Smuggling Daming

"I have long heard that the governor is young and promising, and seeing him today really deserves his reputation. It really makes this old man feel ashamed!" The white-bearded old man sitting opposite Zhou Zhong praised him with a smile on his face, although the old man spoke very well. It is polite, but it is a tone of supporting the younger generation, which makes people feel very uncomfortable.

"Grandma Jiao Ge is very polite. The boy is just lucky. He just happened to get sweet potatoes and corn to offer to North Korea. That's why he got His Majesty's attention. Otherwise, with the boy's talent, how could he achieve such a high position, let alone dare to compete with him?" Put them on the same level as Mr. Jiao Ge!" Zhou Zhong said very modestly on the surface.

No matter how upset Zhou Zhong was, he didn't dare to be too rude to the old man in front of him, because the old man's identity was not simple, he was the chief assistant of the cabinet when Liu Jin was in power, Jiao Fang and Jiao Mengyang.In addition, beside Jiao Fang, there was an old man with gray hair, who seemed to be a few years younger than Jiao Fang, and his spirit was a little depressed. Jiao Fang did not introduce him before, and Zhou Zhong still did not know the identity of the other party.

Speaking of Jiao Fang in front of me, he was a legendary figure in the court of the Ming Dynasty. It is said that he was successful at a young age and had a successful official career since he was young.During the period of Emperor Xianzong, Wan An, a university scholar, was the chief assistant of the cabinet. Wan An and Jiao Fang were at odds. One time, the imperial court promoted a minister to be a lecturer. As a result, Wan An once said in front of others, "If you don't learn like Fang, you are also a scholar. "It means that someone like Jiao Fang, who is ignorant and incompetent, also wants to be a bachelor?"Later, this word spread to Jiao Fang.Jiao Fang was furious and said: "Peng Hua must be plotting against me behind my back. If I don't become a bachelor, I will assassinate Peng Hua on Chang'an Road."Peng Hua was very scared after hearing this.He hurriedly passed this letter to Wan'an, a senior scholar, and Wan'an finally had to enter Jiao Fang as a lecturer.

From the above incident, it can be seen that although Jiao Fang was born as a scholar, she has a very strong personality and is even a little narrow-minded. , It is impossible for a good person to survive.Therefore, Jiao Fang's peculiar style is nothing.

In the early years of Zhengde, Jiao Fang became a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion and concurrently served as Minister of the Ministry of Officials. He became a pivotal figure in the cabinet. Later, when Liu Jin came to power, Jiao Fang used Liu Jin's power.In one fell swoop, Xie Qian and Mao Zedong were squeezed out, and at the same time, Li Dongyang's influence in the cabinet was minimized, and he monopolized the power of the government as the chief assistant of the cabinet. Most of the reforms proposed by Liu Jin were initiated by him. implemented by hand.

Originally, according to the relationship between Jiao Fang and Liu Jin, when Liu Jin fell from power.He could not escape death anyway, but it is very miraculous.Just one month before Liu Jin's accident, Jiao Fang suddenly had an argument with Liu Jin, and Liu Jin also reprimanded Jiao Fang several times in front of others, which made Jiao Fang startled and angry, and finally simply sued her. Even his son Jiao Huangzhong, who was a servant, resigned and returned to his hometown with his father, precisely because of this.So after Liu Jin fell from power, other people who were attached to Liu Jin were all in bad luck.Only Jiao Fang and his son were safe and sound.

Zhou Zhong is no longer the first-timer in the officialdom. After this period of experience, he already knows that things in the officialdom should not only look at the surface, but to see the truth behind the matter through the surface. For example, like Jiao Fang in Liu Jin Zhou Zhong felt that the sudden resignation before the accident and returning to his hometown was not as simple as it appeared on the surface. After all, the timing of Jiao Fang's resignation was really too coincidental.

Jiao Fang is 80 years old this year, and through the downfall of Liu Jin, Zhou Zhong also knew that the old guy in front of him was not as simple as he appeared on the surface, so whether it was public or private, Zhou Zhong had to be at least on the surface. Jiao Fang maintains enough respect, even if he regains his status as a prince, he still needs to maintain certain etiquette for veteran officials like Jiao Fang.

Jiao Fang seemed to be very satisfied with Zhou Zhong's modest performance, and immediately praised Zhou Zhong a few words, but never mentioned the reason why she came to Zhou Zhong, nor did she introduce the old man beside her, and Zhou Zhong was out of respect for the old man. Respect, it's not easy to ask, so I have to deal with Jiao Fang without saying a word.

People tend to talk more when they get older, and Jiao Fang is no exception. It may be that he has been out of court for a long time, and there is no one around him to talk to except his children and grandchildren, so seeing a young junior like Zhou Zhong this time, naturally He was very excited, and talked endlessly, and finally even inquired about Zhou Zhong's family affairs, such as how many children he had, whether he was in good health, and so on.

