Chapter 448 I admit that I spoke too loudly at the beginning

He looked stunned.

A hint of hesitation appeared on Zhao Zhenji's face.

For this visit to West Garden.

Zhao Zhenji had never expected Yan Shaoting to be unable to see his intentions and purposes.

But in his opinion, as long as things are not too irreconcilable, they can still be negotiated.

This is what they mean when they say business is business.

But Yan Shaoting knew clearly why he came, but he still spoke in this way, which seemed to be a rejection.

Zhao Zhenji was in a serious mood, but he forced a smile on his face: "Little Lord Yan, you are joking. I am the Governor-General of Zhejiang, and Nanjing is my jurisdiction. I came to the West Garden today, but no one has asked me to speak for them."

Yan Shaoting understood everything and said, "In that case, I was overthinking it."

Zhao Zhenji felt helpless when he saw Yan Shaoting pretending to be ignorant and acting confused.

His eyes suddenly moved, and he smiled and said, "This time when I entered the city, I heard some children talking at the city gate. It seemed to be the old story of the dispute between Duke Huan of Qi and Prince Jiu for the throne in the Spring and Autumn Period. I couldn't help but feel that this secondary capital Nanjing is indeed a place of learning, much better than Hangzhou."

After saying this, Zhao Zhenji held the teacup and silently watched Yan Shaoting's reaction.

Yan Shaoting sneered in his heart and shook his head: "Is Zhao Butang trying to teach me Confucius' words about repaying evil with virtue and forgiving others?"

Finished.

Yan Shaoting looked at Zhao Zhenji with a cold and deep gaze.

What this non-stick pan is talking about at this moment is an old story that happened in Qi State during the Spring and Autumn Period.

It tells the story that when Duke Huan of Qi, who was also the son of Duke Xi of Qi, was competing for power with his elder brother Prince Jiu in his early years, he was shot by an arrow by his political rival Guan Zhong.

Guan Zhong's arrow almost cost Duke Huan of Qi his life.

What happened later is well known. Prince Jiu lost to his younger brother in the struggle for power.

Logically speaking, at this time, as the victor, Duke Huan of Qi should first eliminate political enemies and clear all obstacles.

However, Duke Huan of Qi, who inherited the throne of Qi, did not immediately kill Guan Zhong, who had nearly killed him with an arrow, or take the opportunity to retaliate. Instead, he followed the advice of his teacher Bao Shuya and tolerated and reused Guan Zhong with a broad mind.

Faced with Duke Huan of Qi who accepted his request without complaint and entrusted him with important tasks, Guan Zhong devoted himself to state affairs wholeheartedly and worked hard to the end.

In the end, Qi became the overlord of the Spring and Autumn Period under the leadership of Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong.

Yan Shaoting sneered in his heart.

Zhao Zhenji openly said that the academic atmosphere in Nanjing was flourishing and mentioned Duke Huan of Qi and Prince Jiu, but what he really wanted to talk about was the story of Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong turning hostility into friendship, respecting the king and repelling the barbarians.

and so.

After Zhao Zhenji finished speaking, Yan Shaoting immediately made a decisive move and exposed the other party's true intention.

Zhao Zhenji finally showed a bit of embarrassment on his face: "Little Yan, you are overthinking. Although I am several generations older than Little Yan, Little Yan has made great achievements in the court at a young age, and has been praised by the emperor and the officials in the court for his loyalty to the country. How dare I preach to Little Yan. It's just..."

At the end of the day, Zhao Zhenji felt extremely helpless.

If I had known that Yan Shaoting was so stubborn, why would I agree to come to West Garden to negotiate with Yan Shaoting?

It was clearly a matter from which he would not gain any benefit, but he agreed to it reluctantly just out of consideration for the relationship.

But now I feel very uncomfortable.

I regret it!
Just when Zhao Zhenji was feeling extremely upset.

Yan Shaoting smiled faintly and spread his hands: "Zhao Bu Tang, although I am young, I may be a little youthful and hot-tempered in the eyes of the elders. But how can the younger generation not know that it is better to forgive others when you can, and it is better to break up than to make a family?"

As he said this, Yan Shaoting looked at Zhao Zhenji with a smile. When the other party was puzzled and didn't know what he meant,
Yan Shaoting smiled and said, "Take the past between Zhao Butang and my Yan family, for example. There was a lot of estrangement between them."

When Zhao Zhenji heard Yan Shaoting mention this, his heart suddenly tightened. He no longer knew why he mentioned this at this time.

Yan Shaoting ignored him and continued, "Minister should have passed the imperial examination in the 14th year of Jiajing. Later, due to the Gengxu Incident in the 29th year of Jiajing, Anda went south to plunder and approached the capital. Your Majesty summoned all officials to discuss the matter, but none of the officials dared to speak. Only Minister shouted that making peace with the enemy was a shame in the Spring and Autumn Period. If the enemy enters the treaty again, it will be too harsh and the country is incompetent. It was because of Minister's words that the emperor appreciated him very much and promoted him to Zuo Chunfang, Zuo Yude and Henan Supervisory Censor. After that, he had a grudge against my grandfather for many years. Minister should know the reason."

