…
…
"Mr. Huang Ge, are you willing to ride in the same car with me? I'm driving south this time. I haven't seen Mr. Huang Ge for several months, and I miss him very much. If you and I are traveling in the same car, we can also take the opportunity to reminisce about old times. "
However, he said that after a group of "Yellow Party" officials came to Huang Yourong and were about to discuss countermeasures with Huang Yourong, Shen Changmao suddenly appeared and invited Huang Yourong.
Upon hearing Shen Changmao's invitation, Huang Yourong's expression became even more dejected.
Huang Yourong was not stupid, so he naturally guessed Shen Changmao's real purpose in inviting him to ride in the car.
It was nothing more than Shen Changmao trying to take advantage of the situation and planning to annex the "Yellow Party" forces through Huang Yourong.
After all, although Huang Yourong's downfall is imminent, his influence on the "Yellow Party" still exists. As long as he has Huang Yourong's support, Shen Changmao's move to incorporate the "Yellow Party" forces will naturally be much easier.
Of course, in order to get Huang Yourong's support, Shen Changmao also needs to give Huang Yourong certain benefits!
Therefore, Huang Yourong first looked around at the "Yellow Party" people around him, then hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded and said: "I really want to have a deep talk with Shen Fu. In that case, let's go in the same car. .”
After saying that, Huang Yourong ignored the "Yellow Party" members around him and walked towards Shen Changmao's bicycle frame first.
Seeing Huang Yourong's choice, Shen Changmao's eyes flashed with joy, but the expressions of Young Master Zhang Cheng, Minister of Rites Lin Wei and others changed drastically.
By now, it was very obvious that Emperor Deqing wanted to use Huang Yourong as a scapegoat, so Huang Yourong only had two choices left, either to fight to the death, fight hard, and try to turn things around; or to surrender and feel at ease. Accept your fate and find a way to arrange a way out for yourself.
If Huang Yourong chooses the former, then Huang Yourong should urgently discuss countermeasures with the "Yellow Party" officials at this time, express his determination to fight hard, and boost the morale of the "Yellow Party" people.
If Huang Yourong chooses the latter, then a deal with Shen Changmao would be the best option. After all, Shen Changmao is now a cabinet minister, enough to protect Huang Yourong in his old age, and Shen Changmao wants to annex the "Yellow Party". Huang Yourong was also qualified to bargain with Shen Changmao by virtue of his residual influence on the "Yellow Party". Strive for the greatest interests for yourself and the "Yellow Party" people.
In the end, Huang Yourong chose to ride in the same car with Shen Changmao and discuss it secretly. Apparently, he had completely lost the courage to resist Emperor Deqing and completely resigned to his fate!
In fact, this is a matter of course. Except for Zhou Shangjing, no one in the whole court can go against the will of Emperor Deqing! Emperor Deqing had decided to give up on Huang Yourong. Then Huang Yourong can only retire sadly!
Shen Changmao was naturally secretly happy about Huang Yourong's decision, while several of Huang Yourong's die-hard fans were vaguely disappointed.
Only the academician Huo Zhengyuan and the Minister of Industry Chen Dongxiang, who had already secretly taken refuge with Zhao Junchen, looked at each other with meaningful eyes!
*****
However, after Huang Yourong and Shen Changmao boarded the carriage, the carriage moved slowly along with Emperor Deqing's carriage, but Huang Yourong and Shen Changmao in the carriage looked at each other speechlessly for a long time.
Huang Yourong, who had always presented himself as a smiling tiger, now looked gloomy. Showing a frustrated look.
Shen Changmao, who had always had a cold and stern expression, now had a different look on his face, with the same expression of sadness. Silent.
After Shen Changmao became the Cabinet Assistant, he was indeed ambitious to annex the "Yellow Party" to enhance his own power. However, the two of them had been fighting or cooperating for so many years. Shen Changmao knew very well that his Compared with Huang Yourong in terms of ability and means, they were only on par with each other. Now that he saw Huang Yourong's fate, he couldn't help but feel a bit sad.
After the two were silent for a long time, Huang Yourong finally refused to waste any more time and took the initiative to speak: "I heard it. Mr. Shen Ge, you have become the Cabinet Assistant, but Mr. Huang is too busy taking care of himself now. I'm afraid I can't celebrate for you. .”
Shen Changmao shook his head and said: "I can become the Pavilion Elder. It seems like I am reaping the benefits, but in fact it is just the result of a temporary compromise between Your Majesty and Zhou Shangjing! The reason why Zhou Shangjing is Zhou Shangjing is not only Just because of the position of Cabinet Assistant, similarly, even if I become Cabinet Assistant, I may not be able to become the second Zhou Shangjing."
Huang Yourong was slightly stunned, and after looking at Shen Changmao seriously for a moment, he asked: "You can see clearly, but since you have such an awareness, why do you still want to take advantage of the situation and expand your power?"
Shen Changmao's expression was silent, he shook his head again and said: "It's one thing to see through it, but another thing to be able to do it! You can't help yourself in the temple! If I hadn't taken advantage of you today and annexed your power, Then in the future, others will take advantage of me and annex my power! Now that I have reached this point, do I have any other choice besides continuing to move forward? What's more, I am already used to many things. If I suddenly give up, I'm afraid It will make you feel uncomfortable all over.”
