The morning court meeting is over. Logically speaking, for many people, this court meeting is already thrilling and full of twists and turns.
However, no one expected that when it was over, the emperor would throw out such heavyweight news again.
After walking out of the Wenhua Hall amidst the sounds of congratulations and compliments, and staying in Dali Temple for a long time, Du Ning was still in a daze.
The position of Minister of Dali Temple has a high or low status in the court.
Compared with the Six Ministers, he is a little higher, but there is a big gap between the position of the Seven Ministers.
At least, in most people's perception, only the Seven Ministers can be regarded as the ranks of important ministers. Although the ministers of Dali Temple are powerful, they are still classified as ordinary courtiers.
Even after the cabinet gradually rose to prominence, the cabinet ministers' voice gradually overtook the minister of Dali Temple.
For Du Ning, his most ideal expectation is to be able to join the cabinet and lead the Hanlin Academy.
In this way, although he joined the cabinet late, he was able to secure his third position in the cabinet, which was a great improvement for his official career.
This is also the reason why Du Ning is so concerned about the imperial examination case.
So in fact, when the emperor finally revealed that he was unwilling to let him take over the Imperial Academy, Du Ning was actually a little disappointed.
If he could only join the cabinet but not take over the Imperial Academy, then his status would seem to have been promoted, but in fact it was reduced.
Relatively speaking, going to the border to assist Jin Lian in organizing the military garrison may seem like being transferred away from the capital, but the military garrison matter is the most important matter for the emperor.
Once you do well, promotion is a natural thing. Even if you encounter any difficulties, Jin Lian, the Minister of Punishment, will take care of you.
However, what he didn't expect was that in the end, the emperor would give him such a big surprise.
The censor of the right capital governors over Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Datong...
This weight is not ordinary!
Not to mention anything else, the position of Right Capital Censor, Governor of Shaanxi, is still vacant to this day. Before that, the previous person who held this position was Wang Wen, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and the next one was Left Capital.
Censor Chen Yi.
Zhu Jian was once a strong contender for this official position at first, but later, he was transferred to the capital and was ordered to leave the capital to serve as an envoy to Oara. This opportunity naturally fell through.
So for Du Ning, although this appointment is a transfer out of Beijing, it is indeed a promotion. With this level of resume, when he returns to Beijing, he will at least start as a second assistant.
Even purely in terms of rank, the Censor of Youdu is a second-grade official, already on the same level as the Seventh Minister and the Assistant Minister of the Cabinet.
Therefore, this appointment is undoubtedly a promotion, and it is a special promotion, from the third grade to the second grade. If it is not just a routine increase in title, but also a transfer out of Beijing, it will definitely lead to some impeachment.
However, after Du Ning's short-term joy, he felt an inexplicable feeling of anxiety in his heart. He didn't know the reason, so that throughout the afternoon, he should have sorted out the official duties at hand and prepared to hand them over to his successor, but until
When he went to the office in the evening, he didn't even handle any official business.
This performance also made the officials below become cautious and hurriedly left the office as soon as they arrived.
Facing the golden sunset, Du Ning walked out of Dali Temple, hesitated for a moment, and finally told the boy, "...
"Go to Chen Shangshu's residence!"
The imperial edict has not yet been issued, but the emperor's golden words mean that it is basically impossible for any accident to happen, so theoretically, Du Ning and Chen Xun are already on equal terms.
However, neither Du Ning nor Chen Xun obviously had any intention of changing their relationship. Du Ning still respectfully held the disciple ceremony in front of Chen Xun, and Chen Xun had no intention of treating Du Ning as equals.
In the flower hall of the Chen Mansion, Mr. Chen took a sip of tea. He looked up at the sky, looked at Du Ning who had just straightened up after saluting, and said with a smile.
"It's not too late!"
This sentence had no beginning or end, but Du Ning was shocked and immediately straightened his expression and said.
"Please ask the teacher to give you some advice."
"sit down……"
Chen Xun waved his hand casually, and after Du Ning sat down, he looked at Du Ning with interest and asked.
"Do you feel something is wrong? Then tell me!"
Du Ning nodded honestly and said.
