The official celebration banquet, also known as the Qionglin Banquet, had been held long before Lin Daguan entered the city, and this celebration of the Tang Dynasty's No. 1 Scholarship was a private gathering.
Hearing Lin Tailai's words and seeing Lin Tailai's expression as if a beast was staring at its prey, Dong Qichang couldn't help but feel a little scared.
This month last year, Lin Tailai seemed to have the same expression when he appeared at the Qiuzhiyuan Gathering of the Suzhou Literary Forum.
Later, someone in the literary world commented that since the Qiuzhiyuan Gathering, the momentum of the retro school seemed to have plummeted.
After much consideration, Dong Qichang bit the bullet and reminded: "I heard that this is a gathering of a literary nature. We only talk about romance, not current affairs."
Lin Tailai was overjoyed and said: "That's great. I first arrived in the capital and I'm in need of an opportunity to become famous in the literary world!"
Then he said worriedly: "I'm afraid that the scene will be too small and the effect will not be good, so who will attend this gathering?"
Dong Qichang replied: "Only because I am a friend of Brother Tang from the same hometown, I can attend and join in the fun. How can I know who will be there in advance?"
Lin Tailai made another arrangement: "Okay, when you get to the place, you can go in and inquire about the situation first, and then tell me.
If it’s just a small party and there’s no scene to speak of, I’ll turn around and leave. If there are a lot of celebrities, I’ll go in and join in!”
Dong Qichang questioned: "You don't even have an invitation, how can you get in?"
Lin Tailai clenched his fist as big as a casserole and snorted: "When I go to literary gatherings, I never rely on invitations to get in!"
After the two reached an agreement, they walked towards Lingji Palace, which is close to the imperial city. It is said that the elegant gathering was held here.
In the capital, all the scenery is in the imperial city. Outside the imperial city, there is no scenery suitable for gatherings. It is very boring.
If scholars want to find some scenery, they have to go out of the city to Xishan, Haidian and other places.
Because Lingji Palace is close to the imperial city and has an excellent location, it was often used as a gathering place by scholar-bureaucrats.
It is said that when Xu Jie, the chief assistant, had not yet entered the cabinet, he often gave lectures on mind science in Lingji Palace, and hundreds or even thousands of people often attended.
While walking on the road, Dong Qichang said helplessly: "When we get to Lingji Palace, can you not say that I led you there?"
Lin Tailai said in surprise: "Then why did you tell me about this gathering?
Do you want to sit on both sides of the fence and have both sides, that's understandable!"
Dong Qichang is speechless. As long as everyone knows it, can you please stop saying it?
Then I heard Lin Tai said to himself: "After all, not everyone is good at recognizing people and knowing how to make the right choice."
Dong Qichang couldn't bear it and said: "Like you, is it right to choose Zhao Zhigao, a cold bench in his sixties?"
Lin Daguan laughed "haha" and replied: "As for Mr. Zhao, wait a few years before you read it!
Believe it or not, in my opinion, Tang Zhuangyuan's future is limited, and he may just be a decoration throughout his life."
Dong Qichang asked: "Why?"
Lin Tailai shook his head and said: "Following Zhao Yongxian to join the officialdom, and also learning to be honest from Zhao Yongxian, what future can there be?"
Then he said seriously: "If we really talk about it, our relationship may be closer than that of Tang Wenwen."
Dong Qichang was puzzled. What is the relationship between Tang Zhuangyuan and himself? They are both from the same hometown and are also among the three heroes in the clouds. How can you, Lin Tailai, compare?
Lin Daguan thought about the future and said: "This year is the fourteenth year of Wanli. If I can win the examination in the sixteenth year of Wanli, I can participate in the capital competition in the seventeenth year of Wanli. And you will come to take the exam again then, right?"
If we both passed the Jinshi examination in the 17th year of Wanli, wouldn’t it be the same year?"
Dong Qichang: "."
The places are all in Xicheng, not far away, and we arrived at Lingji Palace as we were talking.
This Lingji Palace was built during the Yongle period. The main hall is dedicated to Taoist immortals, while the gathering is held in the side courtyard with dense trees.
Lin Tailai told Dong Qichang: "I will visit the temple first, while you go to the side courtyard to inquire about the military situation, and then report back quickly!"
Then, after Lin Daguan and his entourage walked around the main hall for a few times, they saw Dong Qichang walking over in a hurry.
"I heard about it, there are quite a few celebrities!" Dong Qichang was actually a little excited.
Lin Tailai couldn't wait to ask: "Who is there?"
Dong Qichang replied: "I will just tell you what I have heard so far. In addition to Zhao Yongxian and Tang Zhuangyuan, there is also Zhang Jiayin, Minister of War!
As well as Shi Xing, the left deputy censor of the capital, Shen Xiao, the minister of Dali Temple, Shen Yiguan, the young master of Zhan Shifu and the instructor of the Hanlin Academy, Wang Zhiyou, the foreign minister of the Ministry of Rites, Zeng Qianheng, the younger brother of Zeng Tongheng, the minister of industry, and the Taipu Temple you are looking for.
Shaoqing Li Zhi."
Lin Tailai was also surprised. With Zhao Yongxian's connections and strength, he was able to gather such a scene, which was a superb performance.
