Chapter 485: Paintings in the Capital Are Expensive

Originally, the dispute over the foundation of the country, which lasted for more than ten years, was a very complicated event.

It was not just a question of who to appoint as the crown prince, but also mixed with party struggles among ministers, power games between the monarch and his ministers, emotional venting, speculation and other elements.

Under the fierce emotional confrontation, no workaround could be implemented, resulting in the prolonged struggle, which took more than ten years to come to a conclusion.

The Ming Dynasty in the past ten years was very "weird". While there was a fierce dispute over the foundation of the country in the court, it also fought the three major expeditions of Wanli at the same time.

It must be said that Zhang Juzheng left a solid foundation for the Ming Dynasty.

In principle, Lin Tailai did not intend to participate deeply in the dispute over the foundation of the country.

There was no benefit in standing on either side. He just wanted to fish in troubled waters and continue to expand his power.

And rely on his greatest talent to do his job in diplomacy.

After this short court meeting, it was a sleepless night for many people in the Qingliu forces.

For example, He Zhuo sacrificed himself and presented "Jin Ping Mei" to the emperor. He Zhuo couldn't sleep at night and ran to his fellow villager Song Xun's house to complain.

After Song Xun failed to compete with Wang Situ for the position of Minister of the Ministry of Revenue three years ago, he had to settle for the second best and became the Minister of the Ministry of Works. He has been very low-key in recent years.

Minister Song sighed to He Zhuo: "You sacrificed yourself like this just to ban "Jin Ping Mei". Is it worth it?"

He Zhuo said helplessly: "What else can I do? If not, the other four people will be difficult to save."

Minister Song was a little fortunate, not only for himself, but also for the four cabinet elders Wang Jiaping, Minister of the Ministry of Justice Lu Guangzu, and Dali Temple Minister Sun Yu and others.

Before leaving, Gu Xiancheng suggested that fellows above the third rank should try to avoid personally fighting to preserve their foundation and vitality.

Fortunately, everyone listened this time, otherwise the consequences would be hard to say.

But another strategy mentioned by Gu Xiancheng - using a cannon fodder to stir up trouble, and then others pretending to rescue, failed.

Not only did the strategy fail, but it also implicated He Zhuo and Luo Yuren. Although they are still alive, they are politically dead.

In addition, the censor Qian Yiben and Wang Sanyu, who had crossed the line with Lin Tailai, were also in a bad situation. They would definitely be pursued for "inappropriate words and deeds, and partiality over public affairs."

As an outsider who did not personally go through the situation, Song Xun saw it more clearly:

"If Luo Yuren's memorial did not implicate Lin Tailai, perhaps the result would not be like this, but it is useless to say these now."

He Zhuo added: "Luo Yuren and I plan to resign from office in a while and indulge in the mountains and forests in the future."

Which one is this? Although Shangshu Song did not think that he was old and confused, he did feel that he had lost count.

In the past three years, Fang Wanshan, Xin Zixiu, Cai Shiding, Li Shida, Li Lai, Shi Kunyu, Xu Shouqian, Cui Jingrong, and Chen Tailai have fallen. It seems that there are still some missing.

One or two may not be a big deal, but when the number increases, it is shocking!

It has only been three years. If it continues like this, I am afraid that the speed of supplementing and training new people in the same way will not be able to keep up with the speed of consumption!

When thinking of this, Song Shangshu suddenly woke up. They have been developing for more than ten years and the Qingliu force with a large scale is actually facing a survival crisis!

It is really unreasonable to face only one Lin Tailai!

He Zhuo said again: "It is not a pity for us mediocre talents, but can we save the money this time?"

"It's a bit difficult." Song Xun told the truth.

According to the traditional way of playing, there should be a group of officials to rescue first, stir up the hot spots, and then the big guys will coordinate in the middle.

But in the current situation, our side has suffered a heavy blow and low morale, and it is not easy to gather people.

Moreover, many people on our side have already appeared. If they gather together again, it is inevitable that they will feel like they are making trouble by taking advantage of their power, which will lose their popularity.

Song Xun continued, "Wang Sanyu was fine, he didn't say much, but Qian Yiben's plan for now was to stop the loss in time.

Let Qian Yiben fend for himself, he can't continue to sacrifice people for a copy of "Jin Ping Mei"."

He Zhuo was a relatively passionate and righteous person, "If you just fend for yourself, it will be disheartening."

Song Xun replied, "Qian Yiben's case is not serious, he was just caught with partiality during the confrontation.

The worst result for him is that he will be transferred out of the capital, and after two or three years, when the matter has faded, he will be transferred back. This is the most appropriate plan at present."

"It can only be like this, let Qian Yiben try to protect himself." Although He Zhuo still wanted to help his colleagues, he was powerless.

