The closer the examination results came, the more anxious the scholars in the capital became.
There is a large group of scholars who come from a juren background and have good family conditions. They have nothing to do while staying in the capital. They just like to have parties, drink wine, and make connections without making a name for themselves.
For a time, the business of restaurants and teahouses in the capital was extremely booming. For some shops in popular areas, someone needed to book a table in advance early in the morning. Otherwise, there would not even be a place to eat or drink tea at noon or evening.
Correspondingly, except for these occasions of eating and drinking, other business is not very prosperous.
The whole thing lies in the negative impact caused by the previous fight between Qingyun Hou and Shouning Hou, which made the small merchants in the capital realize a problem. When their own shops are in business, they are easily remembered by others. As long as they maintain a minimum livelihood, they can
However, it doesn't matter whether you earn more or less. As a result, the shops along the street only open at three o'clock in the morning and close when the sun sets slightly in the west. The market looks depressed.
However, the two markets in the capital are still very lively in the morning and evening. The morning and evening markets in several areas of the city are basically people from outside the city who come to the city to do some small business.
Nowadays, there are rumors that because the emperor's personal expedition to the south cost too much money, the imperial court wanted to take a big shot at taxation and increase the taxes that stall holders need to pay in the morning and evening markets, so that there was a chaos inside and outside the capital.
People are panicked.
Zhu Hao met Su Xigui on February 23rd.
The meeting place happened to be near the morning market in front of Chongwenmen. Early in the morning, before the sun had fully opened, the Chongwenmen area was bustling with people. It was almost the busiest place in the entire capital. At a glance, the crowd could hardly be seen.
Each one's head was shaking.
Except for a few places where silk products are sold, where you can see aunties wearing coarse hairpins, the rest are basically men, which shows that the folk customs in the capital tend to be conservative.
It’s not that by the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the overall social environment had become conservative, but because of the emperor’s misbehavior in the capital, young women from all families felt that it was dangerous to go out. Those who were a little bit pretty were worried about whether they would be able to go out, but those who were not pretty were worried.
You are also worried about returning home safely after going out. Doesn’t that prove that you are unattractive?
As a result, every family did not allow their female relatives to go out. After all, even if the emperor was not in the capital and his minions were still there, they would not even have a place to reason with them if they were captured.
"The morning market is very popular. I didn't expect you, Mr. Master, to like this place with a lot of people... Come, come, have a sugary fruit."
The two of them were sitting on the second floor of the restaurant. Because of the excellent location, breakfast business was done here in the morning, and normal business was done at noon and afternoon. The area around Chongwenmen itself was complicated, and Naishizi didn't like gathering places, but he could still see it.
There are many "prodigal sons" who stay out all night and come home early in the morning. Most of these people are wearing plain clothes and are accompanied by children and old servants. Because there are so many people, they can only stagger through the crowd. It is a unique scenery.
…
…
Zhu Hao and Su Xigui have nothing major to discuss.
Zhu Hao could basically supply the products Su Xigui wanted. As for the other party who wanted to give gifts to the emperor of Nanjing, Zhu Hao also prepared gifts for him. The rest was for Su Xigui to take care of those who held real power in the court.
"...The Ministry of Official Affairs has been in constant turmoil recently. Many people have spread rumors that Lu Shangshu's time is running out, and they are beginning to speculate on who will succeed him."
…
Su Xigui mentioned something.
In the past, Su Xigui ran around for Huang Zan's position, and the yamen he had the most dealings with was the Ministry of Personnel.
It involves not only Huang Zan's evaluation, but also Huang Zan's future official transfer. Although officials at the level of minister and minister must be promoted by the court, it is well known that the emperor does not care about court affairs.
Most of the time, the officials reported it and the emperor directly approved it.
There are not many cases where the emperor directly appoints or removes officials, which gives the civil service system great autonomy.
However, as Lu Wan, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was involved in the case of Prince Ning's rebellion, even though Lu Wan was not convicted now, the rumors in the court were rising, and the Ministry of Personnel had no time to take care of themselves, and even the evaluation and transfer of officials were delayed.
Zhu Hao said: "When it comes to official vacancies at the ministry level, it's like a carrot and a pit. If the carrot is not pulled out, how can we make room for it? If Lu Shangshu loses his official position, it should be a good thing for Mr. Huang, right?"
Su Xigui originally pretended to be sad, but after hearing Zhu Hao's words, he couldn't help but put a smile on his face again.
"Having said that, even if Lu Shangshu comes down, Huang Gong can't stand up... This makes people embarrassed." Su Xigui said, "But I don't know who has such good luck?"
Zhu Hao thought to himself, Su Xigui, do you really not know, or are you pretending to be confused?
Zhu Haodao: "According to past rules, either the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel will take over the position, or the Minister of the Ministry of War will be the most common. At present, it seems that the King of the Ministry of War has a great chance."
Su Xigui shook his head: "One of the bad things is that Wang Shangshu seems to have a lack of connections and cannot win the hearts of most people in the court."
"Dongzhu Su wants to say that Wang Shangshu does not belong to the old faction of Chief Minister Yangge, right? I have also heard that many people secretly criticized him for selling his official position and getting a title. I don't know if there is any evidence for this kind of thing. It is unproven.
, what do you think His Majesty will do? Do you want to listen to those unfounded rumors?"
Zhu Hao's meaning is obvious.
Regardless of Wang Qiong's political leanings, he is still the Minister of the Ministry of War, and his abilities are obvious to all. He rises to the top by relying on political achievements rather than clinging to connections.
