Back to Daming to be a genius

Chapter 42 Guiding the maze
After finding out the culprit who really drove Xiong Tingbi to his death, the prospect of Young Master Zhang's rescue of Xiong Tingbi suddenly became brighter. It is speculated that there is still great hope for transplanting into the head of the nine-thousand-year-old Wei Zhongxian.But what Young Master Zhang never dreamed of was that after only one day of work, there would be unimaginable twists and turns in the case of Xiong Tingbi...

It was on the afternoon of March 500th in the fifth year of Tianqi. Master Zhang and his servants spent [-] taels of silver to buy a huge house in the alley of Prime Minister Wen in Jiaozhongfang, Dongcheng, Beijing, and left the original owner behind. A few young servants also bought it, and just started directing them to clean the house, when Xiong Hu's master and servant rushed in in a hurry.Seeing Xiong Hu, Young Master Zhang couldn't help being startled, and said in surprise: "Hey, my little Huhu's news is better than Dongchang's. I bought this house less than half an hour ago, and I can find it here?"

"Master, I told Xiu'er at the vegetable market in the morning that we were going to come here to look at the house." Zhang Shitou replied rather shyly.Young Master Zhang picked up the handle of the fan and hit Zhang Shitou's head, scolding: "There is adultery but no friendship, you dare to betray the young master's business?" Xiong Hu, who was out of breath, said: "Huhu, you came just in time, how about our new house? There is a three-entry courtyard, and there are gardens and ponds in the back. It is beautiful, it is It’s still being cleaned, it’s a bit dusty, and the furniture hasn’t been bought yet…”

"Don't... don't talk about the house." Xiong Hu waved his hand to stop Young Master Zhang from bragging, and after finally breathing, Xiong Hu grabbed Young Master Zhang's sleeve and said with a mournful face: "Brother Zhang, something is wrong. At noon today, Xu Eryi Uncle Xu went to my house and told us brothers and sisters that some officials and censors attacked my father as if they were crazy this morning, and forced the emperor to kill my father immediately. I have no choice but to find here to discuss with you."

"Ask to kill immediately?" Young Master Zhang was also taken aback, and blurted out, "Why? It's still half a year before the Autumn Judgment?"

"How could I know the reason?" Xiong Hu said with a sad face: "I heard from Uncle Xu that those people insisted that my father retreated without authorization and lost Liaodong, so they must force the emperor to kill my father immediately! Uncle Xu argued with them, But there were too many of them, and Uncle Xu lost to four with two fists."

"What does the emperor mean? Did you agree?" Young Master Zhang asked nervously.Xiong Hu shook his head, and replied: "The emperor hasn't made a statement today, but Uncle Xu found that the emperor's attitude is a little loose, worried that the situation will not be good if this continues, so he hurried to my house to send us a letter, telling us brothers and sisters to be mentally prepared."

"It's fine as long as the emperor doesn't agree immediately." Young Master Zhang breathed a sigh of relief, and then comforted: "Don't worry, sit down and drink some water to catch your breath, and then tell me in detail what's going on. After all, those officials are convulsed and anxious. kill your father."

"Okay." Xiong Hu nodded gratefully, sat on the chair brought by Young Master Zhang himself and drank two glasses of water, and then told what Xu Eryi told the Xiong family brothers and sisters.It turned out that in the early morning of this morning, the official censor headed by Yang Yuan, Feng Sanyuan, Yang Daoyin, Su Yan and Xu Jinglian suddenly fired at Xiong Tingbi, and led a group of supporters to enumerate Xiong Tingbi's so-called crimes in Liaodong, demanding that Ming Xizong immediately To punish Xiong Tingbi in a canonical manner, and use the police to emulate you, although Xu Eryi spoke uprightly, he was helplessly weak, and he was not a match for Yang Yuan and others at all.Fortunately, Yang Yuan, Feng Sanyuan and others obviously did not greet Donglin Party and Wei Party in advance, so the most powerful Donglin Party and Wei Party did not immediately agree, but chose to wait and see neutrally, waiting for the boss to speak After deciding where to stand, Ming Xizong didn't immediately agree - but his attitude was already a little loose.As soon as Xu Er knew the seriousness of the situation, he didn't even return home after the court, and immediately rushed to report to the house rented by the Xiong family brothers and sisters, so that the Xiong family brothers were prepared—in fact, they were mentally prepared.

