Chapter 632 A Man with a Destiny

Shen Shixing didn't want to discuss the promotion of poets with Lin Tailai, as it would offend his dignity as the cabinet minister.

So Shen Shixing avoided talking about the selection of poets and changed the subject:

"Just now I heard you say that the Ministry of Personnel is going to nominate the Minister of Works, Ye Mengxiong, to be the Minister of War?"

Lin Tailai was surprised: "No way? Didn't you just hear the news from me?

In theory, you should have known the contents of the Ministry of Personnel's discussion before sunset. Could it be that the cabinet is so closed-minded now?"

Shen Shixing looked up at the wall for a few times. There were two big characters "control anger" hanging on the wall, and then he said to Lin Tailai:

"Don't interrupt and go off topic. I just want to discuss a few words with you in private.

Ye Mengxiong went to the Ministry of War. That's all. I don't object. But why let Hanlin Academy President Chen Yubi go to the Ministry of Works? "

Lin Tailai asked back: "What does the old senior mean?"

"There are many people who are qualified to be the Minister of Works, but your Ministry of Personnel has chosen a Hanlin scholar. Doesn't this show that there is no one in the court?

For example, Zhou Cai, who previously held the title of Minister of the Ministry of Works and the Governor of Shou Palace, is also suitable. "

Lin Tailai also avoided the topic and only said: "The Ministry of Personnel has already reached a conclusion, so there is no need to say more."

I just don't want to listen to you, the Prime Minister, so I hurried back to the Ministry of Personnel to attend the meeting in advance today to avoid being interrupted.

Now that the nomination results have come out, I don't want to listen to the Prime Minister's nagging anymore.

Prime Minister Shen looked at Lin Tailai as if he was looking at an old-fashioned official in the Ministry of Personnel who deliberately opposed the cabinet.

After a moment, Shen Shoufu spoke again: "You have the final say on the nomination of the two Shangshu. Are you really so unwilling to give me face?"

Lin Tailai answered without a single mistake: "Old senior, you are wrong!

Nomination is not my decision, but the most suitable candidate is selected based on the actual situation. I hope you can help me."

Shen Shoufu suddenly agreed and said: "Since you are so reasonable, then I will help you."

Lin Tailai was a little surprised. Why did Shen Shoufu give up so readily? Originally, he expected that there might be seven or eight rounds of repeated tugs.

So Lin Tailai tentatively said: "Then let's talk about the matter of the president of the Hanlin Academy?"

If Chen Yubi passed the imperial recommendation and went to the Ministry of Works, the position of the president of the Hanlin Academy would be vacant, which is also a very critical position.

Shen Shoufu pretended to be angry and slammed the table and scolded: "Don't push your luck!"

I have already given you Lin Tailai a Shangshu, and you still want to interfere in the selection of the president of the academy?

It is true! Lin Tailai knew that he had guessed correctly, so he said with a smile:

"Why are you so sensitive, senior? The promotion of the poets is decided by your cabinet, so how can I influence it?

It's okay to talk a few words first, and I can help you to discuss it. Who is your favorite candidate?"

Shen Shixing still insisted on his principle and said, "It has nothing to do with you."

"Then forget it." Lin Tailai stood up and said goodbye, "Since you don't want to talk more, I won't force you. Let's say goodbye tonight. It can be regarded as an early farewell before returning home."

This time it was Shen Shixing's turn to be confused. Isn't Lin Tailai a little too straightforward? Is Lin Tailai who doesn't cling to him still Lin Tailai?

Although he knew that Lin Tailai might be trying to pull him, Prime Minister Shen couldn't help but say, "Are you leaving now?"

Lin Tailai replied, "I will be very busy these two days. In addition to preparing to leave Beijing, I have to visit the old people in the court and collect some black materials from previous years for future use, so I may not have the leisure time to say goodbye to the old senior."

Prime Minister Shen asked inexplicably, "Whose black materials?"

Lin Tailai answered very frankly, "The black materials of Zhang Wei, the former right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites and the instructor of the Hanlin Academy."

Fuck! Prime Minister Shen stood up suddenly, and his originally kind demeanor became a little distorted.

Even with Prime Minister Shen's temperament, his heart was already in turmoil at this time!

"How did you think of Zhang Wei?" Prime Minister Shen blurted out.

It's not that the Prime Minister couldn't keep his words, but that Lin Tailai's performance was too shocking.

You know, this person named Zhang Wei has been resting at home for several years, and he was not a particularly famous person before. Lin Tailai had never seen or known him.

At this time, Lin Tailai did not leave, but sat down again, saying in surprise:

"The candidate that the old senior likes is really Zhang Wei? I guessed it casually, but I guessed it right?"

Shen Shixing: "."

I lost the tug-of-war tonight, completely lost. How can I win when Lin Tailai guessed all the secrets in my heart?

