I

  Chapter 718 715 [Pang Taishi discusses politics]

  Nanjing, Wharf.

  The Son of Heaven cleared the way with a guard of honor, and Pang Chunlai left the city on his imperial chariot.

  The commander of the black guards, Xu Ying, personally escorted them on horseback. The emperor's personal guards and the black guards, each accompanied by 30 people, and many Nanjing Imperial Guards, specially helped Pang Chunlai transport his property.

  Pang Chunlai's family property is not much, but before leaving Beijing, the emperor rewarded more than 40 vehicles.

  When he arrived at the pier, Pang Chunlai was helped out of the imperial chariot, and bowed his hands to the minister who was here to send him off: "Everyone, wait a moment. Thank you for your kindness. Let's meet again by fate. Bring some wine!"

  The emperor's personal guards held fine wine and brought many wine bowls.

  After pouring wine, Pang Chunlai raised his bowl and said, "Congratulations to Your Majesty, to the Great Harmony, to all the people of the world, and to your bright future. I'm done!"

   "Respectfully send off the Grand Master!"

  Everyone shouted with their bowls in their hands, and drank it all in one gulp.

  Pang Chunlai was originally made a duke, but this time he left the court, he was also named a grand master and prince grand master, and rewarded his hometown in Liaodong with 200 acres of land. In addition, the imperial court also allocated additional funds to build the Duke's Mansion in his hometown.

  Even the middle-aged widow, who was in charge of taking care of Pang Chunlai, was granted a first-rank imperial order because they were husband and wife in name. His adopted son, who was formally named the Prince of Liao, will continue to stay in the Imperial City School to study with the prince, and he will not be eliminated because of his poor performance in the exam.

  In addition, one hundred Liaodong Datong troops were dispatched to the government office to protect their safety. It was not canceled until Pang Chunlai passed away.

  Dozens of cartloads of property bestowed by the emperor were carried onto the ship one after another, and Pang Chunlai was supported by Xu Ying to leave.

   "Teacher of the true emperor, this life is not in vain!"

  Wu Weiye, who was watching from a distance, couldn't help sighing, his eyes were full of envy.

  Everyone knows that today's emperor is mean and ungrateful, but Pang Chunlai's curtain call is so grand. The emperor was afraid that the teacher's life would be bad, so he gave the money out of his own pocket, and the dozens of carts of treasure did not go to the treasury.

   "Yes, this life is not in vain."

  Mao Pijiang's tone was full of disappointment, he had already regretted it to death. When the Datong Army seized Jiangnan, he finally did not seek refuge in Daming. After the fall of the Ming Dynasty, he let go of his talent, disdained to be a petty official and did not become an official. Friends who are as reserved as him have become small officials one after another, and the one who has been promoted the fastest is already the magistrate, but he has been putting on airs and not moving.

  Even Jin Shengtan, who is out of his mind, is now a county registrar!

   When Mao Bijiang couldn't stand it anymore, he was willing to start as a small official, and the imperial court adjusted the qualifications of the public examination, so he couldn't even put down his airs to be a small official.

  Nowadays, Mao Pijiang is famous all over the world, but he claims to be a frustrated person, writing poor articles and complaining all day long.

  The fleet gradually sailed away from Nanjing Wharf. In the cabin, Xu Ying personally made tea for the teacher.

  Pang Chunlai said with emotion: "The emperor asked you to **** me back to Liaodong, and also relieved you of your duties. Don't complain in your heart."

  Xu Ying said with a smile: "Why did you say that, sir? It's too late for the disciple to **** his teacher back to his hometown."

Pang Chunlai shook his head and said: "I have no children, I am alone, I have nothing to worry about, and I am most worried about you. You are in charge of the Black Clothes Guard, and in Daming, you will be the head of the Jinyi Guard. There are several good ends to this position. The emperor asked you Sending me back to my hometown and taking the opportunity to go to your position is also to let me go at ease."

   "So there is such a meaning." Xu Ying really didn't expect it.

