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In the beginning, the status of the cabinet was not as prominent as it is now, it was just an ordinary institution that assisted the emperor in handling government affairs and providing advice, and it did not have much autonomy itself, and it would rise and fall because of the emperor's words, and the appointment and dismissal of cabinet members were all based on the emperor's words. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

It can be said that at the beginning of the establishment of the cabinet, the cabinet ministers did not have any ability to resist the imperial power, nor did they have any idea of resisting the emperor - they were all hardcore "imperial party" officials, and all of them were the staunchest supporters of the imperial power - otherwise the emperor would not have arranged for them to enter the cabinet to assist him.

However, as the status of the cabinet became higher and stronger, and even became the representative body of the Ming Dynasty's courtiers, this situation quietly changed - with the continuous improvement of status, power, and influence, the cabinet ministers became the leaders of the hundred officials and the leaders of the major factions in the court, and then the cabinet ministers found that their own interests and the interests of the emperor were irreconcilable, and many of the emperor's actions would infringe on their interests, and their followers continued to encourage them to stand up against the imperial power, so they naturally became the natural counterbalance of imperial power!

In the end, those cabinet ministers who were originally the most staunch supporters of the imperial power all stood on the opposite side of the imperial power actively, passively, or unconsciously, and they had their own interests, their own positions, and their own ideas.

Interests determine the position, and the position determines the idea, and all this is predestined.

After all, when the cabinet ministers became the spokesmen for the interests of the hundred officials, they were destined to stand on the opposite side of the emperor, and it became their natural obligation to check and balance the imperial power and fight for the interests of the hundred officials.

Therefore, Zhou Shangjing did not have any worries about Emperor Deqing's plan to install Liang Fuchen, the governor of the three sides, into the cabinet and meddle in cabinet affairs through Liang Fuchen.

Liang Fuchen is now a hardcore member of the "Imperial Party", but from the moment Liang Fuchen enters the cabinet, his position, interests, ideas, etc. will undergo subtle changes, and he will find that his interests conflict with the interests of Emperor Deqing, he will find that his loyal deeds will always be exchanged for the loss of his own interests, and he will find that his cronies continue to encourage him to fight against the emperor...... In the end, Liang Fuchen will gradually move towards the opposite side of imperial power like those cabinet predecessors a hundred years ago, and Emperor Deqing's vain attempt to meddle in cabinet affairs through Liang Fuchen will eventually fail!

If Liang Fuchen entered the cabinet, he was still loyal to Emperor Deqing and did not have any position and ideas of his own, then it also means that Liang Fuchen would become an accomplice of Emperor Deqing and help Emperor Deqing continue to infringe on the rights and interests of hundreds of officials.

Zhou Shangjing knew the way to benefit people's hearts, so Zhou Shangjing thought that Emperor Deqing's plans and efforts were all in vain, and he might be able to get a lifetime of benefits, but in the long run, this plan would inevitably fail.

That's why Zhou Shangjing said, "Since ancient times, have you ever seen someone rebel against him?" No matter who he is, no matter how loyal he is, once he enters the cabinet, his position will quietly change."

Like Zhao Junchen, Zhou Shangjing was not as worried about Emperor Deqing's attempt to meddle in the cabinet as a hundred officials, compared to this matter, Zhou Shangjing was more concerned about the gradual easing of the relationship between Emperor Deqing and the crown prince Zhu and Yu!

Zhou Shangjing also believes that this incident will definitely have a far-reaching impact on the pattern of the imperial court.

At this time, because of the long court meeting, Zhou Shangjing's expression looked a little tired, and he was sitting in a sedan chair with his eyes closed and pretending to sleep, but his brain was still extremely clear and constantly thinking.

"Before this, His Majesty and the crown prince were full of contradictions and misunderstandings, although the two of them were father and son, but they restrained each other, and they were unable to exert all their strengths...... But if the relationship between His Majesty and the Crown Prince gradually begins to ease, or even move towards cooperation, things will be a little troublesome...... His Majesty's powerful means, the righteousness of imperial power, and the influence of the prince's reputation, once the two are combined, even the old man will not dare to touch the edge easily......"

