Prime Minister

Chapter 1084 Juren

Chapter 1084 Juren

The sheep's head in the big pot on the side was already cooked. Shi Deyi took it out personally, then mixed the sauce and put it aside.

The mutton dipped in meat sauce was served in front of the official, but he refused to eat it.

Song Yongchen and Shi Deyi, who were standing by, knew that the emperor had not eaten for a day and a night, and only ate a few bites after seeing Zhang Yue.

There is no need to speculate, everyone knows that the official must be feeling mixed emotions.

The emperor said: "I have been planning the war against Xia for several years. It has cost me a lot of money and grain, and a lot of civilian labor..."

"I just spoke out of turn!" Zhang Yue apologized.

The emperor had regained his composure and said, "You have served me with a sincere heart. What is wrong with these words from the bottom of your heart?"

"I already know what you said."

Song Yongchen speculated that if the expedition against Xia failed, the emperor would be discouraged and the court would be depressed and no longer talk about western affairs. Would Zhang Yue's proposal to continue the war at this time go against the emperor's wishes?

Or something else, Zhang Yue can't go against the government twice in a row.

The emperor took up the handkerchief and touched his mouth, then said to Zhang Yue, "I have another important matter to tell you this time. I have decided to appoint another councillor. Do you have any candidate in mind?"

Zhang Yue was not surprised to hear the emperor say this. He also knew that the emperor already had a candidate in mind, and he even had a pretty good guess as to who this candidate was.

But he would not follow the government's wishes in making the decision on this candidate.

"I believe that General Xu, the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, can be diligent and hardworking and is qualified for the position!"

Xu Jiang and Zhang Yue were good friends and from the same hometown, so they did not shy away from recommending people who were related to them. Zhang Yue never hesitated to speak out.

If you are in the government without officials who are loyal to you, it is like walking naked in the cold winter. How can you make the officials below you loyal to you? If you can be promoted yourself, the officials below who are loyal to you can also be promoted. Only in this way can people be loyal to you.

Even if General Xu cannot get promoted this time, he can still occupy a position in the official's heart and strive for the next opportunity.

After listening to Zhang Yue's words, the emperor put down his handkerchief, drank another cup of wine and said, "I have been drinking three cups of wine every day recently, otherwise I can't fall asleep."

The emperor stared out the window for a moment, then said, "General Xu is good, I have always admired him, but the Chief Censor Cai seems to be even better."

Upon hearing that Cai Que was going to be promoted to participate in politics, Zhang Yue felt uncomfortable, and even vaguely lost and jealous.

In short, hearing that someone who is close to you or used to be very close to you has been promoted is a mixed feeling that cannot be summed up in just one or two sentences.

Is Cai Que going to participate in politics? Zhang Yue thought so in his heart. He remembered that Wang Gui had been on good terms with Cai Que in recent years.

Wang Gui, Feng Jing and Yuan Jiang liked to drink and compose poetry, and Cai Que would also be present to accompany them and sing along. Wang Gui's poems were called "the most precious elixir" and had an air of wealth and nobility. Of course, Cai Que's poetic talent was also good, after all, he had won the Lifetime Achievement Award in history.

The poems and lyrics exchanged between the two were mostly circulated in the official circles of Bianliang.

Later generations gave a very wonderful summary of this: entering the team but not the circle is equivalent to not entering the team; entering the circle but not the team is equivalent to entering the team.

Cai is indeed one of those who has entered the circle but not the team.

Zhang Yue said: "I am ill and not in the position to do so. Your Majesty does not need to ask me about this matter."

Not accepting it was a disguised rejection. The emperor hesitated for a moment and said, "Well, wait until you return to the Secretariat and then make a decision!"

After saying this, the official stood up with the support of his hands, and Zhang Yue hurriedly stood up to help him.

When the official came, it was still bright, and when he left, it was almost dusk. The eunuchs put clothes on the official.

The emperor said to Zhang Yue, "Although your house is nice, I like it more when I came here to study as a prince. The wind and snow never stopped at that time. The fun of this place can only be understood by reading your "Resignation from the Three Transmissions".

Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty is diligent in learning, so he can open up the stone!"

The emperor suddenly said with emotion: "If I were not an emperor, I would definitely be a prince who loves to learn!"

When the official said this, he seemed to be mocking himself and feeling regretful, his eyes full of memories of the days when he was a prince. Everyone looked at the official's expression and didn't know what to say.

Indeed, being an emperor is not an easy job.

The emperor finally left, and Zhang Yue accompanied him all the way to the palace gate.

It was drizzling on the way back, so Zhang Yue opened an umbrella.

His poems were not good enough, so he seldom went to the circles of Wang Gui, Feng Jing, and Yuan Jiang. He and Yuan Jiang were not on good terms either. After Han Jiang left, even if Zhang Yue did not claim illness, he was inevitably excluded.

This means you have entered the team but not the circle.

But it doesn’t matter. Being unemployed at home for more than half a year has also tempered his body and mind.

Listening to the sound of drizzle hitting the oil-paper umbrella, Zhang Yue strolled leisurely on the Imperial Street, watching the people of Bianjing coming and going, the bustling shops, and the ebb and flow of the Bian River.

Bianjing remains the same, but the people are no longer the same!

"Saburo!"

When Zhang Yue heard this, he saw Cai Que also standing by the side of the road with an umbrella.

Cai Que came over holding an umbrella, bowed to Zhang Yue, and then asked, "Why is the Grand Chancellor here?"

Zhang Yue remembered that this was a private occasion and it was the first time that Cai Que called himself the Grand Counsellor.

"Why are you in such a good mood, Zhong Cheng, to hang out?"

Cai Que looked at him meaningfully and said, "I noticed that your Majesty had left the palace incognito. As the chancellor, why didn't you look for him everywhere?"

"Oh, have you found His Majesty?"

Cai Que said: "He should have returned to the palace."

Zhang Yue nodded. He knew that someone as sharp-sighted as Cai Que would definitely not be able to hide anything from him.

Cai Que said: "Let me accompany you for a while!"

"it is good."

After handling the case of Wu Anshi, Wu Anzhi and Wen Jifu, under Cai Que's attack, the former Chief Censor Deng Runfu was demoted and he himself became the Chief Censor.

Cai Que's reputation of "training people into prison" spread like wildfire, and many people in the officialdom were afraid of him. But then again, it was not unjust for Wu Anshi, Wu Anzhi, and Wen Jifu to be arrested.

However, since their first meeting by the river, the relationship between the two has been in a state of no contact.

Cai Que started the conversation: "During this western expedition, there is no news from the Fuyan Road army, and I don't know how the Jingyuan Road and Xihe Road armies are doing."

Okay, the official mentioned my nephew to me, and you also mentioned him?

But then again, Cai Que did treat Zhang Zhi as his son or nephew. When Zhang Zhi first entered the official career, Cai Que helped him to withstand many hardships.

Zhang Yue's expression softened slightly as he said, "A real man dies on the battlefield, that is..."

Zhang Yue couldn't continue talking here, and he was also worried about Zhang Zhi. But he restrained his expression and said, "Thank you for your concern, Zhongcheng. Ah Xi will be safe."

Cai Que heard the distant tone in Zhang Yue's words, and he laughed at himself and said, "Yes, Sanlang, I envy you too."

"You have a good brother, a good nephew, a good teacher, a good father-in-law, and a good boss, so you have been promoted all the way. Cai has seen that the officialdom has been in collusion for a long time. Only your majesty appreciates and trusts you, so I will repay you with my loyalty!"

"That's all I have to say. Goodbye!"

After Cai Que finished speaking, he bowed and left.

"Stay!"

Cai Que turned his head and looked at Zhang Yue. Zhang Yue asked, "How is your relationship with Yuan Houzhi (Yuan Jiang)?"

Cai Que's expression changed but he didn't answer.

Zhang Yue looked at Cai Que's back with a deep gaze. His sudden mention of Yuan Jiang was not without purpose, and Cai Que had already understood his intention.

At this moment, the turbid waves of the Bian River nearby had already changed color.

(End of this chapter)