"Huhu, if I remember correctly, you seemed to have said yesterday that Yang Yuan, Feng Sanyuan, and Yao Zongwen were all your father's rivals back then, right?" Young Master Zhang pinched his smooth chin and asked thoughtfully.Xiong Hu nodded, then suddenly understood, and exclaimed: "By the way, could it be Yao Zongwen's fault? Yesterday I asked you to beat his housekeeper, and he held a grudge, so he contacted my father's other enemies and wanted to kill him. My father should be executed immediately?"

"If there is no accident, it should be the trouble he caused behind the scenes." Young Master Zhang also sat down, raised Erlang's legs and swayed and sighed: "So, impulsiveness is the devil, if you don't be so impatient yesterday, Why is there such a situation today? It is better to offend a gentleman than to offend a villain."

"He is my family's enemy. I saw that he can not be angry?" Xiong Hu pouted a little bit dissatisfied, and then asked with a pursed mouth: "Something happened, so what should we do now?"

"What should I do? Get ready to bleed, it's pretty good now, at least there is a place to send money." Young Master Zhang yawned, and shouted to Zhang Shitou, who was majesticly directing the servants to clean up: "Shitou, bring a Qian..., no, take the 2000 taels of silver notes and accompany me to Jiu Qiansui's house, the young master. Let your young mistress and your future housekeeper take care of the house." Zhang Shitou He repeatedly agreed, and quickly handed over the command to the red-faced Xiong Hu's master and servant, and accompanied Young Master Zhang to go out.

…………

He led Zhang Shitou all the way to the gate of Wei's mansion, but Wei Zhongxian was still in the palace to serve Hou Mingxi Zong and did not come home. Fortunately, Master Zhang didn't come to see Wei Zhongxian this time - he wanted to spend only 2000 taels of silver to get rid of it. Wei Zhongxian, that's nothing more than a fool's dream—Master Zhang's target this time is Yang Liuqi, but after the doorman's notification was approved, he went to the mansion to see that Yang Liuqi was acting with Wei Zhongxian's number one think tank, Cui Chengxiu, in Wei Zhongxian's study. He was extremely busy. open hand.Young Master Zhang secretly called it a fluke, fortunately he had brought extra money, and hurried up to salute, "Wansheng pays homage to Master Cui, and Sixth Brother Yang."

"Tanhualang, why do you have time to come here today?" Cui Chengxiu returned the gift and asked jokingly, "Are you anxious to become an official, so you come to ask Jiuqian to arrange your real job as soon as possible?" Yang Liuqi also laughed. "Brother Zhang, you can really make a fuss. You slapped Yao Zongwen in the face in public on the street yesterday, and threw all the money he gave you on the street. There was a lot of trouble in the capital. Last night, Lao Taishan made a fuss for you." This is a compliment to you."

"Sixth Brother Yang made fun of you. Brother, my family has a lot of assets, and I don't lack those few silver coins. Of course, I would not give up my adoptive father's name for that little silver, let alone lose your brother Yang Sixth for that little silver." Doesn’t he have a face?” Young Master Zhang replied with a smile: “And Master Cui, if I want to be an official, do I still need to ask my godfather? I just ask Master Cui for a favor, and the six departments of the imperial court are not up to me.” Cui Chengxiu and Yang Liuqi laughed together, very satisfied with Young Master Zhang's flattery.