Zhou Zhong had originally agreed to go fishing with his daughter Xia Xia today, but was interrupted by Jiao Fang's arrival, and now he heard the other party talking endlessly, and finally couldn't take it anymore, so he piled up a With a smile on his face, he cupped his hands and said, "Jiao Ge is already an octogenarian. The younger generation heard that you have been staying in your hometown to entertain your grandchildren. I don't know why you came to Shuangyu Port today. If there is anything you need to do for the younger generation, Jiao Ge It’s okay to be old!”

As the saying goes, go to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing, Jiao Fang, at the age of 80, does not stay at home to take good care of the elderly, but suddenly runs to a place like Shuangyu Port, to put it bluntly, in case something unexpected happens along the way , I am afraid that he can only die in another country, so Zhou Zhong thinks that Jiao Fang must have something important to come to see him, and with his current status, I am afraid that Jiao Fang is probably here to ask him to do something, after all, in the whole of Daming Speaking of him, he is also one of the few high-ranking and powerful people.

Perhaps hearing the impatient tone in Zhou Zhong's words, Jiao Fang finally stopped chattering, and then saw him turn his head to look at the old man beside him, and then smiled and said: "My lord governor Don't be impatient, before the old man explains his purpose of coming, let me introduce you to this brother beside me!"

When Jiao Fang said this, she finally stretched out her finger to the old man who was a bit depressed beside him. The old man seemed to be holding his breath very heavily. Before, Jiao Fang had talked so long nonsense, but he never introduced him. , but the old man didn't seem to be angry at all, he just sat there drinking tea quietly, but secretly he kept looking at Zhou Zhong.

I saw Jiao Fang cleared her throat, and introduced with a solemn expression: "Master Governor, the brother next to me is surnamed Zhang Mingcai, and his character is Shangzhi. He used to worship the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and later added the title of Prince Shaobao. Unfortunately, he is now under the supervision of Liu Jin." If he is involved, not only will he lose his official position, but he will also have to hide his name, otherwise if his political opponents find out, he may die without a place to hide!"

"Zhang Cai?" Zhou Zhong was startled when he heard the name, and he stood up all of a sudden. At the same time, he looked at the other party with some doubts. After a while, he asked incredulously, "Aren't you Are you dead, why...how did you appear here?"

In fact, it’s not surprising that Zhou Zhong was surprised. When Liu Jin gained power, Jiao Fang and Liu Jin colluded, but the status of the two of them was not much different, and they were in a cooperative relationship. Cai is different. He met Liu Jin through Jiao Fang, and later became Liu Jin's most important adviser and assistant. Most of Liu Jin's reforms in various aspects of Ming Dynasty came from Zhang Cai, and then handed over to the cabinet for implementation. However, after Liu Jin fell from power, Zhang Cai was also arrested and imprisoned. It is said that he was tortured in prison and finally died in prison, but now Zhang Cai appeared in front of him alive. Not surprised?

Seeing Zhou Zhong's shocking performance, Zhang Cai, who had been sitting quietly all this time, gave a wry smile, stood up and cupped his hands at Zhou Zhong: "Don't be surprised, Governor, it's not all about life or death in a place like the imperial prison." It all depends on your majesty's words, as long as your majesty says that I am dead, there will be no such person as Zhang Cai in this world. Now the old man is called Zhang Yu. After all, in this world, the old man is already a superfluous person. I hope the governor can take in the old man!"

"Octopus?" Zhou Zhong was startled when he heard the name. He looked at Zhang Cai carefully, but he didn't find that he had eight claws. Why did he name himself this?

But Zhou Zhong didn't have the time to pay attention to the above details, because he was a little surprised when he heard that Zhang Cai came here to seek refuge with him. He turned his head and glanced at the smiling Jiao Fang, and was even more surprised He asked, "Mr. Jiao Ge, are you coming this time to seek refuge with me, just like Mr. Zhang?"

Zhang Cai should have died a long time ago, but he came out of the imperial prison alive, and now he has the courage to run to him, and even said that he wants to take refuge. He wouldn't believe it even after death.It's just that Zhang Cai is nothing more than that, he is indeed a talent, and he is not yet 60 years old, so he can indeed be his assistant, but Jiao Fang is already 80 years old this year, even if he was the chief assistant of the cabinet before, But at his age, he probably won't live for a few years, so Zhou Zhong can't believe that Jiao Fang is also the helper Zhengde found for him.

However, Zhou Zhong obviously underestimated the unreliability of Zhengde, and saw Jiao Fang chuckled and said: "Your Excellency is indeed very wise, the old man and Brother Zhang are now causing anger in the court, and it is impossible to be an official again. Fortunately, Your Majesty took care The old relationship, so I gave the two of us a chance to come to the governor's mansion to be your assistant, and I hope you will take care of me in the future!"

Hearing Jiao Fang's words, Zhou Zhong looked at Jiao Fang, who was covered with age spots, and then at Zhang Cai, who was depressed and depressed. He was also speechless at the moment.No need to ask, these two people in front of me must be Liu Jin's assistants arranged by Zhengde in the past, but with Liu Jin's downfall, Jiao Fang and Zhang Cai were also unlucky. Fortunately, Zhengde is a nostalgic person, so they survived Their lives, now that they are assigned to him, he probably wants to compensate them. After all, only with Zhou Zhong here can they not be excluded. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation.)