The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 94
"The British gentleman is too polite. If you ask someone to inform you about this matter, I will come to your door. Why do you need to go there yourself?"

A deep smile appeared on Zhang Mao's face.

If you go as soon as you are notified, the old man kicked Cheng Guogong and the second boy out of the door?

"Come in!"

Zhang Mao greeted behind him.

A boy of eleven or twelve and a half years old appeared at the door.

"My grandson's name is Zhang Lun. Grandson, why don't you come to thank Mr. Zhang Zhouzhang who treated your father?" Zhang Mao said to the boy.

The young man took a few steps forward, knelt down head-on, and bowed to the ground: "Zhang Lun thanked Mr. Zhang for treating my father's illness."

Zhang Zhou and Zhu Feng looked at each other, as if they didn't understand what kind of medicine was sold in Zhang Mao's gourd.

Even Zhu Feng was thinking about it.

Thank you for saving your son, don't give gifts, let your grandson kowtow... You old man Zhang is really picky.

"Wrong." Zhang Zhou said, "Mr. Ying, the one who treated your son's illness was Zhu Zhijie, the second son of the Duke of Cheng's mansion. When did you get credit for your son?"

Zhang Mao said with a smile: "Zhang Lun, get up and give your brother Zhu a salute to thank you."

"Yes!"

Zhang Lun got up and clasped fists for Zhu Feng, without saying anything polite.

Zhang Zhou looked at Zhang Lun, a sunny and handsome boy who was only half a head shorter than his grandfather when he was still in adolescence. He must be tall and handsome in the future, with a bright future.

But also a little snob.

If there are ancestors, there must be grandchildren.

However, Zhang Zhou could also see that the children of the Duke's family are very competitive. There are probably only so many military positions, and they are all fighting openly and secretly.

"Bingkuan, this elder grandson of this old man has always been well-equipped with both civil and military skills. However, he has learned martial arts well. In terms of literature... I have hired famous teachers, but progress is slow. Sigh! I didn't hear that Bingkuan, you are Jiangnan Xieyuan. You are famous, and I specially want him to come to worship you as a teacher." Zhang Maoyu said earnestly.

Zhang Zhou has clear ears and eyesight.

This is knowing that he is now deeply favored by the emperor, and he changed his way to make his grandson lean towards him, so that Zhang Lun might be able to get the emperor's attention.

This group of dignitaries, their methods of currying favor with others are all more extraordinary than each other.

"My lord, please forgive me. Although I am Jieyuan from the south of the Yangtze River, I have little talent and learning, and I am really powerless about the matter of apprenticeship." Zhang Zhou declined.

Zhang Mao said with a smile: "I heard about it, His Majesty has sent you a lot of errands. Is Qingning Palace doing well? Do you want my help?"

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, should I say yes or no?
No matter how good Yang Peng is, at least he dares to pat his chest to guarantee the ticket, but you just make empty promises with your lips, whoever believes you is a fool!

Zhu Feng said: "Brother Zhang, he still has to prepare for the national exam."

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, just put a name on it first, and you will have time to accept this disciple after you pass the Jinshi examination! Haha." Zhang Mao then waved his hand again, and someone from the British government came in behind carrying things.

Add some cloth to a box, the cloth is not silk, but ordinary fine cloth, plus the tea leaves and other things in the box, it would be good to have a total of 30 taels of silver.

Not better than not knowing.

Zhang Zhouxin said, he is not even as good as the second kid from the Zhu family that you look down on.

"Grandson, you should learn from Mr. Zhang well. By the way, Mr. Zhang, if you have any good prescriptions for treating dog diseases, you can leave it to my grandson. The old man still has things to do in the governor's mansion, so I will leave first. Nephew , see you next time."

Zhang Maoming knew that Zhu Feng didn't want to talk to him, so he still talked to Zhu Feng.

When leaving, Zhang Lun and two followers were specially left behind, which means that Zhang Lun can go back after he obtains the "truth" from Zhang Zhou.

The meaning of the philistine is beyond words.

……

……

Zhang Mao left.

There were three people left in the yard, which was embarrassing.

Even Zhang Lun felt that he didn't appear on the right occasion, because the two people in front of him didn't know what to say to him.

Zhang Zhou knew very well that it was a great deal of face for Zhang Mao to take the initiative.

No matter how favored he is, there is still an essential gap with Duke Daming.

"I have nothing to do about your father's illness, sorry." Zhang Zhou said, "Come here, see off the guests!"

Jia Laoshui, who was recruited earlier, came over to send Zhang Lun out.

Zhang Lun said with an aggrieved face, "Don't. If I go back like this, my grandfather will definitely punish me."

Zhu Feng smiled and said, "Is the British prince so strict with you?"

Hearing that Zhang Lun will also be punished by Mr. Zhang, Zhu Feng felt a little more balanced. He said that the British public army is strict, maybe he pays more attention to corporal punishment education, and kicking me is for my own good?

"Yeah." Zhang Lun was still only an eleven or twelve-year-old child, nodding sincerely, "Sometimes I'm not allowed to enter the house, sometimes I'm beaten with a military stick, and sometimes I'm fined not to eat, even Zuntang didn't treat me like this .”

