Chapter Five Hundred and Twenty One. The position of the patriarch (1).
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It has to be said that the seventh prince Zhu Hejian's plan to infiltrate the "princelings" was very successful. Since he participated in the internal decision-making of the "princelings", he has easily won the trust and dependence of everyone in the "princelings", and even many "princelings"
Party officials had thoughts like "It would be great if the seventh prince and the prince could exchange places."
The prince Shaobao Guo Tang is one of the representative figures.
Nowadays, although Zhu Hejian has temporarily withdrawn from the decision-making circle of the "Princeling Party" due to various reasons, Guo Tang still secretly communicates with Zhu Hejian from time to time and informs Zhu Hejian of all the situations within the "Princeling Party".
Even in Guo Tang's view, his approach was entirely for the sake of the crown prince Zhu Heyu. After all, the talents and strategies of the seventh prince Zhu Hejian were of great benefit to the crown prince Zhu Heyu, and Zhu Heyu and Zhu Hejian were from the same mother.
Brothers, they are very close to each other, and Zhu Hejian would not betray Zhu Heyu even if he thought about it.
Now, after hearing the news that Zhao Junchen was going to entertain businessmen from Hui and Zhejiang, Zhu Hejian suggested that Guo Tang send Li Xiangru to join them to find out the information. Guo Tang, on the other hand, trusted Zhu Hejian as always and immediately acted according to the plan.
Not only was Li Xiangru a distant relative of Guo Tang, but the scale of Li Xiangru's business could be as large as it is now largely because of Guo Tang's relationship, so Li Xiangru naturally did not dare to disobey Guo Tang's orders.
Therefore, that night, through Guo Tang and Li Xiangru, Zhu Hejian also received detailed information about the banquet.
However, Zhu Hejian and Guo Tang were not in a subordinate relationship, and Li Xiangru would not personally report the information to Zhu Hejian, so the information Zhu Hejian received was just a secret letter sent by Guo Tang.
The secret letter recorded the details of Zhao Junchen's banquet with Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants. After Zhu Hejian received the secret letter, he read it carefully several times, looking thoughtful.
After a long time, Zhu Hejian's expression flashed with helplessness, and he shook his head and said: "It's a pity. Although I have worked hard over the years, I have always been cautious and secretive. I dare not make any big moves for fear of causing trouble.
Attention and suspicion, so the development of strength is slow, and few wealthy businessmen have taken refuge in themselves. Now I want to collect information on Zhao Junchen's establishment of a joint shipping company, but I have to rely on Guo Tang's hands. It is really inconvenient! Haha, who made me just a
A frail and sick prince is naturally not popular with others."
While muttering to himself, Zhu Hejian's eyes were extremely cold.
Deep down in his heart, Zhu Hejian resented Zhu Heyu. Why was Zhu Heyu the crown prince, while he was just a sickly prince? Why could he have such brilliant intelligence and means, but he could only be cautious and walk on thin ice?
To operate in secret, you need to go through a lot of hardships and all kinds of planning before you can achieve a little development, but Zhu Heyu is reckless, stubborn, brainless, and can get everything easily?
However, in the blink of an eye, Zhu Hejian had suppressed the resentment in his heart.
Zhu Hejian knew very well that the resentment in his heart was just his motivation, but he must not indulge in it, otherwise it would only ruin things.
Then, Zhu Hejian's eyes turned to the secret message in his hand again.
Although the contents of the secret letter were quite detailed, when Guo Tang wrote the secret letter, he obviously did not understand the key points and lacked organization and logic. There were many situations that needed attention, but Guo Tang did not describe them clearly at all, which made Zhu Hejian
It is impossible to accurately grasp the current situation and how the situation will change in the future.
Zhu Hejian hates this situation. Whenever this happens, Zhu Hejian will hate the limitations of his identity and the unfairness of God.
However, despite this, how brilliant is Zhu Hejian's intelligence and vision? Although the information is not exhaustive, it is enough for Zhu Hejian to infer many useful things.
"Thirty-seven wealthy Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants jointly formed a shipping company with the intention of monopolizing the shipping business of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal and the Yangtze River Waterway. They also used inducements to encourage Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants to report smuggling crimes, hoping to take the opportunity to control the smuggling merchants and relevant officials.
