Chapter 53: Sails Undamaged, Ten Thousand People Empty the Alleys

Li Chengming and Chen Yinzhao were inexplicably pointed out and were both stunned.

Chen Yinzhao reacted quickly, blocked in front, and was about to speak.

Li Zhi suddenly whispered: "Although I don't know your identities, I still recognize the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"The eyes and ears of the Son of Heaven must not hide when they should listen to things."

Chen Yinzhao glanced at the guards behind him.

He didn't know if the person had good eyesight or if he saw something when checking in.

He said cautiously: "The elder is mistaken; we are just merchants."

This person in front of him was clearly not an old scholar, so he changed his words accordingly.

Li Zhi grabbed his hand and whispered: "I am also going to the capital. Young Master, don't blame me for talking too much at that time and making the two of you lose the Holy Heart."

Chen Yinzhao clearly showed hesitation.

It wasn't that these words were very deterrent; after all, they wouldn't be punished for such a trivial matter.

He just wasn't sure about the origin of the person in front of him.

With this insight, and even such words, the identity was clearly not simple.

Seeing Chen Yinzhao still hesitating, Li Zhi explained: "Don't worry, it's not a difficult matter. Just let the two of you be witnesses, so as not to be beaten by Wang Zhi."

Chen Yinzhao glanced at him.

Upstairs was a Minister of Justice, a big figure that nobles would walk around; he would be crazy to provoke him.

He asked in a low voice: "The elder might as well give me the bottom line."

Li Zhi said helplessly: "I am a provincial graduate by background, a Secretary of the Nanjing Ministry of Justice, Li Zhi. Last month, I was changed to the Director of the Imperial Academy, and now I am going to the capital to take office."

Chen Yinzhao was stunned.

A Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and a Director of the Imperial Academy are both sixth-rank officials. Although there was a promotion from Nanzhili to Beizhili, it was still a small role.

A sixth-rank small role also wants to handle him? Daydreaming!

This guy looked like he wasn't afraid of the Minister of Justice, which almost bluffed him.

He had a bottom line in his heart, and his speech became unhurried: "Then Director Li should just go to his post, why bother here."

? ￠o

Seeing his appearance, Li Zhi knew what his psychology was.

He immediately pulled the tiger skin again: "I am going to take office, but I still have a case left in the Ministry of Justice that hasn't been closed, and it just happens to fall on Minister Wang."

Immediately after, he became mysterious and whispered: "It also has something to do with the Holy One."

This last sentence immediately stunned Chen Yinzhao.

Although the atmosphere of the Great Ming is open, it is not to the point of arranging the Emperor in front of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Since he said so, he probably really couldn't hide.

For a moment, he was in a dilemma.

The two were whispering here, and the page boy had long been impatient.

He endured his temper and reminded: "What are your backgrounds? And what is the reason for seeing my master?"

Li Zhi hurriedly leaned over.

While pointing at Chen Yinzhao and Li Chengming, he whispered.

Then he patted his chest and showed some kind of credential.

Only then did the page boy nod hesitantly: "You follow me up."

Li Zhi pulled the two nobles and followed behind to go upstairs.

Then the page boy first led the clerk into the room and let the three wait for a while, while he went in to report.

Seeing that they had to queue behind the small clerk, several people were somewhat dissatisfied.

At this time, Chen Yinzhao had time to ask.

He whispered: "Director Li might as well speak clearly."

Since Li Zhi had coaxed the two up and opened Wang Zhi's door, he no longer concealed it.

He said: "I'll make a long story short."

"Last month, the Holy One opened the Classics Mat."

"At the first Classics Mat, the lecturers took the opportunity to introduce the schools of classics, such as innate conscience, cultivation and verification, etc."

"A certain Classics Mat official happened to talk about the theory of good and evil."

"The Holy One was curious and asked, is human nature inherently good, inherently evil, or is it the 'no good, no evil' of the School of Mind?"

"Several lecturers held their own opinions, and the Holy One was displeased."

