Tianshou Mountain, in the side hall of Thanksgiving Hall.
Shen Shixing had just put down the letter and was about to think about it, when he suddenly heard the accompanying housekeeper coming from outside to report that Zhang Bingbi, the Superintendent of Ceremonies, had come to visit and asked if he had seen him.
At this moment in the Ming Dynasty, there is only one "Zhang Bingbi", and that is Zhang Cheng, who came with him to Mount Tianshou to defeat the emperor's longevity palace.
Shen Shixing was moved in his heart and asked, "Did Duke Dingguo come with you?"
"Sir, I never did."
Shen Shixing nodded slightly and said: "Please come in Zhang Bingbi... don't be too arrogant." The latter sentence was obviously an instruction to the housekeeper, and the housekeeper responded.
However, when Zhang Cheng arrived, Shen Shixing realized that his explanation just now was completely meaningless, because Zhang Cheng had no intention of hiding anything from others, and walked in swaggeringly wearing a red silk flying fish suit, the eunuch's standard.
Seeing him acting like this, Shen Shixing felt a little disdainful in his heart, but it didn't show on his face. Instead, he stood up and took two steps forward to greet him.
Fortunately, Zhang Cheng finally remembered that the person in front of him was the chief minister of the dynasty, and took the initiative to say, "Yuanfu didn't take a lunch break either?"
Shen Shixing returned the gift casually and smiled slightly: "I have just taken on a big responsibility. I am afraid that I will fail in assisting the government. How can I have time for a lunch break?"
Zhang Cheng smiled and said: "Yuanfu's hard work is noticed by the emperor and our family."
Shen Shixing smiled and said nothing. He just waved his hand and asked Zhang Cheng to sit down. He sneered secretly in his heart: How dare you be worthy of chanting to the emperor? Do you see it? What's the use of seeing it?
Zhang Cheng didn't think there was anything wrong with what he said. He was the emperor's personal attendant, which meant that he could turn a deaf ear to the emperor at any time. This ability itself was enough to make no one in the outer court dare to look down on him.
However, Zhang Cheng had forgotten the special nature of the Mr. Shen in front of him. Mr. Shen was not only Zhu Yijun's "head teacher" when he was still the prince, but also the chief minister of the dynasty. According to the tradition of the Ming Dynasty, no matter how powerful the eunuch was,
If Mr. Shen's voice could not be prevented from reaching the emperor's ears, it would still be very difficult to frame the chief minister by deceiving the emperor.
Because of this, Shen Shixing didn't think there was anything great about Zhang Cheng, and he was even more surprised by Zhang Cheng's carelessness. But after all, Mr. Shen is a master of psychology, and he pays attention to a calm demeanor, even if he has a million people in his heart
If you look down on someone, it usually doesn't show directly on your face.
"I'm here, I wonder what I can teach you? Is it for the sake of His Majesty's longevity palace?" Shen Shixing's steward sent the tea at the most appropriate time, and Shen Shixing also asked appropriately.
Zhang Cheng immediately waved his hand: "What can happen to the Shougong Palace? How can something happen to the place that so many experts have selected after inspecting it for several years? Besides, if this is really the case... Haha, can our family still see anything famous?
Can’t come? Our family is just following Yuan Fu for a while.”
Shen Shixing secretly said: You still have some self-awareness.
"Then Bingbi is here..." Shen Shixing asked pretending to be confused.
Zhang Cheng pointed to the writing desk next to Shen Shixing and said, "The letter Yuan Fu has in hand must also be talking about the platform calling for the right, right?"
Shen Shixing smiled slightly: "If there is something going on in the court, someone will inevitably inform the cabinet."
Zhang Cheng chuckled softly and said: "As expected of Mr. Yuanfu, these words are really easy to say - don't you think this is a bit strange?"
Shen Shixing looked surprised: "Oh, really? I would like to ask Bingbi why this matter is so strange?"
Zhang Cheng didn't even realize that Shen Shixing was trying to trick him. Hearing this, he thought that Shen Shixing, the former number one scholar, was stupid at studying and couldn't even see this problem. He couldn't help but feel a little proud and said: "Yuan Fu should
You know, this platform is telling the truth, almost all of them let the border ministers answer the emperor's questions... However, this high-seeking truth is not from the border, he is the superior of the Ministry of War!"
Shen Shixing chuckled, nodded and said: "Although Gao Gongbao is the young Sima now, wasn't he also Fengjiang a month or two ago? He also knows what Fengjiang knows. What's more, since the emperor has announced that he will conduct a platform summons
Yes, nine times out of ten it is to learn about the situation in Liaodong. Currently, both Zhou Yanjin (Zhou Yong, from Yanjin County, Kaifeng Prefecture) and Li Dacheng (Li Song, from Dacheng County, Bazhou) are not in the capital, so the emperor asked Gao Gong for advice.
The government is taken for granted, what’s so strange about it?”
Zhang Cheng finally felt that something was wrong and frowned: "It seems that Yuanfu is not at ease with our family and is unwilling to tell the truth..." He frowned and shook his head and said: "Yuanfu doesn't have to be like this. Our family
Although it may not be the same as what Yuan Fu wants, one thing is the same: there are people who stand in our way."
