Chapter 496: People who make progress when they make progress
Facing Liu Jiqian's respectful and even attentive greetings, Liu Gui showed a slight smile on his face and said to him: "Zhizhou is both the parent of a state and a descendant of the royal family. I am so flattered by him for being so humble and condescending to welcome him personally!"
"
Hearing this, Liu Jiqian shook his head repeatedly, even moved forward a little, and said humbly: "I don't dare to deserve it! I'm ashamed to say that I don't deserve it! Mr. Liu is loyal to the king, conscientious in his work, and has always been trusted by His Majesty. This is an example that other officials should follow."
I am really honored that Mr. Liu can take time off to attend the meeting, and I am extremely grateful!"
Facing Liu Gui, an old eunuch, Liu Jiqian kept his attitude very low, and did not show any airs about his status as a so-called descendant of the royal family. His family knew about his family affairs, and his ancestors were sinners after all. At the same time, even when he was in Prince Xu's palace,
In addition to Liu Chengyun, their brothers and sisters also suffered from exclusion and bullying. The adopted son was worse than even a concubine. He had experienced hardships, and he was particularly concerned about his current status and power, and he longed for more power.
With Liu Jiqian's intelligence, how could he not have known the harshness of his administration in Shenzhou over the past two years, the disasters involved, and the pain and burden it had brought to the people.
It's just that, just like Wang Qinruo, Liu Jiqian was also gambling. If he gambled, he would be promoted to an official position, and his career would be promising. If he lost the gamble, the worst he could do would be to lose his head.
From the moment he entered the officialdom, he always kept in mind King Xu's teachings, restrained, waited, kept a low profile, and was cautious. He waited for more than 20 years. By the time he was 40 years old, his hair had turned a little gray.
If there was no Taikang Palace and no Holy Master Nan Xing, Ao would just have to live with it. However, the palace was located in Jigong Mountain and he happened to be taking office in Shenzhou. Isn't this God's arrangement and fate?
Under such circumstances, it is absolutely unacceptable for him to remain calm and do nothing. For a bureaucrat, such an opportunity is rare. In the Han Dynasty, the last time was when Mount Tai was enshrined.
It was Zhang Qixian who was in Yanzhou at the time who achieved this feat once.
Fortunately, he seems to have won the bet. Judging from the old emperor's arrangements, he has passed the test. Shenzhou's transfer to Suzhou is an obvious signal.
Similarly, Liu Jiqian was still worried about this transfer, because it came suddenly and the request was too urgent. He hoped to stay in Shenzhou until Luan Jia returned to Beijing.
However, the old emperor asked him to go directly to Suzhou, which worried Liu Jiqian. The old emperor did not really let go of the matter. He couldn't help but worry that he would die "suddenly" on the way to Suzhou. This was also the time before he left.
One of the reasons why Liu Gui was invited to speak before was that at least regarding the Taikang Palace matter, he and Liu Gui held the same position and had the same interests, and their cooperation in the past two years was considered good.
"How can I not give face to the governor when I invite him?" Liu Gui was obviously very satisfied with Liu Jiqian's attitude and chuckled: "It's just that from the palace to Xinyang, there are dozens of miles of mountain roads and straight roads, and my old arms are so old
It doesn’t matter if your legs get a little bumpy. What’s important is that you need to apply for leave from the official.”
Seeing that the eunuch was still being manipulated, Liu Jiqian felt slightly uncomfortable in his heart, but he still had a gentle and respectful look on his face. He humbly said: "I really didn't think carefully about it, but Shenzhou is not as big as Gyeonggi. It is just a small place. It can
The only one that can be used is Yiyang Tower. I hope Mr. Liu will take care of the trouble!"
"Liu Zhizhou is so polite!" Liu Gui smiled, looked at Liu Jiqian, and said meaningfully: "If the rumors are true, after three years in Shenzhou's term, this must be the first time Zhizhou has set foot in Yiyang Tower."
Liu Gui smiled like an old fox at this time, and the look in his eyes made Liu Jiqian feel a little hairy in his heart. Holding back the slightest feeling of discomfort, Liu Jiqian laughed with him, gave up half of his body, and stretched out his hand towards the building: "Let Liu Jiqian
The Duke laughed when he saw it! This is not a place for conversation. When Liu Gong entered the building, the officials had already prepared a banquet!"
Liu Gui nodded, straightened the sleeves of his robe, and walked inside. However, he quickly stopped and noticed that Liu Jiqian's eyes were still looking towards Yankang Street.
The smile disappeared immediately, and the voice of the question was low, but the tone was not so friendly: "Why, do you have any distinguished guests from Zhizhou?"
Noticing the change in the eunuch's face, Liu Jiqian swore secretly, as if he didn't notice anything on his face, and whispered: "I also invited the Marquis of Nan'an, but..."
