Chapter nine hundred and eighty third. Suicide (1).
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"This Zhan Shanchang... I'm afraid I can't keep him!"
Fang Ru and Zhang Yu'er were both shocked when they heard what Zhao Junchen said.
"Master, you want to..."
While speaking, Zhang Yuer stretched out her palm and made a beheading motion.
Zhao Junchen nodded lightly and said: "Zhan Shanchang's identity is too sensitive. He was the first member of the imperial court to serve under me. If the news about his betrayal of me spreads, everyone will think that I am incompetent. By then,
No one knows whether the members of the 'Zhao Party' will have other ideas.
What's more, he is now working for His Majesty. He thinks he is safe and has a bright future. I'm afraid he won't change his mind. I can't openly target him. If it's normal, that's it. Keeping him can also make Your Majesty feel at ease.
You can pass him some true or false news to His Majesty!
But this period from now on will be the success or failure stage of several of my key plans, so I can never keep him by my side. It will only tie myself up and waste the opportunity... So, after much thought, I decided to eradicate the root cause.
It’s better to avoid future troubles!”
Speaking of which, the estrangement between Zhan Shanchang and Zhao Junchen was also the reason why Zhao Junchen took the lead in secretly suppressing Zhan Shanchang. It can be said that Zhao Junchen was the first to feel sorry for Zhan Shanchang.
But in the officialdom, people only talk about positions, not right or wrong. Since Zhan Shanchang chose the wrong position at the wrong time, Zhao Junchen could only fail to treat him again.
Seeing Zhao Junchen's calm expression when expressing his stance, Zhang Yu'er looked a little surprised, but suddenly discovered that Zhao Junchen's personality had undergone many changes after returning to the capital from Shaanxi and Gansu, and he had become much more decisive.
Previously, such methods of eradicating the grass and roots had always been the style of the Seventh Prince Zhu Hejian. Zhao Junchen always left some leeway for others when doing things, and his methods were more tactful, and he would never kill anyone easily - but
Nowadays, Zhao Junchen seems to have gradually developed this tendency.
After discovering this situation, Zhang Yu'er looked at Zhao Junchen blankly and could not recover for a while.
This is also a matter of course. After experiencing the Shaanxi-Gansu War, he witnessed the death of countless lives with his own eyes, and became accustomed to treating the casualties of soldiers as a series of cold numbers. Zhao Junchen's character naturally changed somewhat, and he has changed again.
He is no longer as indecisive as before.
On the other side, Fang Ru had no intention of questioning.
Fang Ru only has room for Zhao Junchen in her heart, so in her eyes, everyone who betrays Zhao Junchen deserves to die.
After hearing Zhao Junchen's decision, Fang Ru just reminded: "Sir, even if Zhan Shanchang lost his official position, he was once a high official in the imperial court, and now he is also His Majesty's eyeliner. If he dies suddenly and violently, it will inevitably attract the attention of both the government and the opposition.
If you pay attention, Your Majesty will definitely be suspicious, and the factory guards will conduct a detailed investigation. We might be caught, but we have to be on guard!"
With a smile on his lips, Zhao Junchen said leisurely: "So, he will die more naturally, so that no one can find any flaws! Well, let him commit suicide!"
Zhang Yuer finally came to her senses and asked: "Suicide? A person like Zhan Shanchang must be extremely timid and cherish his life. Will he be willing to commit suicide?"
Zhao Junchen's tone was still calm and calm, and he said slowly: "Whether he wants to commit suicide or not, he will soon be unable to decide for himself!"
*
While Zhao Junchen, Fang Ru, and Zhang Yuer were discussing matters in the study, the day's court meeting finally came to an end.
During this court meeting, Hong Zhengshuo and Ma Sen submitted the three strategies for raising grain to Emperor Deqing with a grimace.
There was no surprise. When Hong Zhengshuo and Ma Sen proposed three strategies for raising food, they immediately caused an uproar among officials.
Amid constant controversy, the court meeting lasted until mid-afternoon when it finally came to an end.
Due to their respective positions, most officials expressed their opposition.
