Meishan Su family, Su Yun is the most virtuous

Chapter 327: Not playing by the rules! (4k ha)
The candlelight in the Secretariat office flickered. Han Zhen stared at the pile of memorials on the desk and rubbed his brows.

When Emperor Shenzong passed away and Empress Dowager Gao promoted him to be the Minister of the Central Secretariat, he thought it was a sign of returning to the center of power, but now he realizes it is a dilemma.

There were three impeachment letters piled on his desk - two from the old party, accusing him of being a "relic of the new party's poison", and one from the new party, accusing him of being "two-faced".

After Wang Gui and Cai Que were demoted to Lingnan, he, the chess piece used by Empress Dowager Gao to check and balance the powerful ministers, eventually became a dead chess piece.

"Father." Han Zongshu's voice sounded outside the door, "Yang Bing's connection has been established."

Han Zhen smiled slightly. It was normal for things in officialdom to have ups and downs. As long as the family remained prosperous, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future!

That night, the dark room in the southern part of the city was filled with the scent of ambergris. Han Zhen, dressed in a plain robe, closed his eyes slightly to rest, listening to the sounds coming from the outer room. The sounds were particularly clear as they were transmitted through the secretly buried copper pipes.

"Minister Su is willing to come, which is a great honor for the younger generation." This was the voice of the eldest son Han Zongsu.

Another clear voice sounded, "Brother Han, this is not right. Minister Han is a veteran of three dynasties, and he is one of the most experienced people in the court. He is my senior. According to this, we are of the same generation, and I am taking advantage of you."

The voice was naturally Su Yun's.

At this time, another voice burst into laughter. It should be Yang Biao. Yang Biao laughed and said, "Alright, alright, don't be so formal. We are all my good friends. We should treat each other as equals. Let's eat and drink well tonight!"

Han Zhen didn't feel bored listening to the young people talking, because Su Yun's words were very humorous, and even an old man like him listened with relish. After more than half an hour, he heard his son say, "Ju Zheng, I asked Brother Yang to ask you out today because I have something to ask of you."

Su Yun only smiled and said, "Brother Han and I hit it off today. If you have anything to say, just tell me directly. If it can be done, there is nothing to say."

Han Zongshu said happily: "Then I will be shameless and say that today I want to ask Ju Zheng for some shares and shops in Qingming Riverside Garden, but I have never had any contact with Ju Zheng before, so I would like to ask Brother Yang to act as a middleman. I also ask Ju Zheng not to blame Brother Yang."

Su Yun only smiled and said, "Brother Yang told me about this a long time ago. If I couldn't give it to you, I wouldn't have come. Now that I'm here, I must be able to give it to you."

Han Zongshu said happily: "Thank you so much, Ju Zheng. Don't worry, the money will be exactly what it should be. The Ministry of Industry will not lose a cent. Oh, Ju Zheng, you are so straightforward. I don't know what to do."

Su Yun smiled again and said, "Let's not be so polite. How about this? Twenty percent of the shares plus the twenty stores inside, is that enough?"

Han Zongshu was overjoyed and said, "That's enough! Juzheng, you are so generous, so generous. From now on, you will be our Han's good friend!"

Su Yun smiled and said, "Brother Han, Minister Han is coming tonight, I want to see your father."

"Ah?" The eldest son Han Zongsu was surprised.

Han Zhen in the dark room smiled slightly, stood up, dusted off his clothes, stood up, walked out of the dark room, and said, "Minister Su is indeed a man who can predict the future."

Su Yun smiled and stood up, bowed to Han Zhen, and said, "This subordinate greets Minister Han."

Han Zhen made a gesture of invitation and said, "Minister Su, please come in."

The two entered the quiet room and sat opposite each other. Han Zhen said calmly, "Minister Su is very generous. But I am just an empty-handed minister now, and I am not worthy of such a generous gift."

Su Yun laughed: "Why should you be so modest, Lord Han? Back then, you helped Wang Jinggong implement the exemption law, and even Sima Junshi praised you for your 'practical skills'. Now there are undercurrents in the court, and only you can check and balance them..."

"Checks and balances?" Han Zhen suddenly interrupted, "Minister Su, have you forgotten that Empress Dowager Gao summoned me back to the capital to check and balance Wang Gui's party? But what was the result?"

Su Yun ignored Han Zhen's irritation and took out the contract from his arms, then pushed it across the desk.

