In the side hall, the emperor held a banquet to entertain everyone.
The royal chef of the palace brought the food to the table. The dishes were still as simple as before.
Zhang Changsheng had already eaten at the emperor's banquet once and was not surprised by these slightly monotonous meals, but the Kong family and his son were quite shocked.
The state banquet hosted by Emperor Hongwu was not as good as the usual family banquets hosted by the Kong family. Kong Xixue couldn't help but glance at Zhu Yuanzhang, who was above him. If the Emperor Zhu in front of him was not pretending to be famous and aloof, he would indeed be a different emperor.
The Kong family were frequent visitors to the palace of the former dynasty, and they had tasted countless banquets hosted by the former Yuan emperor.
Kong Xixue took a bite and tasted it. The taste was average. If it were normal times, he would not even have the desire to try it. Only when he saw the emperor and the prince eating with gusto did he realize that the emperor was not pretending to be noble.
While Zhu Yuanzhang was eating, he was reminiscing with Zhang Zongzong, which was equivalent to leaving him and his father alone.
After waiting for a while, Zhu Yuanzhang said happily:
"You must be curious, what good things did Zhang Aiqing send me?"
"Xu Aiqing, Kong...Xixue, do you know?"
Xu Da, Kong Xixue and others had just vaguely heard the conversation between the monarch and his ministers.
Xu Da answered honestly:
"It seems to be related to smallpox?"
"That's right!"
Zhu Yuanzhang handed the book presented by Zhang Changchang to Xu Da, but Xu Da refused to accept it and said:
"Your Majesty, is the secret recipe recorded in this book? If I shouldn't read it, I'd better not read it!"
His sense of proportion made Lao Zhu very pleased.
"This is what I think Zhang Aiqing is so valuable about. It is not an exaggeration to call the things in this medical book a secret recipe! If Longhushan got this recipe and kept it secret, at least it would be a business worth a lot of money every day, but Zhang Aiqing not only gave the recipe to To me, I also suggested that I spread this recipe throughout the world without any concealment!
This is great merit and great spiritual practice! So Xu Da, don’t worry... because after a while, I will announce this method to the world! "
When Xu Da and Kong Xixue heard this, their curiosity was aroused.
First, Xu Da took the book and briefly browsed it. His expression changed drastically. He looked at it carefully, then stood up and saluted Zhang Changsheng.
"Zhang Zhenren's move is of immeasurable merit!
I don’t know how many people in China are alive because of what the real person did today! "
Zhang Changsong quickly got up and returned the gift, saying he was ashamed.
The book was passed to Kong Xixue's desk. When Kong Xixue opened it and took a look, his expression changed drastically.
"There is really a way to eliminate smallpox in the world. Is this impossible?"
Kong Xixue blurted out, and soon realized that he had lost his temper, and quickly knelt down to apologize.
The emperor smiled half-heartedly, but did not dwell on this matter.
"Of course I will find someone to test it, but I believe Zhang Aiqing will not joke about this matter!"
Zhang Zhongcheng quickly knelt down and said:
"If I tell any lies, you should die!"
"I believe you, but I still can't trust your character? You, Longhushan, enjoyed the same respect as the Confucius family in Qufu from the previous dynasty, but you, Master Zhang, took the initiative to write a letter to reduce your power. Longhushan lost the power to issue ultimatums. You At least tens of thousands of taels of silver a year, right?"
Lao Zhang's heart bleeds when he talks about the ultimatum, but he also understands from the emperor's words that Zhu Yuanzhang is very clear about the Zhang family's progress.
In the early Ming Dynasty, there was a shortage of people, food, and money...
Relying on the power granted by the imperial court to issue ultimatums, making a fortune of ten thousand taels a year is no small matter.
Lao Zhang was frightened when he thought about it. It was really uncomfortable to be stared at by the emperor.
"You are sincere, and I can't bully honest people, Zhang Normal!"
"I'm here!"
Lao Zhang will lie down and prepare to receive the seal!
