The various procedures for welcoming the emperor's arrival are quite complicated and detailed, so we won't mention them for now.
It only said that Emperor Deqing got off the dragon boat and stepped onto the dock of Xuzhou. He was still accompanied by his chief minister Zhou Shangjing and the elder Shen Changmao. And a group of officials were led by Zhao Junchen, Su Changzhen, Wang Baoren, and Tang Zhen. , lined up on both sides, kowtowed and saluted, and shouted long live together.
However, when Zhao Junchen turned around and looked around secretly, he found that both Wang Baoren and Tang Zhen were focusing most of their attention on Zhou Shangjing. It seemed that in their eyes, Zhou Shangjing was more important than Emperor Deqing. As for the elder Shen Changmao, he was completely ignored by Wang Baoren and Tang Zhen.
"There are no heroes, so Zhuzi became famous" - this is probably what Wang Baoren and Tang Zhen thought of Shen Changmao.
Of course, their views on Zhao Junchen are probably no different.
After arriving in Xuzhou, Emperor Deqing gave some words of encouragement and warning to the officials, and then, amidst the shouts of "Your Majesty, the Holy Ming", he boarded the royal carriage and headed for the Xuzhou Palace.
However, before boarding the carriage, Emperor Deqing suddenly named Wang Baoren and Tang Zhen and asked them to accompany him on the way to the palace and reminisce in the carriage.
This kind of grace is so great that even Zhao Junchen and Chief Assistant Zhou Shangjing have never received such treatment. Naturally, they are envious of all officials. Wang Baoren and Tang Zhen are also on the throne in the envious eyes of all the officials. He drove a carriage and headed towards the palace with Emperor Deqing.
…
Standing aside with his hands down, watching the imperial carriage slowly drive away, Zhao Junchen walked to Zhou Shangjing's side and said with a smile: "My lord, you have had a hard time along the way."
After all, Zhou Shangjing is getting older. After the hard work of traveling and riding, his expression is inevitably a little tired. However, his eyes are still deep and wise, and his mind is sharp and alert enough. At least Zhou Shangjing knows very well that Zhao Junchen will never greet him for no reason.
So, Zhou Shangjing turned his head and looked at Zhao Junchen, then suddenly smiled and invited: "I'm so lucky, I just chatted and played chess with His Majesty along the way, but Junchen, you have been in charge of all the affairs of the Southern Tour during this time. .Business here and there, I'm afraid I'm a little more tired than me... Well, when I left the capital, I brought a bag of good tea, which is the finest Longjing. It's most effective for relieving fatigue and refreshing me. How about Junchen, you and me? Let’s ride together in the same car and take the opportunity to try my Longjing?”
Zhao Junchen also smiled and said: "The First Assistant invited me, how can I dare to refuse? It's a great honor."
After that, Zhao Junchen followed Zhou Shangjing onto the carriage prepared for Zhou Shangjing in Xuzhou.
Zhou Shangjing was the chief minister of the dynasty, with one person worth more than ten thousand people. The carriage Xuzhou prepared for him was naturally spacious and comfortable. The carriage could not only accommodate Zhou Shangjing and Zhao Junchen, but could also place a tea set.
Zhou Shangjing's tea art is also extraordinary, and the tea he uses is the finest Longjing tea, so the tea he brews is not only green in color, but also has a pleasant aroma. It is also clear and mellow in the mouth, with a lingering fragrance on the teeth and cheeks, which lifts Zhao Junchen's spirit I couldn't help but feel excited. My limbs felt indescribably relaxed and happy.
Seeing Zhao Junchen closing his eyes and thinking carefully after drinking tea, Zhou Shangjing smiled and said, "How?"
Zhao Junchen opened his eyes and praised: "Sir, the tea art of the First Assistant is naturally excellent, and the tea is also good. It's a pity that I don't know the tea art, so I can't tell what is good. I just feel that after drinking it, my mouth is full of fragrance." , physical comfort.”
Zhou Shang nodded and said: "It's enough to be comfortable and refreshing. Although making tea is a science, it is only the knowledge of tea makers after all. If Junchen doesn't like this, he doesn't need to know too much, otherwise it's just arty.
."
Having said this, Zhou Shangjing sighed slightly and said: "As officials, we only need to understand the way to be an official. Unfortunately, many officials today do not understand this. They are either good at calligraphy or painting.
, or they are good at poetry. Of course, there are also people who are good at tea ceremony. They seem to have elegant taste, but they just don’t have much ability as officials..."
Shaking his head, Zhou Shangjing suddenly smiled again, and looked at Zhao Junchen with admiration, and said: "What I admire most about you, Junchen, is that Junchen, you are dedicated, hard-working, not so vain, and can admit yourself frankly.
Although your status has gradually increased these days, you are still focused on being an official and do not waste your energy and mind on useless things. I am afraid that it is precisely because of this that Junchen has achieved what you have today."
Zhao Junchen sighed: "There is nothing we can do about it. The younger generation is too stupid to be like the chief minister, who can achieve great achievements in officialdom, calligraphy, and Go. Even the tea art is so advanced. If the younger generation can do it carefully,
What a blessing! Unfortunately, even now, the juniors are still a little confused about the way to be an official. Although they are still diligent, they are just running around with their heads covered. "
Zhou Shangjing shook his head and smiled: "And Junchen, your biggest shortcoming is that you are too self-effacing and always hide your thoughts too deeply. On the contrary, you are a little too much and you are not good enough. I remember that you once discussed the way of being an official with the people around you, and you will be an official."
