Daming talker

Chapter 665 No Difference

In the last few days of the year, what came from the capital was not only the news that Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue had both resigned, but also a letter from Zhao Zhigao.

The letter was included in the official documents sent to the county government through the official delivery system. After seeing it, the county government sent it to Mr. Lin.

Although letters sent through this channel are difficult to keep confidential, confidential matters will not be written clearly on them.

But we are all educated people, and we can use many metaphors to make the recipient understand what you mean.

For example, in this letter, Zhao Zhigao talked about King Zhuang of Chu.

So Mr. Lin understood that Zhao Zhigao hinted that he wanted to play a big game and directly become the Prime Minister.

After all, King Zhuang of Chu’s most famous jokes are “If you don’t fly for three years, you will soar into the sky when you do; if you don’t sing for three years, you will start a surprise when you do sing” and “Asking about the weight of the Nine Cauldrons”.

Mr. Lin couldn't help but wonder, how could old man Zhao become so radical? Who gave him the courage?

This was not something I instigated. In my opinion, it was enough for Zhao Zhigao to be a secondary assistant.

I don’t know whether Old Man Zhao can succeed, but I hope that even if he fails, he will not die.

Lin Tailai didn't care whether Zhao Zhigao could become the prime minister, but was worried that he would not be able to keep his current position.

Just as I was thinking about Zhao Zhigao, I heard the report that Master Youqing from the Xu family in Songjiang had arrived.

So Lin Tailai temporarily put aside Zhao Zhigao's letter, called his son Lin Jiuyi, and went to the ceremonial gate to greet him.

This Xu Youqing is the great-grandson of the former Prime Minister Xu Jie, and has known Lin Tailai for several years.

Previously, Xu Youqing was an official in the capital. He was bullied by Xing Shangzhi, the factory steward. Lin Tailai avenged Xu Youqing.

The year before last, Lin Tailai went on an eastern tour to Songjiang Prefecture and made an agreement with the Xu family to form a marriage alliance. He arranged for his eldest son Lin Jiuyi to marry Xu Youqing's daughter, so now Lin Tailai and Xu Youqing are considered to be in-laws.

This time, Xu Youqing heard that Lin Tailai was returning home, and it was the end of the year, so he came to visit relatives.

Lin Tailai greeted Xu Youqing, then called his six-year-old eldest son Lin Jiuyi to come forward and pay his respects, and then went into the hall and took a seat.

Xu Youqing observed his expression and asked, "Jiuyuan seems to be worried?"

Lin Tailai said casually: "The first and second assistant ministers have both resigned, and even I am a little unsure about the court's next move.

Senior Zhao Lanxi, the fourth assistant, hinted that he wanted to surpass Wang Jiaping, the third assistant, and compete for the position of the first assistant. "

Xu Youqing: “.”

Is it okay for me to listen to such confidential information? Or does Lin Jiuyuan no longer treat me as an outsider?

Mr. Lin explained in detail: "In fact, Senior Zhao Lanxi doesn't need to be so anxious. I dare to conclude that even if Wang Jiaping becomes the Prime Minister, he will definitely not last long.

After all, Wang Jiaping's camp's stance is irreconcilable with the emperor's. He has no problem being the second or third assistant, but he really can't be the first assistant.

In any case, the emperor would not be willing to let someone who completely stands on the side of the Qingliu forces be the prime minister, and sooner or later he would be unable to stand Wang Jiaping.

So Senior Zhao only needs to sit and wait until he can become the Prime Minister, but Senior Zhao wants to take action now, which is too impatient. "

Xu Youqing could not just stand there in a daze, and continued, "Not everyone is as far-sighted as you, Jiuyuan, let alone others who are still in the game.

In Zhao Lanxi's eyes, this might be one of the few opportunities in his life, so he naturally didn't want to miss it. "

Lin Tailai said calmly: "Let's not talk about these annoying things for now. It doesn't matter how the cabinet changes."

