In fact, during the secret conversation with Zhao Junchen and Xu Sheng, Li Chunchen seemed to be frank, but he still concealed a key piece of information.
That is - the Da Ming Xing Factory led by Li Chunchen, compared with the D Ming Xing Factory founded by Liu Jin during the Zhengde Period, the two names are just the same for the time being, but their nature is completely different!
However, Zhao Junchen and Xu Sheng were misled by their inertia of thinking and wrong information, and did not realize this in time - at least Xu Sheng was like this.
In fact, even if the Da Nei Hsing Factory were to turn from covert to open in the future, it would not be under the control of the inner court, but would become an intelligence support agency directly under Emperor Deqing.
At the same time, the future responsibilities of the Ouchi Gyō Factory were more like a combination of the General Administration Department and the factory guard. In addition to collecting intelligence and monitoring officials, they were also tasked with forwarding secrets to Emperor Deqing.
Li Chunchen initially attracted the attention of Emperor Deqing because of the "On the Hanging Sword" he wrote during the imperial examination.
According to the content of "Xuanjian Lun", the court should lower the threshold for officials to submit secret memorials to the emperor, so that all court officials above the fifth rank have the right to submit secret memorials, and there is no need to go through the general public when submitting secret memorials.
Instead of being forwarded by the Zhengsi Yamen, it was submitted directly to Emperor Deqing.
Once this suggestion was implemented, it would undoubtedly weaken the ministerial power and consolidate the imperial power. Naturally, it aroused great interest in Emperor Deqing, but it also aroused fierce opposition from the officials.
Therefore, in order to stabilize the situation in the temple, Emperor Deqing did not directly adopt the suggestions of "Hanging Sword Theory". Instead, he waited until the limelight had passed and asked Li Chunchen to temporarily establish a new secret agency under the name of Da Nai Xing Factory.
Then, Emperor Deqing handed over two secret tasks to Li Chunchen. The first was to secretly investigate the infiltration of the inner court by external forces, and the second was to secretly trial the new secret policy proposed in "Theory of the Hanging Sword".
Among them, the second task assigned by Emperor Deqing was to let Li Chunchen secretly find a group of loyal, reliable and important middle- and lower-level officials in the court, and grant them the right to submit secrets to the emperor. Li Chunchen was responsible for communicating with these group of officials.
Officials contacted secretly and forwarded confidential information.
In this way, Emperor Deqing could bypass the opposition and obstruction of officials and take the lead in secretly establishing the general framework of the New Deal. If it is tried on a small scale and proves that this method is effective, Emperor Deqing can
If we take advantage of the situation and implement it comprehensively, then it will be a done deal, and officials will have no chance even if they want to object.
At that time, after Li Chunchen understood Emperor Deqing's thoughts, he was suddenly excited.
As a smart man who has read history books thoroughly, Li Chunchen naturally saw the significance of Emperor Deqing's thoughts!
Since ancient times, if emperors wanted to further suppress the power of ministers and enhance the imperial power, methods such as "controlling the superior with the inferior" and "controlling the superior with the small" were the only methods that proved to be successful despite repeated attempts.
The so-called "lower to overcome the upper" and "small to control the big" means to first find a group of loyal and reliable small figures in the officialdom, and then hand over some important powers to these small figures to take full responsibility.
In this way, these little people will face the situation of "low status and high power", and they will inevitably be jealous and suppressed by the higher-ups of the temple. Their power is all due to the emperor. In order to protect themselves, they can only further rely on the imperial power.
.
Eventually, there will be a situation where hundreds of officials fight among themselves and the emperor reaps the benefits.
Since the Qin Dynasty, all changes in the officialdom system of the past dynasties have been reflected in the use of this technique. For example, the Qin Dynasty used the Three Gongs to check and balance the nobles, the Han Dynasty used the Shangshu Ling to check and balance the three Gongs, the Sui and Tang Dynasties used the Six Ministries to balance the Shangshu Ling, and the Ming Dynasty used
The cabinet and the inner court work together to check and balance the six ministries...
Waiting until the Qing Dynasty, there will still be a situation where the military aircraft department will be used to check and balance the cabinet.
Li Chunchen believed that the new organization that Emperor Deqing asked him to establish would obviously have the same function, and would be used to check and balance the existence of the cabinet and the inner court in the future. Once he completed the task properly, he would naturally rise to the top in the future.
Extremely loyal!
At the same time, because the inner court was infiltrated and the outer court was too deeply controlled by a few powerful officials, when Emperor Deqing used such checks and balances, there were not many reliable candidates, and Li Chunchen was not only the leader of "The Hanging Sword"
The author of "On" was also alienated from the powerful officials in the court, so he naturally became the best candidate in the eyes of Emperor Deqing!
