During this period of time, due to Zhao Junchen's secret persecution, the Li family was at the end of its rope and was about to lose its business.
After Li Chunchen received the news, he seemed to be very anxious, so he had to stay outside the Zhao Mansion on time every day, repeatedly asking to see Zhao Junchen, hoping to implore Zhao Junchen to show his kindness and let the Li family live.
However, Zhao Junchen had been deliberately ignoring Li Chunchen and completely ignored Li Chunchen's request for an audience.
At the same time, Zhao Junchen also asked the concierge of the Zhao Mansion to hint to Li Chunchen that his status was low, so it was impossible for Zhao Junchen to waste time on him and never see him.
Under such circumstances, if Li Chunchen still wanted to see Zhao Junchen and save the family's fate, there was only one option left.
That is - revealing his true identity to Zhao Junchen and asking to see Zhao Junchen in the name of the factory supervisor.
When the time comes, considering the future power and role of the inner factory, Zhao Junchen will naturally not dare to neglect. Not only will he meet him immediately, but he may also take the initiative to make peace with him. Not only will he let the Li family go, but he will also try to compensate the Li family. Loss of business.
But in this way, Zhao Junchen would discover the secret of the reconstruction of the inner factory, and Li Chunchen would violate the will of Emperor Deqing.
In short, between "disloyalty" and "unfilial piety", Li Chunchen had to choose one!
This is also the real reason why Zhao Junchen deliberately left him alone. He just wanted to force Li Chunchen to make a choice, and then he could judge Li Chunchen's true character through Li Chunchen's specific choices.
In the end, even though Li Chunchen was rejected many times, he still did not reveal his identity as the factory supervisor to Zhao Junchen.
Obviously, in Li Chunchen's eyes, Emperor Deqing's will is far more important than the fate of the family. Even if he is watching the family decline, he must be loyal to Emperor Deqing's will!
Zhao Junchen even believed that Li Chunchen's behavior in the past few days, which seemed to be foolish and asking for rejection, was deliberately performed to show Emperor Deqing.
After reaching this conclusion, Zhao Junchen continued to explore another thing.
That is - Li Chunchen was forced to this point by Zhao Junchen and was unwilling to betray Emperor Deqing. What was his psychology?
Is it greed for power? Or is it blind loyalty to the emperor?
The difference between the two is completely different.
Only by confirming this, Zhao Junchen can fully confirm Li Chunchen's true nature, and can also decide on the next specific method to target Li Chunchen.
It was precisely out of such considerations that Zhao Junchen decided to meet with Li Chunchen and take the opportunity to test him further.
*
Soon, Zhao Dali led Li Chunchen to Zhao Junchen.
When Li Chunchen saw Zhao Junchen, he saluted on the spot, knelt down directly in front of Zhao Junchen, buried his head on the ground, and begged loudly: "Xiaoguan, pay homage to Zhao Gechen! Zhao Gechen, Xiaguan's family is now in dire straits. If the family fortune is about to fall, I ask you, Minister Zhao, to be merciful, show your noble hand, and let the family of the lower official go!"
Hearing what Li Chunchen said and looking at Li Chunchen's seemingly humble attitude, Zhao Junchen couldn't help curling his lips.
In the officialdom, after a subordinate is deliberately making things difficult for him by a superior, if he wants to plead with the superior to let him go, he must carefully choose his words and never get straight to the point, otherwise it will be counterproductive and further intensify the hostility of the superior. .
At this time, even if you clearly know that the person in power is insidious and despicable and has been deliberately making things difficult for you, you should try your best to remove the responsibility of the person in power and take the initiative to maintain the fair image of the person in power.
Taking this incident as an example, if Li Chunchen really wanted to beg Zhao Junchen to be noble and let the Li family go, his statement should be, "The Li family is unlucky and has encountered an unexpected disaster. I hope Zhao Junchen will be compassionate and extend his hand to help."
If the Li family gives you a hand, the Li family will definitely repay you in the future."
