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At the same time that Zhao Junchen asked to see Emperor Deqing, Emperor Deqing's announcement of his return to Beijing also reached the ears of the accompanying officials.

Except for Zhou Shangjing, Zhao Junchen, Shen Changmao and a few other powerful ministers in the court, most of the accompanying ministers did not understand why Emperor Deqing suddenly announced his return to Beijing, and why the game between Emperor Deqing and Zhou Shangjing came to an abrupt end.

But obviously, if Emperor Deqing can change his mind temporarily, and his attitude is still so eager, something big must have happened.

In officialdom, the most important thing is self-preservation, if you want to protect yourself, you must first judge the trend of the situation, and if you want to judge the trend of the situation, you must first obtain accurate information.

Therefore, after getting the will of Emperor Deqing to return to Beijing, most of the accompanying officials were looking around for news, but because Emperor Deqing temporarily blocked the news, no matter how they inquired about the news, they could not obtain accurate information, only knew that there had been a great change in the capital, and Emperor Deqing was eager to return to Beijing in order to stabilize the situation.

But what exactly is the so-called "great change" is a matter of opinion.

In this way, although the immortal battle between Emperor Deqing and Zhou Shangjing has come to an end for the time being, the accompanying officials are still in a panicked and suspicious atmosphere.

*

Because of Zhao Junchen and Zhou Shangjing's secret troubles, during Emperor Deqing's southern tour, although Huang Yourong stayed in the center of the capital and became an auxiliary minister, it can be said that he held great power alone. However, the three major cadres under Huang Yourong - Young Master Zhang Cheng, Ministry of Rites Shangshu Lin Wei, and University Scholar Huo Zhengyuan all entered the list of escorts. Toured south with Emperor Deqing.

To a large extent, because of this. Huang Yourong was unable to suppress the crown prince Zhu Heyu, so that Zhu Heyu smoothly carried out the business tax rectification plan.

On the other hand, Zhang Cheng, Lin Wei, and Huo Zhengyuan, because of Huang Yourong's stay in Beijing, could not get in touch with the secrets of the imperial court in time, and they were always a little hindsight.

After Emperor Deqing announced his intention to return to Beijing, Zhang Cheng, Lin Wei, and Huo Zhengyuan were also suspicious and suspicious, so they immediately got together to guess the reason for Emperor Deqing's sudden return to Beijing.

But as with the vast majority of officials. Because of the lack of accurate and reliable information, no matter how much they guess, they cannot come to a convincing conclusion.

So, they thought of their ally Shen Changmao.

Of course, now Shen Changmao has succeeded Zhou Shangjing and has been promoted to the new cabinet chief assistant - in a way, the game between Emperor Deqing and Zhou Shangjing has made Shen Changmao the biggest profiteer.

However, although Shen Changmao's identity is more and more noble. But he and Huang Yourong are still in an alliance.

Therefore, after Zhang Cheng, Lin Wei, and Huo Zhengyuan couldn't guess why, they decided to look for Shen Changmao to ask for news.

Then, Shen Changmao received them very warmly. not only went out to greet the three of them in person, but also had a lot of praise, and he couldn't see the cold appearance on weekdays at all. made Zhang Cheng, Lin Wei, and Huo Zhengyuan a little flattered.

After coming to the living room, Shen Changmao and Huang Dang sat down separately.

Then. Before Zhang Cheng, Lin Wei and Huo Zhengyuan could speak, Shen Changmao already said with emotion: "Speaking of which. The old man and Huang Ge Lao have been ministers in the same court for more than 20 years, and they have always admired Huang Ge Lao's personality, mind and means, but because of various reasons, the situation is pressing, and the old man and Huang Ge have always been more hostile than cooperative over the years. ”

Although Zhang Cheng, Lin Wei and Huo Zhengyuan were all eager to find out the news, Shen Changmao's identity was very noble, and since Shen Changmao suddenly sighed, the three of them could only talk about Shen Changmao's topic for the time being.

So, Zhang Cheng said with a smile: "These are all things of the past, now Lord Shoufu, you and Huang Ge Lao have formed an alliance, and the two sides have become a cooperative relationship, I believe that our cooperation in the future will only get closer and closer, and those conflicts in the past are just passing away." ”

Shen Changmao nodded and said: "That's true, now that I think about it, Huang Ge Lao really has a long-term vision, and the cooperation between you and me is indeed a wonderful move, since the merger of the two families, our influence in the temple is increasing day by day, and all kinds of actions are invincible, even Zhou Shangjing does not dare to underestimate us, let alone Zhao Junchen's junior with shallow qualifications...... Speaking of which, the old man can become the new first assistant today, and it is inseparable from your strong support! ”

Hearing Shen Changmao say this, Zhang Cheng and the others were all humble and said that they did not dare to take credit.