He did not mention what kind of rift had occurred back then. He just finished speaking and looked at Zhao Zhenji calmly.

When Zhao Zhenji saw Yan Shaoting mentioning what happened back then, he shook his head and sighed.

He clasped his hands, his face ashamed: "It was the Gengxu Rebellion at that time. I was appreciated and promoted by Your Majesty, so I was arrogant. I met the Prime Minister in the duty room, but was not seen. I was angry. Zhao Wenhua came in at the same time. He also advised us to postpone the discussion of state affairs. I angrily said, 'How can a dog of the powerful know state affairs?', so I offended Zhao Wenhua and angered the Prime Minister. I was punished for supervising the war at that time, and was transferred to Guangxi Qingyuan Libo Dianshi..."

Remember the past.

Zhao Zhenji's face was filled with even more shame, and he lowered his head, not daring to raise it.

Yan Shaoting smiled faintly.

Sometimes it is like this in the court. People who could have been friends may become enemies because of a single word.

If Zhao Zhenji had not been young and impetuous, and had not cursed Zhao Wenhua for being a dog of the powerful just because he could not see Yan Song, he might have been caught by Yan Song and others for supervising the war and been caned and exiled.

Perhaps if it weren't for that sentence, Zhao Zhenji might have already been the current cabinet minister.

Or perhaps, he will become close friends with the Yan family.

Yan Shaoting spoke softly, "After that, you were promoted to the Nanjing Ministry. When you were promoted in the 40th year of Jiajing, I wonder if you still remember that my family had not taken action against you to hinder your career. Before you went to Beijing to take up the post of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, you were ordered to transfer to the post of Governor of Yingtian.

If I remember correctly, forty years before the reign of Jiajing, the Minister of State wrote to my grandfather because of the fire in the three main halls. The words were sharp and he blamed my grandfather for what he did. But now the Minister of State should have understood that no matter who is in power, they can only follow the will of the saint. "

Yan Shaoting only said two things here.

But it made Zhao Zhenji's face turn completely red, full of embarrassment and awkwardness.

It is said that he wrote a letter to ridicule and denounce Yan Song for building palaces and other buildings for the inner court. But now, people like Xu Ge Lao have children who specialize in doing this in the court.

Zhao Zhenji has been in the south for many years, but he was either the Governor of Yingtian or the Governor-General of Zhejiang, both of which were prominent positions. He knew the direction and affairs of the court inside and out.

Not to mention what Yan Shaoting said.

If in the 40th year of Jiajing, when I returned to Beijing after my mourning period was over, the Yan family had just helped a little, I would not have been promoted to the governor of Yingtian before I even entered Beijing. Instead, I should have left the capital in disgrace with the imperial decree of exile.

Don't doubt it, and don't disbelieve it, the Yan family has such strength.

The original true history is indeed like this. Zhao Zhenji was dismissed from office along with Liu Dashi and others in the 40th year of Jiajing, and was not reinstated by the new emperor until the first year of Longqing.

Not to mention, Zhao Zhenji is now the Governor-General of Zhejiang and Governor of Zhejiang, a real frontier official of the imperial dynasty.

Zhao Zhenji became more and more annoyed and ashamed.

Yan Shaoting chuckled and patted the armrest of the chair. "Zhao Butang, you came to West Garden in a hurry to Nanjing today, wanting to talk to me about Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong's principles of repaying evil with kindness and forgiving others. But Butang, do you think that my family has done something to repay evil with kindness and forgive others? Do I really need to do so? So today, when I am based in Nanjing, should I forgive those people and repay evil with kindness?"

After finishing speaking.

Yan Shaoting stood up with a smile on his face, supporting himself with his hands on the chair, and slowly walked out of the mountain house. When he got outside, he overlooked the pool of water not far away.

In the mountain house.

Zhao Zhenji was filled with remorse.

I really shouldn't have agreed to those people's request this time, thinking that I was doing a good thing, but I didn't know that I was the one who did the greatest evil.

I come here for the present.

Yan Shaoting knew it very well, but he didn't say a word about the present and only talked about the past.

The more this happened, the more Zhao Zhenji felt that his actions today were so shameful and like a clown.

He stood up, walked out of the house and stood behind Yan Shaoting.

Looking at the tall figure of the young man.

Zhao Zhenji bowed his hands without changing his expression, "In the past, I made a grudge against the Prime Minister because of a word I said, but now the Prime Minister is lenient. I didn't know how to repay the madman, but I went to ask for help. I am really ashamed." Yan Shaoting turned sideways, looked at Zhao Zhenji, and shook his head, "I said what happened in the past not because I wanted you to do something. It was because you were inspired by the story of Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong. In my opinion, you just think that I can be a gentleman, but I am not a gentleman."

