The Ming Dynasty's Spokesperson

Lin Tailai, the Junior Minister of the Taichang Temple, the Imperial Reader, and the Doctor of the Three Departments, led the left and right guards and two hundred family servants to march in the Qinglong Street District.

Finally, the team stopped outside the gate of the Honglu Temple, and Lin Tailai entered the hall and entered the Zhengqing Court.

He Yishang, the Zhengqing of the Honglu Temple, was also very old. He looked at Lin Tailai in confusion and asked, "But what business does the Ministry of Rites have?"

The work content of the Honglu Temple is mainly etiquette, on-site etiquette guidance and etiquette training, including training for foreign envoys. This work is connected with the Master and Guest Department.

Lin Tailai replied, "Grand Honglu! I was ordered to set up the Communication Department and would like to borrow your precious land for use."

He Yishang stared at his old eyes and questioned, "What does this have to do with my Honglu Temple?"

Lin Tailai said domineeringly, "Our Communication Department also needs a place under the sun. If we want to share the office with the Honglu Temple, Grand Honglu only needs to say yes or no."

Bang! He Yishang was so angry that his hair and beard stood up. He slammed the table and shouted: "Since I started my career, I have never suffered such humiliation!"

From the tone of his voice, he seemed to be a man with a story? Lin Tailai asked threateningly: "Old man! Are you good at fighting? Do you want to fight with me, Lin?"

He Yishang said fiercely: "When Emperor Shizong was alive, Hai Gangfeng and I were both officials from the same Juren family. We were imprisoned together and beaten with a hundred sticks in the court. We were almost dead but never regretted it!

So I am not afraid of Emperor Shizong. Do I have to be afraid of you in my old age?"

Lin Tailai was very surprised. What was going on? How could he run into a close comrade of Hai Rui?

He must be a tough guy to dare to criticize Jiajing with Hai Rui!

He Yishang stood up suddenly and shouted excitedly: "The Honglu Temple has been passed down from Emperor Chengzu and has remained unchanged for 170 years.

If this foundation is destroyed in my hands, won't I become a laughing stock of the world?

How will future generations view me if I lose my integrity in my old age?"

Lin Tailai was speechless. You old man take the Honglu Temple Minister too seriously, don't you?

This third-rate official position, he, Jiuyuan Zhenxian, would not even look at it!

But as a juren, he can be the chief minister of the five temples under the six ministries, which can indeed be regarded as a lifetime pride.

Then Lin Tailai said viciously: "In recent years, the emperor has not attended court, preached, or worshipped. The court does not need much ceremonial work. Most of the time, your Honglu Temple is just a decoration!

Then why do you still occupy such a large place? It is better to give it to people with virtue!"

He Honglu pointed to the beam above his head and shouted sternly: "If you want this land, I will give you my life! The day when the Ministry of War Communications Department moves in is the day when I hang myself in court!

It will also save me from being ridiculed by the world for not keeping my integrity in my later years, and losing my reputation in my old age!"

Lin Tailai: "."

I can't afford to offend you. I can't afford to offend you. An old man like Hai Rui dies in front of you. Who can bear this?

The key is that such a strong character really dares to die. If he is forced to death by himself, his reputation will really be ruined.

Lin Tailai didn't even say anything harsh, and turned around and left the Honglu Temple. After leaving the gate, he sighed: "People are not afraid of death, so why should they be afraid of death?"

Watching Lin Tailai's back leaving, He Honglu suddenly felt weak in the legs and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, the servants on the left and right supported him.

He Honglu sighed: "It's dangerous, dangerous! I am not a person who takes risks, because I have to do it."

Today's battle was not going well, but Lin Tailai didn't take it too seriously. After all, victory and defeat are common in the military, and people can't always get what they want.

Without the Honglu Temple, isn't there still the Imperial Hospital? So Lin Tailai turned around and stepped into the Imperial Hospital next to it.

An old judge named Han Shixian came out and welcomed Lin Tailai into the hall.

Looking at Han, the judge who was over 70 years old, Lin Tailai couldn't help but murmur in his heart, why is it another old man?

Now he is a little allergic to old men. Recently, he met Tang Hezheng in the Taichang Temple and He Yishang in the Honglu Temple, but he didn't get the upper hand.

The Ming Dynasty should really pay attention to the rejuvenation of cadres. Even these second- and third-rate officials are in their sixties and seventies.

After Han Yuanpan ordered the servants to serve tea, he smiled and said, "Speaking of which, I and Jiuyuan are close friends."

Lin Tailai: "?"

Who are you? I don't even know you, how can we be friends?

Han Yuanpan stroked his white beard and continued, "I am also from Suzhou. I lived in Taohuawu in my early years.

