Daming talker

Chapter 537: Work after Struggle

When you are in the Hanlin Academy, you still have to give face to the president, Mr. Chen, depending on the situation.

So when he heard Mr. Chen calling him, Lin Tailai ended his speech and turned to walk towards the main hall.

After entering the room and paying respects, Lin Tailai took the initiative to ask, "What do you want, Dean?"

Scholar Chen said with a stern face: "I heard that after you returned to Beijing, you behaved in a rude manner, especially speaking wildly, which caused a bad influence in various departments and greatly damaged the reputation of the Hanlin Academy!"

Lin Tailai asked hesitantly, "I have said countless arrogant words, too many to count. I wonder which one the dean is reminding you of?"

Chen Xueshi was almost choked and could not continue the conversation. After a moment of hesitation, he slammed the table and scolded:
"Yesterday you brazenly said in the Ministry of Revenue that you would depose Sun Yu, the Left Vice Minister and Governor of Taicang, within ten days!

This is really outrageous! So perverse! So frivolous! So disrespectful! You have completely ruined the reputation of our Hanlin Academy!"

Perhaps the impact was too bad, Lin Tailai stood here and was scolded by Master Chen for a quarter of an hour.

After finally waiting for the scolding to end, Lin Tailai was about to walk out, but after taking only a few steps, he suddenly discovered a bright spot!
I did say yesterday that I would depose Sun Yu, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, within ten days, but I also said that I would depose Zhao Yongxian, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, within ten days.

These two remarks are exactly the same in nature, and both Sun Yu and Zhao Yongxian were left vice ministers.

If we only look at political status without considering actual power, Zhao Yongxian would rank even higher than Sun Yu.

If we have to make an analogy, Sun Yu is equivalent to a top-ranked national committee member, while Zhao Yongxian is equivalent to an alternate member of the presidium.

Then why did Master Chen focus on the inappropriate remarks of "deposing Sun Yu" and criticize him, but did not mention the remarks of "deposing Zhao Yongxian" at all?
Thinking of this, Lin Tailai cursed inwardly. Talking to these old bureaucrats really took some thought!
He stopped, looked at Chen Xueshi, and asked meaningfully, "What does the dean think of Zhao Yongxian?"

Chen Xueshi replied: "I heard that Zhao Yongxian intends to take up the position of Hanlin scholar part-time, and he has high hopes.

Lin Xiuzhuan, you don't want Zhao Yongxian to interfere in the Hanlin Academy, right?"

The Qingliu forces, which have grown stronger by taking advantage of the anti-Zhang Juzheng trend, currently have their backbone members mainly entrenched in the Ministry of Sciences, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of Rites, and also occupy the two ministers of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Works.

Because of the unique selection system and inheritance system of the Hanyuan poets, the Qingliu forces could not develop here.

Especially last year, after Lin Tailai entered the Hanlin Academy, he started to attack those Hanlin scholars whose thoughts tended towards the Qingliu faction, causing the Hanlin scholars to be in a state of panic.

But if Zhao Yongxian, who is in partnership with the Qingliu forces, intervenes, the situation will become a bit troublesome.

Lin Tailai could understand this, so he responded to Chen Xueshi: "Chen Xueshi! You don't want Zhao Yongxian, born in the fifth year of Longqing, to be ranked ahead of you, born in the second year of Longqing, right?"

As we all know, poets pay great attention to the relationship between their seniority and are really ranked according to seniority.

For example, the current first and second prime ministers, Shen Shixing was a Jinshi in the 41st year of Jiajing, and Xu Guo was a Jinshi in the 44th year of Jiajing.

Therefore, when the opportunity to join the cabinet arose, Shen Shixing's priority was before Xu Guo. After the former Prime Minister Zhang Siwei left, Shen Shixing was prioritized as the Prime Minister again.

There are roughly three possibilities for breaking this precedent: the first is that the emperor is particularly short, the second is that the person has made special contributions, and the third is that the person who ranks high is in mourning.

