prosperous age

Chapter 152 Chapter 151
The three teams of announcing the good news quickly walked out of the Jiujiang magistrate's yamen, each heading towards their respective destinations.

The magistrate did not come out, and those who delivered the good news were led by envoys, experiencers, and people from the sixth room. Along the way, they continued to light firecrackers to create a lively and festive atmosphere.

At the same time, a large group of troops also came out from the Jiujiang Guard Command and Envoy Division, and rushed to the Jiujiang Wharf. The leader was naturally Zhang Qing and Zhang Tongzhi.

Zhang Tongzhi was too old to ride a horse, so he could only go by in a carriage, and behind the carriage, Zhang Shigui, Wu Zhankui and others also followed on horseback.

The luxuriously decorated carriage and a number of military officers, escorted by a large number of entourages, quickly left Jiujiang Prefecture City and arrived at the riverside pier. After the carriage arrived at the pier, Zhang Qing and Zhang Shigui who came up from behind helped him get off the carriage and came to a In front of the big ship.

At this time, a well-dressed nobleman standing at the bow also got off the boat through the pedals. Zhang Qing led his people to meet him in a hurry, and said with fists in his hands, "I greet you, Your Majesty."

"Uncle Zhang, don't say that, I'm not a prince, just call me by my name."

The noble son shook his head and said.

"Don't dare, dare not, even if the Lord is deceived, he will understand sooner or later."

Zhang Qing didn't dare to answer the question, but replied honestly.

"Uncle Zhang, if you really want to be good for me, don't call him Shizi anymore. If you pass it back home, you don't know what troubles will happen."

The young man just reminded again in a low voice.

"Then I'll call you Young Master, Shigui, hurry up and pay respects to Young Master."

At this time, Zhang Qing had already said to the eldest son next to him.

"See you son."

"Okay, brother Shigui, it's not the first time we've met, so don't be so strange."

The young man waved his hand and said.

Zhang Qing stepped aside now, and winked at his son-in-law again.

Wu Zhankui understood, took Wei Meng forward two steps, and bowed in salute.

"Okay, I've heard Brother Fugui mention your names many times, so I saw you today."

When the young master heard Wu and Wei's names, he laughed immediately.

"My lord, let's go into the city. The river is windy here, and the place to live has been prepared."

Zhang Qing made a gesture of please while speaking.

Wu Zhankui and Wei Meng also immediately lined up on both sides to make way for the middle.

"That's fine too."

The young master looked back at his own boat, and his face, which was still full of smiles just now, became slightly bitter, "In two days, the fleet will pass through Jiujiang, and I will trouble Uncle Shi to take care of it."

The young master laughed and walked forward with Zhang Qing, left Jiujiang Wharf, and walked towards the place where the carriage stopped.

Zhang Qing and Zhang Shigui responded immediately, not daring to neglect in the slightest.

Soon, they came to the carriage, and when they were getting into the carriage, there was a fast horse galloping towards Jiujiang City in the distance.

Although they were far away, Wu Zhankui, who had good eyesight, saw the person coming, and said to Wei Meng, who was about to get on his horse, "It seems to belong to your family."

Hearing this, Wei Meng stopped what he was doing with a slight frown and looked over.

As the horse approached, he could also see that it was indeed the servant of his family.

Zhang Shigui, who had just sent his old father to the carriage, had already walked over. Seeing the two of them staring at the road, he asked strangely, "What's the matter? It's time to get on the horse and set off."

"Old Wei's servant is here, maybe there is something at home."

Before Wei Meng could answer, Wu Zhankui said to Zhang Shigui.

"Ok?"

Hearing this, Zhang Shigui followed their gazes and saw that the horse was already approaching them. Immediately, the knight reined in and slowed down the speed of the horse. At the same time, he quickly searched around the crowd, and then saw Wei Meng behind the carriage.

A few steps away from the convoy, the man had already dismounted, led the horse and quickly ran around the carriage to Wei Meng.

"Master, the official messenger from the yamen to announce the good news has arrived at home. The second young master passed the provincial examination this time."

When Wei Meng first saw the horse coming to look for it, Wei Meng's heart sank, thinking that something happened at home.

But after the servant approached, seeing his face full of joy, Wei Meng felt relieved. When the servant reported the news, Wei Meng was instantly stunned by happiness, feeling like he was soaking in a honey pot.

"Home."

Later, Wei Meng saw that servant opening and closing his mouth, but he couldn't hear what he was saying.

After finally calming down his excited heart, he felt a heavy pat on the shoulder.