All in all, there should be no accusations, Zhao Junchen should be placed in the position of the savior, and a favor should be deliberately handed over to Zhao Junchen.
With Li Chunchen's scheming and wisdom, it is impossible not to know this, but after he met Zhao Junchen, he expressed his hope that Zhao Junchen would "show mercy", "show noble hands", "let the Li family go" and so on.
The implication of this statement is to directly accuse Zhao Junchen of deliberately persecuting the Li family. Therefore, Zhao Junchen is no longer a fair and noble savior, but a narrow-minded despicable villain. Even if Zhao Junchen is really
If you let the Li family go, you won't be able to get any favors. Instead, you'll get a bad reputation.
In this way, it is equivalent to tearing apart the skin. Naturally, Zhao Junchen cannot step down, nor can he be noble and let the Li family go. Instead, he will further bully the Li family, leaving the Li family members completely desperate!
After realizing this, Zhao Junchen sneered in his heart and thought to himself: "Sure enough! Li Chunchen has repeatedly asked to see me in the past few days and asked for rejection. He did not want me to show my favor and let the Li family go. He just wanted to show his kindness to De
Emperor Qing’s misfortune!
Once relevant news about this matter reaches the ears of Emperor Deqing in the future, Emperor Deqing will only think that Li Chunchen is unwilling to join in the same evil with me, so he will be deliberately bullied by me... But even if he is bullied in every way, his family
Li Chunchen also endured the fall of Tao on his own and did not reveal the secret of rebuilding the inner factory to me at all. This is naturally a sign of loyalty!
In this way, Emperor Deqing will not only pity Li Chunchen's situation more and more, but also trust Li Chunchen more and more. Li Chunchen himself will be put into more important use, which can be said to be a bright future!
This Li Chunchen... is so scheming and ruthless. Just to please Emperor Deqing and show his loyalty, he actually sacrificed his family's fortune and watched his parents become impoverished and live on the streets!"
Thinking of this, Zhao Junchen already had a rough judgment on Li Chunchen's true nature.
If you have no family, how can you have a country? How could Li Chunchen treat his parents and clansmen so coldly, how could he be loyal to Emperor Deqing wholeheartedly?
Therefore, Zhao Junchen just heard these opening remarks from Li Chunchen and already made a judgment in his mind. He believed that Li Chunchen's loyalty to the emperor was not pure. His obedience and loyalty to Emperor Deqing was just a kind of grabbing.
It's just a way to gain more power.
Of course, there is still little evidence at present, and this judgment is only Zhao Junchen's preliminary idea. In order to prevent misjudgment, Zhao Junchen will continue to test Li Chunchen before he can further confirm his judgment.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen seemed to be irritated by Li Chunchen's remarks, and said in a cold tone: "I don't understand what you mean... What does the decline of your family's foundation have to do with this pavilion? Why do you need to beg me to this pavilion?
here?
You also said that if you want me to be so noble, is it possible that your family's foundation has declined, or is it caused by me? This is simply nonsense!
I have a lot to deal with every day, but I was not familiar with you in the past. I have no friendship or grudges, so why would I deliberately target your family's inheritance? In fact, I don't know your family's situation at all, and I have no intention of caring about it at all!"
After hearing Zhao Junchen's refutation, Li Chunchen still looked pitiful and desperate, and continued to beg Zhao Junchen to let go of the Li family, but he just said a bunch of meaningless words and continued to pretend that he was being persecuted by Zhao Junchen.
The tragic atmosphere.
Seeing Li Chunchen's appearance, Zhao Junchen frowned even more, and thought: "This is in the Zhao Mansion, and there are no informants of Emperor Deqing around, but this Li Chunchen is still acting blindly, and he doesn't know who he is acting for."
Who knows... I can only say that this person is too scheming, and he has to do all the tricks when acting!"