If the top bosses are unwilling to come forward to coordinate, no matter how hard they try, it will be useless.

Before leaving, He Zhuo said to Song Xun: "I have a feeling that Lin Tailai is not like any traditional treacherous minister we know."

Song Shangshu was puzzled, "What do you mean by not like? Because he is more domineering, more arrogant, and more capable of fighting?"

He Zhuo explained: "It is difficult for me to express my meaning in words, but I can give an analogy.

Traditional treacherous ministers are like bastards soliciting customers on the street, shouting "Your Majesty, come and play" and so on.

And Lin Tailai can say seriously that Your Majesty has been busy with government affairs recently, and you are too tired and hurt your body. You should have some entertainment.

The difference between the two is what I want to express."

Lin Tailai, who was reminiscing about the first court meeting and the first court meeting at home, was also harassed.

The person who harassed him was Wang Yusheng, a classmate of the same year, from the Dongshan Wang family, who refused to go to the Ministry of Rites to be the head.

"I came here today to tell you that I can't stay in the Censorate any longer." Wang Yusheng said with no desire to live.

After becoming a Jinshi, Wang Yusheng has been doing political internship in the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Lin Tailai asked back: "If you can't stay in the Metropolitan Procuratorate, what do you want to say to me? I gave you a chance, but you refused."

Wang Yusheng replied: "Originally, it was nothing to observe politics in the Metropolitan Procuratorate, but recently

You also know that Kedao is the largest den of those who claim to be Qingliu forces, and there are many such officials in the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Recently you have stirred up this hornet's nest again, and everyone knows about my relationship with you.

How can I feel better now in the Metropolitan Procuratorate? Just those dozens of unkind looks can make me, a newcomer with no job or power, feel uneasy! "

Lin Tailai said contemptuously: "They can't eat you. If you can't survive this, then why are you an official?"

Wang Yusheng said helplessly: "I can endure it, but before my period of observing the government ends, can you restrain yourself a little bit?"

"I really have no ambition." Lin Tailai continued to scorn: "If it were me, I would take advantage of the opportunity and pull one or two old people off their horses. Wouldn't the position be freed up? Can't I just take the position directly?"

Wang Yu said: ""

We are mainstream officials, and we are incomparable to non-mainstream officials like Lin Jiuyuan.

At this time, the doorman of the Lin Mansion came to report: "There is a man named Wu Zhengzhi, who claims to be the same year he sat in the palace, and is waiting outside the door."

Wang Yusheng said doubtfully: "Isn't Wu Zhengzhi the one who was kicked out of the Shujishi by you because he casually slandered you?

Why would he take the initiative to visit you? Did you hook up secretly? Do I need to avoid it? "

"I don't know either." Lin Tailai was also very confused, "I'll talk about it after seeing it first.

After all, they are all from the same year in name. If the same year is excluded, it will affect the Scholarship Review. "

Wang Yusheng was quite surprised. Lin Jiuyuan, who practiced domineering and practiced martial arts, actually cared about the so-called scholarly style review?

After a while, I saw Wu Zhengzhi being led into the study.

He saluted Lin Tailai and prayed: "Please Lin Jiuyuan, please let me go, senior!"

Lin Tailai was a little surprised. He had guessed before that Wu Zhengzhi might have come to ask for mercy; but unexpectedly, Wu Zhengzhi actually begged for mercy for Qian Yiben.

Qian Benben was the censor who named Lin Tailai and confronted Luo Yuren on the question "Where did the Xuanfu's 20,000 taels of silver go?"

Lin Tailai is now labeled as "abusing his power as an official and deliberately favoring personal interests" and will be punished at any time.

After thinking about the relationship between Wu Zhengzhi and Qian Yiben, Lin Tailai also understood a little bit.

Qian Ben was one of the future Eight Gentlemen of Donglin, and Wu Zhengzhi was also a junior in Gu Xiancheng's circle.

Therefore, Wu Zhengzhi helped his senior Qian Yiben to intercede. It is not incomprehensible from a rational point of view, but is he overestimating his capabilities?

Lin Tailai asked very sensitively: "What weight do you have that you can help me with money to beg for mercy?"

You can't even protect yourself, and you still intercede for your seniors. Who do you think you are?

What conditions can you offer to impress others?

money? Lin Tailai is not short of small money, and you can't even give him big money!

Beauty? He, Lin Tailai, is not new to this and will not give up his principles in this regard!

Power? In the imperial court, he, Lin Tailai, was followed by the chief minister and the minister of household affairs; in his hometown in Suzhou, Lin Mansion was the second imperial court!

Wu Zhengzhi gritted his teeth and said: "My family has the famous painting "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" that has been handed down from generation to generation, and I would like to give it to you!"

Lin Tailai: ""

People can't just pursue money, beauty, and power in life, and they can't be slaves to desires. It's time to improve their artistic literacy.

