The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 389

Zhang Zhou set off to the south.

First by car and then by boat, the team of more than 300 people along the way said that this was returning home to visit relatives, and that was also returning home with honor. His pomp can be called an imperial envoy going to Jiangnan.

Zhang Zhou has just left the capital, and he has not walked along the canal for a few days. Everywhere he passes, local officials will visit him. After all, Zhang Zhou’s trip this time is relatively high-profile, unlike when he went to Xuanfu and Liaodong before, he was low-key. Okay, the officials will know his southward itinerary a few days earlier, just wait at the post stations along the road and along the river.

There are not a few people who come to give gifts.

But on the way to the south, Zhang Zhou didn't seem to care about these things. He didn't see any guests, he didn't accept gifts, and he didn't go to enjoy the scenery.

The only time he spent to kill boredom along the way was to get together with his family members, especially when taking a boat, it would be more convenient.

"Master, make up for it."

Jiang Pingyu was very worried about Zhang Zhou's health. Now that her family was in good shape, Jiang Pingyu gave Zhang Zhou some supplements while on the boat. There was no need to go to the post station, because Jiang Pingyu knew that her husband would have the second half of the night.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Young and vigorous, I don't need this. I've accepted your wish, it's useless."

Han Qing came out, pursed her lips and said with a smile: "It's useless that matters, right?"

"You still understand me, Qinger." Zhang Zhoudao, "If it works, I can drink ten cups, but the point is that I don't need it, and I don't see any effect. Well, my master's goal is to go to Nanjing City. The family plans to fill in a few more people, which still needs us to discuss and study together.”

"Master!" Outside the cabin, Liu Gui shouted at the top of his voice.

"What are you doing?" Zhang Zhou's temper has gradually increased in recent days, especially because he doesn't like others to disturb him.

Liu Gui muttered outside for a long time, but couldn't hear clearly inside.

Jiang Pingyu asked: "Call someone in?"

"This is the cabin of the female relatives, why let him in? No matter what happens, as long as the sky is not falling, I will ignore it! Let Xia Zhi go over and tell him, let him go away!" Zhang Zhou got up and stretched. Luan said, "I didn't sleep well last night, and I have to go back to catch up on sleep. Mingshan didn't come out, right? It's just right. Take care of the little ones, and I'll come out in an hour."

……

……

Zhang Zhou entered the hatch.

Han Qing looked back at Jiang Pingyu, and asked, "Ma'am, is there something bothering the master?"

Jiang Pingyu said: "Don't ask too much, we are going back to Nanjing, what did we look like when we came here? When we went back, it was so beautiful, why bother with so many things?"

In fact, in Jiang Pingyu's heart, she also felt that her husband might have some depression, thinking that Zhang Zhou was unhappy because he was dismissed from office, so he could only focus on making a baby.

But in fact Zhang Zhou was in a very good mood.

It's just that this journey... will take more than half a month at a time, which is still a conservative estimate. If the journey is slower, it will take more than 20 days, and Zhang Zhou will just feel bored.

……

……

It wasn't until after the boat docked in the afternoon and before Zhang Zhou arrived at the Posthouse along the river that Liu Gui came over, followed by Tang Yin and Xu Jing.

Apparently, it was Tang Yin riding a horse and catching up with Liu Gui to report.

Really nothing important.

"Bohu, didn't I ask you to be the governor of Bohai Sea? It's almost past Shandong, what are you doing here with me?" Zhang Zhou squinted his eyes at Tang Yin.

Several people did not go to the station.

Because the people from Dongchang and Jinyiwei have to go in and check first to make sure there are no "idle people" inside. It's not that Zhang Zhou is grand, but that Zhang Zhou has offended too many people. Those who dismissed from office and returned to their hometowns should always guard against someone lying in ambush and assassinating someone on the way.

Tang Yindao: "The shipbuilding needs to raise expenses, so we need to go to Nanjing."

"Looking for money?" Zhang Zhou said with a smile, "It's quite difficult for you."

As he said that, he glanced at Xu Jing next to him, which probably meant that Young Master Xu next to you has a very rich family background, and he really guards the gold and silver mountains and doesn't know how to use it.

……

Inside the inn.

Tang Yin came to visit alone that night, and mentioned some progress of shipbuilding in Bohai Sea. Except for the manpower assigned by the emperor to Tang Yin, and the wood and iron that Zhang Zhou found for him, there was almost nothing left.