Xu Youqing, whose family also produced a prime minister, was secretly shocked. When his great-grandfather, Prime Minister Xu Jie, stepped down, his grandfather Xu Fan was exiled.

It cannot be said that Lin Jiuyuan does not care about the changes in the cabinet or even the replacement of the Prime Minister, but he does not seem to be nervous, as if it does not matter who replaces him.

This shows that Lin Jiuyuan has a solid foundation and is confident enough to not be affected by cabinet changes.

Lin Tailai pointed at his eldest son Lin Jiuyi and said to Xu Youqing, "You have a grown-up son and he is ready to start his education. Can you recommend a famous teacher from Songjiang? You are his father-in-law, so please pay more attention to him!"

Xu Youqing wondered why he had to go to Songjiang Prefecture to find a teacher. Suzhou was full of famous people, so couldn't he find a suitable teacher?
There was no need for Xu Youqing to guess any more, as Lin Tailai explained very straightforwardly: "Suzhou is too small to accommodate a bunch of children and grandchildren.

Think about it, Songjiang Prefecture has my Lin family's 5,000 acres of fertile land, Suzhou Guard's 1,000 garrison troops, the Xinwu Company's business, and the seawall project of the Lin Group's Engineering Bureau.

In the future, I intend to give this son a military officer position and move the family to Songjiang Prefecture, which will also be considered as another branch of the Lin family in Songjiang Prefecture."

Xu Youqing suddenly realized that it was no wonder that they wanted to find a teacher from Songjiang for Lin Jiuyi.

This will also increase Lin Jiuyi's background strength in Songjiang Prefecture, so this teacher should preferably come from a famous family in Songjiang Prefecture.

"Yes! I'll find a suitable one when we return to Songjiang Prefecture." Xu Youqing agreed immediately.

Afterwards, the two sides had a frank exchange of views on the recent anti-tax trend in Songjiang Prefecture, and both hosts and guests enjoyed themselves very much.

At this time, the left protector Zhang Wen came in and reported: "The governor Zhao Canlu entered the city today and returned to the prosecution office."

Lin Tailai said in surprise: "He thinks he's OK again?"

A dying fish that has been thrown onto the shore, still wants to struggle a few more times?
I don't know who will be the Prime Minister in the capital. The result should be out by now, but the news has not been passed on yet.

Let's celebrate the New Year first, and at the same time, be lenient with the enemy and prepare for the situation in which Zhao Zhigao fails in his bid for the premiership.

Generally speaking, unless it is hatred on the level of revenge for one’s father’s murder or one’s wife’s being stolen, things will calm down during the New Year.

The Lin Mansion in Suzhou celebrated a very lively New Year, mainly because Lin Tailai had returned, and the family of three generations and more than a dozen people were reunited, so naturally the whole house was celebrating.

Then, because of Lin Tailai's return, the number of people who came to pay New Year's greetings in person increased dramatically, and the traffic from the two archways on Jiuyuan Street to the main gate of the Lin Mansion was blocked all day long.

The Lin family had to reopen the Canglang Pavilion Garden to accommodate the visitors.

According to the rules of the Lin family, the first day of the New Year is the day for relatives to visit, the second day is the day for members of the Lin family group to visit, and the third day and above is the day for local gentry to visit.

There was nothing much to say about the first two days, but on the third and fourth days of the New Year, hundreds of gentry and scholars gathered in the front hall and courtyard of the Lin Mansion, as if turning the front yard of the Lin Mansion into a place for New Year's reunions for all the literati in the city.

Mainly because the news that the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, both from Suzhou, had resigned from their posts had spread, shocking the scholars and officials in the city, and everyone needed an occasion to express their feelings.

Everyone is discussing whether the Suzhou gang in the court will enter a low period again after the two major Suzhou ministers, especially the chief minister Shen Shixing, resigned.
"Although the court still has Wang Tianguan from the Ministry of Personnel and Jiuyuan Zhenxian, there is still a lack of follow-up."

"Yes, there are not many Suzhou people among the current vice ministers and governors, and there are not many Suzhou people among the senior officials of the Hanyuan. It is obvious that there is a lack of stamina."

