To Zhao Zhigao, Zhu Yijun's attitude was still very gentle. This old man could be considered a dove among the officials, a kind of Mr. Nice Guy.
When he became the Cabinet Secretary, he was already in his seventies or eighties, and it was only because of Wang Xijue's sudden retirement. Basically, he had been accumulating experience, and there was nothing that could be used against him, which allowed him to stand out among the group of corrupt officials.
This was enough to show that there were not many interests behind him, so this person's actions were quite in line with the interests of the Zhu Ming Dynasty, and not the interests of himself or some interest group.
Moreover, when Zhang Wei was still in power, the representatives of the interest groups were also concentrated on Zhang Wei, Shen Yicheng, and Shen Li. Zhao Zhigao was pushed by everyone to ease the relationship with the Emperor, and he was used as a buffer. After a few years, he could be replaced. No one said that they could cooperate with Zhao Zhigao to do anything.
In any case, not only would the Emperor not allow a fierce person like Zhang Juzheng to exist, but the officials also couldn't stand it. Zhang Juzheng had tormented them miserably!
In comparison, Zhao Zhigao was simply a little sheep. Not only was he at everyone's mercy, but he could also help ease the relationship with the officials. Basically, after the 15th year of Wanli, the Emperor didn't go to court much, and basically didn't see the officials. Later, when the battle of Ningxia began, he gradually began to see the officials again, but only a few of them were Chinese medicine officials.
Since three years ago, Zhao Zhigao was the only official who could see the Emperor every month, so the Emperor comforted Zhao Zhigao. Although Zhao Zhigao had already proposed to resign and return to his hometown three times, the Emperor refused every time and asked Zhao Zhigao to continue working.
What a joke, there were only two people left in the Cabinet, Shen Li and Shen Yicheng. Which one of them was a good person?
Shen Yicheng had never been a clean person, and he acted in a feminine manner, which gave Zhu Yijun a very uncomfortable feeling. Although he looked very kind, who knew what was hidden in his stomach? Zhao Zhigao's evaluation of him was not good, but this didn't affect Zhu Yijun's judgment.
Zhu Yijun felt that a Cabinet Secretary who could fight with the officials behind his back was a good Cabinet Secretary.
Shen Yi felt that Zhao Zhigao was a person who was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Although it was unlikely that Zhao Zhigao would fire at him, he didn't like people who were unreliable and cowardly at critical moments. One must know that Zhao Zhigao had taken a lot of bullets for him. Even Zhang Wei was willing to fight against the ministers for the position of Prime Minister.
As for Shen Li, he was the standard kind of remonstrant that Zhu Yijun hated the most. He talked about benevolence, righteousness, and morality, but who knew how many dirty things he had done behind his back. Most importantly, he had a glib tongue, and he also stood on the side of righteousness. Zhu Yijun, who had lost the high ground of public opinion, could not defeat him. If he became the Grand Secretary of the Great Ming Dynasty, it would be fun.
Therefore, although Zhao Zhigao strongly recommended Shen Li to take over as the Cabinet Secretary, Zhu Yijun was still unwilling. It was the same reason why he didn't want Zhang Wei to be the Cabinet Secretary. He couldn't accept a person who always disagreed with him as the Cabinet Secretary.
There were many people like Zhao Zhigao, and each of them regarded it as their honor. There were fewer and fewer nice people like Zhao Zhigao. It wasn't easy to meet one, and Zhu Yijun didn't want to let go of him like this.
It was better to wait for a few more people from the Cabinet to see if there was a suitable candidate. If there was, he would get rid of Shen Li and replace him. If it didn't work, he would have to settle for the second best, Shen Yicheng.
But now, Zhao Zhigao was his most important Cabinet Secretary, and an extremely rare political ally. Zhu Yijun attached great importance to Zhao Zhigao.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Zhao Zhigao came in and knelt down to greet Zhu Yijun. Zhu Yijun quickly asked him to stand up.
"There's no need to be so courteous, Minister. Please rise. Servants, prepare a seat for Minister!"
Soon, someone brought a brocade stool to Zhao Zhigao. Zhao Zhigao thanked Zhu Yijun and then sat down steadily with half of his buttocks on it. He had been practicing this skill for decades and had never fallen behind.
"Minister, why have you come to see me? I already know about the great victory at Zijing Pass. Although the 35,000 Northern Barbarians are worth paying attention to, I'm at ease with Xiao Qing leading the troops. Not to mention, there's also Taiyuan Wang Shiyang's 100,000 troops. The Northern Barbarians won't be able to cause much trouble. "
Zhu Yijun looked at the extremely calm Zhao Zhigao.
Zhao Zhigao nodded.
"I understand what Your Majesty has said. I'm also at ease with Xiao Zhennan leading the troops into battle. I'm not here for the war, but for the reconstruction of Shanxi after the war."
I understand, I understand. I'm here to ask for silver.
Zhao Zhigao's words made Zhu Yijun understand. As an emperor who had always been tricked but never surpassed, Zhu Yijun was already familiar with these kinds of tricks. Basically, after the officials said a few key words, Zhu Yijun knew they were here to ask for silver.
Different from the other officials, Zhao Zhigao had lived long enough and looked down on many things. Basically, when he talked to the Emperor, he was straightforward and did not hide his purpose. He did not use principles to whitewash his words. This was the reason why Zhu Yijun was willing to meet Zhao Zhigao and discuss political affairs with him.
Everyone understood the general principles, but if you kept on talking about it, anyone would get tired of it.
"We understand what Minister means. There's no silver again, right?"
Zhu Yijun picked up the teacup in front of him and took a sip. Then he slowly said, "But I remember that in a few days, Japan's compensation of 650,000 taels of silver will arrive. Although Datong and Shanxi need to be rebuilt, isn't this 650,000 taels of silver enough?"
Zhao Zhigao nodded.
"Your Majesty, I really hope that the silver is enough. I also think that the silver is enough, but the fact is that not only has the silver from the national treasury been advanced to the next year, but the compensation for the third quarter of next year has also been advanced by 630,000 taels of silver. There is really no more silver to rebuild Shanxi and Datong.
Not only that, Shanxi has already suffered a disaster. With the Northern Barbarians causing trouble, there will be many more refugees who have no food and shelter. We can't send all of them to Myanmar.
Not to mention whether Myanmar can be settled, the population of Shanxi will also plummet. This is not a feasible strategy. Therefore, in addition to the reconstruction silver, we also need disaster relief silver and food relief. I'm afraid that even if all the 650,000 liang can be transferred, it will not be enough. "
Zhu Yijun took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the surging Genuine Qi in his chest.
"Minister Zhao, you are the Prime Minister. Some things your words should be more effective than mine. National funds should be used for state affairs, and internal funds should be used. Not to mention that I haven't used a penny from the national treasury for ten years in a row. This has been the case since ancient times. Tell me, is the disaster relief and reconstruction of Shanxi and Datong a national matter or an internal matter?"
"Of course it's a national matter."
Zhao Zhigao answered honestly.
"Since it's a national matter, why don't you use the national funds, but my internal funds?"
Zhu Yijun gritted his teeth and tried to state in a calm tone.
"If the other ministers and officials were to answer, Your Majesty also knows that the world is Your Majesty's world, and the national matter is Your Majesty's family matter. Your Majesty doesn't even pay for it, so how can you expect the family matter to be straightened out?"
"Then how will you answer, Minister?"
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