After hearing Lin Tailai's words, Shen Shixing didn't seem surprised, maybe he was getting used to this tone.
"I can't decide what Zhang Wei plans. Even if I want to help you, I am powerless." Shen Shixing replied.
Lin Tailai said very strangely: "Didn't you recommend Zhang Wei?"
If Shen Shixing hadn't recommended him twice in a row, Zhang Wei would still be working in his hometown.
Shen Shixing explained: "Although I recommended Zhang Wei, he does not have a party attached to me, and he still acts independently in all his actions."
"Then why did you recommend Zhang Wei so strongly, senior?" Lin Tailai was even more surprised.
Even though he is an "omniscient" time traveler, Lin Daguan really doesn't understand why Shen Shixing recommends Zhang Wei, and even the butterfly effect cannot interfere with it.
Shen Shixing looked at the familiar but unfamiliar Changmen in front of him, and said leisurely: "Because the atmosphere in Cilin has been weak and weak in recent years, I look around and only Zhang Wei has the courage to do things and take responsibility. It is definitely not for favors."
Lin Daguan was extremely unbelievable, "You can't, right? Senior, do you still have time to be selfless?"
Shen Shixing: "."
There are other people around, can't you, Lin Tailai, pay attention to your oral ethics?
Zhu Geng on the other side just wanted to bury his head in the tea cup and pretend not to hear anything.
Perhaps because he was unhappy about being told by Lin Tai, Shen Shixing also said in a somewhat fierce tone:
"I believe that the cabinet must have people with strong personalities to support the authority of the cabinet. Otherwise, the cabinet's power will be lost. I don't want to see such a situation.
But Zhao Zhigao and his like are too weak! This is the reason why I chose Zhang Wei, he can firmly maintain cabinet power!"
It was rare to see such an emotional expression from Shen Shixing. Lin Daguan was stunned for a moment, then looked at Mr. Zhu Geng and Zhu Ge on the other side.
Then he added: "Zhao Zhigao and his ilk? Isn't it inappropriate to be so direct in front of others?
It seems that you really want to retire, senior, you are not just pretending, you are starting to let yourself go when you talk."
Shen Shixing: "."
Mr. Zhu Ge: "."
What sin had I committed to join this conversation that neither party could afford to offend?
Anyway, Lin Tailai finally figured out the reason why Shen Shixing recommended Zhang Wei - he had feelings for the cabinet and did not want to see the cabinet lose power, so he recommended Zhang Wei, who has a strong personality, hoping to maintain the centralization of power in the cabinet.
In the original history, it is true that after Shen Shixing, the cabinet began to decline in great strides under the impact of party strife.
"What do you think in your heart?" Shen Shixing asked again.
Lin Tailai replied without hesitation: "If I work in the outer court, I will hate the centralization of power in the cabinet! But if I join the cabinet, I will hate the lack of control in the outer court!"
Then Lin Tailai turned to Zhu Geng, "Senior Shen can't help, so I have to rely on myself.
You, Zhang Wei, and Li Chun are all of the same age, right? Who has the highest ranking?"
Zhu Geng replied: "Li Chun is the first in the second class."
Lin Tailai asked again: "When the palace selects Shujishi, who ranks highest?"
Zhu Geng replied: "Li Chun ranked fifth in that selection, and he was still the highest ranked among the three of us."
Lin Tailai was a little helpless and asked again: "Who is the oldest?"
Zhu Geng replied: "Zhang Wei is fifty-nine years old, I am one year younger than Zhang Wei, and Li Chun is the youngest."
Official Lin's face suddenly turned bitter, "Your Excellency, you'd better hire someone else, I can't do anything for you."
The three of you are in the same year and entered the Hanlin Academy at the same time. If you want to choose one as a junior assistant, you can only compare other aspects.
Ci ministers are compared based on qualifications, before and after passing the exam, ranking, and age. You, Zhu Geng, don’t take advantage of any of these three things! Then what reason do you give to compete for the second position?
Zhu Geng glanced at Shen Shixing and simply let himself go, then said to Lin Tai: "You probably don't like having Zhang Wei as your secondary assistant, right?
If Chief Minister Zhao makes a slight mistake, or is criticized by an official, and has to stay at home to avoid the spotlight, if the person in charge of the cabinet is an arbitrary strongman like Zhang Wei, can you tolerate it?"
So Official Lin fell into deep thought. This situation was quite annoying, so he had to find a way to help Zhu Geng.
Judging from historical experience, Zhu Geng and Zhao Zhigao are really similar in temperament, and they are much easier to handle than Zhang Wei.
Shen Shixing wanted to say a few more words, but thinking about his retired status, he finally sighed and closed his mouth.
After entering the city, the boat turned and headed south along Wolong Street.
Shen Shixing looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar street scene and suddenly exclaimed: "It's over!"
The location of Shen Mansion is roughly in the northeastern area of ​​the city, but the boats are almost crossing the Yinma Bridge and are still heading south.
