Chapter 1612 Putting the Elephant in the Refrigerator

The clouds outside the window were getting heavier and heavier, and the window paper began to rustle. A storm seemed inevitable, which was not common in this dry autumn.

Zhao Hao expressed to his own people that he did not support the seizure of love, which was very important. In order to reduce the resistance to the development of science and make it easier for scholars to accept science and enter science, he always adopted the attitude of "opposing Dong and Liu but not Confucius", disguising science as a branch of Confucianism similar to Neo-Confucianism, Xinxue, Qixue, and Shixue.

He claimed that if the School of Mind was a reinterpretation of Confucianism, then science was a supplement to the missing content of Confucianism.

What if science conflicts with Confucian classics? That's because Dong Zhongshu tampered with Confucian classics.

For example, the previously mentioned "Harmony between Heaven and Man" was severely criticized by Zhao Hao, who cursed Dong Zhongshu for being ignorant, fabricating lies, and misleading China for two thousand years!

But there were too many areas where Confucianism conflicted with science, and it was too much for Dong Zhongshu to bear the blame alone, so Zhao Hao, at the suggestion of Li Zhi, pulled Liu Xin out as a target, saying that he had fabricated a large number of false scriptures to whitewash the legitimacy of the new dynasty in order to help Wang Mang usurp the Han Dynasty...

Although the logic of this theory is simple and crude, it is very important. It prevents the disciples' three views from collapsing and science from being regarded as a cult. This is how it was able to safely pass through the most vulnerable ten-year budding period.

But there is no such thing in this world that only benefits you and does not harm you. For example, when it comes to the matter of Mr. Zhang seizing his lover, the disciples' views are no different from those of scholars all over the world.

Everyone believed that the country ruled the world with filial piety. How could a person who was unfilial to his parents be loyal to the emperor? How could he command the government and the people?

In particular, Master Zhao was keen on recruiting many disciples. The saying "once a teacher, always a father" means that the "master-disciple relationship" should be treated as a "father-son relationship", requiring disciples to treat their masters like their fathers.

Therefore, when it comes to the issue of 'how to repay the kindness of parents' upbringing', Zhao Hao cannot afford to sit on the fence and must stand on the side of the 'love-stealing faction'.

Fortunately, outsiders always see the Jiangnan Gang from a distance, and Zhao Hao never shows up, always hiding behind the big guys to stir up trouble. So outsiders think that he has to wait until these big guys retire before it will be his turn to call the shots.

Little did people know that Zhao Hao had already impressed the big bosses of various factions with his miraculous performance, and had become the leader of the Jiangnan Gang a few years ago.

It is precisely this situation that is unknown to outsiders but known to his own people that makes Zhang Han's actions have different meanings in the eyes of outsiders and his own people.

In the eyes of outsiders, a dignified Heavenly Official would of course act on his own and not be influenced by anyone, so it is unlikely that Zhao Hao would be implicated by Zhang Dang.

In the eyes of his own people, Zhang Han was representing Zhao Hao in making his position clear. After all, Young Master Zhao was the half-son of Mr. Zhang, and it was not convenient for him to express his position directly, which everyone understood.

~~

The window paper crackled, and the autumn rain finally came.

"Thank you, Lord Yuanzhou, for helping me make up my mind." Zhao Hao poured the first cup of tea to Zhang Han and said apologetically, "But the price is too high."

"It's okay. Your grandfather has retired for ten years. It's time for me to step down." Zhang Han took a sip of Chaozhou Phoenix Tea brought by Zhao Hao. He felt that it was rich, fresh, soothing, and sweet, with a unique mountain flavor. He nodded slightly in approval and said:

"What a delicious tea. Look, there are many things in this world that are more interesting than being an official. Why should you stay in this boring officialdom?"

"That Jiangdong infantryman with the same name as you thinks the same way." Zhao Jin joked, "In fact, I've had enough of this a long time ago."

