Back to Daming to be a genius

Chapter 202
Two locust merchants, Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying, secretly visited Young Master Zhang behind their backs, and proposed that Young Master Zhang keep Qin Shiwen, the current governor of the Xuanfu. It is impossible to give up the governor of Liaodong and support Young Master Zhang. Young Master Zhang himself is a little mad dog that is more slippery than a fox. There are nine out of ten chances that he will see the devil and not hang his strings. It's an attempt, it's better to say it's a perfunctory reply to Young Master Zhang's olive branch, the hope of success is extremely slim.

What Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying didn't expect was that after they sneaked into Young Master Zhang and made a request in a roundabout way, Young Master Zhang agreed without even blinking his brows, and said in his chest, "It is important to keep Qin Shiwen, the current Governor of the Xuan Mansion." Right? No problem, I will go out tonight to do activities for you, and persuade the court to take back the order and let Qin Shiwen stay, you just go back and wait for the good news."

Young Master Zhang agreed so readily without putting forward any additional conditions, which made Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying feel a little embarrassed, but considering that everyone would talk about the scene, Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying were not too worried about Young Master Zhang fulfilling his promise. , We couldn't explain to Young Master Zhang, we just expressed our gratitude hypocritically, and went back to wait for the news with trepidation.But what surprised Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying was that at the noon of the next day, that is, the noon of November 29, Young Master Zhang fulfilled his promise...

"Qin Shiwen won't be transferred? Are you sure you won't be transferred? Is the news accurate?" Zhai Ying asked Jin Liangyu, who brought the news, dumbfounded.Jin Liangyu nodded and said joyfully: "Absolutely accurate! At the morning of the imperial court today, Zhang Ruitu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, showed Zhang Haogu's memorial to the cabinet. Zhang Haogu's little mad dog believed that Qin Shiwen was ordered to announce the crisis of the government in the fifth year of the apocalypse." When he took office, he integrated the army at the beginning of his tenure to repel the attack of the Tatar Maoqitan. Mad Dog’s teacher Zhang Ruitu, and the same party secretary Xu Guangqi also agreed with this point of view, and the old eunuch Wei also felt that Zhang Haogu’s little mad dog made sense. As a result, the court retracted the previous agreement and decided that Qin Shiwen would continue to serve in the Xuanfu Governor."

"Okay!" Except for Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying, the other five locust merchants including Fan Yongdou applauded happily, and Huang Yunlong laughed while applauding, "Okay, I didn't expect that little mad dog Zhang Haogu would also When doing good deeds, in this way, the capital we spent on Qin Shiwen before will not be in vain." Speaking of this, Huang Yunlong turned to Zhai Ying and smiled: "Boss Zhai, now you It's time to have fun, the two concubines you gave to Qin Shiwen's son will play a big role, right? Hey, shopkeeper Zhai, shopkeeper Wang, what's the matter with you?"

After being reminded by Huang Yunlong, several other locust merchants realized that Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying's expressions were not right, and they both looked pale and frightened.Seeing his colleagues staring at him, Wang Dengku bit his head and said: "Everyone, don't worry if you tell me. In fact, Zhang Haogu's little mad dog went to the table to protect Qin Shiwen's retention, which is what we asked for." We went to talk about the process of negotiating with Young Master Zhang, and finally said: "Masters, think about it, Zhang Haogu saved Qin Shiwen for us, which is beneficial to all of us-I think we used to be Are you too worried about him? In fact, Zhang Haogu, the little mad dog, is not as difficult as we imagined, so why should we fight him like we took the wrong medicine?"

"That's right, all the shopkeepers, you can think about it calmly." Zhai Ying also bit the bullet and echoed: "Since Zhang Haogu entered the official position, the little mad dog has not directly harmed us, on the contrary. , he engaged in grain and salt trade rules in Jimen, but he gave us the business of Gubeikou and Xifengkou to Zhangjiakou, which is beneficial to us and has no harm. And you can recall carefully, and propose to engage in grain in Zhangjiakou It is only Liu Ruozai and the gang of Si Lijian who are in the salt trading standard. Zhang Haogu, the little mad dog, did not support this new policy. That is to say, if he takes office at Xuanda University, he may not necessarily do anything in our Zhangjiakou. Salt trading rules."

