Zhao Zhigao didn't say anything else and let the three of them leave. The three of them left the Prime Minister's office, looked at each other, and then snorted at the same time.
After that, no one knew how the three of them negotiated, but in the end, they still gathered 100,000 taels of silver. Zhao Zhigao let out a long sigh and returned the memorial to the Emperor, telling the Emperor the good news that everyone had finally squeezed 100,000 taels of silver out of the gaps between their teeth.
Zhu Yijun looked at the memorial and sneered. He looked at Zhao Zhigao who was kneeling on the steps and couldn't stand up. He couldn't bear it, so he shook his head and said, "Old Prime Minister, you'd better get up. Wang De, please sit."
"Yes."
Wang De went down and moved a brocade stool for Zhao Zhigao. Zhao Zhigao climbed up with a thousand thanks, sat on it, and took a breath.
It seemed that the body of an old man in his seventies was not as good as before.
"Old Prime Minister, you are 72 years old this year, right?"
Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and asked.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am indeed 72 years old."
Zhao Zhigao was so grateful that he almost shed tears.
"An ordinary old man in his seventies would be enjoying his retirement at home, enjoying his grandchildren and enjoying the happiness of his family. However, you have to work so hard for the country. Every time I think about it, I can't bear to do it. Is there anything that you want me to do for you, Old Marshal? It can be regarded as me doing something for you. "
Zhu Yijun didn't want to get rid of Zhao Zhigao. Keeping Zhao Zhigao around was better than letting Zhang Wei take over. He didn't like Zhang Wei very much and always felt uncomfortable looking at him. Moreover, a few years ago, when the struggle for the nation's capital was at its peak, Zhang Wei's behavior was really annoying. He definitely wouldn't allow this person to become the Grand Secretary.
Zhao Zhigao's heart skipped a beat. Was the Emperor going to …
This thought only lasted for a moment. Soon, Zhao Zhigao let it go. He was 70 years old. He wanted to retire two years ago, but the Emperor didn't let him. Now, he probably found his conscience and found that he was too old, so he wanted him to go home to rest.
You're already in your seventies, what's there to not see?
Zhao Zhigao calmed down and said, "I don't have any unreasonable demands. It's my honor to work for the country. I feel honored to be able to dedicate 72 years to the country.
However, this old official has no choice but to say this. Zhang Wei's heart is not righteous, he likes to play politics, he has many henchmen inside and outside, and he is not very broad-minded. This kind of person absolutely cannot become the Grand Secretary, otherwise, he will be even more unbearable than Zhang Jiangling! "
Zhao Zhigao thought that the Emperor was going to make him abdicate, so he wanted to do one last thing for the Emperor before he left. He absolutely could not let Zhang Wei become the Prime Minister. He had seen through many things and was not afraid of anything. As long as Zhang Wei was not the Prime Minister, he would not be able to retaliate against him.
Zhu Yijun was stunned and did not know whether to laugh or cry.
"Minister Zhao, we really don't have that intention. We are really asking if you have anything you want us to help you with. We only want to comfort this old subject and definitely don't have any intention of making Minister Zhao abdicate."
Zhao Zhigao blinked his eyes, his old face turned red, and he hurriedly said, "This old official is slow-witted and misunderstood Your Majesty's meaning. Please forgive this old official for being old and slow-witted! In recent years, this old official has felt that my energy is not good enough, and I really do have the idea of abdicating to a better person. However, this old official absolutely cannot let Zhang Wei become the Prime Minister for the sake of the country. "
"You have a deep prejudice against Zhang Wei. I originally thought that an old official like you would not easily speak out your likes and dislikes to me."
Zhu Yijun looked at Zhao Zhigao meaningfully.
Zhao Zhigao came down from the brocade block, knelt on the ground, and said, "This old official has the heart of the public. Among the five assistant officials of the Cabinet, Zhang Wei is the most scheming and the most greedy for power. He is usually quite high-profile, and has the style of Zhang Jiangling. This old official thinks that this is not a good thing for me to Daming."
