prosperous age

"It turned out that Shandai recommended those virtuous people to Gu for this reason."

Wei Guangde naturally heard the murmur in King Yu's mouth clearly, and couldn't help but blush.

In fact, he only recruited younger brothers to see how other big bosses do this. He never had the idea of ​​helping King Yu attract talents.

As the saying goes, a hero has three gangs, and a fence has three stakes.

But if Yu Wang misunderstood, he misunderstood, and he didn't bother to explain.

"Choose the main generals, put them in the Nine Frontiers Town, give them enough trust, and then let them choose to promote the generals who can fight well. Even if there is a small defeat, it will not damage the foundation. Even if the Tartars break through Some cities will also quickly mobilize the army to turn defeat into victory."

Wei Guangde said, "As for the training of troops, let the generals worry about it themselves, but the court also needs to provide money and food. The so-called 'the emperor does not send hungry soldiers'."

King Yu nodded slightly, but he already had a plan in his heart. When he came to power in the future, the generals recommended by Wei Guangde could be promoted and reused.

"In addition to this, it is more important to clarify the responsibilities of rewards and punishments in the army. Before I was in the Xuanfu, I heard that some generals knew that the Tartars had invaded our army and besieged our fort. They led their troops to attack and failed to rescue them. Dare to fight?"

Wei Guangde said again.

King Yu can only nod his head now, what Wei Guangde said is actually very simple, sometimes he can think of it, but from Wei Guangde's mouth, he just thinks it makes sense.

It can only be said that King Yu was not stupid in the past, he really learned a lot, but he seemed to be lacking in comprehension, so he used to leave things to the officials of the palace, anyway, they all have the same principles.

Today's situation is similar, I can occasionally think of what he said, but I can't talk about it in too much detail.

After ascending the throne by himself, leave the matter of fighting to Wei Guangde to consider.

Wei Guangde didn't know that King Yu had already positioned him in his heart at this time.

"Shandai, this matter is indeed very important. You should think about it later and come up with a charter."

He has the final say on many things now, and even King Yu dared not interfere in government affairs openly, so Wei Guangde could only let Wei Guangde consider it in private and draw up regulations for future use.

As for playing all the things that Wei Guangde produced, let’s save it. Many things were hated by Emperor Jiajing. It is too difficult.

As for the side matter just mentioned, the inside story is more complicated, and it won't be clear in a short time.

"Yes, Your Highness, then I will think about it carefully, and maybe write a letter to Ma Fang and the others to hear their opinions. Anyway, they have been in the border town all year round and are more familiar with the situation there."

Wei Guangde nodded after thinking about it.

"As it should be."

King Yu nodded in agreement.

Entering February, Wei Guangde has gradually become unable to stay in Prince Yu's Mansion these days. It's not that Zhan Shifu's Economic and Economic Bureau has any errands. Jiujiang Guild Hall.

After all, it is the 41st year of Jiajing, and the examination is about to begin.

Originally, Duan Mengxian and Zhu Shilong already lived in the capital and rented two rooms near the Imperial College, but now many people passed the Jiangxi provincial examination last year, and many rushed to the capital in a hurry to participate in this examination.

Wei Guangde originally just planned to come and have a look, although he is only in his 20s, younger than many candidates, but one of the students who came to Beijing this time for the exam was Lao Yi, Lao Kan's cousin, so Wei Guangde naturally had to be concerned.

On the road to imperial examinations, those who have achieved success come first. Those who have already entered the court as officials, as well as Duan Mengxian and Zhu Shilong, who have passed the previous exams, are naturally considered their predecessors.

Sit in the guild hall if you have nothing to do, and tell them about the experience in the examination room. These are actually the only places where their seniors can give these newcomers a little help.

Taking the exam in the capital is no better than staying in my hometown. Although it is already like spring, the capital is still very cold now, not at all compared to the winter in Jiangxi.

"This is Hukou Zhangdao, Dehua Zhu Gun, who just arrived yesterday."

In the room in the backyard of the Jiujiang Guild Hall, the stove had already been warmed up, and Lao Li was introducing friends to Wei Guangde.

"Yesterday, His Majesty has decreed that Guo Pu, Minister of the Ministry of Rites and Bachelor of the Imperial Academy, will sacrifice to the Immortal Master Kong Sheng."

Wei Guangde said, looking at several candidates from Jiujiang, he said with a smile: "Seeing that the examination is about to enter, have you ever been nervous?"

The new candidates such as Lao Li and Zhu Gun were all cheerful and straight, and they were obviously very nervous when they didn't answer the conversation. That is to say, Zhu Shilong relaxed a lot after taking the exam twice.

"What's there to be nervous about? Instead of being nervous, think about bringing something in. In the capital city in February, how to ensure that you don't freeze in the examination room is the most important thing."

