Back to Daming to be a genius

Chapter 279
(PS: It’s the end of the month, continue to ask for double monthly tickets, and book next year’s monthly tickets for the dog by the way!)
In the city of Luoyang, there is such a splendid and magnificent mansion. The garden in the courtyard is shaded by pines and cypresses, the bouquets of flowers are like the sea, and the blue waves are rippling. The trees are in stark contrast to the generally low and gloomy common people's houses around.And the person living in this mansion is none other than the uncle of the current Emperor Qi, the half-brother of the late Emperor Taichang, and the most beloved third son of Emperor Wanli, who was once only half a step away from the throne. Yao, the richest and most stingy vassal king in the Ming Dynasty-Fu Wang Zhu Changxun!

"You bastard, are you blind? Eggs, eggs! My king's eggs!" On the afternoon of the seventh day of February, by the side door of Fu Wang's mansion, our Lord Fu Zhu Changxun beat his chest and stomped his feet again, pointing at the egg just now. The servant who came back yelled, "This king asked you to go to the manor outside the city to get a few eggs and return them to steamed egg custard. How dare you break three of them for me! Three! Three eggs, just gone! You What should be the crime? What should be the crime?!"

"My lord, forgive me. The road was bumpy, and the villains accidentally broke it. Please forgive me, my lord." A few servants kowtowed like chickens pecking at rice, begging with mournful faces.Our Lord Fu jumped three feet high, shaking more than 300 catties of fat on his body, and shouted: "Forgive you? Who will pay for the eggs of the king? Don't say anything. For a few, thirty cents will be deducted from each person's salary! Also, you are not allowed to eat dinner today!"

"My lord, even if it is a famine year, the eggs on the street are only four to five cents each..." A servant said cautiously.Lord Fu kicked him on the chest, and shouted with tears in his eyes: "Can the eggs on the street compare with the eggs in this king's manor? How much grain does the hen in this king's manor need to eat to give birth?" An egg? This egg hatches into a chick, grows into a hen, and the chicken lays an egg, and the egg lays a chicken. How much will it cost? Counting ten cents a piece for you, it is already cheap for you bastards! One more wordy, Lao Tzu Everyone will reward ten boards!"

"Yes." Several palace servants kowtowed in agreement.At this time, the steward of Prince Fu's Mansion suddenly ran over and said to Zhu Changxun with a smile: "My lord, great joy, great joy, something good has happened."

"What's the good thing? Is my emperor's nephew announcing an order to increase my salary?" Lord Fu asked with bright eyes.The housekeeper hesitated, shook his head quickly and said, "My lord, it's not such a happy event. It's the new governor of the five provinces, Zhang Haogu and Zhang Butang, who came to our Luoyang. Now he's stationed outside the city, ready to go west to fight against the rebels in Shaanxi. I have long heard that this Zhang Butang is like a god of soldiers, invincible and invincible. He is the number one god of war in Ming Dynasty. This time, he will disrupt the thieves. You don’t have to worry about the thieves. Entering Henan, to harass the prince's manor and fields."

"What? Zhang Haogu is here?" Contrary to the expectations of the steward of the palace, upon hearing the news, our Fu Wang Zhu Changxun not only showed no joy, but shouted in shock: "Hurry up, close the gate! Zhang Haogu If you come to visit the king, tell him that the king is sick and cannot meet him, and ask him to go back."

"My lord, Zhang Butang is very powerful. It would be a good thing if he came to visit you. Why did you excuse your illness?" the housekeeper asked in surprise.Before he finished speaking, Prince Fu's fat slap had already landed on his head, and he cursed with a black face: "Stupid pig! Are you stupid? If Zhang Haogu will come to visit me this time, can I not keep him for dinner? When the time comes, will you pay me for the wine and food he drinks?" The butler suddenly realized, and quickly kowtowed in agreement, and ran to order the porter to close the door, explaining that Young Master Zhang must not be allowed in.Our Lord Fu ran back to the backyard at a trot, hid in the room of the thirteen concubines and pretended to be sick.