I was weak since childhood, so I gave up Confucianism to study medicine. I was close to Doctor Feng. Jiuyuan should know Doctor Feng and his son Feng Menglong, right?

Speaking of which, I have to thank you, Jiuyuan. At that time, I returned to my hometown for two years, and it happened that Jiuyuan fought all over Suzhou, which prompted my medical skills to advance by leaps and bounds, so I was recommended as a judge later."

Lin Tailai: "."

This kind of thanks is not necessary.

Then he heard Han Yuanpan say, "Although I am not talented, I have a younger brother, Han Shineng, who was a scholar in the second year of Longqing, and the best of his peers. A few years ago, he was promoted to the Minister of Rites, but resigned due to illness and returned home."

This honor is worthy of respect. Lin Tailai has heard of the name of this fellow countryman. He is also a low-key person and does not show off in Suzhou.

Han Yuanpan chuckled a few times, "What's more, my brother has a good relationship with the wealthy Chen family.

When he failed, he taught at the Chen family. Your close friend of the same year, Chen Yunjian, who was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel by you, was once a student of my brother."

Lin Tailai frowned slightly. This relationship is not easy to change. It doesn't look complicated, but it's like a spider web entangled with himself layer by layer.

Although the old man Han said "old friend", it was a bit stiff, but it was not completely nonsense.

Han Yuanpan remembered something and added: "The day before yesterday, Prime Minister Shen found me and asked about my brother's health. Do you think you want to use my brother as a teacher for the Shujishi?"

Hmm? Lin Tailai thought about it and it was indeed very possible.

As a ready-made senior and experienced poet, and also a fellow villager, the probability of being selected by Prime Minister Shen was too high.

Han Yuanpan looked at Lin Tailai and asked with a smile: "By the way, I was so busy reminiscing about the past that I forgot to ask about the purpose.

Jiuyuan suddenly came to the Imperial Hospital today. What on earth did he come for? Could it be to ask someone to see a doctor?"

Lin Tailai got up and left, "Nothing, just passing by!"

From the time he came in to the time he left, Lin Tailai didn't say a few words in total. It was always the old man Han who was chattering.

But he succeeded in chattering so much that Lin Tailai couldn't do anything ruthless, so he had to leave helplessly.

Zhang Wen, the left guardian, smacked his lips a few times and said suspiciously, "Did you check the almanac before going out today? Why do you feel so unlucky?"

Among the predetermined targets, only Shanglinyuan Prison was left in an instant. Lin Tailai prayed silently in his heart, hoping that he would not meet the old man again.

In fact, many people don't know what Shanglinyuan Prison does, and they will be confused by the name of this yamen, thinking that it is engaged in gardening.

In fact, the most important work of Shanglinyuan Prison is to produce and supply non-staple food for the royal family, such as beef, mutton, chicken, duck, goose, fruits and vegetables, etc.

At this time, there is no permanent supervisor of Shanglinyuan Prison. Generally, the low-ranking supervisor is responsible for the work in the prison.

The supervisor is finally no longer an old man. A strong man named Li calls himself the supervisor. He is rough and bold, unlike ordinary civil servants.

Lin Tailai got straight to the point and directly stated his purpose: If you want to borrow the precious land, half is enough, or all of it is also OK!

Li Jiancheng agreed generously, "Want to borrow our yamen? No problem!"

Is it impossible? Lin Tailai couldn't believe it. This was too smooth, too smooth to be true, without even a single quibble.

Just as he was wondering, he heard Li Jiancheng say, "But I have to report to the East Factory and get their permission."

Lin Tailai wanted to ask, how did the East Factory get involved!

Li Jiancheng then explained very considerately: "We Shanglinyuanjian have to supply meat, fruits and vegetables to the palace, which is quite sensitive. Therefore, since last year, Shanglinyuanjian has been fully supervised and controlled by the East Factory.

When it comes to such important issues as office offices, we must report to the East Factory."

Lin Tailai sneered: "Don't use the East Factory to pressure me. Where did the previous factory master serve as a guard? Who sent him there?"

Li Jiancheng hurriedly said: "I don't mean that! Don't worry, Jiuyuangong, the factory master is my adoptive father, I will help you to speak well in front of the factory master!"

Looking at Li Jiancheng's sincere face, Lin Tailai felt that it was all routine. It turned out that you, a small seventh-grade monster who raises and grows vegetables, also have followers!

What else can the East Factory do if it doesn't agree? Go to war with the East Factory just to grab an office location? Isn't that a serious brain disease?

Besides, the current factory master Sun Xian is usually very low-key and has no flaws, unlike the previous factory master Zhang Jing who is full of loopholes.

Coming out of Shanglinyuan, the left and right guards said, "It's really not a good time to go out and do things today. We didn't take down any of the three targets!"

Lin Tailai was a little skeptical about his life. What happened to him? Why did he fail in three consecutive third-rate yamen?

