I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

Time passed by slowly, and when everyone in the cabinet came to their senses, it was already past the next duty hour.

The sky gradually darkened, and there were bright lights in the distance, and a group of forbidden troops passed by from time to time.

Afterwards, Yan Song put the brush in his hand back to its original position and suggested to everyone: "Let's just stop here today. What do you think?"

Naturally, everyone had no objections to Yan Song's proposal.

After everyone had sorted out the accounts sent by various departments and the memorials that had not yet been drafted, they left the cabinet one after another.

Because Yan Shifan supported Yan Song, the speed of the march inevitably slowed down, and soon the father and son fell far behind.

The father and son just walked slowly in the Forbidden City on the road paved with neat stone slabs without saying a word.

Then, Yan Shifan looked back from a distance and couldn't help but sigh: "Father, what you said before was right, that Xu Jie really didn't use any tricks and signed the bill from the Ministry of Works quite happily! "

Hearing this, Yan Song stopped, raised his head, glanced at Yan Shifan, and immediately responded: "Now that the national treasury is full, let alone your five million taels of silver from the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of War's 12 million Xu Jie signed the contract without even frowning!"

When Yan Song said this, he paused for a moment, and then said to himself: "Once the accounts of the remaining departments are settled clearly, and the tickets are drawn up, there will be nothing important this year, and you can live with peace of mind. What a good year!”

When Yan Song finished speaking, Yan Shifan's face was filled with a look of gloating.

After seeing no one around, he lowered his voice and said, "Father is really good at predicting things. Just by passing the department ranking, he made those officials turn against each other and even started fighting in public!"

"I'm afraid they won't have a good time this year!"

When Yan Song heard this, the expression on his face did not change much. He just shook his head and said slowly.

"Without His Majesty's acquiescence, this matter would never have gone so smoothly. Yan Shifan, do you understand what this means?"

As soon as Yan Song finished speaking, the expression of gloating on Yan Shifan's face disappeared in an instant, and was replaced by a look of horror that could not be concealed.

Then, Yan Shifan came back to his senses, looked in the direction of Yan Song, and asked tentatively: "Father...Father, you mean, where is your Majesty..."

Yan Song took in the expression on Yan Shifan's face. After pondering for a moment, he asked: "Well, this is natural. Do you think His Majesty can't see the little tricks we are playing?"

"In the final analysis, it's just that His Majesty also wants to take this opportunity to give those officials a good beating!"

After Yan Shifan listened to Yan Song's explanation, his pupils suddenly contracted.

Then, as if he suddenly thought of something, he looked in the direction of Yan Song and asked.

"Father, is it possible that not long ago, those officials gathered openly and asked in front of His Majesty that His Royal Highness King Jing, who was stranded in the capital, immediately leave the capital and return to his fiefdom?"

Hearing this, Yan Song nodded, and then added: "Not only because of this matter, but also because of the group of officials last time, on the grounds that there were ghosts and gods in Gongyuan, Shangshu asked Your Majesty to postpone the visit to Gongyuan. exams held.”

"And this, without a doubt, violates His Majesty's taboo!"

After listening to Yan Song's explanation, Yan Shifan's face showed an expression of bewilderment.

Then, he leaned down and said respectfully: "Thank you, father, for clearing up the child's confusion. The child understands!"

"Okay, it's getting late, go back quickly!"

"Yes, father!"

After that, the father and son quickened their pace, came to the place where the sedan was parked, and took the sedan back to Yan's Mansion.

……

After helping Yan Song to the study, Yan Shifan went straight back to his room.

Just when he was about to take a rest early, he heard a slight knock on the door.

Seeing this situation, Yan Shifan frowned slightly and said: "Come in!"

After the words fell, there was only a "squeak" sound, the door of the room was pushed open, and not long after, the housekeeper stepped in.

After entering the room, the housekeeper did not hesitate at all. He immediately took out a letter from his sleeve, leaned down and said respectfully: "Mr. Xiaoge, here is a letter sent by your student Gao Hanwen!"

After learning the news from the housekeeper, the resentment in Yan Shifan's heart for being disturbed dissipated a lot.

Then, he waved his hand and said, "Oh, Hanwen's letter, show it to me!"

Upon hearing this, the housekeeper immediately stepped forward and handed the envelope in his hand to Yan Shifan's hand.

After taking the envelope from the butler's hand, Yan Shifan waved his hand quite casually and said: "Okay, you don't have anything to do next, so go down first!"

