The reason why Shen Changmao's plan to annex the "Yellow Party" got off to a bad start was that Shen Changmao's appetite was so great that he actually wanted to kill all three of them, namely, Young Master Zhang Cheng, Minister of Rites Shang Linwei, and Grand Scholar Huo Zhengyuan. Winning him over to his side.
However, it is easy to win over one person, but very difficult to win over three people at the same time. With people's hearts divided and concerns about each other, Shen Changmao's plan naturally ended in failure.
In fact, if Shen Changmao had lowered his attitude and invited the three of them to have a secret discussion, the effect would be very different. Even die-hard supporters of Huang Yourong like Zhang Cheng and Lin Wei would probably seriously consider Shen Changmao's proposal. , let alone Huo Zhengyuan and his ilk.
It's a pity that after Shen Changmao became the cabinet minister, his ambitions became bigger and his appetite became bigger, but he was a little eager to achieve success.
On the other hand, as the driving force behind Prince Zhu Heyu's rectification of commercial taxes, Huang Yourong's downfall and loss of power had long been expected by Zhao Junchen. When Huang Yourong was about to fall, Zhao Junchen naturally planned to take a piece of the pie and take the opportunity to divide it up. Huang Yourong's sphere of influence.
However, Zhao Junchen is just a minister. Unlike Shen Changmao, who is a cabinet minister, he naturally does not have such big ambitions and appetites.
According to Zhao Junchen's plan, among Huang Yourong's three generals, he will only win over one person, the bachelor Huo Zhengyuan!
Academician Huo Zhengyuan is Huang Yourong's confidant, wise and courageous, and his counselor. However, among the "Yellow Party" officials, his status can only be ranked fourth. Apart from Huang Yourong, whether it is Young Master Zhang Cheng, Or the Minister of Rites, Shang Linwei, whose status is higher than him.
Although Huo Zhengyuan is superior to Zhang Cheng and Lin Wei in terms of mind, means, city, etc., Lin Wei is Huang Yourong's in-laws, and Zhang Cheng is Huang Yourong's classmate, fellow villager, and the same class. The relationship is even closer, and among the "yellow party", Huo Zhengyuan's status is naturally somewhat marginalized.
However, Huo Zhengyuan believes in the principle that "a tree that is beautiful in the forest will be destroyed by the wind" and has always disliked being in the limelight, as long as his own interests can be guaranteed. Huo Zhengyuan will not care about these things.
But in fact, among the "Yellow Party", Huo Zhengyuan's importance is second only to Huang Yourong. This is not only because of Huo Zhengyuan's strategic talent, but also because Huo Zhengyuan is low-key and has a gentle personality. He has always been kind to others, unlike Lin Wei , Zhang Cheng is generally arrogant and difficult to deal with, so Huo Zhengyuan has high prestige among "yellow party" officials and is very popular.
In other words, as long as Zhao Junchen can win over Huo Zhengyuan, there will be quite a few "Yellow Party" officials willing to follow Huo Zhengyuan and join Zhao Junchen. In this way, Zhao Junchen's plan to cannibalize the "Yellow Party" will also be Get twice the result with half the effort.
In addition, Huo Zhengyuan's own talents, methods and character are also valued by Zhao Junchen.
Therefore, for Huo Zhengyuan, Zhao Junchen is bound to win. Some time ago, Zhao Junchen and Huo Zhengyuan went to Huai'an to investigate the unjust case of Li Xin, the prefect of Huai'an. Later, they used this case to sell Huo Zhengyuan a favor and let him sue Deqing. The emperor's favor was to win over Huo Zhengyuan and pave the way for the current bribery.
Compared with Shen Changmao's impromptu idea, Zhao Junchen has been planning for a long time!
But he said that after Emperor Deqing announced his intention to return to Beijing, Zhao Junchen and the officials of the Ministry of Rites worked busy preparations for a whole day, and finally everything was ready.
At three quarters of the next morning, the southern patrol fleet left Suzhou on time and sailed north.
Because Prince Zhu Heyu had a big problem with commercial taxation, Emperor Deqing needed to rush to the capital as soon as possible to stabilize the situation, unlike his leisurely attitude during the southern patrol. Therefore, the southern patrol fleet's Beijing schedule was also very tight, and there would be no time along the way.
There is no delay.
During the southern patrol, it took nearly two days for the southern patrol fleet to travel from Changzhou to Suzhou.
But on the way back, the situation was completely different. The Southern Patrol Fleet had been sailing at full capacity since it set sail. After leaving Suzhou, it arrived in Changzhou in the evening.
After arriving in Changzhou, Emperor Deqing did not intend to stay, but after a short rest for one night, he would continue his journey north back to Beijing.
And on this night, Zhao Junchen secretly met with Huo Zhengyuan.
On the other side, after Huo Zhengyuan learned about Huang Yourong's crisis, he kept discussing with Lin Wei and Zhang Cheng how to reverse the situation.
It's a pity that Huang Yourong's downfall is the general trend. No matter how the three people discuss it, they can't find a feasible solution.
