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It has to be said that the seventh prince Zhu Hejian's plan to infiltrate the "Prince. Party" was very successful. Since he participated in the internal decision-making of the "Prince. Party", he has easily won the trust and dependence of everyone in the "Prince. Party", and even some Many "Prince Party" officials had thoughts such as "It would be great if the seventh prince and the prince could exchange places."
The prince Shaobao Guo Tang is one of the representative figures.
Nowadays, although Zhu Hejian has temporarily withdrawn from the decision-making circle of the "Prince Party" due to various reasons, Guo Tang will still secretly contact Zhu Hejian from time to time and inform Zhu Hejian of all the situations within the "Prince Party".
Even in Guo Tang's view, his approach was entirely for the sake of the crown prince Zhu Heyu. After all, the talents and strategies of the seventh prince Zhu Hejian were of great benefit to the crown prince Zhu Heyu, and Zhu Heyu and Zhu Hejian were from the same mother. Brothers, they are very close to each other, and Zhu Hejian would not betray Zhu Heyu even if he thought about it.
Now, after hearing the news that Zhao Junchen was going to host a banquet for Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants, Zhu Hejian suggested that Guo Tang send Li Xiangru to join them to find out the information. Guo Tang, on the other hand, trusted Zhu Hejian as always and immediately acted according to the plan.
Li Xiangru is not only a distant relative of Guo Tang, but Li Xiangru's business scale is as large as it is now largely because of Guo Tang's relationship, so Li Xiangru naturally does not dare to disobey Guo Tang's orders.
Therefore, that night, through Guo Tang and Li Xiangru, Zhu Hejian also received detailed information about the banquet.
However, Zhu Hejian and Guo Tang were not in a subordinate relationship, and Li Xiangru would not personally report the news to Zhu Hejian. Therefore, the information Zhu Hejian received was only a secret letter sent by Guo Tang.
The secret letter recorded the details of Zhao Junchen's banquet with Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants. After Zhu Hejian received the secret letter, he read it carefully several times with a thoughtful look on his face.
After a long time, Zhu Hejian's expression flashed with helplessness, and he shook his head and said: "It's a pity. Although I have worked hard over the years, I have always been cautious and secretive. I dare not make any big moves for fear of causing trouble. Attention and suspicion, so the development of strength is slow, and few wealthy businessmen have taken refuge in themselves. Now I want to collect information on Zhao Junchen’s establishment of a joint shipping company, but I have to rely on Guo Tang’s hands. It is really inconvenient! Haha, who made me just a A frail and sick prince is naturally not popular with others."
While muttering to himself, Zhu Hejian's eyes were extremely cold.
Deep down in his heart, Zhu Hejian resented Zhu Heyu. Why was Zhu Heyu the crown prince and heir apparent, while he was just a sickly prince? Why can he have such brilliant intelligence and means, but he can only operate cautiously and secretly on thin ice? He needs to go through a lot of hardships and all kinds of planning before he can develop a little bit. However, Zhu Heyu is reckless, stubborn, brainless, but can Get everything easily?
However, in the blink of an eye, Zhu Hejian had suppressed the resentment in his heart.
Zhu Hejian knew very well that the resentment in his heart was just his motivation, but he must not indulge in it, otherwise it would only ruin things.
Then, Zhu Hejian's eyes turned to the secret letter in his hand again.
Although the contents of the secret letter were quite detailed, when Guo Tang wrote the secret letter, he obviously did not understand the key points and lacked organization and logic. There were many situations that needed attention, but Guo Tang did not describe them clearly at all, which made Zhu Hejian It is impossible to accurately grasp the current situation and the changes in the situation in the future.
Zhu Hejian hates this situation. Whenever this happens, Zhu Hejian will hate the limitations of his identity and the unfairness of God.
However, despite this, how brilliant is Zhu Hejian's intellectual vision? Although the information was not exhaustive, it was enough for Zhu Hejian to deduce many useful things.
"Thirty-seven wealthy Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants jointly formed a shipping company with the intention of monopolizing the shipping business of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal and the Yangtze River Waterway. They also used inducements to encourage Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants to report smuggling crimes, and they wanted to take the opportunity to control the smuggling merchants and relevant officials. The evidence of the crime...Zhao Junchen's ambition is indeed great, he is by no means a 'pure minister', and his methods are considered clever, but..."