Shen Shixing laughed loudly: "But I don't understand what Bingbi said. How about I ask Bingbi to explain it clearly?"
Zhang Cheng curled his lips and raised his eyebrows slightly: "Yuan Fu, our family is really not afraid to tell us clearly: although the people blocking our road are not Gao Gongbao himself, but without him, those blocking the road will be in our eyes
, but it's nothing. As for Mr. Shen, although you seem to have reached the top of the world, you might as well ask yourself about the current situation... You really have the ambition to be at the top and see all the small mountains.
What?"
When he said this, he smiled: "Yuan Fu, let me ask you two questions: Now that you are in the cabinet, do you have even one person who can help you? Now that you are in the inner court, do you have even one person who can help you?"
assistant?"
The smile on Shen Shixing's face finally became unsustainable, and he pondered: "So Bingbi came here to seek allies?"
Zhang Cheng smiled and said: "Don't Yuan Fu need an ally in the inner court?"
Shen Shixing's smile was a little cold, and he said calmly: "Zhang Jing also used this rhetoric to cooperate with my brother Bingzhong in the previous series, but Bingbi should be very clear about his ending."
"Of course we know it, we know it too well." Zhang Cheng snorted and shook his head: "The reason why Zhang Jing is ineffective is not because he chose the wrong allies, but because he found the wrong helpers."
Allies and helpers?
Shen Shixing secretly tasted the meaning of these two words.
However, Zhang Cheng seemed to be very "sincere". He did not need Shen Shixing to taste it himself, but gave a straightforward conclusion: "Although it is better for him to go to Mr. Yu Ge directly to Mr. Shen, it is still right after all. Wrong
What's more, he also found Liu Shouyou at the same time. Mr. Shen, do you know where his mistake was?"
Shen Shixing frowned and said, "I would like to ask Bingbi to give me some advice."
Zhang Cheng chuckled, shook his head and said: "Zhang Jing thought that because Liu Shou had control of the Jin Yiwei, he could secretly investigate Gao Gongbao's dirty information, but he didn't know how thoroughly the emperor trusted Gao Gongbao. Our family
Let’s put it this way, in the heart of the emperor, even if all the civil and military officials in the dynasty failed him, Gao Gongbao will not fail him!”
Shen Shixing was horrified and moved.
However, Zhang Cheng seemed not satisfied and continued: "Liu Shouyou found some arrangements made by Gao Gongbao in Annan, and then used them to scaremonger the emperor in front of him - Mr. Shen did not see the emperor's expression at that time.
It happened that the emperor was waiting on the emperor at that time. The emperor looked disgusted and asked Liu Shouyou to go down. But after Liu Shouyou left, the emperor looked at his back and said two words: 'Idiot'
.”
Shen Shixing's face became more serious.
"Alas..." Zhang Cheng looked sighing, and shook his head as if he was gloating: "We think Liu Shouyou's evaluation is really appropriate."
However, Shen Shixing really didn't understand why this was appropriate. He frowned and said, "How can you see it?"
Zhang Cheng chuckled and said, "Yuan Fu doesn't know something. Gao Gongbao never lies in front of the emperor."
Shen Shixing's frown deepened: "This is the duty of a minister."
"Is it your duty?" Zhang Cheng laughed: "How many people can do such a duty?"
Shen Shixing's face became even more grim, but he stopped talking.
Zhang Cheng waved his hand and said: "But we haven't finished talking yet - although Gao Gongbao never lies in front of the emperor, our family's observations over the years have found that although he does not lie, there are many times when he does not lie.
I’ll finish my sentence.”
Shen Shixing thought to himself: Isn't this nonsense? Who dares to say everything to the emperor? It's human nature to avoid the important and take the easy. This is the case with high pragmatism. Aren't others the same? Even if I, Shen Rumo, dare to tell everything.
Enough words?
Who knew that Zhang Cheng hadn't finished speaking yet? Shen Shixing could only hear him continue: "And Gao Gongbao has a particularly good thing about his work, that is, no matter what, he can always find someone who suits the emperor's wishes.
Use reason to persuade the emperor to support him, rather than use reason to force the emperor to agree with his approach - Mr. Shen, do you know the difference between the two?"
Shen Shixing could understand the difference, but for some reason, he suddenly felt very angry and couldn't help but say: "This is what the sycophant did!"
These words made Zhang Cheng unhappy, because he actually felt that Gao Pragmatic's skills were very subtle, just like their senior eunuchs who secretly controlled the emperor, quietly letting the emperor accept his opinions, instead of
Like those self-righteous civil servants and officials who talk about big principles all day long and use Confucius to suppress the emperor.
If you were the emperor, you wouldn't like this kind of person, wouldn't you? Who is crazy and likes to be lectured all day long? Even ordinary people and ordinary people would not be happy, let alone the emperor!
But Zhang Cheng was not here to discuss academic matters with Shen Shixing, so he put aside his displeasure and turned the topic back: "If you are a sycophant or not, it doesn't matter if we talk about it, so we won't mention it."
