The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 123

A strategic meeting in Qianqing Palace was chaired by Zhu Youtang, attended by Wang Yue and Zhang Zhou, and lasted for more than two hours.

Then Xiao Jing sent the two of them out of the palace.

"Mr. Zhang, do you think you can win this battle?"

Wang Yue now has a kind of mysterious trust in Zhang Zhou.

Since you, Zhang Zhou, can predict when the Tatars will come, then you can test it by the way. Whether you can win this battle should be logical and easy, right?
Zhang Zhou smiled.

How can I test something that hasn’t happened in history?
Besides, I, a butterfly, has begun to spread its wings suddenly, and the development of history has begun to diverge here.

"Wang Shilang, even if I can break the secret sometimes, but this battle has not yet been fought, as for how to proceed, and which step it will take, you need to go to battle in person, and I can't do anything about it."

Zhang Zhou's words made Wang Yue somewhat anxious.

The war did not happen, but the prophecy will happen. It is not known whether it will come or not, and the result cannot be known.

To sum it up in one word.

Wait!
I'm afraid that the frontier soldiers of the Ming Dynasty can afford to wait, but my old bones can't afford to wait.

Zhang Zhoudao: "However, Wang Shilang should be well aware of what His Majesty and Ma Shangshu mean. This battle is unlikely to be like the battle of Helan Mountain. You will be fully dispatched. At that time, the soldiers and horses that Wang Shilang can use will only be head-on." There are not many generals that can be dispatched by the garrisons in the several guards around the pass, it depends on Wang Shilang's own performance."

Wang Yue thought for a while, and hurriedly expressed his opinion: "The responsibility for this battle lies entirely with the old man. Mr. Zhang will be responsible for the victory, but Mr. Zhang will not be responsible for the defeat."

Zhang Zhou looked at Xiao Jing with a smile, and Xiao Jing was also smiling.

"Wang Shilang, that's not what I meant. Don't get me wrong! Since I predicted this battle, and I lost it, I am duty-bound."

Zhang Zhou is not a person who throws blame.

In order to ensure the victory of this battle, he can be regarded as offering advice and efforts, just to ensure that he has his own share of the military exploits won.

He hasn't been admitted to the Jinshi yet, so he'll do some military merit first, it sounds pretty good.

Xiao Jing smiled and said: "Mr. Zhang, you are joking, as long as the Tatars come according to your calculation time, it will be a great achievement. As for the follow-up, it depends on Wang Laoshilang."

Xiao Jing could understand this point.

If the army is defeated, even if you want to take responsibility for it, do you think His Majesty will agree?

And the one surnamed Wang!

Don't count, people will tell you exactly when and where the Tatars will come. If you still can't win, don't come back at all!

The emperor's trust is not for you to use as a perfunctory excuse or as a bargaining chip.

Wang Yue felt the pressure in an instant, he said: "Mr. Zhang, I see that you usually go in and out, and there are few followers around you. Although the little granddaughter is born vulgar, she has good fists, kicks, swords, spears, swords and halberds. Why don't you let her guard you?" By your side, protect the left and right."

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, is that still called being vulgar?

That face, that figure, that silly and cute look...

It's really easy to arouse a man's desire for protection. The problem is, from strength to close combat skills, this girl is one of the best among women in the world.

Who protects whom?

Zhang Zhou has not returned to his thoughts.

"That's good." Xiao Jing who was on the side replied with a smile.

Zhang Zhou glared at him.

Could it be that you, Xiao Jing, can't tell that he plans to give me his little granddaughter as a gift?

You still keep telling me, you have to be careful not to be corrupted by others, and now you are engaging in double standards, the only thing you are guarding against is Yang Peng giving me gifts?
Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "I have a family and a house, so it's inconvenient for my granddaughter to be a famous lady."

Wang Yue hurriedly said: "The little granddaughter has always admired Mr. Zhang's demeanor, and also learned that Mr. Zhang's poetry is so talented that she can follow him by his side. She doesn't ask for fame, but only asks him to take him in."

Now even if Xiao Jing tried harder, he could tell that Wang Yue wanted to give his granddaughter a gift.

Even though Xiao Jing knew that Wang Yue was a person who liked to curry favor with the powerful, he did not expect to be so omniscient, the smile on Xiao Jing's face was somewhat embarrassing.

"I'm afraid His Majesty will not agree."

Zhang Zhou looked at Xiao Jing with a smile, meaning you come out and help me refuse, just take what you said before not letting me accept the gift.

Xiao Jing seemed to have misunderstood the meaning, and tentatively said: "Then we will ask His Majesty for instructions later, and see what His Majesty thinks."

Zhang Zhoudao: "For such a trivial matter, you don't need to bother to ask His Majesty for instructions, do you?"

Wang Yue seemed to be very enthusiastic about it, and said with a smile: "Please trouble Eunuch Xiao!"

Wang Yue insisted.

If it was he himself who gave his granddaughter to Zhang Zhou, he would still be suspected of giving it as a gift. Others would say that he sacrificed his granddaughter's happiness in an unscrupulous way. How can you say that your granddaughter is so prestige in the court? , don't you feel blushing?

