Chapter 34 Chapter 7 Zuo Shilang uses wine to discuss the sudden drop of melon growers in the political enemy Xunfeng Pavilion
As soon as it got dark, the night markets around Dengshikou became bustling.The so-called night market is nothing more than singing houses, dancing pavilions, restaurants and restaurants playing the leading role.There is an Erlang Temple in the east of Dengshikou Street.According to Taoist scriptures, Erlang God is Qingyuan Zhenjun, and the temple was founded here in the second year of Tang Zhenguan. At that time, Kyoto was called Fanyang.In the second year of Song and Yuan Dynasties, Beiliao called it Beijing based on this, and expanded and rebuilt the Erlang Temple, which has become a scene of the capital since then.Turning south from the square in front of Erlang Temple, there is a side street called Miaoyou Street.From the street to the end of the street, there are all high-end restaurants with their own characteristics. Most of the dignitaries and dignitaries eat here.Therefore, it is also the most prosperous place of Dengshikou Night Market.These restaurants and restaurants are magnificently decorated.The curtains and curtains are richly embroidered, and the carved beams and painted buildings are ingenious.At night, various shops, high and low, hang up five-color light balls, or occasionally use various colored gauze lanterns, like pearls and clouds, in a continuous line.There are also some stores that have racked their brains to fill the empty walls with lights, and pretend their corridors to be illuminated with lights.And the door is lit, the room is lit, and all the furnishings in the house are decorated with colorful lights.Being in it is like facing the Tianque of Xianyuan, and you have a great feeling of not knowing where it is today.The Xunfeng Pavilion, where Gao Gong used to feast, is on this temple right street. At the time of Xupai in the evening, a sedan chair carried by two people was carried into the courtyard of Xunfeng Pavilion.At that time, most well-known restaurants not only had sedan halls, but also arranged food stalls on the ground floor for the bearers waiting for the owner to eat tea and drink.When the sedan chair had just stopped in the sedan chair hall, a gentleman in a poplin Taoist robe came out of the sedan chair with a gold-painted folding fan in his hand. "Looking at the seats upstairs—"The quick-eyed waiter, a fat waiter, still couldn't sing the word "seat", and a person who looked like a housekeeper came up to stop him.Then he said to the gentleman, "Master Wei, my master is on the third floor. Please come here." About four months ago, Wei Xuezeng accompanied Gao Gong to this Xunfeng Pavilion to eat a meal of smoked pork head meat. At that time, Emperor Longqing's condition was in remission.Although Gao Gong felt that Feng Bao was against him and Zhang Juzheng was holding him back, he never expected the situation to change so quickly.A dignified chief assistant who had lived through the three dynasties and had a great reputation unexpectedly fell down as soon as he said he wanted to, and ended up with a tragic end of being deprived of his salary and dismissed from his post to return home.Therefore, when Wei Xuezeng came back this time, it was inevitable that he would feel the sadness of going to Loukong in his heart.After Gao Gong resigned, Wei Xuezeng seldom socialized, except for going to work in the Ministry of Officials every day, the rest of the time he stayed at home and thanked guests behind closed doors.Today is the first time he accepts someone else's banquet. Go up to the third floor and walk into a quiet and elegant room near the inner courtyard. There was already a person who stood up to greet him and asked with a forced smile, "Qi Guan, why did you wait so long to arrive now?" Wei Xuezeng replied: "You have to stay until dark before you can walk."
The man wanted to follow the joke, "You, Wei Dapao, now know how to be afraid of people."But he was afraid of hurting Wei Xuezeng's self-esteem, so he held back and said nothing, and asked instead: "Did you meet any acquaintances along the way?" "No." Wei Xuezeng raised his eyes to look at the gorgeous furnishings in the elegant room, smiled lightly, no Wu Wu sarcastically said: "Ruding, it has been more than half a month since pepper and sumac have been discounted, and you still dare to treat guests on Miaoyou Street, so you are not afraid of people's gossip?" "What are you afraid of? Let's eat our own food." Savings, who is in the way?"
