Jinyi champion

Chapter 959 Dismantling and Forming Alliances

"Daoist, do you have an idea? Now that the new emperor is enthroned for a short period of time, and he relies too much on the old ministers of the Xing Palace, if His Majesty can be brought back on the right track, he will be appointed on merit..."

Zhang Cong originally wanted to speak about himself in a more upright manner, but he couldn't even speak for himself in the middle of the conversation.

You, an old Jinshi who has just entered the officialdom, why do you think you are a virtuous person?

You might as well just say directly, how to make the emperor reuse me.

Yan Jiguan said: "If Mr. Zhang recommends more talents to His Majesty, His Majesty will think that Mr. Zhang has a powerful force behind him, which may make His Majesty rely more on you."

"This... It's not that I haven't thought about it, it's just that the people I can employ are scattered all over the place, and they can't gather in the capital for a while." Zhang Cong thought of Gui E, who could be his right and left hand when he was in Nanjing.

It can be said that the two had a very happy conversation, they were almost confidantes, and Gui E also gave him a lot of advice on the ceremony.

At the same time, there are Fang Xianfu and others, these people can also be used by him.

But how to transfer people from Nanjing official circles to the capital is a technical task.

Yan Jiguan said: "This is the time when His Majesty is employing people. As long as Master Zhang recommends him to His Majesty, His Majesty will be transferred to the capital to appoint him. No matter what position he is in, as long as he can help Master Zhang at ordinary times, no matter how humble the official position is, it will be a good job." A force to be reckoned with."

"Ah."

Zhang Cong originally wanted to write to Gui E.

After listening to Yan Jiguan's words, his thoughts were further strengthened.

Didn't Zhu Hao also remind him that he can transfer outstanding scholars from all over the world to the capital?
No matter what Zhu Hao said is true or ironic, anyway, I, Zhang, am alone in the capital and have no right to speak in front of the emperor. Only by making my party members stronger and making the emperor feel that I have huge influence Opportunity to climb to a high position, otherwise, they can only be trampled underfoot by Zhu Hao and Tang Yin and his like.

……

……

In order to recommend officials for the ceremony to the emperor, Zhang Cong racked his brains, wondering how he could get his wish.

In his capacity, he is not qualified to submit secret documents directly to the emperor, and normal memorials have to go through the cabinet and the supervisor of ceremonies, which is simply not feasible.

In addition, now that he is neither in the Ministry of Officials, nor is he an important minister who is about to retire, what qualifications does he have to recommend colleagues to the emperor?

Zhang Cong originally wanted to find Zhang Zuo. If he could recommend someone through Zhang Zuo, he would be able to skip Zhu Hao and Tang Yin.

But after thinking about it, Zhang Cong felt that it was inappropriate to use Zhang Zuo as the top performer, because Zhang Zuo was also an old member of Xing Wangfu, and he was likely to be a grasshopper on the same rope with Zhu Hao and Tang Yin. Finally, he found Huang Zan, who had just joined the cabinet.

When Huang Zan entered the cabinet, he happened to be going to the Imperial Academy for a handover of duties.

Because Zhang Cong originally entered the Imperial Academy as a scholar of the Imperial Academy, and he was not welcomed by others like Huang Zan. When Huang Zan returned, Zhang Cong found an opportunity to talk to Huang Zan alone.

One advantage of being hostile by colleagues at the same time is that no one cares what they say, anyway, they are both outliers in the Hanlin Academy.

"...Old Huang Ge, I have a few candidates here, who may be able to assist Your Majesty in discussing the ceremony. Now that your Majesty is making slow progress in discussing the ceremony, I am quite anxious. I think that there are not many people in the court who can help you now. , it’s better to transfer a group of people from Nanjing’s officialdom, after all, Nanjing is also your long-term business place.”

Another important reason for Zhang Cong to look for Huang Zan was that before he was transferred to the capital this time, both of them were hanging out in Nanjing official circles.

Since they come from the same background, they should support each other from a standpoint.

Huang Zan took a look at the list and found that he basically didn't know the people on it, but he had heard of many of them.

Huang Zan said: "Bingyong, when you were in Nanjing, you made good friends with these people. They agreed with you in the ceremony. They seemed to be congenial and could be used as a helping hand. But you should also pay attention, there may be many people who are in the same position among them. Seniors, you have to be careful."

What Huang Zan meant, I don't want to help.

As an old man in the officialdom, Huang Zan could tell that Zhang Cong clearly wanted to form his own faction, but Huang Zan got the chance to join the cabinet through Zhu Hao's help. Why should he help Zhang Cong?
In other words, what benefits can you Zhang Cong offer?
Zhang Cong said: "I have heard that Your Majesty wants to use the veterans of the former court, but I think it is inappropriate... The veterans of the former court are many loyal and upright people, and they have been idle for many years. If they return to the court to handle political affairs, it is inevitable that they will be the same as the current court. Out of touch, on the contrary, Huang Ge Lao, a veteran who has been in the court, knows everything that has happened in the court in the past few years, and can take care of the overall situation."

"Um!?"

Huang Zan was taken aback for a moment, and he heard something from Zhang Cong's words.

What Zhang Cong meant was that I want to form an alliance with you.

When Huang Zan became the cabinet elder, he was naturally very beautiful, but Zhang Cong also knew that Huang Zan would not stay in the position of cabinet scholar for too long, he was just a transitional figure, and Huang Zan's successor was likely to be Yang Yiqing, Xie Xie and others. Qian and others, if they enter the court, Huang Zan will have to vacate his place.

Zhang Cong wanted to tell Huang Zan, I am with you, as long as you support me, then I will do my best to help you, and you may have a chance to become the chief minister in the future.