Thinking of this, Zhao Junchen felt a little impatient, and said coldly again: "Stop kneeling, stand up and speak... The more you listen, the more confused you are. Why on earth do you think that the decline of your family's foundation is related to this pavilion?
"
After saying that, Zhao Junchen saw that Li Chunchen was still unwilling to get up, so he gave Zhao Dali a wink.
Zhao Dali, who had always been extremely powerful, reached out and lifted Li Chunchen up from the ground on the spot. As a scholar, Li Chunchen was naturally defenseless at this time.
After Li Chunchen was brought up, Zhao Junchen finally saw his expression, but he saw that Li Chunchen's face was covered with dust and tears. He no longer had the graceful demeanor and deepness of the city. He looked like a worried family member.
The poor filial son who is helpless.
However, this image is too different from Li Chunchen's past image, and in Zhao Junchen's opinion, it is undoubtedly overdone.
On the other side, when Li Chunchen saw Zhao Dali lifting himself up like a chicken, a trace of shame, anger and resentment flashed in his eyes, but he still maintained a pitiful expression.
Later, Li Chunchen wanted to continue kneeling in front of Zhao Junchen, but Zhao Dali still held his collar, so he could not kneel down no matter what.
Seeing that Li Chunchen was only focused on competing with Zhao Dali, Zhao Junchen's expression became more helpless, and his voice became colder and colder: "You are just a low-level official in the General Affairs Department. It is an exception for me to take the time to see you today. You'd better cherish it."
Opportunity, my patience is effective, if you fail to answer questions again, I will kick you out immediately!"
In desperation, Li Chunchen had no choice but to give up the struggle and told Zhao Junchen in detail how the Li family's business had been repeatedly undermined during this period, and then said: "...Today, Xiaguan's family is at the end of its rope.
Not only was the original business unable to continue operating, but it also owed a huge debt of more than 100,000 taels of silver...
And after my father tried his best, he finally found out the exact information, saying that the reason why all walks of life in Southern Zhili deliberately harmed Xiaguan's family was because of Zhao Gechen's instructions..."
Speaking of this, Li Chunchen begged Zhao Junchen again: "Zhao Gechen, Xiaguan also knows that he is not popular in the officialdom, because the article he wrote during the imperial examination caused public outrage, and Xiaguan's family business also suffered due to the
Because of Xiaguan's stubborn prejudice, he did not join the 'United Shipping Company'... But all this is due to Xiaguan's youth and frivolity. Xiaguan's parents and clan members are all innocent, so I ask Minister Zhao to be noble and let them go!"
Obviously, Li Chunchen didn't know that Zhao Junchen had noticed the secret of the inner factory reconstruction in advance, and thought that Zhao Junchen was deliberately targeting him because of the "Hanging Sword Theory" he wrote during the imperial examination and the Li family's business The reason for not joining the "United Boat Line".
Hearing what Li Chunchen said, Zhao Junchen's expression became more and more impatient, and he snorted coldly: "That's nonsense! All the things about your family have nothing to do with this cabinet. It depends on your official status and your family." With such a small scale of business, I will not take it seriously at all. How dare I personally take action and deliberately target it? You think too highly of yourself!
After listening to your story, I found that all these things were caused by your father's financial obsession. He lost money in business, and you should also blame me? Are you and your whole family losing their minds and going crazy? "
Having said this, Zhao Junchen waved his hand and said: "In short, I don't know anything about the things you said, and I don't care at all! I am meeting you today specifically for other reasons!
If this pavilion hadn't discovered something else about you, based on your status, even if I had to stay outside my house and beg to see you for a year, I wouldn't bother to see you!"
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Li Chunchen, who had been acting all his life, couldn't help but be stunned.
He originally thought that Zhao Junchen was finally willing to see him today because he had been waiting outside the Zhao Mansion for four consecutive days to ask for a meeting. Who would have thought that Zhao Junchen had another reason for meeting him?
