The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 208 Your Majesty, Your Majesty
Zhang Zhou also found that Zhu Youtang seemed to want to rely on him for everything now.

It doesn't seem like a good thing to trust him too much.

This is not.

The emperor wanted to use his extraordinary ability to help Zhang Yanling. If this guy made a fuss in Liaodong, there might be some trouble, so he had to stop it.

"Bingkuan, there are recent reports of natural disasters and man-made disasters. The most important thing is the drought in the north. Today, the household department in the court has been reporting on this. Take a look..."

As Zhu Youtang said, he asked Dai Yi to show Zhang Zhou the memorial about the drought.

"Is there a way?"

Zhu Youtang looked at Zhang Zhou eagerly.

Dai Yi was afraid that Zhang Zhou would not understand, so he explained: "Mr. Zhang, can you pray for rain, so that a heavy rain can relieve the current drought?"

really.

Zhang Zhouxin said that this is the disadvantage of over-trusting, as if he thought he could do anything.

"Your Majesty, it is time to send someone to pray for rain."

Zhang Zhou knew that because of this drought in history, Zhu Youtang once sent people to pray for rain on the tenth day of March.

"(March) Guiyou, pray for rain with long drought, send Xinning Bo Tan You to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, Sui Anbo Chen Shao told Sheji, Chengshan Bo Wang Yong told mountains and rivers..."

That is to say, three nobles are used to worship the Heaven and Earth Altar, the Sheji Altar and the Shanchuan Altar.

And two days later, that is, March [-]th, it really rained, and the people thought it was a god, and praised Emperor Hongzhi for loving the people like a son and being blessed by heaven, which also became the evidence of Zhu Youtang's virtuousness recorded in history.

Of course, Zhang Zhou knew that the drought in the middle period of Hongzhi was not serious in the 12th year of Hongzhi. There was no rain for two months.

But for those who believe in God's will in this era, it is incredible.

As soon as the emperor sent people to pray for rain, it rained after two days, which only showed that the emperor was blessed by the gods.

Zhu Youtang sighed: "I also thought about sending people to pray for rain, but Wu Hao, the supervisor of Qintian Supervisor, also said that the drought may continue in the past two years, so even praying for rain may not be effective. I can only Let this matter go first."

Zhang Zhou didn't take Wu Hao, Qin Tianjian's ability to learn easily, to heart. Although Zhang Zhou was an alchemist in the eyes of outsiders, he was a materialist.

But now it seems.

Yi Xue at least has some reference value in measuring climate and so on.

Think about it too.

In history, many people have left legends about the ability to "call the wind and call the rain". In fact, it is not that they have calculated the changes in the weather in advance, and then pretended that they can change the climate, so that others respect them.

Coercion.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty, I don't have the ability to call the wind and rain, and I can't do anything about praying for rain."

"Then... Oh! Bingkuan, don't force yourself." Zhu Youtang sighed.

He also knew that it was man-made, and it would be too much to rely on Zhang Zhou for everything.

Zhang Zhoudao: "But I can make a little calculation. It may rain someday."

Zhu Youzhang was still regretful at first, but when he heard this, the pupils of his eyes contracted and he instantly regained his spirit.

Dai Yi and the others looked eagerly, and Dai Yi couldn't help asking for the emperor, "Mr. Zhang, when will it rain?"

"Eunuch Dai, the calculation I am talking about is not a certainty, but a high probability, that is, the chance of rain is relatively high. It is the eighth day of the lunar new year. In my opinion, the probability of rain on March [-] is relatively high, but This rain will not last too long, and it will not do much to alleviate the drought ... "

Zhang Zhoudao, "However, after this rain, there will be continuous rain in March and April, and the drought around Shuntian Mansion will gradually ease."

Zhu Youtang was so shocked that he stood up when he heard the words, he said: "Bingkuan, if you can figure this out, you can pretend that you don't know and let me send you to pray for rain, wouldn't it be..."

Not only Zhu Youtang.

Even Dai Yi and the eunuchs felt that Zhang Zhou was too "upright".

You just pretend you don’t know, find a specific time to pray for rain, and when the rain falls just after you finish the ceremony, others will think you are a demigod.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Your Majesty, I have said that I do not have the ability to control the wind and rain, and even if it is to measure the weather, it is often inaccurate. I can't accurately explain everything about God's will. I can only say what I know as much as possible." .”

"En." Zhu Youtang nodded, looking at Zhang Zhou with more confidence.

Dai Yi, Xiao Jing and the others obviously had a bold idea in their hearts, but they couldn't say it casually.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty, I have an unrealistic idea. If Your Majesty goes to pray for rain on March [-]th."

"Hahaha!"

Hearing this, Zhu Youtang couldn't help laughing.

The eunuchs next to him also smiled knowingly.

Zhang Zhou himself didn't want to do this trick of summoning the wind and rain to deceive people, but the emperor thought, if the emperor stood on the altar and prayed for rain in front of the world, and the rain fell from the sky as soon as he finished the trick, then Zhu Youtang is about to become a living saint in the hearts of the people.

"Bingkuan, do you think it's really good for me to do this?"

After Zhu Youtang finished laughing, he pretended to ask Zhang Zhou a question.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty praying for rain in person reflects His Majesty's importance to the people. No matter whether the ministers can calculate accurately or not, and whether it rains or not, the subjects must be grateful for His Majesty's kindness. This is the unity of the monarch and the people."

