Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 157 Qi Tongwei? No, Song Huai!

The clouds hung low, and all things dimmed.

Jiang Zhao pushed his self-made wooden "wheelchair" as the grandfather and grandson strolled around.

As the local tyrant of the Huaizuo area, Jiang's residence occupied a considerable area, about thirty acres.

Pushing the wheelchair around for a while improved the elderly person's mood considerably.

"Son."

The pageboy Hesheng approached and announced, "Deputy Envoy Song Huai requests an audience."

"Song Huai?"

Before Jiang Zhao could express his opinion, his grandfather interjected, "A high-ranking official of the third rank visited for seven consecutive days. However, he has not come to the door these past few days."

"I suppose they knew you had returned home and, not wanting to disturb your care, did not come to visit immediately."

"This person is quite sensible," Jiang Zhi commented.

“Grand Tutor Wang’s influence has waned, but he still has some followers,” Jiang Zhi said slowly. “These people are counting on you to pledge allegiance!”

As a grandfather who had experienced the ups and downs of official life, he was well aware of his grandson's influence.

Everyone knows why Song Huai came to visit.

However, this practice is not unusual.

Ultimately, who doesn't dream of climbing the social ladder?
"In that case, let's meet."

The massive cleanup of the Huainan waterways, with one person every ten steps on the left bank of the Huai River, all demonstrated the importance attached to his return home.

This is Song Huai making a statement!
He had originally intended to meet Song Huai.

Since my grandfather's opinion is quite good, it's a good opportunity to meet him.

"I'm going back to get some sleep," Jiang Zhiwei said with his eyes closed.

His health was deteriorating, and even in a wheelchair, he could hardly sit for long periods.

I've recently stopped taking my medication and now I need to sleep for eight or nine hours almost every day.

Perhaps one day, I will pass away peacefully in my sleep.

Main hall.

A pot of tea sits on a long pear wood table, about ten feet long.

"This humble official, Song Huai, greets Lord Jiang." The deputy envoy, Song Huai, bowed deeply, his posture extremely humble.

As the Duke of Lu, it is theoretically normal for Jiang Zhao to be addressed as "Duke Jiang".

However, the word "public" carries a profound meaning.

Jiang Zhao raised an eyebrow.

This posture is anything but humble!

Even if he were to meet the Grand Secretary, I imagine he would only adopt this kind of demeanor.

He knew Song Huai's character just from his address.

At least, their moral standards are relatively flexible.

However, such people are not uncommon.

In the world of officialdom, there are countless people who will stop at nothing to advance their careers.

Different people use it in different ways, and it's not that people who crave progress can't use it.

"Please sit down," Jiang Zhao said gently, extending his hand.

Song Huai breathed a sigh of relief and quickly took the small wooden box, about a foot long, from the servant's hand.

Upon opening, a medicinal fragrance wafted out; it contained only a few dried herbs.

Jiang Zhao glanced at it.

Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Poria cocos.

Compared to the normal size of herb plants, these few are almost twice the size, indicating that they are definitely quite old.

The two sat facing each other, and Song Huai introduced himself: "When I was serving in Huainan, a flood struck. Fortunately, Lord Jiang was kind and benevolent, saving the people from the disaster. I was also fortunate to have received Lord Jiang's kindness, which is why I was able to keep my official position."

I have long been concerned about your health, sir. This is a special product of Shangdang, namely Codonopsis pilosula, along with a few Atractylodes macrocephala and Poria cocos. Although not rare or precious, they are mild in nature and nourishing, benefiting the spleen and kidneys. I hope that you will eat them and sleep well.”

Using disaster relief as a starting point to build rapport is rather opportunistic.

However, for two strangers, it was already quite good.

I reckon the reason for visiting for seven days would be something similar.

Jiang Zhao picked up a teacup, added some tea, and moved it over: "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."

Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Poria cocos.

The value of herbs lies not in their monetary worth, but in the care taken in selecting them.

By deliberately choosing herbs that nourish the spleen and kidneys, one must at least understand the nature of one's grandfather's illness. As far as Jiang Zhao knew, Song Huai had visited him for seven consecutive days.

Except for the few days when I deliberately avoided him coming back, I didn't stop for a single day.

The value of herbs is one thing, but the care taken in preparing them is another.

"In that case, I thank Lord Song for his kindness."

Jiang Zhao did not refuse.

Sometimes, showing goodwill isn't a bad thing.

When officials govern and navigate the ups and downs of officialdom, their primary goal is to benefit the people, but they may also have selfish motives, such as benefiting their relatives.

When others show goodwill, it's partly due to personal motives.

