Chapter 353: The Prime Minister of Real Estate, Once Seized the Literary Fortune?

"Brother-in-law, for the sake of my sister, you must find a way to save our Yan family!" Shen Zheng knew that Diao Minzhu was going to destroy the foundation of his family, and he seemed to beg hard.

Naturally, Yin Zhi could not sit idly by and said angrily: "In the past, I asked you and Zhi'er to study hard and take part in the scientific examination. Didn't you say that the Yan family doesn't care about fame and only wants to be the richest man in Ji'an Mansion?"

"Brother-in-law, Zhi'er and I don't care, but some of our grandchildren still have some talent in reading. Once they are really registered as unruly people, they will never get ahead!" Seriousness does not have any intention of having an official career, but after all, he still knows what's going on. Severity.

In this era, if a family is registered as a traitor and cannot obtain fame, then no matter how great the wealth is, it will be just a beauty in the mirror, and the status will be the same as that of a lowly family.

Naturally, Yin Zhi knew the lethality of unruly people's registration better than anyone else. The emperor who could think of such a method was simply a monster. He seemed to make a decisive decision: "Let's go to the county town. I want to see where his Zeng family is in Taihe." You can’t really cover the sky with one hand and do whatever you want!”

Not long after, the two carriages drove up the compacted dirt road one after another, heading towards the county seat.

Taihe County is named after "the real estate is a golden harvest, born of harmony".

Due to the diligent and thrifty people in the county and the diligent and studious children in the family, Taihe County is now famous in the literary world. In the Ming Dynasty, two chief ministers, Li Shiqi and Chen Xun, were born.

It is rare that a county can have two chief ministers, that is, the prime ministers of the Ming Dynasty, and there may be a third chief minister in the future.

It's just a pity that these two chief assistants have more or less problems, which affects their family's prestige in the entire Taihe.

Although Yang Shiqi lost his father when he was young and came from a poor family, he was the most legendary figure in the civil service group.

He served as the chief assistant of the cabinet for more than 40 years and served as the chief assistant of the cabinet for 21 years. Together with Yang Rong and Yang Pu, he was known as the "Three Yangs". He was also the most important founder of the rise of the civil service group.

Especially during his administration, not only did he increase the amount of purple salary, soap, and silver for all civil and military officials, but he also created a double-salary system, thereby greatly increasing the welfare income of officials.

This matter cannot be said to be good or bad. The bad aspect is that it naturally increases the financial expenditure of the Ming Dynasty. The good aspect is that it greatly improves the welfare of officials and helps prevent corruption.

But in terms of family education, it is far from successful.

Because he doted on his eldest son Yang Ji, Yang Ji felt emboldened in Taihe County and took advantage of his power to do evil, killing dozens of people. Later, the matter was caught by Xichang, and Yang Ji was eventually brought to justice.

It was precisely what happened to Yang Ji that was so bad. Now Yang Shiqi's influence has dropped to zero, so the Yang family's influence in Taihe County has been greatly weakened.

Chen Xunze became famous at a young age. He passed the college examination at the age of seventeen and obtained the Jiangxi Provincial Examination Jieyuan at the age of twenty-nine. The following year he ranked first in the folded examination paper. However, because the examiner Liang Qian was also from Taihe County, he changed his name to "Jie Yuan". Hong Ying was Hui Yuan, and he was ranked second in the Hui Examination.

Gold will eventually shine, and Chen Xun shined in the subsequent palace examination, becoming the number one scholar in the thirteenth year of Yongle's reign, and entered the Hanlin Academy as a Hanlin compiler.

Unlike Yin Zhi, who had a lot of destiny, he passed through many obstacles on the road of being a Ci minister, and was successfully promoted to the right minister of the Ministry of Revenue and a Hanlin bachelor in the 10th year of Zhengtong.

In the 14th year of Zhengtong's reign, the Tumubao Incident occurred, and a great turmoil occurred in the Ming Dynasty. Even the emperor was changed, but he ushered in a major opportunity in his life.

Because he openly opposed the move to the south, agreed with the imperial court to dispatch troops from several provinces to the capital, and supported Emperor Jingtai's ascension to the throne, he won the favor of Emperor Jingtai. In the end, Chen Xun filled the vacancy of the Minister of Household Affairs caused by Wang Zuo's death in battle.

