As the saying goes, when the Duke of Zhou was afraid of rumors and Wang Mang was humble and did not usurp it, that was how human nature was.
In the first half of the year, in Lin Tailai's eyes, Ye Mengxiong was just an object to seize power. How could he be polite to him if he had nothing else to do?
But now, Lin Tailai finally realized that he had no one available. After research, Ye Mengxiong became a very good little figure with great united front value.
First, this person has a clean background, coming from a small place in Guangdong, and has no obvious factionalism.
The most interesting thing is that when Ye Mengxiong was in Shanxi in the early stages of his career, he was very hawkish to the outside world and resolutely opposed the "Longqing Peace Agreement", for which he was demoted once.
Second, his ability is relatively outstanding. He has worked in Shanxi, Henan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Shandong, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Shaanxi, and in eight of the thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty.
He often got first place in the assessment, and he worked his way up to governor by relying on his political performance.
Moreover, he has been in the border provinces for a long time and has a high level of military literacy. He has written military monographs and has extensive research on firearms warfare.
Third, he is a good-tempered person. When Lin Tailai looked through Ye Mengxiong's evaluation records in previous years, he saw that an old boss wrote a comment for Ye Mengxiong, saying "take credit but don't be proud."
Combining these three points, coupled with the idea of doing things first and not doing things raw, Lin Tailai will try his best to win over Ye Mengxiong, and giving him grand courtesy is of course the basic operation.
Moreover, it also had the intention of showing it to outsiders, clearly informing the officialdom of the capital who Ye Mengxiong belonged to.
After entering the city, Lin Tailai suddenly said to the others: "I want to send Da Sikong to his mansion alone. I have to reminisce about old times on the way. Please make it convenient for you."
The others were very interested and left one after another.
Although Ye Mengxiong had not arrived in Beijing before, Shangshu's residence had already been arranged by the Ministry of Industry.
Lin Tailai also knew the place, so he rode with Ye Mengxiong and said politely: "I saw the card book at the Ministry of Officials and found out that Mr. Ye and his master are of the same year."
Ye Mengxiong: "."
Lin Jiuyuan, if you don’t know how to say hello, then stop saying so!
What do you mean when you mention this relationship? Do you call me your nephew? Doesn’t that make you a smart-aleck Yang Xiu?
Seeing that Lin Tailai had sent away all the entourage of the two families, leaving only the most trusted guardians on the side to guard him, Ye Mengxiong quickly took the initiative to find a topic and asked: "Can Jiuyuan have any advice?"
Lin Tailai asked back: "Do you think that I asked you to return to the capital just to make you the minister of the Ministry of Works?"
Ye Mengxiong felt that Lin Tailai seemed to have profound meaning, but he just didn't understand it.
Why did I return to the capital this time not to serve as Minister of Works?
Lin Tailai was about to explain further when suddenly someone blocked his path in front of him.
Shen Yongmao shouted to Lin Tailai across several servants: "Lin Jiuyuan! I've been looking for you for several days! Are you free tonight?"
Lin Tailai pointed at Shen Yongmao and introduced to Ye Mengxiong: "This is the eldest son of Shen Shoufu, who is currently a Yuanwai Lang in the Military Selection Department of the Ministry of War."
Ye Mengxiong: "."
Then Lin Tailai said to Shen Yongmao: "Ye Gong, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, is here! Today I have to meet Ye Gong. We will meet at my Lin Mansion tomorrow night. Come over again!"
After dismissing Shen Yongmao, Lin Tailai said to Ye Mengxiong: "Tomorrow night is a secret gathering of our little update society. There are all outstanding figures. Senior Zhao from the Four Pavilions will also come. Ye Gong might as well attend.
"
Ye Mengxiong: "."
After moving forward again, I passed a street intersection and was blocked again by someone blocking the street.
Lin Tai looked at the front and introduced to Ye Mengxiong: "The person blocking the road is Senior Chen Yubi, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites and the director of the Hanlin Academy.
He originally wanted to go to the Ministry of Works and asked me to intercede, but after careful consideration, I finally gave priority to my seniors.
Recently he has been making trouble with me and it’s really a headache.”
Ye Mengxiong: "."
Then he saw Lin Tailai walking up to the front. After talking for a long time, he finally sent Chen Zhangyuan away.
Ye Mengxiong only felt that although it had only been half an hour since he entered the capital, it was really an eye-opener.
The force field around Lin Jiuyuan seemed to be able to distort all traditional officialdom laws.
After sending away two groups of people in succession, Lin Tailai seemed to be getting tired and stopped showing off. He said to Ye Mengxiong calmly:
"The reason why you were selected to be the Minister of the Ministry of Works is mainly because your resume fully meets the conditions for being the Minister of the Ministry of War."
Ye Mengxiong: "?"
I don’t know if I heard it wrong, or if Lin Tailai made a slip of the tongue and seemed to say "Minister of the Ministry of War"?
Then Lin Tailai repeated with certainty: "Actually, my original intention was not to ask you to be the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, but to be the Minister of the Ministry of War!"
Ye Mengxiong: "."
What? Is he really the Minister of War?
As someone like him who has just returned to the capital as an official, he needs to go through an adaptation process, so as not to be shocked every step of the way, okay?
Lin Tailai whispered to Ye Mengxiong: "Sima Wang, the commander of the Ministry of War, is old and sick. You should encourage him."
Ye Mengxiong was greatly shocked and didn't know how to reply, so he could only remain silent.
Historically, in the two years between the 18th and 19th Wanli era, the personnel of the court were in turmoil, and there was almost a major change of leadership at the top.
