The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 400
Zhang Zhou arrived in Nanjing by boat across the river on August [-]th.

It has been two years since he came to Daming... Looking back... I found that my life has changed, and even the reception standards after arriving in Nanjing are different...

Duke of the Ming Dynasty, Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing...

Won the emperor's trust even more.

Even in the previous civil war, he retreated completely, or it was called a complete victory.

Wu Xiong, the governor of Yingtian Mansion, came to meet him at Dutou... the same one from Yingtian Mansion... When Zhang Zhou saw Wu Xiong appearing in front of him with a blushing old face, as if he was very excited, the feeling in his heart was as if he had forced a pepper in this old boy's mouth... This old boy probably felt uncomfortable all over, but he still had to put on a welcoming smile.

Beside Wu Xiong, there is also a person sent by the Nanjing Military Department to receive him. It is Pan Fan, the right servant of the Nanjing Military Department.

"I have seen Duke Lai."

Seeing Zhang Zhoulai, nearly 20 officials accompanied by the government stepped forward, all of them were dressed in official uniforms, and blocked the ferry.

There are many soldiers, horses and yamen in the surrounding areas, and there are many soldiers patrolling the river temporarily transferred to block the way, but they still can't stand the enthusiasm of the people not far away.

Ordinary officials come and engage in such a posture, and the common people have to scold the street, but "Zhang Banxian", who was born and bred in Nanjing, returned to his hometown. Instead of complaining, the common people squeezed their heads together to join in the fun.

There is no way... The awesome characters we produced in Nanjing are the rise of the little ones, and they are definitely inspirational models.

The merchant Shengdou Xiaomin simply regards Zhang Zhou as an idol.

Wu Xiong, as Yin of Yingtian Mansion, knew Zhang Zhou after all, and it was in line with his identity and position that he came to welcome him. This did not surprise Zhang Zhou, because Wu Xiong had indeed served as Yin of Yingtian Mansion for a long time in history, and was not replaced by Lu Heng until the 17th year of Hongzhi.

Moreover, thanks to "discovering Zhang Zhou" and "co-curing acne and epidemics", Wu Xiong is a capable person in the eyes of the emperor, but he has not been transferred from Nanjing for the time being.

Wu Xiong is a dumb person who eats Coptis chinensis. He obviously looked down on Zhang Zhou at first, but because he met Zhang Zhou and "prepared medicine" together to treat acne and plague, he was beaten as a member of Zhang's party.

He is now forcibly tied to Zhang Zhou's boat.

"This is Pan Fan, the right servant of the Nanjing Ministry of War." Wu Xiong made an introduction.

The Six Ministries of Nanjing did not have a Zuo Shilang, but under the Minister of the Nanjing Ministry of War, there was a right servant. After Ni Yue, the Minister of the Nanjing Ministry of War, was transferred to the capital as the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, Pan Fan was the agent of the Ministry of War in Nanjing.

When this person was a Jinshi, he said that his surname was Zhong, and he might have adopted it to another family. Later, he restored his original surname to Pan. As for the specific reason, Zhang Zhou didn’t know.

But this man was fond of wine, so he could only rent other people's house in his later years, and often drank among flowers and dew, and his evening scene was bleak.

Zhang Zhou greeted with a smile and cupped his hands.

In the eyes of others, as the Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing, he belongs to "high position and authority", and he came to Nanjing to take power. But in fact, some people think that Zhang Zhou's status does not need to make any achievements in Nanjing.

So when Zhang Zhou saw these Nanjing colleagues, he was in a peaceful mood.

But in the eyes of outsiders, there is a kind of arrogance of "not eating fireworks".

……

……

Wu Xiongben set up a reception banquet for Zhang Zhou in Yingtian Mansion.

But Zhang Zhou rejected Wu Xiong's offer on the grounds that the emperor advocated frugality. He first explained that he was looking for a place to stay, that is, he would first go to the Nanjing Military Department to hand over the personnel, and then go to Yingtian Mansion again. In name, he wanted to "say goodbye" to Wu Xiong.

When Zhang Zhou arrived at Yingtian Mansion, Wu Xiong was very considerate in entertaining Zhang Zhou. He wished he could bring out all the officials from Yingtian Mansion and introduce them to Zhang Zhou so that they could be used by Zhang Zhou.

"Wu Fu Yin, let's take a step to talk."

