When Zhang Juzheng heard this, he was silent, not knowing what he was thinking.

If you want to say that this mansion is up and down, from dependents to servants and maids, there are more than 100 people in total, so many people eat and drink expenses, and they don't lose the face of scholars, the cost is naturally not a small number. Relying on Zhang Juzheng's income alone is definitely not enough, even if sometimes the emperor will give a little extra reward, but that is not regular on a regular basis, and secondly, the emperor himself has little spare money, so it is also very limited.

In fact, most of the income of officials in Chaojing usually depends on the filial piety of protégés or local officials, such as ice respect and charcoal respect. But Zhang Juzheng didn't like to operate before, usually only the same year and protégé who got close to him sent some gifts and miscellaneous items, he would be polite, half push and half accept, if some people who just want to intercede and get promoted, but they don't have much ability to go to his doorway, nine times out of ten they will run into a nose of ash.

It's not that Zhang Juzheng doesn't love money, but although he has been in officialdom for a long time, he is a person who wants to do something great to help the world, so he will never leave anything in front of power. As a result, his financial situation was rarely prosperous. In order to save money, he sometimes wants to cut down on servants, but whether it is the sedan chair bearer, the gardener, the cook, the nurse who takes care of the children, the scholar in the outer courtyard, and the maid ring in the inner courtyard, it seems that none of them can be cut after calculation.

Zhang Juzheng felt that to achieve his position, the necessary pomp and circumstance was still required, because it was not only related to his own face, but also related to the dignity of the court - the dignified cabinet and auxiliary ministers were all like high arches, and there were so big cats and kittens in the house, what did they look like!

What's more, let him compare this with Gao Gong, he thinks it's not fair, he Zhang Juzheng has six sons, Gao Gong doesn't have any of them, and only one nephew lives with him after this recovery, just this point, how many less maids and servants?

So Zhang Juzheng is very afraid to talk about the word "money" now, but fortunately, You Qi is a capable person, because of his proper planning, the family finally did not get to the point of making ends meet and running out of water.

In fact, sometimes, Zhang Juzheng also heard that You Qi accepted gifts from some local officials behind his back, and he inevitably had to apply for a few words sternly, but he did not investigate deeply. After all, with such a big family, all expenses have to be maintained by You Qi, if you really don't accept a single tael of silver, you can't borrow money to get by, right? And Zhang Juzheng felt that without his own nodding and a real large amount of gift money, You Qi should not dare to make decisions without permission.

"The use is tight, and the saving is." Zhang Juzheng said slowly, and then asked, "But what else is there?" ”

You Qi hesitated for a moment, and said cautiously: "Today, Old Master Xu sent someone to ask for a meeting, saying that Hai Rui refused to stop, and the tall beard sent ...... again."

Before You Qi finished speaking, another porter came in to report: "Master, there is a person who calls himself Xu Jue who asks to see him, saying that you will definitely see him after hearing the name." ”

"Xu Jue? Please! Zhang Juzheng suddenly sat up straight, waved his hand and said to You Qi: "We'll talk about the matter of the old grace later." ”

You Qi nodded, and went outside with the concierge to greet the guests. After a while, You Qi led two people back to the study, and as soon as he entered the door, he said excitedly: "Master, it is Feng Dugong who is here in person." ”

"Ahh Zhang Juzheng was taken aback and hurriedly got up to greet him. Because of his family's speech just now, there was only a candle in the study, the light was dim, and he couldn't see the comer clearly. Under the bright lights, I saw Feng Bao dressed in a green cloth, covered with sheepskin and a black Tang scarf on his head, dressed like an ordinary passerby, and couldn't see the majesty of the master of ceremonies and the supervisor of the East Factory.

Feng Bao bowed to Zhang Juzheng, showed a smile that didn't mean anything, and said: "Taiyue Xianggong, Feng took the liberty to visit, and he also looked at Haihan. ”

"Eh, where is Feng Gong?" Zhang Juzheng returned the salute while letting him sit down, and promised: "Just now the concierge only said that Steward Xu was here, if I had known that it was you who came, I should open the middle door and go out to greet me in person, it is really rude, rude." ”

Feng Bao showed a satisfied smile on his face, lifted the corner of his robe, sat down, and said with a smile: "Taiyue Xianggong doesn't need to be polite, it was our family who ordered Xu Jue to do this, so as not to have too many people and spread it badly." ”

Not so good?

The director of the Dongchang factory had a secret meeting with the cabinet scholars late at night, isn't it just "not good" for this kind of thing to be spread? That's a big bad!

"Gong Feng, I don't know what you're doing here?" Zhang Juzheng knew that Feng Bao's personal visit was by no means untargeted, so he was not polite, and asked him about his intentions straight to the point.

Feng Bao restrained his smile, looked at Zhang Juzheng's eyes, and said, "In the past few days, Cao Dayu, a disciple of Zeng Yuqing, has met with my housekeeper Xu Jue three times before and after, and asked some questions about the situation in the palace......

囧清 is another name for Taifu Siqing. The original meaning of the word "embarrassment" is "bright", which is actually completely different from the connotation of the Internet term in later generations.

Zhang Juzheng calmed down and nodded, but he didn't say anything.

Feng Bao smiled and said bluntly: "Who is he Cao Dayu, you have to know what the situation in the palace is?" Thinking about it, even if Zeng Yuqing is embarrassed, he will not have any interest in these idle things in the palace, but you are the prince of Taiyue...... You may need to find out. ”

"Oh?" Zhang Juzheng also smiled: "Why do I need to know about it?" ”

Feng Bao raised the corners of his eyebrows and asked rhetorically: "Taiyue Xianggong's words are not very sincere-do you think Zhao Dazhou can withstand the tall beard?" ”

Zhang Juzheng's smile was slightly hidden, and he said lightly: "Zhao Dazhou's method is extremely stupid, naturally he can't withstand Zhongxuangong, but what does it matter?" Isn't there also Li Shilu (Li Chunfang, No. Shilu) and Chen Songgu (Chen Yiqin, No. Songgu) two dukes? ”

Feng Gong looked disdainful and sneered: "If Zhao Dazhou is defeated, will Li Shilu, the first assistant, still be able to do it?" ”

Zhang Juzheng didn't speak again, this was not against Feng Bao's words, the main thing was that he was also very tired of Li Chunfang in his heart, after all, he Zhang Juzheng was also a person who wanted to make a career, like Gao Gong, he always looked down on Li Chunfang, a glutinous prime minister.

Feng Bao said again: "If Zhao Dazhou is defeated, Li Shilu will resign sooner or later." As soon as Li Shilu leaves, there is no doubt that the first assistant of the cabinet will be a tall beard. Taiyue Xianggong, you and Gao Beard have been colleagues for many years, you know the roots, do you think that with Gao Beard's style, Chen Songgu will be able to do it in the cabinet at that time? Let's see, sooner or later, we will have to pat our butts and leave...... At that time, in addition to the tall beard, there will only be Taiyue Xianggong left in the cabinet. ”

Zhang Juzheng was silent for a moment and said, "If the cabinet ministers are not enough, Your Majesty will naturally ask for supplements. ”

Feng Bao laughed: "Your Majesty? Taiyue Xianggong said that he laughed, if the bearded man didn't speak, do you think His Majesty would take the initiative to ask the court to push the ministers? ”