Our Lord Fu's Crow's Mouth is really as effective as our Young Master Zhang. In the evening, as soon as Young Master Zhang settled down the army, he immediately led Shi Kefa, Song Xiance and others into the city to give the current emperor's relatives Uncle, hello.When he reached the gate of the palace, he knocked on the door and gave his name. The concierge immediately said, "My lord Zhang, I'm really sorry. Our prince said he was ill and couldn't cleanse you up. Please go back."

"Sick?" Young Master Zhang was still a little confused at first, but when he saw the leaves of wild vegetables near the mouth of the palace gate, Young Master Zhang came to his senses immediately, and said with a smile: "Please tell me, my servant, that I have already eaten dinner." I don’t dare bother the prince to host a banquet. It’s just that when I left Beijing, my father, Eunuch Wei, entrusted me to bring two century-old Korean ginseng to the prince. I would like to present a small gift to the lord in person, please spare a little time to meet me." As he spoke, Young Master Zhang winked, and Zhang Shitou immediately took out two taels of silver and stuffed it into the doorman's hand.

"Wait a moment, my lord, I'll go in and report this little one." As the saying goes, where there is a master, there must be a servant. Although Prince Fu has repeatedly confessed that he will not see Young Master Zhang, but Zhang Shishi put two taels of silver in it, and the monthly salary is less than five yuan in the palace. Menzi immediately rolled up his sleeves and ran in to report.And our Lord Fu was furious at first, but when he heard that Young Master Zhang was here to give gifts this time, his eyes lit up immediately, and he shouted repeatedly: "Quick! Quick! Quick! Please help me change clothes, open the middle door, my king!" I have to meet Zhang Butang in person!"

Just like the legend, our Prince Fu does have a sturdy physique of more than 360 jins of fat, so that when he appeared in front of Young Master Zhang, Young Master Zhang, Shi Kefa, Song Xiance and others all thought that they were playing tricks— —How could there be a big meat ball rolling towards us?And Lord Fu also showed his true nature of being open-eyed when he sees money. First, he viciously praised our young master Zhang for his great contributions to his Zhu family, and then he gave all his three sons Zhu Yousong, Zhu Youqu and Zhu Youhua He called out to greet Young Master Zhang, and finally welcomed Young Master Zhang and his party into the hall, and served tea—it was indeed tea, but there were only three small pieces of tea in a teacup.

"My lord, these two hundred-year-old Korean ginsengs were given to you by my father, Eunuch Wei." Young master Zhang asked Zhang Shitou to hold out two ginsengs that he bought at a drugstore, and took out a small ginseng from his sleeve. The small wooden box said with a flattering smile: "This emerald butterfly is a little bit of care for the prince from the humble position, and I hope the prince will not dislike it."

"Zhang Butang is too polite. You have come from a long way. I am already very sorry that I have not been able to clean up the dust for you. Why do you have the nerve to let you spend money?" Lord Fu smiled humbly on his fat face, and his fat hands Can't wait to grab the wooden box and open it, seeing that the box contained indeed a valuable emerald jade butterfly, the fat face burst into a smile, and pretended to say to Young Master Zhang: "Zhang Butang, my king's Nephew, is the body of Wansui today okay now? And Eunuch Wei, is his body okay too?"

"Go back to the prince, the emperor's dragon body is fine, and my father, Eunuch Wei, is also in good health." Young Master Zhang stood up and replied.Lord Fu waved his hand to let Young Master Zhang sit down, sighed hypocritically, and exclaimed: "It's been thirteen or four years, right? I remember that when my king Wanli left the capital in 42 years, the emperor was still a little boy in his teens. Baby, Eunuch Wei is still a young eunuch in Jiaziku, I haven't seen them for more than ten years, and I don't know what they look like?"

"Don't worry, my lord, your majesty and Jiu Qiansui are very good." Young Master Zhang said with a smile: "And they often mention you, my father, Eunuch Wei, often said that someone often said that about you old man, Mr. Wanli. The emperor actually wanted you to inherit the throne, my lord. You were conferred the title of Queen Fu, and you lived in the capital for 13 years without becoming a vassal, and you almost became the emperor. , This is how the later Emperor Taichang and the current Emperor Tianqi came into existence."