Shortly after the victory in the Beijing City Guards War, his official career took a step further and he successfully entered the cabinet to become the prime minister. He then served as the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty and became one of the most prominent civil servants in the Jingtai Dynasty.

In the first year of Tianshun, Yingzong was restored, and officials such as Qian were immediately liquidated. Chen Xun, the chief minister of the cabinet, was also on the liquidation list.

Because Chen Xun, the chief minister of the cabinet, had supported the establishment of Emperor Jingtai, he was impeached by the Sixth Section to usher in the Ming Dynasty. The Yingzong ordered the ministers to interrogate Chen Xun in Fengtianmen Square.

Although Chen Xun was lucky enough to escape death, he was sentenced to one hundred punishments with a stick and guarded the Tieling Guard.

In the fifth year of Tianshun's reign, Chen Xun submitted a letter to defend himself, and Emperor Yingzong issued an edict to release Chen Xun to serve the people. He died the following year. In the sixth year of Chenghua, Chen Xun's son Chen Shanyuan saw that Yu Qian had been rehabilitated, so he took the opportunity to ask for restoration of his title.

Although Chen Xun was rehabilitated, after so many years of ups and downs, and the imprint of Emperor Jingtai was so deep, the Chen family in Taihe County has long lost its former glory.

Just like this, even though two chief ministers of the Ming Dynasty appeared in Taihe County, the Yang family and the Chen family have lost the style of the prime minister's house in the past, leaving the world with more sighs.

In the old days, the swallows in front of Wang Xietang flew into the homes of ordinary people.

In the first month of the year, Taihe County seems to have passed the cold winter and is welcoming the arrival of early spring. The withered old sycamore trees are quietly stretching out a sapling.

Since the literary style was at its peak during this period, there were many scholars on the streets. The sounds of reading aloud could be heard in the private schools in the city, and there were many antique calligraphy and painting shops in the city, with an antique flavor everywhere.

Taihe City was built in the Tang Dynasty. It has a square city structure and is crisscrossed by two wide blue brick streets. Tai'an County Government is located in the west of the city.

Two carriages coming in from the south gate were driving through the lively green brick street. When they reached the center of the street, they immediately turned left towards the county government office.

It's a cloudy day today, but there's no sign of rain.

In the backyard of the Taihe County Government Office, there is a strong aroma of wine and meat floating in the air at this moment, and the place looks happy and happy.

Gouzhi County, who is wearing a seventh-grade official uniform, has a beautiful mustache. Although he is a superior official in front of ordinary people, this time he looks like a fawning dog.

He was toasting to a middle-aged man wearing a fourth-grade official uniform, with a flattering look on his face: "Prefect Cheng, I'd like to toast you another drink!"

"This Nanxi wine really deserves its reputation!" Magistrate Cheng commented very elegantly after drinking all the wine in the cup.

The sixty-year-old man sitting next to him also had an elegant air. He smiled slightly and said: "I have prepared ten jars of fine wine. When Magistrate Cheng returns tomorrow, I can bring them with him. Please don't refuse!"

Mr. Qian from the county government was here to help pour the wine. Thinking of the age of this wine, he couldn't help but be dumbfounded.

"Haha... If Zeng Juren is so enthusiastic, then I would be disrespectful!" Magistrate Cheng said with a hearty smile without putting on official airs.

Zeng Bufan saw that the other party accepted his gift, and all of this was actually under his control.

In Taihe County, the most prestigious family now is not the chief assistant family of Li Shiqi and Chen Xun, but the Zeng family that prospered because of the number one scholar Zeng Heling.

The ancestor of the Zeng family was Zeng Anzhi, an agriculturist in the Northern Song Dynasty. Although he had declined in this generation, he was able to maintain the dignity of his scholarly family.

In Zeng Heling's generation, the Zeng family seemed to be blessed by God. First, his brother Zeng Chunling was selected as a high school scholar and a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, and Zeng Heling was the top scholar in high school in the 19th year of Yongle.