Zhu Yijun's expression suddenly changed.
Zhang Juzheng, Zhang Jiangling, this was a thorn in his heart that could never be removed. This thorn had been in his heart for a long time, so every time he thought of it, there was a kind of pain that would not go away for a long time.
Of course, Zhao Zhigao also knew the past of Zhu Yijun and Zhang Juzheng when they were young. Once Zhang Juzheng was mentioned, Zhu Yijun would definitely change his expression.
"Minister Zhao, sit down. There is no need to kneel to talk to me."
Zhu Yijun came back to his senses, looked at Zhao Zhigao kneeling on the ground, and said so.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhao Zhigao sat back on the brocade block again.
"I know what you said, but Zhang Wei is the most senior person in the Cabinet besides you. If I remember correctly, Zhang Wei and you are the Jinshi in the same year?"
Zhao Zhigao nodded, "Zhang Wei is more talented than me. I am 14 years older than him, but I am the Jinshi in the same year as him. In terms of seniority in the officialdom, others laugh that I am the Prime Minister because of my age."
Zhu Yijun said with a smile, "Minister Zhao, there is no need to belittle yourself. I will not casually appoint the Prime Minister of the Cabinet. Since Minister Zhao thinks that Zhang Wei is not suitable, then who is suitable?"
Zhao Zhigao thought for a while and said, "Shen Li."
Zhu Yijun furrowed his brows.
"Shen Li? Why do you think of him? "
"Your Majesty, Shen Li is seven years younger than me, but he became a Jinshi one course earlier than me. But because he is upright and outspoken, he is not liked in the officialdom.
He also offended Zhang Jiangling before, so he has been suppressed, and even entered the Cabinet after Zhang Wei. But he is dedicated to the public, so he is the best choice for the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, and the best person to curb the corruption of the imperial court. "
Zhao Zhigao thought that he was about to retire, so he had to leave some hope for the imperial court, and the upright Shen Li was the hope he saw.
"Although Shen Li was one course earlier than you, he entered the Cabinet after you. In terms of seniority, how can he be the Prime Minister? Isn't there Shen Yicheng and Chen Yu before him?"
Hearing this, Zhao Zhigao knew that Zhu Yijun did not like Shen Li. Shen Li had a bad temper, and because of his dark complexion, he was even called "blue-faced thief". He dared to argue with everyone, including the Emperor. In the Cabinet, except Zhao Zhigao, who had never offended the Emperor, only Shen Yicheng was tactful and didn't offend the Emperor.
It seemed that the Emperor wanted Shen Yicheng to be the Prime Minister of the Cabinet after him.
Zhao Zhigao thought about it carefully, and also felt that it was inappropriate. Shen Yicheng was also scheming, but compared with Zhang Wei, who pursued power wholeheartedly, Shen Yicheng was better, and his way of doing things was a bit similar to his own. But Shen Yicheng was a bit gloomy, and seemed to be corrupt, so he was not the best person to curb the corruption of the imperial court.
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, the corruption of the officials is one of the main reasons for the tight financial situation of the imperial court. At this moment, the imperial court is in urgent need of an upright and honest person to reverse the increasingly corrupt and extravagant atmosphere of the imperial court and replenish the national treasury in case of emergency.
From this point of view, Shen Li is the most suitable person. Moreover, Shen Li's years and age are both above Shen Yicheng, so it is not impossible to make an exception and promote him. "
Zhao Zhigao still hoped that Shen Li would be the Prime Minister of the Cabinet.
Zhu Yijun looked at Zhao Zhigao for a while without any expression, and suddenly laughed out loud.
"Hahahaha! Don't worry, Minister Zhao. I don't want to lose you. Minister Zhao is experienced and prudent, and has been the Prime Minister for many years. The imperial court is stable, and I am happy to be idle. Minister Zhao should continue to serve me! Hahahaha! "
After that, Zhu Yijun let Zhao Zhigao leave. Zhao Zhigao wanted to say something, but he didn't have the courage to disobey the Emperor.
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