Chapter 917 Different ways of getting along with monarchs and ministers
The next day, Huang Zan and Zhu Hao went to Sixianju. They waited at Sixianju for nearly two hours and saw Zhu Si, who was accompanied by Zhang Zuo.
Huang Zan was very polite and went forward and knelt down to salute.
Zhu Si smiled and said: "Huang Qing's family doesn't need to be formal. I summoned you to the capital specially. I didn't ask you to go to the Ministry of Civil Affairs to report on your duties. I just asked you to meet me outside the palace. There are some inconsistencies in etiquette. I hope you won't be offended."
"
"Old minister, I don't dare."
Huang Zan is already sixty-eight years old this year. Although he seems to be in good spirits, his body is stooped, his face is full of wrinkles, and his snow-white beard and hair make him look old.
Because of this, Huang Zan is even more eager to taste the taste of being a pavilion elder before retiring.
After taking a seat.
Zhang Zuo handed over a detailed strategy for the great ceremony to Huang Zan.
Huang Zan took it respectfully.
"Huang Qing's family, you are a senior minister of the Ming Dynasty. I believe in your ability. How to deal with it depends on your on-the-spot performance. There may be no one to help you. What you have to face is Wang Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, the official
Do the officials headed by Bu Qiao Shangshu know what to do?"
When Zhu Si spoke, he looked at Huang Zan with sharp eyes, needing the other party to clearly express his attitude.
Huang Zan did not hide it, and expressed his feelings: "I am willing to do my best for your majesty by discussing etiquette matters. Your majesty will inherit the throne, not as a prince, because it is inevitable for the inheritance of Zongzong's etiquette and law, and there will be no continuation."
The meaning of Xiaozong’s lineage.”
"good."
Zhu Si was very satisfied with Huang Zan's words.
Zhu Hao had made a summary for Huang Zan before, and Huang Zan found the key points from it.
If Zhu Si became the emperor as the "prince", then Zhu Si would have to have an heir even if he didn't want to have an heir. After all, even if Zhu Si was just the "emperor's younger brother", he would have inherited the lineage of Xiaozong.
But Zhu Hao had formulated a strategy for Zhu Si from the beginning, including that before he ascended the throne, Zhu Si did not advance to Wenhua Palace, nor did he enter the palace through Donghua Gate.
At first, the identity of the "Emperor" was not overly exaggerated, which allowed Zhu Si to take a greater initiative in the ceremonial discussions.
Now Huang Zan wants to come out and state the key points.
That is, the current emperor has never been a crown prince for even a blink of an eye. It is purely because the line of Xiaozong was broken, and he had to choose a successor from the royal family, so he was chosen as a close heir to Crown Prince Xing.
Zhu Hao reminded with a smile: "Your Majesty, it seems that Huang Butang has a deeper understanding of the ceremony. If he only participates in the ceremony as the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs in Nanjing, I am afraid that his words will not be able to deter Xiaoxiao, and people will be dissatisfied.
Case."
Now that Huang Zan has taken a stand, according to Zhu Hao's design, the next step is to give him a position that can afford him the status of a debater.
Zhu Sidao said: "I have prepared an imperial edict, appointing Huang Qing's family as Hanlin bachelors of the Hanlin Academy to be in charge of discussing etiquette. Today and tomorrow, I will have people deliver the commission to Huang Qing's family."
"I would like to thank Your Majesty for your kindness."
When Huang Zan heard this, his heart was filled with excitement, and he immediately wanted to kneel down to Zhu Si.
Zhu Si smiled and said: "Huang Qing's family is still too formal. I shouldn't be too involved in the discussion of etiquette. It's better to leave the details to Jingdao... Zhu Langzhong will explain it to you. I will go in and rest first, and wait for the meal.
Let’s talk to Huang Qing’s family again.”
As the emperor wishes, I will be responsible for hearing your statement and then give you an official position.
The rest is up to you to discuss.
