…
…
The various procedures for welcoming the emperor's arrival are quite complicated and detailed, so we won't mention them for now.
It only said that Emperor Deqing got off the dragon boat and stepped onto the dock of Xuzhou, still accompanied by his chief minister Zhou Shangjing and the elder Shen Changmao. A group of officials, led by Zhao Junchen, Su Changzhen, Wang Baoren, and Tang Zhen, lined up on both sides, kowtowed and shouted "Long Live the Mountain" together.
However, when Zhao Junchen turned around and looked around secretly, he found that both Wang Baoren and Tang Zhen were focusing most of their attention on Zhou Shangjing. It seemed that in their eyes, Zhou Shangjing was more important than Emperor Deqing. As for the elder Shen Changmao, he was completely ignored by Wang Baoren and Tang Zhen.
"There are no heroes, so Zhuzi becomes famous" - this is probably what Wang Baoren and Tang Zhen think of Shen Changmao.
Of course, their views on Zhao Junchen are probably no different.
After arriving in Xuzhou, Emperor Deqing gave some words of encouragement and warning to the officials, and then, amidst the cry of "Your Majesty, the Holy Ming", he boarded the imperial carriage and headed for the Xuzhou Palace.
However, before boarding the carriage, Emperor Deqing suddenly named Wang Baoren and Tang Zhen and asked them to accompany him on the way to the palace and reminisce in the carriage.
This kind of grace is so great that even Zhao Junchen and Chief Assistant Zhou Shangjing have never received such treatment. Naturally, they are envious of all officials. Wang Baoren and Tang Zhen also boarded the position in the envious eyes of all the officials. He drove a carriage and headed towards the palace with Emperor Deqing.
…
Standing aside with hands down. After watching the imperial carriage move slowly, Zhao Junchen walked up to Zhou Shangjing and said with a smile, "Master Chief Assistant. It's been a good journey."
After all, Zhou Shangjing is getting older, and his expression is inevitably a little tired after the hard work of driving and horseback riding. However, his eyes are still deep and wise, and his mind is sharp and alert enough. At least Zhou Shangjing knows very well that Zhao Junchen will never greet him for no reason.
then. Zhou Shangjing turned his head and looked at Zhao Junchen, then suddenly smiled. He invited: "I'm so lucky. I just talked and played chess with His Majesty along the way. Junchen, you have been in charge of all the affairs of the southern tour during this period, and you have been busy. I'm afraid you are more tired than me... ...Well, when I left the capital, I brought a bag of good tea, which is the finest Longjing. It is most effective for relieving fatigue and refreshing the mind. Why don't you, Junchen, travel with me in the car and take the opportunity to try my Dragon Well?"
Zhao Junchen also smiled and said: "The First Assistant invited me, how can I dare to refuse? It's a great honor."
After saying that, Zhao Junchen followed Zhou Shangjing onto the carriage prepared for Zhou Shangjing in Xuzhou.
Zhou Shangjing was the chief minister of the dynasty. One person is worth less than ten thousand people, so the carriage Xuzhou prepared for him is naturally spacious and comfortable. It can accommodate not only Zhou Shangjing and Zhao Junchen. And you can also place a tea set.
Zhou Shangjing's tea art is also extraordinary, and the tea he uses is the finest Longjing tea. Therefore, the tea he brews is not only green in color and pleasant in aroma, but also clear and mellow in the mouth, with a lingering fragrance in his teeth and cheeks, which lifts Zhao Junchen's spirit. I couldn't help but feel refreshed, and my limbs felt indescribably relaxed and happy.
After seeing Zhao Junchen drinking tea. Closing his eyes and reminiscing carefully, Zhou Shangjing smiled and said, "How?"
Zhao Junchen opened his eyes. He praised: "Master Shouxu's tea art is naturally excellent, and the tea is also good. It's a pity that I don't know the art of tea, so I can't tell what is so good. I just feel that after drinking it, my mouth will be fragrant and my body will be comfortable."
Zhou Shang nodded and said: "It's enough to be comfortable and refreshing. Although making tea is a science, it is only the knowledge of tea makers after all. If Junchen doesn't like this, he doesn't need to know too much, otherwise it's just arty. .”
Having said this, Zhou Shangjing sighed slightly and said: "As officials, we only need to understand the way to be an official. Unfortunately, many officials today do not understand this. They are either good at calligraphy or painting. , or are good at poetry, of course there are also people who are good at tea ceremony, they seem to have quite elegant taste, but they just don’t have much ability as officials..."
Shaking his head, Zhou Shangjing suddenly smiled again, looked at Zhao Junchen with admiration, and said: "What I admire most about you, Junchen, is that Junchen, you are dedicated, hard-working, not so vain, and can admit yourself frankly." Although your status has gradually increased these days, you are still focused on being an official and do not waste your energy and mind on useless things. I am afraid that it is precisely because of this that Junchen you have achieved today's achievements."
Zhao Junchen sighed: "There is nothing we can do about it. The younger generation is too stupid to be like the chief minister, who can achieve great achievements in officialdom, calligraphy, and Go. Even the art of tea is so advanced. If the younger generation can do it carefully, What a blessing! Unfortunately, even now, the juniors are still a little confused about the way to be an official. Although they are still diligent, they are just running around with their heads covered. "
Zhou Shangjing shook his head and smiled: "And Junchen, your biggest shortcoming is that you are too self-effacing and always hide your thoughts too deeply. On the contrary, you are a little too much and you are not good enough. I remember that you once talked about the way to be an official with the people around you, and you will be an official." Tao is divided into three stages, namely being a person, being an official, and doing things. It is said that people who want to be an official should first learn to be a person to protect themselves, then learn to be an official to seek power, and finally learn to do things to benefit the people of the country. .”
