When Lin Tailai followed Shen Yongmao to Shen Mansion, the chief assistant had not returned home yet, so Lin Tailai was sitting in the front hall waiting.
It was not until dusk that Shen Shoufu came home from get off work. The doorman came up and reported to Shen Shoufu: "Lin Jiuyuan Hanlin is already waiting in the front hall."
Shen Shoufu asked casually, seemingly casually: "How long has he been waiting?"
Menzi replied: "He has been waiting for a long time, about two hours."
Shen Shoufu: ""
Originally, he wanted to wait for Lin Tailai for another hour or two to express his attitude towards polishing Lin Tailai, but he had already waited two hours in advance!
Then if I continue to show off to others for an hour or two, if word spreads, I will be cruel to others.
What a terrible feeling! It’s as if my prediction has been predicted!
Maybe this is officialdom, and psychological games are everywhere.
"Take him to the outer study!" Shen Shoufu ordered his entourage after reorganizing his mental preparation.
Then Lin Tailai came to the outer study room as a familiar person. After saluting, he heard the first assistant scolding:
"The disciple said that you have been waiting here for two hours, which means you left the office just after noon!
Now that you have earned your royal salary, you should be diligent in your official duties! Why should you leave early after noon?"
Lin Tailai: ""
As the saying goes, as long as the leader really wants to help you fill your shoes, he can always find an angle to exploit the problem.
Lin Tailai then responded tentatively: "I came back with Shen Yongmao."
My son also left early. What do you say, old chief minister?
Shen Shoufu shouted: "He made a mistake. As a friend, you should advise and stop him, instead of just appeasing and condoning him!"
Okay, okay! Lin Tailai knows that he can't escape a verbal scolding, so he should just let it go and let him be laughed at.
After hearing the reprimand, Lin Tailai planned to run away.
Anyway, his purpose was just to go around the Shen Mansion and make others think that the double killing of Zhao Yongxian and Sun Quan was ordered by the chief assistant!
Of course, it is not a loss to apply for the first assistant, as it can show the majesty of the first assistant to the outside world.
When Zhao Yongxian took over, he was replaced by Xu Xianqing, a junior from the same hometown as the first assistant. If Zhao Yongxian was allowed to sit securely, where would the first assistant's face be?
Therefore, Lin Tailai's swaggering and public entry into the Shen Mansion is a win-win situation where everyone gets what they need.
It doesn’t matter what the conversation is about. Once you’re done talking, you can leave!
"Wait! There's no need to leave in a hurry!" But Shen Shoufu suddenly stopped Lin Tai from saying goodbye.
Lin Tailai: "?"
Today's meeting is just a formality. Old Chief Assistant, why are you still serious?
Then I heard Shen Shoufu sigh: "Zhao Yongxian, Sun Qin and others are nothing but trivial matters. The biggest problem now lies in the cabinet.
Your master Xu Guo is obviously drifting away from me, making my situation much more difficult than in previous years."
Lin Tailai could probably understand the meaning of this. Originally, Shen Shixing and Teacher Xu Guoxu had the same position of safeguarding the authority of the cabinet when fighting against foreign dynasties, especially the Three Reds and Qingliu forces. They were considered allies.
With the support of Teacher Xu, Shen Shoufu is quite comfortable in the cabinet.
The key is that Xu Guo is an upright person, and he likes to go out and quarrel with officials personally as the elder of the cabinet. This allows Shen Shoufu to hide behind and save a lot of worry.
Now in the cabinet there are Wang Jiaping, the second and fifth son who supports the Qingliu forces, and Xijue, the third Wang, who is both a leader and a wise man.
If Xu Erxu Guo no longer supports Shen Shoufu, or even sides with Erwuzi Wangsi Wang Jiaping, Shen Dashoufu's little life will definitely not be as easy as in previous years.
This situation is a bit similar to the "lame government" of later generations.
Of course, if your boss complains and complains, whoever takes it seriously and empathizes with you is a fool.
Lin Tailai's clear eyes flashed and he answered simply:
"Senior Shen, there may be some misunderstanding between you and Teacher Xu. If you explain it carefully and talk it out, everything will be fine!"
Damn it! Shen Shoufu subconsciously picked up the copper paperweight on the table, but then gently put it down.
Why did Xu Guo become estranged since last year? Isn’t Lin Tailai worried? Why are you pretending to be innocent here?
