From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 251

After the snowstorm passed, the weather on the way back to Beijing suddenly became sunny, and it seemed that everything was moving in a good direction.

With sufficient food and grass, and the chaos over, Zhou Yuan was in the mood to enjoy the scenery along the way.

In his past and present lives, he had mostly lived in the south, so he was quite interested in the heavy snow, vast wilderness and grasslands in the north.

Hot tea was brewing in the carriage. Xiong Kuohai leaned against the wall of the carriage and couldn't help sighing: "Who would have thought that you had already started planning these things on the way to Shenjing. Lord Zhou, what exactly is in your mind?"

Zhou Yuan smiled and said: "Based on the general political situation, make a general judgment on the direction and put it into practice. This is the level that a qualified politician should have."

"Your Majesty is not in the right position. It is inevitable that the prince will rebel. There are so many rioters in Shandong. Isn't it normal to plant a chess piece?"

Xiong Kuohai said: "Otherwise, how can you say that you are doing big things? I have also made preparations when I came to Shenjing. I just consider who to win over and how to make money reasonably."

Speaking of this, Zhou Yuan began to have a headache: "Alas, the five military camps are all messed up, and I am worried about money now!"

Xiong Kuohai He frowned and said, "This time when King Jing rebelled, many clansmen's property was confiscated. Your Majesty can get at least 7 or 8 million taels of silver, right? What's missing from your Fifth Army Camp? The annual salary of the Fifth Army Camp is only 1.5 million taels!"

Zhou Yuan shook his head and said, "7 or 8 million taels? You underestimate the clansmen too much. At least tens of millions. Unfortunately, I probably can't get that money. Liu Jing is keeping a close eye on them and needs money everywhere."

"The main thing is... the Central Plains needs money. There are millions of starving people. It's impossible not to save them."

Xiong Kuohai said, "What about the Fifth Army Camp? Those soldiers have lost all their wealth. Now they have stopped paying their salaries for a year and are subject to double taxes. They can't survive at all."

Zhou Yuan thought for a while, then said, "I can only find a way myself. Forget it, don't mention this. Let me rest for two days. I miss home."

Xiong Kuohai was slightly startled, and then laughed.

He also missed home, but the key was... he was almost home.

"Zhou Yuan, His Majesty wants you to go."

Xiao Zhuang's voice came from outside the carriage.

Zhou Yuan hurried out and followed Xiao Zhuang to the dragon carriage of Empress Zhao Jing, just about to say hello.

Xiao Zhuang lowered his voice and said, "Don't make noise, you can go in at night, and no one else will know."

"Is this appropriate?"

Zhou Yuan whispered, "This is a dragon carriage. Wouldn't it be controversial to be in the same room with His Majesty?"

Xiao Zhuang rolled his eyes and said, "Your Majesty still cares about this? Hurry up and get on."

"Okay!"

Zhou Yuan smiled, stepped on the carriage, and whispered through the sedan door, "Your Majesty, I'm here!"

"Get in!"

Empress Zhao Jing shouted unhappily.

Zhou Yuan hurried in, and then smelled a faint fragrance, which was the fragrance of tea, the fragrance of fruit, and the smell of rouge.

Empress Zhaojing was wearing a woman's dress and was stunningly beautiful with a little makeup. She sat on the soft step with clear eyes and smiled: "Why are you talking nonsense and saying 'I'm here'? Are you going to do anything bad to the emperor?"

Zhou Yuan smiled and said: "I dare not, but I am afraid."

Empress Zhaojing snorted: "You are always very courageous. I don't believe in fear. I guess you just feel excited. Being in the same room with Her Majesty, if something happens, it's thrilling to think about it, isn't it?"

Zhou Yuan said helplessly: "Your Majesty, you know people's hearts so well that I dare not reply."

Empress Zhaojing said: "In my position, if I can't even understand people's hearts, I would have been calculated by Chen De and his ilk."

"And you, Junior Brother, you can also understand people's hearts, but unfortunately your vision is not big enough."

Zhou Yuan was a little confused and said softly: "Senior Sister, I think I still have a vision, a little The son-in-law of the city resolutely stepped into the political vortex for the sake of the world and became the most controversial minister. "

Empress Zhao Jing said: "This is indeed worthy of praise, but little junior brother, you still care too much about the so-called conscience. You always think of yourself as a perfect person or a saint."