Except for Fan Yongdou, several locust merchants, including Huang Yunlong, who also has a semicolon in Ningyuan, all looked at each other. They felt that Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying's words were not unreasonable-after all, until now, Master Zhang has not It has been quite stupid to show any hostility to the eight major locust merchants in Zhangjiakou. In order to support the governor of Liaodong, the eight major locust merchants in Zhangjiakou offend the young master Zhang who is good at fighting.Thinking of this, Jin Liangyu was the first to nod his head, and said in a low voice: "It makes sense, it's not worthwhile for us to offend Little Mad Dog Zhang Haogu for no reason. Besides, our colleagues in Jimen also said that Little Mad Dog Zhang Haogu was not a good person for ripping off money. Don't be cruel, even if you don't pay the protection fee, as long as you don't violate the laws of the country, Zhang Haogu, the little mad dog, will never pick a bone in an egg."

"Really? Zhang Haogu, the little mad dog, has such a good intention?" Tian Shenglan doubtfully asked.Guest Liang who was next to him rushed to answer: "Yes, I have a semicolon in Miyun. After Zhang Haogu took office, I listened to Sibeile's arrangement and deliberately didn't give him a meeting gift. Zhang Haogu, the little mad dog, never made things difficult on purpose. Passed me. Also, I remember that Wang Laoyou also has a semicolon in Jizhou, you don’t seem to have said that Zhang Haogu’s little mad dog once charged you money.”

"Impossible? I have a semicolon in Ningyuan, and I can't escape every year's share money. Zhang Haogu's little mad dog will turn a blind eye to the meat on his mouth?" Huang Yunlong was extremely surprised. There are such 'clean' officials.Wang Dengku replied in a low voice: "Shopkeeper Liang is right. I dealt with Zhang Haogu. Except for giving him ten good horses when we first met, I didn't give him anything after that. Zhang Haogu never took the initiative. Ask me for silver."

"Then why didn't you say it earlier?" Huang Yunlong was in a hurry and shouted angrily: "Do you know how much money I have to pay every year for my semicolon in Ningyuan? At least 5000 taels for that year! I knew Zhang Haogu earlier. It’s not so greedy, why did we pay so much money to invite the Governor of Liaodong to Xuanda? There’s so much money that there’s no place to put it?!”

"Shut up!" Fan Yongdou, who hated Young Master Zhang to the core, finally spoke, and said with a livid face, "Zhang Haogu just gave you a little sweetness, and you want to change your family? The one that is famous for eating people without spit out bones The mad dog please go back to Xuanda, we call the wolf into the house, understand? Besides, now that the 20 taels of silver have been thrown out, and you want to support Zhang Haogu, the little mad dog, the 20 taels of silver will be thrown away for nothing. Into the water? If you want to change to support Zhang Haogu, then you go, anyway, I will not pay any money!"

"We can change our words..." Zhai Ying originally wanted to say that there was no need to send any more money, but directly changed her words and said that she wanted to invite Young Master Zhang to Xuanda to be the governor.Wang Dayu over there smoothed things over and said: "All shopkeepers, stop arguing. It's too late to regret it now. Besides, Zhang Haogu is an outsider. Letting him go to Xuanda is always a hidden danger. We still insist on supporting the Governor of Liaodong." Let's go to Xuanda to be the governor. Anyway, when he comes to Xuanda, we can do business with confidence."

"Yes, that's the only way." Most of the other locust merchants also agreed.Only Wang Dengku said dumbfounded: "Then what should we do? Zhai Da and I agreed to Zhang Haogu. He exchanged the position of governor of Xuanfu for our support to him. How can we explain to Zhang Haogu?"

"That's what you agreed to, but we didn't agree. How to explain it now is also your business!" Fan Yongdou snorted angrily.Several other locust merchants also smiled wryly and spread their hands, expressing that they were helpless.Fortunately, Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying, the brothers and sisters, had already expected that these locust merchants would not be loyal, and they were already prepared to use money to appease Young Master Zhang, so they protested a few words and stopped insisting-but so As a result, the conflicts and rifts between Zhai Ying, Wang Dengku and Fan Yongdou inevitably deepened.

For the next half day, Wang Dengku, Zhai Ying and the other six locust merchants, as well as Yuan Chongyu and his group, all spent in anxiety. Of course, Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying were worried that Young Master Zhang would settle accounts with them. And Yuan Chongyu and others are anxious that more than 20 taels of silver have already been thrown out. Why hasn't Wei Zhongxian announced the candidate for the next Xuanda Governor?Could it be that Feng Quan, the comprador in the middle, blackmailed the money?In other words, Wei Zhongxian is still greedy and too little?Under anxiety, Fan Yongdou and Yuan Chongyu inevitably went to Feng Quan's home to inquire about the news at night. Fortunately, Feng Quan finally gave the letter this time——Wei Zhongxian let Feng Quan go on the next day, which is the twelfth lunar month. At noon on the first day of the new year, the eight major locust merchants in Zhangjiakou and Yuan Chongyu were brought to Weiran Hutong to meet.

