Uncle from a poor family - Chapter 739 Shameless

At Liu Ji's house.

As the emperor's special envoy, Qin Ji went to the prime minister's house in person and explained in detail in private what the emperor wanted Liu Ji to do.

That is to say, he wanted to confer the title of Marquis of Shouning to Zhang Luan, and at the same time confer the titles of Earl to Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling.

Liu Ji was extremely surprised when he heard the news. For a moment, he seemed to be unable to understand why the emperor asked someone to find him privately and ask him to make a petition and write the edict of enthronement, as if he was unaware of the grudge between him and Zhang Luan.

Qin Ji said seriously: "This is indeed what His Majesty meant. If Lord Liu has any objections, it would be best for him to find a time to go to the palace and ask His Majesty..."

"Could it be that this matter cannot be brought to the court and discussed openly?"

Liu Ji seemed very indignant.

You know that I don’t like the Zhang family, but you still let me be the good guy?I previously took the lead in impeaching Zhang Luan and was ready to overthrow Zhang Luan. Now, I am suddenly asked to change my stance and flatter the Zhang family. What will outsiders think?My reputation is bad enough already. I am called "Liu Mianhua" and "Paper-made Three Elders". They treat me like a traitor. If I do what I did, then I will have no chance to stay in the court.

"Now that the court has different opinions, it would be most appropriate for you, the Prime Minister, to bring it up. At the same time...it would be best if you also bring up the matter of Zhang Guozhang joining the cabinet."

Liu Ji said with a dark face: "It has never happened since the founding of the Ming Dynasty that a cabinet minister has been made a marquis. If you want a hereditary title, you must give up your civil service. How can a civil official and a military officer shoulder the same responsibility?"May I ask if Zhang Guozhang has the ability to go to the battlefield and lead troops to win a battle? Or can he assist in the government and support the Ming Dynasty with his own strength?"

"you……"

Tan Ji was helpless.

but……

Everyone knows that you, Liu Ji, are not cut out for this job.

Don’t you think it’s too ridiculous to hear this from you, Liu Ji?Liu Ji stood up and said, "I would rather die than obey this."

"Eh eh eh..."

Hearing this, Liu Ji became even angrier, and at the same time he was certain of one thing: it turned out that the emperor also knew that this matter was ridiculous, and wanted to let his father-in-law enter the cabinet, and wanted to make him a marquis, and also wanted to make his two brothers-in-law barons. Seeing that no one was willing to come out and break the rules, he thought of me?If that’s the case, then I can’t agree to it!

I can't dig a hole and bury myself.

After all, the person whose interests would suffer the most from Zhang Luan's entry into the cabinet is me.

If I don't agree to come forward and help to plead for the case, will there be no one in the court who can take on this important task, and no one will mention Zhang Luan's entry into the cabinet, and in the end Zhang Luan will have to go back in disappointment to be a rich and idle man?Correct!You must not cause trouble for yourself.

"If Your Majesty insists that there is something wrong with this, at worst I will resign and return home."

"what?"

Qin Ji's face was extremely embarrassed.

I was only here on behalf of the Emperor to discuss things with you, but you refused to cooperate at all. You really don't give me face!Liu Ji said: "Li Zisheng will be back soon... Such a treacherous villain must not be allowed to stay in the court to continue to corrupt the government.

Qin Ji realized that Liu Ji didn't give him any face at all.

He could only stand up helplessly and said, "Lord Liu, I hope you can think about it carefully...I will come to ask for your opinion tomorrow, okay?"

"No need."

Liu Ji waved his hand and said, "I have made up my mind. No matter how much pressure you put on me, it will be useless. Eunuch Qin, you can just report this to His Majesty!"

……

Qin Ji left Liu's house but was not in a hurry to return to the palace.

He felt that it might be due to his lack of experience in governing that things had not been implemented, so he still had to seek advice from an "expert", and he instinctively thought of Huai En, who had not yet officially announced his retirement.

Since Huai'en was nominally still the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department and his immediate superior, he felt it was necessary to go to his house and ask him how the matter should be handled.

"Hou Fang, you are the de facto person in charge of the Imperial Household Department, so why don't you make your own decisions on major issues?" Huai En said angrily.

I retired and handed over the position of Prime Minister to you, but when you ran into problems that you couldn't handle yourself, you came to ask for advice from me, an unemployed old man?

How dare you come here?Don’t you know that I don’t want Zhang Laizhan to join the cabinet?

Those who understand you know that you are an honest person who never avoids audiences or party disputes.

