Good morning Daming - Chapter 893: Jiang Qingzhi and Lu Bing's Bottom Line

Chapter 894 Jiang Qingzhi and Lu Bing's Bottom Line

Jiang Qingzhi was not surprised by Dao Ye's choice. In his opinion, emperors, like ordinary people, are slaves to desire and will involuntarily pursue maximization of benefits in everything they do.

He holds back without making any movement, remains calm and unfathomable... people in later generations have seen a lot of this, and it can be summed up in one word: showing off!

The Taoist priest was just pretending to be cool, looking down on the dignitaries in the capital in silence.

Master, no, it’s me.

I hold a supreme sword in my hand, who is so stubborn?

When the powerful and wealthy are daring enough, they dare to do anything, but when a crisis comes, these carnivores who are high and mighty and like gods in the eyes of ordinary people are actually already panicking.

Jiang Qingzhi could figure it out with his knees. At this moment, those powerful people were like ants on a hot pan, not knowing what to do.

You are so stubborn!

It’s hard to say about other emperors, but I, the Taoist priest, will really hold that supreme sword in my hand and use it to target a group of powerful people.

Kill the chicken to scare the monkey, kill the monkey to scare the chicken.

A smart emperor would take action against a few powerful people from time to time, which not only demonstrated the majesty of the imperial power but also served as a warning to the powerful people.

It's like a sacrifice, and also like that poor monkey.

Jiang Qingzhi smiled and thought of Du He.

The Ministry of Revenue seemed selfless, but in fact, it was full of smart people. Those people knew that Du He was his confidant, so they put Xianzhang Marquis Mansion behind and investigated it.

Du He must be in great pain now!

Jiang Qingzhi smiled unkindly.

But then it turned into a wry smile.

"Am I not cruel enough?"

Jiang Qingzhi asked himself, if it were Wang Anshi or even Fan Zhongyan, they would choose to maximize their interests without hesitation at this time.

"And me?"

Jiang Qingzhi thought of Guangning Earl Yang Xiao.

After learning about this man's evil deeds, Jiang Qingzhi became furious.

"It's anger... but I have strategy."

Jiang Qingzhi wanted to anger the powerful people in the capital by taking action against Yang Xiao, lure the snake out of its hole, and then strike back.

“This technique is so exquisite.”

Jiang Qingzhi is inevitably a little narcissistic.

With a sigh, he whispered: "But I am indeed angry. I wanted to beat Yang Xiao up before, but when I saw him, I couldn't suppress my anger, and finally drew my sword..."

"Damn, this is the style of the Mohist school!"

Jiang Qingzhi found joy in the midst of suffering and smiled.

This is the nature of the Mohist school.

Confucians like to be patient when encountering problems.

Take a step back and open up the sky.

Endure the calm for a while.

The Mohist masters put their hands on the hilts of their knives, looked at their mortal enemies with disdain, and said to their younger brothers... no, to their disciples: "If you endure it for a while, your prostate will be inflamed. If you take a step back, your liver will burn. Kill!"

In this way, the tolerant Confucianism won a great victory.

The Mohist school, which was known for its quick revenge, perished.

am I wrong?

Jiang Qingzhi scratched his head.

As an important official...according to Li Tian, he should have a decent appearance when walking, sitting or lying down, but his husband looked the same as always.

Jiang Qingzhi laughed and retorted, "That's just a small-minded person who is successful and pretending to be so."

But he knew that the longer he was surrounded by the aura of power, the further he would be from ordinary people.

This is not a matter of personal will.

But he tried hard to prolong this time.

He felt the taste of ordinary people almost greedily.

Fireworks, friendship...

All this comforted him.

Jiang Qingzhi lit up the medicine cigarette, holding the cigarette in one hand and the wine pot in the other.

Take a sip of wine, sigh, and take a puff of medicinal cigarette.

He thought of Yan Song.

Before going north, Xia Yan had a private conversation with him, hinting that if there was a chance, he might as well set a trap for Yan Song.

——If this battle can lead to Altan Khan returning empty-handed, Qingzhi, you will surely become famous, and His Majesty will take the opportunity to promote you as a leader in the court.

