Great Ming Dynasty Wen Chao Gong

Chapter 35 Visiting Dong Qichang

Zhang Xiao explained, and the emperor just listened quietly.

"I have heard what you said. You can go back first and your vacation will be postponed for another day." The emperor said,
  "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty." Zhang Xiao said goodbye.

"Eunuch Gao, why are you still here?" Zhang Xiao left the imperial study and found Gao Huai still waiting at the door.

At this time, Zhang Xiao had already remembered who Gao Huai was. He was the protagonist of "Gao Huai Chaos Liao". In the late period of Emperor Wanli's reign, he went crazy due to lack of money, and could not quarrel with the civil servants in the DPRK, so he sent out his trusted eunuchs to create dire straits for the people in various places and constant turmoil in the name of mining. Even though Gao Huai was sent to Liaodong, he also recruited a group of local ruffians to support him, wantonly exploiting the soldiers and civilians of Liaodong Town, causing confusion among the people, and eventually leading to a mutiny in the army. Gao Huai himself fled back to the capital in a hurry.

However, the ministers of the DPRK and Central Government were very sad about this and listed the three officials in Liaodong as the three major problems. Gao Huai was ranked first, thinking that Gao Huai "Huai's crimes are too numerous to write down."

But when Zhang Xiao looked at this hard-working eunuch who at least seemed to be honest and honest, he really couldn't connect him with the big disaster behind him.

"Zhang Shidu, I have been waiting for you here and will send you out of the palace later." Gao Huai said politely.

"How dare you trouble Eunuch Gao? If Eunuch Gao stays, I will still take the road in the palace." Zhang Xiao quickly declined.

Zhang Xiao walked around and walked out of the palace, then walked towards the Ding Family Bookstore.

After all, it would be too rude to eat with someone and run away in the middle of the meal. Although the boss temporarily called me back to work overtime, there was nothing I could do.

"Shopkeeper Ding, I'm really sorry that I'm back." Zhang Xiao entered the bookstore and greeted Shopkeeper Ding.

"Master Zhang, are you done with your work? It's okay. It's my honor to have dinner with Master Zhang. Master Zhang, you are busy with national affairs, so there is no need to come back." Shopkeeper Ding said quickly.

"It's really okay. I'm still on vacation now. Besides, we haven't talked clearly about what we talked about yet. I found someone who can draw and I'm going to visit him. He can also be considered a colleague of mine." Zhang Xiao said.

"Who is it?" Shopkeeper Ding asked.

"It's Dong Xuanzai." Zhang Xiao said.

"Mr. Dong is a righteous gentleman. He traveled thousands of miles to escort the teacher's coffin back to his hometown. Has he returned to Beijing now? If Mr. Dong is willing to paint, I, Ding, will pay any amount of retouching fees. I just hope that Mr. Dong can donate the original painting to Me." Shopkeeper Ding said excitedly.

"Dong Xuanzai has returned to Beijing, and he should be resting at home now. I can't guarantee it, but I have to give it a try. But shopkeeper Ding, do you have some good calligraphy and painting or the Four Treasures of the Study? I need to borrow flowers to offer to the Buddha, so I'm afraid I'll buy them myself. If the purchase is bad, I will pay the price as well." Zhang Xiao asked.

"It's not vulgar to talk about money, but Mr. Zhang, you have to wait a moment while I go to the warehouse to look for it." Shopkeeper Ding put down his abacus and went into the warehouse to look for gifts for Zhang Xiao.

After a while, Zhang Xiao came to visit Dong Qichang at his door with a set of fine pen, ink, paper and inkstones, some fruits, and Zhang Xiao's own hardcover books.

"Editor Dong, are you at home?" Zhang Xiao arrived at Dong's house and knocked on the door gently.

"Who is it?" "I am Zhang Xiao."

"Oh, Zhang Shidu, please come in." Dong Qichang saw that it was Zhang Xiao and quickly opened the door.

