Before you know it, another two days have passed.???
In the past two days, all the major parties in the imperial court have been secretly gathering strength and preparing for the upcoming "Beijing Inspection". Several powerful officials are sharpening their knives and preparing for a big fight, taking the opportunity to consolidate the foundation of their respective factions.
The officials below the third rank in the capital have been even more excited these days. After all, "Beijing Inspection" is directly related to their future career. For middle-level officials, after all, the officials in the capital are poor, while the local officials are the ones who make money.
A good place to go.
Therefore, in order to be able to judge the best in the "Four Grids and Eight Methods" and win the opportunity to be promoted to foreign officials, during this period, the officials in the capital tried their best to fight for all opportunities for themselves, either through connections or through connections.
, or giving money, in order to increase their chances of winning during the "Beijing Investigation" period, everyone worked hard!
It can be said that during this period of time, almost all officials' attention has been focused on "Beijing inspection."
But on that day, another incident happened, which attracted the attention of many people and diverted the attention of both the government and the public.
That is, Zhao Junchen officially admitted Fang Ru as his side room on this day.
This was originally just a trivial matter. There were many officials in the capital. Every auspicious day, officials would take concubines to fill their houses. However, most officials would be extremely low-key when taking concubines, for fear of attracting too much attention and eventually ending up with "
"Indulgent and lustful". But Zhao Junchen was exactly the opposite. He went against the grain and not only invited most of the officials of the "Zhao Party" to the Zhao mansion to witness the ceremony, but also held a large banquet, causing a lot of commotion, lest he
The world doesn't know.
Naturally, there was a lot of criticism from both the government and the public about Zhao Junchen's actions. Some people expressed disdain, some expressed contempt. Some people took the opportunity to submit a memorial to impeach Zhao Junchen. Of course, some people went to the Zhao Mansion to flatter Zhao Junchen. As the saying goes, people have different opinions.
Different, always.
But Zhao Junchen also has his own considerations and ideas.
As Zhao Junchen's only intimate woman in this era, Zhao Junchen naturally did not want to let her be wronged. Now due to the rules and situation of the court, Zhao Junchen could only make her a lowly concubine, and he would inevitably feel a little guilty.
, so Zhao Junchen could only try his best to compensate Fang Ru, and such a grand wedding ceremony, with a large number of distinguished guests witnessing it, was undoubtedly the best way.
With such a wedding, everyone knows that Zhao Junchen attaches great importance to Fang Ru. Fang Ru's status in the Zhao family will be completely stable in the future. Even if Zhao Junchen has a wife in the future, Fang Ru's status will not have any problems.
Shake it off, she is Mrs. Ru of the Zhao family, no one dares to bully her at will.
Of course, Zhao Junchen's considerations are not just that.
Nowadays, Zhao Junchen's status and power are getting higher and higher, and there are more and more cronies and lackeys under his sect. However, the relationship between Zhao Junchen and the middle and lower-level officials of the "Zhao Party" is inevitably getting farther and farther. On weekdays, he can only
Through Zuo Lanshan, Huo Zhengyuan, Chen Dongxiang and others, orders were given at various levels and commanded remotely.
Now that the "Beijing Procuratorate" is approaching, Zhao Junchen needs to select a group of middle- and lower-level officials of the "Zhao Party" for key promotions. These "Zhao Party" officials who have received key promotions will be the fundamental strength of the "Zhao Party" in the future, so Zhao Junchen must also
You must meet and talk with them in person, emphasize your existence to these "Zhao Party" officials, extend favors to them, and further understand their character and character!
But with Zhao Junchen's current status, his every move is attracting attention. If Zhao Junchen suddenly and deliberately comes into contact with these middle- and lower-level officials of the "Zhao Party", then anyone will guess what Zhao Junchen's focus will be during the "Beijing Inspection" period.
Which officials are promoted can easily be deliberately targeted by political opponents, causing a lot of unnecessary trouble.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen took the opportunity to accept Fang Ru as his side chamber, but held a grand banquet and invited all the officials of the "Zhao Party" to attend. In this way, no one could guess who Zhao Junchen would focus on promoting.
In addition, taking advantage of the opportunity of "Zhao Party" officials to gather in Zhao Mansion on this day, Zhao Junchen will also announce some things and give some benefits to "Zhao Party" officials, taking the opportunity to further unite people and strengthen Zhao Junchen's influence in "Zhao Party"
The prestige and appeal within the "Zhao Party".
Of course, if Zhao Junchen makes such a big fuss over the matter of taking concubines, it will eventually cause some bad effects, and he will definitely be criticized, and some people will even take the opportunity to impeach Zhao Junchen. But with Zhao Junchen's current situation
Position, authority, such trivial accusations and criticisms are not enough to affect the fundamentals. At most, they will cause some slight troubles.
What's more, Zhao Junchen's performance in recent times has been too good. Emperor Deqing may not be used to it. Occasionally causing trouble for Emperor Deqing and throwing out some minor flaws can also make Emperor Deqing
Be more at ease.
*
But he said that the Zhao Mansion on this day was very lively and busy with traffic.
Ge Lao Zuo Lanshan arrived at the Zhao Mansion early and has been sitting in the living room of the Zhao Mansion, helping Zhao Junchen entertain the guests.
