Chapter 337: Flattery is a very profound branch of learning

Jiang Tu certainly wouldn't be stupid enough to open his mouth and ask for an official position directly. He prepared to mobilize a group of mouthpieces to build momentum for him. First, he would stir up the clamor, let the old Emperor take notice of him, and leave behind the impression that he was also a qualified candidate.

As long as this impression was established, Jiang Tu already had a basic train of thought for subsequent operations. That was to cater to the Emperor's preferences!

What did the old Emperor like?

Nothing more than money.

If he were made a Grand Secretary, he could help the old Emperor solve the major problem of the court lacking money.

With such a powerful weapon and such an advantage, he didn't believe the old Emperor wouldn't choose him.

Little did he know, in the old Emperor's mind at this moment, there was already a suitable candidate. In terms of scholarship, credentials, seniority, and family background, he was the top choice. He believed the court officials would also agree.

The old Emperor's candidate was precisely Yu Zhaoan.

Aside from the fact that his age wasn't quite right—after all, he was only in his forties—no faults could be picked out in other aspects.

To say Yu Zhaoan had a character problem, fawning over superiors and bullying subordinates?

This was clearly jealousy!

Yu Zhaoan had been imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison for several years and even had his legs broken in the Imperial Prison, yet he hadn't fallen, hadn't given up. Instead, he stood up strongly, recovered his health with astonishing willpower, and returned to the court. After returning to the court, he handled affairs diligently, sharing the worries of the court and the Son of Heaven.

How could such a person be said to have a character problem?

To say he fawned over the Son of Heaven—as a subject, shouldn't one share the worries of the sovereign and father?

Since when did sharing the worries of the sovereign and father become fawning?

Utter nonsense!

Yu Zhaoan was not that unlearned fellow Jiang Tu; even if he truly fawned, his choice of words was subtle and elegant, and his posture was graceful, maintaining basic decency.

Flattery is also a profound branch of learning.

This clever fellow Yu Zhaoan had become enlightened since realizing the Dao in the Heavenly Prison; he was self-taught and deeply understood its essence, worthy of being called a master of flattery.

Look at him: he had only been with the old Emperor for a few months before going to the Northwest to preside over civil administration. In just a few months, he had walked into the old Emperor's heart. So much so that when screening candidates for Right Prime Minister, the old Emperor thought of him first.

When the old Emperor threw out the candidate for Right Prime Minister at the morning court, it did indeed cause a stir.

To say they opposed it, the reasons were not sufficient and couldn't stand firm. They could only attack from the aspect that Yu Zhaoan's seniority was insufficient and he still needed tempering.

"Official Yu has been in his official career for twenty years; his seniority is sufficient!" The old Emperor vetoed the reasons for opposition raised by the court officials with a single sentence.

Consequently, some people raised that Yu Zhaoan's age was not enough, and as for seniority, it was actually limited, fearing he could not command respect.

"With Li Xiang present, Yu Zhaoan only needs to assist from the side. Everything shall be based on Li Xiang's opinions."

When the old Emperor cherished someone, it was truly an all-encompassing, dead-angle-free cherishing.

This fellow Yu Zhaoan, though not in the capital, had truly grasped the pulse of pleasing the old Emperor. Every month, he would write two memorials to submit to the court, praising the old Emperor's great achievements at great length, then using a few strokes to write about the situation in the Northwest, and finally, without moving a muscle, boasting about his own merits.

Month after month, and the words of praise were never repeated, coaxing the old Emperor into howling with joy: Official Yu understands me!

The old Emperor was lonely!

Aside from that unlearned fellow Jiang Tu by his side, others often flattered in the wrong places, and their speech lacked interest.

It was rare to have Yu Zhaoan by his side, who had true talent and learning, spoke with wit and humor, could think of ways to solve problems when they arose, was knowledgeable and interesting, knew astronomy above and geography below, and could chat about anything from folk customs to popular sentiments. He could be as learned as a great Confucian, yet also understand the hundred affairs of the marketplace; he could be called the number one candidate for chatting with the Emperor.

When a person gets old, they fear loneliness and want someone by their side to chat idly, talk about the past, and talk about the great achievements of their youth. Even an Emperor cannot be exempt from vulgarity. Yu Zhaoan was the best chatting partner.