After a few words of hypocrisy and politeness, the servant girl brought tea to Young Master Zhang and took his seat. Yang Liuqi, who was busy with government affairs, was not polite anymore, and asked directly: "Brother Zhang, we don't talk about each other. Master Cui and I are very busy. If you have anything to say, tell me directly." Let's go." Young Master Zhang looked around, Yang Liuqi waved his hands knowingly, the maids and servants serving in the room immediately left the room, leaving Young Master Zhang, Cui Chengxiu and Yang Liuqi alone in the room.Only then did Young Master Zhang take out a thick banknote from his pocket, divide it into two and put it in front of Yang Liuqi and Cui Chengxiu, and said with a smile, "Sixth Brother Yang, Master Cui, it's just a trifle, no respect."

Yang Liuqi and Cui Chengxiu glanced at the bank notes and saw that the amount was not cheap, so they smiled together and said, "Brother Zhang, you are too polite, we are all one family, you are so out of touch by doing this - tell me, you want to find us!" What are you going to do?" Eldest Young Master Zhang replied with a smile: "Sixth brother Yang, Master Cui, there is nothing else to do, but someone suggested that Xiong Tingbi be beheaded as soon as possible in the morning court today."

"You want to buy back Xiong Tingbi's life for just 2000 taels of silver? You have a good plan." Cui Chengxiu and Yang Liuqi groaned in their hearts together.Unexpectedly, Young Master Zhang said again: "Sixth Brother Yang, Master Cui, we are not slanderous, and I also know that it is not so easy to rescue Xiong Tingbi from the prison, so I just want to ask you for a favor, don't let those people If you succeed, just delay Xiong Tingbi's execution of beheading until Qiujue."

"Oh, so that's the case." Yang Liuqi breathed a sigh of relief, nodded and said, "Well, for Brother Zhang's sake, if Lao Taishan asks us about Xiong Tingbi tonight, I will try my best to drag you to Qiujue , it’s just success or failure, Sixth Brother doesn’t dare to guarantee you.”

"Brother Six, I have to ask you for this matter." Young Master Zhang was in a hurry, "If Xiong Tingbi dies now, brother, I can't bring him back to life, as long as you help him to wait a few more days In a few months, brother, I have hope."

"For Xiong Tingbi's daughter?" Yang Liuqi asked with a smile.Young Master Zhang nodded frankly, and said with a smile, "To be precise, it's for Brother Six and your brother-in-law." Yang Liuqi laughed, nodded and said, "Well, for the sake of Brother Zhang and his brother-in-law, I will do my best. I’m trying my best to help, but I’m really not sure.”

"Brother Six..." Yang Liuqi refused to answer, and Young Master Zhang was unavoidably anxious.At this time, Cui Chengxiu interjected in a dark voice: "Brother Zhang, don't force your sixth brother. He said he was not sure, because he didn't treat you as an outsider, so he told the truth——When will Xiong Tingbi ask to be killed? The two of us alone really can't help you make a final decision on this matter. Because this not only involves court party disputes, but also involves the scope of power of Daming Law."

"Master Cui please give me advice." Young Master Zhang humbly asked for advice.Cui Chengxiu replied slowly: "According to the law of the Ming Dynasty: all major and difficult cases will be tried jointly by the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Minister of Dali Temple, and Du Yushi. The charges and punishments will be drafted in three sessions, and finally the emperor will personally decide— ——This is the case with Xiong Tingbi’s case. And in these links, the ceremonial supervisor in charge of Jiu Qiansui is not involved, so we have no way to directly intervene.” After that, Cui Chengxiu added with a wry smile, “Originally, if Jiu Qiansui himself is willing Help, speak for Xiong Tingbi directly in front of the emperor, no matter how many censors speak up, as long as the emperor doesn't nod, no one dares to kill Xiong Tingbi immediately. But you don't know Jiu Qiansui's attitude towards Xiong Tingbi ? Don’t talk about you, even we can’t persuade Jiuqian to help us.”