But if the emperor had spoken, the nature would be different.

Since this matter can be completed, Wang Yue still has face.

"Okay, okay, let's talk to His Majesty when we turn back."

The three continued to walk towards the gate of the palace.

Zhang Zhou suddenly asked: "Wang Shilang, have you written any poems recently?"

Wang Yue was puzzled and said, "What does Mr. Zhang mean?"

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Recently, I want to open a bookstore and publish some books. After thinking about it, it's better to publish some poetry collections first. I don't want to ask Wang Shilang to do me a favor?"

"Uh……"

Wang Yue is also pondering.

Now that you are so admired by the emperor, you want to publish a collection of poems. You can only say that you want to find an excuse to let me help you.

This is the equality of mutual help and mutual assistance.

"Yes." Wang Yue said, "In the past few months, the old man was in the northwest, and the old man chatted about being a teenager, and wrote a few poems. If Mr. Zhang wants to publish it, the old man will make a fool of himself."

Zhang Zhou said: "I thank Wang Shilang."

Zhang Zhou really plans to publish a collection of poems recently.

Although he also knows that publishing the script is the highlight.

But the problem is... It seems too high-end to open a bookstore with the prince and just do those things.

This market also needs to test the waters first. It just so happens that now is the time when the spring is about to come. There are many students in the capital, and his previous peach blossom poem has been spread all over the capital. When a collection of poems is published, many people will buy it, even if it is not sought after. Let those people buy it back and criticize it, and the purpose of testing the waters will be achieved.

This is more direct and effective than directly publishing the script.

If Wang Yue's unrealistic poems are added, it will be even more gimmick.

……

……

This time Zhang Zhou didn't go to the Wenhua Palace to meet Zhu Houzhao, and went out of the palace directly under the guidance of Xiao Jing.

When Xiao Jing returned to Qianqing Palace to report, he saw Zhu Youtang drinking something from the bowl with a very thin bamboo tube, making a snoring sound.

Xiao Jing didn't move forward to look, but from a distance, he saw that the thing was white and sticky, like goat's milk or something.

"Your Majesty, you have worked hard today, what do you think?"

Dai Yi waits on Zhu Youtang.

This meeting lasted from morning to noon, and the emperor did not give a banquet, or even eat. After noon, Zhu Youtang finally had time to eat something to replenish his strength.

Zhu Youtang put down the thing used to suck food, smiled and said: "That's right, what's the name of this thing?"

Dai Yi smiled and said, "This is called milk tea. It's a bit like the kumiss on the grassland. It's mixed with tea leaves, goat's milk, and some condiments. The recipe was given by Mr. Zhang. Mr. Zhang said that His Majesty has always been dissatisfied with goat's milk." I like it too much, which is not conducive to alleviating the accumulated toxins in the body, so I asked him to change this drinking method, and also made some adjustments with goat's milk, mare's milk, etc. You can't always drink one kind, and you can even drink milk, but the palace does not There's no such thing as milk..."

"milk tea?"

Zhu Youtang smiled, as if he was still savoring the delicacy, "I also sent some to the queen, prince, and princess, with a little taste of sweet tea, they should like it."

"Yes."

Dai Yi took the lead.

Originally, Dai Yi wanted to say that this was all for His Majesty's healing and physical fitness, but when he thought about the deliciousness of this food, the emperor wanted to share it with his family, and there was nothing wrong with it.

Besides, there is no shortage of ingredients in the palace.

"Have you left the palace?" Zhu Youtang then looked up at Xiao Jing who had been waiting for instructions.

Xiao Jingdao: "Your Majesty, Mr. Zhang and Wang Shilang have already left the palace. On the way, Wang Shilang mentioned that he wants a little granddaughter who practices martial arts to follow Mr. Zhang and be careful."

"Well, yes."

Zhu Youtang thought it was a good idea without even thinking about it.

Dai Yi reminded: "Your Majesty, what Wang Shilang did... I'm afraid he has other intentions."

Zhu Youtang was startled for a moment, and then realized that Wang Yue's intention was to give a gift, and he even gave his little granddaughter as a gift, and couldn't help sighing: "Wang Weining is also a famous general in the northwest, and he only wants to protect Bingkuan from these crooked things. Why use his granddaughter? Can't I send someone to protect her?"

Both Dai Yi and Xiao Jing were thinking, Your Majesty, you have figured it out!
Wang Weining is a guy who clings to the powerful!

Zhu Youtang said: "Go and tell Wang Weining that it's okay to send your granddaughter, but it's only temporary. If he can win the Northwest War, this girl will let Bingkuan stay, if not..."

Dai Yi reminded again: "Your Majesty, you are not tormenting Wang Shilang, you are tormenting Mr. Zhang."

"Ah, is it?"

Zhu Youtang thought about it, too, if you send people to Zhang Zhou, you can only watch from a distance and not play with them, and you have to wait for the end of the war, and if you lose, you have to send them back.

This is to roast the vigorous Zhang Zhou on the fire.

Xiao Jing said: "Your Majesty, if you send people to the Zhang residence, I'm afraid you will never be able to pick them up again!"