With this quasi-letter, Fan Yongdou, Yuan Chongyu and others can finally sleep soundly.But on the second day, when the Eight Locust Merchants, Yuan Chongyu and others were about to set off to meet Wei Zhongxian, Zhang Shitou, the captain of Young Master Zhang's personal soldiers, led a group of personal soldiers to Niuti Hutong with a murderous look, and wanted to see Wang Dengku. and Zhai Ying.When Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying bravely came out to entertain, Zhang Shitou waved his hand and shouted, "You two shopkeepers, my young master is already waiting for you, let's go."

"Brother Zhang, can we go to visit Master Futai at night?" Wang Dengku said with a sad face: "Brother Zhang, please report to Master Futai. We have something to do now. In the evening, we will go to Master Futai's house to apologize. Please Futai Your Excellency, please don't blame him." As he said that, Wang Dengku took out silver from his sleeve and stuffed it into Zhang Shitou's hand.

"No." Zhang Shitou didn't take the money, but shook his head and said, "My young master told you that he has something important to do with you. No matter what you have, you have to leave now." After finishing speaking, Zhang Shitou waved his hand, A soldier who had undergone rigorous training with the slave slaughter army rushed forward, picked up Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying, and left, forcing them into their carriage.Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying begged and struggled, but they still declared it useless. Over there, Fan Yongdou, Yuan Chongyu and the others stood by with a sneer. Yuan Chongyu even spat, "Traitor, you deserve it!"

After Di Ying and Wang Dengku were forcibly taken away by Young Master Zhang's personal soldiers, Fan Yongdou, Yuan Chongyu and others who gloated about their misfortune also boarded the carriage they had already prepared, and rushed all the way to Weiran Hutong to meet Feng Quan.When we arrived at Weiran Hutong, Feng Quan's sedan chair just stopped at the gate of Wei Mansion. As soon as we met, Feng Quan immediately said: "Come in with me, I have already agreed with Jiu Qiansui, he will give you half a day at noon today. We will meet at Zhu Xiang's time, and the announcement of the Governor's candidate will also be decided today."

"Okay." Fan Yongdou, Huang Yunlong and other locust merchants smiled happily, and at the same time secretly gloated—for Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying, if they missed the opportunity to know Wei Zhongxian, they would regret their guts.
"Tangguan Feng, what about the slave slaughter army?" Yuan Chongyu asked impatiently.Feng Quan shrugged his shoulders and replied: "I think there should be no problem. I have already said hello to Jiu Qiansui. When the governor of Liaodong is promoted to the governor of Xuanda, he will put the slave army in charge of the governor of Liaodong—Jiuqian Although Chitose did not directly agree, but he immediately agreed to meet with you, basically acquiescing."

"Thank you Tangguan Feng, thank you Tangguan Feng." Yuan Chongyu was overjoyed, and quickly thanked Feng Quan, followed Feng Quan quickly, and went directly to the gate of Wei Zhongxian's mansion.The six major locust merchants also followed closely, thinking about how to make friends with Wei Zhongxian, and try to get some business from the six departments and twelve prisons.

I have to admit that Feng Quan does still have status in Wei Zhongxian's mansion. He led seven or eight outsiders into the mansion. The guards of the Wei mansion who guarded the gate just casually checked whether Fan Yongdou, Yuan Chongyu and others were carrying weapons, and they didn't even have identities. After cross-examination, he waved his hand and let him go.But no matter how courageous Feng Quan was, no matter how high his status was, he did not dare to lead Yuan Chongyu and Fan Yongdou directly into Wei Zhongxian's back hall where Wei Zhongxian was discussing matters. Wei Zhongxian reported——Of course, the servants of Wei's mansion, whose eyes grew to their foreheads, didn't even bother to serve Fan Yongdou, Yuan Chongyu and others a cup of tea.Moreover, after the little eunuch who had received Feng Quan's money went in to report, he came out and said: "Officer Feng, the old ancestor told you to wait a little longer, he still has some things to do."

"It's okay, let's wait, thank you little eunuch." Feng Quan smiled and agreed, then turned to Fan Yongdou and Yuan Chongyu and said arrogantly: "Nine thousand years old is a busy person, you wait a little longer."

