I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 88: Royal Name, Riddler Little Wanli

In front of Huangji Gate.

Zhao Zhigao, Shen Yikuan and Shen Nian did not voluntarily ask to withdraw from the History Compilation Office.

Young Wanli slowed down and looked at Ma Ziqiang, the Minister of Rites, Academician of the Hanlin Academy, and First Vice President of the "Da Ming Hui Dian".

"Master Ma, who do you think should leave the academy?"

Ma Ziqiang strode out and said loudly, "Your Majesty, all three of you are well-versed in the laws and regulations of our dynasty and are proficient in historical affairs. However, if only two can remain in the academy, I think that in terms of talent and experience, Hanlin editor Zhao Zhigao is superior; in terms of energy and vitality, Hanlin editor Shen Nian is superior."

Shen Yikuan was stunned when he heard this. Isn't this just asking him to leave the museum?
He felt that Ma Ziqiang was obviously partial.

This can be said in another way: In terms of talent and experience, Shen Yikuan is far superior to Shen Nian; in terms of energy and vitality, Shen Yikuan is far superior to Zhao Zhigao. Among the three, only Shen Yikuan must stay.

After all, forty years old is the best age to write history.

What Shen Yiquan didn't know was that Ma Ziqiang had already given him enough face.

Ma Ziqiang knew all about his social skills in the History Compilation Institute and his tendency to form cliques and suppress dissidents.

Only by expelling him can the History Museum truly calm down.

Although Shen Yiquan was dissatisfied.

However, he still did not dare to refute Ma Ziqiang, the Hanlin scholar who was most likely to join the cabinet next, during the regular court session.

He quickly stepped out.

"Your Majesty, to avoid suspicion from my fellow countrymen, I am willing to withdraw. From now on, I am willing to take on more responsibilities in your daily lectures!"

Say it.

He also glanced at Shen Nian who was not far away.

Intellectuals have looked down on each other since ancient times.

In Shen Yiquan's eyes, there was not much difference between his and Shen Nian's performance in daily lectures.

Lost the good job of writing history.

Naturally, he wanted to make up for it from the daily lectures, and it would be best if he could snatch Shen Nian's daily lecture share.

Hearing this, young Wanli sat up straight.

"You are kind, but this year's daily lectures can be carried out according to the arrangements made at the beginning of the year. No adjustments are needed."

In the mind of young Wanli, Shen Nian's position in daily lectures was second only to Zhang Juzheng.

Daily lectures without Shen Nian would be torture.

He was afraid that because Shen Nian participated in the history revision, the cabinet would reduce his daily lecture quota, so he directly refuted Shen Yikuan.

Shen Yikuan didn't expect that the young Wanli would reject his enthusiasm like this.

I had no choice but to return to the queue in embarrassment.

this moment.

He felt that his ambitions were difficult to realize, that a group of old guys were protecting Shen Nian, and that the emperor had been bewitched by Shen Nian's fancy lecturing methods.

I just don’t think that I am not as skilled as others.

……

July 14th, near noon.

After the lecture, Shen Nian was called to the side hall by the young Wanli.

Feng Bao smiled and said, "Editor Shen, His Majesty has put a lot of effort into naming your son. Not only did he consult with some senior officials from the Ministry of Rites, he also had the Imperial Astronomical Observatory perform divination and recommend a few names."

"Your Majesty's requirements are that it must adhere to Confucianism, must convey auspiciousness and good fortune, must be loud and clear, cannot be commonplace like ordinary people, cannot violate taboos, cannot..."

When Shen Nian heard these requests, he couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed.

When naming a name with so many rules and regulations, the name will most likely be very uncommon.

But in his heart: a simple and nice name is enough.

him at the moment.

I just want to say one thing: Otherwise, I won’t bother Your Majesty!
Shen Nian forced a smile and said with a cupped hand, "Your Majesty, you have worked so hard. The name you have chosen must be excellent!"

Hearing this, a satisfied smile appeared on the young Wanli's face.

As an emperor, he also needs his subjects to be grateful for his grace.

immediately.

Little Wanli waved his hand, and a young eunuch handed a document to Shen Nian.

Shen Nian quickly took it in his hands.

Feng Bao continued, "There are over thirty names in this document, and one of them was personally drafted by Your Majesty and is considered good. This name also embodies Your Majesty's expectations for Editor Shen. Editor Shen, please look for it and see if you can understand His Majesty's intentions."

Shen Nian frowned slightly.

Guess the emperor's intention?
The lecturers never taught this during the imperial lectures.

This must have been taught by Feng Bao. He taught the young Wanli the tricks of the Jiajing Emperor, the riddle-maker, to control his ministers and manipulate the empire.

