Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Xiao Wenxuan couldn't help but feel strange - with Zhao Junchen's current position of power, apart from a few serious crimes against the nine tribes, what else could Zhao Junchen not dare to do?
What's more, it was just a matter of recruiting sons-in-law and talents in the capital to expand power and influence. In Xiao Wenxuan's eyes, it was just a trivial matter. Zhao Junchen actually claimed that he "dare not", which made Xiao Wenxuan feel a little incredible.
So, Xiao Wenxuan asked: "Wenxuan is puzzled by your lord's profound meaning, so I would like to ask your lord to enlighten me."
Zhao Junchen sighed: "Wenxuan, what kind of person do you think I am in His Majesty's eyes?"
Xiao Wenxuan was familiar with current affairs and naturally understood Emperor Deqing's views on Zhao Junchen, but precisely because of this, Xiao Wenxuan did not dare to say it openly in front of Zhao Junchen.
Seeing Xiao Wenxuan's hesitant and apprehensive look, Zhao Junchen smiled softly, and did not force Xiao Wenxuan. Instead, he calmly replied on behalf of Xiao Wenxuan: "Since you don't want to say it, let me say it myself... I'm afraid that under His Majesty's control,
In the eyes, I am just a corrupt official who is good at managing money, a somewhat clever jester, and a treacherous minister who is somewhat ambitious but can be easily controlled!"
Zhao Junchen's summary did not contain much content, but it was also very complete, so Xiao Wenxuan did not object.
Of course, due to Zhao Junchen's face, Xiao Wenxuan did not nod in agreement.
Of course, the so-called "perfect content" is just Xiao Wenxuan's opinion. In fact, Zhao Junchen also concealed a lot. For example, Zhao Junchen was the scapegoat used by Emperor Deqing to divert people's resentment, and he was used by the prince to vent people's resentment and establish his prestige after he ascended the throne.
The objects of eradication are "fat pigs" that are fattened and then slaughtered to fill the national treasury... etc. Zhao Junchen did not say anything about these views.
In fact, there are not many people who can clearly think of these views, and there are only a few people in both the government and the public. Although many people in the government and the public are not optimistic about Zhao Junchen's future prospects, their reason is only "like Zhao Junchen since ancient times."
Most notorious corrupt officials like Junchen will not end well." But he never thought about the underlying reasons.
Of course, it is precisely because the vast majority of people have never thought of these profound things that some people continue to seek refuge in Zhao Junchen with a sense of luck, thinking that Zhao Junchen relies on the favor and trust of Emperor Deqing and has the protection of Emperor Deqing.
The future results may not necessarily be bad, so Zhao Junchen's power and influence will become greater and greater. However, these people who took refuge in Zhao Junchen did not know that Zhao Junchen's real crisis actually came from Emperor Deqing's "favor"
”.
Including Xiao Wenxuan, they are still at such a low cognitive level now, so Zhao Junchen avoids the important and conceals these really important things, but he is worried that Xiao Wenxuan will lose confidence after knowing the truth of the matter, and then
It will inevitably lead to the mentality of "a gentleman does not stand behind a dangerous wall".
On the other side, after Zhao Junchen finished speaking, he saw Xiao Wenxuan nodding in agreement. He sighed secretly in his heart, but his expression remained calm and continued: "This view is naturally a bit unbearable, but this is also my advantage. Because of your Majesty, he
He despised me, so he allowed some of my misdeeds. It was precisely because Your Majesty thought he could control me that he allowed some of my little actions. If one day Your Majesty no longer despises me, that would mean
He is going to start suppressing me, which I absolutely don’t want to see.”
After a pause, Zhao Junchen continued: "Some time ago, I had a party battle with Mr. Huang Yourong. The battle seemed fierce, with both sides winning or losing, but I won't hide it from you. In fact, with my current situation,
As long as the means are appropriate, it is actually not very difficult to severely damage Huang Yourong without losing any power. However, I still control my strength and maintain an unbeatable situation with Huang Yourong. In doing so, I will do nothing but
In addition to wanting to use Huang Yourong's hands to eradicate some of the scum in my sect, it is also because I don't want His Majesty to see my true strength and methods now, and to make Your Majesty think that he can still easily control me, so that I can continue in a safe and sound manner.
To manage your own power, you can even pretend to be pitiful and get a certain level of support from His Majesty..."
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Xiao Wenxuan finally understood and said: "My lord, you are not willing to recruit sons-in-law and talents in the capital to expand your power. Is it because you are worried that your majesty will find that your power is expanding too fast and gradually losing control, so you will take action to suppress it?"
Zhao Junchen nodded first and said: "This is one of them. In fact, since I annexed most of the power of my predecessor, Wen Guanliang, I have not continued to expand my power in the center of the capital. Instead, I have shifted my attention to the capital.
In other local yamen, because under the current situation of the court, my power is very close to the limit of His Majesty's tolerance, so I am not willing to expand my power in a big way under His Majesty's nose. In recent times, I have been
Mainly through secret infiltration.”
Then, Zhao Junchen shook his head again and said: "However, hiding one's strength is only one of the reasons. The more important thing is to hide one's own city and mind. In your Majesty's eyes, since I am just a somewhat clever jester, a somewhat clever jester."
Corrupt officials with financial management skills, then my most important task now is to play the role of jester and corrupt official... I am now very thirsty for talents. When recruiting talents, not only do I not ask about the origins and status of these talents, I even do not hesitate to use the Zhao family
The woman betrothed to them is not only because I value talents, but also to gradually change the bad habits of my party and the Zhao family. However, jesters and corrupt officials should not be so far-sighted, nor should they value talents so much.
Once the situation is known to Your Majesty, he will inevitably find that my image as a jester and corrupt official is just a disguise... Your Majesty has always thought very highly of himself, and when the time comes, whether it is out of shame, anger or suspicion, he will not be interested in me.
His attitude will completely change, and he will think that I have evil intentions and many plans. At that time, I cannot think of what means His Majesty will use to deal with me, and I dare not even imagine it."
Having said this, Zhao Junchen's expression became much more serious. He looked directly at Xiao Wenxuan and slowly concluded: "So, such a large-scale recruitment of sons-in-law and talents for the Zhao family can only be carried out in Nanzhili, which is far away from the center of the capital. Well
The culture in all parts of South Zhili has always been splendid, and talents are emerging in large numbers, no less than in the capital. Therefore, I sent you to stay in Yangzhou and recruit talents for me and the Zhao family by recruiting a son-in-law for the Zhao family. This is what I want for you.
It’s very important to you, so you must handle it seriously and don’t neglect it.”
Seeing Zhao Junchen's sincere expression, as if he had explained all his inner thoughts to Xiao Wenxuan in detail, Xiao Wenxuan couldn't help but be a little moved, and even had some emotions of dying for a confidant. At this time, seeing Zhao Junchen warned him again
, quickly said solemnly: "Don't worry, sir! Wenxuan will never dare to show any neglect. He will do his best and will never let you down!"
In fact, although Zhao Junchen's words are not false, they are still evasive and somewhat untrue.
In fact, the most important reason why Zhao Junchen did not dare to recruit a son-in-law or a talented person in the capital was because of Zhou Shangjing’s mistakes!