Chapter 1304 It’s not easy to be an official in Daqian!

Seeing Gu Sansi's attitude, Zhang Zhiwen was very helpless, but he could also understand Gu Sansi's behavior!

After all, Gu Sansi was unwilling to get involved in Zheng Ping's matter at first. It was because he shamelessly pestered Gu Sansi that Gu Sansi finally reluctantly agreed to recommend Zheng Ping!

No one expected this kind of thing to happen. Zhang Zhiwen himself felt very sorry for Gu Sansi. If anyone was to be blamed for this matter, it could only be him, Zhang Zhiwen, for not knowing people well and trusting that bastard Zheng Ping, and being fooled by Zheng Ping!

Zhuang Shanhe looked at Zhang Zhiwen, who had a bitter face, and pretended to be concerned and continued to ask:

"I wonder how Brother Zhang plans to deal with this matter?"

Zhang Zhiwen sighed when he heard this, and said directly without any hesitation:
"It's all my fault that Zhang Zhiwen was blind. I have to admit my mistakes and I will write a letter to His Majesty to apologize!"

"As for how your majesty will punish me, it's all what I, Zhang Zhiwen, deserve!"

Although Zhang Zhiwen looked annoyed and bitter at the end, he was still confident in his heart. He knew that he could not escape the blame for Zheng Ping's crime. However, he had only been in office for a year as the governor, and he believed that he had made some achievements in economic development during this year!

Therefore, Zhang Zhiwen believed that Zheng Ping’s incident would not remove him from the position of governor, and Ye Mingsheng would only fine him and reprimand him, but would not change his position as governor.

Based on this, Zhang Zhiwen was considering whether to take all the responsibilities of Gu Sansi on himself. In fact, Zhang Zhiwen had a good relationship with Gu Sansi before. Otherwise, if it were someone else, no matter how shamelessly he pestered Gu Sansi, the Minister of Revenue of the Daqian Dynasty would not agree...
This time, from Gu Sansi's actions, Zhang Zhiwen could feel that he was very angry. Zhang Zhiwen was helpless and a little worried. He didn't want him and Gu Sansi to part ways because of this incident.

After all, Gu Sansi is now the Minister of Personnel, and there is a high possibility that he will become the Prime Minister of the Cabinet of the Daqian Dynasty in the future. It is very necessary to maintain a friendly relationship with him. Zhang Zhiwen is less than 40 years old this year. If nothing unexpected happens in the future, his official career may still last another 10 to 20 years, and Gu Sansi will have a great influence on his political future!

Because of this, Zhang Zhiwen considered taking the blame and trying to save his relationship with Gu Sansi. Maybe it was impossible to reconcile, but at least he didn't want things to get out of control!
Zhuang Shanhe naturally didn't know what Zhang Zhiwen was thinking at the moment. He pondered for a moment and said:
"Brother Zhang, I heard some news recently, but I don't know whether I should tell you or not!"

Zhang Zhiwen seemed a little confused after hearing this. He didn't know what Zhuang Shanhe wanted to say, but he didn't think much about it and said:
"Brother Zhuang, you and I serve in the same court, so we are of the same blood. If you are willing to give me some advice, I will listen attentively!"

Seeing Zhang Zhiwen say this, Zhuang Shanhe no longer hesitated and lowered his voice and said:

"I heard that the Censorate is planning to impeach you!"

"Join me?"

Facing Zhang Zhiwen's question, Zhuang Shanhe preached very seriously:
"Those censors are planning to ask you to leave your position as the governor of Youyan..."

Zhang Zhiwen was naturally suspicious of Zhuang Shanhe's words, but seeing Zhuang Shanhe's serious expression, Zhang Zhiwen couldn't help but feel nervous.

After all, Zhuang Shanhe is the trusted and beloved general of Li Jian, the Minister of Justice. Although Li Jian's power in the court is not as great as Cui Shao and Gu Sansi, he is also the third-ranked elder in the cabinet and can meet the emperor directly!

Thinking of this, Zhang Zhiwen said directly:
"Brother Zhuang, was it Elder Li who revealed this news to you?"

Zhuang Shanhe waved his hand and said:

"Brother Zhang, today we are just chatting. Just treat it as something I said casually. Just listen to it casually and don't take it too seriously, okay?"

Hearing Zhuang Shanhe say this, Zhang Zhiwen couldn't help but murmur in his heart, but he still nodded and said:

"it is good!"

After saying this, Zhang Zhiwen couldn't suppress his curiosity and continued:

"Brother Zhuang, what is going on?"