While thinking secretly, Zhu Hejian's eyes stayed on the last page of the secret letter.
On this page, Guo Tang listed a list of the names and origins of the Anhui and Zhejiang merchants who were attending the banquet tonight.
Zhu Hejian's attention was focused on one of the names.
Zhang Cheng! ——This man was once the steward of Wang Shou, Minister of the Ministry of War. He is now a well-known wealthy businessman in Anhui and Zhejiang, all because of Wang Shou's support! And Wang Shou was a close confidant of Emperor Deqing!
Therefore, Emperor Deqing must be able to find out all Zhao Junchen's plans through Wang Shou and Zhang Cheng!
"It's just that Zhao Junchen's ambition to collect criminal evidence and control hundreds of officials is so obvious and unconcealed. I can understand it. How can my father not understand it? My father may have all kinds of reasons. Although his shortcomings are very extraordinary, how could he allow Zhao Junchen's power to continue to develop without restriction? In the whole dynasty, one Zhou Shangjing was enough, so how could his father watch helplessly? Another Zhou Shangjing appears?"
While thinking secretly, Zhu Hejian shook his head and thought: "With Zhao Junchen's mental perspective, he should have discovered long ago that his power development has gradually approached his father's bottom line. His current actions may seem brilliant, but In fact, it is a lack of consideration, which will only arouse suspicion and suppression from my father, and will lead to failure... Perhaps, I have always overestimated Zhao Junchen before..."
Thinking of this, a sneer appeared on Zhu Hejian's lips: "However, it is a good thing that Zhao Junchen is not as smart as expected, otherwise it would be really difficult to control!"
*
As Zhu Hejian expected, Emperor Deqing at this time also obtained detailed information about Zhao Junchen's banquet with Huizhe merchants through Wang Shou and Zhang Cheng.
Moreover, Emperor Deqing also discovered Zhao Junchen's ambition to use smuggling evidence to control hundreds of officials!
Therefore, after seeing the secret sent by Wang Shou, Emperor Deqing's expression was quite serious and his eyes were quite gloomy.
"I thought that after taking back the power of the West Factory and the internal funds from Zhao Junchen, I could balance the growth of Zhao Junchen's power, but I didn't expect that Zhao Junchen had another plan. He actually planned to collect evidence of the crimes of hundreds of officials. If he succeeded, Now, I’m afraid it will be difficult to suppress it anymore…”
Thinking of this, Emperor Deqing looked a little embarrassed: "However, Zhao Junchen's plan is also to combat smuggling, and I cannot sabotage it secretly, otherwise the current situation of business and taxation in the imperial court will continue to rot... Fortunately, I still have There are other ways to control Zhao Junchen’s power!”
While thinking deeply, Emperor Deqing turned his eyes and looked towards the lower right corner of the imperial case.
There, there was a thick pile of dense materials.
These secrets were all secretly presented to Emperor Deqing by Zuo Lanshan, Minister of Industry, during these days. Some of the contents in them aroused Emperor Deqing's interest.
To put it simply, among these secrets, Zuo Lanshan vaguely revealed his dissatisfaction with Zhao Junchen!
Presumably, Zuo Lanshan has more seniority than Zhao Junchen. He is now the second-in-command of the "Zhao Party", but in fact he is no different from other "Zhao Party" officials. He has no decision-making power or any influence. He had autonomy and could only act according to Zhao Junchen's instructions. Even the Ministry of Industry under him gradually only knew Zhao Junchen and not Zuo Lanshan. As a result, it was natural for Zuo Lanshan to be dissatisfied with Zhao Junchen.
Zuo Lanshan's dissatisfaction was an exploitable factor in the eyes of Emperor Deqing.
If used well, the "Zhao Party" may be easily divided. In this way, Zhao Junchen's power will naturally be under control!
"Speaking of which, Huang Yourong's position as Pavilion Elder is no longer worthy of his name, and it's time to replace him..."
Emperor Deqing murmured to himself.
…
…(To be continued.)
