Chapter 153
Chapter 153
Cai Fenglan passed the imperial examination and became a juren in the 41st year of Huayuan.
In the 42nd year, he passed the imperial examination and ranked 23rd in the second class.
In August and September of that year, Cai Fenglan passed the examination and became a scholar-official and had been working in the Hanlin Academy ever since.
Now, on May 22, the 43rd year of Huayuan, he has not yet been assigned an official position and is still staying in the Hanlin Academy.
Why?
Of course, because nowadays there are fewer opportunities to play music externally.
Many young men from the capital who had been exiled were trying to find ways to get out.
In previous years, after being sent abroad for seven or eight years, the children of each family would be transferred back to the capital and begin their careers in the central government.
As soon as they came back, the seats outside gradually became vacant.
But now?
These young men rushed out one after another, calling it training.
Actually, it's escape.
After Cai Fenglan came to the capital, he has been living in the house granted by Emperor Jiyuan since he started preparing for the exam. There are many officials living nearby, so he has a clearer understanding of the situation.
The seven or eight servants around Cai Fenglan were all brought by the Yue and Zhou families, and they could help him gather information on weekdays.
The information obtained was similar to what Cai Fenglan heard in the court.
"The power struggles in the court are complicated and anyone could be in trouble, so we must stay away from them."
"Otherwise, you will be killed at any time."
Although the new era has just arrived, Cai Fenglan still explained the current situation in the capital city clearly.
If you can leave, just leave.
Everyone wants to leave the capital, a place full of troubles.
To put it bluntly.
It's an exacerbated version of what happened four years ago.
The old emperor was sixty-five years old and in frail health, but he was still a long way from passing away.
The prince is thirty-four this year and has been the crown prince for more than ten years.
The emperor was fickle towards him, and the affection between father and son was almost worn out.
The Fifth Prince is thirty-one this year, only three years younger than the Crown Prince. He was fine in the past few years, but in recent years he has been repeatedly suspected by his father.
Sometimes he gave him the hope of becoming the crown prince, and sometimes he told him to get lost, saying that he was not dead yet.
After several incidents, it had no other effect except exacerbating the conflict between the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince, and making the ministers in the court take sides and fight against each other.
The old emperor's position was consolidated.
There is no need to worry about the Crown Prince seizing power, nor is there any need to worry about the Fifth Prince actually doing something.
But his stability is built on the instability of more people.
Ji Yuan listened and said, "Do you know what the biggest feeling this place gives me?"
"What is it?"
Ji Yuan continued: "There is no change."
These things were being done four years ago and are still being done four years later.
They continued to fight.
However, the situation below became complicated because of their inaction in fighting.
Instead of messing with the forces within the court, why can't they control the corruption, greed, and rampant evil at the grassroots?
Cai Fenglan has been in Beijing for a year. He sighed and said, "You are right."
Ji Yuan patted him on the shoulder and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. Let me have a good rest first."
Cai Fenglan finally came to his senses and quickly asked someone to prepare food and wash him.
The servants over there had prepared everything, and Cai Fenglan had also asked people to clean up Jiyuan's main courtyard in advance, so that he could take a rest first.
Ji Yuan returned to Beijing.
This news is neither big nor small.
But those who should know will know.
After all, not long after he sat down, he asked someone to hand his documents to the Ministry of Personnel, meaning that he had come to report in.
The next morning, Ji Yuan changed into his official uniform and went to the government office with Cai Fenglan.
Cai Fenglan looked at Ji Yuan's scarlet official uniform and said, "So this is what you look like in your official uniform. No wonder I've heard so many stories about you over the past year or so."
Are they all his legends?
It's not that exaggerated.
Ji Yuan thought he was joking, but when he arrived at the Ministry of Personnel and had not yet stepped into the office, he heard someone behind him say, "Ji Yuan?"
After this sentence was said, many people turned back subconsciously.
Those who worked near the Ministry of Personnel in the capital were at least juren, and most of them were jinshi.
But after hearing Ji Yuan's name, he subconsciously turned around.
