After hearing Prince Zhu He's inquiry, Zhao Shancai's expression was full of emotion, and he slowly said: "Human nature is greedy. Throughout the ages, there are only a very small number of people who can restrain their greed, and the officialdom is a vat of fame and fortune. After people enter the officialdom,
, hold power, are often tempted, and lack checks and balances, how many people can stick to their hearts under such circumstances? Since the Song Dynasty, how many people have praised the famous saying "worry before the world's worries"? On the contrary
Sentences such as "Being an official for thousands of miles are only for wealth" and "Three years to clear the magistrate's office and one hundred thousand snowflakes of silver" have become more and more popular. Now, the court is full of corrupt officials, and honest officials are hard to find. The so-called people's hearts are not ancient, and this is about it.
.
Prince Zhu He had a solemn expression and remained silent, but he also agreed with Zhao Shancai's statement.
Zhao Shancai took a deep look at Prince Zhu He and said slowly: "Back to the topic, why are most Qingliu officials useless? Instead, those corrupt officials can do practical things? In fact, Qingliu officials who are capable, willing to do things, and flexible are not
No, but they were either jointly suppressed by corrupt officials and were unable to stand out at all, or they gave up on themselves and joined in with the corrupt officials!
In the officialdom, there is never a saying that one is immune to oneself. On the contrary, one's position determines everything! After officials enter their official careers, most of them start as county magistrates. However, after they take office, they will find that most of their subordinates are corrupt officials.
Most of his colleagues are corrupt officials, and most of his immediate superiors are treacherous officials. Under such circumstances, if he still wants to insist on being honest, he will become a different kind. Naturally, he will be squeezed and suppressed by others, and it will be difficult to get promoted. If he wants to do some practical things
, then people below you will hold you back, people around you will hinder you, and people above you will secretly make things difficult. As a result, you will not only fail in doing things, but you will also give others excuses, and ultimately you will lose your official position and be held accountable.”
After a pause, Zhao Shan shook his head slightly and continued: "In this way, the honest officials who can do things are suppressed before they show up. On the contrary, they give up their persistence and choose to go along with the others. After being harmonious, they will
When people are surrounded by people of their own, no matter what they do, they will always have party members to help them. Not only is it easier to get things done and make political achievements, but the more things they handle, the more experience they have, and the abilities and means they have will naturally develop.
This is probably the reason why corrupt officials are better at getting things done..."
Seeing that Prince Zhu He was still silent, Zhao Shancai added: "The world always says that 'good will be rewarded with good and evil will be rewarded with evil', but in the officialdom, such cases are only a minority. Honest officials want to do something to benefit the country.
Good deeds that benefit the people often lead to difficulties and retribution. Although corrupt officials are caught again and again, most corrupt officials still slip through the net and are at large. Because of this, there are more and more officials.
I am willing to let myself get lucky and let myself fall."
"According to Mr. Zhao, can it be that honest and self-responsible officials can't stand out at all? Are you and I going to allow evil and evil to run rampant in the temple and become more and more smoky?" After hearing Zhao Shancai's explanation, Prince Zhu He felt a little unwilling.
, gritted his teeth and asked.
Zhao Shancai's expression also looked a little weak: "This is not only the current environment of our dynasty, but it has been like this for most of the dynasties throughout the ages. Even if there is an occasional peaceful and prosperous era, it only lasts for a while and cannot last long...
Of course, the imperial court needs both honest and upright people to check and balance each other, and honest and self-responsible officials naturally have a way to get ahead. The best way is to enter the Metropolitan Procuratorate and become a censor! The censors are in charge of the power of impeachment and supervision, and are relatively independent.
They need to deal with practical matters, and they will not be suppressed too much. The environment is relatively simple... Therefore, most of the Qingliu people are concentrated in the Metropolitan Procuratorate, but they have always stood on the outside, lack experience in doing things, and are used to finding faults and arresting people.
The handle has gradually become somewhat divorced from reality, and one's eyes are high but one's hands are low, which is one of the reasons why Qingliu people are always lacking in ability to do things."
After Zhao Shancai finished speaking, Prince Zhu He remained silent for a long time.
Then, Prince Zhu He said slowly: "Mr. Zhao suddenly brought the topic here, maybe he had other intentions? Mr. Zhao should know that these things are not enough to shake my ambition! As the prince and crown prince now, I will
As the Supreme Emperor, I am supported by the people of the world. Even if the future is difficult and dangerous, I will not give up!"
