The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 137
With Liu Jian's promise, it turned out that at the last court meeting the next day, ten days before the Shangyuan Festival holiday, no one mentioned the military affairs in the northwest.

After the court meeting ended.

Xiao Jing breathed a sigh of relief, just as he was about to go to Fengtian Hall, Dai Yi walked over and said: "What did you say to those people yesterday?"

Xiao Jing was puzzled, and immediately said almost all of what he said.

Dai Yi just gave him a very strange look.

When the four supervisors went to the Qianqing Palace together, they found Zhu Youtang depressed.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Zhang will return to Beijing from Xishan today..." Xiao Jing carefully reminded.

"Ah."

Zhu Youtang just nodded.

Probably he didn't want to summon Zhang Zhou to ask what, originally Xiao Jing thought that the emperor would care about the last two things Zhang Zhou tested.

Dai Yi said: "Your Majesty, do you want to send someone to ask?"

"Ask what?" Zhu Youtang's tone was very stiff, "Bingkuan went to Xishan to look for ore, and he also smelted iron for the imperial court. He came back from hard work and had to prepare for the exam. Why should I bother?"

Dai Yi lowered his head and dared not respond.

"Those speech officials, I told them not to mention it, but none of them refused to let go. Could it be that the elder Ge told them, and they can listen to it, and they don't even ask about the Northwest?"

At this moment, Xiao Jing seemed to understand what Dai Yi asked him earlier.

He secretly still had some fear in his heart.

The emperor won't blame him for saying the wrong thing, right?
Dai Yi said: "Your Majesty, perhaps there are not many people in the court who know about this matter. They are afraid of revealing important military affairs, so they dare not mention it."

Zhu Youtang was still angry.

Dai Yi gave Xiao Jing a wink.

Xiao Jing didn't understand, what should he say to the emperor at this moment?Can't you, Dai Yi, speak for yourself?Why should I say it?
"Don't delay the prince's recent homework." Zhu Youtang ordered.

"Yes." Dai Yi answered cautiously.

"Furthermore, send someone to tell Bingkuan not to go anywhere in the near future. After the examination, he will concentrate on doing things for the court. No matter whether he is a Jinshi or not, he must think about how to be a good court official. I will go to see Mrs. Empress Dowager, I leave the matter here to you!"

……

……

Zhu Youtang left Qianqing Palace.

For Zhu Youtang, there will also be a ten-day vacation in the next period. During this period, most of the memorials will be handed over to the supervisor of rites for review. The three supervisors of ceremonies have no real holiday at all.

"Eunuch Dai, Your Majesty's side..."

Xiao Jing wiped off his cold sweat.

Dai Yi said: "Your Majesty feels that the prestige of the chief assistant may be a bit too great."

Chen Kuan also came over and asked, "Just because of this trivial matter?"

"Don't gossip!" Dai Yi glared at Chen Kuan, and then said as if explaining, "In the past, when it came to governing the country, His Majesty just trusted those old ministers, but now there is that Mr. Your majesty can ask ghosts and gods whether it is civil affairs or military affairs, do you think your majesty will be so tolerant to the elders of the pavilion?"

Xiao Jing sighed: "It doesn't affect us people... right?"

Dai Yi smiled and said: "This is a good thing. In the past, when the approval was made on behalf of the emperor Zhu, it was always based on the proposals of those elders? If there is a slight change, there will be criticism in the court. Now you try again!"

"Eunuch Dai is right."

Xiao Jing smiled for a while, but found that the smile he piled up was a bit too bitter.

Wei Bin asked: "Is there any hidden worry? In the past few years, the Cabinet has won His Majesty's trust... After Mr. Xu Ge left, His Majesty's trust in the Cabinet has not diminished."

This is about Xu Pu's retirement.

After Xu Pu, Liu Jian was the head assistant, and Zhu Youtang relied more on the cabinet.