Little Wanli smiled and said, "Editor Shen, you usually give me questions, and today I will give you one too. I believe that among all the officials in the court, you understand me best and will definitely be able to guess this name!"

"I will do my best."

Shen Nian opened the document and looked at it carefully.

"Shenyunqi comes from Qu Yuan's "Li Sao": "I ride the graceful eight dragons, and carry the winding cloud flags. It implies that I have lofty aspirations and aspirations that soar to the sky."

"Shen Chonghui comes from Li He's poem: Chonghui Pond Road is long. Chong means flying straight; Hui means the sound of a bird flapping its wings."

……

"Shen Jingsuo, from Ban Gu's "Ode to the Eastern Capital": Spreading Honghua, believing in Jingsuo, promoting the world temple, and correcting the elegant music."

"Shen Guiyan comes from the Zhoubi Suanjing: 'Set up the sundial and measure the sundial to correct the four seasons.' 'Gui' is the sundial, and 'sunlight' is the brightness of the sun."

……

Shen Nian got a headache watching this.

Those complicated and rare characters must have been fiddled with by the Imperial Observatory or some old official from the Ministry of Rites by flipping through books.

Who would give a child from a normal family such a name!

When learning to write big characters, children will cry because of the complexity of their names.

soon.

Shen Nian finished reading more than 30 names, and then began to wonder which name was chosen by the young Wanli himself.

Shen Nian's mind was working rapidly, constantly eliminating ideas.

After about ten breaths.

Shen Nian suddenly locked onto a name, and then said in his heart with certainty: "It must be this one!"

Little Wanli has been very nice to Shen Nian recently.

On the one hand, Shen Nian is good at daily lectures. On the other hand, Shen Nian is the only official in the court, except Feng Bao, who cares whether he is happy or not.

He knew that being able to live alone in the Qianqing Palace was actually Shen Nian's primary contribution.

Young Wanli knew that he was getting closer and closer to ruling the country himself. Under the education of Empress Dowager Li and Feng Bao, he naturally wanted to win over some officials who could serve as "his own people."

Among them, Shen Nian is one of them.

The most important requirement an emperor has for his "own people" is that they speak clearly and sincerely, and never dare to lie or conceal anything.

Shen Nian looked up at Little Wanli and said with great confidence: "Shen Yanche."

"Words should be consistent with actions, actions should be consistent with words. The unity of words and actions is the foundation of being a minister; the heart is like a mirror, and things come in accordance with it. This is the clarity of the mind. If the words are clear, the heart is sincere. As a minister, I must be sincere when compiling history, I must be sincere when recording in front of the emperor, I must be sincere to the country, and I must be sincere to Your Majesty!" Shen Nian said loudly.

Two days ago.

Little Wanli had just learned the principle of "speaking in accordance with one's actions and acting in accordance with one's words" in "The Book of Rites: The Doctrine of the Mean" and the clear mirror in one's heart from "The Analects of Zhu Xi".

Shen Nian combined the little Wanli's expectations of him.

Therefore, it can be inferred that the name he personally chose was: Shen Yanche.

"Haha, Editor Shen is really amazing! I will give you another piece of calligraphy. As for the other etiquette of the royal name-granting, I will leave it to Feng Daban!" Little Wanli said with a smile.

Feng Bao, standing by, said, "Editor Shen, Lord Zhang has always disliked Your Majesty's obsession with calligraphy and neglect of government affairs. Now that Your Majesty is sending you a calligraphy piece, it shows how much he values ​​you. Why don't you thank him quickly?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!" Shen Nian bowed.

Shen Nian understood that the young Wanli kept showing him special favors because he hoped that Shen Nian could become his person, rather than Zhang Juzheng's person, Lu Diaoyang's person, or even Ma Ziqiang's person.

The art of the emperor.

Even without being taught by others, you can learn by yourself just by sitting in this position.

He wanted to rule the country himself.

He had to win over and promote his own confidants, and then crack down on other bureaucrats who oppressed the imperial power.

……

After a while, Shen Nian walked out of the forbidden area.

He was very happy.

Fortunately, the young Wanli did not give his son a name like Shen Guiyan, Shen Chonghui, and Shen Jingsuo.

Shen Yanche, it’s not that bad to listen to.

"I'll have to give His Majesty a hint in a few days. We shouldn't develop this bad habit of guessing riddles." Shen Nian murmured.

As for who he belongs to, Shen Nian has a clear idea in his heart.

Who can do something for the people of the world, who can make life better for the lower-class people, who can reduce the injustices such as privilege, oppression, and bullying, and who can make this world a better place.

Who will Shen Nian associate with?

(End of this chapter)