Li Chengru was sitting in his office room, but he had no intention of dealing with the mountain of household affairs in front of him. His expression was full of entanglements and contradictions, as if he was thinking about something crucial.
Emperor Deqing convened the cabinet elders and ministers today to discuss the mutual impeachment lawsuit between the prince Zhu Heyu and the feudal princes. Considering Zhu Heyu's current situation, this matter will undoubtedly affect the future crown prince.
Abolition.
As the only die-hard supporter of Zhu Heyu among the top officials of the imperial court, Li Chengru was naturally full of tension and worry at this time.
At least, theoretically Li Chengru should be in this state.
However, due to some strange psychology, Li Chengru's nervousness and worry were only superficial. Instead, a kind of worry about gains and losses occupied his heart.
Moreover, the worries in Li Chengru's heart were not directed at the future prospects of Zhu Heyu's dethronement, but at the future relationship between Zhao Junchen and himself.
If Zhu Heyu is deposed as the crown prince next, then... the alliance between Zhao Junchen and Zhu Heyu will naturally be out of the question!
In this way, as a supporter of Zhu Heyu, how should Li Chengru continue to cooperate with Zhao Junchen in the future? And in what capacity should he continue to get along with Zhao Junchen?
It was precisely because of this strange mentality that after seeing Emperor Deqing leaving Zhao Junchen alone in the imperial study room to talk, Li Chengru did not stay outside the imperial study room waiting for Zhao Junchen and eagerly inquired about Zhao Junchen's information. Instead, he returned directly.
When I walked into the Hubu Yamen, I felt like I was avoiding something.
After returning to the Hubu Yamen, Li Chengru couldn't help but think a lot and began to review his official career over the years.
In the past, Li Chengru, as a high-ranking official, was inevitably a bit unsociable and aloof in character, so his official career had been stumbling and not smooth. He had never served as the highest official of any yamen, nor had he ever served as a senior official.
The feudal officials in any place always work under others, which makes Li Chengru's character a little softer and he has never been tough and decisive enough.
After he finally had enough qualifications and accumulated a good reputation, he was appointed as the Minister of the Ministry of Finance by Emperor Deqing. He was about to start a big career, but he was quickly dismissed by Zhao Junchen, who was the Minister of the Ministry of Finance at the time.
When Li Chengru looked back on that experience afterwards, he found that Emperor Deqing might have never paid much attention to him. The reason why he was appointed Minister of Household Affairs at that time was actually because he had a weak character and was unable to control Zhao Junchen.
In the eyes of Emperor Deqing, he was just a stepping stone for Zhao Junchen!
Therefore, with the rapid rise of Zhao Junchen, Li Chengru soon sadly withdrew from officialdom.
But since Li Chengru, with the support of Zhao Junchen, returned to the temple and once again served as the Minister of Household Affairs, his career experience during this period can be said to be completely different. It is no exaggeration to say that it was smooth sailing and everything went as he wished!
Zhao Junchen had already standardized the operation of the Hubu Yamen and the turnover of the court's money and grain. After Li Chengru became the Hubu Shangshu, he only needed Xiao Gui and Cao to follow him, and he could reap a steady stream of political achievements without expending much effort!
Moreover, Zhao Junchen also respected Li Chengru this time. Although he still firmly controlled the financial power of the imperial court in secret, he did not completely ignore him. Therefore, Li Chengru still had a certain degree of real power in the Hubu Yamen, and no one dared to underestimate him.
He and other major government offices in the imperial court wanted to ask for more funds from the Ministry of Household Affairs, so they had to look at his eyes. This naturally greatly enhanced Li Chengru's status in the temple!
Not long ago, under the instructions of Zhao Junchen, Li Chengru successfully brought down Shen Changmao, the chief minister of the dynasty, with the help of a "water boat smuggling case". For a time, he was in the limelight, and he might be able to use it in the future. This incident will be remembered in history - as a Qingliu official, this is simply the pinnacle of his life! Whenever he thinks about it, Li Chengru will have an indescribable and intense pleasure.