Dai Yi seemed to see through everything, smiled and shook his head: "No, the hidden worry is that the civil servants take power back. For us, the Zhu criticism is different from the bills. The civil servants want to target, and they all use force on Mr. Zhang. What am I waiting for?"

A few people seem to have come to their senses.

There was a rift between the emperor and the civil servants, all because of Zhang Zhou.

If the civil officials want to target, they will also use their strength against Zhang Zhou, but the eunuchs and eunuchs can do nothing.

It is equivalent to saying that no matter what the outcome of the wrestling between civil servants and Zhang Zhou is, they can remain invincible.

……

……

Zhang Zhou has returned to the capital.

The first thing to do when you return to the capital is to go to the British government to "find people".

Jiang Dezhong was doing business with the Governor's Mansion, but he didn't go back for four days. Zhang Zhou's brother-in-law Jiang Shanquan almost begged his grandpa to sue his grandma when he knew he was back, and wanted to "redeem" Jiang Dezhong out.

"Father-in-law, what's the matter?"

Zhang Zhou also felt strange.

He just said that he wanted to do business with the Governor's Mansion. What kind of big business did Jiang Dezhong do in the past two months?If you want to detain someone, it should also be detained by the Governor's Mansion. How could it be old man Zhang detaining someone?

Jiang Shanquan drove the carriage and took Zhang Zhou to the British government.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Zhang Zhou's feet landed on the ground, and Sun Shangqi, a hundred households of Jin Yiwei, brought people over.

Jiang Shanquan was still counting on Zhang Zhou, but when he saw that it was Jin Yiwei who was looking for Zhang Zhou, he quickly avoided it.

Sun Shangqi said: "Mr. Zhang, there are orders from above to be by your side at any time, please give orders if you have anything to do."

Zhang Zhou hasn't met Xiao Jing yet, so he doesn't know that he has been protected.

"Then please, knock on the door for me."

Zhang Zhou pointed to the gate of the British government.

If it was another place, it would be easy for Sun Shangqi to rush in with someone, but he was a little afraid of this in the British government.

When you say knock on the door, you really mean go up and knock on the door.

After saying hello to Menzi at the end, Menzi had to go in to communicate, and a group of people waited outside.

……

……

Zhang Zhou still saw Zhang Mao.

Zhang Mao came out to greet him with his grandson Zhang Lun. He looked very polite and welcomed Zhang Zhou and Jiang Shanquan inside.

"Nephew Bingkuan, you are here at the old man's house, but something has happened?" Zhang Mao said politely.

Zhang Zhou asked: "I heard that my old Taishan is a guest at the house?"

Zhang Maodao: "Exactly. Recently, I drank with Lao Jiang and talked about everything. Your father-in-law is a very eloquent person, and he refused to leave."

Zhang Zhou sized up Jiang Shanquan.

Jiang Shanquan was also dumbfounded.

Does this mean my father who was detained and never returned home?He... actually stayed on his own initiative?
"It just so happens that you, Nephew Bing Kuan, are here too. Let's hold a banquet and have a glass of water and wine together, as if this old man thanked you for saving the puppy. Zhang Lun, go tell your father, Mr. Zhang Here we come, let him pack up and come over for a drink or two."

"Yes."

Zhang Lun looked very happy.

As if he wanted to introduce his husband to his family, he went to the inner courtyard excitedly.

……

……

The banquet was placed in the banquet hall in the wing of the British government.

Zhang Mao first asked his servants to greet Zhang Zhou and Jiang Shanquan, and he said he wanted to go in to find Jiang Dezhong by himself, with a friendly appearance.

"Bingkuan, look at me... I didn't ask clearly, if my father left it alone..."

Jiang Shanquan seemed a little embarrassed.

Zhang Zhou curled his lips and said, "Master Ying obviously wants to use your father as a bait. Once I return to the capital, I will bite the bait myself."

Zhang Zhou saw this matter very clearly.

