In the Zhengxin Palace, Zhu Youtang was already a little tired after just receiving the Zhang brothers, but when he thought that Liu Chengfeng would enter the palace later, Zhu Youtang couldn't help but cheer up.
Liu Chengfeng is a very unique person. Even now, Zhu Youtang still can't figure him out. However, in any case, Liu Chengfeng's appearance has indeed benefited him a lot. Many difficult things have happened to Liu Chengfeng.
In your hands, you can often solve it easily.
It's just that this guy seems to be too smart. For Zhu Youtang, it may not be a good thing for a minister to be too smart.
So Zhu Youtang had some doubts at this time.
"Your Majesty, what are you thinking about?"
When Zhu Youtang met the Zhang brothers just now, Queen Zhang also came here specially. After all, they were her brothers. She heard that they had to meet once they entered the palace. At this time, the Zhang brothers left with great gratitude. Queen Zhang
When he was about to drive back to Kunning Palace, he saw Zhu Youtang's frown and couldn't help but ask.
Zhu Youtang smiled slightly, hesitated, and finally expressed his thoughts, and said to Queen Zhang: "Liu Chengfeng is too domineering. I'm afraid that he will develop a complacent temperament, which will not be a good thing for him.
"
Empress Zhang smiled and said: "Your Majesty is overly worried. His arrogance is not harmful to Your Majesty. I have also read some classics and history. I only know that Wang Mang was very humble when he was an official. He always smiled when he saw others.
Sanctimonious and very cautious, but that's just the kind of person he is
What happened in the end? Your Majesty, there is nothing wrong with being arrogant. Look at how many people will hate you this time just to open the sea. What is this? This is a lonely minister. A lonely minister has been a loyal minister since ancient times. He is loyal to the country to this extent.
Your Majesty, what more can you do if you find it insufficient?"
When Zhu Youtang heard this, he couldn't help but smile and said: "A lonely minister is a loyal minister. Where did you hear this?"
Empress Zhang also laughed and said: "Because there are many lonely ministers who do not form cliques, there is no suspicion of cliques. Your Majesty must also know that this court is full of teachers, students, classmates, and the friendship. Which minister does not have disciples and old officials? There is no classmate Paze.
?These people become best friends, stupidly disrupt the country's governance, and form cliques to gain personal gains. Is the harm still small? But
Lone ministers are different. Lone ministers often dare to serve the world first. They never care about the consequences of doing things, do not seek personal gain, and only serve the court and the emperor. Although such people have many reputations, they are the ones that your majesty can truly rely on. Minister
I’m not saying that other ministers are bad, I’m just saying that there are too many people in the government and the public who have concerns.
For people like Liu Jian, although he was loyal to the emperor, he still opposed the opening of the sea this time. How could Liu Jian not see the benefits of the opening of the sea to the Ming Dynasty? Of course he knew, but the opening of the sea in the Ming Dynasty was detrimental to the cabinet.
, but it may not be good for Liu Jian. If he stands up to support, then his disciples will
If he is ashamed of his company, his colleagues will despise him, and the scholar-officials will oppose him, so he has to stand up and express his opposition. This is Liu Jian's selfishness. Liu Jian may not be interested in profit, but he loves his reputation.
When people cherish their own feathers, they will naturally have more scruples and their loyalty will be weak."
Empress Zhang paused for a moment and then continued: "Only Liu Chengfeng knows in his heart that opening up the sea will benefit our Ming Dynasty greatly, so he plans day and night, not hesitate to offend the people of the world. How many people in the world can do this kind of thinking?
Your Majesty, Liu Chengfeng is a lonely minister.
This is also his difficulty. Public anger is hard to offend, and everyone is slandering him. If even His Majesty has doubts about him, isn't this setting him up for death? Your Majesty should treat him kindly, reject everyone's opinions, and don't listen to what others say.
, This way, the loyal ministers will not be disappointed..."
Queen Zhang's words certainly made a deep impression on Liu Chengfeng. On the other hand, everything Liu Chengfeng did was consistent with Queen Zhang's interests.
one not for
How is the prince? The prince is Empress Zhang’s treasure. Now the prince and Liu Chengfeng are on good terms, and Liu Chengfeng happens to be very capable. There will be many places where the prince will use Liu Chengfeng in the future. Plus this time Liu Chengfeng
It was proposed that the Zhang brothers should take charge of the repair work
The job of building roads, even though it is just building roads, has a lot of authority. This job requires negotiating with the governors, prefects, and county magistrates of various places at any time. It is not a bad thing to let my brothers go and experience it. It can be said that the Zhang family owes Liu
Chengfeng is no longer
It was just a favor. Now that Empress Zhang saw that Zhu Youtang had doubts about Liu Chengfeng, she naturally had to say a few nice words. But once she opened the conversation, she actually said such a long list of truths. I was afraid that even her
I may not have thought of it myself.
After Zhu Youtang heard what Empress Zhang said, his thoughts changed and he felt that it made sense. He couldn't help but said: "It's not that I don't trust him, I just want to sharpen him a bit, but what you said made me feel ashamed."
Empress Zhang also felt that she had said too much, and said a little apologetically: "Your Majesty, I actually don't understand anything, I just talked casually."
