The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

In Santun Camp where Jizhou Town is located.

An official house was once the manor of the Zhao family, a local wealthy family in the city. The house alone had three or four acres of land. It had been occupied by Liu Yu, but in fact Liu Yu had always planned to keep it and give it to those who could bring him. Give him glory, wealth and power.

And Zhang Zhou happened to meet his gift-giving conditions.

At this time, the house was very lively, with a troupe singing and a large number of servants coming and going to bring food and supplies. On the surface, Zhang Zhou and Liu Yu were discussing things inside, but it was more like an exchange of interests. .

Liu Yu's guest exited early. At the door, he saw the guests who came in to give gifts.

"Mr. Mi, this is a gift for the adults. I heard that a big shot came here. I also heard that it might be Cai Guogong himself. The master specially prepared a small gift and gave it to him as well."

A young man with a philistine look stood in front of the guests and said with a smile.

The clerk surnamed Mi said coldly: "You dare to hear everything. Is this a place where you dare to ask for information? Or is it that the cleaning of the place last time was not enough, and you want to be the next one?"

The philistine man said with a smile: "They say you can't reach out to hit the smiling person. You see, the gift has been delivered. Can you pass it on?"

After saying that, the man also handed a small cloth bag to the guest. Even if the guest did not open it, he could tell from the weight of the bag that there was inevitably twenty or thirty taels of silver in it.

The clerk said: "Liu Junmen is still discussing things with Zhang Shangshu. When the discussion is over, he will give you a chance."

"Is it really Cai Guogong?" The philistine man's eyes lit up.

It was just a little bit of gossip before, but now it is confirmed.

The guest was obviously concerned about the other party's payment, so he waved his hand and said: "Don't be an eyesore. I didn't see the hospitality being given here. Do you think anyone else would be treated like this except Master Zhang Xian? You want to give a gift?" There are a lot of people here, and now they are giving you some ventilation, which is considered as giving you a chance. Don’t look for trouble."

"Yes, yes, yes. If you have any orders, just tell me and I will find someone to arrange it for you."

While speaking, the guest named Mi waved his hand to let this person leave first.

There happened to be a group of maids, a dozen of them, each holding a plate filled with fruits and snacks, filing in.

An attractive woman of about forty years old, with a figure like a willow swaying in the wind, appeared in front of the guest, smiled and saluted the guest.

The guest of honor said with a straight face: "The food and wine at this banquet have been removed for a long time, how can we bring these things here? I also said that I would give you a chance to show your performance, and this is how you show it?"

The woman said: "This is not news that was received at the last minute, and it is not easy to prepare. After all, when the ice and snow are approaching, there are not many good things to send here in the north. It would be easier to send some simple gold and silver jewelry." "

The clerk snorted softly: "If I really give you those superficial things, do you still need to come forward? It seems that your business in the coming year does not want to be favored by Mr. Liu."

"No, no, just calm down. Aren't you preparing for this? We just mind our own business..."

"Send them in quickly, these few..."

The waiter looked at the maid who came to deliver the fruit plate, frowned slightly, and seemed very dissatisfied.

The woman then said: "I have already said hello to Miss Li. She will bring a few regular musicians here. They are all beauties who are well-known in the local music books. They will be here as soon as I speak."

"Are you coming in batches? Is it more difficult to find people than things?"

In the meaning of curtain guest.

You should seize the opportunity when giving gifts. Since winter is about to come and it is difficult to prepare fruits and other fruits, how can it be said that it is difficult to find the girl who is a singer and a musician? Isn't it that when you call it, it comes and goes?

The woman sighed: "Girls always need to tidy up before coming back. You should also know that this is to welcome distinguished guests, how can you neglect your etiquette?"

"Go in, go in!"

The waiter then waved his hand impatiently.

The maid immediately walked inside, and the woman wanted to follow, but was stopped by the steward.

"What are you going to do?" The waiter frowned, "You don't even have a plate in your hand, why are you going in there to join in the fun? With your appearance, do you think you can get to the table or what?"

The woman smiled bitterly and said: "Mr. Mi, you really know how to entertain the slave family. Doesn't the slave family also want to meet that big shot? You see, Master Liu said that people from all walks of life in this city are preparing. After a long time, they are here. Let’s have a chance to meet?”

The waiter continued to sneer, and said with a condescending attitude: "I've already given you enough face by letting you join in the fun, so don't be shameless! Back off!"