Han Zhen scanned the contract, which read: "Twenty percent of the shares in Qingming Riverside Park, plus twenty shops."

The signature is the red ink mark "Supervised by the Ministry of Works".

Su Yun said: "This is the original stock, plus this shop, given to Han."

Han Zhen did not answer. Instead, a sharp look flashed across his face for a moment, and then disappeared without a trace. He slowly said, "Minister Su, what do you want?"

Han Zhen originally thought he was a hunter, but he didn't expect that the prey would actually target the hunter. This made him very uneasy.

Su Yun's expression suddenly became serious and he said, "There is no request at all. It's just self-protection."

Han Zhen was a little surprised when he heard this, and said, "The Three Su of Meishan, two internal and external systems, two Hanlin, one Zhongshu Sheren, and countless followers. They are in power now, how can they talk about self-protection?"

Su Yun sneered when he heard this and said, "Minister Han, this is not true. You can see what is happening to my Su family, right?

Although my uncle Zizhan is a Hanlin scholar, he has no other duties. How much influence can he have?
My uncle Ziyou is a secretary of the Imperial Secretariat. Apart from writing documents, what major influence can he have on the court?
As for me, a Hanlin scholar and Minister of Works, you naturally know the situation of the Ministry of Works. It is just a place of exile.

The reason why I am doing all this is just to keep some bargaining chips in my hand and exchange a little bit of benefits for some support.

For example, I gave these things to Han Shi, not for anything else, but in the hope that Han Shi could lend a helping hand at some critical moments. As for other things, if I dare to make a request, will Minister Han give it to me?"

Han Zhen laughed and said, "Xiaoxueshi Su said that I am not honest. I don't know whether I am honest or not, but Xiaoxueshi Su is the one who is really not honest!

Hanlin Bachelors are different from the previous officials who only received salaries. Hanlin Bachelors are born with power. Even if they do not participate in writing imperial edicts, the fact that they can make suggestions on government affairs and have the power to impeach officials is enough to make people dare not take it lightly.

What's more, Scholar Da Su is deeply trusted by Empress Dowager Gao. How could he be a person without influence?
And Scholar Su is even more extraordinary. You can mobilize all the officials and clerks in Kaifeng Prefecture. You can take back the three yamen of the Ministry of Works at will. Your influence is greater than that of the prime minister. What self-protection are you talking about?"

Su Yun was overjoyed when he heard what Han Zhen said, and said, "According to what Minister Han said, I am still powerful in the court, which is incredible. I feel like I am walking on thin ice every day, afraid that I will be exiled if something goes wrong! Hey! In this case, I don't need to please you anymore, and I won't give the shares and the store to Han. That's it. Goodbye!"

Su Yun put away the documents and stood up to leave. Han Zhen suddenly became anxious and said in a deep voice: "Minister Su, wait a minute, please sit down!"

Su Yun turned around and looked at Han Zhen, and said, "Can you talk properly now?"

Han Zhen was somewhat helpless and said, "You young man, you don't understand the rules of the officialdom at all!... No, it's not that you don't understand, you are deliberately teasing me, aren't you?"

Su Yun turned around and sat down, and said helplessly: "Minister Han, is my sincerity enough?"

Han Zhen nodded and said, "If something worth a million guan is given away as a gift, then the sincerity is certainly enough."

Su Yun asked, "Since I am so sincere, is Minister Han sincere?"

Han Zhen was speechless for a moment, and said, "We are still negotiating. You asked for a high price and paid it back on the spot. Isn't this the result of negotiation? You lost your patience after just a few words. How can you survive in the officialdom like this?"

Su Yun shook his head and said, "Minister Han, I am indeed not very suitable for the officialdom. Otherwise, I should have stopped when I was in the northwest and not put my future on the line to plan the last battle. Otherwise, I might have directly become the Privy Councilor when I came back this time.

I should have learned something from this lesson, but if everyone only considers their own gains and losses and not the overall situation, how can this country be good?

Minister Han, today I am willing to share the Qingming Shanghe Garden with those who I think can work together to do something for the court. I am not thinking of competing with you.

I want everyone to put aside their own selfishness for the time being and work together for the court. Therefore, if you keep guessing, it will go against my goal, and there is no need to cooperate."

Han Zhen was somewhat shocked by Su Yun's words, but after all, he was a veteran who had served in the officialdom for decades, so how could he be easily swayed by this? He nodded and said, "So, I ask you what you want. Don't talk about self-protection or not. When you become a lecturer, your biggest crisis has passed."

