12dz Chapter 421: Winning over and borrowing people
Chapter 421: Winning over and borrowing people
Prince Chu's Mansion.
The first thing Chu Ning did when he came back was to go to the side room to visit Wang Wenguang.
Now that he has successfully assumed the post of acting Minister of Revenue, there are some things he should consult with Wang Wenguang on.
Inside the room, Wang Wenguang, lying on the bed, looked pale, with a worried look on his thin face.
At this time when the imperial examination was being held, he was injured and unable to get out of bed. Not only would he lose his official position, but it would also delay important court affairs.
Others may not know the importance of the imperial examination to the people, but as the Minister of Rites, how could he not understand what this first imperial examination represented.
But he was seriously injured and couldn't do anything!
Just as Wang Wenguang was worried, the door opened and Chu Ning came in.
"Your Highness!"
Wang Wenguang's eyes lit up and he struggled to stand up and salute.
Chu Ning immediately went up to him and pressed him down on the bed, saying softly, "Lord Wang is injured, so there is no need to be polite."
Wang Wenguang smiled bitterly and said, "Your Highness, Prince of Chu, I am afraid I can't help you with the imperial examination."
Chu Ning shook his head: "This kind of accident is not what the king wants. As for the imperial examination, I really want to have a good talk with you!
This prince has volunteered to temporarily serve as the Minister of Rites and be in charge of the imperial examinations. When your injury recovers, this position will still be yours. "
After these words came out, Wang Wenguang smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I don't care about my position, but I am sorry that I can't help Your Highness with this matter."
This time the imperial examination was supported by funding from the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Rites also put a lot of effort into it in the early stages.
Now that he was about to succeed, Wang Wenguang was really unwilling to accept that something like this had happened.
He didn't care about his own achievements or his official position, he just felt that he could not participate in the imperial examination and supervise it, which was a lifelong regret!
Chu Ning understood Wang Wenguang's character, patted him on the shoulder, and said softly: "Don't worry, Lord Wang. I will be responsible for the imperial examination myself. If you don't understand something, please feel free to ask Lord Wang.
During this time, you will stay in my palace to recuperate."
"This……"
Wang Wenguang was touched, but he quickly refused: "I will not trouble your Highness with my injury. You are responsible for the imperial examination. How can I cause trouble in your house?"
But Chu Ning said firmly: "Your presence in my palace will help me control the Ministry of Rites, so that those with ulterior motives will not pretend to obey but actually disobey.
Speaking of which, I still need to ask Lord Wang for advice on this matter. Who in the Ministry of Rites listens to you the most?"
What you mean is, who in the Ministry of Rites is the least likely to listen to you!
If you want to control the Ministry of Rites and handle this imperial examination well, you must make adjustments in personnel.
Wang Wenguang understood Chu Ning's meaning, his face straightened, and he said in a deep voice: "Most people in the Ministry of Rites are loyal to the court, but there are also a few who obey orders from others.
Among them, the princeling party, headed by Yang Yingyan, the Minister of Rites, usually does not get along well with me. Your Highness, the Prince of Chu must be careful of this person who may interfere. "
After a pause, Wang Wenguang added: “Originally there were the Eighth Prince’s men, but they were all killed during this diplomatic mission to Zhao State.
The rest are all responsible people, so Your Highness can send them to work with confidence."
Chu Ning nodded slightly.
It seems that the Ministry of Rites consists of only these three groups of people.
A group of neutral and upright people headed by Wang Wenguang, these people can be entrusted with important tasks.
A group of people from the Eighth Prince faction, led by Vice Minister of Rites Peng Maoxue, were sent as envoys to the State of Zhao, but were chopped up and fed to dogs by the Emperor of Zhao.
The last group is the princelings headed by Yang Yingyan, the Minister of Rites. These are the people we need to be most careful of!
"It seems that if the imperial examination is to be held smoothly, these people must be eliminated!"
Chu Ning narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice: "Fortunately, I have a plan. Let them take charge of other matters in the Ministry of Rites, and leave the imperial examination to other people in the Ministry of Rites!"
As long as these people are excluded from the imperial examination, the other party will have no chance to make any tricks even if they want to.
But Wang Wenguang smiled bitterly: "Your Highness, the Ministry of Rites has lost several officials. If Yang Yingyan and others are left behind, there will not be many people to handle the imperial examination."
Chu Ning smiled slightly: "Don't worry, I have also thought about this matter. I can transfer some officials from the Ministry of Revenue."
Wang Wenguang wanted to say something, but Chu Ning comforted him, "Okay, leave the rest to me, Lord Wang, just rest assured."
After saying that, Chu Ning turned around and left without waiting for Wang Wenguang to say anything.
After leaving the room, Chu Ning immediately sent someone to invite the Minister of Revenue Liu Shouren to the palace.
Half an hour later, in the front yard of the palace, in the living room.
Liu Shouren rushed over after receiving the news.
"I have met His Royal Highness the King of Chu!"
"Lord Liu, there's no need to be so polite. Just sit down and have a cup of tea first." Chu Ning smiled and gestured with his hand.
Liu Shouren didn't understand why Chu Ning asked him to come here, so he had to sit down and wait for Chu Ning to speak.
Have tea?
How dare I drink tea when we haven’t even discussed anything yet?
Chu Ning knew that Liu Shouren was always cautious, so he didn't keep it a secret and said with a smile: "There is nothing big about asking Lord Liu to come here. I just want to borrow some people from Lord Liu."
"Borrowing someone?"
Liu Shouren looked puzzled: "Please explain clearly, Your Highness."
Chu Ning briefly explained the assassination attempt today, Wang Wenguang's injury, his temporary appointment as the Minister of Rites, and his own thoughts.
Liu Shouren finally reacted.
The Ministry of Rites is short of staff and needs to eliminate the Prince's faction, so it can only transfer people from the Ministry of Revenue.
Liu Shouren immediately expressed his opinion: "Now that the summer harvest has been completed, the Ministry of Revenue has been idle and has sufficient manpower. I wonder how many people Your Highness would like?"
Chu Ning nodded slightly: "About ten officials will be enough, but two people are needed to lead the team."
Liu Shouren thought for a moment and replied, "Let Yun Jianye and Wen Kaicheng take ten officials from the Ministry of Revenue with them!"
Both of them were promoted from Bingzhou. They are considered Chu Ning's trusted men and are absolutely trustworthy.
Chu Ning had no objection to this: "Just arrange the personnel. This time, I plan to let them be deputy examiners. There must be no problems in this imperial examination!"
Liu Shouren stood up quickly and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness. I will definitely explain everything to them."
"You do the work, and I can rest assured."
Chu Ning smiled and said, "Go back and select the other ten people, and ask Lord Yun and Lord Wen to come to the palace tomorrow. I will give them the test questions."
In order to ensure that there was absolutely no possibility of cheating in this imperial examination, the test questions were specially arranged to be distributed the day before the examination.
"I understand!" Liu Shouren responded, turned around and left without even drinking the tea.
Chu Ning looked at Liu Shouren's departing back, thought about the imperial examination plan, and felt that it was foolproof, so he showed a look of satisfaction.
As for whether Yang Yingyan, the Minister of Rites, and others would refuse to carry out the order, Chu Ning had never thought about it.
It would be fine if this person is sensible, but if not, then just take the opportunity to take him down!
A mere Minister of Rites, do you think he can stir up any trouble?
But what Chu Ning didn't know was that his every move was under the emperor's surveillance.
Half an hour later, the emperor knew Chu Ning's plan.