Li Chunchen thought secretly for a moment, but still could not figure out the reason why Zhao Junchen deliberately met with him. Curious in his heart, he did not bother to continue begging Zhao Junchen for a while, but asked cautiously: "I don't know... Zhao Gechen And why did you summon your subordinates?"
Zhao Junchen turned his head and glanced at Xu Qingyan behind him.
After seeing Zhao Junchen's eyes, Xu Qingyan, who had been silent for a long time, finally had a chance to show off. He immediately put on a smart and capable look and said quickly: "Just four days ago, when you asked to see Zhao Junchen for the first time, the government Someone inside noticed that there were several people poking their heads not far away from the residence, as if they were spying on the activities of the Zhao residence...
But because of the status of my cabinet minister, every move of the government and the public is closely watched, so our Zhao family didn't pay much attention to this matter.
Who would have thought that those people would appear outside the Zhao Mansion to spy on you for four consecutive days, and the time of appearance of those people would completely coincide with the time of your appearance!
If you come outside the Zhao Mansion to ask for Zhao's cabinet ministers, they will show up. If you wait outside the Zhao Mansion, they will always hide in the distance and poke their heads in. If you leave the Zhao Mansion, they will also show up. They will leave immediately...and they are very well-trained and very good at tracking and counter-tracking. They are not like idlers at all!
Therefore, we made the judgment that those people did not want to spy on the situation of Zhao Mansion at all, but to track and monitor you!"
Hearing Xu Qingyan's explanation, Li Chunchen was immediately shocked!
You must know that he is the director of the inner factory after the inner factory was secretly rebuilt, and he also shoulders the secret mission assigned by Emperor Deqing. Unexpectedly, he was secretly monitored and did not notice it, but Zhao Junchen's people reminded him he.
This incident naturally made Li Chunchen feel great crisis and pressure.
However, Xu Qingyan's next words made Li Chunchen's expression change drastically.
Just listen to Xu Qingyan continue to say: "After noticing this situation, just in case, Zhao Gechen sent someone to secretly find out the details of those people, and then discovered... those people were actually the Jinyi Guards who were ordered to the West Factory
Fanzi!"
West Factory! Jinyiwei!
Upon hearing these two keywords, Li Chunchen suddenly stiffened and his face turned pale.
On the other side, after Xu Qingyan finished speaking, he retreated behind Zhao Junchen.
Zhao Junchen, on the other hand, stared at Li Chunchen with cold eyes and said slowly: "So, this pavilion has nothing to do with your family's unimportant circumstances, but if you come to the Zhao Mansion every day to wait for an audience, you will attract a group of people.
The factory guard is secretly watching Zhao Mansion. This situation makes me very uncomfortable!
I don’t want this situation to continue, and I’m also curious about the reason why the factory guards are spying on you, so I specially summoned you to meet you!”
After saying that, Zhao Junchen looked at the changes in Li Chunchen's expression and asked: "Tell me! You are just a seventh-rank official of the General Affairs Department. What did you do? Did you attract the surveillance of the West Factory?"
Under Zhao Junchen's questioning, Li Chunchen's expression changed, and he did not care to continue pretending to be pitiful. His expression was full of concentration and thinking.
After thinking for a moment, although Li Chunchen was unwilling to admit it, he had to admit that Xichang would specially send agents to follow him. There was only one possibility, and that was - Xichang had been vaguely aware of what was going on in the inner factory!
At the same time, Li Chunchen could not imagine at all that since the inner factory was secretly rebuilt, its actions had always been covert. How did the west factory detect the traces of the inner factory's reconstruction?
Seeing that Li Chunchen finally stopped pretending and showed real shrewdness, Zhao Junchen sneered in his heart again, and then asked: "Why? You don't want to say it? Did you really do something that cannot be seen in public?"
After all, Li Chunchen was taking chances, and once again put on a bewildered look, shook his head and said: "Xiaguan, I really don't know! Why would Xichang target Xianguan? How is this possible?"