Lin's two major crimes are, first, invading the Yangzhou salt industry year after year, suppressing Huizhou salt merchants, and usurping Mr. Xu's basic base!
Especially last year, when Mr. Xu went to Yangzhou Salt Industry to plant flags and met Lin Tailai, he didn't even get a few cents!
Secondly, last year, Mr. Xu’s hometown senior and Huizhou literary giant Wang Daokun was beaten by Lin Tailai as a member of the anti-criminal group in the literary world, and was expelled from the New Literary League!
So you, Lin Tailai, are the cause of Xu Guo's alienation. He Shen Shixing was only angry with Xu Guo because of you, Lin Tailai!
So Shen Shoufu said to Lin Tai: "You are responsible for this issue, and you are also responsible for solving the problem."
Lin Tailai was shocked and replied: "What? Solution? I, Lin Tailai, have been studying since childhood and know loyalty!
Although I have different political views from Mr. Xu, I will never do anything to deceive my master and destroy my ancestors!"
Shen Shoufu grabbed the copper paperweight again, looked at the two characters "Control Anger" on the wall, and said:
"Xu Guo is your mentor after all, but you can't give in when it comes to fame and fortune?"
"How do I give in? How much do I have to give in?" Lin Tailai said doubtfully, "Why don't I take all this fame and fortune and surrender to Teacher Xu wholeheartedly!
Anyway, Xu Cifu is my teacher, and it is natural for students to seek refuge with their teachers, and no one can fault me!"
"It doesn't have to be like this!" Shen Shoufu quickly put down the copper paperweight, "Look at you, you have such an extreme temperament, why are you so impatient?"
Lin Tailai said quietly: "Although my career is huge, none of it is redundant. If someone can be rewarded without merit, then how can one reward merit?"
Shen Shoufu always felt that there was something wrong with this statement, but he had no evidence.
After Lin Tailai left, Shen Yongmao went into the study again and asked his father, "How was the discussion?"
Shen Shoufu sighed: "The fields will be deserted, and the wild animals will not return?"
Shen Yongmao: ""
Are you thinking of resigning and leaving? You are already fifty-six years old, why are you in a mood again?
Shen Shoufu shook his head, no one could understand his sadness.
The two major party members in the outer dynasty, Wu Shilai, the imperial censor of the Zuodu, and Yang Wei, the minister of the civil affairs department, were both old and depressed, and the successor Xu Xianqing, who had high hopes for them, was not saved.
Xu Guo, his assistant who had fought together for five or six years, gradually drifted away and parted ways.
I am tired, even if I reorganize the political arena, it will be nothing more than reincarnation.
At the same time, the emperor became more and more difficult to serve, hiding in the palace and completely failing in court gatherings, scripture banquets, ceremonies, etc.
As the chief assistant, it is neither good nor bad to persuade, and it is difficult to deal with it.
Although Emperor Jiajing did not go to court and was hiding in the Renshou Palace in Xiyuan to cultivate immortality, he at least had his ministers on duty at the gate of the palace and would be summoned at any time.
??????????.??????
The person who is more similar to the current Wanli Emperor is actually the Chenghua Emperor.
But what kind of reputation did the ministers in the Chenghua era leave behind? The three pavilions were made of paper, and the six ministers were made of clay.
If I, the chief minister, continue to watch the emperor's performance and do nothing, then how will future generations evaluate me?
Isn't it the same as the three paper pavilions of the Chenghua Dynasty to accompany the emperor?
While the country's power is still barely there, it is a wise and wise strategy to retreat and leave as soon as possible.
Shen Shoufu thought about it for a long time, and after having his fill of inner drama, he suddenly felt that something was wrong.
He raised his head and looked at Shen Yongmao, only to see the big boy standing quietly and motionless, looking at his nose and heart.
"Why didn't you persuade me?" Shen Shoufu asked doubtfully.
Usually when I express my intention to resign and retire, Shen Yongmao will be the first person to look anxiously.
This good man will definitely try his best to persuade him to continue serving the Ming Emperor and continue to take on the hard work of chief assistant.
But today, the big boy said nothing and showed no reaction. This is very strange!
Shen Yongmao replied: "As for the issue of father's retirement, and even the issue of remuneration after retirement, Lin Jiuyuan should consider it. What kind of care does a little member of the Communist Party of China like me have?"
Of course, the key point is that if my father really doesn't want to retire, then he can follow Lin Jiuyuan in his career. It doesn't seem to be any worse?
To be continued...