Chapter 34 Lu Zhongheng’s little cleverness
Obviously, Lu Xian would tell Lu Zhongheng after he returned home. Lu Zhongheng suddenly couldn’t sit still.
It can be said that Lu Zhongheng has done many things for money. What encroachment on public land. Hooked up with Hu Weiyong and so on. He was punished several times by Zhu Yuanzhang, and was also involved in the Hu Weiyong case. In the end, Zhu Yuanzhang released him.
After a few twists and turns, he was still able to regain his title.
There is no one left with this holy grace.
Of course, no matter how good the friendship is, it will eventually wear away. However, this is another world. At least Lu Zhongheng now doesn't believe that Zhu Yuanzhang will kill him.
Lu Zhongheng was in his forties, with a big head and ears. After bowing to Li Shanchang, he did not exchange greetings at all and said, "My lord, what the prince said about the sea, do you think it can really make money?"
Li Shanchang said: "I don't quite understand, but since the prince has spoken, it shouldn't be a lie. It's just ------"
Lu Zhongheng didn't wait for Li Shanchang to finish speaking, and said, "That's good."
Li Shanchang said: "It's just that the prince and Marquis Lu were relieved. We also have to pay the price."
Lu Zhongheng said; "It doesn't matter. Whatever your Majesty wants, I, Lu, will give it to you. Even if you want my life, if you give me enough money, I will sell it. Anyway, your Majesty will not treat me badly. But the days when I have no money are It’s really hard.”
Li Shanchang didn't know how to persuade Lu Zhongheng for a while.
Lu Zhongheng didn't have any lofty ideals. Now that he is in his current position, smoke is rising from his ancestral graves, which he could not have imagined back then. If we use modern terms, Lu Zhongheng has long been corrupted and lost his revolutionary passion. I don't have much idea about power either.
Because Lu Zhongheng knew that he was actually lacking in ability.
He is a warrior, not a handsome man.
Now what the Ming Dynasty needs more is generals who can guard one side and have both military and political excellence. But Lu Zhongheng only knows how to fight. Not quite appropriate. And his seniority makes it difficult for him to serve as a deputy. In other words, he has reached the peak of his life now. Above him are people like Xu Da, Li Wenzhong, Fu Youde, and Feng Guoyong. Even his status is still above Fu Youde, but in terms of ability, he is far inferior.
In this case, Lawrence Lu only wants to make money.
Whoever stops me from making money is my enemy.
Whoever helps me get money is my friend.
It is also because of this in history that Lu Zhongheng made Zhu Yuanzhang intolerable and finally killed him.
But now, because of this, Lu Zhongheng saw Qian's shadow and immediately decided to hug Zhu Yuanzhang's thigh. He didn't even realize that he actually jumped from Li Shanchang's camp to Zhu Yuanzhang's camp. Feel sorry. As a rough man, Lu Zhongheng didn't understand the twists and turns of politics. It's just a lack of brain capacity. He thought everyone was still as close as they were in Dingyuan, like a family.
Li Shanchang is regarded as the best person in the world. For many people, it is very difficult to control. Gein, as long as you put your mind to it, Li Shanchang will be able to catch the flaw. But for a character like Lu Zhongheng. Li Shanchang suddenly had no choice.
Even if he is extremely stupid, he is also invincible.
Li Shanchang had a bad premonition in his heart.
He felt that Lawrence Lu's behavior would have a very bad impact on him, but he didn't know how to reverse it.
After all, when Lu Zhongheng came, it was useless to talk about it, just talk about money. But Li Shanchang also has a strong family background. But you can’t just give money for no reason?
------
After all, Lu Zhongheng was a talented general. There is not much political wisdom, but there is no lack of cleverness.
Lu Zhongheng didn't understand Li Shanchang's profound opinions. But Lu Zhongheng understood the superficial meaning. He himself also made his own little calculations. For him, his power has now reached its peak. Even if Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to take something, Lu Zhongheng didn't care.
In other words, Lu Zhongheng’s self-positioning has always been problematic.
Although he tried to make money, he was punished many times by Zhu Yuanzhang. Make a big mess. But Lu Zhongheng still thought that he was Zhu Yuanzhang's direct descendant and an old member of his team. He is loyal to Zhu Yuanzhang. If someone wanted to kill Zhu Yuanzhang, he would rather die on Zhu Yuanzhang's behalf.
