I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 20: I am not afraid of officials having principles, I am afraid of officials having no preferences
After the regular court session ended.

The news that Shen Nian had taken a stand spread quickly throughout government offices.

Whether officials or clerks, all praised Shen Nian's intelligence.

If it were someone else.

It is estimated that he has probably offended half of the officials in the court.

Some people even privately speculated that Shen Nian was very likely to become the next Zhang Shentong.

Zhang Juzheng was a scholar in the imperial court.

He then served as a daily lecturer in the Imperial Lectures, and later quickly entered the cabinet, and now he has become the chief minister.

Shen Nian is well-known for his good teaching skills.

Now he is serving the emperor, and it is obvious that he is being trained to be a lecturer in the imperial lectures.

He is only twenty-five years old and has many opportunities to rise to the top.

of course.

Some people also said sarcastically: There are many officials who are only popular once every three years.

……

these two months.

Shen Nian felt that he was living in fear.

If you are not careful, you will be in danger.

From being impeached for teaching in the inner library, to being named and called out for taking notes in front of the emperor, to being forced to take sides and express his stance in the Chang Dynasty.

Although Shen Nian seized the opportunity in a very passive situation.

But it is impossible to resolve the problem so easily every time.

The Ming Dynasty officialdom has taught him three lessons, and he will have to slowly learn to protect himself in the future.

……

These two days.

Those high-ranking officials in the Hanlin Academy who served for one, two, or three terms were rarely seen in the past, and all the miscellaneous tasks were assigned to the editors and compilers who were clerks.

Very enthusiastic about Shen Nian.

He was calling "Ziheng, Ziheng" from a distance, as if they were close friends.

The clerks, accountants, and copyists in the courtyard all bowed deeply when they saw Shen Nian, and no one dared to call him "Shen Banshi".

In the review room, at Shen Nian's workstation.

There is everything you need, including pens, ink, paper, inkstone, tea, snacks, and they are constantly replenished.

It really proves the old saying: When you are successful, there are good people around you.

After all, Shen Nian was a second-generation human being, so he was not complacent about it.

Even a powerful man like Zhang Juzheng died in such a tragic way. Shen Nian would never allow such an ending to happen to himself.

He had to climb carefully.

Only by having enough power can you gain a foothold and do something for this decadent world.

……

At the end of May, Shen Nian was as usual.

He was on duty to take notes in front of the emperor, teach in the inner school, and write and review historical records.

His official duties basically consist of these three things.

Another day, near dusk.

After the court was dismissed.

Shen Nian changed out of his official uniform, handed it to Ajit, and slowly walked home.

The capital at this time.

The trees are lush and green everywhere, and it is very cool as the sun sets.

It's a good time to go hiking.

After a while.

Shen Nian and Aji walked to a corner.

A middle-aged man wearing a purple silk gown and a Gaochun scarf on his head suddenly blocked Shen Nian's way.

The middle-aged man bowed to Shen Nian.

"Reviewer Shen, I am Qiao Wendao, a merchant from Shanxi. I have heard of your great name. Would it be possible for us to have some tea in the carriage?"

When Shen Nian heard the word "Shanxi merchants", he was stunned.

present.

There are two most famous business groups in the world: the Hui merchants in the south and the Shanxi merchants in the north.

It is often said that most of the wealthy merchants in the capital are from Jin Dynasty.

In the capital, most Shanxi merchants are wealthy.

The reason why Shanxi merchants are rich.

This is because southern Shanxi is a small area with a dense population, and many people go out to do business.

They banded together and spread across the north. There were even bold Shanxi merchants who secretly did business with the Mongols, who had been fighting with the Ming Dynasty.

Shen Nian shook his head slightly.

"Mr. Qiao, we are strangers. I wonder what's going on? Please speak here."

"Don't worry, Shen. This is the capital, and it's a busy city. How could I dare harm you? We're standing here, and it's hard to explain in a few words. How about finding a teahouse or a restaurant?" Qiao Wendao said with a smile, then glanced at the alert Ah Ji. Shen Nian thought for a moment, and realized that such merchants were generally familiar with officials from the Jin Dynasty.

There must be a reason for looking for him.

He also wanted to know why a Shanxi merchant came to see him.

"Let's talk in the carriage!" Shen Nian nodded.