Xia Yan analyzed the situation from the perspective of checks and balances: Wars are ever-changing, and there are countless opportunities to trap Yan Song. Don't be soft-hearted, trap him. After returning to Beijing, you can take advantage of the situation and successfully gain a foothold in the court.

This is still the way of power.

Jiang Qingzhi declined.

He replied to Xia Yan with just one sentence: This is a national war!

Jiang Qingzhi covered his forehead with his hands. "If it were Zhang Juzheng, or even Xu Wei, they would have dug a big hole for Old Yan without hesitation. Only I..."

This is my bottom line!

But as a new policy leader, the last thing he needs is a bottom line.

No, it needs to, but what’s the bottom line?

It’s a new policy!

In order to make the new policy successful, any means necessary.

Song Renzong was not ruthless, but he was not strong enough. So the Qingli New Deal failed.

Wang Anshi was ruthless enough, but the conservatives were too powerful and the reform failed.

Those who are able to carry out reforms are all ruthless and decisive in killing people.

“I am an outlier.”

Jiang Qingzhi thought of Taoist priest.

"Xu Wei and the others have seen it, so I think I already knew it. But he won't say it." Jiang Qingzhi sighed, "What is he waiting for?"

……

Yongshou Palace.

"What is Qingzhi doing?" asked Emperor Jiajing.

"Chang Wei Bo is said to be in seclusion." Rui Jingxian said.

"Is this self-reflection? The only one who could make him do this is old Xia Yan." The Jiajing Emperor stared out of the palace with his hands behind his back. "He is soft-hearted and soft-hearted in his new policy. This is a mistake for others, for himself, and for the country. I have not said anything, not because I cannot bear it, but... many things are useless to remind people of. It is easy to change a country, but it is hard to change one's nature!"

Huang Jin said cautiously: "Your Majesty, Chang Wei Bo actually...he built the Jingguan...it was cruel enough."

Rui Jingxian sneered, then covered his mouth and acted terrified. Seeing that the Taoist did not blame him, he smiled and said, "Eunuch Huang, you don't know. Chang Wei Bo once said that those who are not of our race must have different hearts. In my opinion, his cruelty is directed to the outside world, not to the inside."

Huang Jin narrowed his eyes and carefully recalled Jiang Qingzhi's past.

The execution of Altan's envoy in the street, the killing of prisoners and the construction of Jingguan in the southeastern war against Japanese invaders have caused many people to criticize him for being murderous and cruel. However, Jiang Qingzhi took the overall situation into consideration and did not act recklessly, even against his mortal enemy Qiu Luan.

This person... Huang Jin glanced at Taoist.

The Taoist sighed, "This idiot boy is so sentimental!"

The emperor sighed in Yongshou Palace, "Loyalty is worth a thousand gold, but this world doesn't need friendship."

In the eyes of those who supported the new policy, the Ming Dynasty was like a patient with a serious illness who needed not lukewarm treatment but strong medicine.

……

After leaving the government office, Xu Jie, dressed in plain clothes, quietly came to a tavern.

Lu Bing was waiting for him.

"Mr. Ge."

"Commander Lu."

The two sat down and looked at each other in silence.

The person who served the food and wine was a centurion, who then quietly left.

The sunset in winter sets particularly early, and the afterglow permeates outside the door, looking magnificent and golden.

In the dim tavern, two silent men suddenly laughed.

"It's so magnificent outside." Lu Bing pointed to the sunset outside.

"It's a bit dark inside." Xu Jie nodded.

“This is a time for great action.”

"I think so too."

"The magnitude of this storm is no less than the Zuo Shunmen Incident. I thought Your Majesty would not express his opinion, but I didn't expect..."

"Your Majesty, if you don't take action, it will be the greatest support for Jiang Qingzhi."

"To be honest, His Majesty is a man of deep affection, but I have never seen him defend anyone so much."

"You haven't even met Lu Bing?"

