I have to make a decision tonight!
If you can't make up your mind, draw lots! Everything depends on God's will!"

Secretary Bai and Sun Lianlian, who had nothing to do with the matter, laughed and said, "That's a good idea!"

Secretary Bai then wrote two pieces of paper, mixed them together, and asked Huang Wu Niang and Madam Fan to take them.

Each person picked a piece of paper, and everyone opened it and saw that the paper in Huang Wu Niang's hand had "Xu" written on it, while the paper in Fan Niang's hand had "Shen" written on it.

No regrets on your move, now the dust has settled!
So Lin Tailai said to Madam Fan: "When we go to the Shen Mansion to pay New Year's greetings in a few days, you can go with us and take Jiuyi with you!"

Everyone in the family knew that Lin Tailai would go back to the capital after the Chinese New Year, but no one mentioned this during the New Year.

This is what official travel is all about. It is impossible to stay at home and with your family all the time.

If they were ordinary wives or concubines, there was nothing wrong with following their husbands to other places or to the capital to take up their posts. There were many officials who had settled in the capital for many years.

But Lin Tailai's wives and concubines were all too extraordinary. Each of them had a large and important business on hand and could not leave Suzhou.

Even if they could give up their careers and follow Lin Tailai to take up positions in other places, Lin Tailai would not feel comfortable letting others take over those businesses.

Therefore, the one who accompanied Lin Tailai to the capital could only be Secretary Bai, who, without a career, could gain freedom of movement.

(End of this chapter)