Chapter 1275 You Khitans are not worthy

All the officials who came to congratulate me gathered and dispersed.

It seems very much like in officialdom, some people leave and some stay.

Many officials wanted to stay at the house to talk to Zhang Yue in the hope of being reused in the future, but in the end only a dozen core members of the Zhang Party were received by Zhang Yue.

Such as Cai Jing, Cai Bian brothers, Su Shi, Su Che brothers, Zhang Zhi, Zhang Kai's uncle and nephew.

Zhang Yue had less than two years left in his term as Prime Minister. He asked Qian Yi about Guan Jia's health a few days ago. Qian Yi said that Guan Jia's health was quite good recently under his care, but he did not control his desires and had an irregular diet.

Easily happy and angry, this is not the way to maintain health and prolong life.

Zhang Yue thought to himself that if the official family was still as old as in history, then he would still have a chance to return to politics.

If Qian Yi can live longer after taking good care of his body, then he will also be prepared to live in seclusion in the mountains and forests.

Zhang Yue remembered that when he was young, he could see better scenery every time he climbed a mountain. Now he has reached the top of the mountain again!

When you reach the top of the mountain, you have to go down and then choose a higher mountain to climb.

Zhang Yue was full of longing for this.

Regarding the question of who will replace Zhang Yue after he leaves, Zhang Yue previously planned to choose Cai Jing, but now he plans to arrange Cai Bian.

As a replacement, Cai Bian is an excellent choice. He can continue his reform path and is excellent in all aspects. However, due to the official's wishes, he has already found a replacement for himself, and that is Zhang Zhi.

This was the purpose of promoting Lu Gongzhu to the position of Deputy Privy Envoy.

Zhang Yue couldn't help but remember that the marriage between the Zhang family and the Lu family was facilitated by Han Qi. At that time, Han Qi did not want to see himself join Wang Anshi's camp, so he tried every means to bridge the gap between himself and Lu Gongzhu.

Lu Gongzhu is undoubtedly the benchmark and a banner of the old party, with qualifications and status that are no less than those of Sima Guang. As his son-in-law, Zhang Zhi, no matter what his political spectrum, is always dependent on a first-class path.

It's like two things. One thing goes smoothly for you and the other is more difficult, so you work harder in the easier direction.

Not only was Mr. Lu a member of the old party, but several of his sons, such as Lv Xizhe, Lv Xiji, and Lv Xichun, were all students of Shao Yong and tended to the old party.

In addition, Zhang Zhi and Lu's pillow style.

"Axi, how are you doing lately?" Zhang Yue asked Zhang Zhi.

Zhang Zhi said: "My back always hurts. I can't sit for a moment, so I have to lie down!"

Hearing what Zhang Zhi said, Zhang Yue knew that this was an old injury caused by his fall from Mingsha City a few years ago. He couldn't sit down at first. It's better now, but it hurts after sitting for a long time.

"But I heard that my brother and sister-in-law said that you can come back to take charge."

That's right, Lu asked Zhang Shiyu and his wife every now and then to give him a message, saying that Zhang Zhi had recovered and could return to the court to serve. Zhang Yue knew this well, so he didn't say anything.

Zhang Zhi said with some embarrassment: "It's... it's... my wife's intention."

Zhang Yue smiled, but Zhang Zhi was sincere.

However, Zhang Yue saw earlier that Zhang Zhi was not willing to return to the court. He seemed not to want to embarrass himself and his father-in-law, but he couldn't bear to have a wife by his side who expected his husband to succeed.

Zhang Yue lamented that Lu's temperament was like an enlarged version of Seventeenth Mother. Her abilities were not as strong as hers, but her ambitions were ten times stronger.

Zhang Yue understands the thoughts of the officials. Compared with reform, the officials now have to reconcile the party disputes in the court. So he wanted to revolt against Sima Guang, but was blocked by Wang Gui and Cai Que. Now he chose Zhang Zhi

Such officials who have connections with all aspects will serve as the core of the next prime minister's team, making them excellent candidates for succession and transition.

Zhang Yue said to Zhang Zhi: "You are His Majesty's disciple. His Majesty told me personally that I can call you into the imperial court and ascend the throne in both houses without thinking about Wang Zhongzheng."

"What's more, not only does Your Majesty have high expectations for you, but Zunyue and I also have the same thoughts."

Wang Zhongzheng's incident was a serious crime for any minister, but when it came to Zhang Zhi, he had the blessing of a halo, and it was only worth a few years of idleness at home.

Zhang Zhi said: "Third Uncle, I have thought about this a long time ago. Yes, I am the favorite candidate of all parties. This is why they value me."

"But if you can't have it both ways, it's a situation where you are being criticized by both sides. Among the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, apart from you, third uncle, who can convince both the old and new parties? And third uncle's success today is also based on these years.

Achievements come step by step. Without the reputation of consecutive victories over the years, I'm afraid even you, the third uncle, would not be able to secure your position."

Zhang Zhi's words made Zhang Yue feel a little sad. It was very difficult for him when he first ascended the throne. Fortunately, he has survived now.

Otherwise, how could the scene in front of the hall have happened?

Zhang Zhi continued: "And I was defeated in Mingsha City. All the soldiers and horses that followed me were lost in the army, and I was the only one who escaped. Over the years, every time I think of the fallen soldiers, I can't sleep at night, and I can't even close my eyes."

Even old people, women and children ask me for a husband and a son, but I don’t have a good night’s sleep.”

"If I are elected in this way, it will be a situation where the new party will not obey the old party, so why should I wade into this muddy water?"

