The Bookish Scholar of the Red Mansion

I'm a little thinner, but I'm more capable, which is not bad.

The carriage moved forward slowly, and the teacher and student finally said the first words, which made Chen Heng feel warm in his heart. In front of the teacher, he did not return the favor with any pretense of politeness. He directly spread his hands and complained softly: Now that I think about it, the student regrets it. If I had known that there were so many things in the Ministry of War, I should have gone to the Ministry of Etiquette and defected to Mr. Wei.

Lin Ruhai laughed heartily and taught his student a lesson, You are such an old man and you still say naughty words. He had just been promoted and reunited with his beloved disciple after a long separation. The old man couldn't help but feel proud in his heart, These few days God asked your master’s wife to cook something delicious for you.”

Yes. Chen Heng agreed, but looked a little weird. His wife's cooking, well...he hasn't tasted it even once in so many years. By the way, is it really edible?

Lin Ruhai was amused by Chen Heng's expression and joked: Master and disciple must share joys and sorrows.

Chen Heng also wanted to laugh after hearing this, so he just accompanied the teacher and talked about what he saw on the road. When the carriage arrived at the palace gate and stopped, Lin Ruhai said, We'll talk about it when we go home, and got up and led the students out of the car.

After passing the palace gate, the teacher and student went to change into official robes in the small room inside the palace. There was no such room, and it was only set up separately because the two of them were temporarily summoned. It was all about Lin Ruhai's face, and Chen Heng was completely taking advantage of it. The latter's official robes were delivered by Xinda on the way.

They arranged their clothes and checked each other's clothing details. Lin Ruhai looked at the young man in front of him. This was really the first time he had seen Chen Heng's appearance. The boy's outstanding appearance only counts as standing out when wearing regular clothes. Wearing an official robe, it looks like Yun Conglong or Feng Conghu. It is so suitable.

Very good, Lin Ruhai praised it in his heart. The expression on his face gradually faded, and he put the official hat on his head, with the robes on both sides still shaking slightly, and said to the students, Let's go.

yes.

The teacher and student left the room, and there were waiting eunuchs leading the way. The second-grade golden pheasant in Feipao strode forward, and the eighth-grade oriole in green robe followed quickly.

Along the way, the sun was shining brightly, and there were eunuchs passing by from time to time. When they saw Lin Ruhai, they also avoided it. Officials of this level are behemoths wherever they appear.

Arriving in front of the Linjing Hall, Li Zhi sat on the throne in the open middle door. After the eunuch's communication was completed, he saw two ministers walking in with light and shadow. The leader is a young man who is elegant and elegant. The one at the back has a gentle and jade-like temperament, but also has the unique vitality of a young man.

The more Li Zhi watched, the more satisfied he became, and the joy in his heart was directly revealed in his words, Lin Qing, are you tired after coming all the way?

Your Majesty, I am only over fifty. Lin Ruhai, who had just led the students to salute, replied with a smile: Your Majesty, please think of me, everything is fine. Your Majesty's dragon body is still the same, and I am very happy.

After all, he was Tanhualang in the first year of Wu Ding, and Li Zhi had to marry him personally. Lin Ruhai was also very close to Li Zhi when they talked. Li Zhi smiled and nodded, and took his humerus minister to chat again and again.

When a big shot talks, there is nothing wrong with Chen Heng. He glanced inside the palace and saw that there were also Prince Li Xian, Minister of Rites Wei Yinghong, Minister of Military Affairs Sha Xiang, and Yao Ziran, a doctor in the Ministry of War, accompanying Sha Xiang. Needless to say, Chen Heng's position is naturally next to Yao Ziran.

After Li Zhi gave Lin Ruhai a seat, he came to Wei Yinghong's side. The two friends met again at court, and they were deeply moved by each other. The two of them sat opposite the Minister of War. From where Chen Heng stood, he could naturally see the micro-expressions of the two people.

Chen Heng. Li Zhi suddenly called out.

Chen Heng didn't expect that it would be his turn so soon. It had been more than half a year since he arrived in Beijing, and this was his second meeting with Li Zhi. He was suddenly called by his name and thought he had done something wrong. When he came out of the queue in a panic, Chen Heng immediately said: Wei Chen is here.

He took the opportunity to glance at Yao Ziran, who was also standing next to him. Seeing him wink at him, Chen Heng felt relieved.

Your writing is pretty good. Li Zhi praised him first. He often heard Lin Qing say in private messages that he, as a student, was a good hand at work. Today I saw the notebook he wrote. The entries are clear and the data is detailed. It also lists prices in Shenzhou, Jingshi, and Yangzhou in the past ten years. Just looking at it from the outside makes it clear.

Thank you for your compliment, Your Majesty.

