I will be the master of Xuande

Chapter 66

Liu Jian left the West Garden under Lu Qiang's guidance.

Meeting Liu Hong today, some things were quite thrilling, but at least most of them were out of my control.

People live in this world, and there are many things that are inherently unpredictable. If you are cautious about everything, you will not be able to take the steps you should take.

In this world of great strife, gambling is also an essential skill, and those who dare not gamble cannot escape the fate of extinction after all.

But today, Liu Jian felt that he should have won the bet.

……

Walking outside the palace, Liu Jian saluted Lu Qiang symbolically, and then walked outside the palace.

"Xiaolian stay."

Facing Lu Qiang's voice, Liu Jian turned his head to look at him, and asked, "What advice does Zhongchang Shi have for you?"

Lu Qiang waved his hand and said, "I dare not take advice, but Lu is curious about something and wants to ask Xiaolian for advice."

"Don't dare, it's just a filial piety, why dare to give pointers? Zhongchang Shi has something to ask, but we have to agree in advance."

Lu Qiang asked doubtfully, "What did you say?"

Liu Jian said sternly: "If it's about the affairs of the state and the heavenly family, I'm sorry Liu can't chat with Zhongchang Shi."

It was only when Lu Qiang heard the words that he suddenly realized.

He patted his forehead with a smile, and said: "Don't worry, Xiaolian, all the matters that this old man wants to ask have nothing to do with state affairs, and none of them have anything to do with Your Majesty. They are all related to your personal affairs. Please also ask Xiaolian Lian rest assured."

Hearing what Lu Qiang said, Liu Jian's vigilance disappeared, but he still maintained some precautions against Lu Qiang.

Although Lu Qiang's reputation is good, unlike Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Cao Jie, Wang Fu and others who are "full of evil" among scholars, he is also an eunuch after all, and he is on the opposite side of his own camp. people.

Politics does not care whether you are a good person or not, it mainly depends on your position.

"Since that's the case, please speak frankly, Zhong Changshi."

"I heard that Xiaolian married Zheng Kangcheng's daughter before entering Beijing?"

Liu Jian nodded very naturally, and said: "Yes, I don't think this matter has been reported to the capital, and even the Zhongchang servant has already known about it."

"Hehe, Xiaolian feels that this is a trivial matter, but this matter has become an elegant matter among the scholars in the Kanto region. Scholars from all over the country and even Tong Zhilang from the Taixue also praised Xiaolian's character for this matter. After all, when you and Zheng Xuan got married, he should still be a member of the party and has never been pardoned by the emperor, you know that your action almost ruined your own future."

Liu Jian smiled lightly when he heard the words, but didn't reply.

"Xiao Lian, what this old man wants to ask you is, Zheng Kangcheng is a party member, did you know in advance that he has been pardoned?"

Liu Jian said very solemnly: "I don't know."

"Really?"

"I don't need to lie to Zhong Changshi about this matter. Even I, Lu Shi, don't know about it. How can I, a boy from the border county, know about such a big matter? I'm afraid that even all the officials and elders in the court may not be here. Did you know the first time?"

Lu Qiang stared at Liu Jian's face seriously, and sighed: "What a man! Zheng Kangcheng really did not misunderstand you, and your master Lu never taught you wrong."

Liu Jian smiled faintly. These words came out of an eunuch's mouth. Speaking with conscience, it sounded somewhat awkward.

"By the way, Xiaolian knows, who is the person who advised His Majesty to pardon Zheng Kangcheng and other fringe party members?

Liu Jian didn't speak, but one familiar name after another began to float in his mind.

Yuan Kui, Yang Ci, Liu Kuan, Ma Rizun, Chen Dan... It seems that none of them are wrong, and Liu Hong may not give face to any remonstrance.

"Don't think too much, it's old."

Liu Jian woke up when he heard the words, then he cupped his hands to Lu Qiang and said, "Why is Zhongchang Shi like this?"

"Why is this so, hehe, there is no one else! This world of big men needs talented people to govern after all, but talented people are all scholars. Your Majesty, Cao Jie, Wang Fu and others have fought ten times with the Gongqing family. In the past few years, the party has imprisoned countless people, and it can be said that both sides have suffered losses. Now these states and counties, "

"It's a little bit uneven, and we can't let them do whatever they want. Fortunately, His Majesty has a little sense of the chaos in the states and counties, otherwise he won't let the old man easily..."