"Zhang Butang, you can't talk nonsense about this!" Prince Fu's face trembled, and he quickly lowered his voice and said: "Zhang Butang, don't talk about the past. This king was not a prince back then. It is this king who has no blessings, this king's elder brother Taichang Xianhuang is the real son of Fogg, this king is not even worthy to carry his shoes!"

"Your Majesty, this is not what the officials said." Young Master Zhang also lowered his voice, and said in a low voice: "The officials also know that this matter should not be talked about nonsense, but some people who like to chew their tongues like to use it as a joke. Make a fuss—it’s like the time in the seventh year of the apocalypse that the emperor asked the vassals from all over the country to donate to support the war. The more than [-] vassals in the country all donated, but you, the prince, did not donate a tael of silver! Your majesty, of course, knows that you are a bag I'm shy in the middle, I really can't get it out, so I didn't blame you - but some villains muttered, saying that among the vassal princes in the world, you are the prince who has the most land and the most salt, so why didn't you donate a tael of silver? ? Could it be that, my lord, your silver is used by others?"

"Fucking shit!" Lord Fu screamed like a pig, jumped up and howled, "Who said that this king is the richest? When this king was a vassal, his father sealed this king with 2 yuan!" Tian Di, but Zhang Butang, you also know that there is still so much free land in Henan that was entrusted to the king, and it was converted into [-] taels of silver every year and rewarded to the king! After more than ten years, even if the king does not eat or drink , How much money can I save? Besides, besides supporting my family, what else can I use my money for?”

"Don't worry, my lord, when those treacherous villains said that, my father, Eunuch Wei, slapped him on the spot!" Young Master Zhang comforted him, "And your majesty, also severely scolded those treacherous villains who spread rumors and made troubles!" After a while, say that you are the brother of the late emperor, and the uncle of Long Live today. You have always loved the emperor the most, so where can you spend your money?"

"Your Majesty really said that?" Prince Fu was a little puzzled—if it wasn't for the protection of Queen Mother Li of the Wanli Dynasty, Prince Fu's wife Zheng Guifei would have wanted to poison Emperor Tianqi and his father to death a long time ago.Young Master Zhang nodded solemnly, and replied: "Don't worry, my lord, the emperor really said so." Speaking of this, Young Master Zhang suddenly lowered his voice again, and said mysteriously: "But those treacherous villains are still unwilling to give up. Pulling out the matter of King Ning back then, it was said that King Ning was reluctant to give a tael of money to the court and the people, but was willing to give it to the officials of the court and the guards of the palace, and King Ning recruited those troublemakers and rioters... …”

Young Master Zhang hadn't finished speaking yet, Prince Fu's fat face had lost half of his color—just kidding, Prince Ning, that Prince Ning in "Tang Bohu Spots Autumn Fragrance" failed to rebel and was punished all over his family!If Lord Fu really made the emperor who had a grudge against him suspect that he wanted to be King Ning, wouldn't he be courting death?Thinking up to this point, Prince Fu, who has always been stingy, suddenly regretted his stinginess for the first time. If he had known earlier, he should have donated more or less!Under tension, Prince Fu hurriedly asked again: "Zhang Butang, what did the emperor say later?"

"I'm sorry, my lord. I'm a foreign minister. These things are just based on hearsay, and I don't know about the following things." Young Master Zhang spread his hands helplessly, and persuaded him with good intentions: "But don't worry, my lord. When today's holy candle shines, it should not listen to the slander of those shameless villains."

"Don't do it! This is related to my family and life, you should give me a letter of approval!" Lord Fu almost didn't cry.At this time, Song Xiance, who had been keeping silent all this time, suddenly interjected: "Boss, there is another matter, you should tell the lord, so that the lord can be prepared, so that the lord won't be killed by a traitor if he is confused."

"What's the matter?" Prince Fu jumped up nervously.Young Master Zhang shook his head and scolded: "Master Song, I am talking to the prince, so I don't have your place to intervene. Look at your nonsense, how scared the prince is?" Shrunk, bowed his head and replied: "The student knows his mistake, please forgive me."

