Chapter 483: Appointment as Prime Minister (5K chapter)

Although he met Xu Jie once at Longwan Wharf, Yan Shaoting suddenly wanted to kill him.

But just as the other party said, it was precisely because of this meeting that he was destined to have no chance of killing him, not to mention that he had asked Wang Xijue to give the other party a bag of silver.

Looking at the increasingly heavy rain outside and the mist rising up.

Yan Shaoting's face was heavy: "An old and cunning fellow!"

Qi Dazhu, who came to report the incident, didn't quite understand. He turned around to look in the direction where Xu Jie's family disappeared, and said murderously: "Guest wants to get rid of this person? We brothers can do it quietly... wait for them to leave Nanzhili, and then find a place in the mountains and woods."

For Qi Dazhu, killing a few people was not a difficult task.

What's more, Xu Jie's family is not a good group of people.

Wang Xijue had already figured out why the gentleman said that Xu Jie's family could not be killed now.

He also had a difficult look on his face. "This time, he has been put in the same situation as Mr. Gangfeng. Captain Qi, you can't do anything. Xu Jie met with Mr. here today and did not hide it. I don't know how many people know about it. If he really has an accident on the road, people will think that it was not done by my master, but it can only be done at the instruction of my master. This time... he is just seeking self-protection."

Even the young Jinshi officials had to admire the experience and sophisticated methods of old officials like Xu Jie.

Yan Shaoting had a gloomy look on his face, just as his student Wang Xijue had said.

If he had not met Xu Jie, and something happened to Xu Jie on the way, even if he really secretly instructed Qi Dazhu and others to kill all the members of the Xu family, no one would blame him.

The reason Xu Jie wanted to see me this time was to make his family's journey south more peaceful.

Just as Xu Jie said before.

If he did not take action in Nanjing, he could have instructed Qi Jiguang to fabricate a case of robbery by Japanese pirates to cover up the deaths of the Xu family.

But this is not what worries Yan Shaoting the most.

After all, Xu Jie had completely fallen, and no one in the Xu family would be able to pass the imperial examination and enter officialdom for three generations.

As long as I am alive, I can guarantee that this decree will not change.

What he was really concerned about was that the court was now discussing new policies and Xu Jie's old students and friends who were spread across the two capitals and thirteen provinces across the country.

Yan Shaoting looked at Qi Dazhu and waved.

Qi Dazhu understood and stepped forward.

Yan Shaoting reached out and picked up an empty bowl from the table, and poured a cup of cold tea for the other party: "Sit down and drink some water, and then we can talk about what happened in Beijing."

Qi Dazhu drank a bowl of water honestly, wiped his mouth with his hand, and then said, "A few days ago, the civil and military officials in the court were arguing about the new policy, and suddenly the voices of opposition stopped. A few days later, there was a sudden disturbance in which officials in the capital submitted memorials criticizing the court, and now it has reached a point where it is getting more and more intense. No one knows what they want to do, and no one knows what they are going to do next. Now the capital is in chaos. The officials of various departments have lost their minds and many have even been impeached for no reason. They can only deal with the impeachment and submit memorials to explain themselves."

Wang Xijue frowned immediately, bent down and looked at his teacher: "Sir, they are planning to shut down the entire court."

According to the law.

Whenever an official is impeached, he must write a letter to respond and explain the contents of the impeachment to prove his innocence.

This clearly meant that everyone had to stop working and go to the government office every day to wait to be notified whether they had been impeached, and then immediately start writing memorials to defend themselves.

A murderous look flashed in Yan Shaoting's eyes.

"Is there any news from Changping?"

Qi Dazhu shook his head and then continued, "Since the Grand Tutor retired from the court, he has been playing cards with three old masters in the academy. He was lucky at first, but later he lost more than he won, but he still enjoyed it. The cabinet's Yuan seemed to be waiting for the Grand Tutor to speak before he would express his views on the new policy. Li Chunfang seemed to be seeking to protect himself. Now only Gao Gong is left to support the cabinet."

