After entering the twelfth lunar month, the number of public banquets and gatherings in the capital suddenly increased, as it does every year.
Even before the official sealing of office, drunken officials or scribes can often be seen on the street.
Today, the cabinet ministers gathered together with fellow villagers in Suzhou, Beijing, and Chief Minister Shen Shixing attended the gathering.
But the protagonist of today's hometown gathering is not Shen Shoufu, but Xu Xianqing, the former minister of the Ministry of Rites who has just been dismissed.
Just last month, a large number of officials, including Yunnan Dao Yushi Wance and Jiangxi Dao Yushi Lin Kecheng, went crazy to impeach Xu Xianqing, attacking Xu Xianqing for ostracizing his colleagues, colluding with wealthy businessmen, flattering eunuchs, misbehaving, and accepting bribes.
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In the end, Xu Xianqing was forced to take up his official position, which was actually his dismissal from office.
In the eyes of everyone, Xu Xianqing was so unlucky that he encountered such a disaster just before the Chinese New Year.
And because the canal was frozen, he had to temporarily stay in the capital to celebrate the New Year, which was as embarrassing as it could be.
In Shen Shoufu's heart, it was a pity that his fellow countryman Xu Xianqing was deposed.
Because Xu Xianqing was also born in Hanyuan, he was the first in the selection list. He had studied records and served as a lecturer, and his qualifications were very good.
It was not easy to get to the position of Minister of Rites, just one step away from being a minister or entering the cabinet. As a result, all the hard work of more than 20 years of training was in vain.
Xu Xianqing played a very important role in Shen Shoufu's political planning and layout.
Shen Shoufu originally wanted Xu Xianqing to take over from Yang Wei, the old official in the Ministry of Civil Affairs, but now it can only be said that his efforts were in vain.
Thinking of this, Shen Shoufu sighed deeply. You, Xu Xianqing, excluded your colleagues, colluded with wealthy businessmen, misbehaved, and accepted bribes. That's all. How could you still be caught flattering the eunuch?
At today's party, the person who drank the most was Xu Xianqing.
Looking at Xu Xianqing, who was driven to death by depression, some people from Suzhou said angrily:
"Those officials are just bullying the weak and fearing the strong! Our Lin Jiuyuan has done all these things, including ostracizing colleagues, colluding with wealthy businessmen, misbehaving, and accepting bribes. Do they dare to impeach Lin Jiuyuan?"
When the drunk Xu Xianqing heard the words "Lin Jiuyuan", he immediately put down his glass, raised his head and shouted: "I was dismissed from office because of Lin Jiuyuan!"
Most people who don't quite understand the truth are confused. Did you, Xu Xianqing, really drink too much? Lin Jiuyuan is still in Suzhou, can he take the blame for you?
Shen Shoufu immediately scolded him softly: "Don't say anything that is not conducive to unity!"
Xu Xianqing said as if he was breaking a jar: "In early October, Lin Tailai hosted a literary conference in Suzhou and formed a new literary alliance, which turned Shen Li, Zhao Yongxian, Sun Jigao and others into a "literary anti-thief group", which led to Zhao Yongxian and Qingliu
The forces are completely tied together!
Therefore, the Qingliu forces must fight back and regain the lost face! At the same time, they have to help Zhao Yongxian seek the position of Minister of Rites, so I became a victim, this is one of them!"
Someone tried to smooth things over by saying, "You can't blame Lin Jiuyuan entirely, right? You can't let Lin Jiuyuan do nothing, right?"
Xu Xianqing added: "When I suffered a lot of criticism, the elders could have come to rescue people.
Even though Duke Shen and Duke Wang are both from Suzhou, so they have to avoid suspicion and it is inconvenient to talk, but as usual, they can be entrusted to the second assistant, Mr. Xu Ge.
In the past, Mr. Shen and Mr. Xu Ge often cooperated and protected each other like this.
But this year, because of Lin Jiuyuan's control of the Yangzhou Salt Industry, a rift developed between Mr. Xu Ge and Mr. Shen.
Therefore, when I was criticized, Mr. Xu Ge stood idly by, leaving no one in the cabinet to rescue me!"
The hall was originally quite lively, but when everyone heard Xu Xianqing say this, there was a brief silence. After all, the interpersonal relationship at the highest level of the cabinet was involved and was relatively sensitive.
Anyone who knows a little bit about the inside story knows that what Xu Xianqing said is actually not wrong.
Today, most of the salt merchants in Yangzhou are from Huizhou, and Mr. Xu Ge was born in Huizhou, and he received financial support from businessmen from his hometown during the imperial examination.
Therefore, Yangzhou Salt Industry has always been regarded as the sphere of influence of Mr. Xu Ge, and others will not compete with Mr. Xu Ge.
However, in recent years, Lin Tailai has continuously penetrated the Yangzhou salt industry. Especially this year, he established the nest merchant system and established the Salt Industry Association, allowing Lin Tailai to achieve great control over the Yangzhou salt industry.
But the nature of these actions is tantamount to continuously encroaching on Mr. Xu Ge's sphere of influence.
Mr. Xu Ge must be very dissatisfied with this and must have expressed his dissatisfaction and protest to Shen Shoufu.
But Shen Shoufu could not give up his support for Lin Tailai, nor did he force Lin Tailai to vomit the salt industry. This is how a rift arose.