In the court, there are not many people who are qualified to have in-depth conversations and exchange opinions with Lin Tailai frankly. Shen Shoufu is one of them, and he has done so many times.

So Shen Shoufu has noticed that Lin Tailai's knowledge is simply amazing.

From the secrets of the palace a hundred or eighty years ago to the stories of various contemporary celebrities, Lin Tailai is so knowledgeable that it is outrageous.

Shen Shoufu has always believed that there may be an old man who has transcended the times and has seen a lot of things who spread this knowledge to Lin Tailai, or simply a palace eunuch leaked the secrets to Lin Tailai.

But Shen Shoufu still didn't expect that Lin Tailai could guess what he was thinking without any reason!

You know, I have never mentioned the idea of ​​recommending Zhang Wei to the position to anyone, this secret is only known to me.

Moreover, Zhang Wei is not currently in the court, and has no relationship with me on the surface, so it is generally unthinkable that I would recommend Zhang Wei.

So how did Lin Tailai guess it? It's as if he can read minds.

Shen Shixing calmed down and asked in a deep voice: "Why do you think I want to recommend Zhang Wei to come back and take charge of the Hanlin Academy? In other words, why should I recommend Zhang Wei?"

Lin Tailai looked confused, "I don't know the reason, I just made a random guess."

In the original 19th year of Wanli history, due to the secret leak incident, the first assistant Shen Shixing and the second assistant Xu Guo both resigned.

Then without any court recommendation, Shen Shixing directly recommended Zhao Zhigao and Zhang Wei to the emperor to fill the cabinet.

Based on this historical information, Lin Tailai can boldly guess that Shen Shixing has already taken a fancy to Zhang Wei and will definitely recommend Zhang Wei to the top position if there is a chance.

In this time and space, with Zhao Zhigao already lost, Zhang Wei is probably Shen Shixing's "only" one.

As for Shen Shixing's motive for recommending Zhang Wei, how could he, Lin Tailai, know?

Those historical materials did not clearly describe Shen Shoufu's psychological activities. On the surface, it seems that Shen Shixing and Zhang Wei have no special relationship.

Shen Shoufu stared at Lin Tailai, whose face was full of confusion, and he still couldn't figure it out.

Could it be that Lin Tailai is one of those people in history books who seems to have a "destiny"? Even if you make random guesses out of nothing, can you guess other people's intentions?

Lin Tailai was speechless for a long time when he saw Shen Shoufu, and then asked eagerly, "Senior, can you explain why Zhang was elected?"

Shen Shixing: "."

Do you, Lin Tailai, have any sense of boundaries? Do you even ask questions about spying on other people's mental activities?

After hesitating for a while, Shen Shoufu answered in detail. After all, no matter what, Zhang Wei could not avoid Lin Tailai in Cilin.

"There are two reasons. The first is that in recent years, due to the deliberate promotion of certain people, the imperial court partisanship has become more and more intense, and the emperor has many doubts about the formation of factions in the court.

Therefore, it is easier to appoint a minister like Zhang Wei who has not been in court for a long time to cater to the emperor's psychology and gain his support.

Second, after Zhang Jiangling, most of the cabinet members were restrained and did not dare to take charge.

Zhang Wei is a person with a strong personality and the courage to take on responsibilities. The future cabinet needs people like this to shoulder important responsibilities. "

Lin Tailai's curiosity and desire for knowledge were satisfied, and he suddenly realized: "That's it!"

Now Lin Tailai roughly understands Shen Shoufu's thinking. It is estimated that Shoufu wants to restore his throne first, and at the same time hopes that Luo Wanhua, the Minister of Rites, will fall during the catastrophe of the country during the winter solstice this year.

Then Zhang Wei will be replaced as Minister of Rites, and then, if any cabinet minister, including the chief minister, dies, Zhang Wei will continue to be recommended to replace him in the cabinet.

It can be seen from this that Shen Shoufu also foresaw the cruelty of the country's catastrophe and made preparations for it.

Finally, Lin Tailai promised: "The seniors recommended Zhang Wei to come back, and I will never stop him!"

In exchange for Shen Shoufu not causing trouble, it would be easier to pass the recommendation regarding the Minister of War.

After the conversation, in the dead of night, Lin Tailai stood up to say goodbye again.

Before leaving, Shen Shixing asked: "What do you think will happen in the national dispute with this year's winter solstice as the key point?"

Lin Tailai replied: "The emperor is losing patience and may directly force the ministers of the cabinet and the Ministry of Rites to express their stance."

Shen Shixing asked again: "Is there any way to deal with it?"

After Lin Tailai was silent for a moment, he replied: "There is no solution."

Shen Shixing suddenly began to envy Lin Tailai again, it was so transcendent.

Five years ago, that is, the fourteenth year of Wanli, when the war between the country and the country had not yet begun, Lin Tailai began to work tirelessly to make enemies with the Zheng family, with a lot of new and old hatreds.