"What do you mean?"

"When you do things, you always want to take care of people from all aspects, always want to live up to your conscience, follow the values ​​of saints, and entangle in human nature and private feelings."

"For example, if I were you, I would never give the nine major gangs one million taels of silver to rectify the Shenjing matter, even if they need so much, I would not give it."

"I will use the tens of thousands of soldiers of the Five City Military Department to make trouble for them every day, so that their casinos and brothels can no longer operate. With the support of the emperor, the people behind them can't do anything to me. In the end, the nine major gangs will beg me, and I only need to give them 100,000 taels of silver to survive."

"If they are not convinced, then kill them, kill half of them, and the remaining half will naturally obey.

Zhou Yuan frowned and said: "That is not a permanent solution. If you force them too hard, there will always be trouble in the future."

Empress Zhao Jing said: "People are greedy. They took one million taels and would also want two million taels. The trouble is uncontrollable. When the boat reaches the bridge, it will be straightened out. Just deal with it slowly."

"In addition, including Qinshui, you clearly need a furnace, but you can't bear to sleep with her. This is human nature and personal feelings at work."

"If I were you, I wouldn't be emotional. I would first trick her into sleeping with me and then gain power."

"After the power is complete, if you hate it, just throw it away. If you like it, just continue to sleep with it. How can there be so much human nature in it?"

Zhou Yuan was silent.

Empress Zhao Jing said: "It is undeniable that my view is more selfish and more vicious, and your approach is more human. ”

“But those who want to do great things can only understand human nature and can only use human nature. It is best not to have human nature, otherwise they will be controlled by human nature.”

Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly and said, “If I really do that, will the elder sister still cultivate me?”

Empress Zhao Jing was silent for a moment before saying, “Yes, but when everything is over, I will get rid of you, because you are too similar to me, and it will eventually make me uneasy.”

Speaking of this, she reached out and touched Zhou Yuan’s face.

She smiled with narrowed eyes and said, “These shortcomings that I criticize you for are exactly what I admire about you.”

Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and said, “So, what did the elder sister want to express by talking to me about this late at night?”

“Don’t guess blindly.”

Empress Zhao Jing said, “I call myself ‘I’ instead of ‘I’, which is a friendly expression.”

“I have ideas in my mind, and I will tell you directly, and I won’t play any imperial tricks. ”

“I asked you to come here this time because you are already an earl, not a minor official. I hope you keep your original intention and continue to do what you want to do, so that we will not end up on opposite sides.”

“You are a minister who repairs the sky, and you will eventually become more powerful than your master, be envied by the king, and end up with a tragic end.”

“But the eldest sister does not want that day to come, so she called you here and told you in advance.”

“On the one hand, I want you to keep your original intention, and on the other hand, I hope you don’t think too much. It’s meaningless to guess the king’s mind. In your heart, you have to treat me as your eldest sister.”

Zhou Yuan nodded, his eyes turned, and said: “So, the earl is the king’s reward, what is the eldest sister’s reward to the little junior brother? "

Empress Zhaojing was stunned. She didn't expect Zhou Yuan to ask this.

She thought for a while before saying, "I have several female guards in the inner court who are both good at martial arts and good-looking. They have learned martial arts since childhood and have excellent figures. They also know etiquette. I will give them to you to be your guards and maids. You can play with them. How about it?"

Zhou Yuan couldn't help swallowing his saliva. He was really tempted, but he still shook his head and said, "No, I will lose my self-discipline and can't achieve anything big."

Empress Zhaojing said, "I won't give you money, I really don't have any."

Zhou Yuan said, "I will find a way myself."

Empress Zhaojing's eyes lit up, and she suddenly laughed and said, "I remember that when you were in Baiyun Temple, you had a blasphemous heart towards Master. How about I write a letter and send it to Yunzhou, asking Master to give you some sweets?"

Fuck! Am I Zhou Yuan such a person! That's Master!

"Really?"

Zhou Yuan widened his eyes and said in surprise, "Will Master agree! "

Empress Zhao Jing's face darkened, and she gritted her teeth and said, "You bastard, you disobedient person, get off the carriage!"

She kicked Zhou Yuan off the carriage.

Zhou Yuan's butt hurt from the fall, and before he could get up, he heard the voice of the senior sister: "As for the gift, you will know tomorrow."