Since the examiner who presided over the examination was Yang Shiqi from this county, the powerful chief minister of the Ming Dynasty, Zeng Heling naturally became a disciple of Yang Shiqi.

Because of Yang Shiqi's care, he participated in the compilation of "Records of Chengzu", "Records of Renzong" and "Records of Xuanzong", and his official career was smooth sailing.

In the third year of Zhengtong, he served as the examiner of the Shuntian Township Examination as a bachelor of Hanlin. Just when he was about to enter the Ministry of Rites, he died of illness within two years of taking office.

Although Zeng Heling was not as prominent as the two chief ministers, his official career laid the foundation for those who came after him, and the talents of the Zeng family were endless.

Zeng Zhui is the direct grandson of Zeng Heling. He was selected as Tanhualang in the 14th year of Chenghua. He and Zeng Heling belong to the grandson Dingjia, which was rumored to be a good story in the imperial examination.

There were a total of six Jinshis in the three generations of the Zeng family, so it is widely said that "in the Zhuangyuanfang of the Zeng family lane, there are six Jinshis of three generations in one family, and two generations of grandparents and grandchildren." There are still nearly ten people in the Zeng family.

Even now, Zeng Yan, a member of the Zeng family, was the number one scholar in the 14th year of Chenghua and is still serving in the Hanlin Academy. The glory of the Zeng family continues to this day, making it the most prominent family in the entire Taihe County.

Zeng Bufan was the grandson of Zeng Heling. He also obtained the title of Juren, but failed repeatedly in the examination.

Because he was getting older, he had already given up on taking the imperial examination and worked as a county magistrate in other places for several years. Now he is in charge of the Zeng family's property.

It was precisely because of the family background that Zeng Bufan had the capital to be on an equal footing with Magistrate Cheng, and even instigated Magistrate Cheng to do things for him.

"Zeng Juren, this county also proposes a toast to you!" Gouzhi County also had a rare opportunity to have dinner with Zeng Bufan, so he also fawned over Zeng Bufan.

Zeng Bufan picked up the wine glass and took a sip, then raised his head and looked at Magistrate Cheng next to him: "The Holy See is strict about selecting officials, and everyone knows this. This year, the Beijing Police will definitely eliminate a large number of incompetent officials. My cousin is in the capital. We are friends with Dr. Zhang from the Literary Selection Department, so this matter will definitely help the magistrate!"

Although Beijing officials are afraid of Beijing inspections, local officials regard the inspections every three or six years as an opportunity, when a large number of vacancies will appear.

Once they can return to the capital to serve, they will be full-fledged officials of the capital, and they can be said to have risen to the top.

As a dignified fourth-grade official, the reason why Magistrate Cheng was willing to be driven by Zeng Bufan was that he did not hesitate to offend a former Minister of the Ministry of War who had retired and returned to his hometown. He wanted to gain this relationship so that he could return to the capital to pursue fame and fortune.

Magistrate Cheng felt as if he had eaten honey, and he solemnly raised his hands and said: "Haha... If I can return to Beijing smoothly this time, I will surely be richly rewarded in the future!"

At this moment, a drumbeat suddenly sounded outside.

Gouzhi County was slightly startled at first, and then realized that the county government's grievance drum had started. If someone hadn't deliberately made trouble, then there would have been a huge grievance.

But no matter what, if you dare to complain now, it will undoubtedly ruin your good mood and affect your ability to entertain distinguished guests.

Faced with such a thing that was destroying his friendship, he immediately ordered with a stern face: "Who is playing drums outside? Master Qian, immediately bring the troublemakers to the county and send them away!"

"Yes!" The master handled this kind of matter with ease and said respectfully.

Magistrate Cheng and Zeng Juren didn't think there was any problem. It would be unreasonable for Magistrate Gou to leave them here to meet the master of suffering.

"Master!" The master left and came back, but he wanted to call Gou Zhixian aside with a look of embarrassment on his face.

Gouzhi County frowned, looking very dissatisfied and said: "Didn't you expect that I was accompanying Magistrate Cheng and Zeng Juren? Who was playing the drums just now?"

"Replying to the master, it's... it's Yan Yuanwai! But... but Yin Shangshu came with him, and Yan Yuanwai also submitted a complaint!" The master sighed inwardly and looked cautious.