It even caused Concubine Zheng to instigate a siege by the internal prison, and was publicly scolded by the third prince as "treacherous". This created Lin Tailai's current aloofness.

Five years ago, when watching Lin Tailai and the Zheng family fight, who could have imagined the situation today? Is this also destiny?

After sending Lin Tailai away, Shen Shoufu said with emotion to his eldest son Shen Yongmao: "Lin Jiuyuan seems to have a destiny."

Uncle Shen yawned lazily and said nonchalantly: "Father, you just know? I've seen it a long time ago."

In the period since then, the senior officials of the imperial court have gone through another round of personnel reshuffles.

The Minister of War has been replaced! The Minister of Industry has been replaced! The right minister of the Ministry of Rites and the bachelor of the Hanlin Academy has been replaced!

Even the dullest person feels that the current situation of the imperial court is too unstable, as if it is about to collapse at any time.

From the 14th year of Wanli to the 18th year of Wanli, the court had been very stable for several years. The occasional change of a minister could not be called a shock.

But from last year to this year, in more than a year, all the seven ministers of the imperial court have changed!

The Minister of the Ministry of Affairs was replaced by Wang Shizhen from Yang Wei, the Minister of the Ministry of Hubu was replaced by Yu Shenxing from Wang Zhiyuan, the Minister of Rites was replaced by Luo Wanhua from Yu Shenxing, the Minister of the Ministry of War was replaced by Ye Mengxiong from Wang Yi'e, and the Minister of Punishments was replaced by Lu Guangzu. After becoming Sun Piyang, the minister of the Ministry of Industry was changed from Song Hu to Chen Yubi, and the censor of Zuodu was changed from Wu Shilai to Lu Guangzu.

The top leader of the Hanlin Academy was changed from Chen Yubi to Zhang Wei, and the minister of Dali Temple was changed from Zhou Cai to Zhou Ji.

The scale and intensity of such substitutions is simply unprecedented, not even when Zhang Juzheng was liquidated.

But has the court stabilized? This winter solstice another national calamity is coming, which once again casts a shadow on the hearts of the courtiers.

But all this is not directly related to Lin Tailai for the time being. He has already left the capital on family leave and embarked on the journey back home.

Because of the concern about the canal freezing, Lin Tailai chose the land route this time, and took great pains to quickly pass through the northern Zhili near the capital and entered Henan.

It was probably because the northern Zhili was too close to the capital and was directly under the capital, so he could not show his abilities.

Taking advantage of his position, Lin Tailai got a bunch of rosters of officials above the fourth rank along the way for reference.

The retainer Gu Bingqian also carefully read through these rosters repeatedly to help the host check for omissions.

When staying in Weihui at night, Gu Bingqian asked, "Who does the host want to see first?"

The journey was boring, so Lin Tailai tested Gu Bingqian and said, "What is the situation in Henan? Who do you think should be seen first?"

Although Gu Bingqian was known as the "white-bearded prime minister" in history, he was still the prime minister after all, and his basic skills in officialdom were still very good.

Upon hearing this, he replied: "Governor Zhou Shixuan had stayed at home for 17 years, and was re-appointed as a secretary in the 12th year of Wanli, which was also the first year of Prime Minister Shen's full rule.

It took Zhou Shixuan only four years to become the governor of Henan. From various signs, this person is definitely a member of Prime Minister Shen's party, otherwise he would not have been promoted so quickly."

Lin Tailai said without interest: "You can't beat him, and you can't take him back. This person is not interesting."

Gu Bingqian continued: "Zou Xuezhu, the Henan Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, is from Yuyao. The most important thing is that his wife's surname is Chen, so she should belong to the Qingliu forces."

Lin Tailai also agreed and said: "This person is not only closely related to the Qingliu forces, but also closely related to the Qingliu forces. The general and the original candidate Chen Younian are from the same hometown, and his wife has the same surname as Chen Younian.

How could such a coincidence happen? It is estimated that this person is a member of the Qingliu Party, a relative of Chen Younian, and see if there is a chance to deal with him. "

Gu Bingqian responded: "As the saying goes, a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake. It is not easy to control the provincial governor, unless you can find your own people to help you. "

Lin Tailai said: "Isn't the purpose of my detour to expand my influence and recruit people?

How can I find and develop my own people without provoking disputes and conflicts? As the saying goes, strong winds know strong grass, and fierce fires know real gold!"

Gu Bingqian: "."

The realm of the host is really beyond reach.

Then Lin Tailai sighed again: "I feel my foundation is getting weaker and weaker. If you go to any province, the governor is the Prime Minister's man, and the provincial governor is the Qingliu man!

And I have to find ways to recruit people, but I'm not sure if I can recruit them."

Gu Bingqian comforted him: "Whether it's Prime Minister Shen or the Qingliu forces, they have been developing for about ten years.

After all, you have only been in the court for two years, so don't be too anxious."