The Ming Dynasty's Spokesperson

Tongzhou Zhangjiawan, known as the first post station in Jingdong, is a place where land and water meet.

Except for special canal boats, ordinary people will end the waterway when they arrive here along the canal.

So they will change the boats into carriages and then go to the capital.

The new official Wang Lao. Alliance Leader who went to Beijing to take up his post is a person who pays great attention to his personal image and has a huge idol burden.

Although he traveled day and night, he was close to the capital and was afraid that his poor condition and bad complexion would affect the effect of his debut.

So he deliberately stopped in Tongzhou for a day and a night to adjust his mental outlook.

In the early morning of this day, it was still dark, and Alliance Leader Wang Lao got up to wash and eat. Just wait for the sky to dawn, and then set off immediately.

In this hot summer season, it is definitely most comfortable to travel in the early morning and morning, and it is also comfortable to be greeted by others.

As for the specific details, Alliance Leader Wang Lao only needs to set the time, and he doesn’t have to worry about anything.

Just like the places he passed by along the way, all the top offerings were well-fed and well-drinking, and all the treatment was fully provided.

Even if he had to take a boat in the middle of the night to rush, he could still arrange enough civilians to pull the boat.

Although he was treated well in the past, it was all because of his reputation as the leader of the literary world. Even if he was not considerate by chance, he could not say anything.

Unlike this trip, no one had to say anything wherever he went, and others would automatically be in awe, fearing that they would be inconsiderate.

The ambitious old leader Wang stood in the yard, watching the servants packing the carriage, imagining the capital city that was so close, and couldn't help but feel excited.

Originally thought that life and career were about to end, and lying down and dying would be fine, who would have thought that there would be a sunset glow?

This official position is the number one minister of the Ministry of Personnel in the outer court, and he can challenge the prime minister if he gets angry.

In this life, he has held the power of the literary world, but he has never enjoyed the taste of power in the political world.

Suddenly, seeing his second son Wang Shiqiong, who was accompanying him to the capital, wearing a suit that looked very much like the red fat coat of a soldier, the old leader Wang couldn't help but scold him: "You are a student after all, how can you dress like this?"

Wang Shiqiong replied indifferently: "I heard that Lin Jiuyuan always wore it like this in March and April. This is the fashionable clothing style!"

The old leader Wang was helpless. Every family has its own problems. The second son was rebelling.

Originally, Wang Shiqiong was a knight-errant in the countryside. He liked bows, horses, boxing and kicking, and was unwilling to follow his father to the capital.

He thought about establishing a hall in his hometown of Taicang and making it bigger and stronger, and then joining the new Wulian - I heard that the new Wulian started recruiting halls again.

As a result, the old leader Wang was afraid that his second son would cause trouble in his hometown and affect his career, so he forced Wang Shiqiong to go to the capital.

Then Wang Shiqiong deliberately wore clothes imitating the style of the red fat coat of a soldier and flaunted around his father.

Don't ask why, just follow Lin Jiuyuan!

Wang Shizhen looked at the sky in the east and said, "Let's go to Beijing!"

Today is a good day, and we can't waste it on being angry with our son.

In the morning, dozens of officials who love literature have gathered at the reception pavilion in the eastern suburbs of Beijing.

Thanks to Emperor Wanli who didn't attend the court, otherwise everyone might not have time to come here to pick people up.

Everyone present was also secretly glad that they didn't forget their original intentions, never gave up their literary dreams, and insisted on making a name for themselves in the literary world.

So at this time, there is a reasonable excuse to welcome the old leader of the literary world.

Otherwise, what reason can be used to welcome the old leader of the literary world?

It's not enough to be thick-skinned to get into the officialdom, you also need to pay attention to the appearance and skills.

If you don't have a reasonable reason to force it, you will only be despised and hated.

The leader of the lineup to welcome the old leader of the literary world is Shi Xing, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of War.

Of course, Shi Shilang is now more proud of another identity. He is one of the second generation of the Five Sons of the Retro School, that is, one of the Five Sons.

This is the title he was honored to be awarded when he followed the old leader Wang in the literary world 20 years ago!

Originally, it was thought that the Retro School had declined and the title of "Five Sons" had lost its value.

Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, "Five Sons" has become a golden signboard again. It is really unpredictable.

Thinking of this, Shi Shilang couldn't help but feel high-spirited. As long as the old leader can hold on, he will be a Shangshu!

Suddenly someone shouted: "Here they come!"

Shi Shilang looked up and saw a convoy coming along the official road, with several official signs in front of the convoy.

Not long after, the largest carriage in the middle of the convoy stopped on the roadside outside the reception pavilion.

But before the old leader got off the car, everyone immediately stepped forward to salute, so the old leader Wang got off the car to return the salute.

Shi Shilang of the Ministry of War took another step forward and said affectionately: "I haven't seen you for many years, but you are still as elegant as ever. Shi Sheng of Weijun has always missed you very much!"