Whilst talking, there was already a waiter in the shop brewing a pot of tea and bringing some refreshments.This is the rule of the guests in the capital of Yanyin. Before the official banquet begins to eat hot dishes, refreshments are served for the guests to chew and appetize.The two sat at the table and drank tea. But he said that the host of the dinner tonight is also a well-known figure in the capital, Wang Xilie, who is currently the left servant of the Ministry of Rites.Both he and Wei Xuezeng were Jinshi in the 29th year of Jiajing, and the seat masters were both Gao Gong.Therefore, in addition to the friendship of the same year, there is also the friendship of political friends who seek each other in the same spirit.Both of them are highly respected figures.After Emperor Longqing's visit, Wang Xilie has been supervising the construction of the mausoleum in Longevity Mountain.On the second day after Gao Gong resigned, Gao Yi, who was already seriously ill and also a minister of the Ministry of Rites, also died of a sudden illness.Wang Xilie, who served as the second official of the Ministry of Rites, returned to the Ministry temporarily to take charge of the government.Wang Xilie has served as the left servant of the Ministry of Rites for four years.Gao Gong once promised that after Gao Yi entered the cabinet, he would choose an appropriate time to play to the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.But time has passed, this time the six ministers were adjusted, the official minister was replaced by Yang Bo, the minister of war, and the minister of rites was promoted by Zhan Shifu, Zhan Shilu Tiaoyang.Wang Xilie, who had been in power temporarily for less than half a month, had to retreat to the position of deputy again.There was really no way to vent the cowardice in his heart, so he had no choice but to go home and beat the school boy and torture the concubine for no reason to relieve his hatred.When there was such a commotion, when the family saw him, they all hid away like a mouse seeing a cat.But the strange thing is that his temper is getting bigger and bigger.He himself also felt that it was not an option to go on like this in the long run, and what was annoyed was that he couldn't catch his heart.After half a month ago, there was a big turmoil about the discounted salary of pepper and sumac, and he felt that the opportunity had come again.After calmly observing for a while, after work was over yesterday, he wrote an invitation for his family to send to Wei Xuezeng's residence, asking him to come to Xunfeng Pavilion for dinner tonight.Wei Xuezeng was also very bored these days, and was looking for someone to complain about, so he readily agreed to come as scheduled. Drinking tea, the two first chatted a few irrelevant gossips, and when the banquet was served, they looked at the table full of delicacies, and then looked at the empty elegant room, Wei Xuezeng asked: "Ru Ding , Such a sumptuous banquet, just the two of us?" "Who else can I invite?" Although Wang Xilie was full of bitterness, he pretended to be relaxed and asked jokingly: "How about we let The waiter at the shop asked two girls to come and sing for us with wine?" "Forget it," Wei Xuezeng was straightforward, unlike Wang Xilie who was good at hiding himself, and said with a wry smile, "Brother Ru Ding is looking for me at this time, There must be something wrong. Right now, no one is in the mood to eat Huajiu." "That's right." Wang Xilie said, and had a drink with Wei Xuezeng as the host. Probing Wei Xuezeng's thoughts, but swallowed the words again, but changed the subject and asked, "Brother Qiguan, Mr. Yang Bo took over as Minister of the Ministry of Officials, what changes have you made?"Wei Xuezeng did not Answered directly, but asked Wang Xilie: "Where are you? How is Lu Tiaoyang?" You don't know?" Wang Xilie said sourly, picked up a piece of smoked pork head and put it into his mouth.It's strange that Beijing's famous food, which usually makes you drool when you mention it, is tasteless now.Wang Xilie held his breath and swallowed reluctantly, but he was still thinking about Lu Tiaoyang. This Lu Tiaoyang, the word Heqing, alias Yusuo.He was also a Jinshi in the 29th year of Jiajing, and he was the first Jinshi and the second in the palace examination.Staying in the Hanlin Academy, three years later, Lu Tiaoyang was promoted to Chunfang Yude.According to the rules of the Tang and Song dynasties, the official office of Chunfang was in charge of the emperor's edicts.The official position of Yu De is responsible for conveying the emperor's instructions.However, this official office has a name but no reality, and it has only become a transfer station for the Hanlin Academy to compile, edit and promote.Therefore, the editors and editors, for example, Shengchunfang Yude Kaifang. After Lu Tiaoyang opened a workshop, he continued to serve as the Secretary of the Imperial College, which was an academic officer.After ascending the throne, Emperor Longqing was promoted to Nanjing Guozijian Jijiu, and then promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Rites in Nanjing. Two years later, he returned to Beijing to serve as the Minister of Right of the Ministry of Rites, and then to Minister of Zuo of the Ministry of Officials.In fact, the latter two positions are false titles, and his actual position is Zhan Shifu Zhan Shi.Because Zhan Shi in Zhan Shifu is only a fourth-rank official, while Zuo Shilang is a third-rank official in the official department, the title of giving Lu Tiaoyang is to improve his salary, and he does not serve in the official department.Lu Tiaoyang stepped into the officialdom and has been serving as an academic officer and historian. He has never been a feudal official, which is in line with his character.Anyone who has worked with him knows that he is full of knowledge, but he is pedantic and has a stuttering problem.Therefore, in the same year, he was nicknamed "Lu Jieba".He has more than prudence in handling affairs but not enough courage, more than simo but not enough flexibility.Therefore, he has been in the officialdom for more than 20 years, except for three years as the main job of the Imperial College Jijiu, most of the time he worked as a deputy.Zhan Shi's Mansion is the yamen responsible for the life and education of the crown prince. Although Zhan Shi is a full-time job, the prince who has just left the cabinet to give lectures has become the emperor, and Lu Tiaoyang has nothing else to do.Zhang Juzheng specially recommended him this time as Minister of Rites, firstly to borrow his knowledge.The second is the most important thing, although this Lu Tiaoyang is a high-ranking man, he never clings to him, except for doing his own job honestly, he never wants to get involved in the slightest.Therefore, everyone believed that he would not pose a threat to anyone, and he was well-known as a good man in the same year.In terms of reading and learning, Wang Xilie is indeed far inferior to Lu Tiaoyang, but when Wang Xilie entered his official career, he first served as a county magistrate, and then returned to Beijing to serve as a rite minister. To open the government, from the seventh-rank county magistrate to the third-rank feudal official, he did it step by step.He relied on his ability to control the complexity and be quick to argue, so he didn't pay attention to Lu Tiaoyang, who had been a historian for a long time.