After all, there are not many people named Ji Yuan in this world.
He is the only one who has returned to Beijing recently.
Ji Yuan, ah Ji Yuan, is it him?
Looking at the young official in the crimson official uniform, it's him, needless to say.
Whether you know Ji Yuan or not, you can recognize him at first sight.
He is so young, yet he holds a fourth-rank official position and is handsome. Who else could it be but him?
Is there a second era in this world?
The Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel came out with a smile: "Ji Yuan! You're back!"
Everyone confirmed it again, and the way they looked at Ji Yuan became different.
It's really him.
Is there anyone who doesn’t know the legend of Ji Yuan?
He passed the imperial examination and became the top scorer four or five years ago, when he was only fifteen or sixteen years old.
Then he became an official.
Although he offended the Fifth Prince and was sent to a remote place.
But what did they come up with?
Get out the rubber!
Nowadays, every household knows the benefits of rubber.
As the production process of rubber became more mature, the demand for it also increased. He also presented all the formulas and methods to the emperor.
God knows how happy the emperor was when Prime Minister Li handed him the method of making rubber.
To put it in a very vulgar way.
That means the emperor hasn't been this happy for a long time.
After all, the tax on rubber is horrific.
Some people say that in a few years, the tax may be comparable to the salt and iron tax.
Who knows that every household needs it.
This thing is enough to elevate the era.
Even the emperor was very satisfied with Ji Yuan.
I asked some time ago where Ji Yuan would go during his next term, and he suggested that he just stay in the capital.
There was no answer to this question, so another thing came up.
More than a dozen countries, including the small southwestern country of Jing, requested to meet the emperor of Tianqi and wanted to learn about the culture of Tianqi.
He also said that he admired the monarch of Tianqi, saying that such a big country was governed so well by the monarch, which showed that it was the will of heaven.
The kings of small countries like them really admired him, so they asked Tianqi to give them a chance to come and pay homage to the Lord of the World.
This incident made the old emperor very happy, and he seemed to have regained some of his spirits. He was very kind to the prince during that period of time.
People who hold power always make themselves appear gentle, but it is hard to tell what their true colors are.
The prince is no longer the prince of the past, but he still knows what the emperor really looks like when he thinks he has lost power.
If this incident made the emperor very happy.
But when he learned the reason why they came to visit him, his expression became a little dull.
The emperor originally thought that the royal families of these small countries admired him, so they came to pay homage and ask for a chance to meet him.
But we also learned that the reason they wanted to see the emperor was because of a new kind of rice.
Champa rice.
It turned out that it was for the rice seeds, not for him.
The old emperor was somewhat unhappy.
After learning about the situation of Champa rice and hearing the news of the miracle created by the No. 793 rice variety, he became a little happier.
The emperor's joys and sorrows were all affected by these things.
And all these things were done by one person.
era.
The old emperor heard Chu Daxueshi say: "This era is really restless. If such a good seed is not presented to the emperor early, it should be cultivated by the royal family."
Then all the credit will be yours, Your Majesty.
Although Mr. Chu did not say this, his eyes said it all.
In the afternoon, Prime Minister Li said again: "It won't be long before all nations come to pay tribute to Tianqi."
"Ji Yuan has really taken great pains for the Tianqi Kingdom."
What it means is that he did this for your country, he is your subject, and his achievements are your achievements.
This seems to be true.
No one knows what the emperor is thinking.
Anyway, he went to the palace again the next day, saying that he was going to recuperate.
At this time, all affairs in the court will be suspended.
Wait until the emperor comes back to deal with it.
The emperor would stay in the newly built palace for at least four or five days, and at most half a month.
No matter what happens, you just have to suppress it.
In the past few years, the Crown Prince was able to help deal with it, but later the matter was handed over to the Fifth Prince.
After that, he refused to give money to anyone and kept suppressing the money, and his temper became even more unpredictable.
Ji Yuan was the person who made the moody old emperor happy twice.
Apart from the emperor's mood, the aura around Ji Yuan is even more terrifying.
And there was no obvious tendency in him.