"Zhang Butang, you can't joke about this matter. If you still think of me as a prince, you should tell me everything about me." Prince Fu was in a hurry and urged him repeatedly.Young Master Zhang of course refused to speak, but replied: "Don't worry, my lord, it's just a trivial matter of sesame seeds and mung beans. It's okay if you don't listen to it. Well, it's getting late, lord, you should rest early, the next official has to go there tomorrow." Tongguan suppresses the bandits, so I will take my leave first, and I will come to pay my respects to the lord when I have a chance in the future." After that, Young Master Zhang got up and left, and said with a smile: "Your lord, you should rest early. In a few days, maybe my father Wei Father-in-law will send someone to visit you again."

"No! I don't have any friendship with Wei Zhongxian, why should he send me ginseng? Would he send someone to visit me?" The not-too-stupid Prince Fu suddenly came to his senses, "That old dog He is the emperor's confidant, in charge of Dongchang and Zhenfusi. One of his important responsibilities is to monitor whether we vassal kings will rebel and usurp the throne. He sent his most trusted son, Zhang Xiaojiegou, to give me gifts. Could it be that he just wanted to Test me to see if I want to rebel? And this little dog, who fought so hard, could it be just like the case of King Ning's rebellion—Wang Qiong, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, suspected that King Ning was going to rebel, but there was no evidence. That's why you sent that old rascal Wang Yangming, who was the best at fighting at that time, to Jiangxi to prepare?"

"Zhang Butang, you came from a long way, you didn't even drink a glass of wine, how could you just leave like this?" At this point, Lord Fu didn't dare to hesitate anymore, he quickly grabbed Young Master Zhang, and repeatedly ordered: " Come quickly, prepare the best banquet, the best wine, I want to clean up the dust for the master of the Ministry! Hurry up, you bastards, dig out the 60-year-old Moutai that the former emperor gave to the king, the Ministry of Hospitality Your Excellency!"

In any case, Young Master Zhang finally failed to win over the generous and enthusiastic Lord Fu, and stayed in Prince Fu's mansion to accompany Lord Fu.During the banquet, after drinking for three rounds, Lord Fu of course had to bring up the matter that Young Master Zhang concealed, and Young Master Zhang finally told the truth this time, and first used his winks to make Lord Fu back away, and then he got into Lord Fu's ears Bian whispered: "My lord, that matter is really not big, and I am so humble and daring, I dare not provoke the relationship between you and the emperor, my lord, and I also concealed that matter, and did not report it to the court, so you just let it go." A hundred hearts."

"My lord, what is going on, you have to let me know, and be prepared." Lord Fu asked in shock.Young Master Zhang hesitated for a moment, and finally whispered in Lord Fu's ear: "My lord, the thing is like this. When I was serving as the governor of Xuanda in a humble position, when I sent troops to hunt down the rebels in Shaanxi, I once caught a leader of the rebels. He claimed to be You raised the flag to rebel according to your lord's order, and prepared to put you on the throne, and said that his military salary and food were all provided to him secretly by you, your lord. Use torture to interrogate him, force him to tell the truth, and ask him who ordered him to slander and frame you, my lord? But that thief is very stubborn, and he never changed his words until he died!"

"Is there such a thing?" Lord Fu almost didn't cry, he said to that goddamn thief, I provoked you, why did you frame me like this?Young Master Zhang patted Lord Fu on the shoulder presumptuously, and comforted him: "Your Majesty, don't worry, the only people who know about this matter are a few confidantes in low positions, and they will keep it a secret from you. The confession has also been quietly burned by the humble official, and has not been submitted to the court."

"My lord, you are really my savior!" Lord Fu was so lucky that he almost didn't cry—if such a confession was handed over to the court, then Lord Fu would have a hundred mouths all over his body. Don't even think about making it clear!Young Master Zhang said modestly again: "My lord has won the award. You have never been to Shaanxi in your life. You are very aware of this humble position, so how could you have any collusion with the thieves in Shaanxi? Don't worry, my lord, even if someone is going forward to slander the emperor." , slandering you, the humble official will definitely fight for you and clear your innocence, so you can rest assured."

"Thank you, Mr. Butang. Your great kindness and virtue will never be forgotten by the king." Lord Fu thanked him, and then said with a mournful face: "I'm afraid that if there are villains who go forward to slander the emperor, then even Mr. Butang will do it for you." Xiao Wang can't tell."

