"That's up to you. But after you return to Yunnan, you must remember to live well and take care of yourself. Don't hurt yourself because of Ruan Changsheng's incident?" Daoguang said this, but he couldn't help but sigh: "

Maybe you don't know, but my mood in the past two years is no different from yours. In the spring of last year, Yiwei passed away, and none of the three sons I gave birth to when I was young was gone. Now my two youngest sons are only three years old.

Years old, too young... To tell you the truth, the queen has been in poor health for the past two months, and no matter how much medicine the doctors use, it doesn't help. I also heard them say the day before yesterday that the queen... may not be able to survive. But what can I do?

What should I do? After all, I am the emperor. Which official affairs of the court do not require my approval? Don’t be too sad. You are the first co-organizer and you are not qualified enough in the cabinet, so this time I gave you the position of bachelor.

Pan Shien, but among the Han ministers, among the Han ministers, under the bachelor's degree, regardless of your reputation and performance, you are the only one. So if there is another vacancy in the cabinet, I...I will let you fill the post of bachelor, you...you can

Live well, I am still waiting for you to join the court and assist me." It turns out that in the eleventh year of Daoguang, Daoguang's eldest son Yiwei died of illness, while Daoguang's second son, and all three sons died in infancy, and there was no royal heir for a while.

Fortunately, the fourth son of the emperor, Yi Chi, was born in the same year, and Daoguang was able to avoid the dilemma of an emperor without an heir. In the thirteenth year of Daoguang, the queen also suddenly fell ill and became increasingly serious. She passed away half a month after that. She was posthumously named Empress Xiaoshen. At least she was responsible for housework.

Above, the pain Daoguang suffered was no less than that of Ruan Yuan.

"This... I have thanked the Emperor." Even so, Ruan Yuan also knew that Daoguang said that he had "insufficient qualifications" as a co-organizer of the bachelor's degree. This sentence was originally true, but Pan Shien was only the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs before, not the Prime Minister.

As a person, as a cabinet minister, what "qualifications" does Pan Shien have? In the final analysis, in Daoguang's mind, his importance is no longer what it used to be. But even so, within half a year, Ruan Yuan experienced successive

After two major funerals, I was exhausted, and my old enterprising spirit gradually faded. Thinking of this, Ruan Yuan also said to Daoguang: "It's just that I am old now, and I know that my energy is no longer as good as when I was in my prime.

He is also deaf and dazzled, forgets things frequently, and is already beyond his ability to provide peace and security to the border. Now that I am a co-organizer of the university, I have a place in the cabinet, so I also want to ask the emperor to allow me to enter the court.

I may still be able to do my best to handle the affairs of the cabinet, but to handle the important military and political affairs of the two provinces, I am... no longer able to do anything. I don’t want to delay the important matter of the imperial court to appease the country and the people just because I am old?”

"Ruan Yuan, for the sake of the imperial court, you took the initiative to talk to me about joining the imperial court. It shows that you are indeed a loyal and upright person." When Daoguang heard that Ruan Yuan took the initiative to resign from the post of governor, he also sighed to Ruan Yuan: "However,

I know that you have always been strict in self-discipline. You said that you are getting old. Then I think that if you serve as governor for another one or two years, you will still be able to deal with side affairs. Just now, in Yunnan, I see that there are two more things.

It needs to be done as soon as possible. It is safest for you to do these two things. The first thing is of course the inheritance in the car. If the remnants of the Tool Sheng Wu are willing to surrender, they can forget about it. If they resist resolutely, there is no need to be merciful.

, we must completely put an end to the chaos in the car, and then allow Na Daozhengzheng to take over as the ambassador. The second thing is that Nguyen Phuc Chiao of Vietnam recently sent me a letter, which mentioned that there was a man on the border of Vietnam.

The leader named Nong Wenyun openly rebelled against Vietnam. Now Vietnam is suppressing this person, but they are also worried that Nong Wenyun's power will not be strong, so he fled into Yunnan. So when you return to Kunming, you must continue to strengthen civilization.

For the defense of the area, don’t let Nongwenyun escape into the Qing Dynasty. Of course, don’t take the initiative to cross the border. Let Vietnam handle Vietnam’s affairs by itself. We don’t want to interfere. If you really can’t support it, let’s go to the military parade.

, I allow you to do as you please. Once these two things are done, I...I will let you come back."