"Previously, we had Prime Minister Shin as the face of Suzhou. Now that Prime Minister Shin has left the country, the problem of no one taking over has suddenly been exposed."

"This situation occurred because when Prime Minister Shen was in office, the censors kept a close eye on our Suzhou folks for causing trouble.

As a result, officials in Suzhou were suspected of forming a clique behind the back of the Prime Minister, and it was always difficult for them to get promoted. This is how Xu Xianqing, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was dismissed from office."

"Isn't there Zhao Yongxian, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites in Changshu County?"

"Don't mention Zhao Yongxian anymore. This is obviously not the way of the locals." "It's a pity that Wang Tianguan is old and in poor health. I don't know how long he can hold on. If Wang Tianguan can't hold on any longer, then we in Suzhou will really have no one at the top."

"So now we can only hope that Lin Jiuyuan can hold up the sky for the villagers."

Mr. Lin, who was sitting in the middle of the hall and accepting the "worship" of the villagers in turn, suddenly found that he had unknowingly become the hope of the whole village.

Several local officials unanimously requested that Jiuyuan Zhenxian give a New Year's speech to everyone on the spot to boost the morale of the entire city.

Lin Tailai tried to decline several times, but at this moment a yamen runner holding documents squeezed in under the leadership of the left protector Zhang Wen.

Lin Tailai opened the document and smiled to everyone, "The Third Assistant Wang Jiaping has also resigned, and our old friend from Suzhou, Zhao Zhigao from Lanxi, has become the First Assistant."

The literati in Suzhou were very familiar with the name Zhao Zhigao. After all, Zhao Zhigao served as the governor of Jiangnan for a year and a half a few years ago.

A person who just became the Governor of Jiangnan four years ago has now become the Prime Minister?
Lin Tailai then said in public: "You can rest assured, although the Prime Minister is not from Suzhou anymore, it is no different from before, because I am still here!"

Everyone believed it without a doubt and regained confidence in the future. Everyone here knew how Zhao Zhigao became successful.

In fact, Mr. Lin was also quite surprised. He did not expect that Old Man Zhao could overthrow Wang Jiaping in just a few days. Did he underestimate Old Man Zhao's fighting ability?

But with Old Man Zhao as the Prime Minister, he doesn't have to do anything deliberately. He can just wait for the governor to appoint him.

In the Governor's Office, Governor Zhao and Suzhou Prefect Tu Shufang sat opposite each other.

Governor Zhao felt like he was being treated as a clown, because among all the officials from all the government offices in Suzhou, only Prefect Tu came to wish him a happy new year.

Even the military officers from Suzhou Guard, who should have been the most respectful to the governor, did not come.

"Will the tax grain collected in the whole prefecture after autumn be only 70% of the quota?" Governor Zhao asked coldly.

Prefect Tu smiled bitterly and said, "Last year there was a flood, and 70% of the money and grain was considered acceptable."

Governor Zhao said dissatisfiedly: "But my decree requires 90%!"

Prefect Tu wanted to say "unrealistic" but he held back for the sake of being in the same camp. He just replied: "These are all the prefectures and counties below, no more."

Governor Zhao said bitterly: "Aren't these incompetent county officials afraid of being punished by this court?"

Even the governor's authority is not taken seriously. This place really needs a thorough overhaul!
The government decrees are no longer issued by the Censorate, so what are you still dreaming about? Prefect Tu advised: "Don't always focus on Suzhou Prefecture. The situation in Songjiang Prefecture is even more tense."

At this time, the master rushed in and shouted, "Something bad has happened! Wang Shanyin has also resigned, and Zhao Lanxi has become the Prime Minister!"

Governor Zhao was stunned for a while. Was it not that others saw him as a clown, but that he really looked like a clown?
I have only moved back to the city's prosecution office for a few days, and even Wang Jiaping has left?

If I had known this earlier, I would have continued to live in the Snake Temple and not returned to the city!

Prefect Tu shook his head, stood up and left the Governor's Office.