Liu Jian's face was filled with awe.

He cupped his hands at Lu Qiang, and said: "The Zhongchang servant has the ambition of loyalty, which is really admirable! I also invite the Zhongchang servant to accept a gift of frugality!"

Seeing Liu Jian saluting him, Lu Qiang was a little frightened. He hurried forward and said, "Don't do that. How can an old minister be such a gift as Xiaolian?"

"My ceremony is not because of my official position as a regular attendant, but only for my father-in-law and the scholars who have been pardoned this time!"

Lu Qiang grinned and sighed: "It's been so many years, this is the first time a scholar is willing to show respect to this old man..."

Liu Jian straightened up and said: "The respectable people in this world are not only scholars, there are also eunuchs with strong bones, who are willing to be loyal to the country. No matter what their status, such people are respectable! People say that princes will Xiang Ning has something to say, can't the eunuchs be cleared? I don't believe it."

Lu Qiang only felt some moisture in his eyes, and Liu Jian's words reached his heart.

To be honest, he has had a hard time doing it these years.

He is a loyal minister and a person who thinks about the country. He has put forward many advices that are beneficial to the country to Liu Hong, admonishing Liu Hong to be honest and love the people, not to be extravagant.

If he is a scholar, with his loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, he will definitely be admired by thousands of people.

But unfortunately, he is a eunuch.

In the eyes of the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty and the scholars of the world, no matter how well Lu Qiang has done, he is also an eunuch, a lowly eggless eunuch. He can't get on the stage, at most he is better than Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong.

In the eyes of Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and others, Lu Qiang is also a strange thing. He is obviously an eunuch and a minion of His Majesty, but he does the opposite of them. Your Majesty said that he wanted to protect the scholars. Isn't this a pure rebel among the eunuchs?
And Liu Hong's side also didn't like Lu Qiang. Since ancient times, his loyal words were harsh. Compared with Zhang Rang and Cao Jie, Lu Qiang, who had repeatedly advised Liu Hong on good strategies, had gradually lost his place in Liu Hong's heart.

Today's Lu Qiang, on the surface, is still a regular attendant who conveys edicts and takes charge of documents, but in fact, he is no longer a human being inside and out, and no one takes him seriously.

But in fact, he cared more about Liu Hong than most eunuchs, and he cared more about the Han family.

Facing Liu Jian's fair words, Lu Qiang couldn't help thinking of himself, and his eyes became foggy unconsciously.

He sighed lightly, and said: "Whether Xiaolian is sincere or not, but all these years, Xiaolian's words today are the most comforting to the old. Thank you Xiaolian for being able to measure the old...Thank you very much."

After all, Lu Qiang returned a salute.

Liu Jian's thoughts turned again.

These years, nobles from aristocratic families, ministers and eunuchs are at odds with each other, fighting each other openly and secretly.

The reasons are, one is that the eunuchs are evil, and the other is that they are the extension of the imperial power and the vanguard of Liu Hong's rectification of the gentry, so the two sides are incompatible.

But if you think about it carefully, the eunuch is still the closest person to the emperor.

And now that I am here in Luoyang, if I want to be the clan of the Han family, if I want to successfully get everything he wants from Liu Hong the next day, I will undoubtedly need Liu Hong in the end.

In this way, if the Son of Heaven has a like-minded person to form an alliance with himself, and to be compatible with each other internally and externally, wouldn't it be a good policy?

And this Lv Qiang is very different from ordinary eunuchs, he is a strange flower among eunuchs, and a direct minister among eunuchs.

Judging from his words, deeds and accidents, Lu Qiang does not seem to be against the scholars. On the contrary, he can see clearly that the operation of the Han Dynasty will eventually require the scholars.

Isn't such a person the best choice for an alliance?

Of course, this alliance must be negotiated secretly and cannot be done on the bright side.

People like Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong are not worthy of joining him, but this Lu Qiang is different from them, it seems that he can give it a try.

With him cooperating with him internally and externally, he will definitely be able to gain the trust of the emperor faster.

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(End of this chapter)