The Ming Dynasty's Spokesperson

In this spring season, Hanlin officials especially like to gather in Keting, the backyard, for work and academic exchanges.

When the mood strikes, it becomes a temporary gathering, where we often drink some wine and recite poems and compose poems.

Today, more than a dozen top Hanlin officials, including Chen Yubi, Tian Yijun, Huang Fengxiang, and Feng Qi, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin bachelor in charge of the Hanlin Academy, are gathering in Keting to discuss the compilation of the Emperor's Sutra Banquet Lectures.

The so-called top Hanlin refers to senior Hanlin who can be called "bachelor".

Although every Sutra banquet was stopped by the emperor, and the Sutra banquet was essentially suspended, the Hanlin Academy still had to continue to compile and submit lecture notes.

This kind of formalism may be the last stubbornness of the Hanlin people.

All the scholars were talking happily when suddenly the eunuch Chen Ju, the eunuch Chen Ju, the eunuch who was responsible for the ceremony, came.

Eunuch Chen glanced at the scholars sitting in Keting and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

If I had the opportunity to study without entering the palace when I was young, I might be sitting here.

The scholars were a little surprised when they saw Chen Ju.

If a eunuch comes to the Hanlin Academy, he must usually be here to deliver an edict. The higher the level of the eunuch, the bigger the problem.

This time, the eunuch Bingbi, the Supervisor of Ceremonies, actually came. I don’t know what happened. Could it be that the emperor had gone astray and repented of his past, and planned to reopen the Sutra feast?

Eunuch Chen nodded to Chen Yubi, the scholar in charge of the college, and said calmly: "Password! Is Lin Tailai, editor of the Hanlin Academy, here? I didn't see anyone in the Number One Scholar Hall just now."

All the scholars were in an uproar. The emperor actually sent Eunuch Bingbi, the eunuch who was equivalent to a bachelor, to deliver the order to Lin Tailai?

Is this specification a bit too high? Even if Lin Tailai is directly allowed to join the cabinet, the specifications will be no more than this!

Bachelor Tian Yijun stood up and answered: "After Lin Xiuzhuan finished training the newcomers in the morning, he seemed to have gone to the Ministry of War."

Chen Ju was speechless, what kind of Hanlin was this? He was running around all day long.

Then Eunuch Chen said: "Call Lin Tailai back to receive the order!"

Seeing that the matter had nothing to do with them, the scholars watched Eunuch Chen from a distance and whispered.

It seems strange that he, the eunuch who is responsible for the rituals and eunuch Bingbi, comes to deliver orders to a "middle-level" bureaucrat like Lin Tailai.

Eunuch Chen knew that he had condescended and might have aroused the suspicion of the Hanlin Academy, but he couldn't explain it for a while.

The emperor's decree was to "summon the four great scholars and Lin Tailai." The "four great scholars" were respected, so Chen Ju, the eunuch with a pen, accepted the task of running errands and delivering the decree to show respect.

As for the accompanying "with Lin Tailai", Eunuch Chen, who was responsible for delivering the order, could only run errands together.

In the front yard of the Ministry of War, people coming to do business came in and out, and the business looked very busy.

Of course, there are also yamen like Lin Tailai who are not doing their job properly, squatting under the eaves with a few servants, as if waiting for something.

I don't know how long it took, but I saw Zheng Guotai, the younger brother of Concubine Zheng, the most beloved concubine in the harem, who was respectfully called Uncle Guoye, coming out of the inner courtyard of the Ministry of War unhappy. Apparently something was not going well.

Uncle Guo's father, Zheng Chengxian, died a few months ago. Uncle Zheng Guo was thinking about inheriting his father's position as a first-grade governor.

But unfortunately, today I was rejected by the Military Selection Department of the Ministry of War, and they even refused to submit a petition for instructions.

When Lin Tailai saw Uncle Zheng Guo, he stood up quickly as if he had seen prey.

This morning, a tip came from the Ministry of War that Uncle Zheng Guotai had come to the Ministry of War again, so he was here just to provoke Uncle Zheng Guotai!

He, Lin Tailai, wants to tell the whole capital—my personal feud with the Zheng family is irresolvable, so it is impossible for me to support Concubine Zheng’s third son!

In the great calamity of the country, whoever dares to attack me, Lin Tailai, is a scumbag of civil servants who supports the Zheng family!

Soon enough, a figure suddenly jumped out before Lin Tai came.

It turned out that this was a young official. He pointed at Uncle Zheng and reprimanded loudly, almost even cursing.

"Zheng Guotai! Your family has been deeply blessed by the country and has contributed immeasurably to the country. You should be content with the position that provides you with a salary. How dare you go to Longwang Shu for lack of support!"

Lin Tailai looked at all this in surprise. Could it be that someone had the same idea as him and was squatting here to "brush" Uncle Zheng?

The young official turned around and glanced at Lin Tailai slightly proudly.

Now Lin Tailai recognized him. This person turned out to be Xue Fujiao!

One of the Eight Gentlemen of Donglin in history, the grandson of his mentor Gu Xiancheng, and a Jinshi scholar with him last year!