In addition to the great catastrophe of the country, there was also the reason that many important ministers died of illness. Ministers such as Wu Shilai, Song Hui, and Wang Yi'e died of illness one after another.
Therefore, Lin Tailai chose Ye Mengxiong as the Minister of Works in accordance with the standards of the Minister of War, just to prepare for the future of the Minister of War, Wang Yi'e.
However, this plan to create an information gap was definitely not something others would have imagined. Lin Tailai was just letting Ye Mengxiong prepare himself mentally.
After sending Ye Mengxiong back to his new residence, Lin Tailai stopped disturbing him and gave Ye Mengxiong time to rest and digest the information.
The next day, the Update Club held a meeting in Lin Mansion in the evening.
Ye Mengxiong couldn't help his damn curiosity and ran over to listen.
Somehow, Ye Shangshu, who had just arrived, felt a religious atmosphere while sitting in the flower hall of Lin Mansion.
Lin Tailai sat alone on the podium high above the ground and said to everyone with an indifferent expression: "Today's first agenda item is for me to give a report on the recent situation and my personal reflections on the future situation."
".Therefore, with the winter solstice as the node, the imperial court will surely set off a new climax of the national dispute.
The probability that the Minister of Rites will be dismissed or resign is over 80%, and the probability that at least one cabinet minister will die is also over 60%."
Shen Yongmao, whom Ye Shangshu met yesterday, asked in confusion: "The Holy One is not dissatisfied with everyone in the cabinet, so why would he want to change the cabinet ministers?"
Lin Tailai replied: "It has been five years since the war over the country began in the 14th year of Wanli.
Perhaps His Majesty began to feel disappointed and impatient with the inaction of the cabinet, and he had the idea of trying to replace the cabinet ministers.
Perhaps after the Holy Father has been unable to do anything about the foreign ministers for many years, he will think of transferring the pressure to the cabinet. If the cabinet cannot bear it, problems will arise.
The Holy Spirit may not be dissatisfied with a certain person in the cabinet, but he will be dissatisfied with the cabinet.
Under strong pressure, something may happen to everyone in the cabinet, including the chief minister."
After answering the doubts, Lin Tailai pointed out from a high position: "The development of any situation has its inevitability and contingency; inevitability exists in countless possible contingency, but contingency is also a manifestation of inevitability.
It is inevitable that something will happen to the cabinet, but it may be this year or next year; the person who has the trouble may be the chief minister or other cabinet ministers, this is accidental.
In order to deal with contingencies, we who are well aware of the inevitability must always remain vigilant and be prepared.”
Ye Mengxiong: "."
Is the Lin Tailai in front of me, who has profound insight, the same Lin Tailai who fought for power and profit in the first half of the year and even wanted to ask for Shang Fangjian?
Then I heard Lin Tailai say: "The situation report is finished, now let's talk about the specific arrangements.
In the following days, please spread a rumor in each yamen.
Rumor has it that I, Lin Tailai, have exhausted all my trump cards and am at the end of my rope. I am beginning to be afraid of the Qingliu Party members and dare not take action again!
When asked in detail, he said that although I was criticized and slandered on big-character posters together with my chief minister, I was timid and fearful before I left Beijing and returned to my hometown, so I could only swallow my anger for the time being."
Everyone: "."
I don’t understand, what kind of reverse operation is this?
Lin Tailai explained a little: "If there were no such rumors that belittled me, how could I, as a young and energetic person, be justified and confident in taking action?"
Ye Mengxiong: "."
Isn’t the interior of the bright and beautiful court a little too dirty?
Zhao Si, who had been silent until now, couldn't help but ask: "Who are you going to attack?"
Lin Tailai said with a smile: "I have a list of names from the third level and above in Henan, Huguang and other provinces. It depends on who I will meet along the way back to my hometown."
Zhao Si sighed: "Why is this so?"
Lin Tailai sneered: "If you don't check the hostile forces from a distance, how can you ensure your stability in the capital?
After I leave Beijing, if they dare to make small moves, then I will retaliate along the way; if they dare to make big moves, then I will go to Wuxi and do it all."
After thinking for a while, Lin Tailai taught everyone in a serious voice:
"In the past, when I was away from the capital, you might have been able to count on the protection of your chief minister, but this time you have to rely on your own efforts to strengthen yourself and protect yourself.
This is not to say that the chief minister cannot be trusted, but that he should focus on the long term and begin to practice for independence.
Moreover, the first assistant will not be stable in the next one or two years. We cannot rely entirely on the first assistant in the future, so it is good to prepare for a rainy day in advance."
After hearing this, everyone finally understood that the real theme of today's meeting was that the Update Society should prepare for the possible post-chief assistant era and exercise the ability to fight without the support of the chief assistant.
Zhou Yingqiu suddenly raised his arms and shouted: "The struggle environment without the support of the first assistant may be more difficult than before, but as long as we follow closely behind Brother Jiuyuan, we will definitely be able to achieve final victory!"
Lin Tailai raised his hand and said loudly: "I can sum it up in just one sentence. Although the road is tortuous, the future must be bright!"
Warm applause broke out and echoed in the flower hall.
Ye Mengxiong: "."
Is this all what I can hear? If I don’t join the Update Society, will I be silenced?
Shen Yongmao suddenly asked again: "When will Jiuyuan meet with the chief assistant? Oh no, meet my father?"
Lin Tailai replied: "The time has not come yet, I will see you when the Hanlin Academy needs to make personnel adjustments.
Otherwise, there won't even be a common topic, and it will only increase the embarrassment when we meet."