No matter how unreliable Jiang Dezhong is, it is impossible for him to stay in the British government, right?What is his social status, how many catties and taels, don't he know it?
Zhang Mao doesn't necessarily need to forcibly detain someone, but he can also use both kindness and power, and let Zhang Zhou take Jiang Dezhong away under the pretext of waiting for Zhang Zhou to come. Jiang Dezhong has to stay in order to be able to do business and because of his old face.

Jiang Dezhong appeared in the wing with Zhang Lun.

"Father!"

When Jiang Shanquan saw his father, he hurried out of the door to meet him.

Jiang Dezhong walked steadily, and he didn't look drunk at all. Seeing his son and son-in-law standing together, it was as if he had never seen his son.

"My son-in-law, you can be regarded as returning to Beijing. I haven't been at home during the Chinese New Year. I have always wanted to drink with you again. That imperial wine is really... fine wine..."

Jiang Dezhong didn't mention why he stayed in the British government at all.

Zhang Lun said: "Mr. Zhang, what else do you need? My grandfather and my father will be here soon."

"Zhang Lun, please tell your grandfather for me, if you have anything to do, find a room and finish it first, otherwise I will not have a solid dinner."

Zhang Zhou is a cheerful person.

It's outrageous for your Zhang family to forcibly retain people, but I can also understand that if something happens, let's talk about it.

……

……

After Zhang Mao learned what Zhang Zhou meant, he also understood the rules and asked Zhang Zhou to be invited to the main hall of the Zhang family.

Retire from the screen and meet alone.

"Bingkuan, you have just returned to the capital, or you don't know the situation of the capital in the past two days. The matter of Daming's use of troops in the northwest has been leaked." Zhang Mao laughed.

Zhang Zhou nodded: "It's a bit difficult to completely hide such an important matter from the people in the court. Besides, there are not only three or two people who know the insider. Your Majesty should not be able to track it down, right?"

"Haha, Bingkuan, you're not in court, but I always feel comfortable talking to you. It's true. Your Majesty didn't say to find out who leaked this matter, or no one leaked it. There is a little trouble in the northwest. Those places Can the supervisory censor and the magistrate not report to the court? So this old man thinks that you are a little hasty in this move."

Zhang Mao sighed.

Zhang Zhoudao: "The British government speaks directly."

Zhang Mao's eyes lit up and said, "Then tell me clearly, how will this battle be fought?"

A very sharp question, but not something Zhang Mao should ask.

Perhaps Zhang Mao also knew that if he had come to ask this question on his own initiative, without Jiang Dezhong as a "hostage", Zhang Zhou would have ignored him at all.

"The Duke of England is afraid that after this battle, Wenningbo's reputation will spread far and wide. From then on, the Wang family's momentum will increase. I am afraid that His Majesty will rely more on him and affect your Zhang family, right?"

"you……"

Zhang Mao originally thought that he had all the initiative, but Zhang Zhou's words made him feel a little bit embarrassed.

Zhang Zhou continued to be persistent: "The lineage of the British Duke, as the head of the Ming dynasty, has always been the pillar of the imperial court, but in the war, His Majesty relies on Wang Weining. Does Mr. Zhang have a thorn in his heart?"

Zhang Zhou specifically picked the weak spot in Zhang Mao's heart.

"Ahem." Zhang Mao cleared his throat and said, "Bingkuan, you say that, and the old man doesn't hide it. It would be fine if Wang Weining was a civil servant. If after this battle, he regained his title and was honored by His Majesty." Yi, from now on, the Zhang family lineage will indeed lose momentum. You know, the old man is getting old..."

Zhang Mao is probably not afraid that his generation will be robbed of the position of the governor's mansion by Wang Yue.

Admiral Jingying is equivalent to the commander-in-chief of the capital's garrison. Zhang Mao has been famous all his life, and he is afraid that his descendants will not be able to catch up with the banner he left behind.

He is not afraid of others. Zhang Mao knows better than anyone else what kind of birds those old honored families look like.

What Zhang Mao was afraid of was the upstarts, especially the famous generals like Wang Yue.

