Chapter 13 Zhao Duan’s real target
Inside the awning boat.
After Feng Ju asked, Zhao Duan did not respond immediately. Instead, he slowly picked up the teapot, poured a cup of Maofeng for him, and said:
"You and I have never met each other before. Why would you come to see Master Feng for anything?"
Feng Ju still pretended to be stupid and said with a frown:
"If you have something to say, you might as well say it directly."
As a veteran official, he will never admit that he paid bribes. As the saying goes:
It can only be understood, not expressed.
The so-called "guessing" or "understanding" is essentially a way to shirk responsibility.
In his previous life, Zhao Duan watched "The Ming Dynasty 1566" on a short video, and he had a deep memory of the clip of Jiajing knocking on the chime:
The ministers were discussing state affairs, but Emperor Jiajing was nowhere to be seen, hiding behind the curtain. Whether the emperor agreed or not with his decision was not expressed verbally but in writing, and was only "hinted" by the sound of tapping the instruments.
In this way, if it is done, it is the emperor's credit, if it is ruined... Hehe, it is not what I asked you to do, it is all the ministers' nonsense!
It’s a perfect example of shirking responsibility!
Feng Ju has been an official for many years, and his habit of pretending to be stupid is deeply rooted in his bones.
Zhao Duan poured himself tea again, put the teapot back, and said with a smile: "On this muddy river, there is a lonely boat. It's just you and me. We talk, and the words come out and go in. My ears don’t need to be so vigilant.”
Hehe... Are magic scrolls vegetarian? In the history books, how many officials were recorded speaking and thus fell?
Feng slandered and remained unmoved.
"Forget it, let's take it as far as I'm concerned," Zhao Duan sighed softly and said helplessly:
"The boss asked Ning'an County to ask me to recruit people from the Ministry of Punishment..."
"Please be careful what you say!" Feng Ju interrupted immediately, with an upright attitude: "Although I have some friendship with Ning'an County, I have entrusted him with something, so you can't say anything nonsense!"
Lao Feng has been in the officialdom for many years, relying on the word "gou".
Old fried dough stick... Zhao Duan said with a smile:
"But when we boarded the ship just now, when I said you wanted Wang Xianqiu to come over to me, the boss revealed my identity right away."
Feng Ju's face changed slightly, realizing that he had been caught off guard and had revealed his secret.
It's not that he is careless, it's that the enemy is too cunning!
Zhao Duan smiled and reassured:
"Master, you don't have to be so nervous. I invite you today with no ill intentions. Besides, I have already accepted the deposit. You and I are all in the same boat, right?"
Perhaps this sentence was effective. Feng Ju's expression softened slightly, but he still cherished his words like gold:
"What do you want to say?"
Zhao Duan said:
"The principal is in the Ministry of Civil Affairs and is well-informed. He should have heard about my impeachment."
Feng Ju's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that his worries came true? The man surnamed Zhao saw that something was wrong and didn't want to commit trouble at this point, so he came to him and wanted to break his promise to get someone in person?
But didn’t that bastard Wang Xian say that things were okay? Could it be that there was a temporary change?
"I have indeed heard it." Feng Ju thought wildly, his expression unchanged.
After a pause, he added tentatively:
"But at the cusp of the storm, you still have some free time to sit around the stove and make tea. It seems that you are sitting on the Diaoyutai."
Crazy temptation from Lao Feng...
Zhao Duan chuckled lightly, without any worry at all:
"Your Majesty treats me with great kindness. How can those cynical censors slander me with just a few words?"
It doesn’t seem like he’s cheating... That’s right, with such a good skin, a martial arts practitioner, and enough strength, it’s reasonable for His Majesty to be reluctant to part with it... Feng Ju was not surprised and said with a smile:
"In this case, I should congratulate you for surviving this calamity."
As he spoke, he raised his glass with both hands and drank it all in one gulp.
This action also represents some kind of attitude change.
