Chapter 579 Hai Rui became a lackey of the treacherous prime minister!

Wang Shimao stood on the bow, looking at the Taicang wharf in the distance, anxious. Behind him stood two people, one young and one middle-aged, both of whom were well-mannered and elegant scholars.

The young scholar couldn’t help but say, “Mr. Jia Ze, I didn’t expect that Taicang is so prosperous even outside of Shanghai.”

The middle-aged scholar stroked his goatee and said, “Yuanrui, Yantietang and Baiqiupu meet in Taicang. You can go north to Changshu, west to Kunshan and Suzhou, south to Jiading and Shanghai, and east to Liujiagang on the Yangtze River.

Liujiagang is particularly convenient. With the rapid development of Southeast China, many ships cannot stop at Wusong Port and transfer to Liujiagang. It can go directly to Taicang via Baiqiupu and then transfer to Changshu, Kunshan, Suzhou, Jiading and Shanghai via Taicang.

Therefore, Taicang and Liujiagang followed Shanghai and became increasingly prosperous. “

“I see.”

Wang Shimao turned around and said, “Jia Ze, Yuan Rui, we are just ahead at Taicang Wharf.”

When the ship docked, Wang Shimao rushed onto the dock, grabbed the servant who came to greet him and asked.

“Is my brother home?”

“In reply to the second master, the eldest master is at home.”

“Well, help carry the luggage quickly. These two are my friends I met in Shanghai, Mr. Shen and Mr. Hu. Help carry their luggage onto the carriage.”

“Yes!”

The three of them got on the carriage, and with the sound of horse hooves, the carriage started moving.

The carriage quickly left the dock and turned onto the street.

Middle-aged Mr. Shen and young Mr. Hu opened the curtains and looked at the Taicang customs and culture on both sides.

Suddenly, a group of Confucian scholars ran by, one of them yelling, “Today in the Flower Street, tomorrow in the Willow Lane, the good man in The West Chamber.”

The rest of the group laughed along.

Mr. Hu raised his eyebrows, “Mr. Linzhou, what’s going on?”

Mr. Shen looked out and shook his head, answering, “This is a group of scholars who have just finished their exams, so they burned their pens and inkstones, put away their classics, played games and joked. They flocked here, either because they were bewitched by the music and beauty, or because they were tempted by the treasures.”

Mr. Hu smiled happily, “Haha, when I passed the imperial examination, I wasn’t so reckless and absurd.”

Wang Shimao sighed and said, “Mr. Jia Ze is right. When he comes to the school, there are no scholars on the streets. When he leaves, all the scholars in the city are intoxicated. Flowers in the brothel, Dongpo scarves, red lights shining at night, and long and short sentences from The West Chamber.”

Hu Yuanrui immediately responded: “I have also heard this proverb.

He discusses essays on stage, takes exams in the red-light district, and pays for his tuition to annotate the Romance of the West Chamber. He places a sour and strange figure in the performance hall, and pays some debts to the teachers in the classroom. He reads the skirts and hairpins of women under the curtains of his books. He is a romantic scholar.

The proverbs told by Wang Shimao and Hu Yuanrui both talk about the scholars who no longer study hard in times of peace and prosperity, especially once the routine examinations by the education officials are over, they become like wild dogs that have broken free from their bridles, running around happily.

They had a very unrestrained time in brothels, theaters, and prostitutes.

Alas, what is this?

Shen Jiaze shook his head and sighed: “People’s hearts are no longer the same as they used to be! People’s hearts are no longer the same as they used to be!”

Hu Yuanrui said on the side: “I don’t think it’s a big deal. The country has been at peace for a long time, and the people are prosperous. It’s a peaceful and beautiful time. It’s completely different from the beginning of the country when everything was in ruins and everything was kept simple.

With the flourishing of industry and commerce and abundant production, what is the purpose? Nothing more than to let the people live a good life. The scholars played games like this, and the students felt that they were living a good life.

Do we need to line up these scholars on the street, with a bowl in front of each person?”

Wang Shimao and Shen Jiaze couldn’t help but burst into laughter, “Yuanrui is so free and unrestrained!”

The carriage arrived at the palace and stopped in the stable in the front yard. Wang Shimao asked Shen Jiaze and Hu Yuanrui to get off the carriage and go straight into the middle courtyard.

As soon as I turned into the gate of the middle courtyard, I heard the sounds of the zheng, pipa, sanxian, clappers, humming and singing, and the sonorous and melodious voice of a woman.

“Well, this set of northern songs is sung to the bone.”

“I still like Nanchang,”

Just as I was speaking, the female singer stopped singing and another female singer started singing. The accompaniment also seemed to change. The singer only used a small clapper, which made a clapping sound.

The three of them couldn’t help but slow down their pace and listen attentively.