He doesn't seem to belong to Prime Minister Li's faction.
He does not belong to the faction of Mr. Chu.
Anyway, I heard that when he was working in the Hanlin Academy, both sides and even other forces tried to win him over.
Ji Yuan didn't choose anyone, and ended up like that.
Everyone thought he was finished.
Now back again.
Still come back with a halo around him.
At the same time, everyone has a different idea in mind.
There is no power in this era.
All the young men in the capital were expelled, but he insisted on coming back.
If someone had advised him, he wouldn't have fallen into such a dangerous situation.
No matter whether the emperor values him or hates him.
They are all short-lived.
Ji Yuan saluted Lord Nie from the Ministry of Personnel.
Lord Nie, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, is Nie Shiming’s uncle.
Lord Nie is one of the rare people who know the truth.
He knew very well why Ji Yuan came back, and his nephew was even involved.
However, for the sake of Champa rice, the Nie family decided to take a gamble.
Of course, it was Prime Minister Li who secretly instructed to help Ji Yuan succeed.
Anyway, no matter what.
Ji Yuan and the Nie family must work together this time.
I must avenge Ji Yuan’s parents.
Of course, on the surface, Ji Yuan came back to report on his work and then take on a new position.
The news of Ji Yuan's return immediately spread to all major government offices and even to the rear quarters.
Inside the Hanlin Academy.
Even Cai Fenglan was asked again and again. Cai Fenglan didn't know the inside story, so he just pretended to be stupid and said he didn't know. Then he continued to compile books, making people think he was a nerd.
"The Era is here!"
"He left the Ministry of Personnel?"
"Wow! Go check it out!"
Ji Yuan did come to the Hanlin Academy.
The Hanlin Academy still has a familiar feeling, and the Historian Academy and the Cabinet Ministers are facing each other.
In the past, Ji Yuan was the manager of the Historiography Office, but now he has to go to the Cabinet Office. Although he does not have a Hanlin official position, he also has to come in and pay a visit to the superiors.
The cabinet is still divided into two camps.
Wenyuan Pavilion of Prime Minister Li and Jixian Hall of Grand Secretary Chu.
According to the level of position, Ji Yuan went to see Prime Minister Li first.
Prime Minister Li had been waiting for a long time.
After not seeing each other for four years, Prime Minister Li's hair has become even whiter and he is already sixty-eight years old.
In ancient times, sixty-eight was definitely considered an old age.
Logically speaking, he should retire, as the emperor said when he was young that Prime Minister Li should work until he was 75 before he could stay.
Prime Minister Li's eyes were still bright, and when he looked at Ji Yuan, he felt indescribable relief.
When the others had left and only the confidants remained, Li Shoufu sighed, "Seeing that you are unwilling to be elected, I know what you are thinking."
Ji Yuan did not answer.
He made no attempt to hide his thoughts.
Anyway, this matter is basically open to the most important people.
Prime Minister Li thought of the surprise that Ji Yuan gave him.
Several killers were assigned to him, and he severely damaged the men of Chu Daxueshi, who have not recovered yet.
Not to mention what happened afterwards.
Whether it is the surprise of rubber or the surprise of new rice seeds.
All of this made them realize once again that Ji Zhuangyuan was not only good at studying, but also good at being an official, and a good official at that.
So now I look at Ji Yuan with great satisfaction.
Based on what Ji Yuan has done, he will also help Ji Yuan achieve his wish.
"Nie Shiming is already on his way. He will reach the capital in less than ten days."
Li Shoufu said: "You can also take a break during this period. Everything will be settled in ten days."
This is what I mean.
Prime Minister Li will make the decision.
Then Wang Changdong is definitely dead.
There is no need for Ji Yuan to say more.
In fact, Ji Yuan had no involvement in this matter, from investigation to conviction.
It seems that Wang Changdong still doesn’t know who he offended.
But Ji Yuan still has a way to bring him to justice.
So what if I don’t go to Yingtian Prefecture? There are plenty of ways to deal with him.
But is this all Ji Yuan wants?
