Chapter 799: Brothers stand side by side, blessing and disaster are one
Zhu Xizhong is good at manipulating others and he adheres to the Duke's Mansion's way of doing things without offending anyone.
If you don't offend anyone, others won't be foolish enough to offend the Duke's Mansion.
Therefore, over the years, the Duke's Mansion has been calmly doing its job as a powerful official, making more and more friends and having a deeper and deeper network.
Why did emperors of all dynasties trust and value the line of Duke Cheng?
It is because of the network of relationships behind them that they value.
In exchange for trust and respect, this network of relationships must stand up when the emperor is in trouble.
This is the price of being trusted.
Therefore, Jiang Qingzhi once said that the line of Duke Cheng was a group of walking corpses, and Zhu Xizhong did not refute it, because he was well aware of his family's suffering.
Want to get rid of this network of relationships? What is the foundation of the Chengguo Mansion?
Follow the old ancestors and fight in the army... Zhu Xizhong patted his belly and said with a wry smile: "If I join the army, I probably won't live more than five years."
The line of Duke Cheng had tried to pursue a literary career, but the literary career... that was Confucianism, the domain of the literati, and once you entered it, you would have no choice. After a few generations, the Duke's Mansion might be gone.
The infighting in the officialdom is brutal... There has never been an example of several generations of high-ranking officials. If there were, the consequences would be very tragic.
For example, Yang Tinghe, this prime minister was powerful, well-known, and well-connected. His son Yang Shen was a child prodigy since he was young, and he passed the imperial examinations and had a smooth career...
According to inertia, Yang Shen will at least be a minister of one of the six ministries in the future, right?
You think too much.
If it weren't for Yang Tinghe's network of connections, the grass on Yang Shen's grave would have been three feet high long ago.
So after many attempts, several generations of Duke Chengguo finally decided that it was better to follow the old path.
If we don't work hard anymore, we can just rely on the reputation of our ancestors, work hard to build a good network of relationships, and it would not be bad to be a rich and idle person.
This is what Zhu Xizhong thought. As a close minister of the Taoist priest, he would have considerable power in his hands. At least he could interfere in the government affairs and continue to expand his network.
This is a virtuous cycle.
Zhu Xizhong believed that Zhu Shitai's joining the army was an attempt to let his son fight in the army. Even if he failed, it didn't matter. With military experience, at least his reputation would not decline after he inherited the Duke's Mansion.
But unexpectedly, Zhu Shitai made a stunning debut and made military achievements in this war.
Zhu Xizhong was very proud and boasted about it at a family dinner. When the news leaked out, many people came to congratulate him.
After a gift is given, does the host have to entertain the guests in return?
So today's banquet came about.
Zhu Xizhong may look like an old dandy, but he is actually quite shrewd... This is the general consensus among the dignitaries in the capital.
But he didn't expect that his son would become successful in the army.
With the background of the Duke's Mansion, Zhu Shitai might be able to rise rapidly in the army... Ten years later, it might not be difficult for the Duke's Mansion to produce a commander.
Going further up, you can enter the Five Military Governor's Office to gain fame and status, or go to a certain place to govern a region, and you will become a general.
The Duke's Mansion is booming.
So today there are many guests.
Lu Bing is here.
Even Yan Shifan came.
The two were drinking together. Seeing Liao Jiang forcing Jiang Qingzhi, Yan Shifan glanced at Lu Bing and asked, "Old Lu, how do you think Jiang Qingzhi will respond?"
Lu Bing played with the empty wine glass and looked at Jiang Qingzhi with complicated eyes, "He is too popular. He should keep a low profile now."
"Your Majesty..." Yan Shifan asked, "Is there any talk of reward?"
"Not yet." Lu Bing shook his head, "However, His Majesty is unfathomable, this matter..."
"After this great victory, His Majesty will take advantage of the situation to reform. What will happen next? Don't you, Lu Bing, know? The whole country will be in turmoil. The Jinyiwei will bear the brunt. When the time comes... don't blame me for not helping!"