Zhang Zhou made the invitation with a smile, and then Wu Xiong led Zhang Zhou into the back hall of Ying Tian Mansion, and even pushed everyone away.

Wu Xiong said: "Grand Lai's visiting relatives this time, presumably he wants to visit his ancestors first, right? There have been gentry in Nanjing for a long time, who rebuilt the ancestral hall for your Zhang Mansion, and specially rebuilt the family tree, but they dare not disturb the place where the ancestors lived. If you want to go, just let me know in advance, and the lower officials will send someone to arrange for you, to ensure that it will be beautiful."

Zhang Zhou smiled.

When I saw Wu Xiong last time, that old face looked like someone owed him hundreds of taels of silver, but now he was so enthusiastic, Zhang Zhou didn't quite get used to it.

In his impression, Wu Xiong should belong to the kind of upright minister who doesn't give in to softness and toughness, who will slap the table and stare at anyone at any time. Who would have thought that when they meet now, they will become such an insincere flatterer? !

Zhang Zhou sighed: "Worshiping ancestors and so on, let it go first, don't worry."

"What? No rush? You..."

When Wu Xiong heard this, it was wrong.

The Ming Dynasty most advocated filial piety, righteousness and etiquette. After you passed the Jinshi examination, you gained the title of duke by accumulating military merits. Shouldn’t the first thing you do when you return to your hometown to visit your relatives is to arrange the worship, showing that you know filial piety better than others?

Zhang Zhoudao: "With the emperor's order, we must first complete the big things."

"Oh, that's, that's." Wu Xiong felt very reasonable again when he heard it.

If there is an emperor's order, of course the emperor's order should be carried out first, and any worship to the place where the ancestors are buried in the mountain tomb can be released later. The king, relatives and teachers of heaven and earth, after all, the king's needs are greater than the needs of personal filial piety and etiquette.

"I don't know what kind of errand it is? Can the lower officials help you a little bit?" Wu Xiong probably understood that Zhang Zhou's so-called excuse was to give him a job.

It is certainly inappropriate for the Minister of the Ministry of War of Nanjing to directly assign work to Yin Tianfu Yin, but Wu Xiong doesn't seem to care about this, who asked Zhang Zhou to use the pretense of "the emperor's life is on him"?Even if others question me later, I can still say that it was Zhang Bingkuan who bullied others and used the emperor's order to suppress me, and I had no choice but to do so.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Wu Fu Yin can really help a little bit, in fact, just try not to disturb my work in Nanjing as much as possible."

"what?"

Wu Xiong didn't understand for a moment.

All I can do is not bother you?You don't want to say that I am a stumbling block on your way to run an imperial mission, do you?

Zhang Zhou sighed: "That's right. Everything I do involves the secrets of the court. Once I mobilize people, I mean...it may be people from Dongchang and Jinyiwei. They may use some unconventional means, and there may be some disputes with the government. I hope the Yin of the Wu Mansion will be accommodating."

"This……"

Wu Xiong looked suspicious, "Duke Lai, may I ask you, are you here to investigate pirates and smugglers in the guard?"

Zhang Zhoudao: "No. But it is possible."

"Huh?" Wu Xiong didn't understand.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "I came to Jiangnan to investigate some illegal matters. If smuggling and trafficking are involved, it is not impossible to investigate along the way, but my main errand is not here, and I can't explain too much to Wu Fu Yin for a while. Wu Fu Yin should not embarrass me."

"Understood, it's all entrusted by His Majesty. You have won His Majesty's trust, Duke Lai. What you want to do is also related to the stability of Daming's country and society. I'm a low-level official, so I may not be able to help you. But wherever you need to go, just give orders."

Wu Xiong seemed very polite.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Prefect Wu and I cooperated in dispensing medicine to solve the acne epidemic in various parts of Ming Dynasty. You and I can say that our cooperation complements each other. There is always something that needs your help."

"Ugh!"

Wu Xiong looked embarrassed.

If it is said that two years ago, he did not know what the "dispensing" compounded, but today, no matter how stupid he is, he still knows what it is.

He also understood why Zhang Zhou refused to tell him exactly how the medicine was prepared. Even today, the imperial court dare not specify the material of the cowpox inoculated by ordinary people. The reason is that ordinary people are too superstitious, thinking that the things on the cow will make people grow cow hair or even a long tail, turning them into monsters that are neither human nor cow.