Zhao Hao and Shen Shixing could not help but smile bitterly. The Grand Chancellor and the Junior Chancellor were working so hard that they wished they could borrow 500 years from heaven. But when it came to these two, they lost their minds.

The reason is very simple. Zhang Juzheng promoted Zhang Han, who was waiting to retire in Nanjing, to be the Minister of Personnel because he was honest and easy to control. So Zhang Han was nominally a distinguished official, but in fact, all the power of personnel was firmly in the hands of Zhang Juzheng. All the appointments and dismissals of officials required Zhang Juzheng's approval, and there were often cases of the cabinet passing down notes and directly appointing someone as an official who exceeded his authority.

The Ministry of Personnel has become an office of the Cabinet, and the Minister of Personnel has become a subordinate of the Prime Minister. How can it not be depressing to be sidelined like this? Although Zhang Han did not complain all day long like Zhao Jin, he also sighed in secret.

To be honest, Zhang Han and Zhao Jin both felt relieved when Zhang Juzheng's father passed away. They thought that Zhang Jiangling had been gone for more than two years, and we were finally no longer deaf ears - decorations. Fortunately, they were all professionally trained, and no matter how happy they were, they would not laugh out loud.

However, the development of the situation in the past ten days has made it impossible for them to laugh even if they want to...

The Emperor and the Empress Dowager were determined to keep Zhang Xianggong, and Zhang Xianggong only pretended to resign, but he was still reluctant to give up the power.

This made the two men feel worse than eating a fly, and it intensified their moral aversion. So the two men discussed with Zhao Liben and decided not to take the lead in retaining Zhang Juzheng, and to help Zhao Hao solve a problem.

"My fate is sealed." Zhang Han put down his teacup, looked at Zhao Hao with deep eyes and said, "The pressure is now completely on you."

"Yes, brother, I am really worried about you." Zhao Jin also sighed: "I think your old Taishan has gone to extremes. How can you pull him back and persuade him to go home to mourn?"

"It's difficult." Shen Shixing, who had been silent the whole time, also said with a sad face, "I can't think of any solution. Zhang Xianggong has the support of the emperor, the queen mother, and eunuch Feng. Who can make him change his ways?"

"It's like trying to figure out how to put an elephant into a box," Zhao Hao said with a smile. In fact, in such a tangled dilemma, the most difficult thing is to make up your mind. Once you make up your mind, it will be much easier.

"How to install it?" Zhao Jin asked.

"It's divided into three steps. Open the box, put the elephant in, and then close the box." Zhao Hao said with a smile.

"Hahaha!" The three of them burst out laughing and said, "Are you just pretending to be so emotional?"

"Yes, I think the only way is to force her." Zhao Hao pointed and said, "It has to be done in three steps. The first step is to make things worse. The pressure on the love-stealing faction is not enough. It is far from their limit of submission."

"That's right. My self-detonation as a minister of the Ministry of Personnel, who is so quiet even when he farts, can only be regarded as adding fuel to the fire."

"And I'll keep you company." Zhao Jin said, smiling self-deprecatingly, "But it's still far from enough."

"It's okay, take your time. If it doesn't work, there are younger generations." Shen Shixing also said softly.

"Don't get involved. It's not easy for us in the Jiangnan Gang to save some money. We are counting on you to join the cabinet as soon as possible." Zhang Han and Zhao Jin waved their hands at the same time and asked:

"What about the second step?"

"The second step is to remove the fire from under the cauldron. The current situation is all due to the emperor, eunuch Feng and the queen mother pushing too hard. So we should try to get them to stop pushing so hard. If no one insists on my father-in-law taking my love away, won't the pressure on him be much less?"

"This trick will definitely work, but it's also difficult. It's not easy to use it." said the three.

"But this is necessary." Zhao Hao said softly, blowing away the hot steam from the teacup.

"Yeah." The three nodded. They understood.

