"Disown the relationship?"
Zhang Xiang finally raised his head and took a serious look at Shen Yi.
"Although Zhu Yuzhang and I are not actually masters and disciples, we do have the name of masters and disciples. He has treated me as a master these years. How can we distance ourselves from each other?"
Shen Yi stood in the study and did not answer directly. Instead, he glanced at Zhang Jian next to him, who showed an incredulous look.
Although he didn't speak, the meaning expressed in his eyes was already obvious.
I can’t hear it either?
Young Master Zhang San looked at Shen Yi and then at his grandfather.
Zhang Jing waved his hand and said nothing.
Zhang Jian then left the study with a grimace.
After Zhang Jian left, Shen Yi no longer had any scruples, stood up directly, and bowed his hands to Zhang Jing: "Old Prime Minister, Zhu Gui's matter was caused by a misunderstanding. This junior did not participate in Zhu Gui's performance at the emperor's place, but The matter has reached this point, and I have no way to prove it, so whatever the old prime minister thinks, it will be so."
"But this junior thinks that this is indeed an opportunity."
Shen Yi said in a deep voice: "The Prime Minister may know that Zhu Gui is corrupt in the local area, but he doesn't know how much he is corrupt."
Having said this, Shen Yi paused and continued: "Maybe the old Prime Minister also knows this, so I will not continue talking about this."
"What this junior wants to say is that even the common people in Guangzhou Prefecture, Guangdong Province, know that their governor is well-connected in the capital and has high-ranking prime ministers as his backers, so no one dares to offend this Zhu Bancheng resident."
Having said this, Shen Yi looked at Zhang Jing and asked: "Old Prime Minister, among the five prime ministers of Zhongshu now, which one is Zhu Gui's backer?"
Zhang Jing's face was expressionless and he didn't speak.
Shen Yi continued: "This junior has checked the resume of Zhu Futai. He was originally an official in Sichuan and worked as an inspector. In the sixth year of Hongde, he did not complete his term as an inspector, so he suddenly He was transferred to Guangdong as governor."
Shen Yi whispered: "If I remember correctly, in the sixth year of Hong De's reign, you just became an official."
This situation is obvious. Before Lao Zhang retired, in order to continue his influence, he tried his best to place his own people in some vacant positions.
Not only did he do this, but Yang Jingzong and Prime Minister Yang would also do this, and he would do it even more excessively.
Zhang Jing finally frowned: "What do you want to say?"
"Junior wants to say that you don't know how many things Zhu Gui has done outside in the name of you."
"I'm afraid you don't know whether it's a good thing or a bad thing now."
"What's even more terrible is..."
Shen Yi said helplessly: "You don't even know how many people like Zhu Gui are out there doing things like Zhu Gui."
Zhang Jing's already drooped eyelids twitched, and some expressions appeared on his wrinkled face. He looked at Shen Yi and said silently: "Young student, if you want to speak, just say it. There is no need to beat around the bush."
Master Shen took a deep breath and said, "Old Xiangguo, it's time for you to leave the court."
Today, it has been more than four years since Zhang Jing left the court.
To be precise, it has been five years since I was imprisoned in Hongde for eleven years after the New Year.
In the past five years, although the old man has retreated, his secret influence is still there, and he even wants to use his influence to do some more things.
For example, when he wrote a "letter of introduction" to Shen Yi, this was completely a political operation and not something a retired old man should do.
Shen Yi whispered: "Five years."
"Not to mention whether your bowl of tea has cooled down or not. Even if it has not, the current Zhang family may not be able to handle it. If this junior says something offending."
"Zhang Dang..."
Shen Yi gritted his teeth and said, "It no longer exists."
"Most of the people who still recognize the so-called "Zhang Dang" and your disciples and former officials are people like Zhu Gui, who are doing evil outside in your name."
Shen Yi's words were not very polite.
But he actually said it already.
The two old men are old-hearted. Although they have retreated, they can still do things in secret with their huge influence.
Because of this, the emperor still refuses to let them leave Jiankang.
Moreover, in five years, even the prime ministers of Zhongshu have changed a lot. The residual power of the two old men is still there. Not to mention what His Majesty the Emperor thinks in his heart, the five prime ministers of Zhongshu must have some feelings in their hearts. Not happy.
The old man was stunned for a long time, and then laughed at himself: "Let me tell you that you really said what you said, and you didn't leave any face for me."
He looked up at Shen Yi and asked, "Did His Majesty ask you to be this lobbyist?"
Shen Yi shook his head.
He looked back at the door and whispered: "Tell the old prime minister the truth."
"Because of Zhu Gui's matter, this junior has disobeyed the Holy Will, and the affairs of Guangzhou Mansion have not been completed because of this. Your Majesty is irritating me now."
"But this junior feels that one cannot accept being wronged in vain, so he came to see the old prime minister as soon as he came out of the palace, hoping to make things clear to him."
"Those words just now..."
Shen Yi spoke slowly: "Originally, I shouldn't have said anything, but I am a close friend of Senior Brother Yi An, so I talked more to Old Xiangguo."