"That's true. Since ancient times, killing people with the tongue is more powerful than killing people with a knife." Young Master Zhang nodded in agreement, and complained from the bottom of his heart: "My lord, I didn't mean you because of your lowly position. Why did you pay a tael of silver in the seventh year of the apocalypse?" Don’t you donate even a grain of food? At that time, if you gritted your teeth and donated thousands of 800 taels of silver to the court’s suppression of rebellion and thieves, how could you attract such gossip? Don’t you know, my lord, that you left Beijing When you became a feudal vassal, today's Wansui witnessed it with his own eyes. The emperor knew how much silver and jewels were given to you by the first emperor Wanli. Are you recruiting troops to rebel?"

"Master Butang taught you the lesson, and Xiao Wang is regretting it now." Lord Fu nodded in despair. After a little calculation, Lord Fu suddenly grabbed Master Zhang's sleeve again and asked eagerly: "Zhang Butang, what are you doing this time?" Going to Shaanxi to take up the post of suppressing bandits, you must be short of military pay, right? See if this works, Xiao Wang will donate 2000 taels of silver to you as a military pay. The emperor's royal view?"

"My lord, don't harm the lowly position!" Young Master Zhang turned pale with shock, and quickly refused: "The lowly level cannot ask for your military salary, absolutely not!"

"Xiao Wang's contribution to help the army, why did it hurt you?" Lord Fu asked in confusion.Young Master Zhang refused even with a wave of his hand, and said with fear on his face: "My lord, I respect you as the emperor's uncle, and I can't bear to see your uncle and nephew doubting you, so I boldly concealed some things from the court for you-but your military salary , A lowly job is absolutely not allowed! My lord, I beg you for a lowly job, don’t harm the lowly job!"

The more Young Master Zhang refused, the more terrified Prince Fu became, and he couldn't help thinking, "Could it be that the emperor has already suspected me to this extent? This little dog is afraid of being troubled by me in the future, so he said nothing." Are you willing to ask for my money? Otherwise, there is no reason not to accept the money delivered to the door?" At this time, Song Xiance suddenly whispered: "Your Majesty, you really don't want to harm our master—there are rumors in the capital that , You sent 20 taels of silver and 2000 shi of grain to Shaanxi to recruit troops and raise the flag to cause chaos! Now you are giving our master [-] taels of silver as military pay, what is it to make our master suspect?"

"Master Song, if you continue to talk nonsense, I will kick you out!" Young Master Zhang became angry and shouted: "Can you believe those nonsense rumors? Although the prince can afford so much money and food, but How could he use it to fund the thieves?" After finishing speaking, Young Master Zhang stood up, cupped his hands to Lord Fu and said, "My lord, the lowly position is not effective in governing the government. If you don't manage this master well, he will be dismissed when you return from the lowly position. Here you go." Let it out! Alright, it's getting late, and the humble official is also full of wine and food, so I should leave."

"20 taels of silver and [-] shi of grain?" Lord Fu almost paralyzed from fright, and quickly grabbed Master Zhang's sleeve tightly, begging, "Zhang Butang, don't rush away, let Xiao Wang think again, let Xiao Wang think about it again, let him go!" Xiao Wang thinks about it carefully—what the hell is going on? Who is this king provoking? Why are so many people trying to punish Xiao Wang to death...?" Lord Fu was really flustered, his head The inside is completely a mess, and I can't think of how I will be reduced to this point even if I break my head?I am obviously a local rich man in Luoyang City, and I am a rich man, so why do some people insist that I am planning to rebel?Donate money and food to support those gangsters in Shaanxi?
"My lord, it's getting late, and I really have to leave my humble post." Young Master Zhang evaded repeatedly, and then ordered Zhang Shitou: "Shitou, go to the gate to prepare the horse, and leave the city overnight to return to the barracks." Go, Young Master Zhang also threw off Lord Fu and walked out.Song Xiance took the opportunity to get close to Lord Fu who was in a mess, and whispered in Lord Fu's ear: "My lord, the grassroots have a way to help you get rid of the suspicion, so that those treacherous villains can no longer slander you. It can also make the emperor and Jiuqiantui feel completely at ease with you."

