…
…
The choice is to express support for Liao's salary reform and transfer part of the power of the Wu family in Shanhaiguan to Zhao Junchen, or to form an alliance of interests with Zhao Junchen. From now on, everyone will be prosperous and everyone will suffer.
Only such a price can defeat the Liaodong Town's Liaoning salary reform proposal, give Zhao Junchen greater benefits, and then win Zhao Junchen's support.
In Wu Yingxiong's view, Zhao Junchen chose this time to hand over the memorial on Liao's salary reform to him for review, hoping that the Wu family in Shanhaiguan would pay him such a price.
But Wu Yingxiong could not promise such benefits to Zhao Junchen no matter what.
The Wu family in Shanhaiguan is still actually controlled by the elderly Wu Sangui. Wu Yingxiong is not qualified to decide such a major matter without Wu Sangui's permission.
What's more, Wu Yingxiong firmly believes that Zhao Junchen's strength and support are not worth the price at all.
At the same time, as Zhao Junchen himself said, he only has the right to inspect the territory of Liaodong this time and is not an imperial envoy with full power. He is also not qualified to interfere in the internal conflicts between the Governor of Jiliao and Liaodong Town. Therefore, for Wu Yingxiong, Zhao Junchen’s support is just the icing on the cake.
In fact, Wu Yingxiong was not only unwilling to promise more benefits to Zhao Junchen at this time, but was secretly thinking about how he would obstruct and sabotage the Liao's salary reform. After all, once the Liao's salary reform was implemented, Liao's salary would no longer be available in the future. If all the goods are transported through Shanhaiguan, the Wu family will lose the opportunity to pluck their feathers, which will inevitably damage their interests.
However, Wu Yingxiong was not willing to directly offend Zhao Junchen, so after his expression changed for a long time, he handed back the memorial on Liao's salary reform to Zhao Junchen, and said with a solemn expression: "I really want to win Zhao Junchen's support, and I also hope that We have a good relationship with Zhao Gechen...but some matters are really important, and I must seriously consider them, and I also need to ask my father's opinion, so it will take some time before I can give Zhao Gechen an answer."
Obviously, Wu Yingxiong just wants to delay time, temporarily stabilize Zhao Junchen, and let Zhao Junchen remain neutral for the time being. After he gradually controls the situation in Liaodong, he will show off his cards to Zhao Junchen and say that he will not offer more benefits to bribe Zhao. Junchen, but by that time, Zhao Junchen was already helpless.
However, Zhao Junchen, who has always been shrewd, seemed to have completely failed to understand Wu Yingxiong's thoughts at this time. Instead, he began to brag and said with a smile: "I have the same idea as Governor Wu, and I am willing to maintain a harmonious relationship with the Wu family. Therefore, as long as Governor Wu is willing to show sincerity, due to His Majesty's attitude, although this cabinet will not directly stand up to support Governor Wu's control of Liaodong Town, we can still provide various kinds of help, which will definitely make Governor Wu more powerful and increase his chances of winning. !”
After a pause, as if he wanted to strengthen his persuasiveness, Zhao Junchen added: "In fact, although my recent relationship with Liaodong Town was not pleasant, it was not without gain. Privately, I have Reached a tacit understanding with some Liaodong Town military attachés...
At the same time, even if Governor Wu can successfully control Liaodong Town without the help of this cabinet, this approach will undoubtedly break His Majesty's layout of Liaodong and will inevitably arouse His Majesty's doubts afterwards. And I am not boasting, in front of Your Majesty You can still talk, and you can reduce His Majesty's violent reaction to the greatest extent...
By the way, this pavilion also has a certain influence on the government's financial revenue and expenditure. After the Liaoning rate reform is successfully implemented, the food and salary distribution can also be more inclined to Shanhaiguan and help Governor Wu strengthen his control over Liaodong Town... ...In short, as long as Governor Wu is willing to cooperate with this cabinet and is sincere enough, there will definitely be a hundred benefits and no harm. "
Several times when the word "sincerity" was mentioned, Zhao Junchen deliberately emphasized his tone.