"Yes, Mr. Xiao Ge!"

Seeing that he had delivered the letter, the butler bowed to Yan Shifan and left. When leaving, the butler also closed the door of the room.

After the housekeeper left the room, Yan Shifan opened the letter in his hand and read the contents with special concentration, only to see what was written above.

"Teacher, student Gao Hanwen, long-lost greetings, teacher is in good health recently. It has been a while since the student came to Bozhou to work. During this time, the things he saw made the student deeply touched.

"Bozhou is just like what you said before, teacher. It is thousands of miles away, the people are strong, there are many ethnic groups coming and going, there are many conflicts between the various ethnic groups, and there are constant vendettas between them. Teacher, you will leave the important task of educating the people to the students. , the students are extremely grateful!”

"In addition, students here have met many members of the clan and noble families who came to serve in Bozhou..."

After Yan Shifan read through all the contents of the letter, he put it aside casually and said with emotion: "I didn't expect that Gao Hanwen could still establish a relationship with those clan members and noble disciples!"

"You know, I just wanted to take this opportunity to keep him away from the center of power and live the rest of his life in peace, but who knows, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise..."

"No, I have to ask my father about this matter quickly and see what to do next!"

Thinking of this, Yan Shifan carefully put away the letter in his hand and quickly left the room.

……

When Yan Shifan crossed the yard and came to the study, he suddenly discovered that even though it was already very late, the lights in the study were still on.

In the study room, the orange-yellow candlelight vaguely reflected Yan Song's figure.

Immediately, Yan Shifan took a deep breath, and after calming down, he knocked on the study door.

After that, a dull voice came from the study: "Who?"

"Father, this is a child. The child needs to ask his father for advice!"

"Well, come in!"

When the words fell, Yan Shifan immediately opened the study door and stepped inside without hesitation.

Seeing Yan Shifan's arrival, Yan Song looked away from the books in front of him, then took off his reading glasses, raised his head, pointed to the empty seat beside him, and said: "Sit down first!"

"Yes, father!"

When Yan Shifan heard this, he didn't refuse and just sat on the empty seat beside him.

Not long after I sat down, I heard Yan Song's voice ringing in my ears: "It's so late, what do you want from me?"

"Father, here is a letter from my student Gao Hanwen!"

After Yan Shifan finished speaking, he took out the envelope from his sleeve and respectfully handed it to Yan Song.

"Wasn't that Gao Hanwen sent to Bozhou by you to take charge of Huang Ping and Bai Tian Academy? Could something have happened?"

Yan Song said this and took the letter from Yan Shifan's hand.

Facing Yan Song's slightly puzzled gaze, Yan Shifan shook his head and explained: "No, father, that's not the case. Gao Hanwen mentioned in his letter that he and the clan members and nobles who were sent to Bozhou by His Majesty We had a great time chatting with each other, so I want to ask you for advice..."

After listening to Yan Shifan's excuse, Yan Song nodded, then put on his reading glasses, opened the letter in his hand, and browsed the contents.

After a long time, Yan Song took off his reading glasses and said with emotion: "You know, that Zhang Yuangong is the son of the British Duke Zhang Rong. Your student Gao Hanwen was able to take this opportunity to get involved with the British government. In the future, Your official career will be smooth sailing!"

When Yan Song said this, he paused for a moment and continued to add: "Anyone can see that these clans and noble disciples were sent to Banzhou by His Majesty for training. When the time is right, they will be able to He was transferred back to the capital by His Majesty and entrusted with important responsibilities!"

When Yan Shifan heard Yan Song's words, a look of hesitation appeared on his face, and he turned to ask: "But father, I am worried that if your Majesty really allows the clan and nobles to return to the court, I am afraid things will get out of hand. If we don’t do it right, it will lead to a fight to force the palace..."

When Yan Song heard this, he just glanced at Yan Shifan casually and said coldly: "Yan Shifan, don't forget, your majesty is someone who has experienced great ritual discussions. His majesty will not take this kind of scene seriously!"

"Besides, whether it is lifting the maritime ban or implementing the unified payment of grain by officials and gentry, no matter how great the resistance in the middle is, won't His Majesty still accomplish these things in the end?"

Yan Song seemed to be quite emotional about this. After taking a sip from the tea cup filled with wolfberry water on the table, he sighed to himself: "Well, when the time comes, your Majesty will have the help of the clan and nobles. Now, it's no longer a situation where the civil servants are the only family!" Yan Shifan took in the look of loneliness on Yan Song's face, and immediately saw him organizing the words in his mind, and said cautiously: "Father, you don't have to go too far. Worry, please don’t forget that not long ago, in front of His Majesty, I proposed a special assessment for the clan and nobles!"

