The sky is dark, the evening breeze is gentle, the clouds are floating, and the setting sun is hidden in the distant mountains.
Pedestrians on the road were hurrying but laughing. The hard day was coming to an end. No matter how tired they were, they cheered up and walked home with a smile.
There are those who seem to have a lot of money in their pockets. Occasionally passing by the stall, they weigh a few taels of pig head meat and go back to drink. There are also those who are short of money and hesitate in front of the trading shop for a long time, thinking about their wives and children at home, touching their pockets.
Money can only be given up in frustration.
Amidst all the human emotions, several green-curtained mule carts slowly arrived outside Xizhimen.
The man driving the bus glanced at the capital behind him with nostalgia, his wrists shook slightly, and he shouted urgingly.
Everyone else is going home, but this car is about to leave the city.
The soldiers at the city gate frowned and came over to check, but as soon as they saw the badge in the driver's hand, they immediately stepped aside respectfully and bowed.
In the mule cart, Ling Han, who had white hair and beard, looked at the reflection outside the window, his cloudy eyes slightly red. This is the place where he has lived for more than thirty years, and where he has struggled for more than thirty years. From his prime to
Old age has passed a lifetime.
“There’s no banquet in the world that lasts forever!”
He sighed deeply in his heart and was about to lower the curtains when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure standing outside the city gate in front of him.
~
"Old bachelor is leaving, why don't you let me know in advance?" Hou Yong, wearing a half-worn sapphire blue cotton robe, holding a bunch of oil paper bags in his hand, stood in front of the car and said with a smile.
Ling Han got out of the carriage with the help of a handlebar, "How did you know I was leaving today?"
"Xia Guan just came out of the palace..."
"I'm a man of no rank now, why do you come to the official position to tell me!" Ling Han interrupted and laughed.
"The students came out of the palace!" Hou Yong changed his words and said with a smile, "The emperor ordered the students to temporarily take charge of the staff. After leaving the palace, the students wanted to pay a visit to the old mentor before he returned to his hometown, but he found that there were only a few old servants in the house to look after the house.
, so I chased him all the way!"
Ling Han smiled and said, "You are interested!" He said with a smile, "Come and take a few steps with me!"
Two generations of official ministers from the Ming Dynasty walked side by side, with mule carts slowly following behind.
"Why did my old mentor leave so quickly?" Hou Yong said with a smile.
"Leave early and go quickly!" Ling Han said, "Otherwise, the emperor may order someone to see you off again!" He said with a half-smile, "It's troublesome to have many people, and I can't bear to be greeted by those officials!
"
Having said this, he turned slightly to look at Hou Yong and said with a smile, "You go to my house, maybe something will happen, right?"
"I can't hide it from my old mentor!" Hou Yong said with a smile, "Today, the emperor not only appointed the student as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, but also appointed the minister as the Counselor of the South Study Room. Old teacher, what about the South Study Room?"
"I know!" Ling Han frowned and thought, "Minister Nan Study Room? Your Majesty still leaves some leeway." After saying that, he patted the other party on the shoulder, "This means that in the Emperor's mind, South Study Room is a trial operation for the time being and will not be used at the beginning.
It will give the ministers too much power." He said and smiled again, "But now that he has ascended to heaven, Jingzhong will be the real and unnamed prime minister in the future! Haha!"
"The old teacher was joking, but the student suddenly became very frightened!" Hou Yong said with a worried look on his face.
"Be down-to-earth, neither humble nor arrogant, be diligent and fair, and argue with reason!" Ling Han said, "That's all, just remember it!" He continued to move forward and said, "Who else is there besides you?"
"Zhang Yan!"
"Oh, as it should be!"
"Baozhao, Rujun..."
Ling Han nodded slightly when he heard these names. When he heard Xu Huizu's name, he paused and said thoughtfully, "In the future, in martial arts, don't talk too much about what you don't understand. Listen more, read more, learn more, and memorize more!"
"Why did the old teacher say this?" Hou Yong asked curiously.
"Nan Shufang must take into account both civil and military affairs." Ling Han said, "Your Majesty wants to integrate civil and military affairs together!" He said with a smile, "In the future, major military and national affairs must be discussed through Nan Shufang. Now it seems that I have
I thought a little too shallowly at first.”
