Apart from Zhao Jin's people, only Lin Qingsong's trusted confidants knew about the intersection and interactions between the two of them.
In order to make it easier for the two of them to communicate with each other on weekdays, Lin Qingsong deliberately replaced the clerks at the Yingke Building in Bianzhou City with his confidants, and to ensure that their relationship would not be revealed.
"Brother Zhao, don't worry," Lin Qingsong smiled and raised his glass and toasted Zhao Jin, "They won't let them know about this."
Lin Qingsong said firmly. Zhao Jin knew his abilities and clinked glasses with him with a smile.
"As for the problem of food and grass, it depends on Brother Lin."
After talking about the serious business, the two started chatting casually.
"When I first met Brother Zhao, I never thought that one day, Brother Zhao would sit in such a high position."
As he became drunker, Lin Qingsong's demeanor became more relaxed, and he felt some emotion in his heart.
I am afraid that no one could have expected that one day, Zhao Jin would become the crown prince below one person and above ten thousand people.
Now that His Majesty is seriously ill, Zhao Jin, as the prince, does not even have the restrictions and restraints of one person.
Zhao Jin smiled nonchalantly, with no obvious joy on his face.
"At first it was just to protect myself."
If it hadn't been for what happened to Tang Mei, Zhao Jin wouldn't have taken action so quickly.
Lin Qingsong was a little stunned and lowered his voice, "Brother Zhao, don't you have any intention of this position?"
"It would be too hypocritical to say it was completely unintentional, but it is true that I am not too happy."
Zhao Jin's expression was very calm, "This position has great power, but..."
He put down his wine glass, raised his right hand and shook it in the air, "The greater the power, the greater the responsibility you shoulder."
If Zhao Jin was a foolish king, of course he wouldn't need to take care of this and just live a relaxed and comfortable life.
However, it was impossible for Zhao Jin to be a foolish king. He could not do it and just watched the people being displaced without being moved.
Lin Qingsong shook his head, "At least, my life is in my own hands."
"yes."
The two fell silent and drank.
As the wine filled his stomach, Lin Qingsong became more courageous and approached Zhao Jin, "However, Your Highness, with your ability, it shouldn't be a problem for you to be an idle prince and protect yourself."
Lin Qingsong had forgotten Zhao Jin's original words and called him "Your Highness" again.
Zhao Jin glanced at the other party, maybe because he was drunk, Zhao Jin said directly: "But no one is more suitable for any position."
He spoke so arrogantly that Lin Qingsong was stunned for a moment, "No one?"
Zhao Jin sighed helplessly: "Yes, there is no one."
"Except for the third and fourth princes, the other princes are either too young or have mediocre talents and cannot bear it at all."
Lin Qingsong had heard a little bit about what happened in the court, especially after Zhao Jin went to Bianzhou City, he would pay more attention to the news in the court on weekdays.
Perhaps some were a little rebellious, but Lin Qingsong had to admit that the other princes were indeed incompetent.
"But there are still the third prince and the fourth prince."
"Zhao Xingzhi is no different from those aristocratic families. He is capable, but he doesn't take the common people seriously." Zhao Jin said calmly: "For Zhao Xingzhi, the common people are just tools."
"So, what about the fourth prince?" Lin Qingsong was already a little drunk at this time, and his speech was not clear.
Zhao Jin asked again before he knew what the other party was talking about.
"Fourth brother."
In the eyes of the courtiers, Zhao Xingzhi was excluded because Zhao Xingzhi was disabled, but Zhao Jin didn't care about this.
In fact, if Zhao Xingzhi was interested in that position and had the ability to take on the entire Zhao State, Zhao Jin would be more willing to assist Zhao Xingzhi.
But……
Zhao Jin shook his head, "He can't."
"Fourth brother cares about the people." Zhao Jin held his forehead and looked a little drunk, "but he is not cruel and decisive enough."
"he
You can be the king of defense, but what Zhao State needs now is the king of ZTE."
Zhao Jin's voice became lower and lower, and Lin Qingsong could no longer hear the last two sentences, and could only see his lips opening and closing.
"What?"
Zhao Jin rested his head on his propped up arm, feeling a little dizzy from the alcohol. He heard Lin Qingsong's question, but did not speak.
He closed his eyes and remained silent.
Seeing that he was unwilling to say anything, Lin Qingsong didn't force it. He half-closed his eyes and drank the wine one sip after another.
Zhao Jin calmed down for a while, managed to regain his composure, and raised his hand to clap.
"Bang."
The wine glass in Lin Qingsong's hand was knocked down by Zhao Jin.
This sound made both of them energetic.
"Sir, what happened?" the guard outside the door asked.
"nothing."
Zhao Jin rubbed his temples and said hoarsely: "Cook two bowls of hangover soup and bring them over."
"yes."
Zhao Jin raised his eyes and saw Lin Qingsong trying to drink from a wine glass. His eyebrows skipped a beat and he said, "Stop drinking."
"If you drink any more, you will really die of drunkenness here."
Lin Qingsong muttered a few words, but did not pick up the wine glass to drink again.
The guard quickly brought the sobering soup in. The two drank the sobering soup, relaxed again, and dispersed after feeling more energetic.
Zhao Jin returned to the East Palace smelling of alcohol.
"Hey! How much did your Highness drink?"
As soon as he returned to the East Palace, the eunuch who was next to Zhao Jin suddenly shouted and quickly ordered people to prepare hangover soup and prepare bathing supplies.
"No need for the hangover soup, I've already drank it."
After Zhao Jin took a shower, he lay down on the bed and rested directly.
When did the people in the East Palace see Zhao Jin get drunk and go to bed so early?
A eunuch pulled the guard who went out with Zhao Jin and inquired in a low voice: "What is troubling your highness?"
The guard raised his eyes and prevaricated, "Your Highness is busy with many things every day. All affairs in the court and China are waiting for His Highness to make decisions. Isn't it normal for you to be upset?"
"Just take good care of His Highness."
The next day, when Zhao Jin woke up, his head still hurt.
"What time is it?"
The eunuch waiting by the bed quickly came forward and said, "Your Highness, this is Yin Shizhong."
In the middle of the day, Zhao Jin got up from the bed and squinted his eyes. It was four o'clock in the morning.
He let out a breath and said, "Let's wash up and change clothes."
The morning meeting began at Mao Shi.
"yes."
Lin Qingsong acted quickly. Within a few days, he sent a letter telling Zhao Jin that he had been contacted and the negotiation was settled.
Then the Ministry of Revenue appropriated money from the state treasury, and also allocated part of it from Zhao Qian's private treasury, and Zhao Jin took another part from his own private treasury.
After collecting the money, 500,000 shi of grain were shipped to Zhao Jin one after another.
By the time the aristocratic family discovered the clues, Zhao Jin already had enough food on hand.
"Those people went home and were very upset."
Zhao Jin sneered, "It seems that they are really thinking about it. Write down all these people, and I will settle accounts with them one by one in the future."