"It just so happened that the Korean country came to the capital to thank the grace, and was summoned by the Holy One, who talked about a wild man in the mountains of that country who had been abandoned since childhood and lived with nature."

"Then the Holy One was overjoyed, saying that if there is doubt, it should be verified to see if this innate person is good or evil."

Speaking of this, he swallowed his saliva and paused.

Li Chengming simply took advantage of this gap to interject: "Then what does this have to do with you?"

Chen Yinzhao also looked at Li Zhi, his eyes full of doubt.

Li Zhi shook his head: "Originally it had nothing to do with me, but some rotten people in Nanzhili heard about this and rushed to join in."

"I have a case in my hand, the culprit is a person with residual intelligence."

"When I left office, I was about to close the case and release the person, but I heard from below that the person had been taken away by this Minister Wang."

Combined with what he said before, the two could understand what it was for to take the person away.

Li Chengming asked suspiciously: "Residual intelligence and uncultivated are probably different."

Chen Yinzhao understood this matter on the side.

Different is different, but it is always an attitude of pleasing.

His focus was elsewhere: "Since Director Li is here to ask for someone, why bring the two of us along? I won't accompany you."

He was bluffed by the big banner just now, but now that he heard it, there was no matter of the Holy One at all, so he was ready to slip away.

Li Zhi hurriedly pulled him.

He was prepared.

He said slowly: "Don't hide it from the two, this matter really does require trouble."

"The Holy One's own handwriting urged me to get on the road. If I asked for the person and sent them back, wouldn't it be a waste of time to go back and forth, letting the Holy One wait for a long time?"

"So, I have to trouble the Embroidered Uniform Guard under the two of you to send them."

Chen Yinzhao frowned. What kind of background, why is there the Holy One's own handwriting urging to go to the capital?

At first, he thought it was a big figure, but later heard the official position and just thought it was a small role.

Now that he heard this, he was not sure again.

Li Chengming didn't think so much and directly refuted: "Letting the Holy One wait is your business, it can't be blamed on us."

That's the truth.

But Li Zhi grinned, pulled off the Confucian headscarf on his head, revealing a bald head.

He took out a piece of paper from the headscarf, on which were written the six words "Long admired the name, I look forward to the Marquis".

Li Zhi beckoned casually.

He said shamelessly: "The so-called bald are not afraid of those wearing crowns. This official will rely on you today."

Chen Yinzhao and Li Chengming's expressions changed.

Looking at each other, it was clear that they both saw the Emperor's private seal on it.

Such a person who is in the Holy Heart, regardless of official rank, should not be offended.

Immediately, he knew that this person could not be neglected.

After Li Zhi promised not to offend Minister Wang and only act as a witness, the two had no choice but to agree.

Li Chengming suddenly asked curiously: "Is Director Li a monk who returned to secular life?"

The so-called body, hair, and skin are received from parents; scholars would never treat their hair like this.

So he couldn't help but ask this question.

Li Zhi waved his hand and said indifferently: "One day my head was itchy and unbearable, and I was tired of combing it, so I simply removed my hair, leaving only my sideburns."

It can't be said to be free and easy, it can only be said to be rebellious.

Chen and Li looked at his bald head frequently, sighing in their hearts, what a mad scholar.

Li Chengming couldn't help but say: "The *Classic of Filial Piety* says, body, hair, and skin are received from parents..."

Li Zhi looked at him strangely: "Confucius is barking, and the scholars behind him are following suit. I can understand that. You are probably a noble, why are you learning it too?"

As soon as the words fell, the two were startled.

Chen Yinzhao subconsciously trembled and hurriedly looked around to see if anyone heard.

Seeing that the people around were far away, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He pulled Li Chengming, signaling him not to talk to this guy anymore.

He was scared; it was the first time he met such a crazy person.

If this word spreads, there is still room for debate among scholars, but as an outsider, if he is affected, he will be scolded bloody.

For a time, the three fell into silence.

After a while, the page boy led people out.

He said to the three: "My master invites you in."

The next day.

Early morning.

