The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 308 Not a person inside or outside

Zhu Youtang could see Li Dongyang's state of mind.

The king at this time, in front of a former gentleman like Li Dongyang, seemed more calm and confident than before.

Zhu Youtang said: "The crime lies not in deeds but in schemes. If something happens, then there is a crime. I don't want to believe that my ministers will use the evil behavior of arson to coerce me and the court, but if I turn a deaf ear and turn a blind eye, I will not Sure. What does Mr. Li Ge think?"

Find resonance.

Dai Yi and the others next to him could clearly see that Zhang Zhou was trying to trick the leader of the Confucian circle.

If someone else came to this kind of thing, they would probably object, right?

Your Majesty, you actually want to test the quality of the Kong family?Didn't the principles of the old Confucian family change according to the current situation?
Li Dongyang looked resolute, and cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty's words are seconded. If you convict him for something that has not happened for no reason, it is for slander and slander. I also think that this matter should not be publicized. It will be determined after careful investigation." .”

This clearly means, Your Majesty, please stop talking, I fully agree with what you said, and will strictly keep it a secret.

And Li Dongyang heard the key to the problem.

It's not about whether you can interrogate the mastermind behind the scenes if you catch the arsonist Kong Hongxu. Just because Kong Hongtai is in the court, you Kong Hongxu is in charge of guarding the mansion, but your servants set the fire. The family is weak.

Besides, the emperor said that he should use Jin Yiwei to investigate.

Jin Yiwei's method... As long as Zhang Zhou sets the tone and Kong Hongxu sets the fire, and the emperor pulls it in this direction, it is either Kong Hongxu or Kong Hongxu.

"That's right, Mr. Li Ge, I actually don't want to wrong Zhongliang." Zhu Youtang expressed emotion.

But when Zhu Youtang looked up at Li Dongyang again, Li Dongyang noticed the light in his eyes, and Li Dongyang took a breath.

This is to discuss the conditions.

The emperor is willing to help the Li family, cancel the marriage contract that was made for you, and even ask Zhang Zhou to treat your son. You, Li Dongyang, can feel my ardent heart, right?
Why should I trouble myself?

Don't you hope to use your prestige, Li Dongyang, to help Zhang Zhou endorse in the court?

I can't say that you accept the benefit, you should think about how to repay it, and I don't need to express many things, right?You, Li Dongyang, should also think about it. For you alone, I risked the disgrace of the world and interfered with the inheritance of the Confucian family. What exactly is it for?
Li Dongyang said: "Your Majesty, if something really happens, I am willing to interrogate the matter for the court."

"No need." Zhu Youtang said, "After all, Li Qing's family is connected with Yan Shenggong's lineage, so we should avoid suspicion. How can I force others to make things difficult? Bing Kuan is also true, to speculate about what Yan Shenggong's family is doing for no reason, really... Give me trouble."

trouble?

Li Dongyang was thinking, Your Majesty, you seem very happy, you can even say that you are gloating.

But a courtier can also figure it out.

The more we live in peace, the more we advocate culture and education, and the social status and appeal of the Kong family are stronger. It is the fault of Kong Hongtai, the grand master of this generation, who is still a showman, with a free-spirited personality and many friends... You alone Why are the courtiers so arrogant to make friends with ministers everywhere?

Should scholars admire the old Zhu family, or your Confucius family?

"However, with Bingkuan's mouth, he can often predict things first, and I have to obey. Since he brought it up, I will naturally investigate it carefully. Li Qing's family, if you think I am too harsh, I would like to remind you secretly. It's not impossible."

Zhu Youtang will present a difficult problem for Li Dongyang.

Li Dongyang was scheming, and understood what the emperor meant.

Zhang Zhou helped me to suppress the prestige of the Kong family. I am happy in my heart, but I don’t have to do it. I tell you, I actually want to form a united front with you. If you don’t choose to join me, you can go out later. Just ask Kong's family to reveal it, and I won't blame you.

Of course, the way of joining is not a general show of loyalty, which is meaningless for the relationship between the monarch and his ministers.

You should show some sincerity.

"Besides." Zhu Youtang continued to add, "Even if Bing Kuan's words are true, the fact that Yan Shenggong and his son and nephew are in the capital now may have nothing to do with us."

The father is guilty, and he cannot beat his son to death with a stick.

