Outside the Wulin Gate, it was the time when the sails were unloaded and the department stores were on the market. The lanterns and candles on the bow of the ship and the shore were as bright as day.
What a prosperous scene.
The visitor was a man surnamed Chen in his thirties, wearing a cloth shirt and holding a folding fan. It was obvious that he was dressed as a Confucian businessman.
Zhang Yue looked at the gift list presented by the other party and said: "Your Excellency sent it to the wrong person. I don't care about these."
The other party said: "I know these priceless things are nothing in the eyes of Mr. Zhang today, but they are just a token of respect. If Mr. Zhang doesn't like it, I will give these to Lingyin Temple tomorrow and ask them to give to the poor in this city."
common people.”
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "This is your money. As for how to spend it, of course it is up to you."
The other party smiled and said: "Zhang Gong is really the only official I have ever met. I respect Zhang Gong as an official, but I don't dare to break the rules. I have heard a saying that you should treat businessmen as officials, and
I treat being an official as if I were doing business. I don’t know if it’s right, so I’d like to ask Mr. Zhang for advice.”
Zhang Yue smiled, this is not a first-class irony.
Zhang Yue said: "Yes, I don't know which gods to worship when I'm in business. I'll close down in two days. When I'm an official, I have to spend money everywhere, because money can influence the gods."
"The so-called big lawsuit, the big money."
Zhang Yue nodded and the other party said: "Mr. Zhang, I have a few words from the bottom of my heart that I can only tell a gentleman like you..."
Zhang Yue nodded after hearing this.
The seventeenth mother on the mooring boat came out with her clothes on and looked at Zhang Yue who had just seen him off.
The Seventeenth Mother couldn't help but curiously went up to ask Zhang Yue: "Guanren, who are you? You have been seeing him for a full hour?"
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "It's a woman disguised as a man, who came to the ship specially to have a private meeting with me."
The Seventeenth Mother smiled when she heard this and said, "The officials are joking. Don't you know who you are, my concubine?"
Even though Seventeenth Mother said this, she still glanced deeply at the other person's back as he walked away.
Looking at Seventeenth Mother's... inquiring eyes, Zhang Yue decided to confess: "He is a businessman named Chen, who is considered a wealthy businessman in Jiangsu and Zhejiang."
After a pause, Zhang Yue added: "He is a rare talent."
The Seventeenth Mother asked: "Businessman? Are you asking for shelter?"
Zhang Yue said: "I thought he was interested in cotton fields and cotton cloth business and wanted me to recommend him, but that's not the case. This person came here today to ask questions, but it's a pity that a businessman is a businessman after all, and it is difficult to break through his level."
The Seventeenth Mother smiled and said: "The official wants to see you specifically, why do you say that to him?"
Zhang Yue said: "Why should I say that to him? It's just a lament. You said that the only way to get ahead among scholars, farmers, industry and businessmen is to study. As for other businesses, no matter how successful they are? So what if you plant more land? No matter how clever your craftsmanship is.
?”
"They are trapped in it. In the end, there is only one way to study among these thousands of roads. Isn't it their sorrow and the sorrow of the court?"
The seventeenth mother said: "Official, you have studied and become an official, and you have to be a third-rank official. These are not what you should think about."
Zhang Yue said: "I don't want to, but I am angry in my heart. After seven years of reform, I should be like Yu when he controlled the floods. He should dredge the water instead of blocking it. In other words, it should be both blocking and sparing. But I only see the blockage and nothing else."
Seventeenth Mother took Zhang Yue's hand with her little hand and said: "Official, you must be careful what you say when you come to Beijing this time. Now that Mr. Han is no longer in the court, my father also advises you to be careful this time."
Zhang Yue breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "I understand, I just can't see this."
…
The ship left Hangzhou the next day and headed north. Zhang Yue saw many river boats traveling from north to south along the way. After Zhang Yue inquired, he learned that the Khitan had suddenly raised troops and entered Daizhou. There were rumors among the people that the Khitan was going south in a large scale. Many wealthy families in Hebei were
They fled south with their families.