Lin Tailai immediately understood that he had "spawned" hatred on the Zheng family too many times, and his routine had been seen and predicted!

Therefore, Xue Fujiao from the opponent's camp also came over to guard Uncle Zheng Guo, confronting him and weakening the effect of using the hatred of the Zheng family as a talisman!

What's even more terrible is that I was calculated deliberately and unintentionally, and others got ahead of me! If I try to brush Zheng Guotai now, the effect will be greatly reduced.

Thinking of this, without any time to think about it, Lin Tailai had no choice but to rush out and shouted to Uncle Zheng Guo:

"According to the imperial concubine's family, one should not be granted the title of Governor and Tongzhi. Your father's being granted the title is truly a special favor from the Emperor!

What's more, your father Zheng Chengxian is harboring evil intentions and coveting Chu Er. He had frequent contacts with eunuchs, and had many contacts with mountain people, magicians, and Huangs. He had ulterior motives!

So it's a blessing that your father died a good death as both the governor and the governor, but it's even more wishful thinking that you still want to inherit it! "

Xue Fujiao, who had gained the first-mover advantage, was secretly proud. At this moment, he couldn't help but be shocked. Lin Tailai didn't even spare the dead!

I just criticized Zheng Guotai himself, but you, Lin Tailai, started scolding Zheng Guotai's father directly!

Although Lin Tailai fell behind in the competition to mock the Zheng family, he still had the upper hand with his strength!

As soon as he walked out of the lobby of the Ministry of War, Zheng Guojiu, who was beaten over and over again, was confused.

Is his brother, who is favored by the imperial concubine, fake? Does anyone dare to step on him?

At the beginning, there was a man named Gu Yuncheng, who was the younger brother of the star official Gu Xiancheng. His article in the palace examination offended the imperial concubine Zheng, and he was finally stripped of his clothes and expelled back to his hometown!

Zheng Guojiu's followers had to rush up because of their duties when they saw their master being humiliated!

Xue Fujiao's two fists were no match for several hands, and he was beaten and kicked in an instant, and was in a mess.

Lin Tailai knocked down four or five people in a row with one punch, and even shouted distractedly: "I have a deep hatred with your Zheng family, and we are irreconcilable!"

Such a farce appeared in the front yard of the Ministry of War, and a large number of military guards immediately rushed out and surrounded Lin Tailai.

Shi Xing, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of War, personally came out to suppress the rebellion. At a glance, as long as Lin Tailai was present, he would know who the culprit was, and he shouted sternly:

"Lin Tailai! You dare to disturb the important place of the Ministry of War! I can't let you go easily today, no one can talk about it, I Shi Xing said so!"

Lin Tailai had a plan in advance, and was about to say something harsh like "Do you want to protect the Zheng family in the Ministry of War?"

At this time, someone suddenly stood in the gate and shouted: "Lin Xiuzhuan! Eunuch Chen, the pen-holding eunuch, wants you to go back and receive the imperial edict!"

Shi Xing: ""

Oops! I said too much just now, what should I do now?

??????????.??????

Lin Tailai didn't argue with Shi Shi. As he walked out, he said to the guards of the Ministry of War: "Make way! I'll go back and receive the imperial edict first!"

Getting out of the Ministry of War was smoother than expected. Lin Tailai was in a good mood and returned to the Hanlin Academy happily.

Under the suspicious eyes of the Hanlin scholars, Eunuch Chen finally revealed the answer to the mystery. He said to Lin Tailai: "The emperor has ordered you to come to the palace tomorrow to meet him!"

What? Lin Tailai was shocked. He was not mentally prepared at all. He never thought he would be summoned.

In his memory, there were two or three records of Emperor Wanli summoning cabinet ministers after he was in trouble. Each time there was a special reason.

One of them was indeed this year, but the record did not say that a young Hanlin would be added.

When the other Hanlin scholars heard the content of this decree, they were more shocked than before!

The emperor hid in the deep palace, and the ministers had not seen the emperor for another year. Even the ministers who served in the Hanyuan could not see the emperor's face!

It can be said that the sky is high and the curtain is far away, and the emperor's gate is thousands of miles away!

However, this time the emperor took the initiative to summon Lin Tailai, how could it not shock others?

After Eunuch Chen delivered the decree, he was about to turn around and leave, but the head of the Hanlin Academy, Chen Xueshi, stepped forward and asked: "Did the emperor only summon Lin Tailai?"

Eunuch Chen replied: "There are four more university scholars!"

Four university scholars and Lin Tailai? This combination made the Hanlins feel unwilling and confused. Everyone was thinking, why is it Lin Tailai?

This combination can be four university scholars and the Minister of Personnel, four university scholars and the Minister of Rites, four university scholars and the head of the Hanlin Academy

Any combination looks more reasonable than four university scholars and Lin Tailai.

Lin Tailai fell into deep thought, and did not even go to the Ministry of Rites. He sat in the Hanlin Academy's Champion Hall until the end of the get off work.

He was only thinking about one question, what is the emperor's intention?

Combining historical materials with the current situation, the emperor's intention to summon four university scholars is relatively easy to guess.

