Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 656: A wise ruler is not a saint
Zhang Luan kept wondering who were the emperor’s “own people” and who were the emperor’s “outsiders”.

Perhaps my son-in-law values ​​the lecturers in the Eastern Palace more. After all, those people have a profound influence on my son-in-law. Aren’t all the major government affairs in the court basically under the control of Huai En, Xu Pu and others?
Even if I am the father-in-law of the emperor, I cannot be considered the closest person to him, right?
After the two of them left Qingning Palace, Zhang Luan said apologetically, "Your Majesty, please don't take it to heart. Sometimes the Empress Dowager is a little stubborn. You can go back and talk to her about it. Please don't make it difficult!"

"no."

Zhu Youtang said seriously, "Father-in-law, I think what the Royal Grandmother said makes a lot of sense. It is only natural for you to join the cabinet, but you insisted on waiting for the outcome of the Northwest War. If the Royal Grandmother insists on making a fuss, I can only think of a way to seek some military merits for you."

Zhang Luan was shocked.

I thought to myself, is it possible that I, the emperor's son-in-law, am so angry that I am confused and is deliberately speaking in a sarcastic way to me?
"Your Majesty, please don't."

Zhang Luan said, "I cannot take on this responsibility."

Zhu Youtang looked unusually relaxed, and said with a smile: "I had not made up my mind at first. Sometimes, I was bound by some etiquette and felt that my father-in-law might not have enough reputation to join the cabinet... After all, even you said so yourself."

Zhang Luan widened his eyes and thought, when you say that, does that mean you have a deeper understanding now?
"After listening to the words of the Empress Dowager, I realized that you, my father-in-law, must join the cabinet." Zhu Youtang said, "Even the Empress Dowager is so firmly supportive, what else do I have to worry about?"

"..."

Zhang Luan almost thought he had heard it wrong.

Is this still the honest little emperor I know, who is very respectful of rules and his lecturers in the Eastern Palace and is known as a wise monarch?

It seems that you are even more extreme than your father in nepotism.
But think about it, your father employed all kinds of alchemists and monks, while you employ your father-in-law...it's almost the same thing.

Zhu Youtang said, "Father-in-law, didn't the Empress Dowager try to keep you here? Please go back to Qingning Palace. I will go back to Qianqing Palace on my own."

"No no no."

Zhang Luan quickly declined, "I am still ill and need to go home to recuperate. Besides, I don't want to disturb the Empress Dowager's meditation."

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager wants to talk to you about family matters. If you have time, please spend more time with her. My grandfather has passed away many years ago, and my father has also left her. I don't know how lonely and painful she must be at this moment. Only by talking to someone close to her can she be happy.

"Okay, I'll go back to find Huai Daban and ask him to help you plan. He's quite capable of dealing with some things."

Zhang Luan thought, do you expect Huai En to help me with unconventional means?
You are really simple-minded!
It’s just that you entrusted your trust to the wrong person, do you know?
……

……

Zhang Luan was finally persuaded by Zhu Youtang to go back and chat with Empress Dowager Zhou.

When he came out of the palace and returned home, he was exhausted both physically and mentally, as if his soul had been drained out of him. He sat in the main hall with no energy in his eyes.

At this moment, Zhang Yanling came in with a lantern and lit the candlestick beside him. Seeing Zhang Luan looking dejected, he immediately asked curiously, "Dad, what's wrong with you? You seem to be in a bad mood since entering the palace..."

Zhang Luan said, "I don't understand. Oh! I really don't understand."

"what happened again?"

Zhang Yanling asked, "You don't understand my brother-in-law? Or do you not understand Queen Mother Zhou? Or do you not understand Huai En? Do you not understand the current situation?"

Zhang Luan sighed and said, "My head is so small that it can't hold such a big hat, but now everyone will support me and say that I'm doing a great job. Since you pushed me to this position, I have really exhausted all my energy. Now I am exhausted. It's difficult!"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Will you stay at home tonight?"

"Of course I have to stay and recover. Alas, I am too tired now, and I am also seriously ill. How can I have the extra energy to go out and squander?"

Zhang Luan rolled his eyes at his son and said, "I don't understand it now. What kind of person is your brother-in-law? Isn't he a wise ruler? How can he be so nepotistic?"

Zhang Yanling said: "Appointing people based on personal connections is something everyone does, there is nothing strange about it. But as to whether he will be placed in an important position by the emperor, the key is to see how close he is to the emperor... Just like someone like you, my brother-in-law will definitely value you."

Was Zhu Youtang a wise ruler who appointed people based on their merits?

joke!

In history, Zhu Youtang was partial to the Zhang family and used Li Guang and others to cause chaos in the court. These are not things a monarch should do, but the problem is that Emperor Hongzhi has a really good reputation in history, so we can only draw this conclusion: A wise monarch is a wise monarch, there is no need to be a saint!
"What? Is there a wise ruler who is so nepotistic?"

Zhang Luan asked in surprise.