Speaking of this, Zhou Shangjing looked full of admiration and said: "After I heard what you said, Junchen, I admired you for a long time. In just a few words, I fully described the important points of being an official. Junchen, can you With such knowledge, why are you still banging around with your head covered? If you are banging around with your head covered, then most of the officials in the court can only be regarded as headless flies."
Hearing Zhou Shangjing's words, Zhao Junchen's expression changed slightly, and a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes.
Zhao Junchen did talk about the way of being an official, being an official, and doing things, but when he said these words, there was only one person around him, and that was Chu Jiayi.
However, Chu Jiayi was the spy placed by Prince Zhu Heyu next to Zhao Junchen, not the spy placed by Zhou Shangjing!
So, how did Zhou Shangjing know about these remarks?
There are only two explanations - either. Chu Jiayi is a double agent. In addition to working for Prince Zhu Heyu, she is also working for Zhou Shangjing; or maybe. A certain core figure in the princelings had been bribed and controlled by Zhou Shangjing, so after Chu Jiayi told Prince Zhu Heyu what Zhao Junchen said, it naturally spread to Zhou Shangjing's ears.
According to Zhao Junchen's inference, the second explanation is more likely. After all, Chu Jiayi is not a deep-seated person who is good at disguising, and Xichang's people are always watching her. If Chu Jiayi was still Zhou Shangjing's person, then Zhao Junchen should have discovered it long ago!
but. If there is a spy for Zhou Shangjing among the core figures of the prince's party, then who would this person be? Is the new cabinet veteran Cheng Yuandao? Lu Chunxiao, the censor of Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate? The prince's young master Guo Tang? Bao Wenjie, the Minister of Rites? It seems possible for everyone, but not everyone has enough doubt.
but. For Zhao Junchen, this is not the most important thing.
The really important thing is that if Zhao Junchen's guess is true, then Zhou Shangjing must have known about the "Commercial Taxation Reform Notes" that Zhao Junchen handed over to Prince Zhu Heyu through Chu Jiayi. From Zhou Shangjing's perspective, he also You must be able to see that this is a trap dug by Zhao Junchen for Prince Zhu Heyu!
This also means that as long as Zhou Shangjing is willing, he can stop Zhao Junchen's plan at any time!
However. This plan is crucial to Zhao Junchen's future! And many of Zhao Junchen's other plans were created based on this plan, if this plan was interrupted by Zhou Shangjing. This means that most of Zhao Junchen's plans need to be re-planned, and all Zhao Junchen's efforts and efforts these days will be wasted!
Therefore, Zhou Shangjing's seemingly casual words made Zhao Junchen taste a threat!
Zhao Junchen was not sure about this threat. But it does exist.
So, Zhao Junchen pondered for a moment. Suddenly he said: "I finally understand, Lord Chief Assistant, why you have been able to stand in the court for more than thirty years without falling. Over the years, the court has been ups and downs, but Lord Chief Assistant, your power has become more stable... Junior's There are some small thoughts, but I can’t hide them from the Chief Assistant at all.”
Zhou Shangjing still looked indifferent. After brewing a cup of tea for Zhao Junchen again, he smiled softly and said: "After you have been an official for a long time, you will always have more disciples and former officials, and you will always be better informed. When dealing with things, you will always have more information." In the meantime, I feel a little more comfortable."
With that said, Zhou Shangjing raised his head and asked Zhao Junchen: "Junchen took the initiative to talk to me today. Do you want to tell me that Wang Baoren and Tang Zhen still care about me a lot in their words, and they seem to have no idea what happened back then." If your hatred is still lingering, you might cause trouble for me next?"
Zhao Junchen nodded, feeling that there was nothing to hide, and replied: "The chief assistant's guess is good, that's exactly what happened."
Zhou Shangjing asked again: "However, as far as I know, both Wang Baoren and Tang Zhen are profound people in the city. Even if they have such thoughts, they will never show it. I am afraid that they suddenly mentioned me because Junchen, you brought up the topic, right?"
Zhao Junchen was silent for a moment, but still replied: "Not bad."
Zhou Shangjing sighed with admiration, and then said: "In this way, Junchen, you can add fuel to the flames, arouse the impulse of me, Wang Baoren, and Tang Zhen, and ultimately muddy the waters of the Southern Tour, while Junchen, you can hide behind and the fishermen get it." It is profitable, and it can attract His Majesty’s attention so that His Majesty can’t take care of things in the capital? Hehe, what a good plan, what a good plan!”
Zhao Junchen shook his head and smiled bitterly: "As expected, this junior is undoubtedly bringing shame on himself by playing tricks in front of the chief minister."
Zhou Shangjing just looked at Zhao Junchen quietly without denying it.
Zhao Junchen was not angry about this. It was indeed Zhao Junchen who had simplified things this time, and he deserved to be ridiculed by Zhou Shangjing.
However, Zhao Junchen also has his own trump card for Zhou Shangjing. Since Zhou Shangjing chose to show off his cards at this time, Zhao Junchen will no longer hide it.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen suddenly changed from his previous passivity and asked: "Speaking of which, this junior also has something I would like to ask Mr. Chief Assistant."
Zhou Shangjing seemed to have guessed what Zhao Junchen wanted to ask, a wry smile appeared on his face, and said: "You can bear to ask now, you are more patient than I expected, you can ask, if you can answer, I will I won’t hide it deliberately.”
…
…(To be continued)
