After the report was over, Huang Jin came out of Qianqing Palace, followed by Zhang Zuo.
Huang Jin was respectful to Zhang Zuo. Even though they were both eunuchs of Prince Xing's palace, Zhang Zuo's status was far higher than that of Huang Jin. Huang Jin's respect for Zhang Zuo was not only that of his superiors, but also of his elders.
Zhang Zuo asked: "Longshan, tell your majesty that Mr. Zhu plans to use Luo An, Lu Song and others to intercept and investigate the team escorting pig iron from the local guard... Is this what Mr. Zhu said in his letter?"
Huang Jin's body trembled, and then he realized something and said hurriedly: "No, it's just... a humble guess."
Zhang Zuo looked unhappy: "You really know how to think... Mr. Zhu has not yet decided on a plan, and you dare to talk such nonsense. If Mr. Zhu did not lead the Jin Yiwei to intercept and check the railway team, then His Majesty asked , how should you respond? Tell Your Majesty that Mr. Zhu Jiaxiao has temporarily changed his strategy?"
After Zhang Zuo said this simple thing, Huang Jin immediately felt the seriousness of the problem.
"I would also like to ask Eunuch Zhang to give me some advice. I am so humble and my brain is so hot that I haven't thought about it deeply."
Huang Jin quickly admitted his mistake.
Zhang Zuo sighed and said: "You have seen this young gentleman when you were in the palace. He does things unexpectedly in the capital and uses many methods that are unexpected. We are just reminding you not to be too smart next time."
"It's also that His Majesty has been trying to get Mr. Zhu back early these days. In addition, since you took out the encrypted letter, it's impossible for His Majesty to compare it word for word. Whatever you say will be whatever it is."
"But if Your Majesty really digs deeper and discovers that some of them are just guesses by you, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to take charge of the East Factory again in the future. When working as a guard in the factory, the most important thing is to do whatever the boss asks you to do. In the end, It’s best not to get your own opinions involved.”
Huang Jincheng was frightened and said: "Please bear in mind this humble position."
Zhang Zuo was quite satisfied with Huang Jin's attitude. He nodded and said: "We are all members of our own family, so there is no need to be polite. Just remember it in the future. Then we will find a way to send more people to Yongping Mansion, so that whether it is Mr. Zhu's, Mr. Tang still employs people and can be mobilized at any time. Go ahead."
Huang Jin cupped his hands and said, "I'll leave my humble job now."
After Huang Jin said goodbye to Zhang Zuo, he walked for a while, then stretched out his hand and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
At this time, he deeply understood the meaning of "accompanying the emperor is like accompanying a tiger". The emperor did not make trouble for him, but Zhang Zuo made a quick comment.
Huang Jin was glad that he had never offended anyone in the palace before, and he was respectful to Zhang Zuo, otherwise he might have been tricked behind his back.
…
…
Yongping Fucheng.
Zhu Hao was still ill. He occasionally met with Jiang Shan and other officials from the prefecture's yamen, and they always exchanged a few words through the curtain between the inside and outside.
Only when Yang Shen came to visit privately did Zhu Hao get down from the "sick bed". The two of them went to the tea table in the side room and sat down opposite each other, poured tea and talked alone.
Yang Shen said: "You are pretending to be ill and are addicted to pretending. Why don't you show up now?"
From Yang Shen's point of view, since you have returned to Fucheng, there is no need to continue pretending, and you can go out to show others.
Zhu Hao smiled and said, "I'm all pretending. It just so happens that I don't like to have too much contact with people in the local officialdom. Now it's reached a point where my tasks basically no longer include managing a party. The prefect only needs to manage the mines." One-third of an acre of the farm will do.”
"You... ugh! Whatever, you decide for yourself."
Yang Shen was speechless towards Zhu Hao.
Zhu Hao said: "Brother Yongxiu, just tell me if you have something to do."
Yang Shen took out a letter, but did not show it to Zhu Hao. He only let Zhu Hao know that there was such a letter, and he conveyed it orally: "My father sent a letter, telling us to use the Yongning Guards to move the mine back to the mountain."
The pig iron you hid there will be transported away, and you can hide it in a nearby guardhouse or make weapons."
Zhu Hao nodded: "It's good. Mr. Yang Ge has thought carefully about it. This is safer than hiding it near the mine or transporting it to the capital."
Yang Shen said: "Currently, the Yongning Guard is responsible for the military affairs of the Yongning Guard, and the envoy Qianshi Li Boring. I want you to go see him and discuss this matter with him."
Zhu Hao was a little embarrassed: "Isn't this... I'm afraid it's inappropriate? I'm the local magistrate, and I went to see the people in the guard station. The topic was to deceive the court.
Something about this, I’m afraid..."
Yang Shen said: "Who else is suitable besides you?"
Zhu Hao shook his head and said: "Brother Yongxiu, it's not that I'm pushing back. It's really that I can't do anything about it... Now that I can do this, I've taken a big risk. You can't put more important responsibilities on me."
I'll add it to you. Besides, if Mr. Yang Ge really wants to arrange for people from Yongning Guard to help with things, does he just want to rely on me, the prefect, to help with the operation?"
In fact, Zhu Hao was too embarrassed to say it.
You, Yang Shen, still think you were in the capital in the past?
At that time, I was nominally your father's disciple. Your father assigned me to do things, and I almost obeyed your orders. But now the emperor, Old Man Sun and your father have reached an agreement, and I have become Old Man Sun's man.
If you still want to give me orders, you have to consider whether I am willing or not.
Yang Shen didn't expect Zhu Hao to refuse so bluntly.
But Yang Shen understood immediately.