Zhang Zhou had given him the blueprints. In fact, if he wanted to build a wooden boat, Zhang Zhou didn't need to provide the blueprints, unless he wanted to build ocean-going ships. Daming's shipbuilding technology was actually very advanced, and there was no big problem in traveling across the ocean.

Otherwise, there would be no Zheng He voyages.

There are blueprints for shipbuilding, but the atlas left by Zheng He was "destroyed". It is generally believed that Liu Daxia did it, but Zhang Zhou has not actually verified this.

Because of his appearance, Liu Daxia is still at home and has not been reactivated by the court.

"Send someone to greet the gentry in Suzhou, Yangzhou and other places in advance, and ask them to start it. It is also His Majesty's will. The part of the income from going to sea can be given back to those who funded the shipbuilding, so that we can get gifts and gifts from others. donate."

Tang Yin also took great pains in order to collect money.

However, under Zhang Zhou's struggle, the emperor can be regarded as a "policy".

The shipbuilding this time is nominally for Jinghai, but in fact, everyone knows in private that the emperor intends to resume voyages to the West, but the imperial court is very afraid of the cost of voyages to the West, so it is up to the people to raise funds.

Even the ministers are not too opposed to this point. As long as the imperial court does not pay money, you can build ships however you like. Anyway, the ships built belong to the imperial court, and the income from going to sea can also be donated to those who "invested" in shipbuilding... If wealth comes to build a ship, if it can be done... Of course, the ministers don't think it can be done.

Tang Yin was doing another thing that, in the eyes of others, was incomparable.

If it weren't for the fact that collecting money was very tricky, Tang Yin would not have made a special trip to Jiangnan, and he was ashamed to come to see Zhang Zhou. In fact, he just wanted to use Zhang Zhou's reputation to help him mobilize the gentry in Jiangnan.

"Bohu, let's not talk about the shipbuilding. I have something to ask you." Zhang Zhou said.

"Please tell me." Even if Tang Yin is not directly under Zhang Zhou's command, he respects Zhang Zhou like a boss.

Think of it as showing filial piety to the seniors.

Zhang Zhou asked: "Among the famous Confucian families in Jiangxi, there are the Lou family, the Fei family, etc., who are famous. How much do you know?"

Tang Yin shook his head and said, "I know very little about Jiangxi's affairs."

This reflects a problem... Tang Yin has no contact or involvement with the people in Jiangxi now... If there is any involvement, it will be more than ten years later in history.

"Brother mentioned the Jiangxi gentry, I don't know why? In Jiangxi, there are so many vassal royal families, and almost all the prefectures and counties along the river have vassals. Could it be that senior brother..." Tang Yin said this, and found that Zhang Zhou was looking at him There was something wrong with his gaze, and he immediately stopped talking to me.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Bohu, it seems that you have improved."

Tang Yin was ashamed.

Even though I am older than Zhang Zhou, why does it sound like the elders are teaching the younger ones every time I hear Zhang Zhou speak?It even meant that Lao Tzu taught his son a lesson?
"You don't really think that I went to the south of the Yangtze River to visit relatives, do you? If there is no accident, the day after tomorrow... there will be an earthquake in the capital... You see how I went in time, so that I can avoid such a big disaster Pass..." Zhang Zhou seemed to be showing off.

Hearing this, Tang Yin stood up suddenly and said, "The day after tomorrow? The capital's earthquake?"

Zhang Zhoudao: "Otherwise, what am I going to do when I leave the capital? It's just a cover for me to be idle. Of course, it's a bit far away for me to find out some panacea, some immortal grass that prolongs life. Why do you think His Majesty supports you in building a ship so much? Even planning to send people to sea, in fact, His Majesty has always dreamed of longevity."

"I know." Tang Yin's heart was still churning.

The day after tomorrow, there will be an earthquake in the capital... an earthquake... an earthquake...

It's scary... afraid...

Who are these people?He knows where the ground is shaking?Why didn't he teach me this awesome skill?

Tang Yin suddenly thought of something, and asked eagerly: "Brother, respecting the old man, he should... also be along the river... Could it be in Jianggan? Are you going to visit his old man in person when you go south? Or even invite him to Capital?"

Originally, Tang Yin came here for the sake of money.

Now Tang Yin also seems to feel that what is money is not money... Talking about money is too much?

Or hurry up and settle the matter of my apprenticeship.

