It is nearing the end of September, and the cold wind has begun to become a little restless.
In the Zhongshu Provincial Political Affairs Hall, Zhang Shixun laboriously reviewed official documents and kept writing until his wrist was very sore, then he raised his arm, shook it vigorously, and took a break. He raised his head and concentrated, sighed, and continued attentively.
"In several articles in a row, all I saw were copies of excerpts of the impeachment of Liang Feng. Zhang Shixun read every article carefully, and after thinking for a long time, he finally couldn't bear it anymore, stood up and walked towards Wang Zeng's house.
"Xiao Xian." Zhang Shixun opened the door and went in. Wang Zeng, who was also working at the desk, called out. Wang Zeng raised his head, quickly put down his pen and said with a smile: "Shun Gong, are you tired? Haha, come and sit down. My hands are sore too." While giving up his seat, he asked someone to serve tea.
"Oh, it's not a problem if we keep going like this. Yong Hui is sick again. I'm an old man and you are an old man and a half, I'm afraid I'll fall down from exhaustion!" Zhang Shixun sighed and stretched out his hand to beat his old leg. said.
Wang Zeng nodded: "We can't hold on any longer. We have to tell the officials and fill the vacancies in the political hall as soon as possible. There are so many things every day that can't be dealt with. It's not a waste of time for the court and the government." Common people?"
Zhang Shixun smiled and said: "Haha, you and I are just destined to work hard. We just ask the officials to send a few more people to participate in politics to share the burden. We are not as good as some people. They are very good at enjoying happiness!"
Wang Zeng¡¯s eyes twinkled. He smiled and said, "Who are you talking about, Mr. Shun?"
Zhang Shixun stroked his beard and said, "Talk about that precious student of yours. Mr. Xiao. I'm not afraid that you are just a rightful father-in-law. I think there are some things that we can't do as well as Liang Yutian!"
Wang Zeng said with a smile: "Shun Gong's words are not at the right time! This man is currently involved in a lawsuit. What good skills do he have that deserve your praise?" Recently, there have been many scoldings and doubts about Liang Feng. Every day, he wrote, Ouchi didn't know how much he would charge. I can't even look at it. Therefore, Wang Zeng said that Liang Feng was troubled by lawsuits.
Zhang Shixun shook his head, waved his hand again, and said disapprovingly: "These are all pedantic opinions. From my point of view, Liang Yutian's skills are how to govern a big country like cooking small delicacies. It is very easy. I am very envious and admire it." He also said Before he finished speaking, Wang Zeng suddenly interjected: "Shun Gong, please be careful, this guy was just lazy for a moment. He just came up with a clever way to hide away. I'm afraid it's hard for you and me to make this decision first as we are in Zhongshu."
Zhang Shixun was stunned for a moment. He instantly understood what Wang Zeng meant, nodded quickly and said with a smile: "Yes, I am too much like Meng Lang. Alas, let's not talk about Liang Feng, let's see how to explain it to the officials and fill in the book!"
Wang Zeng stood up and sent Zhang Shixun away, feeling a little confused: This old man came in and chatted like this for no reason, which seemed to have profound meaning. What does this mean to convey to yourself?
Wang Zeng was thinking deeply, pacing back and forth, suddenly stopped, and ordered Chengju of the Political Affairs Hall: "Go and see if Xue Zhongcheng is there in Jiantai. If he is, please come and talk about it." The Chengju agreed to go, but nothing happened. Yes, Xue Kui has come. Wang Zeng left his seat and handed over his hands: "The weather is already cold, and the Prime Minister came here while working. It is really inconvenient to speak in your place. Don't blame me."
"Haha, what did your husband say? If you have something to ask, of course you have to come over." In fact, the Political Affairs Hall and the Yushitai are not under the same jurisdiction. One is a government agency and the other is a supervisory agency. Although Xue Kui is lower in rank, the relationship between the two families is supervisor and supervised. In addition, Xue Kui is upright, so he is more detached and will never be like ordinary officials who tremble when the prime minister calls him.
The two sat down respectively. Wang Zeng said with a smile: "Zhongcheng must know that the official table has been filled with rumors about Liang Feng's recent impeachment. I am also very curious. I heard that Zhongcheng has gone. The Imperial College has been talking for three days, so I want to find out what the Imperial College is like now."
"Hey, my husband has a teacher-student relationship with Liang Feng. Aren't you afraid of criticism by calling your subordinates here to inquire?" Xue Kui laughed twice. Wang Zeng was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said: "Ha, yes, I am reckless. Then let's say something else. Just treat what I said before as if I didn't say it."
"You've obviously said it, why do you pretend you haven't?" Xue Kui refused again and looked directly at Wang Zeng. The four eyes looked at each other, and suddenly they all started to smile, and they laughed together.
"To say that this Imperial College is really different from when Sun Zonggu was there. Xiaguan and his uncle went there this time, and they were very moved. First of all, these students and yamen were much less arrogant. After three days During the feast, he sat upright and full of energy. He was not as lifeless as before, and looked like he would make people angry."
"Oh? This is quite an improvement!" Wang Zeng answered. By the way, among these ministers who have won the No. 1 Scholarship or stayed in the Hanlin Academy, none of them have ever gone to the Imperial Academy.??How many days will the visiting professor come? But as Xue Kui said, they all look lifeless, which is annoying. Of course it¡¯s strange to hear such great progress.
