After Zhang Siwei wrote the list and sent it to Zhang Juzheng in person, he went back to quickly handle the urgent matters on the desk, then left the political hall and went to Wang Chonggu's home.
Wang Chonggu was in his late teens. He was promoted from the post of Minister of the Ministry of War to Deputy Privy Envoy. After being ranked in the first rank, he could work until he was seventy - retiring next year. Since the imperial court changed the regulations on retirement, those who are over the age do not have to pretend to beg for their bodies, and those who are under the age should not think about retiring in advance: if the emperor agrees that you retire before the age, it will be considered a "grace".
Wang Chonggu has been eating sand for many years, and has suffered from rheumatism and swelling in many joints. In recent years, he has almost lost the ability to move after the winter, which can only be relieved in early summer. Therefore, the deputy privy envoy is considered to be on a temporary basis - half a year on and half a year off.
After Zhang Siwei entered the cabinet, Wang Chonggu wanted to retire for a while. With his outstanding contribution in promoting the "Ida tribute", the emperor had no reason not to allow it. However, he did not expect that the reform movement would flourish, the country would gain momentum, and the entire nine-border situation would also change drastically. After the Saihanba Conference, Wang Chonggu could guarantee the control of the "Jin Party" over the relations between Ming and Mongolia in the Privy Council, so he could not just leave. , patiently staying in office for many years.
In early spring, Wang Chonggu usually spends his time at home recuperating. Therefore, Zhang Siwei entered the hall as if he were entering his own home, and went straight into the study to reach Wang Chong's ancient couch.
Wang Chonggu was reading a book crookedly there. When he saw the prime minister's nephew arriving, he hurriedly threw the book aside and waved to the two maids who were beating his legs to leave.
Zhang Siwei pointed at a girl and said, "Don't leave yet. Pour me a cup of tea before you go out." The girl hurriedly agreed, poured hot water from the bamboo-covered thermos bottle on the coffee table, and brewed a new pot of tea. Then he bowed and went out.
In the Song Dynasty, the Chinese had already invented the mercury glass thermos. With the development of glass technology, this object was very close to the glass thermos of later generations. However, it was expensive and could not be used by ordinary families.
Wang Chonggu saw Zhang Siwei looking at the thermos bottle, leaning forward and sitting up on the couch, and sighed: "The emperor once said, 'One invention can support people with thousands of benefits', and it is indeed true. Nowadays, thousands of things are created, and thousands of benefits are generated. If you still cling to the weak and defend the weak, in two or three generations everyone will be wiped out."
After coughing twice, Wang Chonggu said: "Nowadays, the name 'Jin people are good at keeping money' is often mentioned in newspapers, but I often worry about it. When I paid tribute, we did business and made a lot of profit. Now Jiu There are so many Mongolians in Bianque City, and many Mongolians who had no way of doing business went directly to the inland to do business - the profits were ten times less."
Sighing, Wang Chonggu had a complicated look on his face, and said softly: "I didn't expect that the emperor is young, but has profound sage and decisive character. With only the head of Tumen Khan, he dared to convene Saihan without hesitation. The meeting of the dam, and the combination of kindness and power, solved the problems that have been difficult to solve for thousands of years in the Central Plains and the North. This kind of ambition is really astonishing and beyond the reach of others!"
Zhang Siwei's face changed color slightly, he looked at Wang Chonggu and hesitated to speak. Wang Chonggu looked up at him and said, "What do you want to say?"
Zhang Siwei considered his words and nodded: "My uncle is right. The emperor's abilities are bestowed upon him by heaven, and he is best at taking advantage of them. Before the meeting at Saihanba, I did not expect that other Mongolian chiefs could be so obedient."
Wang Chonggu seemed to be out of breath, took two heavy breaths, and laughed and cursed: "Tumen Khan has golden blood after all. Although the Chahar Khan Court is only an empty frame, it still has its power. Japan is ridiculous, Ling Yunyi is I defeated a local tycoon in Kyushu and succeeded in bringing peace to the country - damn, who would have thought of this!"