Zhang Yanling curled his lips and said, "Dad, don't be unconvinced. My brother-in-law's character is caused by his distrust of outsiders... Guess why he thinks so highly of the Eastern Palace Lecturer? Isn't it because the Eastern Palace Lecturer has been with him for a long time since he was a child, so he feels closer to him? In fact, this is also a kind of nepotism. Can't you see it?"

"This……"

Zhang Luan was unable to refute for a moment.

Zhang Yanling added: "Brother-in-law is very obedient to you. He regards our family as his closest relatives. What's wrong with adding more responsibilities to you at this time? Of course, you have also fully demonstrated your abilities, making brother-in-law feel that you are the indispensable one. Only then will he trust and respect you more."

Zhang Luan smiled bitterly and said, "But...how can your father have that ability?" "I will take care of everything."

Zhang Yanling grinned.

……

……

cabinet.

Liu Ji called Xu Pu, who had just returned from the Hanlin Academy, to the inner hall, and then interrogated him, as if torturing him, about everything he had discussed in the Hanlin Academy.

After hearing this, Liu Ji was surprised and said, "So, the Hanyuan does not oppose Zhang Laizhan's joining the cabinet? They even support him secretly? Is it really that outrageous?
"Shiyong, are those people in Hanyuan no longer following the most basic principles and are trying to curry favor with the rich and powerful?"

Xu Pu's face was also a little ugly, but he still patiently told him everything he knew: "Eunuch Huai went to the Hanlin Academy earlier and summoned all the scholars to convey the emperor's opinion, saying that as long as that scholar Zhang can dispatch the northwest army and obtain one or two reports of victory, he can be appointed to the cabinet to pave the way for the subsequent court meetings."

"hehe."

Liu Ji had a mocking smile on his face. "Only those with military merit can be granted the title of nobility and appointed as prime minister. Do you think this is in the Han Dynasty? Or are some people wishful thinking that military merit is easy to get?"

Xu Pu smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, "I don't know what Eunuch Huai meant, but it seems that the victory news he repeatedly emphasized may have other meanings."

Liu Ji asked: "Tell me, what is the other way?"

Xu Pu said seriously: "In theory, although the transportation of cloth, money and grain to the northwest is presided over by Master Zhang, it is just a routine matter and does not involve the use of troops on the grassland.

"Eunuch Huai's emphasis on the victory report shows that the Imperial Household Department's expectations for this battle are much higher than those of Your Majesty and that scholar Zhang. The reason why they spread the news in advance is to silence the people in the world."

"Oh."

Liu Ji understood and said, "I understand what you mean. Your Majesty's expectation for Zhang Laizhan is just to let Li Zisheng, Tan Chang and Zhu Yong successfully complete the task of transporting money and grain to the northwest, but Huai En deliberately said that he could enter the cabinet only after victory. This is to set a trap for Zhang Laizhan. How easy is it to win a victory in a foreign war? What's more, without a decent chief censor to lead the army, relying on the unreliable combination of Li Zisheng, Tan Chang and Zhu Yong, it would be good if they return empty-handed."

Xu Pu said: "It is also possible that it was instructed by His Majesty. Since many people in the court have complaints about Zhang Xueshi's entry into the cabinet, then use this rare military achievement to pave the way for his entry into the cabinet.

"Since it came from the mouth of Eunuch Huai, it represents the will of the emperor, which means that your majesty has already made concessions on this matter. Then why should the officials of the Hanyuan be so aggressive?"

Liu Ji nodded and said, "You mean, Your Majesty knew that this would be difficult to do, but you still set such a condition as a prerequisite for Zhang Laizhan to join the cabinet, which is equivalent to giving the ministers a way out, and the group of people in the Hanlin Academy will retreat in the face of difficulties, waiting to see Zhang Laizhan make a fool of himself. If he doesn't get military merit, they will be too embarrassed to mention the matter of joining the cabinet again?"

"Probably so."

Xu Pu said, "From the current situation, it seems that Mr. Zhang himself is not enthusiastic about joining the cabinet. Recently, he has been recuperating at home and rarely goes out."

Liu Ji was confused and asked, "Is he sick?"

Xu Pu asked back: "Huh? Don't you know?"

"Hey, whether he is sick or not, what does it have to do with me?"

At this point, Liu Ji's eyes rolled around and he nodded, "But if that's the case, then if I have the chance I really have to pay him a visit.

"It was said before that Eunuch Huai was seriously ill and might not live long. If Zhang Laizhan were to..."

When Liu Ji said this, he almost laughed out loud.

I have two powerful opponents in the court, two "shameless bastards" who have been hindering my power. Now one of them is about to die, and the other will be there soon too.

This is such a blessing from heaven for me, I am overjoyed.

Xu Pu asked, "Will you go there in person, or let someone else do it for you?"

"This one……"

Liu Ji hesitated for a moment, then said, "You don't need to do it for me. I'll go there myself. Zhang Laizhan and I are old friends, but I haven't had much contact with him in the past few months.

"My friendship with him has always been there. Now that he is seriously ill, I can't just stand by and watch."

Xu Pu couldn't help but frown when he heard this.

I just said he was sick, who said he was seriously ill?

Why are you still cursing people?

(End of this chapter)