Chapter 125 Double Ninth Festival Conference (Part 1)
On September 9th, the White Jade Tower was full of distinguished guests and distinguished guests.
During the Double Ninth Festival, it is the time when the golden autumn is refreshing, the osmanthus is fragrant, and the wind and frost are noble. It is the most suitable time to climb high and look into the distance, appreciate the chrysanthemums and compose poems. This festival was formed as early as the Warring States Period, and in the Han Dynasty, the custom of celebrating the Double Ninth Festival became
become popular.
However, folklore is different. According to legend, Madam Qi, the concubine of Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty, was murdered by Empress Lu. Her former maid, Jia, was expelled from the palace and married to a poor man.
The Double Ninth Festival activity was brought to the people.
Jia told people: In the palace, on the ninth day of September every year, people wear dogwood, eat tent bait, and drink chrysanthemum wine in order to live longer. From then on, the custom of Double Ninth Festival spread among the people.
"Xu Qi Xie Ji" also records: "In Huanjing, Runan, I have been studying with Fei Changfang for many years. The chief room said: There will be a disaster in your home on September 9th. You should go there quickly, so that everyone in the family will be embarrassed."
The bag is filled with dogwood and tied to the arm. If you climb high and drink chrysanthemum wine, this disaster can be eliminated. Jing Ruyan and his family go hiking... In this world, people climb high for nine days to drink wine, and women carry dogwood bags. This is where the lid begins."
However, the origin of the Double Ninth Festival is no longer important. What is important is that this day has already become a trend in the Ming Dynasty. Even the emperor would climb the Long Live Mountain in person, wear dogwood bags, and drink chrysanthemum wine.
Of course, how the palace celebrates the festival has nothing to do with today's pragmatism. He has his own Double Ninth Festival.
Baiyu Tower serves as the home court today, hosting more than 200 officials of all sizes from the Practical School in Beijing, ranging from the first-rank Fubi to the lowest rank of the ninth rank. All those who are highly pragmatic and pragmatic are welcome.
There are many kinds of activities during the Double Ninth Festival, and there is no need to describe them all. In short, this white marble version of the Palace of Fontainebleau has become a grand gathering of literati today, with flower appreciation, drinking and drinking, and poetry composing, all of which are unique.
pleasure.
There are also various other leisure activities. Some people even played leaf cards in the courtyard, which attracted many people to "spectate".
Among the most widely circulated activities in the capital, probably the only ones that have not been brought here are dice throwing and weaving promotion - after all, they are all officials and literati, and it is still inconvenient to participate in these activities that are recognized as "dandy behavior".
Society is pyramid-shaped, especially in the Ming Dynasty, so most of the officials in the courtyard are seventh-rank and below, while those in the White Jade Tower are officials with higher status.
Not to mention the small conference hall on the third floor of Baiyu Building, which is the real core venue today: the place where the "Cabinet and Ministerial Meeting" is held.
The convener of the meeting was naturally Gao Pragmatic, who also acted as the moderator, but the person sitting at the top was still Xu Guo and Xu Cifu. The two people beside Xu Guo did not need any introduction. Naturally, they were the other two elders of the Practical School, Zhang Xueyan and Xu Cifu.
Wu Dui.
The following people attended the meeting: Shen Li, Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Liang Menglong, Minister of the Ministry of War, Yang Zhao, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Zhang Mengnan, Minister of General Affairs, Luo Zun, Minister of Taipu Temple, Tu Menggui, Minister of Guanglu Temple, and Minister of Hanlin Academy
Han Ji, the bachelor in charge of the academy, Lu Shusheng, the bachelor of the Hanlin Academy and the minister of Zhan Shifu, Zhang Yigui, the bachelor of the Hanlin Academy and the imperial minister of the Imperial Academy, Cheng Wen, the left minister of the Ministry of household affairs, Song Zhihan, the right minister of the Ministry of official affairs, and the right minister of the Ministry of Industry
Minister Gao Yongchun.
Finally, including Gao Pragmatic himself, there were sixteen people in total.
These are the most core members of the Practical School in the center of the capital. None of them are below the third rank - even if those in the Hanlin Academy are not high in rank according to their profession (the special nature of the Hanlin Academy), the additional titles are enough. .
Just by looking at these people, you will know why even Xu Guo, the second assistant, has to take into account Gao's pragmatic opinions.
Shen Li, Zhang Mengnan, Luo Zun, Tu Menggui, Han Ji, Cheng Wen, and Song Zhihan were all disciples of Gao Gong. Among them, Zhang Mengnan was not only a disciple, but also Gao Gong's wife and nephew.
Among the remaining people, Lu Shusheng was Guo Pu's good friend, while Zhang Yigui and Gao Yongchun were Guo Pu's disciples. As for Yang Zhao, he was Zhang Siwei's disciple.
As a result, apart from the three pavilion elders, only Liang Menglong was left. However, although Liang Menglong was a disciple of Zhang Juzheng, he was never suppressed by Gao and Guo, and was finally pulled into the Shi School by Gao Pragmatic. He was obviously Closer to high pragmatism.