First, the new public opinion questioned the emperor's cold and harsh treatment of the eldest son, and the emperor could not refute it in the memorial.

So he thought of summoning all the cabinet ministers to "explain" and hoped to influence public opinion through the cabinet ministers' mouths and eliminate this kind of public opinion in a relatively soft way.

Second, because the issue of the national foundation has been repeatedly raised in the past year, the emperor has been annoyed by the harassment.

So he thought of personally observing the attitudes of the cabinet ministers to see if the cabinet ministers are willing to act as a firewall to help him suppress or guide the national foundation public opinion. If they are willing to directly support the third prince, it would be even better.

Then the more critical question is, what is the emperor's intention in summoning him, Lin Tailai?

There is no such thing in the historical materials, and there is too little contact with the emperor, lack of sample analysis, which makes people too blind.

After thinking again and again, Lin Tailai can only guess that the emperor may want to "win over" himself.

It's like when the emperor wanted to settle accounts with Zhang Juzheng, he deliberately promoted Li Zhi, Yang Keli, and Jiang Dongzhi, three anti-Zhang Juzheng demons with super action.

And his current characteristics are also super action and huge lethality.

In addition, it's hard to guess anything else, so I can only take it one step at a time.

On the next day, before dawn, four eye-catching figures stood outside the right gate of the imperial city Chang'an. They were the four Grand Secretaries.

Since they were summoned by the emperor, they must go to the palace as early as possible to wait for the emperor to see them. They couldn't let the emperor wait for the ministers, right?

After a while, when it was almost dawn, another tall and majestic young figure appeared outside the gate.

"Teachers and seniors are here early!" Lin Tailai, the editor of the Hanlin Academy and the doctor of the Ministry of Rites, greeted the Grand Secretaries enthusiastically.

Teacher refers to Xu Guo, the seat teacher and the assistant, and the title of senior refers to the rules of the poets, who get along with each other as seniors and juniors.

The Grand Secretaries looked at Lin Tailai with very magical and different eyes.

Shen Shixing was not sure. He, the first assistant, must be the one with the greatest responsibility, and his words would definitely appear in the records in the future.

At this time, Shen Shoufu subconsciously wanted to talk to Lin Tai, maybe to get some reference, or maybe to relieve his mood.

But when he looked up, he saw Lin Tailai holding his sleeves with his hands, standing respectfully behind Xu Guo, the second assistant.

"What are you doing there?" Shen Shoufu asked.

Lin Tailai replied: "If a teacher is present, then you must serve the teacher with disciple etiquette."

Xu Cifu: ""

When you were riding the horse, did you think of discipleship? When you were in Yangzhou and you were being swallowed by tigers and whales, why couldn't you think of Disciple Li?

When you branded Wang Daokun as a rebel in the literary world, why couldn't you remember Disciple Li?

Seeing Lin Tailai standing next to Xu Guo, Shen Shoufu felt uncomfortable, so he waved and said, "Lin Jiuyuan, come here! I have a few words to ask you!"

Lin Tailai seemed to think so, and asked Xu Guo for instructions: "I dare not leave without the teacher's instructions. Please allow the disciples to go."

Xu Cifu was absolutely disgusted, but he said calmly: "No."

Come and make each other feel disgusted, who is afraid of whom?

"As ordered." Lin Tailai did not resist, and then stood still with his eyes, nose, nose and heart in mind.

When it gets dark, the city gates open.

The four bachelors and Lin Tailai walked into the right gate of Chang'an, and then continued through Chengtianmen, Duanmen and Meridian Gate.

We arrived at the Huangji Gate outside the three main halls and continued to wait at the east corner gate of the Huangji Gate.

This is a default node. Many times, edicts, waiting orders, and memorials are handed over at the East Point Gate.

If there are no special tasks or etiquette, ministers will generally not go past the East Point Gate and enter the three main halls area under normal circumstances.

After waiting for a while, the eunuch Chen Ju, the eunuch Bingbi, the chief ceremonial officer, came out and said to everyone: "Your Majesty is visiting the Yude Palace. Everyone, come with me."

Then Chen Ju led four bachelors and Lin Tailai through the three main halls and arrived at Qianqing Gate.

After the Qianqing Gate, there is the real inner palace. Without special orders, ministers with handles are absolutely prohibited from entering.

Throughout the Ming Dynasty, it was rare for ministers to enter the Qianqing Palace. Generally, it was when the emperor died and the ministers went to the Qianqing Palace to hold funerals.

Qianqing Gate is guarded by the imperial guards affiliated with the Royal Horse Guards. Even if ministers have permission to enter, they must be searched here to ensure the absolute safety of the inner palace.

This search revealed the situation. Someone was actually wearing armor under his spacious official robe.

It's just that because that person is already big, and the official robe that covers the outer layer is also very wide, it's not very obvious when you just look at the appearance.

The forbidden soldiers guarding the gate were speechless. This was simply outrageous.

"The armor is not offensive in any way and is not dangerous at all." Lin Tailai tried his best to explain to Chen Ju: "Besides, this is armor given by the emperor. It has a special meaning and is equivalent to a formal dress."

Eunuch Chen: ""

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