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Under the gaze of Emperor Deqing, Zhao Junchen said solemnly: "Your Majesty, please forgive the minister's limited energy and poor health, and now he only participates in the cabinet discussion and supervises the finances of the household department, which has already taken up most of the minister's energy, and in addition to supervising the construction of a new garden palace for His Majesty, he is really unable to take care of more things." ”

Hearing Zhao Junchen's words, Emperor Deqing couldn't help but be stunned in his heart at first.

Zhao Junchen not only did not take the opportunity to ask for more benefits and powers, but took the initiative to request restrictions on power? What kind of condition is this?

But after thinking about it, Emperor Deqing quickly "guessed" Zhao Junchen's "true thoughts".

Since Zhao Junchen took a few printed apples as "auspicious" to offer to Emperor Deqing, Emperor Deqing had a strong idea of going to sea to find immortals - just like many things before, Emperor Deqing still handed over this matter to Zhao Junchen to be responsible.

For Emperor Deqing's will, Zhao Junchen still agreed to it, but his attitude on the surface was reluctant, as if he had suffered a big loss.

After all, according to the general view of the Ming Dynasty, building ships and going to sea was a bad government that cost the people and money, and damaged the national strength, and once Zhao Junchen was in charge of this matter, not only the household department would have to share various expenditures with the internal funds, but also in the future, once the controversy between the government and the opposition was triggered, it would inevitably take the blame and bear the responsibility.

At this time, Zhao Junchen's hint was also obvious - it was okay for him to take the lead in impeaching the crown prince Zhu Heyu, but he was unwilling to take over the matter of going to sea to find immortals.

After thinking about Zhao Junchen's hint, Emperor Deqing couldn't help but be secretly angry in his heart!

After the infinite scenery on his birthday, Emperor Deqing is not very concerned about imperial achievements such as cultural and martial arts, but he is more and more enthusiastic about things such as going to sea to find immortals and asking for immortality, asking for immortality, etc., if it were not for the mutual impeachment of the prince Zhu and Yu and the clans in various places in the past few days, Emperor Deqing is only afraid that the Ministry of Engineering has already sent a decree to build a giant ship, who would have thought that before Emperor Deqing made actual moves, Zhao Junchen wanted to pick a son and not do it, which naturally made Emperor Deqing very disappointed and angry.

If Zhao Junchen's bargaining method at this time was to reach out and ask for money and power, Emperor Deqing might think about it a little, but for this matter, Emperor Deqing would never agree.

As a result, Emperor Deqing's originally gentle expression suddenly became gloomy again, and he snorted coldly: "Zhao Junchen, are you bargaining with me?" Don't think that I don't know your careful thoughts, you are still unwilling to be responsible for me to go to sea to find immortals! Tell you, this is also not a matter of refusal!

Don't forget, the crown prince will cause today's chaos with the clans in various places, and the initial reason is that your household officials secretly colluded with the vassal kings to compile and modify the land atlas privately! I have never held you accountable for this matter, and I am already very gracious! Now for you to take the lead in impeaching the prince to quell the chaos, it is also a chance for you to make up for your mistakes! Not only did you not thank the emperor for his kindness, but you thought that you had been wronged and used this matter to bargain with me? …… You're getting bolder! Do you really think that I dare not cure your sins? ”

Seeing Emperor Deqing's fierce reaction, Zhao Junchen not only did not panic, but a smile flashed in his eyes.

Of course, Zhao Junchen still showed enough deference and awe on the surface.

Zhao Junchen naturally knows how much of the benefits and significance of building a ship to go to sea is, and he has been blushing for a long time, so he naturally will not let others be responsible for this matter.

In the final analysis, Zhao Junchen's statement at this time is still a means of "retreating as advancing".

In this world, when you have an indispensable place, "retreat is often a good trick".

After seeing Emperor Deqing's angry performance, Zhao Junchen understood that his methods had worked, and Emperor Deqing was also inseparable from himself in this matter.

Zhu Heyu is obviously not indispensable to the imperial court and Emperor Deqing, so after he used the method of "retreating as advance", the effect was only to preserve his own prestige and make Emperor Deqing a little soft-hearted by the way, but Zhao Junchen was completely different, enough to make Emperor Deqing temporarily chaotic.