"In addition, the old man has been low-key for a long time, not only repeatedly showing weakness to His Majesty, but also often taking the initiative to cooperate with His Majesty, just to reduce His Majesty's suspicion and vigilance, no longer regard the old man as a great enemy, and also let the old man's family power be passed on and prosper for a hundred years...... At that time, His Majesty's confidence in the crown prince was shaken, but he had not yet considered the candidate for the new prince, so His Majesty did not know whether the existence of the old man was good or bad for the continuation of the Ming Dynasty, so that the old man's strategy might still succeed...... But if His Majesty regains his determination to support the crown prince, and the prince has always regarded the old man as an enemy, once the prince succeeds to the throne, it is very likely that there will be conflicts, so that in order for the prince to be able to ascend the throne smoothly in the future and control the situation in the temple, the existence of the old man will be even more obstructive to His Majesty......"

"Therefore, the relationship between His Majesty and the Crown Prince must not be harmonious! It's better for the two of them to continue to contradict each other...... Something has to be done...... Maybe he will have to join forces with Zhao Junchen for the time being......"

"In addition, the vision and methods shown by the crown prince this morning are quite subtle, which is very different from the past, and it seems that there is a master behind him, and this must also be paid attention to......"

Thinking of this, Zhou Shangjing suddenly sat up straight, lifted the sedan curtain, and asked Zhou Lu, who was accompanying him outside the sedan chair: "I heard that after Zhao Shancai was removed from his official position and took away his fame, he has been temporarily living in the prince's East Palace?" ”

Zhou Lu is the intelligence leader under Zhou Shangjing, and he has always been well aware of the big and small dynamics in the capital, and after hearing Zhou Shangjing's inquiry, he hurriedly rushed to the sedan chair and replied: "That's true, according to the information collected by the villain, Zhao Shancai has now become the head of the staff in the prince's east palace, and is deeply trusted by the prince, His Royal Highness the prince has adopted all his suggestions, and even does not hesitate to treat him with a teacher's courtesy!" That Zhao Shancai is only twenty-six or seventeen years old now, and it is a strange story that he can get such a courtesy from the prince. ”

After Zhou Shangjing heard Zhou Lu's answer, a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes, and he secretly thought: "Speaking of which, the prince's methods and style have changed, and it was only after Zhao Shancai entered the East Palace that it began, it seems that the master behind the prince is undoubtedly Zhao Shancai...... This Zhao Shan is young, but his mental strategy is so extraordinary, he really can't underestimate these young people......

While thinking about it, Zhou Shangjing said slowly: "Don't underestimate Zhao Shancai just because he is younger, then Zhao Junchen is one or two years younger than Zhao Shancai, don't you still play with Huang Yourong, Shen Changmao, Wen Guanliang, these old guys?" A person's intelligence doesn't have much to do with age......"

Speaking of this, Zhou Shangjing's expression was a little more cautious, and he commanded: "Next, you send someone to closely inquire about all the news about Zhao Shancai, don't slack off." ”

Seeing that Zhou Shangjing valued Zhao Shancai so much, Zhou Lu hurriedly nodded solemnly and said: "The villain understands, and immediately after he goes back, he will order someone to pay close attention to Zhao Shancai's every move, and once he finds out, he will immediately inform the master to know!" ”

Speaking of this, Zhou Lu seemed to think of something, and after hesitating for a moment, he added: "Actually, over there in the Prince's East Palace, our people have always paid attention, although the main thing is to pay attention to His Royal Highness the Prince's actions, but they also pay attention to Zhao Shancai by the way!" A few days ago, the villain received some news about Zhao Shancai, but the villain didn't attach great importance to Zhao Shancai at that time, so he didn't report it to the master in time, and asked the master to punish him! ”

Zhou Shangjing's gray eyebrows raised slightly, and he asked, "Oh?" What's the news? ”

Zhou Lu replied: "It is rumored that Zhao Shancai's physical condition has suddenly deteriorated sharply in the past few days, it seems that he has a stomach problem, which is not obvious at first, but now it is a sudden stomach pain from time to time, which is quite intense and unbearable, that Zhao Shancai heard that he is also a strong-willed person, but whenever he has stomach pain, he will be pale, his body is rickety, cold sweat flows, and even exhales in pain, which seems to be very serious." ”

"Oh?"