From this point of view, the reason why Emperor Deqing chose to secretly reuse Li Chunchen was not only a brilliant emperor's scheming, but also a helpless choice.
Therefore, Li Chunchen also knew very well that if he wanted to secure this position, he must be absolutely loyal to Emperor Deqing. The word "loyalty" is his greatest capital!
It is precisely because of this consideration that Li Chunchen has always regarded himself as a loyal minister. Even when he met the would-be crown prince, the seventh prince Zhu Hejian, personally solicited him not long ago, he politely refused without being tempted!
But on that day, after meeting with Zhao Junchen and Xu Sheng for a secret conversation, Li Chunchen seemed to have successfully covered up the leak of the secrets of the internal factory, and gained two powerful allies by the way. But only Li Chunchen knew clearly that he
What a price it paid!
The price is - his absolute loyalty to Emperor Deqing!
Li Chunchen was able to reach this point because of the trust of Emperor Deqing.
If he wants to go further in the future, he will still have to rely on Emperor Deqing's trust.
But Emperor Deqing was a suspicious emperor, and he also had an extremely keen political sense.
Therefore, for Emperor Deqing, if loyalty is not absolute, then it is absolutely disloyal!
And once Li Chunchen loses his absolute loyalty, no matter how many and strong allies he has, his future career will be nothing more than rootless duckweeds.
Therefore, when Li Chunchen left the Zhao Mansion, his expression seemed calm, but his eyes were full of worry and uneasiness.
"The two tasks assigned by His Majesty were, first, to investigate the infiltration of the inner court, and the second, to secretly test out the New Deal on a small scale... Among them, the first task has no clue yet, but the operation of the second task
It's not difficult at this time... So, I must move forward with this matter quickly!
Only by achieving results as soon as possible can I prove my loyalty to Your Majesty... If the incident comes to light in the future, I will have the opportunity to win Your Majesty's understanding...
Even, when I achieve results in the future and my holy family is stable, I can directly confess everything to His Majesty and put all the responsibilities on Zhao Junchen and Xu Sheng..."
As he was thinking secretly, Li Chunchen's expression changed.
He still wanted to be a loyal minister, but after what happened today, Li Chunchen was no longer sure whether Emperor Deqing was still willing to believe in his loyalty.
But Li Chunchen has always been a gambler and still wants to give it a try.
And just when Li Chunchen secretly made a decision, he was only concentrating on thinking and not paying attention to the road, but he suddenly bumped into a tall figure.
Li Chunchen almost fell down and quickly looked up, only to see Zhao Junchen's confidant Zhao Dali appearing in front of him.
When Li Chunchen collided with him, Zhao Dali did not move. He just raised his hands expressionlessly and said: "Mr. Li, my cabinet minister invited you to go to the Zhao Mansion again. We still have something to discuss, but there were other people present just now, and some
It’s not convenient to talk about it!”
Hearing this statement, Li Chunchen was slightly startled, but he didn't ask any more questions. He just followed Zhao Dali silently and returned towards the Zhao Mansion again.
At the same time, Li Chunchen secretly thought in his heart: "Why did Zhao Junchen deliberately let me go and come back? It is said that there were other people present just now, and it is inconvenient to say more about some things... The so-called 'other people' should refer to Xu Sheng...
But what on earth does Zhao Junchen have that he deliberately hides from Xu Sheng and just wants to talk to me?"
*
At the same time, Xu Sheng returned to the Zhao Mansion one step ahead. After seeing Zhao Junchen, he also asked the same question: "Zhao Gechen, why did you deliberately let our family go and come back? It was said that there were other people present just now, and something happened
It’s not convenient to say it directly, but you are referring to Li Chunchen? But I don’t know what is going on, so I have to hide it from Li Chunchen and talk to our family alone?”
Zhao Junchen nodded with a smile and said: "It's not a particularly important thing, I just want to reach an agreement with Governor Xu, just in case!"
"Just in case? Promise?"
Zhao Junchen nodded again and said: "Director Xu, please think carefully. When the two of us were talking to Li Chunchen just now, according to Li Chunchen, he originally wanted to confess everything to His Majesty, but he chose to hide the truth from His Majesty.
, all because of the suggestions and persuasion of the two of us!
Hehe, in this way, if the incident comes to light in the future and His Majesty is aware of the fact, all three of us will be guilty of deceiving the emperor, and Li Chunchen can push all the responsibilities onto you and me."
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Xu Sheng's expression immediately changed, and he gritted his teeth and said: "Well, our family just focused on getting closer to the newly built internal factory, and we didn't expect this to happen!