"Click...click!"

The moment Shen Nian finished speaking, the carriage door opened and Shen Nian stepped on the sedan chair and entered the carriage.

The carriage was very spacious.

There was a tea table in the middle, and a very pretty young woman was kneeling beside it pouring tea.

The wealthy merchants of the Ming Dynasty have always been the best at enjoying life, and they always have women accompanying them when they go out.

On the tea table, in addition to gold-plated teacups and teapots, there are also various exquisite snacks, as well as an exquisite Hui inkstone and two wolf-hair brushes.

In accordance with the regulations of the Ming Dynasty.

Merchants were not allowed to use such extravagant cups, but the system had been broken so long ago that no one cared.

otherwise.

Just because Qiao Wendao was walking around the street wearing a long silk gown that only high-ranking officials could wear, he was thrown into jail.

After pouring the tea, the pretty woman first gave Shen Nian a coquettish smile, then suddenly lost her kneeling position and leaned towards Shen Nian.

It swayed in front of the chest, revealing a large area of ​​white.

This is to let Shen Nian take advantage of you.

Shen Nian blocked it with his arm.

The latter's wish to fall into Shen Nian's arms was dashed, and he had no choice but to hold on to the window frame and quickly got off the carriage.

From beginning to end, Shen Nian never looked at her directly.

Shen Nian looked at Qiao Wendao.

"Master Qiao, let's get this straight to the point. Money, collectibles, and beautiful women have no appeal to me!"

Qiao Wendao was stunned. He didn't expect that Shen Nianquan had seen through him.

The gilded teapot on the tea table represents gold and silver, the Hui inkstone and wolf-hair brush represent collectibles, and the pretty woman represents beauty.

These three are the three methods he often uses to deal with Ming Dynasty officials.

As long as there was a hint of different thoughts in Shen Nian's eyes, Qiao Wendao knew what to do next.

He didn't expect that a 25-year-old official would have such skills.

Qiao Wendao first poured a cup of tea for Shen Nian, then said with a smile: "Shen, please review it. Then I won't beat around the bush."

"I think Shen Jiancai has a bright future, and I'd like to make friends with him. What does Shen Jiancai want? Paintings and calligraphy? Houses? Women? Women from the Western Regions? Mongolian women? Or a large amount of gold, silver, and jewelry? I can get them all, and I guarantee it's in accordance with the rules and will never get you impeached!"

Shen Nian smiled and said nothing.

Businessmen are even bribing people on the streets.

However, there are so many corrupt officials nowadays that the imperial court is unable to investigate them all.

Qiao Wendao took out one thousand taels of silver from his pocket and placed it in front of Shen Nian.

"How about this banknote as a gift? Qiao doesn't ask Shen Jianchao to do anything!"

This money.

It is equivalent to the salary of a seventh-rank Hanlin reviewer for forty years.

It can't be said that it is not tempting.

Shen Nian understood that the other party was planning to find a backer for him when Shen Nian became successful in the future.

Perhaps, in addition to himself, he has done this to many young officials.

Shen Nian shook his head slightly.

"I'm sorry, I'm not short of money, and you don't need to use anything to win me over. I, Shen Nian, am just a small seventh-rank inspector, and I can't help you with anything."

"Also, don't disturb my parents and family, otherwise, I will do everything I can to send you to jail!" Shen Nian's tone became cold.

Without advance warning.

The other party will try every means to make him go along with them.

Say it.

Shen Nian got off the carriage and strode towards home with Aji.

Beside the carriage, the pretty woman curled her lips and looked at Qiao Wendao.

"Master, he seems to be unmoved. I would be happy to have him at my feet."

"Hmph!" Qiao Wendao snorted coldly.

"In the past, there were many officials with principles, especially those who came from the Hanlin Academy. I am not afraid of him having principles. As long as he has a hobby, I can take him down and continue to investigate this person!"

……

After Shen Nian returned home, he couldn't help but feel sad about the decline of morals in the world.

He was a seventh-rank official with some promising future, but the temptation he faced was so great.

Beauty, gold, silver, and mansions are all available at your fingertips.

Not to mention other officials.

Faced with such temptation, there are really few officials who have the determination to hold on. No wonder Zhang Juzheng fell.

(End of this chapter)