The pageboy standing by took the wooden box.

"You have been taking care of me diligently these past few days while I am ill. If you need my help, I, Song, will certainly do my utmost to serve you." Song Huai didn't waste any time on pleasantries and went straight to the point.

The two had never crossed paths; their only connection was perhaps Grand Tutor Wang.

Instead of being verbose, it's better to make a decisive statement.

“I am not on good terms with the Grand Tutor and his family,” Jiang Zhao said slowly.

“I am a disciple of the Grand Tutor.” Song Huai replied without hesitation, “As the saying goes, to repay kindness, I have taken good care of the Grand Tutor’s family over the years.”

Song Huai did not deny providing assistance to the family of Grand Tutor Wang.

It's impossible for him to address this issue separately from the Grand Tutor and his family.

No one wants their subordinates to be ungrateful.

“Lord Jiang, you may not know this,” Song Huai explained earnestly. “Since the passing of the Grand Tutor, his students and former subordinates have often been suppressed. I have served as an official for over twenty years, and I have almost entirely climbed to the third rank by relying on seniority.”

"Not long after Lord Jiang and Lady Sheng got married, Grand Chancellor Han was recalled to office and appointed Minister of Rites. At that time, we all had the idea of ​​following Lord Jiang's lead."

"However, at that time, Lord Jiang was only a sixth-rank official, and we hesitated, so we did not immediately submit to him."

"Afterwards, Lord Jiang entered the fifth rank and was appointed to the fourth rank in the outside world. He expanded the territory and his divine power was unparalleled. We admired him and wanted to submit to him, but the eldest daughter of the old Grand Tutor had a conflict with Lord Jiang."

Song Huai sighed, "When Madam Kang entered Danzhou, Old Madam Wang repeatedly asked for favors, hoping that we could transfer Kang Haifeng away and rescue our daughter. However, we dared not offend Lord Jiang, so we did nothing."

"The matter of the Kang Wang clan has caused us to lose the opportunity to submit to Lord Jiang. After that, when Lord Jiang was in charge of pacifying the frontier, it became even more difficult to contact him."

"Until this time, when Lord Jiang returned to his hometown to care for his ailing wife, Song hurriedly ordered his soldiers to clear the Huainan waterway, fearing that Lord Jiang's journey would be hindered."

"Mr. Jiang!"

Song Huai suddenly knelt down on one knee: "There is a saying: those who give you a second life are like your parents. My career is ruined. If Lord Jiang is willing to take me in, I will dedicate my entire life to repaying you!"

"This"

"Why is this?"

Jiang Zhao was startled and quickly helped the person up.

“Lord Jiang!” Song Huai stood up, his eyes red-rimmed.

Jiang Zhao paced back and forth, his hands behind his back.

Grand Tutor Wang's faction was quite capable, with at least ten members being fifth-rank officials in the capital.

If they could truly win over the old Grand Tutor's faction, about ten of the twenty or thirty people from Xihe who came to the capital would be qualified to attend court, which would amount to more than twenty fifth-rank officials in red robes.

In the imperial court, there were fewer than four hundred civil and military officials, and only about two hundred of them were purely civil officials.

More than twenty people, already one-tenth of the total, were civil officials.

After a few years, a group of officials from the Xihe faction, including Su Shi and Zhang Heng, entered the capital. There were at least thirty or forty fifth-rank officials in red robes.

Definitely the level of a Grand Secretary!
If they persevere for ten years and fully reap the benefits of Xihe's expansion, at least sixty or seventy fifth-rank officials in the capital will be from Xihe's faction.

Sixty or seventy people!

Even without inheriting the legacy left by his mentor Han Zhang, these people are enough to support him in becoming the Grand Chancellor!
Now that he has won over Grand Tutor Wang's faction, he will have one-tenth of the civil officials in the court, making him a force to be reckoned with.

In terms of background and experience, he ranks above the Minister and below the Grand Secretary.

The vast majority of newly appointed cabinet ministers are mainly composed of people left behind by the previous cabinet ministers, as well as some people they have cultivated themselves.

If we're really talking about backing, the newly appointed Grand Secretaries, who are somewhat weaker, might not actually have twenty "insiders."

Therefore, he definitely wanted the legacy of Grand Tutor Wang.

"A man's knees are worth gold; how can he be so careless?"

Jiang Zhao offered a criticism, then slowly said, "Fine, since I am the Grand Tutor's grandson-in-law, I will take responsibility for him."

Students and former subordinates are not easy to cultivate!

Song Huai was overjoyed and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Lord Jiang!"

(End of this chapter)