"Sir, are you going to make arrangements to return to Beijing?"

Wang Xijue asked silently.

The young people felt that the court had reached such a situation that both sides stopped discussing the issues of the new policy and instead turned to directly attacking each other.

If you don't go back, I'm afraid there will be even bigger chaos in the court.

after all.

The New Deal is actually what you really want to do.

Wang Xijue was very clear about this.

Yan Shaoting shook his head, and the concealed expression on his face disappeared. He smiled and said, "Send a message back to my family. Tell them that my salary will be sent to the old man from now on, and he can use it as gambling money."

Wang Xijue immediately looked puzzled, obviously not understanding what was going on.

Qi Dazhu nodded honestly: "I will send the message back today."

Only then did Yan Shaoting look at the student in front of him, who was actually older than him, and waved.

Wang Xijue sat obediently on a long bench nearby.

"Do you know how the situation in Beijing will develop at this time?"

Wang Xijue shook his head, but quickly nodded and replied: "In reply to your words, sir, the situation in the capital will become more and more chaotic, and then the various departments in the capital will have no energy to deal with the affairs of this yamen, and eventually the government offices all over the country will be dragged into the disputes in the court."

He could see this clearly.

Yan Shaoting nodded, with a look of approval on his face.

He then asked: "What will happen if the court is really caught up in disputes both inside and outside?"

Wang Xijue's face changed at this time, and he became a little nervous: "The world...I'm afraid there will be chaos..."

Yan Shaoting smiled and said, "Will they really cause chaos in the world?"

Wang Xijue fell silent.

This question is obviously difficult to answer.

Yan Shaoting was really like a good teacher at this moment, and began to teach earnestly: "The world, the two capitals and thirteen provinces of my Ming Dynasty can be regarded as a table of food. Now, the table is full of people, and everyone can get a bite of food from the table. They just don't want others to eat more, or don't want others to eat. But they will never allow someone to overturn the whole table, making it impossible for everyone to eat."

at this point.

Within a hundred years, there will be evidence.

Although many people at the table changed tables at that time, it was passive rather than active.

So it's ridiculous.

These vested interests are often reluctant to disrupt the status quo, but they are also the least willing to see the status quo disrupted by others. Once a disruptor does appear, they will become the ones who desperately protect the current situation.

However, these people did not realize that decades later, the table full of food would eventually be overturned because of them.

Wang Xijue still didn't quite understand, but whispered, "So, sir, what you mean is that the disputes in the capital won't last too long? Even if they oppose the new policy, it's impossible for them to really cause a big chaos in the world?"

Yan Shaoting sneered: "What kind of chaos is there in the court? In this world, the people are still busy with spring ploughing and autumn harvest, and the head of the village and the head of the village are still shouldering the taxes and labor service assigned by the government. The court is too high and too far away, and it is also far away from the world."

In fact, this statement is paradoxical.

Because the situation he described would only occur when the imperial court was caught up in a dispute without any substance.

However, once the court starts a conflict over a specific matter, it will inevitably affect the local people.

But now, the court is caught up in disputes and turmoil because of the discussion of new policies, which obviously will not immediately affect the local people.

Wang Xijue finally understood a little after hearing this: "So, Sir, you think that although the court seems to be in chaos and the two sides are arguing fiercely, it actually won't have any impact? So, Sir, there is no need to rush back to Beijing right now?"

After the explanation, Wang Xijue naturally understood.

Since you think the current chaos in the capital is not a problem, returning to the capital now will only get you into trouble. Instead of doing that, it would be better for you to stay in Nanjing, a place far away from the court.

Think about it this way.

The gentleman wanted to give all his salary to the Grand Tutor. Naturally, he did not want the Grand Tutor to be involved in the disputes in the court, so he could stay in the academy and continue playing cards.

Yan Shaoting smiled and shook his head, because he saw a group of people walking quickly towards him in the rain and mist outside.

He immediately narrowed his eyes and said: "Just because we don't return to Beijing doesn't mean others can't return to Beijing." From a distance.