In previous years, Shen, the first assistant, and Xu Ge, the second assistant, still cooperated very well and jointly fought against the "Three Reds" and Qingliu forces, but this year there was an obvious alienation between them.
Therefore, when Xu Xianqing was being frantically besieged, Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue were unable to speak. Wang Jiaping had already supported the Qingliu forces, and if Xu Cifu continued to stand by and watch, Xu Xianqing would be hopeless.
Shen Shoufu put down the wine cup and slowly said to Xu Xianqing: "Is this what others told you?
Haven't you ever thought about why others tell you these things?"
Xu Xianqing was drunk and contradicted him: "No matter what the purpose is, are these inside stories true?"
Shen Shoufu looked deeply at Xu Xianqing and advised: "If you think so, I suggest you not live in Suzhou after you go back."
Just as Xu Xianqing was about to say something, Shen Yongmao, the head of the Ministry of War, stood up and said, "Senior Xu, please don't blame others too much. I know that you and Lin Jiuyuan have a personal grudge.
A year ago, Lin Jiuyuan supported Zhao Zhigao as the left minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, blocking your way; and Lin Jiuyuan's large-scale expansion in Suzhou's weaving industry also made you very dissatisfied. After all, your Xu family is a large weaving industry owner and a member of the Weaving Industry Office.
Great steward.
However, the younger generation still believes that we should not let personal grudges blind our minds and ignore the root of the problem."
Some foreigners who were invited to attend and were not familiar with Lin Tailai were shocked again when they heard this. Who is this Lin Jiuyuan?
From just a few words, we can learn that Lin Jiuyuan controlled the literary world, then controlled the Yangzhou salt industry, and also ran the Suzhou textile industry. How much energy does one person have to engage in so many businesses at the same time?
After the party broke up, Shen Shoufu and his son returned home together.
Due to his status, Shen Shoufu could not say a lot of things publicly, or if he said it to others, he could only vent a few words in front of his own son.
"When Xu Xianqing said those words just now, I was embarrassed to refute!
I think about it, this year I am like a free worker for Lin Tailai!"
Uncle Shen Yongmaoshen comforted him and said: "Father, you are serious! Didn't you just help Lin Jiuyuan arrange for a Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, a governor of the Xuanfu, two common people, a foreign minister of the Literary Selection Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and two directors of the Ministry of Etiquette?
A prefect of Songjiang Prefecture?
The other thing is to support the reform of the Yangzhou salt industry and the dredging project of the old lower reaches of the Wusong River."
Shen Shixing sighed: "But in order to appease Yang Wei, the official, I don't have many of my own people!
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Moreover, even Xu Guo, who has been working together for many years, is now parting ways. Doesn't this look like paying Lin Tailai out of his own pocket to work in vain?
Sometimes I just can’t understand, how could things become like this?”
Shen Yongmao chose to use data to speak: "The second brother wrote that as of last month, the industries directly under the Lin Group accounted for 6% of the Yangzhou salt industry, 15% of the Suzhou silk industry, and 15% of the Songjiang Prefecture.
Eight percent of commercial cotton cloth, 15% of Suzhou Prefecture's money and grain collection business, 30% of Suzhou Prefecture's rice market, and 20% of Suzhou Prefecture's large-scale projects.
And all the above-mentioned industries have shares owned by our Lao Shen family! So, father, how can you say that you are working for nothing at your own expense?"
Shen Shoufu: ""
Have you been in a high position for too long, and have lost touch with reality, unable to see the current situation at the grassroots level?
I heard that Wang Hao, a great scholar of the Hongzhi Dynasty, built three gardens after returning to Suzhou. I can't be worse than Wang Hao, right?
Shen Yongmao added: "By the way, the second brother also said in the letter that the Huqiu Xu family always disagreed with Lin Jiuyuan because of their special relationship with our Shen family.
In desperation, Lin Jiuyuan burned the front yard of the Humble Administrator's Garden, and they calmed down for a while.
Therefore, the second brother hopes that, father, you will come forward to talk to Xu Taishi, the head of the Xu family in Huqiu, and warn them not to continue seeking death.
Also, Lin Jiuyuan said that the Humble Administrator's Garden was too big, covering an area of ​​200 acres was a waste, and the Xu family simply could not completely repair it in such a large area.
The Xu family in Huqiu should be allowed to allocate 110 acres to local people with good character and hope, and carefully repair the landscaping."
Shen Shoufu asked a little puzzled: "Why one hundred and ten acres?"
Shen Yongmao replied: "According to my second brother's guess, the largest garden in Suzhou today is the Humble Administrator's Garden, covering 200 acres.
The second largest ones are the original Yilaoyuan and Dongzhuang sites, both with 80 acres of land.
If 110 acres are cut off from the Humble Administrator's Garden, only 90 acres will remain of the original Humble Administrator's Garden, and the 110 acres cut off will be enough to ensure that it will become the new largest garden in Suzhou."
Shen Shixing was speechless for a long time. His son's ability to speculate on Lin Tailai's thoughts almost caught up with his own ability to speculate on the emperor!
Shen Yongmao then asked: "Can we do it?"
Shen Shoufu thought about the pile of economic data he just heard, gritted his teeth and said: "Do it!"
Shen Shoufu is unambiguous in official matters, and he is also unambiguous in private affairs. It is not without reason that he is scolded by the Qingliu forces.
To be continued...