It's just that in addition to being humble, Zhang Cheng, Lin Wei and Huo Zhengyuan all looked a little embarrassed.

After all, the premise of the cooperation between Huang Yourong and Shen Changmao is largely because the status of the two sides is equal and the authority is equal, and now that Shen Changmao has become the first assistant of the cabinet, he will overpower Huang Yourong in the future.

However, these are just long-term considerations, and the top priority is to ask Shen Changmao about the specific reasons for Emperor Deqing's sudden return to Beijing.

It's just that before Zhang Cheng, Lin Wei and Huo Zhengyuan could ask, they heard Shen Changmao sigh again: "The cooperation between you and me can be said to have a lot of benefits, as long as we work together, there is nothing difficult for us in this temple, so the old man has decided that you and I will further deepen cooperation in the future, if we can be as close as a family and do not distinguish between each other, it would be the best." ”

After speaking, Shen Changmao glanced at the three of them with a smile, and said meaningfully: "In fact, in the old man's opinion, there is no difference between the three adults and his own people, from now on, as long as the old man remains in the cabinet, you will definitely be indispensable." ”

Hearing Shen Changmao's words, a trace of surprise flashed in the eyes of Zhang Cheng, Lin Wei and Huo Zhengyuan.

What does Shen Changmao's words mean?

What does it mean to be "like a family"? What do you mean by "not distinguishing one another"? What do you mean by "your own people"? What does it mean to say "absolutely indispensable to your benefits"?

Could it be that after Shen Changmao became the first assistant of the cabinet, his ambitions were inflated and he planned to annex the "Yellow Party"?

Now that Shen Changmao has become the first assistant of the cabinet, he is only in a more noble position, and his power and influence with Huang Yourong are only on par, and he wants to annex the "Yellow Party"? Shen Changmao is only afraid that he doesn't have such a good tooth mouth!

If Shen Changmao really wants to take the opportunity to annex the "Yellow Party", he should never be so eager, nor should he be so obvious, and slowly trying to infiltrate it is the best way!

It stands to reason that Shen Changmao would never be such an unwise person, he should understand this!

Surprised, Huo Zhengyuan, who had the most outstanding intelligence among the three, flashed a hint of foreboding in his heart, and he only felt that the changes that had taken place in the capital were not so simple.

So, Huo Zhengyuan tentatively probed Shen Changmao: "Lord Shoufu, your idea is naturally the best...... It's just that the three of us have always been the only one who is the head of the Huang Pavilion, so Shen Shoufu and Huang Ge Lao can discuss this matter, as long as you and the Huang Pavilion Lao reach an agreement, we will all obey it! ”

"Huang Ge Lao? Hey hey ......"

Hearing Huo Zhengyuan's words, Shen Changmao suddenly laughed weirdly.

*

After the crown prince Zhu Heyu rectified the commercial tax, although he poked a big basket and caused a backlash from all stakeholders, Zhu Heyu was the prince, and Emperor Deqing would never give up on him easily.

Therefore, in order to calm the anger of the public, to stabilize the situation in the government and the opposition, and to protect the crown prince Zhu Heyu, Emperor Deqing could only find a scapegoat.

The best candidate for this scapegoat is undoubtedly Huang Yourong, who stayed in Beijing as an auxiliary minister!

Therefore, after the crown prince Zhu Heyu began to rectify the commercial tax, it was already doomed to Huang Yourong's gloomy resignation!

Zhao Junchen can think of this, Zhou Shangjing can think of this, Huang Yourong himself can think of this, and Shen Changmao can naturally think of this too!

Therefore, for several powerful ministers in the court, the most important thing now is not to stabilize the situation in the government and the opposition, but to carve up Huang Yourong's political legacy and power in the court!

Zhao Junchen thinks so, and has been preparing for a long time.

Shen Changmao also thought the same, and he was already using his status as Huang Yourong's ally to plan to get the moon first!

Allies are only temporary, only their own interests are eternal, if you can get more benefits by selling allies, then "treachery" is also an acceptable thing.

Shen Changmao has long been deeply aware of this point.

Today, Shen Changmao's various performances are precisely to pry Huang Yourong's corner and bring Zhang Cheng, Huo Zhengyuan, and Lin Wei into his own door!

These three people are Huang Yourong's most capable cadres, as long as they buy the three of them, it is equivalent to getting most of the political power of the "Yellow Party"!

In this regard, Shen Changmao is also very clear.

……

…… (To be continued.) )