Zhao Zhenji, the governor-general of Zhejiang and governor of Zhejiang Province in the Ming Dynasty, once again fled from Hangzhou to Nanjing.

And this time he brought quite a few followers with him.

Zhao Zhenji walked into the pavilion on the pier, and without any hesitation, he poured himself some crude tea on the table and drank it.

Wang Xijue looked at the provincial governor curiously, and then looked at his teacher who was looking at him with a smile.

Zhao Butang finished his tea and looked at Yan Shaoting with some embarrassment on his face.

"Guessed it?"

Yan Shaoting nodded.

Zhao Zhenji's face showed even more embarrassment.

The provincial governor blushed and rubbed his hands.

Seeing that Yan Shaoting remained silent, he pretended to be ignorant even though he knew the truth.

Zhao Zhenji finally said with a red face: "I think... I can also join the cabinet to help the country with some of its worries..."

Finally speaking out what was in his heart, Zhao Zhenji looked at Yan Shaoting steadily.

Weird.

This provincial governor was clearly talking about becoming an assistant minister in the Ming cabinet, but he was looking for a young man named Yan Shaoting.

What was even more bizarre was that no one present thought there was anything wrong, including Zhao Zhenji himself.

Yan Shaoting showed a bit of amusement on his face, and teased in front of Zhao Zhenji: "Zhao Bu Tang, aren't you afraid that outsiders will say that you are a person who is trying to curry favor with my Yan family to gain power?"

It was expected that Zhao Zhenji would come to see him.

It's not surprising that he wants to join the cabinet.

After all, working in the government these days.

Who doesn’t want to make progress?

An official who doesn’t want to make progress is not a good official!
Although this statement is a bit ambiguous, it is the truth.

After all, if you want to make progress, you must not only be a good person and run for office, but also have some impressive political achievements. And if you want to have political achievements, you have to do some good deeds for the people.

Faced with Yan Shaoting's face-to-face ridicule, Zhao Zhenji was not annoyed, nor did he feel embarrassed.

He even straightened his face, folded his hands and pointed to the north, and said sincerely: "Although Lord Yan has retired from the court, he is still one of the three highest officials in the court, and is ranked as the Grand Tutor. With such honor, the emperor and the court and the people know that no one can criticize the Grand Tutor's character and officialdom. Runwu is the eldest grandson of the Grand Tutor, and is also an important official in the court, sitting in Jiangnan. His family tradition is clean, and his family has a long history of learning. All of his family members serve the country."

"I... I was able to be promoted from the Governor of Yingtian to the Governor-General of Zhejiang and the Governor of Zhejiang because of the grace of the Grand Tutor. This relationship is also known to everyone in the court. Now the court is in turmoil and troubles are everywhere. The ministers in the cabinet have done their best, but human power is limited. Although I have the intention to run for office, I also have the ambition to share the worries of the country. How can I run for office and abuse power? I just want to be loyal to my duties."

Yan Shaoting looked at Zhao Butang with a smile on his face.

The words were really colorful and beautiful.

He even glanced sideways at Wang Xijue, probably hoping that his students could learn more advanced official experience from this senior official.

He smiled and said, "Zhao Butang has served in various places and is now a provincial governor in the southeast. He has certainly made contributions to the court. If the court is recommending new cabinet members, Zhao Butang will definitely be considered. But why did they choose to look for me?"

Zhao Zhenji rolled his eyes and without hiding anything, he first poured a cup of tea for Yan Shaoting, and then poured another bowl for himself.

"Since I have said so, I naturally regard myself as the disciple of the Grand Tutor. Runwu is not only the Grand Tutor's eldest grandson, but also a young talent that the Emperor values. If I want to join the cabinet, I naturally need Runwu to say a few good words for me in front of the Grand Tutor and the Emperor, so that I can create some movement in the court."

He really didn't hide anything at all.

It's not possible to be honest in what you say.