It is related to an issue of my ancestral etiquette. I am a party involved and cannot be overly involved, otherwise public opinion will be unfavorable to me... Although public opinion is not good for me now, I still want to be responsible and independent. Who wants me to lose face?
Now, not only will I be given an official position, but I will also be given a banquet, so that you, Huang Zan, can fully feel my deep friendship.
…
…
Zhu Si went directly to the backyard of Sixianju to watch the play.
Zhu Hao stayed and explained to Huang Zan in detail, accompanied by Zhang Zuo, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony.
Huang Zan was very complimentary to Zhang Zuo. Perhaps in the eyes of foreign ministers like Huang Zan, Zhang Zuo was a big shot that he could not reach. After all, this was the internal minister of the Ming Dynasty. He was at the core of the decision-making of the Ming Dynasty.
Not to mention more concessions, and his status may even be higher than that of the first assistant.
"...Huang Butang doesn't have to listen to our family. Our family also obeys the instructions of His Majesty and Mr. Zhu. If you have any questions, let Mr. Zhu speak. Our family also focuses on study."
Huang Zan was very flattering to Zhang Zuo, and Zhang Zuo dedicated his flattering attitude to Zhu Hao.
An ordinary person would definitely think that Zhu Hao was in great favor. He was not only appreciated and valued by the emperor, but also the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, so he was so fawning. He would not be the best candidate for the first assistant bachelor in the future?
But Huang Zan is not an ordinary person after all.
He is cautious about this.
Because from a certain point of view, even if the eunuch in charge of the ceremonial department is fawning over Zhu Hao, Zhu Hao's identity and status are extremely embarrassing, far beyond the comparison of the emperor's "near sycophants". In other words, if Zhu Hao is gone,
The emperor's trust means nothing, but Zhang Zuo not only has the emperor's trust, but also has a lofty status as support.
From Huang Zan's point of view, it was not a good thing that Zhang Zuo was fawning over Zhu Hao. It made it seem that there was a huge crisis lurking around the emperor.
How can a eunuch who is the chief ceremonial officer be willing to submit to a young official for a long time? Will there be no conflicts between them?
Could it be a good thing for Zhu Hao that Zhang Zuo turned a deaf ear in front of the emperor every day?
But obviously Huang Zan cannot understand the relationship between Zhu Hao and Zhang Zuo, nor does he know what Zhu Hao means to the new emperor, nor can he understand Zhang Zuo's character traits... In other words, there may be such a crisis, but it is far away.
It didn't reach the point of breaking out.
And for Zhu Hao and Zhang Zuo, there is no need to argue about who is stronger or weaker now.
At this stage, it makes no sense to say this.
…
…
During lunch, Tang Yin also came.
Although Huang Zan was polite to Tang Yin, he only maintained a mellow and self-consistent etiquette, and did not deliberately express flattery or alienation.
Huang Zan probably also knows that although Tang Yin is awesome, his status in the New Emperor's faction is obviously not as important as Zhu Hao...
This has been confirmed countless times from Su Xigui's various information feedback.
"Mr. Tang, it's been a while since I've had dinner with you. I'm very happy today, not only because I saw Huang Qing's family, but also because you're here, because in my imagination, you are just like Huang Qing's family.
, they must first become Hanlin bachelors, and then join the cabinet together to participate in the planning of confidential matters."
Zhu Si probably felt that what Dali discussed was on point, and he was in a good mood. In front of Huang Zan, he did not hide his appreciation for Tang Yin at all.
If it were an ordinary person, the emperor would expressly want him to become a Hanlin bachelor or even join the cabinet. What an honor would that be?
But to Tang Yin, the emperor's words were like a reminder.
"Your Majesty, I am ashamed of myself. You should just let me be an idler."
Tang Yin quickly refused.
Huang Zan's expression remained unchanged, and he just listened quietly to the conversation between the emperor and Tang Yin. He was also afraid that the monarch and his ministers were deliberately acting in front of him. What if this was meant for Huang Zan to hear alone? So don't go there yet.