Zhang Xiao looked at this colleague whom he was not very familiar with. He was also very handsome, but he was dressed quite simply, even with a hint of filial piety.

"Master Tian treated me with great kindness. I decided to follow the example of the sages. I have been mourning for three years and it is inconvenient to go out. I just express my condolences with filial piety at home." Dong Qichang looked at Zhang Xiao's eyes and explained,
  "Xuan Zai respects teachers and is a role model for our generation. It's just that Zhang has some things to do and I'm really sorry to bother Editor Dong." Zhang Xiao explained.

"Oh, does Zhang Shidu need to tell you something?" Dong Qichang asked.

"I wonder if Xuan Zai has read this humble work "The Conquest of Mexico"?" Zhang Xiao took out the hardcover copy of "The Conquest of Mexico" that he brought as a gift.

"Of course I read it carefully. On the way back to Beijing, I also read the book "The Conquest of Mexico." Dong Qichang said.

"Then I have something important to trouble Xuan Zai. I want to come up with an illustrated book for "The Conquest of Mexico". I've heard that Xuan Zai is an expert in calligraphy and painting. I'll see if you're free here. If so, I'll pay you. It's easy to tell, if you want the dividends from selling books, you can." Zhang Xiao said straight to the point.

"Of course Dong is willing. However, this "Conquest of Mexico" tells the story of a foreign land. Dong was afraid that the painting was not good and could not satisfy Zhang Shidu. For example, the corn in it was really wanted by Dong. It doesn't look like it. Also, what do the weapons of the American natives look like like obsidian? We don't seem to have such traditional weapons." Dong Qichang said.

"It's easy to say. I will describe the general appearance to you. It's probably not bad. If there is a real thing, I will show it to Xuan Zai." Zhang Xiao said.

"Oh, that's great. I have read "The Conquest of Mexico" several times, and it really opened my eyes. Zhang Shidu is so knowledgeable and talented, no wonder he is valued by His Majesty and Mr. Wang Ge." Dong Qichang praised. .

"What the hell, Editor Dong, you are from a serious imperial examination background, I am just a wild person." Zhang Xiao said.

"Zhang Shidu just lived overseas for a long time and didn't know how to write eight-legged essays. Looking at the books and essays you wrote, Zhang Shidu, they are all clear and meaningful, and they are very insightful to read. In fact, you You can definitely teach, even if you are teaching to the prince, your ability as Zhang Shidu is more than enough." Dong Qichang praised sincerely.

"How can I, Zhang, dare to assume the position of Emperor's Master? It's just that the Holy Emperor wants to know something, so I will do my best to give you some opinions and suggestions." Zhang Xiao said.

"Zhang Shidu is always so humble. However, Zhang Shidu, what I said may not be so pleasing to the ears, and Zhang Shidu's writing is also too casual." Dong Qichang said.

"It makes Editor Dong laugh, my word is really not elegant." Zhang Xiao said with an embarrassed smile. There is no way, I type too much on the computer, and the hard-pen calligraphy is ugly, let alone the calligraphy with calligraphy. Although I have been practicing for some time, it is hard to come back.

"No, no, no, Dong didn't mean to say that Zhang Shi's reading was not good. It's just that quite a few of Zhang Shi's articles will be recorded in history. I still hope that when Zhang Shi reads them, he can leave a good impression for future generations. Good handwriting. Dong took part in the imperial examination in his early years and thought he was a scholar. However, he failed the examination for the first time because his handwriting was not elegant. Later, Dong made up his mind and made his handwriting look better. In fact, practicing calligraphy is all about it. Practicing the mind, logically speaking, the white jade is nothing, but Dong Mou practiced calligraphy too much, just a few more words, Zhang Shi read it, don't be surprised." Dong Qichang said.

"I can't help but get some advice from Brother Xuanzai. Zhang couldn't ask for more." Zhang Xiao thanked him sincerely. He was a top calligrapher and painter in the Ming Dynasty. It was so rare to be willing to tell him these simple truths.

(End of this chapter)