In other words, except for the three cabinet elders, everyone in this small conference hall is related to Gao Pragmatic - the political resources left by the three chief ministers Gao Gong, Guo Pu and Zhang Siwei can now be used He said it was all in his hands.
So, what about the other two pavilion elders? Gao Gong is Zhang Xueyan’s subordinate. Without Gao Gong’s promotion, whether Zhang Xueyan, whose teacher left the center very early, could have climbed up is a matter of debate. As for Wu Dui, needless to say, Gao Gong When Xu Jie was forced to retreat, Wu Dui was the only one to go to see him off in person despite the pressure from the court. He was the toughest among Gao Gong's disciples.
Even Xu Guo himself was a student of Gao Gong. According to current rules, he had to call Gao Jingshi "Brother" when he met Gao Jingshi in private.
What is Tao Li Man Tian Xia? This is the performance of Gao and Guo, the first assistants of Tao Li Man Tian Xia. You must know that their students are so many at the highest level of the center, so in the local level, in some lower-level positions How many should there be? How many disciples of these disciples are there?
As for Zhang Siwei, he took the exam relatively late, and it is still difficult to see it at the highest level of the bureaucracy. But that does not mean that he has no disciples - let's see again in ten or twenty years?
What are political resources? This is political resources.
With such political resources in hand, it cannot be stopped by stomping one's feet and the capital is trembling, but the whole world is trembling!
"The reason for the matter is probably what Qiuzhen said just now." Xu Guo sighed lightly, looked around at everyone present, and said: "The reason why I invite you all here today is to discuss the impact of this matter. , and how we should respond. You are not outsiders, you can speak freely if you have anything to say, and the country, Brother Ziyu, Brother Junze, etc. are all listening."
After saying this, no one spoke immediately. On the contrary, many people subconsciously looked at Gao Pragmatic. Unfortunately, Gao Pragmatic was not ready to speak yet, and there was no indication of any tendency from his expression.
After a while, Zhang Yigui, the Imperial College's wine minister, spoke first: "I just said that Mr. Pan Ge deliberately gave way to Xu Xuemo, but I have a question about this: Even if Mr. Pan Ge gave way to Xu Xuemo, he would not You can just go to the minister and say that the cabinet affairs are busy, and you are old and lack of energy, so you can resign the eldest uncle and recommend Xu Xuemo as his successor. Why should he make so many tricks and make the emperor dissatisfied?"
Xu Guo glanced at Gao Pragmatic and asked, "Qing truth, can you explain it?"
Of course Gao Jingshi had to explain, he nodded and said: "According to common sense, this matter should be developed as Brother Zhigui said (Zhang Yigui is Guo Pu's disciple, so Gao Jingshi is a serious junior brother), but
Pan Xinchang (Pan Sheng, a native of Xinchang, Zhejiang Province) may have other intentions for this move."
Zhang Yigui nodded and said, "I would like to hear the truth-seeking theory."
"I dare not." Gao Pingshi continued: "I think Pan Xinchang's move has at least two meanings: First, he is both the Minister of Rites and the elder in charge of the Ministry of Rites. It is his duty to correct the country's foundation early.
He and his colleagues also want to take a stand on this matter, so it is better to do it more simply and hold on to this matter in order to gain a good reputation in both the government and the public."
Zhang Yigui curled his lips slightly: "He also has a 'reputation in the government and the public'?" However, that was all he said, and it seemed that he had no intention of expanding on it.
Gao Pingshi smiled and said: "It is precisely because we don't have much reputation, so as we get older, we still have to fight for it if we have the opportunity."
Then he paused slightly and continued: "As for the second thing, I think he is just worried about our attitude."
"Oh?" Zhang Yigui frowned slightly and asked, "How can you see that?"
Gao pragmatically said: "The reason why Pan Xinchang was able to join the cabinet was because of our help earlier. He himself knows this. Now that he wants to side with Shen Yuanfu, this past favor seems a bit...
He is embarrassed, so how to minimize this embarrassment is something he has to consider."
The most difficult debt in the world to repay is a debt of favor. Even a scumbag often has to repay a favor debt after he owes it. No matter what Pan Sheng said, he was not a scumbag yet. Of course he would find it difficult.
, would also like to try to resolve this embarrassment. But when he had to stand in line, there were not many ways to resolve the embarrassment, so he had to make it as if he had not taken the initiative to give up his position.
As for whether others believe it or not, he believes it himself.
It may be useless to cover one's ears and steal the bell, but if you don't cover it up at all, it is a matter of attitude.
Tu Menggui intervened at this time: "I think the embarrassment is only one aspect, the more important thing is that he is afraid of irritating us."
Gao pragmatically smiled and said nothing, but his acquiescence was obvious.
Zhang Yigui nodded: "That makes sense."
