It wasn't until the end of the day that Zhang Juzheng, who had been busy for a long time, was able to have a moment to spare, and when the people waiting next to him saw that he was finally free, he hurriedly brought over the lunch that had been heated several times - that's right, Zhang Ge didn't have lunch until this time. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

The previous nearly a month of closed-door ignoring government affairs left too much political history to deal with, coupled with the fact that this period of time was the busiest time in the imperial court, such a result was formed.

It wasn't until he saw the food brought to the table that Zhang Juzheng felt a pang of hunger in his stomach, and he didn't say anything, so he quickly picked up the dishes and chopsticks and ate them. Although it stands to reason that a person of his status has to be a little particular about his appearance even when he eats, but now that time is pressing, even he doesn't know when something will come to the door again, so let's fill my stomach first.

As he expected, just half of the meal was eaten, someone came to report that Yang Chen from the Ministry of Industry was out asking to see him. Hearing this, Zhang Juzheng was stunned at first, and he didn't know why even the officials of the Ministry of Industry came to the door, and then remembered that he was transferred to his subordinates to listen to it, so he nodded and ordered someone to invite him in.

After a while, Yang Chen walked into the hall with a strange face, even when he saw the ceremony, he also looked uncertain. This point fell into Zhang Juzheng's eyes, which also made him a little puzzled, so he put his chopsticks aside and asked, "What, but is there anything that can't be decided?" ”

Zhang Juzheng still has a good impression of Yang Chen. This is a talented and practical official. Moreover, he has always had no selfish intentions, only dedicated to doing things for the court, and if he continues to explain himself, he can often complete the task satisfactorily. Although this person's identity is a little special, so that the people around him always remind him to be careful, but this can't change Zhang Juzheng's appreciation for him.

After being asked by Zhang Juzheng, Yang Chen finally calmed down and replied: "The lower officials were ordered by the elder of the cabinet to deal with the tax and silver affairs in various places in the household department, and many local officials wanted to dredge up the relationship, but they were returned by the lower officials. ”

"Well, you're doing a great job. The laws of the imperial court have already been set, how can they be changed at will, otherwise how can the prestige of the imperial court exist? Why, but have you encountered a difficult opponent? Zhang Juzheng glanced at the other party and asked.

Yang Chen nodded: "Other people are easy to deal with, but it was the officials of Jiangling County who came just now......

"Hmph, although this official is from Jiangling, but now he is the head of the cabinet of the Ming Dynasty, can I still make a decision to favor one over the other?" Zhang Juzheng immediately understood, and even wanted to say what he meant for Yang Zhen. But then, he thought of one more thing: "You are also from Jiangling County, right?" In this way, it is really difficult for you to deal with that person, so ......"

Seeing that Zhang Juzheng wanted to find someone else to help him solve the problem, Yang Chen was still a little moved in his heart. But then, he arched his hand and said: "The elder of the pavilion has misunderstood, although the lower official position is inferior and the power is small, but it is still clear which is more important and which is more important." ”

"Oh? Then the official was relieved. Although he said so, Zhang Juzheng's gaze at Yang Chen was still full of questions, and he didn't understand why he came here at this time.

Yang Chen hesitated for a moment, and then took out a letter sealed with fire paint from his sleeve and handed it to the entourage on the side, and said, "That Jiangling official named Xiao Jing asked to see the elder of the pavilion to talk after being rejected by the lower officials. At the same time, he also took out this letter and asked the subordinate to present it to the elder, saying that it was a very important matter, and as soon as the elder saw this letter, he would see him. ”

After receiving the fluttering letter, Zhang Juzheng's brows furrowed. Although this Yang Chen has some talents, he still seems a little immature after all, how can he believe such nonsense? If the old officials were replaced, I am afraid that the letter would be returned to the magistrate immediately.

But since the letters had been delivered, he didn't want to read them, so he tore open the envelope casually, and took the letter very carelessly and read it. But at this look, Zhang Juzheng's expression suddenly froze, his face changed from disapproval to solemnity, and then, a few green tendons even bloomed on his forehead, which was a manifestation of the anger in his heart.

When the relatives on the side saw this, they were also shocked, and they didn't know what was written in this letter, which could make the adults so angry.

As for Yang Chen, although he expected it in his heart, since that person dared to ask him to send a letter, he must have some kind of trick to blackmail Zhang Juzheng. But now it seems that things are more serious than I thought.

Sure enough, after reading the letter for a long time, Zhang Juzheng closed his eyes, and then said, "Then let him come to see me...... No, it's better that he doesn't want to come in this palace, you bring you a message, tell him to wait in my house in the evening, I'm talking to him. ”

"Yes." Although I don't know what the trick is, since Zhang Juzheng has arranged it like this, Yang Chen can't say anything, so after giving it up, he retreated. And when he withdrew from the hall, he saw Zhang Juzheng carefully put the letter to the side of the candle, and in an instant, the letter was swallowed up by the flames......