Not long after the clappers started beating, the dongxiao and yueqin came in, their tones changing repeatedly. Accompanied by the sound of these instruments, the actress began to sing, her voice even more sad and moving, the listeners almost shed tears.

“Okay, this Nanyin has been completely different with the addition of the dongxiao and yueqin.”

Shen Jiaze and Hu Yuanrui couldn’t help but exclaim in praise.

“This Nanyin has been added with Kunshan tune, which makes it even softer and more graceful. You can listen to her long words, which linger for several breaths, like the winding and quiet mountain spring.”

“Listening to this Nanyin with Kunshan dialect and then Haiyan dialect makes me feel sleepy in the daytime. I hate it and stay away from it.”

Hu Yuanrui said from the side: “Mr. Jiaze, what you said is really wrong. When I was listening to Haiyan dialect in Shanghai, I said I loved it as if it were my life. How come you turned away from it so suddenly? You are so fickle, Mr. Jiaze, you are so fickle.”

Shen Jiaze shook his head and said, “Yuanrui, stop talking nonsense. I am pursuing perfection.”

The two men laughed and turned to ask Wang Shimao, “Mr. Linzhou, which great talent in your house is training the actors and modifying the tune?”

Wang Shimao smiled bitterly and said, “Who else could it be? It’s my brother who has been obsessed with opera reform recently.

People say that Zhang Taiyue reformed the cabinet, Zhao Dazhou reformed the Xiantai, and Wang Fengzhou reformed the theater. Reforms became a trend in the Ming Dynasty, and my brother also followed the trend. “

Shen Jiaze and Hu Yuanrui looked at each other and said in unison: “It really is Mr. Fengzhou!”

Wang Shimao led the way in front and turned to the backyard, which suddenly became open.

I saw a garden of dozens of acres in front of me, with stones piled up around the mountain, a pool dug to draw water, stone beams swaying like rainbows, terraces and pavilions scattered around, winding corridors, hazy painted pavilions, and a spacious hall. It was really a good place for officials to gather and celebrities to meet.

This is the Yanshan Garden of the royal palace, one of the most famous gardens in Jiangnan.

Walking along the corridor to a pavilion, I saw that the hall had carved walls, a grand building, and multiple corridors.

If you look closely at the beams and pillars, you will see that they are all made of nanmu wood. The window lattices on the upper floors are painted with gold and dyed with colors, and carved with red and chalk, showing the utmost craftsmanship.

There were four people sitting in the pavilion. The leader was a man in his forties, handsome with a beautiful beard, wearing a light blue straight coat and a square scarf on his head.

The two men on the left and right were of similar age, about 30 or 40 years old, wearing plain-colored robes and a net scarf on their heads. Sitting opposite was a man in his 40s, the most handsome, with a white face and no beard, wearing a lake green Taoist robe and a net scarf on his head, looking carefree and unrestrained.

When Wang Shimao and the other two came over, he was the first to see them and said cheerfully, “Mr. Linzhou is back.”

The voice was loud, yet a little sharp.

The other three turned their heads when they heard the sound.

Wang Shimao stepped forward and bowed, saying, “Wang Shimao greets Eunuch Lu, Master Shala, and Mr. Luanxiao. I greet my elder brother.”

“You’ve had a hard journey on Linzhou. These two are very impressive. Please introduce them to us quickly.” The white-faced, beardless man said with a smile.

“Eunuch Lu, this is Shen Mingchen Shen Jiaze from Yin County, Zhejiang Province.”

Before Wang Shimao finished speaking, the man with blue eyes stood up suddenly and asked loudly, “But who wrote the sentence ‘Five thousand soldiers marched through the night with their mouths sealed, secretly leading the troops to issue orders. In the narrow alleys, close combat, killing people is as easy as grass without hearing a sound.'”

The man in the Taoist robe shook his head and said, “The governor of the southeast, Xuancheng County, once held a banquet at Lanke Mountain and invited all his staff.

After drinking and having fun, the Juzhang Mountain Man Shen Jiaze wrote a 10-chapter “Victory Song” in the curtain, in which there is a line “In the narrow alleys, close combat, killing is like cutting grass without hearing a sound”. Hu Gong stood up happily, stroked his beard and said “What kind of Shen Sheng is this, so brave and cheerful!” He then ordered it to be engraved on the stone.

How magnificent and wonderful! “

Shen Mingchen bowed and replied: “It is me!”

Zhi Zhuinan rushed forward, took Shen Mingchen’s hand, and said generously: “I have heard of your great name for a long time. It is an honor to meet you today!”

Wang Shimao said at the side: “This is my elder brother Wang Shizhen Wang Yuanmei.”

Shen Mingchen bowed and said, “Student greets Lord Fengzhou!”

Wang Shimao continued to introduce the younger Hu Yuanrui.

“This is Hu Yuanrui, the son of Hu Yinglin from Lanxi, Zhejiang, and the governor of Hunan, Hu Gong (Hu Xi).”