Pang Chunlai continued: "I have sent someone to inquire about Fang Shengchang's condition. It is said that he has had a malignant carbuncle on his back for several years. Before and after, more than 20 doctors have been changed. The consultation was over. During the period, a famous surgeon cut off his malignant carbuncle. But after a year of recovery, he gave birth to several carbuncles, and now the disease has penetrated into the internal organs, so he must not live for a few days."

  Using modern medical terms, it means that there is a tumor on the back, and it has become a malignant tumor. After the tumor was removed, it recurred again, and the cancer cells had spread to the internal organs.

Xu Ying said: "It's a pity for this person. Back then, His Majesty raised troops in Luling, and his two brothers raised troops in Longquan. They can be regarded as heroes in the late Ming Dynasty. It is even more rare that they are not greedy for power. They will dedicate all the land they have conquered. For Your Majesty, he even gave up his military power and became a civil servant. It is really a pity that he is now suffering from such a serious disease after finally becoming a minister in the cabinet."

  Pang Chunlai said: "If Fang Shengchang dies, as compensation, his brother Fang Shenghong must be transferred back to the central center to be an official, at least he is also a left servant. Once there is an official vacancy, Fang Shenghong will become a minister."

"This is what should be done," Xu Ying nodded. "Fang Shenghong has a lot of experience. If he hadn't avoided suspicion and the two brothers couldn't be in the same department, he might have been an official in the court long ago. Once his elder brother died, it was a certainty that he would return to Beijing." It would be too mean for His Majesty not to do so."

Pang Chunlai added: "After Fang Shengchang died, the cabinet was vacant. It is estimated that someone who is not from Jiangxi will be promoted to join the cabinet. Either Zhang Bingwen or Wu Yingji. I guess it should be Zhang Bingwen. His background is relatively clean. It has too much influence in Fushe and Donglin Party. Your Majesty has always been vigilant against Fushe and Donglin Party, and Wu Yingji must be implicated."

Pang Chunlai blew his tea and continued: "In this way, there will be a Shangshu vacant, and Zhu Zhiyu (Zhu Shunshui) and Wang Diaoding will fill it up. It should be Zhu Zhiyu who fills the Shangshu position. He has a good relationship with the officials in Jiangxi and has a good relationship with Jiangnan scholars. Harmonious, with him you can reconcile all parties. And Wang Diaoding will be the chief assistant in the future! If Your Majesty... Wang Diaoding may still be an important minister!"

   "Your Majesty attaches so much importance to Wang Tiaoding?"

  Xu Ying was completely unaware of this, because Wang Diaoding had been outside the political core for a long time. When I was in Jiangxi, I didn't become a government official, and I devoted myself to practicing Datong theory. Then he went to Beijing to work as an undercover agent, bringing the princes and daughters of the former dynasty south. Then he took charge of the Hanlin Academy, which also had no real power. It has been less than two years since he left the Imperial Academy, was thrown to another place, and was transferred back to the center.

Pang Chunlai said with a smile: "Wang Diaoding is very young, he has enough time to suffer slowly. This person is not from Jiangxi, but he was the magistrate of Mingzhi County in Luling at the beginning of His Majesty's army. He will not be rejected by Jiangxi officials. , It is also in line with His Majesty's desire to suppress Jiangxi officials. Moreover, in "Datong Ji", there are several articles written by Wang Tiaoding. He is the chief assistant and will not overthrow the theory of Datong, because it is his political foundation. Isn't such a person The perfect first assistant candidate?"

"I see!"

  Xu Ying suddenly realized, and at the same time understood why Zhao Han never allowed Wang Tiaoding to enter the political core. Since he is the chief assistant in the future, don't step into the muddy water prematurely, the cleaner the body, the better, since this person is still very young anyway.

  Wang Tiaoding is Zhao Han's second-hand man. If Zhao Han becomes seriously ill one day, such as suffering from an incurable disease, he will be pulled into the cabinet immediately. Then, as a solitary and important minister to assist the government, as long as there is Wang Tiaoding, he can continue to govern the country with the theory of Datong.

  Pang Chun said: "Li Mengan (Li Banghua) also understands this truth, but he dare not say it outright."

