This morning court, due to the huge changes in the cabinet personnel, most of the officials were a little distracted, and they were all thinking about the subsequent changes in the temple structure. Naturally, they were not interested in court affairs and had nothing to do, so the morning court ended quickly.
Already.?
After the morning dynasty, Emperor Deqing left the Huangji Hall, but the officials were not in a hurry to leave. Instead, they gathered around the two new elders, either to please compliments, to express congratulations, or to express their wishes.
To seize the opportunity to cling on, Li He and Zuo Lanshan stole the show for a while, and even faintly overshadowed their backers Zhou Shangjing and Zhao Junchen.
Of course, when these two people first join the cabinet, they will inevitably have a profound impact on the temple structure. Now that everyone is paying attention, it is natural to be in the limelight. Zhou Shangjing and Zhao Junchen are not narrow-minded people, and they will not deliberately be jealous.
Two people.
However, under such circumstances, the two people's performances were still completely different.
Li He was still personable, elegant in temperament, well behaved, and showed a good dancing side. The officials gathered around him received just the right response, neither too cold nor too proud.
Whether the officials wanted to be flattered, expressed congratulations, or took advantage of the situation, they were not treated coldly and felt that they had gained something.
On the other side, Zuo Lanshan's performance was completely opposite.
Obviously, Zuo Lanshan only considered how he would become a cabinet minister in the past, but he did not think about what he should do after becoming a cabinet minister. Therefore, when he faced the officials, he was in a dilemma...
Perhaps he had not yet woken up from the excitement and surprise. When Zuo Lanshan faced the officials with different thoughts, he completely lost his former city government scheming. He did not respond to many things that he should have responded to, and many things that he should not have responded to.
He responded to what he should have responded to.
Such a performance made Zhao Junchen in the distance secretly shake his head again.
Zhao Junchen's guess was not wrong. After Zuo Lanshan found out that he had entered the cabinet, he was filled with ecstasy and disbelief. Facing the congratulations and compliments from all the officials, Zuo Lanshan felt extremely proud.
I was quite forgetful and felt that I had reached the pinnacle of my life at this moment.
However, when he was feeling proud, while Zuo Lanshan was dealing with the officials around him, he felt that something was wrong.
But Zuo Lanshan couldn't figure out what exactly was wrong.
At this moment, another new Ge Lao, Li He, had already chased away the surrounding officials and walked quickly to Zhou Shangjing. First he bowed to Zhou Shangjing respectfully, and then he was quite humble.
When talking to Zhou Shangjing, it seems that he is asking Zhou Shangjing for advice.
Seeing this scene, Zuo Lanshan suddenly reacted and realized that his top priority after joining the cabinet was not to accept the congratulations of the officials, but to show his loyalty to Zhao Junchen as soon as possible!
After all, the reason why he successfully entered the cabinet this time was all because of Zhao Junchen's planning and support. If Zhao Junchen was neglected at this time and the priorities were confused, maybe Zhao Junchen would have thoughts in his heart and think that he had
If you are disloyal, you will be suppressed from now on.
Zuo Lanshan was very in awe of Zhao Junchen's methods. Although he has now become one of the cabinet elders, and Zhao Junchen is still just a minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, this awe has not changed at all!
After understanding this, Zuo Lanshan's complexion suddenly changed. He no longer cared about the officials around him who were congratulating him, but hurriedly pushed them away and looked around for traces of Zhao Junchen.
At this time, Zhao Junchen did not leave Huangji Hall, but stood not far away and looked at Zuo Lanshan with a smile, as if he was waiting for Zuo Lanshan to take the initiative to meet him.
After seeing Zhao Junchen, Zuo Lanshan felt a little more relaxed, but when he saw the scene behind Zhao Junchen, Zuo Lanshan's heart suddenly trembled slightly, and he felt a little cold!
At the same time, Zuo Lanshan finally realized what was wrong just now.
After becoming the cabinet minister, Zuo Lanshan was extremely prosperous. A large number of officials rushed to express their goodwill and congratulations to him. Some of these officials were from the "Shen Party", some were from the "Zhou Party", and some were neutral. There are even several members of the "Prince Party" faction, but there are not any "Zhao Party" officials!
It stands to reason that Zuo Lanshan is the number two figure in the "Zhao Party". When he became the cabinet minister, everyone in the "Zhao Party" should be the most excited. However, no "Zhao Party" official told him He expressed congratulations!
This situation is naturally a bit strange.
In fact, whether it is Huo Zhengyuan, Yin of Shuntian Prefecture, a great scholar, Zhan Shanchang, the Minister of Household Affairs, Chen Dongxiang, the Minister of Works, Gu Quan, the censor of Youqiandu, Tong Huan, the General Affairs Minister, etc., almost all the " The core figures of the "Zhao Party", except Zuo Lanshan himself, were all gathered behind Zhao Junchen at this time.
They stood behind Zhao Junchen, not only waiting for Zuo Lanshan with Zhao Junchen, but also secretly expressing a gesture to Zuo Lanshan, that is, although Zuo Lanshan had become the cabinet minister, they still Therefore, Zhao Junchen is right and the leader of the "Zhao Party" is still Zhao Junchen!
Seeing this scene and thinking of this, Zuo Lanshan suddenly felt a little cold in his heart, and his original complacency and elation suddenly disappeared.