Zhang Yue thought to Zhang Zhi that this was a bit of post-war stress trauma syndrome.

However, Zhang Zhi was right. He, Zhang Yue, was able to suppress the demons and monsters in the court now, and it was not because of his great achievements in killing them all the way.

If you lose one of these battles, what would you think of the faces of those in the government and the public?

The reason why I can hold great power now is that the officials have developed first-class path dependence. Since there is one person who can lead you from one victory to the next, then everyone will follow you blindly and blindly.

This is why the founding emperor's prestige is so high in history.

But as soon as Zhang Yue loses a game, someone will immediately say, "I knew it a long time ago."

Zhang Yue realized that he had underestimated Zhang Zhi. He was actually a very politically intelligent person, but he could not look at people in the same light.

"You can't be the best, you have to be the only one!" Zhang Yue said. No wonder Zhang Zhi didn't want to go out because he was afraid of taking sides.

Immediately, Zhang Yue said immediately: "I will transfer Shen Cunzhong back to the court. How about you go to the northwest to replace him?"

Dangxiang fell into decline after losing Liangzhou, and lost all his elite troops in Pingxia City. He was a tiger without claws and with teeth pulled out, so he was no longer something to be afraid of. He brought Shen Kuo back and asked Zhang to directly fight a few victorious battles for him. Such prestige

Isn’t it already there?

Isn’t that how the official second-generation gold plating came about?

Zhang Yue inevitably had selfish motives for Zhang Zhi's career.

Faced with Zhang Yue's words, Zhang Zhi couldn't help but struggle in his heart for a while. Zhang Yue saw the other party's face and immediately said: "You don't have to answer me in a hurry. Think about it slowly."

Zhang straightened up and said, "I'm sorry, third uncle, I can't do this!"

Zhang Yue was a little angry when he heard this, and said: "What are you thinking? Shen Cunzhong has made great achievements and will be promoted to two offices when he returns to the court. It is just right for you to take his place."

After a general has made meritorious service on the front line, he must find a way to bring him back to the court. This is also the tradition of the Song Dynasty.

Zhang Zhi blushed and said: "Third uncle, let Uncle Chu do it! He is more qualified than me!"

"You..." Zhang Yue was so angry at Zhang Zhi's words that he immediately waved his hands and said, "It's up to you, it's up to you."

Zhang Zhi said apologetically: "Axi has let down his third uncle for all his hard work!"

Zhang Yue angrily refused to answer.

"Third uncle, please take care of yourself, I'll take my leave first." Zhang Zhi had no choice but to leave Zhang Yue's study.

After Zhang Zhi left, Cai Bian entered.

Zhang Zhi and Cai Bian were like the palm of his hand to Zhang Yue, but he was inevitably more affectionate to Zhang Zhi. After Zhang Zhi, Wang Anshi married his daughter to Cai Bian.

Cai Bian has always been very good to Wang Anshi. This time he came to do something for him, and Wang Anshi approved of it.

This gave Zhang Yue a helping hand and helped him win over many new party members.

In fact, there is no secret to being an official. The first important thing is to follow the right person.

If you follow the right person, you will be right. If you follow the wrong person, you will be wrong.

Cai Bian understands the key to this.

Cai Bian is a man of few words but not too arrogant. He is as low-key as possible, smart, capable and discerning. The most important thing is loyalty. Cai Bian has a famous saying, 'Don't be like a hungry eagle that flies when it's full'.

This sentence is a mockery of an official.

This official was originally under Su Shi's staff. Later, after seeing that Su Shi was demoted to Huangzhou, he took the initiative to draw a clear line with the other party and switched to Cai Bian's staff.

Cai Bian had a good relationship with Su Shi, and he had learned calligraphy from Su Shi. After this person came to his account, Cai Bian did not refuse in person. Instead, he deliberately held a family banquet at home one day and invited this person to the banquet.

In front of everyone, Cai Bian wrote a poem to the mandarin ducks in the courtyard pond, "Don't imitate the hungry eagle that flies when it is full."

All the officials heard that Cai Bian was ridiculing this person, and he even humiliated him in public, saying that the other person wanted to run away after he was full. There was no kindness at all.

The other party also reacted very quickly, and immediately replied, "I am greedy for grace but I am not willing to fly."

This man wanted to restore his dignity and at the same time continue to serve under Cai Bian. Unexpectedly, Cai Bian's wife, Wang Shi, said, "Why is he refusing to fly? Didn't he just fly from Su Shi's pond?"

At this time, the other party left Cai Bian's house in shame.

Zhang Yue said to Cai Bian: "My brother is the Empress of Kaifeng. He feasts and plays and sings every day!"

Cai Bian said: "The disciple tried to remonstrate with his brother, but he didn't listen. Sometimes the disciple and his brother are not in harmony."

Zhang Yue knew about the situation of brothers Cai Jing and Cai Bian and asked, "I heard that the sisters-in-law are at odds with each other, right?"

Cai Bian nodded.

Cai Jing's wife is the daughter of Xu Zhongmou. Xu Zhongmou was not prosperous as an official and was dismissed from the wine supervisor because of his outspokenness. Therefore, the Xu family is just a daughter of a small official family.

Cai Bian's wife is the daughter of Wang Anshi, the prime minister's daughter.

The relationship between the sisters-in-law is unknown to anyone.

Cai Bian said to Zhang Yue: "Prime Minister, something happened recently. A pair of student's handwritings was secretly bought by King Yong for a thousand dollars!"
To be continued...