The evidence of the crime... Zhao Junchen's ambition is really great, he is by no means a 'pure minister', and his methods are considered clever, but..."
While thinking secretly, Zhu Hejian's eyes stayed on the last page of the secret letter.
On this page, Guo Tang listed a list of the names and origins of the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants who were attending the banquet tonight.
Zhu Hejian's attention was focused on one of the names.
Zhang Cheng! - This man was once the steward of Wang Shou, Minister of War, and he is now a well-known Huizhou and Zhejiang wealthy businessman, all because of Wang Shou's support! And Wang Shou was a confidant of Emperor Deqing!
Therefore, Emperor Deqing must be able to find out all Zhao Junchen's plans through Wang Shou and Zhang Cheng!
"It's just that Zhao Junchen's ambition to collect criminal evidence and control hundreds of officials is so obvious and unconcealed. I can understand it, but how can my father not understand it? My father may have various reasons.
Although he has shortcomings, but his imperial scheming is very extraordinary, how could he allow Zhao Junchen's power to continue to develop without restriction? For the whole dynasty, one Zhou Shangjing is enough, how could his father watch helplessly?
Another Zhou Shangjing appears?"
While thinking secretly, Zhu Hejian shook his head and thought: "With Zhao Junchen's mental perspective, he should have discovered long ago that his power development has gradually approached his father's bottom line. His current actions may seem brilliant, but
In fact, it is a lack of consideration, which will only arouse suspicion and suppression from my father, and will lead to failure... Perhaps, I have always overestimated Zhao Junchen before..."
Thinking of this, Zhu Hejian's mouth showed a sneer: "However, it is a good thing that Zhao Junchen is not as smart as expected, otherwise it would be really difficult to control!"
As Zhu Hejian expected, Emperor Deqing at this time also obtained detailed information about Zhao Junchen's banquet with Huizhe merchants through Wang Shou and Zhang Cheng.
Moreover, Emperor Deqing also discovered Zhao Junchen's ambition to use the smuggling evidence to control hundreds of officials!
Therefore, after seeing the secret sent by Wang Shou, Emperor Deqing's expression was quite serious and his eyes were quite gloomy.
"I thought that after taking back the power of the West Factory and the internal funds from Zhao Junchen, I could balance the growth of Zhao Junchen's power, but I didn't expect that Zhao Junchen had another plan. He actually planned to collect evidence of the crimes of hundreds of officials. If he succeeded,
Now, I’m afraid it will be difficult to suppress it anymore…”
Thinking of this, Emperor Deqing looked a little embarrassed: "However, Zhao Junchen's plan is also to combat smuggling, and I cannot sabotage it secretly, otherwise the current business and tax situation of the imperial court will continue to rot... Fortunately, I still
There are other ways to control Zhao Junchen’s power!”
While thinking deeply, Emperor Deqing turned his eyes and looked towards the lower right corner of the imperial case.
There, there was a thick pile of dense stuff.
These secrets were all secretly submitted to Emperor Deqing by Zuo Lanshan, Minister of the Ministry of Industry. Some of the contents in them aroused the interest of Emperor Deqing.
To put it simply, among these secrets, Zuo Lanshan vaguely revealed his dissatisfaction with Zhao Junchen!
Presumably, Zuo Lanshan has more seniority than Zhao Junchen. He is now the number two figure in the "Zhao Party", but in fact he is no different from other "Zhao Party" officials. He has no decision-making power or any influence.
He had the autonomy to only act according to Zhao Junchen's instructions. Even the Ministry of Industry under him gradually only knew Zhao Junchen and not Zuo Lanshan. As a result, it was natural for Zuo Lanshan to be dissatisfied with Zhao Junchen.
Zuo Lanshan's dissatisfaction was an exploitable factor in the eyes of Emperor Deqing.
If used properly, the "Zhao Party" may be easily divided. In this way, Zhao Junchen's power will naturally be under control!
"Speaking of which, Huang Yourong's position as Pavilion Elder is no longer worthy of his name, and it's time to replace him..."