But in the end, the three food-raising strategies were still passed.
There is no other reason than that the national treasury is indeed out of food, and the logistical food and fodder for the Hetao War must be guaranteed. This is the top priority of the imperial court, but none of the officials can come up with a better way to raise food.
Therefore, whenever an official expressed his opposition to the three grain raising strategies, Emperor Deqing would use a seemingly impartial attitude and ask, "Since this beloved minister is strongly opposed, he must have a better idea in mind."
Is there any way?"
In this way, after several rhetorical questions from Emperor Deqing, the officials who were questioned were all speechless and silent, so the opposition from the officials soon became insignificant.
After the officials were forced to agree to the three strategies for raising grains, they naturally did not dare to bear grudges against Emperor Deqing, so they vented their anger towards the Hubu Yamen, especially Hong Zhengshuo and Ma who personally proposed the three strategies for raising grains.
The two Sens even aroused the hostility of the officials and became a thorn in their side and a thorn in their flesh!
For a time, the chaos in the Hubu Yamen became more and more serious. All the Hubu officials did not dare to raise their heads to see people. Hong Zhengshuo and Ma Sen were even more disgraced and embarrassed.
Under such circumstances, many officials have begun to miss the "good old days" when Zhao Junchen was in charge of the household department.
As the saying goes, "People will die when comparing with others, but goods will be lost when comparing goods."
I think back at the beginning, when Zhao Junchen personally presided over the Hubu Yamen, the officials did not think that Zhao Junchen had any benefits. They even thought that Zhao Junchen was too stingy. Every time the major Yamen asked the Hubu for money.
, often you can only get 30% to 40% silver.
If officials from the major yamen go to the Hubu Yamen to argue, the Hubu officials will take out the account books and calculate the accounts for you carefully. The final conclusion is that the money is enough for the major yamen to handle matters, and some are even reserved for the major yamen.
Oil and water, the major yamen and the Ministry of Revenue could not argue, and in the end they could only hit a wall and return.
However, after the Hubu Yamen left Zhao Junchen, when the major Yamen asked for money from the Hubu Yamen again, let alone getting 30 to 40% of the silver, most of the time they couldn't even get 10% of the silver.
The Hubu Yamen will only repeat that the treasury is out of money, and let the major Yamen find ways to hold on for a while.
Nowadays, the Chinese New Year is about to come. In order to win people's support, various factions and yamen are trying to get some money and provide some benefits to middle- and lower-level officials. They are counting on the Ministry of Revenue to open the door of the treasury to distribute money, but in the end they just wait.
When it comes to the word "no money" - in fact, Zhou Shangjing has been eyeing Xiuhe Yinzi during this period, and it is precisely for this reason.
What's even more unacceptable is that the Hubu Yamen not only couldn't get out the money, but also kept an eye on the officials' salaries. Naturally, the officials were filled with indignation.
"Zhao Junchen has only left the Ministry of Finance for more than three months, but the Yamen of the Ministry of Finance has fallen to this point? It seems that the Ministry of Finance is really inseparable from Zhao Junchen!"
For a time, many officials remembered Zhao Junchen's emotion before he fainted yesterday, and their attitudes and stances gradually changed.
In this way, after involving the vital interests of the officials, although Zhao Junchen did nothing, his official evaluation was further improved.
Public opinion is brewing secretly.
It is conceivable that once Zhao Junchen regains the power of the Ministry of Household Affairs in the future, the officials will not show strong opposition.
*
But he said that after Lu Chunxiao, the imperial censor of Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, left the morning court and returned to the Yamen of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, he recalled the scene of the morning court today and was filled with emotions.
He is a core member of the "Princeling Party". He used to dislike Zhao Junchen and only thought that Zhao Junchen was a traitor who brought disaster to the country and the people.
But now, after truly leaving Zhao Junchen, Lu Chunxiao realized the importance of Zhao Junchen to the temple.
"Alas! The Imperial Procuratorate is a Qingshui yamen. Many rooms have fallen into disrepair. The censors do not have much external wealth and have always been poor...