Taking Yao Ziran's hint, Chen Heng admitted it openly. He also spent a lot of effort to get the data. It is indispensable to look up the information in the household department, and the diary I wrote in the past can be put to full use.

Tell me again what you and Dr. Yao think.

yes.

The affairs of the tea-horse border market are managed by soldiers and households. The specific ideas for doing things can naturally be decided upon by the two doctors after consulting their superiors. Chen Heng knew that his boss Yao Ziran must have told him before he came. I focused my explanation on the changes in prices and the stimulating effect of merchants on people's livelihood along the way.

This is also his strength. As an official in the court, you are not afraid of shortcomings, but you are afraid that your strengths are not long enough. Here, Chen Heng also had some selfish motives. He connected Shenzhou, Jingshi and Yangzhou together. First, the real estate in Shenzhou is so rich that it can be described as a natural treasure. Secondly, if Yangzhou can obtain things from Shenzhou, it will definitely establish its status as the commercial center of Jiangnan.

Tea is produced in Hangzhou and Fujian, and salt is produced in Yangzhou. Merchants could carry goods all the way north along this road, to the capital and then to Shenzhou. After the goods are sold, they can then return with the things on the grassland and sell them in the capital and Yangzhou.

Needless to say, the business and people’s livelihood stimulated along the way. None of the people sitting there are fools. You can see the benefits just from the intuitive data used by Chen Heng.

That is to say, the people from the Ministry of Revenue are not here, otherwise they will definitely cheer for Chen Heng. For these officials who deal with numbers all day long, Chen Heng's keenness and use of data is really unique.

After Li Zhi listened silently, he couldn't help but said to Sha Xiang: No wonder Mr. Wen from the Ministry of Husband often complained to me recently, saying that I let a talented man who should be in the Ministry of Husband go to the Ministry of War.

When Sha Xiang heard this, his face lit up even though he had never met Chen Heng before. He spoke modestly: There are many talented people in the Ministry of Household Affairs, so it doesn't matter if I give up one of my ministers. Your Majesty does not need to pay attention to Mr. Wen's complaints.

Li Zhi smiled and didn't say anything more. He was thinking about what to reward Yao and Chen. Seeing that he had nothing to do, Chen Heng quickly retreated to Yao Ziran's side and listened to what several ministers were talking about. While they were talking, someone suddenly came to report from outside. Gu Zaiyong, the chief minister of the cabinet, and Yan Hu, the minister of official affairs, came to see him.

These two are the first and second-ranking civil servants in the DPRK, and among them, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel is even higher than the second assistant. When he heard that they were coming, Li Zhi also lowered his face and agreed.

As soon as the leader Gu Zaiyong came in, all the officials except Li Zhi stood up and saluted. When Yan Hu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, passed by, only Chen Heng and Yao Langzhong leaned forward and said, Otsuka Zai.

In fact, it can also be called Tianguan. The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the appointment and dismissal of civil servants below the third rank in the country. What a military general looks like when he sees the Ministry of War, and what a civil servant looks like when he sees the Ministry of Personnel.

Yan Hu is about the same age as Pei Huaizhen, with white hair and beard, but his energy and energy are much better than Master Pei. Hearing the voices of the two petty officials, he glanced sideways at Yao and Chen but ignored them.

He followed Gu Zaiyong to pay tribute to His Majesty. No matter how much Li Zhi disliked them, he had to give them the dignity they deserved. At this point, Gu Zaiyong was the only one who could sit in the venue.

Because Yan Hu stood aside, the other ministers and Zuodu censor had no choice but to stand. Something was wrong with the atmosphere. Yao naturally felt that the old monsters were going to fight again, so he frequently winked at Chen Heng, asking him to find a way to escape.

One of them is fifth grade and the other is eighth grade. I am here to watch the big shots bickering, just to make myself unhappy. How could Chen Heng not understand that, not to mention Yao Ziran, even the look on the prince Li Xian's face was a little off.

In the end, it was Wei Yinghong from the Ministry of Rites who came to their rescue. He said that they had to discuss important national affairs and asked the two junior officials to return to their offices as soon as possible.

This is the most appropriate statement for the Ministry of Rites. Li Zhi also nodded, and Yao and Chen had to leave in a hurry.

When the two of them walked out of Linjing Hall, they both felt relieved. Gu and Yan were both powerful and civil servant leaders. Standing next to such people is stressful just thinking about it.

They looked at each other and smiled, then made an appointment to go back to the ministry. Chen Heng didn't notice that a pair of eyes was staring at him from a room on the corridor.

After leaving the palace gate, return to the Ministry of War. Today, only a few unlucky ones are in jail in the ministry, and most of them are resting. The most evil thing is that it has existed since ancient times. Several people who were usually close to him were not there, and the remaining colleagues were very surprised when they heard that Chen Heng had come back to meet the saint. Knowing that it was Yao Ziran who pushed him, his tone became more subtle.

