Jiang Qian has been following Zhao Junchen for the longest time, and he has always been loyal and diligent in doing things. Out of the consideration of "buying a horse bone with a thousand gold", and in order to show his good appearance and attract more people to join him, Zhao Junchen must also Jiang Qian must be given more preferential treatment and support.
Thinking of this, Zhao Junchen raised his head and looked at Jiang Qian, and then asked in a seemingly casual tone: "Speaking of which, Jiang Qian, you have been in the Ministry of Household Affairs for six or seven years. With your talents, what else can you do?" Letting you serve as a mere doctor would be a bit humiliating. Have you ever thought about changing your position?"
Jiang Qian has always been alert. After hearing Zhao Junchen's inquiry, he immediately understood what Zhao Junchen meant.
Obviously, Zhao Junchen wants to promote himself.
A trace of uncontrollable ecstasy flashed across Jiang Qian's face at first, but just a moment later, Jiang Qian changed into a look of reluctance, pretending to decline: "I still want to My lord, you have always trusted me and entrusted me with important tasks. I feel comfortable working under my lord. What’s more, my lord is now setting up a joint shipping company. It is the time to employ people. I am really unwilling to leave at this time. "Household"
While speaking, Jiang Qian secretly raised his eyes to look at Zhao Junchen, his eyes vaguely nervous.
In fact, Jiang Qian also knew that there was no future for him to continue to stay in the Ministry of Revenue. A middle-level official in the Six Ministries like him was quite embarrassed to be neither above nor below. Although his status in the Ministry of Revenue was second only to the Minister Zhao Junchen and the Minister Zhan Shanchang is trusted by Zhao Junchen, but in the end he is just a fifth-grade doctor. He is not as boundless as Zhao Junchen, and he has unparalleled financial management skills. Even if he has outstanding achievements, he will never be able to directly After being promoted to the position of minister, if Jiang Qian continues to stay in the household department, I am afraid that he will never be able to advance further in his official position. He can only go a step further by practicing at the local level and accumulating reputation and achievements.
At this time, although Jiang Qian refused, it was just to show his loyalty to Zhao Junchen. He still wanted to change his position in his heart. Therefore, although he expressed his refusal, he was quite worried that Zhao Junchen would believe it and then He continued to stay in the household department.
Naturally, Jiang Qian's changes in expression and true thoughts cannot be hidden from Zhao Junchen's eyes.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen did not take it seriously, but just smiled and shook his head and said: "You are not young now. If I continue to keep you in the household department, it will also delay your future. You have always been loyal, so naturally I will We must also consider your future. I will not let you leave the Household Department immediately. You are right. The Household Department is currently busy with the joint shipping company, and you have always been a leader in the Household Department. If you leave rashly, I have lost my right-hand man, which may cause a lot of trouble, so I just want to inform you in advance so that you can be mentally prepared. I will let you go after the matter with the United Shipping Company is over."
After a pause, Zhao Junchen continued: "I think that although the United Shipping Company is complicated and complicated, we are well prepared after all, and those Hui and Zhejiang businessmen are also very cooperative. I think it only takes one or two In a few months, United Shipping will be on the right track. By that time, the Beijing inspection will begin. At that time, I will try to get a good evaluation for you, and then try to transfer you to a place where you can easily achieve political achievements as a parent officer. , after you have practiced in the local area for a few years, and accumulated enough achievements and qualifications, I will transfer you back to the household department. At that time, maybe you can truly become my right-hand man."
When speaking, Zhao Junchen still had a casual tone, but after hearing Zhao Junchen's vague hint, Jiang Qian's body trembled, and the ecstasy in his heart could no longer be concealed.
Zhao Junchen is the Minister of the Ministry of Hubu, and Zhao Junchen’s right-hand men are naturally the two ministers of the Ministry of Hubu!
Obviously, Zhao Junchen promised Jiang Qian the future position of Minister of Household Affairs.
In this case, why wouldn't Jiang Qian be happy? Although he also knew that Zhao Junchen valued him, he did not expect that Zhao Junchen would think so carefully and long-term for him.
Therefore, Jiang Qian excitedly bowed to Zhao Junchen and said: "My lord, Shangshu, I am deeply grateful for your love and care for me. I have nothing to repay. I can only be loyal and do my best for my lord. I am my lord." The death of this person is your fault, sir, and I will never let you down, sir, for your good intentions."
After seeing Jiang Qian's statement, Zhao Junchen nodded with satisfaction and said: "Seeing that you still have some ambitions, I feel relieved. I am not afraid that you are ambitious. The more ambitious you are, the more ambitious I will be." I am happy, but to be honest, although I have always wanted to promote you before, I am really worried that you are obsessed with it and all your ambitions have been wasted on women. If that is the case, I will try my best to promote you. You, I’m afraid you won’t be able to become famous.”