Zhu Youtang also reminded Li Dongyang that even if the arson was really caught by Zhang Zhouyan, it was Kong Hongxu who did it. Whether his son's marriage with your Li family will be annulled depends on whether I am willing to "understand" you.

"At the beginning, Kong Hongxu was guilty of overstepping the rules. After so many years, I thought he had reformed himself. If such things really happened, then the imperial court should also intervene in the inheritance of Yan Shenggong. Mr. Li Ge thought that ?" Zhu Youtang asked another question.

Li Dongyang cupped his hands and answered: "Yes."

"Okay." Zhu Youtang said, "Since this is the case, I don't want to say more. I came here because I want you to be a witness. After all, empty words are useless. If people find out later, I intend to send someone to investigate in advance. In the Xuansheng Temple, people will inevitably feel that I am making trouble out of nothing."

Li Dongyang said: "Your Majesty is for the country and the country, and has no selfish intentions."

Looking back, the Xuansheng Temple really caught fire, and the emperor immediately caught the person who set it on fire, and even blocked the source of the fire in advance. The courtiers and scholars all over the world would think that the emperor might have framed him.

Now tell a top civil servant that Li Dongyang's prestige among scholars is not low. In fact, the emperor just wanted to avoid suspicion.

How could Li Dongyang not understand the trick?
"Okay." Zhu Youtang was not in a hurry to get Li Dongyang to express his opinion on Zhang Zhou's matter, he said, "Okay, Li Ge is always thinking about the country, and I can't make things difficult for others. You have the right to do things first and don't know... Even after the fact When asked about it, a word from an alchemist should not be trusted, but it can be said clearly."

Li Dongyang smiled wryly in his heart.

General alchemists say, if I don't take it seriously, others will believe it.

If it was Zhang Bingkuan who said it, His Majesty asked me to mention it in person, and I said that I didn't take it seriously, so I didn't tell outsiders in advance...I'm afraid I can't deceive others, right?
At that time, others will definitely think that I am with the emperor. Even if I don't stand on the emperor's side, I have to stand like this.

Is Zhang Zhou plotting against the Kong family?Almost even me, Li, is counted.

Zhu Youtang called Xiao Jing over, whispered a few words in Xiao Jing's ear, and then asked Xiao Jing to send Li Dongyang away.

……

……

Li Dongyang followed Xiao Jing to leave Qianqing Palace.

After he walked out, he was thinking back to what the emperor said, and even the weird look the emperor showed him before he left. It was a kind of conceit that a person in power would firmly control his subordinates.

Seeing Li Dongyang's gloomy face, Xiao Jing reminded with a smile: "Mr. Li Ge can actually explain to Kong's family in advance."

Li Dongyang took a look at Xiao Jing, a little angry.

I have always expressed my position in front of the emperor, and I will not say it outside. Now you want me to change?Wouldn't that be bullying?
And why should I tell the Kong family in advance?

In order to let the Kong family think I am crazy?Or does it mean that in order for my daughter to marry a son who murders and sets fire and is a criminal?

"Since His Majesty summoned me and mentioned this to me, I have no way out."

In front of Xiao Jing, Li Dongyang also spoke clearly.

Xiao Jing smiled and said: "Thinking about it, who will believe it?"

"It's not whether you believe it or not, but this matter cannot be conveyed from my mouth." Li Dongyang's face was gloomy.

He also gradually thought through Zhang Zhou's intentions.

Zhang Zhou mentioned this matter to the emperor, and only told him by name, Li Dongyang, that it seemed that the emperor wanted to sell Li Dongyang a favor, so that Li Dongyang would have the opportunity to cancel his marriage with the Kong family. After the incident happened, the emperor got all the personal and physical evidence, and it would not be too late to sell other favors.

Tell him in advance to Li Dongyang that he is sure that Li Dongyang can't spread it to the outside world.

You, Li Dongyang, have a marriage relationship with the Kong family. You heard rumors out of nothing and ran to tell the Kong family that the boss of your family is about to set fire to your house to threaten the court. What will the Kong family think?
They will think that you, Li Dongyang, really do everything you can to avoid marriage.

Tell us in advance that things will not happen, and there is nothing that cannot be verified. Are you, Li Dongyang, helping our Kong family?It seems that in your eyes, Li Dongyang, our Kong family are all criminals, right?
In other words, whether Li Dongyang wanted to help Kong Hongxu or harm Kong Hongxu, he could only wait for the incident to happen.

