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Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Xiao Wenxuan couldn't help but feel strange - with Zhao Junchen's current position of power, apart from a few serious crimes against the nine tribes, what else could Zhao Junchen not dare to do?
What's more, it's just a matter of recruiting sons-in-law and talents, expanding power and influence in the capital. In Xiao Wenxuan's eyes, it's just a trivial matter. Zhao Junchen would claim that he "dare not", which makes Xiao Wenxuan feel a little incredible.
So, Xiao Wenxuan asked: "Wenxuan is puzzled by your lord's profound meaning, so I would like to ask your lord to enlighten me."
Zhao Junchen sighed: "Wenxuan, what kind of person do you think I am in the eyes of His Majesty?"
Xiao Wenxuan was familiar with current affairs and naturally understood Emperor Deqing's views on Zhao Junchen, but precisely because of this, Xiao Wenxuan did not dare to say it clearly in front of Zhao Junchen.
Seeing Xiao Wenxuan's hesitant and apprehensive look, Zhao Junchen smiled softly and did not force Xiao Wenxuan. Instead, he calmly replied on behalf of Xiao Wenxuan: "Since you don't want to say it, let me say it myself...I'm afraid that under your Majesty's control, In their eyes, I am just a corrupt official who is good at managing money, a somewhat clever jester, and a treacherous minister who is somewhat ambitious but can be easily controlled!"
Zhao Junchen's summary did not contain much content, but it was also very complete, so Xiao Wenxuan did not object.
Of course, due to Zhao Junchen's face, Xiao Wenxuan did not nod in agreement.
Of course, the so-called "perfect content" is just Xiao Wenxuan's opinion. In fact, Zhao Junchen also concealed a lot. For example, Zhao Junchen was the scapegoat used by Emperor Deqing to divert people's resentment, and was used by the prince to vent people's resentment and build prestige after he ascended the throne. The targets of eradication are "fat pigs" that are fattened and then slaughtered to fill the national treasury... and so on. Zhao Junchen said nothing about these views.
In fact, there are not many people who can clearly think of these views, and there are only a few people in both the government and the public, although many people in the government and the public are not optimistic about Zhao Junchen's future prospects. But their reason was just that "since ancient times, most notorious corrupt officials like Zhao Junchen will not end well," but they never thought about the underlying reasons.
Of course, it is precisely because most people have never thought of these profound things that some people continue to seek refuge in Zhao Junchen with a sense of luck, thinking that Zhao Junchen has the protection of Emperor Deqing by relying on Emperor Deqing's favor. The future results may not necessarily be bad, so Zhao Junchen's power and influence will become greater and greater. However, these people who took refuge in Zhao Junchen did not know that Zhao Junchen's real crisis actually came from Emperor Deqing's "favor" ".
Including Xiao Wenxuan, now they only stay at such a low cognitive level. That's why Zhao Junchen avoided the important and concealed these really important things, but he was worried that Xiao Wenxuan would lose confidence after learning the truth of the matter, and then he would inevitably have the mentality of "a gentleman does not build a dangerous wall".
On the other side, after Zhao Junchen finished speaking, he sighed secretly in his heart when he saw Xiao Wenxuan nodding in agreement, but his expression remained calm. He continued: "This view is naturally a bit unbearable, but it is also my advantage. It is precisely because Your Majesty despises me that he allows me to do some random things, and it is precisely because Your Majesty thinks he can control me, That’s why I let some of my little moves go unchecked. If one day His Majesty no longer despises me, it means that he will start to suppress me. This is something I never want to see."
After a pause, Zhao Junchen continued: "Some time ago, I had a party battle with Mr. Huang Yourong. The battle seemed fierce. Both sides had winners and losers, but I won't hide it from you. In fact, with my current As long as the means are appropriate, it is not very difficult to severely damage Huang Yourong without losing any power. However, I still control my strength and maintain an unbeatable situation with Huang Yourong. In doing so, I will do nothing but In addition to wanting to use Huang Yourong's hands to eradicate some of the scum in my sect, it is also because I don't want His Majesty to see my true strength and methods now, and to make Your Majesty think that he can still easily control me, so that I can continue in a safe and sound manner. To manage your own power, you can even pretend to be pitiful and get a certain degree of support from His Majesty..."
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Xiao Wenxuan finally understood and said: "My lord, you are unwilling to recruit sons-in-law and talents in the capital to expand your power. Is it because you are worried that your majesty will find that your power is expanding too fast and gradually losing control, so you will take action to suppress it?"
Zhao Junchen nodded first and said: "This is one of them. In fact, since I annexed most of the power of my predecessor, Wen Guanliang, I have not continued to expand my power in the center of the capital. Instead, I have shifted my attention to the capital. In other local yamen, because under the current situation of the court, my power is very close to the limit of His Majesty's tolerance, so I am not willing to expand my power in a big way under His Majesty's nose. In recent times, I have been Mainly infiltration in secret.”
Then, Zhao Junchen shook his head again and said: "However, hiding one's strength is only one of the reasons. The more important thing is to hide one's own city and mind. In the eyes of your majesty, since I am just a little clever jester, a little Corrupt officials with financial management skills, then my most important task now is to play the role of jester and corrupt official... I am now very thirsty for talents. When recruiting talents, not only do I not ask about the origins and status of these talents, I even do not hesitate to use the Zhao family The woman betrothed to them is not only because I value talents, but also to gradually change the bad habits of my party and the Zhao family. However, jesters and corrupt officials should not be so far-sighted, nor should they value talents so much. Once the situation is known to Your Majesty, he will inevitably find that my image of a jester and corrupt official is just a disguise... Your Majesty has always thought very highly of himself. When the time comes, whether it is out of shame, anger or suspicion, he will not be interested in me. His attitude will completely change, and he will think that I have evil intentions and many plans. At that time, even I cannot think of what means His Majesty will use to deal with me, let alone dare to imagine."
Having said this, Zhao Junchen's expression became much more serious. He looked directly at Xiao Wenxuan and slowly concluded: "So, such a large-scale recruitment of sons-in-law and talents for the Zhao family can only be carried out in Nanzhili, which is far away from the center of the capital. Well There has always been a splendid culture and a large number of talents in all parts of South Zhili, no less than the capital. Therefore, I sent you to stay in Yangzhou and recruit talents for me and the Zhao family by being a son-in-law for the Zhao family. This is what I want for you. You attach great importance to it, so you must handle it seriously and don’t neglect it.”
Seeing Zhao Junchen's sincere expression, as if he had explained all his inner thoughts to Xiao Wenxuan in detail, Xiao Wenxuan couldn't help but be a little moved, and even had some emotions of dying for a confidant. At this time, seeing Zhao Junchen warned him again , hurriedly said solemnly: "Don't worry, sir! Wenxuan will never dare to show any neglect, he will do his best and will never let you down!"
In fact, although Zhao Junchen's words are not false, they are still evasive and somewhat untrue.
In fact, the most important reason why Zhao Junchen did not dare to recruit a son-in-law or a talented person in the capital was because of Zhou Shangjing's mistakes!
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…(To be continued)