"It's okay, it's okay, wait until Nine Thousand Years is done." Huang Yunlong also agreed with a smile.But at this moment, several people suddenly walked in from outside the hall, and the leader shouted loudly: "Eunuch An, is my father there? I have something to see him."

"Zhang Haogu?!" Hearing this disgusting familiar voice, Feng Quan, Fan Yongdou, Yuan Chongyu and the others almost jumped up. Among the three people, not only Zhang Haogu's little mad dog, but also Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying who were gloating just now and had no chance to know Wei Zhongxian!When Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying saw Fan Yongdou, Yuan Chongyu and others present, they were also dumbfounded, and forgot to say hello for a while.

"Oh, it turned out to be Tanhua Lang." The little eunuch of the Wei Mansion, who had to pay Feng Quan to send the message at the beginning, was all smiles, and said with a smile: "The old ancestor is in the back hall. Does Tan Hualang want to visit his old man?"

"Yes, I want to introduce my two friends to my father, please report to me, Eunuch An." Young Master Zhang said to the little eunuch proudly.The little eunuch smiled again, and directly gave way to the road: "Don't be joking, Tanhualang. You are paying homage to Nine Thousand Years, and you still need a servant to report to you? Tanhualang, please, and the servant will guide you." Young Master Zhang was also polite. , waved to Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying, and said with a smile: "Treasurer Wang, shopkeeper Zhai, let's go, I will introduce my father to you."

After all, Young Master Zhang pulled Zhai Ying and Wang Dengku directly into the back hall of the Wei Mansion. The little eunuch surnamed An smiled and led the way without stopping him, as if he was used to it.Seeing this scene, Feng Quan's eyes were burning with jealousy, while the six locust merchants, including Fan Yongdou and Huang Yunlong, were stunned. After a long while, the six locust merchants regretted together in their hearts, "Damn it! If I had known Zhang The old mad dog is so good in front of the old eunuch Wei, why do you guys spend so much money begging Feng Quan, this old dog? Now it’s all right, Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying are two bastards, but they picked a big deal."

………………

Let's not talk about the six locust merchants regretting their intestines in the hall, just say that Young Master Zhang saw Wei Zhongxian's face directly after he pulled Wang Dengku and Di Ying into the back hall.After Zhai Ying and Wang Dengku went through the etiquette tremblingly, Wei Zhongxian pointed at the two of them, and asked Young Master Zhang with a smile: "Monkey boy, these two seem to be the two shopkeepers of Zhangjiakou, right? Our family's [-]th birthday , seems to have seen them."

"Back to father, it's them." Young Master Zhang introduced with a smile: "This shopkeeper is called Di Ying, and this one is called Wang Dengku. They are my old friends."

"Very good." Wei Zhongxian nodded, and greeted with a smile: "You two shopkeepers, you don't have to be formal, just sit casually. Come here, and serve tea to the two shopkeepers."

Putting two cups of hot Junshan Yunwu in front of them, Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying suddenly felt flattered and dizzy—just now Young Master Zhang sent his own soldiers to take them away forcibly, they thought that Young Master Zhang was going to settle accounts with them, never Thinking that after they were taken away in front of Young Master Zhang, Young Master Zhang not only did not say a word about their dishonesty, but took them directly to Wei Zhongxian's home, and even met Wei Zhongxian before Fan Yongdou and Huang Yunlong, and won Wei Zhongxian's favor. It is a great honor for Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying to receive him cordially.Of course, Zhai Ying and Wang Dengku, who are as virtuous as Fan Yongdou and others, also felt a sense of schadenfreude, "Look, this is the end of sitting on the wrong butt!"

"Monkey boy, what's the matter with you taking these two shopkeepers today?" Wei Zhongxian asked about the reason for Young Master Zhang's visit.Young Master Zhang was not too polite, and said straight to the point: "Father, it has been a month since my son came back from the Mongolian grasslands, and the new position has not been settled yet—— My son recently heard that the term of office of Mr. Zhang Puzhang, the governor of Xuanda, is about to expire. The rotation is about to happen, and the boy dared to beg his father to give the boy a chance to take over this position."

"You want to be the governor of Xuanda?" Wei Zhongxian, who has a famous memory, suddenly seemed to have amnesia, and forgot that he promised to let Young Master Zhang be the governor of Xuanda. To the north of Xuanda is the Tatars, and to the west is the rebels, the responsibility is heavy and arduous, and if there is a slight mistake, the reputation may be ruined, do you really want to go?"