Because of his marriage relationship with the Kong family, he became the person involved.

Of course, there is another "path", which is to tell others about this matter secretly, or ask others to remind the Kong family.

but……

This is what the emperor mentioned to him.

Can he live up to the emperor's trust for the sake of the Kong family?

So much so that Li Dongyang thought he had a choice at first, but later found out that he really had no choice.

From the moment the emperor told him, if he couldn't tell the Kong family from his standpoint, it would be tantamount to betraying and failing the Kong family, so he could only stand with the emperor, because afterwards the Kong family knew that you, Li Dongyang, knew it in advance and didn't tell you. , It is impossible to forgive you, if you are not a stranger, you must be a stranger.

This is actually a...

If you notify the Kong family in advance, no matter whether it happens or not, the Kong family will not understand you, and even treat you as a fool and an enemy, thinking that you will do anything to avoid the marriage; if you don’t notify the Kong family, the Kong family will not forgive you either.

Unless he didn't notify the Kong family and the incident hasn't happened yet, then it's as if this incident never happened, and everything will be calm.

"It's not human inside and out." Li Dongyang wanted to understand this point, but he didn't hide it from Xiao Jing, and even said a word with emotion.

"Hehe." Xiao Jing smiled wryly.

This matter, among the four supervisors, only Xiao Jing thought of this step, and he only figured it out after seeing Li Dongyang's hesitation and annoyance when he left the Qianqing Palace.

This made Xiao Jing feel Zhang Zhou's terror even more.

Xiao Jingdao: "Our family wants to come, Mr. Zhang and Your Majesty, in fact, they both understand Mr. Li Ge's difficulties and want to help Mr. Li Ge?"

Li Dongyang said: "If there are such criminals in the Kong family, I really don't want to get involved with them too much. But before things happen, who can say for sure?"

Xiao Jing asked with a smile: "Then, does Mr. Li Ge want it to happen, or does he not want it to happen?"

"Ok?"

Li Dongyang frowned.

Before, he was thinking that Zhang Zhou's method was different. By telling him a "prophecy", he put him in a dilemma, but ignored the biggest problem.

But after thinking about it carefully, he actually figured it out.

Since I didn't want to marry the Kong family from the beginning to the end, I might as well hope that things will happen, prove that Kong Hongxu is a treacherous person who will do anything to achieve his goals, and cancel the marriage, so that he himself is relieved.

As for others blaming him for not notifying the public in advance... He could either say that he didn't believe the alchemist's words, or that the emperor didn't allow him to say it to the outside world.

Offending the Kong family is not the end of the day for Li Dongyang.

Li Dongyang would not answer such a sensitive question directly, he said: "Whether it happened, it depends on the sky, not on people, right?"

Xiao Jing smiled.

This roughly means that as long as you want it to happen, even if there is no will of God or human affairs, our Dongchang can make it happen for you.

As long as you are sensible and willing to stand with His Majesty and Mr. Zhang, then no matter whether this matter is man-made or not, if you want to have it, you must have it.

"I... have no choice." Li Dongyang added at last.

That means, come on, let's have a fire, and I'll be fine.

"Hehe." Xiao Jing was laughing again, now he seems to have reached a tacit understanding with Li Dongyang.

……

……

The capital, Zhang Zhou's mansion.

After Zhang Zhou left the house, Jiang Pingyu took care of all the family affairs, and Jiang Pingyu also followed her husband's instructions before leaving. Her natal family.

Zhang Zhou seemed to have expected that after the Jiang family learned about the mining in the northwest, they would definitely try their best to seek benefits.

On this day, the imperial court sent a large number of rewards, Jiang Pingyu came out accompanied by Jia Laoshui, communicated with the people who came to deliver the things, and then asked people to carry the things to the inner courtyard.

"Ma'am, what are these?"

Han Qing is a small money fan.

She heard that there was a reward from the imperial court, so she hurried out to greet her.

Coming out with Han Qing was Wang Mingshan who was pregnant with Liujia.

Jiang Pingyu asked people to open the box, and part of it was just to lift off the cloth covering it, and saw that there was no gold, silver and jewelry inside... Probably the emperor also knew that Zhang Zhou didn't need this now, more Give Zhang Zhou some things that cannot be bought in the market.

The emperor kept it for the imperial use, and it didn't cost extra money from the inner court to give it to Zhang Zhou.

