Great Ming Dynasty Wen Chao Gong

Chapter 76 Teacher, why are you here?
  Li Zhizao thanked him profusely and left.

Lu Zhang was busy packing something, but he always seemed a little absent-minded.

"Mr. Lu, why do I feel like you are a little absent-minded? What's wrong?" Zhang Xiao asked.

"I didn't expect that Li Xiucai was so young and had such knowledge. If he passes the provincial examination or even the general examination in the future, he will really be 'a farmhouse minister in the morning and an emperor in the evening.'" Lu Zhang said with some envy.

"Mr. Lu, are you going to try to take the merit examination again? If you take the exam, I will fully support you. After you finish this period of work, you can get started. You can also recommend some people or share the work with several people. You can do it in your spare time. It’s not impossible to prepare for the exam here.” Zhang Xiao asked.

"Thank you, boss." Lu Zhang thanked him.

……

In Uncle Ning Yuan's mansion. Li Rusong finished his day's work and returned home. I saw my father talking to an old man. When I got closer, I saw that this old man seemed familiar.

"Rusong, long time no see." The old man greeted Li Rusong.

"Ah? Teacher, is it you?" Li Rusong couldn't believe it when he heard this familiar voice.

"What's wrong? After all these years, Rusong can't recognize me as an old man. Also, when I look in the mirror now, I don't recognize myself either." The old man said with emotion.

"Rusong, I haven't met your Master Xu yet," Li Chengliang said.

"Master Xu, I haven't seen you for many years, how are you doing?" Li Rusong asked. How could he not recognize at this time that this old man with gray hair was his teacher, Xu Wei and Xu Wenchang.

"I'm just trying to make ends meet in my dying years. Originally, I thought of just spending the rest of my life in my hometown. I heard that the Japanese are about to take action again, and there are talented people in the court predicting war against the Japanese. I'm really itchy, and of course I'm here to see you and Rubai. Yes." Xu Wei said.

"Master, the court talent you mentioned is Zhang Shidu from the Hanlin Academy?" Li Rusong asked.

"That's this young man. I boast that I have learned a lot, but I have never seen such a young man. I traveled to northern Xinjiang a few years ago and saw a lot. Now that people's livelihood is suffering and the frontier is uneasy, I also want to see what this talented man has. What kind of proposition? Since he is so familiar with the Western Yi countries thousands of miles away, there is no reason why he should not be familiar with the affairs of the Ming Dynasty's northern frontier." Xu Wei said.

"Teacher, do you want to stay at Uncle Ningyuan's residence? We haven't seen each other for many years, and the student has a lot to say to you, teacher. I still have some friendship with Zhang Shidu. When the time comes, the student will follow you to visit Zhang Shidu's home." Li Rusong said.

"How can you call it borrowing, Mr. Xu? You can stay as long as you want. It's like your own home here. Back then, Li sincerely hired you as his staff. You said you wanted to go to other places to see, but Li didn't I am so forced to keep you here. Now you and I are free at home. It’s great to chat and drink tea every day. The younger generation will be busy with important matters in the court." Li Chengliang said.

"I'm not afraid of Mr. Li's jokes. I, Xu Wei, have been wandering all my life and have accomplished nothing, but I still can't let go of things in this world." Xu Wei said. "You scholars have trouble talking. It's not like Li said he won't let you go see Zhang Shidu. After you go and see Zhang Shidu, you and I can chat. Rusong, please spend some time with your teacher." Li Chengliang After that, he left the main hall.

"Rusong, what is your current position?" Xu Wei asked.

"The student is currently living as a minister in the Governor's Mansion of the Chinese Army." Li Rusong replied.

"It's not bad to be in the center. Rusong, don't be anxious. There are troubles on the border now, and you will soon have the opportunity to perform meritorious service. If we really start to aid Korea, you deserve to be the vanguard commander." Xu Wei said .

"The student also wants to be the general military officer, but now I don't know what the imperial court's intention is." Li Rusong said.

"Rusong, you are my student, Mr. Xu. Although the teacher has not been very good in his life, I still have a good eye for people. You will definitely be able to establish meritorious deeds and leave a reputation for future generations. This pioneer general soldier Officer, you have done your duty." Xu Wei said.

"Thank you for your kind words, teacher," Li Rusong said.

"But Rusong, I heard that when you were the commander-in-chief of the Xuanfu, you had a conflict with the governor, and then you were impeached and accused of being domineering, so you were dismissed. What happened?" Xu Wei asked.

"The student was impeached just because he wanted to sit face to face with Governor Xu. Teacher, I am really not convinced. We all serve the court and are loyal to His Majesty. Why should civil servants take the lead over military attachés? Is it true? Is it the noble man or the lowly military man?" Li Rusong said unconvinced.

"Rusong, don't be so impulsive in the future. There are enough injustices in the world, especially in the officialdom. Back then, my teacher served as an aide to Hu Shaobao. Hu Shaobao also had outstanding merits, was active in fighting against Japanese aggression, and was both civil and military. But just because I put up the sign of the Strict Party, I was forced to commit suicide. I couldn't do anything but write a memorial to Shaobao. Although I don't like Yan Song and other treacherous people, Hu Shaobao really did it for him. How much credit has the imperial court made, but what's the use in the end? Forget it, let's not talk about it, Rusong, you don't have to worry about this old master like me." Xu Wei became more and more frustrated as he spoke.

"Teacher, the students all know this, but they just can't bear to sound like this. If the students become the commander-in-chief of the Japanese aid force, will the teacher be willing to be a military advisor?" Li Rusong asked.

"Teacher also didn't expect that the stories he told you about fighting against the Japanese would be used by you one day. However, Japanese pirates are still pirates and rogues no matter what. What you have to deal with this time is the regular army of the Japanese country. What the teacher told you is , we can learn from it, but we cannot apply it directly. I am old and can no longer join the army. Rusong, you might as well ask Zhang Shidu. On the way to Beijing, I also read his "Fifty Years in the World" and what he said about it. I have such a clear grasp of the inside story of the Japanese, I admire them very much." Xu Wei said.

"The students have asked Zhang Shidu for advice many times. Zhang Shidu is indeed knowledgeable, but the students still feel that Zhang Shidu thinks too much of the Japanese. The Japanese are a small country, their people are not tall, and there is nothing good about them. The war horses, once our Liaodong Iron Cavalry comes out, it is not overwhelming." Li Rusong said.

"Being lenient when you know the enemy and being strict when you know the enemy is a stable idea. I would also like to hear Zhang Shidu's opinion. By the way, how did you and Zhang Shidu get acquainted? Can you tell the teacher? "Xu Wei asked.

"At that time, Rubai and I read the books written by Zhang Shidu and wanted to see what kind of person the author was, so we took the liberty to visit him. Later, Zhang Shidu volunteered to inspect Ningxia Town. Ru and I Bai and Rumei also traveled with the army. At that time, the Ningxia army was agitated, but it was only after Zhang Shidu's efforts and the intimidation of Liaodong cavalry and Jingying fire guns that it calmed down," Li Rusong recalled.

(End of this chapter)