Chapter 589 Break the casserole and ask to the end
Zhu Hao's two eldest uncles all knew that Zhu Hao was not only a scholar who was good at studying and taking imperial examinations, but also a genius who knew how to do business.
Although scholars these days generally look down on businessmen, money is really good for scholars. Who doesn’t want to make more money and live a life of fine clothing and fine food?
Looking at the business of the hot pot restaurant, even the two brothers of the Sun family have a little hope. The business model of finding someone to open a shop and making money but putting it into their own pockets is a good thing that they can only hope for.
In the afternoon, the brothers went home and met their father together.
Sun Jiao heard that his eldest son Sun Yuan said that he had met Zhu Hao, so he asked: "What is your impression of him?"
"fine."
Sun Yuan couldn't say that he felt anything special.
Sun Jing said with a smile: "Today at noon, my brother and I were invited to have a meal, which was hot pot. They said it was a shop opened by Zhu Hanlin's family. The business is very good. I'm afraid we can make a fortune every day."
Sun Jiao frowned slightly.
He has never investigated Zhu Hao's business matters.
But I vaguely remember Zhu Hao saying that he had contact with Huang Zan's brother-in-law Su Xigui, and he seemed to have mentioned doing business together.
Sun Yuandao said: "From my perspective, my sister will not endure hardship when she gets married. I thought that he was from the Jinyiwei family and would have the arrogance of a martial artist, but I found that he was easy-going and unconcerned by nature, and he was smart and able to take care of things.
Some work to make a living, my sister is married or has something to do."
Sun Jiao said angrily: "What are you talking about? You don't mean to say that when my daughter, Sun Zhitong, is married, she will manage the business of the Zhu family for him? How decent is that?"
When the two Sun brothers saw that their father was angry, they were embarrassed to continue talking.
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Sun Jiao said he didn't want his daughter to manage any business, but he kept thinking about it afterwards, even to the point where he had trouble sleeping and eating.
What he couldn't figure out was Zhu Hao's specific role in raising money and food for the emperor.
As a veteran with a keen sense of politics, he instinctively felt that the most respected person around the emperor was probably Zhu Hao. Although he himself felt that this idea was too absurd, after a comprehensive analysis... Zhu Hao did not seem to be who he was.
He appears so open-minded, more like a little conspirator.
Two days later, Sun Jiao met Fei Hong, a cabinet scholar who came to visit him at the Hubu Yamen.
Fei Hong came to talk to Sun about the allocation of money and food for the river workers, which involved the court's budget for the coming year.
After talking about the business, Sun Jiao felt that Fei Hong was probably not Yang Ting's best friend, so he could try to ask: "Zichong, after you returned to the court, did you notice any difference between His Majesty and the late Emperor?"
This question was a bit general and covered so much that Fei Hong didn't know how to answer it.
Fei Hong said: "The former emperor was playful, but now he is diligent, which may be related to the fact that he is the first to achieve great success and needs political achievements and popular support."
Fei Hong's evaluation is very fair.
To a certain extent, the current Emperor Jiajing is much better than Emperor Zhengde. He is simply a model of a benevolent emperor. Except for the deep conflicts between him and his ministers in terms of ritual discussions, the rest is simply impeccable.
But Fei Hong also said that the current performance of the new emperor cannot be used to judge his future governance. It is precisely because he is the successor of a small sect and has never been a prince, so he cannot win the hearts of the people. That is why he needs such diligent performance. Waiting for him
Now that the throne is secure, who knows if he will be as diligent as he is now?
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Sun Jiao asked: "What do you think about His Majesty's handling of court affairs?"
Fei Hong smiled bitterly and said: "Old Sun, if you have anything to say, just say it. In fact, we are ministers in the same palace. How about Your Majesty? You can see for yourself in the court. If you ask me for my opinion, I naturally feel that today
Except for the deviation in etiquette, the rest is completely worthy of the name of the Holy King. Or do you have other opinions?"