There was something he actually hid in his heart without saying it explicitly.
The emperor wants civil and military affairs to work together, but civil servants must not think of dictating military officials.
The reason why he didn't say this also had his intention.
Being an official is like being a human being. Only by taking a setback can you gain wisdom. Only officials who grow up in ups and downs will be the real pillars.
"But there was another person who entered the south study room, and the students were a little surprised!"
"Who?" Ling Han smiled and suddenly asked, "Is it Duke Cao Guo?"
"yes!"
"Ha!" Ling Han laughed heartily, "What's the surprise? If he enters Nan Study Room, he will either make up for it or take the blame!"
As he said that, he stood still and looked at the clouds on the horizon, "Okay, just send it here. It's getting late, so you can go back!"
"Students say goodbye to their old mentor again, this farewell..." Hou Yong suddenly felt sad.
"As long as you have the intention!" Ling Han smiled and his eyes fell on Hou Yong's hand, "What is this? Cheng Yi for me?"
"Student knows that my old teacher loves roast duck, so I bought a few for you to take with you on the road!" Hou Yong offered them with both hands, "The master of Fumanlou, a time-honored brand, bakes them himself!"
Ling Han took it with a smile, put it on the tip of his nose and smelled it, feeling the still warm temperature on the oil paper bag. Then he looked at Hou Yong's half-worn clothes, "I'm interested!" and joked, "This half month
My salary is gone!"
These ducks were quite expensive. As a minister, Hou Yong was in the third rank, but he had served as chief minister and was an admired minister of the emperor, so he was given a salary of the second rank.
Now he is only in charge of the civil service temporarily, and his salary is still based on the ratio from the second grade.
The salary of officials in the Ming Dynasty was pitifully low. It used to be annual salary, but in the end everyone couldn't survive anymore, so the emperor changed it to monthly salary.
Hou Yong, a second-rank official, only received a monthly salary of forty-eight dan. Moreover, what he received in his hands was not just rice, but all kinds of miscellaneous grains, rags, and cloth.
Wanting to be an upright official in the Ming Dynasty was not an easy task. It would be too difficult to do otherwise!
Hou Yong cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Students can still afford a few ducks!"
"Then I'll be disrespectful!" Ling Han returned the favor.
~~
Ling Han stood where he was, with people coming and going around him, but Hou Yong's figure had already gone away.
For some reason, Ling Han suddenly felt lonely in his heart. He said he didn't want to be given away, but did he really not want to?
I have promoted so many students and juniors in my life, and today Hou Yong is here to see me off?
He shook his head and said with a smile, "Hey, children from poor families are more considerate of kindness!"
Then, he returned to the mule cart with a smile, opened the oil paper bag, tore off a duck leg, put it in his mouth and chewed it, and then looked out the window again.
"I have finally returned home after wandering for half my life. Fortunately, Bai Shou lived up to his youth. He sat and watched the distant mountains and clouds disappear, but the setting sun was setting. Haha, it's a pity that there is no wine!"
Suddenly, the mule cart stopped.
Ling Han looked out in surprise and saw several familiar figures standing in the wind on the official road outside the city gate.
His old friends and students, such as Zhang Yan, Bao Zhao, Ren Hengtai, Yang Jing, Yan Zhenzhi, etc., stood in a row.
"Students (lower officials) are waiting to send you home in fine clothes!"
In an instant, Ling Han's eyes filled with tears.
At the same time, in the official reception pavilion, a red eunuch came out with a smile.
Ling Han recognized him, Pu Wuyong, one of the eunuchs in charge of the Qianqing Palace.
"The Miscellaneous Family is here to see off the old bachelor!" Pu Wuyong smiled kindly, "Long live my words, I wish you a safe journey!"
"My lord, thank you for your kindness!" Ling Han looked back and bowed in the direction of the Forbidden City.
"The Emperor couldn't bear to hear that Mr. Jian Cong was driving lightly, so he specially asked the Za family to come and give you a two-horse carriage!" Pu Wuyong waved his hand, and several guards led a large two-horse carriage over.
"Thank you..." Suddenly, Ling Han felt a little annoyed in his heart.
I thought secretly, "How did the emperor know that I was leaving at this time? How did he know that I was just a simple follower? Could it be that the royal guards in my house haven't withdrawn yet? Damn..."