In winter, the days are short and the nights are long, and it gets dark quickly. When Zhu Ping'an said goodbye to Zhao Wenhua and left the Imperial Commissioner's Office, the moon was already above the willow branches.
"Sir, I hope the Zhao guy didn't embarrass you."
Liu Dadao and others had been waiting outside the yamen. When they saw Zhu Ping'an coming out, they hurriedly led their horses to greet him and asked with concern.
They knew that Zhao Wenhua was a big shot of the Yan Party. Back in the capital, the young master offended the Yan Party when he helped them to redress the injustice of Zhuangzi. Then in the capital, he helped Yang Jisheng to revise the memorial impeaching Yan Song, which completely offended the Yan Party. He was demoted to Daonan as a county magistrate by the Yan Party. Fortunately, the young master was talented and worked hard in Jingnan, and made military contributions to destroying the Japanese pirates, so he was promoted again. But now Zhao Wenhua is here again, and they are worried that Zhao Wenhua will cause trouble for Zhu Ping'an.
When they learned that Zhu Ping'an was left alone by Zhao Wenhua after the banquet, they became even more worried.
At this moment, they felt a little relieved when they saw Zhu Ping'an came out safely.
"It's okay. We've already negotiated. There won't be any big trouble in the future. You've been waiting outside for so long. Thank you for your hard work. Let's go back to the yamen and have some mutton hotpot to warm ourselves up."
"Let's go and have some mutton hotpot..."
Zhu Ping'an jumped on his horse, and the group rode towards the office of the Supreme Court with a smile.
After Zhu Ping'an and his group disappeared into the street, a man walked out of an alley and looked at their departing backs.
It was Hu Zongxian.
He had already arrived nearby, but knowing that Zhu Ping'an was detained in the Imperial Commissioner's Office, he waited in the alley until Zhu Ping'an left the Imperial Commissioner's Office, and then he came out of the alley quietly.
His visit to Zhao Wenhua tonight was the most difficult decision he had ever made in his life, but also the most important decision in his life, bar none! He didn't want anyone to know before things were done. If the deal was done, it didn't matter if people knew about it; if it wasn't done, then it would be best if no one knew about it.
After today's banquet, he returned home, locked himself in the study, and pondered and struggled hard with his thoughts.
Now he is facing a life decision, a crucial decision that can determine his life!
In fact, it's not just him now, all the officials in Jiangnan are facing such a life choice! It's just that this choice has not come yet, or it has already come, but everyone has not realized it yet, but they will realize it sooner or later.
The choice is whether to listen to Zhao Wenhua or Zhang Jing.
Before Zhao Wenhua arrived, the military command of Jiangnan was apparently controlled by three people, namely, the Governor-General of Jiangnan Zhang Jing, the Governor of Zhejiang Li Tianchong, and the Supervisory Censor of Zhejiang, that is, himself. As for the eunuchs guarding Yingtian and the Duke of Wei, although they were powerful, they were only local officials of Yingtian and could not control other places outside Yingtian.
However, in reality, the military command in Jiangnan was decided by Zhang Jing alone. Although he was the inspector and censor of Zhejiang Province, he was not as good as Zhang Jing, the governor of Jiangnan Province, who was specially appointed by the emperor. Moreover, his main duties were to rectify military discipline and other supervisory tasks. He had no experience in governing or commanding the army, and his resume was relatively thin. All local officials listened to Zhang Jing.
In addition, Li Tianchong, the governor of Zhejiang, was also specially appointed by the emperor to supervise the military and political affairs of Zhejiang. His official position was higher than his own. Even in terms of supervision such as rectifying military discipline, officials were more inclined to listen to Li Tianchong.
In addition, Zhang Jing once helped Li Tianchong. Li Tianchong respected Zhang Jing and obeyed Zhang Jing's orders.
Therefore, the military affairs of the entire Jiangnan region were actually controlled by Zhang Jing, who had the final say.
In other words, before Zhao Wenhua came, Zhang Jing was the only brain behind the military affairs in Jiangnan.
However, things were different after Zhao Wenhua came.
