Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 541: Addicted to Pretending (asking for monthly ticket)

Hubu Yamen.

Public veranda.

Xu Qiong noticed that Zhang Luan, who was sitting opposite him, had an unusual expression on his face. He was startled and immediately changed the subject: "Laizhan, I heard that the court is about to add a candidate for cabinet minister, and the person His Majesty has chosen is you... I wonder what you think about this?"

"I can not."

Zhang Luan answered very straightforwardly, "If there is a chance, I would like to recommend you to join the cabinet... But although I am in the Hanlin Academy and the nominal president, I have nothing to do with the operation of the Hanlin Academy, and it is difficult for me to influence the opinions of my colleagues... I am afraid that Your Majesty will not only listen to my opinion..."

Xu Qiong frowned and asked, "Then... why didn't you fight for such a good opportunity to join the cabinet? If you had just asked, you would have been the second assistant now. Why let others take advantage of you?"

"Cheap... others?"

Zhang Luan asked in surprise, "Brother Shi Yong, are you talking about Lord Xu?"

Xu Qiong obviously didn't want to hear the title "Lord Xu".

Originally, he could have been "Lord Xu", which is the difference between Xu Qiong and Xu Pu, but in the end the opportunity for advancement was lost to Xu Pu.

The main reason was that before Xu Pu entered the cabinet, he was at most the head lecturer in the Eastern Palace and had no outstanding political achievements, let alone any ability to prove his ability.

In this way, Xu Qiong would feel that, as someone who has worked at the grassroots level for many years and has done so many practical things for the court, am I not as good as Xu Pu?
Zhang Luan explained, "You see, I don't have enough experience and background, so I didn't want to fight for it from the beginning. His Majesty didn't have much expectation for me to join the cabinet. At most, he asked for the removal of Wan An and Liu Ji, who were just sitting there doing nothing. At that time, I agreed with him to remove Wan An first."

Xu Qiong was extremely shocked when he heard this: "Have you discussed this matter with His Majesty in private in advance?"

"Uh...yeah."

Zhang Luan looked confused.

Didn’t I discuss with Your Majesty who should be replaced first in the cabinet?

I think this is so normal!

What’s the matter? Are you, Xu Qiong, surprised to hear this?
"At that time... did you recommend someone else to His Majesty?"

Xu Qiong continued to ask.

"No, when Wan'an left office, Lord Xu had already joined the cabinet, and His Majesty didn't say that he would add another person, so I naturally wouldn't take the initiative to suggest anyone.

"I just told Your Majesty that I am still too young to join the cabinet, which may cause a backlash among the officials and be detrimental to Your Majesty's consolidation of rule. In fact, as long as I can help Your Majesty, it doesn't matter which government office I work in. I never ask for treatment beyond my ability."

Zhang Luan said casually.

Look at me, I am so open-minded and generous.

It's such a good opportunity to join the cabinet, and I can get it if I just fight for it, but I just don't fight for it.

For no other reason...

Just because I have a far-sighted vision!

Be broad-minded!

Of course, this is just a high-sounding statement. The main reason is that I, Zhang, am too lazy and don’t like to go to Wenyuan Pavilion to work every day.

If I were to stay in the cabinet duty room all day long and draft numerous memorials, wouldn't I be bored to death?

In this case, how can I devote my energy to appreciating this colorful world and fly together with beautiful women with various talents?
"Laizhan, you are guarding a treasure mountain, but you don't know how to make good use of it!"

After Xu Qiong learned the truth, he felt extremely regretful.

If I had known this earlier, I should have given you more advice, allowing you to influence the emperor's policies, helping you to gain benefits for yourself while also helping me to seek a high position. How great would that be?
It seems that you have become a powerful official without realizing it, and you insist on being a wealthy and idle wanderer?

Picture what?
Zhang Luan explained: "Brother Shi Yong, you may not know that the reason why His Majesty trusts me is because I don't like to fight.

"If I recommend this to His Majesty today, and that to His Majesty tomorrow, and finally recommend myself, His Majesty may listen to me once or twice, but do you think His Majesty will still recognize me in the long run? Without His Majesty's favor, I am nothing..."