What about the Grand Secretary Chu who protected him?
There is another person who is high above.
In other words, it is not worth it for him to make a trip to the capital just for Wang Changdong.
Ji Yuan just smiled and bowed to Prime Minister Li to express his gratitude.
Li Shoufu stood up and supported him, whispering: "I know there is also the culprit, Lord Chu, but his power is not something that ordinary people can move."
No.
Not him.
But if that person's name were to be made known to others, Prime Minister Li would only be shocked, or might not agree with him.
Because Ji Yuan discovered that from beginning to end, no one blamed the person who was high above.
In other words, from Dianzhou Prefecture to the capital.
The closer he got to the capital, the less likely anyone would blame him.
People from all over Dianzhou Prefecture dared to speak ill of the emperor in private.
Walking inside, I just dared to vent my dissatisfaction.
When they arrived in the capital, even Prime Minister Li would not consider this issue at all.
I won’t even think about who caused all this.
So after hearing Prime Minister Li's words and understanding the situation in the capital, Ji Yuan became more convinced that he should do it himself.
Ji Yuan did not blame Prime Minister Li.
He had been taught since childhood to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and he had been loyal to the emperor and patriotic for more than sixty years.
This is not something that can be changed easily.
Ji Yuan bowed to Prime Minister Li and said, "I'll leave Wang Changdong's matter to you."
Li Shoufu sighed and said, "We will go see Chu Daxueshi later. No matter what he says, don't be afraid."
"By the way, when I return to Beijing to report on my work, I should think about where I will be assigned next. I must not stay in the capital."
Ji Yuan thanked Prime Minister Li again and left the room.
Prime Minister Li was still worried that Ji Yuan would come into conflict with Scholar Chu.
But then I thought, Ji Yuan is no longer the same person he was four years ago. He has accumulated more connections and political achievements.
Scholar Chu did not dare to touch him easily.
To put it bluntly.
If something went wrong with Ji Yuan in the capital.
Ning'an Prefecture, and even Dianzhou Prefecture, would be dissatisfied.
Anyone in the world who uses new rice seeds and rubber will be angry.
The overwhelming public opinion is still frightening.
So in the Jixian Hall, Chu Daxueshi looked at Ji Yuan with a half-smile, and said casually: "Ji Yuan, Ji Yuan, you are good at studying and being an official."
"With young talents like you, we old guys should all retire."
"There are so many good men in the capital who can't compare to you."
I know that Mr. Chu said this on purpose.
But the dozen or so officials present were still embarrassed.
They are all well-known figures in the officialdom.
Not only was he outdone by a young boy, but the child who was carefully brought up at home was also outdone.
Also, Ji Yuan actually gave the rubber formula to Prime Minister Li?
Why not give it to them?
Of course, this was not widely publicized.
If more people knew that it was Prime Minister Li and his men who first obtained the rubber-making method, the situation would definitely tip to the other side.
So everyone had to tell everyone, even if it meant they had to, that Ji Yuan had not taken sides, and they were very likely to win Ji Yuan over.
To put it bluntly, the perspective from the outside is different from the perspective from the inside.
Inside, everyone knows that Ji Yuan is more inclined towards Prime Minister Li.
It is not difficult to guess what Jixian Hall’s attitude towards him will be.
Scholar Chu looked at everyone and waved his hand.
When Ji Yuan and Scholar Chu were the only ones left in the study, Scholar Chu was still sitting in his original seat.
If you look closely, you can see that Scholar Chu hates Ji Yuan.
Why?
It started from the time Ji Yuan removed his killer, and from the time Ji Yuan helped old man Li to sit on the position of Prime Minister for a few more years.
He is sixty-one years old this year.
Four years ago, he might have been the Prime Minister.
Who would have thought that I would fall into the hands of this kid.
It all started with that loser Wang Changdong.
"Wang Changdong will die." Chu Daxueshi said, "Don't worry."
This person hasn't arrived in the capital yet.
He had already been sentenced to death.
Prime Minister Li said he would be executed.
Scholar Chu said directly that he would die.
