Chapter 1006: Different Thoughts (Second update, please subscribe)
After finishing his sandwich, Fitzmaurice opened the "Daming Daily" he bought every day. This is not a third-rate tabloid. This is the official daily newspaper of the Ming Dynasty. There are no gossip columns in this newspaper, and certainly not those
A tabloid article that insinuations accuses a high-ranking figure of shameless adultery.
Most of this newspaper contains the latest political changes in the Ming Dynasty. As the British Ambassador to the Ming Dynasty, of course he needs to use such a newspaper to understand the dynamic changes in the Ming Dynasty. His reading speed is not fast, it is not that he is unwilling.
He reads quickly because... he is not fluent in Chinese, and it took him a long time to recognize some Chinese characters when he read them.
"Prime Minister Zuo Zongtang of the Executive Yuan submitted to His Majesty the Emperor a memorial on the official tenure system in the name of the Executive Yuan..."
After seeing this news, Fitzmaurice raised his eyebrows slightly and said doubtfully.
"Is that rumor true?"
What is his so-called rumor?
Of course, it is the rumor that Zuo Zongtang is about to retire. Although the British Empire has been focusing on Europe and France, it does not mean that the British Empire does not care about the Ming Dynasty. After all, the scale of the Ming Dynasty's industry is now second only to the United Kingdom. From London's perspective
, France is the first imaginary enemy, but what about Ming Dynasty? Of course it is the most challenging imaginary enemy.
What is this challenge?
It is the growing industrial and economic power of Ming Dynasty. According to British estimates, Ming Dynasty will surpass Britain in five years.
Such an opponent is the most threatening opponent!
Now that the opponent's prime minister is about to be replaced, Fitzmaurice will certainly be concerned.
"It seems that the previous rumor may be true."
Counselor Leyland said:
"Zuo Zongtang is very likely to retire."
"retire……"
Pointing to the news in the newspaper, Fitzmaurice read the news in the newspaper again, and then said.
"Once he retires, who will take over as prime minister?"
"Is Wang Youling?"
"He is too old, even older than Zuo Zongtang."
Fitzmaurice shook his head and said.
"It should be Qian Degong. He is only fifty-three years old. If my prediction is correct, Zuo Zongtang's memorial is aimed at him. After all, Qian Degong is too young. If there are no restrictions, he may even
After being the prime minister for twenty years, by that time, everyone in the Ming Empire will be his confidants."
"What's wrong with this?"
Ryland opened his gray eyes wide, and his tone was full of doubts.
"This kind of situation cannot happen in China, and it will affect the imperial power. In China, when dealing with this kind of thing in the past, the emperor killed the prime minister and his followers to solve the threat they posed to the imperial power. Zuo Zong
Tang’s suggestion fundamentally eliminates this possibility.”
As he spoke, Fitzmaurice flicked with his fingers the message he had been reading.
"Leland, it seems that Qian Degong is very likely to be appointed Prime Minister. He is a hardliner in the empire. We will have to deal with him in the future, but..."
After a pause, Fitzmaurice looked towards Zhongdu outside the window, and then said.
"What I'm more concerned about is who will the other two associate ministers be?"
Foreigners are concerned, and people in Ming Dynasty are also concerned about what will happen when the prime minister and associate ministers are about to retire.
Of course it's an opportunity!
Those with a keen sense of smell certainly see opportunities.
Like everyone else, Liu Baoyuan saw an opportunity. As the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, he naturally saw new opportunities after learning that both the Prime Minister Zuo and the Prime Minister Wang were going to serve.
After repeated searches, he finally found his old proprietor, Zuo Zongtang. In the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, in addition to the "first-generation immigrants", there was also a type of official called "Zuo Mu", who was born
In the Zuo Zongtang shogunate, this was a very special phenomenon in the Ming Dynasty. When Zuo Zongtang was defeated and the entire army was wiped out, among the tens of thousands of people captured, there were no less than hundreds of staff and clerks. When they arrived in the Ming Dynasty, among them
Some of them became officials under the recommendation of Zuo Zongtang, while others relied on their own talents and knowledge to join the officialdom by passing the civil service examination.
Because of their similar origins, the relationship between them is very close. Even if Zuo Zongtang is not a party member, he has inadvertently become the core of the "Left Curtain".
Accompanied by Liu Baoyuan, Zuo Zongtang came to the garden in the backyard of Zuozhai. When he sat on a wicker chair, he sighed tiredly and stroked the sparse white hair on his forehead. His voice suddenly changed.
Extremely old and deep:
"It is an ancient ritual to become an official at seventy. This official cannot be a lifelong one. Some people in Zuo's excerpt may say that this is just for fame and reputation, but in the future, this will become a favoritism in the Ming Dynasty. In the future, officials
There is always a need to leave office.”
"The prime minister has good intentions and is really a role model for us."
Liu Baoyuan quickly complimented.
"It's just that the Prime Minister is an official, so we will have no backbone in the future."
His words made Zuo Zongtang shake his head and said.
"What is the backbone? You must know that forming cliques is a taboo in government. You have to pay attention to it in the future. The Ming Dynasty is different from the UK. The UK has the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party, but in my Ming Dynasty... forming cliques for personal gain, but China's government
It’s a big taboo!”
"The prime minister reminds me that it was the lower official who acted rudely."
Liu Baoyuan didn't expect Zuo Xiang to say this, so he said it carefully.
"Since the Prime Minister mentioned that he would become an official, His Majesty should already have a candidate for Prime Minister in mind."
Prime Minister...Liu Baoyuan didn't even dare to think about it. The reason why he asked this question now was just to test it out.
"Um."
The left minister nodded slightly and said.
"This is something everyone knows."
After he and Wang Youling took office, Qian Degong was the only assistant prime minister. Of course he would be the next cabinet minister. No one would doubt this.
"Ah, then... wouldn't Fang Zhanbo also want to join the cabinet?"
Fang Zhanbo is the Minister of the Interior, which ranks first in the Executive Yuan. If nothing else, he must also be the Associate Minister. So who is the other Associate Minister?
Liu Baoyuan had never thought about that position. What he thought about was very simple... that is, to be transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to another important department, such as the Ministry of Household Affairs or even the Ministry of Interior.
But everyone has ambitions and their own ideas. For Liu Baoyuan, who is only fifty-six years old, he feels that he has enough time to get ahead.
After taking a look at Liu Baoyuan, Zuo Zongtang didn't know what he meant by coming here, so he said.
"Yukun, speaking of which, you have been with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for seven years, right?"
"Yes, Prime Minister, my position in this position depends entirely on your support."
Zuo Zongtang nodded, thought for a while, and then said.
"Yukun, if you want to advance to another level, you might as well take the initiative to request an order to go overseas..."
Liu Baoyuan was stunned by the Prime Minister's words and said in surprise.
"Go, go overseas?"
overseas?
Not to mention overseas, even the local provinces are not as comfortable as China. Going overseas? Are you kidding me?
Nodding, Zuo Zongtang said.
"I, an important minister of the Ming Dynasty, must have overseas experience, otherwise..."
Zuo Zongtang shook his head and looked at Liu Baoyuan and said.
"You will definitely not be put into great use by Your Majesty. You should have seen how His Majesty has used people over the years, so it's better to go overseas."