The conversation between the two seemed quite philosophical, but in fact it contained a deep feeling of helplessness.
Speaking of which, Shen Changmao and Huang Yourong are both cabinet ministers. They seem to have high power and positions. Compared with ordinary officials and civilians, they are naturally superior. But compared to Emperor Deqing and Zhou Shangjing, their existence is It's just a chess piece, and it might be abandoned at some point.
They had all tried their best to resist this situation, but the more they resisted, the more powerless they felt.
By now, Huang Yourong had given up resistance, but Shen Changmao still persisted.
Therefore, Shen Changmao still wanted to fight for power, ambitiously wanted to annex Huang Yourong's power, and wanted to become a real cabinet assistant... But his seemingly proactive attitude was actually just for self-protection.
After thinking about this, Huang Yourong sighed again.
On the other side, Shen Changmao finally brought up the topic and said: "Speaking of which, the four elders in the cabinet back then were Zhou Shangjing, Wen Guanliang, and you and me. But now, in just over a year, The situation has completely changed. Wen Guanliang has collapsed, you are about to collapse, and Zhou Shangjing has lost his position as assistant. On the contrary, I, who has always been the most low-key, have gained some advantages..."
When Shen Changmao said, "You're getting close now," Huang Yourong's body shook slightly, but in the end he didn't refute, and just listened quietly to Shen Changmao's words.
Shen Changmao continued: "It's really sad to recall the scene when Wen Guanliang lost power. Wen Guanliang was considered an old minister, but he was completely abandoned by His Majesty just because of some mistakes. He was allowed to let hundreds of people in the court go. The officials impeached him unscrupulously, and if Wen Guanliang had not reluctantly handed over most of his family property to His Majesty, I am afraid that he would not be able to retire in peace now."
Having said this, Shen Changmao's eyes flashed slightly and he asked again: "So, according to Mr. Huangge, how much better will your current situation be than Wen Guanhao's back then?"
Finally, Shen Changmao gave up the unnecessary emotion and spoke directly to the essence of the matter.
Huang Yourong was silent for a moment again. But he suddenly asked: "Then, how much can you protect me?"
Shen Changmao replied slowly: "As long as you are willing to transfer all your authority, connections, and influence to me, then I can at least guarantee that you can work and retire in peace. The wealth you have accumulated over the years can also be Save most of it!”
Huang Yourong nodded and said: "Shen Fu has a good eye and can see through what I want at a glance. However, all my disciples have followed me for many years, especially Lin Wei and Zhang Cheng. They are very fond of me." Loyal and dedicated, I am not a heartless person after all. But I cannot give up on them casually."
Shen Changmao promised with a serious expression: "As long as you can convince them to join me, as long as they have no dissent in the future, I will definitely treat them as one of my own and will never owe them any debt. Regarding this point, I will definitely treat them as one of my own." Mr. Huang Ge, please rest assured!"
Huang Yourong hesitated for a moment and then said: "Everyone can understand my current predicament, so my prestige among the factions has probably declined a lot, and I can no longer keep my word as before! So, I Although I will try my best to persuade them to surrender to you, I cannot guarantee that it will be successful."
Hearing Huang Yourong's hesitation, Shen Changmao didn't care, and just said: "Of course I know about this. Mr. Huang Ge, just do your best! In fact, I might as well tell you something, this southern tour During this period, His Majesty and Zhou Shangjing secretly fought, but I stood on Zhou Shangjing's side! And the conditions Zhou Shangjing proposed at the beginning, in addition to the position of cabinet minister, he also guaranteed that the 'Zhou Party' would not participate in the carving up of the Yellow River in the future. In the party's actions, apart from Zhao Junchen, I have no other competitors! So as long as Mr. Huang Ge can fully cooperate with you, others will naturally not be able to take advantage! "
"Oh? At that time, you had already planned to divide my power and influence?" After hearing Shen Changmao's explanation, Huang Yourong's face became even more gloomy, but he finally made up his mind and said: "Since In this way, Huang agrees to your conditions, and I hope Shen Fu will not break the contract in the future!"
"Of course not!"
In this way, Shen Changmao and Huang Yourong reached a secret agreement. Huang Yourong would actively cooperate with Shen Changmao's actions to annex the "Yellow Party" and try his best to persuade the "Yellow Party" officials to defect to Shen Changmao's family; and after Huang Yourong lost power , Shen Changmao will do his best to protect the safety of Huang Yourong's family and property, and ensure that he will not mistreat those "yellow party" people who have taken refuge in him.
After the agreement was reached, Huang Yourong only felt lost and bitter, but he was unwilling to face Shen Changmao anymore, so he took the initiative to say goodbye and left Shen Changmao's carriage.
After Shen Changmao watched Huang Yourong leave, he quickly calmed down the sadness in his heart and resumed his usual cold and stern expression.
Huang Yourong is about to collapse and will stay away from temple disputes from now on, so Shen Changmao doesn't mind revealing his true feelings to Huang Yourong.
However, after Huang Yourong left, Shen Changmao was still the cold and resolute Shen Changmao!
…
ps: Well, this is the second update today, and there are two more to come!
...To be continued.