Who knew that Lu Tiaoyang, a wooden man with three big mills, could not suppress a loud fart, but now he has become Wang Xilie's immediate boss, and he will not be angry if you say it.But Wang Xilie invited Wei Xuezeng out tonight, not just to find his old friend to complain about his distress, he also had other important matters to discuss with him. While Wang Xilie was drinking and thinking about his thoughts, Wei Xuezeng didn't speak for a while, he just picked up the food in front of him and ate it. Seeing that Wang Xilie's face calmed down, he said, "Ru Ding, don't underestimate it." This Lu Jieba, on the surface, he doesn't grumble, but in fact he knows the officialdom best. The snipe and the clam compete for the fisherman's profit. These are simple words that you and I don't understand, but he, Lu Jieba, understands the bone marrow. Forget it , Now that things have happened, it’s too boring to evaluate this." After saying "Son", Wei Xuezeng drank another full glass, Wang Xilie looked at his old friend, seemingly indifferent on the surface, but actually had a lot of thoughts on his mind.At this time, I cut to the point and asked him: "Qi Guan, do you know about Wu Ke?" Wei Xuezeng nodded, and replied: "Wu Ke made a statement, nonsense about male changing into female is the prosperity of yin and the decline of yang. It's a sign that he offended the Empress Dowager Li and was revoked by the imperial edict. This has become a big news in the capital, and who would not know about it." "I heard that he also wrote an impeachment of Zhang Juzheng, saying that Zhang Juzheng used a private party. It happened that he was dismissed from office, so this report was not presented, but it was circulated privately in the capital.”“Yes, we have also read this report.”
"Wu Ke made this move, I don't know if I have discussed it with someone beforehand."
Wang Xilie cast an inquiring look at Wei Xuezeng.Wei Xuezeng knew what he meant, so he asked clearly, "Brother Ru Ding, do you think that I am the one behind Wu Ke?" Wang Xilie smiled sarcastically, and said tactfully, "There are such rumors outside, and it's not called me." Instigated. It may be that this Wu Ke figured out that the old man had such thoughts, and because Mr. Xuan was kind to him, he released a drought thunder without hesitation. Qi Guan, how many pairs of eyes are staring at you in the officialdom of the capital now? . ""Why are you staring at me?"
"What are you doing? What are you talking about?" Wang Xilie lowered his voice, leaned forward and said, "Wu Ke fired the first shot, who should take the second shot and the third shot?" "Who fired the shot?" What has it got to do with me?"
"Aren't you Wei Dapao?"
Wei Xuezeng stared at Wang Xilie for quite a while, then sighed and said, "It seems that you really think that Wu Ke's actions were instigated by me." "It's not a bad thing, what are you hiding?"