"Calm down!"

Of course the woman knew that Governor Liu's master was not easy to get rid of, and it was also because she did not give him a generous gift that she encountered such a cold reception. If she could give him a few dozen taels of silver, she would be able to change her attitude.

But the problem is, it costs dozens of taels of silver to send such a brat... Given their background and status, this money is hard to come by.

On the contrary, things other than money are easier to deal with. After all, basically everything is costless.

……

……

Then they came to give gifts.

The so-called gift-giving is to entertain Zhang Zhou. In addition to the wine and food at the banquet, there are also various troupes and entertainment, even antiques, calligraphy and paintings, etc...

The secret servant named Mi came out to help coordinate all this.

A smiling clerk came over and said with a smile, "Mr. Mi, are you busy?"

"Is something wrong?"

The court guests naturally knew that in order to give gifts, some people would go through various connections in the governor's office. Anyone who came to talk to him might have received generous gifts from outsiders to serve as lobbyists.

The clerk smiled and said: "You see, Sir, you are really popular. Just say a word and do things so beautifully without even paying any money. In this way, Lord Zhang will still remember all the favors to Lord Liu, so it's better to say Mr. Liu will be an official."

The clerk frowned and said, "What you said doesn't sound like a good thing. Are you trying to be sarcastic?"

"I don't dare. I just think that if I do this, will it appear too public? Everyone knows about this. I heard that Mr. Zhang is relatively honest in the court. The people in the city There are also many public speakers in science and technology. If they participate in a book..."

"Don't you think Liu Junmen didn't expect this? You've already said hello. They have money in their pockets, so they would do something like this to find trouble? Besides, anything in the court is related to Zhang Shangshu's report, especially It involves participating in the impeachment, and no one will have a good ending. Do you think that Yan Guan will not be able to adapt to the situation?"

The clerk slapped his forehead and said: "You think so? You are just a fool. You didn't expect this. What kind of person is Mr. Zhang? He is the most capable minister in front of your Majesty. It is said that everyone in the northwest is not reciting him. His reputation? That’s..."

"If you fart, hurry up! Let it go all at once!" The waiter looked very impatient.

"It's just... shouldn't Mr. Liu take care of his reputation now? If this doesn't go well..."

"You are quite nosy. What does it have to do with you whether Mr. Liu wants to be famous or not? Do you still want to be a lackey and divulge today's affairs to irrelevant people?"

"Don't dare."

"If you don't dare, then hurry up and do something. Don't be an eyesore here." "Yes, yes."

……

……

The deepest part of the yard.

Just after a good show ended, Liu Yu asked Zhang Zhou to stay temporarily on the pretext of some official business, and then he would leave the house and return to the governor's Yamen.

When he came out, he was also very proud.

The guest surnamed Mi had been waiting there early and followed Liu Yu out of the courtyard. Then he asked with a smile: "Sir, do you think this arrangement is appropriate?"

"That's right." Liu Yu sighed happily, "I think that Mr. Zhang, although he has only been in the court for a few years, has already become a very popular minister and has won the trust of your majesty and the prince. He will become a central figure in the court now and in the future." He is an indispensable minister. He has worked hard before, and it is time to relax and enjoy himself. He cannot do whatever he wants in the capital. If I don't greet him well when he comes to my place, it will be because I am ignorant."

The guest smiled and said: "My lord, you are really resourceful. I heard that Zhang Shangshu is here, but you have never been so approachable."

Liu Yu said: "It sounds like Mr. Zhang is serious and sanctimonious, but in the end he is... ahem."

Maybe Liu Yu also realized that the words he used to comment on Zhang Zhou were a bit unpleasant, so he quickly coughed twice to expose them.

"Sir, I wonder how many days Zhang Shangshu will stay in the city? Will... he leave tomorrow?" asked the court official.

"I didn't mention that. I just said that we have to wait for Wu Liangha's envoy to come. I don't know exactly where to talk. I guess it's either in the city or somewhere not far to the north. It's Anbian Hou who will send troops. The matter with Uncle Jingshan has nothing to do with Mr. Zhang."

"But sir, if Zhang Shangshu has other things to do..."

"Why are you so nagging? He has something to do. As long as he says hello to me, I will just arrange it for him! If I can't do it, don't you still have it? If we can't do it, then Mr. Zhang will follow Are we telling you? Are you deliberately trying to make us unhappy?"

