Zhou Zhenghuai just left, and Han You and Zhou Yan chased him out.
It's a good thing that he didn't chase him. In this chase, Zhou Zhenghuai ran faster than a rabbit and ran like crazy. He didn't look like an old man over fifty years old at all.
Jiang Zhui foolishly volunteered to chase him, saying that he wanted the old man to run fifty feet first, and then he was kicked by Han You. It was impossible to catch him.
Han You and Zhou Yan looked at each other, not knowing why.
They have seen people rushing to grab the credit. They have seen people running eight feet away as soon as they hear the credit. This is the first time they have seen it.
The food was hot and the wine was warm, but the host ran away.
The first one and the second one returned to the courtyard. After sitting down, Han You looked strange: "Why is he running away?"
Zhou Yan shook his head, then shook his head, then again.
The young prince shook his head intermittently three times and sighed like a young adult.
"Teacher, the student guesses that Mr. Zhou is hiding his clumsiness."
"Zangzhuo?" Han You, who originally wanted to call Beimen Yuyong, asked in confusion: "What do you mean?"
"Do you think this old guy will be like the former students, who dare not show off their talents? In the capital, in the court, sometimes, avoiding merit is also avoiding. If there is no merit, there will be no heavy responsibility. If there is no heavy responsibility, there will be no heavy responsibility. Pass."
Han You's expression moved slightly: "It makes sense, keep talking."
"The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is the most unpopular government office in the court. It is always scolded all year round. Looking back at the previous dynasty and looking back at this dynasty, I have never heard of any government office being reprimanded all day long, only the Ministry of Industry and Commerce."
Zhou Yan stood up, poured a glass of wine for Han You, and continued: "Even so, Zhou Zhenghuai still sits firmly in the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry. No government office or minister has ever impeached or criticized him. This is the most scolded person. , sitting in the most stable position of minister."
"You mean, this is Mr. Zhou's way of being an official, and it's also the way of self-protection?"
"right?"
Zhou Yan's tone was not very sure, he just provided an idea.
In fact, Zhou Yan also went through this stage at the beginning. As the only son who stayed in the capital and was the most favored heir of the emperor, he did not dare to be too public, for fear that others would suspect him of ulterior motives.
Han You looked thoughtful. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that this might really be the case.
Among the six ministries, the Ministry of Works was the strongest. No matter how tough the Ministry of Works was, he was still in the sixth ministry.
Among the six ministers, Zhou Zhenghuai has the least real power. Even if he has no real power, he is still a minister.
La and Zhou Zhenghuai from the Ministry of Industry have no real power. In fact, the fundamental reason lies in people, including Zhou Zhenghuai.
Lao Zhou was like a clay figure in the court. Anyone who was above the rank of Right Minister or Chief Minister of the Nine Temples could pinch him twice.
Every time something happened, Zhou Zhenghuai would actively admit his mistakes. Even if he was right, he would correct it and encourage him if not.
As time went by, the Ministry of Works lost its say. And as time went on, the Ministry of Works began to take the blame for no apparent reason.
But now I suddenly think about it, Zhou Zhenghuai has held the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry, or rather the position of Minister, for the longest time and is also the most stable.
During the many years that Zhou Zhenghuai was the minister, many ministers were taken down, but Lao Zhou remained strong. Even the former Faunjun and Yidao Wei Yidaoying had never touched Zhou Zhenghuai, there was no need.
Han You couldn't help but recall the first time he met Zhou Zhenghuai. Lao Yiyi heard that Liu Wenguan, the little boss, had done so many scandalous and evil things in private, so he immediately took away Liu Wenguan's official position.
After Liu Wenguan was taken to the Jingzhao Mansion Prison, Lao Zhou began an internal investigation and found out many officials, even the doctor wrote a letter to resign.
In the eyes of outsiders, this may be a fuss, but in the Ministry of Industry, it does not seem to cause any trouble.
So this means that Zhou Zhenghuai is very concerned about the reputation of the Ministry of Industry and is afraid of the emergence of people like Liu Wenguan.
"I see."
Han You patted Zhou Yan's little head: "You are right. It seems that Mr. Zhou wants to be the Minister of the Ministry of Industry for the rest of his life."
Zhou Yan was not sure about his analysis, but when Han You said this, he was sure.
Once confirmed, many behaviors of Zhou Zhenghuai and the Ministry of Industry will be explained.
In layman's terms, the Ministry of Industry has no say, but there is no crisis.
Zhou Zhenghuai doesn't have much energy, but he is the minister after all, and no one dares to provoke him easily.
