Money can make the devil go round, and it can also make the emperor easy to talk to.
After receiving five million taels of foreign wealth, Emperor Deqing was in a very good mood. After hearing Zhao Junchen's request for instructions again, he did not show any impatience, but asked with a gentle expression: "Oh
?Is there anything else? Tell me!"
However, Emperor Deqing was also worried that Zhao Junchen would take the opportunity to make some excessive requests, so although he looked tolerant and trusting on the surface, he was slightly wary in his heart.
Zhao Junchen still looked fawning and said: "Your Majesty, you also know that the pilot shipping company is an attempt by me to rectify the current situation of commercial tax corruption, and after this shipbuilding company was jointly established by thirty-seven Hui and Zhejiang businessmen,
, and it is even more powerful. It can be said that the future operating conditions of this shipping company will be directly related to the overall situation of the imperial court."
Emperor Deqing nodded in agreement and motioned for Zhao Junchen to continue.
Zhao Junchen continued: "However, if the name is not correct, the words will not be correct. Although this shipping company has been officially established and the cooperation with the imperial court has been confirmed, it does not yet have a name. We cannot call it a pilot in the future.
Ship company or joint ship company? I think that in order to show the importance of the imperial court to this ship company, it is best for your Majesty to name the name of this ship company yourself. For such a powerful and significant ship company, only your Majesty can name it.
You are the only one qualified to name it.”
Seeing that Zhao Junchen just wanted to name the pilot ship, Emperor Deqing felt slightly relieved.
This is just a trivial little thing.
Therefore, Emperor Deqing pondered for a moment and said: "This shipping company is very powerful, and it is very beneficial to the exchange of goods and materials among the people. It also helps the court to straighten out commercial taxes and increase the revenue of the national treasury. In this case, it is
Let’s call it accessible to the ship.”
"Tongda Shiping has far-reaching ideas, excellent meaning, and apt description. It seems straightforward, but it also contains a hint of scorn. It is really a good name! Only Your Majesty, as the emperor, can think of such a good name.
After a few compliments, Zhao Junchen saluted Emperor Deqing and said, "Thank you so much for the name given by your Majesty! With your name given by your Majesty, I believe that Tongda Shipbuilding will be greatly boosted in morale, make rapid progress, and will soon be able to
Be famous all over the world and reverse the corrupt status quo of commercial taxation in one fell swoop!"
A look of satisfaction flashed across Emperor Deqing's face, and he seemed to be very satisfied with the name.
But on the surface, Emperor Deqing looked indifferent and said: "You know that Ayu Fengcheng is just a name. How can it have so many magical effects?"
Seeing Emperor Deqing's appearance, Zhao Junchen naturally did not take Emperor Deqing's words seriously. Instead, he praised him even more, making Emperor Deqing even more proud.
However, Zhao Junchen's request for a name from Emperor Deqing was just an appetizer, just to relax Emperor Deqing's vigilance.
After saying countless flattering words, Zhao Junchen finally launched his own test after seeing that the time was ripe.
However, Zhao Junchen never dared to underestimate Emperor Deqing, so Zhao Junchen's temptations remained secret.
Zhao Junchen changed the topic and asked Emperor Deqing for instructions: "Your Majesty, after Tongda Shipping Company is officially established, in view of its great significance, a large-scale establishment ceremony is needed to announce it to the world. In my opinion,
In order to show that the imperial court attaches great importance to it, it would be best if it could send an important minister to preside over the founding ceremony of Tongda Shipbuilding. I wonder, Your Majesty, who do you think it would be better to send?"
After Emperor Deqing nodded in agreement, he pondered for a moment and asked Zhao Junchen: "Speaking of which, you established this shipping company by yourself, and you are also the Minister of Household Affairs of the imperial court.
You are the perfect candidate for this ceremony, so why should you ask me for my attitude?"
Zhao Junchen replied: "I hope your majesty knows that according to the wishes of those Hui-Zhejiang merchants, the founding ceremony of Tongda Shipping Company will be held in Yangzhou. It is the center of Jiangnan, where merchants have always gathered and trade is active. The founding ceremony of Tongda Shipping Company will be held in Yangzhou.
Holding it can also create the greatest momentum in the shortest time, which is the best choice."
Having said this, Zhao Junchen shook his head with regret and sighed: "However, Yangzhou is too far away from the capital. Although I wanted to attend the ceremony in person, traveling thousands of miles away would be too long.
Time, the current situation in the capital is unpredictable, and there are many ministers who are bent on hindering the imperial court from rectifying commercial taxes, and are full of hostility towards the newly established Tongda Shipping Company. Therefore, I must stay in the capital to take precautions, and must not
It took too long to leave the capital, so this ceremony can only be attended by other ministers."
After hearing Zhao Junchen's explanation, Emperor Deqing thought for a moment and nodded again in agreement.
In addition to the reasons expressed by Zhao Junchen, Emperor Deqing also did not want to see Zhao Junchen's influence on Tongda Shipping Company further increased. In this case, it would be even more difficult for Emperor Deqing to take back Tongda Shipping Company from Zhao Junchen in the future.
Therefore, it is best to send other ministers to attend this ceremony.
After thinking of this, Emperor Deqing asked Zhao Junchen: "Oh? Do you have a suitable candidate in mind?"
Zhao Junchen's expression was full of hesitation, as if he was a little unsure, but after thinking for a moment, he still expressed his thoughts to Emperor Deqing, saying: "I think Zuo Lanshan, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, is a suitable candidate.