Seeing Zhao Junchen's naked greedy face, trying every means to encourage him to increase the price to buy him, Wu Yingxiong couldn't help feeling disgusted in his heart. He only felt that Zhao Junchen was arrogant and had no idea how much he weighed!
In the final analysis, Zhao Junchen is just a powerful official in the court. Although he has great power and powerful methods, he is still just a "minister". In Liaodong, he is just a dragon crossing the river without a foundation. Don't look at him all the time. , repeatedly emphasized his role, but his influence was not enough to change the situation, and his support was not worthy of the Shanhaiguan Wu family paying more.
Not to mention Zhao Junchen, even Zhou Shangjing is not worth the price, and Emperor Deqing is almost the same.
What's more, Wu Yingxiong was not an ordinary feudal official. He often had the opportunity to meet with the emperor to report on his duties. He knew very well that Emperor Deqing's suspicion and fear of Zhao Junchen was higher than that of the Wu family in Shanhaiguan. If Zhao Junchen was later seen by Emperor Deqing, He frequently spoke favorably for the Wu family in Shanhaiguan in front of him, and he also blatantly favored the Wu family in Shanhaiguan during the Liaoning salary distribution, which would inevitably make Emperor Deqing's reaction become more intense.
Thinking of this, Wu Yingxiong not only became more and more unwilling to increase the price to buy Zhao Junchen, but also avoided Zhao Junchen, fearing that Zhao Junchen's "support" and "sincerity" would harm him.
Therefore, Wu Yingxiong pretended to think seriously for a moment, then solemnly nodded and said: "I am flattered by Cabinet Minister Zhao's sincerity, and I am willing to show more sincerity in return. However, some matters are really important, and I cannot make independent decisions. , but please rest assured, Minister Zhao, that I will seize the time to ask my father's opinion and give the minister a reply as soon as possible."
Seeing that Wu Yingxiong was unwilling to give him an accurate word after all, Zhao Junchen looked helpless. While taking the memorandum on Liao's salary reform into his arms, he reminded with a hint of threat: "It's okay, but I hope Governor Wu will try his best to seize the time. After all, ...The generals of Liaodong Town are also waiting for me to give them an accurate answer."
Wu Yingxiong naturally nodded repeatedly, becoming more and more convinced that Zhao Junchen was waiting for a price, and believed that he must seize the time to annex Liaodong Town before Zhao Junchen showed an obvious attitude tendency.
Later, Zhao Junchen no longer continued to pester the "sincerity" of the Wu family in Shanhaiguan, but changed the topic and asked: "By the way, I heard that Liaodong Zhenbei Road Counselor Ximen Sheng is currently under house arrest by Governor Wu? Alas? , As I said just now, I am very worried about the Jianzhou Jurchens taking the opportunity to invade. Once the Jianzhou Jurchens take the opportunity to invade, the North Road Defense Zone will be the top priority, so I want to ask Ximen Sheng about some North Road defenses. Regarding the defense arrangements of the defense zone, I wonder if Governor Wu is willing to hand over Ximen Sheng to my care?"
Wu Yingxiong was immediately shocked when he heard Zhao Junchen's request.
In Wu Yingxiong's view, among the high-ranking military attachés in Liaodong Town, only Ximen Sheng had the ability to threaten the Wu family's annexation plan in Shanhaiguan. Ximen Sheng came forward to delay Wu Yingxiong's march, allowing Wu Yingxiong to control this person easily. This was a great thing that fell into the sky.
Under such circumstances, Wu Yingxiong was of course unwilling to hand over Ximen Sheng to Zhao Junchen. Once Zhao Junchen returned Ximen Sheng to Liaodong Town, it might completely break the Wu family's annexation ambition in Shanhaiguan.
But Zhao Junchen's proposal was out of public interest, and Wu Yingxiong could not find any reason to refuse it for a while.
