Liu Jian left the West Garden under the guidance of Lu Qiang.
When I met with Liu Hong today, some things were quite thrilling, but at least most of them were beyond my control.
In this world where people live, there are many things that are inherently unpredictable. If you are cautious about everything, you will eventually take the step you should take.
In this age of great strife, gambling is also a necessary skill. Those who dare not gamble will not escape the fate of extinction.
But today, Liu Jian felt that he should have won the bet.
…
When they arrived outside the palace, Liu Jian gave a symbolic salute to Lu Qiang, and then walked out of the palace.
"Xiaolian stays."
Facing Lu Qiang's voice, Liu Jian turned to look at him and asked, "Do you have anything to advise me, Mr. Zhongchang?"
Lu Qiang waved his hand and said: "I don't take advice as an advice. It's just that Lu is curious about something and wants to ask Xiaolian for advice."
"I don't dare. I'm just a filial and honest person, so why dare I give you advice? I have something to ask you, but we have to discuss it in advance."
Lu Qiang asked doubtfully: "What did you say?"
Liu Jian said sternly: "If it is related to national affairs and the affairs of the Heavenly Family, I forgive Liu for not being able to chat with the Zhongchang Shi."
Lu Qiang suddenly realized what he said.
He patted his forehead with a smile and said: "Don't worry, Xiaolian. None of the things I want to ask about have anything to do with state affairs, and none of them have anything to do with Your Majesty. They are all about your personal matters. Please forgive me for this."
Don’t worry Lian.”
Hearing what Lu Qiang said, Liu Jian's vigilance disappeared, but he still maintained some guard against Lu Qiang.
Although Lu Qiang has a good reputation and is not as "full of evil" as Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Cao Jie, Wang Fu and others among the scholars, he is still an eunuch after all, and he is the opposite of his own camp.
people.
In politics, it doesn't care whether you are a good person or not; it mainly depends on where you are.
"In that case, I would like to ask the Chief Minister to speak frankly."
"I heard that Xiaolian had married Zheng Kangcheng's daughter before entering the capital?"
Liu Jian nodded naturally and said: "Yes, I didn't expect that this matter had already spread to the capital, and even the regular ministers knew about it."
"Haha, Xiao Lian realizes that this is a trivial matter, but this matter has become a matter of elegance among the scholars in Guandong. Scholars from all over the country and even Tong Zhilang from the Imperial Academy also praised Xiao Lian's character for this matter.
After all, when you got engaged to Zheng Xuan, he was still a party member and had never been pardoned by the emperor. Do you know that your move almost ruined your own future?"
Liu Jian smiled lightly when he heard this but did not reply.
"Xiaolian, what I want to ask you is, Zheng Kangcheng is a party member. Did you know in advance that he had been pardoned?"
Liu Jian said solemnly: "I don't know."
"real?"
"There is no need for me to deceive Mr. Zhongchang about this matter. Even I, Master Lu, don't know about this matter. How can I, a descendant of a border county, know about such a big thing? I'm afraid even the ministers and elders in the court may not know about this matter."
Did you know it immediately?"
Lu Qiang stared at Liu Jian's face seriously and sighed: "What a good man! Zheng Kangcheng did not misjudge you, and your teacher Lu never taught you wrong."
Liu Jian smiled faintly. These words came from a eunuch's mouth. To be honest, it sounded a bit awkward.
"By the way, does Xiaolian know who is the person who advised His Majesty to pardon Zheng Kangcheng and other fringe party members?
Liu Jian said nothing, but familiar names began to float through his mind one after another.
Yuan Wei, Yang Ci, Liu Kuan, Ma Rixi, Chen Dan... it seems that they are none of them, and Liu Hong may not give face to any advice they give.
"Don't think too much, it's just old age."
Liu Jian woke up after hearing this, and then raised his hands to Lu Qiang and asked: "Why is the minister like this?"
"Why is this so, haha, no one else! This Han Dynasty still needs talented people to govern, but talented people are all scholars. Your Majesty, Cao Jie, Wang Fu and others have fought for ten years with the Gongqing family.
Over the past few years, the party has imprisoned countless people, and it can be said that both sides suffer losses. Now these states and counties,"
"Everything is a bit unsettled. We can no longer let them do whatever they want. Fortunately, His Majesty is somewhat aware of the chaos in the various states and counties, otherwise he would not let this old man loose easily..."