"No need to be just!" When he heard that it was Nan'an Hou, Liu Gui's face became a little brighter, and then said: "Nan'an Hou's anger towards you and me has not been dissipated, so I'm afraid he won't come. What's more, Nan'an Hou is a camper.
We are all deployed to protect the Holy Master, how can we leave our posts without permission?"
Murong Chengtai, the Marquis of Nan'an, was the old emperor's cousin and brother-in-law, so there was no doubt that he had a strong relationship with him. In addition, he had always had a close relationship with King Yong Liu Chengxun, and he was currently deployed in both camps and camps.
With such a background, such a title, and such power, even if Liu Gui is as arrogant as Liu Gui, he has to be treated with more respect. This respect is much more genuine than that given to Liu Jiqian.
Hearing what Liu Gui said, Liu Jiqian knew in his heart that this was still the eunuch who was putting on airs. How could Liu Jiqian not know what he said, but the garrison and protection of the palace had always been the responsibility of the imperial army. Murong Chengtai
The camp was deployed, and the government handled the daily general affairs of the camp, while the army was in charge of the forbidden troops stationed at the foot of the mountain and Xinyang. It had no direct jurisdiction over the inner army, and there was no need for Murong Chengtai to take orders from Luan Jia at any time.
Liu Jiqian seldom showed what was going on in his heart, so he still responded with an apologetic smile to what Liu Gui said: "It seems that I can only find another opportunity to apologize to the Marquis of Nan'an!"
Of course, the Marquis of Nan'an had reason to be angry with Liu Jiqian and Liu Gui. Murong Chengde was also implicated because of his appeal for grievance and the subsequent exposure of the bad government in the construction of Taikang Palace. He was summoned by the old emperor and scolded.
Murong Chengtai was a little aggrieved, but he couldn't reply when he was scolded, because both things were related to him, not to mention breaking and driving, he was responsible for the deployment of the camp and the construction of Taikang Palace.
I have been supervising the work for nearly a year, although I don’t care much about the specific affairs.
So, after being harassed by the old emperor, Murong Chengtai became so angry that he had nowhere to express his anger but directed it at other people. Er Liu was the first to bear the brunt. If they hadn't been messing around, how could they have involved him. Especially Liu.
Gui, it is said that when he was the supervisor, he went to work for him.
Inside the Yiyang Building, there was a buzz of people, and the noise was overwhelming. However, the elegant room arranged for Zhizhou by the restaurant was naturally elegant and quiet, and the sound insulation measures were in place. After a few glasses of wine, the atmosphere immediately became lively, and the two of them
The relationship itself is pretty good, but tonight's drink has made it even better.
Liu Jiqian served Liu Gui very well, pouring tea, pouring wine, picking up vegetables, and just feeding him into his mouth. Even King Xu didn't get such service from him. Of course, that was because he didn't have the opportunity. And Liu Jiqian saw that kindness.
Okay, I guess it makes me feel sick.
As for Liu Gui, there were indeed many people who fawned over him in the past, but those ministers did not need to fawn over him, and he did not think much of ordinary people. Overall, Liu Jiqian was in good condition in all aspects and could touch his eunuchs.
His vanity and attitude are indeed good, making him feel comfortable from the inside out.
However, in the past two or three years, there have been more people trying to please Liu Gui, and his status level has been rising. Liu Gui, who has a keen sense of smell, has obviously noticed such changes.
He also made an analysis on this and finally came to a conclusion that surprised him. Perhaps the reason was that the officials were not as wise as they used to be.
It is understandable that for eunuchs like Liu Gui, it is very difficult for them to perform well and gain the "respect" and even awe of foreign ministers under the sight of a wise and powerful emperor.
The emperor is so wise that it is difficult for the bureaucrats to deceive them, but their slaves will not have an easy life either. It can be said that the emperor's wisdom, which has always been praised by the powerful, is based on the premise of protecting the interests of the powerful.
Give them power and benefit, and the emperor had better rule honestly and dutifully. This is the most wise act worthy of praise.
Putting aside this premise to talk about wisdom is probably just self-comfort. For a long time, the old emperor's approach deviated from this. When he spurred, monitored, suppressed, and went too far, all his ministers could hardly find it.
Take a breath.
Interestingly, it is precisely in recent years that no matter how much turmoil there is inside and outside the capital, some people are less eager to cause trouble, but in the upper echelons of the imperial court, those high-ranking dignitaries are living in peace and harmony.
Everyone has a tacit understanding and a conservative attitude, and they all accompany the old emperor cautiously. No matter what he wants to do, as long as it doesn't come to them like he did in the past, and they can be beaten at every turn, they can endure it, wait, and wait.
It belongs to the complete end of the old emperor's era.