Chen Yinzhao and Li Chengming got up early, quietly left the official relay station, and headed to the wharf.

This kind of sneaky behavior was naturally to avoid Li Zhi.

The person said yesterday that he wouldn't offend anyone, but after seeing the Minister of Justice, he didn't see any politeness in his speech.

It made the two sit on pins and needles, and they had to pretend to be calm.

It was good that they followed Li Zhi's wishes, and finally sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard to help him send people back.

As a result, not only did he not remember their kindness, but he also entangled the two.

Sometimes he said he wanted to talk all night by candlelight, and sometimes he wanted to sleep together.

Sometimes he asked them about the Emperor, and sometimes he wanted to impart his classic insights, which made the two avoid him.

So they decided to leave early this morning to avoid being entangled again.

The two fled like refugees, walking fast, and arrived at the wharf.

At this time, the boat had already docked, and the two paid the silver and boarded the boat to Beizhili.

After picking a room on the upper floor, Chen Yinzhao instructed: "I don't know if Director Li and Minister Wang are on this boat. Let's go out less, so as not to run into them again."

Li Chengming nodded repeatedly.

He said with lingering fear: "No wonder my father said to go out and gain more experience. These people are really not simple."

Chen Yinzhao shook his head: "Even a small clerk surprised me, let alone other things. Let's participate less."

"In my opinion, there may be other clues in the matter of Li Zhi and Wang Zhi."

Li Chengming was stunned.

Surprised: "What do you mean?"

Chen Yinzhao's expression was strange: "Yesterday I sent someone to the Viceroy's Yamen to inquire. This Li Zhi is not just a mad scholar."

"When this person was twelve, he wrote an article criticizing Confucius, and even later repeatedly spoke rudely, saying that Confucius was just barking like a dog."

"After passing the provincial graduate exam, he successively served as the Instructor of Hui County in Henan and the Doctor of the Nanjing Imperial Academy, once promoting his rebellious theories."

"What gender equality, what absolute truth, and attacking colleagues, saying 'mouth talks about morality, but ambition is in stealing', 'not a cent for others'."

"He also spoke wildly about the Holy One, wantonly promoting 'Heaven establishes the monarch, originally for the people', and publicly saying 'the ultimate governance is silent, the ultimate teaching is wordless' to imply that the imperial court manages too much."

"Such a person, invited and recruited to the capital by the Holy One himself, do you think Wang Zhi has no thoughts?"

Li Chengming reacted immediately.

He showed a thoughtful look: "Cousin means, Minister Wang intends to handle Li Zhi and wants to explore his bottom line?"

"No wonder Li Zhi asked for people so smoothly; Wang Zhi was deliberately waiting for him."

Chen Yinzhao didn't directly say whether he agreed or not, but instead said irrelevantly: "Wang Zhi is also a Chu person."

Seeing that Li Chengming still didn't understand much, he didn't speak anymore.

Some things should be stopped at the point.

Wang Zhi is a Chu person, and he was promoted to the capital by the Chief Minister Zhang Juzheng.

And Li Zhi is a rebellious person, but he was invited by the Emperor himself.

It is hard not to make people think whether the Emperor's academic tendency has made the old pedants in the court somewhat vigilant, wanting to test the Emperor through Li Zhi to see what the Emperor really thinks.

It seems... a lot of things happened at the Emperor's Classics Mat.

The two put this matter aside and talked about some serious business.

Before long, they heard several shouts on the deck of the large boat.

It was the sound of sailors pulling ropes in unison.

Then, the large boat slowly left the shore.

After leaving the Jining South City Relay Station, the road ahead was fast.

Passing through 22 ferry crossings large and small, such as Dongping Anshan Ferry, Eastern Depot Prefecture Chongwu Ferry, Dezhou Ande Ferry, Cangzhou Zhuanhe Ferry, Tianjin Yang Qing Ferry, etc., and finally getting off the boat at Tongzhou, they arrived at the capital.

This is a fast boat, and most of the ferry crossings do not stop, so it will be faster.

It will take about ten days to reach the capital.