Tu Menggui said pragmatically to Gao: "If Pan Xinchang is thinking this way, then I have another worry: Since he has given up the chancellor of the Ministry of Rites...will he also give up his position as a cabinet minister?"
This question is somewhat interesting, because logically speaking, it doesn't matter if Pan Sheng gives up the position of Minister of Rites, but it would be more cruel to give up the position of cabinet minister. It is simply a suicide, and he will support Xu Xuemo to the top even if he is no longer involved.
In this world, except for parents who treat their children, I am afraid there is no one who can be so kind to others.
Before Gao Pangshi could answer, Han Ji next to him spoke first: "Don't mention it, I also have this worry - since he has been in the first year of junior high school, he is not afraid of being in the fifteenth year again."
Both of them expressed their opinions in the same year, and Cheng Wenbian also said: "Yes, according to what Qiuzhen said just now, the maritime merchants in Jiangsu and Zhejiang are quite strong. Since Pan Xinchang can be forced to stand up and learn from others, then there will be
Maybe he could be forced to retire two years earlier and replace Xu Xuemo."
Song Zhihan, who was in the Ministry of Civil Affairs, also analyzed: "I also second the suggestion. Since Pan Xinchang's move has offended the emperor, he must have been prepared to give up the throne. It's just that he is ready to give up the throne completely.
The sacrifice is not small. I wonder how much profit those maritime merchants promise?"
The answer to how much profit is promised cannot be obtained by guessing, but by checking. However, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are too far away, making it inconvenient to check, and it cannot be something that can be figured out now.
Gao pragmatic pondered: "Don't worry about what they promised right now, I think we should prepare for the worst first: What should we do if Pan Xinchang really wants to give up his position as the elder of the cabinet?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone was not in a hurry to speak, and everyone began to think.
After waiting for a while, Han Ji suddenly asked Xu Guo: "What do you think of Cifu?"
Xu Guo sighed at first, and then as expected, he shook his head and said: "If he really wants to 'give way to others', we can't control it, and we can't even object. I think it's better to calm down and wait for things to happen."
As expected, we will make plans after things develop like this.”
Everyone shook their heads slightly when they heard these words, and Han Ji waved his hands repeatedly: "Everything will be done if you are prepared, and if you are not prepared, it will be ruined. How can we not have contingency plans in advance for such a big event?"
Xu Guo glanced at him, but said nothing. He knew that Han Ji said this mostly out of selfish motives, because among everyone present, Han Ji's position was the most promising for "two steps into the cabinet".
He is now the de facto leader of the Hanlin Academy. According to the Ming Dynasty tradition, this position is very convenient for him to enter the cabinet. Generally speaking, he can be transferred out of the Hanlin Academy and serve as Minister of Rites, Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Personnel, or Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Rites.
One, and generally speaking, this is to prepare for joining the cabinet, and he will usually join the cabinet within one year of being transferred.
Han Ji was so close to joining the cabinet, so of course he would be most sensitive to the position of cabinet ministers. But it's no wonder that he was the same year as Xu Guo, but he had already been in the cabinet for a long time and even became the second minister. Why should he wait blindly?
However, Han Ji is not the only one who hopes to join the cabinet. Shen Li, the Minister of Household Affairs, is also the next popular candidate within the Real School to join the cabinet.
Shen Li is fifty-three years old this year. If he were in a rural area, he would naturally be old enough to care about his grandchildren. But for an important court official, this is a very suitable age, mature enough without being too talkative.
old.
He also has many advantages. Not only was he once Zhu Yijun's lecturer in the East Palace, but later when Zhu Yijun became the emperor, he was also responsible for giving lectures on banquets and daily lectures. He even had "part-time work" several times to teach the eunuchs in the inner study. In other words, he not only
He had a close relationship with the emperor, and also had a close relationship with the people around the emperor.
At this point, he can even compare with Shen Shixing.
It's just that Zhang Xueyan and Wu Dui took the lead in entering the cabinet, and Shen Li fell one step behind and got the position of Minister of Household Affairs.
This matter itself was forced out of necessity, because Zhang Siwei suddenly resigned and Ding You resigned. The important place in the hands of the Real School of Hubu cannot be left without a big boss, so Shen Li was transferred here. And it was precisely because Shen Li was transferred to Hubu.
As Minister of the Ministry, Han Ji was able to take charge of affairs in the Hanlin Academy.
Speaking of Ding You, Shen Li has another big advantage: his parents both died one after another in the sixth year of Wanli, so he did not return to the center until the ninth year of Wanli. But now he has the advantage of "not having to worry about Ding".
At this time, Shen Li spoke: "In my opinion, if Pan Xinchang really wants to give up his position as Pavilion Elder, the person who will replace him will probably not be Xu Xuemo."
Gao Pragmatic narrowed his eyes slightly, and Xu Guo had already asked: "It's not Xu Xuemo? Who could it be?"
Shen Li said expressionlessly: "Wang Xijue."
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PS: I didn’t sleep well last night, and I was terribly sleepy when I was typing tonight. If there are any typos in this chapter, please forgive me.