Wei Meng came back to his senses, and heard the servant continue to report: "Just now I went to the yamen to look for you, and only then did I know that you came to the pier, so I borrowed a horse from the yamen to chase you here, and the prefect's yamen's happy report is also copied. In the guard, when I came out, firecrackers started to be set off."

"Good, good, good."

Wei Meng didn't want to listen to the servant's nagging now, and only said three good words from his mouth.

"Congratulations, brother Wei's Qilin'er, this year he will be a Juren, and next year he will be a Jinshi."

Zhang Shigui reacted quickly, and immediately laughed and said.

And Wu Zhankui next to him was also crazy with joy. This is his nephew, his own nephew. He won the election at such a young age, so the future is naturally bright.

My son had no choice but to take the imperial examination. It was easy for the boy to try at the beginning, but when he came back after a courtyard examination, Wu Dong said he couldn't pass the exam.

If Wu Dong had the certainty of winning the candidate, Wu Zhankui might try to give it a try and send a message to Nanjing Wei Guogong's mansion through the relationship of his father-in-law, asking him to be exempted.

According to the "Military and Political Regulations" promulgated by the Ming Dynasty, there is a regulation: "Therefore, under the military household, there should only be one person, who will serve as a student, and the Ministry of War will be released, and the Imperial Academy will be invited to take the exam. If it is effective, the army will be expelled as usual. If there is no effect, Still sent to the army."

This regulation was promulgated in the year of Hongwu. Military households with only sons can be exempted from the army if their sons have achieved academic success.

At that time, it was only required to be a scholar, but now, it is definitely not possible to be a scholar, at least it is possible to be exempted if you are a talented person.

These days, those who hold a knife are getting worse and worse than those who hold a pen.

Wu Dong himself felt that there was no chance for a scholar, so naturally Wu Zhankui would not let him continue studying.

Well, it is also a good thing to have a nephew who can study and become an official, at least someone will protect him.

"If you don't get drunk tonight, you won't go home."

After Wu Zhankui recovered, he patted Wei Meng on the shoulder and said loudly.

"No drunk, no return."

Wei Meng nodded hastily, it was a great thing for his son to be promoted, and immediately invited Wu Zhankui and Zhang Shigui.

"What's the matter? Why don't you leave?"

Zhang Qing, who was in the carriage ahead, suddenly opened the car curtain and asked.

"Father, that, Guangde Zhongju."

Zhang Shigui immediately trotted two steps to the side of the carriage, and said to the old man in the carriage.

"Hit it? Good thing."

When Zhang Tongzhi heard this, he was also delighted.

No matter how far the relationship between the Wei family and the Zhang family is, they are still related. It is not bad to have a relative these days, not to mention that Wei Guangde is still so young.

At the beginning, Zhang Tongzhi had prepared for Wei Guangde to pass the exam three or five times before he won the exam. At that time, he would be able to take the general exam at least three more times, otherwise he would think of their Wei family for all good things.

Military merit and ability are nothing in the eyes of the superiors. If you want to suppress it, you can suppress it. It's too simple.

"Oh, whose family is the Guangde you are talking about?"

The noble young master in the car also asked curiously at this moment, and he understood, it seemed that among the people who came to greet him, there was a Juren from someone's family.

Juren, this year is considered a good status.

"The Wei family's name is Wei Guangde, the youngest son of Wei Mengwei Zhenfu's family. He is only 16 years old this year, and he passed the county examination, government examination and hospital examination in succession when he was 13 years old. He only passed the county examination that year. Sorry to miss out.”

Zhang Tongzhi immediately introduced.

"Oh, Wei Guangde, it seems that someone has heard of this name before."

The young master smiled, but then his smile froze, and he asked, "That Wei Guangde is only 16 years old?"

"Yes, it's sixteen this year."

Zhang Tongzhi replied immediately.

At this time, Wei Meng and Wu Zhankui had already walked to the carriage.

"Young Master, Mr. Zhang, today, my son is very happy to raise someone, and I would like to invite the two adults to come to the humble house for a glass of wedding wine."

Wei Meng leaned against the window and said, as a Shangguan, no matter whether someone comes or not, he must be invited, and the etiquette must be thoughtful.

Before Zhang Tongzhi could speak, the young master smiled and nodded outside and said, "Okay, a 16-year-old Juren is very rare, and this glass of wedding wine is very good."

"Okay, the young master has spoken, in a while you should ask someone to go back to prepare and make some decent meals."

Zhang Qing immediately gave orders to Wei Meng.

"The humble staff understands, so let people go home and report."

In the evening, after seeing off the guests who came to congratulate him, Wei Meng returned to the bedroom.

"Who is that son, you all compliment him so much, even the Commander is humble when he sees him."