"Thank you so much, Your Majesty." After hearing Dao Guang's promise to him, Ruan Yuan thanked Dao Guang again.

Ruan Yuan said goodbye to Daoguang that day, and packed up his clothes the next day, preparing to go south. Seeing that Ruan Yuan was mentally declining, Ruan Hu and Qian Derong were worried that Ruan Yuan would make mistakes when he returned south alone, so they also asked Daoguang to suspend their duties as six ministers.

He accompanied Ruan Yuan back to Kunming. So on that day, Ruan Yuan and Ruan Hu hired a sedan together and prepared to leave the city from Guang'an Gate and go south. They first went to Baoding to meet Liu Fanrong before returning to Yunnan.

But on this day, a sedan chair actually stopped early at the Guang'an Gate. Seeing Ruan Yuan and his entourage gradually approaching the Guang'an Gate, a person also walked out of the sedan. Ruan Yuan heard something strange in front of him in the sedan, and he

He asked the servant to get out of the sedan chair and came down to see what was going on. He didn't want to see that person. Ruan Yuan was also surprised and couldn't help but said: "Taifu Cao?"

That person was none other than Cao Zhenyong.

"Ruan Zhongtang, how is your health recently?" Unexpectedly, Cao Zhenyong turned against Gongyuan's attitude on this day and took the initiative to ask Ruan Yuan: "I already know about your son, Ruan Zhongtang is feeling uncomfortable now, isn't he?

In fact, Lao Chan also encountered the same thing a few years ago. Lao Chan's eldest son has always been humble and studious. Lao Chan also wanted to train him to become a talent, but he just left... Ruan Zhongtang, as a father, Lao Chan can understand Zhongtang

state of mind."

"Really? To put it this way, I have lost respect for Taifu Cao." Ruan Yuan also bowed back immediately.

"Ruan Zhongtang, the official of the imperial dynasty, I don't know how much Zhongtang knows. Previously, I heard from people in the capital that the ministers of the dynasty paid homage to the prime minister. It seems that no matter the Manchu or Han ministers, after paying homage to the prime minister, they often lost their children. If so.

You can't do it even after a few days?" Cao Zhenyong also sighed to Ruan Yuan: "It's just that, Ruan Zhongtang, I know that you are not in good health, but even so, Zhongtang still has matters to do in Anbian, Yunnan and Guizhou, so I also advise Zhongtang to take good care of himself.

, please don’t damage your body because of such a painful thing?”

"In that case, I also want to thank Taifu Cao." Ruan Yuan also responded, but at this time, Ruan Yuan also remembered that if Ruan Changsheng had not left the capital to become an official, but had been in Yanshenggong's mansion, maybe he would have been content with

The state of the capital meant that he would not get sick and die early. He had always been dissatisfied with Cao Zhenyong's release of Ruan Changsheng, so he asked: "It's just Mr. Cao, why did you release your dog to the Taoist government two years ago?"

?Quan Zi is also a weak man. If he had been an official in the capital, I don't think he would suddenly get sick and die like this?"

"Ruan Zhongtang, I heard you talk about "Guanzi" earlier. You should be clear about the way to maintain profits and maintain peace?" Cao Zhenyong explained to Ruan Yuan: "Ruan Zhongtang is now in a high and powerful position. He oversees nine provinces and has students all over the world.

, then whenever you have something to say, there must be a crowd to respond. If your son is also an official in the capital, then based on his talents, he is probably a minister in the capital now. Have you ever thought about how the scholars in the capital will view Zhongtang and Zhongtang at this point?

Your son? They will only regard him as your incarnation and try their best to please him. At that time, will your son be able to live alone? Even if your son is still spotless, what is your status among scholars outside, Ruan Zhongtang? You will not

You've never thought about it, right? That's right, Zhongtang has been a minister of the capital for a long time, and maybe he doesn't care much about the thoughts of those below. I just want to remind Zhongtang that Zhongtang usually talks about knowledge and politics, and he talks a lot.

If outsiders discover that Zhongtang’s meaning is actually different from the emperor’s decree, what will outsiders think? What will the emperor think? At that time, even if the old man will not embarrass Zhongtang, does Zhongtang still want to be alone in the court?

?"

"Taifu Cao, do you still care about me?" Ruan Yuan naturally did not believe what Cao Zhenyong said.