Zhang Yue saw the current affairs like this and became even more worried.
Deputy Privy Councilor Cai Ting has been in poor health these days. Last year, he suffered from dizziness and fainted in the court hall. Since then, Cai Ting has been recuperating at home and has not gone to court.
Another privy envoy, Chen Shengzhi, also suffered from repeated illnesses and asked to serve.
The second government is short of people.
Wang Lian, a Hanlin scholar, has been visiting Cai Ting's house frequently recently. When he met Cai Ting, Wang Lian was very generous and piled up supplements like ginseng and deer antlers at Cai Ting's house for free.
Cai Ting knew that Wang Lian would not go to the Three Treasures Hall for any reason, and watched Wang Lian ask for advice on Khitan affairs.
Cai Ting knew Wang Lian's talents. The last time he contacted the Khitan envoy, he made a mess. Now he came to consult him again. It seemed that he wanted to leave a good impression in front of the emperor.
Cai Ting concealed his impatience and gave him a few words of advice before sending Wang Lian away.
Here, Zeng Xiaokuan also came to see Cai Ting's condition. Cai Ting knew where Wang Lian and Zeng Xiaokuan came to check on his condition, just to see if he could continue to hold on as the Deputy Privy Councilor.
But his position was obtained through his marriage to Zeng Gongliang, and he must value Zeng Xiaokuan, at least on the surface.
Cai Tingqiang held up his body and finished talking to Zeng Xiaokuan, then let him go.
After that, Cai Ting was very tired. The maids fanned him and fed him ginseng soup. Cai Ting half-closed his eyes. It was hard for him to become the prime minister. How could he retreat so easily? He had to do it even if he held himself up.
Go down.
And I heard that after Han Jiang and Feng Jing abdicated in Zhongshu, the political participation position became vacant. Wang Anshi and Lu Huiqing transferred Yuan Jiang, who had been sent out due to the fire in the third division, back to serve as the group pastor, and seemed to intend to take over.
Feng Jing became prime minister.
In addition to Zhang Dun, who is now very popular in the court, and Hanlin scholar Yang Hui, these people are expected to make up the Zhongshu.
But in the end, who can enter the second mansion depends on the emperor's wishes and Wang Anshi's consent.
In Zhongshu, Lu Huiqing said to Wang Anshi: "My lord, this time I was able to completely suppress the three divisions and take back the financial power to Zhongshu. Yuan Houzhi has made a great contribution. In fact, with his qualifications and talents, it is not a problem to be appointed as the counselor of political affairs."
Down."
Wang Anshi said: "Yuan Houzhi has courage and strategy, and he is a personal choice. I will mention it when the officials ask."
Lu Huiqing said: "That's great. That's right. Zhang Duzhi will return to the court immediately. What errands has Mr. Xian arranged for him?"
Wang Anshi said: "It's better to go to Jingyan."
Lu Huiqing was relieved when he heard this, but said: "It is better to let Yuan Houzhi become the prime minister and Zhang Duzhi to be the herdsman of the group."
Wang Anshi said: "We will discuss this matter later."
Lu Huiqing's heart sank. Li Chengzhi on the side knew Lu Huiqing's intentions and asked: "If Zhang Duzhi returns to the court, how about the officials letting him join the second government?"
Wang Anshi said: "The officials would not have such intention. Now Wang Lian, Zeng Xiaokuan and Yuan Jiang are all qualified to serve as prime ministers. Why do the officials have to use them? Even so, Zhang Du is not mine, so I will not use him."
.”
Lu Huiqing felt a little relieved after hearing this.
Although the two had a secret rift, at least in front of the emperor they were still the same as before. Lu Huiqing took the initiative to sing with Wang Anshi many times, which was very considerate.
Wang Anshi said to Lu Huiqing: "The Khitan matter needs to be discussed carefully tomorrow!"
