"This old fox..."
Master Pardon and his good granddaughter Qiqi, without the majesty of the Duke, sat on the thick cashmere blanket and played, and they and Jia Cong kept talking about the Li family's affairs.
As soon as he mentioned that Zhou Jiong cooperated with him in singing this play, Mr. Pardon started to complain.
"Those in the cabinet all have 18 evil intentions. I originally wanted to find an excuse to pull Li Henian down so that I could vent my anger on you and Girl Lin, but I didn't expect to let this old fox It was taken advantage of.”
Speaking of this, Master Pardon solemnly told Jia Cong: "Don't be deceived by this old fox. It is true that he despises Li Henian, the son-in-law, but it is also true that he cares about his daughter and grandson. Believe it or not. I don’t believe that in a few days he will beg Your Majesty to demote Li Henian out of the capital, or even dismiss him from office to help his daughter and her family get out of this muddy water."
How dare Jia Cong not believe it? Not to mention the few bachelors in the cabinet, who can sit in the six ministries and nine ministers, who doesn't have eighteen evil intentions?
It is estimated that everyone knew clearly what Zhou Jiong did, but they didn't say anything about it.
"It's his own fault. Back then, he was greedy for your grandfather to snatch back a good son-in-law. He wanted to imitate him, but he didn't expect that the person who snatched him away was a white-eyed wolf, hehe~"
The pardoned master who was gloating about the misfortune told Jia Cong about the ancient times. It turned out that Mr. Zhou was also harmed by his son-in-law.
In the thirty-sixth year of Zhaowu's reign, there were many talented people in the Jiachen Branch. Not to mention Lin Ruhai, the Tanhualang who was snatched back to the Rongguo Mansion by Mr. Daishan, basically all the Jinshi who were on the list that year had achieved great fame in the officialdom.
Grand Prime Minister Zhou just picked Li Henian, the second-class Chuanlu, the fourth in the country, but he turned out to be a fool with a head full of selfish ideas.
It doesn't matter if he is stupid. With him as the father-in-law, even if he doesn't have much ability, he can get into the third rank of official.
But this idiot is still a brainless white-eyed wolf...
After he left the Hanlin Academy, Zhou Jiong made great efforts to send him to Zhejiang to serve as a fellow magistrate somewhere, thinking that he could be transferred back to Beijing after serving the previous term.
It happened that the chaos of the succession in the last years of Zhaowu happened. At that time, Jia Daishan felt that the whirlpool of the capital was not suitable for Lin Ruhai, a newcomer in officialdom, so he discussed with him to let him stay in Jiangnan to avoid the strife of the capital.
At that time, there was a vacancy in Yangzhou's salt inspection censorship. The old sage learned that his half-brother Daishan had asked for an official position for his good son-in-law, so he ordered Lin Ruhai to be appointed to Yangzhou.
At that time, Li Henian was jealous when he saw that Lin Ruhai, who was in the same class, got the big job of Salt Patrol Censor, and immediately wrote a letter to his father-in-law.
But Zhou Jiong knew that Lin Ruhai was appointed to Yangzhou because the Gusu Lin family was not short of money and Lin Ruhai was capable enough. The old sage specially asked Lin Ruhai to take care of the salt administration.
As far as Li Henian's performance in office was concerned, he was not even a top or middle schooler. How could he get a good position?
However, Li Henian was stupid. After all, he chose his own son-in-law. He had to make plans for him with tears in his eyes, so he considered letting him serve as the magistrate somewhere in Huguang.
Unexpectedly, Li Henian's vision, ability, and character did not match his ambition. He turned out to be a master with high vision and low hand, and did not look down on Zhizhou Que at all.
He even thought that his father-in-law had always compared him with Lin Ruhai and disliked him everywhere. He felt that letting him take the post of governor of Huguang was simply looking down on him...
This person must not get into trouble.
Li Henian was so sharp that he was immediately taken advantage of by the Zhejiang Party.
When Zhou Jiong learned that his son-in-law had taken the path of Chu Bangzheng, the former assistant cabinet scholar, and found a vacancy as a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, he almost choked to death from a mouthful of old blood in his chest.
At that time, he was also the auxiliary minister of the cabinet, the prince Shaobao, the bachelor of Dongge, and one of the four prime ministers.
Thinking about the scene at that time, when he went to court, the ministers in the court asked him with half-smiling smiles, why did the elder's son-in-law fall in love with Prime Minister Chu and was promoted to the Hanlin Academy by Prime Minister Chu...
Damn Charity, this bitch is stomping on the ground with the face of his old Zhou family!
Looking at Lin Ruhai, the old father-in-law said that he would stay outside the capital and did not even mention a word about joining the capital as an official. Where is his son-in-law Zhou Jiong? Carrying the money box, I went to Chu Bangzheng's door to ask for the so-called access.