"Is it?"

Xu Qiong frowned when he heard this and asked a question unconsciously.

"It's the same in life and work. The less you fight, the more others will give you things to show their favor. If you fight till you get hurt, you'll get nothing." Zhang Luan said, "Perhaps it's my decades of life in the market that have made me realize that fame and fortune in this world are just like that, so I just take it easy. As long as I can help His Majesty and my daughter... I'll be satisfied. I'll also see if it can bring something to myself. I don't dare to ask for too much."

Xu Qiong asked in surprise: "Don't you want to go down in history?"

Zhang Luan smiled and said, "Of course I want to. Why not? Look, I have just taken on a big project to divert the Yellow River. But I am lazy and don't want to go to the south myself, so I arranged for Li Zisheng to go...

"Don't accuse me of having wild ideas. In fact, it was Eunuch Huai En who first proposed to let Li Zisheng supervise the river construction. I just followed his wishes and made a detailed plan, then submitted a memorial and officially went through the procedures."

"Eunuch Huai?"

Xu Qiong was still extremely shocked.

I was thinking.

You, Zhang Laizhan, are indeed completely different from other officials in the court.

It was almost impossible for others to get in touch with or communicate with the emperor.

But what about you.

On the one hand, you sit down with the emperor to discuss things behind closed doors, even the appointment and dismissal of cabinet ministers can be discussed privately and the final decision can be made. On the other hand, you discuss things with the eunuch who holds the seal of the Imperial Household Department on your own, as if you are the chief minister, and Liu Ji and Xu Pu are just decorations.

Then you told me that you are very free and easy and don’t want to fight?!

You've fought hard enough!
Is it fun to cheat people?

Zhang Luan added, "I didn't mean to associate with the eunuchs. It's just that I always see them when I go to the palace. It's also my eldest aunt's fault... You know, it's the Empress Dowager. She likes to ask me to go to her place and chat about family matters. There must be someone to accompany me when I go in and out of the palace, right? Don't you think it's a coincidence that the one who came to deliver the message was either Eunuch Huai or Eunuch Qin, or at least Eunuch Chen Gui. I have to say something when I'm free on the road, right? Unknowingly, I was involved in government affairs. I have to listen. There is really nothing I can do!"

By the end he was already sighing.

Xu Qiong already wanted to curse at this moment.

Pretending to be struck by lightning.

You're addicted to pretending, aren't you?
Not only can you influence the emperor, but you also flirt with the prime minister and the chief scribe. Even the Empress Dowager is your aunt, and you go to the inner garden of the palace to meet and communicate with the Empress Dowager in private for no reason?
Is this Forbidden City your own backyard, where you can come and go as you please?

It’s so enviable!

"Brother Shi Yong, where were we talking about?"

Seeing that Xu Qiong didn't respond for a long time, Zhang Luan turned his head and asked.

Xu Qiongqiang smiled and said, "Since you have so many people helping you, and you got the Yellow River project based on your real ability, I won't object anymore."

"Oh, you don't object?"

Zhang Luan acted very surprised.

You were being very picky just now, but now you say you have no objection?
What? Just because you heard that I have a strong background, you think it’s pointless to oppose?

It might even offend the prime minister or even the emperor?

It seems that I am pretty good at pretending.

Let me tell you, I am not an ordinary person, so please don't hold me to the same standards as ordinary ministers.

"But joining the cabinet is a big deal, so I still recommend that you get in early and take a seat. That way, you can quickly gain a foothold and help us."

Xu Qiong looked forward to it.

"no need."

Zhang Luan refused again, "I won't go in myself, but if I can recommend someone else, I'll recommend you first, is that okay?
"But... I won't guarantee this matter. But you... You have been the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel for quite some time. Isn't it time for you to step down and be transferred to the Left Vice Minister?

"Forget it. I'll ask His Majesty for advice later to see if there is any good way to advance!"

(I will be asking for monthly tickets in the middle of the month, please!)

(End of this chapter)