Chen Dongxiang, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, was even more afraid that the world would not know that he was Zhao Junchen's trusted minion. As a second-rank official of the imperial court, he did not consider his identity at all, and rushed forward and backward as if he was from the Zhao family.
Like an ordinary housekeeper.
Huo Zhengyuan, a bachelor and Yin of Shuntian Prefecture, also led Lin Youlun, the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple, and Situ Han, the right deputy inspector of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and other officials rushed to the Zhao Mansion to support him and jointly gave him a heavy gift.
Then, Zhan Shanchang, the minister of the Ministry of Finance, arrived together with Tong Huan, the envoy of the General Affairs Department, Liu Changan, the minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Qin Huaiyuan, the minister of the Ministry of Punishments...
For a time, the Zhao Mansion was filled with guests, a large number of important court officials gathered, and the banquet filled the entire Zhao Mansion's front courtyard.
The extent of Zhao Junchen's power and influence was clearly revealed at this moment.
Seeing such a grand scene, even Xu Qingyan, who had never been on good terms with Fang Ru, smiled.
As the guests rushed to the Zhao Mansion, Zhao Junchen, as the host, was naturally not idle. He kept walking around the banquet. After meeting every "Zhao Party" official, he would deliberately stop and talk for a few words.
, either to win over or to close the relationship. After meeting those "Zhao Party" officials who were about to be promoted, Zhao Junchen took the opportunity to inspect and even hinted at a few words, saying, "I have always been
They are all paying attention to you and will do your best in the future." And those officials of the "Zhao Party" who got the hint were naturally ecstatic.
By the time Zhao Junchen had met most of the "Zhao Party" officials in person, it was almost noon before he knew it.
Because it is just a concubine, this ceremony is not very formal, and many links are omitted, but some due processes will still appear, such as the formal passing ceremony.
As early as two days ago, in order to prepare for this ceremony, Fang Ru had already left the Zhao Mansion and temporarily lived in a villa in the east of the capital. She then entered the Zhao Mansion in a sedan chair at noon today, which was regarded as a formal entrance.
.
Before Fang Ru officially came through, Zhao Junchen returned to the host's seat, picked up his wine glass and announced to the "Zhao Party" officials: "Today, I officially accept Fang Ru as a side chamber. This is a great joy.
Thank you to all my relatives, friends and colleagues for coming to witness the ceremony in person, I will always keep your thoughts in mind!"
After speaking, Zhao Junchen raised his glass and drank. Naturally, many guests at the banquet did not dare to neglect and raised their glasses to drink together.
Although most of the guests were officials of the "Zhao Party", there were still some outsiders present, so it was not convenient for Zhao Junchen to say a lot of things directly. After saying some words that fit the occasion, Zhao Junchen suddenly changed the topic,
But suddenly they got down to business.
"Among the relatives, friends and colleagues here, some are very familiar with me, and some have only met me a few times. But the fact that you are willing to come to my house to witness the ceremony today means that you are all one of my own...
On weekdays, everyone is busy with their own affairs, and there are very few opportunities to get together like today, so taking advantage of the opportunity that everyone is here today, I have the audacity to ask you to help me solve a little trouble!"
Upon hearing Zhao Junchen's words, all the guests present were stunned.
With Zhao Junchen's powerful position, what else needs their help? If it's something that even Zhao Junchen can't accomplish, it won't help if they all work together, right?
However, despite their doubts, all the guests still expressed that they would definitely help. If there is anything that Zhao Junchen needs, just ask him.
Seeing that all the guests were acting loyally, Zhao Junchen smiled lightly and said: "As you all know, I have been trusted by your majesty to be responsible for the imperial court's business tax rectification. I have also invited many merchants to join and established a 'union'."
With the support of the shipping company, the establishment of the "United Shipping Company" has been going smoothly. However, if we want to achieve the goals of the court, there are still some shortcomings in terms of financial, human, and material resources! Therefore, I also thought of it.
Everyone... Most of you are court officials with wide connections. If you can persuade your relatives and friends to invest some silver in United Shipping Company, the accumulated small amount will certainly be able to alleviate the shortcomings of United Shipping Company to a great extent, and can also provide the court with money.
I want to help, but I wonder if you are willing to contribute?"
Hearing Zhao Junchen's words, all the guests were stunned at first, and then they were overjoyed!
How could Zhao Junchen beg them for help? He was clearly giving them a way to make money!
Needless to say what happened next, all the guests loudly agreed to Zhao Junchen's "request", feeling that their visit today was not in vain! The atmosphere in the Zhao Mansion suddenly became more and more festive!
However, while the Zhao Mansion was full of guests, beaming with joy and laughter, the Prince's East Palace was showing another sad scene!
Zhao Shancai, who had been suffering from illness for many days and had been overdrafting his body, finally reached his limit at this moment and was about to pass away!
…
ps: Chongzi has always been dissatisfied with the content of this chapter. He pushed it back and rewritten it twice, but he still felt that he didn't write it well. But as it was almost twelve o'clock, he still reluctantly updated it.
Therefore, this chapter only has 3,000 words. I will write more tomorrow. Please forgive me!