Shuntian Gongyuan.

The exam period is imminent, and for the main candidate Xu Guo, he dare not neglect at all.

Among the several major scholars, although Xu Guo was the second assistant, he had no sense of existence.

The cabinet bachelors all have the opportunity to serve as lecturers. Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, and Wang Jiaping have several years of experience, but Xu Guo only served as lecturers before the emperor ascended the throne, and the time was shortest.

Whether it was a short time, the emperor did not trust Xu. For example, in the 14th year of Wanli, Xu was originally the chief examiner, but the emperor passed by Xu and appointed the third auxiliary Wang Xijue as the chief examiner. This action was really slap in the face.

If Xu does not have the trust of the emperor, does it have a foundation among civil servants? No, Xu's entry into the cabinet was specially enrolled under the order of the Central Government, and there was no recommendation from officials above the fifth rank in Beijing.

The emperor did not trust Xu Guo, so why did he enter the cabinet simply? That was what Zhang Siwei recommended to the emperor alone when he returned to his hometown and was so sad. Xu Guo was able to enter the cabinet.

Xu Guo also knew that he was not relying on both ends, so after he entered the cabinet, he kept holding Shen Shixing's thighs.

With the support of Shen Shixing, Xu Guo has trained many disciples and former officials in the cabinet for nearly six years, and behind it, there are financial support from Hui merchants, which can be considered as gradually forming his own political power.

Xu Guo chatted with Zhu Geng, the Minister of Rites in Zhigongtang. Both Hui and Zhejiang were well-developed in business, and the two were both good at accidents, so they got along very well.

The two of them used their meal and then started to talk about a game.

Zhu Geng is a master of chess. He likes to find someone to play chess in both the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Rites. His chess skills depend on the opponent's official position. When the opponent's official position is higher than him, Zhu Geng often performs extremely poorly. When the opponent's official position is lower than him, Zhu Geng wins more than loses less, but he doesn't win much, just like this.

Over time, everyone knew that Zhu Geng's chess skills were of a great power player, but he did not admit it. His reputation for playing chess after a meal spread.

Xu Guo has always been a bad game, so today's game is not surprising, and both sides are difficult to distinguish.

At this moment, the people below reported that someone was asking for a meeting outside the tribute court.

At this time, Xu Guo was fighting a robbery and was a little undecided. For him, Zhu Geng was playing this chess right in his heart, and he was unwilling to let go no matter what. But at this time, he heard that it was Lin Yanchao. Xu Guo immediately frowned and asked in the chess box: "What?"

Xu Guo has been in the cabinet for several years and has cultivated the prime minister's demeanor. Everything is ahead and not moving. But when he hears a string of long names, he cannot remain touched. He knows something happened.

After hearing the officials' reports, Xu Guozheng hesitated and asked, "Brother Shaoqin...what do you think?"

Zhu Geng replied: "As the chief examiner, the chief examiner, you can completely avoid any official, but Lin Zongbo and Xu Zongbo are both officials of the Ministry of Rites and are responsible for the imperial examinations, so it is okay to meet him at first sight, so I'd better ask the chief examiner to decide everything."

Xu Guo nodded and said, "I just don't know what big thing happened, let's see first."

In the court, Lin Yanchao, the left and right ministers of the Ministry of Rites, Xu Xianqing led the terrified eunuch Sun Long, and Zhao Nanxing of the Ministry of Personnel, and the rest of the officials were outside the door.

After Lin Yanchao reported it, Xu Guo asked the first sentence, "Did Yuan Fu ask about this matter?"

Lin Yanchao replied that Yuan Fu had already left the door and thanked him for everything, and he followed Master Xu's arrangements.

Xu Guo sighed after hearing this.

Not long after, Xu Guo, Lin Yanchao and Sun Long joined the palace.

Xu Guo directly informed him in front of Huangji Gate to meet the emperor. During this period, Sun Long kept leaving, but the two of them refused to let go.

After the Wenshu answered the letter, Xu Guo's face was unstable. The spring examination began soon. Zhang Jing actually detained the same examiner and more than 20 candidates. The Ministry of Rites came forward several times, and even the left assistant minister Lin Yanchao came to ask for someone else to see him. This was too arrogant.

But Xu Guo was unwilling to offend Zhang Jing rashly, but he was unavoidable in this matter because Shen Shixing's note pointed out Xu Guo's name.

Therefore, when Xu Guo came to the palace, he directly asked to face the emperor, but he was also very cautious. He did not dare to take the rest. If he brought too many, he was afraid of being suspicious of forcing the palace, so he went directly to Huangji Gate with Lin Yanchao and the others.