But Liu Gui, the dignified young eunuch, still couldn't help but make trouble and make some noise, just because his level was not high enough. At the same time, he was also the person who most sincerely hoped that the old emperor could live a few more years.
Liu Gui himself has certain abilities and qualities, and he does not want to be a traitor. Therefore, in his opinion, the old emperor does not need to be too stupid, as long as he is not so wise, the current state is just right, a bit
Selfish desires, and enough pampering for oneself.
For now, Liu Gui's greatest ambition is to become a powerful eunuch, the third level in the inner court after the imperial palace and the Imperial City, and this trend is already on the horizon.
Wang Jien and Yan Tuo were incomparable when they were still there, but Zhang Bin and Hu De, what kind of rotten fish are they? And with the support of the Shaofu and the trust of the old emperor, how powerful Liu Gui has been in the past two years
The sun rises.
However, Liu Gui also had his worries, that is, the eunuchs of the Shaofu were not as good as the internal eunuchs and the imperial city bureau. This was not the traditional sphere of influence of eunuchs. Before him, every eunuch was a foreign minister, whether a relative of the emperor or a close minister.
They are all foreign ministers.
In recent years, under the management of Liu Gui, the independence of the Shaofu has been further strengthened. Except for the emperor, no one can be independent. Only the Shaofu has always interfered with the affairs of foreign dynasties, and there has never been any situation where foreign dynasties interfered with the Shaofu.
Liu Gui has recently received some bad news. Some people in the imperial court are planning to remove him from the position of Shaofu Supervisor and replace him with a "virtuous minister".
Liu Gui naturally sneered at this. Those who are not sons of man simply don't know what they mean. Is the young manor something that their foreign ministers can get involved in? Can the officials trust the foreign ministers?
However, when such rumors came out, Liu Gui felt that he had not done his job well and his influence on the foreign court was too low. At the same time, he was worried that once trouble broke out, the old emperor would change his horse under pressure. After all, he was the foreign minister.
He looked special in his eyes, but in the inner court and among the eunuchs, he seemed ordinary. The emperor never lacked servants.
Therefore, Liu Guike was nervous about the things that happened after arriving in Shenzhou. He was also afraid that those blind people would criticize him on this matter. Fortunately, the old emperor's attitude towards him was very clear from the beginning.
, when Liu Jiqian’s matter is settled, I will be completely relieved.
However, even so, I still feel scared when I think about it. Political dangers often appear in these inadvertent places, catching people off guard. When two people drink together, they are scared together. When talking about this, there is no one without emotion.
.
After the two of them drank a pound of wine, Lang Qing and Concubine began to call each other brother and brother. Liu Gui was a few years older than Liu Jiqian, so Liu Jiqian called him brother, and Liu Rules called him brother in return.
There is no doubt that Liu Gui was the dominant one in the relationship between the two Lius. Liu Jiqian asked for many more things from him. There were some things that King Xu could not do or was unwilling to do, but Liu Gui could do them and did not.
It is accomplished because of the position of power it holds.
Liu Gui, at least for now, has nothing to ask for from Liu Jiqian, so he is not worthy of much attention. It would be fine if he were the legitimate son of King Xu, but he is just an adopted son.
But on the other hand, after this incident, Liu Gui has some insights into Liu Jiqian's future. Whether it is an adopted son, he has brains, ability, a reliable background, and strong execution ability, so the future is promising.
The drunkenness was already on his face, and he listened to Liu Jiqian's drunken eyes. He repeatedly said compliments and thanks, but from time to time he was testing the affairs of Taikang Palace and Shenzhou politics. Liu Gui could not see his guilty conscience.
So, he poured himself a drink for the first time, then put his hand over his shoulder, leaned into his ear, and said: "Xian brother, it's rare that you and I are so in love with each other. Now that we have said this tonight, the next few words will come out of my mouth.
If I hear you, I won't recognize you at all after leaving this room!"
Not dissatisfied with his drunkenness, Liu Jiqian's eyes moved for a moment when he heard his words, and then he continued to laugh drunkenly and said: "Brother, if you have any good words, I am all ears!"
A look of emotion appeared on Liu Gui's face, and he sighed: "You see, I am a young eunuch and a third-grade official. I can barely be considered a high-ranking official. Fortunately, thanks to the trust of the officials, I can still speak to the court.
Even if those ministers despise me in their hearts, who would dare to break up with me?
I am also in charge of a lot of things, especially the money bags of officials. This is much more comfortable than planning. The future, wealth and even the lives of a large number of people from the young governor level are in my hands.
And decide.
In the eyes of some people, I am considered extremely powerful. However, Brother Wei knows in his heart that no matter how powerful he is, he is still just a slave of the official family, and this life may be over!
But, dear brother, you are different!"