"The teacher has insight into people's hearts and plans the affairs of the court, and the students are not as good as him. However, if your majesty promotes you like this this time, no matter how stupid the student is, he still knows that it is easy to fall when he climbs high."
"Youdu Yushi..."
Du Ning gave a wry smile and said with a complicated expression.
"Your Majesty's trust is not light!"
"What, are you scared?"
Chen Xun's face was calm. He looked up at Du Ning and asked softly.
Seeing this situation, Du Ning immediately straightened up and said.
"Teacher has learned clearly that for the sake of the country, students should go through fire and water without hesitation, and rectifying the army is an act that benefits the country and the people. Although it is difficult, it is precisely because of this that loyal and upright ministers are needed to step forward. Since the imperial court has a destiny
, how can students be afraid?"
These words were righteous, but Chen Xun was obviously not satisfied and still looked at him without speaking.
Seeing this situation, Du Ning shrank his head and said in a slightly softer voice.
"After all, the major policy of rectifying the military camp is carried out by His Majesty himself. With Yu Shaobao and Jin Shangshu sitting in charge, students feel that no matter how difficult the matter is, it can be solved."
"In that case, why are you here looking for me?"
Chen Xun asked indifferently, and Du Ning was immediately choked and speechless.
After hesitating for a moment, Du Ning looked a little confused and said.
"The students just... just feel a little uneasy..."
"Why are you upset?"
Chen Xun looked at Du Ning, but instead of 'pointing him out' as Du Ning expected, he kept asking questions.
Du Ning could not answer this sentence.
Because he himself doesn't know where this uneasiness comes from...
The two of them just sat like this, Chen Xun was not in a hurry, sipping tea one after another, just waiting for Du Ning to think clearly.
He valued this student very much. Because of this, he had given Du Ning too much guidance in the past, but in court, one could not always rely on others.
In particular, if Du Ning wants to continue to advance, he must be able to have his own way of becoming an official.
What Chen Xun told him was Chen Xun's stuff, but there were some things that he had to figure out on his own!
Chen Xun did not tell Du Ning about this intention, but after many years of understanding, Du Ning understood in his heart that as a teacher, he always had his own deep meaning in doing things.
Therefore, he did not ask further questions, but followed Chen Xun's train of thought and began to think...
Why does he feel uneasy?
Is it because he was suddenly promoted and received too much attention and compliments?
As soon as this thought arose, Du Ning couldn't help but shake his head.
After all, he has been working hard in this court for so many years. Although he cannot say that he has developed a normal mind, he will not be uneasy just because of a temporary promotion.
Even if this promotion is beyond his imagination.
So, is it because the political rectification of military camps will encounter many obstacles, so he is afraid and avoids it?
Maybe, but it's certainly not the main reason.
Although what Du Ning just said to Chen Xun sounded high-sounding, it was not really false.
Du Siqing should now be called Governor Du. Although he has outstanding talents and profound qualifications in the Hanlin Academy, he is not the best in every aspect.
The reason why he was valued by Chen Xun was largely related to his character.
Du Ning has a strong literati spirit. From this perspective, he is actually somewhat similar to Yu Qian.
However, Duning's biggest shortcoming is that he is not pure.
He not only has the ambition to serve the country and the people, but also has the desire to pursue an official career. He is also a person who cares about the reputation of scholars.
However, he couldn't be as selfless as Yu Qian who devoted himself to serving the country without sacrificing his own life. He couldn't accept that he was working hard like Xu Youzhen, and he didn't have the courage to lose his reputation like losing his life like Xiao Fan.
His character is contradictory and hesitant, so most of the time, he is more inclined to follow the guidance and suggestions of his teacher Chen Xun.
At this thought, Du Ning had a vague realization in his heart. After hesitating for a moment, he lowered his head in shame and said.
"Students are too dependent on teachers!"
In fact, he was not uneasy about the sudden promotion, nor did he want to retreat because the situation he was about to face was too complicated.
The reason why I feel irritable is simple.
This appointment by the emperor is obviously not a temporary assignment, but a long-term appointment.
In other words, from now on, Du Ning will bid farewell to the environment that he has been accustomed to for a long time since joining the officialdom and go to work in a local area.
