Put wolfberry, red dates, and stevia in a small stone mortar, mash them slightly, then pour boiling hot water, the aroma will immediately rise, and the water will turn bright yellow.
Red dates protect the liver, wolfberry nourishes qi, and stevia is even more amazing. It mainly treats thirst and high blood pressure.
Putting the three together, it is the best drink for office clerks. It tastes better after being refrigerated. It is much healthier than milk tea.
In front of Zhang Ximeng, there was a steaming pot of jujube tea.
As a man who is almost at the top of the civil service, life is so simple and boring...
"Xiang Zhang, this jujube tea is also an ordinary thing. Compared with West Lake Longjing, it is naturally not worth mentioning!" Li Shanchang sighed sincerely after taking a sip.
Zhang Ximeng rolled his eyelids and didn't say anything. He just lowered his head and drank water... If you, Lao Li, have a conscience, send me some more. If you encounter trouble in the future, I can still help you, otherwise you just wait.
Tough luck!
Sure enough, Li Shanchang seemed to sense Zhang Ximeng's thoughts. He tasted the product carefully and then said with a smile: "Actually, I am also a common person. Wild boars can't eat fine chaff. I will also make some jujube tea later. Mr. Zhang, don't look at it."
You are young, but you are my teacher in every aspect!"
Zhang Ximeng's face fell instantly. I have enough apprentices, and I don't want one less than you!
Am I missing an apprentice?
I love West Lake Longjing!
I want that misty and hazy top-notch yard!
Zhang Ximeng accepted his fate and was too lazy to talk nonsense. Zhu Yuanzhang told him and Li Shanchang to come up with a plan three days later... This time it was not just empty talk about principles, there must be something real.
There is no time to lose.
"Brother Li, let's sort it out!"
Li Shanchang hurriedly put down his tea cup and said seriously: "I was just about to listen to Prime Minister Zhang's opinion."
Zhang Ximeng said: "Brother Li, I don't have anything good to say here... I just want to ask you, what do you think of Zhongshu Province?"
Li Shanchang looked solemn and pondered for a long time before he said: "Prime Minister Zhang, Zhongshu Province inherited the Zhongshu clan from the Song Dynasty, and was also the political affairs hall of the Tang Dynasty. It has always been the place where government affairs are handled. The prime minister is in charge of important ministers, assists the king, governs the people, and serves as a link between the past and the future.
Assist the country and govern the people."
Zhang Ximeng smiled lightly, "Brother Li, do you really think so?"
"This...I can't say."
Zhang Ximeng laughed loudly and said, "Brother Li, if you don't tell me, the position of prime minister is actually a position with a huge gap between the top and the bottom. Since ancient times, the powerful prime minister has been able to easily evade the emperor, control the government, and monopolize power. But the prime minister with little ability,
They are just messengers for the emperor, like the famous Three Edicts, that's it."
"There are thousands of differences between prime ministers, but no matter whether they are Zhongshu Sheng, Zhongshu's Men, Zhengshitang, Shangshu Sheng, or whatever other names they are called, they all naturally hope to expand their authority. This expansion has the effect of invading the emperor upwards.
They also have the power to suppress hundreds of government offices... What do you think I said, Brother Li?"
Li Shanchang thought about it for a while, and he fell into disbelief. He couldn't be more impressed.
The prime minister invaded the emperor's power and fortune. He knew this clearly when he was in Chuzhou Yamen. But he couldn't say it out. If he opened his mouth, it would be the following offense, and something would happen.
However, Zhang Ximeng has the ability to explain this private rule clearly without causing too much resentment.
Perhaps this is Master Zhang's skill, and I will never be able to catch up with it in my lifetime.
Li Shanchang became more and more submissive and even leaned his upper body slightly, looking like a student listening to the holy teachings.
"Zhang Xiang Mingjian, I, I have absolutely no intention of pretending to be superior. Even if you give me the courage, I won't dare!"
Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "Brother Li, of course I believe you, but there is also a saying that people in officialdom cannot help themselves! There are too many things that we can't control."
Li Shanchang nodded quickly, "The enemy, just like this house deed, Han Xiuniang's case before, and many other things... I was deceived by them! I was really wronged!"
Li Shanchang kept pouring out his bitterness, and his nose was full of tears. Those who didn't know thought he had changed his name to Li Xianglin...
Zhang Ximeng waited patiently for him to finish complaining, and then slowly said: "Brother Li, you must know who our lord is. With his energy and temper, how could he allow the people below to coerce the prime minister and usurp the power of the king? This is
It’s a big taboo to be caught in the middle, and sooner or later you’ll get caught up in it, don’t you think?”
Li Shanchang cried, Prime Minister Zhang, you are too tall!
I finally understand today. No wonder you are unwilling to take over as the left prime minister. You insist on pushing me to the front and enjoy the wind, fire, thunder and lightning. You are such a bad person!
At this point, what can Lao Li say, "Xiang Zhang, please find a way to save me! Otherwise, I, I will retire and return to my hometown."
Zhang Ximeng waved his hand quickly, "Brother Li, there is no need for this. What does the lord mean by asking you to deal with the Wang family as soon as possible? Doesn't it mean that the lord knows that he can't live without you! He can't rest assured without a confidant who can handle various government affairs for him.
.In fact, now my lord also knows that no matter how capable he is, he cannot do without people like you and me to help him."
"So what we have to discuss is not just fiscal and taxation issues, but how to design the future authority and how to run this country... We can only stand high, see far, and make arrangements properly so that everyone can be convinced. Here we are.
Only then can we truly sit back and relax, don’t you think?”
Li Shanchang grinned bitterly. Of course he knew this. The issue of officials' salaries, the loopholes in finance and taxation, and the bribery of officials by powerful powerful people... all boiled down to the issue of distribution of power and the exercise of power.
As long as he can figure this out, his burden will be much lighter, but isn't he, Lao Li, incapable of doing this?
"Xiang Zhang, just tell me what to do. I will obey your words!"
Zhang Ximeng smiled and said, "Brother Li is too modest. We are discussing together... My idea is that we should first draw up the urgent official affairs at the moment, which can be summarized into ten or twenty items. We will submit them to the lord, and at the same time, we will announce them to the public, so that hundreds of people can
The official understands the situation. For example, on the issue of salary, how much is appropriate, and how should it be formulated? The three ministers, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Husbandry, follow Brother Li to see the lord, and you can discuss it together. On the other hand, you can also let
Imperial College students, the Hanlin Academy, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate also worked out a plan. The two sides communicated continuously. Finally, they went to the imperial court to explain their respective considerations and differences clearly. Everything was clear, and then we looked at the Lord's wishes.
"
"As for Brother Li, you just need to thread the needle and set the agenda here." Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "Whether it is salary issues or financial and taxation issues... all ministries are collecting taxes, and the problem does not seem to be big, nor is local retention.
No. But the key is to let the lord know the truth, so that the lord can grasp the overall situation and mobilize all power. In short, Zhongshu Sheng only assists the lord to make better use of power, rather than dividing the power with the lord. How much can he keep and how much he divides.
How much do you want to give to the lord? Brother Li, what do you think?"
Li Shanchang took a deep breath, and after thinking about it again and again, he was left with only admiration. Zhang Ximeng was much younger than him, but his vision was truly remarkable.
The posture Zhu Yuanzhang showed was undoubtedly that of a sage king and a heroic lord. It would be unlucky to fight for power and gain with such a person secretly!
On the contrary, give power to Zhu Yuanzhang and let him get everything he wants... After all, he is only one person and cannot cover up the sky. What Lao Zhu is willing to take out is naturally the power of the prime minister, and in this
In the middle, there is coordination, overall planning, and execution rhythm... Among these things, the prime minister has huge room for development.
