Lingshi Hutong, Lin Mansion.

Night fell quietly, and the lights were on the entire mansion. Sometimes officials came to visit, but most of the officials left after giving gifts or postings.

Although Xu Jie relied on Longqing's trust and had greater opinions in the court, Lin Qingran took on the banner of the guardian ritual and resolutely became the leader of the civil service group.

It is precisely because this mansion built by Hanlin in the past has become the number one in the capital, causing the status of the butler Lin Jinyuan to rise.

Lin Weiran, wearing black home clothes, followed suit, but he was like he was integrating his diligence into his bones and was reading information from all over the country in his study.

Thanks to his perfect intelligence network, he can clearly understand the situation in the two capitals, thirteen provinces and even Mongolia, and give him a clear understanding of this country.

The principles of governing the country and curing the disease are roughly the same. Only by clearly understanding the root of the disease can we prescribe the right medicine and adopt correct policies to solve the various problems of this dynasty.

But seeing that there are still business transactions among officials in various places, he knew that there was still a long way to go if he wanted to change local corruption.

With the different ideas of many officials, his eyes are not only at the level of officials, but in fact, the corruption of officials is ten times more serious or a hundred times more serious.

For example, when he was governing Leizhou Prefecture, Qian Dianli was even more harmful than Jia Bao. After all, Jia Bao mainly bullies the evil market, while Qian Dianli squeezed money by exploiting the people.

In view of this, he is recently drafting a plan to rectify the corruption of officials, and the first thing to do is to correct is the phenomenon of buying and selling "official positions".

Later, Sun Jixiang and Wang Zhideng came to the outer hall to use tea.

"Dongweng, everything you explained yesterday has been done, but is this matter too much..." Sun Jixiang looked up at Lin Weiran who was walking out, and said worriedly.

Lin Qingran raised his hand to stop Sun Jixiang from speaking, and said confidently: "Wu Daoxing has the ability to be in heaven, and even his life span is calculated by him. What's wrong with believing in this matter once?"

Wang Zhideng, who was using tea, heard the answer, but looked at Lin Weiran in surprise.

I thought Lin Xuran was half-believing and half-doubted about divination, and never placing things on illusory things. But Lin Xuran faced the great event of becoming a crown prince this time, but this time, he only placed them on small variables.

However, he also knew that the current situation was not optimistic, especially the queen had given up on struggle, and it was the general trend to enthrone the eldest son of the emperor Zhu Yijun as the crown prince.

"Since Dong Weng said that, I hope Master Wu is really capable of enlightenment!" Sun Jixiang said reluctantly when he saw Lin Qiran's determination.

Lin Weiran sat down in the first seat, took the tea from A Duo, but said lightly to Sun Jixiang and Wang Zhideng: "There are frequent movements in Mongolia recently, but I don't know if they really can't hold back, or they want to force the Shanxi Gang to advance as soon as possible.

A plan for mutual market.”

"Dongweng, we think it is the latter! Altan is now in trouble with internal and external affairs. Not to mention that it is difficult for them to plunder rich materials when they invade the Ming Dynasty. Once they get into evil with us, they will lose the solution to their lack of materials. I think Altan will still be patient.

For a while!" Wang Zhideng and Sun Jixiang exchanged glances and responded seriously.

Lin Qingran actually made such a judgment, but he was not too blindly confident. He asked seriously: "The Mongols are in the spring and summer, but I don't know if they can stand until the end of spring?"

Wang Zhideng turned his head and looked at Sun Jixiang. Sun Jixiang replied calmly: "It's hard for us to make a conclusion about this matter! Now I'm afraid it depends on Xu Jie's reaction. If Xu Jie never mentioned the matter of the trade, then

Altan may tear up the tribute treaty in the late spring and loot our Ming Dynasty!”

"Dongweng, I have discussed this with Mr. Sun many times, but combined with various variables! If the court has not mentioned the trade, there is a 70% chance that Altan will launch an offensive in the late spring, and now Altan is stockpiling troops on the border

It can be both a threat or a pre-war preparation!" Wang Zhideng looked at Lin Qinran and further interpreted Sun Jixiang's views.

Lin Qingran knew that Sun Jixiang and Wang Zhideng were real strategists, but did not make a conclusion lightly, but instead made the most possible judgment based on the current situation.

To be honest, he does not want Altan to start a war at this time. Once the border is out of defense and Altan really hits the city of Beijing, his efforts over the years are likely to be wasted.

Lin Qingran picked up the teacup and took a sip of the tea silently and said, "If you want to prosper the country, you should strengthen your troops! No matter whether Altan attacks in the late spring, the Ming Dynasty must prepare for war. Altan is the sting of the Ming Dynasty's heart.

