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Money can make ghosts go round, and it can also make the emperor reasonable.
After receiving the five million taels of foreign wealth, Emperor Deqing was in a very good mood. After hearing Zhao Junchen's request for instructions again, he did not show any impatience, but asked gently: "Oh? Is there anything else? Tell me!"
However, Emperor Deqing was also worried that Zhao Junchen would take the opportunity to make some excessive demands, so although he looked tolerant and trusting on the surface, he was slightly wary in his heart.
Zhao Junchen still looked fawning and said: "Your Majesty, you also know that the pilot shipping company is an attempt by me to rectify the current situation of commercial tax corruption, and this shipping company was jointly established by thirty-seven Hui and Zhejiang businessmen. It is even more powerful, and it can be said that the future operating conditions of this shipping company will be directly related to the overall situation of the imperial court in the future."
Emperor Deqing nodded in agreement and motioned for Zhao Junchen to continue speaking.
Zhao Junchen continued: "However, if the name is not correct, the words will not be correct. Although this shipping company has been officially established and the cooperation with the court has been confirmed, it does not yet have an official name. We cannot call it it from now on." Is it a pilot shipping company or joint shipping company? I think that in order to show the importance of the imperial court, it is best for your Majesty to name the name of this shipping company. In my opinion, such a powerful and significant shipping company is the only one that can Only Your Majesty is qualified to name it.”
Seeing that Zhao Junchen just wanted to ask him to name the pilot ship, Emperor Deqing felt slightly relieved.
It's just a trivial thing.
Therefore, Emperor Deqing pondered for a moment and said: "This shipping company is very powerful and is very beneficial to the exchange of goods and materials among the people. It will also help the court to straighten out commercial taxes and increase the revenue of the treasury... In this case , let’s call it ‘Tongda Shiphang’.”
"Tongda Shiping... has far-reaching intentions, excellent meaning, and apt description. It seems straightforward, but it also contains a hint of scorn. It is really a good name! Only Your Majesty, as the emperor, can think of this. Such a good name!" After Zhao Junchen praised him repeatedly, he saluted Emperor Deqing and said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the name! With your Majesty's name, I believe that Tongda Shipbuilding will be greatly boosted in morale, make rapid progress, and will soon become famous all over the world. , to reverse the corrupt status quo of commercial taxation in one fell swoop!”
A look of satisfaction flashed across Emperor Deqing's face, and he seemed to be very satisfied with the name.
But on the surface, Emperor Deqing looked indifferent and said: "You know that Ayu Fengcheng is just a name. How can there be so many magical effects..."
Seeing Emperor Deqing's appearance, Zhao Junchen naturally would not take Emperor Deqing's statement seriously. Instead, he praised him even more, making Emperor Deqing even more proud.
However, Zhao Junchen's request for a name from Emperor Deqing was just an appetizer, just to relax Emperor Deqing's vigilance.
After saying countless flattering words, Zhao Junchen finally launched his own test after seeing that the time was ripe.
However, Zhao Junchen never dared to underestimate Emperor Deqing, so Zhao Junchen was still cautious in his attempts.
Zhao Junchen changed the subject and asked Emperor Deqing for instructions: "Your Majesty, after Tongda Shipping Company is officially established, in view of its great significance, a large-scale establishment ceremony is needed to announce it to the world. In my opinion, In order to show the importance of the imperial court, it is best to send an important minister to preside over the ceremony... I wonder who do you think it would be best to send, Your Majesty?"
After Emperor Deqing pondered for a moment, he asked Zhao Junchen: "Speaking of which, you established this shipping company by yourself, and you are also the Minister of Household Affairs and a core minister of the imperial court, so you are the perfect choice to host this ceremony. , why do you need to ask for my opinion?"
Zhao Junchen replied: "I hope your majesty knows that according to the wishes of those Hui-Zhejiang merchants, the founding ceremony of Tongda Shipping Company will be held in Yangzhou. It is an important town in the south of the Yangtze River. It has always been a gathering of merchants and active trade. The founding ceremony of Tongda Shipping Company will be held in Yangzhou." Holding it can also create the greatest momentum in the shortest time, so it is the best choice..."
Having said this, Zhao Junchen shook his head with regret and sighed: "However, Yangzhou is too far away from the capital. Although I really want to host the ceremony in person, traveling thousands of miles away is too delayed. Time, the current situation in the capital is unpredictable, and many ministers are bent on hindering the imperial government from rectifying commercial taxes. They are also full of hostility towards the newly established Tongda Shipping Company. Therefore, I must stay in the capital as a precaution, and I will never dare. It’s been too long since I left the capital, so I can only send other ministers to attend this ceremony.”
After hearing Zhao Junchen's explanation, Emperor Deqing thought for a moment and nodded again in agreement.
In addition to the reasons expressed by Zhao Junchen, Emperor Deqing also did not want to see Zhao Junchen's influence on Tongda Shipping Company further increased. In this case, it would be even more difficult for Emperor Deqing to take back Tongda Shipping Company from Zhao Junchen in the future. , so it is best to send other ministers to host this ceremony.
After thinking of this, Emperor Deqing asked Zhao Junchen: "Oh? Do you have a suitable candidate in mind?"