Zhang Zhoudao: "That's because your grandfather had high expectations for you. The eldest grandson of the Duke's family has a heavy burden on his shoulders in the future. In this way, you go back and tell your grandfather that I have created another recipe and asked your father to eat it with a different recipe." , are you tired of eating those things all the time?"

"Recipe?" Zhang Lun obviously couldn't keep up with Zhang Zhou's train of thought.

Zhu Feng had an opinion, and pulled Zhang Zhou aside: "Brother Zhang, do you still care if the Zhang family treats you like this?"

Zhang Zhoudao: "I don't see you when I look up, and I see you when I look down. Besides, they gave gifts... How 'heavy'? Why don't you just write a recipe?"

"Hmph!" Zhu Feng seemed heartless, but he remembered Zhang Mao's revenge to the core.

"Zhang Lun, I'll write down the recipe, and you can take it back with your family."

"it is good!"

Zhang Lun was about to enter the house with Zhang Zhou, but Zhu Feng gave him a cold look. Zhang Lun seemed to be afraid that Zhu Feng would come with him, so he obediently stood in the yard.

"Half-old child, as for?"

"It's fine if he kicked me, but he still wants to arrange his grandson by your side. What are you doing? Taking credit for it?"

Then Zhang Zhou looked at Zhu Feng with "So you think so" eyes.

Not long after Zhu Feng followed him, he changed from a playboy to a capable person in the eyes of the emperor. Zhang Mao saw that it was profitable, so of course he rushed to send people to him.

As soon as this example is opened, it is estimated that other nobles will follow suit...

There are tens of thousands of capable ministers in the Ming Dynasty, but the ministers trusted by the emperor are Gelaobutang, and those people will not accept apprentices easily, and being a student of Gelaobutang will not bring him as fast as the benefits of being a student.

Emotional old man Zhang is doing business... Strange goods to live in?
Zhang Zhou's stingy temperament was similar to Zhang Mao's, and he thought through old man Zhang's tricks in an instant.

Zhu Feng said: "Brother Zhang, you write recipes for him, and also write a reply to Miss Lin?"

"Write what?"

"Anything is fine, let me have an explanation."

"Well, I'll tell her that I'm all about the safety of the Ming Dynasty, and I can't sleep at night because I worry so much about the important affairs of the court. When I encounter disasters in my family and country, I often find it hard to control my tears. I wish I could be named on the gold list as soon as possible..."

"Can you write something else?"

"I wrote, are you interested in her?"

"Don't, brother Zhang, you should write whatever you want, I don't want to read it, I just want an explanation!"

……

……

Zhang Zhou found out that if he wanted to become a monk in the palace, he had to deal with these bad things outside the palace first.

He wrote the reply letter to Lin Yi, and Che Jilu babbled and said that it was not nutritious at all, but Zhu Feng cherished the letter when he got it, and those who didn't know really thought that Zhu Feng relied on his letter to find girls.

Zhang Lun also successfully got the "prescription" he wanted, and went home to find Zhang Mao on business.

Zhang Zhou himself had to rush to work overnight, selecting suitable materials from tens of thousands of pieces of glass to assemble the telescope within three days.

These lenses are also produced to specific specifications, but without ready-made technology, flat glass cannot be made, let alone the manufacture of concave and convex lenses. Care has been taken during firing, but the defective rate is nearly [-]%.

On the afternoon of the deadline, Zhang Zhou sent twenty telescopes to the palace as promised.

Zhu Youtang personally received Zhang Zhou, and Long Yan was very happy after seeing the finished product.

"Bingkuan, thank you for your hard work! I have prepared some rewards and sent them to your house."

Hearing that there was a gift received from the imperial court, Zhang Zhou's spirits perked up.

There are quite a lot of rewards for doing things for Zhu Youtang.

"Your Majesty, I am preparing to prepare for the exam, can I arrange to meet the prince?" Since Zhang Zhou received the reward, he should do something serious.

Go to give the prince a private lesson.

Zhu Youtang asked: "Aren't you going to rest for a few more days?"

"No need!"

"Well, I'll let someone take you to the East Palace. If you need books or something, whether it's from the collection of the palace or the Imperial Academy, I will send you the bibliography. You can just make a list... ..."

Zhang Zhouxin said, it really is not for nothing to be your son's companion.

This treatment... tsk tsk.

Leveraged.

With so many candidates, who can be treated like me, not to mention preparing for the exam in the palace, but still have access to the palace collection?If you fail the exam again, you will have no face to see Jiangdong's elders.

……

……

Zhang Zhou left.

Zhu Youtang was still playing with those binoculars, not for inspection, but just for fun.

Adult men also have playfulness.

It's just that Zhu Youtang usually pretends to be very good in front of outsiders. From childhood to adulthood, no one gave him a chance to play, and his personality was suppressed.

"Your Majesty, are these things going to be sent to the northwest immediately?" Dai Yi asked for instructions.

"Ah."

Zhu Youtang nodded, "Together with the previous one, 21 of them, we sent fast horses to each town at once, but we have to make an agreement with the passers-by that this item is easy to break and cannot be landed on the ground."