!”

"If the defense is OK, but Dongweng wants to recover Hetao or the northern expedition to the desert, I am afraid that the officials in the court will not agree, nor will the emperor agree!" Wang Zhideng knew that Lin Shiran was an authentic war pro-sect, but said bitterly.

.

Lin Qingran held the tea lid and poured tea water lightly, but said firmly: "I'm sure you don't care about it. As long as I'm still in this position, one day I will push the Northern Expedition! This is not me, Lin, who wants to make achievements, and

It is not that I want to leave my name in history, but that Mongolia has long become the biggest inner demon of the Ming Dynasty. Only by driving Mongolia back to the desert can we drive away the inner demon of our Chinese nation, and in this way, we can truly blink and see the vast but full

The ocean of opportunity!”

At the end, his eyes looked brightly at the south, as if he had seen the gold mines in Luzon, spices from the South and high-quality Australian iron ore.

In fact, the Ming Dynasty did not need to run to the American continent in the east, nor did it need to go to Europe that emerged with barbaric looting. It only needed to develop resources in the south to be enough for China to stand at the top of the world.

However, the world is a mess of people. The frequent invasions and looting of Mongolia, coupled with the incompetence and greed of the border troops, made the eyes of the peddlers and pawns stay in the north.

That's right, he knew that if he didn't drive Mongolia in the north back to the desert and don't send Altan's head to sacrifice to the sky, then the Chinese nation's gaze would always stay in the north.

"I, Wang Zhideng, have nothing else to do, I hope to help Dongweng all my life!" Wang Zhideng's heart suddenly felt warm, but he had already regarded Lin Qingran as his lord, and even expressed his loyalty.

Sun Jixiang sighed sadly. It was not that he was unwilling to follow Lin Qingran forever, but he was really old and looked at Wang Zhideng with envy.

Lin Qingran knew that it would take two or three years to prepare to promote the Northern Expedition, and also said with emotion: "I feel very at ease with two people following me to overcome all obstacles!"

To be honest, he actually does not like war, and he does not want to spend a lot of financial expenditure on the northern expedition. But he knows: if this inner demon cannot be completely solved, then the Chinese nation cannot stand in the world.

peak.

That's right, since he served as the Minister of War, he has not trained defensive generals, but rather brave generals like Huo Qubing who sealed the wolf and Juxu.

The night is getting darker, and a bright moon hangs high in the sky.

Lin Jinyuan walked through the corridor into the front hall of the study.

Wang Zhideng and Sun Jixiang thought they were some big shots coming, and were about to get up to avoid them, but they heard Lin Jinyuanhui’s report: “Dongweng, the new scholar’s ​​Yuan Zhang is visiting endlessly!”

"Isn't this a candidate who was rumored to be taken care of by Mr. Li? How could he come to the door on his own initiative?" After Wang Zhideng learned the identity of the visitor, he looked at Lin Shiran in confusion.

"Let him come in!" Lin Xuran gave a command to Lin Jinyuan, and then said to Wang Zhideng and Sun Jixiang: "I see him make a gesture to relieve some public pressure from public opinion, and you don't need to avoid it!"

"Dongweng met this new student Huiyuan?" Wang Zhideng was stunned at first, and then asked in confusion.

A bitter look hung on the corner of Lin Qinran's mouth, which told him about his trip to Yangzhou. It was Chen Xiaoxiao's case that allowed Lin Qinran to take the opportunity to repair the Yangzhou officialdom and finally successfully implemented the Salt Law.

As for the wronged Zhang Wujin, he thought he was a scholar with little knowledge, but he didn't want to pass the exam after years of hard work.

Not long after, a young scholar was led in by Lin Jinyuan.

After many years, this scholar who was once unkempt and dirty now seems to be wearing clean clothes, his eyes are more stable, and his whole body is filled with indifference after experiencing the vicissitudes of the world.

"Student Zhang Wuji pays homage to Mr. Lin, thanks Mr. Lin for his rescue!" Zhang Wuji came here with the butler and bowed respectfully to Lin Weiran.

Although he is no longer a prisoner of that year, and now he has been ranked as a Huiyuan, he can enter the Hanlin Academy, but he is still like an ant in front of this powerful Master Lin.

However, he still retained that gratitude in his heart. If Lin Qingran had not tried to slander him, then he would have been a dead soul under the knife.

Lin Xuran looked at the new student Yuanlang and said gently: "I am very pleased that you can achieve what you have today, but I don't know what happened to your younger brother Liu Hui?"