This governor is completely finished. What else is there to say to a dead man?

The people in his jurisdiction were condemned by the people, officials at all levels did not obey his orders, and the central government had no support. From public opinion to practical affairs, everything was out of control. It was not easy for a governor to end up in such a situation.

When serving as a local official, one must ultimately focus on government affairs and not fight for the sake of fighting.

Governor Zhao's biggest failure was that he only had Lin Tailai in his eyes and completely ignored everything else, which led to him being surrounded by enemies on all sides.

There was silence in the Censorate, for fear of disturbing the dazed Governor Zhao.

Suddenly, another officer from the battalion came to the hall and reported: "There are people outside the gate wishing you a happy new year."

Governor Zhao gradually came to his senses. Who in Suzhou City was so friendly that he came to pay New Year's greetings at this time?
The eunuch Sun Long, the textile manufacturer in Suzhou and Hangzhou, brought a few boxes of silver, saying it was tax silver.

"Get out! Get him out!" Governor Zhao was defeated.

Originally he wanted to stir up trouble in the city and then "shift the conflict upwards", but now this idea has also been extinguished.

There are no loyal people in the cabinet anymore, and it would be suicide to try to stir up trouble.

The only thing that could be done was to order the officers and soldiers of the standard camp to defend the Chayuan strictly and continue to hold on.

As long as nothing happens, he can keep himself locked up in the Censorate until the end of his term.

I have to say that Governor Zhao's mentality is like that of an ostrich burying its head in the soil.

After the first month of the year, the imperial court, which had gradually resumed normal operations, issued an imperial edict to the Suzhou Censorate, strictly ordering Zhao Canlu, the governor of Yingtian, to go to Songjiang Prefecture to quell the anti-tax movement within one month.

At the same time, due to the tight transportation capacity this year, 500 officers and soldiers were transferred from the governor's camp to escort the white grain used in the imperial palace to the north.

The ruling system of the Ming Dynasty had not yet collapsed. The governor disobeyed the imperial edict and his only consequence was dismissal and punishment.

Governor Zhao could only lead the remaining several hundred personal soldiers eastward along the Wusong River to Songjiang Prefecture.

The distance between Suzhou and Songjiang Prefecture was too close. Although Governor Zhao drove slowly along the way, he still entered Songjiang Prefecture after two days.

Now, after two years of opening and construction, in order to connect with the upcoming era of maritime trade, several new river ports have been built in the Wusong River, especially in the newly dredged lower reaches.

Qinglonggang, not far from the junction of Suzhou and Songjiang Prefecture, is one of them, and it is also a relatively prosperous place.

After Governor Zhao's fleet arrived at Qinglong Port, it was difficult to move forward.

Because there were dozens of boats connected on the river, the river was completely blocked.

The land roads were also piled with wood and stones to form a temporary fortress, completely blocking Governor Zhao's way into the heart of Songjiang Prefecture.

Looking at the few hundred soldiers left under his command, Governor Zhao ordered his troops to turn around and retreat to Suzhou.

But on the way here, at the border of Kunshan County, both the waterway and the land route were tightly blocked by angry rioters.

As a result, the governor and his entourage of several hundred people were trapped within a few miles of the border between the two prefectures, with no way out.

After being trapped for several days, the governor jumped into the river to commit suicide, but was rescued. Since then, he fell seriously ill and submitted a petition to resign from his post.

The people of Suzhou said that their emotions were very stable. They had seen this kind of drama before and it was no different from before.

Lin Tailai, who was inspecting the Humble Administrator's Garden, heard the news and asked with some concern, "Where did the governor jump?"

The left protector Zhang Wen replied: "The location where the governor jumped into the river is reported to be within the territory of Songjiang Prefecture."

Lin Tailai breathed a sigh of relief and said thankfully, "It's good that it's not in Suzhou. I feel relieved. Otherwise, I can't explain it."

Then he gave instructions: "Send the best doctors from Suzhou to the city. Don't let people lose confidence."

(End of this chapter)