The tea was poured, the horses retreated, and the study door was closed.
"Master Chief Assistant, Master Yang, please have tea. This is the best Keemun black tea. It relieves summer heat and strengthens the stomach. It is most suitable to drink at this time." Zhang Yanling said with a smile.
"Thank you, Lord Marquis." Li Dongyang picked up the tea cup, opened it, smelled it, took a sip, and praised: "Well, the tea is really good."
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "Just drink it if you like, Mr. Chief Assistant. Many people in the Ming Dynasty are not used to drinking black tea. They don't recognize black tea, only green tea. In fact, compared with green tea, the taste of black tea is more mellow and varied, and it is more beneficial to people."
Benefits. It is said that there are more than a thousand different aromas in black tea, while there are only more than a hundred different kinds in green tea. In terms of taste, the difference is ten times."
Li Dongyang laughed and said: "I didn't expect Mr. Zhang to be so proficient in the tea ceremony. I only think that the aroma of tea is the aroma of tea. I didn't know there were so many kinds."
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "Of course. For example, the fragrance of flowers. Rose is different from jasmine, osmanthus is different from gardenia, honeysuckle is different from chrysanthemum. There are as many kinds of aromas as there are flowers. Naturally, there are many kinds of aromas of tea. I
This person likes to try new things. When he got tired of green tea, he tried some black tea that others didn't recognize. It would be a bit rude to entertain guests today. If you two are not used to the taste of black tea, I still have Lushan Yunwu here. It's a pity that it's not tomorrow.
before."
Li Dongyang laughed and said: "Master Zhang is a maverick. Not many people really like to drink black tea, and the people of Ming Dynasty still don't recognize it. But I am willing to try it."
Zhang Yanling nodded and said with a smile: "I am a maverick, that's a good thing to say. I really have a maverick personality. I have to try what others don't like. It's rare that the chief assistant is like me and is willing to try.
."
Li Dongyang said: "Trying is not necessarily a bad thing. If everyone follows the same rules, things in this world will be stagnant and have no development. For example, the things we eat and drink, the herbs that treat diseases, etc., are not all the things that our predecessors took risks to try.
He who knows its taste and usefulness. If the dragon tastes the herbs, he has the courage to try them."
Zhang Yanling laughed and said: "I didn't expect that chatting with Li Shoufu would be so opportunistic. Mr. Shoufu turns out to be such a considerate person. Even if he can't stand the taste of black tea, he can still tell some truths."
Li Dongyang was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said: "What do you mean by Master Hou? Who said I don't like drinking black tea?"
Zhang Yanling laughed and said: "Master Li, you frowned after taking the first sip. You don't like the taste. Look at Minister Yang, he opened the lid and took a look, but he didn't take a sip. So,
Master Li just wanted to give me face and didn't want to embarrass me, so he talked to me about all these things. This may be self-cultivation. Lord Chief Assistant, despite being in a high position, can be so patient, which is admirable."
Li Dongyang laughed when he heard this, but was secretly surprised in his heart. Zhang Yanling was indeed not an ordinary person, and his little frowning behavior was noticed by him. He had already covered it up very quickly, but he still noticed this person.
He has keen observation skills and is very calculating in his actions.
"Master Zhang is a very good person, I admire him. It's just a cup of tea. Whether you like it or not, it's just something to quench your thirst. It's no big deal." Li Dongyang said.
Zhang Yanling shook his head and said: "That's different. The first assistant couldn't get used to drinking this black tea, but he drank it anyway. If Master Yang doesn't like it, he won't drink it. The two attitudes and the two ways of acting show that Mr. Li and Mr. Yang are the same.
Two people with different personalities.”
Yang Tinghe had long been impatient when Zhang Yanling came up and talked about black tea and green tea. At this moment, he couldn't help but sneered and asked: "I would like to ask you what is the difference between me and Mr. Chief Assistant?"
Zhang Yanling chuckled and said: "Mr. Yang refuses to force himself and doesn't do things he doesn't want to do. This kind of character can be called straightforward. To put it bluntly, it is called arrogant and arrogant and unwilling to be tactful. Of course,
That's not a bad shortcoming. It can be said that most of our scholars in the Ming Dynasty are like Master Yang. Master Yang is a typical representative among them."
Yang Tinghe chuckled and said: "Master Hou is really joking. You can tell this from just drinking a cup of tea? Could it be that you are a fortune teller?"
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Let me just say it and you can listen to it. It doesn't matter whether it makes sense or whether what I said is right or not, just listen to it for fun. I am not a fortune teller, I just can reflect people's expressions, movements and behaviors."
In my heart, neither of you would object to this. I am just trying to analyze it. As the saying goes, you can see the leopard by looking at a spot, and you can know autumn by seeing the fallen leaves. Some things can actually be seen clearly."
Yang Tinghe was about to retort, but he heard Li Dongyang say in a deep voice: "Master Hou, what kind of person do you think I am? I want to hear your analysis."
Li Dongyang's expression was very solemn when he said this, and he didn't seem to treat the matter as a casual joke. This made Yang Tinghe also quiet down.