Hearing Zhao Junchen's comments, Jiang Qian was a little embarrassed, but he didn't pay too much attention. He just said: "You know, sir, that this is the same problem for lower officials."
Seeing that Jiang Qian didn't take his words to heart, Zhao Junchen's expression became more serious and said: "Although your lust for women is just a lack of personal morality and not a big problem, the clean people in the court are. Don't look at it this way. In the past few years, some high-ranking officials in the court have repeatedly impeached you on the grounds of your lack of personal ethics, but I managed to suppress them all. However, after you were released as an official, I could not always protect you. Your faults are too obvious, and you might be exploited by others at some point, which will eventually ruin things. I may not be able to protect you by then, and will only ruin your own bright future, so you'd better Be more restrained, otherwise I really won’t be able to feel at ease.”
There was some vague reproach in Zhao Junchen's words, but Zhao Junchen's self-identification changed from "my official" to "I", which actually narrowed the distance between him and Jiang Qian. In this way, Zhao Junchen's reproach turned into concern and love.
Therefore, after hearing Zhao Junchen's implicitly concerned reproach, Jiang Qian was naturally moved. After hesitating for a moment, he finally made up his mind and gritted his teeth and said: "Please rest assured, sir. I will definitely try my best to change it!"
Although there was no guarantee, the moved look on Jiang Qian's expression was sincere this time.
Seeing that he had achieved the effect of consolidating Jiang Qian's loyalty, Zhao Junchen did not continue to insist. He just sighed softly and returned to the topic of the day and asked: "Forget it, let's get down to business. I just replied When I arrived at the Hubu Yamen, I saw that the situation in the Yamen was quite lively. Hey, these Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen are all good at dancing and sociable. They came to the Hubu in just one or two hours. I can now call everyone in the household department brothers!"
As he said that, Zhao Junchen shook his head slightly: "It is well known that the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs are always greedy for money. However, these Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants are short of everything, even money. It is common for them to spend huge sums of money. If things go on like this, the Ministry of Household Affairs may become the backyard of these Hui and Zhejiang businessmen."
Seeing the worried look on Zhao Junchen's face, Jiang Qian was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood what Zhao Junchen was worried about, and quickly expressed his loyalty: "Sir, you are right to worry. These Huizhe and Zhejiang businessmen came to the Ministry of Household Affairs today. After the Yamen, on the surface it seemed that they were trying to unite the shipping companies, but Xianguan saw that they were all focused on buying off their colleagues in the household department, and I am afraid they were not well-intentioned! When Xianguan came into contact with several Hui and Zhejiang businessmen, those few Businessmen from Huizhou and Zhejiang also made many attempts to win over Xiaguan and repeatedly hinted at benefits, but Xiaguan didn't get your approval, so he didn't respond to them."
Zhao Junchen smiled half-heartedly and said, "You have always been loyal and understand the importance of things. I am naturally at ease with you, but other officials in the Ministry of Revenue are not necessarily sure."
Jiang Qian also nodded in agreement and said: "Yes, most of my colleagues in the Ministry of Household Affairs regard wealth as their lives. These Huizhe and Zhejiang merchants want to give them money, how can they refuse? Sir, although you have made frequent rectifications in recent years, the household My colleagues in the department have gradually restrained themselves, but with a large sum of money right in front of them, there are probably only a handful of people who can resist greed."
Zhao Junchen sneered and said: "This is exactly what I am worried about. I can control the Ministry of Household Affairs only because I control most of the foreign wealth of the officials in the Ministry of Household Affairs. However, Hui and Zhejiang businessmen have always been rich and powerful, but I am not necessarily If I can compare with them, it won't be a surprise if some officials from the Ministry of Revenue betray me in the future."
Jiang Qian snorted angrily and said: "Speaking of which, these Hui-Zhejiang businessmen are really pushing their limits. Your Excellency has obviously given them the huge benefits of the United Shipping Company, but they are not satisfied and want to take advantage of the opportunity to intervene. The Ministry of Household Affairs is really too much! I think their move to bribe their colleagues in the Ministry of Household Affairs today seems to have been well prepared and there was a tacit understanding in secret. It may not be a spur-of-the-moment move, nor is it an independent move by a certain Huizhou and Zhejiang businessman! It’s not an exaggeration to say that they are harboring evil intentions!”
Zhao Junchen looked regretful and shook his head: "No one in this world is a fool. People who can reach their status are extremely smart people. Although they and I cooperated to form a joint shipping company, the cooperation In addition, they have also arranged many traps for them. Now they want to counterattack me secretly, but this is what the question should mean, so it is not a surprise."