A group of old guys who follow the wind...Zhao Duan smiled, took a sip of tea, and then sighed: "But having said that, His Majesty can't show partiality. There must be a step to silence the voices of those who want to criticize me.”
Feng Ju hesitated and said:
"Is it possible that I can help? But I, the Literary and Selection Department..."
He was puzzled, thinking that if you find someone, it won't be my turn, and authority has nothing to do with it.
Zhao Duan shook his head and said:
"The master is so humble. I really have to rely on Mr. Feng for this matter."
Feng Ju's heart suddenly raised: "My officer?" Zhao Duan said "yes", stared at him, and said in a serious tone:
"I need to make a big enough contribution. I think it's a good idea to report officials for bribing and interfering with justice. What do you think?"
? ? ?
A string of question marks slowly floated above Feng Ju's head. At first, he didn't react, or he couldn't believe it.
After a while, seeing that Zhao Duan didn't look like he was joking, the old Jinshi stood up suddenly as if his cat's tail had been stepped on, and said in a sharp voice: "Are you crazy?! You want to drag me into the water? Aren't you afraid of yourself? …”
Halfway through, he got stuck because he found that the other party was really not afraid.
It's just a deposit, and she doesn't actually do anything. The empress turns a blind eye or closes one eye, and the guillotine can't hit the opponent's head.
Be confident.
He is the one sleeping next to the empress, and maybe riding on top of her, but who do I think he is? !
He felt dizzy for a while, and felt the whole ship shaking. He realized that he was about to be sold, and he felt a little confused for a moment, with anger, fear, regret...all kinds of emotions surging.
However, Zhao Duan's next words brought him back from hell to the human world:
"Master Feng, please don't get angry in a hurry. I only said I would report the minister, but I didn't say I reported you."
What's the meaning? Not me? Feng Ju was stunned.
I saw Zhao Duan still looking calm, playing with the teacup, and said quietly:
"Master Feng, do you think that with your official status, even if you sell it, you can stop the civil and military officials in the court?"
That's right... Feng Ju was suddenly awakened and his sanity came back online.
Being the head of the Literary and Anthology Department sounds bluffing, but in reality it is nothing in the temple.
It was just an attempt to bribe someone to get someone. Even if this credit goes to Zhao Duan, it is really insignificant compared with the crime of letting the leader of the traitor go.
In other words, selling him, or even packaging and selling the small circle behind him, may not be enough for Zhao Duan to meritorious service!
This is also the reason why Chief Baima said it was "meaningless" when he learned about Zhao Duan's intention last night.
The old supervisor knew very well that this little credit was not enough.
Because this impeachment against Zhao Duan is not just about letting go of the rebels, it is not just about bringing him into disrepute.
More importantly, when the Metropolitan Procuratorate comes to an end, it may mean that this matter has become a local small battlefield in the game between the imperial power and the courtiers.
Faced with the battle between such behemoths, the greatest use value of Zhao Duan, a pawn, is to become an abandoned son.
How could Zhao Duan not understand the danger of this situation?
Why don't you understand that just backhand reporting on Feng Ju, plus the one in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment, is not enough for the empress to resist the pressure of the courtiers and protect him?
So, his real purpose was never to sell Feng Ju, but to someone else.
"What do you mean by your words...?"
Inside the small boat with a black canopy.
After Feng Ju figured out his joints, he carefully sat down again, looking particularly timid.
After all, his wealth and life were in the hands of the person in front of him, so he had no choice but to be timid.
"What exactly do you want from me?"
Feng Ju gritted his teeth and simply opened the skylight and spoke frankly.
Zhao Duan appreciated the other party's statement very much. It was easy to talk to smart people.
However, his next words made Feng Ju, who had just crawled back to the world from hell, completely change his expression.
"Me?"
Zhao Duan smiled softly and said softly: "I want you to report the current Prime Minister, Li Yanfu."
(End of chapter)