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The reason why Shen Changmao's plan to annex the "Yellow Party" got off to a bad start was that Shen Changmao's appetite was so great that he actually wanted to kill all the three young masters Zhang Cheng, the Minister of Rites Lin Wei and the great scholar Huo Zhengyuan in one go. Winning him over to his side. :乐:文:Novel 3w.しwxs.com
However, it is easy to win over one person, but it is very difficult to win over three people at the same time. With people's hearts divided and concerns about each other, Shen Changmao's plan naturally ended in failure.
In fact, if Shen Changmao had lowered his attitude and invited the three of them to have a secret discussion, the effect would be very different. Even die-hard supporters of Huang Yourong like Zhang Cheng and Lin Wei would probably seriously consider Shen Changmao's proposal. , let alone Huo Zhengyuan and his ilk.
It's a pity that after Shen Changmao became the chief minister of the cabinet, his ambitions and appetites became bigger, but he was a little eager for success.
On the other hand, as the driving force behind Prince Zhu Heyu's rectification of commercial taxes, Huang Yourong's downfall and loss of power had long been expected by Zhao Junchen - when Huang Yourong was about to fall, Zhao Junchen naturally planned to take a share of the pie. Take the opportunity to carve up Huang Yourong's sphere of influence.
However, Zhao Junchen is just a minister. Unlike Shen Changmao, who is the chief minister of the cabinet, he naturally does not have such big ambitions and appetites.
According to Zhao Junchen's plan, among Huang Yourong's three generals, he would only win over one person, the bachelor Huo Zhengyuan!
Academician Huo Zhengyuan is Huang Yourong's confidant, wisdom, and chief adviser. However, among the "Yellow Party" officials, his status can only be ranked fourth. Except for Huang Yourong, whether it is Young Master Zhang Cheng, Or Lin Wei, the Minister of Rites, whose status is higher than him.
Although, Huo Zhengyuan's mind, means, city government, etc. are all superior to Zhang Cheng and Lin Wei. However, Lin Wei is Huang Yourong's in-laws, and Zhang Cheng is Huang Yourong's classmate, fellow student, and fellow student. The two of them have a closer relationship with Huang Yourong. Among the "yellow party", Huo Zhengyuan's status is naturally marginalized.
but. Huo Zhengyuan believes in the principle that "what is beautiful in the forest will be destroyed by the wind" and has always disliked being in the limelight. As long as his own interests can be guaranteed, Huo Zhengyuan will not care about these things.
But in fact, among the "Yellow Party", Huo Zhengyuan's importance is second only to Huang Yourong. This is not only because of Huo Zhengyuan's strategic talents, but also because Huo Zhengyuan is low-key and has a gentle personality. He has always been kind to others, unlike Lin Wei and Zhang Cheng, who are arrogant and difficult to deal with. Therefore, Huo Zhengyuan has high prestige and popularity among "yellow party" officials.
In other words, as long as Zhao Junchen can win over Huo Zhengyuan, there will be quite a few "yellow party" officials willing to follow Huo Zhengyuan and join Zhao Junchen. In this way, Zhao Junchen's plan to encroach on the "Yellow Party" will get twice the result with half the effort.
In addition, Huo Zhengyuan's own talents, methods and character are also valued by Zhao Junchen.
So, for Huo Zhengyuan. Zhao Junchen is bound to win - some time ago, Zhao Junchen and Huo Zhengyuan went to Huai'an to investigate the unjust case of Li Xin, the prefect of Huai'an, and later used this case to sell Huo Zhengyuan a favor. Let him please Emperor Deqing in order to win over Huo Zhengyuan and pave the way for the current bribery.
Compared with Shen Changmao's impromptu idea, Zhao Junchen has been planning for a long time!
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However, after Emperor Deqing announced his intention to return to Beijing, Zhao Junchen and the officials of the Ministry of Rites worked busy preparations for a whole day, and finally had everything ready.
At three quarters of the next morning, the southern patrol fleet left Suzhou on time and sailed north.
Because Prince Zhu Heyu broke the commercial tax trap. Different from his leisurely attitude during his southern tour, Emperor Deqing needed to rush back to the capital as soon as possible to stabilize the situation. Therefore, the Southern Patrol Fleet's return trip to Beijing is also very tight, and there will be no delays along the way.
During the southern tour. From Changzhou to Suzhou, the Southern Patrol Fleet spent nearly two days on the journey.
But on the way back, the situation was completely different. The Southern Patrol Fleet had been sailing at full speed since it set sail. After leaving Suzhou, it arrived in Changzhou in the evening.
After arriving in Changzhou, Emperor Deqing did not intend to stay, but after a short rest for one night, he would continue heading north back to Beijing.
And on this night, Zhao Junchen secretly met with Huo Zhengyuan.
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On the other side, after Huo Zhengyuan learned about Huang Yourong's crisis, he kept discussing with Lin Wei and Zhang Cheng how to reverse the situation.
It's a pity that Huang Yourong's downfall is the general trend. No matter how the three people discuss it, they can't find a feasible solution.
