When Huo Zhengyuan came to Diaohe Tower, Zhao Junchen had been waiting in the private room for a long time. When Huo Zhengyuan showed up, he went out to greet him in person, showing an attitude of thirsty for talents.
However, Huo Zhengyuan is also a veteran in the officialdom. Naturally, he will not change his mind because of Zhao Junchen's pretentious gesture. After he met Zhao Junchen, his attitude was very warm and polite, but it was also because his performance was too warm and polite.
, but it made people feel a clear sense of alienation.
Huo Zhengyuan was a smart man. He knew very well that Zhao Junchen's intention of asking him to have a secret talk at this time was just to take the opportunity to win over him and try to gain leverage over Huang Yourong.
Huo Zhengyuan was not very disgusted with this. From a certain point of view, if Zhao Junchen did not take any action at this time, Huo Zhengyuan would underestimate Zhao Junchen and think that Zhao Junchen was not a qualified politician. But after a detailed analysis, he thought that Zhao Junchen was not a qualified politician.
Zhao Junchen had too many shortcomings and hidden dangers, and was not his ideal partner, so Huo Zhengyuan would not seek refuge with Zhao Junchen.
Many times, "enthusiastic", "courteous" and other attitudes are equivalent to the antonyms of "sincerity" and "sincerity". Huo Zhengyuan showed such an attitude just to tell Zhao Junchen that he would never take refuge in Zhao Junchen and make Zhao Junchen give up.
fantasy!
After seeing Huo Zhengyuan's unusually polite attitude, Zhao Junchen naturally understood Huo Zhengyuan's intentions, but did not show any abnormality. He just invited Huo Zhengyuan into the private room very friendly, and the two parties ate and talked.
It seems that Zhao Junchen still has not given up the idea of wooing Huo Zhengyuan.
In this regard, Huo Zhengyuan was quite helpless and felt that Zhao Junchen was very annoying.
But at the same time, seeing Zhao Junchen value himself so much, he couldn't help but feel a little proud in his heart.
In the elegant room, the dishes and fine wines are ready, just waiting for the banquet to begin.
After Zhao Junchen and Huo Zhengyuan entered the private room, they were divided into guests and hosts.
Then, before Zhao Junchen could speak, Huo Zhengyuan raised his glass and said to Zhao Junchen: "Speaking of which, I went to Huai'an with Mr. Zhao a few days ago to investigate the case. Thanks to Mr. Zhao's reminder, I was able to guess that Your Majesty
I have shown my true feelings and have won the favor of His Majesty. It can be said that I owe Mr. Zhao a favor of some magnitude. I would like to thank Mr. Zhao for this! I will definitely repay you in the future!"
What Huo Zhengyuan said is very important.
First of all, the so-called "favor, not too big nor too small," means "this little benefit is far from enough to bribe me, and you, Zhao Junchen, don't even think about repaying the favor." Secondly, the so-called "there will be a favor in the future."
"Repay the favor" means that Huo Zhengyuan will definitely repay the favor, but now the time is sensitive and the situation is complicated, it is not the time for Huo Zhengyuan to return the favor.
Obviously, Huo Zhengyuan's words seemed enthusiastic, but in fact they still hinted that Zhao Junchen, although Huang Yourong's downfall is inevitable, I will not take refuge in you.
After hearing Huo Zhengyuan's hint, Zhao Junchen's smile did not change. He had already anticipated and prepared for Huo Zhengyuan's intentions.
I saw Zhao Junchen saying with a smile on his face: "Master Huo, you are too polite. Credit always gets more points. Junchen is not the kind of petty person who monopolizes holy favors. What happened at the beginning was that Junchen admired Huo
Grand Scholar, because of your intelligence and character, I just did it casually and formed a good relationship. I don’t expect anything in return, so you don’t have to worry about it, Grand Scholar Huo.”
After saying that, Zhao Junchen changed the topic and said: "Junchen invited Academician Huo to a banquet today. It was because he was really happy and wanted to find someone to talk to. He suddenly thought of Academician Huo and wanted to share his heart with Academician Huo. If there is any presumptuousness in my expression of joy, I hope that Academician Huo will forgive me."
Hearing Zhao Junchen's words, Huo Zhengyuan was slightly startled and asked: "Oh, I wonder what is it that makes Mr. Zhao so happy and unbearable?"
Zhao Junchen smiled again and asked meaningfully: "I heard that Academician Huo, Zhang Shaofu and Lin Shangshu visited Shen Changmao and Shen Shoufu yesterday. I think Academician Huo already knows about the things that happened in the capital. Alright?"
Huo Zhengyuan frowned subconsciously, and a trace of surprise and anger flashed in his eyes.
Is it possible that the "happy event" that Zhao Junchen refers to is Huang Yourong's imminent downfall?
In recent times, there have been a lot of overt and covert fights between Zhao Junchen and Huang Yourong. The two sides have become incompatible enemies. Huang Yourong's imminent downfall is indeed a great joy for Zhao Junchen.
