"Ziying, are you aware of my purpose?" Chai Ke picked up the teacup, pondered for a moment, then used the cup lid to apply matcha foam, and said calmly.
"It's inevitable to be entrusted by others." Feng Ziying also smiled, "Officials and teachers are also so ignorant."
Chai Ke smiled silently, "Times have changed, things have changed. Back then, he was the head of the academy and you were a student. Before that, he was a second-rank official. You edited the Hanlin Academy. Now he is the same as you.
As a minister of the cabinet, there are some things that are hard to say, so naturally I can only say them."
Feng Ziying shook her head and looked at the other person: "Brother Zishu, is it still early? Even if it is a rainy day, but..."
There was no more words after the word "but", and Feng Ziying didn't know what to say. If she didn't plan for a rainy day, wouldn't it be self-inflicted to wait until the trouble came to find a way out?
Chai Ke also knew Feng Ziying's difficulties, but he thought it would be helpful to clarify some things.
If it works, it will work. If it doesn't work, it won't work. If it doesn't work now, it may not work then. If there are difficulties, everyone understands and we can talk about the conditions. At least there are no irreconcilable conflicts between Feng Ziying and her own side.
"Ziying, let's do this. You know my purpose of coming. Dongxian and Liuji Gong had an agreement. You also know that next year will be the change of office. It was originally agreed that Liujigong would take office and Dongxian would take over as the first assistant. But at present,
Judging from the situation, I am afraid that Dongxian may not be willing to give in. Although Liuji Gong has not made it clear yet, we can also see that, let alone that he does not want to do it, even if he wants to do it, he still has to fight for his side.
People think about it, so I find it difficult. In this case, it can only be..."
Chai Ke was still thinking about his words, and Feng Ziying smiled and answered: "Eight Immortals crossed the sea, each showing his magical powers?"
Chai Ke laughed, "You can also say that the rules have been set long ago. Nomination, election, and voting are both simple and fair. Of course Liuji Gong has his confidence, and Dongxian certainly wants to give it a try."
Try, life is full of grass and trees, and people always have their own pursuits. This is understandable..."
Feng Ziying nodded: "Brother Zishu, there is no need to talk about nominations. The officers and teachers can nominate themselves, but they can vote forty votes. At least 21 votes are needed to get the majority. Are the officers and teachers sure?"
"If you are really sure, why should I come to you?" Chai Ke spread his hands, "But you have to give it a try. If you don't try, how can you know it won't work?"
Feng Ziying had nothing more to say, "Brother Zishu, I won't lie between you and me. It's understandable that the officer hopes to succeed Liu Ji Gong as the next chief assistant. It turns out there was a verbal agreement, but
As you said, times have changed, and the situation has changed. Liuji Gong may not be willing to give up his throne. I am also in a dilemma, but I will support the implementation of the contract, that is, support the officials and teachers, but you also know that my influence is limited.
…”
Chai Ke didn't expect Feng Ziying to agree so readily, and was quite surprised, "Ziying, are you serious about this?"
"Brother Zishu, how can I still deceive you? But I don't think an official can do it. There are twenty-one votes for important ministers. This is a real vote. You know how many votes I can get here. How many votes can you get over there?"
You should know how many votes you will get, so how can you get all 21 votes together?" Feng Ziying asked rhetorically.
Chai Ke smiled and said, "Then Ziying means that Liu Ji Gong can collect twenty-one votes? We know that he is also working hard now, but you northern scholars do not support him, even if all the Jiangnan scholars support him
, he can’t succeed either, or maybe he and Ru Jun have a tacit understanding?”
Feng Ziying couldn't answer this question.
The relationship between Gu Bingqian and Qiao Yingjia is very ordinary. It is hard to say whether he can persuade Qiao Yingjia to support him.
Moreover, the Northern scholars did not have a good impression of Gu Bingqian. Even if they convinced Qiao Yingjia, it was hard to say whether Qiao Yingjia could handle these dozen or so important Northern cadastral officials.
This still means to get rid of Lian Guo Shi and Geng Ruqi who have always been on Feng Ziying's side.
Pan Ruzhen is not from the Northern Cadastral Register. He is from Tongcheng, Nanzhi Province, and Fu Shi is not from the Northern Cadastral Register. He is from Shangyuan County, Jinling, Nanzhi Province, and is from the same hometown as the Jia family.
"I don't know much about the situation on Mr. Ru Jungong's side. You also know that, well, how should I put it, he may have some ideas now..." Feng Ziying said thoughtfully.
Chai Ke was shocked and asked quickly: "Ru Jun also wants to be the chief assistant?"
Feng Ziying said leisurely: "Who doesn't want to? After reaching this position, Ru Jungong can also be regarded as the leader of our northern scholars. For now, the northerners have the largest number of important ministers. If you Huguang scholars can support him
, he may not be able to compete for the position of chief assistant."
Chai Ke shook his head decisively: "This is impossible. Dongxian can't agree. We have an agreement with Liu Ji Gong. If Ru Jun wants to intervene, it will break the rules!"
