I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 59: Ten-day vacation is gone! Young people don't need vacations

In the private room of the tavern.

Zhao Yongxian and Wang Zudi looked at Shen Nian who was bowing and hurriedly helped him up.

The two of them completely understood Shen Nian's meaning.

Even though Zhang Juzheng had many faults, the Ming Dynasty could not do without him.

Attacking Zhang Juzheng is not only useless.

Moreover, it is of no benefit to the country, the people and the people of the world.

Both of them are traditional old-school officials, and they have learned the idea that "officials must abide by the rules and regulations and observe the laws, speak out when they feel injustice, and only discuss right and wrong."

In their eyes, Zhang Juzheng was omnipotent and had absolute power over the government, but he also violated the ancestral system and suppressed the censors.

Keeping silent to protect oneself is definitely not the way for a minister.

The two of them believed from the bottom of their hearts that what Fu Yingzhen said in the memorial was not wrong.

But judging from what Shen Nian said, if Zhang Juzheng did not have such power, the new policy would not have achieved such results.

In addition, they also have selfish motives.

The current official atmosphere is: those who are honest and outspoken, and who despise the powerful, are good officials.

Once named.

Even if his career was not going well, he could return to his hometown to give lectures and gather a group of apprentices to ensure that he had enough food and drink.

Even if you cannot leave your name in history, you can still become a famous person in your area.

Therefore, upholding the "rituals, laws and ancestral rules" and making suggestions to the death is undoubtedly a shortcut in life.

tonight.

Shen Nian's words, "The Ming Dynasty's mountains and rivers are the most important, the people of the world are the most important, as for everything else, they are insignificant," touched them.

They regarded "reputation and integrity" as their life, and "propriety, law and order" as their life, but did not regard "the destiny of the Ming Dynasty and the rise and fall of the country" as the top priority.

They are very clear about the current social trends and the results of the current new policies.

Since ancient times, there has been no right or wrong in court affairs, only the two words "benefits and harms".

They understood that Zhang Juzheng's presence in the government brought more benefits than disadvantages.

But they were asked to put aside the "rituals, law and system" and follow Zhang Juzheng's footsteps completely like Hanlin reviewer Liu Chuxian, but they couldn't do it.

This concept cannot be changed overnight.

Just as Shen Nian expected.

Recently, Zhao Yongxian and Wang Zudi were indeed dissatisfied with Zhang Juzheng's dictatorship. They complained privately and wanted to find an opportunity to impeach him.

Shen Nian didn't want the two of them to be exiled from the court, so they had this conversation tonight.

Zhao Yongxian thought for a moment and said, "Ziheng, I understand your point. What is loyalty, what is treachery, what is right, and what is wrong should be viewed from a long-term perspective. I have learned a lot today. Let me think about it carefully when I get back!"

"Me too." Wang Zudi said seriously.

Soon, the three of them dispersed.

After Shen Nian finished this, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

He knew that it was difficult to change a person's mind.

But if we wait until they submit an impeachment before trying to persuade them, there will be no turning back.

Shen Nian did not ask them to support Zhang Juzheng.

I just hope they won't be like Fu Yingzhen, hitting an egg against a rock, which is useless except for internal friction.

The reason why Shen Nian did not call Liu Chuxian and Liu Kezhen from the Review Office.

This is because Liu Chuxian, as a fellow townsman of Zhang Juzheng, praised Zhang Juzheng without thinking.

As for Liu Kezhen, he was only thinking about practicing his official language, taking root in the Hanlin Academy, and resolutely carrying out the orders of his superiors.

People of this type will not hold high positions, but they often do not have so many ups and downs in their lives.

……

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, early in the morning, the festive atmosphere was still strong in the capital.

Inside the Wenhua Hall.

Young Wanli sat in front of the imperial desk, Empress Dowager Li was behind the curtain, and Feng Bao was waiting on the side.

The main lecturer was Shen Shixing, with Wang Jiaping, Shen Yikuan, and Shen Nian as well as several book display officials and small eunuchs standing on both sides.

None of the three elders came.

Little Wanli sat in front of the imperial desk, and soon his straight back bent down.

"Cough cough..."

As soon as Empress Dowager Li coughed, young Wanli quickly straightened up.

soon.

After Shen Shixing finished explaining the key points of a classic, Wang Jiaping and the other two began teaching according to the lecture notes.

Although Wang Jiaping and Shen Yiquan fought hard, Shen Nian still performed the best. This can be seen from the serious and excited expression of little Wanli.

The lecture is about to end.

Little Wanli looked at Shen Shixing and said, "Master Shen, I accidentally bumped into the corner of the table yesterday and injured my right hand. It's still a little painful. Can I be excused from the calligraphy class this afternoon?"