Wu Dazhi said, are you asking me to help?This is purely using me.

"Master Wu, I just arrived in Nanjing. I heard that I will come soon and cause a lot of trouble for you and the government below." Zhang Zhou changed the subject with a smile.

"Where, the academic circle in Nanjing hasn't been so lively for a long time, and this year is not the year of the rural examination competition, but students from all over the place gathered together. They are all literati, and they abide by the etiquette and law, and they don't make too much trouble for the government." Wu Xiong obviously didn't mean it.

It is precisely because scholars gather here to discuss and preach school knowledge that disputes arose everywhere in Nanjing.

Scholars could not be beaten or scolded, and they would be said to be insulting to the gentlemen. What's more, nearly half of the people who came came with meritorious degrees, and there were also many Juren and tribute students, which brought great trouble to the government.

They are all a group of scholars from the middle and upper classes of society, and they insist on coming to Nanjing to make trouble... Can't you change places?Do you have to come up on my ground?

Of course Wu Xiong was embarrassed to say that in front of Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhoudao: "By the way, I also want to use Ying Tianfu to help launch a call. Before the cold weather in October, open a few more academic forums in Nanjing City, regulate the students in Nanjing City, and determine the place and scope of normal academic seminars, so as not to affect the daily security of Nanjing City."

"You... are really thoughtful." Wu Xiong looked embarrassed.

Instead of driving people away, let the government coordinate and organize them. Isn't it your people who are used for feelings?
People in the government all have their own errands. After doing this, there will not be enough manpower for other errands. After all, you use them as free labor?
Zhang Zhoudao: "In these two days, I may have to see Wei Guogong once, and I will ask Wu Fuyin to arrange it for me."

"You...won't you go in person?" Wu Xiong was also surprised.

As the Duke of Lai, if you want to see Duke Xu of Wei, you can just go and see him. What else do you want me to introduce?
Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "I am both a civil servant and a minister in the Dudu's Mansion. Sometimes it is really inconvenient, so I would like to ask the Governor of the Wu Mansion to show you my kindness as a landlord. I am very grateful."

Wu Xiong thought to himself, all the emotional troubles are caused by me.

Sure enough, "Zhang Party" is not easy to do.

But the problem is, I don't want to join your "Zhang Party", why do people regard me as your fan?
……

……

After Zhang Zhou left Yingtian Mansion, he first returned to the residence of the Yamen of the Ministry of War in Nanjing.

Working in Nanjing, especially when serving as Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing, the public house is equivalent to a private house, and ordinary officials cannot live outside. This is the same as the placement of local officials. The office is also a living place, which is convenient for serving the court at any time.

But Zhang Zhou himself had a "private house" in Nanjing. Of course, the big house was owned by Zhang Ye, and the former courtyard was also sold by Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou's return this time is also a "revisiting the old place". Since he wants to rectify the vassal state and prepare for shipbuilding and other matters along the southeast coast, he can't always live in the yamen of the Ministry of War in Nanjing.

Looking back, the admiral of the East Factory was in Nanjing, so he ran to the Nanjing military office if he had nothing to do. Those big bosses in the capital knew that they had to make trouble.

The place I can live... is naturally the other courtyard where I used to live... For Zhang Zhou, this is actually a "journey to find his roots".

"Master, do you want to buy back our old house?" Jiang Pingyu was still arranging a new house with the woman in the inner house, so she learned about this rather whimsical plan from Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Yes, wherever you fall, where you get up, it is only natural for me to buy the house that was once sold from me."

Han Qing asked from the side: "What if they don't want to sell it back?"

"Hey." Zhang Zhou said with a smile, "Try it."

It is not appropriate to say that it is to use power to suppress people, but Zhang Zhou knew that the broken house was used to pay off debts, and it was taken back by people without serious occupancy. It is a bit far-fetched to say that it is the "former residence of the Duke of Lai", because outsiders recognize the Zhang family's mansion, which is the one where Zhang Ye lived.

Zhang Zhou didn't live in the other courtyard for a whole year, and since Zhang Zhou's rise to prominence was short, no one said that he insisted on buying the courtyard he lived in to get a sense of immortality.

Up to now, the house is still empty and unoccupied.

"I asked Bohu to talk about it." Zhang Zhou said.

"Is it Mr. Tang?" Jiang Pingyu asked, "Didn't he go out to work?"