Because, Zuo Lanshan discovered that although he was the number two figure in the "Zhao Party", he was essentially no different from the other members of the "Zhao Party". He was just a chess piece under Zhao Junchen, without any decision-making power. Being able to passively accept Zhao Junchen's orders, even after becoming a cabinet minister, he is only Zhao Junchen's representative in the cabinet.
If he becomes disloyal after joining the cabinet, no one from the "Zhao Party" will follow him, and he will have to start over from scratch.
But at the same time, although the assistant ministers of the cabinet have a respected position, they will never be able to stay in the cabinet for a long time without the support of a certain number of important ministers.
This means that if Zuo Lanshan still wants to remain in the cabinet, he must continue to be attached to Zhao Junchen. If he no longer wants to be attached to Zhao Junchen, then his position as cabinet minister will be lost.
All thoughts just pass by in a flash.
The next moment, Zuo Lanshan had restrained all his thoughts and walked quickly towards Zhao Junchen.
On the other side, Zhao Junchen was still standing where he was waiting for Zuo Lanshan, but he didn't move at all, but the smile on his face became more friendly.
Zuo Lanshan quickly walked up to Zhao Junchen, and assumed a more respectful posture than before. He completely ignored his status as a pavilion elder and took the initiative to gesture to Zhao Junchen, saying: "Thank you for this time, Mr. Zhao." , without Mr. Zhao’s full support, I would never be able to take the position of Assistant Minister of the Cabinet. However, the government affairs of the cabinet are many and complicated, and I have little talent and knowledge. I am afraid that I will have to trouble Mr. Zhao to continue to give you more advice in the future. "
Zuo Lanshan is now an assistant minister of the cabinet, and his status is still higher than that of Zhao Junchen. Naturally, he can no longer say such words as "Only Zhao is the one who is wise", but the meaning he expresses now is no different.
Seeing that Zuo Lanshan was on the road like this and finally understood his situation, Zhao Junchen nodded with satisfaction.
Ever since Zhao Junchen decided to bring Zuo Lanshan into the cabinet, in order to prevent Zuo Lanshan from having any dissent after entering the cabinet and planning to fight against him, he has been working secretly. Under Zhao Junchen's methods, he either win over or
The core members of the "Zhao Party" had more or less rifts with Zuo Lanshan. Although Zuo Lanshan's reputation and status had not changed, his connections and influence had long been eliminated by Zhao Junchen.
Completely empty.
However, although Zhao Junchen had bad intentions, Zuo Lanshan was still one of his own, so Zhao Junchen could not act too much.
What's more, Zuo Lanshan is now an assistant minister of the cabinet, and his status is there. If Zhao Junchen deliberately puts on airs in front of Zuo Lanshan and embarrasses Zuo Lanshan, then the faces of the other assistant ministers of the cabinet will not look good.
.
Therefore, after seeing Zuo Lanshan take the initiative to show weakness, Zhao Junchen also took the initiative to step forward and congratulated with a smile: "Mr. Zuo Ge, you can enter the cabinet because of the public's expectation. I just tried my best."
.Of course, as ministers, we should contribute to the court. If Mr. Zuo Ge encounters any difficulties in the cabinet in the future, just come to me and I will definitely help you with all my strength."
These words may seem respectful, but the hidden meaning is only understood by a few people.
After receiving Zhao Junchen's response, Zuo Lanshan's smile seemed a little forced, but he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart and said quickly: "Absolutely! In the future, Mr. Zhao must help you with all kinds of government affairs in the cabinet.
"
"Old Madam Zuo Ge is so polite..." Zhao Junchen seemed to suddenly remember something and said, "But I was almost rude. Mr. Zuo Ge just entered the cabinet. I was so happy that I forgot to express my congratulations..."
With that said, Zhao Junchen handed over his hand again and said: "Congratulations to Mr. Zuo Ge for joining the cabinet as an assistant minister. With Mr. Zuo Ge in the cabinet from now on, I believe that all government affairs of the court will be smoother."
As Zhao Junchen finished speaking, Huo Zhengyuan, Zhan Shanchang, Chen Dongxiang, Gu Quan and others, who had been silent at first, also put on smiles and congratulated: "Congratulations to Mr. Zuoge for joining the cabinet!"
Seeing this scene, the smile on Zuo Lanshan's face became even tighter.
Zhao Junchen didn't seem to notice the change in Zuo Lanshan's expression, but changed the topic and said: "In the morning, Your Majesty had a decree for Mr. Zuo Ge to go to the Imperial Study Room to talk after going to court. It's getting late now, Zuo Ge
I’d better go to the imperial study as soon as possible to have an audience, and I can’t keep His Majesty waiting..."
Speaking of this, Zhao Junchen said again: "However, if my prediction is correct, His Majesty summoned Mr. Zuo Ge alone this time to inquire about the successor candidate of the Minister of Industry. After all, the late emperor had stipulated that after ministers join the cabinet, they will
You can no longer hold the actual duties of various yamen. Therefore, after Mr. Zuo Ge joins the cabinet, the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry will be vacant. As Mr. Zuo Ge was the previous Minister of the Ministry of Industry, His Majesty will definitely ask for your opinion...
…”
Having said this, Zhao Junchen looked directly at Zuo Lanshan and asked seemingly casually: "I don't know, what are Mr. Zuo Ge's plans for this matter?"