"Although I recommended Zheng Ping, I had nothing to do with Zheng Ping's affairs. Could it be that Zheng Ping framed me in prison?"

Zhuang Shanhe shook his head and said:

"As far as I know, Zheng Ping is relatively honest in prison and has not accused you yet. The Ministry of Justice has not found any evidence to accuse Brother Zhang during the investigation!"

Hearing Zhuang Shanhe say this, Zhang Zhiwen felt relieved, but he was even more puzzled and asked:
"If that's the case, why would the Censorate want to accuse you? A single oversight shouldn't be enough to get me fired, right?"

Facing Zhang Zhiwen's question, Zhuang Shanhe seemed a little hesitant. Seeing him like this, Zhang Zhiwen also asked:
"Brother Zhuang, what is going on?"

Zhuang Shanhe sighed and said:
"Brother Zhang, do you know why the current emperor wants Chu Zhiyi to be the Left Censor-in-Chief?" Zhang Zhiwen said without hesitation:
“Promote reforms…”

When Zhang Zhiwen mentioned the word "reform", his voice suddenly stopped, as if he realized something, and he just stood there in a daze.

Seeing that Zhang Zhiwen seemed to have reacted, Zhuang Shanhe said meaningfully:

"Chu Zhiyi appears to be loyal and upright, but in fact he is a treacherous person pretending to be loyal. It's just that he hides it too well, and everyone is deceived by his appearance. This time, Brother Zhang, you are his guess about the emperor's intentions!"

Hearing Zhuang Shanhe say this, Zhang Zhiwen's expression changed rapidly without saying anything, and at this time Zhuang Shanhe continued to say;

"Brother Zhang, I have no other intention in telling you so much. It's just that I am very happy to work with you in Youyan, so I don't want to see you fall into the evil scheme of Chu Zhiyi, a villain!"

Zhang Zhiwen took a deep breath and clasped his fists towards Zhuang Shanhe before speaking:

"Brother Zhuang, I understand what you mean. Thank you for telling me!"

Zhuang Shanhe wanted to continue to say something, but seeing Zhang Zhiwen's attitude, he swallowed his words and just said:
"Brother Zhang, you are too polite. There is no need for us to thank each other between colleagues. This is what I should do!"

"I still say the same thing, just treat it as something I said casually, and don't take it too seriously!"

Seeing Zhuang Shanhe emphasized this matter again, Zhang Zhiwen also knew that this matter was very sensitive, and immediately nodded and said:
“Brother Zhuang, today you and I are just here to spend the Lantern Festival together…”

Seeing that Zhang Zhiwen understood his meaning so well, Zhuang Shanhe also raised his wine glass with a smile. The two people, each with their own thoughts, drank two more glasses of wine, ate a few bites of food, and then parted ways, ending today's private meeting.

After an incense stick of time, Zhang Zhiwen returned to his residence. Although it was late, he had no intention of sleeping. He sat alone on a chair in the study and closed his eyes to rest.

Although Zhuang Shanhe's words just now were very obscure, they still made Zhang Zhiwen feel uneasy. Before Zhuang Shanhe's speech, he had never thought about it in this regard. He just thought that this matter was a simple Zheng Ping incident, and he was just simply responsible for negligence by recommending a T official to serve as advisor to the Governor's Secretary.

But now, if Zheng Ping’s incident and the responsibility of negligence are really as Zhuang Shanhe said, they are not important at all. What really matters is what the emperor thinks!

Thinking of this, a bitter smile emerged on Zhang Zhiwen's face. Among the provincial governors of Liaoyang, Yunbing, Youyan, Jiyu, Yongliang, Guanzhong, Jiangnan, Huainan, Jingchu, Qilu, and Anqing, the Youyan provincial governor was widely considered to be a good position!

After all, Ye Mingsheng has now established his capital in Yijing, and Youyan is equivalent to the feet of the emperor. Although Youyan is located in the border area, thanks to the success of the Fengwu Army's past grassland policy, the northern grassland peoples, currently the biggest enemy in the history of the Central Plains Dynasty, can no longer pose a major threat to Daqian.

In addition, benefiting from Ye Mingsheng’s previous economic reforms, Youyan’s economic foundation is better than other regions. At the same time, if some achievements can be made, the emperor will also be able to see it, which will also be beneficial to one’s personal future and development. Therefore, Zhang Zhiwen is also very clear that many people are envious of him...