In this way, five or six days passed, and it was calm, and no other episodes occurred.

The two were no longer so cautious, occasionally going down from the guest room to the deck to get some air.

On the seventh day, the large boat docked at Jinghai Fengxin Ferry, and some passengers got on.

This is Jinghai County, belonging to Tianjin Guard, and the capital is already in sight.

At noon, Li Chengming went to find Chen Yinzhao to get off the boat and rest—he was seasick again.

Just after knocking on Chen Yinzhao's door, he found that this cousin was still lying on the bed and hadn't gotten up.

He walked over suspiciously, only to find that Chen Yinzhao was holding a small newspaper and reading it with fascination.

Li Chengming called out: "Cousin, let's go, let's get off the boat and get some good food."

Chen Yinzhao waved his hand: "Wait a moment, let me finish reading this."

Li Chengming was even more suspicious and asked curiously: "Cousin, what are you doing? Why are you reading a tabloid?"

Besides the *Di Bao*, there are also small newspapers among the people.

However, most of them are erotic content, which is unbearable to look at.

He suspected that this cousin had been out for too long and was suffocated.

Chen Yinzhao was absent-minded: "It's not a tabloid, it's a novel published on it."

Saying that, he threw the previous issues to Li Chengming, and he continued to read with relish.

Li Chengming took it subconsciously.

Only to see the four words "Riyue Morning News" written on it. The paper quality was not very good, average level, but the woodblock printing was very exquisite.

The handwriting was clearly from an old craftsman of many years.

The layout was also quite exquisite, with lace carved around it.

The date at the top, and the official seal of the Office of Transmission at the bottom right.

The most noteworthy thing was that it was all in plain language.

Li Chengming sighed, really rich, and not afraid of wasting paper.

He became curious immediately.

He simply closed the door, sat at the table, and picked up an issue to read.

The beginning was a big news: the former Chief of the Ceremonial Staff, Feng Bao, was raided by the runners of the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen, and 20,000 taels of silver were found.

Feng Bao fell, he naturally knew, and being raided at this time was a matter of course.

There was also some political content on it, changes in official positions, and promulgated policies, all in plain language.

However, he didn't see the novel in Chen Yinzhao's mouth.

He changed to the next issue.

The Cabinet ordered Shuntian Prefecture to raid again to check for omissions.

Shuntian Prefecture raided again, and sure enough, another 40,000 taels of silver were found.

Li Chengming clicked his tongue, another drama.

He continued to read.

This issue began to publish the novel in Chen Yinzhao's mouth.

Only to see the five big characters at the top: "Vernacular Journey to the West".

The author is anonymous, and then there are the owner of Huayang Cave, the scattered person Shi Rang, and the translator, the hermit Ban Lu.

Li Chengming was stunned. Isn't this the storytelling often heard in restaurants?

Is this a novel written according to this?

He saw the first chapter "The Spiritual Root is Nurtured and the Origin Flows Out, the Mind and Nature are Cultivated and the Great Dao is Born", tsk, it's also a disciple of the School of Mind.

Thinking of this, he calmed down and read slowly.

He was dismissive at first, but as he read, he became fascinated.

Reading that the four seas and thousands of mountains all bowed down, he couldn't help but praise.

Reading about the appointment of the Protector of the Horses, I couldn't help but feel disdain for the Heavenly Court; even in their amnesty, they lacked magnanimity.

Unknowingly, the two looked at this, and half a day passed.

By the time they came back to their senses, it was almost evening.

When Li Chengming came back to his senses, he realized he had finished reading.

He couldn't help but mutter to himself: "Only six chapters updated in two months!? It's simply unreasonable."

After saying that, Li Chengming put down the newspaper and rubbed his somewhat sore eyes.

Looking up, he saw Chen Yinzhao's expression of disappointment: "How can you be so wasteful, cousin? I called you to eat, but you didn't pay attention to me."

After saying that, his stomach rumbled.

He pointed to his stomach: "Look, you made me wait until I was extremely hungry."