After Yan Shifan finished speaking, after recalling for a moment, he recounted to Yan Song the examination method that he had mentioned before in front of everyone in the cabinet.

……

"For those clansmen and nobles who have not passed the imperial examination and entered the official career, an insurmountable barrier must be set up above their heads, and the official positions they can hold are restricted. Civil servants can only reach the fourth rank at most. , the military attache can only reach the level of a partial general!"

“Civil officials start from the county magistrate, assisting the magistrate in managing county affairs, while military attachés start from the inspection level, and are promoted according to their merits!

"As for the clan members and nobles who pass the exam, they will be sent to the grassroots level. They should set additional goals and conduct regular assessments. If they fail the assessment, there will be penalties. If they complete the goals, there will be rewards."

"Every six months or at the end of the year, there will be an assessment. If you fail the three assessments, you will be removed from the official position. Besides, the current Minister of Civil Affairs is Hu Zongxian, and he is ours!"

While Yan Shifan was still describing his thoughts eloquently, he didn't notice that the expression on Yan Song's face had quietly changed.

Yan Song looked away from Yan Shifan, looking like he hated iron and said to himself.

"Hu Zongxian is not ours, he is His Majesty's!"

"Yan Shifan, this idiot, thought he could take this opportunity to restrict those clans and nobles, but little did he know that he was shooting himself in the foot!"

Yan Song knew very well in his heart that the fire that Yan Shifan lit for the clan and nobles would burn him sooner or later.

If these assessment methods are verified by the clans and nobles and proven to be feasible, then His Majesty will definitely promote them nationwide!

By then, all officials from top to bottom in the Ming Dynasty, whether central or local, will be bound by the examination law!

And the beginning of all this was because Yan Shifan was clever and wanted to use these methods to restrict those clans and nobles.

When Yan Song thought of this, he became more and more angry.

Immediately, he slammed the table and reprimanded: "Yan Shifan, you idiot, do you really think that His Majesty didn't see your intentions at the beginning?"

"Your Majesty is just following a trick. After this assessment method is proven to be feasible on the clan and nobles, Your Majesty will definitely promote it to the whole country. Yan Shifan, you have pushed everyone into a pit of fire!"

After listening to Yan Song's rebuke, Yan Shifan reacted belatedly.

At this time, in Yan Shifan's mind, the scene after the implementation of the test method kept reappearing, making him break out in a cold sweat.

Then, Yan Shifan's face was full of fear and anxiety. He looked in the direction of Yan Song and asked cautiously: "Then...Father, what should the child do next?"

"If these assessment methods are really promoted by His Majesty to the whole country, then as the person who proposes these methods, I will definitely be hostile to all civil and military officials!"

Yan Song took in the expression on Yan Shifan's face, sighed helplessly, and said slowly: "Now that things have come to this point, what else can we do? We can only break the jar!"

"Since these assessment methods will be promoted to the whole country sooner or later, it is better to wait until His Majesty raises this matter and clearly express his support. In this way, maybe he can leave some good reputation in the history books in the future!"

When Yan Shifan heard Yan Song's words, his face was full of annoyance. He leaned down and reported respectfully: "Yes, father, the child understands!"

After that, Yan Song looked away from Yan Shifan, waved his hand, and said: "Okay, it's getting late, go down and rest!"

"Yes, father, please leave now!"

After Yan Shifan finished speaking, he bowed to Yan Song and left the study.

……

After Yan Shifan left the study, Yan Song's face was filled with a dark and inexplicable look.

Yan Song knew very well that the reason why he had been able to hold the position of chief minister of the cabinet for more than 20 years was because of his absolute loyalty to the emperor.

In exchange, some of his small actions in private were also acquiesced by the emperor.

It can be said that Yan Song was a knife in Jiajing's hand, commanding all civil and military officials for him, and attracting hatred by the way.

In the imperial court, no dominant force was allowed to exist. It was precisely because of this that the emperor turned a blind eye to Qingliu, headed by Xu Jie.

Under the emperor's deliberate guidance, the struggle between the two sides has been carried out in a tepid manner, far from the point of breaking out.

Once the strict party is cleared and one of the parties has the tendency to overturn the table, the emperor will immediately stand up as the referee and stop it. Those who are disobedient will only die!