   "Once it is said, Wang Tiaoding will become a target of public criticism," Xu Ying said, "If Wang Tiaoding is attacked by courtiers, it will force His Majesty to set up a big prison. I don't know how many Jiangxi officials will have their homes ransacked!"

   Zhao Han was too mean to the officials, and many ministers in the court hoped that the emperor would die early. At that time, the restrictions on land transactions will be abolished little by little, and land mergers will be quietly carried out, so as to save countless fertile land for future generations. Although the "Gate Position Theory" dare not openly oppose it, it can have more servants in disguise like the Ming Dynasty.

  The fields are connected with fields, and the servants are in groups. This is the prosperous age in the eyes of officials.

  The only obstacle is the emperor himself. Only when the founding emperor dies can they erode the policy bit by bit. If it is known that Wang Diaoding is Zhao Han's political successor, Wang Diaoding will definitely be mobilized and attacked.

  In addition, Zhao Han did not reuse Wang Tiaoding for so long, because he was secretly examining his virtues.

   So far, Zhao Han is very satisfied. Wang Diaoding has a resolute character, and has become more and more calm, and he can stand loneliness, so he can use it with confidence.

Pang Chunlai added: "You were also a candidate for the future chief assistant. The only shortcoming is that you have too much contact with Jiangxi officials... Don't say that you have never been involved. You are from Qianshan, Jiangxi, and you are old acquaintances with many nobles. , but once served as the commander of the Black Clothes Guard. When you became the first assistant, you either couldn’t really start your hands or feet, or you made the court rebel against the sky. You are probably the second assistant in the future. Assistant position."

  Xu Ying thought carefully, and asked: "Your Majesty asked the students to send their mentor back to their hometown, so that the teacher can understand these words?"

"Who knows?" Pang Chunlai said with a smile, "Even if I don't tell you now, you will definitely understand it in the future." Then he sighed, "It was like this when the country was founded. Whatever their thoughts are, they will affect the whole body. Li Banghua is also tired, and has been roasted on the fire. After I resign, how dare he stay?"

  Xu Ying nodded and said, "Indeed."

Pang Chunlai said: "Your Majesty has always had the benevolence of women. He can't be cruel and let Jiangxi officials fight among themselves. Once so many Jiangxi officials fight among themselves, the battle will become bigger and bigger. If you don't pay attention, you will be chopped down." A bunch of heads. Now that Li Mengan and I are leaving, the chief assistant Song Yingxing can't hold back, and the Jiangxi official family dominates again, so I guess they are going to fight themselves."

  The intelligence network controlled by Xu Ying is mainly local and overseas, and does not monitor officials in the capital too much. Of course, he also understands the general situation, and when he thinks about it for a while, he feels that his head is extremely big.

  Jiangxi officials are mainly divided into three factions:

   One faction, headed by Fei Chun, Xiao Huan, Ouyang Zheng, and Yuan Yunlong, is the most powerful. It is mainly because of Zhao Han's forces at the beginning of his army, with the support of the military behind him, and Fei Ruhe, Li Zheng and others can barely be counted as this faction. It can be called the old school.

  One faction is headed by Li Rixuan (Li Banghua's nephew), and the main body is Ji'an Prefecture scholars, as well as scholars from other places in Jiangxi.

  One faction is headed by Song Yingxing, and the main body is scholars from Nanchang, Jiujiang and surrounding counties.

  Song Yingxing's faction is the weakest, so Song Yingxing entered the cabinet early, and now he can still serve as the chief assistant.

Pang Chunlai said: "Li Rixuan's talent is outstanding, and he is not inferior to his uncle, but he does not have his uncle's calmness, nor his uncle's firm character. He dare not lick the beard of the elders, and he is dissatisfied with Song Yingxing's growing power. They want to attack Song Yingxing's henchmen in secret. And that kid Fei Chun, as the leader of the elder faction, probably wants to watch the fire from the other side. Song Yingxing, the chief assistant, is hard to do!"

  Although Pang Chunlai usually doesn't take care of things, Li Banghua has the final say on everything, but he has a clear understanding of the situation in the court.

  (end of this chapter)