There is no way to say this. Chen Heng had no choice but to calm down and return to his position. His seat was by the window, and once he opened it, he could see the walkway leading to the Hanlin Academy. At this time, outside, there was a new scholar who had just passed the imperial examination and was reporting to the Hanlin Academy. Today, the six departments have a rest, and there are no people coming and going on the road. The new Hanlin people are indeed easy to recognize.

The Chaokao is an exam prepared for the second, third and third grade Jinshi students, and the best are admitted to the Hanlin Academy. It is also commonly known as ‘Dian Hanlin’. For Jinshi students who do not do well in the imperial examination, don’t worry too much. You can choose from any of the best prefectures and counties in the world.

But being able to stay in the Hanlin Academy is of course the best thing. Chen Heng took a moment and saw a familiar face in the past Hanlin. The other party was chatting with his new colleagues and didn't notice Chen Heng's eyes. It was only after the latter spoke out that he discovered Chen Heng.

Brother Chen.

Brother Du.

Chen Heng hurriedly walked out of the office and pulled Du Yunjing with a happy face, I heard that you did well in the morning exam, so I figured I would see you soon. Fortunately, I didn't miss it, hahahaha.

Meeting an old friend in a foreign country is the best thing. When Du Yunjing was feeling proud again, he was also very happy to see Chen Heng. The two held hands, stood on the road and chatted for a few words, exchanged addresses, and agreed to go out for tea together next time.

When parting, Du Yunjing and Chen Heng asked about Cui Youdao. The latter also shook his head. He had been busy since he came to the capital, and Cui Youdao was in the Hanlin Academy. Although the two are close to each other, the time of going to the Yamen is different, so there are not many opportunities to meet them.

Okay, Brother Chen, let's talk in detail next time.

Du Yunjing was repeatedly urged by his colleagues and hurriedly resigned.

Yeah. Chen Heng also nodded, very happy for the countryman's high school.

But when he turned to leave, he heard the newly promoted Hanlin over there saying to Du Yunjing: Brother Du, why are you talking so much to a green-robed official? It's really not good to miss the appointment at the Yamen.

As they walked further and further away, Chen Heng couldn't hear Du Yunjing's reply. But he didn't pay much attention to it. It was normal for a newly promoted Hanlin to have a higher outlook.

After finally getting to the lower office, Chen Heng returned to the Yangzhou Guild Hall and saw a sad-faced Xinda standing outside. It's really rare for the other party to look like this. Chen Heng couldn't help but ask: What happened?

Second brother, your luggage has been moved away by the steward of the Lin family. Xinda sighed, I can't go to the Yamen to find you, and I can't dissuade them.

Chen Heng was also dumbfounded, what is this? It was fine when I went out in the morning, but why was it being picked up as soon as I came back to my hometown? He was just thinking about what to do when a carriage slowly came up the street. The steward of the Lin family put down the reins and said to Chen Heng: Master, Madam knows that you are away from the office, so she wants you to go home quickly for dinner.

Yes, I dare not resign because of my elder's fate. Chen Heng had no choice but to lead Xinda into the car and was sent all the way back to the house by Manager Lin.

The Lin family's house is in the inner city, although it is not in the core area where the four princes and eight princes live. But the neighbors on the left and right were all civil servants of the imperial court, so he also took the name of the place used in Chang'an - Chongren.

When the carriage stopped in front of a three-story house, Chen Heng got out of the carriage and began to marvel at how wealthy the Lin family was. How much does it cost to buy this house?

The monthly salary of a Hanlin is only forty taels of silver, and Chen Heng's salary is even less, just over three taels of silver, which is worse than that of a 'poor Hanlin'.

Master, come in quickly. Master and Madam are waiting for you. As soon as Manager Lin spoke, Chen Heng could only nod.

Since we are going home, there is no drama to welcome us. Chen Heng walked along and listened to Manager Lin's brief introduction to various houses. When they reached the middle hall, Lin Ruhai, who had already changed into regular clothes, was holding a cup of tea and reading a book.

Are you hungry?

As soon as the two met, Lin Ruhai took the initiative to ask about the student.

Not yet. I had some snacks at the ministry in the afternoon. Chen Heng shook his head. He was still a little nervous. He never thought that he would live in Lin Mansion in the future.

Lin Ruhai raised his head and glanced at the students, mockingly saying, What, you still want to stay in the clubhouse and not leave?

Aren't you just waiting to achieve great success and ask your Majesty to give you a house? Chen Heng made a joke. Not to mention, he really planned to stay in the club forever.