"Why do you have to laugh at me, Lord? I know you must be mocking me in your heart. Although you, Lu Bing, seem to be in a good position, your status as the emperor has long since declined, and you are far inferior to Jiang Qingzhi."

"..."

Xu Jie remained silent and poured himself a glass of wine.

"Is it okay for the cabinet minister to go?" Lu Bing said with a smile, "Now Jiang Qingzhi is one of the three assistants. In Zhilu, he has surpassed the cabinet minister and is on an equal footing with Yan Song. This is a gesture, but also a disregard for the cabinet minister, and... a disdain!"

Lu Bing looked at Xu Jie, "Your Excellency is not angry?"

If Jiang Qingzhi were here, he would certainly say that Lu Bing also had a tongue that was only slightly less venomous than Xu Wei's.

Xu Jie's eyes suddenly flashed with sternness, and then he smiled and said, "It's your treat today."

"Xu Jie is still Xu Jie. I can't be as tolerant as him." Lu Bing sighed and took the wine pot. "Outsiders see this as a fight between Jiang Qingzhi and the powerful. Some people also want to take this opportunity to see how much support His Majesty can give to the new policy and Jiang Qingzhi."

Amid the sound of wine being poured, Xu Jie raised his glass and took a sip of the wine. "The public opinion has been rising these days, which reminds me of the great ceremony debate back then. It was the same then. The public was in an uproar, and Zhang Cong and others were in a state of panic. Your Majesty seemed to be protecting them, but he could only take a roundabout way... and let him go to Nanjing to avoid the limelight for a while."

In the great ceremonial dispute of that year, Zhang Cong and others stood on the side of Dao Ye and succeeded in speculation and rose to prominence. But fortune and misfortune go hand in hand, and they subsequently became cannon fodder.

"Yan Song and his son did not take action this time, which shows that they are afraid of Jiang Qingzhi." Lu Bing smiled, "Yan Song is like this, what about you, Lord?"

Xu Jie sighed, "When Wang Anshi was in charge of the New Deal, he gradually extended his hands to various places in the court, causing many people to lose power. Jiang Qingzhi is now following the same path. He is secretly fighting with Yan Song in the Political Affairs Hall, and is planning to seize the power of voting."

"No!" Lu Bing shook his head, "The elder guessed wrong."

"Oh! I'd like to hear the details." Xu Jie said.

Lu Bing raised his glass, and the two of them clinked their glasses lightly and toasted.

Lu Bing put down his wine glass and said, "Have you ever seen Jiang Qingzhi work hard at his desk?"

Xu Jie shook his head, "No."

"Yan Song seems to be in power, but he is also trapped in Zhilu and cannot move. He has to guard every day without rest. Is this power? Yes, but he is also like a slave."

Lu Bing shook his head slightly. "Since Jiang Qingzhi came to Beijing, he has had countless opportunities to take power, but he ignored them. It's not that he is noble, but... this is his character."

Xu Jie nodded, thoughtfully.

"He is sentimental and stubborn to the point of being pedantic. Who did the Lord think of in this regard?"

"His Majesty!"

"Yes, it's almost a consistent character." Lu Bing said with interest: "Your Majesty has another characteristic, which is that he doesn't like to control power himself, but..."

"Through the Prime Minister!"

"Your Majesty did it through Xia Yan and Yan Song. Jiang Qingzhi is the same as Your Majesty. Wang Yiqi and others are also doing the same thing this time. I don't move, but the world moves as I wish. This is the most brilliant method."

After Lu Bing finished speaking, he raised his glass and drank.

Xu Jie looked at him silently. He felt that Lu Bing's judgment on Jiang Qingzhi was questionable, but even so, his words were still of great value.

Lu Bing told him without hesitation.

The situation has changed drastically, and it is time.

Xu Jie coughed dryly, "Recently, I have been preoccupied with my children's affairs at home, and have been quite distressed. I have neglected a lot."

Lu Bing put down his wine glass, with a smile in his eyes, "I think so too."

"Then..." Xu Jie raised his glass.

Lu Bing raised his glass, "How about we suffer together?"

"good!"

Ding!

Wine glasses clinked.

The marriage was quietly settled.