"I will grant you the title of Zhengyi Cult Leader, protect the country, explain the ancestors, be sincere and uphold the Tao and promote the virtues of the great real person. I will give you a first-class rank and a gold seal! Three thousand acres of land... and twelve gold coins!"
As the emperor read out the reward, Zhang Pangcheng's eyes showed a hint of loss, there was no heavenly master...
This sage will not return the Zhang family's title of Heavenly Master after all, but from a real person to a real person, you can't say that the emperor has no reward. On the contrary, the emperor has too much sincerity compared to the reward.
He finally saw a glimmer of hope and quickly knelt down to thank him.
"Zhang Aiqing, you also said that the lonely souls of our ancestors in the North are waiting for me, the son of the Han family, to comfort you. I still entrust you with a heavy responsibility. If I want to save these martyrs in the future, I will have to rely on you...
Moreover, whether the people of the world can accept your Zhang family's vaccination method is one thing, and the implementation of it by the imperial court is one thing. It is also very necessary for you, Longhushan, to come forward to clear up the people's doubts. In short, thank you for your hard work! "
"My lord, I obey the order!"
"I will have the "Tai Shang Shuo Microcosmic World Wonderful Dharma Sutra" printed and distributed to all states. If there is a plague in the future, monks and Taoists will recite this sutra. Also, can you name the medical book passed down from your family?"
"Please give me a name from the emperor!"
"This book talks about things in the microscopic world, let's call it "Micro Words"! The book says that there are microscopic insects in the three worlds. I was horrified when I read it. I am going to issue a boiling water order to advise everyone in the world to boil water as much as possible. Drink water..."
Lao Zhu explained all kinds of things in detail, and Zhang Normal mood became excited.
If sealing a great master and granting him some money and land did not make Zhang Changshang happy, the emperor's next words were the source of his excitement.
The benefit that Emperor Hongwu gave to the Zhang family was not in terms of rewards, but in actually helping the Zhang family increase their influence.
This kind of influence may not seem new to the outside world, but for the Zhang family in the mixed religious world, it is a supreme wealth. To say the least, even if one does not fulfill his long-cherished wish with the emperor, is Longhu Mountain the most powerful? In this place, isn’t it possible to survive emperors and dynasties one by one?
But the influence brought by what the emperor said today is enough to last for thousands of years...
Zhang Changsheng had forgotten how many times he had kowtowed. He and the emperor were enjoying themselves happily, but the Kong family and his son were on pins and needles.
Zhang Changsheng, whom they looked down upon, unknowingly became the protagonist at the emperor's banquet, while the Kong family father and son, who looked down upon the old Zhang family, were marginalized.
Finally, Lao Zhu and Zhang Chenggong finished speaking and turned their attention to Kong Xixue.
Kong Xixue had a feeling that you finally paid attention to me. He didn't realize that after he was suppressed by the emperor, his initial arrogance had long since disappeared.
"I originally admired Duke Yan Shenggong so much that I insisted on letting him come to the capital. But when he becomes like this, it can't help but make people sigh!"
"Kong Aiqing, how old is your father?"
There was no hint of dissatisfaction with Kong Kejian on Lao Zhu's face, instead he looked kind and cheerful.
"Your Majesty, my father is fifty-three years old!"
"You're fifty-three. It's said that you know your destiny at fifty, but that's not the case with Yan Shenggong!"
Zhu Yuanzhang's words made everyone present nervous, especially Kong Xixue, who almost knelt down in front of Zhu Yuanzhang.
At fifty, he knew destiny, but the emperor said that Kong Kejian was not like him.
Doesn't that mean that Kong Kejian can't carry it clearly?
Zhu Biao, Xu Da, Zhang Changsheng, and Zhang Yuchu, who had no sense of presence, all lowered their heads and tried to reduce their sense of presence.
Everyone knows that His Majesty's anger will finally be poured out on the Kong family.
First update, more to come!
(End of chapter)