Zhu Shilong's words reminded Wei Guangde, Lao Kan and others of the time when they took part in the examination.

Whether the article is well written or not is really not the most important thing. First of all, you must ensure that you can walk out after handing in the paper and take the second and third exams.

It is impossible to think that you can pass the first test if you do well in the general examination. You must participate in all three tests, pass the first test, and the second and third tests will involve the ranking of the general test.

"Forget it, brother Zhu has a big heart, Meng Xian, how are you preparing?"

Wei Guangde asked about Duan Mengxian, both he and Zhu Shilong had been studying in the Imperial College for the past two years, so this time they naturally had to take an exam.

"Let it be your fate."

Duan Mengxian was much more prudent, and only responded with a smile to Wei Guangde's words.

"Although His Majesty has not decided on the examiner for this examination, according to the usual practice, it should be the new cabinet minister, Yuan Wei, a scholar of the Hall of Martial Arts, who will preside over it."

Speaking of this, Wei Guangde took out a stack of manuscripts from the baggage he brought and handed them to Duan Mengxian, "This manuscript is an article written by Yuan Dashi when he was in the Imperial Academy. I copied some of it when I thought it was good. If you have nothing to do, you can read it first. If it is favored by Mr. Fang and sent to Mr. Yuan, maybe it will add a lot of points."

Many people think that the essays written in the imperial examinations should be according to their preferences, that is, they should be written according to the habits of the chief examiners, but this is not the case.

In the county examination, the government examination, and even the college examination, it is so-so, but in the county examination and general examination, the essays are read by the house teacher first, and they will recommend it to the chief examiner if they think it is good.

In other words, if the article can't get into the eyes of the room teacher, it may be rejected early, even if your article is full of hype and completely meets the wishes of the chief examiner.

Unless luck is against the sky, the chief examiner is dissatisfied with the exam papers, and is found out from the waste papers through picking up.

However, which candidate is willing to do so?
Therefore, those who really want to study the main examiner's essays can only be those talented people, and their goal is not to be on the list, but to get a better ranking on the list.

As for the gambler, let's save it, there are so many people, it's hard to tell everyone, and you don't know who your paper will fall into.

When Wei Guangde returned home from the Jiujiang Guild Hall, he was notified by the concierge when he entered the door, "Master, Eunuch Chen is waiting for you in the study."

Hearing Chen Ju's sudden visit, Wei Guangde was taken aback. Chen Ju hasn't come to his home for some days.

Out of curiosity, Wei Guangde went to the back and changed his clothes, hurried to the study, and when he entered the door, he saw Chen Ju sitting there reading a book.

"Brother Chen, what kind of wind has brought you here today, why don't you let someone inform me, so that I can come back sooner."

Wei Guangde asked when he entered the door, knowing that Chen Ju didn't let anyone inform him, but he still had to say something.

"I know you're going to meet fellow villagers, but I came here uninvited, just don't bother Guangde."

Chen Ju looked up at Wei Guangde and said, putting down the book in his hand.

Although Wei Guangde staggered a little, he remained awake. He ordered two pots of tea to be brought up, and replaced the cold one in front of Chen Ju. Then he said, "It was said earlier that elder brother had eaten at night? Do you want me to eat it?" Tell the kitchen to tidy up and order some food and drink, and we brothers will have another two glasses."

Chen Ju waved his hand, "If I had come to drink with you, someone would have called you back long ago."

Then he looked at Wei Guangde's blurred eyes and said, "Are you drunk?"

"Fortunately."

Wei Guangde grinned.

"I didn't plan to come here today to bother you, but two things happened in the palace. I reckon it may have something to do with you, so I came here to tell you."

Hearing what Chen Ju said, Wei Guangde couldn't help but sit up straight and became serious.

"This afternoon, the emperor asked Lan Shenxian to make a divination in Xiyuan."

Wei Guangde's ears were a little puzzled by Chen Ju's words. He had nothing to do with Lan Daoxing. Could it be that he was included in Lan Daoxing's divination?
"Do you know what the emperor is asking today?"

Seeing Wei Guangde's bewildered look, Chen Ju asked with a smile, but seeing Wei Guangde's bleary-eyed look now, he shook his head and continued on his own: "The emperor asked the cabinet ministers whether they are capable and fulfill their duties."

Although Wei Guangde was a little drunk, his brain was running fast at the moment, guessing how this question had something to do with him, and he was asking the minister.

Thinking about it, Wei Guangde made up his mind, if Lan Daoxing said he could join the cabinet, he would ask Zhang Ji to give 2000 taels of silver to someone tomorrow.

But then he became a little confused, wondering if the family could still pay so much money now.

You know, in the capital, he doesn't earn much.

If you don't have enough money, give old ginseng to it. Taoists should like it because it nourishes qi and nourishes blood.

