Wu Qi returned to his Yantieyuan tiredly. After taking off his official robe, he sighed heavily.
Wuyuan was Wuqi's nephew, and one of the few successful nephews in the Wu family. Wuqi always delegated important matters to him.
The last time I sent the Fifth Yuan to Fengxiang Mansion, I wanted to make some arrangements to return to the center, but the Fifth Yuan couldn't even get in through the prime minister's house with his own invitation.
Wu Qi sighed. Although he was well-known for being good at managing money, the officials in the court still despised him.
This time, the vacancy of the Doctor of Duzhi finally became available. You must know that there are only so many ways to rise to the rank of Financial Minister. If you cannot be promoted to the position of Doctor of Duzhi, it will be more difficult to be promoted in the future.
Fifth Yuan continued: "Uncle, this time my nephew could not meet the prime minister, but he also made a few capable friends."
"oh?"
Wuqi looked at his nephew and asked casually: "Who have you made friends with?"
Those who had the influence in the imperial court to move Fifth Qi to the Ministry of Household Affairs were just these few big shots.
Even the prime minister refuses to see Wuyuan, so who else can help him get promoted?
When he thought of this, Wu Qi felt a little disheartened.
It can be said that he worked hard to build a salt hospital in Jianghuai from scratch.
When illicit salt was banned, troops were required to fight in order to exterminate these salt bandits.
It can be said that he spent all his efforts, but the court only wanted to continuously collect taxes from Jianghuai and was stingy with rewards for him, a meritorious financial official.
Wuyuan said: "Uncle, when I met with Prime Minister Pei, I met a scholar from Longyou. The two of us had the same spirit."
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"This Longyou scholar is a descendant of the Wang family in Taiyuan. The family moved to Longyou to avoid trouble. He is a scholar recommended by Hexi to participate in the imperial examination."
A scholar from Longyou?
Wu Qi nodded. If his nephew can make these scholars who participated in the imperial examination, he has made serious friends.
Although taking the imperial examination may not necessarily lead to passing the examination, at least he can be recommended by the state government and he is also a scholar with both political integrity and talent.
What help can a young scholar who has not yet set foot in the officialdom do for him?
Wuyuan added: "Later, Brother Wang introduced me to Shang Bo, the envoy of the Longyou Governor's Mansion. It is said that this envoy of Shang was the guest of Princess Yanguang."
Wuqi's eyes lit up.
The princesses of the Tang Dynasty were very powerful, as powerful as Princess Taiping, and even wanted to get their hands on the throne.
Princess Yanguang and Wu Qi naturally knew about it.
As the emperor's favorite daughter, Princess Yanguang often visited the palace.
If this businessman is really Princess Yanguang's guest, he might be able to persuade Princess Yanguang to recommend him to the emperor.
Thinking of this, Wu Qi rekindled a glimmer of hope.
At this time, the housekeeper informed Wu Qi that there was a distinguished guest outside the door.
When the housekeeper saw this visitor, although he did not reveal his identity and just sent a greeting card, his expression was arrogant and he was not an ordinary person. The housekeeper did not dare to neglect and immediately handed the greeting card to Wu Qi.
Fifth Qi saw that the greeting card was on the most popular Longyou white paper. There was no official position or name written on the greeting card, only a strange name - "Tang Guiwei".
Seeing this name, Wu Qi was stunned for a moment, and then showed a surprised expression.
Fifth Yuan came over and asked: "Uncle? Dang Guiwei? Who is this?"
Wu Qi sighed and said: "I teach you to read more books on weekdays. This is a pseudonym."
"A pseudonym?"
Wu Qi said: "There is a sentence in Sima Xiangru's "Zixu Fu", '俶奥贵伟', and this name corresponds to the character Chu. Do you know which important figure in the court today has the taboo name of Chu?"
Fifth Yuan was also a clever man. He immediately said: "Uncle! Are you talking about His Highness the Crown Prince?"
Wu Qi immediately said: "Hurry up and welcome the envoy from the East Palace!"
After a while, I saw a young man with a pale face and no beard being invited into the house by the housekeeper.
Seeing Wu Qi's solemn appearance, the young eunuch smiled and said: "I'm in the Lower East Palace to entrust Cheng Yuanzhen to pay homage to the Fifth Salt and Iron Envoy."
Wu Qi was even more surprised. The Eastern Palace Eunuch is the position in charge of all the eunuchs in the Eastern Palace. Although the position itself is not high, he is the most trusted and closest eunuch in the Eastern Palace.
This Cheng Yuanzhen was the personal eunuch of Prince Li Chu. The prince sent him here to show that he valued himself.
Cheng Yuanzhen did not bow to Wu Qi. When Wu Qi led him into the study, Cheng Yuanzhen said directly:
"My Highness heard that the Fifth Salt and Iron Envoy is seeking the position of Duzhi Langzhong."
Wu Qi was startled, and Cheng Yuanzhen said directly: "Your Highness can help you."
The exchange of interests is so simple and direct.
Financial ministers like Wu Qi understand the principle of equivalent exchange.
There is no free lunch in this world, everything has a price.
He and Dong Gong have never been in contact, but Dong Gong actually said that he is willing to help him get promoted, so naturally he will have to pay something.
Wu Qi became entangled.
Doctor Duzhi is an important position, but receiving the favor from the East Palace is tantamount to joining the prince's camp.