Power is based on competition. If there is competition, there will be disputes, bloody disputes. Zhou Zhenghuai will never be the small group of people at the top of the pyramid, but the small group of people at the top will not suppress him. The people below, It won't offend him.
Not too high, not too low, just right.
Look at the other ministers, excluding the Ministry of War. Zhao Tai, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Qian Ji, the Minister of the Ministry of Etiquette, Sun Shouting, the Minister of the Ministry of Hubu, and Wu Dingbi, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishments, who are from the Zhao family, are the most economical ones. They either have disciples and old officials all over the world, or they will This government office is like a tightrope. Either he is a close confidant of the emperor, or he has special talents and is indispensable.
The government offices run by these people have more real power than the Ministry of Industry, but none of these government offices have experienced bloodshed all year round.
Only the Ministry of Works, Zhou Zhenghuai’s Ministry of Works, took the blame, but it was just taking the blame. Taking the blame meant just being scolded and reprimanded, and it didn’t lose any skin or flesh. It seemed that all the turmoil in the court was related to the Ministry of Works. It doesn't matter.
"So Mr. Zhou ran away when he heard the word "merit". What he wanted to do was to serve as Minister of the Ministry of Industry without any merit or demerit."
Han You sighed and murmured: "If this is the case, he will definitely not have a place when the three-province system is restored."
"What?" Zhou Yan was suddenly shocked: "Teacher, what are you saying? The imperial court is going to restore the three-province system. How come the students don't know?"
Han You was stunned for a moment: "Didn't I tell you?"
Zhou Yan shook his head repeatedly.
Han You's old face turned red: "Oh, that's because I forgot. It seems I didn't tell anyone. You kept it a secret. Also, it's not the imperial court that wants to restore the three-province system, but His Majesty who wants to restore the three-province system."
The young prince changed his expression, and then slapped his thigh, his eyes shining: "If the three-province system is restored, Qian Ji can get Zhongshu Ling to take charge of Zhongshu Province. As for Zhao Tai, who has been in trouble recently, my father wanted to appease Zhao Tai. With the Zhao family, they will be given the chancellery of the Shangshu Province and a Menxia Province. If my father can let a trusted person take charge of the Menxia Province..."
Zhou Yan looked at Han You, his eyes burning: "There are very few people in the court who can stop my father from issuing political orders!"
"Eat, don't waste it."
Han You handed the chopsticks to Zhou Yan and smiled happily.
Look, look, look, this is my close disciple, with great understanding and political sense.
In fact, Han You was a little overjoyed. Apart from an incomplete version of the Three-Character Classic and a lot of jingles, he basically didn't teach Zhou Yan any real skills.
You must know that long before Zhou Yan met Han You, this child knew that Tao Guang was secretive and clumsy. It was just after following Han You that he slowly returned to his normal self at this age.
Zhou Yan picked up the chopsticks and picked up the food for Han You first. He didn't think about eating at all and was beaming with joy.
"This is not possible. Everyone whom the father trusts holds important positions. In the capital, the only one who can serve as a secretary and minister, and can also be trusted by the father with peace of mind, is Zhou Zhenghuai, this old guy..."
Zhou Yan snorted: "He wants the credit, and he has to take it if he doesn't want it. If he wants to stay out of it, there's no way!"
Han You smiled bitterly.
From a personal emotional point of view, he respects Zhou Zhenghuai, and also respects and understands Lao Zhou's choice. At such an old age, if you are struggling in the court, your official position is over, there is no need to fight to the death when you are old. .
But for Lao Ba's plan, for the stability of the court, for the sake of the entire country, as the talker of the Yidao Guards, Han You needed to help Zhou Zhenghuai obtain the position of the Provincial Attendant.
There is no way, there are too few people who can be trusted by the emperor.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to interfere in this matter."
Han You smiled bitterly: "Mr. Zhou treats me with sincerity and righteousness. If I try to trick him, harm him, or force him to do things he doesn't want to do for the sake of so-called righteousness, sir, you Like it?"
Zhou Yan showed a big smile: "Sir, you will never change. Students respect their teachers the most, but..."
"Just what?"
"When people are in the arena, they can't help themselves. As you said, my mentor doesn't need to intervene. This is the court. You can hide for a while, but you can't hide for a lifetime. His stable minister of the Ministry of Industry is only suitable for the one-province system. After restoring the three-province system, the six-province system The power in the hands of the Minister has been weakened, and he will retreat if he does not advance against the current, and the same is true for the Minister of the Ministry of Industry."
Han You smiled bitterly.
Yes, there is no need to embarrass yourself. Lao Zhou has to make a choice. If he doesn't make it, the emperor will do it for him.