Fame, political achievements, real profits... these are all things that most officials can't get, but for Li Chengru during this period, all these are within easy reach!
In short, the period after Li Chengru returned to the temple can be said to be the most comfortable and satisfactory period since he entered the official career thirty years ago.
Li Chengru naturally understood that his success during this period was all due to Zhao Junchen's support! Without Zhao Junchen, he would be an idle man with nothing but his own reputation!
Thinking of this, Li Chengru couldn't help but turn his eyes to a letter in his hand.
This is a letter from home, which was just delivered to Li Chengru from his hometown in Jiangxi earlier today.
The content of the family letter is very simple. In addition to a simple report of safety, it also specifically mentions one thing, that is - Li Chengru's incompetent eldest son Li Zili has now been recruited by the "United Shipping Company" as the second shopkeeper in Jiangxi. The annual salary is as high as 600 taels of silver. From now on, he will be responsible for all public relations affairs of "United Shipping Company" in Jiangxi.
Before that, Li Chengru's biggest worry was that his incompetent eldest son Li Zili was idle all day long, calling friends, but not doing his job properly. Li Chengru also arranged for Li Zili to study in the Imperial College, but Li Zili soon fell into disgrace because of the examination room. After the cheating incident was discovered, he was kicked out of the Imperial College and Li Chengru's reputation was damaged. From then on, Li Chengru completely gave up on Li Zili and sent him back to his hometown in Jiangxi to focus on raising his second son, Li Zide.
But after Li Zili returned to his hometown in Jiangxi, he was still restless. He hung out with a group of second-generation ancestors who also came from official families all day long. He frequently wrote letters to Li Chengru asking for money. If Li Chengru gave him less money, he would He would secretly sell off his ancestral property, so it became Li Chengru's biggest worry, and he would get a headache every time he thought about it.
However, he did not expect that his eldest son, who was ignorant and unskilled, would become the second shopkeeper of the "United Shipping Company" in Jiangxi, which was making money day by day and becoming increasingly influential. From now on, he would have a real career. The annual salary of one hundred taels of silver was enough for him to squander. From now on, Li Chengru no longer had to worry about his squandering and ruining his family, but he also had one less worry.
Li Chengru naturally understood that the reason why "United Shipping Company" hired Li Zili was entirely because of Zhao Junchen!
At the beginning, Li Chengru was worried that Li Zili, who had always been unprofessional, would hold others back after joining "United Shipping Company". However, when he saw that Li Zili's task at "United Shipping Company" was "public relations", he felt more relieved. ——Li Zili has made a lot of friends in Jiangxi, all of whom are officials at all levels and princes of wealthy families in various places. He is quite popular. The "United Shipping Company" obviously wants to open up a "Ya Nei route" through Li Zili. This kind of thing If it is left to Li Zili to do it, it can be regarded as a person making full use of his talents.
After Li Chengru's eyes lingered on the family letter in his hand for a moment, he quickly remembered a conversation he had overheard.
The conversation took place before the end of the new year. The two parties were Huo Zhengyuan, a scholar, and Liu Changan, the Minister of Household Affairs. The content of the conversation between the two was quite tacky. They were discussing the dividends they had received from Zhao Junchen this year.
Various industries founded by Zhao Junchen, whether it is "United Shipping Company", "Jubao Trading Company", or "Yerongfang", will attract many "Zhao Party" officials to participate in the shares, and at the end of the year, all participating officials will be given
Issue dividends.
Perhaps because Li Chengru's cooperation with "Zhao Dang" was quite pleasant during this period, Huo Zhengyuan did not deliberately avoid him in the conversation with Liu Chang'an.
Of course, Huo Zhengyuan, as the chief think tank of the "Zhao Party", has always been far-sighted and good at planning. It may be that Li Chengru heard this conversation deliberately.
