In the office of Yan Song, the chief minister of the Wuyi Palace, only Yan Song and Zhao Wenhua were left. Zhao Wenhua took out a small jade jar from his arms. The jar was very delicate, carved into the image of the Nanji Xianweng, with white hair and a childlike face, a kind face, and a curved cane that was higher than his head. At the mouth of the jar was the longevity peach held in the hands of the Nanji Xianweng, sealed with a red silk cloth.
The Nan Ji Xian Weng is an old centenarian in ancient mythology and legends. He is a senior disciple of Yuan Shi Tian Zun, and is in charge of longevity. He is a symbol of longevity, and is therefore revered by people.
"Adoptive father, this is the Baihua wine that my hometown in Cicheng brewed this year. This is the first brew, and my nephew rushed over overnight to deliver it. I heard that the Baihua wine in your home was sold out, so I came here specially to honor you." Zhao Wenhua respectfully presented the small jar of Baihua wine to Yan Song with both hands.
Yan Song, who was sitting at the first seat, couldn't help but brighten his eyes when he heard this. He took the Baihua wine handed to him by Zhao Wenhua, looked at it for a moment with love, and then gently opened a gap in the silk cloth.
The seal was slightly opened, and bubbles began to appear in the Baihua wine in the jade jar. The mellow aroma of the wine wafted to the face, refreshing the heart.
The mellow fragrance enters the heart, like drinking celestial dew, making people intoxicated.
"Good wine. Wenhua, you are thoughtful."
Yan Song handed the silk seal back to Zhao Wenhua, praised him, and looked at him with a more intimate gaze.
When Zhao Wenhua saw this, a look of pride appeared on his face, as if it was a great honor for him to receive Yan Song's approval.
For a while.
Zhao Wenhua couldn't help but recall the autumn of more than 20 years ago when, as a newly-minted Jinshi in the eighth year of Jiajing and appointed as the head of the Ministry of Justice, he presented a jar of newly brewed Baihua wine to Yan Song, who was then the chief academician of the Imperial College, for the first time.
That day changed his destiny.
Zhao Wenhua came from a declining family south of Congma Bridge in Cixi County, Ningbo Prefecture. The family had fallen into poverty and was not very wealthy.
Cixi has a long history and is known as a "Confucian center", "cradle of Jinshi", "hometown of filial piety", and a place of flourishing literary style and outstanding people. From the Tang and Song Dynasties to the Ming Dynasty, Cixi County has produced 5 champions, 1 runner-up, 3 third place winners, 519 Jinshi, and more than 2,400 Juren, and is known as the "hometown of Jinshi".
However, because Zhao Wenhua's family fell into poverty, his path to study was not very smooth, and no one in his family was an official in the court.
It is easy to be an official if there are people in the court, but it is easy to be a small official if there are no people in the court.
Therefore, although he passed the imperial examination and was appointed as the head of the Ministry of Justice, he was marginalized and unwelcome in the ministry.
Well aware that it was easy to become an official if one had connections in the court, he returned to his hometown and generously used his family wealth and favors to obtain a jar of newly brewed Baihua wine, which he brought to the capital.
Baihua wine is the most famous specialty of Cicheng, and its production process is complicated and lengthy. When the spring breeze revives the grass and the grass tips sprout, pick the peony stamens, place them in a sunny and ventilated place to dry, and keep them; when the summer sun shines on the lotus pond, pick the petals and tender leaves of the lotus, place them in a shaded and ventilated place to dry, and keep them; when the dandelions are dancing in late autumn, pick the star-shaped silver osmanthus, place them in the wind to dry; when it snows in winter, pick the stamens of wintersweets, wait until the weather is clear, and dry them for storage. In addition, dozens of other stamens are collected in the four seasons. Nearly a hundred kinds of stamens and petals from the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter are collected and placed in a celadon jar, sprinkled with the wine yeast of a hundred-year-old daughter red, matched with the rootless water on rainy days, the frost layer on the day of frost, the snowflakes in winter, and the dew on bamboo leaves all year round, sealed and fermented, and 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 very valuable.
Zhao Wenhua's family fell into poverty, but he was lucky to pass the imperial examination and save a little. Just this jar of newly brewed Baihua wine cost Zhao Wenhua nearly half of his family's wealth, and he got it by asking for favors.
There is always a reward for hard work. After returning to the capital, Zhao Wenhua found an opportunity to present the Baihua wine he brought from his hometown to Yan Song, who was the chief academic officer of the Imperial College at the time. He described the wonders of the Baihua wine in detail, which won Yan Song's appreciation. The man then worshipped Yan Song as his adoptive father.
