The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 407
It's approaching September.

The autumn in Nanjing is crisp and clear, and it is also the time for appreciation of chrysanthemums and writing meetings. It coincides with the gathering of scholars in Nanjing, and the style of writing in the city is very heavy.

On this day, Zhu Houzhao, under the leadership of Sun Che and Gong Yeping, went to a literary meeting, and then...

He was depressed.

He still used the routines he used when he participated in various literary conferences on the way south. They were all clichés, and he couldn't bear this trick when he arrived in Nanjing. Today, at the cultural conference, he was directly ridiculed face to face.

"...A naive child who is only ten years old, and his knowledge of crafting is not yet complete, or he has read a few books on the study of mind, and thinks he has a bit of talent, so he thinks he is omnipotent?"

"In terms of fame, anyone here is higher than you."

"When it comes to talent, everyone here can express it well, so I just ask you if you can?"

Zhu Houzhao shouted angrily. He rolled up his sleeves and wanted to hit someone, but was stopped by Sun Che.

Zhu Houzhao yelled: "Who says I can't? Let the horse come here!"

"Okay, are you writing poems or prose? Or let anyone in the room come up with a question, and let the art be used to determine the competition?" The other party was aggressive.

Gong Yeping said: "You are so ashamed, knowing that our young master is young and does not discuss learning with him, but wants to decide victory or defeat with poems and essays? Could it be that your understanding of psychology is too shallow, even inferior to him, and you want to use your power to bully others?"

"Who said it?"

Stand up on the opposite side.

He looked like he was about to fight, but Zhu Houzhao seemed a little alone.

The elder brother who is leading the opposite side smiled and said: "If you don't have enough knowledge, you can go back with your tail between your legs and study for a few more years. In a few days, there will be a grand literary meeting held by Ying Tianfu. At that time, Lai Guogong and famous Confucians from Lingnan, Jianggan and other places will attend. I heard that it will be hosted by Cheng Minzheng Cheng. A ten-year-old boy, in the end, he just hurt Zhongyong!"

"Too deceiving!"

Zhu Houzhao has had a smooth life all his life, how has he ever been ridiculed like this?
He wished he could go up and tear the man's mouth right away, but he didn't have the advantage at all at the scene, and he hated himself for not bringing more people.

……

……

After going downstairs.

Zhu Houzhao said to Liu Jin: "Go, send troops here, I'm going to level this building for him!"

Liu Jin hurriedly said: "Master, let's not make trouble, this is not the capital. You...Your identity has to be kept secret."

Just as they were talking, Sun Che and Gong Yeping came out, and both of them also looked unhappy.

Originally, he came out with his "big money lord" Zhu Shou to pretend to be tough, or to help the rich man pretend to be tough, in order to get some money for eating, drinking and having fun from this kid. Who would have thought that if he failed to pretend to be forced today, and was scolded head-on, it would feel like eating fly shit.

"Young master, don't be as knowledgeable as they are, I will find you a literary club tomorrow, and I will surely overwhelm them." Gong Ye said flatly.

Zhu Houzhao said: "Is my talent and learning very bad?"

"what?"

Both Gong Yeping and Sun Che were greatly surprised.

It's fine to say that you can't learn, but you actually use "rotten" to describe it?

Is this self-reflection?

He looked like he was going to eat people upstairs just now, why is he looking downcast now?Mood changes too fast, right?
Sun Che said: "Young Master Zhu's talent and learning are not bad, especially his understanding of the mind, which is rare in the world. As for the so-called crafting and other knowledge, it takes time to accumulate. Even if you don't have fame now, you will definitely be on the gold list in the future."

Zhu Youtang shook his head and said, "Impossible, I will never be named on the gold list in my life."

"Why?" Sun Che asked, "Could it be that the young master is..."

Just to say, you don't come from Le Ji, do you?Except for the status of being a member of music and being a criminal, Daming is eligible to take part in the imperial examination, even military households are no exception.

Zhu Houzhao didn't want to explain to Sun Che and the others, so he asked Gao Feng who was beside him, "Did you go to the Jiangning county government to see it before? When will they release him?"

The implication was that after he wanted to get Hu Feng out of the cell, he would part ways with Sun Che and the others.

According to Sun Che and Gong Yeping...

You can't help my young master to make me famous, and it would be embarrassing to come out with you, so let's break up.

Sun Che snapped and said, "We went to see him before, and he's fine. As long as he contacts his family and pays the money for atonement, he can come out. He also gave the money for accommodating, how dare the jailer embarrass a student?"

"Well. Go back to the inn."