Regarding this, Lin Wei and Zhang Cheng felt both anxious and desperate.
As for Huo Zhengyuan, he had more thoughts in his mind.
Unlike Lin Wei and Zhang Cheng, the relationship between Huo Zhengyuan and Huang Yourong is not so close and not so loyal. In a certain respect, the relationship between Huo Zhengyuan and Huang Yourong is not one of subordination, but more like cooperation. Huo Zhengyuan dedicates himself to Huang Yourong.
Huo Zhengyuan's talents and abilities, while Huang Yourong fought for Huo Zhengyuan's interests and status. Both parties helped each other and benefited each other, that's all.
If Huang Yourong is still the elder of the pavilion, then Huo Zhengyuan is willing to continue to be loyal to Huang Yourong. But since Huang Yourong's downfall is irreversible, then Huo Zhengyuan naturally has the idea of "a gentleman does not stand behind a dangerous wall" in Huo Zhengyuan's mind.
Ideas like “good birds choose trees to roost in”.
After all, Huo Zhengyuan's relationship with Huang Yourong was normal and there was no need to be buried with Huang Yourong.
However, although Huo Zhengyuan had the idea of changing his family, Huo Zhengyuan was still undecided as to which force he should join.
Huo Zhengyuan is a smart man with a very clear vision and is very cautious about his future path choices.
Nowadays, there are only five influential and powerful factions in the temple. They are the "Zhou Party" of the former assistant Zhou Shangjing, the "Shen Party" of the current assistant Shen Changmao, and the "Zhao Party" of the household minister Zhao Junchen.
Party", Prince Zhu Heyu, and Emperor Deqing's "Imperial Party".
For Huo Zhengyuan, the best choice is undoubtedly to join Emperor Deqing and become a member of the "Emperor Party". Unfortunately, Huo Zhengyuan is neither from a distinguished family nor has the ability to flatter a courtier. In addition, his "Yellow Party"
"Background, even if he defected to Emperor Deqing, he was destined not to be valued by Emperor Deqing, and could only be gradually marginalized. Huo Zhengyuan was naturally reluctant to this.
Prince Zhu Heyu is the crown prince and the future emperor. It is also a good choice to seek refuge with Prince Zhu Heyu. Unfortunately, although Huo Zhengyuan is not a corrupt official, he is not a strict and self-disciplined person. With Prince Zhu Heyu
Because of his nature, he may not be able to accept him, and Huo Zhengyuan himself cannot stand the "clear rules and precepts" of Prince Zhu Heyu.
Shen Changmao is the assistant to the cabinet today, and he can be said to be one person below ten thousand people. It was when the spring breeze was triumphant that he also revealed his intention to win over Huo Zhengyuan, but Huo Zhengyuan was not willing to join Shen Changmao. The reason was that Shen Changmao's character was too headstrong.
It is destined that he and Huo Zhengyuan will not get along. In addition, Shen Changmao is now proud of being a cabinet minister, but Shen Changmao's ability is not worthy of his current status. He may fall into trouble at some time. This is a dangerous factor, but Huo Zhengyuan is unwilling to
Standing under a dangerous wall.
Zhou Shangjing has been standing in the temple for decades. He has clever methods, long-term vision, and deep mind. Even Emperor Deqing can't easily do anything to him. He is the most respected figure by Huo Zhengyuan. From a certain point of view, joining Zhou Shangjing is also a good choice! What a pity.
, in Huo Zhengyuan's eyes, Zhou Shangjing also belongs to the "dangerous wall". Zhou Shangjing is too old, and he may quit the temple at some time. In addition, Emperor Deqing also hates Zhou Shangjing too much. It is definitely not a good thing to be remembered by the emperor all the time.
.
As a result, Huo Zhengyuan had only one choice left, which was to seek refuge with Zhao Junchen.
However, in Huo Zhengyuan's eyes, taking refuge in Zhao Junchen is the lowest choice. The reason is very common. Zhao Junchen's qualifications are too junior, his foundation is too shallow, his status is insufficient, his reputation is too bad, and he is still a thorn in the side of Prince Zhu Heyu!
Although Huo Zhengyuan had a good impression of Zhao Junchen after getting along with him some time ago, and he recognized Zhao Junchen's vision, methods, and mentality, and even gained the favor of Emperor Deqing because of Zhao Junchen, these were not enough to influence Huo Zhengyuan's choice.
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In this way, after many analyses, Huo Zhengyuan found that he seemed to have many choices, but in fact, none of these choices suited him. He couldn't help but feel a little distressed, and felt that sometimes analyzing too thoroughly was not a good thing.
Just when Huo Zhengyuan was in distress, a servant suddenly reported to him that it was Zhao Junchen who secretly asked him to meet him at the Diaohe Tower in Changzhou.
After hearing the report, Huo Zhengyuan was slightly stunned. After thinking for a moment, Huo Zhengyuan stood up and said: "Speaking of which, I owed Mr. Zhao a favor some time ago, but I can't refuse him thousands of miles away. In this case, then...