Liu Gui's tone became decisive, and he looked more drunk, but the conversation became more lively. Liu Jiqian also rarely echoed, but drank a small drink and listened silently to the "heartfelt words" of his new eldest brother.
"The officials hate it when their ministers speculate on their intentions, but tonight, I will boldly make a guess." Liu Gui habitually cupped his hands in the direction of the emperor, but his eyes were fixed on Liu Jiqian:
"Do you know why you were able to pass the risk this time? In Brother Yiwei's opinion, the official family has to protect their face. Of course, on the one hand, His Highness King Xu also has some influence, but more importantly, you, my dear brother, are you yourself!
I have long seen that, dear brother, you are not an ordinary noble son. You have a big heart and high aspirations. You are not greedy for profit or fame. You make all your efforts for the sake of the Supreme Being and the overall situation.
Being scolded for doing things is really insignificant, and the means are another matter, but being able to do things and accomplishing them is what officials appreciate. Others think you are notorious in Shenzhou, but in the eyes of brother, you are a blockbuster.
, Otherwise, in another ten years, how many people inside and outside the court will know about you, the son of King Xu?
Without this reason, it would be very difficult to save my dear brother’s head.”
As he spoke, Liu Gui vomited the smell of alcohol and almost choked Liu Jiqian, but he ignored the physical nausea and responded cautiously: "Brother's words sent chills down my spine, and I was very scared.
!”
Seeing his reaction, Liu Gui smiled, drank another glass of wine, and continued: "So, dear brother, you don't have to worry. The doubts in your mind can be dispelled. Suzhou can take up the post as openly as possible.
It's one thing for the officials to be angry with you, but it's also true that they appreciate you. Of course, when you get to Suzhou, you can't be like Shenzhou again.
The current political situation is at a time when ministers like you and I are working hard to make progress. If my good brother is better than me, one day he will be able to rise to the top. Who knows, I will still need your help as a brother in the future."
At this point, Liu Gui gradually became silent, but when he saw this, he was drunk. Liu Jiqian smiled and said: "Thank you for your advice, brother. After listening to your words, I suddenly became enlightened. I feel confident now."
After pushing and calling, Liu Gui still didn't respond. Liu Jiqian drank another glass of wine, then drunkenly went out and asked someone to prepare a car to take Liu Gui back to his dormitory.
He saw off Liu Gui in person until he put Liu Gui on the carriage. Liu Jiqian just slumped down on the ground and did not forget to tell Liu Gui's coachman and guards what to pay attention to.
Watching the car go further and further away, Liu Jiqian stood up again and straightened his clothes. The alcohol was still on his face, but his expression was more thoughtful. Inside the car, Liu Gui's eyes gradually returned to clarity, and he also seemed to have something to say.
Thinking. They are all gods at the wine table, how can they get drunk so easily?
In contrast, Liu Jiqian gained more from this drink. After drinking a lot, he understood what was going on and barely reached a political alliance with Liu Gui. Even though this alliance was still relatively fragile, it was of great benefit to Liu Jiqian.
It is obvious.
Liu Gui said something profound tonight, no matter how profound it is, the current political situation is really an opportunity for people like them to make progress.
Returning to Yiyang Tower and continuing to drink, while Liu Jiqian was still thinking about Liu Gui's words, the attendant came to report that Ma Qing from Luoshan County asked to see him. Liu Jiqian was naturally very angry about Ma Qing, after all, Wang Qinruo was under his command.
From the time Ma Qing went to Xinyang, they met each other before and after, and still denounced him angrily. At this time, although the matter had been settled, the anger in Liu Jiqian's heart had not dissipated at all.
He deliberately refused to see him, but considering that Ma Qing had been loyal and respectful in the past and never discounted the instructions of the state government, and that he was indeed one of his own and was feeling lonely drinking alone, he ordered someone to bring him in.
In the same room, there was another drinking session, but in this second session, it was Liu Jiqian who was holding the airs, and Ma Qing was flattering and flattering him. Apologizing and begging for mercy was still Ma Qing's main expression, but it was Wang Qinruo who Liu Jiqian talked about more.
Case.
Between the two gamblers, Liu Jiqian completely hated Wang Qinruo. After all, Wang Qinruo had taken off his pants. In the end, Ma Qing achieved his ultimate goal and was transferred out of Shenzhou, and got Liu Jiqian's promise to find an opportunity.
Transfer him to Suzhou.
This Ma Qing is not smart. He can't see the high-level places, but in this three-acre land, he can see that it is inevitable for Shenzhou officialdom to undergo a major adjustment. At least, the state and county officials
Adjustments will definitely be made. The public resentment against them is too serious!
With this understanding, how could Ma Qing not take the initiative and struggle for her own future? Instead of passively waiting for arrangements, it would be better to hug Liu Jiqian's thigh tightly.