"Is there such a thing? A small county town official can use a letter to blackmail the head of the cabinet? Moreover, Zhang Juzheng was really coerced by him? Yang Zhen looked at his brother in some surprise, if it weren't for the words from his brother, he really couldn't believe it.

Yang Chen nodded solemnly: "That's the way it is, depending on the situation, Elder Zhang Ge does have a handle in his hands." ”

"And this trick should have been committed by someone from the Zhang family in Jiangling." Yang Zhen further deduced, and then said with some pity: "Big brother, why didn't you read the contents of the letter before?" In this way, we have mastered his handle Zhang Juzheng. ”

"I didn't even think about peeking at the content of the letter at the time, and I didn't believe that he could catch Zhang Gelao as a petty official of seven or eight grades." Yang Chen smiled bitterly. At the same time, he added in his heart, I'm not you, but I didn't have Zhang Gelao's idea all day long.

Yang Zhen knew that this was indeed no wonder for his brother, so he could only sigh and say no more. At the same time, his heart quickly turned, guessing what kind of trick this would be, so that Zhang Juzheng could make such a decision. You must know that with the other party's humble identity, let alone Zhang Juzheng, he is not qualified to meet an ordinary official at the level of the six ministries. But now, Zhang Juzheng not only wants to see him, but also leads him to his home, which shows how serious the matter is.

If he can really grasp this, he will have a greater grasp of dealing with Zhang Juzheng. The more he thought about it, the more itchy his heart became, and he really wanted to see the contents of the letter. It's a pity that the letter has been burned to ashes by the eldest brother himself, and those who know the inside story are afraid that there are only two people left in this Beijing city - Zhang Juzheng and that Xiao Jing.

Thinking of this, a strange light flashed in Yang Zhen's eyes, since he was in the capital, he was still sure to pry the answer from the other party's mouth. Of course, the person he was referring to was Xiao Jing!

Yang Chen, who was familiar with his brother, was also nervous when he saw him like this: "Erlang, now is the time when the court needs Zhang Ge Lao to preside over the overall situation, you can't do anything again." ”

"Big brother, don't worry, I just want to get some strong evidence now, and as for when to attack him, I will consider it." Yang Zhen smiled faintly: "By the way, big brother, you have to be careful, I think it is really possible for Xiao Jing to succeed this time." And when that happens, it's going to be bad, especially for you guys. ”

Yang Chen was stunned for a moment, and then he understood. Indeed, if it were a matter of business to anyone, and they would not accede to their requests, the magistrates, even if they had grievances in their hearts, would be helpless. But once there is differential treatment and the opening of reduction and exemption is opened, the next thing is not so easy to do.

In this officialdom, there has never been a word of secrecy. As long as Zhang Juzheng gave convenience to Huguang, he would immediately be known to officials from other provinces. When the time comes, the next people will not give up easily. There are also those who have touched a gray nose in front of themselves before, and they will hold on to this.

And what made Yang Chen's heart sink even more, as well as the fact that he was also from Jiangling, when the time came, those local officials who failed to achieve their wishes would definitely spill their anger on themselves if they did not dare to offend Zhang Gelao, saying that they had spoken for Xiao Jing in front of Zhang Gelao, and this was the result. And he is bound to become the target of their attacks.

The more he thought about it, the more bottomless Yang Chen's heart became, knowing that he had completely fallen into it this time, and this was indeed an extremely tricky errand.

Seeing the worry on his brother's face, Yang Zhen hurriedly comforted him: "Actually, big brother, you don't have to worry so much, things are not as bad as you think." Even if you really want to find you, in my opinion, Zhang Juzheng will definitely try his best to protect you. After all, you are all following his orders to do errands, if even you can't protect you, then what prestige will he have in the court in the future? How could other officials be willing to do things for him again? ”

Although what the brother said also made some sense, Yang Chen's heart did not let go of it, and he could only sigh: "The only way to take one step at a time is to see one step at a time." ”

"Actually, if you want me to say, the path you take is not so reliable, big brother. How can following others do things better than our brothers joining forces on our own? If you are willing to enter our brocade guard, you will not have such troubles at all. "It's all at this time, and Yang Zhen still doesn't want to pull his brother into Jinyiwei.

Yang Chen smiled bitterly, but did not answer his brother's words again. After all, he has his own pursuits, even if he knows that this road is not easy to follow, he hopes to rely on his own ability to move forward. And he believes that this is a more appropriate path than the path taken by Yang Zhen!