However, Zhao Yongxian was directly promoted to the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites this time, so the above three situations obviously did not exist. This must have made people like Chen Xue Shi, who lived in the second year of the Longqing period, very dissatisfied.

The second year of Longqing can be called the golden generation, with many people still accumulating experience in the court.

Number one Luo Wanhua is still serving as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in Nanjing, number two Huang Fengxiang is still serving as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and a Bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, and number three Zhao Zhigao is still serving as... Skip.

Why can you, Zhao Yongxian, a member of the failed generation in the fifth year of Longqing, surpass so many people of the golden generation in the second year of Longqing?
Not to mention that Zhao Yongxian actually wanted to work part-time as a Hanlin scholar, which must have made Scholar Chen even more dissatisfied.

Besides, if Zhao Yongxian could be killed, wouldn't Chen Xue Shi be able to think about becoming the Left Vice Minister?
Scholar Chen pointedly said, "A few days ago, I met with Prime Minister Zhao Shao and we talked about our friendship as classmates."

This means that on the issue of Zhao Yongxian, you and I have the same stance, and with Zhao Zhigao as a guarantor, we can trust each other.

Lin Tailai pointed to the new scholars who were receiving training outside and said, "I understand. Dean, go contact the scholars Dong Qichang and Zhou Yingqiu!"

Chen Xueshi asked in confusion: "Why should I contact them both?"

Lin Tailai replied: "I have handed over the matter concerning Zhao Yongxian to Dong Qichang, Zhou Yingqiu and others!
So, Dean, just go find them and see if they need you to do anything."

Bachelor Chen: "."

As the president of the academy, is he only qualified to cooperate directly with your little brother Lin Tailai?
Lin Tailai was puzzled. Why did you seem quite dissatisfied with taking you flying this time?

Although you were introduced by my acquaintance Old Man Zhao, Old Man Zhao is still my younger brother after all!
So after rounding off, you, Mr. Chen, are roughly equivalent to my friend. Isn't it natural to match you with my friends for cooperation?
When Lin Tailai came out after talking with Scholar Chen, the morning classes of the Hanlin Academy's scholars were over.

Dong Qichang and Zhou Yingqiu came forward and asked, "Why did Scholar Chen look for you?"

Lin Tailai said calmly: "It's nothing. After my strong recommendation of Mr. Chen, you two are expected to finish your studies as a Shujishi ahead of schedule this year and officially stay in the Hanlin Academy." According to normal procedures, the study period for Shujishi is three years, and it is not certain that one can stay in the Hanlin Academy after three years.

Being able to finish your studies a year and a half in advance and stay on as a job means you’re winning at the starting line.

The two notorious figures in history were both overjoyed!
To be honest, although Lin Jiuyuan has a lot of problems, he is definitely a good figure!
After sending Dong Qichang and Zhou Yingqiu away, Lin Tailai went into the editing office again.

Wu Daonan, who won the third place in the imperial examination in the same year, was a classmate of Tang Xianzu and a future Grand Secretary in history, now works here.

Lin Tailai walked up to Wu Daonan and greeted him, saying, "Old Wu! I just heard from Scholar Chen that I copied fifty volumes of the Records of Instructions of Successive Dynasties last year. I have you to thank for this!"

If outsiders heard this, they would definitely think that he did not deserve the title of No. 1 Scholar and that everything he said made no sense!
Wu Daonan, the honest village test-taker, smiled bitterly and said, "After all, I promised you. No need to thank me."

Isn't it to save his old classmate Tang Xianzu? Otherwise, Tang would have been punished by Lin Batian because of some ironic lyrics in opera.

"I don't owe you anything." Lin Tai said, "At the literary conference last year, I promised to be a director of the Tang Xianzu New Literary League and vice president of the Drama Research Association."

Wu Daonan thanked him and said, "Then I would like to thank Mr. Lin on behalf of Tang Ruoshi!"