"So, Zhou Jiong doesn't care about the life and death of Li Henian's family. He suppresses Li Henian's promotion. Firstly, it shows others that Zhou Jiong has a rift with the Zhejiang Party and is not an alliance. Secondly, he is really afraid of being deceived by white-eyed wolves. Well, not everyone is an uncle..."
Jia Cong listened to the complete story of Zhou Jiong and Li Henian, which was really an eye-opener.
Unexpectedly, Li Henian and his father-in-law, my uncle, were both Jinshi in the same discipline, and they were ranked fourth and second best in the country.
With such a high starting point and a bachelor as a mountain, as long as Mr. Zhou's arrangements are followed, his official position at this time will definitely not be much lower than that of Father Lin.
To put it bluntly, he is too eager for quick success and quick gain, and he does not repent after being taken advantage of. He only thinks that he can go to heaven and stand side by side with the sun. In fact, his character, ability and character are not very good.
"Mr. Zhou Ge's move is very powerful. Not only can he completely cut off his own weakness, but he also makes a lot of misfortune. In the end, he can gain a good reputation for being selfless. Killing three birds with one stone is really high!"
Master Pardon carefully wiped his granddaughter's hands and face, and picked up the fat, white baby.
He looked at his son who was still sighing and said: "So, don't think that you are the only smart person in the world. Everyone who can sit in the cabinet is an old fox who has been practicing for thousands of years. Just listen to Zhou Jiong's words, he We have our own calculations, we have our own plans, we are not from the same group, we just need to stand together on big issues of right and wrong."
After that, he ignored Jia Cong, who was in deep thought, and went out to show off the baby again with his granddaughter in his arms.
Jia Cong, who had been taught a lesson, meditated for a long time alone in the study, and finally laughed at himself: "Who in this world can give up fame and wealth? Even Mr. Wei wants a posthumous name, let alone others. Zhou Jiong gave his daughter We have given up on our grandson, so what does it matter if we are just wasting a few words of spittle and waste. Let us just keep talking. Leave the professional matters to the professionals. This matter must be left to Mr. Bao."
…
Bang~
Jia Cong rushed straight to Baoyu's courtyard. As soon as he stepped into the gate of the small courtyard, he bumped into someone.
"Third Master, please forgive me. It's all my fault that I don't have eyesight when I walk..."
Uh~
"Xiren, what are you doing? I have no intention of doing anything to you..."
Jia Cong looked at the attacker who was kneeling down and begging for mercy speechlessly. Ever since he got mad and asked the old lady to deal with the attacker, all the maids in Baoyu Courtyard were completely afraid of him.
Among them, the attacker was the most serious. Every time Jia Cong came to look for Baoyu, the attacker would hide as far away as he could.
As he spoke, Jia Cong sniffed and lowered his head. At Xiren's feet was a broken ceramic pot. The residue was still steaming, and the smell of the soup had filled the surrounding area.
"Who is drinking the medicine? Or is it that Brother Bao was beaten by his second uncle?"
Xiren lay on the ground tremblingly, hesitating and making no sound for a long time.
Jia Cong said impatiently: "Stop lying down and get up and answer the question."
"Yes~"
Xiren stood up tremblingly, still hunched over, standing aside timidly and at a loss, not even daring to raise his head.
Jia Cong asked again: "Someone is sick in the yard? Why are you making the medicine?"
Xiren was Baoyu's personal maid. Even though the old lady demoted her from first-class maid to second-class maid, Baoyu was used to Xiren's service and never thought of changing her.
Therefore, if it wasn't Baoyu who was drinking the jar of medicine that Xiren was drinking, it was herself...
"Back to Third Master, it's me myself..."
Um?
"Go and have a good rest if you are sick. By the way, where is Brother Bao?"
Jia Cong really didn't think about tormenting Xi Ren, but instead comforted him with a warm voice.
However, Xiren was still trembling, and it took him a long time to squeeze out a few words: "After the second master returned home, he was called to the study by the master, and he has not returned yet."
Didn't this silly boy tell you to avoid the second master...
"okay……"
Jia Cong took out a small piece of broken silver from his purse and stuffed it into Xi Ren's hand.
"I've spilled your medicine. Ask the doctor to give you a few more. By the way, don't hang out in front of Brother Bao until you're cured. If you get sick, the old lady won't let you off lightly."
When Xi Ren came to his senses and raised his head in surprise, he didn't even see Jia Cong's shadow. She just stared at the broken silver in her hand, and the uneasiness in her heart calmed down a little.
Ahem~
The violent coughing made Xiren unable to straighten her waist. With difficulty, she simply collected the fragments and dregs of the medicine jar on the ground, and then planned to get another medicine.
But she only took two steps when she felt dizzy and fell to the ground...
…
Before Jia Congren even approached the study, he heard a familiar formula...ahem, a familiar scolding voice.
But there is something different now. Master Bao is hard~
"Father, my son is not fooling around!"