Having said that, he glanced indifferently at Zhao Zhenji who was bowing his head in front of him.

Zhao Zhenji frowned.

Yan Shaoting continued, "The minister borrowed the words of the saint in the hope that I could repay evil with virtue. But I am not a gentleman, let alone a saint. What I do is for the king, for my family, and for the people. If I can protect the country and my family, and have enough energy to protect the common people, I will offend some so-called princes, nobles, wealthy families, and powerful people..."

As he spoke, he reached out his hand to Zhao Zhenji and slowly lifted him up.

Under Zhao Zhenji's gaze.

Yan Shaoting smiled and said word by word: "So what's the harm? Do you think so?"

Zhao Zhenji had just straightened up when his whole body suddenly tensed up after hearing these words. A warm current passed through his brain and hit his heart directly.

then.

Zhao Zhenji felt more and more ashamed, and his face turned red and he couldn't face anyone.

Originally, he was ashamed of the Yan family's kindness and forgiveness towards him, but he was forcing them to do so today, and had not given any return in the past few years.

but now.

Zhao Zhenji was ashamed that he had ignored the root cause of the current situation and the expectations of the common people, and actually spoke for those who had taken advantage of him.

And this is compared to the young man in front of him.

How can it be compared with what he said?

I have actually been living in vain for decades!

For a moment, compared with this young man, he even wanted to resign from his official position.

of course.

It was just a moment.

"Today I know the aspiration to nourish all things. Although I am ashamed to be older than a wheel, I am like a child in comparison."

Zhao Zhenji bowed with both hands, with a respectful and sincere attitude.

In his opinion, compared with Yan Shaoting's great ambition and broad mind, he was just a naughty boy who didn't understand the world.

Yan Shaoting held Zhao Zhenji's hands, looked sincere, and asked earnestly: "The minister is an elder, but I wonder if you have the same ambition as me and can work together as comrades?"

Who cares about Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong?

Who cares what the various departments and offices in Nanjing request?

I was talking about all sorts of things in front of Zhao Zhenji's non-stick pan today, and all I wanted was this non-stick pan.

A high-ranking official in the court who can enter the cabinet with just a little bit of manipulation.

Take Zhao Zhenji into your possession and take care of the affairs in Nanjing city at the same time.

This is Yan Shaoting’s final choice.

Faced with the olive branch extended by Yan Shaoting, Zhao Zhenji did not bow down immediately, but instead considered it carefully.

It didn't take long.

Zhao Zhenji smiled and said, "From what I can see, Lord Yan should be meeting someone else now. He has been waiting for a long time."

Yan Shaoting was stunned for a moment, but soon he smiled and reacted.

They are all smart people.

Zhao Zhenji knew very well that since someone asked him to come forward to help clarify the matter, there must be other people in Nanjing who were not of one mind and would come to pay him a visit.

Yan Shaoting looked at the non-stick pan in front of him with a smile.

This time, Zhao Zhenji did not shirk his responsibility and tried to protect himself.

He smiled and said directly: "What Lord Yan wants in Jiangnan this time is that the big families can return the land they have occupied in recent years to the people. This is a good policy, and I will help."

……

West Garden, Peony Terrace.

Yang Zongqi, who had been waiting here for half an hour, became increasingly restless.

He looked outside anxiously, but saw no one.

But the maids always brought tea on time.

However, Yan Shaoting, whom he wanted to see, never showed up.

Those people in Nanjing city are no longer reliable.

This is Yang Zongqi’s current understanding.

Expecting those people to unite and argue with Yan Shaoting is nothing but wishful thinking.

original.

In Yang Zongqi's plan, as long as they in Nanjing City were united and firm in their belief in confronting Yan Shaoting, then even if things got out of hand, the imperial court would never punish them too severely for the sake of stability in Jiangnan, and might even not punish them at all.

Because Jiangnan cannot be in chaos.

Jiangnan, as an important financial and taxation center of the Ming Dynasty, cannot be in chaos.

It is because I understand this point that I try to contact all parties.

However, things are unpredictable.

Yang Zongqi originally wanted to fight to the death.

But unfortunately, my teammates wanted to shoot.

The people of Jiangnan are not of one mind, so even if a big chaos occurs, the court only needs to choose to punish one side.

Then there is no need to think about it.

The imperial court would definitely choose to fully support Yan Shaoting and severely punish them.

Rather than that.

Yang Zongqi made his choice decisively.

Since they can vote, why can't I vote?

A figure swayed in from the door.

Yang Zongqi's eyes jumped, and he immediately stood up and walked forward, then fell to his knees.

This kneeling was incredibly smooth and without any hesitation.

Without even raising his head, he shouted in a deep voice.

"This humble official is vulgar and his words are rude."

"I heard that I spoke too loudly a few days ago, causing discomfort to Lord Yan. I feel deeply uneasy and am here to apologize."

"I will leave my crime to you, Lord Yan!"

…………

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