"Then there's really nothing we can do?" Young Master Zhang was a little anxious—now that Young Master Zhang hadn't obtained the evidence that Wang Wenyan used tricks to separate Wei Zhongxian and Xiong Tingbi, there was really no way to persuade Wei Zhongxian to withdraw his determination to kill Xiong Tingbi at once.

Yang Liuqi shrugged his shoulders, expressing that he couldn't do anything.Cui Chengxiu said with a sly smile: "Brother Zhang, for my brother's sake, let me show you a clear path - if you really want Xiong Tingbi's execution to be postponed, then you can find someone."

"Who?" Young Master Zhang asked impatiently.Unexpectedly, Cui Chengxiu played tricks, shook his head and said with a smile: "Forget it, I still won't let you waste your energy - that old guy doesn't get in, and you alone will never be able to convince him."

"Master Cui——." Young Master Zhang was so angry that he wanted to strangle Cui Chengxiu to death, but he really didn't have the courage, so he had to bow and beg, repeatedly promising to thank Cui Chengxiu afterward. Later, Yang Liuqi also helped Young Master Zhang say After saying something good, Cui Chengxiu smiled and said, "Well, let me tell you, that person is Zuodu Censor——Zou Yuanbiao!"

"Zou Yuanbiao?!" Young Master Zhang and Yang Liuqi exclaimed together.Yang Liuqi was surprised again and said: "Lord Cui, what are you kidding, Zou Yuanbiao is a star martial artist of the Donglin traitor party, you ask Brother Zhang to follow his path, not to mention humiliating yourself, Lao Taishan will not be happy what."

"Big mistake! Nine thousand years old actually doesn't hate Zou Yuanbiao!" Cui Chengxiu shook his head resolutely, and then said with a wicked smile: "Brother Yang, please recall carefully. Didn't any of them fall into his hands?" Yang Liuqi thought about it carefully, then shook his head and said, "No, indeed there isn't any."

"This is the cunning of this old man. He knows that Jiu Qiansui is not easy to mess with, but he is too embarrassed to openly take refuge in Jiu Qiansui, so he played such a trick. And after Jiu Qiansui took power, Zou Yuanbiao was actually still in secret I helped Nine Thousand Years a lot.” Cui Chengxiu explained with a sly smile: “It’s a long story, you should have heard of Zhang Juzheng, the chief assistant of the Wanli Dynasty, right? Why was Zhang Juzheng confiscated after his death? It’s because His one whip method to levy business tax annoyed the Jiangnan gentry and merchants headed by the Donglin Party, so he was counterattacked and liquidated after his death! Later in the first year of Taichang, when the Donglin Party came to power, the first thing to do was to abolish the business tax Mining tax, and then when the nine thousand years old of the Tianqi year took charge of the court, the Liaodong army was in an emergency and the national use was insufficient. Merchants reach out to collect taxes!"

"It's no wonder the Donglin Party hates their godfather so much. It turns out that the roots lie here." Young Master Zhang suddenly realized.Cui Chengxiu nodded and said with a smile: "Yes, at that time, the traitors of Donglin regarded Jiuqiantui's tax law as a thorn in their side, thorn in their flesh, slandered and attacked in every possible way, and tried every means to force Jiuqiantui to abolish the commercial tax and mining tax again. , almost made Nine Thousand Years very anxious—at this time, Zou Yuanbiao, whose leg had been broken by Zhang Juzheng, stood up and sent a memorial to the Emperor Long Live, requesting the Emperor to restore Zhang Juzheng's reputation, and to renew his title of title !"

"High!" Young Master Zhang came to his senses, slapped his thigh and shouted: "The restoration of Zhang Juzheng's honor and title is tantamount to acknowledging Zhang Juzheng's achievements, and at the same time indirectly acknowledging that Nine Thousand Years' collection of commercial and mining taxes is legal and reasonable. If the party wants to attack the [-]-year-old tax law, it will have no excuse."