The old Emperor, unknowingly, had already "loved" Yu Zhaoan deeply. And so, he designated Yu Zhaoan as the candidate for Right Prime Minister.

Even if the court officials opposed it, he forced his way through the dissenting opinions.

Added to Yu Zhaoan's scholarship, credentials, family background, and the full support of the Jixia Academy, plus the secret efforts of the Prince of Jin, the personnel appointment was quickly passed by the Secretariat.

From beginning to end, Li Liangcheng did not oppose it.

Although he watched coldly as His Highness the Prince of Jin jumped up and down, as if Yu Zhaoan entering the court would give him a helping hand, he still did not make a sound.

He thought to himself, the Prince of Jin was still too naive.

Was Yu Zhaoan someone easy to get along with? Could he fulfill the wishes of His Highness the Prince of Jin?

What everyone could think of, could the old Emperor not think of?

With the Prince of Jin's father-in-law just gone, and another fellow disciple coming, did the old Emperor not understand the pros and cons within this?

Wu Dashou was a true father-in-law; no matter what, he would acknowledge the Prince of Jin as his son-in-law and run around for him, which was why he was dismissed from his post as Prime Minister and retired.

Whether Yu Zhaoan would acknowledge the Prince of Jin as his fellow disciple was hard to say.

Yu Zhaoan was no longer the Yu Zhaoan of the past who hated evil as if it were a personal enemy.

Yu Zhaoan had already transformed into a qualified politician.

What is a politician?

A politician has no stance at all, only interests!

Li Liangcheng did not mind serving as an official in the same court as Yu Zhaoan, because the old Emperor needed someone with no stance who only obeyed imperial orders to serve as Right Prime Minister.

After some comparison, Yu Zhaoan was instead the most suitable candidate. He had no obvious stance, was clever, not muddled, would not be swayed by the imperial princes, and at the same time could please the old Emperor, mediating the relationship between the old Emperor and the court officials from the center.

It could be called perfect!

The personnel appointment was passed and announced to the world, and at the same time, an imperial decree-bearing eunuch was sent to the Northwest to summon Yu Zhaoan back to the capital. As for the civil administration in the Northwest, there would naturally be someone to replace his duties.

Along with the imperial decree for the personnel appointment, there was also a decree urging Marquis Pingjiang to pacify the thieves as soon as possible, not to delay the war, and not to ruin his bright future.

Yu Zhaoan received the decree, smiled triumphantly, and ordered people to pack his luggage, preparing to set off back to the capital. He couldn't even wait for the successor to arrive to do the handover of work.

He was very clear about his mission and position, and could also guess why the old Emperor would force his way through the dissenting opinions to promote him. He even guessed that after returning to the capital, the first thing the old Emperor would ask him to do would definitely be how to deal with His Highness the Prince of Zhong.

Don't look at the old Emperor's recent discovery of his conscience, compensating the Prince of Zhong everywhere. Heh heh... an Emperor's kindness is always temporary, coming fast and going fast.

As the Right Prime Minister, as the old Emperor's "confidant," he had to stand out and take the initiative to share the worries of the old Emperor.

The Prince of Zhong!

Yu Zhaoan also had a bit of a headache.

Before setting off, he went to see Marquis Pingjiang.

Marquis Pingjiang received the decree, but did not intend to obey it. Regarding how the war would progress, he had his own thoughts and plans. The old Emperor knew a fart about fighting, knowing only to urge, urge, urge all day long, like urging for one's life. Last time, it was because of the urging that the Great Ming Prince escaped the encirclement and fled into the mountains, which gave him the opportunity to make a comeback.

This time, he intended to completely resolve the Great Ming Prince.

Because he had a better candidate: the rebel Guo Dachun.

Guo Dachun came from the border army; in terms of military combat capability, he left the Great Ming Prince ten streets behind.

The Great Ming Prince had the upper hand, but his ability was truly too mediocre. Although there was an extra strategist by his side, he couldn't withstand the instigation of the group of old brothers around the Great Ming Prince, who would come up with muddled moves from time to time.

Such a mediocre rebel was destined not to go far.

Marquis Pingjiang decided not to give the Great Ming Prince another chance to grow. ===== CHAPTER 338 =====