Wang Shizhen looked at Shi Shilang for a while and couldn't help but sigh: "When I don't want to see you again, you will be over fifty years old and your temples will be gray."

Shi Shilang suddenly took out a manuscript from his sleeve and replied with a slightly choked voice: "But the old gentleman's teachings twenty years ago are still vivid in my mind."

This manuscript was a poem written by Wang Lao, the old leader, to Shi Xing when he selected the five sons of the retro school twenty years ago.

The poem says: "Shi Sheng used to resist Zhang, climb the sky and move the stars, and be fragrant in the world. Who can't see him?"

Fuck! Everyone around was shocked. You, Shi Xing, could find the manuscript from twenty years ago?

Wang Lao, the old leader, also fell into a brief confusion. Is this the original manuscript or a high imitation?

Twenty years have passed, and I can't tell it now.

This capital city is indeed the best place in the world, and it is really full of experts.

In theory, today's scene is for everyone to welcome the old leader of the literary world under the banner of literature lovers.

But after reminiscing about the past, the old leader Wang did not talk about literature, but asked Shi Shilang: "I heard that the court situation in the first half of the year was quite chaotic?"

Poor leader led the way, not asking about the literary world but the political situation.

Shi Shilang didn't care, the purpose of improving the impression points had been achieved, and he could talk about any topic.

He answered truthfully: "Two or three months ago, it was indeed in chaos, but fortunately it has stabilized recently."

Old Alliance Leader Wang sighed slightly, looked around and said: "I also heard about it when I was far away in Nanjing.

I heard that in March and April, the government was turbulent, disasters occurred frequently in the north, and Wumen, Taicang, and Shanyin all left the country for a time.

Fortunately, after Wumen returned to the temple, the turmoil was quelled, and the government gradually stabilized, and the people from top to bottom were able to share peace."

Everyone was a little surprised. They didn't expect that the old alliance leader would praise Prime Minister Shen after getting off the car.

It seems that this old alliance leader Wang has a strong sense of the political situation. Who said that the old alliance leader Wang's strength can only make the wind and rain in the literary world, but not in the political world?

Whatever the old leader said today was the truth. Shi Shilang still understood this principle of life, so he echoed:

"Fortunately, the country has Shen Wumen to mediate. If Shen Wumen had not returned to the court, how could we have the stability today?"

But Wang Shizhen asked in surprise: "Why did you suddenly mention Shen Wumen?"

Shi Shilang: "?"

What do you mean, old man? It was you who praised Prime Minister Shen first, and then he followed suit.

The old leader Wang suddenly realized, put his hand on his forehead, and said repeatedly: "Misunderstanding! Misunderstanding! I didn't express it clearly!"

Shi Shilang asked in confusion: "What misunderstanding?"

The old leader Wang replied indifferently: "The Wumen I mentioned refers to Lin Tailai, a Wu man, not Prime Minister Shen!"

Fuck! Everyone was shocked and speechless!

Master, absolutely a master! You, old leader Wang, turned out to be such a master!

In this era, people like to use the names of their hometowns to refer to the top bosses, so there are many conventional names.

Wumen refers to Shen Shixing, Taicang refers to Wang Xijue, and Shanyin refers to Wang Jiaping. Going back further, Jiangling refers to Zhang Juzheng, Huating refers to Xu Jie, and Fenyi refers to Yan Song.

But this is the treatment that only the top bosses in the political arena can get, but the old leader Wang directly used it to promote Lin Tailai!

Moreover, he also used the background of Shen Tong as a Wu person to play a little literary narrative trick, which is even more impressive.

Is this the skill of flattering people who has been looking down on the literary world for decades? It's really terrible, who can take it?

Shi Shilang was a little ashamed, but the old gentleman's skill was profound, and the old leader would always be the old leader.

The method of reproducing the old manuscripts from 20 years ago was really too childish.

Just when everyone couldn't take the skill of the old leader, a group of people suddenly appeared from the direction of the city gate.

Four servants were seen carrying a large sedan chair, trotting over all the way. There was a man on each side of the sedan chair, shouting: "Master Jiuyuan is here!"

Wang Shizhen frowned slightly. Didn't he tell Lin Jiuyuan that he didn't need to come to greet him? Why did he come anyway?

The reason why Lin Tailai was not allowed to greet him was, first, to show goodwill. After all, going out of the city to greet him was a courtesy from the lower to the upper, and not having to greet him meant treating each other with equal courtesy.

Second, he was afraid that Lin Tailai's presence would affect his performance as in the past. After all, Lin Tailai's ability to interfere was too strong.

Others felt very strange. Thanks to the "five black categories" remarks made by the Minister of Justice Lu Guangzu, now everyone in the capital knows that Lin Tailai usually travels by riding a horse and whipping a whip, and does not ride in a sedan chair.

Why did several people come today carrying a sedan chair?