Zhu Hao told him about the pig iron hiding, and gave him the opportunity to inform Yang Tinghe secretly, and came up with a proper solution. This was all the result of Zhu Hao's adventure.
This does not mean that Zhu Hao still considers himself a disciple of the Yang family.
Yang Shen is not qualified to use Zhu Hao's promotion of officialdom as an excuse to let Zhu Hao use it for him, because from a certain point of view, Zhu Hao's future career has been arranged. After resigning from Yongping Prefecture,
He would return to the capital and serve as a doctor in the Ministry of Household Affairs. In the future, wherever the Ministry of Personnel wanted to appoint Zhu Hao, I am afraid that it would require Sun Jiao's consent as well as the emperor's permission.
Zhu Hao's career prospects are part of a three-party deal. Even if Yang Tinghe is the chief assistant, it is difficult to say that he has assigned Zhu Hao to be an official in some remote place on his own.
And this is precisely the reason why Zhu Hao designed all this.
I can gain the trust of your Yang family, continue to help you, and obtain the information you want, without having to bear the charge of betraying the Yang family. Even the chief assistant Yang Tinghe cannot decide where I will be assigned in the future.
Then no matter whether Yang Tinghe becomes the chief assistant or whoever from your civil service faction becomes the chief assistant in the future, there is no way to justifiably transfer me to a remote place.
Since my official career is the result of political transactions, can you, the civil servant faction, want to unilaterally tear up the agreement?
At that time, the emperor would stand up and say, no, Zhu Hao was appointed to manage the mine through negotiation, so he must stay in the Ministry of Household Affairs, otherwise I will take back the mine and continue to send people to operate it and open new mines.
It was your civil officials who were dishonest and forced me to do this.
Yang Shen said: "My father asked Bo Huairou to communicate with Li Bor secretly, but it's unclear whether Li Bor will agree. If you have such a relationship, and the prefect and the guard come forward together, then Li Bor should be able to put away his worries."
Zhu Hao smiled and shook his head: "That sounds like it, but I still can't do it. Since I am appointed by the Ministry of Household Affairs to take over the mine, I can't do it knowingly. I hope Brother Yongxiu understands."
Even if Yang Shen gave a high-sounding reason and asked local civil servants and military generals to unite to deal with the Jin Yiwei, Zhu Hao still refused neatly.
In the past, Yang Shen would have given Zhu Hao a slap in the face, but now he was embarrassed to do so.
"well!"
Yang Shen sighed, "Maybe you are right to worry, I am too strong to make things difficult for others."
Zhu Hao smiled.
You, Yang Yongxiu, have actually learned to consider issues from the perspective of others?
It’s not easy!
In the past, you have made things difficult for others in many places, far more than this time. Now, although you and I work together, we are on different positions. How can we still do things as before, with you using your brain and me running the errands?
It’s time to change it!
"Brother Yongxiu, do you want to go by yourself? Listen to my advice and don't go. If Uncle Huairou can persuade Li Bor, that would be great. But if he can't persuade, no matter if it's someone from the prefect's Yamen, or you or the person you brought.
No one should touch this matter, otherwise there may be hidden dangers... I am also thinking about you, Brother Yongxiu."
Zhu Hao seemed to be thinking about Yang Shen.
Yang Shen suddenly laughed: "Then what do you think, let Zi Sheng go?"
Zhu Hao was a little speechless.
You Yang Shen really know how to take advantage of it
people.
In the past, you just used me. I originally planned to be an undercover agent and let you take advantage of me.
But now Xu Jie is just an innocent young man who has just been admitted to Jinshi. If you insist on dragging him down, aren't you being immoral?
Besides, have you ever said that you would bring Xu Jie into your camp?
Even if you are willing, ask Xu Jie if he is willing?
Zhu Hao smiled bitterly and said: "It's not impossible, but if he does this, will his career be ruined? Besides, if he comes forward, will Li Bor lose his face? Will it still involve you?"
Zhu Hao was also reminding Yang Shen.
No matter what, Xu Jie came with you. If things escalate and it is revealed that Xu Jie met with people from the local health center and secretly transferred pig iron that should belong to the government-run mine, then Xu Jie will not be able to do anything.
Finished? Also, Xu Jie came with you, can you say that this matter has nothing to do with you?
"Um."
Yang Shen nodded, "It seems that we can only see whether Uncle Huairou has such face."
Zhu Hao asked: "I dare to ask, why did Huairou come forward when he knew that this matter involved a dispute in the court? I would like to ask, is it related to his being transferred to Nanjing to serve as a co-guard?"
Yang Shen rolled his eyes at Zhu Hao angrily: "You know too much, and it's not good for you. Anyway, my father found him secretly, and he can't leak out what my father asked me to do."
"Honored ministers usually have to do such hard work. Who makes them famous for generations? If we were civil servants, we would really be emperors and ministers at one time."
…
…
Even if Zhu Hao did not agree to Yang Shen's proposal, it did not reduce Yang Shen's trust in Zhu Hao.
The two had discussions and discussions.
That night, Zhu Hao also had dinner with Yang Shen.
During the dinner, news came that Tang Yin wanted to see Zhu Hao.
Yang Shen said: "The news about your illness has probably spread to the capital. And Tang Bohu has seen you in the mine. Are you afraid that he will tell the superiors that you are pretending to be sick?"
Zhu Hao shrugged: "Are you going to report to His Majesty? Does Your Majesty care about a little person like me?"
"You used to be a nobody, but the situation is different now. It's related to the mine that His Majesty has opened. People from all sides are probably trying to win over you. Don't belittle yourself." Yang Shen said.
Zhu Hao said to Yu San who came to pass the message: "Tell Mr. Tang that I am not feeling well and it is not convenient for me to see guests. Let him come back later."