He covered his mouth and nose and walked out of the gate of Mei Mansion alone. He saw that there was no one in the open space in front of the door. The dozen or so patrolmen he had brought with him were all hiding under the shade of distant trees. They didn't stand as if they were sitting.
There is no seated figure, and it looks casual.
Seeing this, Chen He frowned and twisted his brows into the Chinese character "Sichuan".
Before the Dali Temple incident, these patrolmen would never have dared to be so slack under his nose!
However, after the Dali Temple incident, there were many voices of complaint against him among his superiors and colleagues. Some were angry at what he did at that time, some laughed at him for being deceived by vulgar people, and some simply suspected that he had both ends.
These cynicisms, accompanied by the exclusion, have continued to this day, and have completely nailed the label of 'limited ability and weak stance' on Chen Tuo, and have almost blocked his possibility of advancement in the future.
At the same time, the attitude of these patrolmen is also not as good as before.
Originally, Chen He wanted to find an opportunity to scare the monkeys and let these scornful people know that even if he, Chen, was down and out, not just anyone could step on him.
But now, Chen Tuo was too lazy to pay attention to these trivial matters. He gave instructions from a distance and asked the patrolmen to continue patrolling according to their usual route. Then he strode around the corner and found a simple carriage with no mark.
Just as he was about to bow to the car, he heard someone inside command: "Come up and talk."
Hearing this, Chen Tuo walked around to the back of the carriage and saw that a wooden ladder had been set up there. He was about to pick up the hem of his official robe and climb up the stairs. Suddenly something occurred to him and he rubbed the soles of his shoes on the ground a few times before stepping onto the carriage.
At the very back of the carriage, he saw a thin old man in his fifties sitting upright.
"Teacher."
Chen Tu bowed deeply to the old man and reported: "Mei Guangyan had some doubts at first, but now that things have come to a point, he has no choice but to move forward bravely, so he finally agreed."
This thin old man was the examiner of Chen Tuo's high school when he was a Jinshi. He was also the mastermind behind Zhou Long's case, Zhang Qiu, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites.
"Well, sit down and talk."
Zhang Qiu pointed to his side calmly and lectured: "You should change your impatience. Otherwise, the incident at Dali Temple may not happen again."
"My teacher taught me something that students should keep in mind in the future."
Chen Tuo's buttocks had just been glued to the seat. Hearing these words, he quickly stood up and bowed down to be taught.
"Sit, sit."
Zhang Qiu raised his hand and pressed it twice more, and then Chen He sat down again.
Because of this criticism, Chen Tuo originally didn't want to speak first, but seeing that his teacher lowered his eyebrows and said nothing for a long time, he couldn't hold back after all, and cautiously inquired: "Teacher, do you dare to ask the student why?
When is the best time to respond to impeachment?”
Although he tried to be cautious, his words still showed uncontrollable excitement.
In Chen Tao's view, Zhang Qiu's plan to throw out the old affairs of the Sejong Dynasty this time was really a stroke of genius!
According to the results of the secret investigation, Jiao Da, who passed on the hereditary title to Jiao Shun, had refused the official title offered by Emperor Sejong when he ascended the throne, and had more than once cried out for Emperor Taizu.
And who in the world doesn’t know that Jiao Shun relied on a copy of Taizu’s Quotations to gain a foothold in the Ministry of Industry?
The correspondence between the two events is enough to prove that Jiao Shun had the initiative to trap Emperor Shizong and create a cover for Emperor Taizu!
What's even better is that this matter involves a dispute over the country's foundation. Even if the emperor wants to protect it, the Supreme Emperor will never sit idly by. When the time comes, all it takes is a "groundless" suspicion, and Jiao Shun will have to shed a layer of skin even if he doesn't die!
You can use this to avenge your previous shame and restore your reputation, and even take a step forward in the officialdom!
With all these things, how could Chen He not be excited?
At this time, Zhang Qiu raised his eyes and looked at Chen Tuo, and still said three words calmly: "There's no rush."
With these three words, Chen He immediately became anxious.
