The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 224

Zhou Chu looked at Xu Jie in front of him. Xu Jie was a much more difficult person to control than Yan Song, and also a much more complex person.

The saying "a great villain appears to be loyal" perfectly describes people like Xu Jie.

Zhou Chu dared to employ Yan Song and Zhang Cong because he understood these two men. Regardless of whether Yan Song was loyal or treacherous, once he chose a side, he was at least sincere in his work. As for Zhang Cong, he was a well-known minister who devoted himself wholeheartedly to the emperor.

But the one before us is different. Throughout the entire Jiajing reign, if there was any Grand Secretary who exceeded Jiajing's control and deviated from his expectations, it was Xu Jie before us.

In his later years, after Yan Song's downfall, Jiajing was shocked to discover that the once meek and obedient Grand Secretary Xu had suddenly become a tiger, a tiger that had escaped his control.

As a result, during the short period when Xu Jie became the Grand Secretary, the Xu family frantically plundered the wealth of the entire Ming Dynasty. In the end, the amount of money that reached Jiajing was far less than that during Yan Song's reign.

When Jiajing realized his mistake, it was too late. He was old and didn't want the Ming Dynasty to experience further turmoil in the last few years of his reign, so he had no choice but to accept it.

Therefore, Zhou Chu did not have much affection for Xu Jie, but he would not suppress him because of it.

Xu Jie is still young, and he is still decades away from his ultimate goal. At least until then, he is very useful. There is no major conflict between Zhou Chu and Xu Jie in terms of their positions.

Aside from reminding his elder brother Lu Bing not to associate too closely with Xu Jie lest the Xu family wipe out their lineage, he didn't really need to be wary of Xu Jie in other aspects.

"So you are Xu Zisheng?"

Zhou Chu looked at Xu Jie and said.

Upon hearing this, Xu Jie was overjoyed. He had learned some information from his teacher that the young man in front of him was not just a simple Jinyiwei commander. One of the two guards behind him was a student of Yangming, and the other was the eldest son of Princess Deqing.

He was even granted the title of Marquis.

Lin Lu and Shen Lian's identities were no longer a secret in Jiangnan. As the magistrate of Huating County, and given his outstanding abilities, it was normal for Nie Bao to know these things.

Xu Jie came to help at the temporary headquarters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard because his teacher, Nie Bao, recommended him.

Zhou Chu's words made Xu Jie feel flattered; he hadn't expected such an important figure to know him.

"The student is indeed the one."

Xu Jie bowed and said.

"It's good that you're here to help; you're much better than those roughnecks."

Zhou Chu smiled.

"You'll probably participate in the provincial examination this year, right?"

Zhou Chu continued to ask.

"In reply to you, sir, I do indeed intend to participate in this year's provincial examination in Yingtian Prefecture."

Xu Jie said respectfully.

"Do your best on the exam. With your talent, passing the provincial examination shouldn't be too difficult."

Zhou Chu's words were merely going with the flow. In the original history, Xu Jie passed the provincial examination in Yingtian Prefecture this year, ranking seventh. In the following year's metropolitan examination, he ranked first in the first class, and in the palace examination, he ranked third in the first class, becoming a Tan Hua (third-ranked scholar).

Thinking this, Zhou Chu looked at Xu Jie in front of him. With his appearance, it was not surprising that he could pass the imperial examination with the third-highest rank.

Upon hearing this, Xu Jie was overjoyed. Every word spoken by such an important figure was crucial, and Zhou Chu's casual remark today could become part of his resume in the future.

The reason he didn't focus on his studies but instead listened to his teacher and helped the Embroidered Uniform Guard was simply to enhance his resume, wasn't it?

Zhou Chu was naturally aware of what Xu Jie wanted, so this sentence was also a way to enhance his reputation, a convenient favor, so that he would wholeheartedly help the Embroidered Uniform Guard deal with those gentry in the future.

After leaving the temporary office of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zhou Chu headed straight for the Huating County government office.

Zhou Chu was quite interested in Nie Bao, the magistrate of Huating County. He was a capable and dedicated man.