In the past, Du Ning also went out to Beijing for business, but the time was generally short. But this time, after he left the capital, he had to take care of everything by himself. It was not just Chen Xun who lost.
There are also his classmates and familiar colleagues.
He is not afraid of local government affairs, but what he is afraid of is this way of fighting alone.
This is a method that he has never been exposed to or tried since he became an official. All his connections and past experiences will almost have to be pushed back to the local level.
Although Du Ning was ambitious and eager for an official career, he was concerned about his reputation as a scholar and had been under the protection of Chen Xun for many years, so he was not enterprising enough.
This kind of contradictory mentality manifests itself in unexplained irritability and uneasiness.
However, after thinking about this clearly, the inexplicable emotion in Du Ning's heart suddenly calmed down.
"Buddhism explains how the mind sees its nature and eliminates illusions, which is the right path."
"The fact that you can think this through clearly shows that you have indeed made great progress during this period..."
Chen Xun smiled and nodded, with a kind expression on his face.
After a brief pause, Chen Xun restrained his smile, sighed, and said.
"Although it has not been smooth sailing since you entered the official position, you have not suffered any major setbacks. This is not a bad thing. To tell you the truth, when I was in the cabinet before, I always wanted you to follow me into the cabinet. Firstly,
Give me a helping hand, and I will be able to teach you something and stabilize the inheritance of Qingliu."
It should be said that when one reaches Chen Xun's status, many things do not need to be kept secret at all.
He is not a selfless person. Although he cultivated Du Ning because of his talent and character, it was also because Du Ning could help him.
Du Ning has known this for a long time, but he has no dissatisfaction.
The most rare thing about being an official is to be guided and protected by a famous teacher. Although Chen Xun had the intention of cultivating disciples like them, he did protect them from wind and rain and made their official career a lot smoother.
.
"The students feel ashamed that they have not been able to help the teacher. In recent years, they have caused a lot of trouble to the teacher and made the teacher worry..."
Chen Xun waved his hand, obviously not wanting to hear such kind words. He looked up at Du Ning and said.
"You don't have to belittle yourself. When I was away from the capital, Gao Shiyong went his own way. You were able to take care of yourself and save a glimmer of hope for Qingliu. You have lived up to the respect that I have for you as a teacher."
"So after I returned to Beijing, although I was not in the cabinet, I always hoped that you could enter the cabinet and have a good relationship with the emperor. After all, you are still young and there is still a long way to go."
"As for the Hanlin Academy, I know you have always been thinking about it, but nothing in the world is perfect. What you gain is a blessing, and what you lose is also destiny. If you are too constrained by it, it will tie your hands and feet and make you lose your original intention."
These words went straight to his heart, making Du Ning think deeply. After a moment, he spoke.
"Teacher Xie taught me that the student was indeed too obsessed before. Today, when His Majesty asked the question, the student was indeed very hesitant. However, after he really gave up on the Imperial Academy, he felt much more open-minded, as if he had lost some baggage."
In fact, after the morning court ended, when he recalled the scene, Du Ning realized why Chen Xun had no reaction to his hesitation at that time.
Because the Hanlin Academy was of extraordinary significance to Du Ning, the decision to give up could only be made by Du Ning.
If other people interfere, then even Chen Xun, the teacher, will eventually be left with a knot in his heart.
Du Ning may finally be able to understand that Chen Xun is doing it for his own good, but he still feels sorry for it. Only when he understands and lets go can he truly get rid of this bondage.
Seeing that Du Ning understood his intention, Chen Xun nodded with satisfaction and continued.
"If you can think clearly, now you have entered the ranks of important ministers. This is a very critical time for you."
"Whether you can finally take this step depends on opportunities, and more importantly, whether you can have your own way of being an official."
"In the final analysis, everything I teach you is my experience and may not apply to you. You have to walk your own path."
"In the past, this path may have been the cabinet, but now that Qingliu is declining, it is even more difficult to get promoted by the cabinet alone. Therefore, you have to go out, visit places, and do things. Only in this way,
You will find that many things are not as simple as you think."
"Only by doing things can you find your own way. When you come back after leaving Beijing this time, I hope that you can have your own way, which is different from Chen Dezun..."