"It makes sense."

After Zhu Youtang heard this, his heart was already in full bloom.

Zhang Zhou himself didn't want to be greedy for the credit, he actually wanted to be the emperor very much, because who would want to be an emperor to make himself look more in line with God's will?
"Bingkuan, I want you to go with me that day, and you will preside over the ceremony of praying for rain, and I will walk with you." Zhu Youtang said.

Zhang Zhou shook his head with a smile and said: "Your Majesty, if I go, I'm afraid it's inappropriate. This is the monarch and ministers praying for the people together. If the minister has not been awarded a Jinshi, how can he do something that is presumptuous?"

Zhu Youtang was even more moved after hearing this.

Zhang Zhou was afraid that others would think that the rain was caused by Zhang Zhouqi, and that he, the emperor, was just playing by the side, and he was unwilling to make a fuss.

Dai Yidu said with emotion: "Mr. Zhang, if this rain can really come down, with your heart, it is really... for your majesty and for the sake of all people."

That sounds like a lie.

For the emperor is true, for the people...

I told you all, even if you don’t do anything, there is still a high probability of rain that day, so why are you still pretending here?

Isn't it just a play to show that the emperor is the real man?
Why are you so stupid?

"Bingkuan is dedicated to me, and I will not treat you badly, but according to the rules, after the rain comes, I will give you a big reward." Zhu Youtang said.

Zhang Zhou asked with a smile, "Your Majesty, I don't need to reward you. As long as I'm not sure about my calculations, it's good not to ask me about my sins. I also said that many of God's wills cannot be done by human beings."

"Okay." Zhu Youtang readily agreed.

……

……

Zhang Zhou originally wanted to ask, what kind of "big reward" would you give me if this rain came down.

Don’t talk empty words every time. Once the critical moment comes, it’s like a bad check. You give me a few coal mines later, and I have no one to take care of them. Besides, I’m not going to compare those coal mines one by one. Did you find out the location of the coal mine in later generations?
"Your Majesty, should you make this matter public earlier and let the Ministry of Rites make preparations?"

At this time, Zhu Youtang was fidgeting, wanted to laugh but wanted to hold back, wanted to say something but didn't know where to start.

Looking forward to praying for rain in a few days.

It was Zhang Zhou who figured things out before, and he went to inform his subjects, all in the name of Zhang Zhou. In the end, he just gained the reputation of "listening and adopting", but this time he went to battle in person.

It's my turn to play tricks myself.

That feeling is very different.

Zhu Youtang said in a trembling voice: "Don't worry, I will tell them in the hall tomorrow."

"Yes." Dai Yi also saw the change in the emperor's mood, and looked at Zhang Zhou with a smile.

Probably also said.

Or Mr. Zhang, you have the ability, and you are not greedy for credit, but you actually gave this kind of good deed to His Majesty.

It's someone who can do things.

If all the ministers in the court can make some sacrifices for His Majesty to become a wise monarch without taking credit, then His Majesty will not have to worry so much at ordinary times.

"Bingkuan, what do you think I should do that day?"

Zhu Youtang was anxious, as if he was a bride who was about to get into a sedan chair, and he had the cheek to ask Zhang Zhou what preparations he should make.

Zhang Zhou was also thinking, Your Majesty, you are like an ant on a hot pot.

Are you in such a difficult situation?

Others regard you as a wise king, and they didn't say what you need to gain by praying for rain this time, right?

Zhang Zhoudao: "The minister thinks that with such an opportunity, the prince can actually go and experience it together."

"Yes! Oops!"

Zhu Youtang patted his thigh, "Bingkuan, you are thoughtful, how can I go alone? For such a big event, the prince should be called together! It is not only to give him experience, but also to let him know the importance of loving the people like a son !"

This time even Dai Yi and other eunuchs frowned secretly when they heard the words.

Your Majesty, can we stop pretending?
It's too fake, and it's easy to hold back internal injuries if you pretend too much.

Just say take your son to win the praise of the world, why are you talking about those big truths, saying that you want to train the prince to love the people like a son?

"By the way, Bingkuan, recently I still feel that the Fengshui in this palace is not very good. If you have time, go around and calculate it."

Zhu Youtang was so unconventional that he insisted on finding something for Zhang Zhou to do.

Dai Yi reminded: "Your Majesty, you forgot that Mr. Zhang still has to prepare for the imperial examination."

"Yes, there is also the imperial examination." Zhu Youtang said, "I have already regarded Bingkuan as a courtier. In fact, it doesn't matter whether I have passed the imperial examination... But if Bingkuan can win the top of the tripod and enter the Imperial Academy, I will let you It is much more convenient to be a lecturer in the Eastern Palace, and to go to the palace to give lectures more often."

Zhang Zhou thought about it.

If it is said that he gave lectures to the prince and served as a consultant to the emperor before, it was purely voluntary.

After that, the two things are to work on your own.

The emperor gave the salary, and it seemed that he could justifiably "whore for nothing".

The salary given by the imperial court is so big that it's really despised.

"I hope I can be ranked first in high school, but Dingjia...is not easy." Zhang Zhou sighed.

(End of this chapter)