Liu Jian's face was filled with awe.
He cupped his hands towards Lu Qiang and said, "Servant Zhongchang has a loyal ambition, which is really admirable! Please give me a courtesy from Zhongchang!"
When Lu Qiang saw Liu Jian saluting him, he was a little frightened. He hurriedly stepped forward and said, "It's absolutely impossible. How can an old minister like Xiaolian treat him with such a great gift?"
"This gift of mine is not due to my official position as a regular servant, but only for my father-in-law and the scholars who have been pardoned this time!"
Lu Qiang grinned and sighed: "In so many years, this is the first time that a scholar is willing to show courtesy to an old man..."
Liu Jian straightened up and said: "The most respectable people in the world are not just scholars. There are also eunuchs who are strong-willed and loyal to the country. These people are respectable regardless of their status! People say that princes and generals are
Xiang Ning has the guts, isn’t it possible for eunuchs to have Qingliu? I don’t believe it.”
Lu Qiang felt a little moist in his eyes, and Liu Jian's words spoke to his heart.
To be honest, he has had a hard time doing it these years.
He was a loyal minister and a person who thought about the country. He made many suggestions to Liu Hong that were beneficial to the country. He advised Liu Hong to be honest and love the people and not to be extravagant.
If he were a scholar, he would definitely be respected by thousands of people for his loyalty and patriotism.
But it's a pity that he is a eunuch.
In the eyes of the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty and the scholars of the world, no matter how good Lu Qiang was, he was still a eunuch, a lowly eunuch without eggs. Even though he made remonstrances to benefit the country, in the eyes of the scholars of the world, he was still a eunuch.
He can't get on the stage either. At most he is just better than the likes of Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong.
In the eyes of Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and others, Lu Qiang was also a strange person. He was obviously a eunuch and His Majesty's minion, but he did the opposite of them. Instead of working with the eunuchs to deal with the scholars, he instead
Your Majesty's advice is to protect the scholars. Isn't this just a traitor among the eunuchs?
Liu Hong also disliked Lu Qiang, and his loyal advice had always been resentful. Compared to Zhang Rang, Cao Jie and others, Lu Qiang, who had repeatedly advised Liu Hong on good strategies, had gradually lost his status in Liu Hong's heart.
Today, Lu Qiang, although on the surface he is still a regular servant who delivers edicts and takes charge of documents, in fact, he is no longer a human being, and no one treats him seriously.
But in fact, he cared more about Liu Hong and the Han family than most eunuchs.
Facing Liu Jian's fair words, Lu Qiang couldn't help but think of himself, and his eyes became foggy unknowingly.
He sighed softly and said: "Whether Xiaolian is sincere or not, but over the years, Xiaolian's words today are the most comforting to the old man's heart. Thank you very much for Xiaolian's understanding of the old man... Thank you very much."
Having said that, Lu Qiang returned the favor.
Liu Jian's thoughts started turning around again.
In these days, the aristocratic families, nobles, ministers, and eunuchs were at odds with each other. They were fighting openly and secretly with each other, and they were in the same situation.
The reasons are, firstly, that the eunuchs were evil, and secondly, they were extensions of the imperial power and the vanguard of Liu Hong's efforts to rectify the gentry. Therefore, the two sides were incompatible with each other and were incompatible with each other.
But if you think about it carefully, eunuchs are still the closest people to the emperor.
And now that he is in Luoyang, if he wants to rectify his position as a clan member of the Han Dynasty, if he wants to successfully get everything he wants from Liu Hong the next day, there is no doubt that Liu Hong is what he needs in the end.
In this way, if the emperor formed an alliance with a like-minded person and was in harmony with each other internally and externally, wouldn't it be a good idea?
And this Lu Qiang is very different from ordinary eunuchs. He is a wonder among eunuchs and a direct minister among eunuchs.
Judging from his words, deeds and incidents, Lu Qiang did not seem to be against the scholars. On the contrary, he could see clearly that the operation of the Han Dynasty would eventually require the nobles.
Wouldn't such a person be the best choice for alliance?
Of course, this alliance must be negotiated secretly and cannot be done openly.
People like Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong are not worthy of joining forces with him, but this Lu Qiang is different from them and seems to be able to give it a try.
With him and his internal and external cooperation, he will definitely be able to gain the emperor's trust faster.