In the early morning of July, there was a hint of coolness in the noisy air.

The city of Beijing is waking up like a black cloth is being lifted off. The sky appears to be a vast expanse of white. There is no trace of the rising sun in the east. The doors of many blue-brick houses have been pushed open.

Different from the information age in later generations where everyone will know about any trouble on the other side of the world. Even if a bad murder case occurs in the north of the city, most people in the south of the city may not know about it the next day.

This is an era of low-paced life. "Work at sunrise and rest at sunset" is the true portrayal of most people. Many people are destined to live a mediocre life.

Even the people in the capital are busy trying to support their families, doing the same thing over and over again every day. The owners of many shops and stalls have been doing this for decades, and their figures often range from young people to senior citizens.

In his old age, he witnessed with his own eyes the changes of the times in Beijing.

"It's a radish that's green inside and outside!"

"Roasted ginkgo - ginkgo!"

"Rice, millet, cowpea, mung bean, white flour porridge with one hook and five lumps - sugar pea buns!"

…

There are already many vendors on the streets early in the morning, selling vegetables, snacks, breakfast, etc., but they are constantly selling to pedestrians.

Chen Laosi is a very common small vendor in Beijing. He has been engaged in the fried ginkgo business for 30 years. Because he makes the most delicious fried ginkgo and adheres to the principle of being affordable, he has won many regular customers.

Although life was hard and he barely got a little oily during the holidays and New Year, he thought that many people's life was even harder than him, so he didn't complain in his heart.

Especially since last year, there have been fewer local gangsters collecting protection fees, which has made his life significantly better. He has already paid off the foreign debt he owed for marrying his daughter-in-law.

"Here comes a pack of ginkgo!"

Lin Fu came to the stall, threw a few coins directly on the table and said.

Although he is the escort captain of the dignified left minister of the Ministry of Etiquette, he still often interacts with people at the bottom, but he likes all kinds of strange delicacies like this in the capital.

Chen Laosi recognized Lin Fu at a glance, but he took out the hot ginkgo nuts from the wooden basin next to him and put them in. He handed them over with a smile and said: "Sir, I have already prepared them. They are all the biggest and most beautiful."

It’s full and I’ve specially reserved it for you!”

Although Lin Fu is just a low-status guard, he is already a big shot in the eyes of these low-level people, and he has been swayed by Lin Haoran.

He stretched his neck to take a look at the big and plump ginkgo fruits. He could not help but be more pleased with the little old man. He first glanced at the official sedan behind him, then grabbed one while eating and said: "I can eat it every day."

You can’t come here every day, so you don’t need to make a special trip to keep it for me!”

Although his status has changed, he still maintains the simplicity of a Changlin villager, and is not willing to take advantage of others too much, let alone cause too much trouble to others.

"The old man still knows right from wrong. Just because you are on duty for Lin Qingtian, my little old man has to prepare for you every day!" Chen Laosi said seriously.

While he was talking, a sedan chair passed by the stall.

Lin Fu took out a piece of silver from his waist, threw it directly on the table and said: "You really don't need to keep it for me, but this is a reward from my family. He said that your ginkgo is well roasted, but he has never eaten it.

Have you ever tasted such fragrant ginkgo!"

"Lin...Lin Qingtian ate my roasted ginkgo, and said...that my ginkgo is delicious?" Chen Laosi's eyes widened, and his whole old face looked unbelievable.

Lin Fu ate another ginkgo and explained with a serious face: "Yesterday morning he saw me eating ginkgo, so he went to buy some. He also asked me where to buy it, so he asked me to buy him some more this morning.

!”

Chen Laosi had already believed Lin Fu's words. He swallowed hard, but suggested even more diligently: "Then I... I will bake it again!"

"No need!" Lin Fu ate happily and said with a serious face: "My family has an extraordinary status, and you may get some from me in the future. If you really miss my family's kindness, don't follow me.

Someone mentioned that my adults ate your ginkgo!"

This is undoubtedly a piece of advice. The emperor's diet has a strict "anti-poison" system, and Lin Haoran's identity and status are not low, so naturally he cannot eat anything of unknown origin.

"The little old man must be as tight-lipped as...a hammer!" Chen Laosi originally wanted to show off, but after hearing Lin Fu's advice, he hurriedly expressed his stance.