"This kid is very enlightened." Cui Chengxiu glanced at Young Master Zhang, and replied with a smile: "That's right, after the emperor rehabilitated Zhang Juzheng, the gang of rotten scholars from the Donglin Party would have no excuse to attack Jiu Qiansui. Chitose's tax law has also been successfully promoted. Although I don't know if Zou Yuanbiao did this to help Jiuqiantui govern, but since then, Jiuqiantui has never laid hands on Zou Yuanbiao, so you just feel free to go Nine thousand years old won't be angry if you come into contact with Zou Yuanbiao."

"Thank you, Mr. Cui, for pointing out the maze. Thank you very much." Young Master Zhang rubbed his hands happily, and then asked worriedly: "But Mr. Cui, can we just find Zou Yuanbiao alone? He alone can suppress those clamoring to kill him immediately." Is Xiong Tingbi an official?"

"Don't worry, he alone is enough." Cui Chengxiu replied lightly: "The old man started his official career in Wanli five years ago. He is the oldest official in the imperial court. During this period, he taught for 30 years. Zhongdu has a high prestige and a great reputation. As long as he opposes killing Xiong Tingbi now, a large group of people in the court will immediately support and agree, and there is no need for you to waste your energy. And this old man is the presiding officer of the third trial of Xiong Tingbi, the Ministry of Punishment Shang Shu Wang Ji and Dali Temple Minister Zhou Yingqiu all followed his lead, and whether Xiong Tingbi should be executed immediately or not, he had to submit the proposal to the court."

"Thank you, Master Cui, thank you, Master Cui." Eldest Young Master Zhang laughed so hard that he couldn't even close his mouth, and hurriedly said: "Master Cui, Sixth Brother Yang, thank you very much, Zhang Haogu will thank you again some day, and I won't bother you, so I will leave. "

After all, Young Master Zhang ran out immediately without waiting for Cui Chengxiu and Yang Liuqi to answer.Cui Chengxiu was angry and funny, and quickly reminded: "Brother Zhang, I warn you, don't think about giving money to Zou Yuanbiao..." It's a pity that Young Master Zhang ran too fast and too fast, and Cui Chengxiu couldn't shout too much. It was too loud, so Young Master Zhang didn't hear this sentence.

…………

As the saying goes, if you don't listen to the old man's words, you will suffer in front of your eyes. Young Master Zhang ran out of Wei Zhongxian's mansion without listening to Cui Chengxiu's words. Unfortunately, this famous saying was once again verified.Alright, we're used to seeing how Young Master Zhang is in the capital, now let's see how Young Master Zhang ate a turtle for the first time since he came to the capital......

It was a gloomy evening, our young master Zhang took Zhang Shitou and his new servant Xiaozhe, and also brought big bags and small bags of gifts, and inquired all the way to find the court veteran and Zuodu censor Zou Yuanbiao Zoufu. Sheepskin Alley.But when he got to the gate of Zou Mansion and took a closer look, Master Zhang and his servants couldn't help but gasped - what kind of mansion is this called?The crooked wooden houses are dilapidated and shabby, and the rammed-earth courtyard walls are full of weeds and mouse holes. They wobble when the wind blows and may fall down at any time. Even the courtyard door The two iron knockers on the door were gone, revealing two holes the size of fists.It made our Young Master Zhang almost suspect that he had found the wrong place, thinking that the head of the Supreme Procuratorate of the Ming Dynasty lived here? ——When I was a civil servant, the house of the captain of a small police station was a thousand times stronger than him!
Zhang Shitou knocked on the head of Xiaopu, the servant of the new house, and asked, "Little shop, didn't you brag that you could break through the streets and alleys of the whole capital with your eyes closed? How could this be Zuodu Censor's home? It's so much better than mine." The house in the countryside of Linqing is still dilapidated!"