Lin Tailai asked: "Is this painting at your home?"

My heart beats not because of how valuable the painting "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" is, but mainly because of its artistic value.

Wu Zhengzhi replied very definitely: ""Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" has been circulating in Changzhou Prefecture in recent decades and was bought by my family a few years ago."

The value of famous paintings at this time was not as great as it would be hundreds of years later, but it was still very valuable.

So Lin Tailai told the truth: "It's a bit expensive."

Wu Zhengzhi replied: "If Lin Jiuyuan thinks this painting is valuable, he can let me return to the Hanlin Academy as a concubine, and guarantee that I will be elected as the Hanlin Academy!"

Lin Tailai frowned and thought for a while, then agreed: "That's okay, I'll do my best."

Gold is valuable but art is priceless. For the sake of art, you can be accommodating.

Wu Zhengzhi finally showed joy and promised: "As soon as I return to Shujishi, I will immediately ask my family to send "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" to Lin Mansion in Suzhou!"

Although in the eyes of their Qingliu forces, Lin Tailai was a bad person, they had to admit that Lin Tailai's political credibility was very good.

I heard that Li Rusong gave Lin Tailai a box of silver, but after only half a month of waiting, Lin Tailai canceled the money given to him by the governor of Xuanfu.

After Wu Zhengzhi left, Wang Yusheng immediately said to Lin Tai: "Our Dongshan Wang family is willing to pay a lot of money."

"Shut up!" Lin Tailai interrupted Wang Yusheng's delusion directly, and there was no need to listen to what he said next.

Wang Yusheng couldn't help but sigh: "Lin Jiuyuan, you have changed and become more kind and soft-hearted.

Didn't you say that we must eradicate all evil and kill all the real enemies, otherwise the spring breeze will blow and the leeks will always grow?

I didn’t expect that today you would give up your principles for the sake of a painting called "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains." "

Lin Tailai said profoundly and mysteriously: "As the saying goes, there are fifty great avenues and forty-nine natural evolutions. One of them can be escaped by humans. Always leave a glimmer of hope for others.

I did this to set an example for others, to let them know that in addition to fighting, there is also the road of begging for mercy.

In order to prevent all enemies from thinking that there is no way out, and then they can only fight to the death, which will only hurt me more than they gain. "

Wang Yusheng understood, "You mean, if there is no valuable item of the level of "Fuchun Mountain Dwelling", don't come to beg for mercy?"

Lin Tailai said dissatisfiedly: "You are really blinded by a famous painting and can't see the truth behind it at all?

I let Wu Zhengzhi and Qian Yiben go, and at the same time, it is also to preserve the vitality of the Qingliu forces and ensure that the temple structure is not too unbalanced.

If the Qingliu forces are too weakened, who will cover me to strengthen my strength? Who will attack the existing old structure for me? "

Wang Yusheng said sourly: "Are you talking about playing a big chess game again?

Isn't it just that you like the painting "Fuchun Mountain Dwelling"? Is it so difficult to face your heart? ”

Lin Tailai said angrily: "If it weren't for me, your emotional intelligence would only allow you to be a fourth-rank official at best!

You will never see the scenery above the third rank, and you will never be a senior official in your life!"

The next day, Lin Tailai came to the Hanlin Academy and found Tian Yijun, the executive vice president and the teacher of the Shujishi.

Then he made a very sincere request: "I have reflected on myself recently. If Wu Zhengzhi is expelled from the Shujishi just because of a few words, it will be a very irresponsible act for the country's selection of talents.

We should give newcomers the opportunity to make mistakes and also give them the opportunity to correct them.

In any case, newcomers should not be killed with one blow because of a small mistake.

So I suggest that Wu Zhengzhi be absorbed back and continue to study in the Hanlin Academy as a Shujishi after criticism and education. ”

Tian Xueshi: ""

It was you who strongly wanted to expel him at the beginning, and now it is you who want to recruit him back. What do you want?

"Should I let you do the job of the Shujishi teacher? "Mr. Tian said dimly.

For an honest man with mild social anxiety, this is the most yin-yang thing he can say.

Lin Tailai quickly declined: "That's not necessary, after all, my qualifications are a flaw. In another three years, I may be able to take the next course with difficulty."

Mr. Tian was speechless, as if your qualifications would be solid in another three years?

How many people have been in the Hanlin Academy for ten or twenty years and have not even reached the fifth rank, after all, the maximum rank of the Hanlin Academy is the fifth rank.

By the way, Lin Jiuyuan is now the fifth rank? That's fine.

A few days later, there was a rumor in the capital that Lin Jiuyuan, a supernova in the court or a star, liked famous paintings.

Quietly, the frequency of calligraphy and painting transactions in the capital increased, and the price rose by 20%.