All in all, even though Li Chengru always claimed to be a noble person and disliked money, when he heard the dividend figures between the two of them, he couldn't help but be stunned.
Then, Li Chengru couldn't help but fantasize about it. If he completely surrendered to Zhao Junchen and became a member of the "Zhao Party", with his status and identity, how many shares could he participate in and how much dividends could he receive... That was a situation that Li Chengru couldn't bear.
Live the heart-pounding numbers.
*
As his thoughts were turning, Li Chengru became more and more worried about gains and losses, and couldn't help but pray secretly in his heart: "I hope God will bless His Highness the Crown Prince, and he must be able to get through this difficulty smoothly, and he must not lose his position as Crown Prince..."
Otherwise, how can I cooperate with Mr. Zhao Ge in the future?"
While praying secretly, Li Chengru couldn't help but have another thought - since he and Zhao Junchen were getting along well during this period, if Zhu Heyu was inevitably deposed, he would take the opportunity to change his family.
Wouldn't it be better to fully join Zhao Junchen's disciples, not only to keep all the current benefits, but also to receive welfare dividends from "Zhao Party" officials in the future?
As soon as this idea came up, Li Chengru suppressed it forcefully, and he was also ashamed that he would have such an idea.
"No matter what, I cannot abandon my ambitions and bottom line! I have read the books of sages since I was a child. I have always taken righteousness as my responsibility and am proud of my status. How can I be corrupted by mere fame and fortune?
Even though Zhao Junchen has millions of benefits, he still treats me with respect. His treatment is generous, and his civil and military achievements can be recorded in history. On the occasion of His Majesty's birthday, he was even given a gold medal for immunity from death. I heard that his reputation in government and opposition parties is gradually changing...
…But I can never betray His Highness the Crown Prince…
Even though His Highness the Crown Prince has countless bad qualities, he is a bit stubborn and unreasonable, and the current situation in the temple is extremely unfavorable to him... However, he has a very good nature, and as long as he successfully ascends to the throne, he will definitely be
A generation of holy masters! I have always had noble aspirations, so naturally I want to be loyal to the prince...,"
While blaming himself, Li Chengru began to list various reasons to strengthen his position, but found that his position became increasingly shaken!
"Human nature is depraved, even I have indulged in such corrupt methods..." After his expression changed for a long time, Li Chengru smiled bitterly, shook his head, and murmured softly: "In any case, I made an agreement with Zhao Junchen at the beginning.
, I am only loyal to His Highness the Crown Prince, and I am only cooperating with him during this period because he has reached an alliance with His Highness the Crown Prince! This position must not change! If His Highness the Crown Prince is deposed, that is another matter, but now His Highness the Crown Prince has not lost the crown prince.
In this position, not only can I not change the family, but I must also try to urge Zhao Junchen to do his best to assist His Highness the Crown Prince..."
Just as Li Chengru was muttering to himself, someone suddenly knocked on the door and reported outside the door: "Master Shangshu, someone from the Zhaoge family has sent a famous invitation, inviting you to go to Zhao Mansion as soon as possible to meet you.
There are important things to talk about."
After hearing the report, Li Chengru stood up subconsciously and responded quickly: "Mr. Zhao Ge invites me to meet? Tell Mr. Zhao Ge's messenger that I will go right away!"
Li Chengru, who had been reaffirming his inner position just now, did not realize at this moment that when he mentioned Zhao Junchen, his attitude and expression were much more respectful than when he thought of Prince Zhu Heyu.
*
There are many kinds of temptations in the world, due to human nature, they are famous, beneficial, and colorful, and everyone has different weaknesses...The scary thing about them is the pleasure of easy harvest, the comfort of smooth sailing, the strong contrast between ease and heaviness, as long as
After tasting it once, people will be deeply involved in it without knowing it. After eating the marrow and knowing the taste, they can't stop... Zhao Junchen has always understood this.
In fact, from the time Li Chengru decided to cooperate with Zhao Junchen, many things had already decided the outcome.