"The food is really good..."

Han Qing walked over, and her favorite was still the brocade silk.

Wang Mingshan does not seem to be too keen on these.

At this time, Zhang Jun had already gone to study in a private school, and Zhang Zhou had ordered that he must go out to study instead of staying at home. This was to exercise Zhang Jun's social ability and not let this kid stay at home all the time.

On Sui Sui's side, they asked someone to come back and teach them.

But soon... there will be a very professional "female gentleman" in the family, that is, Lin Yi.

Zhang Zhou's idea is that since Sister Lin likes to preach, from now on, whenever there are girls in the family, Lin Yi will teach them in person, and even Wang Mingshan, master and servant, can be stuffed into the classroom together.

So Zhang Jun doesn't seem too anxious about Sui Sui's education.

"Sister Wang, you can choose a few too." Jiang Pingyu was very friendly to Wang Mingshan.

In addition to his personality, it was also because Zhang Zhou had already allocated the family obligations and rights that the female family members in the family would bear in the future.

Each house has its inheritance, and each house has its expectations for the future. There is nothing to dispute, and naturally there is no entanglement.

Everyone was happy.

He also rose too fast with Zhang Zhou, and was overwhelmed with everything from official positions, titles to material things. Zhang Zhou's strength also made the women in the family put his will first.

To put it bluntly, Zhang Zhouzhen had to live in a house.

Only when men are strong can women be at ease.

Wang Mingshan saw that there were no weapons, so she was not interested, so she shook her head.

Jiang Pingyu said: "Have someone make more clothes for you."

Jia Laoshui, who was in charge of carrying the things, said, "Ma'am, I heard from Jin Yiwei that the master will soon be named Duke."

"Duke? Don't dare to think about it." Jiang Pingyu said with a smile, "Someone send some silks to Ms. Lin."

Han Qing blinked and asked, "Ma'am, is it a little early?"

Jiang Pingyu smiled and said: "It's getting late, sooner or later we are a family, why should we distinguish so clearly? This is also what the master said before he left, the whole Zhang family is one. Besides, when Miss Lin passes the door, she also needs a decent dress, Send over the red satin, Lao Shui, let someone send it."

"Okay!"

Jia Laoshui is a down-to-earth person, he can do whatever he asks, without any ambiguity at all.

……

……

After Zhang Zhou completed the mining task, he was about to leave for Datong.

This evening, Zhang Heling was the host, and only Zhang Zhou was entertained alone, and by the way, he also asked specific questions about dividends.

During the banquet, Zhang Zhou kept pouring wine.

"Mr. Zhang, I won't say much if I admire you." Zhang Heling drank a few cups of cat urine, and then he talked more, "You can open two mines in one day, and you can see coal after a few shovels... Otherwise, give me more advice. I will open it myself and pay more taxes to the imperial court. How about our mutual benefit?"

Zhang Heling is not reconciled to only doing things for Zhang Zhou.

What he wants is to completely control the coal mine and put the money only in his own pocket.

Zhang Zhou smiled.

I believe in you.

When this product gets to the coal mine, will it still pay taxes to the imperial court?He probably doesn't even want to give face to his brother-in-law... All he wants is you to be a cover.

"Marquis Shouning, someone else runs the coal mine, and you have money to collect, isn't it good?" Zhang Zhou smiled, "You come to the northwest, it seems that you are here to make military achievements? Are you here to keep your people? Or are you planning to go with Like Uncle Jianchang, entangle a group of people and act in your name?"

"That said..."

"Datong is now full of Tartars in the north, and Huoshai's soldiers and horses are all in the south of Maoerzhuang. This time we went to Datong to send troops, so we put our minds away."

Zhang Heling instantly felt that his money for the drink tonight seemed to be in vain.

The banquet is over.

Outside the room of the post house, Chen's daughter knocked on the door with an account book.

Dressed in men's clothes, she was very awkward walking in the mining team, especially when many people were from the army around her. When she saw Zhang Zhou, her eyes were a little evasive.

Zhang Zhou called her to his room.

"Tomorrow, I'm going to Datong. It's not far away. It's about forty miles to the northeast." Zhang Zhou said, "I will leave the mining to you. If you don't have the manpower, you can find a way from the south. Tools and molds will be found. Someone sent it to you... Whether your Chen family can rejuvenate depends on your own ability!"

(End of this chapter)