Qin Ji said helplessly: "Your Majesty may have intended to talk to Zhang Guozhang and Liu Gelao, so he asked me to come to their house in person. Who would have thought that Liu Gelao had no intention of resolving the grudge and was prepared to persist to the end."

“Are there any conflicts between them?”

Wynn asked.

"Ok?"

I was thinking, is it because my political awareness is not high enough that I don't know that Liu Ji and Zhang Luan are allies? That is... they pretend to be good in front of others, but in fact they are as close as wearing the same pants?is it possible?

Huai En said: "Hou Fang, I have to say something about you...You look at the problem too superficially and one-sidedly."

"Eunuch Huai is right."

Qin Ji showed an attitude of humility and bowed.

Huai En shook his head and sighed: "Even if Liu Ji can serve as the Prime Minister for another ten years, I'm afraid he is not on the same path as Zhang Laizhan, or in other words, his practice is far from enough..."

Qin Ji blinked and asked in confusion, "Are you saying that Elder Liu is not good enough?"

"hehe."

Huai En smiled and said, "Why do you think I was angry with Zhang Laizhan after I returned to the court, even though I knew that he was my sponsor? Am I an ungrateful person, or am I just bored? Don't I know that he is your Majesty's father-in-law and that he has made great contributions to your Majesty's ascension to the throne?"

Huai En said, "It is precisely because I can see that Zhang Laizhan's future in the court is limitless. He can not only become the most trusted person around His Majesty, but also play all the officials in the court at his fingertips. If he is allowed to be a cabinet minister for ten years, I am afraid that no one in the court can suppress him. Once His Majesty is tired of government affairs, Zhang Laizhan can cover the sky with one hand, which is even more powerful than Wang Mang back then."

"is it possible?"

Qin Ji was also very curious.

From what you said, why does Zhang Laizhan seem like a god from heaven?Is it really that powerful?

Could it be that it is because I have too much contact with Zhang Laizhan in private and understand that he is inherently lazy and unruly, whereas the one you see in public is wise and brave, able to plan and strategize and is almost omnipotent, so your perception of him is completely different?Huai En nodded and said, "He will. If it was just Zhang Laizhan, I wouldn't be so worried, but there is a little uncle Zhang Yanling behind him. This guy is so scheming and calculating that it is really beyond the reach of ordinary people.

"You said there is such a father and son here. As long as they are wholeheartedly thinking about the Ming Dynasty, it's fine. If they have other intentions, then... Alas!"

There are some things that Huai En doesn't need to say in too much detail.

The general idea was expressed, and people like Qin Ji, who were wholeheartedly serving the royal family, would naturally understand what was going on. He might even have a deeper understanding and experience of some details.

"These are all off-topic." Huai En said unhappily, "Your Majesty, there is nothing wrong with doing this. After all, Your Majesty loves the Queen and her family, and it is inevitable that you rely on the Queen's family. Perhaps it is because Your Majesty lacked strong helpers in the past that he cherishes the Queen's family so much."

"Then I..." Tan Ji meant, how should I tell the emperor? Or, how can I help the emperor complete this task? It would be best to let Liu Ji obey and stand up to speak for the Zhang family?

Huai En said: "I think it's time for Liu Ji to leave the court."

"what?"

Huai En said helplessly: "Don't think I'm just talking in anger, this is my true feeling. Think about Liu Ji, who doesn't do anything practical, but relies on his seniority to rank first among the civil officials in the court.

"What if he turned against Zhang Laizhan after he entered the cabinet and joined forces with Zhang Laizhan to deal with Xu Pu and others, suppress the lecturers in the Eastern Palace, unify the cognition in the Hanlin Academy, and manipulate public opinion? "

Tan Ji asked: "So, we can't keep Liu Ji in the court?"

"Correct."

Qin Ji looked embarrassed for a moment.

I came to ask for your opinion, and you gave me such a dirty trick that would cut off the source of my trouble?Aren’t you afraid of Zhang Laizhan’s rise?You are so anxious to bring down Liu Ji, are you sure you are not helping Zhang Laizhan to eliminate dissidents?

"Let's go back."

Huai En waved his hand and said, "Don't come again without His Majesty's order. His Majesty doesn't like you to listen to my opinions...

……

……

Qin Ji came out of Huai'en Mansion, feeling very unhappy.

While I feel sorry for Huai En, I also feel that I have faced a challenge. After Huai En retired, he stayed at home recuperating and quietly waiting for death, which was not a kind of happiness.

