Chapter 706 How is this person?
In the office room of Yan Song, the chief minister of the Wuyidian Cabinet, only Yan Song and Zhao Wenhua were left. Zhao Wenhua took out a small jade altar from his arms. The jade altar was very delicate and carved. He looks like an Antarctic fairy, with white hair and a childish face, a kind face, and a crutch that is higher than his head. The mouth of the altar is the longevity peach held by the Antarctic Immortal, and the mouth is sealed with red silk cloth.
The Antarctic Immortal is an old longevity star in ancient myths and legends. He is the eldest disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun. He is responsible for longevity and is a symbol of longevity, so he is highly respected by people.
“Father, this is the Baihua Wine newly brewed in my hometown in Cicheng this year. This is the first brew. My nephew traveled all night to deliver it. I heard that the Baihua Wine at my adoptive father’s home was running out, so I came here to honor my adoptive father. "Zhao Wenhua respectfully dedicated this small jar of Baihua wine to Yan Song with both hands.
When Yan Song, who was sitting in the first place, heard this, his eyes could not help but light up slightly. He took the Baihua wine from Zhao Wenhua, looked at it with admiration for a moment, and then gently opened a gap in the silk seal.
The seal was slightly opened, bubbles appeared in the Baihua wine in the jade altar, and the mellow aroma of the wine came to the face, refreshing.
The aroma is mellow and intoxicating, like drinking fairy dew.
"Good wine. Wenhua, you are thoughtful."
Yan Song sealed the silk cloth and offered it again, praised it, and looked at Zhao Wenhua a little closer.
When Zhao Wenhua saw this, his face showed a look of saltiness and pride, as if it was a great honor for him to get Yan Song's approval.
For a while.
Zhao Wenhua couldn’t help but think of the autumn more than 20 years ago. He was a new scholar in the eighth year of Jiajing and was appointed as the head of the Ministry of Punishment. For the first time, he donated a bunch of newly brewed Baihua wine to Yan Song, who was the imperial wine priest at that time. scene.
That day changed his destiny.
Zhao Wenhua comes from a declining family in Cixi County, Ningbo Prefecture, south of Congma Bridge. His family is in decline and not very wealthy.
Cixi has a long history and is famous as the "City of Confucianism", "The Cradle of Jinshi" and "The Hometown of Kindness and Filial Piety", with its flourishing literary style and outstanding people. From the Tang and Song Dynasties to the Ming Dynasty, Cixi County has successively produced 5 champions, 1 second place, 3 third place winners, 519 Jinshi, and more than 2,400 candidates, and is known as the "Hometown of Jinshi".
However, because Zhao Wenhua's family was in decline, his path to education was not very smooth, and no one in his family was an official in the government.
There are people in the court who like to be officials, but there are no small officials in the court who can sit through it.
So, after winning the imperial examination and being appointed as the head of the Ministry of Punishment, he was ostracized and unpopular in the Ministry of Punishment.
He was well aware of the fact that there were people in the court who were interested in becoming officials. When he returned to his hometown, he spared no expense and favors. He obtained a bottle of newly brewed Baihua wine from his hometown and brought it to the capital.
Baihua wine is the most famous specialty of Cicheng, and its production process is complex and long. When the grass grows again in the spring breeze and the grass tips sprout tender buds, pick the peony stamens and place them in a sunny and ventilated place to dry and store them; when the summer sun shines on the lotus pond, pick the petals and young leaves of the lotus and place them in a shaded and ventilated place to dry. Dry in the shade and store; in late autumn, when dandelions are flying, pick the starry silver osmanthus and let it dry in the wind; in winter, when the snow sets, pick the stamens of wintersweet, dry them in the sun when the weather is clear, and store them. In addition, dozens of other stamens are collected throughout the seasons. Collect nearly a hundred kinds of stamens and petals from the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, put them in a celadon pot, sprinkle with centuries-old wine yeast, and mix them with rootless water on rainy days, frost on the day of frost, snowflakes in winter, and all year round. The dew of bamboo leaves is sealed and fermented, and it is prepared with a secret recipe.
It can only be brewed once a year and the output is very small.
Therefore, even in Cicheng, this kind of Baihua wine is in short supply and is valuable.
Zhao Wenhua's family was in decline. Fortunately, he passed the Jinshi examination and had some savings. Just this batch of newly brewed Baihua Liquor cost Zhao Wenhua nearly half of his family's money, and he got it through a favor.
Hard work always pays off. Zhao Wenhua, who returned to the capital, took the opportunity to offer the Baihua wine he brought from his hometown to Yan Song, who was then the Imperial College’s sacrificial wine minister. He described the wonders of Baihua wine and got a reward. Yan Song appreciated him and then worshiped Yan Song as his adoptive father.