Therefore, don't look at Emperor Deqing's aggressive appearance now, he will inevitably make concessions in the end.

Sure enough, after Emperor Deqing angrily reprimanded Zhao Junchen for a few words, he saw that Zhao Junchen just hung his head and was silent, neither refuting himself to his face, nor immediately surrendering to weakness, so he was silent for a long time, and the anger in his heart grew, but his tone softened slightly, and said: "I have high hopes for the matter of going to sea to seek immortals, and I trust you the most because I trust you the most, how can you bear to live up to my expectations?" Of course, I also know that your physical condition has not been good recently, and the court affairs on your body are also very heavy, but this matter does not require you to be responsible for everything, you just need to stay in the capital to preside over the overall situation, how much burden can this add to you? ”

Seeing that Emperor Deqing began to speak bitterly, Zhao Junchen looked helpless, and finally raised his head and said: "If this is the case, the minister still has a few requests here, and I hope that Your Majesty must grant it." ”

Emperor Deqing asked, "What is the request?" ”

Zhao Junchen said while thinking about it: "First of all, the minister hopes that the matter of going to sea to find immortals can be as low-key as possible, and must not be known to everyone, otherwise it will inevitably attract criticism from the government and the opposition...... According to the minister's meaning, let's just do this matter and not talk about it. ”

As far as Zhao Junchen is concerned, he hopes that the matter of building ships and going to sea can be carried out in a low-key manner as much as possible, and he is worried that the criticism of the government and the opposition is only one aspect, and the main thing is that he does not want the forces of the government and the opposition to take a share of the pie from him after seeing the sweetness.

Emperor Deqing didn't guess Zhao Junchen's careful thoughts, but nodded directly: "The imperial court's policy of forbidding the sea has not changed, and this matter is naturally carried out in a low-key manner." ”

Zhao Junchen continued: "Secondly, according to the assumption of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the power of the vassal kings in various places will inevitably be hit hard this time, and the 'Eight Kings Boat Company' they use to collect money will definitely be seized by the imperial court. ”

Emperor Deqing still nodded directly and agreed: "This is a good idea, with these ships and sailors, not only can you reduce a lot of initial investment, but the progress of going to sea to find immortals can also be accelerated a lot, I am ready." ”

Zhao Junchen said again: "In the end, just like Your Majesty said, even if the minister is responsible for going to sea to find immortals, he can only stay in the center of the capital to preside over the overall situation...... The minister thinks that Huo Zhengyuan, a university scholar, is the most suitable candidate! ”

Regarding this matter, Zhao Junchen has already communicated with Huo Zhengyuan, Huo Zhengyuan's ability and mind are enough to take on such a heavy responsibility, and now there is a reason to arrange Huo Zhengyuan over, and Emperor Deqing will not be suspicious.

After pondering for a moment, Emperor Deqing asked, "Huo Zhengyuan is thoughtful and has a close relationship with you, so he is a suitable candidate...... But if it is not appropriate to publicize the matter of going to sea to find immortals, what kind of reason do you think it is more appropriate to arrange him there? ”

Zhao Junchen already had a case in his heart, but he still showed a serious thinking look, and replied after a while: "The imperial court has begun to gradually take power from the six departments in Nanjing, and some chaos has gradually appeared in various parts of Fujian and Zhejiang, so I will arrange a name for Huo Zhengyuan to calm down the Qincha, ostensibly to let him stabilize the place, but in fact let him be responsible for building ships and going to sea. ”

After thinking for a moment again, Emperor Deqing nodded and said, "It's also thoughtful, just do it according to your ideas." ”

Seeing that Emperor Deqing agreed to his proposal again and did not deduce his true plan, Zhao Junchen's expression was still calm, but his mood couldn't help but be a little excited.

During this period of time, Emperor Deqing has been staring at the expansion of Zhao Junchen's power on the three sides of Shaanxi and Gansu, and has been doing his best to suppress Zhao Junchen's influence on the three sides of Shaanxi and Gansu, but he doesn't know that Zhao Junchen has more arrangements in the southeastern territory of the Ming Dynasty!