Zhu Yuanzhang was satisfied, and so was he. As for the officials below, they may not be satisfied, but as long as the people are satisfied, they can do things more beautifully and gain the support of most people in the world, it will become a custom that is difficult to overturn.
Anyway, we, Lao Li, have been stabbed in the back too much by the people below, and my heart is chilled, and I am unwilling to protect you from the wind and rain.
Then let the storm come more violently!
Li Shanchang quickly understood the essence of what Zhang Ximeng said... In fact, to put it bluntly, Zhongshu Province was only responsible for sorting out various government affairs, and then packaged the various ministries and sent them to Zhu Yuanzhang, so that Lao Zhu could communicate with them directly.
From beginning to end, Lao Zhu was deeply involved.
Always remember, do not steal the power of the Lord, and do not regard yourself as the prime minister.
By the way, what did Zhang Ximeng say?
A humble social instrument!
That's it, our mission is just to crawl at the feet of King Wu, always to make King Wu greater!
Li Shanchang's eyes flashed and he was emotionally excited, as if he had found his life goal.
Zhang Ximeng didn't know what he was thinking. Anyway, he just felt that this old guy was a little abnormal. Could it be that he realized that there was something wrong? He was obsessed?
Zhang Ximeng can't say more. Anyway, you, Li Shanchang, didn't give me a gift. Having said this, you have already done your best. If you still want to hear it, you will have to pay more!
Zhang Ximeng and Li Shanchang were chatting here... On the other hand, Zhu Yuanzhang also went to Ma's room. Seeing that his wife was not there, there was a pile of account books beside the table. Old Zhu became interested and looked through them.
While he was watching, a hand suddenly grabbed his ear!
"What are you doing?"
Lao Zhu was shocked. The one who dared to be so presumptuous must be Madam!
"We, we just have a look, we have no other meaning...Sister, you, you have a lot of private money!"
Ma let go and snorted, "It's quite a lot! Does the prince like it?"
Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled, "That's not true... We are just curious. Girls have a lot of industries now, right? There are textiles, military uniforms, and shoes and hats... How do you manage so much money?"
Ma smiled and said, "This is not easy, let's settle the score!"
"Settling accounts?"
"That's right! Don't forget, the talented girl from Jiangnan is under my command. Her family is a merchant's home. She has read so many books. She has become very proficient after only a few years. What are the tricks below?
You can't hide anything dirty from her. Chongba, don't think you have Mr. Zhang to help you, Miss Jiang here is no worse than him!"
"oh!"
Lao Zhu suddenly realized, yes! How could he have forgotten this person?
"Jiang Nan is a girl..."
"Isn't this nonsense!" Ma suddenly frowned, stared at Lao Zhu, and said warily: "You, what are you going to do?"
Lao Zhu was startled, then laughed loudly, "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding! We really have no other ideas, we just don't deal with her and all the officials. When she was appointed, she suffered so much criticism. We thought
Give her a chance for revenge!"
Ma still frowned, "What do you mean?"
"I just want her to help with the calculation of various finances and taxes. From top to bottom, all the yamen, no matter whether they are civil or military, as long as something goes wrong, they will get to the bottom of it! We are in urgent need of a few heads now to kill the chicken and scare the monkey!"
Ma frowned slightly, pondered for a while, and suddenly said: "Chongba, your idea is good, but I won't agree to it!"
"Why?" Zhu Yuanzhang was puzzled.
"This is not obvious. Jiang Nan is a weak woman. Although she holds an official position, she is only doing things for me. I must take good care of her. Let her do such a dangerous thing now, which will annoy all the officials and cause many heads.
How can she, a girl, end up well? If nothing else, she's not married yet! You can't use everyone as a tool!" Ma taught Lao Zhu sternly.
Zhu Yuanzhang was not angry at all, but smiled and said: "Madam, thank you for your kindness. But it would be unfair to say that we only know how to use her... We plan to arrange her to be under Mr. Zhang. With Mr. Zhang's protection, I am afraid that she will not be able to compete with her."