As soon as Zhao Wenhua arrived, the military command in Jiangnan changed from three people to four people: Zhang Jing, the governor of Jiangnan, Zhao Wenhua, the imperial commissioner, Li Tianchong, the governor of Zhejiang Army, and himself.
If Zhao Wenhua and Zhang Jing get along well with each other, think in the same direction and work together, there would be nothing wrong. It would just be that their brains are strengthened. But the reality is not so one-sided.
I and Li Tianchong can listen to Zhang Jing, but can Zhao Wenhua listen to Zhang Jing honestly
Zhao Wenhua was an imperial envoy, holding a higher official position than himself, and a senior member of the Yan Party. He had the support of Li Ge Lao behind him. How could he be willing to let Zhang Jing make the decision? Moreover, according to Hu Zongxian's own considerations, the Yan Party must have their own ideas and plans in pushing Zhao Wenhua to Jiangnan at this time.
If my guess is correct, the Yan Party should be trying to get their hands on military power.
Now the Yan Party’s influence is spread throughout the government and the country, and its influence in the civil, criminal, industrial, ritual, and administrative aspects, that is, in the military aspect, is relatively weak.
Now that the Japanese pirates are causing trouble in Jiangnan, it is a good opportunity for the Yan Party to intervene in military power, and they will definitely not let it go. Because only when Zhao Wenhua seizes the military power in Jiangnan can the Yan Party legitimately and smoothly interfere in military affairs.
Therefore, Zhao Wenhua would certainly not listen to Zhang Jing. On the contrary, he would actively compete with Zhang Jing for the military power in Jiangnan.
Zhao Wenhua and Zhang Jing were destined not to see eye to eye. They were not the same kind of people, and a struggle for power was inevitable.
Today, the harmonious relationship between Zhao Wenhua and Zhang Jing at the beginning was just an illusion, and Zhang Jing's departure in the end was a clear proof of the breakup. However, most officials were still fantasizing about the reconciliation between the generals and the ministers, and I saw the scene of the breakup between Zhao Wenhua and Zhang Jing earlier than them.
Once Zhao Wenhua and Zhang Jing broke up, everyone had to face the choice of standing with Zhang Jing or Zhao Wenhua. It was fine for the lower-level officials, but for officials above the fifth rank, it was difficult not to stand on the side because of their status.
Now that I have chosen a side early, I will gain the greatest benefit. One step ahead, every step ahead, no matter if it is spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones or providing timely assistance, my choice of side this time will surely be set as an example.
As to whether to stand on the side of Jiangnan Governor Zhang Jing or Imperial Envoy Zhao Wenhua, this is no small issue.
It not only affects whether he can complete his mission as an inspector in Zhejiang, but also affects his future life and career.
This is the most difficult and most important decision he has ever faced in his life, no doubt about it.
One was the imperial envoy sent by the emperor to offer sacrifices to the sea and supervise the army, and the other was the military governor of the Jiangnan provinces.
No matter which side you stand on, there are both benefits and risks, and neither side is the best choice.
Behind Zhang Jing, there is an invisible party, the Purge Party, which is no different from a party in reality. If he stands with Zhang Jing, his reputation among scholars will increase greatly, and he will most likely be recorded in history books in the future, and he will not be afraid of the Yan Party's dignitaries. However, the price is that he will offend the Yan Party, which controls the center of governance. If he offends the Yan Party, he will be far away from the political center in the future, and his every word and action will be seized by the Yan Party, and they will find fault with him. His road is bound to be bumpy, and his ambitions will be difficult to achieve. His ambitions to establish achievements and wipe out the Japanese pirates will also be wasted in the waste of time...
The Yan Party stands behind Zhao Wenhua. If you choose Zhao Wenhua, it means you have to bow down and serve the powerful, become a member of the Yan Party, be reviled by the literati, and will not be well evaluated in history books. However, you can get the support of Yan Kao, and then get a stage to achieve success and realize your grand ambitions.
This is a difficult decision.
Now, Hu Zongxian appeared outside Zhao Wenhua's imperial envoy's office, which meant that he had made his choice - to stand on Zhao Wenhua's side!