When they got closer, someone recognized the two people beside the sedan chair. One was Lin Tailai's retainer Gu Bingqian, and the other was the left protector Zhang Wen.

Gu Bingqian bowed to the old leader Wang and said loudly: "Master Jiuyuan is too busy to take care of me, Gu Bingqian, the guest of Lin Mansion!"

Zhang Wen also saluted and said: "Zhang Wen, the left captain of the Lin Mansion guards!"

Then Gu Bingqian lifted the curtain of the sedan chair, and saw that there was no one in the sedan chair, only a Liangguan in the official dress.

Everyone was confused, what is this routine?

Then Gu Bingqian and Zhang Wen shouted together: "Hats! Politeness! Welcome to the Tianguan!"

Everyone: "."

It's still not over yet, the left protector Zhang Wen said loudly: "Congratulations to the leader Yanzhou Gong for getting the Tianguan!

Yanzhou Gong joined the new literary alliance for eight months, and through his own efforts, he got the Tianguan!

The new literati of the literary alliance, with the literary world on the left and the political world on the right, can do both literary and political worlds!"

Everyone: "."

It sounds quite festive. Is this a new routine to suppress the explosive power of the old leader Wang?

Before everyone could react, Gu Bingqian continued, "Master Jiuyuan has another poem to present!

The sick cypress in front of the courtyard is sparse,

The startled gulls outside the door cannot be called.

I have listened to the sound of the river for ten years,

but I have come to find no traces.

I sit in the wilderness and feel sorry for my old age,

I look at the empty Lu and sigh that I am lonely.

Thanks to the strong thoughts of the heaven,

I will share my heart and courage with the branches and wulin."

Everyone finally heard some human words. Compared with those things that were not human words just now, poems are easier to guess.

It doesn't take much thought to know that the poem presented by Lin Tailai should be to point out the old leader Wang.

It was originally "The sick cypress in front of the courtyard is sparse", then "Thanks to the strong thoughts of the heaven", and now "I will share my heart and courage with the branches and wulin", isn't it obvious enough?

Only Wang Lao, the old leader, vaguely remembered that he had heard the first half of this poem five years ago.

It was during the Suzhou Literary Conference in the 13th year of Wanli. Lin Tailai only recited half of the poem and fainted in anger.

Unexpectedly, five years later, Lin Tailai still sent the whole poem.

In these five years, the world has changed drastically, but it seems like fifty years have passed.

After coming to his senses, Wang Lao, the old leader, greeted everyone in a carefree manner: "Lin Jiuyuan is still interesting! There is a long way to go, let's all go into the city first!"

Shi Xing, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of War, also got on the carriage and rode with Wang Lao.

Since there was no one else here, Shi Shilang talked about something more private: "In the court of the capital, there are still many people who are jealous of the old gentleman and think that the old gentleman got a heavenly official position for nothing."

Leader Wang snorted disdainfully and replied: "For decades, there have been more people in the literary world who are jealous of me being the leader."

Those people only saw the thief eating meat but not the thief being beaten, and they didn't think about how much virtue and good deeds they had accumulated in their previous lives to meet someone like Lin Tailai.

And then they suffered so many beatings before they achieved the right result, which is comparable to the eighty-one difficulties of the journey to the West.

Shi Xing reminded again, "It can be predicted that after the old gentleman takes office, he will be subjected to crazy attacks from the censors.

The characteristics of these censors are that whoever is in power will be attacked. This is the trend in the current government.

The predecessor Yang Tianguan has been attacked almost all the time during his six years in office.

Yang Tianguan suddenly resolutely resigned from his post, which may be because he has reached the limit of his patience and can no longer bear it.

And old gentleman, you have suppressed Lu Guangzu, a member of the Qingliu Party this time, and the Qingliu Party will definitely not give up."

For this situation, the old leader Wang still disdained it, "I treat you like a chicken and a dog!"

Shi Xing was very worried about the arrogant attitude of the old leader Wang, and urged him, "The old gentleman has not set foot in the capital for 20 years and has not personally experienced such a trend. You must not underestimate the enemy. !”

The old leader Wang asked a question: "Compared with Lin Jiuyuan, who is stronger among these censors?"

Shi Xing answered without thinking: "Of course Lin Jiuyuan is stronger."

The old leader Wang said arrogantly: "I have endured Lin Jiuyuan's beating for four and a half years! These young censors are nothing!

Can they be sharper than Lin Jiuyuan? Can they be more cruel than Lin Jiuyuan? Can they be more insidious than Lin Jiuyuan? Can they be more cunning than Lin Jiuyuan? Can they be richer than Lin Jiuyuan? Can they be more powerful than Lin Jiuyuan?

I have seen Lin Jiuyuan's methods countless times and experienced countless purgatory. Why would I be afraid of this Qingliu Party?"

Shi Xing: "."

For a moment, I couldn't refute it. What on earth have you experienced in these years, old sir?