The former was to avenge Ji Yuan, while the latter was just too lazy to protect another useless person and just killed him quickly.
At the same time, it is also a gesture of goodwill to Ji Yuan.
It's not because of rubber, nor because of Champa rice.
These two things are about to spread, and even Ji Yuan himself can't stop it.
When Mr. Chu said this, there was even a hint of seeking peace.
Ji Yuan looked at him and asked, "Who is Wang Changdong?"
Who is Wang Changdong?
Chu Daxueshi was so angry that he laughed, and then laughed again: "Ji Yuan, you are so smart, why don't you go serve the emperor? The emperor is still short of a Hanlin who can write for him."
A Hanlin who helped the emperor draft documents.
It used to be a good job, but now it is really a matter of life and death.
Scholar Chu was clearly threatening him.
Ji Yuan said casually: "That's good. If the emperor knows that you recommended me like this, he will definitely think you are considerate."
Scholar Chu has always been good at making things difficult for others, and few people would fight back like this.
With the old emperor's sensitive mentality.
Could it be that he didn't notice the departure of young people in Beijing?
Wouldn't he think too much about why Grand Secretary Chu deliberately recommended people here?
It’s okay not to think too much about it.
After serving as a Hanlin for a long time, the Emperor will naturally "know" it.
Ji Yuan has this ability.
The look in Chu Daxueshi's eyes became calm, even a little scary.
When Ji Yuan was about to leave, Chu Daxueshi said, "You are as cunning as I am."
"But why do you stand on the side of ordinary people?"
"Geniuses like you and me should be different from others."
Over the years, Ji Yuan naturally knew about the experience of Chu Daxueshi.
Scholar Chu was from Jiangnan. His family was poor when he was young, and he was able to graduate from the village clan school.
All the way to Juren, Jinshi, and finally an official.
Relying on his hometown status, marrying a noble lady, and his ability and talent, he has reached where he is today step by step.
Such people think they are smarter than others and therefore think they are superior to others.
He believed that the era should be like this as well.
Ji Yuan stood out from the crowd since he was young.
Why would such a person live in harmony with a group of mediocre people?
Ji Yuan was surprised for a moment by these words.
He is not from here.
The knowledge he first came into contact with was not based on the hierarchy here.
He studied mathematics, physics, chemistry, dialectics, practice, and ancient literature.
So they are different.
Ji Yuan thought about it seriously for a while, and then stepped out.
If he was a native of Tianqi State, he might really be like Scholar Chu, or maybe Wang Changdong.
But he is not.
Nor should he be.
If he had modern ideas and still became a bad person, he would be ten thousand times more evil than a bad person.
One circle down.
Ji Yuan returned to his residence.
The cook from the capital also came and brought a lot of snacks.
However, Ji Yuan could see that she wanted to ask about Cheng Yisan's recent situation.
Ji Yuan picked out what he could say, and the cook sighed, "That's good, she suffered so much."
It's too bitter.
Ever since Lord Cheng got into trouble, her family has had nowhere to turn to.
All the money in the house was spent, and there was no more money left.
So Cheng Yisan learned dim sum recipes and opened a dim sum shop with the cook, and actually saved a lot of money.
But Cheng Yisan cannot show up, so she is considered a secret shareholder.
The money issue is partly resolved.
But he was later convicted and exiled, and that was not something that could be changed by just hard work.
Ji Yuan listened and his eyes turned towards the direction of the palace.
Wang Changdong must die.
What about the others?
The next day, Ji Yuan was invited to a teahouse, and many people asked him to talk about things happening in the border area.
The customs and habits of Dianzhou Prefecture are different, isn’t it interesting?
Ji Yuan said: "It is indeed very interesting. There are many legends about ghosts and monsters over there."
"Ning'an Prefecture is fine. After all, it is the territory of Tianqi Country and is protected by God."
"There are many strange legends about the small country south of Ning'anzhou."
A strange legend?!
What is this!
Tell me about it quickly.
Ji Yuan said: "Legend has it that more than a hundred years ago, when the ancient southern country was near the sea, a fisherman saw the Tianshan Mountains overseas from the sea."