It's not that he couldn't understand why he was asked to hand over this set of 'evidences' to Mei Hanlin. After all, everyone could see the emperor's admiration for Taizu. Now, using Taizu as an excuse to target the emperor's favorite 'lucky minister', this is not the same as
There is no difference in breaking ground on Tai Sui's head.
Therefore, Chen Tuo never thought about grabbing this 'first prize'.
But no matter what, you should be one step ahead of others, right?
Otherwise, if he is forgotten by everyone, what can he do to restore his reputation?
Chen He couldn't care less about the criticism just now, stood up and said: "Teacher! I..."
"Listen to me first."
Zhang Qiu raised his hand to interrupt him, pointed in the air and said: "I originally wanted you to play behind Mei Guangyan, but... in short, you have other plans now, so it's best not to participate in this again.
It’s over.”
"This this……"
Chen Tuo's face almost turned the color of pig's liver, but he vaguely heard that this matter was probably the will of a higher-level person or even the arrangement of a certain pavilion elder, so he could only break his teeth and swallow it.
After a long while, he managed to suppress his anger and said in frustration: "But I don't know what the arrangement is? Why can't the students even participate in this matter?"
"Is this..."
Zhang Qiu didn't answer but asked instead: "Do you think this engineering school will continue to be run after Jiao Thief is consecrated?"
"definitely will!"
Chen Tuo answered resolutely: "It is the emperor's own intention to promote those scabs. The Jiao scabs are just trying to figure out the holy will and follow the trend. Even if the Jiao scabs are gone, this engineering school will definitely still have to be done."
"Indeed."
Zhang Qiu nodded slightly and said seriously: "So defeating the Jiao thief is just the beginning. What really matters is to seize the opportunity to guide this engineering study into the right path."
Chen Tuo vaguely guessed something, widened his eyes and blurted out: "My mentor wants me to study engineering and become an official?!"
"exactly."
"This this……"
Chen Tuo's original frustration was swept away, and he stood up again and bowed deeply and said: "Thank you for your cultivation, teacher! After a student takes over the job of engineering and learning, he will definitely put the overall situation first in everything, and will never..."
The city patrol censor is a part-time job, and Chen Tuo’s real official position is the seventh-rank supervisory censor. It would be a great joy if he could be promoted to the fifth-rank Gongxuejiujiu!
The job of sacrificing wine is one of the most noble civil servants. If Jiao Shun was to be the first Gongxue to offer wine, then the Gongxue sacrificial minister would naturally be the most corrupt official among the corrupt officials. However, if someone from Chen were to do it, it might not be able to bring order to things.
, let the engineering-school sacrificial wine return to the height it deserves.
However, Chen He was filled with joy and was about to swear an oath when he suddenly noticed something was wrong with Zhang Qiu's expression.
He subconsciously stopped talking and asked suspiciously: "Teacher, is there something wrong with what I said?"
"That's not to say it's inappropriate."
Zhang Qiu shook his head: "It's just that after Jiao Zei is crowned, the emperor may not be happy to see a civil servant take over the post of ministering wine to the engineering school."
"What about me?"
"Let's stay in the position of Secretary for a while first."
Zhang Qiudao: "Originally, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has been insisting that all official positions in engineering and education should be downgraded. But since you are appointed as the secretary, you can still follow the old rules of the Imperial College."
Si Ye is the deputy of the wine-sacrifice, and is an official of the sixth rank.
If he went to the Imperial Academy to serve as a secretary, Chen Tuo would definitely have no objections.
But I went to work as a clerk at an engineering school...
Zhang Qiu also said just now that the emperor would definitely not choose upright civil servants to serve as sacrificial wine, so most of the sacrificial wine would still be Zhuoguan'er. How can he be "clean" if he is a subordinate of Zhuoguan?
The more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt, and a look appeared on his face unconsciously.
Seeing this, Zhang Qiu tried his best to say: "Don't worry, no one among the craftsmen is qualified to succeed Jiao Shun. If the emperor doesn't want to appoint civil servants, he will probably have to select those dandy sons from among the relatives and nobles.
Are you serious about your work? This sacrificial wine will be yours sooner or later!"
