"Haha, Mr. Zhao, I can still see the stakes in this." Shangguan Taiqing said with a smile, not forgetting to fill Zhao Zhonghai's wine glass: "Aren't we joining forces to resist the Yuwen family? Now

Yuwen Hongru oversees the country, and Yuwen Chenghua holds military power. If this continues, where will there be room for us in the court?"

Compared to Cai Xuewen, Shangguan Taiqing's attitude towards Zhao Zhonghai was much more polite.

The personnel department that Zhao Zhonghai held was not comparable to that of the Ministry of Rites, which had little real power. In addition, behind Zhao Zhonghai stood a member of the Zhao family, including nobles from several states in the south of the Yangtze River.

"Okay." Zhao Zhonghai waved his hand, with a smile on his lips: "Master Marquis, let's not beat around the bush. Since we want to form an alliance, you must show your sincerity, right? My Zhao family has already shown its sincerity.

"

"Haha, Mr. Zhao is so happy!" Shangguan Taiqing laughed loudly: "Now the six departments of the Central Government, the Ministry of War and Household Affairs are in the hands of the Yuwen family, the Ministry of Punishment and the Ministry of Personnel are in the hands of your Chu party, and the Ministry of Rites can barely be regarded as ours now.

, Wang Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry is getting old and is preparing to retire and return home. On the surface, it seems that we still have the upper hand, but in fact, most of the military power and court officials are on the side of the Yuwen family."

Zhao Zhonghai nodded, holding the wine glass with his right hand, turning it constantly in his hand, and narrowed his eyes at Marquis Runan who was sitting in the main seat analyzing the court situation.

Shangguan Taiqing continued: "This time Liangzhou defeated King Fu's Tengjia soldiers, so it should be inevitable to put down the rebellion. In this case, the three newly appointed governors of Hefu, Donghai, and Lingzhou did a lot of work in putting down the rebellion.

There will be some credit to some extent. When the time comes, Mr. Zhao’s second brother can come to Beijing to serve as the Minister of War. When the time is right, we will let the Queen Mother take away the post of Minister of War of the Yuwen family and let your second brother take over. When the time comes, the Zhao family

Isn’t it a good story to have two ministers in one discipline?”

Unexpectedly, the condition offered by Shangguan Taiqing was the position of Minister of the Ministry of War, which really impressed Zhao Zhonghai.

Zhao Zhonghai frowned and thought for a while, then said: "It's a good idea, but I'm afraid the Yuwen family won't hand over the post of Minister of the Ministry of War. They went through a lot of hard work to seize the military power when the Nangong family fell.

If you want to use their military power, it's equivalent to breaking up with them directly?"

"Haha, with the Queen Mother here, we will work hard and we will definitely succeed!" Shangguan Taiqing said confidently, with a smile on his face.

Zhao Zhonghai looked at this uncle-in-law who had never been famous in the past, and felt a little surprised in his heart. This middle-aged man didn't move, but wanted to run into the Yuwen family. This courage was a bit extraordinary.

"Master Zhao, this military power is a good thing. Don't you, the Zhao family, not want a share of the pie?" Shangguan Taiqing looked directly into Zhao Zhonghai's eyes.

Facing the temptation of military power, Zhao Zhonghai thought for a long time, gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I, the Zhao family, will accompany you to fight with the Yuwen family!"

Shangguan Taiqing laughed heartily. He knew in his heart that the Zhao family could not resist this temptation. As the leader of the Jiangnan family, ordinary official positions could no longer impress them.

Looking at Shangguan Taiqing's smile, Zhao Zhonghai also said with enlightenment: "Since the Marquis gave the Ministry of War to our Zhao family, then the post of Minister of the Ministry of Industry must be taken by your Shangguan family, right?

"

"Hahaha! Zhao Shangshu is really a smart man. Please help me when the time comes!" Shangguan Taiqing laughed and raised his wine glass: "Come! Drink this cup for our alliance!"

"Do it!" Zhao Zhonghai raised his glass and drank it down happily.

After the two chatted for a while, Zhao Zhonghai got up and left. After all, the Ministry of Civil Affairs still had to arrange for officials to go to the southern border, so they couldn't just send a governor to be the commander-in-chief. Time was urgent, and Zhao Zhonghai had a heavy burden on him.

Heavy.

Shangguan Taiqing kindly sent Zhao Zhonghai out of the Runan Marquis Mansion and was extremely polite.

Looking at the carriage going away, Shangguan Taiqing returned to the house with a strange smile on his lips.

At this time, his younger brother Shangguan Tailei was already waiting in the hall, with a look of excitement on his face. After all, he became the governor of Donghai County. For him who had only had an empty title before, it was undoubtedly a step up to the sky.

Shangguan Tailei saw his brother walking in the door and stood up quickly: "Brother, do you really want to hand over the Minister of War to the Zhao family? If they really occupy the two most powerful positions of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of War, even if we overthrow

Without the Yuwen family, the Zhao family will also grow into a behemoth. We must guard against it!"

In the officialdom, interests are at the forefront. A friend one day may become an enemy the next. Even Shangguan Tailei, who usually only drinks and has fun, understands this truth.

"Humph! What a beautiful idea!" The smile on Shangguan Taiqing's face was gone at this time, and he snorted coldly: "If we can really take over the Minister of War from the Yuwen family, of course my Shangguan family will take over. Now, just

First use a Minister of the Ministry of War to hook them, and then you need to use the power of their Chu Party to help you become Minister of the Ministry of Industry!"

There was some regret in Shangguan Taiqing's tone. The Shangguan family had never been involved in government affairs before, but now they suddenly came out of the country. There were not many Shangguan family members in the court. They were isolated and helpless, so they had no choice but to form an alliance with the Chu Party.

Shangguan Tailei smiled sinisterly and nodded: "Brother Gao Ming, when the time comes, it will not be his Zhao family who will be the master of two ministers, but my Shangguan family, haha!"

"Okay! This is all for another day!" Shangguan Taiqing frowned as he looked at this helpless younger brother.

Shangguan Tailei shrank his head, he was still very afraid of this brother. His father was dead, and now Shangguan Taiqing was the head of the Shangguan family, and he always kept his word.

Shangguan Taiqing waved his hand and motioned for his younger brother to sit down: "When we go to the East China Sea, in addition to trying to get some credit, it's best to establish a good relationship with the Liangzhou general. The combat power of the Liangzhou army is obvious to all. If we can win

It’s a great blessing to be on my Shangguan family’s boat!”

"Winning over Chenyue?" Shangguan Tailei was stunned: "There are rumors outside that this Liangzhou general is very close to the Yuwen family. I'm afraid there is something wrong with doing this."

Since Chenyue rose from Liangzhou, he has grown step by step from a border military lieutenant to a general in Liangzhou. In addition to Chenyue's constant pursuit of military glory, the Yuwen family has also tried its best to support them, giving money and people to others.

, everyone with a discerning eye takes it seriously, so in the official circles of the capital, Chenyue is regarded as a member of the Yuwen family.

Yuwen Taiqing said confidently: "With the Queen Mother here, what the Yuwen family can give to Chenyue, our Shangguan family can also give it to, just go ahead and do it!"

Shangguan Tailei saw that his brother was confident, so he didn't say anything more and nodded. The two Shangguan brothers just sat in the hall and began to look forward to the future when the Shangguan family would be in power.

Unexpectedly, while the front line was still fighting, the imperial court of the Great Zhou Dynasty had once again begun to fight for power and make plans for the post-war political structure. And all of this was based on the bloodshed and sacrifice of the front line soldiers to put down the rebellion.
Chapter completed!