And at this position, whose butt is clean? In the final analysis, it’s just a matter of different stances!

At present, the forces of both sides have reached a strange balance in the court. In a short period of time, no one can do anything to the other.

The Ming Empire, which was originally in decline and aging, also began to have a second spring under the emperor's hard work, and its national power gradually flourished.

Afterwards, Yan Song slowly stood up from behind the desk and blew out the candles in the study.

Then with the help of the maid, he walked out of the study with his hunched body.

At this time, under the cover of night, the sky is dotted with stars. If you stand under the stars and look up, you can feel the infinite vastness and tranquility.

I don’t know how much time passed, but I saw Yan Song retracting his gaze and muttering to himself silently: "Xu Jie, Xu Jie, you still haven’t seen the situation clearly. Between us, there is me in you, and you in me, no one can leave." Who won’t open it!”

"If I had died of illness, do you think you would be able to sit on the throne of the chief minister of the cabinet?"

"No, His Majesty's butcher knife has been sharpened a long time ago. Do you think that the things your family does behind the scenes can be hidden from His Majesty?"

"You Xu Jie are not greedy, but you can't stand the family behind you. They act recklessly and annex land in your name!"

After that, Yan Song showed a bit of self-deprecation on his face, thinking: "If you are implicated, then I, the chief minister of the cabinet, will be done!"

After finishing his emotion, Yan Song returned to the room to rest with the help of the maid.

……

After Yan Song returned to the room with the support of the maid, a maid soon came forward and brought Yan Song a basin of hot water.

Then, the maid waiting aside came forward, took off Yan Song's shoes and socks, and then put Yan Song's feet into the hot water with great care.

At the same time, the bed has been warmed by the bed warmer maid, and Yan Song can go to bed directly after washing his feet.

After soaking for a while, Yan Song was seen lifting his feet. Seeing this, the maid on the side quickly wiped the water from Yan Song's feet with silk cloth.

After doing this, Yan Song came to the bedside with the help of the maid.

At this time, two bed-warming maids were lying on the bed. Seeing Yan Song's arrival, the two bed-warming maids stood up from the bed and said respectfully: "Master!"

When Yan Song heard the words, he responded in a subtle way, and then let the two bed-warming maids undress and untie him.

After that, Yan Song lay down on the quilt that still had body temperature. If he smelled carefully, he could still smell the girl's unique body fragrance.

After tossing and turning on the bed for a long time, Yan Song still didn't feel much sleepiness. The events that had happened recently were flashing through Yan Song's mind like a slideshow.

"Well, it has been such a troubled time recently. I didn't expect that His Majesty actually planned to inventory the acres of land and suppress land annexation. Not only that, he also sent Zhao Zhenji to Zhejiang to investigate the situation of land annexation."

"Then, in order to conceal the true purpose, His Majesty even asked the cabinet to come forward. By evaluating the rankings of various departments and then issuing year-end bonuses, he successfully diverted the attention of the government and the opposition."

"Right now, no one has mentioned the Jiaxing Yuan family matter that caused a commotion in the capital!"

"Your Majesty is really exhausting his plan, but this would be too much of a mobilization of troops and crowds!"

After saying this with emotion, Yan Song planned to continue to feel sleepy.

Just as Yan Song was about to fall asleep, an idea suddenly flashed in his mind, and he suddenly stood up from the bed and murmured to himself: "No, things are not that simple. Your Majesty is clearly paving the way for the implementation of the assessment method." !”

Just now, Yan Song suddenly thought of the assessment methods mentioned by Yan Shifan, one of which was to conduct an assessment every six months or at the end of the year.

This can also explain why Jiajing asked the cabinet to come forward to evaluate various departments before the end of the year, and then issue year-end bonuses based on the evaluation results.

"The reason why His Majesty chose this time is not only to divert the attention of the civil and military officials, but also has a more important purpose, which is to let the civil and military officials in the court gradually get used to this evaluation system in a subtle way. "

"When all civil and military officials have become accustomed to this evaluation system, the resistance to His Majesty's thorough promotion of it will be much smaller."

"This time it's a carrot. When the corresponding assessment methods are officially implemented, what will fall will be a stick!"

Yan Song was shocked by the idea that suddenly appeared in his mind, and could not calm down for a long time.

"This time, it can not only cover up His Majesty's true purpose of inventorying acres of land and suppress land annexation, but also subtly influence all civil and military officials to prepare for the next reform!"

"Hey, this is really killing two birds with one stone!" (End of Chapter)