On the other hand, Sun Long was so scared that his legs were weak and his soul was gone.

Lin Yanchao and Xu Guo saw this scene.

The weather was very cold and the wind was biting. Both of them were wearing cloaks. Although there were no officials following him, Xu Guo, as a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, had a great show of himself, and was surrounded by more than twenty followers.

When Xu Guo was not a senior secretary, Lin Yanchao still had frequent contacts with him, but when Shen Shi became the chief assistant, he became the second assistant. Lin Yanchao automatically avoided suspicion, so he naturally had less time to move to Xu Guona.

Moreover, when Lin Yanchao was appointed as the Tongzhi in Guide, the prefect Su was a disciple of Xu State. As a result, Lin Yanchao took action to remove the prefect Su.

At this time, Sun Long gritted his teeth and said, "Old Xu Ge, Lin Butang, there must be misunderstandings in this matter. You will only make a big deal of the matter, not the way to resolve the war."

Lin Yanchao smiled and said, "Eunuch Sun still has leisure to care about others. This time, Zhang Jing loses, you will be done with him, Zhang Jing wins, you will be done with him, have you thought about what to do?"

Sun Long looked dark and said, "Linbutang, I know your power. Even if Sun lives for ten years, he will not be able to beat you. But Sun has never had a hard time with you. You can let Sun go this time. If you still remember, Sun gave you three yuan and the first plaque."

Lin Yanchao said: "Mr. Lin is just doing it impartially. If you really want to help you, there is only one sentence. If you speak truthfully in front of the saint, don't deceive yourself."

Xu Guo walked up to Sun Long and said, "If you are willing to tell Zhang Jing what he has done in the past few years, maybe I can still save your life."

When Sun Long heard this, Lin Yanchao said, "You know Zhang Jing's usual behavior. You should not let go of today's affairs, so at this point, I really advise you to listen to Mr. Xu and think about it carefully."

Sun Long cried bitterly when he heard this. Lin Yanchao patted Sun Long on the shoulder and whispered a few words to him.

Then Lin Yanchao nodded to Xu Guo. The two walked to the palace wall together.

Xu Guodao: "It's not good. Zong Hai knows that Luo Yuren, who was writing to the Dali Temple today, wrote a memorial to impeach Zhang Jing, and he still talked about the foundation of the country in the memorial."

Lin Yanchao said in surprise: "I haven't heard of it yet."

Xu Guodao: "Today's incident is likely to be blamed by Zhang Jing in front of the emperor. Luo Yuren is still my disciple!"

Lin Yanchao thought carefully: "This matter is indeed caught off guard. This matter of the country has always been a taboo in the emperor's mind. Will Zhang Jing use this matter to write an article and want to live in death?"

Xu Guodao: "This time, no matter how hard Zhang Jing can't be defeated, I'm afraid your Majesty will not be happy. Why does Zong Hai need to interfere in this matter?"

Lin Yanchao said: "Tell me the truth about the central government. The lower officials have the intention to leave, but if they can eliminate traitors for the country before they leave, they will do their best to do their best. Zong Hai is still willing."

Xu Guo said in surprise: "You are young, how could you feel like you are a pastoral countryside?"

Lin Yanchao sighed: "It is a matter of love for the lower officials."

Xu Guo suddenly thought of something and nodded and said, "This cabinet seems to understand, but I heard that Yuan Fu is willing to ask you to fill the cabinet in the future."

Lin Yanchao said: "Zhongtang jokes, just Zong Hai's little experience, how could he have the desire to join the cabinet and become the minister? Besides, Yuan Fu has no intention of this."

Xu Guo sighed, "That's a pity, but if I were Yuanfu, I would keep you for the country. Forget it, I will pass this level first."

Xu Guo’s words expressed a lot, but anyone can say good things, just listen to them.

After a moment, the gate of the harem opened wide, and a central official immediately came to Xu State and said, "Your Majesty has an order. Please ask Master Xu and Minister Lin to come to the warm palace of the Ganqing Palace to meet the saint."

Xu Guo and Lin Yanchao looked at each other, and the two entered the palace immediately.

When he walked to the corridor in the palace, a little drizzle started to fall. Lin Yanchao felt something for a moment. He had come to the palace since the eighth year of Wanli, and had experienced a lot of ups and downs in the officialdom, and for some reason he felt a lot of fatigue.

The two entered the Ganqing Palace Warm Pavilion.

