After drinking a cup of wine, the relationship between the two sides immediately became much more harmonious.
This was the first time Wang Chong was meeting Zhangchou Jianqiong, but Big Uncle Wang Gen was different. Although the two of them rarely interacted with each other, they were of the same generation and had long heard of each other's stories.
In fact, Zhangchou Jianqiong even knew that Wang Gen's character was' Jie xin '. On the other hand, Wang Gen didn't address the other party as Great General or Protector-General, but as Brother Zhangchou.
Both of them were of the same generation.
"Brother Jiexin!"
Zhangchou Jianqiong put down his cup and said sincerely,
"In front of Brother Jiexin, there is no need for me to hide anything. After living by the borders for several decades, Zhangchou also wished to move to another place. There are many prestigious clans in the capital, and Brother Jiexin is an influential official in the royal court. Zhangchou hopes that he can sit in the selection for the Minister of War, and he hopes that Brother Wang can give him some pointers. Zhangchou will be eternally grateful. "
Those words immediately silenced the entire third floor. All eyes turned to Wang Chong's big uncle. Soldiers tended to get straight to the point. Even though Zhangchou Jianqiong was ambitious, he was no exception.
One of the goals of this banquet was to befriend Wang Gen and establish a connection with the Wang Clan. However, what Zhangchou Jianqiong was most concerned about was the matter regarding the Minister of War.
"Brother Zhangchou is exaggerating."
Wang Gen stroked his beard with a contemplative expression. He wasn't surprised by Zhangchou Jianqiong's question at all. Wang Gen had already expected Zhangchou Jianqiong to ask such a question.
"Brother Zhangchou has made great contributions to the Tang dynasty by stabilizing Jiannan. With such qualifications, you are more than qualified to enter the Bureau of Military Personnel. Based on my experience, Brother Zhangchou only has a forty percent chance of entering the Central Court. "
"Forty percent?"
Zhangchou Jianqiong's eyes flickered with disappointment. Even with a forty percent chance, it was still not enough to enter the Middle Garden.
This wasn't what Zhangchou Jianqiong wanted to hear, but he also knew that Wang Gen was an influential official of the royal court. There was no way he would lie to him on such matters.
This was also the reason why he treated Wang Gen with such respect.
"Only 40%? Could Brother Jiexin please advise me on what to do in the future? Zhangchou will definitely repay you in the future! "
Zhangchou Jianqiong said earnestly.
"This Zhangchou Jianqiong's thoughts … are more urgent than I thought."
Wang Chong looked on coldly and thought to himself.
An existence of Zhangchou Jianqiong's level was a man of his word. Since he had made such a promise, he would definitely fulfill it in the future. Such words could have been spoken in private, but Zhang Xuan could see how anxious Zhangchou Jianqiong was.
Perhaps he had waited for too long, or perhaps he knew that this was his last chance. Wang Chong could sense that Zhangchou Jianqiong was already willing to go all out for the position of Minister of War.
"To think that I was still thinking that there might be a slim chance of keeping Zhangchou Jianqiong in Jiannan, but it seems like it's impossible now."
Wang Chong thought to himself.
Zhangchou Jianqiong was the guardian of the southeast of the empire, and a large part of what happened in the future was due to the iron-willed Protector-General Zhangchou Jianqiong leaving Jiannan to take over the Central Court.
Without a powerful figure like Zhangchou Jianqiong to suppress him, Jiannan would be left empty, and powerful foes like Mengshe Zhao and Ouzan would have to deal with.
Zhangchou Jianqiong's transfer to the Central Court was a blessing for him, but the departure of Ouzan and Mengshe Zhao gave them an opportunity to strike.
Zhangchou Jianqiong was a powerful commander in the military, but his ambition for power was his greatest weakness. Even so, there was nothing Wang Chong could do about it.
People strive for higher places, and water flows to lower places. This is human nature. Zhangchou Jianqiong had already made up his mind to leave Jiannan, and there was nothing Wang Chong could do about it. Wang Chong could only sigh.
"Brother Zhangchou, it's best for you to keep a low profile this time around," Wang Gen said as he stroked his beard.
Wang Gen stroked his beard. His face remained impassive, but his eyes shone with the wisdom of politics.
"Brother Zhangchou, do you know where the greatest obstacle to your advancement comes from?"
"King Qi? The Yao Clan? "
Zhangchou Jianqiong probed. He had already communicated with the two clans, and regardless of whether it was the Yao Clan or King Qi, they had expressed their support for his ascension to the Central Court.
If Wang Gen were to say that it was King Qi and the Yao Clan, he would never have believed it.
But that was precisely where the problem lay. There was no one who objected to his ascension to the capital, but the matter had yet to be settled.
"Hehe, that's not it. How could it be them? "
Wang Gen chuckled as he picked up the wine cup on the table and took a sip.
"It's Fomonlința, Gao Xianzhi, Geshu Han, and the other generals in the army, including the Andong Protector-General, Zhang Shougui!"
Upon hearing this answer, Zhangchou Jianqiong and his subordinates from Jiannan were taken aback. Even Wang Chong was taken aback.
He had only heard of the happenings in the royal court, but he didn't pay much attention to it. The matter regarding Zhangchou Jianqiong had indeed dragged on for quite some time.
In Wang Chong's opinion, it was likely that the various powers in the royal court were unwilling to allow an outsider like Zhangchou Jianqiong to enter the capital.
But Big Uncle Wang Gen's words provided another explanation.
Although Wang Chong was surprised at first, he quickly understood what was going on after some thought.