From this day on, Zhao Wenhua’s life should change.
With the support of his adoptive father Yan Song, Zhao Wenhua's official career was prosperous, and he was soon appointed as the General Secretary. Although the position of General Secretary was not high-grade, it was very important. All memorials presented to Emperor Jiajing from all over the Ming Dynasty would go through him. Hands can be said to be the place where great things happen.
Zhao Wenhua is not low in ability and is a good person. He made full use of this position to promptly inform Yan Song of the trends of the various factions in the DPRK and China, so that Yan Song could respond calmly and make correct decisions, and Zhao Wenhua was able to gradually enter the center of power.
Of course, now that he is the right minister of the Ministry of Industry, the general envoy, and the core of the Strict Party, it will be easier for him to get the Baihua wine from his hometown in Cicheng. However, because Baihua wine is not easy to brew and the output is not large, The Baihua Wine in Zhao Wenhua's hands is also limited.
In addition to the jade altar of Baihua Wine dedicated to Yan Song today, Zhao Wenhua also has a jar of Baihua Wine in his arms. However, the jade altar is more exquisitely carved than the Antarctic Immortal Weng Altar in Yan Song’s hand. A jade altar in the shape of a dragon with four ears and a ring. The altar is also engraved with a famous Qingci couplet: "Luoshui Xuangui first presents auspiciousness, the yin number is nine, the yang number is nine, the number is nine, nine, and eighty-one, the number is connected to the Tao." , The Tao is in harmony with the original Heavenly Lord, and I sincerely feel it; the red and phoenixes of Qishan are auspicious, with six male calls, six female calls, and sixty-six thirty-six sounds. The sound is heard in the sky, and the Jiajing Emperor is born, and his longevity is boundless." And the hundreds of flowers in the jade altar The wine is also more fragrant and nourishing, and Zhao Wenhua has been carrying it close to his body
As for why he didn’t offer it to Yan Song together, he can only ask Zhao Wenhua himself.
"Wenhua, what do you think of Zhu Ping'an?" Yan Song put the Baihua wine in his hand in the drawer, closed his eyes for a moment, then slowly opened his eyes and glanced at Zhao Wenhua, and asked slowly.
"Zhu Pingan is a smart man." Zhao Wenhua thought about it and replied.
“Oh, where is the cleverness?” Yan Song asked.
"When he just came to visit his adoptive father, his words and actions showed his awe. He was trying to please his adoptive father." Zhao Wenhua said while pouring tea for Yan Song.
"Yeah." Yan Song narrowed his eyes slightly, and then shook his head slightly.
"But it is a pity that Zhu Ping'an respected and pleased his adoptive father, but he did not take a stand. The original impeachment case of Zhao Daying was also a bit ignorant." Zhao Wenhua added after seeing this.
"Young man, you are somewhat normal." Yan Song stroked his beard and nodded slowly, "No hurry."
Zhao Wenhua also nodded, "What the adoptive father said is true. , As long as he is smart, there is no need to worry about him being ignorant of current affairs."
"What you just said about catching your son-in-law is a little surprising to me." Yan Song took a sip of tea, put down the tea cup and said slowly. .
"Father, what do you think of the seven stories about the Japanese pirates in the Southeast that I dedicated last time?" Zhao Wenhua did not directly answer Yan Song's question, but asked him about the seven stories about the Japanese Japanese invaders in the Southeast that I dedicated to Yan Song last time. How about the draft memorial.
"You have offered seven things. The first is to offer sacrifices to the God of the Sea. Please send officials to offer sacrifices to Jiangyin and Changshu. The second is to have officials cover their bodies and do light corvee. The second is to recruit more water troops. The second is to recruit people's fields in Su, Song, Chang, and towns. One man passes by. For those with a hundred acres, pay more attention to the taxation, and levy official land tax in advance for three years; secondly, recruit rich people to lose financial resources and it will be self-effective, and it is better to discuss merit; secondly, send important ministers to supervise divisions; thirdly, recruit old party members In the name of loyalty and loyalty, Haiyan disciples were ordered to investigate the affairs of thieves. These seven things are quite insightful and are rare good commentaries in recent years. I will polish them with you, and you can present them to me. What's the connection with what I just asked?" Yan Song praised the seven things Zhao Wenhua presented, but was a little unhappy with Zhao Wenhua's non-answer.
"Many thanks to my adoptive father. I don't know something about my adoptive father. Three of the seven things I proposed were the "Strategies for Controlling Japanese Countermeasures" that Zhu Ping'an answered during the rural examination." Zhao Wenhua explained.
“Oh”
Hearing this, Yan Song unexpectedly opened his eyes, which were closed to meditate. (End of this chapter)