"What way?" Lord Fu asked impatiently.Song Xiance hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice: "My lord, Caomin can give you advice, but you have to promise Caomin one condition—Your lord, you have seen that our boss is going to fire me. If I am really fired , you have to let me work as a tent in your palace to earn some salary to support the family."

"No problem, this is absolutely no problem." Prince Fu agreed.Only then did Song Xiance lower his voice and say, "My lord, since so many people in the court are slandering you, and the emperor and Jiuqian sent Zhang Butang to visit you, then you simply donate 20 taels of silver to Zhang Butang." The military pay and [-] shi of grain to help Zhang Butang wipe out the rebels in Shaanxi! In this way, who else would dare to slander you? How could the emperor be suspicious of you?"

"20 taels of silver?! Fifty thousand shi of military rations?!" Lord Fu almost had a heart attack on the spot.Song Xiance said again in a low voice: "My lord, don't think too much, think about it carefully, if you are really regarded as King Ning by the court, wouldn't all your money and food be the military pay and rations for the court to suppress the rebels? "

"Master Song, let's go, the master is urging." Shi Kefa who had been silent all this time finally spoke to urge.At this time, Zhang Shitou, who had already gone out to prepare his horse, suddenly ran in again in a hurry, and said loudly in the courtyard: "Master, something has happened. The two adults, Liang Zhidong, the censor of Henan Province, and Chen Qiyu, the prefect of Luoyang, have urgent military reports, and they are already outside the door." I've been waiting for you for more than half an hour."

"You bastard, since there is an urgent military situation, why didn't you report it immediately, instead of reporting it for so long?" Young Master Zhang asked angrily.Zhang Shitou took out something from his arms, handed it to Young Master Zhang, and whispered a few words in Young Master Zhang's arms.Young Master Zhang turned pale in shock, and hurried back to the room, and shouted at the distraught Prince Fu with a black face: "My lord, what is going on? Do you really want to be King Ning?"

"What... what's wrong?" Prince Fu asked out of his wits.Young Master Zhang threw the things that Zhang Shitou had handed over on Lord Fu's face, and said angrily, "Look for yourself, this is something captured by the Henan army on the battlefield of suppressing thieves! If you don't give the official an explanation today, don't give me an explanation." Blame the officials for learning from Mr. Wang Yangming!"

"What is this?" Lord Fu tremblingly tore off the thing that was hit on the head by Young Master Zhang. At first glance, he found it was a military flag. When he unfolded it again, foam came out of Lord Fu's mouth—a flag stained with blood. The above clearly stated: Zhu Changxun, Emperor Hongguang of the Ming Dynasty!

"Boss, this is impossible, this must be a plan to divorce the thieves!" Song Xiance was afraid of scaring the old man Fu Wang to death, so he hurriedly stood up to defend Fu Wang.Shi Kefa also stood up, cupped his hands to Young Master Zhang and said, "My lord, this must be a forgery. The prince really has such a heart. He must have ambushed countless knives and axes in the mansion. If he finds out that the matter is revealed, he will chop us down. How about that?" Will you treat us like this?"

"Of course I understand what you're talking about!" Young Master Zhang yelled with a livid face, "But how can I explain this flag to the imperial court? Don't hesitate anymore, Shitou, send an order to send the slave army into the city, and surround the prince first The mansion, this official will expedite the matter to report to the imperial court with six hundred miles, please the imperial court make a decision!"

"My lord, you can't hesitate any longer." Song Xiance helped Prince Fu who had collapsed on the ground, and said nervously: "The court must have committed murder and never let go of this kind of thing. You can't explain it clearly even if you have [-] mouths! That method of mine can clear your grievances!"

"Zhang Butang, I beg you!" Finally, Prince Fu couldn't bear the heavy pressure. He threw himself on his knees, hugged Young Master Zhang's thigh and cried loudly, "I am willing to donate 20 taels of silver and [-] shi Grain, to help you send troops to suppress thieves, I just ask you to report the truth to the court and clear up my grievances—! I beg you—!”

(End of this chapter)