Prime Minister

Chapter 1187

Chapter 1187

It was still old Taishan who had foresight and adopted strict punishment first and then lenient punishment.

If you want lenient governance, you must first start with strict governance.

Zhang Yue thought carefully about Wu Chong's words. If you want someone to hate you, you should be nice to him at the beginning, and then gradually your feelings will fade away.

It is the same in the military. When a person breaks military discipline for the first time, he should be severely punished. Don't wait until he commits a serious crime before executing him. If you are lenient to him at the beginning, you are harming him.

Tolerance is like water. Everyone feels it is approachable and lovely at first, but countless people have drowned in it.

Many political situations become unsolvable in the end, and leaders are forced to adopt a one-size-fits-all approach to resolve them. This is all due to their leniency at the beginning.

Zhang Yue broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, Wu Chong came back to the court and enlightened him, otherwise he would have made a big mistake in the future.

Zhang Yue asked, "But what did Vice-President Lu Shu say?"

Wu Chong said: "This is your biggest mistake. You were determined to kill the Tanguts as a rope for the world. But you wavered because of Lu Huishu's words."

"If you lift it again at this time, it will become a repetition."

"I know you are considering the relationship between my Wu family and your Zhang and Lu families, but because of this, you should make it clear to Uncle Lu Hui when he questions you. No matter what you say now, Uncle Lu Hui will blame you. Now there is only one way out, which is to expel Uncle Lu Hui from the capital."

After listening to Wu Chong's words, Zhang Yue understood what it meant to give in at the beginning and then resort to extreme measures.

Wu Chong said: "I will talk to Uncle Hui. I have known him for many years, but no one knows how well I can talk."

Zhang Yue said: "Everything depends on Old Taishan."

Wu Chong said: "Let's not exchange polite words. I am now retired and there is nothing I can do for you."

"My sons are all useless, but you are the one who can inherit my legacy."

Zhang Yue felt grateful that Wu Chong had supported him throughout his career. When he led troops to Hezhou to eliminate Gui Zhang, he built a strong camp and fought a stupid battle, which almost caused the entire Shaanxi Road to collapse financially. It was Wu Chong who supported him all the time despite all objections.

And it was only after Wu Chong gave up the position of prime minister that he was able to take this important step by returning to the court to serve as vice-chancellor.

Not to mention his political suggestions, Wu Chong had a very high political level and a far-sighted vision.

It is like this with everything. Some people see one step, some see two steps, and some see three steps. The person who sees farther will be the one who can stand to the end.

However, my father-in-law did not make any contributions to history books. In fact, it is true that success in life depends on 70% luck and 30% strength.

Sometimes it’s not that you don’t have the ability, but that you are unlucky.

Wu Chong smiled and said, "Sanlang's two sons, Brother Guang is smart and far-sighted, and his future is limitless. Brother Cheng may not be as good as Brother Guang, but being able to be a child is also a blessing for parents."

"You can't force your life. There will be good and bad things in life. I already knew that my eldest brother was a good-for-nothing."

"Do whatever you want. After I die, the Wu family will be entrusted to you to take care of."

After hearing Wu Chong's permission to let him handle Wu Anshi's matter, the matter that had been on Zhang Yue's mind was finally settled.

It is impossible for people to live without grains. Wherever people go to do business, they are bound by the human relationships and worldly wisdom.

At this time there was a knock on the door.

Shiqi Niang walked in and said to Zhang Yue, "Sir, Brother Du and his nephews want to ask you for advice."

Wu Chong smiled when he heard this.

Shiqi Niang also blushed, it was obvious that several nephews of the Wu family wanted to meet Zhang Yue. She was asked by her family, so she couldn't refuse, and at the same time she felt honored.

One's husband has become a high-ranking official, and one is flattered and worshipped by one's brothers and sisters. Even the most noble person would feel dizzy at this moment.

Zhang Yue glanced at Wu Chong. In the past, when Wu Chong returned home, the Wu family's nephews and nieces would compete to meet him, but now they came to see him.

Wu Chong was very relieved and said, "Sanlang, go ahead, and don't forget what I told you."

"Yes." Zhang Yue stood up and saluted, then followed Shiqi Niang out of the house.

Shiqi Niang whispered to Zhang Yue, "Among these nephews, some are playboys or have mediocre talents. Only Shijiulang is worthy of consideration."

Hearing that Shiqi Niang still had plans for herself, Zhang Yue smiled and said, "Except for Shijiulang, I can arrange for the others to find jobs at the Jiaoyin Bureau.

Now, all the transport routes in the Song Dynasty had exchange offices. Even the Qinfeng Road Transport Route had three exchange offices at once, namely Qingtang, Xizhou and Qinzhou.

In recent years, in addition to the business of salt notes, Jiaozi, tea notes, etc., the Jiaoyin Exchange has also run pawnshops and redemption warehouses, making a lot of money.

In addition to the annual dividends, the remaining employee stock dividends make the annual salary astonishingly high.

An ordinary employee of the Bianjing Exchange could earn 300 guan per year, which was six times the annual salary of a member of the imperial guards. As for the middle-level employees, they could earn up to 1,000 guan.

So many people wanted to enter the Exchange, even the top students among the scholars were flocking to it.

The work of the Jiaoyin Office is not very valuable. Even if you don't know anything, you can still be assigned a job and live a comfortable life. Cai Jing, who was born in the Jiaoyin Office, often used it to buy favors. As for Zhang Yue's pension for the fallen soldiers in Xihe Road, he often gave this position to their sons and nephews, and rarely used it to buy favors for himself.

Zhang Yue also wanted to add some glory to his wife, but Shiqi Niang smiled and said, "Sir, that's not necessary. It's not easy for you to open your mouth."

Zhang Yue heaved a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Then I'll take a closer look at this Shijiu Lang."

Shiqi Niang nodded when she heard that, a smile on her face. She gently took Zhang Yue's arm, her eyes full of brilliance.

……

The next day, Zhang Yue met the emperor and stayed.

The emperor listened to Zhang Yue's words and agreed with them, saying, "This is the fundamental way to govern."

"You must first be strict before you can seek lenient governance. This is also what you often say, the opposite is the movement of the Tao!"

Zhang Yue was speechless. Now it was the emperor's turn to educate him.

The emperor suddenly said, "Didn't Ling Yue Wuqing tell you this?"

Zhang Yue thought to himself that the government was very powerful.

Zhang Yue thought about it, but instead of admitting it directly, he said, "I often have long conversations with my father-in-law, and we often discuss state affairs, but I never seek personal gain."

The official smiled and thought, actually there is nothing wrong with discussing it. He didn't believe that Feng Jing did not discuss it with Fu Bi.

The emperor said to Zhang Yue, "Mr. Wu is a man of deep character, well-disciplined and disciplined. He should be a peaceful minister. It's a pity that he has a good heart but not enough strength."

After hearing this, Zhang Yue thought to himself, the emperor is a wise man and knows everything in his mind, but even though he knows it, he just won’t use you.

The emperor said, "At first, the Empress Dowager (Empress Dowager Cao) told me that I had the words of Xiang Anjie, the Prime Minister of Taiping. Later, one day, a tumor grew on the neck of Mr. Wu, and the Empress Dowager told me that this was the Prime Minister of Taiping."

"I feel quite regretful today when I think of what the Grand Empress Dowager said. The court has a system now that does not allow father-in-law and son-in-law to serve as prime ministers at the same time."

"I want to let Mr. Wu and Wang Anshi jointly discuss important military and national affairs. What do you think?"