Zhao Junchen shook his head slightly and said: "Do you still remember that I personally rebuilt Xichang? Although I am no longer the director of Xichang, if you are interested in inquiring, you can still find out a lot of information about Xichang.
Come out! It’s just that my current status makes it inconvenient for me to have direct contact with Xichang, so I will ask you directly, but if you are unwilling to tell the truth, then I will directly ask Xichang for information!"
Li Chunchen still had an attitude of not giving up until he reached the Yellow River. He was also worried that Zhao Junchen was deliberately deceiving him, so he shook his head again and said: "I really don't know!"
Zhao Junchen snorted coldly and ordered to Zhao Dali: "Call those Xichang people outside the house and tell them that it is my intention. I guess they dare not disobey orders!"
Zhao Dali immediately nodded and left, leaving only Li Chunchen staying where he was with his face still changing.
Soon, Zhao Dali led several Xichang fans dressed as ordinary people to the main hall of Zhao Mansion.
Because Zhao Junchen had personally rebuilt the West Factory and was the director of the West Factory, these guys were respectful after meeting Zhao Junchen, but their eyes were all paying attention to Li Chunchen intentionally or unintentionally.
Zhao Junchen saw the leader and asked directly: "I remember you, you are the stall owner of Xichang, your surname is He, right?"
The leader did not dare to continue pretending, and immediately raised his hands and said: "The humble position is He Guan, a member of the Jinyi Guards. He is currently under the control of the Xichang. I have met Zhao Gechen!"
"Tell me, why have you been hiding outside my house and monitoring me these past few days? Is it to monitor this pavilion? Or is it to monitor this Li Chunchen?"
He Guan did not dare to put such a big label on his head, secretly spying on the ministers of the cabinet, so he had to tell the truth and said: "In any case, I would not dare to secretly spy on Minister Zhao... I was under the orders of the director of the West Factory.
Secretly monitor Li Chunchen."
"Why are you monitoring him? He is just a low-level official of the imperial court. Is he worthy of such a big fight by your factory guards?" Zhao Junchen seemed not to understand the word "avoid suspicion" at this time and asked again.
On the other side, He Guan hesitated for a long time, but in the end he did not dare to reveal the secrets of the West Factory, so he could not speak.
Zhao Junchen said slowly: "So, are you going to force me to ask Xu Sheng in person? Do you think that if I ask Xu Sheng in person, will Xu Sheng appreciate you for fulfilling your duties? Or will he become resentful?
Have you ruined his relationship with me?"
Xu Sheng, as a disabled eunuch, has always been moody, so He Guan naturally did not dare to bet on Xu Sheng's reaction.
So, He Guan gritted his teeth and replied: "According to Xichang, a secret organization claiming to be the 'Da Nei Xing Factory' has emerged recently. After investigation, Xichang found that the leader of this organization is Li Chunchen, so he sent
The low-ranking people and others are spying secretly, hoping to find all the members and catch them all!"
"Oh? Da Neixing Factory? Why didn't I know that this yamen was rebuilt?"
After saying that, Zhao Junchen turned his eyes to Li Chunchen.
And Li Chunchen's next reaction will inevitably show his true position and true nature.
If he was purely loyal to Emperor Deqing, he would definitely refuse to acknowledge the existence of the Inner Factory at this time. Even if he had to bear all the blame, he would still have to keep the secret of Emperor Deqing's reconstruction of the Inner Factory.
On the other hand, if he was loyal to Emperor Deqing just for his own power, and Xichang noticed the signs of the reconstruction of the inner factory in advance, Emperor Deqing would undoubtedly doubt his ability to do things, and he would probably not reuse him in the future.
For him, Li Chunchen would only think about how to hide his mistakes from Emperor Deqing!
While Zhao Junchen was thinking deeply, Li Chunchen's expression changed for a moment, and he suddenly raised his hand to tidy up his messy clothes. He also regained his calm demeanor, bowed to Zhao Junchen again, and said in a calm voice: "
Li Chunchen, the factory supervisor, met Zhao Gechen again!"