Zhang Zhou said: "Bohu, do you not believe me?"

"No, I have learned a lot from my senior brother for so long, but I still need to learn more skills to assist the Prime Minister in governing the country." Tang Yin's face has thickened now.

In the past, he also looked down on Zhang Zhou, thinking that Zhang Zhou was deliberately tricking him, so he accepted him as a junior.

Then he worked with Zhang Zhou, and every time he complained in his heart, he also ran errands and did chores with him, and he didn't see any opportunities for himself.

But after he had been sent to North Korea twice, he realized that this senior brother still has great supernatural powers. Even if I have no ambitions and wait to die, he can force me to become the "Father of North Korea". If I want to learn from my mentor, I won't fly into the sky?
Therefore, Tang Yin's degree of recognition of the teacher's sect is unprecedentedly high.

Zhang Zhou sighed: "Don't think about paying homage to your mentor for the time being, and I'll just tell you, whether this mentor...has paid it back is another matter."

"What?" Tang Yin was taken aback.

Zhang Zhoudao: "There are only two of us in our teacher's school. I am the only one besides you. If you insist on thinking that there is a mentor above us, that's up to you. But if there is no accident, you will never see a teacher except me in this life." There are people at the door...if there is one, it must be a bluff."

Tang Yin opened his mouth wide and said: "But... But I heard that there are actually people in Jiangnan who claim to be from the same family as the senior brother... Could it be that they are..."

"God! Liar!" Zhang Zhou concluded without hesitation.

I made up the Shimen, but there are actually people who want to vote in it?Is it because I saw my ability and wanted to find a strong "backer" for myself?
Perhaps these liars think that they will never meet the righteous master in this life, and they didn't think about the consequences when they bluffed and deceived, so that not only the people bought it, but even the local government would regard them as people with supernatural powers to curry favor with them. Just curry favor with Zhang Zhou.

Previously, the emperor had decreed that the local government should not speak out about alchemists, nor should the government accept alchemists.

But if the emperor couldn't stand it, he believed it himself. Naturally, it was also effective from top to bottom, and the people below formed a situation that could not be stopped repeatedly.

Sitting there, Tang Yin didn't recall it for a long time.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Bohu, you better not go south with me. I may have to meet people from the Kong family in the next two days, but they still come to me because of Kong Hongxu. If you are here, it will be bad for your reputation."

"En." Tang Yin felt lost, he was still worried about the fact that there was no master in the school.

His life was simply cheated by Zhang Zhou.

Just when he recognized his master's school and was about to have a good fight with his master and senior brothers, he was told that the master's school was just a cover... If this appeared when he didn't believe in the teacher's school, how good would it be?
Why do you have to give me a hard blow when I am sinking?This senior brother... has too bad a heart!
Deliberately hitting people!
……

……

Zhang Zhou continued to go south, walking really fast.

It seems that he is eager to make a rapid progress, and it seems that the capital has some kind of plague god.

Among the capital, the most lively mansion recently is the mansion of Wu Hao, the supervisor of Qintian Supervisor. Although he himself admitted in the court hall that Zhang Zhou told him about the hail disaster last time, some people still think that Under the persecution of the emperor, Wu Hao had to give Zhang Zhou the credit for early warning of the disaster.

Now the capital is "looking forward" to the disaster. Of course, the emperor and a few people are looking forward to it, but most ministers are looking forward to it.

When it comes to things that are beyond the reach of manpower, Wu Hao, as Daming's Qin Tianjian Supervisor, was originally engaged in astronomy and calendar work, so he became the focus of others' attention.

But he...

There is really nothing you can do about it.

But on July [-]th, Zhu Youtang summoned him to Qianqing Palace.

When Wu Hao saw the emperor, he was too embarrassed to lift his head, and knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "See Your Majesty."

Zhu Youtang said: "Wu Qing's family, the previous incident made things difficult for you, but now there is another important matter, and it is time for the people in the capital to prepare."

At this moment, Xiao Jing, Chen Kuan and Wei Bin, who were listening by the side, had their hearts raised in their throats.

Is it coming so soon?
Early warning... In other words, this disaster may affect the daily life of the people, and it is a major event related to the stability of the capital...

No wonder...

That Lai Guogong ran away on the same day without saying a word, and it is said that he had already left Beizhili by now.

Wu Hao said: "I didn't calculate that there has been a disaster recently, but it has been related to astrological changes, and it has been sorted out. Please read it, Your Majesty."