The imperial court was under the control of the civil service system headed by Yang Tinghe, and it was strange that there could still be an official like Wang Qiong who could rise to power without being dependent on Yang Tinghe.
Although the relationship between Wang Qiong and the emperor is a bit unclear, and it is not unreasonable for the civil servants to criticize him as a sycophant, but it is a bit nonsense to say that he is selling his official position.
Su Xigui said: "But even if Wang Shangshu comes to power, Huang Gong will not be able to fill the vacancy of Minister of War."
Su Xigui was anxious.
It was not easy for a top senior minister in the imperial court to be pushed out because of a mistake. As a result, his brother-in-law was not the one to take the vacant position. He almost said to Zhu Hao, what can you think of to make my brother-in-law take the position?
Zhu Hao understood the meaning of the words, but continued to pretend to be confused: "There are many things, there is no need to worry."
"Afraid...can you not be anxious? Mr. Huang is quite old, and now some people are trying to impeach him, saying that he is old and dim, and they want to overthrow him..."
In desperation, Su Xigui even told Zhu Hao the "secrets".
Zhu Hao naturally knew.
Don't say that Wang Qiong is not Yang Tinghe's person, nor is Huang Zan.
Yan Guan, who came from the civil service system, likes to participate in the impeachment of ministers when he has nothing to do. If it is possible, he will participate first, so that the emperor has a reason to free up some seats for others to take over. Although most of the impeachment attempts end without any problem, it is obvious that nowadays
Huang Zan was also targeted by orthodox civilian forces.
…
You are not from Mr. Yang Ge, and you still hold such a key position as the Right Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Why don't we remove you and replace you with one of our own?
Zhu Hao said: "It's a pity that I'm not Huang Gong's secret servant, so I can't make suggestions for him."
A strange smile appeared on Su Xigui's face, and he said: "My young master, if what you say is really reasonable, there is no way that Mr. Huang will not listen. Even if you are not a guest of the court, I will give you as much as a court guest should have... I will give you a lot."
The implication is that you can help me with the details. If things really come true, I will give you whatever you want.
Zhu Hao sighed: "According to my opinion, it is unwise for Mr. Huang to withdraw from the court at the moment. It is futile to muddy the waters in the capital. No matter how he climbs up, even if there is a Ministry of War, the seat of Minister of the Ministry of Households is vacant. Is it safe to sit on it?
?Aren't you afraid that you will retire in this position and return home within a year or two?"
"Um!?"
Su Xigui frowned.
Zhu Hao said: "If there is no one in the court, if you still want to occupy a high position, the result is likely to be counterproductive. Instead, it is better to transfer to the quiet Southern Sixth Department to hide your strength and bide your time, wait until there is a backer in the court, and then take the position, let alone one or two years
, it is not impossible to have the opportunity to serve as minister for four or five years or even join the cabinet.
"The capable ministers in the court, such as Yang Suian, are well-known in this dynasty, right? But what can they do if they are criticized by treacherous ministers? Isn't it better to live in the countryside?"
What Zhu Hao means is that when you are an official in the Zhengde Dynasty, no one will protect you. If you just think about being a minister at the center of the imperial court, you will be kicked off in a short time.
An example is Yang Yiqing, a capable minister who made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty. He was the first minister to kill Liu Jin. He can be said to be the key figure in bringing order to the chaos in the Zhengde Dynasty. He was also beaten when he should be beaten. No matter how powerful your Huang Gong is, he can
Is Yang Yiqing awesome?
Su Xigui hesitated and said: "I heard that His Majesty went south this time and stayed at Duke Yang's mansion for a few days. Instead of drinking and chatting, someone in the court did mention that he will be reinstated in the official position soon."
Zhu Hao smiled and said: "Probably not."
"Why?"
Su Xigui asked.
"After being reinstated, it is easy to return to the countryside. Why should you make yourself unhappy? The situation has not changed, but people's hearts can change. Wise people know how to hide their capabilities and bide their time at this time, but I believe that Yang Suian will definitely do so in the future.
Returning to the court, even becoming Prime Minister, is because this Ming Dynasty will usher in a bright future."
Yang Yiqing really wanted to wait until Jiajing ascended the throne, Zhu Si was already firmly established, and Yang Tinghe retired before reactivating it.
Later, he became a bachelor of Shoufu University.
Su Xigui nodded and said: "Then based on Zhu Xiao's intention as the head of the family, Huang Gong should be transferred to Nanjing? He should hide his power and bide his time to avoid the disturbances in the capital?"
Zhu Hao said: "That is indeed what I mean, but as I said, I am not Huang Gong's guest, and the family's words cannot be accurate."
Su Xigui hurriedly poured half a bowl of soybean milk for Zhu Hao and said with a smile: "Listening to your words, it is really enlightening. In fact, I was also struggling before. You said that it is too difficult to stay in the capital and become a minister, but I have no desire to be a minister.
If you don’t want to...get active, money will be sent out like water. The key is that it is hard to hear a single response. If you go to the south, everything will be much easier. Then you may not have to send money out, and you can get back a lot."
Zhu Hao didn't expect that Su Xigui's attitude was so unstable, that he would be persuaded by his words?
Zhu Hao really wanted to say, Lao Su, Lao Su, you are treating your Huang Gong's official position as a business. You always consider the money in your pocket before doing anything. Are you really only doing your best for your brother-in-law?