Lin Fu didn't care about this little old man who couldn't even understand the idioms. In fact, he had only learned some words in the past few years, so he just took the bag of ginkgo and hurried towards the sedan in front.

He likes his current life very much. He protects the most important person of the Changlin family, allowing the clan members in Guangdong to enjoy a carefree life. And he can often get Lin Haoran's favor, and he is doubly so here.

Respected.

Lin Haoran, who was sitting in the sedan with his eyes closed and concentrating, naturally had no idea what had just happened. His mind was thinking about what happened last night, and how to help Zhou Youqing win the appointment of Wai Lang and Pan Jixun, the governor of the river.

Like ordinary people, the life of officials seems dull.

Lin Haoran went to the Rites Yamen on time every day to report and handle official duties related to the Rites Yamen, and then went home to the Yamen, followed by a series of social events, which almost occupied his entire life.

Since Li Chunfang stayed in Xiyuan last night, today's ceremony was changed to be hosted by Lin Haoran.

Lin Haoran was already in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Rites. Since Li Chunfang was an uninvolved leader, Lin Haoran actually took care of many affairs of the Ministry of Rites.

In the past, there were still people who would question Lin Haoran because of his youth, but after Lin Haoran showed his super ability, there were no longer any voices in this regard.

Lin Haoran presided over the meal as usual, but unlike Li Chunfang's relatively tolerant attitude, he paid more attention to the principle of clear rewards and punishments, so that no official in the Rites Yamen dared to be absent without reason.

Perhaps for this reason, many officials privately chose to call Lin Haoran "Lin Lei Gong" as the people of Leizhou called him.

After midnight, Lin Haoran had just returned to Zuo Shilang's office, but had not yet reached the backyard. As a result, Gao Gong had already paid a visit. The two of them were colleagues now, so they had to interact more frequently.

Gao Gong didn't let anyone know Li Chunfang yesterday, so naturally he walked in directly when he came to Lin Haoran's place.

Lin Haoran was not a person who liked to put on official airs. After being reminded by Lin Fu, he stood there and waited for Gao Gong with a smile, and invited Gao Gong into the living room at the back.

The officials in Zuo Shilang's office had been screened by Lin Haoran. These were all people who could handle things, but they brought tea as soon as possible.

Gao Gong was an authentic Henanese and not a tea person. He looked at the layout of the living room with great interest. He was already comparing it with his right servant, the Yamen Office, and found that this place was indeed better.

Regardless of whether he admits it or not, the right minister is indeed a step ahead of the left minister.

Lin Haoran was holding a teacup and pouring hot tea, but he saw through Gao Gong's thoughts and asked straight to the point: "Uncle You Zong, you came to see me so early, but you have something to discuss?"

Among the six yamen, the Ministry of Rites is the famous Qingshui yamen. Regardless of the Seal Department, the Huitong Hall and the Jiaofang Department, they are all not important branch yamen, so the internal affairs of the Rites Department have always been very harmonious.

Of course, there are exceptions, and various signs indicate that Gao Gong is no longer willing to remain calm.

"Haha... Since we are colleagues, we don't need to be so different. Let's match our font size!" Gao Gong looked at Lin Haoran with gentle eyes and suggested in a friendly manner.

Lin Fu, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but glance at Gao Gong, and he really made a wishful thinking. Now, if the left and right uncles were called the uncles, then Lin Haoran's status would be respected, but Gao Gong took advantage of this name.

However, he also knew in his heart that Gao Gong was King Yu's most senior teacher and would definitely be a very famous elder in the future. This person was a good friend but not an enemy.

Lin Haoran slowly took a sip of tea, then raised his eyes to look at Gao Gong who was full of expectations and said: "Master Zhengtang told me the same thing before, but since we are members of the officialdom, we naturally have to abide by some official rules.

We follow the rules, but we don’t dare to break the rules, for fear of offending the nobles. For this reason, I often lament to my wife: In officialdom, you can’t help yourself!”

Although he did not want to be an enemy of Gao Gong, he understood that in the officialdom, he could not be polite at all times. If he really wanted to be a good person, Xu Jie would probably still be the second assistant until now.

Now, his position is already in front of Gao Gong, but there is no reason to give way to him. If he really reaches the position where he will fight to the death, he will not mind taking action against Gao Gong, even if he is the future emperor's master.