Shen Shixing, Wang Jiaping, Shen Yikuan, and Shen Nian all looked at the little Wanli's right hand at the same time.

There is a wound the size of a fingernail on the back of the hand. It has already scabbed over and has almost no effect on writing large characters.

Little Wanli obviously wants to be lazy!

If he were asked to set off firecrackers, he would never cry out in pain.

During the daily lectures, Empress Dowager Li hardly spoke.

The little emperor would do whatever the chief officer instructed him to do on the same day. The little Wanli thought that since the three great cabinet ministers were not there, Shen Shixing would not dare to disobey him, so he came up with this trick.

In order to be lazy, young Wanli had many tricks.

In the past, Shen Shixing would have agreed naturally. However, at the end of last year, Zhang Juzheng had just emphasized the need to increase the number of courses for the emperor.

Shen Shixing let the young Wanli rest for such a trivial reason. When Zhang Juzheng knew about it, he would definitely scold him.

However, as a minister, he had to be considerate of his emperor. If the young Wanli finished writing with an injury and shouted that his hand hurt, Shen Shixing would still be scolded.

Wang Jiaping, Shen Yikuan and Shen Nian all lowered their heads in tacit understanding.

Fortunately, Shen Shixing was there to handle such a difficult situation.

Shen Shixing thought for a moment, then bowed and said, "Your Majesty's right hand is injured, so naturally you can no longer practice writing large characters. However, I have a set of left-handed calligraphy lessons that I can teach Your Majesty!"

At this moment, the young Wanli was so angry that he wanted to overturn the table. He hurriedly said, "I will try my best to hold on, I will try my best to hold on!"

If you practice calligraphy with your left hand, maybe in the future you will have to write two sets of large characters in your large character class.

At this time.

Behind the curtain, Mrs. Li picked up the teacup and tapped it lightly on the table, then looked at Feng Bao.

Feng Bao immediately understood.

"Your Majesty, the four daily lecturers have worked very hard to prepare lessons for Your Majesty during the New Year holidays. You deserve a reward!"

Little Wanli rolled his eyes, looked at the four people, and said in a long voice: "Reward Scholar Shen with three bottles of Changchun wine and ten taels of silver leaves. Reward Wang Xiuzhuan, Shen Bianxiu, and Shen Jiantao each with two bottles of Changchun wine and five taels of silver leaves."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The three of them bowed in unison.

……

From the sixth to the tenth day of the first lunar month, little Wanli was very honest.

On the one hand, he was afraid of being punished, and on the other hand, Empress Dowager Li promised him that he could set off fireworks on the Lantern Festival.

……

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, it was almost dusk and the court was about to be dismissed.

Shen Nian was in a very good mood.

The ten-day Lantern Festival holiday only comes once a year.

He had it planned.

On the 11th day of the first lunar month, we visit the temple fair; on the 12th day, we watch operas; on the 13th day, we listen to storytelling; on the 14th and 15th day, we watch lanterns; from the 16th to the 20th day, we rent a horse-drawn carriage to go outside the city to see the mountains and rivers and eat vegetarian food...

at this time.

Shen Shixing, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, came to the review hall.

Behind him followed two clerks, carrying a bamboo basket of documents.

Shen Nian and others quickly stood up and bowed to Shen Shixing.

Shen Shixing said with a smile: "Everyone, Ma Xueshi has snatched a good job for you from the Ministry of Personnel."

"Recently, the three elders and the Ministry of Personnel have further improved the three-book system (also known as the performance evaluation system). Furthermore, the land measurement program will also be launched in Jiangxi. Many of the strategic details require cataloging, proofreading, and supplementing. They are required to be submitted to the cabinet by the 20th day of the first lunar month. Are you confident that you can complete this task?"

"Yes!" Liu Chuxian and Liu Kezhen spoke the loudest.

This is indeed a good job.

Understand new policies in advance and work for the cabinet and the Ministry of Personnel, which have the highest say.

As long as there are no mistakes, there will definitely be a generous reward after completion, and it can also be counted towards this year's performance evaluation.

But this ten-day Lantern Festival holiday is definitely going to be ruined!
Shen Shixing smiled and said, "Don't work too hard. You can take a day off for the Lantern Festival. Ziheng, you can take the lead!"

Ma Ziqiang intends to support Shen Nian.

The main reason why this good job was handed over to the Review Office was actually because of Shen Nian.

Shen Nian forced a smile on his face and said, "Master, don't worry, we will definitely complete this important task!"

The bad habit left by Zhu Yuanzhang, that "idleness is shameful and working to death is honorable", has penetrated into the bones of every official who wants to achieve something.

Young officials don't deserve vacations.

Shen Nian looked at the bamboo basket of documents and felt that this year would definitely be a year of vigorous new policy reforms.

(End of this chapter)