Zhang Cong continued: "It is my duty to recommend talents for the imperial court. After these people enter the imperial court, they will definitely follow Xueshi Huang!"

Huang Zan's attitude was shaken after hearing this.

The biggest problem Huang Zan faced with entering the court this time was that he did not bring his own team.

He used to be a magistrate, and then he was promoted to the Minister of the North Household Department during the Zhengde Dynasty, and then transferred to the Minister of the Nanhu Department. After this line, most of his confidants were pragmatic magistrates, but in the end he was promoted directly to the Imperial Academy as a deliberation ceremony Hanlin Bachelor.

As a retreat yamen, he is very clear about the attitude of the people in the Imperial Academy. Except for Zhang Cong who supports him, no one will stand with him. ".

This brings a disadvantage.

I became a scholar of the Imperial Academy because of the ceremony, and then entered the cabinet, but under my command, there is no one from the Imperial Academy, nor is there a central official who participated in the ceremony.

Isn't it embarrassing?

But if Zhang Cong defected to him, the two would become a complementary relationship. For Huang Zan, it was tantamount to developing his own party members.

Zhang Cong hit the iron while it was hot: "You are always in the cabinet. How many of the ministers, ministers, and people in the yamen in the capital will obey you? Isn't this a good opportunity for you to recommend talents to your majesty? If only you are recommended Nanhubu's right-hand man will inevitably make His Majesty suspicious, so why not..."

What Zhang Cong meant was that if you entered the cabinet and became a bachelor, you must find a way to promote your own people, but you can't just promote your old ministers.

Otherwise, the emperor will be suspicious, I am not ashamed to say, and Zhu Hao, Tang Yin and other old members of Xingwangfu will have a rift with you, why don't you recommend these people I introduced, so that we will officially form an alliance .

When Huang Zan heard this, he took Zhang Cong's recommendation list and said, "Let the old man think about it, you go back first."

The fact that Huang Zan didn't answer directly showed that Huang Zan still had hidden worries in his heart.

He has just become a cabinet scholar, and he is directly allied with Zhang Cong. What will Zhu Hao think?
Of course, he had to figure out whether Zhu Hao's help was more important, or the little-known Zhang Cong brought him more help.

……

……

Huang Zan also has his own staff.

After returning, Huang Zan didn't let Su Xigui come, and went directly to the staff to discuss matters with him.

The aide asked in surprise: "What does Mr. Huang think? Although Zhang Hanlin is an upstart, if he has disputes with people from the Xing Palace, how will he gain His Majesty's trust in the future?"

Huang Zan said: "I'm here to tell you about this, because the only thing people in the Xing Palace can help me is to let me join the cabinet. If I want to go further, or stay in the court for a long time in the future, I can only find other ways. "

These words stunned the staff.

It makes sense to think about it.

Huang Zan tried his best to get closer to the forces of Prince Xing's Mansion, and his ultimate goal was achieved, which was to become a cabinet scholar.

But if you still want to continue to advance, it is basically impossible. Even Zhu Hao said clearly that he will be allowed to retire for about half a year, a year at most...Although Zhu Hao has also said that, maybe he will be in court for a longer time A little, but he has no such unrealistic illusions.

Huang Zan continued to explain his reasons: "Before Tang Bohu became a Hanlin Bachelor, I still had some thoughts, but today, even Tang Bohu can be a Hanlin Bachelor, what reason does Your Majesty have for me to stay in the cabinet for a long time in the future? Perhaps, I joined the cabinet just to pave the way for some people."

The staff sighed, and said: "Since Mr. Huang already has an idea, I shouldn't say too much. Mr. Huang can just act according to his own ideas."

"Well, then tomorrow I will recommend some people to His Majesty, let's see how the people from Prince Xing's Mansion react."

……

……

Huang Zan joined the cabinet, and the court meeting ended the next day, and was called by the emperor alone to the Qianqing Palace to discuss matters.

Huang Zan took the opportunity to hand over a recommendation list to Zhu Si.

Zhu Si took it over and read it, nodded slightly to express his satisfaction, Zhang Zuo who was next to him wanted to poke his head to see what was going on, but the emperor closed the booklet, as if he didn't intend to let others see who was on it.

"Old Huang Ge, I am very pleased that you are willing to recommend capable ministers for the imperial court, but can they... really help me?"

The emperor seemed a little worried.

Huang Zan knew what this worry was. The emperor seemed to be asking, I want to find some officials from the Yili School to come to Beijing. Are you sure that your people have great talents in this field?

Huang Zan said: "Several of them were very active in the Nanjing ceremony, and they were all heroes of the moment."

"Really? Which ones?"

Zhu Si asked directly.

Huang Zan said respectfully, "These are the people listed in the second volume."

Zhu Si opened the brochure again, looked through it and said with a smile: "If they really have such strength, they should be transferred to the capital, this Gui E... I seem to remember where I heard this name."

Zhang Zuo hurriedly said: "This person has a great reputation in Nanjing, especially when it comes to discussing ceremonies. Even Zhang Hanlin said that he helped him a lot."

"Oh? If such people enter the court, what position should they arrange?"

As soon as the emperor heard this, he wanted to promote Gui E.

It's okay to recommend Zhang Cong, now even Huang Zan is also recommending, Zhang Zuo also said before that this person is a big hit in the Nanjing ceremony, why not use such a talent?

"This... old slave is hard to say."

Zhang Zuo is not willing to randomly assign people positions.

Zhu Sidao: "Zhang Hanlin is a servant of the Imperial Academy, so why should he be a servant of the Imperial Academy when he entered the court? Why don't you give him a lecturer of the Imperial Academy, and let me listen to him discussing ceremonies when he has time to speak on the feast day?" The insights from above are convenient for me to use in the future.”

(End of this chapter)