Jia Cong stopped the maid who wanted to report, and lay outside the door to listen carefully to Master Bao's inspiring words.
Just listen to Baoyu's precise words: "It is often said in the world that princes who break the law are as guilty as the common people. But in the eyes of his son, the laws of the country are more lenient than the officials and gentry, but harsher than the common people. For example, today's Li Baokun... and his son, You can atone for your sins by paying only silver. If things go on like this, the stench of copper will fill the court, and the law will no longer have any dignity. Therefore, my son decided to write to Your Majesty, admonishing you to abolish the system of atonement with silver!"
"You... no one in the court said anything. You are a young, yellow-mouthed child. Why do you show off like this? Do you have a big face?"
Pfft~
"Ahem~Second uncle, my nephew really can't hold it back."
Jia Cong pushed the door open and went in. He only glanced in the direction of Baoyu, then suppressed his laughter and did not dare to look there any further.
It’s really the second uncle’s words. Second brother Bao’s face is like the moon of Mid-Autumn Festival, and his color is like the flowers of spring dawn...
The arrival of Jia Cong seemed to have found a savior for Mr. Zheng. He pulled him over and said eagerly: "Brother Cong is so nice to come. Please help me persuade this evil obstacle. He doesn't understand the criminal system at all." Sensitivity…”
"Isn't it just that the saint was deceived into promulgating this decree in order to ease the financial constraints of the imperial court. My second uncle was overly worried. Now the money in the bank of the Ministry of Revenue is almost exhausted. Your Majesty is also thinking about reforming the judiciary. Bao My second brother’s proposal to abolish the criminal silver system will definitely leave an excellent impression on His Majesty.”
As soon as the Yizuiyin system was first proposed, it was immediately welcomed by corrupt officials and also attracted doubts from some direct ministers.
It should be said that the implementation of the crime-discussing silver system bulged up the wallet of the saint, and to a certain extent solved the financial crisis of the Zhaowu Dynasty caused by continuous conquests.
But at the same time, it also accelerated the intensity and speed of corrupt officials in amassing money, and deepened the speed of corruption in the court.
If the old man had not chosen the cold-faced prince and the stubborn fourth son to inherit the throne, Daxia might have turned from prosperity to decline, and eventually fell into the disaster of the country caused by corruption.
Jia Cong first comforted Mr. Zheng, told him about today's meeting with Zhou Jiong in the teahouse, and the instructions given to him by Mr. Pardon. Finally, he analyzed in detail the gains and losses of Baoyu's admonition to abolish the criminal silver system.
First of all, the abolition of the criminal silver system will definitely offend many officials in the court, so Baoyu who proposed this proposal will definitely be hated by others.
However, this advice will further enhance Baoyu's reputation in the Shilin court, and it is not impossible to win the reputation of a strong commander, direct minister, and remonstrator.
"Brother Bao's temperament is really not suitable for hanging out in the court. The newspaper office is a good place with status and reputation, but we can't be lazy yet."
In order to persuade the political master, Jia Cong had to take advantage of his heartache.
"Second uncle should also know that Brother Bao can manage the newspaper office because His Majesty has given our family grace for the sake of the empress in the palace. Although Brother Bao is capable, the most important thing in the court is good People of literature, if one day Brother Bao is compared with others, the capable ones will be superior and the mediocre ones will be inferior. This is a law for thousands of years..."
Although Mr. Zheng kept yelling at Baoyu, he was his only remaining legitimate son, and he cared about Baoyu no less than the old lady.
When he thought that something might happen to his son's future, Mr. Zheng immediately forgot about the golden mean. He squeezed Jia Cong's arm tightly and asked what to do.
"Huh? Don't be anxious, don't be anxious. Didn't my nephew just say that we are going to create a character for Brother Bao now... Persona means... how should I say it?"
Jia Cong scratched his head and grinned: "A man who dares to criticize the imperial decree, dare to speak out and remonstrate, and who is willing to confront the entire government and gentry group for the sake of the people. I don't think His Majesty is willing to let such a direct minister retire from the Information Department." Bar."
Snapped!
Mr. Zheng, who had always been steady, was confused by Jia Cong's deception. In an instant, he slapped his thigh hard.
"Yes, Your Majesty definitely needs such a direct minister to stay in the court... Brother Cong, you are right. This direct minister is Baoyu's talisman. With such a reputation, no one can touch Baoyu in the news. Si’s status!”
Jia Cong winked at the stunned Baoyu and continued his deception.
"So, what the second uncle has to do now is to open the eyes of the second brother Bao. There is one thing that the second uncle and the second brother Bao must do in advance. We just used the money to absolve the second brother Bao from Shuntian Mansion. What I will do now is to take the jade and the big stick..."
Monthly ticket recommendation ticket
Thanks to SCP049 for the tip!
This is last night's update, I will add another chapter tomorrow morning.
It looked like I had the flu. I felt dizzy, so I took some medicine and went back to sleep.
(End of chapter)