If you count the previous rejection by the Taichang Temple, that's four.

There must be some internal logic in this, but he is confused and hasn't figured it out yet.

So Lin Tailai didn't feel like working today and went home to rest.

When talking about today's events with his retainer Gu Bingqian, Lin Tailai couldn't help but sigh:

"I'm always successful in the court, and I can handle the emperor and the prime minister with ease, but I can't always deal with these temple officials and supervisors. It's really strange."

After thinking for a while, Gu Bingqian suddenly stood up, bowed to Lin Tailai, and said loudly: "Congratulations to the owner, congratulations to the owner! This is a good thing!"

Lin Tailai looked at Gu Bingqian in confusion. Are you also good at turning bad things into good things? Is this the skill of "White Bearded Prime Minister"?

But Lin Tailai really wanted to hear how bad things turned into good things.

Gu Bingqian added: "This shows that the host has become a truly influential and widely recognized big man!"

Lin Tailai liked to hear this, and waved his hand to encourage: "Tell me more!"

Gu Bingqian replied: "The Art of War says that knowing yourself and knowing your enemy will lead to victory in all battles, and the same is true between people.

In the past, when the host faced famous big men, he knew the big men very well, which can be said to be knowing both himself and the enemy.

Now the host is also a big man and has become the object of careful study by others, so the situation is the opposite of the past.

When the host meets those little people who are not very familiar with, the one who knows himself and the enemy is the other party, so it is normal for the host to occasionally encounter passiveness.

Many of the celebrities in history suffered losses at the hands of little people, that's the reason."

Lin Tailai couldn't tell for a while whether Gu Bingqian was taking the opportunity to flatter himself or was really analyzing seriously.

It seems to make sense. He knows more about historical celebrities and has the advantage of information gap, and most of these people are gathered in the upper class.

As for those who are not so famous, they don’t have the information gap advantage, and they are not as easy to control as the big shots.

I have been high and mighty for a long time, and I usually go in and out of the ministries and the prime minister’s house, and I have never looked down at the people below.

Today I walked around the third-rate government office, and I thought that the things that I could solve in one go turned out to be impossible.

There are all kinds of people in this court, and each has his own survival wisdom.

Gu Bingqian added: "Regarding the location of the Communications Department, the owner's intention is too obvious.

Now it is known to everyone, and others are on guard, so it is not good for the owner.

It is suggested that the owner do not worry, wait a few days to see if there are any new changes in the court situation, and then wait for the opportunity to act."

Lin Tailai thought for a while and said, "The main situation in the court recently seems to have little to do with me."

Although Lin Tailai has been very calm recently, the court is actually very lively.

The hottest thing is of course the tug-of-war between the emperor and the ministers, for the issue of the Eastern Palace.

The Qingliu Party members once again clamored to establish the Eastern Palace, and the emperor dismissed the Minister of Works Song Xun, and controlled the resignation of the Left Censor-in-Chief Lu Guangzu.

Then the Qingliu Party members had to "rescue" Song Xun, and also prevent Lu Guangzu from being dismissed.

So the court was in a mess, and Lin Tailai left the matter alone after throwing Song Xun and Lu Guangzu, the potential victims, to the emperor.

It seemed that the excitement was all for others, and Lin Tailai was only managing his own "little happiness", such as focusing on the organization construction of the Renewal Society, guiding the publicity work of the Literary Conference, and setting up the Communications Department.

Finally, Lin Tailai said: "If you intervene in the court situation just to select a location for the Communications Department, it will be more trouble than it is worth."

The country is in great trouble, so stay as far away as possible.

At Shen's mansion, Prime Minister Shen also expressed similar feelings when he had dinner with his son.

"Lin Tailai started all the things, but now he seems to be fine." Prime Minister Shen said with a little resentment.

The emperor and the ministers were arguing fiercely, and the Prime Minister must be the most upset one caught in the middle.

Shen Yongmao replied, "Isn't this what the Prime Minister does? Lin Tailai is not the Prime Minister."

Shen Shoufu said unhappily, "I really don't want to deal with him now!"

At this moment, someone from the Imperial Hospital suddenly came to report, "The dismissed Minister of Works Song has been seriously ill and has just passed away!"

Shen Shoufu was shocked. Song Xun was not young and had not been in good health. He got sick after submitting his resignation. He didn't expect that he would be gone so soon!

The emperor was using Song Xun to divert attention and was arguing with the ministers.

Now that he is gone, the argument is broken! The inertia of the current situation must be changed directly!

Shen Yongmao asked, "What is father going to do? Report to the emperor first?"

Shen Shoufu immediately ordered, "No, go and notify Lin Tailai first!"

Shen Yongmao: "."

Is this what you mean by not wanting to deal with Lin Tailai?