Speaking of which, Zhao Junchen has made many plans in recent years, whether it is to win over military towns, control temples, infiltrate the harem, or deliver diamonds to the seventh prince Zhu Hejian, no matter which plan can succeed, Zhao Junchen can escape their own future destiny.
However, Zhao Junchen is still cautious and walking on thin ice. He does not dare to be careless at all, and he does not have any optimistic thoughts in his heart. Just because Zhao Junchen's opponents are not fools, there are too many variables, and Zhao Junchen's various plans may not go according to plan. Zhao Junchen is moving in the direction he desires. Although Zhao Junchen has many plans and they are all clever and concealed, even Zhao Junchen himself is not sure whether they will succeed in the end.
The cruel fact that "all opponents are smart people" is perhaps Zhao Junchen's biggest regret so far. Even if Zhao Junchen just wanted to scheme against Hui and Zhejiang businessmen, he has now encountered a secret counterattack from the other party, let alone Germany. Emperor Qing, Zhou Shangjing, Zhu Hejian and others.
Thinking of this, Zhao Junchen sighed again, looking vaguely tired.
But in an instant, Zhao Junchen had returned to his usual shrewd and deep appearance, and asked Jiang Qian: "Just now, what did you say that you refused the invitation of the Hui and Zhejiang businessmen?"
Jiang Qian nodded repeatedly: "If you didn't nod, my lord, how could I accept their benefits? I would naturally reject them."
Zhao Junchen shook his head and said: "Next, if there are businessmen from Hui and Zhejiang who want to win over you, you don't have to refuse!"
After hearing Zhao Junchen's instructions, Jiang Qian's expression changed, and he vaguely guessed Zhao Junchen's thoughts, and asked: "Sir, are you talking about counterintuitive tactics?"
Zhao Junchen nodded with a smile and said: "That's it. Among all the officials in the Ministry of Household Affairs, I trust you the most. You have always been smart. You are the only one who can take on this important task. I want you to pretend to be favored by Hui and Zhejiang merchants." To bribe, help me find out every move of the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants, and also find out how many people in the Household Department have been bribed by the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants, so that I can take precautions in the future."
Jiang Qian hesitated a little and said: "I am naturally willing to serve you, but when I refused to be bribed by the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants, my attitude was quite firm. If I suddenly regret it, I am afraid it will arouse the suspicion of the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants. "
Zhao Junchen smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, as long as you spread the news that I want to promote you, you can even leak all the promises I made to you. When those Hui and Zhejiang businessmen see that you are so trusted by me, they will They will definitely win over you again. When they buy officials, they are always willing to give up. They will never give up completely just because you reject them once. When the time comes, the conditions they propose will definitely become higher and higher, and as long as you show The way your position is gradually wavering will not arouse their suspicion. These Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen have always believed that money can take care of everything, and your initial refusal is just that the price is not high enough in their eyes."
After a pause, Zhao Junchen added: "In addition, no matter how many benefits they give you, you just accept them all. It is considered a benefit I gave you, but things like taking people's money and eliminating disasters with others, etc. It’s no need, I want you to pick up the bowl to eat, put down the bowl and scold me, take the benefits as you should, but don’t hesitate when it’s time to fall out in the future!”
Seeing Zhao Junchen's statement like this, Jiang Qian was overjoyed and repeatedly promised Zhao Junchen that he would not mention it.
Next, towards the evening of the day, all the details of the joint shipping company were finally finalized, and the contract between the Ministry of Revenue and the Huizhe merchants was finally concluded.
At this point, apart from a large-scale ceremony, the United Boat Company has been officially established.
According to Zhao Junchen's instructions, all Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants who join the United Shipping Company must pay a deposit of at least 100,000 taels of silver to the Ministry of Household Affairs. If the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants want to withdraw from the United Shipping Company in the future, this part of the deposit can also be recovered. , but if the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants do something that is not beneficial to the United Shipping Company, this part of the deposit will belong to the Ministry of Household Affairs.
Thirty-seven Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen paid a total of five million taels of deposit, which can be said to be a huge fortune.
After Zhao Junchen got the money, he immediately got up and left the Ministry of Household Affairs, went to the palace again, and asked to see Emperor Deqing!
: My grandpa suddenly had a cerebral infarction a few days ago. Chongzi has been staying with him in the hospital and didn’t go home until the observation period was over, so I can’t update. I’m really sorry. Chongzi will write more tomorrow!
Well, two chapters in one!
To be continued. ,, your support is my biggest motivation.