What he meant was that if someone sent her there, it would be famous. How could there be any reason to take her granddaughter back after sending her off?At that time, who would dare to marry a woman who had been sent away?

Do things still need to be humane.

Zhu Youtang took a long breath and said: "I originally wanted to match them up and make a marriage gift. After all, Wang Weining's granddaughter can't be completely anonymous. But since you said, let him put her Send it over and let him go to the northwest to lead the army with peace of mind."

"If they win, I will give them a marriage, and let him marry their granddaughter and marry well. If they don't win or fail to meet expectations, I will leave it to Bingkuan, and let him see how to arrange it! I want to go back and rest, Zhu Pi I leave the memorial to you!"

……

……

The emperor issued an imperial decree.

Afterwards, Xiao Jing sent someone to Wang Yue's mansion to notify, and on the same day, Wang Yue packed some dowry-like things for his granddaughter, carried them in a carriage, and sent him to Zhang's mansion.

Zhang Zhou just arrived home.

So he took a big living person into the yard.

When Zhang Zhou heard the news, he saw Miss Wang Mingshan standing in the front yard, looking around, her eyes were full of curiosity about the new environment, and there was still a little bit of the same look in her eyes.

It's like cheering from the bottom of my heart...

Finally able to live a different life.

Zhang Zhou was wondering if this Ms. Wang had some brain problems?
Zhang Zhou walked over, and Wang Mingshan immediately knelt down when she saw Zhang Zhou.

"You don't need to be too polite, Miss Wang, welcome."

After Zhang Zhou finished speaking, he pondered for a while, and it seemed that this word was not used very well.

At this time Xia Zhi also came out from the inner courtyard.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Go, call that bastard Zhang Jun out! Just say, the martial arts coach I hired for him is here!"

Xia Zhi stared wide-eyed, with a bewildered expression, then he seemed to suddenly realize that this should be the master's new concubine, so she quickly turned around and went in to inform the mistress of the inner courtyard.

For a servant girl, she is not responsible for her own master, but for her own wife's orders.

……

……

Wang Mingshan was first arranged to arrange accommodation.

I don't live in the backyard first, but live in the wing room across the courtyard. Anyway, there are many rooms in the third courtyard, so I can spare one at random, and after a little tidying up, people can live there.

Zhang Zhou went to the inner courtyard.

A family of women and children are lining up to look at him.

"Boy, practice martial arts well in the future, and don't disappoint your father and my expectations!" Zhang Zhou said.

Zhang Jun looked at his mother, then at his sister, a little confused about the situation.

Jiang Pingyu said: "Go in and do your homework! Sister, you go with them too."

"Ah."

Han Qing took them to the study.

Zhang Zhou followed Jiang Pingyu into the back hall.

"Husband, what's going on? Do you mean...do you want a new sister?" Jiang Pingyu wasn't too repulsive, but whenever she had feelings for her husband, when she met her husband taking a concubine , there will still be thorns in my heart.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Does it count? I don't know, I don't even know what it means."

"Husband?" Jiang Pingyu was also a little confused.

Everyone has picked it up, you don’t know?

Zhang Zhoudao: "Actually, this Miss Wang, whose maiden name is Mingshan, is Wang Weining, the daughter and granddaughter of the former Minister of War and the second son of Uncle Weining Wang Yue. This daughter has been practicing martial arts, and Wang Weining is fine. He likes to give gifts to the rich and powerful, and if I don’t accept gifts, he will send his granddaughter over and say he wants to protect me. Probably just provide me with a guard.”

Jiang Pingyu was surprised and said: "Then she has such a background, if she wants to take care of the husband's home, then she will..."

He didn't finish the sentence, meaning, how will she marry in the future?

But then she seemed to understand that Wang Yue didn't want to marry his granddaughter to someone else at all, and it was just an excuse to say that he was a guard, but in fact he gave his granddaughter to Zhang Zhou as his concubine.

"The concubine will make arrangements." Jiang Pingyu got up.

Zhang Zhou said, "What are you going to arrange?"

Jiang Pingyu was taken aback, then she thought, shouldn't they arrange consummation of the house or something?

Zhang Zhou said unhappily: "Madam, don't think too much. This Miss Wang is from a famous family. Even if I think about it, she still refuses. It will have to wait for something to happen in the future. If everything goes as I want It's not too late for you to arrange..."

"When she comes to our house, we usually ask her to change into men's clothes, follow me, and protect me. And then... teach Xiaojun boxing and kicking skills, so that I don't have to go outside to invite Mr.... kill two birds with one stone."

Jiang Pingyu was somewhat speechless.

The husband is treating Ms. Wang's family as free labor.

A big girl who is like a flower and a jade, came to run errands for you, just to save you money?

"Husband, isn't it good to do this?" Jiang Pingyu was a little apprehensive.

This stinginess has reached a new level.

Zhang Zhou Yizheng said: "I don't want it, Lao Wang still insists on sending it. Now that even His Majesty knows about it, can I still send her back? I can only watch but not get started. Find her some work and let her get in touch with the society. There's nothing wrong with that."

(End of this chapter)