Zhang Zhou shrugged: "But what does this have to do with me?"

Zhang Mao almost choked on his own mouthful of saliva.

"Bingkuan, do you have to talk like that? The old man heard that you speak very straight, but you can't pretend to be confused, right? Wang Weining doesn't rely on you, he still has a chance to get the title? If you don't treat him Sick, he has entered the loess now, right?"

Zhang Mao was about to say that the two of you are in the same group, and you are still working together to cheat our old Zhang family.

Zhang Zhou frowned and said, "The British government tried their best to bring me, Lao Taishan, and me to your house, just for this?"

"if not?"

Zhang Mao stood up, glared at Zhang Zhou, and said, "The old man knows that you are very favored now. If not, would you talk to the old man? The old man is not the kind of ungrateful person. You save the puppy and cultivate my grandson." Well, the old man saw it all, and the old man didn’t say that he would treat you like Zhang Lun, the second boy of Chengguo’s family... The goal of the second boy of the Zhu family is to win the title, and my family doesn’t use it! It's enough to go down! But if someone bullies Zhang's family, the old man will fight in the front no matter how old he is."

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "What does Mr. Ying mean, is that I have already bullied you?"

Zhang Maodao: "If you get close to Wang Shichang, it is tantamount to making an enemy of my Zhang family!"

"Oh."

Zhang Zhou understood.

Zhang Mao has a sense of crisis.

"My lord, what do you need? Tell me. It's a business. I am very similar to my father-in-law. As long as the price is negotiated, we are both innocent! Of course, the price I am talking about is not gold or silver, but Something more tangible. What I have, what you want, each other."

Zhang Zhou is not a vegetarian, do you think you are awesome because you are a British male?

All the people I deal with are the emperor, the empress dowager, the prince, etc. What are you doing?Just say what you need.

Zhang Mao pondered for a while.

Previously, he was only putting pressure on Zhang Zhou, but for a moment Zhang Zhou seemed to be putting his words on the surface.

Now it is a see-saw negotiation to negotiate the "price".

Zhang Mao laughed and said: "How can you say that my nephew Bingkuan can win the holy family? Smart man! The old man wants one. No matter how much contribution Wang Weining made, it is in the Northwest, and it cannot be related to the surrounding areas of the capital. "

"Ah."

Zhang Zhou nodded, "It's very reasonable. Don't worry about this, the British public. Just look at how many people Wang Weining sent to the Northwest to follow His Majesty, and you will know his position in His Majesty's heart."

Zhang Zhou reminded Zhang Mao.

No matter how powerful the upstart was, it hadn't passed the test of time, and the emperor still didn't trust it enough.

Zhang Maodao: "Of course the old man can understand this, but the biggest variable is..."

That's half the story.

Zhang Zhou is also a smart person, and said with a smile, "I am the variable? If I say good things about him to His Majesty again and again, will Your Majesty change his mind?"

"Snapped!"

Zhang Mao patted the table, then pointed to Zhang Zhou and said, "How else can you say that you are a sensible person, you don't scatter eagles when you don't see rabbits, right?"

"Nothing else, my grandson, that kid Zhang Lun, from now on you can order him around, just give him a sigh of relief, I don't care what kind of thing he is, but I want him to be your big disciple!"

"In the future, what happens in Northwest, Liaodong, and Nanjing, the old man will never interfere. You can suggest whatever you want, but if there are any problems in the Beijing camp, your Majesty will ask you, and you will push the matter on the old man's family, and you will never lose it to you." face!"

"Every month's repairs, and every year's festival thank-you ceremony, there will be no less money. Your father-in-law, Lao Jiang, went through the business with the governor's mansion, and it is guaranteed that he will earn a lot of money."

"More importantly, in the future when you enter the court, no matter how picky those civil servants are to you, this old man will treat you like your own nephew. Even if you lose power in the future, this old man will definitely protect your children's prosperity and wealth! Son, grandson, our two families, be one family!"

(End of this chapter)