】
Zhang Jing took a deep breath and said, "According to you, how can we sever ties with Zhu Gui and the others?"
"Submit a letter begging for the remains to return home..."
"After returning home, thank guests behind closed doors."
Shen Yi said in a low voice: "As long as you leave Jiankang, Zhang Dang will not only cease to exist in reality, but also in name. No one can blame the old prime minister who has returned to his home."
The old man sighed silently: "Last year, I wrote a letter begging for bones..."
"These days are different."
Shen Yi said very confidently: "Since your Majesty has moved Zhu Gui, the old prime minister will beg for his body again, and your Majesty will be 90% sure."
Zhang Jing was silent.
The old man sat in his seat and didn't speak for a long time. After a long time, he sighed: "Returning to my hometown in my old age has always been my long-cherished wish, but..."
Shen Yi looked calm and said, "It's just that you can't let go of Senior Brother Yi An."
The old man nodded silently.
"His temper is too outrageous. I always worry about him and want to show him the way for another two years..."
"Old Prime Minister."
Shen Yi reminded: "No prime minister has been paved the way to Zhongshu Province by others."
"You have done too much for Senior Brother Yi An. Have you ever asked him if he wants to be the Prime Minister of Taichang Temple in Taichang Temple?"
The old man was silent again and did not answer.
Shen Yi continued: "And after you return to your homeland, you can also use your letters to guide your senior brother, but you don't have to pave the way yourself."
Zhang Jian's official career in recent years was entirely arranged by Zhang Jing.
This is not pointing the way, but paving the way. It is the path that the old man uses his hidden power to directly arrange for his grandson.
But when he really returns home and retires, this implicit power will no longer exist. When he wants to ask for help, he can only repair a book and sell it to save his face.
Then it’s time to show the way, show Zhang Jian a way, and then let Zhang Jian walk on his own.
The wrinkled old Prime Minister nodded first, then he looked up at Shen Yi and asked, "Zi Heng really didn't impeach Zhu Gui?"
Shen Yi shook his head.
"Juniors do not do unjust things."
"I silently showed the report to the old prime minister, but he didn't believe it either."
"It seems to make sense..."
Old Xiangguo closed his eyes and exhaled: "If you really impeached Zhu Gui, Your Majesty would not invite me into the palace and specifically tell me about it."
The old man sighed, his tone full of disappointment.
"old…"
"I should have thought of it a long time ago."
Zhang Jing didn't speak for a long time. After a long time, he looked up at Shen Yi and asked, "Ziheng, you found out how much Zhu Gui was greedy?"
Shen Yi looked calm and whispered: "Zhu Gui is in his hometown, known as Bancheng. I sent people to check it out. The Zhu family is there and there are thousands of hectares of fertile land."
"According to thirty taels of silver per acre of land."
Shen Yi lowered his head and said, "The farm output alone is over ten million!"
One hectare of land is fifty acres. According to the market price, Zhu Futai's real estate is already around 15 million taels of silver.
Of course, this is theoretical data.
But in fact...whose official will buy your land at the market price?
The process of land annexation was full of violence, blood, and the blood and tears of poor people. There were many people in the local area who beat people to death for a few acres of land. Zhu Gui was a second-rank official, and his family was in the county, so he was naturally more unscrupulous.
The origin of these fields...
If 20% of it is bought at market price, Zhu Futai has a conscience.
But even if it is 20%, it is still millions of taels of income.
Zhu Gui has been an official for just over twenty years now. Based on his average annual income, Zhu Futai is also a good money maker.
Hearing this set of numbers, Zhang Jing's eyes twitched again.
The old man was silent for a long time and then uttered four words.
“Incredible…”
Hearing these four words, Shen Yi felt a little disapproving.
He understood very well that the old man in front of him was the ultimate veteran in the officialdom. He had probably seen more officials over the years than Shen Yi had ever seen. He might not know the specific number of Zhu Gui's corruptions, but he probably had a secret in his heart. approximately.
Moreover, Zhu Gui may not have shown filial piety to his teacher over the years.
The officialdom of this era is like this. There are too few people who are as innocent as water.
This old man is definitely not particularly clean.
However, such words must not be said openly. Shen Yi bowed his hands to the old man and said: "The Prime Minister has many things to deal with every day, so it is not surprising that he is deceived by traitors. The Prime Minister will consider the stakes slowly. I still have other matters. …”
"I'll take my leave now."
The old man nodded silently and said, "San'er."
Zhang Jian, who had been waiting in the yard outside, opened the door and bowed his head respectfully: "Uncle."
"Send Young Master Shen off for my eldest father."
Zhang Jian quickly lowered his head and led Shen Yi out of Zhang Jing's study.
When Shen Yi walked out of this study, he specifically looked back at this inconspicuous study.
Then he whispered silently in his mind.
"If Zhang Dang disappears..."
At this time, Shen Yi walked out of the yard, and the sun shone on his face, making him squint his eyes involuntarily.
"Then Yang Dang won't live for a few more days..."