Of course, loyalty and making money. Contradictory?
Anyway, Lu Zhongheng didn’t feel conflicted.
When he had something to ask Li Shanchang, it was Li Shanchang's image as a wise man. In his opinion, it was already deeply rooted in people's hearts. After all, it has been like this for twenty or thirty years. I don’t think anything is wrong anymore.
"Your Majesty is a serious person, and it is not easy to win favor from him. But the empress is the best. Why not go and find out what the empress has to say first." Lu Zhongheng thought in his mind.
When he first defected to Zhu Yuanzhang, Queen Ma treated him like a sister-in-law and a mother. Even Lu Zhongheng’s wife was arranged by Queen Ma. Although he feels that he is a loyal minister of His Majesty. But really speaking, he was closer to Queen Ma than Zhu Yuanzhang.
Lu Zhongheng thought about it all night.
Early the next morning, I went to see Queen Ma.
Queen Ma has been recuperating for more than half a year, but her body is still weak. But that's about it.
Lu Zhongheng came to see him. Queen Ma naturally came to see him.
Lu Zhongheng exchanged greetings with Queen Ma and said, "Your Majesty, this is the ginseng I brought from the Northeast. It's worth thousands of gold. I came here especially to replenish your health." After saying that, he took out a sandalwood box with bright yellow ginseng in it. Lined with silk, there is a shaped ginseng that is more than a foot long. I don’t know how many years ago such a large ginseng was.
It’s worth thousands of gold, and it’s not fake.
When Empress Ma saw this, she said, "Come here, take a thousand taels of silver and give it to the Marquis of Ji'an."
Immediately a female official took the ginseng and went to get the silver.
Lu Zhongheng said, "My dear, I'm just a ginseng, it's not in the way."
Empress Ma coughed twice and said, "It doesn't matter. You, you, you haven't grown up after so many years. Your family's salary and hountian, added up to a year's income, are only a few thousand taels of income. One ginseng can only One thousand taels, your prodigal attitude, you don’t know how empty it is inside. Remember not to do anything illegal or disciplinary, you really have no money. Come to me and ask for it. I have some personal pockets here."
"It's enough for your expenses."
"Your Majesty is worried about you. You were not clean and got involved in what happened to Hu Weiyong last time. You don't know how disappointed and angry His Majesty is."
Queen Ma babbled and scolded Lu Zhongheng for a long time.
Lawrence Lu seemed to have returned to his teenage years, and could only nod in agreement. Dare not refute.
In fact, Lu Zhongheng didn't dare to say more. The income of several thousand taels of silver a year was obvious. Although Lu Zhongheng did not dare to do anything illegal or disciplinary now. After all, the Hu Weiyong case had just given him a blow. It was hard to say what he would be like in a few years if he could be honest.
But the world is not just black and white, there are also gray areas.
All in all, the Lu family's annual income is more than ten thousand taels.
It's just that these incomes are not easy to explain to Queen Ma.
Empress Ma gave Lu Zhongheng a thousand taels of silver and said, "I tell you to take it, so just take it."
Lu Zhongheng immediately took it with both hands and said, "I know the empress loves me. It's just that I can't even afford to give her a ginseng. It's really shameful that I have to use her money."
Queen Ma said: "If you feel ashamed, don't spend money lavishly. You also come from a poor background. Knowing what the people below are living like, you are already living in heaven. What else is there to be dissatisfied about?"
Lu Zhongheng did not dare to refute, but he secretly said in his heart: "It is precisely because I came from a miserable background. The glory and wealth in the world, the world of mortals, I have no experience, no enjoyment, how can I be willing to go through life and death, isn't it? For this?"
Lu Zhongheng said: "Mother, the prince invited Quan Zi the day before yesterday and said that business at sea can be profitable. Quan Zi cannot be the master of the family. I want to know if this is true."
If Queen Ma doesn't know Lu Zhongheng's plan now, then she is not worthy of her name.
Queen Ma looked at Lu Zhongheng, feeling angry and funny. What's funny is that this Lu Zhongheng really goes to the Three Treasures Hall for everything. What makes him angry is that the fat, middle-aged Marquis in front of him is no longer the skinny boy he was before, carrying a bucket of rice as if he was his lifeblood.
However, Empress Ma is much more nostalgic than Zhu Yuanzhang. Said: "Okay, let me ask about it."