Zhu Houzhao was in a waning mood.

It was originally negotiated that Hu Feng would rent him a big house to live in, but because Hu Feng was accidentally convicted and sent to prison, the matter was delayed.

Zhu Houzhao also felt that it was a wonderful thing to live in an inn and enjoy the atmosphere of the world that he could not experience in the palace.

But it's just his mood... not so good.

……

……

At this time, he was in a cell in Jiangning County.

Zhang Zhouzheng, as a "visitor", went to the county government office together with Wu Xiong, Yin of Yingtian Mansion, to visit Hu Feng, who was accused of pushing someone down the stairs.

When the Yacha brought Hu Feng out, Zhang Zhou and Wu Xiong were dressed in casual clothes, and even the county magistrate could only stand aside and laugh with him.

The magistrate of Jiangning County is no one else, but the former magistrate of Shangyuan County, Mi Jing'an.

Originally, Mi Jingan was just a candidate, and when he had finished serving as the county magistrate of Fuguo County in Jingxian County, he should resign and return to his hometown. As a result, because he had worshiped the pier early when Zhang Zhou was in the middle of the Yuan Dynasty, the Nanjing Ministry of Officials directly sent him a magistrate of Jiangning County...

At this meeting, Mi Jingan felt that he had seen his relatives, and standing there was also very respectful to Zhang Zhou.

"Here we come." Mi Jingan said with a smile.

"Yeah." Zhang Zhou stood up, and Wu Xiong beside him also stood up.

At the scene, only Mi Jing'an was wearing an official uniform. He didn't know who Hu Feng was, so he was flustered. Who is this?Is it worthwhile for Duke Lai to visit the county government in Jiangning County?Should I let him go right away?

Hu Feng didn't need to kneel when he saw Mi Jingan, he said, "Mizhi County, can the student leave?"

Mi Jing'an said: "Don't be in a hurry, someone here wants to see you. You two, I won't bother you as an officer, so I will take my leave first."

At this time, Mi Jing'an also had sharp eyesight. The superior came to ask a prisoner who had been detained for a few days, if he should avoid it wisely and stop hearing anything he shouldn't hear.

……

……

Wu Xiong didn't avoid it.

Wu Xiong also wanted to know the origin of the guy Zhang Zhou came to see today. Judging from the investigation by Ying Tianfu before he came, Hu Feng was just an ordinary student, nothing unusual.

But because Zhang Zhou was born in the "Xuanmen", maybe this student has unknown abilities?

"Two." Hu Feng didn't know how to address them, but just bowed his hands in salute.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "You don't need to be too polite. I heard that you were imprisoned, so I wanted to come and have a look. It is said that you have good talents and studies."

Hu Feng also has some knowledge, and he is also a philistine. He saw that even the magistrate of Jiangning County must be afraid of someone with a background. He said: "I read the books of sages, and I dare not show off my knowledge. I also want to learn more about sages, so that I can achieve something in the future."

"Very good, I have ambitions." Zhang Zhou nodded, "I heard that you have two good friends, and they also have a certain degree of research and research on the emerging psychology?"

"It's all superficial opinion." Hu Feng said, "There is no research."

"Very good, the future is boundless." Zhang Zhou pointed to Wu Xiong with a smile, and glanced at Wu Xiong, probably saying, look, this is a talent.

Wu Xiong said: "I checked his case, and the crime is not serious, you can go back anytime."

Zhang Zhou nodded and said, "The compensation must be in place, and the ransom must also be paid, but one should not be too greedy, especially not thinking about stealing other people's wealth."

Hu Feng was confused.

Is this talking to me?Why is it like a heavenly book?
Who are these two?
We met and didn't say anything, why is Baba educating me here?
Are you my father?Or my teacher?Why are you telling me this?

"Come here." Zhang Zhou gave an order.

Immediately someone came in, holding a wooden box, Zhang Zhou said: "There are five pennies in it, which should be used to compensate the injured for medical expenses, Mr. Sheng, so that you will not be involved in the case, and you can leave."

Hu Feng was a little curious about the two people in front of him before, even a little disrespectful, but now he immediately changed into a respectful expression and said: "Your Excellency, how can I be worthy of your appreciation? Could it be my old friend?"

"Hmph." Wu Xiong hummed softly.

He was thinking, if you can really have an old friend with this Lai Guogong, you will be prosperous.

Zhang Zhou shook his head and said, "Before I came here, I didn't know you. I just heard about your reputation. After I go back, treat people with my heart, and don't talk to outsiders about what happened here today. Just say that your relatives and friends have sent you money for atonement so that you can get out of the cage. Let's go. See you later."