The guest of honor quickly agreed.

But I felt like I had encountered this scene before.

The so-called high official level suppresses people, how arrogant he is in front of the people below, and how domineering this governor Liu is in front of him.

"Cai Guogong also gave instructions, saying that everything should be kept low-key."

"Aren't you afraid that you won't be able to keep a low profile?"

"Try your best! There is no need to notify irrelevant people who have not been notified! If there are any missing items, they can go directly from the governor's office without them coming to pay tribute. The commotion today may have been a bit louder. If someone really doesn't understand what happened today, it will end badly."

"Yes."

"Why hasn't that Miss Li who sang the song for me come yet? I originally wanted to listen to a piece before leaving. Her voice is really good, but... I saw that Mr. Cai Guogong might have drunk too much. If he didn't leave, something bad might happen. We can only retreat first.”

"Then go and urge me here."

"Go!"

……

……

It is naturally impossible for Zhang Zhou to drink too much.

It was just a show in front of Liu Yu, so that he showed a little bit of drunkenness, and Liu Yu was very sensible and said that he wanted to go back to work. He obviously also knew that if this man drank a few more drinks, he would probably go wild, and Zhang The relationship between Zhou and Liu Yu is obviously not that unruly yet.

As a subordinate, Liu Yu is much older than Zhang Zhou. At this time, he has to leave the table quickly to ensure that he does not disturb the friendship between the guest and the host.

"Hoverover tea."

Zhang Zhou had just come out of the banquet hall just now and entered the flower hall next to him. Wang Mingshan, who was dressed in the official uniform of the Qianhu Guards, brought tea to him.

Zhang Zhou nodded and said with a smile: "Do you think I will get drunk?"

Wang Mingshan glanced at Zhang Zhou, and her mind seemed to be empty again for an instant.

For Wang Mingshan, it seems that thinking about this matter is not suitable for her.

She is more accustomed to listening to other people's orders. She will do whatever Zhang Zhou asks her to do... This seems to be her life creed.

At this time, Sun Shangqi's voice came from the door: "My lord, Governor Liu has left the house and took a sedan to the direction of the governor's office. There are quite a few of his people left behind. Now the house is surrounded by ours people."

"Yeah." Zhang Zhou nodded, "Then let him have a good sleep tonight."

Sun Shangqi said: "There are also a few singers who came. They said they were arranged by the governor's Yamen. Plus a few musicians, they are all waiting outside."

"Musician?" Zhang Zhou smiled, "There's no need to come in. Just let the singer come in. I like to hear a cappella singing."

"Yes."

Sun Shangqi hurriedly went to make arrangements.

Wang Mingshan stood aside and looked around cautiously.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Mingshan, what do you think of this place?"

Wang Mingshan looked around, shook her head slightly and said, "I feel bad."

"What's wrong?" Zhang Zhou asked.

"I don't know." Wang Mingshan answered simply.

It was just that the impression in her heart was not good. As for what was bad, she couldn't describe it.

Zhang Zhou said: "This Liu Yu only seems to be able to do something, but in fact, whether it is conquering cities and territories on the battlefield, or privately governing the country and the people, he has no ability, but he is still just a villain who is good at flattering. If I accept it This kind of person, in a short period of time, may make people think that if there is an opportunity on my side, they will all come to curry favor with me, making it easy for me to form a good relationship."

"But after a long time, the upright people will stay away from me, and in the end only a group of villains who are good at flattering will be left in front of me."

Wang Mingshan continued to look confused.

She didn't understand what this had to do with whether the house was good or not.

Zhang Zhou stood up and said: "This house is actually not bad, but it was just that the original owners took good care of it. Unfortunately, they had bad luck and became victims in the political struggle. Now this house is actually full of evil spirits, because this house was originally Even if I am taken over by others, I can’t be considered a good person, at best, I can only be regarded as the same person.”

Wang Mingshan asked: "Are you moving out tonight?"

"No need." Zhang Zhou said, "Things will be settled tomorrow morning. I am here this time to establish a reputation for myself. Maybe I was too low-key before. If I don't fight with this person, I will try my best to make grudges with that person. Maybe it's I gave in too much and made others think that I was just a soft persimmon who didn't like fighting with others. It was time for me to fight back!" (End of Chapter)