March of the 19th year of Wanli.

Shen Shixing submitted a memorial to request his resignation for the second time, but the emperor refused to accept it.

Then Shen Shixing requested his resignation for the third time, and the emperor sincerely ordered him to stay.

When officials in the Ming Dynasty resigned, they basically acted like one or two memorials.

As a second and third-rank official, you will never resign for a few times. If the emperor doesn’t try to keep you, you will feel embarrassed to meet others when you say it out. The public opinion outside will think that you are an official fan and there is no pride who will not bow to the three dou of rice.

Therefore, the emperor usually resigns, and the third memorial is to be serious. The third memorial is to be serious. The third memorial has also shown his firm wish to resign.

Not to mention Lin Yanchao and other confidants at this moment, but everyone in the court and the country knew that Shen Shixing was really going to retreat.

Shen Shixing resigned from his post with a determined intent, but the emperor refused.

March is exactly the first-rank test for Shen Shixing for nine years, which means that Shen Shixing is a first-rank official and has been in court for nine years.

The emperor specially acted as a tutor and an official in Shenshi, and not only gave Shenshi the imperial edicts (resume gifts to the third generation and the imperial edicts of his wife).

He even gave Shen Shixing the salary of the count, and ordered Shen Shixing's son Yin Shixing to be the Chief of Shangbao.

After learning that the emperor had such a kind encounter, Shen Shixing refused as usual, and the emperor refused as usual.

In any case, this moment was the peak of Shen Shixing's official position, and the emperor gave Shen Shixing good treatment. Shen Shixing had been in power for ten years and smoothly transitioned from Zhang Juzheng and Zhang Siwei to complete the handover of the ministers. Although the government and the opposition criticized him repeatedly, saying that he was the prime minister, at least he had never been a big deal.

When Shen Shixing officially decided to resign, the emperor gave Shen Shixing such courtesy. It can be seen that the emperor had already let go of his fear of Shen Shixing. He missed Shen Shixing's act as prime minister during the period when he was nostalgic. The two could be called a good story between the king and the minister, so the emperor was reluctant to leave.

However, Shen Shixing still resigned from the position of Taifu, and it was not him alone, but together with Xu Guo, Wang Xijue, and Wang Jiaping, the other cabinet masters.

Although the "Taifu of Jin and posthumously posthumously to Wenzheng" was the highest honor for civil servants, Zhang Juzheng, the only prime minister of the Ming Dynasty who was granted the title of Taifu and confiscated his house after his death, was too impressive, so Shen Shixing resolutely resigned from the Taifu.

However, as Shen Shixing officially spoke out, the court became subtle.

There was no retreat in the Ming Dynasty. Shen Shixing expressed his determination to resign, but after the emperor kept the emperor's order, Shen Shixing still worked in the cabinet.

In the future, Shen Shixing would still submit a memorial to resign after a while, but until the emperor did not approve it, Shen Shixing would still preside over all aspects of the court's affairs. The only suspense was that the emperor would not release the people at the Shen Shixing meeting.

But the moment before Shen Shixing officially resigned, before the replacement was found, he was still the prime minister of the empire. As long as he did not do well, the censor could still criticize him.

At this time, Feiyu began to spread in Beijing. Yan Shen Shixing's second son Shen Yongjia was a Chinese test in Zhejiang Province. Many people said that there were disadvantages.

This incident was undoubtedly an oncoming slap for Shen Shixing.

A few days after he refused, such rumors began to circulate in the middle of the capital. He really knew that he was leaving, and his former political enemies were eager to start to die.

Shen Yongjia was not the Juren who passed the previous year, nor was he the Juren who passed the previous year, but the Juren who passed the past August of the tenth year of Wanli.

It's almost ten years since you didn't mention it the year before yesterday and last year, but just this year, Shen Shixing is about to quit his face. Everyone will tell me the matter out.

This is obviously because someone deliberately couldn't get along with Shen Shixing.

The main focus of public opinion in Beijing is that Shen Yongjia is from Wuxian, Suzhou. You actually took the exam in Zhejiang. Either you are a fake or you married into a marriage. Shen Shixing is a dignified prime minister, and the fact that his son married into a marriage is really shocking.

Shen Yongjia's father-in-law, the late clerk, Dong Daochun, was from Wucheng, Zhejiang. His father was Dong Fen, the former Minister of Rites, and Dong Fen was also the mentor of Shen Shixing. Therefore, most people doubt whether Shen Yongjia went to Zhejiang for an exam, did the Dong family open some convenient door for him?