Anyway. After Gao Gongbao used this method, and he and the emperor grew up together... the little things Liu Shou was looking for were simply not enough! Let’s make it clear to our family, Liu Shou
It is completely impossible to think about shaking Gao Gongbao's position in the eyes of the emperor over such a matter."
Shen Shixing narrowed his eyes: "Then in Bingbi's opinion, what kind of thing can shake Gao Gongbao's holy family?"
"Yuan Fu's question is on point." Zhang Cheng laughed loudly: "But we haven't finished what we just said - about the origin of Gao Gongbao's holy family."
"Oh?" Shen Shixing slightly arched his hands: "Please tell me."
"The Emperor is young, Wen Zheng's nephew, the Sixth No. 1 Scholar... We won't talk about these advantages that everyone in the world knows." Zhang Cheng suddenly pointed out his finger and said seriously: "Gao Gongbao has been able to remain in the holy family.
The real root of this lies in one sentence: He can always solve the emperor's troubles."
When Shen Shixing heard this, he couldn't help but become serious.
It seems... is this really what happened?
Zhang Cheng added: "And Yuan Fu, you see, when Gao Gongbao solves the problem of trouble for the emperor, he doesn't have to wait until the trouble has already appeared before solving it. Sometimes the trouble has not even appeared, or it is the trouble in the first place.
While it is still being covered up, he may take the initiative to find out the trouble and then solve it!"
Shen Shixing asked thoughtfully: "For example?"
"For example, Annan!" Zhang Cheng said seriously: "Our family remembers that when he was in Guangxi, no one in the court cared about Annan's affairs. But what about Gao Gongbao? He was just the patrol commissioner of Guangxi at that time.
, Logically speaking, Annan’s matter has nothing to do with him, but he took the initiative to intervene - why do you think he did it? "
Before Shen Shixing could speak, Zhang Cheng added: "To others, this may seem like looking for trouble, but... haha, it's nothing if you can find out the matter, and you can solve it cleanly after you find it.
That’s awesome, I can’t help but make the emperor unhappy.”
"As for the Annan incident, the matter was suppressed long ago when the temple was announced. Everyone is already used to it, but when I think about it occasionally, I still feel regretful - so Gao Gongbao stood up. Not only did he stand up,
The matter was solved without using any soldiers from the imperial court, and without spending a penny and a half from the imperial court!
Tell me, in this case, he has some back-ups in Annan. What will the emperor say? No, because to the emperor, this Annan is just picked up on the road! In the emperor's heart, the so-called recovery
Annan, the biggest advantage is not what benefits Annan can bring to the court, but the fact that he feels happy without losing money - what my ancestors abandoned is taken back by me today! Think about it, the emperor's attitude towards Gao Gongbao at that time
What should it look like?”
Shen Shixing's face was as sinking as water but he was thoughtful.
Zhang Cheng added: "Next, Gao Gongbao just returned to Beijing and immediately went to Tumote. There is no need to elaborate on this matter. Gao Wenzheng made a good start back then, and Gao Gongbao came for him.
It was perfect. This Mongolian trouble had harmed the Ming Dynasty for more than two hundred years, but the uncle and nephew actually solved it in more than ten years, and even gave the emperor hope to completely eliminate the Mongols!
Yuan Fu, you can imagine how strong the emperor's trust in Gao Gongbao was after the Battle of Monan, right?"
Shen Shixing said with a gloomy face: "I think this is also the case of 'what is good at the top will be worse at the bottom'. There is a saying that 'no matter how big a country is, if it is warlike, it will perish'. Like him..."
"Hey, Yuan Fu, it's boring to talk about this now." Zhang Cheng waved his hands and said: "What we need to focus on right now is not these principles, but how to cut off Gao Gongbao's holy family! Now we know that his holy family is
How to maintain it? Shouldn’t we think of something from this point of view?”
Shen Shixing frowned and said: "How can you think of this? He encouraged the emperor to fight the Mongols. How can I still say that Mongolia is an ally of the Ming Dynasty and should not be used with weapons? It's a joke. The Yuan Dynasty is my feud with the Ming Dynasty. The Yuan Dynasty will never be destroyed.
, I can’t stop hating you!”
Hmm... Gao Pragmatic may not agree with this. Of course, it doesn't matter, at least that's what the Ming people at this time basically thought. No one would have expected that in the late Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty actually bribed Lin Dan Khan to fight against the Jurchen Tatars.
Enemies can turn into allies.
Zhang Cheng smiled and said: "He encouraged the emperor to attack Yuan Ting. There is definitely no way to stop him. After all, the emperor also wants to fight. But, we can think of a way from another angle."
"Oh? Which angle?" Shen Shixing asked.
Zhang Cheng smiled even happier, raised his eyebrows and said, "If he wants to fight, let him fight. As long as we can make him lose this battle, that's fine."
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Thanks to book friend "Cao Mianzi" for your reward and support, thank you!
Thanks to book friends "The Old West of Altay", "Ride Alone to Shine the Blue Heart", "Qin Dynasty Xiaozhu", and "Yuntianwei 2008" for their monthly ticket support, thank you!