He comforted and promised at the same time, and also hinted that the big bosses above were paying attention to this matter, and Chen Tuo's benefits would definitely be indispensable in the future.
When Chen Tuo's expression changed from gloomy to clear, the teacher and student said some more personal words before they parted ways.
Chen Tuo stood at the street corner, watching Zhang Qiu's carriage go further and further away, but his expression turned from sunny to gloomy again.
The pie that Zhang Qiu drew just now looks tempting, but in fact it is trapped in a paradox.
That is to say: the 'higher-ups' obviously want me to go against the emperor in engineering, which is at least a double act, but in this case, how can the emperor watch me rise step by step?
There may still be room for maneuver in the position of the director, but once he takes over the job of engineering and learning, I'm afraid he will be roasted on the fire immediately!
If you think about it more carefully, if you want to adopt the method of being obedient and disobeying the secret, then you will probably do what Jiao Shun does on the surface. But in this case, not only will you not be able to restore your reputation, but you will become a treacherous villain in the eyes of others.
?!
What is this thing?!
Since you want others to work for you, you have to give them the same 'reputation' and 'future', right?!
How can you force someone to go down a dead end with empty words?!
Could it be that he regarded himself as Zhou Long who wanted to die?!
But Zhou Long has gained a reputation after all, right?!
The more he thought about it, the more worthless it became, and the more he thought about it, the more resentful he became. It was as if someone had stuffed a bellows in Chen Tuo's chest, and it seemed as if it was about to explode.
After a while, he kicked the wall violently, ignoring the pain in his ankle from the shock, and limped around the corner and got into his carriage.
Seeing that his master's legs and feet were not good, the coachman originally wanted to express some concern, but when he saw Chen Tuo's face, he immediately changed his words and said, "Master, where are we going?"
Chen Tuo gritted his teeth and said word by word: "Go to Rongguo Mansion!"
Since Qingliu doesn't give me a way to survive, I will simply become a complete and utter official!
The emperor only appointed the lucky ministers who were domestic slaves because he really had no one to use. Now that he has taken the initiative to join the ranks of these two Jinshi, his future prospects will not be as good as those of Jiao Thief?!
"okay!"
At this time, the driver agreed and urged the horse to set off.
"etc!"
Chen Tuo suddenly changed his mind and said, "It's better to go back home first."
Be careful with your ten-thousand-year ship. In order to avoid Zhang Qiu noticing your betrayal, you should go home and disguise yourself first, and then go find the Jiao thief... Bah, it's not too late to share the wine with Jiao.
…………
It's night, Jiao's house.
After listening to Chen Tuo's description, all the polite smiles on Jiao Shun's face turned into fierce ones!
He stood up and paced back and forth in the living room twice, then suddenly turned around and stared at Chen Ao eagerly and asked: "Master Chen, do you dare to accompany me to the palace to meet the saint?!"
Chen Tuo looked hesitant when he heard this: "Is it too reckless to enter the palace at this time?"
"Can't wait for tomorrow!"
Jiao Shun waved his hand: "If the memorial appears in the morning and creates a certain impression, it will be too late for us to say anything."
With that said, he raised his voice and ordered the car to be prepared immediately outside. He also ordered Si Qi Yuchai to fetch the official robes and hats and put them neatly on. Then he greeted Chen Tuo and set off immediately.
Seeing his turbulent appearance, Chen Tuo followed closely behind him while secretly despising him. In the final analysis, his heart was like a monkey's head. When encountering a major event, his prototype appeared and everything was in chaos.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he followed him to the courtyard, he heard Jiao Shun swearing: "It is indeed me who manipulated public opinion to make the Mei family self-conscious. However, I had already reported it to His Majesty beforehand, and it has been even more detailed in the past few days."
They all have written records and want to put these rumors on me, I'm afraid I just want to blind their minds!"
Chen Tuo was shocked. Seeing that Jiao Shun didn't look like he was boasting, he couldn't help but wonder: "If that's the case, why does Jiao need to go to the palace all night to offer wine?"
"Haha~"
Chapter completed!