The rumor finally spread more and more, and spread throughout the capital. Shen Shixing had to submit a memorial to defend himself and request another try to prove his son's innocence. The emperor re-ordered the imperial edict and said, "No need, everyone knows your selflessness."

After the re-examination, the censor took action. The censor Li Yongzhong submitted a memorial to the emperor and said that there was no need to take a re-examination, as long as Shen Shixing removed his son's reputation as a Juren, and then he wrote a memorial to resign.

After Li Yongzhong submitted a memorial, Shen Shixing was so angry that he trembled all over. He submitted a memorial to the emperor that his son was not a fake, but a memorial, and that this was the idea of ​​my in-law Dong Daochun. It was too late to regret it after he knew it.

The emperor replied that I already know this, so there is no need to talk about it.

Shen Shixing gave a memorial to resign from his post, and he talked about it in the capital, and then Li Yongzhong gave a memorial to him.

Lin Yanchao noticed from it that the atmosphere seemed to be something wrong.

Zhang Juzheng suppressed all officials for so long. When he was seriously ill, all the civil and military officials in the court held ceremony to pray for Zhang Juzheng's health. It was not until after Zhang Juzheng's death that the Zhang faction raised a banner under the instructions of the emperor.

Before Shen Shixing could retreat, someone was eager to get rid of it and then quickly.

Could it be that someone wants to step on Shen Shixing?

This day, the Nine Ministers will recommend it.

The reason is that Zhu Tianqiu, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Works, was transferred to the right censor of Nanjing.

The left assistant minister of the Ministry of Works was made up by Chen Yubi, the former right assistant minister, while the right assistant minister was vacant. As usual, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Works was asked by the Ministry of Personnel to ask the nine ministers to recommend it.

On that day, Song, the Minister of Personnel, got sick, and the left minister Zhao Zhigao presided over the court.

In the end, the officials promoted Zhou Shi to be the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Works.

It’s not that Zhou Shixuan is what everyone wants, but that before the court recommended, the candidate had been secretly instructed. Generally, there was no revenge or resentment, and everyone would not object.

After Tingtui, Shen Shixing returned to Wenyuan Pavilion, while Lin Yanchao reported to his office.

After Lin Yanchao reported to Shen Shixing about the incident in the Ministry of Rites, Shen Shixing nodded and said, "I already know it. In the future, I will hand over the cabinet affairs office gradually. You should ask Xu Cijia for advice more in the future."

Lin Yanchao didn't know what to say.

Shen Shixing sighed: "I have been talking a lot in Beijing recently, which has made me unintentional about this."

Lin Yanchao said: "Students have heard about it recently, but their mentors are well-off and worthy of the emperor and the country. The people who make flying words must be ill-intentioned. The students have been secretly investigating recently and found that there is indeed someone inciting the government and the public. Behind this, it seems that they are from the Lexin Furnace, which calls themselves Linchuan Mountain People. In addition to the Lexin Furnace, there are officials..."

Shen Shixing showed an admiration when he heard this, saying, "This Lexin Furnace is just a chess piece placed outside. I have guessed the real rumor."

"Then why doesn't the mentor..."

Shen Shixing shook his head and said, "I am not going to let each other feel embarrassed every day."

When Lin Yanchao heard Shen Shixing's words, he had a lot of information. Could it be that the person behind the scenes was in Wenyuan Pavilion?

The three cabinet ministers, Wang Jiaping, as the four assistants, was not good for him to defeat Shen Shixing.

Could it be one of Xu Guo and Wang Xijue?

Lin Yanchao did not speak, while Shen Shixing sighed: "This matter is no wonder, and I am also at fault. Zhang Taiyue was seriously ill at that time, and an official proposed to hold a ceremony in Wenyuan Pavilion. At that time, I insisted on rejecting it on the grounds that this matter was not in compliance with the rules."

"After you were ordered to go to Zhang Taiyue's house, there was another minister in the court asking for him. I sneered and refuted, 'This is a remarriage'. I heard that this incident came to Zhang Taiyue's ears, and he was very displeased with me."

Lin Yanchao immediately said: "It is indeed unconventional to hold a ceremony in Wenyuan Pavilion, and it is reasonable for his teacher to reject it. The teacher overturned the case for Zhang Taiyue, which made all scholars all over the world admire him."