In fact, an important reason why the Dingyou faction could not be allowed to lose this game was that the trio representing the imperial power could not be allowed to win.

Any action that promotes imperial power is not in the interests of the three major groups... Of course, this cannot be said explicitly.

"So what about the third step?" Zhao Jin asked again.

"As for the third step, it is to reconcile and compromise." Mr. Zhao held up the teacup and said quietly, "The Chinese people always like to reconcile and compromise. For example, if you say, 'This room is too dark, we need to open a window here,' everyone will definitely not allow it. But if you advocate removing the roof, they will come to reconcile and be willing to open the window."

"That makes sense." Zhang Han and the other two's eyes lit up and said, "That sounds like a good idea!"

"It's easier said than done." Zhao Hao took a sip of tea and sighed, "Maybe I need God's help."

"Ah, aren't you the one who is most opposed to the theory of the connection between heaven and man?" Zhao Jin's eyes widened as he asked, "Isn't this unscientific?"

"So I locked up all my disciples in Xiangshan Academy." Zhao Hao spread his hands and said, "I can't control what others think."

"This is very scientific." Everyone laughed.

~~

Zhao Hao stayed in the Ministry of Personnel until the rain stopped and then left, and he also had a quick meal in the meantime.

When he returned to Dashamao Hutong, he saw that the plain paper wreaths all over the alley had become tattered by the rain; the words on the elegiac couplets and funeral banners were also blurred. The solemn atmosphere was gone and it looked a little dishevelled.

After he entered the prime minister's residence, he went straight through the mourning hall and went to the study to apologize to his father-in-law.

Zhang Juzheng, wearing a blue robe with a horn belt and reading glasses, sat behind his desk reviewing memorials. This morning, the Tongzhengsi had received an imperial decree to send memorials directly to Dashamao Hutong. The emperor and his wife would rather have Zhang Xianggong work at home in mourning than have Lu Xianggong draft them...

Li Yihe was there too. Seeing Zhao Hao coming in with a dark face, he asked, "Why, it won't work even if you go?"

Zhao Hao nodded in frustration, lowered his head and stood in front of Zhang Juzheng, saying depressedly: "My son is incompetent. No matter how I persuaded Lord Yuanzhou, he rejected me and said that it is natural to observe mourning and the prime minister should set an example. I should persuade my father-in-law not to disappoint the officials and the people."

"Humph!" Zhang Juzheng said as veins popped up on the back of his hand holding the memorial: "Bugu is really blind to employ such an obstinate old fool!"

"That's not the case. Who could have expected that an old donkey could kick up a fuss?" Li Yihe hurriedly comforted.

"Yes, father-in-law, this Zhang Yuanzhou always said that he was able to become a heavenly official thanks to the recommendation of the prime minister. The prime minister treated him with great kindness, and he was determined to do whatever he wanted." Zhao Hao also said angrily: "I didn't expect that his true colors would be revealed when the time came!"

"So it's better to send this stubborn old man home as soon as possible!" Li Yihe nodded and said, "Just like Ge Shouli, who relied on his seniority to oppose the reforms of the husband. Send him home and the noise will be reduced immediately!"

He still hoped to make an example of him and let all the officials in the court know the consequences of not supporting the love-stealing movement!

When he said this, he looked at Zhao Hao. It was obvious that the young elder wanted to protect Zhang Tianguan.

Zhang Juzheng also looked at Zhao Hao. After all, Zhang Han was the leader of the Jiangnan Gang. He had never needed the support of his son-in-law like he did now. Naturally, he had to estimate Zhao Hao's feelings and see his attitude...

Zhao Hao lowered his head in shame and said, "However my father-in-law treats him, it's all his own fault. I have nothing to say."

"Yeah." Zhang Juzheng felt a little relieved. This at least proved that Zhang Han's actions had nothing to do with Zhao Hao.

ps. Keep going...

(End of this chapter)