Now there are not many old ginseng in the capital. Every time there is a caravan coming back from the Northeast, Zhang Ji will go there to have a look first. If there are old ginseng, he will buy it, which makes the price of this kind of ginseng rise a lot. .

Wei Guangde can only eat it, that is, he takes these ginseng as gifts and does not sell them outside.

He operated like this, and the income and expenditure of the family became obviously unbalanced. If it weren't for Xu Jianglan's dowry to bring a lot of property and the uncle from Nanjing who sent some money from time to time to manage the relationship in the capital, Wei Guangde would have gone bankrupt long ago.

Although his famous post can be exchanged for hundreds of taels of silver every year with Jiujiang merchants, it is enough for him to spend so much there.

Wei Guangde just stared at Chen Ju at this moment, but didn't answer.

"Cough cough."

Looking at Wei Guangde's attitude, which was quite different from the past, Chen Ju knew that this man probably drank a lot, and although he didn't pour it, he was not far behind, and he didn't pretend to be a joke, so he said directly: "When the Lan Shenxian was helping the spirit, he said, 'Today there is The treacherous minister plays the matter'.

You said it was a coincidence, not long after, Elder Yan Ge went to Xiyuan to ask for an audience, and sent a memorial from Hu Zongxian. When you received the notification, you didn't see how dark the emperor's face was. "

Wei Guangde blinked, and kept this matter in mind, why did Lan Dao act to discredit Yan Song?
Is there any conflict between them?
Will find someone to check.

Wei Guangde is not used to being kept in the dark about everything, since he knows that Lan Daoxing and Yan Song will not deal with each other, he has to figure out the reason and win them over, even if King Yu doesn't like them.

"Lan Shenxian's divination, is the treacherous official Yan Shoufu or Governor Hu?"

Wei Guangde just asked curiously.

"Who knows, it depends on what the emperor thinks."

Chen Ju said.

Wei Guangde only had doubts in his heart, does this have anything to do with me?

"The second matter is the matter reported by Yan Shoufu. Governor Hu proposed to manage the four matters in Jiangxi. One of them suggested that Nanjiang should be reorganized as a deputy general, and that Ji'an should be guarded; Yu Jianning and Fuzhou should be reorganized. Set up generals, and use Qianshan to guard them; re-establish guerrillas in the provincial capital, and change the defense of Poyang to generals, so that specialized boat trainers can control Jiujiang."

Wei Guangde stood up abruptly when he heard this, his movements were so fast that he almost fell down.

Chen Ju got up quickly and helped him up, "I know you will definitely react this way when you know about this, so come here tonight and let us know."

"Brother Chen, I'm fine, just sit down and talk."

Wei Guangde hurriedly stood up, asked Chen Ju to sit down first, and then sat down slowly himself, thinking about it in his heart.

At the beginning, he sought out Yang Shangshu from the Ministry of War, and that was the reason why Yu Dayou was sent to Jiangxi to serve as a garrison in Ji'an. Now Hu Zongxian wants to put a deputy commander in chief of Yu Dayou, is he tolerable or unbearable?

There is also the change of Poyang's defense to a general, and he also specializes in training boat masters to control Jiujiang. Is this destroying the jobs of Jiujiang Guards, or does he want to bring Jiujiang Guards into his own hands?

"Has His Majesty agreed?"

Wei Guangde asked anxiously, feeling a little nervous.

If Emperor Jiajing had agreed to Yan Song's request, it would be a bit troublesome. If it couldn't be done, he had to inform his father-in-law Wei Guogong Xu Pengju as soon as possible, and he could only use his noble power to fight Hu Zongxian, even if he offended Yan Song.

This is digging a corner and digging into himself. I think Xu Guogong probably won't hold back this tone.

"The emperor is still considering accepting the memorial."

Chen Ju's next words put Wei Guangde at ease temporarily, as long as he didn't agree at the time.

"anything else?"

Wei Guangde asked hesitantly at this moment.

Earlier, Chen Ju could say that two things were related to him, but after listening to it for a long time, Wei Guangde thought that Hu Zongxian's memorial had something to do with him, so what else is there?
"Gone."

Chen Ju said.

Wei Guangde was not clear-headed at the moment, and asked suspiciously: "You mean, I have something to do with the matter of the blue god?"

"My godfather said it, let me tell you."

Chen Ju replied.

Within two days, as the ninth day of February was approaching, Emperor Jiajing of Xiyuan seemed to have just remembered that he was about to take the test, and when he was about to leave the government office, he suddenly issued an order to order Yuan Wei, a scholar of the Wuying Temple, the Minister of the Taibao Household Department. , Dong Fen, the right minister of the Ministry of officials and a bachelor of the Imperial Academy, took the exam.