Zhu Youtang shook his head solemnly and said: "I have benefited a lot from what the queen said, so I don't need to be too humble. In this way, Liu Chengfeng is not responsible for the affairs of the Thousand Households Office in Inner East City.
It’s impossible.”
"Inner East City Thousand Households Office..." Queen Zhang couldn't help but asked suspiciously: "What happened to Inner East City Thousand Households Office?"
Zhu Youtang said: "Neidong City has not been peaceful these days. That's all. It's useless to tell you. I don't know if Liu Chengfeng is here. Why hasn't he arrived yet?"
Empress Zhang stopped asking further. Some things can be said more, but some things are better left less said. Empress Zhang understood the relationship here very clearly, so she nodded and said: "I will go back to Kunning Palace first.
Now, Your Majesty will have to rest early after seeing Liu Chengfeng."
After that, Empress Zhang left with several palace attendants.
As soon as Queen Zhang left, Liu Chengfeng arrived. Naturally, he didn't hear what he said just now, but he hadn't been in this palace for a long time. Liu Chengfeng felt a little nervous when he was alone with Zhu Youtang.
It's not that he's afraid of anything, it's just that he's a little uncomfortable with it. Think about it, with his current status, he always looks arrogant wherever he goes, with others fawning over him, but once he enters here, he becomes a lot shorter.
cut.
Liu Chengfeng entered the Zhengxin Hall and saw Zhu Youtang sitting there. Zhuanhou came in by himself. He and Zhu Youtang had some kind of teacher-student friendship. They hadn't been alone together for a long time. He couldn't help but feel a little excited and saluted.
, said: "I have seen your Majesty."
It was a very plain sentence, not too pretentious, just like a greeting to an elder. It did not appear too flattering, but also expressed one's respect.
Zhu Youtang nodded slightly towards Liu Chengfeng and said, "No need to be polite, just sit down and talk."
An eunuch brought a chair, and Liu Chengfeng was not polite and sat down directly. Then he smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty looks much better than before."
Liu Chengfeng's temperament is like this. In his opinion, everyone is equal. Even if there is inequality between the two, he will try his best to close the distance between them. The so-called shortening the distance is in words.
He maintained his dignity in every word. He was the first person who dared to greet the emperor like this. When he met the emperor, he directly talked about his appearance. This was a bit bold.
However, when Liu Chengfeng spoke to Zhu Youtang, he often showed sincerity. When he talked about Zhu Youtang's complexion, Zhu Youtang could deeply feel the greetings of a junior to an elder.
In this way, Zhu Youtang and him had a vague feeling of closeness to each other. Don't underestimate this plain greeting, which is often more useful than a hundred words of "Long Live the Emperor." In the eyes of the Emperor,
Here, the words "Long live my emperor" are almost the same as saying "Have you eaten" when meeting an acquaintance? However, Liu Chengfeng's unique greeting style is rare. At first glance, it makes people feel very comfortable.
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "This is also your prescription. I haven't summoned you since you came back from Guangxi this time. You must know my difficulties, so I won't tell you these words."
Yes. But this time you come back, what are your plans?"
What are your plans...
Liu Chengfeng couldn't help but was speechless. What's the use of having a plan and not listening to the emperor? However, he immediately understood what Zhu Youtang meant. Zhu Youtang wanted to ask his own opinion first and deliberately gave himself a choice.
And the king gave his ministers a choice, which meant that his status in the king's mind had been raised to a higher level. He took a deep breath and said: "It all depends on your majesty's orders."
Zhu Youtang smiled again, and changed the subject. He no longer talked about arranging Liu Chengfeng, but said: "The Mr. Zhao you escorted has been interrogated, and the evidence that King Jingjiang colluded with the mountain barbarians has been established.
It’s just a pity that King Jingjiang has fled in fear of crime. Huh, I treat him King Jingjiang very well. I didn’t expect him to do such a thing. It’s really hateful.”
Liu Chengfeng took a deep look at Zhu Youtang, smiled slightly, and said: "Your Majesty, I know where King Jingjiang has gone."
"oh?"
"King Jingjiang has nowhere to go. This world is so big but there is no place for him. The only one who can take him in is the vassal king. King Jingjiang is a branch of the clan, and there are not many vassal kings close to him, so he is small.
I conclude that King Jingjiang must have gone to Nanchang."
Nanchang…
That is to go to Prince Ning's Mansion.
Liu Chengfeng's analysis was correct. If there were other vassal kings, they could still flee to other places. After all, the vassal kings were all connected to each other, so it might not be impossible to take the risk to take them in. However, King Jingjiang's lineage was different. Although they
Also surnamed Zhu, but he is the nephew of Emperor Taizu
In the past hundred years, the weak family relationship between the two sons has long been broken. It is a bit far-fetched to say that there can be any friendship between King Jingjiang and other vassal kings. Usually everyone goes far away, and no one can
If you don’t know anyone, who else might be able to take in Zhu Yolin?
Most likely it was King Ning. The last time Zhu Yuelin attacked Liu Chengfeng, it was King Ning who was the most enthusiastic. In addition, King Ning represented the interests of the vassals at all times. Zhu Yuelin would not have known to defect to King Ning in order to survive.