There was nothing he could do. He only earned more than three taels a month. If his family hadn't been supporting him, he would have ended up on the streets of the capital. In other words, the people of Yangzhou own the guild hall and are willing to open it to Jieyuan at a low price.

It can be seen from this that the house Wei Yinghong received from the emperor is very enviable.

Chen Heng would know about this because Wei Yinghong mentioned it himself when he went to Wei Mansion to pay New Year greetings this year. The latter regarded this matter as a good talk and often showed it off to relatives and friends.

Lin Ruhai laughed and said, Then we will wait until His Majesty gives the order. Now we will live well in my master's home.

yes.

The deal was done, and Chen Heng couldn't refuse.

Your wife has tidied up the yard for you. You can call it whatever you want later. Lin Ruhai nodded and turned the topic to the court.

It was still early for dinner, and the teacher and student chatted for a long time. Only then did Chen Heng know that Li Zhi and Yan Hu had a quarrel after he left.

The cause was naturally the tea-horse incident. Yao Ziran and Chen Heng handled this matter well. Li Zhi wanted to reward him with a reward, but Yan Hu dismissed it on the spot because the imperial examination had just ended and important positions in various ministries were to be transferred.

The Hanlin Academy of the Hanlin Academy has a three-year period of observing government affairs. At the end of this period, they can officially enter the work of the Sixth Department. Today's Yong Dynasty has begun to show signs of having too few officials and too many people. At this time, we need to pay more attention to seniority.

Yan Hu actually made sense. If this matter was not settled fairly and a group of Hanlin officials started to make a fuss, Li Zhi himself would have a headache. During this period, if Li Zhi insisted on promoting people based on his mood, it would be a violation of the rules of the officialdom.

No matter how great the contribution of Chamabian Market is, it has not come out now. Wouldn't it be better to promote him after he has made real achievements? Yan Hu's words left Li Zhi speechless. This is the disadvantage of quarreling with civil servants. No matter what you say, the other party can take advantage of it.

Your Majesty asked me to tell you that I will wrong you first this time. If you have any reward you want, just ask for it. Lin Ruhai passed the message on Li Zhi's behalf.

Hearing this, Chen Heng was shocked at first. I didn't expect this to be asked. He didn't feel any grievance. He just thought about it and realized that he really needed your Majesty's help for something. I heard that there are many books in the Imperial College, but I have never had the opportunity to see them. I heard that the library there never lends out books, and I would like to ask Your Majesty to make an exception. What do you think, uncle?

When Lin Ruhai heard this, he immediately smiled and said, That's good. He added, Once this is done, it will be good for your reputation if word spreads.

Chen Heng didn't think about this problem in detail. He just wanted to continue reading and studying at home in his free time. However, the salary is usually too low, and the books that attract attention are too expensive. Good books are even collected in the building of the Imperial College.

The teachers and students talked for a few more words, and then Lin Jue, who had just finished his homework, ran in and sent a message to Jia Min to prepare the meal.

Chen Heng ate at Lin's house not only once or twice, but also for a long time in the future. Jia Min didn't have any plans to divide the table, so she just set up a table and took the whole family to eat.

The three juniors did not dare to joke too much in front of their elders. Everyone was tired from traveling again, and Lin Ruhai and Chen Heng had to rush to the office the next day. They had just eaten, and there was no time to chat, so they went back to their houses to sleep.

The next day, it was dark.

Lin Ruhai woke up from bed. He was a new official and it was his first time to go to court. Naturally, he had to go to court as early as possible because he was afraid of an accident on the way. The censor of Zuodu has the duty to supervise all officials, and he cannot make mistakes in this matter.

Although Chen Heng did not have to rush to the court meeting, the time for the officials of the six ministries to click Mao would not be much later than the time for the court meeting. He could still bump into his uncle's carriage, so he just went out with him.

The sound of these two people going out naturally woke up the two women at home. Before Jia Min could say anything to complain after sending her husband off, her daughter Lin Daiyu said first: I'm just telling you why the circles under my brother's eyes are so thick every day. Even a person who is beaten with iron can't bear it. Mom, dad needs to be more careful.

After hearing the second half of the sentence, Jia Min smiled and reached out to touch her daughter's forehead, Thank you for remembering your father. She said helplessly, This is the rule. Not only civil and military officials, but also His Majesty must get up early.

Before they come back, prepare some ginseng soup at home for them to drink first.

The mother and daughter returned to the house and planned to take a nap. Their lives are much more leisurely, and there is nothing to do in the capital. Before Keren fell asleep, the Jia family sent someone. The servants said that it was Mr. Bao who came to pay a visit.

The state on Monday was indeed a bit poor. Work during the day and go home to code at night. Until now, I haven't even bothered to eat. Brothers, cast a few monthly votes and let me take a break.