Yan Shifan said sarcastically, "Don't think Jiang Qingzhi will be in harmony with the world. Mohism is naturally the mortal enemy of Confucianism. If he wants to revive Mohism, he must suppress Confucianism. But how difficult is this? There is only one way, that is to promote reform, reform reform, and reform whom? Confucianism! Using this as an excuse, Jiang Qingzhi will suppress Confucianism unscrupulously... This is the general trend."
Lu Bing was silent.
"Confucians will not sit still and wait for death!" Yan Shifan took a sip of wine, "They are the vested interests mentioned by Jiang Qingzhi, and the reform... that is, the new policy will inevitably cut into their flesh.
What is the difference between the two? This meat is the Confucian way. If anyone dares to touch their meat, even if it is an emperor, they will fight to the death. "
"It's a fight to the death, Old Lu. Since His Majesty has walked out of the West Garden, it means that he is not going to continue to endure. Once the new policy is launched and the Confucianists fight back, what should the Jinyiwei do? If you suppress it, how many people will you offend? You, Lu Bingxi, like to be a fence-sitter, but when that happens, can His Majesty sit back and watch you sit on the fence? Where will you go?"
Yan Shifan raised his eyebrows. "As for me, I can just sit on the mountain and watch the fight. If I see someone I like, I will lend a hand to him." He stared at Lu Bing, "Old Lu, do you want me to lend you a hand, or... push you?"
Lu Bing's heart sank. Jiang Qingzhi was too popular this time and attracted all the attention in the world, while Yan's party was ignored by the literati.
With Yan Shifan's skills, how could he not expand when faced with such a good opportunity?
By that time, the Yan Party will be powerful and will sit back and watch Jiang Qingzhi fight between the Mohists and Confucians.
And he, Lu Bing, will become cannon fodder... cannon fodder in the struggle between Taoists and Confucianists.
He understood this truth after hearing the good news, but he refused to admit it.
"Otherwise, you will have to give up your position as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard." Yan Shifan seemed to see through his thoughts.
But Lu Bing couldn't bear to do that.
Once he gave up the position of commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, what would he, Lu Bing, be?
He is just your Majesty's foster brother. He has no real power and is nothing.
And those former enemies will take advantage of the situation and beat the fallen dog. Lu Bing narrowed his eyes, "Jiang Qingzhi will lie dormant for a while..."
Before he finished speaking, they heard a cry of surprise. The two stood up and looked, only to see Liao Jiang's face covered with wine, and Jiang Qingzhi was still in the posture of pouring wine.
"Is this the dormant Jiang Qingzhi you mentioned?" There was some surprise in Yan Shifan's eyes, but he teased with pleasure.
Lu Bing's heart sank again.
Jiang Qingzhi's refusal to lie low meant that Emperor Jiajing did not harbor any suspicion towards him, at least Jiang Qingzhi did not notice it.
If Emperor Jiajing had not been suspicious, Jiang Qingzhi would have inevitably become a leader in reform, similar to the roles of Fan Zhongyan and Wang Anshi.
The power is in your hands...
Given Jiang Qingzhi's character, he would certainly go crazy and exploit the literati.
And the Jinyiwei...are definitely cannon fodder!
Instantly, Lu Bing made a decision and said, "His Majesty is quite satisfied with Jiang Qingzhi."
At a time when the outside world generally speculated that Emperor Jiajing would be suspicious of Jiang Qingzhi, this news was priceless. No, it was priceless!
Yan Shifan's eyes narrowed.
Emperor Jiajing had no suspicion of Jiang Qingzhi, which meant that the new policy would definitely be launched!
This was a situation that Yan Shifan did not want to see.
Once the new policy is implemented, Jiang Qingzhi's power will inevitably grow, which will erode the interests of them father and son.
On the other hand, once the new policy is implemented, many political affairs will be involved, and the Yan Party cannot avoid it!