This gratitude came from the heart. He knew very well that with Tang Xianzu's temper and personality, there would be no future for him in the officialdom.

Being able to help establish a name for himself in the literary world is the greatest support for Lao Tang’s future development.

Lin Tailai continued to persuade him, "I think if he can persevere for a few more years, Tang Ruoshi can represent Jiangxi as a deputy leader."

Although Wu Daonan is honest, he is not stupid. Otherwise, how could he have become a Grand Secretary in history?
At this time, he said solemnly: "Don't worry, Mr. Lin, you will complete the transcription of another fifty volumes of "Records of Instructions for Successive Dynasties" within half a year."

Lin Tailai was very satisfied. This was called resource exchange, and each side got what it needed.

In history, Emperor Wanli lived quite a long life, but I’m afraid he won’t have the chance to revise the “Veritable Records” in the next few decades.

Therefore, the 2,000-volume "Records of Instructions of Different Dynasties" is the most important book editing work at the time. How could it not have my own traces?
The qualifications of a Hanlin would be incomplete if he did not have any major book editing projects.

"Mr. Jiuyuan! I can also finish fifty volumes in half a year!" someone suddenly interrupted.

As the name suggests, the Editorial Office is where all editors work, so it's definitely not just Wu Daonan.

Lin Tailai turned around in confusion and found that he did not know the young man who interrupted him. Thirty years old should still be considered young, right?

Wu Daonan quickly introduced: "This is our senior Fang Congzhe who passed the imperial examination in the 11th year of the Wanli reign."

Lin Tailai: "."

What should I do if I have too many grand secretaries and prime ministers and can’t use them all?
After inspecting the Hanlin Academy, Lin Tailai went to another part-time office, the Ministry of Rites.

Compared with the Hanlin Academy, the work of the Ministry of Rites' Department of Guests is slightly more practical and still focuses on reception.

As for grand fantasy such as "drawing a diplomatic blueprint", it currently only exists in Lin Tailai's mind.

Lin Tailai, a doctor in the Ministry of Reception, flipped through last year's workbook and muttered, "Why did the North Korean delegation come again in the second half of last year?"

The chief, Chen Yunjian, replied: "In the first half of the year, you accused the Korean envoys of communicating with Japan behind the back of the Ming Dynasty, so in the second half of the year, they sent a defense group to explain."

Lin Tailai lazily sat on the armchair and asked casually, "What kind of work do you have now?"

Chen Yunjian continued to answer: "There are two main tasks in the past two months. One is the tribute ceremony of the Northern Barbarians this month, which will be held outside the border wall as usual, and then the horse market will be opened this year.

Second, the Jianzhou Jurchen tribute group is expected to arrive in Beijing at the end of next month, with a total of 108 people including the governor and assistant governor Nurhaci. "

"Who?" Lin Tailai suddenly sat up straight and asked loudly subconsciously.

Chen Yunjian was shocked and didn't understand why Lin Jiuyuan reacted so strongly, but he still repeated, "Nurhaci, the deputy governor of Jianzhou."

Then he saw his good fellow villager, fellow student and superior Lin Jiuyuan sitting behind the desk in a daze.

After a moment, Lin Tailai came to his senses and said to Chen Yunjian: "There are no outsiders here. I just want to ask, if I kill Nurhaci, what will be the consequences?"

Chen Yunjian: “.”

Don't make trouble, big brother! You are the doctor of the Ministry of Guests of the Ming Dynasty, and others are vassal leaders who come to pay tribute!
What's the point of killing him? Do you still want to save the Ming Dynasty's reputation?

That Nurhaci has nothing to do with you, and he didn't offend you, right?
Besides, Nurhaci was a servant of the Ningyuan Earl Li family. You, Lin Jiuyuan, had a good relationship with the Ningyuan Earl's son. How could you kill him?
Lin Tailai resumed his slumped sitting position, muttering, "Maybe the time has not come yet. What a pity, what a pity."

(End of this chapter)