Make a conclusion about the relationship between the emperor and Tang Yin.
Zhu Hao smiled and said: "Your Majesty, Mr. Tang has not survived the catastrophe of life for the time being. It is better to let him pass this year's threshold first, and then consider whether to let him take a further step in his official career."
Zhu Sidao: "Mr. Tang, you too, even if you want to go all out to overcome the tribulation, can you take the official position first and then go through it? No matter what official you are, I will never force you to take the lead now. Why do you have to do this?
What about pushing three and blocking four?"
"I don't have any ideas. I just want to take care of myself and take care of myself."
The emperor asked directly, and Tang Yin answered more simply, which seemed very strange.
Anyway, the conversation between the monarch and his ministers seemed to be a quarrel, and Huang Zan felt very uncomfortable after hearing it.
Seeing that Huang Zan looked a little embarrassed, Zhang Zuo smiled and reminded in a low voice: "Huang Butang, Mr. Tang and Mr. Zhu have always been appreciated by His Majesty, and Your Majesty will never be able to leave them for a moment."
Huang Zan couldn't help but look at Zhang Zuo after hearing this.
The doubtful eyes are probably asking - what about you?
The emperor can't live without them, aren't you jealous?
Seeing your cheerful look, are you feeling miserable?
Huang Zan only judged others by himself. He was a fan of officialdom. He was obsessed with figuring out how to climb up. Naturally, he also felt that others' rejection of official positions was a pretense. What's more, in his opinion, Tang Yin had no chance of an official career in the first half of his life, but now it is difficult.
If political speculation is appropriate, why not cherish it?
I've given you a chance to climb up, but you're still pushing back and forth like this. What else is this if you're not just showing up?
…
…
At the dinner table, everyone talks about their own things.
It seems that no one really regards Zhu Si as an emperor who sticks to his word.
It was a banquet given by the emperor, but it also seemed like an ordinary meal. Everyone had something to say at the dinner table. Huang Zan was the only one who kept silent. He just listened and watched. He mostly nodded his head at what others said to him.
Expressing understanding, he would only answer seriously when the emperor spoke to him.
"Jingdao, I heard that Zhang Bingyong arrived in the capital earlier than expected. He must have been traveling at night and starry these days, and he will probably show up before His Majesty goes on tour the day after tomorrow."
Tang Yin actually ignored the emperor's presence and spoke directly to Zhu Hao.
Huang Zan felt awkward in his heart.
When Tang Yin mentioned Zhang Cong, shouldn't he report it to the emperor first?
How did you end up talking to Zhu Hao?
The emperor was only there eating...
Huh!?
What are you eating? It's slippery, sticky, and doesn't taste good at first glance, but... why is there even a hint of coolness on a hot day?
Zhu Hao also seemed to be completely ignoring that the emperor was by his side, and said with a smile: "It's a pity that Zhang Bingyong was not given any important role in this ceremony. If he wanted to participate in it, he might not be able to accomplish much."
Zhang Cong rushed to the capital in a hurry, and his mood is completely understandable.
Historically, Zhang Cong and Gui E were ordered to enter the capital, and rose through the ranks to become Hanlin bachelors. From then on, they cheated and reached the pinnacle of their lives.
But because of Zhu Hao's presence, Zhang Cong's role in the Great Ceremony Conference has already changed from a decision-maker to a participant or executor. Moreover, this time Zhu Hao promoted Huang Zan at the Great Ceremony Conference, temporarily leaving Zhang Cong in the dust.
aside.
Zhang Cong couldn't wait to come to the capital, and the purpose was naturally to express himself.
Such a good opportunity... If you can help the emperor gain the upper hand on the ceremonial discussion, what kind of merit and honor would that be?
Tang Yin said: "What if he arrives in time? You can't just ignore it, right?"
Zhu Hao smiled and said: "He can come when he comes. I will assign him some tasks to keep him busy. Or he can attract firepower so that Huang Butang can better deal with the officials."