To be sent as an envoy to a foreign country and to stay there for a long time, there are five officials and a number of other supporting personnel. Five officials alone are a lot.
The ministers who had speculated had thought that only one or two representatives would be needed, but now it seemed that it was not that simple. The ministers looked at each other, and many of them planned to wait and see.
The emperor meant that the Ministry of Rites would send two officials, and the remaining three could sign up automatically.
Zhou Shuren thought to himself that Chang Yi from the Ministry of Rites was one, but he didn't know who the remaining one was. With a glance, Zhou Shuren met the eyes of the Minister of Rites and confirmed through their eye contact that this person also knew the situation.
After the court session, the ministers stood together in groups of three or four, while Zhou Shuren and the Minister of Rites left together.
The Minister of Rites whispered, "The Emperor told me that you knew about the mission in advance."
Zhou Shuren nodded, "Yeah."
Minister of Rites: "So."
If he brings the news back, Zhou Changyi will take the initiative, right? He still wants to confirm it more.
The Minister of Rites has to confirm it. After living there for a few years, he has left his hometown and found that it is not as good as living in the capital. I am really afraid that no one will take the initiative. Even if Zhou Changyi takes the initiative, the Ministry of Rites will still be short of one person.
Zhou Shuren saw through the Minister of Rites's thoughts and said, "Don't worry."
The Minister of Rites laughed and said, "That's good, that's good."
The Minister of Rites went ahead and arrived at the palace gate. Wang Ju came over and asked, "Is your second son going on a diplomatic mission?"
Zhou Shuren stroked his beard and said, "You are smart for a moment."
Wang Ju rolled her eyes. "Just now you were walking with the Minister of Rites. How many people were watching you!"
Zhou Shuren sneered, "I am the focus wherever I go now!"
Wang Ju, "... ... It's good that you know, but your second son really went there, for several years!"
Zhou Shuren walked with his hands behind his back, "My second son will not work hard. His career will be difficult. He will suffer now in order to enjoy happiness in the second half of his life. It will be a blessing to enjoy happiness when you are old."
If you don't work hard when you are young, you will have no chance to compete when you are older.
Wang Ju originally wanted to say that Zhou Shuren was really willing to do so. Now that she heard what he said, it did make sense. However, his family was in financial difficulty and she did not dare to gamble. What if something unexpected happened abroad
Wang Ju laughed dryly, "I have few sons."
Zhou Shuren rolled his eyes in his heart, "You're talking as if my family has no value just because I have so many sons."
"No, that's not what I meant."
Zhou Shuren stopped and asked, "What do you mean?"
Wang Ju choked. Well, he really couldn't bear to part with his son, so he smiled dryly.
Zhou Shuren narrowed his eyes and said, "You'd better not appear in front of me in the next few days, otherwise, I will not be able to control the knife in my hand."
Wang Ju took a step back and said, "Haha, I'll go first."
This man's eyes became sharper and sharper after he became the Shangshu. He could not bear the risk of death and would rather die.
The Minister of Rites told the story of the morning court session and finally said, "There are two places in the Ministry of Rites. Who of you wants to go?"
The officials of the Ministry of Rites standing in the yard were as quiet as chickens. A large number of them came to gain experience, and when they had enough experience, they would change departments. A small number of them worked their way up, and the rest worked until retirement.
Those who have experience all have family backgrounds. As long as this kind of people are capable enough, they will have a smooth future. Because they have the confidence, they can obviously live a good life in Beijing. Only a fool would want to go abroad to fight.
A small number of people are struggling to survive. Without family support, they can only rely on themselves. They are even more reluctant to leave the capital. Who knows what the situation will be like when they return after a few years abroad? They are unwilling to gamble on an unknown future.
Those who work until retirement have long lost their fighting spirit and now live day by day, which is particularly Buddhist.
So when the Minister of Rites encountered everyone's reactions, he felt very calm.
Chang Yi pulled the corner of his mouth. If he hadn't been informed in advance, he would have hesitated. Feeling that the Shangshu was looking at him, he stepped out and said, "I am willing to serve as an envoy for the country."
The Minister of Rites was silent for a few seconds. This is a good saying. He is an envoy for the country. Tsk tsk, Zhou Changyi is a fool. He is also the cub of the fox Zhou Shuren. This is not something a fool can say. "Good, a good envoy for the country. Changyi is righteous."
The other officials of the Ministry of Rites all looked at Zhou Changyi, most of them looked as if they had seen a ghost. Well, in the eyes of those who just want to get experience, aren't we all just trying to get experience? Damn, with such a powerful father, what are you doing
The other part who have no background have complicated feelings. They think that having a good father is human nature, and they are not afraid to come back after going out for a few years.
Buddhist meditation. Even though they repeat the same tasks every day, it doesn't mean that their brains are not working well. Look at the Shangshu and then look at Zhou Changyi, and you will understand.
Gu Zhuomin was the most surprised. His heart moved slightly, but he finally suppressed it, lowered his head, and didn't know what he was thinking.
As the morning court ended, the news of officials stationed abroad who needed to go on diplomatic missions spread throughout the capital.
Zhou Shuren returned to the Ministry of Revenue. Qiu Yan did not attend the court today, so he asked later, "Does the Ministry of Revenue need someone?"
Zhou Shuren, "Why are you joining the Ministry of Revenue to make a fuss? Do you think your job is too easy?"
The Ministry of Revenue is the most short of people, okay? He has asked Chang Zhi to help him look after this batch of Shujishi, and Qiu Yan still wants to send people out!
Qiu Yanshen saw that Zhou Shuren really had no such intention, so he said, "It's not that the emperor often comes to the Ministry of Revenue, so I was wondering if you would respond, sir."
Zhou Shuren waved his hand, "No need, and no one in the Ministry of Revenue is willing to go."
Qiu Yan was silent. Not to mention the Ministry of Revenue, there were few officials in the entire capital who were willing to go.
In the afternoon, Zhou Shuren looked at Zhang Jinghong who was hesitant to speak, and squinted his eyes, "Don't even think about it."
Zhang Jinghong, "..."
Zhou Shuren, "What part of your life have you forgotten?"
With this mark, you won’t be able to leave the capital for at least several generations.
Zhang Jinghong: "I think if no one goes, there won't be enough people, can I give it a try?"
Zhou Shuren smiled, "Guess?"
He had worked so hard to train such a capable person, but he would be crazy to let him go.
Zhang Jinghong swallowed his saliva and said, "No, there is no need to guess. My Lord, just pretend that the official has never been here and has never said what he just said."
His intuition told him that if he reacted a little slower, something bad would definitely not be waiting for him.
Zhou Shuren snorted, "Go to work."
After Zhang Jinghong ran out, Zhou Shuren narrowed his eyes. It seemed that there were still not many tasks to do.
The next day, in the Hanlin Academy, as soon as Chang Zhi entered the door, he heard several scholars discussing the ministers who were sent as envoys. After seeing Chang Zhi, the well-informed ones already knew that Zhou Changyi had asked for the mission.
Several Shujishi were pushing and shoving each other, they wanted to know more information.
Changzhi looked at several not-so-old Shujishi, one of whom he remembered was younger than him, and asked with a smile, "What do you want to ask?"
The youngest of the several Shujishi spoke up, "We want to know which country the envoy is going to be sent to. Besides the officials, who else will be accompanying the envoy?"
Chang Zhi actually knew something about this. He heard it from his second brother yesterday. "The country hasn't been decided yet, but I know something about the accompanying personnel, including four doctors, five cooks, etc."
The accompanying personnel this time are very complete.