"But when he looked again, he felt that it was full of ghosts and it turned out to be a fake fairy mountain."
Then, the fisherman was trapped inside for nine days and nine nights.
Surprisingly, he had not drunk a drop of water or eaten a grain of rice for several days, but he was full of energy.
It was not until a beam of golden light dispersed the ghost aura that he walked out. However, his body was covered with ghost aura and no one dared to approach him.
"Then what?"
“Then someone discovered that there was a Dan Fang printed on the fisherman’s back.”
"When the local kingdom learned about it, they searched for precious medicine and ordered people to make a prescription."
"The fisherman will eat first, the alchemist will eat second, and the king will eat last."
"What's the use of the pill recipe?!"
Ji Yuan said: "Some people say that you can live forever."
"It's just a local rumor. The ancient southern country is no longer in existence. It's just a legend."
“But some say that these three men went out to sea to find new lands.”
"Some even say they have appeared in recent years, and they are probably used to deceive people."
Everyone nodded.
You are right.
There are such legends everywhere.
But can such a detailed and well-founded legend really make people feel as if they are there?
Everyone has heard this story and it’s over.
Because according to Ji Yuan, there are countless legends about Dianzhou Prefecture, each of which is extremely wonderful.
Little did people know that this rumor from "a hundred years ago" was spreading wildly in Ning'an Prefecture and even in the small country south of Ning'an Prefecture.
From the beginning of the year to the end of May.
In five months, the story has spread everywhere.
Everyone thought it was a story from the neighboring country and even believed it.
There's no way around it, the story is so detailed, it describes the local people's customs very accurately, even mentioning the name of a certain river a hundred years ago, the direction of the sea flow, and even the wind direction.
The people in the capital, Yunnan Province, and small countries in the southwest all think that this is just a legend.
Can make you immortal.
Pill recipe.
Secret Buddha.
Perfect for hitting some people's heads.
Ji Yuan was playing with the pill recipe in his hand.
I believe the same recipe is already in the hands of the King of Jing.
His share can be burned.
It's not wrong to use the imperial prescription of the emperor of his time to give it to the emperor of this time, right?
Cinnabar, mercury, red lead, lime, copper blue, and gold flakes.
Any one of them can make modern people tremble with fear.
But now, it is a non-toxic existence.
Not only is it non-toxic, but when used with other recipes, it can even be an elixir that can “strengthen the body” and “prolong life”.
Such a good thing must be given to the most noble person in the world.
At this moment, the King of Jing was puzzled: "Is this thing really the legendary elixir recipe?"
"Can I use this to exchange for Champa rice seeds?"
The counselor beside King Jing said: "Your Majesty, this is called giving the other party what he likes."
"The merchants from Qi said that day that their emperor was looking for this kind of elixir recipe."
"Besides, he also believes in Buddhism. We also have a Buddhist sect here."
"If the other party is happy, we will have rice seeds! As for whether they eat it or not, who cares!"
yes.
Anyway, just change the rice seeds.
Who knows whether immortality is possible?
The King of Jing said again: "Go, find a master who looks most like a wizard."
"We must make the Emperor of Tianqi believe that this recipe is excellent."
The most wizard-like master.
Everyone couldn't help but cover their faces.
Got it. It must be made to be shiny and golden, so it looks like a living Buddha.
In other words, information is blocked and news is not circulated nowadays.
Inconvenient transportation and obstacles in obtaining information suddenly become advantages at this moment.
In Jing State, people thought that everyone knew that the old emperor of Tianqi State believed in secret Buddhism.
Little did they know that Ji Yuan was deliberately blurring the news by taking advantage of the fact that the capital of Tianqi State was thousands of miles away from Jing State.
People in the capital of Tianqi Kingdom had no idea that a mysterious gift was about to be delivered.
Ji Yuan was waiting for the first good news in the capital.
Nie Shiming escorted the prisoner Wang Changdong here.
He wanted to go over and let Wang Changdong die with a clear conscience.
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