Although Yan Shifan said it lightly, such as sitting on the mountain and watching the tigers fight... He knew very well that his father and son were the dogs raised by Emperor Jiajing. Since they were dogs, they had to serve their masters.
You are dreaming if you want to sit on the mountain and watch tigers fight!
"Don't think you can stay out of this!" Lu Bing had seen through this a long time ago. "You and I are on the same boat. If bad luck comes, no one can escape."
A fierce look flashed in Yan Shifan's eyes, "What if Jiang Qingzhi is unlucky?"
Lu Bing narrowed his eyes. "Then the new policy will inevitably be delayed! If things go wrong, it will..."
"Young death!" Yan Shifan raised his glass.
Lu Bing raised his glass, "That is a dangerous place. If Jiang Qingzhi is brave enough, I want to see what will happen to him."
"Fan Zhongyan was famous all over the world, but ended up in disgrace. Wang Anshi was invincible, but in the end his beloved son died and his family was miserable... Looking further back, Shang Yang's reforms during the Former Qin Dynasty made Qin powerful. But in the end his body was torn into pieces after his death... Whose world is this?"
"It is the world of the powerful and the scholars."
Yan Shifan raised his glass again, "Whoever dares to offend them, whoever dares to cut their flesh, will eventually be crushed to pieces. There is no exception!"
"Jiang Qingzhi!" Lu Bing looked at Jiang Qingzhi, who said to Liao Jiang with contempt, "Are you worthy enough to drink with me?"
Hey!
This is a naked humiliation!
If Liao Jiang still had some blood in him, he would have turned hostile and taken action.
Liao Jiang clenched his fists.
"Let's fight." Someone said excitedly.
Zhu Xizhong stopped, and someone beside him said, "Duke, do you want to dissuade the Second Master?"
This is a grand event at the Duke's Mansion, and it would be bad to have a fight.
Zhu Xizhong shook his head, "I said, this is also Qingzhi's home. Since we are brothers, I, as his elder brother, will naturally support him in whatever he does. We share good and bad together!"
"But Duke, this is not right!" The staff beside him whispered, "Look at those people, they are actually expecting something."
Zhu Xizhong narrowed his eyes, "This is supposed to be a grand event, Liao Jiang... It seems that this idiot was instigated by someone. Qiu Luan? Or Yan Shifan. The purpose is nothing more than to test Qingzhi's attitude. If he keeps a low profile, then the new policy will be a long way off, and these dignitaries and literati can celebrate and continue to suck blood. If Qingzhi refuses to lie low, then it means your majesty's attitude... The new policy remains the same!"
"Among these people, probably many would regard Your Majesty and the Second Master as great enemies."
"Duke, let's..."
"I've said it before, Qingzhi and I are brothers. Since we are brothers, we naturally share the joys and sorrows together."
As he spoke, Zhu Xizhong strode over, and just then a military hero came over and wanted to help Liao Jiang.
"Why does Duke Chengguo... want help?" Wu Xun sneered.
For a time, everyone was paying close attention, wanting to see how the famous good guy would stand on the new policy.
Liao Jiang put down his hand, his face was wet, he smiled and said: "Duke Chengguo, I offered a toast with good intentions, but Chang Wei Bo threw the wine in my face. What do you mean by that?"
Isn't the purpose of your banquet today, Zhu Xizhong, to make friends?
Your friend comes and is humiliated by your brother.
you!
How to say?!
More than a hundred people!
Silence fell.
All eyes are focused on Zhu Xizhong.
Jiang Qingzhi took out the medicinal incense, and Dou Jialan ran in like a flash, habitually offering him the firewood.
Jiang Qingzhi took two puffs, exhaled the medicinal smoke, and squinted at those people.
That look!
It's like looking at a bunch of chickens and dogs.
Zhu Xizhong smiled at Liao Jiang and said:
"roll!"
(End of this chapter)