"Mr. Zishu, what do you mean by breaking the rules? It is not clear who can and cannot be the chief minister. The original rule was that as long as he is a cabinet minister, he can be a cabinet minister, even if he has only been a cabinet minister for one day, you
Although Duke Jung has been in the cabinet for a shorter period of time, it has been two years, and it will be almost the same next year..., and it is only a convention that he can be the first and assistant before he joins the cabinet, and it is not an express custom..."
Feng Ziying's explanation failed to win Chai Ke's approval, "Whether it is expressly customized or established by convention, there must always be moral rules. In the past, when Chengfeng Gong served as the chief minister, we fully supported it, but now it is Dongxian's turn.
, we just draw the ground as a prison and have to compare the penny and the penny?"
This was difficult for Feng Ziying to accept. There was only one position for the chief assistant, and the princes were all old and in different health conditions. After two or three years, his body might not be able to support him anymore.
Just like Qi Yongtai, he was supposed to work for a full term, and everyone was convinced, but who told him that his health was not good enough, and he stopped working after just over a year. He couldn't work on the sickbed all day long, right?
"Brother Zishu, I just said that there is such a possibility. No one can tell until then, right?" Feng Ziying waved her hands helplessly, "Ru Jungong has never mentioned it to me, but I feel it.
, Under this current situation, it is inevitable that Ru Jun will have some ideas."
Chai Ke already knew it in his heart.
In fact, they were not worried about Qiao Yingjia's thoughts in this regard. However, although the Northern scholars were the most powerful and accounted for the largest number of important ministers, among the Northern scholars, although Qiao Yingjia was the natural leader, Feng Ziying's influence was not
underestimate.
More importantly, Geng Ruqi, Fu Shi and Pan Ruzhen stood firmly on Feng Ziying's side when it came to practicing state affairs.
The cohesion of this small group is extremely strong, and it can be said that Feng Ziying can decide where to vote for these four votes without any discount.
Unlike Qiao Yingjia's case with other northern scholars, who still need to be persuaded one by one. It is inevitable that there will be some who disobey or disagree and are unwilling to support Qiao Yingjia. Even Qiao Yingjia himself cannot tell how big these variables are. Maybe he can be persuaded now.
Now, at the critical moment of voting, the important ministers who voted do not agree and change their tune. This situation is very likely to happen.
In a word, Qiao Yingjia's influence on other northern scholars and his ability to control the entire northern scholar group are far inferior to Qi Yongtai's. Just like Gu Bingqian's lack of control over the Jiangnan scholar group, this kind of problem also exists.
Condition.
On the contrary, Guan Yingzhen's ability to control Huguang scholars and Feng Ziying's ability to control this small group were quite strong.
After talking about this, Feng Ziying also expressed his attitude, but he still wanted to ask: "Ziying, if Ru Jun also wants to compete for the first assistant, Dongxian also has this intention, and Liuji Gong, then will you vote?
who?"
Feng Ziying spread her hands and said, "Zishu, if the three of them have to decide the outcome through voting by important ministers, I guess no matter who we vote for, they will still be unable to win. If such a chaotic situation really occurs, it must be the imperial court."
For good fortune, it is best to find a solution that everyone can accept, compromise, or even make a deal..."
Feng Ziying said it so bluntly that Chai Ke shook his head, "If you can't choose, then Liuji Gong can continue to act as the first assistant. I guess this is not what Dongxian and Rujun want to see, right?"
"Long Ji Gong is also unwilling to see this situation. From the chief assistant to the acting chief assistant, his prestige will be greatly affected. It is better to find a suitable compromise plan..."
Before Feng Ziying finished speaking, Chai Ke's expression changed, "Are you saying that Mr. Liu Ji wants to compromise with Ru Jun?"
What are the terms of the compromise? Naturally, it is to make Qiao Yingjia the second assistant, while General Yingzhen evicts him from the second assistant position.
If Guan Yingzhen were to step down from the position of Second Assistant, he would probably have no shame in staying in the cabinet anymore and would have no choice but to retire.
Feng Ziying shook her head, "I just said that it is possible. Brother Zishu, if Duke Dongxian can reach a compromise with Duke Ru Jung, it may not be impossible."
Chai Ke left.
Couldn't get a satisfactory answer.
In fact, it is still early before the actual change of cabinet. No one knows how the situation will change by then, and what the outcome of the duel and game between Gu, Guan and Qiao will be.
Even Xu Guangqi, an amateur and passerby, may not just watch, but may also have his own opinions.
*******
"Chai Ke went to Ziying's house..." Qiao Yingjia's eyes were calm, and the long beard under his chin trembled slightly, "I stayed there for a long time. It seems that Dongxian can't hold it anymore. Maybe he will come to my house in two days."
Up."
Sun Juxiang frowned and glanced at Han Xu next to him, "Rujun, it seems that Ziying is really planning to set up her own business? Want to divide us northern scholars?"
Han Xu shook his head, "Bofu, what you said makes no sense. Yes, the few people around Ziying are indeed very close to him, but neither Fu Shi nor Pan Ruzhen are from the North. As for Jun Yu, you
Do you think anyone can influence his views and attitudes just because of cadastral reasons?"
Sun Juxiang did not answer Han Xu's words, "Rujun, there is still only half a year left, and Dongxian has started to make moves. It seems that he is really unsteady and unsure. Does Liuji not intend to abide by the agreement and withdraw?"