Tao is divided into three stages, namely being a person, being an official, and doing things. It is said that people who want to be an official should first learn to be a person to protect themselves, then learn to be an official to seek power, and finally learn to do things to benefit the people of the country.
."
Speaking of this, Zhou Shangjing looked full of admiration and said: "After I heard your remarks, Junchen, I was filled with admiration for a long time. In just a few words, I fully described the important points of being an official. Junchen, can you
With such knowledge, why are you still running around with your head covered? If you are running around with your head covered, then most of the officials in the court will just be considered headless flies."
After hearing Zhou Shangjing's words, Zhao Junchen's expression changed slightly, and a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes.
Zhao Junchen did say that being a human being, being an official, and doing things as an official should be done, but when he said these words, there was only one person around him, and that was Chu Jiayi.
However, Chu Jiayi was the spy placed by Prince Zhu Heyu next to Zhao Junchen, not the spy placed by Zhou Shangjing!
So, how did Zhou Shangjing know about these remarks?
There are only two explanations - either Chu Jiayi is a double agent who, in addition to working for Crown Prince Zhu Heyu, is also working for Zhou Shangjing; or, a certain core figure of the princeling party has been bribed and controlled by Zhou Shangjing.
So after Chu Jiayi told Prince Zhu Heyu what Zhao Junchen said, it naturally spread to Zhou Shangjing's ears.
According to Zhao Junchen's inference, the second explanation is more likely. After all, Chu Jiayi is not a deep-seated person who is good at disguising, and Xichang's people are always monitoring her. If Chu Jiayi is still Zhou Shangjing's
Man, then Zhao Junchen should have discovered it long ago!
However, if there is a spy for Zhou Shangjing among the core figures of the prince's party, then who will this person be? Cheng Yuandao, the new cabinet minister? Lu Chunxiao, censor of Zuodu of the Imperial Procuratorate? Guo Tang, the prince's young master? Bao Wenjie, the minister of rites?
It seems possible for everyone. But everyone has no sufficient doubts.
However, for Zhao Junchen, this is not the most important thing.
The really important thing is that if Zhao Junchen's guess is true, then Zhou Shangjing must have known about the "Commercial Tax Reform Excerpt" that Zhao Junchen handed over to Prince Zhu Heyu through Chu Jiayi. From Zhou Shangjing's perspective, he also
You must be able to understand that this is a trap dug by Zhao Junchen for Prince Zhu Heyu!
This also means that as long as Zhou Shangjing is willing, he can stop Zhao Junchen's plan at any time!
However, this plan is crucial to Zhao Junchen's future! And many of Zhao Junchen's other plans are based on this plan. If this plan is interrupted by Zhou Shangjing, it means that most of Zhao Junchen's plans
Everything needs to be re-planned, and all Zhao Junchen’s efforts and hard work these days will be wasted!
Therefore, Zhou Shangjing's seemingly casual words made Zhao Junchen taste a threat!
Zhao Junchen is not sure about this threat, but it does exist.
Therefore, after Zhao Junchen pondered for a moment, he suddenly said: "I finally understand why, Mr. Chief Assistant, you have been able to stand in the court for more than thirty years without falling. Over the years, the court has been ups and downs, but Mr. Chief Assistant, your power
On the contrary, the position becomes more and more stable... The junior's little thoughts cannot be concealed from the Chief Assistant at all."
Zhou Shangjing still looked indifferent. After brewing a cup of tea for Zhao Junchen again, he smiled softly and said: "After you have been an official for a long time, you will always have more disciples and former officials, and you will always be better informed when dealing with things.
It’s easier to do things with ease.”
With that said, Zhou Shangjing raised his head and asked Zhao Junchen: "Junchen took the initiative to talk to me today, do you want to tell me that Wang Baoren and Tang Zhen still cared about me a lot in their words, and seemed to have no idea what happened back then.
If your hatred is still lingering, you may cause trouble for me next time?"
Zhao Junchen nodded, feeling that there was nothing to hide, and replied: "Your Majesty the First Assistant guessed well, that's exactly what happened."
Zhou Shangjing asked again: "However, as far as I know, both Wang Baoren and Tang Zhen are profound people in the city. Even if they have such thoughts, they will never show it. I am afraid that they suddenly mentioned me because
Junchen, you brought up the topic, right?"
Zhao Junchen was silent for a moment, but still replied: "Not bad."
Zhou Shangjing sighed with admiration, and then said: "In this way, Junchen, you can add fuel to the flames, arouse the impulses of me, Wang Baoren, and Tang Zhen, and ultimately muddy the waters of the southern tour, while Junchen, you can hide behind and the fishermen get it."
It is profitable, and it can attract His Majesty’s attention so that His Majesty can’t take care of things in the capital? Hehe, what a good plan, what a good plan!”
Zhao Junchen shook his head and smiled bitterly: "As expected, this junior is undoubtedly bringing shame on himself by playing tricks in front of the Chief Minister."
Zhou Shangjing just looked at Zhao Junchen quietly and did not deny it.
Zhao Junchen was not angry about this. It was indeed Zhao Junchen who had simplified things this time, and he deserved to be ridiculed by Zhou Shangjing.
However, Zhao Junchen also has his own trump card for Zhou Shangjing. Since Zhou Shangjing chose to show off his cards at this time, Zhao Junchen will no longer hide it.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen suddenly changed from his previous passivity and asked: "Speaking of which, this junior also has some things he would like to ask the Chief Assistant."
Zhou Shangjing seemed to have guessed what Zhao Junchen wanted to ask, a wry smile appeared on his face, and said: "You can bear to ask now, you are more patient than I expected, you can ask, if you can answer, I will