"That……"

Hu Feng was not at a loss this time, his brain was smashed to pieces, making his brain a mess.

Just give the silver and let me go?
Is there such a good thing?
"Master Hu? Please." The clerk of the county government hurried forward to invite Hu Feng out.

Hu Feng was dejected, but he could only thank Zhang Zhou first, and left the county office.

……

……

"Who is he?" Wu Xiong finally couldn't help asking after Hu Feng left.

Zhang Zhou said: "The prince's people."

"hiss."

Wu Xiong now knew that the prince was in Nanjing, but Zhang Zhou didn't talk to him about more details, and he didn't allow him to disclose it to the outside world.

Wu Xiong thought that Hu Feng was the entourage that Zhu Houzhao brought over from the capital, and instantly felt that Mi Jingan had done something stupid, and wanted to teach him a lesson, but Mi Jingan wasn't there, so he couldn't talk nonsense...

"Those who can be admired by the prince must have a bright future in the future, and it's okay for me to help." Zhang Zhou said with a smile.

"Yes." Wu Xiong thought that Zhang Zhou was establishing a relationship with the people around the prince.

But in fact.

Zhang Zhou just came here to redeem himself in order to avoid Zhu Houzhao being "distracted". Of course, he has a more "important" thing to do.

……

……

"Master, we're here." After Zhang Zhou and Wu Xiong said goodbye at the gate of the yamen, Zhang Zhou got into the carriage and stopped not far after walking. Liu Gui came to report.

"En." Zhang Zhou let out a sound.

Immediately, a man who looked like a scholar followed Xu Jing and approached.

The curtains were not opened.

Xu Jing said on behalf of the man: "I told the young master according to what the master said. It is said that when he left... the young master's face turned green, probably... he was burning with anger."

The scholar said: "I'm just a ten-year-old child, and what I say is from the bottom of my heart."

Zhang Zhou said from behind the curtain: "Very good, I can handle things. Give me money."

"Here you are!" Xu Jing threw the reward purse that he had prepared earlier to the scholar.

The scholar was about to leave happily.

Xu Jing reminded: "If you dare to speak out, you know the consequences, right?"

"I know. According to what I said, I will leave Nanjing City today and never come back again. Look at you two."

……

……

It was Zhang Zhou who asked Xu Jing to find the person who satirized Zhu Houzhao.

immediately……

It was time for Zhang Zhou to make his debut.

Zhu Houzhao has played wild, and he cannot be allowed to continue to be so wild. In addition to hitting his self-confidence and letting him know that there is a truth beyond the sky, it is also to let him adopt his heart as soon as possible.

Zhang Zhou is also thinking about this matter.

If you want to make Zhu Houzhao famous, and let him set foot in Jiangnan for a worthwhile trip, you must first let Zhu Houzhao have the intention of making famous.

If this kid doesn't have...how can he have a face for him?And how could Zhu Youtang "Long Yan Joyful", and then the punishment for this kid running away from home can be lightly dropped?
"For a brat, I really worked so hard." Zhang Zhou also felt that he was a bit tired as a nanny.

……

When Zhang Zhou came to the inn, he just greeted the counter, and was taken upstairs by Dr. Cha to the door of Zhu Houzhao, but Liu Jin and Gao Feng were talking at the door. When they saw Zhang Zhou, their eyes were full of horror.

There is probably a feeling of being a thief and being caught.

"You two don't need to be too polite. I'm here to pay my respects to Mr. Zhu Shou." Zhang Zhou said with a smile.

"Inside." Liu Jin hurried over and saluted.

"Yes." Zhang Zhou nodded, "Let's pass it on."

Liu Jin knocked on the door, and heard Zhu Houzhao's voice from inside: "Don't bother me! Solve things by yourself!"

"It's Zhang...Young master is here." Liu Jin said.

"Which Mr. Zhang?" Zhu Houzhao said angrily.

"Ahem!" Zhang Zhou coughed twice.

Zhu Houzhao felt something was wrong when he heard the sound, and then came to open the door. After seeing Zhang Zhou, his eyes showed a little surprise, and then he closed the door with a bang, as if a mouse had seen a cat.

"You're very polite." Zhang Zhou waved his hand, meaning to let Liu Jin and the others back down first, and then he pushed open the door and went in.

Zhu Houzhao sat on the chair, didn't get up to greet him, and said sullenly, "How did you find it?"

