Jinyi champion

In less than half an hour, Zhang Cong appeared in the theater.

After he came out of the palace, he was in a depressed mood. He wanted to see Zhu Hao but didn't know where he could meet him, but he didn't know that Zhu Hao had arranged a way for him here and asked Jin Yiwei to escort him to the theater directly.

When seeing Zhu Hao sitting with Tang Yin, Zhang Cong's depression can be imagined.

"Brother Bingyong, today you came out to discuss the ceremony for His Majesty in the court hall, and you made a great contribution by fighting against the Confucians. Thank you." Zhu Hao greeted Zhang Cong with a smile.

Zhang Cong glanced at Tang Yin involuntarily.

It seems to be asking, my hard work is naturally hard work, but the question is why I didn't share the fruits of victory after all my hard work, but was easily picked by the person next to you?
Zhang Cong bowed his hands to Tang Yin first: "I have seen Bachelor Tang."

"This one……"

Tang Yin wanted to explain, and really wanted to say, I didn't want the position of Hanlin Bachelor.

The words come to my lips, but I don't know how to say them. The position that belongs to Zhang Cong falls on you. Your explanation can easily be interpreted as sarcastic remarks. Can people like to listen?

Zhu Hao said: "I also just found out that Mr. Tang succeeded Huang Xueshi as a Hanlin Bachelor...Come, come, sit down and talk."

Zhang Cong and Tang Yin looked at Zhu Hao at the same time.

Zhang Cong's eyes were full of disbelief.

Did you just know?

As the emperor's number one think tank, you initiated the grand ceremony, how could you just know about it?Do you dare to say that you are not planning this behind the scenes?

Tang Yinze understood why Zhu Hao said this, because Zhu Hao said before that he wanted to cultivate political enemies for himself, so if he deliberately pretended to have just learned about it, wouldn't he just pretend to be in front of Zhang Cong, causing Zhang Cong to hate him?
This is clearly playing with fire.

Tang Yin didn't want to make any political enemies in the court, and now he has nothing to persuade Zhu Hao.

He has already reached such a field, and it is useless to say anything, unless he himself takes the initiative to resign the position of Hanlin Bachelor.

But the high position I have already obtained...why should I let it go?

……

……

The three sat down, and Zhang Cong tried his best to maintain his demeanor, making himself look like he had no pursuit of fame and status, and congratulated Tang Yin on being promoted to a Hanlin bachelor.

that is because……

He knows that he has no strength to fight against Zhu Hao now. Since Zhu Hao can promote Tang Yin to the position of Hanlin Bachelor, it is easy to lift others. Maybe Tang Yin will join the cabinet or retire later, and leave the Hanlin Bachelor vacant, and the next one will be let He took over?If Zhu Hao didn't value him, why did he still see him?

"...Today's discussion of the ceremony still fails, it is inevitable to be frustrating, but now the public opinion in the court and China is more and more favorable to the discussion of the ceremony."

Zhu Hao commented on the current situation.

Zhang Cong asked for advice: "Mr. Zhu, when will there be a conclusion on the ceremony?"

Zhu Hao smiled and said, "Brother Bingyong, why did you ask so directly? If you can give the exact time, what are we fighting for now?"

Zhang Cong was not polite anymore, and immediately said: "If you want to let the officials in the court relax and agree to discuss the ceremony, no matter who you change as the head and assistant, or who you choose as the minister of the Ministry of Rites, you will not be able to achieve your goal. If there is an accident, it will still happen. Out. For the current plan, the only way for His Majesty to issue an edict decisively is to catch the officials by surprise, such a major event can be accomplished."

Tang Yin, who was on the side, was also feeling emotional when he heard it. No wonder Jingdao wanted to train Zhang Bingyong to be a political opponent.

There are so many people in the court, if they are decisive in doing things, and have a sharp vision, few people can compare with them, even Huang Gongxian is afraid to stand aside.

Zhu Haodao: "Brother Bingyong's words are somewhat reasonable, but this is not the first time His Majesty issued an edict forcefully. As you have seen the results of the previous two times, it was not very good. That's why we cultivate rituals in the court. faction forces.

"Brother Bingyong is now serving as a student in the Imperial Academy, so he should use his influence to mobilize more in the Imperial Academy to strengthen the momentum of our Yili faction, otherwise, on the day when His Majesty promulgates the imperial edict, will the Imperial Academy rebound first? At that time...it won't end well."

Zhang Cong didn't seem to agree with Zhu Hao's statement, and his tone was very aggressive: "How can just a few imperial courts change the general situation in the court? Since Mr. Zhu is His Majesty's counselor, he should speak out, and His Majesty should make a decisive decree instead of Indecisive like now, procrastinating."

Seeing that there seemed to be a dispute between the two parties, Tang Yin quickly talked to each other: "Bingyong, don't be impatient, things are going on step by step, it is not a good thing to rush."

Zhang Cong looked down on Tang Yin, although on the surface he was more respectful to Tang Yin than to Zhu Hao.

He didn't want to worry about Tang Yin's words either.

Zhu Hao said with a smile: "Brother Bingyong, what is your opinion on the ceremony? In fact, you can play it alone. You may not need to listen to me and Mr. Tang for everything. Your Majesty will adopt the elders of each family to make decisions for the ceremony."

After a few words, there was already a gap between the two sides.

Tang Yin couldn't help thinking that Zhu Hao's trick of "killing people with a borrowed knife" really worked. Lending Tang Yin's sword to become a Hanlin scholar made Zhang Cong feel hatred. On the surface, Zhang Cong was respectful to them, but in fact he had already developed a rebellious psychology in his heart. It is estimated that in the future I'm about to go it alone.