After all, Sun Jiao was more than ten years older than Fei Hong, and since Fei Hong had just returned to the court, Sun Jiao could regard himself as the more senior "old man" in front of Fei Hong, even though they were both very old.
Sun Jiaodao: "Let's be honest, I want to ask you, what is your Majesty's view on reviewing memorials?"
If you want to ask about the emperor's governance, just based on his contact with the emperor, Sun Jiao feels that Zhu Si has done a pretty good job, and his ability shown in the court is quite good. He can always answer fluently when dealing with memorials at court meetings, including matters related to the Ministry of Household Affairs.
The memorials and reviews are also very accurate.
But if you want to ask about the specific situation, you can only ask people in the cabinet. After all, the foreign ministers do not know the contents of the cabinet ministers' vote. Maybe the new emperor's governance depends entirely on the opinions provided by the cabinet ministers?
Fei Hong said solemnly: "It's even more difficult when it comes to this... His Majesty's thorough thinking on many matters in the court often amazes Jiefu and others."
"What kind of magic method?"
Sun Jiao felt that he seemed to have hit on the point.
Fei Hong and Sun Jiao returned to the DPRK at the same time. They were also marginalized in the DPRK and could not contact the core power people. They had fewer taboos in their speech: "Let's put it this way, today's review of memorials, especially those involving
Major local affairs are often not subject to cabinet votes. Instead, trivial daily matters are all subject to the seal of Zhu Bian, the Supervisor of Ceremonies."
Sun Jiao asked: "Your Majesty approved it with your own pen?"
"yes."
Fei Hong nodded, "His Majesty has taken all things into consideration, and seems to be able to accurately control many hidden matters in the local area. If His Majesty had not mentioned some things, even Jiefu would not have thought of them. If the local affairs involved concealing reports, etc.
The clues of things can actually be noticed... Such actions are not pleasant to say, even Emperor Daxing Xiaozong... may not be as good as him."
When Sun Jiao heard this, his expression became cautious.
Like him, Fei Hong was a veteran of several dynasties. Although Fei Hong had been in the cabinet for three years during Zhengde, he had always served in the Hanlin Academy. Emperor Xiaozong treated civil servants with great courtesy. The three ministers of the cabinet, Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian, were in the imperial court.
On the affairs of the imperial court, he mostly discussed with the people in the Hanlin Academy, and entrusted Fei Hong and others with matters such as making imperial edicts. Therefore, Fei Hong was qualified to compare and evaluate the capabilities of Xiaozong and the new emperor.
Sun Jiao said: "How can your Majesty, at such a young age, have such high insights?"
Fei Hong said with a smile: "Brother, in fact, people in the cabinet are also discussing this matter, saying that there may be capable people around your majesty to help, but it is just a lie. As we all know, the most respected person around your majesty has some knowledge."
The only contributors to the Dragon's merits are the eunuch Zhang Zuo, the eunuch in charge of ceremonies, and the late cabinet minister Yuan Zonggao, but they do not have the ability to help His Majesty accomplish great things."
"Where's Bohu?"
Sun Jiao asked.
Fei Hong shook his head: "I only hear his name, but don't see his virtues, let alone his abilities. It's hard to praise him."
Sun Jiao nodded, as if he knew something inside, and stood up to see Fei Hong leave.
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One more day.
Zhang Zuo brought some gifts to Sun Jiao's house after Sun Jiao had finished his day job. In addition to two hundred taels of silver, there was also a batch of silks, tea, and other items.
Sun Jiao asked in surprise: "Eunuch Zhang, is this...?"
Zhang Zuo smiled and said: "This is a reward from Your Majesty and the Holy Mother Queen Mother."
"Why is the reward suddenly given?"
Sun Jiao pretended to be puzzled.