Zhao Shancai nodded lightly and said: "His Highness the Crown Prince has a firm ambition, and I naturally understand it. In fact, like His Highness, I also hope that all officials will be self-sufficient and the world will be peaceful. However, the current environment is like this. We can be independent, but
You can't walk alone! As the saying goes, 'When the water is clear, there will be no fish, and when people are careful, there will be no disciples.' If His Royal Highness really wants to do some practical things, then it is absolutely impossible to just rely on Qingliu officials, because the Qingliu officials are really capable of doing things.
Anything less will only lead to bad things in many cases. As for those officials who are both capable of doing things and can be honest and self-responsible, they certainly meet His Highness's requirements and are worthy of His Highness's promotion, but such people are too rare.
Although I have spent countless efforts over a period of time searching for all the officials in the imperial court, I have only been able to find twenty-one people."
Then, Zhao Shan raised his finger and pointed at the book in the hand of Prince Zhu He, which contained the list of these twenty-one people.
Looking at the thin roster in his hand, Prince Zhu He felt extremely heavy.
Throughout the court, there were only twenty-one officials who met his requirements. The remaining officials were either insufficient in ability or lacking in character, making it impossible for them to reuse them with confidence.
"Today's temple environment is bad, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is full of evil spirits. It is increasingly difficult for honest and self-responsible officials to gain a foothold. Even the twenty-one people I finally found may one day surrender.
Depravity... However, the more severe it is, the less drastic drugs can be given, and the more slowly treatment and gradual improvement are needed. In many cases, it is even necessary to fight poison with poison to be effective! If His Highness wants to clear away the smoky atmosphere in the temple, he must first
We need to establish a firm foothold and establish prestige, and then we can control the situation and accomplish great things... But no matter what, we need enough talents to assist!"
At this moment, Zhao Shancai took out another booklet from his hand. Compared with the list in the hand of Prince Zhu He, this book was much thicker.
Zhao Shancai looked serious and said slowly: "If His Highness wants to achieve great things, relying only on these twenty-one people will probably be a small amount of money. What's more, most of these twenty-one people are lower-ranking officials. Even if they are focused on training
They can't save the fire from afar, but when I was selecting talents for His Highness during this period, I also drew up another list at the same time."
While talking, Zhao Shancai handed the second list to Prince Zhu He and said at the same time: "There are a total of thirty-seven people in this list. They all have their own merits in terms of ability, means, vision, etc., and they are all considered rare.
Talents! The most rare thing is that these people are all neutral factions of the imperial court and have not joined any party. However, His Highness is the prince, so if he deliberately recruits them, it will not be that difficult. If His Highness gets these people again,
If you seek refuge and assistance, then the situation of lack of talents will be greatly alleviated, and you will be able to do things with ease in the future... However..."
Having said this, Zhao Shan sighed softly and continued: "However, these people have more or less stains on their bodies, and they are not so honest people. Although these stains are not particularly serious, I also know
Your Highness, you have always rejected those officials with stains, so these people do not meet His Highness's employment standards... However, I still give this list to Your Highness. Whether or not to use them in the future is entirely up to His Highness. Shancai will never
reluctantly."
After hearing Zhao Shancai's explanation, Prince Zhu He was silent for a long time. He reached out to take the second roster, nodded slowly and said: "In troubled times, if you want to cure corrupt officials, you must first use corrupt officials... Mr. Zhao has a good heart."
Bitter, I will seriously consider this matter."
Seeing that after going through a big circle, Prince Zhu He was finally willing to consider his suggestion, Zhao Shancai's eyes flashed with relief.
Prince Zhu He's employment principle has always been to emphasize character over ability. This is one of Prince Zhu He's bottom lines. It is extremely difficult to persuade Prince Zhu He to change this. Even Zhao Shancai put a lot of thought into it.
But this principle of employment is also the key reason why the "Prince Party" is always weak. The "Prince Party" has not been able to provide enough support for Prince Zhu He, which is why Prince Zhu He has not been able to be in the temple.
The main reason to stand firm.
Ever since he noticed that Prince Zhu He's status as crown prince was gradually showing signs of instability, Zhao Shancai wanted to gradually expand the influence of the "Princeling Party". As long as the power of the "Princeling Party" gradually became stronger, it could provide Prince Zhu He with
With enough support, even Emperor Deqing cannot easily depose Prince Zhu He!
Of course, in order to completely stabilize Prince Zhu He's position as crown prince, in addition to expanding the influence of the "Prince Party", Emperor Deqing's attitude is also extremely critical. As long as Emperor Deqing is willing to continue to support Prince Zhu He, then
Zhu He's status as crown prince will never be shaken!