"Hmph!" Zhang Zhou closed the door and said coldly, "Do you really think that you have the power to deceive everyone? Do you know how many people will suffer because of your willfulness?"

"Anyway, as long as you don't have to suffer, I'm not here to see you." Zhu Houzhao was still stubborn.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty already knows about your going south. I told His Majesty that I am not in a hurry to let you go back. Otherwise, why do you think the journey south is so smooth?"

"You...you knew where I was?"

Zhu Houzhao was taken aback.

My personal escape plan is all under your control, Zhang Bingkuan?
Then he thought of something, slapped his thigh and said, "That's right, who are you, you can count where I am, right? Then you..."

"Why didn't I send you back to the capital, and didn't show up in person, let you eat, drink and have fun all the way south, spent the money you collected from your two uncles everywhere, and let you wander around in Nanjing?" Zhang Zhou asked.

"Hmm. Why?" Zhu Houzhao asked.

Zhang Zhou said: "Isn't this what you like?"

Zhu Houzhao was speechless: "Tsk tsk, since when did you become a treacherous minister who caters to the prince's preferences?"

Zhang Zhou shrugged and said, "In the eyes of the minister, am I not a traitor?"

"Forget it, there are treacherous ministers like you who do important things for the court? But the prince doesn't care about you. At least you still have a little loyalty and didn't send me back to the palace directly..." Zhu Houzhao seemed to be a reasonable person at this meeting.

Zhang Zhoudao: "What? Have you played Jiangnan enough? Want to go back?"

Zhu Houzhao remained silent.

Zhang Zhou said again: "I heard that you encountered some discomfort today?"

Zhu Houzhao frowned and said, "I can't hide anything from you, how many people have you sent by my side?"

Zhang Zhoudao: "Not really, but it is rumored that there is a ten-year-old boy who came to Nanjing from the capital city to visit his relatives. He has a good understanding of the mind, and is even a leader in many theories. Isn't this you?"

"I... am I so famous?" Zhu Houzhao asked excitedly, as if sweeping away his previous displeasure.

Zhang Zhou said coldly: "When you become famous, people will naturally target you, trying to compare you with your talent, and steal the reputation that should belong to you."

"Oh." Zhu Houzhao said, "You mean, the person who troubled me today did it on purpose?"

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, you are really right, they did it on purpose, or I secretly instigated them to do so.

"How? Is learning not as good as being a human being?" Zhang Zhou said, "What you have experienced is exactly what I have experienced."

Zhu Houzhao lowered his head, and suddenly seemed to be in sympathy with Zhang Zhou, and said, "I understand. They are just jealous of me. They know that I am famous, so they want to suppress me... No wonder you have done so many things for the court. Father obviously thinks highly of you, but still wants you to avoid suspicion and come to Nanjing. Those literati are unreasonable."

Zhang Zhou said unhappily, "Don't overturn a boatload of people with a single blow, can you? Are you not a literati? Am I?"

"I didn't mention the two of us." Zhu Houzhao said, "We are different from them. Think about it, those literati most admire those civil servants, they are the same group. By the way, Mr. Zhang, you...can you..."

"Speak up if you have something to say," Zhang Zhou said.

Zhu Houzhao said with longing, "I think... I want them to know that I was wrong."

"so……"

"I want to overwhelm them in terms of talent. It's not only the study of the heart, but you have to teach me the study of the heart. I heard that there is a big literary conference recently. I...I want to stand out and make those literati feel ashamed when they see me, so that they will never dare to look down on me, a ten-year-old scholar."

Zhu Houzhao expressed his ideal.

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, he finally lived up to my troubles.

Zhang Zhou said: "You are cheating."

Zhu Houzhao said: "Mr. Zhang, you don't mean to say that you don't have the ability to suppress them, do you?"

"Hehe." Zhang Zhou said with a smile, "The method of provocative generals is useless to me, but I have told His Majesty in advance that I want you to go south to increase your knowledge, and at the same time let the world know your talent and ability to govern the country, so that you can be worthy of the name of the crown prince. I told Your Majesty that I want to make a name for you in Jiangnan, otherwise what will this article mean to me?"

"Really?" Zhu Houzhao was very excited, "Is this essay meeting organized for me?"

Zhang Zhou nodded and said, "My reputation doesn't need to be accumulated through the Wenhui. On the contrary, you need this kind of prestige. This will also allow you to be extra merciful when His Majesty punishes you after you return to Beijing."

Zhu Houzhao said with a grateful expression: "You can say that Mr. Zhang treats me well. I understand that you have worked so hard for me. I... Sir, I will follow what you say."

(End of this chapter)