Therefore, Wu Yingxiong hesitated and asked: "All the recent perverse actions in Liaodong Town are all related to Ximen Sheng. The governor is now placing him under house arrest to straighten the court's order. I'm afraid we can't let him escape control at will... Let's do that. , Zhao Gechen, if you want to ask Ximen Sheng, why not go to the governor's residence to meet him? In fact, when the governor asked to see Zhao Gechen this time, he also wanted to suggest that Zhao Gechen move the residence to a place near the governor's residence, so that we can communicate with him. It’s good to have someone to take care of you.”
"This star really wants to retire"
This time, Zhao Junchen finally showed his impatience and frowned and asked: "Governor Wu, you have always said that you are sincere in cooperating with me, but from the time we met until now, we are just showing sincerity to you. , not only took the initiative to provide you with a large amount of information, but also provided you with sincere suggestions many times, and also clearly explained the benefits of the cooperation between the two parties, right?
But what about you? I suggested that you lead your troops to the north to support as soon as possible, but you took matters into your own hands; I suggested that both sides work together to stabilize the situation in Liaodong, but you kept shirk-passing and delaying time; I wanted to meet with Ximen Sheng, but you deliberately obstructed it. , secretly obstructing... I can't help but start to doubt whether you are sincere in cooperating with me! "
In fact, what Zhao Junchen did after meeting Wu Yingxiong was to put Wu Yingxiong into a morally unfavorable situation, as if Zhao Junchen was a sincere and kind man who only knew how to give, while Wu Yingxiong was a despicable villain who only knew how to take. .
However, just the word "morality" can only give Zhao Junchen the upper hand in terms of momentum, but it cannot let Wu Yingxiong succumb at will.
Wu Yingxiong is a pragmatist. Between "morality" and "practical benefits", he will definitely choose the latter.
Therefore, Wu Yingxiong quickly explained: "I hope Zhao Gechen will understand my difficulties. I am indeed sincere in cooperating with Zhao Gechen, but some things are indeed..."
Wu Yingxiong's posture was very soft, but he still refused to give in.
Before Wu Yingxiong could finish speaking, Zhao Junchen had already waved his hand to interrupt Wu Yingxiong's explanation, and his expression returned to a serious expression, saying: "Well, I have finally figured it out. Governor Wu, you must think that I have no authority in Liaodong." The foundation of strength is not enough to affect the situation, and it is not worthy of the attention of the Wu family in Shanhaiguan, right?"
Naturally, Wu Yingxiong dared not keep saying it, but Zhao Junchen kept sneering and continued: "Although I don't have much power in Liaodong, I am still the elder of the imperial court, even if we don't talk about the implementation of Liao's salary reform. The situation will change after that, even at this moment, I still have many ways to reverse the situation in Liaodong in one fell swoop!"
After sneering, Zhao Junchen took out a letter from his arms again and said slowly: "The recipient of this letter is Zhang Su, the commander-in-chief of Ji Town... I now want to consult Governor Wu for his opinion. Should I give it away?"
Hearing Zhao Junchen suddenly mention Zhang Su, the commander-in-chief of Jizhen, Wu Yingxiong was immediately startled. He quickly reached out to take the letter, opened it and read it carefully.
The content of this letter is very simple, with only a few sentences, which means that the situation in Liaodong Town has been controlled, so Zhang Su does not need to send troops for support.
However, the profound meaning behind these few words shocked Wu Yingxiong again!
Obviously, Zhao Junchen had already secretly contacted Zhang Su, saying that the situation in Liaodong Town was unstable, and hoped that Zhang Su would organize his army to prepare for war and be ready to send troops into Liaodong territory to stabilize the situation at any time!
It is even possible that Zhao Junchen has reached an agreement with Zhang Su. If Zhang Su does not receive this letter from Zhao Junchen within the agreed time limit, it means that the situation in Liaodong is out of control, and Zhang Su will immediately lead his troops into Liaodong. !
Maybe the Jizhen army under Zhang Su has begun to take action now!
And once Zhang Su is allowed to lead the Jizhen army into Liaodong territory, the Shanhaiguan Wu family is destined to be unable to annex Liaodong Town!
…
…