Therefore, Zhao Shancai did not say anything more, but just reminded: "It is great that Your Highness is willing to seriously consider these matters... However, it is getting late now, and Your Highness had better not waste any more time and go in as soon as possible.
Palace Sage, it would be better to submit a self-examination memorial to His Majesty! Our top priority now is to regain His Majesty's support."
After hearing Zhao Shancai's reminder, Prince Zhu He was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said: "Mr. Zhao's words are reasonable. I will enter the palace to see my father."
After saying that, Prince Zhu He once again advised Zhao Shancai to take a rest, and then left the study to prepare for entering the palace to meet the saint.
Prince Zhu He had just left the study when Zhao Shancai suddenly felt his body go limp and his mind was dizzy. He almost collapsed on the ground. His face became increasingly gloomy and he looked extremely weak and weak.
In the past ten days, Zhao Shancai's physical condition has become worse and worse. In addition to using acupuncture three times a day for pain relief, he also secretly takes a large amount of pain-suppressing, overdrafting, and forcibly refreshing drugs. Otherwise, with his current physical condition
, let alone planning the future for Prince Zhu He, even ordinary walking is extremely difficult.
Just now, when Zhao Shancai was talking to Prince Zhu He, he also forced himself to hold on and tried his best to hold on. Although his voice was a little weak, he did not show too much depression.
Otherwise, Prince Zhu He would definitely force him to rest, and he would definitely be distracted and worried when he went to the palace to meet the saint. This was something Zhao Shancai never wanted to see.
After slumping on the chair for a long time, Zhao Shancai's body finally regained some strength.
Only when Zhao Shan saw it did he reach out and take out a pill from his arms, put it into his mouth and took it.
After a long time, Zhao Shancai finally looked a little normal, but he still had no intention of taking a rest. He just picked up a piece of information from his hand, his eyes full of worry.
He was not worried about his physical condition, but worried about the future of Prince Zhu He.
This intelligence stated that Emperor Deqing had repeatedly inquired about the current situation of the seventh prince Zhu Hejian in the past ten days, and secretly ordered Dongchang to investigate all relevant information about the seventh prince; at the same time, Emperor Deqing asked the prince Zhu He who had closed himself up and thought about his past.
But he didn't show much concern.
Zhao Shancai naturally knew what this information meant.
"Unfortunately, I'm afraid I don't have much time. Even though I try my best and exhaust all my efforts, I may not be able to reverse the crisis..."
Zhao Shancai murmured to himself.
Then, Zhao Shancai turned his attention to another piece of information.
This information stated that Zhao Junchen would officially accept Fang Ru as his side chamber in three days, and would also host a banquet for guests and invite all close colleagues in the temple.
"Perhaps...we need to see Zhao Junchen..."
While muttering to himself in a low voice, Zhao Shancai's eyes flickered.
At the same time, in the imperial study room in the palace, Emperor Deqing was also reading information.
All this information is related to the Seventh Prince Zhu Hejian!
Whether it is Zhu Hejian's comments and views in recent years or the character of the people around Zhu Hejian, all of them are involved in the intelligence.
This information even contained information about Zhu Hejian advising Prince Zhu He during Emperor Deqing's southern tour.
After reading this information, Emperor Deqing's face was quite serious, and his eyes were full of contemplation.
Emperor Deqing suddenly discovered that the seventh prince Zhu Hejian did not seem to be as simple as he imagined.
In the past, Emperor Deqing always believed that the temperaments of the seventh prince Zhu Hejian and the prince Zhu He were very similar, but Zhu Hejian's methods were not as direct as those of the prince Zhu He, and his personality was gentler.
But now after reading this information, Emperor Deqing discovered that the intelligence and methods of the seventh prince Zhu Hejian were far beyond his expectations. As a father, he had never noticed this before.
Not to mention anything else, during Emperor Deqing's southern tour, the reason why Prince Zhu He was able to suppress Huang Yourong was precisely because of Zhu Hejian's suggestions. This method alone cannot be underestimated.
"He has never shown this scheming in front of me before. Is he deliberately hiding it with ulterior motives? Or has he never shown his ambition before?"
Emperor Deqing thought secretly.
While Emperor Deqing was deep in thought, the eunuch Zhang De suddenly entered the imperial study and reported to Emperor Deqing: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is here."
Emperor Deqing was stunned for a moment, then sighed secretly, nodded and said: "Since he is here, let him come in."