A financial minister like himself is a technocrat to begin with, and there is no need to get involved in the turmoil of the court.
Cheng Yuanzhen saw Fifth Qi's hesitant attitude and immediately said: "Now that Duzhi doctor is vacant, in fact, according to the qualifications of Fifth Salt and Iron Envoy, he is completely qualified."
"It's just that His Majesty is worried that the departure of the Fifth Salt and Iron Envoy will affect Jianghuai's salt tax affairs, so he is currently hesitating."
Wuqi's eyes immediately lit up.
Wu Qi had no foundation in the court and no sources of information, so whatever Cheng Yuanzhen said came naturally.
Cheng Yuanzhen added: "According to His Highness's wishes, the world's wealth basically relies on Jianghuai. In fact, the financial resources that the imperial court, a doctor of the imperial family, can control are limited."
"It is absolutely possible for the fifth salt and iron envoy to be promoted to Duzhi Langzhong and continue to serve as both the general envoy to Jianghuai and the salt and iron envoy."
"This not only applauds the hard work of the Fifth Salt and Iron Envoy, but also ensures the stability of the imperial court's financial resources. It is the best of both worlds."
Wu Qi was even more ecstatic.
He was planning to become a doctor, but he was also somewhat reluctant to give up the position of being a doctor of salt and iron.
You must know that those in charge of salt have been fat men since ancient times. Wu Qi can be regarded as an honest official, but as long as he is in this position, he can also support many people in the family.
The plan brought by Cheng Yuanzhen not only took care of Wu Qi's face, but also preserved his dignity. The price was too high.
Wuqi couldn't help but agree.
But he was sober again. Dong Gong must have a big conspiracy to win over him like this.
Wu Qi immediately asked his nephew to go out and drove away all the servants who were near the room.
Then he asked Cheng Yuanzhen:
"Then what does His Highness need Wuqi?"
Cheng Yuanzhen said with a smile:
"Your Highness only needs one thing - money!"
Wu Qi showed an expected expression and asked again: "How much does your Highness want?"
Cheng Yuanzhen stretched out three fingers, Wu Qi showed a pained expression and asked: "Thirty thousand strings?"
Thirty thousand guan is already a considerable amount of money, but Wuqi can still come up with this money.
Unexpectedly, Cheng Yuanzhen shook his head and said: "The Salt and Iron Ambassador is joking, do you think His Highness is a person who sells his official position to gain titles?"
"What your Highness wants is not 30,000 yuan, but 30% of your Jianghuai salt tax!"
Wu Qi stood there in surprise, but Cheng Yuanzhen said:
"Your Highness is the crown prince of the country. This money is also used by the Tang Dynasty. It is also the public money of the East Palace. It is also the expense of raising soldiers and soldiers for the country."
Wu Qi only felt cold all over.
Cheng Yuanzhen said again: "Does the Salt and Iron Envoy still remember the Helan Jin Ming Jiedushi Envoy?"
Speaking of Helan Jinming, Wu Qi's expression changed again.
Cheng Yuanzhen said: "Your Highness has already heard that Helan Jiedushi was going to guard Linhuai that day and refused to send troops to rescue Suiyang. Nan Jiyun, who was sent by Zhang Xun to ask for help, had his head chopped off and took away the Jingjie of Linhuai."
Wu Qi remained silent. Helan Jinming was his candidate. According to the rules of Tang Dynasty officialdom, he and Zhang Xunnan Jiyun had a life-or-death relationship.
Even if he didn't avenge Helan Jinming, he would be ridiculed by people in the officialdom.
News of the cause of Helan Jinming's death had already reached Yangzhou, but Wu Qi had always been pretending to be an ostrich.
Now being challenged by Cheng Yuanzhen, Wu Qi could only say: "The commander-in-chief has shown kindness to Qi, and Nan Jiyun and I are irreconcilable!"
Cheng Yuanzhen said: "As long as the Salt and Iron Envoy agrees, His Highness will let the censor participate in Zhang Xun and Nan Jiyun."
Wu Qi had now reached a dead end. The prince had already made an offer so high that it would be rude to refuse.
At this moment, Wu Qi's nephew Wu Yuan suddenly walked in.
"Uncle, there are important matters reported to various salt institutes today. You'd better go and deal with them first."
The nephew rescued the siege, and Wu Qi immediately said: "Cheng Gongling, I'm sorry! I have important things to do. I'll go back as soon as I can!"
After saying that, he stepped out of the study.
After leaving the study, Wu Qi said to his nephew: "You have experienced a lot when you went out this time. Fortunately, you came to the rescue, otherwise it would have been terrible."
Fifth Yuan said: "Uncle, my nephew feels that it is not appropriate to seek refuge with the prince."
Wu Qi and his nephew walked to the quiet garden and asked:
"Tell me about it."
Fifth Yuan said: "Donggong is the crown prince, but the money our Yanyuan receives from His Majesty also goes into the treasury of the Ministry of Revenue. There is no reason for it to go into Donggong's private treasury."
"Once there is a change in the East Palace, our fifth family will be guilty of treason, and our family will be confiscated and destroyed forever!"
Wu Qi nodded. His nephew was right. If he really helped the East Palace withhold Jianghuai's salt tax, it would be a first-rate crime.
Fifth Yuan added: "My nephew also heard some news in Fengxiang Mansion. Let's talk to my uncle to avoid getting into the sunken ship in the East Palace."