At the beginning, Zhang Zhiwen was very happy when he took up the post of Governor of Youyan. He felt that his future was bright and that his efforts and contributions were finally noticed by Ye Mingsheng. He, Zhang Zhiwen, was also going to rise to the top. Zhang Zhiwen even fantasized that he would work hard for a few years as the Governor of Youyan, and then be appreciated by the emperor and promoted to the cabinet, becoming a cabinet minister of the Daqian Dynasty!

With such a beautiful fantasy, Zhang Zhiwen also threw himself into his work with great enthusiasm, but he soon discovered that some things are mutual!
Although Youyan has made some achievements as the emperor's capital that can be seen by Ye Mingsheng, there are also many royal relatives and nobles in Youyan. These people occupy a lot of interests and resources. Zhang Zhiwen wants to discipline them, but he is powerless. These people are deeply rooted and can even reach the top. Zhang Zhiwen is very afraid of this!

Although Zhang Zhiwen also wanted to promote reform and let Ye Mingsheng see his abilities, he was afraid of these "people", so Zhang Zhiwen had to make many compromises, which led to very slow progress in the reform of some issues.

Zhang Zhiwen was also very helpless about this. If Youyan was not under the emperor's feet and Yijing was not the capital of Daqian, there would not be so many royal relatives and nobles. In this way, he, Zhang, would not need to be so cautious and could do it in a big way. But now he could only do nothing.

Zhang Zhiwen also knew that he had not done much in the reform of Youyan, so in the past year or so, his main focus of work has been on the economy.

Zhang Zhiwen knew that Ye Mingsheng attached great importance to the economy, so his original idea was to use economic growth to make up for the slow reform. To this end, he put a lot of effort into farming, stabilizing prices, and taxation.

This year, under Zhang Zhiwen's tenure, the taxes paid by Youyan to the court increased by 30% compared to the past. In addition, the prices of some daily necessities such as grain, cloth, and salt remained stable, and the market supply was sufficient. Even the Minister of Revenue Cui Shao praised his ability. Zhang Zhiwen was originally very satisfied with his work this year, but now it seems that he still cannot satisfy the emperor!

Thinking of this, Zhang Zhiwen couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He just felt that it was not easy to be the G of the Daqian Dynasty. Before, he didn't understand why Xiao Lingyu, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate and the elder of the imperial cabinet, would be so determined to retreat at the peak of his career, give up all his power and return to his hometown to support himself!
Now that I think about Xiao Lingyu, Lord Xiao is a person of real wisdom!
Although Zhang Zhiwen admired Xiao Lingyu, he was not going to follow Xiao Lingyu. After all, Xiao Lingyu was almost an old man when he retired, while he, Zhang Zhiwen, was still in his prime, not even forty years old. Xiao Lingyu could let it go, but he couldn’t, and could only continue to struggle to survive in the world...
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The next day, in the palace
Pei Zhixiu couldn't help but stare at the white snow outside the window. Ever since Ye Mingsheng became emperor, she has not been to Changshan Medical Clinic again. It's not that Ye Mingsheng didn't allow Pei Zhixiu to go, but Pei Zhixiu herself no longer went there.

Although Ye Mingsheng was in power before, he had not proclaimed himself emperor after all, so Pei Zhixiu was still just a concubine. But even so, Pei Zhixiu's going to Changshan Medical Clinic to practice medicine still caused quite a stir. Many people opposed this move. They believed that since Pei Zhixiu had already married Ye Mingsheng, she should abide by the rules of being a womanizer and stay at home to serve Ye Mingsheng obediently.

Although Pei Zhixiu was helpless about this pressure, in order not to make things difficult for Ye Mingsheng, she was ready to give in and close her Changshan Clinic. Fortunately, Ye Mingsheng was tougher than Pei Zhixiu had imagined. Ye Mingsheng was not affected by those opposing voices and still supported Pei Zhixiu's ideas. It was because of this that Changshan Clinic had been able to benefit so many people in Yijing for so many years.

But with Ye Mingsheng's declaration of emperorship this time, Pei Zhixiu also understood that things had changed a lot. If she was just the concubine of the commander-in-chief of the Fengwu Army, then with Ye Mingsheng's support, that group of people could still give up and reluctantly accept it. But those ministers would never accept that the emperor's concubine was showing up in public. They thought it was inappropriate!

Pei Zhixiu knew that if she wanted to continue running Changshan Medical Clinic, Ye Mingsheng would definitely support her in doing so. However, she knew that Ye Mingsheng had already endured a lot of pressure and criticism for her, and she was also grateful for what Ye Mingsheng had done, so she didn't want Ye Mingsheng to continue to be embarrassed because of her...

(End of this chapter)