Shen Shixing sighed, "After all, I was promoted by Taiyue Gong. Without Taiyue Gong, there would be no today. I have always felt guilty about this. It's Zonghai, but you never disappoint me."

Lin Yanchao was very ashamed when he heard this.

After Lin Yanchao came out of the Shen Shixing Qualification Room, he was about to return to his department, but on the way, he saw a pavilion official stuffing notes on his side and left.

Lin Yanchao looked at the note when he was nowhere to be no one, and hesitated for a while.

So on the way back to the Yai, Lin Yanchao turned to Qipan Street and chose an ordinary store.

Lin Yanchao did not make any arrangements. Although he came here in a casual sedan chair, he ordered twenty or thirty servants to dress up in casual clothes and keep an eye on the shop.

This store is not exquisite. I heard that it is a place where small businessmen come to Beijing to eat and drink.

Lin Yanchao got out of the sedan chair and arrived in front of the door, and someone said, "The master has arrived a long time ago, please come here."

Lin Yanchao nodded and took Chen Jichuan and Zhan Ming and the others into the room.

When I arrived at the lobby of the store, I saw that it was deserted inside, with only one person sitting on the dozen tables, drinking on their own.

This person is no one else, but the second assistant to the cabinet.

Seeing that Xu Guo was the only one, Lin Yanchao asked Chen Jichuan and Zhan Ming to stay by the door.

When he walked to the table, Xu Guo had already stood up and greeted him: "Zonghai is here, please sit down soon."

Lin Yanchao sat down at the bottom, and Xu Guo immediately ordered the shop owner to serve the two of them immediately.

The dishes were set up on the table, and Lin Yanchao looked like they were all ordinary meals such as smoked chicken and smoked duck, as well as a large plate of braised pork that was so fat that it was so fat.

When the food was served, neither of them said a word, but they saw Xu Guo picking up a piece of braised pork with chopsticks.

The lean meat of this braised pork is only one diced, most of which are fat, and the meat is thin and looks very transparent, which makes people very enjoyable.

"Zonghai, the ancients said that they were picky about fat and thin, but the beauty of fat is too greasy, but the braised pork here is fat but not greasy. You might as well give it a try."

When Lin Yanchao heard this, he put a piece in his mouth and chewed it. It was indeed as Xu Guo said.

Lin Yanchao smiled and said, "I have never liked fat meat, but the braised pork in this restaurant is great."

Xu Guo laughed and said, "Does Zong Hai think so too? I have been here for more than ten years."

"Oh, why haven't I heard from Jisu on weekdays?"

Xu Guo smiled and said, "If this store is famous, the store will either no longer be interested in the kitchen or have a lot of diners. I will never be able to eat this bowl of braised pork as before. In fact, it is Xu's selfishness. Therefore, I have never entertained officials here, and Zonghai, you are the first person Xu invited."

Lin Yanchao knew that Xu Guo’s words had a profound meaning, so he smiled and said, “I really respect me, thank you, Mr. Lin.”

Xu Guo smiled and said, "Since Xu was appointed as the Secretary of the Warlord, you and I have had a friendship for ten years, so Zong Hai does not need to see me, but in the salt affairs of Lianghuai, everyone is even on the same boat."

Lin Yanchao immediately said: "As Cifu said, Lin returned to Beijing this time to do the matter of the outline and fortune. The Ministry of Revenue is so tightly opposed, I wonder if Cifu has any advice?"

Xu Guodao: "This is the reason why I looked for Zong Hai this time. Since Shi Dongming came as the Grand Secretary, he changed the rules of the original rule and fortune set by Zong Hai and the salt inspector Li Ruhua. I have discussed this with Shi Dongming several times, but he took them back."

Lin Yanchao asked: "The central strategy lies in the government. Business routes pass through the cabinet. No matter how many of the six ministries are, they will be implemented. How dare Shi Siong opposes the secondary assistant in decision-making?"

Xu Guodao: "Zong Hai doesn't know anything. Although I am the secondary assistant, the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue are under the jurisdiction of Wang Taicang in the cabinet. Wang Taicang also supports Shi Dongming in this matter."

Lin Yanchao said: "So that's it."

Xu Guo sighed: "Shi Dongming has the support of Wang Taicang, so even if we have the division of our cabinet and Zong Hai, we may not be able to control Shi Dongming in this matter. Therefore, Shi Dongming is not afraid of our division and dares to go against me in the matter of salt affairs in Lianghuai."
To be continued...