Zhao Junchen's expression was full of hesitation, as if he was a little unsure, but after thinking for a moment, he still expressed his thoughts to Emperor Deqing, saying: "I think Zuo Lanshan, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, is a suitable candidate. Zuo Shangshu is an important minister of the imperial court, and his qualifications and reputation are much stronger than those of his ministers. Sending him to preside over this ceremony is enough to show that the imperial court attaches great importance to it! In addition, the Ministry of Industry is in charge of waterway hydraulic engineering and is also related to the shipping business of Tongda Shipyard. , sent Minister Zuo to preside over the ceremony, and the status and responsibilities are quite consistent..."
On the other side, after hearing Zhao Junchen's answer, Emperor Deqing remained silent, secretly thinking about Zhao Junchen's true intention!
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Nowadays, the various factions in the DPRK and China are fighting endlessly because of the vacancies in the cabinet, and Zuo Lanshan is the most promising candidate within the "Zhao Party" to enter the cabinet!
At this time, if Zuo Lanshan leaves the center of the capital, his hope of entering the cabinet will naturally be reduced to a minimum, which is equivalent to being deprived of the qualification to compete for cabinet seats!
From Zhao Junchen's perspective, he would never fail to see this, but Zhao Junchen still wants to move Zuolan Mountain out of the capital. What does this mean?
In the view of Emperor Deqing, this obviously meant that Zhao Junchen did not trust Zuo Lanshan and was afraid that after Zuo Lanshan entered the cabinet, he would overshadow him or even replace him and become the new leader of the "Zhao Party". Therefore, Zhao Junchen would rather give up this opportunity to intervene in the cabinet than see Zuo Lanshan become the new cabinet minister and put pressure on him from now on!
However, many officials in the "Zhao Party" now support Zuo Lanshan's entry into the cabinet. If Zhao Junchen forcibly stops it, he will inevitably appear narrow-minded. Zuo Lanshan will be even more alienated from Zhao Junchen. "Zhao Party" "Perhaps we are facing the danger of internal division!
Therefore, Zhao Junchen simply kept doing nothing and found reasons to let Zuo Lanshan leave the capital. In this way, Zuo Lanshan naturally lost hope of joining the cabinet, and Zhao Junchen achieved his goal through the hands of Emperor Deqing. , and there is no need to worry that Zuo Lanshan will be resentful!
After careful consideration, Emperor Deqing felt that this was the only reasonable explanation!
But in fact, Zhao Junchen's statement was just a disguise. He wanted to further paralyze Emperor Deqing and make him misjudge the relationship between Zhao Junchen and Zuo Lanshan. He also wanted to take the opportunity to test Deqing. The emperor's true intentions, if Emperor Deqing really wanted to promote Zuo Lanshan and planned to use Zuo Lanshan to split the "Zhao Party", he would never allow Zuo Lanshan to leave the capital at this time! On the other hand, if Emperor Deqing agreed to Zhao Junchen's proposal and allowed Zuo Lanshan to leave the capital, it would mean that Emperor Deqing did not intend to split the "Zhao Party" through Zuo Lanshan, but wanted to support Liang Fuchen, the "Zhao Party". Imperial Party” officials entered the cabinet.
In short, although Tongda Shipbuilding and cabinet vacancy are two unrelated things, Zhao Junchen cleverly connected the two. Zhao Junchen's various statements after seeing Emperor Deqing also reflected This is all to pave the way for the temptation at this time. Through Emperor Deqing's next statement, Zhao Junchen can judge the true intention of Emperor Deqing to a large extent.
*
Zhao Junchen's performance was excellent, but he deceived Emperor Deqing, causing Emperor Deqing to make wrong judgments. He further believed that Zhao Junchen had insufficient control over Zuo Lanshan, and the relationship between the two was seemingly incompatible and distant.
Under the misjudgment, Emperor Deqing pondered for a moment and finally expressed his attitude, saying slowly: "Zuo Lanshan is indeed a suitable candidate, but the Ministry of Industry also has heavy affairs and cannot do without Zuo Lanshan to take charge of the overall situation. , In addition, Zuo Lanshan has always been close to you, and keeping him in the capital will be of great help to you, so after thinking about it, I decided to send another important minister to Yangzhou."
After a pause, Emperor Deqing had already thought of an idea and said: "Well, Huang Yourong will be serving as an official soon. His hometown is not far from Yangzhou. Huang Yourong will be the one to take part in this matter. I will give him an imperial edict." , give him the status of an imperial envoy, and let him go to Yangzhou to attend the founding ceremony of Tongda Shipping Company on my behalf. Huang Yourong was born as a pavilion elder. Even if he is only a pavilion elder who has become an official, he is extremely noble. In addition, he has the status of an imperial envoy. , which is enough to show that the court attaches great importance to it."
Seeing that Zhao Junchen seemed to want to object, Emperor Deqing added: "Of course, I also know that Huang Yourong and you have always had political disagreements. If he comes to preside over the ceremony, you will inevitably be a little worried, but I will naturally warn you when the time comes. Huang Yourong, considering Huang Yourong's current situation, he will not violate my holy will. In addition, he can also send the Minister of Household Affairs Zhan Shanchang to accompany him. At that time, Huang Yourong will only be responsible for showing up, but Zhan Shanchang will be specifically responsible for all matters. In this case, Nothing goes wrong.”
After hearing Emperor Deqing's statement, Zhao Junchen seemed a little embarrassed, but finally agreed.
At the same time, Zhao Junchen secretly thought: "It seems that Emperor Deqing does not intend to let Zuo Lanshan leave the capital..."
While thinking secretly, Zhao Junchen launched further exploration.
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…(To be continued.)