Zuo Shangshu is an important minister of the imperial court, and his qualifications and reputation are much stronger than those of his ministers. Sending him to attend this ceremony is enough to show that the imperial court attaches great importance to it! In addition, the Ministry of Industry is in charge of waterway hydraulic engineering and is also related to the shipping business of Tongda Shipyard.
, sending Minister Zuo to preside over the ceremony, which is quite appropriate in terms of status and responsibilities."
On the other side, after hearing Zhao Junchen's answer, Emperor Deqing's eyes suddenly flashed with light, and he kept thinking about the real intention of Zhao Junchen's attitude in his mind!
Nowadays, the various factions in the DPRK and China are fighting endlessly because of the vacancies in the cabinet, and Zuo Lanshan is the most promising candidate of the "Zhao Party" to enter the cabinet!
However, at this time, if Zuo Lanshan leaves the center of the capital, his hope of entering the cabinet will naturally be reduced to a minimum, which is equivalent to being deprived of the qualification to compete for cabinet seats!
From Zhao Junchen's perspective, he would never fail to see this, but Zhao Junchen still wants to move Zuolan Mountain out of the capital. What does this mean?
In the view of Emperor Deqing, this obviously meant that Zhao Junchen completely distrusted Zuo Lanshan and was very different from Zuo Lanshan. He was afraid that after Zuo Lanshan entered the cabinet, he would overshadow him or even replace him and become the "Zhao Party".
The new leader of the cabinet, so Zhao Junchen would rather give up this opportunity to join the cabinet than see Zuo Lanshan become the new cabinet minister and have the pressure on him from now on!
However, many officials in the "Zhao Party" now support Zuo Lanshan's entry into the cabinet. If Zhao Junchen forcibly stops him, he will inevitably appear narrow-minded. Zuo Lanshan will be even more alienated from Zhao Junchen. "Zhao Party"
"Perhaps we are facing the danger of internal division!
Therefore, Zhao Junchen simply refused to do anything and found a reason to let Zuo Lanshan leave the capital. In this way, Zuo Lanshan naturally completely lost the hope of joining the cabinet, and Zhao Junchen achieved it through the hands of Emperor Deqing.
With such a goal, there is no need to worry that Zuo Lanshan will be resentful!
After careful consideration, Emperor Deqing felt that this was the only reasonable explanation!
But in fact, Zhao Junchen's statement was just a disguise. He wanted to further paralyze Emperor Deqing and make him misjudge the relationship between Zhao Junchen and Zuo Lanshan. He also wanted to take the opportunity to test Deqing.
The emperor's true intention was that if Emperor Deqing really wanted to promote Zuo Lanshan and split the "Zhao Party" through Zuo Lanshan, he would never let Zuo Lanshan leave the capital! On the contrary, if Emperor Deqing agreed with Zhao Junchen
According to the proposal of Zuo Lanshan, allowing Zuo Lanshan to leave the capital means that Emperor Deqing was not tempted by Zhao Junchen, and did not intend to split the "Zhao Party" through Zuo Lanshan, but wanted to support Liang Fuchen, an imperial party official, to enter
cabinet.
In short, although Tongda Shipbuilding and cabinet vacancies are completely unrelated, Zhao Junchen cleverly connected the two. Zhao Junchen's various statements after seeing Emperor Deqing also reflected
This is all to pave the way for the temptation at this time. Through Emperor Deqing's next statement, Zhao Junchen can judge the true intention of Emperor Deqing to a large extent.
Zhao Junchen's performance was excellent, but he deceived Emperor Deqing, causing Emperor Deqing to make wrong judgments. He further believed that Zhao Junchen had insufficient control over Zuo Lanshan, and that he was inseparable from Zuo Lanshan and was unwilling to let go.
Zuo Lanshan entered the cabinet.
Under the misjudgment, Emperor Deqing pondered for a moment and finally expressed his attitude, saying slowly: "Zuo Lanshan is indeed a suitable candidate, but the Ministry of Industry also has heavy affairs and cannot do without Zuo Lanshan to take charge of the overall situation.
, In addition, Zuo Lanshan has always been close to you, and keeping him in the capital will be of great help to you, so after thinking about it, I decided to send someone else to Yangzhou."
After a pause, Emperor Deqing had made up his mind and said: "Let's do this. Huang Yourong will be serving as an official soon. His hometown is not far from Yangzhou. Let him come forward in this matter. I will give him a handle."
The imperial edict gave him the status of an imperial envoy and asked him to go to Yangzhou to attend the founding ceremony of Tongda Shipping Company on my behalf. Huang Yourong was born as a pavilion elder. Even if he was only a pavilion elder who became an official, he was extremely noble. In addition, the imperial envoy's
Your identity is enough to show that the court attaches great importance to you."
Seeing that Zhao Junchen seemed to want to object, Emperor Deqing added: "Of course, I also know that Huang Yourong and you have always had political disagreements. If he comes to preside over the ceremony, you will inevitably be a little worried, but I will naturally warn you when the time comes.
Huang Yourong, considering Huang Yourong's current situation, it will not violate my holy will. In addition, the minister of household affairs, Zhan Shanchang, can also be sent to accompany him. Huang Yourong will only be responsible for showing up, but Zhan Shanchang will be responsible for all matters. In this case, everything will be foolproof.
Already."
After hearing Emperor Deqing's statement, Zhao Junchen seemed a little embarrassed, but finally agreed.
At the same time, Zhao Junchen secretly thought: "Obviously, Emperor Deqing does not intend to let Zuo Lanshan leave the capital. It seems that he really has the idea of using Zuo Lanshan to split the Zhao party."
While thinking deeply, Zhao Junchen also began to conduct further explorations.