"No need." Zhu Youtang said, "I don't know how Bingkuan calculates, probably...it doesn't use astronomical phenomena, or a compass or something, but it's a warning from the sky, and it can be counted casually...haha. "

Speaking of this, Zhu Youtang actually smiled happily.

This feeling...

It's like being fooled by others and counting money for others.

This is the idea of ​​Xiao Jing and others.

They are thinking, Your Majesty, Zhang Bingkuan has never told you how he calculated it, and he has been perfunctory every time, saying what he said by counting, and even some specious and perfunctory words like "watching the sky at night"... You are not angry?
Taking advantage of his interest, Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "The day after tomorrow, Bingkuan didn't say when, there will be an earthquake in the capital."

"Your Majesty!" Wu Hao got up when he heard this, and then knelt down with a "plop".

He just said that he didn't figure anything out, but the emperor told him that an earthquake will come the day after tomorrow... Does this still make people live?
This shows that Qin Tianjian is in this position, and he can really let it out.

Apart from Wu Hao, the eunuchs Xiao Jing and the eunuchs beside him also felt turbulent in their hearts.

They also seem to understand why the ministers have already discussed that they should be prepared for man-made disasters, and they also agreed not to admit any natural disasters as much as possible... But who ever thought it was an earthquake... When this thing came out, How do you defend?
If it is lightning, as long as there is no fire, the person concerned can say that it didn't happen, and if we didn't see it, it didn't happen.

We don't recognize that it is a disaster.

But the ground is shaking... the whole ground is shaking, and everyone can feel it... If you tell the emperor that we haven't heard of any disasters, the emperor will not talk to others, and he can just issue an imperial edict.

Isn't this cheating with your mouth open?

Zhu Youtang said: "I don't blame anyone, Bing Kuan told me that the so-called natural punishment is just a coincidence, and the earthquake in the capital was not caused by anyone, it's just a simple law of nature."

Xiao Jing glanced at the emperor.

It's really partial.

His Majesty said all the words "laws of nature" out of his mouth, and Zhang Zhou really changed the subject.

"The so-called calamities and rumors are just the unreasonable associations of ignorant people in the market, and there are people who have ulterior motives to frame the blame." Zhu Youzhang said.

Xiao Jing reminded: "Your Majesty, the fire in Qingning Palace..."

This is to remind the emperor that Zhang Zhou killed Li Guang with that fire.

Why didn't Zhang Zhou mention that it was a natural law when he said that there was some black air over the palace?
Zhu Youtang looked displeased and said, "Why did Li Guang kill himself, don't you really understand?"

"The servant knows. It's because he was corrupt and perverted the law." Xiao Jing quickly changed his words.

Yes.

Zhang Zhou didn't say at the time that he directly associated the fire with Li Guang, but outsiders insisted on such associations, but Li Guang was so frightened by Zhang Zhou's words "white rice and yellow rice" that he killed himself. wrong?

White rice and yellow rice...

This seems to be corruption and breaking the law, rather than some kind of divine punishment.

Zhu Youtang said: "I have asked people to print the residence newspaper, and it will be distributed around the capital in two days. The scope of the earthquake is still uncertain. Bingkuan said that the earthquake was not serious this time, but There will always be houses collapsing, especially the dwellings of the people outside the city... we must ask all levels of government to do a good job in disaster prevention."

Wu Hao knelt there, not daring to accept orders for a while.

Is this what you said to me?
Is this telling me to go out and notify that there is an earthquake?Or let me disaster prevention?

Are these two things directly related to me?

Earthquakes are not calculated by me. Disaster prevention... I am a heavenly supervisor, so what can I do in disaster prevention and relief?

"Wu Qing's family, in fact, Bing Kuan thinks highly of you. You are proficient in astrology and calendar, and even improved the armillary sphere. You make progress together, not compete with each other, let alone compare and criticize." Zhu Youtang said.

When Wu Hao heard this before, he must have felt that this was a great insult to himself.

But after going through so many things, Wu Hao finally felt that... the emperor and Zhang Zhou were really helping him.

I am so incompetent... Zhang Zhou actually said that there is something worth learning from him?The point is... Your Majesty also believes it.

Touched.

"I must do my best. But my ability is so weak..."

"It doesn't matter, just do your best. A talent like Bing Kuan is rare in a thousand years. It's unnecessary to compare with him..."

(End of this chapter)