Zhu Haodao: "By the way, when Brother Bingyong was an official in various places, he seemed to have made friends with some colleagues because of the ceremonies. Why don't you ask them to be your advisors and recommend them to His Majesty by the way? Please His Majesty call them to the capital and assign them to various yamen. use."

"Ok?"

Zhang Cong was surprised when he heard this.

Zhu Hao actually knew that he had made many friends locally?But think about it carefully, this matter is not a secret, he mentioned it when he returned to Beijing to meet Zhu Hao.

But what does Zhu Hao mean by saying that now?
Will Zhu Hao help him sincerely?
Or is Zhu Hao warning that these people cannot be used?If you dare to report these people, I will send them to a place far away from Emperor Shangao, so that they will not be reused by the court for life?

Zhang Cong said: "I will work hard for Yili in the next day, but now I can't do it. I want to get more...opportunities and work hard for Yili."

Zhu Hao smiled and asked: "Oh, you want to go further in the official position?"

"……Yes."

Zhang Cong hesitated a little, but told the truth.

"Brother Bingyong, I can understand your feelings, but the problem is that you and I are Jinshi of the same discipline. As far as Jinshi of our discipline is concerned, your official career is considered to be the most prosperous. If His Majesty is promoted again, it will be of great help to you in the future. It may not be a good thing to be an official, after all... this court pays attention to seniority, so you have to be patient."

Zhu Hao tactfully rejected Zhang Cong's proposal for promotion.

Zhang Cong glanced at Tang Yin unconsciously again.

It seems to be saying, I can't do it, so why can he be a Hanlin bachelor after only a few years in office?

Tang Yin felt sorry for Zhang Cong at first, but seeing Zhang Cong's eagerness, he felt that Zhu Hao did something right.

Why are you Zhang Cong so uncounted?Did you initiate the Great Ritual Conference first?You are just a chess piece used by Zhu Hao... He uses others instead of you. Even if you recruited some party members to support the Daliyi when you were an official in various places, what positive impact will it have on the outcome of the Daliyi?

Why do you think that you can be compared with me and Zhu Jingdao?
Are you from Xing Wangfu?

Whether your purpose of doing all this is to prosper the palace or for yourself, you should be very clear in your heart.

You are not like us!
Zhu Haodao: "After the ceremony is completed, His Majesty will reward you according to your merits, and then you will be promoted according to today's achievements. Brother Bingyong will definitely take advantage of this shareholder's style and rise to the top.

"Brother Bingyong, it is estimated that in the next year, Mr. Jiang Ge and others will retire. On the day the ceremony is completed, your opportunity for promotion will come. As long as you work hard for His Majesty, everything is possible."

……

……

Zhu Hao sent Zhang Cong back with a set of official phrases.

Zhang Cong continued to be his imperial servant, while Tang Yin became a Hanlin bachelor. The difference in status between the two is clear at a glance.

After Zhang Cong left.

Tang Yin said: "Actually, you don't need to keep me...you can just tell him yourself..."

Zhu Hao smiled and said, "Do you understand the hatred? You are not here, the resentment in his heart is not that deep, and the effect he wants to achieve is not that good."

Tang Yin gave Zhu Hao a blank look: "If I were him, I would feel that the future is bleak. There was Huang Zan first, and then I, and he knew that there was you behind his back. That is to say, he wanted to be an Imperial scholar. You don't know when you have to wait, and if you want to join the cabinet again, it will be out of reach. Aren't you afraid that he will trip you secretly and make your affairs known to the outside world?"

Zhu Hao said: "Then let him make it public. Anyway, I'm tired of hiding in the dark. Maybe it's time to go to the front."

"You... ugh!"

Tang Yin originally wanted to talk to Zhu Hao earnestly, but at this time he also chose to give up.

Zhu Hao said: "Mr. Tang, go back to the mansion quickly, the person who delivered the decree to you must be waiting impatiently... Remember that when His Majesty called you into the palace, you should be more modest and don't always talk about asking you to resign and go back to your hometown. Peach blossoms can be grown anywhere, and the capital can also prepare a few acres of gardens for you, which is near the capital, so it’s good to take care of it if you have nothing to do."

"Ah."

Tang Yin responded angrily, got up and left.

……

……

Zhang Cong walked out of the theater, feeling more and more angry in his heart, the veins on his forehead were bursting, and the hand holding the wooden pole of the sedan chair was tightly clenched, and his nails almost cut his palm.

"Master, are you going back to the Hanlin Academy?"

The bearers outside asked.

"Go home!"

Zhang Cong said angrily.

After Zhang Cong entered his house, he specifically ordered no one to disturb him.

And Zhang Cong went directly into the study, as if there was something important that he needed to deal with urgently.

Just at this time, the servants of the Zhang family came to report: "Master, Mr. Yan is here."

"Ask him to come here!"

A 50-year-old man who looked like a Taoist priest walked through the main courtyard of Zhang Cong's mansion, came to the study, knocked on the door and entered.

This person's name is Yan Jiguan. He was originally a wandering Taoist priest. Zhang Cong met when he was an official in Shanxi.

"Master Zhang, I heard that there is a candidate for the Imperial Academy, and I passed you by again?" Yan Jiguan was not polite, and said bluntly when he came up.

Zhang Cong patted the table: "Your Majesty is nepotism, and it is impossible to find out who can help the country, really..."

"Master Zhang speak carefully!"

Yan Jiguan said with a smile, as if he already had a countermeasure in mind.