"It's not surprising that you have such an idea," Wei Xuezeng explained with a straight face, "Wu Ke was originally the head of the Anthology Department of the Ministry of Officials, and worked under me for two years. This kid is flexible and is very appreciated by Mr. Gaoge , at the beginning of this year, he was promoted to Taiyuan to become a fourth-rank governor. Mr. Gao Ge meant to let him open a mansion and build a government office, and do more practical things in the local area to prepare for promotion in the future. Who knows that this guy is arrogant Sheng, as soon as he arrived in Taiyuan, he had a bad relationship with the government office. Because he was a member of the official department, and his background was strong, he was given three points in everything, but he still whispered some dissatisfaction in secret. After a few days, there were so few words that reached the ears of Mr. Gao Ge. Mr. Gao Ge was very annoyed, and asked me to write a letter to Wu Ke to persuade me when I had time, and instructed that the words in the letter must be strict. This happened when Emperor Longqing was ill. Heavy period. Since then, the situation in the capital has become more and more tense day by day, and the letter was not written in time, and Mr. Gao Ge himself resigned and left Beijing." "So, Wu Ke impeached Zhang Ju on his own initiative?"
"I think so."
"Is this kid a Jinshi in the 42nd year of Jiajing?"
"Yes."
"Well, Thirty Lang was still a young man at the age of thirty," Wang Xilie simply put down his chopsticks, rubbed his hands and sighed, "In today's officialdom, most of the young officials are just mothers. Enumeration, this Wu Ke knows that kindness must be repaid, and he can be regarded as a bloody man." "You must appreciate Wu Ke so much, but my brother has a different view." Wei Xuezeng shook his head and said disdainfully. "Oh?" Wang Xilie was taken aback.
"You said that Wu Ke fired the first cannon, but it's a pity that he fired a horizontal cannon.""Why, he impeached him wrong?"
"It's definitely not right," Wei Xuezeng said in a resolute and unquestionable tone.At this time, the shop waiter brought a pot of hot wine up, and after he withdrew and closed the door again, Wei Xuezeng continued, "It is true to say that Zhang Juzheng has a private party, but it is reluctant to say that he uses private parties, but there is insufficient evidence. Wu Ke mentioned two people in the booklet, one is Wang Guoguang and the other is Wang Zhigao. These two people, one is Zhang Juzheng's in-laws and the other is Zhang Juzheng's good friend. This is true, but they are both courageous in their affairs and outstanding in politics. Xuan Lao also valued them very much when he was in office. The six ministers who really changed were the two from the Ministry of Households and the Ministry of Punishment. Zhu Heng was a veteran of the three dynasties and an expert in river control. Zhang Juzheng retained him. Yang Bo was in the early years of Longqing. Minister of the Ministry of Officials, after Gao Gong became the first assistant, Emperor Longqing asked him to serve as Minister of the Ministry of Officials, so Yang Bo was transferred to the Ministry of Military Affairs, but he still had an empty title of Minister of the Ministry of Officials. This time he returned to the Ministry of Government and Officials, also It can be said that it is expected by everyone. The post of Minister of the Ministry of War he vacated was taken over by Tan Lun, Governor of Xuanda. He has made great military achievements. He has been in Xuanda for six years. There is nothing wrong with the Ministry of War. Then there is the Ministry of Rites where Xiongtai is located. Compared with the above-mentioned people, Lu Tiaoyang's political achievements are much inferior, but his moral articles are still praised. More importantly, he is Zhan Shifu Zhan Shi, the prince The little prince is now on the throne, and it is reasonable for Zhang Juzheng to recommend his teacher as the Minister of Rites. To be fair, the six candidates recommended by Zhang Juzheng are really impeccable." , Said Wang Xilie's heart was half cold.He had hoped that Wei Xuezeng could take advantage of Wu Ke's incident and lead everyone to compete with Zhang Juzheng, but he didn't expect that Wei Dapao, uncharacteristically, actually sang praises for Zhang Juzheng.If it weren't for the many years of friendship, he really suspected that Wei Dapao would sell himself to join him.Thinking about it, Wang Xilie became angry, and said angrily, "Brother Qiguan, what kind of ecstasy did Zhang Juzheng give you? Tonight, you put gold on his face." Wei Xuezeng knew that Wang Xilie had always been kind-hearted He was narrow, so he didn't care about it, just smiled, and continued to follow his own train of thought: "Brother Ru Ding, I just said that the candidate for the six ministers is impeccable, not that Zhang Juzheng is impeccable, he is the chief assistant. The first thing is to flatter the Empress Dowager Li and get the honorary title of the Empress Dowager of the Two Palaces. You are a participant in this matter, and you know better than me. I will not repeat the details. The second thing is to change the department Minister, these two things have been done very well. This is where Zhang Juzheng's insidiousness excels. But the third move after the two moves really shows Zhang Juzheng's viciousness." "He What is the third move?"
