Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

After the three of them toasted each other with a few glasses of wine, they ate the delicious meal while discussing the current situation in the court.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, they started to talk about business.

Lu Chengqing asked in a low voice: "Du Shangshu, Ai Tong is talking about his promotion problem. Do you have any solution?"

"Just tell me how you need my cooperation!"

The connections of the Fanyang Lu family are mainly concentrated in several prefectures and counties in Henan and Hedong roads, and their connections in Chang'an cannot be compared with Du He's.

Now that Du He is taking action personally, the effect will definitely be much better than if he did it himself.

Du He smiled and said, "Minister Lu, I have already made two meritorious gadgets for Du Aitong, so promotion is not a problem."

"During this period, I will say hello to Shang Shu You Pushe Hou Junji, and ask him to tell his old subordinate, Personnel Minister Cui Xu, to try to get Ai Tong promoted to Zhong Shu Sheren."

Du Aitong is now serving as Sima of Jiang Prefecture, an official position below the fifth rank.

The Zhongshu Sheren was of the upper fifth grade, and there were three small grades between the two.

Presenting the horseshoe and arithmetic, it was a bit difficult for Du Aitong to jump three levels in a row, so he could only ask his ally Hou Junji for help.

Lu Chengqing asked in confusion: "Aitong is only in his early 20s, and he hasn't been in office for long. How could he be promoted to Zhongshu Sheren?"

"Moreover, the Zhongshu Sheren needs to draft imperial edicts, serve the emperor, and accept memorials, etc. If he is not competent, it may be counterproductive."

When the imperial court rewards officials, it not only takes their achievements into consideration, but also considers their suitability for the job.

If the Zhongshu Sheren did not have a solid foundation in writing, he would not be able to do the task of drafting imperial edicts.

Currently in the court, the officials serving as Jieshizhong and Zhongshusheren are all great scholars of the dynasty without exception, and are all people of profound talent and learning.

Lu Chengqing went on to say, "If Ai Tong is allowed to serve as a doctor in one of the departments of the Ministry of Revenue, I can also take care of him on a daily basis."

"Let him gain experience for a while, and then continue to be promoted, so that he will not be demoted by His Majesty due to lack of ability."

At present, Zhongshu Ling Yang Shidao recommended many officials in the court, but they were eventually demoted or dismissed due to their lack of talent.

Therefore, it is not the case that the higher the official position, the better, but one must have the ability to keep it.

Unless you work in places like the Nine Temples and Five Prisons, you can get by there relying on your merits and connections.

Du He said in agreement: "Minister Lu is right. Forcing things to grow will indeed affect Du Aitong's future career."

Then he changed the subject.

"But this opportunity is rare. If you don't seize it now, it will be very difficult to be promoted to a core position like Zhongshu Sheren in the future!"

"I believe that with Cen Wenben's care, Du Aitong, who is well-read in poetry and literature, will not be unable to stay."

Because the Zhongshu Sheren was a close minister of the emperor, he needed to serve Li Shimin and listen to his orders, and he was also able to master many confidential matters.

All those who could hold this official position were ministers relied upon by Li Shimin and had a good chance of being promoted to prime minister in the future.

Moreover, one of the two permanent positions of Zhongshu Sheren is vacant because Du Jingtong was demoted, so this is the best time.

Lu Chengqing frowned and said, "Du Shangshu, Zhongshu Ling Yang Shidao is a person who can't tolerate any sand in his eyes."

"If he attacks Ai Tong, even with the help of the Minister of the Central Secretariat Cen Wenben, it will probably be of little use."

Among the important officials in the court, Yang Shidao and Xiao Yu have the most straightforward tempers.

They don't even give face to His Majesty, so how could they give face to their subordinate Cen Wenben?

Du He said without any worry: "Don't worry, Minister Lu. Du Aitong has the three of us behind him. No one can bully him."

"Unless Ai Tong fails to do his job well and angers His Majesty, there is nothing we can do."

Du He did not tell them about Yang Shidao's resignation.

Because Li Shimin had not yet announced this important event to all officials, if he said something wrong now and it got out, he would have no chance of continuing his position as the Minister of Works.

It may even affect Li Chengqian.

Moreover, the former attendant Wang Gui was demoted to the governor of Tongzhou by Li Shimin in anger because he leaked the secret words of the palace spoken by Li Shimin.

In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, it is better to keep this big secret in your heart.

Seeing that Du He was full of confidence, Lu Chengqing did not continue to persuade him, but nodded and said.

"Since Minister Du is confident, I don't have to worry too much. Ai Tong's promotion to the position of Zhongshu Sheren is also a great achievement."

He has only one son and one daughter. His son Lu Qian is now very playful, which makes him worry a lot.

Now Lu Chengqing is trying his best to make friends with the Du He brothers, and he is also thinking that after the prince ascends the throne, he will let Du He help Lu Chen.

After all, Xiao Kai and Cui Shenji, two playboys, can make great contributions by following Du He.

And he is a rebellious son with decent literary attainments but still immature mentality. He will definitely shine under Du He's command.

After talking about Du Aitong, Du He turned his gaze to Lu Chengqing and said with a smile on his face.

"Minister Lu, the current Minister of Revenue Tang Jian is already 66 years old, and his reputation has not been very good recently!"

"Are you interested in pursuing the position of Minister of Revenue?"

When Ma Zhou went to the Eastern Palace to teach Li Chengqian and Du He, he would use the deeds of officials from past dynasties and the current dynasty as examples to tell them.

Among them, Tang Jian, the Minister of Revenue, was listed as a negative example by Ma Zhou because he was not interested in government affairs and often indulged in drinking with guests.

If Tang Jian continues to behave like this, he will probably be impeached by the people from the Censorate.

Although he was a meritorious minister, Li Shimin could not tolerate his subordinates ignoring state affairs and would definitely demote him.

Lu Chengqing sighed and said, "Recently, the Ministry of Revenue's government affairs have basically been handled by me and my subordinates, the four doctors. Minister Tang has indeed been a little slack."

"Besides, I was just promoted to the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue last year. If I don't have outstanding achievements, I'm afraid it will be difficult to continue to be promoted!"

As a subordinate, although Lu Chengqing was disgusted with Tang Jian's behavior, he did not go to Li Shimin to file a complaint.

After all, Tang Jian was not only one of Li Shimin's most trusted ministers, but also a meritorious minister.

If he offends such a person, he will have trouble taking a single step in the court.

This matter would only be legal and reasonable if it was impeached by the Censorate, but would the people in the Censorate dare to offend Tang Jian, the Minister of Revenue?

Moreover, even if Tang Jian was demoted, it would not be his turn to serve as the Minister of Revenue.

The Ministry of Revenue is the second most powerful department among the six ministries, and the Minister of Revenue is in a high position and has great power, which is not something he can interfere with at the moment.

His qualifications and achievements are far behind those of the ministers in the court who have served the emperor well!

Du He smiled slightly and didn't say much on this topic.

The four of them chatted for more than an hour. Du He promised to help Lu Chen more in the future. Only then did Lu Chengqing leave the Duke of Lai's Mansion with a smile on his face.

Du He said to Du Aitong, "Third brother, I will now give you a new item that can be used to perform meritorious service. It is called a horseshoe!"