Regarding this, Lin Wei and Zhang Cheng felt anxious and desperate.
As for Huo Zhengyuan, he had more thoughts in his mind.
Unlike Lin Wei and Zhang Cheng, the relationship between Huo Zhengyuan and Huang Yourong is not so close and not so loyal. In a certain respect, the relationship between Huo Zhengyuan and Huang Yourong is not one of subordination, but more like cooperation - Huo Zhengyuan expressed to Huang Yourong He gave his own talents and abilities, while Huang Yourong fought for Huo Zhengyuan's interests and status. Both parties helped each other and benefited each other, that's all.
If Huang Yourong is still the elder of the pavilion, then Huo Zhengyuan is willing to continue to be loyal to Huang Yourong. However, since Huang Yourong's downfall is irreversible, Huo Zhengyuan naturally has thoughts such as "A gentleman does not stand behind a dangerous wall" and " Ideas like "good birds choose trees to roost in".
After all, Huo Zhengyuan's relationship with Huang Yourong was average and there was no need to be buried with Huang Yourong.
However, although Huo Zhengyuan had the idea of changing his family, Huo Zhengyuan was still undecided as to which force he should join.
Huo Zhengyuan is a smart man with a very clear vision and is very cautious about his future path choices.
Today, there are only five influential and powerful factions in the temple - the "Zhou Party" of the former chief minister Zhou Shangjing, the "Shen Party" of the current chief minister Shen Changmao, and the Hubu Party The "Zhao Party" of Shangshu Zhao Junchen, the "****** Party" of Prince Zhu Heyu, and the "Emperor Party" of Emperor Deqing.
For Huo Zhengyuan, the best choice is undoubtedly to join Emperor Deqing and become a member of the "Emperor Party" - unfortunately, Huo Zhengyuan is neither from a distinguished family nor has the ability to flatter a courtier. In addition, his " With a "Yellow Party" background, even if he defected to Emperor Deqing, he was destined not to be valued by Emperor Deqing and could only be gradually marginalized. Huo Zhengyuan was naturally reluctant to this.
Prince Zhu Heyu is the crown prince and the future emperor. It is also a good choice to seek refuge with Prince Zhu Heyu. Unfortunately, although Huo Zhengyuan is not a corrupt official, he is not a strict self-discipline. With Prince Zhu Heyu, His character may not be able to accept him, and Huo Zhengyuan himself cannot stand the "clear rules and precepts" of Prince Zhu Heyu.
Shen Changmao is the chief minister of the current cabinet. It can be said that one person is inferior to ten thousand people. It is when the spring breeze is proud that he also reveals his intention to win over Huo Zhengyuan. However, Huo Zhengyuan is not willing to join Shen Changmao for no other reason—— Shen Changmao's character is too headstrong, and he is destined to not get along with Huo Zhengyuan. In addition, Shen Changmao is now the chief minister of the cabinet. Although he is proud of his success, Shen Changmao's ability is not worthy of his current status at all. He may fail at some point. This is a dangerous factor, but Huo Zhengyuan is unwilling to do so. Standing under a dangerous wall.
Zhou Shangjing has been standing in the temple for decades. He has clever methods, long-term vision, and deep mind. Even Emperor Deqing can't easily do anything to him. He is the person that Huo Zhengyuan respects the most. From a certain point of view, joining Zhou Shangjing is also a good choice! It's a pity that in Huo Zhengyuan's eyes, Zhou Shangjing also belongs to the "dangerous wall" - Zhou Shangjing is too old and may quit the temple at some time. In addition, Emperor Deqing also hates Zhou Shangjing too much. It is definitely not the case that the emperor always thinks about him. a good thing.
As a result, Huo Zhengyuan had only one choice left, which was to seek refuge with Zhao Junchen.
However, in Huo Zhengyuan's eyes, taking refuge in Zhao Junchen was the lowest choice. The reason was very common - Zhao Junchen's qualifications were too junior, his foundation was too shallow, his status was insufficient, his reputation was too bad, and he was still a thorn in the side of Prince Zhu Heyu!
Although Huo Zhengyuan had a good impression of Zhao Junchen after getting along with him some time ago, and he recognized Zhao Junchen's vision, methods, and mentality, and even gained the favor of Emperor Deqing because of Zhao Junchen, these were not enough to influence Huo Zhengyuan's choice. .
In this way, after many analyses, Huo Zhengyuan found that he seemed to have many choices, but in fact, none of these choices suited him. He couldn't help but feel a little distressed, and felt that sometimes analyzing too thoroughly was not a good thing.
Just when Huo Zhengyuan was in distress, a servant suddenly reported to him that Zhao Junchen had secretly asked him to meet him at the Diaohe Tower in Changzhou.
After hearing the report, Huo Zhengyuan was slightly stunned. After thinking for a moment, Huo Zhengyuan stood up and said: "Speaking of which, I owed Mr. Zhao a favor some time ago, but I can't refuse him thousands of miles away. In this case, then... You might as well meet him.”
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…(To be continued.)