"The lower official also asked about it. It turns out that there is a rule in Yutian. Before morning classes every day, you have to run around the Imperial Academy's shooting garden for half an hour to get your energy out before you can enter the house. I heard that if you can't run down, he The punishment can be very severe! With just one move, those who used to play music night after night in the yamen and have reversed day and night were changed by him. They went to bed early and got up early, and did not dare to neglect."
"Haha, this kid must have learned the method in the northwest. He disciplines students just like he disciplines those Qiu Ba." Wang Zeng stroked his beard and said with a smile.
"There is something to be said for this alone. He was so thoughtful that he gave it to Du Shichang's son, Du Houze, to make a complete set of white cotton Confucian shirts and robes, and black woolen trousers. Everyone in Suixingtang came fully dressed to listen to the lecture. It's really neat, just like when we go to court every day, but it looks much simpler and more refreshing. Oh, by the way, each of them has a bright red seal script "shu" embroidered on their collar, which is said to be written by Yutian himself. , is the logo of Shuxingtang!"
"So, Zhongcheng is quite satisfied with the current situation of the Imperial College?" Wang Zeng said with a smile.
Xue Kui nodded and said with a bright smile on his old face: "Yutian Guo is a thoughtful person. It is not easy to be able to cheer up like this in such a short period of time! We should love each other and take care of him." Then he frowned and said: "It's nothing, admonishment platform. Si, who specializes in making decisions based on his style. If the officials disagree with him, he will be impeached by the higher officials. The lower officials are powerless and dare not block the way of speech for their own likes and dislikes!"
What he said is also true. Although he is the censor Zhongcheng, he can neither control nor control what his subordinates want to do. This is his professional ethics. He was afraid that the king would ask him to suppress his men, which would be embarrassing, so he had to tell him the difficulty first.
Wang Zeng nodded and whispered: "Zhongcheng, don't worry too much. I only know a few things. If you just listen to one side of the story, both sides have their own reasons. Both Zhongcheng and Shutong have seen it with their own eyes. As long as we insist on A fair heart will naturally tell the truth. In this way, I feel somewhat accurate. There is no other meaning. So in your opinion, is there anything inappropriate in what Yutian did? "
Xue Kui pondered for a long time, and finally said hesitantly: "Ms., Yutian is your student and also my old subordinate. We like him and there is no need to hide it. But speaking of his pretentiousness, I think he is very good. I have deep meaning and don¡¯t want to speculate! I forgive you.¡±
"It seems that Zhongcheng and I have thought of something. Alas, I am afraid that this child will take too many steps, be too hasty, be too reckless, and become a target for others!" Wang Zeng said this, Xue Kui's eyes lit up, and suddenly he seemed He thought thoughtfully: "By the way, there is something that I have never been able to figure out. You said that Cai Zisi's bullet, how could the official approve so many words?"
Wang Zeng's heart moved, and he suddenly understood. He looked at Xue Kui and laughed and said: "Zhongcheng, if you hadn't reminded me, I would have been fooled." It turned out that Zhao Zhen approved the bullets posted by Cai Qi that day: "It's hard to judge what is good or bad. Let's wait for the consequences." After that, he returned to the admonition platform. Only then did everyone know the story of Liang Feng and pay attention to the Imperial College.
Wang Zeng understood at this time that if Zhao Zhen had his previous temper, whenever he encountered someone who was detrimental to Liang Feng, his first reaction would definitely be to protect him first. This time, he was uncharacteristically uncharacteristic. He did not leave the bullet unfired, but directly sent it back to the admonishment platform without any clear opinion. It's obviously meant for everyone to discuss.
Why does Zhao Zhen handle this kind of thing like this? Of course, there is only one reason: it must have been discussed with Liang Feng.
Wang Zeng felt excited. It seemed that the officials were very confident to cheer up. Don't look at it. The matter of the Imperial College seems to only concern a group of urchins. If you think about it carefully, Liang Feng's meaning is really unpredictable. If you don't have great courage and insight, as a monarch, you will never make this kind of thing public and leave it to the public for discussion! Wang Zeng originally didn't want his student to be an honest and conservative monarch, but when he got his wish, he finally saw a heroic emperor with a high head and great talents.
After understanding Zhao Zhen¡¯s intention, Wang Zeng suddenly understood what Zhang Shixun had just meant. Zhang Shixun also admired Liang Feng very much, and seemed to be in favor of this matter. What's interesting is that Zhang Shixun mixed up the affairs of the Imperial College and the lack of people in the Political Hall and chatted together, which was fun. It turned out that Zhang Shixun was reminding himself that Zhang Zhibai was in poor health and it was getting harder and harder to serve as a director. There are now a lot of vacancies, and Zhao Zhen has yet to select someone to join Zhongshu. But if time is of the essence, the people chosen may not necessarily be of the same mind as Wang Zeng and Zhang Zhibai. Checking and balancing each other is the way of the emperor. He hinted to Wang Zeng to take advantage of this opportunity to help Liang Feng get through this. Otherwise, if an opposition person comes, the Imperial Academy may be disturbed. Lao Zhang knew full well that this was also a major reform plan!
Wang Zeng was moved in his heart and thought silently: Liang Yutian, you are born at the right time, as many people support you. I hope you don¡¯t let down the public¡¯s expectations and have a good life.Work hard and follow your ideals!
On the twenty-eighth day of the ninth lunar month, Zhao Zhen passed the imperial edict. On the first day of the tenth lunar month, Baiguan met the Holy Spirit in the Zichen Hall. Liang Feng, a fellow judge of the Imperial Academy, took the place of Sun Shi, the judge of the imperial court, to listen to the edict. (To be continued)