"Ruan Zhongtang, if you don't believe me, you can also ask other people in the capital. I have been a minister for thirteen years. I don't dare to say that I won't take any of the gifts from my disciples, but I can ask you to do something for me. I have never given anything.

It is convenient for anyone to visit. Lao Cao's family is a salt merchant and they are not short of money, so if Zhongtang is interested in Lao Cao's house in the capital, just go and have a look. You may think that Lao Cao is suppressing Zhongtang's power, but on the contrary

Come here and say, I have been in the imperial court for thirteen years, do I have my own power? Tao Shu wants to change the salt law in Jiangnan, doesn't I agree with it?" Cao Zhenyong explained to Ruan Yuan again.

"Really..." Ruan Yuan naturally understood that Cao Zhenyong's implication was that he did not receive many gifts and had never accepted bribes. Therefore, although he was a salt merchant, his family was very clean.

But does this mean that Cao Zhenyong's decision to suppress Ruan Yuan was completely selfless? Obviously Ruan Yuan would not think so.

"That's all, no matter what, I am still grateful that Master Cao came to see me off today." Ruan Yuan could only say this to Cao Zhenyong.

"Ruan Zhongtang, I came here today. Firstly, I thought that Zhongtang and I share the same problem. Secondly, I know that Zhongtang is indeed a rare and honest person in the Qing Dynasty." Unexpectedly, Cao Zhenyong praised Ruan Yuan at this time.

: "I don't know all about the merits of Zhongtang's governorship of nine provinces, but it should be quite a lot. I know that Zhongtang's talents are actually enough to be the prime minister and assistant. And I know that although Zhongtang also has the fault of being demoted and fined, except for

In the case of Liu Fenggao, Zhongtang actually didn't make any big mistakes in his life. Zhongtang was demoted several times because of his unfavorable opinions, but he kept his original position. You have been fined before, mostly because of insufficient money and grain collection.

Or maybe the grain was not paid in full. The fundamental reason is that Zhongtang is not willing to increase the burden on the people for the sake of his own salary. I admit that Zhongtang's virtue is a model for the Qing Dynasty, and so does I... and I sincerely admire Ruan Zhongtang.

of."

"Taifu Cao is so complimentary." Ruan Yuan also replied to Cao Zhenyong, but at this time Ruan Yuan felt surprisingly relaxed. Looking back at Yinghe, all the people in Yancheng were responsible for their duties, but due to improper handling of things, and Cao Zhenyong's incompetence

He was willing to give a lenient sentence, and he was convicted and resigned one after another. In this way, he has been an official for decades, not only has he made achievements everywhere, but there has never been anything that can be caught by Cao Zhenyong. Therefore, he has been in Guangdong and Yunnan for a long time, but

At least there is no pain of being demoted. And Cao Zhenyong took the initiative to talk about this to himself at this time, maybe...

When he looked up at Cao Zhenyong, Ruan Yuan just realized that this was actually the first time in decades that he had looked at this person in detail. He saw that his hair and beard were all white, his face was peaceful, his eyebrows were kind, and he seemed to have the air of an elder when talking to the students.

Among them, his biggest rival was completely different. Thinking of this, and thinking of how he had not spoken to him at all in the old Hanlin, Ruan Yuan couldn't help but feel a little more apologetic.

But Ruan Yuan also knew that he and Cao Zhenyong were by no means like-minded people.

"Ruan Zhongtang, I still have official business, so I'll go ahead." Cao Zhenyong also bowed to Ruan Yuan: "Now in my heart, I sincerely hope that Zhongtang will live a long life. If nothing else, when I was in Hanlin, many of my colleagues

, now only Zhongtang is left, please take care of yourself from now on, Zhongtang?"

"Take care, Mr. Cao." After Ruan Yuan returned to pay homage to Cao Zhenyong, he also returned to the sedan chair and set off again.

"In the thirteenth year of Daoguang, (Ruan Yuan) came to Beijing from Yunnan, and he was specially ordered to take the imperial examination. He was called an odd number at the time, and he did not agree with the great scholar Cao Zhenyong." In the history books of later generations, the relationship between Ruan Yuan and Cao Zhenyong was like this.

But in Ruan Yuan's collection of poems, there is also such a sentence:

The Grand Tutor advised me not to be too sentimental. My flesh and blood will return to my hometown, and my life will not last forever.
Chapter completed!