"Father, don't worry, the boy will not let you down." Young Master Zhang patted his chest to assure, then pointed to Zhai Ying and Wang Dengku and said, "Besides, my boy also has the support of shopkeepers Zhai and Wang. They have eight shops in Zhangjiakou. , is Xuanda's local snake, familiar with the local geography and folk customs, with their support, after the child takes office, he will be able to quickly understand the situation, and will defend his father and the court from the north and the Xiping rebellion."

Speaking of this, Young Master Zhang said without blushing: "Moreover, shopkeeper Wang Da and Zhai Da shopkeeper also hope that I will take up the post at Xuan University—for this, they also took the opportunity of your [-]th birthday, father , I expressed my filial piety to my father! I just hope that you will agree, father, and let me go to Xuanda University to take up the post."

"What?" Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying almost didn't cry, they said to Zhang Haogu, you little mad dog is really good at picking cheap, and you want old eunuch Wei to think that the 20 taels of silver we gave you is to buy Xuan Xuan for you. The position of the Grand Governor?Wei Zhongxian over there was also taken aback, turned to Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying and asked, "Is that true? The reason you show filial piety to our family is to let our family put this monkey boy in Xuanda to be the governor?"

"I...I...we." Zhai Ying and Wang Dengku didn't know how to answer Wei Zhongxian. They wanted to say that they were actually buying officials for the governor of Liaodong, but they couldn't say it directly in front of Young Master Zhang. .

"Sorry to admit it? It's okay." Wei Zhongxian once again misunderstood what Zhai Ying and Wang Dengku meant, and said with a smile: "Well, since you want our son to go to Xuanda to be the governor, then we agree to you , our family will go to the emperor to ask for an order to appoint this monkey boy as the governor of Xuanda."

"No!" Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying screamed in their hearts with ashen faces.But Wei Zhongxian didn't care about their facial expressions at all, he just waved and ordered the little eunuch to send Feng Quan, Yuan Chongyu, Fan Yongdou and other locust merchants.After a while, Feng Quan, Fan Yongdou and others came to the back hall, and just after the ceremony, Wei Zhongxian said straight to the point: "What do you mean, the two big shopkeepers, Wang Dengku and Di Ying, have already told our family—it depends on you For the sake of filial piety recently, our family agrees to your request."

"What did Di Ying and Wang Dengku say?" Fan Yongdou, Yuan Chongyu and the others felt a strong sense of foreboding.Wei Zhongxian called Young Master Zhang to the front, patted Young Master Zhang on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Our family agrees to your request, let our son go to Xuanda to be the governor, and protect you from the Tatars in the north and suppress the rebels in the west. , so that you can rest assured to do business and do big business. But our family has something to say first, this monkey is the most beloved son of our family. After he arrives at Xuanda University, you have to support him well. Do it well. Our family has a reward, otherwise, our family will not spare you."

"What?" Fan Yongdou, Yuan Chongyu and the others almost fainted. Feng Quan just wanted to jump up and shout, but was swept away by Wei Zhongxian's cold eyes, and he shrank back obediently in fright, screaming in his heart, "What happened there?" Question, where is the problem? Aren’t these profiteers in Zhangjiakou buying officials for the governor of Liaodong? How did they become buying officials for Zhang Haogu, a mad dog?”

"Father, I remember that Wang Tangguan of the Ministry of War said yesterday that the Ministry of War intends to purchase a batch of grain from the people and transport it to Shanxi for the Shanxi army to defend against the enemy." Probably to repay Di Ying and Wang Dengku for their recommendation, Young Master Zhang He took the initiative to plead: "For the sake of my son, please assign this business to the two shopkeepers, Zhai Ying and Wang Dengku, to handle it."

"Monkey boy, can you eat people soft-mouthed?" Wei Zhongxian cursed lovingly, then pointed to Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying and said, "Okay, you two can go to the Ministry of War in a while and tell them that our family has promised you , let you do this business."

Wang Dengku and Zhai Ying were tongue-tied, and they didn't kowtow to Wei Zhongxian tremblingly until Young Master Zhang reminded them, "Thank you for your kindness." When they raised their heads again, Di Ying and Wang Dengku carefully peeked at the kneeling Fan Yongdou, Huang Yunlong and others in the back - all they could see were ferocious gazes that could kill!And Yuan Chongyu's vicious gaze that can eat people...

(End of this chapter)