At present, in the southeast of the imperial court, the governor of Nanzhili is Zhao Junchen's ally, and the former cabinet elder Huang Yourong will soon reach an alliance with Zhao Junchen if nothing else, and the merchants of Huizhou and Zhejiang have always looked to Zhao Junchen, and the general army of Guangdong is Zhang Chengxun, the military center of Zhao Junchen, and there are "joint ships" that secretly infiltrate the local government along the Yangtze River and the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal...... It can be said that Zhao Junchen's forces in the southeastern territory of the Ming Dynasty have long been gradually formed, but these forces have not been able to be unified, and there is a lack of cooperation and care for each other, so it is naturally not a climate.

But if Huo Zhengyuan is allowed to have the identity of the imperial court and inspect the southeast for a long time on behalf of the center of the imperial court, he can not only be responsible for building ships, going to sea, smuggling and other matters, but also gradually unify the various forces arranged by Zhao Junchen in the southeast territory, and it will only take a few years for Zhao Junchen's influence in the southeast to catch up with the three sides of Shaanxi and Gansu!

After calming down the excitement in his heart, Zhao Junchen was still a little reluctant on the surface, and said: "In this case, the minister does not dare to live up to His Majesty's holy hope, and must do his best to arrange a fleet for His Majesty to go to sea to seek immortals as soon as possible, but this matter is hopeless after all, and the minister does not dare to guarantee anything, if nothing is achieved after a few years, I hope that Your Majesty will not blame and choose another merit." ”

Seeing that Zhao Junchen finally stopped making requests, Emperor Deqing also secretly breathed a sigh of relief, nodded and said: "I am not a faint monarch who does not know things, so naturally I will not force it...... However, since the immortals have given auspicious immortal fruits, as long as we and other monarchs and ministers are sincere and persistently search for the immortal path, we will definitely gain something. ”

Hearing Emperor Deqing's words, Zhao Junchen secretly shook his head helplessly, understanding that Emperor Deqing had already drilled the horns of the bull in the matter of seeking immortal immortality, and after arranging for the fleet to go to sea in the future, he was afraid that he would have to find some overseas treasures from time to time to fool Emperor Deqing.

*

After leaving the imperial study, Zhao Junchen thought for a moment, and did not go to Wenyuan Pavilion to deal with court affairs with the elders, but left the Forbidden City and planned to return to Zhao Mansion directly.

By the way, Zhao Junchen also sent someone to contact Huo Zhengyuan, a university scholar, and Li Chengru, a scholar of the household department, and invited them to go to Zhao's mansion to discuss secretly.

Especially Li Chengru, the head of the household department, he is still loyal to the crown prince Zhu Heyu on the surface, and he is willing to cooperate with Zhao Junchen during this period of time because of Zhu Heyu, and now Zhao Junchen will soon lead the impeachment of Zhu Heyu for the crime of bullying the clan at the court because of the persecution of Emperor Deqing, and Zhu Heyu is about to be deposed because of Zhao Junchen's impeachment......

In this case, Zhao Junchen must have a showdown with Li Chengru, and let Li Chengru make a choice as soon as possible - whether he wants to follow Zhu Heyu to the dark in the future, or completely surrender to Zhao Junchen in the name of righteousness.

On the way back to Zhao's mansion, Zhao Junchen has been secretly thinking about what kind of conversation strategy he should adopt after seeing Li Chengru, after all, Li Chengru is now the highest official in the Hubu, and Zhao Junchen can't get around him if he wants to continue to control the Hubu, so he doesn't want to completely turn his face with Li Chengru because of his next impeachment of Zhu Heyu.

In this way, between secretly thinking, time passed very quickly, and when Zhao Junchen came back to his senses, he found that his sedan chair had arrived in front of the main gate of Zhao's mansion.

"Young Master! I am back! ”

When Zhao Junchen stepped down and sat in the sedan chair, he heard an extremely familiar voice.

Surprised, Zhao Junchen looked up and immediately saw Xu Qingyan's appearance.

Xu Qingyan only took more than two months to travel between Taiwan and the capital this time, but it was much less than Zhao Junchen expected.

At the same time, just looking at Xu Qingyan's triumphant and eager expression at this time, Zhao Junchen knew that Xu Qingyan's trip to Taiwan was very rewarding.

So, Zhao Junchen was also pleased and nodded with a smile: "It's good to come back!" ”

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