Magistrate Cheng and Zeng Juren did not pay attention to Zheng Zheng at all, but when they heard that Yin Zhi actually stood up for Zheng Zheng, they exchanged silent glances.

"Lawsuit, who does Yan Yuanwai want to sue?" Magistrate Gou frowned slightly and asked in confusion.

The master swallowed his saliva and said with complicated eyes: "Yan Yuanwai wants to sue you, saying that you disturbed the court's laws, all bad charges!"

"He... he farted!" Magistrate Gou suddenly put down the wine glass in his hand, but it was stimulated by his stuttering.

Prefect Cheng and Mr. Zeng looked at each other and left the table tacitly.

It's not that they care about Magistrate Gou, nor do they want to see the strange people suing officials with their own eyes, but because Yin Zhi was already there, so the two of them decided to meet this civil servant traitor.

Although they were afraid of Yin Zhi, they were not afraid at all, and even had a score with Yin Zhi.

Magistrate Gou thought that the two were angry when he saw them leave, but when he heard that they asked him to go to court to try the case, he was dumbfounded.

Not to mention that it is very strange for a citizen to sue an official, how can it make sense for a person to try a case against himself? This is simply a complete farce.

"What are you afraid of? Prefect Cheng and I are here, and we will take care of everything!" Zeng Juren said with a stern face when he saw the unwilling look of County Magistrate Gou.

County Magistrate Gou knew that he could not offend Zeng Juren, so he had to bite the bullet and go out to meet the former Minister of War Yin Zhi.

"Your humble official greets Minister Yin!" Although Prefect Cheng was a prefect of the fourth rank, he had to bow respectfully to Yin Zhi, who retired from the first rank.

County Magistrate Gou still took the initiative to show goodwill to Yin Zhi, but the candidate Zeng Bufan was obviously hostile.

When Yin Zhi saw Prefect Cheng, County Magistrate Gou and Zeng Juren, and smelled the alcohol on them, he immediately knew that his guess was correct and that the matter was actually caused by him.

When Yan Yan saw the three people appear, he turned his head and looked at Zeng Bufan with a sense of enlightenment.

Yin Zhi was smart since childhood, became famous at a young age, and had a very delicate appearance. At that time, he was a beautiful boy with red lips and white teeth, so he was favored by the eldest daughter of the Yan family.

Unfortunately, things are so bloody that Zeng Bufan, the current head of the Zeng family, also fell in love with the eldest daughter of the Yan family and persuaded his father to come to the door to propose marriage.

Yan Yuanwai originally wanted to marry the Zeng family, which was in its heyday, but his daughter was making a fuss, and Yin Zhi was indeed a rare potential stock, so he finally rejected the Zeng family's proposal and chose Yin Zhi, who became famous at a young age.

However, in Zeng Bufan's view, Yin Zhi had a "hatred of stealing his wife", and the conflict between the two sides had lasted for decades, and even smeared Yin Zhi, who was demoted to Nanjing.

Even though Yin Zhi is now retired at home as the Minister of War, Zeng Bufan has always been paying attention to the affairs of the court, and Yin Zhi's reputation in the court has long been ruined.

His most important ally, Li Zisheng, was beheaded. Because Yin Zhi was promoted by imperial decree, he was shunned by his peers, fellow townsmen and teachers. The Xianzong, who once favored Yin Zhi, has also passed away.

The current Hongzhi Emperor and Yin Zhi basically have no intersection, and the two have not even met a few times, so naturally there is no hope for his revival.

That's right, the one who instigated the design of Yan Su to enter the list of unruly people was this petty-minded Zeng Juren, just for the "hatred of stealing his wife" back then.

"Yin Shangshu, you are so eager to stand up for Yan Su, are you trying to cover up Yan Su's crimes?" Zeng Bufan knew why Yin Zhi came, and he seemed to be confident of winning.

The corners of Cheng Zhifu's mouth rose slightly, and a sense of pride surged in his heart.

If it were any other retired Shangshu, he would naturally not dare to offend him, but the retired Shangshu in front of him was just a paper tiger, and he even had to let himself be fooled.