"Yes." Dai Yi took out another memorial, "Your Majesty, here is a list of recommendations for promotion to a bachelor's degree, which will be discussed at the court tomorrow. Would you like to have a look?"

"Oh?"

Zhu Youtang picked up the memorial and read the recommendation list above.

Yang Tinghe, Wang Hua, Liu Ji, Wang Jia, Jiang Lan, Zhang Bing, Wu Wei and others were listed.

"Is it just these people?" Zhu Youtang asked.

Dai Yidao: "There is also a suggestion that Zhang Yuanzhen, a lecturer in the South Hall of Nanjing, be transferred to the North Hall."

Zhu Youtang shook his head and said, "No need, just Wang Jizhi."

Dai Yi was taken aback.

Now I just give you a list to let you know, but you decided to let Wang Jia be promoted to the Bachelor of Attendance, isn't it...too hasty?
Zhu Youzhang said: "Wang Jia may have insufficient ability to manage affairs, but when he was giving lectures in the East Palace, his talent and learning were very good, enough to lead the lectures on the feast day of good scriptures. In addition, he was also selected for me in the Jiangnan Examination Center. When it comes to talents, isn’t talent selection also a manifestation of ability? Just him.”

Dai Yi understood.

Now anyone who is associated with Zhang Zhou can benefit, and Wang Jia is promoted because of this.

Others are trying their best to curry favor with the teacher, hoping to get the care of the officialdom, but now it's just the other way around.

……

……

Inside Kunning Palace.

Zhu Youtang had dinner with his wife, and then naturally wanted to practice it.

"...Empress, you don't know, I have used Bingkuan's medicine, and I feel refreshed these days, and I can even eat a lot of rice, but the goat's milk that Bingkuan made me drink, I really don't like it. Can't drink it."

In Daming, there were no cows, and those who drank milk also drank goat milk.

But the goat's milk... still tastes a little strange. Zhu Youtang is weak and not used to drinking this kind of thing at all, so he can only drink a little at a time, even if it has seasonings in it, it won't help.

Queen Zhang frowned.

She seemed to feel a little weird, because her husband mentioned Zhang Zhou more and more recently.

"Your Majesty, you seem to be different from before."

"Really?" Zhu Youtang was curious, "What's the difference?"

Empress Zhang thought for a while, then shook her head and said, "I can't say it, but it seems that... there are more words."

Zhu Youtang was startled, and after thinking for a while, it seemed that it was true as his wife said, that he was not as afraid of meeting strangers as before, because whenever he chatted with Zhang Zhou a lot, he would be brought into the rhythm of Zhang Zhou's speech, It was a state of being free and unfettered.

"Queen, let's not talk about this for now, let's go to bed earlier."

Zhu Youtang was about to go there and pull the queen to the direction of the phoenix couch.

Empress Zhang said: "It's still early, I haven't seen the prince these two days, I miss him a little, why don't your majesty let him come out to see it from time to time, it shouldn't affect his studies."

"no!"

This time, Zhu Youtang's attitude was very firm, "I will not change the things I have decided so easily. This is to be responsible to the crown prince. Queen, you don't need to plead for him anymore."

Empress Zhang felt even more puzzled.

Because no matter what she said in the past, even if her husband didn't want to agree, he would always ask her to give up in a negotiating tone.

"I also sent Bing Kuan to teach him day and night. Bing Kuan's ability is enough to teach him well. As long as he has finished studying the Four Books and passed the examination, he should be able to come out in about a month! With Bing Kuan, I even You don’t need to test him yourself.”

Zhu Youtang calculated Zhu Houzhao's study progress.

This time, I plan to confine my son to confinement for a month.

Empress Zhang was in a bad mood at first, so she lost her temper when she heard the words: "Your Majesty, now you mention that Zhang Bingkuan in everything, what kind of medicine did he give you? Shouldn't Your Majesty pay attention to his family? What is that Zhang Bingkuan? "

When the wife is jealous.

Zhu Youtang thought for a while, and said puzzledly: "Bingkuan is dedicated to the Ming court, and also for me and you to spread branches and leaves for the royal family earlier. Why would the empress have any objections to him?"

"The concubine doesn't care, the concubine wants His Majesty to promise not to see him in the future!"

Empress Zhang also knew that she couldn't go too far, and it was unrealistic to directly block the emperor from seeing Zhang Zhou.

Zhu Youtang said: "No!"

"His Majesty……"

"Don't say that Bingkuan did nothing wrong. Even if he did something wrong, he should be judged impartially. I don't understand why a person who is wholeheartedly for me and you is wrong. In this way, I have some things to do today, so I won't be here. Kunning Palace is staying overnight!"

"His Majesty?"

Empress Zhang thought she had heard wrong.

She always chased Zhu Youtang away by herself, but this time it was Zhu Youtang who took the initiative to flirt with her?
"Show me, clean up the palace!"

Zhu Youtang didn't just talk about it, he really left.

"Empress, the stag blood wine prepared earlier..."

"Everyone go out! I don't want to see anyone today!"

Empress Zhang was burning with jealousy, but she could only sulk.

(End of this chapter)