"Brother Shitou, you can't be wrong, this is definitely Mrs. Zou's home." Xiaopuzi replied with his head in his hands and screamed.Fortunately, in the courtyard of Zou Yuanbiao's house, a middle-aged man wearing coarse clothes and straw sandals came out. He looked up and down at the master and servant of Young Master Zhang who was carrying a large bag, and asked, "Master, may I ask you for help?" Who?"

"Dare to ask this brother, is this the residence of Zou Yuanbiao, the censor of Zuodu?" Eldest Young Master Zhang asked cautiously, cupping his hands.The middle-aged man nodded and replied: "Yes, I am the eldest son of Mr. Zou, named Zou Deqi. Who are you? What can I do with my father?"

"It turned out to be Mr. Zou. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Young Master Zhang was taken aback, thinking that I wouldn't be so unlucky to meet a pervert like Hai Rui, right?If so, then this matter is in trouble.At that moment, Eldest Young Master Zhang didn't dare to be slick anymore, he performed a very standard etiquette to Zou Deqi in a rare and serious manner, presented the famous thorns with both hands, and said in a serious voice: "My troublesome son, I will report to Master Zou, and I will see Zhang Haogu."

"Zhang Haogu?" Zou Deqi was startled, and asked in surprise, "Could it be that you are Zhang Haogu?"

"A humble name is degrading to listen to, and his late birth is Zhang Haogu, a researcher of today's science." Young Master Zhang replied with a smile.But before Young Master Zhang finished speaking, Zou Deqi yelled into the yard angrily, "Father, Zhang Haogu is here! The Zhang Haogu who caused Master Wang Qia and Wang Wenyan to be imprisoned is here! He even brought gifts! "

"Not good." Young Master Zhang grumbled.Sure enough, in just the blink of an eye, Zou Yuanbiao, with white beard and hair, limped out of the courtyard gate with a bamboo stick with a thick wrist in his hand, followed by five or six half-and-half men in crotchless trousers. The big and small children also held thin bamboo poles in their hands.Young Master Zhang complained in his heart, but he still bowed to Zou Yuanbiao and said: "My late Zhang Haogu, I have met Master Zou."

"Zhang Haogu! You still have the face to see the old man?!" Zou Yuanbiao was furious, and waved his staff to greet Young Master Zhang's head, hitting Young Master Zhang with stares in his eyes, and a big bump suddenly bulged on his head.The pain caused Young Master Zhang to scream like a pig, "Lord Zou, listen to my explanation!"

"I can't win you when I bicker, but I can beat you!" Zou Yuanbiao also knew that Young Master Zhang was good at sophistry, so he simply didn't give Young Master Zhang a chance to explain, and just waved his stick to greet Young Master Zhang.Zou Yuanbiao roared angrily again: "You shameless villain, it doesn't matter that I am wronged and imprisoned by the minister of the Ming Dynasty, and you dare to use gifts to ruin the old man's reputation for a lifetime, which is tolerable or unbearable. I will fight with you today!"

"Lord Zou, I am wronged! Lord Wang's imprisonment has nothing to do with me." Young Master Zhang was beaten to the ground and screamed again and again, "As for Wang Wenyan, he deserved it! Lord Zou, let me explain—! "

"I don't listen! I only know that you are an unfaithful and shameless villain. Get out of here! Get out!" Zou Yuanbiao beat and scolded, and shouted at several half-grown children: "Grandchildren, give this to grandpa! Shameless villain, tell him to get out of here! Get out of here!"

"Fight!" five and six half-year-old children shouted joyfully and rushed up, swinging a thin bamboo pole and hitting Young Master Zhang indiscriminately, even Zhang Shitou and the small shop were not spared. People jumped up and down, ghosts cried and howled, and finally had to run away with their tails between their legs, and escaped in embarrassment from the sheepskin alley where Zou Yuanbiao's house is...

To know whether our Young Master Zhang can deal with our upright official Zou, please read the next chapter "Fighting Poison with Poison".

(End of this chapter)