Zhang Zuodao: "In a few days, it will be the wedding day of Mr. Sun and Mr. Zhu... Mr. Sun's daughter. Your Majesty and the Queen Mother will give you something... Mr. Sun needs someone to take care of him in the capital. From now on, without his daughter by his side,
You can hire some more maids to come back. The Queen Mother and Your Majesty have always been thinking about you while you are in a foreign land."
It means that you were forcibly kidnapped by the Queen Mother and brought to the capital. Although you had two sons to take care of you in the capital, you were not careful enough. Now that your daughter is married and there is no one to care for her, the Queen Mother will give you some money to hire someone to take care of you.
Sun Jiao smiled and said, "Then Queen Mother Xingxian is interested."
This title made Zhang Zuo look a little embarrassed.
In the new emperor's camp, although Empress Dowager Chiang cannot be directly called "Empress Dowager", occasionally she can be referred to as "Empress Dowager", but most of the time she still calls her "Mother Queen Mother" to reflect the essential difference from Empress Dowager Zhang.
"Empress Xingxian" is the official title given to Empress Dowager Chiang.
It seemed very strange to call Sun Jiao this way.
Sun Jiao asked: "Eunuch Zhang, I have something that I don't understand. Can you answer my question?"
"Mr. Sun, please speak."
Zhang Zuo was still very respectful to Sun Jiao.
If nothing else, this is at least an old minister from the same country who is highly valued by the emperor and the queen mother. He is an important official in the court who has been friends with him since the time of Prince Xing's palace. He is also Zhu Hao's father-in-law... Even if Zhang Zuo is the eunuch of the Chief of Ceremonies and has a respected status,
Consider how to maintain a good relationship with Sun Jiao.
In addition, Zhang Zuo is indeed not the kind of person who wields power and makes trouble.
Sun Jiaodao asked, "How often does Mr. Zhang leave the palace?"
Sun Jiao shook his head: "Not very diligent... but if there is the will of the Queen Mother and Her Majesty, I can come out occasionally..."
Of course, I can't say that I go out often, or even every day. After all, if I have nothing to do, I will find someone to carry a few boxes to Zhu Hao's place, and review the memorials with Zhu Hao. During the time he was working in the palace, he was not stranded outside the palace.
It's a long time.
"So who does Eunuch Zhang usually see?" Sun Jiao's question made Zhang Zuo look a little unhappy, and then Sun Jiao added, "For example, Bohu?"
Zhang Zuoqiang smiled and said: "Mr. Sun always talks about Mr. Tang? We often see him... Our family and Mr. Tang are acquaintances in the palace."
"What about Zhu Hao?" Sun Jiao asked.
Zhang Zuo's face froze for a moment, and he didn't know how to answer. He hesitated and said: "This... this..."
Sun Jiao smiled and said, "Do we see him occasionally?"
"Yes Yes."
Zhang Zuo thought about it carefully and said that it is better to say that we meet occasionally than to say that we meet often, right?
Sun Jiao suddenly stopped smiling and asked in confusion: "But Zhu Hao doesn't usually serve in Hanyuan. He must be busy with official duties. How could Eunuch Zhang go to see him?"
When Zhang Zuo heard this, he felt as if he had made a mistake.
You old guy, why are you digging a hole for me when you have nothing to do?
Deliberately designing a trap, first asked me about meeting Tang Yin, then asked me about meeting Zhu Hao, induced me to tell me about meeting Zhu Hao, and then asked me what I wanted to do after meeting him?
Zhang Zuodao: "Oh, Mr. Sun, we are all members of the palace, why do you want to be so open-minded? Didn't your Majesty mention it in front of Mr. Sun before? In fact, Zhu Zhuangyuan... is very good at doing things."
"For example? What will he do for His Majesty?"
Sun Jiao refused to give up.
Zhang Zuo saw that Sun Jiao wanted to break the casserole and ask the truth, and quickly waved his hand: "Our family has other things to do. Please forgive me for not talking to Mr. Sun more. I take my leave."