"Lingnan, you are really too particular. You are still so young, how can you act as pedantically as those old men?" Gao Gong frowned and looked at Lin Haoran while he was preaching, but saw that Lin Haoran was still as steady as Mount Tai.

He turned to retreat and said: "Haha... But if you really don't want to, then it's just me being sentimental. Our friendship hasn't reached this stage yet!"

When Lin Fu heard Gao Gong playing the emotional card, he couldn't help but turned to look at Lin Haoran worriedly. If he took this step back and gained Gao Gong's friendship, the deal seemed to be a good one.

"Although I haven't reached seventy yet, I still understand: follow your heart and never go beyond the rules, so... I don't want to!" Lin Haoran quoted the words of the saint, looked up at Gao Gong and refused directly.

He said these four words very firmly and decisively, nakedly expressing his attitude to Gao Gong, and defeating Gao Gong's attempt to blur the order between the two.

As for Gao Gong's so-called friendship, it is simply nonsense. If he really believes in Gao Gong, then the officialdom battles he has been having in recent years have really been in vain.

Gao Gong didn't expect Lin Haoran to reject the offer so sloppily. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, but he couldn't help but look at this junior in embarrassment.

He had been a Jinshi for 20 years during the Jiajing reign and would be the most senior imperial master in the future, but he had to be placed under this junior, which made him feel quite uncomfortable.

However, he seemed to underestimate the left minister of the Ministry of Rites. He was able to sit in this position not by luck, but by his political achievements.

After all, Gao Gong was an old man in the officialdom, and he could handle embarrassing things with ease, so he said calmly: "Uncle Zuo Zong is a cheerful person, and it is really a pleasure to be a colleague with you! In this case, I will say it bluntly,

The disadvantages of the clan have reached the point where there is no need to delay, but I don’t know how the young uncle will deal with it?"

Lin Haoran held the tea lid and poured the tea lightly, but he didn't understand why Gao Gong was so concerned about Zongfan's affairs, but he asked calmly: "This matter is still being weighed, but I don't know if Uncle Youzong has any good ideas."

?”

"My annual income last year was less than 20 million dan, and the total number of sects and clans last year exceeded 800 dan. Therefore, this matter needs heavy fire to cure it!" Gao Gong's face was full of solemnity, and his eyes looked firm.

Lin Haoran said.

Lin Haoran's heart moved slightly. Gao Gong should be a staunch heavy boxer. He took a sip of tea and said seriously: "How to use heavy fire, please give me some advice from Uncle You Zong!"

"This matter can be divided into two steps! One is to cut the nobility, control the population of the clan, and let some of the descendants of the clan who are descendants of the clan be registered as civil servants, allowing them to earn their own living and participate in scholars, farmers, industry and commerce; the other is to cut the lumi, we are going to

The amount of money that clan members can receive has been reduced to less than 20%, and the imperial court is not allowed to pay more than two million dan to the clan every year!" Gao Gong seemed to be well prepared, and was about to tell all his thoughts.

Lin Haoran heard Gao Gong's plan, looked at Gao Gong's eyes for a moment, and said seriously: "If such a plan is sent to Xiyuan, the emperor will definitely not accept it!"

"What is not a matter that is full of obstacles, but if you don't fight for it with all your strength, how can you know the result?" Gao Gong clenched his fists, and then said seductively: "If this matter can be accomplished, the young uncle will surely be passed down through the ages!"

Lin Haoran discovered that Gao Gong was really not a good lobbyist. There was no possibility of success if this matter was not discussed. If this matter really came to pass, he would be drowned in the spit of those clan members.

Lin Fu looked at Lin Haoran curiously, curious about Lin Haoran's choice.

Lin Haoran took a sip of tea, but shook his head solemnly and said: "The current emperor will not agree, even if our Ministry of Rites persists so much, there is no chance of winning!"

Since becoming the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, he has spent more energy studying the current emperor. However, according to his observations and conclusions, it is impossible for this person who has benefited the most from the Ming Dynasty system to infringe the interests of the sect and vassal in such a big way.

The main reason why the Zongfan Lumi system is being implemented now is that the imperial court cannot afford the clan's annual Zongfan Lumi expenditure of more than 8 million shi, and it is also worried that the Han royal family will cause trouble in Xi'an.
Chapter completed!