"Very good! This gathering lineup is worthy of my participation!" Lin Daguan said a little excitedly.
He thought about it carefully for a while, as if threading through thousands of threads in his mind, he sorted out the connections between these people.
After all, the art of war is well said, if you know yourself and your enemy, you will never be in danger of a hundred battles.
Let’s start with Zhao Yongxian, the founder of the Yaji. He is a character with many roles.
First of all, he is a disciple of Zhang Juzheng and a Hanlin poet.
But his greatest political achievement was that he fiercely opposed Zhang Juzheng's love affair during the Wanli 5th year, and then received sixty canes and was dismissed from office.
By the way, the man who, after being beaten with a imperial cane, made bacon out of the beaten skin and flesh, kept it as a permanent memorial of his glory and wanted to pass it on to his descendants, was Zhao Yongxian.
Secondly, Zhao Yongxian also plays an important role in the literary world. He is one of the five sons of the second and third generations of the retro sect, and he is the only person who has been the fifth son of two consecutive generations.
Among those who participated in the gathering, Zhang Jiayin, the Minister of the Ministry of War, had the highest status and seniority. Even though he was the Minister of the Ministry of War, he was a senior figure in the literary world.
Zhang Jiayin and Wang Shizhen, the old leader of the alliance, are both listed as one of the seven sons of the retro sect, and they are as famous as Wang Shizhen!
There was also Shi Xing, the Zuo Fudu Censor, who was one of the five sons of the second generation of the Xiuxi Sect in the literary world, and was tied with Zhao Yongxian at that time.
Although Zhao Yongxian and leader Wang had a falling out last year, there were still internal conflicts within the retro faction.
Therefore, the two important ministers Zhang Jiayin and Shi Xing must have appeared here because they and Zhao Yongxian are from the same retro school background.
Among other ministers, it is natural for Dali Temple Minister Shen Xiao to appear here.
After all, Shen Shenxiao and Zhao Yongxian were comrades who rebelled against each other in the fifth year of Wanli and were punished by the court. They were re-appointed because of the imperial court's liquidation of Zhang Juzheng. They were absolute political allies.
As for why Shen Guanyi, Shao Zhanshi and a professor at the Hanlin Academy, appeared here, Lin Daguan was not sure.
This future leader of the Zhejiang Party was denounced by the Donglin Party as the treacherous chief assistant and the core figure in the party struggle in the middle and late Wanli period. Now he is just an ordinary bureaucrat. Official Lin does not need to spend too much time on him for the time being.
However, Shen Guangyuan had an uncle named Shen Mingchen, who was as famous as Wang Zhideng, the leader of the Suzhou literary circle who was favored by Lin Tailai. He was one of the three major civilian poets in the world today, and he was also a peripheral figure in the retro sect.
By the way, one of Shen Mingchen's most famous poems is: "In narrow alleys where soldiers meet in close quarters, people kill people like grass without hearing a sound."
Moreover, Shen Guanyi is currently serving as a lecturer at the Hanlin Academy, teaching newcomers like Tang Wenxian.
Taking all aspects into account, it seems that Shen Guanyi's appearance here is not unusual.
As for the other names I heard, Li Zhi, the young minister of Taipu Temple, and Zeng Qianheng, the censor, have little to do with the literary world, but they have one thing in common: they are anti-Shen Shixing.
As for Wang Zhiyou, the official of the Ministry of Rites, he was probably sent by the Wang family to watch the fun.
After the analysis, Lin Daguan made a judgment that this was an elegant gathering that Zhao Yongxian used to celebrate the victory of the Tang Dynasty champion, based on the context of the retro style, to gather people's popularity and to win over other anti-Shen Shixing forces.
So Lin Tailai said: "I will go there when the people over there are almost here!"
Dong Qichang asked anxiously: "You don't have an invitation, so you don't really want to get in, do you?"
"How come?" Lin Tailai asked dissatisfiedly: "Am I such a disrespectful person?"
Then he added: “Although I don’t have an invitation, I have a famous invitation!
At that time, I only need to put in a name card of the son of the former number one pick, can they accept it?"
This is indeed the truth. Since the gathering is in the name of celebrating the success of the number one scholar of the Tang Dynasty, then the presence of the son of the former number one scholar to congratulate him is considered an elegant story and cannot be turned away.
But Dong Qichang was still confused and said: "Where did you get the famous post of the son of the former number one scholar? Are you trying to impersonate someone else?"
Lin Tailai pointed to Shen Yongmao behind him, "I would like to introduce you solemnly, this is Uncle Shen Jiamao, the son of the former number one scholar and now the chief minister!"
Dong Qichang: "."
It turned out that this elegant young man who said nothing and only followed behind with a straight face was the eldest son of Shen Shoufu.
He had always thought that this was Lin Tailai's new cultural follower.
By the way, if Lin Tailai is really so familiar with the Shofu family, then three years later he will try
Shen Yongmao, however, was very embarrassed and said, "I didn't bring my name badge when I went out today."
Official Lin waved his hand to Zhang Wen, the left protector, calmly, and then saw Zhang Wen take off the leather bag he was carrying and reach into it.
To be continued...