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Master Li, you can do things you don't want to do. Not only do you do it, but you can also do it as if nothing happened, and even echoed a few words. This shows that Master Li is a cultivated and patient person. In other words, this is
It’s Chengfu and smooth, right?”
Li Dongyang smiled lightly and said: "It seems to make sense. But it's not surprising. I'm much older than Tinghe. I'm smoother and calmer than him, and I know more about people and the world. This shouldn't be surprising.
Mr. Hou’s analysis does not seem difficult. We can draw a conclusion based on common sense. It has nothing to do with whether we drink tea or not.”
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "It seems that the first assistant is not satisfied with my evaluation. So, how about I add an evaluation to the first assistant?"
Li Dongyang smiled and said nothing, making no comment.
Zhang Yanling said: "One word: bear the humiliation and bear the burden! Does Mr. Chief Assistant think it is appropriate?"
Li Dongyang's smile disappeared and his face changed color.
Zhang Yanling looked at Li Dongyang with a smile and said, "Do you think this evaluation is appropriate, Mr. Chief Assistant?"
Li Dongyang nodded slightly and said: "Master Zhang is indeed a man with sharp eyes. I admire him."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "The Chief Assistant is admirable. He can endure the heavy load in the storm. When the crowd is crazy, he is as calm as ice. He is a pillar in the rapids, and he is the pillar holding up the sky when the building is about to collapse. The Chief Assistant
Adults are truly admirable people.”
A cold light flashed in Li Dongyang's eyes, then disappeared immediately, he laughed and said: "Master Hou is too polite. I don't dare to take the compliment from Master Hou."
Zhang Yanling said: "You deserve it. When the Chief Minister steps into the gate of my Jianchang Marquis Mansion, these compliments are no longer empty compliments. My lords, it's late at night and it's getting late. I think
We don’t have to beat around the bush anymore. It’s time to talk about business. Tell me, you two are coming tonight, do you want to discuss with me about cooperating against Liu Jin?”
Yang Tinghe's eyes widened in surprise, but Li Dongyang stroked his beard and burst into laughter.
"Tinghe, what I said is right. The Marquis of Jianchang is definitely not a human being. You have seen it now, right? The two of us have only had a cup of tea since we entered the door and haven't said anything. The Marquis already knows about our relationship.
That’s what I came for.”
"It's true. My teacher said before that Lord Zhang would know our purpose, but the student still didn't believe it. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be the case. The student seems to be far behind," Yang Tinghe said.
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Master Yang, why should you be so modest? You are not bad. You just refuse to put away your noble heart and calm down to think about it. Master Yang is well-known as a smart and talented person, otherwise
How could the late emperor ask you to be the prince's tutor?"
Yang Tinghe no longer had the previous contempt for Zhang Yanling in his heart. People are like this, even if others tell you a hundred times, it is not as profound as your own experience. At this moment, Yang Tinghe's perception of Zhang Yanling has completely changed, and he believes in him
What his mentor Li Dongyang said about Zhang Yanling.
Not long ago, he was still thinking: He is just a relative with some luck and ability. Is it necessary to praise him so highly?
Li Dongyang laughed and said: "Since we are all smart people, I think we don't have to beat around the bush. Things will be easier to handle. Yes, Mr. Zhang, I came to disturb you tonight with Tinghe and Xie Xie, just to talk to Mr. Hou.
Let’s discuss the matter of joining forces. Since the Marquis knows our purpose of coming, he must also know the current situation between the DPRK and China. How about we go straight to the point?"
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "How can you be so direct?"
Li Dongyang said: "It's very simple. We need the help of the princes to persuade the emperor and the noble princes to agree to the officials we propose to fill the vacancies in the outer court in three days. Then, if you have any requests, please ask us, and we will try our best to satisfy you.
.We each get what we deserve, and at the same time we can compete with the expansion of Liu Jin and others. How about that?"
Zhang Yanling smacked his lips and said: "It's really a direct and naked transaction. Very good, I like this kind of transaction. However, please tell me, Chief Executive Li, the list of vacancies to be filled in your outer court, so I can take a sneak peek."
Li Dongyang said: "Liu Jin already has minions in the outer court, and he has established a good reputation. This time he must take the opportunity to seize important official positions in the outer court, so that he can control the outer court and control the overall situation. Therefore, I have important positions in the outer court.
Fight for it. I know that it is impossible to succeed in all, but at least six ministers, and the cabinet cannot all be Liu Jin's people."
Zhang Yanling nodded slightly.
Li Dongyang continued: "I have already drawn up the list, Mr. Hou can take a look at it."
Li Dongyang took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Yanling. Zhang Yanling took it, opened it, read it again, and laughed.
"Master Chief Assistant, everything else is fine. After all, they are all mature and prudent ministers in the outer court. However, if you want to recommend Yang Shijiao to the cabinet, I'm afraid you won't be able to do it. The position of cabinet minister... excuse me,
Mr. Yang is afraid that his qualifications are too far apart. Can you consider it?"
Yang Tinghe stood by with a fever on his face and was angry in his heart. He knew that he was not qualified enough, but Zhang Yanling said it in front of him, which made him very embarrassed.
He almost blurted out one sentence.
"Didn't you do nothing and become the Marquis? In terms of qualifications, who do you think you are?"