"Let's go, let's go, get off the boat and get some food."

Li Chengming's mind was not on eating.

He couldn't help but ask: "What is the origin of these small newspapers? Why are they all in plain language, and novels are published on them? Don't you think it's a waste of paper?"

Of course, the implication was whose newspaper it was, and he wanted to tie this author to the mansion to update well.

Chen Yinzhao led him off the boat, his expression strange: "Didn't you see the seal of the Office of Transmission below?"

Li Chengming was stunned.

Then he reacted.

He just saw it, but forgot about it after reading it.

However... is this the Office of Transmission not only issuing the *Di Bao*, but also starting to issue small newspapers?

Li Chengming nodded: "I just saw that it was all plain language, somewhat vulgar, and forgot about this for a while."

The two got off the boat and went to find some food.

The sailor reminded the two that the boat would set sail at night, so they should return as soon as possible. The two arched their hands and thanked them.

After getting off the boat, Li Chengming said casually: "The Office of Transmission has the *Di Bao*, why make this small newspaper? And it's all in plain language. Don't you think it's insulting to literature?"

The scholars in his impression all wished they were obscure and pedantic, biting words and chewing sentences, wishing that everyone couldn't hear them, so that they could cite classics and explain them from a high position.

Chen Yinzhao was also not sure: "Perhaps... it's for the common people to see?"

If so, the problem would be big.

Whether the common people should have the right to read is a question that has no debate on the surface, but is very fatal in the dark.

The two chatted casually.

Suddenly, they saw the flow of people suddenly surging, crowding in one direction.

Many people exclaimed and ran forward.

The two were stunned.

Both raised their curiosity.

They hurriedly stepped forward and stopped someone: "This brother, what happened in front?"

The man was overjoyed. He didn't mind being pulled, but instead said with a fanatical expression: "Sea Sea Qingtian... Sea Sea Qingtian is rising again! Now he is going to the capital to meet the Holy One, and he is passing through here!"

After saying that, he threw off the two and ran forward wildly.

Before long, the street where the two were was empty.

Even the peddlers on the side of the street hurriedly closed their stalls and went to join the fun with their poles.

Li Chengming's expression was amazed: "Is this the ten thousand people emptying the alleys? Hai Rui actually has such prestige."

Those who can be called Sea Sea Qingtian know who it is without saying the name.

Chen Yinzhao shook his head.

It's fine to have prestige in the administration and the scholar forest, but how can the common people in Tianjin Guard know Hai Rui.

He handed the small newspaper he had folded just now to Li Chengming: "Don't just look at the novel."

Li Chengming took the small newspaper.

He glanced at his cousin before slowly unfolding it and looking at the content he had ignored just now.

He skipped the novel and immediately grasped the point.

This newspaper not only had the news of Hai Rui's rise, but also his past experiences, and even a part of the plain language of the *Zhi'an Shu* (Memorial on Peace and Order)!

He opened his mouth, unable to hide his astonishment: "Actually... actually using the late Emperor as a raft?"

Where did Hai Rui's clean name come from?

It was because the late Emperor ignored the world, and Hai Rui, with sincere feelings, submitted a *Zhi'an Shu* to remonstrate.

When persuading the late Emperor, he said things like "The world has not been straight for the Emperor for a long time" and "Jiajing, Jiajing, every family is clean".

Putting life and death aside, speaking directly to the Emperor, and stating the suffering of the people of the world, these actions naturally won the recognition of the people of the world.

Not to mention dismissing his wife and children and preparing his coffin at home, such things full of scholar-official feelings.

Whether it is the scholar forest or the common people, no one does not praise it.

Now that it is published in the small newspaper, it can instantly make a county admire and welcome it along the way.

Chen Yinzhao also couldn't help but exclaim in wonder: "A foreshadowing that spans a thousand miles."

"To do this, I'm afraid there is a huge burden on this Sea Sea Qingtian."

He pulled Li Chengming and went to join the fun in this direction.

But in his heart, he thought that this court was going to be lively. ===== CHAPTER 54 =====