The attendant asked.

Qin Ji finally came to his senses, looked up in the direction of the palace, and said, "Return to the palace immediately. If anyone asks, don't tell them that I have been here!"

……

……

Tan Ji conveyed Liu Ji's intention to Zhu Youtang truthfully.

Zhu Youtang's face was obviously unhappy, and he asked, "My dear, why do you think he has to cause trouble for me? Is it really that difficult to ask him to make a request behind my back and then write an imperial decree?"

Obviously the emperor couldn't understand what Liu Ji was trying to do and what was his basis?If Zhang Luan had not existed, or if Xu Pu had not been compared with him, the emperor might still think that Liu Ji was a capable person. After all, the level of a person who had served as a cabinet minister under his "wise and brave" father would not be bad.

But everything is afraid of comparison.

I bother!

Qin Ji thought of Huai En's advice to him, and felt that he had been too timid before.

So he showed his brave side and said bluntly: "Your Majesty, I think that Lord Liu probably doesn't want Zhang Guozhang to join the cabinet, and he also doesn't want Zhang Guozhang's family to be promoted in the court, so as not to affect his prestige in the court."

After saying this, Qin Ji felt as if he was completely liberated.

After he finished speaking, he felt a little regretful, thinking, what did I just say? Was that what I should have said? If His Majesty disliked Liu Ge Lao because of this and drove him away, wouldn't I be a sinner?Zhu Youtang changed the subject temporarily and asked, "How is my father-in-law's illness now? Can you come to the palace so that I can have a good talk with him?"

"I'm afraid... not yet."

Tan Ji seemed helpless.

The father-in-law Zhang's illness was indeed not cured. He had seen it with his own eyes, and the Zhang family's uncle-in-law was not in the capital. The emperor seemed to be completely isolated and helpless.

Tan Ji said: "Your Majesty, in fact, someone in the court has already proposed..."

"Oh? Who is it?"

Zhu Youtang was also surprised.

Liu Ji refused to cooperate, and Zhang Luan seemed to be avoiding the issue. Just when he was wondering who could recommend the title for the Zhang family, someone here had already spoken up?

"Yeah, how could I forget about him?"

Zhu Youtang suddenly felt relieved. Finally, someone could share his worries. Feeling relieved, he asked, "How did Xu Qiong propose this?"

Tan Ji said: "Minister Xu requested that the Zhang family be granted a title as soon as possible, but he did not mention whether they should be granted a title of marquis or earl. He also did not fight for the two young uncles of the Zhang family. Perhaps he felt that... the two uncles were still young and not old enough to be granted a title."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "This is a reasonable request. Then tell him to help Heling and Yanling fight for it and change their words. It shouldn't be difficult, right?"

"My dear, do you think it's inappropriate?"

Zhu Youtang was very curious.

It seems that you, Qin Ji, are also hindering the implementation of this matter.

Tan Ji said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, I just think that at this time, allowing Zhang Guozhang to enter the cabinet smoothly is more important than anything else.

Zhu Youtang asked curiously, "As the emperor's uncle, do I still have to do things and gain experience to gain recognition from others?"

Now Qin Ji completely understood what the emperor meant.

Zhu Youtang wanted to confer titles on his two brothers-in-law, not because Zhang Yanling was capable or likable, but simply because... the emperor treated his two brothers-in-law as his own brothers.

In terms of relationship, he may be closer than a younger brother.

As for Zhang Yanling's ability to get things done, that was purely icing on the cake and did not hinder the emperor's idea of ​​granting him a title.

In other words, even if the two brothers of the Zhang family were just two cowards and idiots who liked to stir up trouble, it would not affect the emperor's consideration of them as his own people, nor would it affect the emperor's decision to grant them titles.

Tan Ji said: "Your Majesty, shouldn't things be done step by step?"

"Ah."

In other words, the emperor also realized that if he wanted to confer titles on the three members of the Zhang family at once, even a useless person like Liu Ji who liked to play the fence-sitter would not be willing to cooperate.

In this case, the granting of titles seemed to have to be done step by step, and a more suitable person who was willing to cooperate had to be found...and Xu Qiong, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, seemed to be insufficient in terms of qualifications.

Zhu Youtang said, "My dear, go to Xu Qing's house and explain the whole story to him. Listen to his opinion and let him handle it as appropriate. He will bring it up at the court meeting, and I will cooperate with him later. The matter of my father-in-law joining the cabinet needs to be finalized as soon as possible. After all, it has been delayed for a long time."

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)