However, although Huo Zhengyuan had different intentions, he was still Huang Yourong's confidant. Zhao Junchen and Huo Zhengyuan celebrated this, wouldn't they show off their power and add insult to injury, forcing Huo Zhengyuan and Zhao Junchen to fall out?
Vaguely, Huo Zhengyuan felt that Zhao Junchen would never be so superficial, so he suppressed the anger in his heart and said slowly: "Well, if Mr. Zhao is referring to His Highness the Crown Prince's rectification of business taxes, then of course I am. What’s the joy in knowing this but not knowing it?”
Zhao Junchen said with a smile: "In the opinion of Grand Scholar Huo, is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's drastic rectification of commercial taxation a good thing or a bad thing?"
Huo Zhengyuan shook his head and said: "This is naturally not a good thing. Although the commercial and tax situation in our court is chaotic, it is also very sensitive and involves the interests of all parties. His Highness the Crown Prince's drastic rectification of commercial tax is tantamount to changing the situation between the government and the opposition. It turned into a puddle of muddy water, and His Majesty returned to the capital in a hurry just to take control of the capital and stabilize the situation."
Zhao Junchen stroked his palm and said: "Scholar Huo is indeed very knowledgeable. There are many loopholes in our dynasty's commercial tax. Everyone knows about this, but who really dares to touch it? Your Highness, the newborn calf, is not afraid of tigers, but he is What a huge mistake! So, from Grand Master Yihuo’s perspective, what do you think of His Majesty’s behavior towards His Highness the Crown Prince?”
After Huo Zhengyuan thought for a moment, he said: "His Majesty has always taken the lead in maintaining stability for decades since he ascended the throne. His Highness the Crown Prince's actions caused turmoil in the government and the public. His Majesty must be dissatisfied... However, His Majesty the Crown Prince is the crown prince after all, and Your Majesty will still Just protect him."
This time, Zhao Junchen nodded first, then shook his head, and said: "In this matter, out of various considerations, Your Majesty will certainly keep the Crown Prince and prevent His Highness from being affected, but even if Your Majesty can save the Crown Prince for a while, what will happen? Can the Crown Prince I be saved? Let us do the math. His Royal Highness has been involved in government affairs since October last year. In less than half a year, he has done a total of three things. The first was the preparations for the southern tour. Unfortunately, this matter ended His Royal Highness was screwed up, causing public resentment, and His Royal Highness's virtuous reputation also suffered a lot of damage; the second thing was to prepare for the fraud case during the southern tour, and His Highness the Crown Prince had to deal with it in less than three months. Within a few days, hundreds of officials who committed the crime were arrested, which made all the officials in the court frightened and uneasy. The court's prestige among the people was also damaged. It can be said that it was a failure. As for the third thing, it was in His Majesty stayed in Beijing to supervise the country during his southern tour, but His Royal Highness took advantage of this opportunity to carry out business and tax rectification..."
Having said this, Zhao Junchen laughed and asked meaningfully: "It can be said that in less than half a year, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has done three things, messed them up, and made big mistakes in them all. His Highness the Crown Prince's vision, mind, and abilities are all a bit worrying! For us ministers, if we can see these, how can His Majesty not see them? Next, out of various considerations, His Majesty will certainly keep His Highness the Crown Prince, but What about the future? Can Your Majesty really trust His Highness the Crown Prince and leave the country of Ming Dynasty in the hands of His Highness the Crown Prince?"
Huo Zhengyuan's heart was moved, and he asked instead of answering: "Master Zhao, you mean that your Majesty is now thinking of exchanging reserves?"
However, Zhao Junchen did not answer the question and said: "Alas! Everyone in the world says that I, Zhao Junchen, am a saint and have a beautiful appearance. I am only twenty-six or seventeen years old, but I am already in a high position. My future future is limitless, but who knows that I am a saint?" I feel like walking on thin ice in my heart, trembling with fear? Although Your Majesty treats me very kindly, His Majesty is not young after all. From now on, the Ming Dynasty will always belong to the Crown Prince. However, His Highness the Crown Prince regards me as a thorn in his side, a thorn in his flesh, and wishes he could get rid of me. , this often keeps me awake all night, tossing and turning... So, after learning about the incident in the capital, hehe..."
Having said this, Zhao Junchen had a smile that said, "Everything goes without saying anything."
On the other side, Huo Zhengyuan's heart moved slightly.
The biggest reason why Huo Zhengyuan was unwilling to seek refuge with Zhao Junchen was Prince Zhu Heyu's attitude towards Zhao Junchen. This was Zhao Junchen's biggest hidden danger! But if Emperor Deqing had already thought about exchanging reserves, Prince Zhu Heyu might not be. With the future Emperor Ming, most of Zhao Junchen's hidden worries will naturally disappear!
Perhaps, taking refuge in Zhao Junchen is not a bad choice?
…
ps: I suddenly discovered that I have a lot of gray hair. By the way, I am only 28...