"Mr. What, it's my junior brother. You don't have to be polite when you meet in the future. You can send him whatever you want. Bohu is a more down-to-earth person." Zhang Zhou said with a smile, "Before I sent him out to do some errands, but after he finished, he entrusted the errands to the south and drove south. He just arrived today, and I happened to give him a job."

Tang Yin was originally ordered to protect Zhu Houzhao.

But Tang Yin did not have the skills of Jin Yiwei. He was a "Bohai governor" and had the task of going south to raise funds. After finding Zhu Houzhao's whereabouts and entrusting the task of protection to Jin Yiwei, he had already set off for the south.

It was also because Zhu Houzhao had known Tang Yin a long time ago when he visited the Yanwu Hall, and he was afraid that this kid would reveal Jin Yiwei's whereabouts.

……

……

In another courtyard somewhere in the city.

Tang Yinzheng was dressed in casual clothes, and with Xu Jing and a few Jinyi guards in the same casual clothes, he was negotiating with the proprietor of the house about buying back the house.

"My lord, don't make jokes. It's the Duke of Lai who wants to redeem the house? There's no evidence to say it."

The proprietor is a businessman in his fifties, with some ties to officials and businessmen. He is low-key but a little rich. He obviously doesn't believe that Tang Yin, who looks like a skinny old man, is a subordinate of the famous Duke of Lai.

Tang Yin rolled his eyes, then looked at Xu Jing again.

Xu Jing immediately understood, and said loudly: "Why, you still look down on people? Do you know who this is? Do you know who I am?"

"Didn't you ask the two of you?" The proprietor stared wide-eyed.

The seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister's gate, is it the turn of the people under Lai Guogong's command to brag?It's like living in the city of Nanjing and never seeing an official, and it's not uncommon to see a prince of the state.

Xu Jingdao: "This is the governor of the Bohai Sea of ​​the Ming Dynasty, and the censor of Youqin Capital Tang Yin Tang."

"what?"

The proprietor looked Tang Yin up and down again, "Governor of Bohai Sea, no... I haven't heard of it."

Xu Jing was about to get angry, but was stopped by Tang Yin. Tang Yin said: "You don't have to sell it. I will rent you for a few days. This is the order of Lai Guogong, just ask for a price. Later, if you want to see him, come and visit him at any time. Whether he sees it is another matter. Bring the money."

Immediately, Jin Yiwei handed over a letter of silver, which was ten taels.

"Is it enough to live for one year?" Tang Yin asked.

"This...isn't enough, half a year can be enough..." The proprietor pondered for a while, no matter what the other party's status, Yinzi spoke more truthfully.

"Then stay for half a year. Anyway, I left a few years ago. Father Heng, please don't say a few words and finish this matter quickly. I have other things to do. I've been too tired lately." Tang Yin could hardly keep his eyes open.

"Okay, this is really a grown-up, and he is open-minded in his work."

The proprietor naturally felt that he had taken advantage of it.

Tang Yin turned around and was about to leave, but before he could take a few steps, he saw a group of government servants from Yingtianfu approaching.

The Jin Yiwei brought by Tang Yin all pulled out their knives "Shua, Shua, Shua".

This startled the proprietor of the house.

"Tang Zhongcheng, don't get me wrong. It was the governor of Wu Fu who sent us here. It was the owner of the shop who reported that you came here and specially sent someone to cooperate with you. But is there anything we can do to help you?"

The governor of Yingtian Mansion did not dare to confront Tang Yin.

Don't look at the face of the monk, look at the face of the Buddha.

Zhang Zhou's influence was too great, and Tang Yin, as Zhang Zhou's capable general, was rarely the only "celebrity" that Zhang Zhou brought with him this time, so Ying Tianfu naturally knew how to greet Tang Yin.

Tang Yin pointed to the host and said: "You said, I have to go back to the post house to rest first."

Someone in the yamen said: "My Lord Fu Yin has prepared a banquet for you, and also specially prepared a house, please come over. I heard that you still have a mission after you arrive in Nanjing... This is also mentioned by Lai Guogong. If you have anything to do, just say hello to Ying Tianfu, and I can contact you with any contacts."

Tang Yin heard it.

It happened that I needed to raise money.

Zhang Zhou is really "considerate" and even prepared channels for him to raise money.

(End of this chapter)