Wei's mother got up to help Wei's father to rest, and asked.

"He's from Nanjing, Mr. Xu's own son."

Father Wei said lightly.

"No wonder, it is possible to be a prince, and he will be the Duke of the country in the future."

When Wei's mother heard that the man was Wei Guogong's son, she naturally figured it out.

"It's hard to say, from what brother Shigui said, it seems that the Duke doesn't like this son very much and wants to make the younger son his son."

"How can that be done? I remember that the imperial court has a system. There are heirs to establish heirs, and no heirs to establish elders. The Commander-in-Chief calls him the eldest son, how can he establish a junior to inherit the title."

Mother Wei said immediately.

Mother Wei also received some education before, and she still knows a lot about the court system, but she has never met such a noble person.

"Why do you care so much about other people's affairs? Anyway, there are people in the court who worry about this."

Father Wei shook his head and said.

"The imperial court will never pass his petition."

Wei's mother is a bit stubborn, but today, Mr. Xu left a good impression on her. He is humble and kind, not at all like a son of a family, and he is easy to talk to.

"Hey, you just meet him once and fight for him."

Father Wei laughed dryly, his level was too high, and it was impossible for a small family like him to get involved.

However, Father Wei is really happy tonight.

Son Zhongju, all the colleagues in the yamen are here tonight. No matter whether they are close or far away on weekdays, they are all friendly tonight, and they have lost the prestige they used to have in the yamen.

cool.

However, as Madam said, Mr. Xu is too approachable.

While the husband and wife were talking in the bedroom, on a carriage not far from Wei's house, Mr. Xu, whom Wei's mother was talking about, was asking Zhang Shigui something.

"What do you mean, that Wei Guangde, according to the professor of Fuxue, stereotyped essays are still not good enough?"

"Yes, young master, my brother has inquired about it. According to the professor of the government school, it should take a few years before he can be elected."

"But now he's won."

"Yeah, that's why I was very surprised. Maybe he is really a rich man, hehe."

Speaking of this, Zhang Shigui laughed dryly and said: "I remember that a few years ago, Wei Meng brought his two sons to Jiujiang City, and they also lived in my house, and I didn't see anything at that time.

But my old man told our brothers that this Wei Guangde has an extraordinary appearance, and he is afraid that he is a seed for studying, and he may become rich and powerful in the future.

Unexpectedly, the old man's vision was really good, and his words became a prophecy. He won the Juren at only 16 years old, and he had a lot of time to hit Jinshi. "

Speaking of this, Zhang Shigui suddenly looked at Mr. Xu and said, "Young master, in fact, the old man also told our brothers in private. When you and your brother were young, my father met him. When he came back, he told us that you are still the eldest son. Like the old Duke, they are exactly the same in terms of speech and manner.

Please rest assured, son, no matter what time, our Zhang family only recognizes you, son. "

"Hehe, let's borrow Uncle Zhang's auspicious words, and hope that he won't look back."

"How come, my father sees people's eyes, and he can't accept it."

Mr. Xu just smiled when he heard Zhang Shigui's words of loyalty.

"What does that Wei Guangde look like? Is it the same as his father?"

"The eldest of their family looks like Wei Meng, and Wei Guangde's appearance, I think, is more like his mother."

Although he was very surprised why Mr. Xu was so interested in Wei Guangde, he still gave a straightforward answer.

"By the way, young master, please forgive me for talking too much. At this time, you should actually stay in Nanjing City."

At this time, Zhang Shigui changed the subject.

"I understand what father's idea is. He asked me to come out. What else can I do, I can only follow through."

The smile on Mr. Xu's face turned bitter, just like when he got off the boat.

"So that's it. You don't have to worry, my lord. Auspicious people have their own appearance. My father has always had a good eye for people, so he can't make mistakes."

Zhang Shigui had no choice but to say na na at this time.

"I don't know where the gang of Japanese pirates went? Will they really attack Nanjing?"

Mr. Xu shook his head. He knew very well that the high walls of Nanjing and the large number of soldiers in the Beijing camp were not something that group of pirates could make a decision at all.

However, my father forced me to leave Nanjing City at this time, so that I could pour dirty water on myself. When the time came to announce the appointment of the son, I would have an excuse to pass on the position of the son to others, but I didn't care about it at all. Powerless to resist.

Wei Guangde stayed in Nanchang City for two days before returning to Jiujiang Mansion with Lao Kan and Shen Liangdong.

The other scholars who failed the ranking had already embarked on the return journey.

The classmates who stayed in Nanchang also planned to study in Yuzhang Academy, just like Zeng Yuanshu, to prepare for the provincial examination three years later.

(End of this chapter)