Wang Shizhen was delighted and said, “But is it the Hu Yuanrui who wrote ‘Have you not seen the Yellow River water coming to Kunlun, flowing through Longmen for thousands of miles. It circles around Songshan and Juehua without stopping, swallowing up the sun and the moon and arranging the universe?’?”

“I’m sorry for making you laugh at my humble work.”

The white-faced, beardless man chanted aloud: “The nine rivers overflowed in the sky, and dragons and snakes rose from the great lakes. The ancient world did not understand the worries of Yao and Shun, but Pingcheng relied on the power of Sikong.

Yuan Rui is only 10 years old, but he is a gifted poet. He is truly a rare talent in the world!”

Wang Shizhen introduced: “This is the Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Household and the General Manager of the Southeast Branch of the Imperial Household, Eunuch Lu Yong.”

Shen Mingchen and Hu Yinglin’s faces changed, and they bowed and said respectfully, “Students greet Eunuch Lu.”

“You’re welcome.” Lu Yong returned the greeting with a bow, brushing his sleeves and answering, “I am a scoundrel, relying on Fengzhou Gong’s opera research institute to listen to the texts and listen to the meanings, and cleanse my dirty bones.”

Wang Shizhen laughed and continued to introduce the other two people to Shen and Hu: “This is Mr. Luan Xiao, Pan Zhiheng, Pan Jingsheng.”

Shen Mingchen bowed and said, “Sir, you said that when writing a play, one must start with tuning. One must first correct the words and then choose the sounds. Your profound and insightful remarks are something that I admire.”

“polite.”

“This is the master of Shaluo, Tulongtu Changqing.”

“So it’s Brother Tu. You and I are from the same hometown. I have heard of your name for a long time but never had the chance to meet you. It’s fate that we meet here today.”

“polite.”

Wang Shizhen said happily: “Today, so many talented people have gathered together, which makes the whole house bright and glorious. It just so happens that our Drama Research Institute has just arranged a few new plays, which are to blend the strengths of Nanyin, Haiyan Opera, Geyang Opera and other operas into Kunqu Opera, which is far better than Kunshan Opera.

Let’s taste it together and give more opinions. ”

Wang Shimao stamped his feet and said anxiously: “My elder brother, you are still here indulging in vocal music, don’t you know? Hai Rui issued arrest warrants in Suzhou, and the imperial guards went out to summon and arrest hundreds of scholars from the Three Wus.

The talents of the Jiangnan people were almost completely destroyed by him.

Even the former Prime Minister Xu Gong was ordered by him to go to Suzhou to listen to the investigation.

I never thought that the iron-willed Hai Rui would become like this? People outside are saying that Hai Rui, who is well-known for his integrity, has become a pawn of the treacherous prime minister Zhang Taiyue! “

There was silence in the room, and everyone looked at Wang Shimao in amazement.

After twenty or thirty seconds, a female musician next door accidentally plucked the strings of the pipa in her hand, making a tinkling sound, which woke everyone up from their slumber.

Wang Shizhen glared at his brother.

How can you be so reckless! You speak without restraint!

Don’t you see who’s sitting there?
Eunuch Lu Yong was an old man who had served the emperor together with Feng Bao when the emperor was still the prince of Yu.

Pan Zhiheng and Tu Long are good friends of Wang Daokun.

Do you know who Wang Daokun is?

The Intelligence Bureau was perfected by him. There are rumors that the sudden death of Altan Khan and the collapse of the Tumed tribe were closely related to this man.

Do you think his good friend got a sinecure in the Intelligence Bureau out of friendship?
Shen Mingchen, Shen Yiquan’s uncle.

Shen Yikuan recently “turned over a new leaf” and became a disciple of Zhang Siwei, the left vice minister of the Ministry of Rites. He has recently published many articles, criticizing his “old friends” such as Shen Li and Xu Guo for their pedantry and rigidity, which caused an uproar in the literati circle.

Hu Yinglin is the son of Hu Xi, who is Hu Xi?
The Governor of Hunan and the right-hand man of Osprey Governor Wang Yi’e!
Look, each of them is a talented person who has hidden his potential. Yet you actually said in front of them that Hai Rui had become a lackey of the treacherous prime minister Zhang Juzheng. If this gets to the ears of some people, will we brothers still have a good life?
Wang Shimao was shocked by his brother’s electric eyes and suddenly woke up.

I was too impulsive and anxious. I blurted out everything and it brought me trouble!

The thought raced through his mind for a moment and he quickly spoke up to try to change it.

“Brother, there are rumors flying everywhere now, criticizing the government, humiliating the ministers, using foul language, and it is unbearable to hear. Brother, how can you still sit still?”

After saying this, Wang Shimao couldn’t help but let out a long sigh of relief in his heart.

Oh my god, it’s finally back together.

(End of this chapter)