The emperor sat on the bright yellow imperial chair. After celebrating the news, Xu Guo reported it. Then Lin Yanchao also reported what he knew. Zhang Cheng, Tian Yi and Chen Ju, the three eunuchs of the ranks, stood beside him.

After hearing this, the emperor looked calm and asked, "Mr. Xu, what do you think?"

Xu Guodao: "I think the most urgent task is to give the arrested candidates an explanation and the examination will be carried out as scheduled, but there must be any negligence in it. Your Majesty might as well call Zhang Jing to ask clearly. As for how to deal with it, it will be up to your Majesty's sage in the end. I dare not surpass it."

The emperor nodded and said, "The Zhang Jing incident has caused a lot of controversy today. Does Mr. Xu know about the memorial of Luo Yuren, the judge of Dali Temple,?"

Xu Guo sweated on his forehead and said, "I just heard about it when I first arrived in the palace."

The emperor said, "I am tired too, so I sent an order to summon Zhang Jing into the palace."

"Mr. Xu said he was not good at traitors, so he summoned Mr. Shen and Mr. Wang together."

After hearing the emperor's words, everyone knew that today I would have to understand the big storm that has lasted for several months.

Everyone was speechless in the hall. The emperor looked at Lin Yanchao at this time and said, "Why are these things always related to Lin Qing?"

Lin Yanchao knew that the emperor said this, and at the same time he also wanted to warn Xu. However, Xu was the prime minister. After all, the emperor wanted to save face for him, so he got angry at himself.

Lin Yanchao also knew that the emperor had a rift towards him, so he was too lazy to argue: "Report to Your Majesty, it's the minister's fault."

The emperor shook his head and said, "I have a rare leisure time. There has been no one in the cabinet these days. I personally handle state affairs, but the six ministries disobey me and the six departments even refuted my criticism. I don't understand why Mr. Shen was so rude when he governed the country, so why can't he point to those officials in my hands? Is it because I am inferior to Mr. Shen? Or are the officials only listening to Mr. Shen?"

Xu Guo showed panic.

Lin Yanchao also understood what the emperor was complaining about, so it must be nonsense. The Ming Dynasty system has been in operation today, and it is no longer the time when the emperor can say the final word in the early Ming Dynasty.

Why can't the emperor point to the six ministries? Because the officials below have already been intricate, and everyone has their own little jiujiu. Can officials tell the prime minister Xiaojiujiu, but dare to tell the emperor? Any decision by the court involves the exchange of power and the distribution of interests. In other words, can the emperor balance the interests of all parties below?

Even the emperor cannot control the most important personnel rights. Why should the officials below buy your account? Today, everyone listens to you, what should I do if Shen Shixing comes back tomorrow?

Therefore, after Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue went on strike, the emperor found that the center of the court was basically paralyzed and his own politics could not leave the Forbidden City.

Originally, the emperor had a Shen Li who could check and balance Shen Shixing, but now Shen Li was driven back to his hometown by Shen Shixing. Only Song Qian of the six ministries could not buy Shen Shixing's account. However, he saw the situation early on, and he was alone in his arms. How could he fight Shen Shixing? Therefore, he was sick at home, and he wrote a letter to him to return to his hometown.

Therefore, he defeated Zhang Juzheng and Feng Baohou's emperor, worked hard for seven or eight years, and thought he had controlled the court, but today he finally found that even if he worked diligently like Taizu Chengzu, he could not control the situation, and the times were different. In short, it was really not possible without Shen Shixing.

So Lin Yanchao speculated that the emperor's current strategy was two, either to invite Chen Li and Wang Jiaping back, or to completely abolish the cabinet and handle government affairs himself. This move would definitely reuse Zhang Jing. Of course, such consequences would be unimaginable.

It is better to repeat Liu Jin's mistakes, but Zhang Jing's reputation has become terrible among officials and the people.

Soon the lower official reported: "Your Majesty, Zhang Jing has arrived."

"Prince!"

When Zhang Jing entered the hall, Lin Yanchao took a look, and Zhang Jing also glanced at him quickly. Lin Yanchao could see the resentment in his eyes.

Before the emperor could ask questions, Zhang Jing knelt down and kowtowed, "Your Majesty is guilty of death, and a servant is guilty of death."

"Is Sun Chengzong in the East Factory?"

"I caught the wrong person below, and the slave should die."

"What about those dozen candidates?"

"These people are ignorant of the government. After the slave locked them up for a day, they immediately ordered people to release them. The slave should die."

"Why don't you see Lin Qing when he goes to Dongchang?"
To be continued...