This Li Chunchen seems to be a gentle scholar, but he didn't expect to be so vicious. In just a few words, he made it clear that he was responsible for making our family and Zhao Gechen the enemy!
Indeed! Just in case, we must be on guard secretly! Zhao Gechen, what is the agreement you are talking about?"
Zhao Junchen explained: "I want to make an agreement with Governor Xu. If the incident comes to light in the future and His Majesty discovers our concealment, the two of us must insist that we have never suggested concealing anything to Li Chunchen.
It was Li Chunchen who swore that he would confess everything to His Majesty in person, and because this matter was related to His Majesty's secret plan, the two of us had never dared to ask more questions out of consideration to avoid suspicion...
But in the end, Li Chunchen deceived his subordinates and deceived his superiors. He not only deceived us, but also deceived His Majesty, so His Majesty was concealed. Everything is Li Chunchen's responsibility! ...How?"
Xu Sheng was naturally happy to accept such a method of seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages. After thinking for a moment, he nodded and agreed: "Of course, we helped Li Chunchen cover up the mistakes. Once the incident comes to light in the future, we will naturally make Li Chunchen bear all the consequences."
Responsibility, everything should be done according to what Zhao Gechen said!"
After agreeing on this matter, Xu Sheng naturally praised Zhao Junchen's prudence and wisdom. However, seeing that it was getting late, he still did not dare to stay any longer. He quickly said goodbye again and left in a hurry.
Shortly after Xu Sheng left, Zhao Dali also led Li Chunchen back to the Zhao Mansion.
After seeing Zhao Junchen, Li Chunchen still maintained a calm look, raised his hands and asked: "Zhao Gechen, I don't know why you summoned the students again? What is it that you must hide from Governor Xu?"
Zhao Junchen still maintained a gentle smile and said: "I specially called you back to meet you again, mainly for two things... First, it is the current difficulties your family business is encountering. I have just sent someone to
A message was sent from the south to Zhili, telling them not to continue to make things difficult for the Li family, and I believe your family business will return to normal soon."
When Li Chunchen heard this, he quickly thanked Zhao Junchen. He had only been thinking about his own future and had forgotten his family legacy for a while.
At the same time, Li Chunchen was still curious. If it was just for this kind of thing, why did Zhao Junchen deliberately avoid Xu Sheng?
While Li Chunchen was thinking secretly, Zhao Junchen continued: "As for the second thing, it is related to your current confusion... Don't you find it strange why Xu Sheng was aware of the existence of the inner factory?
A secret?"
Li Chunchen's eyes flashed and he asked: "Is it possible...Zhao Gechen, you actually know the truth about this matter?"
Zhao Junchen shook his head and said: "I don't know the truth, but I have a piece of information to tell you. As for whether this information is useful, you have to consider it yourself!
And this information is... Before Xu Sheng ordered the West Factory to investigate the inner factory, he had contact with His Highness the Seventh Prince... And on the same day, before the Seventh Prince went to see Xu Sheng, he also went to the General Affairs Department
Yamen, in the name of being concerned about the current situation of His Highness the Crown Prince, I have been talking to you alone for a long time. I think you should have an impression of this matter!"
Speaking of this, Zhao Junchen smiled meaningfully and said: "I don't know exactly what His Highness the Seventh Prince discussed with you during that meeting, but you must know it... But if I didn't guess
If I'm wrong, His Highness the Seventh Prince wanted to recruit you, but was rejected by you, right?"
Hearing Zhao Junchen's words, Li Chunchen's expression changed again, with a hint of surprise.
For a time, many clues and doubts were connected in Li Chunchen's mind.
At the same time, although Li Chunchen did not fully believe Zhao Junchen's intelligence, he also found a perfect excuse for himself to reasonably explain his concealment today to Emperor Deqing in the future!
Therefore, Li Chunchen immediately bowed deeply to Zhao Junchen and said in a sincere tone: "Thank you Zhao Gechen for your advice!"
After saying that, Li Chunchen saw that Zhao Junchen had no other explanation, so he also hurriedly said goodbye and left.
Looking at Li Chunchen's leaving figure, Zhao Junchen nodded lightly with satisfaction.
After his instigation, there is no need to worry about Xu Sheng and Li Chunchen colluding with each other in the future, getting closer and closer, or instigating Li Chunchen and Zhu Hejian to continue dog-eat-dog!
After doing all this, Zhao Junchen had achieved all his goals. He couldn't help but stretch his body and planned to take a rest.
However, before Zhao Junchen could leave his seat, he received news that two miracle doctors, Zhang Decheng and Wen Caining, had returned from the Zhou Mansion.
One thing happened after another, but Zhao Junchen did not complain at all, but immediately summoned the two miracle doctors Zhang and Wen.