Lin Tailai said generously: "No! Today we will hold a banquet at Canglang Pavilion to honor Senior Shen!"
Shen Shixing snorted coldly: "I haven't gone home yet!"
The attentive Lin Daguan replied: "It doesn't matter, my family has already received Canglang Pavilion!"
Shen Shixing deeply realized that this Suzhou city was no longer the same Suzhou city before he went to Beijing to take the exam.
The changing of the king's flag at the top of the city is truly a matter of ancient and modern times.
The situation in the capital in February and March this year is generally relatively calm. It may be the most stable spring for the imperial court in recent years.
There are probably three main reasons. The first is that there are many new people in the cabinet and they are busy getting familiar with the situation.
The second is that this year is the year of the Great Competition, with the General Examination in February and the Palace Examination in March, there is a consensus in all aspects of the court that stability is needed.
The third is that the Nine Yuan True Immortal is not in the capital, and the court is missing half of the source of chaos. As for who the other half is, ministers dare not say.
After finalizing the two tasks of Jiangnan's money and food and investigating corrupt officials, another urgent issue was placed in front of the new cabinet team.
The exam will start on the ninth day of February. Which elder will be the examiner?
In previous years, Mr. Ge would definitely have wanted to go there and accept two to three hundred disciples to enjoy himself.
But in this year's situation, what everyone who has just taken office needs most is to compete for and consolidate power, and they don't want to be the examiner.
I was a newcomer, and I was locked up in the Gongyuan for a month. When I came out, I couldn't even eat hot food.
Zhang Wei and Li Chun who were in the cabinet unanimously suggested that the examiners should take turns according to the ranking order of cabinet ministers. Zhao Shoufu happened to have never been the examiner before, so he deserved it this time.
Zhao Zhigao was not stupid and said angrily: "Are you serious? If I am locked up in the Gongyuan, is this appropriate?
By then, only you two will be left in the cabinet. You two have only been in the cabinet for a few days. This is extremely irresponsible to the court! You are not even proficient in how to write a vote, right?"
Zhang Wei and Li Chun looked at each other and immediately recommended each other, sending each other to the Gongyuan first.
In this way, of the two rivals competing for the second assistant, one is still on the road and the other is locked up in the Gongyuan. Wouldn't he become the de facto second assistant this month?
It will be easier to form a factual habit first, and then "rectify the name".
So Li Chun said, "Zhang Xinjian is a young and virtuous person, so he is suitable to be a role model for candidates," and Zhang Wei said, "Li Fushun is very knowledgeable, has an excellent subject, and is suitable to be a role model for candidates."
In fact, the first assistant Zhao Zhigao didn't know who to suppress first. Zhang Wei had a strong style and attitude, and even accepted part of Shen Shixing's inheritance, while Li Chun had the support of Qingliu Party members.
Finally, Zhao Zhigao slapped the case and said: "You two draw lots!"
As a result, Li Chun went to the examiner and reported it to the emperor. The next day, Li Chun was cursed and sent to the Gongyuan Courtyard and locked up.
After all, the exam was about to start on the ninth day of February, and it would be too late for the examiner if he didn't pay tribute to the hospital. Fortunately, he was given one night to communicate with the outside world.
As we all know, after the Jiajing Dynasty, the imperial examination situation and the political situation were often closely related.
For example, in the last imperial examination, Xu Guo from Nanzhili was the examiner, and the first place in the examination was Lin Tailai, who was also from Nanzhili.
A huge butterfly effect has appeared in this time and space. The political situation is completely different from the original Wanli 20 years in history, and the imperial examinations have been affected accordingly.
At the end of February, the examination list was released. The first place was Han Xu from Puzhou, Shanxi. His father-in-law was Zhang Siwei, the original chief assistant.
Of course, Han Huiyuan's honor of being the first in the examination has nothing to do with his late father-in-law Zhang Siwei, brother-in-law Yang Junmin, fellow provincial Wang Jiaping and others, and it has nothing to do with the examiner Li Chun who was recommended by Wang Jiaping to join the cabinet.
In the palace examination in March, in the absence of the emperor, after fierce competition, the final ranking was announced.
The top pick is still Han Xu, the son-in-law of the original chief assistant Zhang Siwei, the second place is Weng Zhengchun, and the third prize is Gu Tianchuan, the grandson of the original chief assistant Gu Dingchen.
In addition, Gu Bingqian, a retainer of the Lin Mansion and the "white-bearded chief assistant" in history, finally won this time after failing the examination for more than ten years.
Gu Bingqian also risked his life this time. After accompanying Lin Daguan back to his hometown as a guest last year, he almost stayed away from home, and immediately braved the cold winter weather to go north to take the exam in November.
Fortunately, the hard work paid off and I finally got a gold medal this time.
When the list of Renchenke's gold medals in the 20th year of Wanli came to Suzhou, Lin Daguan was extremely speechless.
The big hand messed up the chessboard randomly, and then he complained to Shen Shixing on the opposite side of the chessboard:
To be continued...