Good son-in-law of the Ming Dynasty

Duan Jiong smelled an unusual aura, and asked cautiously: "Why did Mr. Zhang say that?"

Only then did Zhang Cai realize that she was talking too fast, she smiled, and turned her eyes to Jiao Fang's concierge: "I'm afraid Governor Duan is not clear about some things."

The concierge hurriedly explained: "Governor Duan is the son of my master in the same year."

The implication of this sentence is that this is one's own people.

Although Zhang Cai and Jiao Fang are subordinates, they are political allies.One of the two is the head of the official department, and the other is the left servant of the official department.

On weekdays, Zhang Cai regarded herself as Jiao Fang's right-hand man.

Hearing what the concierge said, Zhang Caicai smiled and said: "I understand what Governor Duan means. There are too many uncertain factors in the imperial examination field. How the questions come out and the examiner's taste in judging papers will directly affect whether you are Chinese. If you encounter Even if you are an ordinary examinee, you can easily pass the questions you are comfortable with. Conversely, if you encounter a question that you are not good at, even if you are Xie Jin alive, you may not be fully sure."

"Perhaps Governor Duan thinks that this official said this because of Su Ziqiao's reputation in poetry, right? In fact, you are wrong." Zhang Cai said slowly: "If my guess is correct, this The questions for the interim exam must be the type that Su Ziqiao is best at."

Duan Jiong was shocked: "The lower officials don't understand, so I ask Mr. Zhang to explain. What kind of questions Su Mu is good at, how can the questioner know?"

Zhang Cai: "The author of the question may not know what kind of essays Su Mu is good at, but what style of writing the CEO likes, I'm afraid Su Mu knows it all in his heart. Before entering the examination room, he will take the first place."

"President, aren't the chief executives of Jinke Jiao Shilang and Mr. Wang?" After talking for a long time, Beijing's climate in spring is dry.After walking such a long distance, Governor Duan only felt his mouth dry, so he picked up his teacup and took a shallow sip.

"Yeah, the key lies in Wang Zhi." Zhang Cai waved to the porter, and the porter retreated knowingly.

After he closed the door, Zhang Caicai said leisurely: "Wang Zhi is a great writer of the generation. Su Mu studied under him for half a year and met almost every day. Tell me, Su Mu doesn't know what kind of writing Wang Xueshi likes?"

Duan Jiong was confused: "Su Mutian studied under Wang Xueshi for half a year and met every day, how is it possible? I have never heard that Mr. Wang has accepted a disciple. Besides, Mr. Wang was a bachelor of the Eastern Palace before, and he did not Free to teach students... Could it be..."

As if struck by a thunderbolt, Duan Jiong's hand trembled, and the tea in the cup swung out, drenching his whole body.

Zhang Cai nodded solemnly: "You must have heard of it vaguely, and I only found out about it recently. When Emperor Zhengde was in the East Palace, Su Mu accompanied His Majesty. It was Long Qian Longqian, the last The most trustworthy person. Originally, after His Majesty ascended the throne, he was allowed an official position as a doctor of the Ministry of Households in Zhejiang Province, and asked him to manage financial affairs for me in the Ming Dynasty. However, Su Mu did not have a Jinshi degree, so he probably felt that he would be an official like this. If you want to ruin your reputation, you must resign."

"Later, the reason why Su Mu went to the General Administration Department was probably to build momentum for His Majesty's pro-government and to grasp public opinion. The mansion newspaper must have been written by him. There is a vague posture of comparison."

"Ah!" Duan Jiong never expected that an ordinary colleague beside him would have such a background, and his whole body would be numb from the news.

Zhang Cai didn't notice Governor Duan's abnormality, and sighed: "Because of Su Mu's extraordinary background, our officials are really embarrassed. If he chooses the Hanlin, it's fine, he will naturally be his prime minister, how to arrange him in the future , and it’s not something we can do. But if Su Mu doesn’t pass the exam, he doesn’t know what official position to confer.”

"Go down to the county magistrate, His Majesty will definitely not agree. Stay in Beijing and give me a idle job, Long Live will definitely not agree. But if you put it in an important department like the Ministry of Households as a doctor, you will be scolded by the imperial envoys immediately Get bloody."

Zhang Cai smiled bitterly, sighed and said: "Our northern scholars have been suppressed by the southerners these years. For example, Jiao Shilang, who has been in the officialdom for so many years, only now sees a glimmer of light. In the southern scholars It seems that we Beiren are not scholars at all. If Su Mu can't order the Hanlin, how to place him will be a big problem. This person is the person His Majesty likes the most, and the future court upstart. Sandwiched between His Majesty and all the officials, we don't Good at being a man and doing things!"

His remarks directly put the contradictions between the northern and southern scholars of the Ming Dynasty on the table.

In real history, it was precisely because Jiao Fang and Zhang Cai, who were originally Jinshi, were excluded by southern officials that they joined Liu Jin's camp, and finally were completely destroyed with the downfall of Liu Gonggong.

Duan Jiong didn't expect that the placement of a mere Su Mu would make the officials so embarrassed. While he was shocked, he remembered something: "Mr. Zhang, Su Mu might not be able to win! Although he knows Mr. Wang's The taste of examination papers, however, must first pass the screening of the examiners in the eighteen rooms."

"It's such a question. From my point of view, if Su Mu fails the ranking, our officials will be at ease." Zhang Cai nodded, and then asked with a smile: "Do you think Su Ziqiao's reputation and his importance in His Majesty's mind will be more important?" status, is it possible?"

Duan Jiong froze, and asked cautiously: "Boss Zhang, what do you mean..."

Zhang Cai yawned: "I didn't say anything. The current Wansui was a willful and mischievous person when he was in the East Palace, but he could do anything. Last year, His Majesty was still young, and there was a kind and holy man. The empress dowager is here, so there will be no trouble. Now that your majesty is married and in charge, the empress dowager will no longer be in charge."

Duan Jiong was shocked: "Your Majesty, could it be that Your Majesty..."

Zhang Cai snorted: "It's disrespectful for us ministers to talk about your father behind his back. Governor Duan should be careful."

"Yes Yes Yes."

Duan Jiong came to Jiao Fang's mansion today with great enthusiasm, intending to plot against Su Mu to vent his anger.Previously, he, Governor Niu and others had joined together to treat Su Mu to a drink and explore the test questions, but he didn't believe it in his heart.No matter how you look at it, Su Mu is just a poor and down-to-earth mountain man. Even though he is good at poetry, he has no energy on the scene.

The reason why they went there together was only with the attitude of giving it a try.The so-called concern leads to chaos. After all, matters such as the imperial examination are directly related to his future.Anyway, there is no need to pay directly.

But after hearing Zhang Cai's words, he realized that Su Mu was actually Emperor Long Qian's most trusted confidant.

He can see what kind of power the Eastern Palace used to be like Liu Jin in the past, and what kind of power it is now.However, because Su Mu is a literati, it is not convenient for him to go directly to the front desk.

As long as he is a Jinshi, he will immediately become a new star in the political arena. In the future, if he has the emperor's favor, it will not be difficult to join the cabinet.

"Really, it turned out to be true!" Coming out of the Jiao Mansion, Governor Duan only felt hot all over: "The test questions in Su Mu's hands must have been given by His Majesty the Emperor!"