From this day on, Zhao Wenhua's life changed.
With the support of his adoptive father Yan Song, Zhao Wenhua's career was successful and he was soon appointed as Tongzhengshi. Although the position of Tongzhengshi was not of high rank, it was very important. All memorials submitted to Emperor Jiajing from all over the Ming Dynasty would pass through his hands. It was a place where all the heroes and heroines gathered.
Zhao Wenhua was capable and a good interpersonal figure. He made full use of his position to inform Yan Song of the movements of various factions in the court in a timely manner, allowing Yan Song to respond calmly and make correct decisions. Zhao Wenhua was also able to gradually enter the center of power.
Of course, now that he is the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, the Minister of Public Administration, and the core of the Yan Party, it is easy for him to get the Baihua wine from his hometown of Cicheng. However, because Baihua wine is not easy to brew and the output is not high, the amount of Baihua wine in Zhao Wenhua's hands is also limited.
In addition to the jade jar of Baihua wine presented to Yan Song today, Zhao Wenhua also has a jar of Baihua wine in his arms. However, the carving of the jade jar is more exquisite than the Nanji Xianweng jar in Yan Song's hand. It is a dragon-shaped jade jar with four handles and rings. There is also a famous Qingci couplet engraved on the jar: "The black tortoise of Luoshui first presented auspiciousness. The yin number is nine, the yang number is nine, and the number of nine is eighty-one. The number is connected to the Tao. The Tao is in harmony with the original Tianzun. One sincerity has feelings; the red phoenix of Qishan presents auspiciousness. The male sings six times, the female sings six times, and the sixty-six thirty-six sounds are heard in the sky. The Emperor Jiajing was born, and he has an endless life." The Baihua wine in the jade jar is also more mellow and nourishing. Zhao Wenhua has been carrying it close to his body...
As for why they were not presented to Yan Song together, we can only ask Zhao Wenhua himself...
"Wenhua, what do you think of Zhu Ping'an?" Yan Song put the Baihua wine in his hand into the drawer, closed his eyes for a moment, then slowly opened his eyes, glanced at Zhao Wenhua, and asked slowly.
"Zhu Ping'an is a smart man." Zhao Wenhua thought for a moment and replied.
"Oh, where's the cleverness?" Yan Song asked.
"When he came to visit my adoptive father just now, his words and actions showed his awe. He was trying to please my adoptive father." Zhao Wenhua said as he poured tea for Yan Song.
"Yeah." Yan Song narrowed his eyes slightly, then shook his head slightly.
"But it's a pity that Zhu Ping'an, while respecting and trying to please his adoptive father, has never made a clear stand. When he impeached Zhao Daying, he was also a little ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth..." Zhao Wenhua added upon seeing this.
"Young man, it's normal to have some courage." Yan Song stroked his beard and nodded slowly, "No hurry..."
Zhao Wenhua also nodded, "What godfather said is very true. As long as he is smart, there is no need to worry about him not knowing the current situation."
"What you just said about choosing a son-in-law from the list, does surprise me a little." Yan Song took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, looked at Zhao Wenhua and said slowly.
"Foster father, what do you think of the seven issues on the Japanese invasion in the southeast that I presented to Yan Song last time?" Zhao Wenhua did not directly answer Yan Song's question, but asked him what he thought of the draft memorial on the seven issues on the Japanese invasion in the southeast that he presented to Yan Song last time.
"You proposed seven things. The first one is to offer sacrifices to the sea god. Please send officials to Jiangyin and Changshu to offer sacrifices. Secondly, sue the officials to cover up the bones and reduce the taxation. Next, recruit more navy. Next, in Su, Song, Chang and Zhen, if the farmland of a man exceeds 100 acres, the tax will be increased, and the official farm tax will be collected in advance for three years. Next, recruit the rich to contribute money and labor voluntarily, and the work will be judged on merit. Next, send important ministers to supervise the army. Next, recruit the old party members of the foreign countries and the sea salt convicts, change them to the name of loyalty and righteousness, and let them spy on the bandits. These seven things are quite insightful, and they are rare good ideas in recent years. I will polish them with you, and you can present them to His Majesty. However, what does this have to do with what I asked just now?" Yan Song praised the seven things proposed by Zhao Wenhua, but was a little displeased with Zhao Wenhua's lack of answer.
"Thank you, foster father. What you don't know is that among the seven things I presented, three of them are the strategies that Zhu Ping'an answered in the provincial examination, 'Strategies to Control the Japanese'." Zhao Wenhua explained.
"oh... ... "
Upon hearing this, Yan Song opened his eyes with some surprise.