At the end of the new year in previous years, the Ministry of Revenue would also sympathize with the difficulties of the officials and was always generous when approving money. I originally wanted to take the opportunity to ask for a sum of money from the Ministry of Revenue, not only to renovate the houses of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, but also to
Some benefits were also given to the censors of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, so that they would be a little more comfortable during the New Year...
But seeing the current embarrassment of the Hubu Yamen, they must be unable to get out any money! Alas, the Hubu officials are really incompetent. Without Zhao Junchen, even basic operations cannot be maintained!"
Thinking of this, Lu Chunxiao also couldn't help but despise the incompetence of the Household Department officials, and secretly missed the time when Zhao Junchen was in charge of the Household Department.
"Speaking of which, Zhao Junchen is indeed very capable! In the past two years, the Hubu Yamen also encountered difficulties many times, but Zhao Junchen was able to spend money and find ways to tide over the difficulties no matter what.
Today’s chaos?
Zhao Junchen also understands the importance and propriety. Even though the Metropolitan Procuratorate has always been a gathering place for the pure people, and its attitude towards him is full of hostility, he also understands the hardship of the officials of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
Be more generous. When other yamen ask for medicine money from the Department of Revenue, they often only get 30 to 40% of the silver. But when the Metropolitan Procuratorate asks the Department of Revenue for money, they often get 50 to 60% of the silver...
During this period of time, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's attitude towards Zhao Junchen has gradually changed. It is not like he used to deliberately target Zhao Junchen. I was still a little unconvinced at first, and I just felt that His Highness the Crown Prince had compromised... But now it seems that Zhao Junchen
Junchen is still of great use to the court, and is not just an ordinary corrupt official!
Well, Zhao Junchen is indeed not an ordinary corrupt official and treacherous minister. If he were an ordinary corrupt official and treacherous minister, how could he have achieved the great achievements he made in Shaanxi and Gansu? During this period, Zhao Junchen's clear evaluation has gradually changed a lot.
, obviously there are many people who think the same as me, gradually realizing the role of Zhao Junchen, but they can no longer regard him as an ordinary corrupt official!"
While thinking secretly, Lu Chunxiao suddenly found that his bad feeling towards Zhao Junchen had gradually disappeared.
Such a change in concept made Lu Chunxiao feel a little strange.
Just as Lu Chunxiao's thoughts were spinning, someone suddenly knocked on the door of Lu Chunxiao's office room and reported: "Sir Zuo, someone just sent a secret letter to the Metropolitan Procuratorate about the former household.
Some of the criminal information about Minister Zhan Shanchang is so important that all the censors dare not make decisions, so I would like to ask you to make your own decision!"
After hearing the report, Lu Chunxiao couldn't help but be shocked.
Lu Chunxiao has presided over the Yamen of the Metropolitan Procuratorate for many years and is very aware of the nature of the Yamen of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
In short, the Metropolitan Procuratorate's Yamen is the knife used by various factions to kill people!
Whenever various factions want to secretly target an official, they will collect evidence of the official's crime and then secretly send it to the Metropolitan Procuratorate for the censors of the Metropolitan Procuratorate to impeach.
Therefore, the Metropolitan Procuratorate receives some incriminating information from unknown sources almost every few days.
The censors of the Metropolitan Procuratorate are all officials. They are not able to collect detailed evidence of official crimes, but they have to sell their names. Once the impeachment of the censors is effective, they will also make meritorious deeds, so they are willing to be impeached.
people use.
Some time ago, someone apparently wanted to target Zhan Shanchang, so the Metropolitan Procuratorate successively received a lot of incriminating information about Zhan Shanchang. The censors of the Metropolitan Procuratorate also impeached Zhan Shanchang, causing Zhan Shanchang to not only lose his official position, but also almost go to jail.
.
However, the censors did not dare to make a decision after receiving the incriminating information. Lu Chunxiao needed to make the decision himself, but this was the first time.
This is obviously due to the extremely serious nature of Zhan Shanchang's crime this time.
Therefore, Lu Chunxiao did not dare to neglect, and quickly left his office room and rushed towards the main hall of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.