After hearing Zhou Lu's report, Zhou Shangjing's old eyes flashed slightly, and then he put down the sedan curtain and sat in the sedan chair in contemplation.

Zhou Shangjing is experienced and has seen too many conspiracies, and after hearing Zhou Lu's report, he immediately realized that this matter did not seem to be so simple.

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At the same time that Zhou Shangjing was secretly paying attention to Zhao Shancai, in the imperial study of the Forbidden City, Emperor Deqing and the crown prince Zhu Heyu were also talking about Zhao Shancai.

However, it was said that after the end of the early dynasty, Emperor Deqing immediately summoned the crown prince Zhu Heyu in the imperial study.

After seeing the crown prince Zhu and Yu, Emperor Deqing first praised the prince Zhu and Yu a few words, and deeply praised the actions of the prince Zhu and Yu this morning, and the prince Zhu and Yu also showed due humility and filial piety, and for a time there was a rare atmosphere of harmony between the father and son.

But at this moment, Emperor Deqing suddenly changed his words and asked, "Your performance today is very good, but your various statements should not be your idea alone, right?" But who gave you guidance behind the scenes? ”

As the so-called Zhizi Mo Ruo's father, although the prince Zhu and Yu's own scheming methods have been improving, but now they are only barely strong, Emperor Deqing naturally knows very well, so he will ask like this.

After hearing the inquiry, the crown prince Zhu Heyu did not hide anything, in fact, even if Emperor Deqing did not ask, for the sake of Zhao Shancai's future career, Zhu Heyu would also take the initiative to explain, so Zhu Heyu immediately replied: "Back to my father's words, the various performances of the sons and daughters in the court this morning are indeed from the guidance of the master, this master is extremely strategic, unparalleled in mind, and his character is also admirable, and he is a rare strange person in the world." ”

"Oh? Who is this master? Seeing the crown prince praise him like this, Emperor Deqing asked curiously.

"Father, you have also heard of him, it is Zhao Shancai, the eye of today's science list, but unfortunately because of some things, he has now been robbed of his official position and fame by his father, and now he is serving as a staff member in the East Palace of his son."

"Zhao Shancai?" Emperor Deqing thoughtfully: "Isn't he a distant relative of Zhao Junchen?" I see that he has a close relationship with Zhao Junchen, is this person credible? ”

Zhu Heyu hurriedly replied: "Please rest assured, Zhao Shancai has always been a noble character, and he is still a closed disciple of the crown prince and master He Ming, and Zhao Junchen is by no means a person from the road, he and Zhao Junchen have met a few times, but it is just to spy on Zhao Junchen's reality." ”

Emperor Deqing nodded slowly and said, "I see, in this way, this Zhao Shancai can be your right-hand man, but my punishment for him at the beginning was a bit heavy......"

Seeing Emperor Deqing say this, Zhu Heyu was overjoyed.

After all, with Emperor Deqing's words, it means that Zhao Shancai's career has renewed hope!

However, the crown prince Zhu and Yu suddenly remembered Zhao Shancai's physical state for a while, and their hearts couldn't help but be clouded.

Recently, Zhao Shancai's stomach disease has become more and more serious, which has seriously affected Zhao Shancai's physical state......

"Perhaps, the famous doctor in Zhao Junchen's mansion will have a way to ......"

At this time, Prince Zhu and Yu suddenly thought.

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…… (To be continued.) )