Without waiting for Yan Shaoting to speak, Zhao Zhenji immediately added: "The court is now in a mess because of the new policy. If I can join the cabinet at this time, I can naturally help Gao Gong. He looks hot-tempered, but he also wants to do things. The new policy is something he wants to do. If I join the cabinet, I won't be sitting on the bench. By then, not to mention the two capitals and thirteen provinces, even in Zhejiang and Zhili, it will be easier for the court to try out something."

State your purpose at the beginning, then build relationships, and finally make a promise.

Zhao Zhenji now clearly stated that he is a disciple of old Yan and that he is from the Yan family when he entered the cabinet. He will strongly support the new policies and will support the Yan family or Yan Shaoting himself to the end whatever they want to do.

This is naturally the attitude that Yan Shaoting wants.

He smiled and shook his head, picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.

Zhao Zhenji looked at him and finally his expression relaxed a little.

"Although I had some criticisms against the Grand Tutor and the Yan family in the past, it was because of different political views. After serving as an official for these years, and with Xu Jie being demoted to a commoner this year, I have come to understand that if I want to do things and do good things for the people, I must first have power in my hands."

Zhao Zhenji also changed his tone at this moment, making the conversation between the two of them seem more sincere.

He continued, "Now that I think about it, the Grand Tutor and the Young Minister may have made some mistakes in their work, but they were probably waiting for the opportunity to cultivate talents. Although the Grand Tutor has retired from the court, the Yan family is full of loyal people, and everyone can see their weight in the court. This is a good time to implement new policies and benefit the people of the world!"

Zhao Zhenji talked incessantly.

Yan Shaoting was amazed in his heart. He never thought that Zhao Zhenji could make such an analysis of his own family.

He even said something like Old Yan was waiting to train him.

However, this argument seems to be the view of most people both inside and outside the government today.

Just as Zhao Zhenji said, if you want to get things done in the court, the first thing is to gain power.

It is obvious that the Yan family now holds great power.

If we analyze the Yan family’s words in this way, the logic actually makes sense!
Although this is actually a misunderstanding.

But Yan Shaoting felt that such misunderstanding could continue.

He finally spoke slowly: "I am young, but I have worked in the court for quite some time. I can see clearly who are the loyal and good people in the court and the country. Zhao Butang is one of them, and he is a leader!"

Seeing this is equivalent to agreeing to support nominating me to join the cabinet.

A smile immediately appeared on Zhao Zhenji's face.

Yan Shaoting turned to look at Wang Xijue and said, "We have made considerable progress in clearing out the large households that have occupied the land in the twelve prefectures of Jiangnan. This time, we will sort out the documents and hand them over to Zhao Butang to present to the court."

If one wants to enter the cabinet, in addition to the Yan family's recommendation, one must of course also have some real merits in the present.

The twelve prefectures in the south of the Yangtze River cleared the land and returned it to the people. This was a great achievement in itself.

Zhao Zhenji understood Yan Shaoting's meaning immediately, and immediately stood up, clasped his hands together, and bowed: "I will never forget your kindness today! If you need me to do something in the future, just ask me!"

Yan Shaoting shook his head and looked at Zhao Zhenji seriously: "Zhao Bu Tang, the reason why I nodded in agreement is not to make Bu Tang completely dependent on my family or obey my family's orders."

He spoke so seriously that Zhao Zhenji had no way of doubting him, so he looked puzzled.

Yan Shaoting smiled and said, "At least, what I said about Zhao Butang is really rare and willing to work, and it's true. Maybe one day in the future, I and the Yan family will have different political views from Zhao Butang, but it doesn't matter as we are all working for the court and the people of the world. Just for this reason, the court should have added more cabinet ministers this time, so why don't I think about Zhao Butang who happens to be closer to my family now?"

He really meant what he said.

But Zhao Zhenji felt really embarrassed.

If that's the case, then what I said before would really fall into the hands of those people who are seeking official positions and abusing their power.

Yan Shaoting stood up with a smile, walked to Zhao Zhenji, and reached out to hold him down.

"Don't worry."

"Wait for the imperial court to summon me back to the capital and become a prime minister!"

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(End of this chapter)