Su Yun was slightly shocked when he saw Han Zhen being so direct. He thought that these old hands who had been in the officialdom for decades were really speaking directly to people's hearts. However, Su Yun responded calmly and said, "I just want to ask Minister Han, how do you think the situation in the court will develop next? Do you have a chance to continue to improve?"

Han Zhen frowned and asked, "What do you mean by asking this?"

Su Yun smiled and said, "According to my speculation, in the next six or seven years, Empress Dowager Gao will unite the old party ministers to control the government. It will be impossible for the ministers who have participated in the new law to rule. Does Minister Han agree with my speculation?"

Han Zhen looked at Su Yun and said, "What if you approve? What if you don't approve?"

Su Yun smiled and said, “If you don’t agree, then Minister Han must think that he can still make progress during the reign of Empress Dowager Gao, and I have nothing to say.

But if Minister Han believes that he has no chance of advancement and will even be squeezed out of the center, then we have a basis for dialogue."

"You mean, you want to improve, and if I can also improve, then there is basically no possibility for us to cooperate. But if I am sure that I can't improve, then you can cooperate with me and let me give you a push?"

Han Zhen said this.

Su Yun clapped his hands and laughed, "It's a pleasure to talk to a smart person! I just don't know what Minister Han thinks?"

Han Zhen frowned and thought for a while, then said, "I agree with most of your speculations. In the eyes of the old party, I am a remnant of the new law. They wish they could remove me from the center tomorrow. But you are not much better than me. Your father-in-law is the number one remnant of the new law in the world. Do you think they can let you go?"

Su Yun smiled and said, "Minister Han, you don't have to worry about this. Anyway, you have taken the benefit. If I can't reach that step, you naturally don't need to help. If I really reach that step, you only need to push a little, but I will be grateful. As long as I am here, the Han family's children will not worry about no one to take care of them. What do you think, Minister Han?"

Hearing the words "Han family's descendants", Han Zhen was suddenly shocked. Su Yun said that he would take care of them, which was only when he contributed. But if he did not contribute and instead obstructed them, then if Su Yun was in power in the future, wouldn't the Han family's descendants be constantly suppressed?

Think about it, this boy is younger than his youngest son. If he holds a grudge against the Han family, and then happens to be promoted to the upper class in the future, wouldn't the Han family be suppressed for forty or fifty years?

Thinking of this, Han Zhen made a decisive decision that he could only cooperate with this boy and not confront him, otherwise it would be a disaster for the Han family in the future!
Han Zhen said: "At the critical moment, I can give you a push, but you should also know that I may not have much say in the court. The two Lu brothers and Fan Chunren are in charge now. If the queen mother does not speak, it will not be so easy for you to make further progress.

Besides, the Luo Party and the Shuo Party will not watch you go up. I think you know how difficult it is here."

Su Yun nodded and said, “Your words are enough, I will naturally take care of the rest.

Please accept this contract document. No matter what, the Han family has a share of the Qingming Riverside Garden, which can ensure the Han family's prosperity for decades."

Su Yun placed the contract document on the table and was about to get up and leave.

Han Zhen suddenly asked, "Are you working so hard to move up in order to repeat the new law?"

Su Yun raised his eyebrows and asked, "Why does Minister Han ask this?"

Han Zhen said, "At your age, there is no need to be so anxious. Just wait and see. When the emperor takes power, I'm sure he will reinstate the new law. You can wait for six or seven years. By then, you will have enough experience and you will have room to show your talents. Why take such a risk?"

Su Yun laughed and said, "Minister Han, I'm not saying anything bad about you, but all of you, whether you are ministers of the new law or the old party, are fighting endlessly over the new law. In my opinion, it's all in vain.

The new law can solve some problems, but it is nothing to the problems faced by the Song Dynasty. What good will it do to the country if you fight to the death? Haha."

Han Zhen frowned upon hearing this and said, "Although the new law has some flaws, it is the best way to address the three problems of redundant officials, redundant soldiers, and redundant expenses. How can it be useless?"

Su Yun shook his head and said, "Redundant officials are a small problem, and the redundant expenses are mostly due to redundant soldiers. If the redundant soldiers problem is not solved, it will be a pipe dream to solve the redundant expenses. The army has too many people, can we cut the army?"

This question stumped Han Zhen.

(End of this chapter)