Wang Xionggui stammered, not daring to retort. It was indeed hard for outsiders to imagine that a second-rank minister could be scolded so miserably. Huan Wen still wasn't satisfied. He snatched the wine pot and cloth pouch, directly throwing down a string of harsh words. "I originally thought you'd come to understand before coming, but I didn't expect you to still be such a scoundrel. You can't even manage a son, what Ministry of Revenue?! I, Huan Wen, have always favored you. Fine, then you might as well not be some Minister of Revenue. Come to the Ministry of Revenue and be my assistant. You'll still be a second-rank official. How about it?! So that your son won't rely on you, his father, to raise his tail to the sky and show that extremely unsightly light! "
Wang Xionggui was so scared that his face turned pale. Everyone in the court knew that Grand Secretary Zhang Julu was in charge of the Zhang Faction, which was actually of the same origin. It was just that the banner was swapped with the character Zhang. In fact, it could be traced all the way back to Zhang Julu and Huanwen's benefactor teacher, who was the old Grand Secretary's benefactor teacher. Wang Xionggui was undoubtedly the most popular candidate to take over Zhang Julu's position, both inside and outside the Zhang Faction. To speak plainly, even if the Emperor was dissatisfied with Wang Xionggui's position as Minister of Revenue and demoted him, even demoting him to a provincial post, as long as the Zhang and Huan elders were still there, even in the court and outside, they still had great prestige. Wang Xionggui wasn't afraid of not having a chance to return to the central government. However, if the Zhang and Huan elders felt that Wang Xionggui couldn't bear the heavy responsibility and wasn't enough to support their branch, then Wang Xionggui's career in this life could be considered to have come to an end.
Huan Wen gave a cold snort.
Wang Xionggui was dejected and didn't say anything. After careful consideration, he said bitterly, "Teacher Huan, this junior knows his wrongs. I won't enter the room and make the Grand Secretary worry. While there's still snow on the ground, I'll go back now and have Wang Yuanran kneel in front of Zhao Youling's gate. I'll also personally pay a visit to Zhao Youling to apologize. "
Huan Wen nodded and laughed. "Fuding, you slippery fellow. What dog fart snow on the ground? Zhao Youling's gate is filled with a sea of people, it's very clean. Why don't you find a handful of snow for me? Fine, fine, it's good that you know your wrongs. It's good that you've caused such a ruckus. It'll teach your son a lesson. Wang Yuanran is not stupid. Even if you keep a straight face, he can still see the love in your eyes. Plus, your wife is softhearted. She can't stand the crying of her young son. This time, she made him lose a layer of skin. Sooner or later, she will secretly compensate him more. Tell Wang Yuanran that if he dares to cause trouble again, I'll tell Yao Baifeng to throw him into the Imperial College for three to five years. "
The Minister of Revenue who had Tantanon personally intervened to help him deal with his family affairs had tears in his eyes. His lips trembled as he said, "Teacher Huan's kindness, this junior is unable to repay."
Huan Wen shook his head and sighed, "These small favors I've given you are nothing. The one inside is the one who really thinks highly of you. Fuding, you must not disappoint him. "
Wang Xionggui nodded heavily. Huan Wen returned the wine jug and cloth pouch to him. "My trip into the palace this time was for you. There is a beginning and there is an end. Come, let's go in and meet our Grand Secretary. "
Entering Zhang Lu, the purple-bearded and blue-eyed Zhang Julu still did not give the Minister of Revenue any face. However, he reluctantly accepted the wine and peanuts. The civil officials of Zhang Lu who were buried in their books quietly raised their heads and smiled knowingly at the Minister of Revenue. Wang Xionggui did not stay long. He quickly bid farewell and left in a hurry. Zhang Julu and Huan Wen came to the room that was specially used to receive outsiders. Huan Wen was very familiar with Zhang Lu. He brought in his own utensils and began to leisurely boil wine. He said to himself, "The court says that you and I, one playing good cop and one playing bad cop, cooperate seamlessly. I didn't think so before, but now I can only pinch my nose and admit it. Tell me, Fuding is such an ambitious, capable, and intelligent official. He has already reached the high position of Minister of Revenue. The Ministry of Revenue is well organized, so why can't he manage his own residence well? "
Zhang Julu calmly said, "What's so strange about this? Most people become officials to seek the good fortune of their descendants. Besides, don't look at how Wang Yuanran suddenly became a street rat in the capital. In fact, in front of his father, he is very clever and clever. The sons of officials are mostly like this. It's not that they are stupid, but that they are too smart. They have long been influenced by the ways of the officialdom to flatter and bully those below. I dare say that this is the first time Wang Xionggui knows that his youngest son is so muddle-headed. This is also why every year there are many officials who do not fall at the hands of their political opponents, but fall at the hands of their own children and grandchildren. It's not strange for father and son to be in court together, but it's rare for three generations to be in court together. Even if the positions of the three are not high and their ranks are not high, whether they are good or bad officials, at least they are truly intelligent officials. "
Huan Wen, whose nose had been frozen to a brandy, smelled the aroma of the wine and asked with a smile, "Then how many generations do you think there are in Beiliang?"
Zhang Julu calmly said, "This question, you have to ask the mysterious Huang Sanjia. I don't know, and I don't want to know. What's done is done, and that's more important than anything else. As for how far you can see, in the end, it depends on how far you can walk. "
Huan Wen laughed heartily.
Zhang Julu stretched out his hand.
Huan Wen said in surprise, "You want to drink wine? Bi Yan, you want to get a concubine? Congratulations, congratulations. "
Zhang Julu glanced at him unhappily. He poured himself a bowl of hot wine, drank a mouthful, and said with a smile, "I've thought about it."
Huan Wen nodded and said, "Me too. As soon as the two letters were sent, I felt some regret. Heh, it seems that you and I have both been tricked. That kid, the younger generation will surpass us in time. Borrowing our hands, he began to deal with Beiliang. However, I am now quite curious, did Golden Thread Weaver Li Xifeng also get deceived, or is he already in cahoots with Beiliang? "
Zhang Julu asked in return, "Is there a difference?"
Of all the civil and military officials in the imperial court, only he, Tantanon, could keep up with Grand Secretary Zhang's thoughts. He nodded and said, "That's true. Li Xifeng has made great contributions in the end, moreover, he even made Yan Jiexi owe him a huge favor. We still need to let him return to the capital with dignity. However, based on your unyielding nature when dealing with Ji Province's Han Family twenty years ago, Li Xifeng doesn't have this type of fortune."
Zhang Julu said with a laugh, "Only after giving my grandson New Year's money did I remember that I am already an old man in my fifties. It is also time for me to have this type of temperament."
Huan Wen released an 'oh' sound, saying teasingly, "What, you're finally starting to seek a path of retreat?"
Zhang Julu shook his head, his eyes firm and resolute. He slowly spat out two words, "I won't."
Huan Wen said quietly, "Don't worry, I won't let your Bi Yan 'er die without descendants."
Zhang Julu swayed the wine bowl, saying in self-mockery, "It's difficult."
Huan Wen suddenly said with a deadly earnest expression, "Don't you still have a daughter who hasn't married yet? In the future, Beiliang still lacks an official consort, what do you think of this idea?"
Zhang Julu was so angry that he laughed and said, "Get lost!"
In the distance, Zhang Julu's important ministers all clearly heard the Grand Secretary's vulgar words, looking at each other in dismay.
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