"My younger brother has also been cleansed since that time, and now he is the captain of the guard in Yangzhou United Money House. The money he went to Beijing this time was funded by him!" Zhang Wujin heard Lin Shiran's voice after many years, and was also suppressed.

Excited.

Lin Qingran learned about the situation of these two brothers and nodded gently and said, "You brothers have experienced life and death, and should support you in the future! But you are an official now and you are about to be rich and noble, but you must be careful in your words and actions.

And your family must not do anything that is harmful to the world!”

"Students keep in mind the teachings of Master Lin!" Zhang Wujin knew Lin Junran's integrity and integrity, and immediately promised.

Wang Zhideng and Sun Jixiang were observing Zhang Wujin. Seeing that Zhang Wujin was not completely lost by this fame, they couldn't help but nodded gently.

Lin Qingran mainly acted as a gesture. Seeing that the purpose had been achieved, he raised his hand and said, "Don't be careless in the palace examination. You should go back and prepare for the exam, and strive to win a good ranking!"

"Thank you, Master, for your advice, the student!" Zhang Wujin thanked him respectfully again, but looked up at Lin Qingran again, and then left properly.

Seeing Zhang Wujin leave, Wang Zhideng seemed puzzled and said, "Dongweng, you can completely ignore Zhang Wujin tonight, but why did you want to help Mr. Li?"

"One, he was my former boss, and he was still a little affectionate after all; two, do you... really think that Mr. Li is really cheating?" Lin Qingran picked up the teacup and asked seriously.

Wang Zhideng shook his head with certainty and said, "Old Li Ge Lao will not cheat, but the three of them become tigers. This matter will make El Ge Lao Li unable to take care of himself!"

"I agree with Dongweng's approach! Now Dongweng is the leader of all officials, so he should show his mind, rather than watching the fire from the other side of the river!" Sun Jixiang looked at Wang Zhideng, but expressed his serious attitude.

Wang Zhideng considered Sun Jixiang's words and specifically pointed out Lin Junran's current leadership status, but found that he was indeed obsessed with Xiaodao just now.

Things are as they expected, and are also moving in the direction they foresee!

As news that Lin Junran received Zhang Wujin and someone came up with the fact that Lin Junran saved Zhang Wujin in the past, doubts about Li Chunfang's fraud also subsided.

"This time is probably just a coincidence. Zhang Wujin ranked eighth in Yingtian's provincial examination!"

"Since Zhang Wujin came out of prison, he has been staying at home for three years and devoted himself to studying!"

"But it's more than that. In order to motivate himself, Zhang Wujin always crows with roosters, hanging his beam and stabbing his thighs every day!"

...

Unlike many people expected, they mainly dispelled their doubts that Zhang Wujin had experienced life and death, and believed that Zhang Wujin was a person with great enlightenment. This was why he passed the Huiyuan fame and fortune with his real skills, which immediately changed the public opinion in the capital.

The same is true. As Lin Qingran took the initiative to meet Zhang Wujin, this past incident was successfully introduced, and the storm about Li Chunfang's fraud also subsided.

The February examination ended, and the March palace examination was immediately put on the agenda.

Although it is incredible that you have passed the imperial examination but have not participated in the palace examination, this kind of thing does exist.

According to statistics, there were 56 people who passed the imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty who did not participate in the palace examination. Except for the 11 people who did not participate in the palace examination due to the death of the Ming Dynasty, the remaining 45 people died without delaying the examination.

There are many reasons for this situation, but it is inseparable from one word: inverse.

Inner volume is not a unique phenomenon in later generations, and it is even more so in this Ming Dynasty. Like Huang Guan, who won six yuan in the early days, his level is probably difficult to win the Jinshi until now.

With the similarity of intra-volume education in later generations, the competition between them is becoming increasingly fierce. The transformation from competition for talent to all-round competition for diligence and various educational resources is also one of the important reasons why it is becoming increasingly difficult for poor families to have a noble son.

.

Judging from the top scorers in recent years, almost all of them are rich or noble, all of them have children with certain family resources, but few of them have poor children who have made a comeback from poverty.

It is precisely because the educational resources of the Ming Dynasty tend to be the official and gentry class. With the existence of the intra-revolutionary phenomenon, the age of the new Jinshi has become increasingly aging.

However, this phenomenon can no longer influence the situation in the court. In addition, Lin Weiran's style of advocating policy theory through "Talking about the Ancient and the Current" also subtly influenced the standards for selecting scholars in the imperial examination.

As February is about to end, the investigation results of Dali Temple are also officially released.
Chapter completed!