Zhang Siwei saw the almost undisguised jealousy in Wang Chonggu's eyes, and saw that his gray hair and age spots had appeared on the corners of his cheeks, and thought to himself: "Uncle is old, old and greedy."
With a smile on his face, he said: "If the wars fought by the country in recent years are still those fought by Ma Fang in the Western Regions - killing them bit by bit, Guangcheng slaughtered six people, until he died of illness, this Han Not all of the Tang Dynasty’s homeland was conquered.”
After Wang Chonggu heard this, he lightly struck the case and said: "But, Ma leather returned with his body wrapped in leather, and he was rewarded with a king's title for his work on the compound wheel platform - this is what a man should do!" He sighed and said, "Who would have thought that 'Ma The nickname "Prince" is so flattering!"
After saying that, Wang Chonggu found that he was a little agitated, patted his Lao Han leg and said with a bitter smile: "Every time I think of Ma Fang, Gong Xian, Ling Yunyi and other princes who received so little reward, I feel that I was born ten years earlier. In this prosperous age, , if you don’t make great achievements, it will be a big loss!”
"Especially Ma Fang and Gong Xian, Wu Fu Er! In front of me, he was too scared to speak loudly. Now look at him!"
Zhang Siwei saw that he was chattering and still didn't ask why he was here. Finally he couldn't bear it and said: "Uncle, my nephew is here to ask for advice on something."
Wang Chonggu's already somewhat cloudy eyes flashed with light, and then he smiled and said: "Well, I knew you must have something difficult to solve, otherwise I wouldn't have come here without waiting for the recharge - you have been doing this for the past two years. First time."
Zhang Siwei is only eleven years younger than Wang Chonggu, and is now in his sixties. Hearing his uncle's teasing, his old face blushed slightly. Then he changed the topic and talked about what happened this morning.
Wang Chonggu looked serious and asked Zhang Juzheng's demeanor in detail when he spoke, and even asked about the reactions of Wang Guangguang and Pan Sheng.
After Zhang Siwei finished speaking, he pondered for a moment and said, "What news has been heard in the palace before?"
Zhang Siwei said in a low voice: "A few days ago, the Emperor summoned Wang Zhiyuan and others in the Yangxin Hall for the 'Miyun Robbery Case', and Pan Sheng was also there - I heard that Pan Sheng asked himself to stay on that day."
When Wang Chonggu heard this, he frowned and sighed: "You should have come here to discuss it with me that day - it is not trivial for the cabinet minister to ask for permission. Didn't you make some speculations that day?"
Zhang Siwei said: "My nephew thought at that time that the Sacred Heart had already silently decided that I would take over Zhang Juzheng, and Pan Sheng's decision to stay was not necessarily for this reason."
Wang Chonggu looked at him and said: "You! Sigh - it would be good if you could be a deputy prime minister. If you manage this business in Hanmeng for a few years, you will become rich and powerful." After saying this, he hated the fact that iron cannot become steel. He smiled bitterly.
Zhang Siwei's face turned red and he said to Wang Chonggu: "Uncle, do you think that what Zhang Juzheng did today was because Pan Sheng persuaded the emperor to test me?"
Wang Chonggu said: "What other reason is there?"
"If it's not what I expected, Pan Sheng must have known that Zhang Juzheng was terminally ill that day - he wanted to take a gamble and ask himself to stay right. Hum, this is a 'difficult to advance, easy to retreat' temperament, so he doesn't want to wait for you I don’t know if he will survive until then when he takes over the political affairs hall after controlling it for ten years.”
Half of Zhang Siwei's body was soaked with cold. Hearing this, he said hoarsely: "If the emperor has been persuaded, what can he do?"
Wang Chonggu said: "Who are the two people you reported to?"
Zhang Siwei hurriedly replied: "Shen Shixing, Liang Menglong. These two people -" Before he could continue, Wang Chonggu smiled, raised his palms and said: "Well, wonderful! You have already lost the opportunity - if this time you don't If you report to the Party, there is an 80% chance of defeat, and now the number is 50%!"
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