Wang Xilie asked eagerly.Wei Xuezeng was about to answer, when suddenly the door was pushed open, and two strangers broke in. Wei Xue had a closer look at these two people: one old and one young, the old one was about fifty years old, and the young one was in his early twenties.It looks like a father and son.They were all wearing black trousers and white coats, with bare shoulders, and a pair of mille-soled leather-lined cloth shoes that kicked dead cows. At first glance, they looked like a busker. "What are you going to do?" Wang Xilie asked vigilantly.
"Back to the two masters," said the older one, cupping his fists and saying, "My name is Hu Xun, and this is my son, named Hu Xingzi. My father and son saw the two masters drinking too much, so I came to perform today." A few sets of juggling, to give the master a good mood." The show is about to start, and at this moment the waiter from the store rushed in with two feet, pulling Hu with a dog's demeanor. The hand is about to rush out. "Go, go, I've already made it clear that the third floor and above are forbidden areas. I just turned my eyes around, and you all slipped up." The waiter in the shop was babbling, and Hu Jin laughed nonchalantly.However, no matter how hard the shop waiter tried his best, he couldn't move Hu Jin for half a step.Hu Jin then sneered and said: "Look at your tofu shelf, you can't even pull up a green onion, and you still want to plunder our tree. Pull it, let's see how hard you can use it."The shop waiter His face was flushed with suffocation, and he pulled harder, shouting as he pulled, "See if you go, or if you don't, I'll go downstairs and call someone." Every restaurant in the capital, no matter whether it is high-end or low-end, has some accompanying wine Girls who sell singing prostitutes or jugglers live among them.These people specialize in making fun for customers, and some restaurants rely on them to attract business.But these people are pervasive and sometimes disturb the guests. Therefore, in most high-end restaurants, unless called by guests, such people are generally not allowed to enter, and the third floor of Xunfeng Pavilion belongs to this category.Seeing that the two sides were at a stalemate, Wei Xuezeng let the waiter let go, and then asked Hu Jin: "What juggling skills do you know?" Hu Jin replied: "Master, my best trick is to grow melons. Melon, sow beans and reap beans.”“How to perform?”
Hu Jin took a look around the room, pointed to the corner of the room and said: "If the master is interested in watching, I can plant a melon here."Wang Xilie was still thinking about Zhang Juzheng What is the third move of the chess game, so I have no other purpose, I don't want anything to get involved and miss the conversation, just want to open my mouth to throw the father and son idlers out, but I didn't expect Wei Xuezeng to speak first: "In that case , I will see how you grow melons." "Brother Qiguan." Wang Xilie still wanted to stop it.
"Brother Ru Ding," Wei Xuezeng stopped Wang Xilie and said, "After seeing this juggling, it's not too late for us to talk, what do you think?"
"Okay." Wang Xilie reluctantly agreed.
The clerk raised his foot and was about to leave. Wang Xilie was worried that the two people's whereabouts would be unknown and there might be an accident, so he asked the clerk to stand aside and watch.
I saw Hu Jin and his son standing in the corner of the room, there was nothing there except a string of colorful lanterns the size of ox hooves in the corner, but Hu Jin still pretended to say to Wei Xuezeng: "Master, please move your step Come and have a look, there is nothing here except a solid floor." Wei Xuezeng waved his hand and said, "I see, don't be fooled, just get it done." "Master is so impatient, it must be because the spirits have burnt Tongue, I want to eat melons. Shopkeeper, please do me a favor and bring us a bucket of water." The shop waiter went downstairs after hearing the sound, and came back with a bucket full of water in a while.Hu Jin asked again: "What kind of melon does the master want to eat?" "What kind of melon can you grow?" This time it was Wang Xilie who asked.
"Hey, there are too many to grow," Hu Man said, counting allegro with his fingers. , I can grow it." Seeing that he was bragging too much, Wei Xuezeng deliberately made a difficult problem and said, "I want to eat a pineapple, you can plant it."Hu Jin shrank his neck and replied : "Oh, I'm sorry, pineapples are not in season, but watermelon and cantaloupe are in season right now. Watermelon is too big and grows slowly, why don't we plant a cantaloupe for the two masters?" Wang Xilie only wanted this game Hurry up and finish, urging: "Okay, okay, you can plant quickly.""Okay."
Speaking, Hu Xun asked Hu Xunzi to untie the bag on his back, took out a flower pot filled with soil from it, put it in the corner of the room, picked out a melon seed from his bosom, stepped forward and handed it to Wei Xuezeng In his hand: "Master, please take a look, this is a cantaloupe seed." Wei Xuezeng put the little yellow-brown melon seed in his palm and weighed it. He was sure that it was a cantaloupe seed, so he returned it to Hu Jin and said: "You don't go around in circles, and plant it quickly, sir, I am really thirsty." "Little one obeys."