"Brother Zhangchou, think about it. They are all Protector-Generals and Great Generals of the Tang dynasty, but in terms of aptitude, Fomonlința, Gao Xianzhi, Geshu Han, and Zhang Shougui have all contributed greatly to the Tang dynasty. If Brother Zhangchou can ascend to the Central Court, doesn't that mean that Fomonlința and the others can do the same? "
Wang Gen stroked his beard. The affairs of the royal court weren't as black and white as they could be. Zhangchou Jianqiong was a formidable commander, but it wasn't that Wang Gen was underestimating him.
Zhangchou Jianqiong had never come into contact with the royal court before. He was truly an amateur when it came to such matters.
The opposition to Zhangchou Jianqiong's entry into the capital didn't just come from the prestigious clans and nobles in the capital, but from the military as well.
"How dare they!"
Zhangchou Jianqiong's complexion immediately turned awful. He was only trying his luck in the first place, and he didn't really expect to get anything out of it.
But now that he heard about the connections in the royal court, his face darkened.
If it was just the opposition from the capital, he could just walk around with his status as the Southern Protector-General, and everyone would have to give him some face.
Zhangchou Jianqiong was confident that he could persuade them.
The advantage of not coming into contact with the royal court for a long time was that he had never offended anyone in the royal court.
But if the opposition came from the military, from the likes of the Western Protector-General, Qixi Protector-General, and Big Dipper Army Commander Geshu Han, then it would be impossible for him to ascend to the Central Court.
In terms of experience and contributions, these people didn't pale in comparison to him at all.
Before Wang Gen, Yao Guang Yi, and the others, he could still talk about his contributions, but before the likes of Fomonlința, there was really nothing he could say.
Furthermore, due to the long period of peace in Jiannan, in some aspects, Zhangchou Jianqiong was even inferior to them.
"Lord Wang, is there really no other way?"
Yang Zhao asked anxiously. This time, even he couldn't sit still anymore. Even though these were just Wang Gen's words, Yang Zhao could immediately tell that there was a high chance that it was the truth of the matter.
He had been in the capital for quite some time now, and he had befriended quite a number of officials. Initially, he thought that he was quite familiar with the royal court and the capital of the Tang dynasty.
But at this moment, he realized that he still knew nothing about the royal court.
"Fomonlința and Gao Xianzhi have been in the Tang dynasty for many years, and they have connections in the royal court. However, if it's just these few, there's no need for Brother Zhangchou to worry too much. After all, these few have fatal flaws, and it's impossible for them to compete with Brother Zhangchou. In the several centuries of history of the Tang dynasty, there has never been a Hu Minister of War. Not just the Tang dynasty, there hasn't been one in all of the previous dynasties. "
"The one Brother Zhangchou should worry about is still the Eastern Protector-General, Zhang Shougui!"
Wang Gen said.
Weng!
Before the others could react, Zhangchou Jianqiong and the middle-aged strategist beside him were taken aback, and their faces warped in astonishment.
"Just like Brother Zhangchou, Zhang Shougui is a Han, and he's a Protector-General of the empire. On top of that, he leads an army to suppress the Goguryeo Empire, Khitans, Xi, and the Eastern Turkic Khaganate. His methods are similar to Brother Zhangchou's, perhaps even more domineering. If Brother Zhangchou wishes to enter the royal court, he is the one you need to worry about! "
Wang Gen said slowly.
Wang Chong stood on the side, a pensive look on his face. This was the first time he had come into contact with such a major matter, and it involved almost all of the powers in the capital.
It could be said that Zhangchou Jianqiong had experienced the most complicated side of the royal court through this promotion.
Politics had always been his weakness, and Wang Chong knew that he wouldn't be able to interfere in this matter. Thus, he chose to watch silently from the sidelines, treating this as his best political lesson.
"Brother Shougui, your ambitions don't lie here, right?"
Zhangchou Jianqiong asked with a grim expression.
The name of the Eastern Protector-General, Zhang Shougui, was like the shadow of a mountain cast upon him. In the military, the two of them were the titans of the world, one in the east while the other in the south, and they rarely interacted with one another.
But Zhangchou Jianqiong knew that Zhang Shougui's qualifications were far greater than his. Most of Zhangchou Jianqiong's contributions were in Annam.
But Zhang Shougui was different. From the Ouzan to the Eastern and Western Turkic Khaganate, to Goguryeo and Khitans, he had displayed exceptional aptitude from a young age.
And unlike him, Zhang Shougui had once had a chance to become the prime minister of the Tang dynasty. Even though the other party wasn't much older than him, he was far more experienced than the Southern Protector-General.
Even veterans like Fomonlința and Gao Xianzhi were wary of him.
If Zhang Shougui were to vie for the position of Minister of War, he would be a formidable foe. The only thing that made Zhangchou Jianqiong feel at ease was that Zhang Shougui's ambition was to become the prime minister. In this aspect, Zhang Shougui's goal was much higher than his.
"It's true that Zhang Shougui's ambition is to become the prime minister. But Brother Zhangchou, have you ever thought about what will happen to them if you become the Minister of War? "
In an instant, the entire pavilion fell silent.
The eyebrows of the strategist beside Zhangchou Jianqiong slowly creased. He understood the meaning behind Wang Gen's words.
The reason why Zhangchou Jianqiong's ascension to the throne was not just because of the royal court, but also because of the borders. If Zhangchou Jianqiong were to settle down in a corner, it would still be fine.
But if he were to become the Minister of War, it would mean that Zhang Shougui, Gao Xianzhi, Fomonlința, Geshu Han, and the others would be under his control.
Thus, even if their ambitions weren't to become the Minister of War, they would never allow Zhangchou Jianqiong to become the new Minister of War.
In terms of interests, these people were aligned.
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