Zhang Zhou took Dongchang's carriage and returned to his door.
When I first came back, I didn’t recognize my home.
"This is……"
On the street, carriages couldn't even squeeze forward. There were more than a dozen carriages parked in front of Zhang Zhou's house. It would be an exaggeration to say that it was crowded.
The door was closed and no one received this group of people, but it did not affect the enthusiasm of this group of people to visit at all.
Xiao Jing sighed: "You may not know that your Majesty said in the court that the mighty gunpowder came from your hands, and also mentioned that he would negotiate military merits for you. Then someone inquired about your residence and came here specially... We don’t need to explain their purpose, right?”
It goes without saying.
To put it bluntly, are you all here to curry favor with me?
Zhang Zhou said: "Eunuch Xiao, I have finally found a place to settle down in the capital. I don't want to be disturbed by these worldly things. You see..."
"Understood!" Xiao Jing also realized what was going on. He stretched out his hand to greet Dongchang's fans, pointed at the door and gave a few instructions, roughly speaking, go and blow these people away!
The people from Dongchang took action, and it worked really well.
Even if many people come to visit, they are not really powerful people. Who among the powerful people relies on this way of following the crowd to build relationships?
The people from the East Factory went up and cleared the door after three strokes, five strokes and two divisions.
Then Zhang Zhoucai could finally go home in peace.
…
…
Zhang Zhou went in to take a shower and change clothes, while Xiao Jing was waiting in the main hall of the outer courtyard.
When Zhang Zhou came out, there was already a person standing next to Xiao Jing. He didn't look like he had an official title, and he was holding something that looked like a greeting card in his hand.
"Your Excellency?"
Zhang Zhou frowned.
The master hasn't even spoken yet, so why do people just come in so casually?
Xiao Jing pointed to the man: "Say."
The man then saluted and said, "I am from the palace of the Minister of War, and I have sent you a household registration card. It is the registration card of my young lady. If you sign it, you can go to the Daxing County Government Office." Once the general status is given, my young lady can officially enter the family."
Zhang Zhou immediately thought that this was the follow-up to Wang Yue's gift to his granddaughter.
Wang Mingshan was sent back to the house by him a few days ago. Wang Yue probably thought that Zhang Zhou was worried that Wang Mingshan would not have a name or status. Now he would apply for a household registration and ask Zhang Zhou to sign it, and the person would belong to Zhang Zhou...
"Mr. Zhang, don't hesitate. Just sign your name and the person will be in your name. If you don't have time to go to the Yamen to do it, Dongchang can find someone to cash it for you. It's not cumbersome at all."
Xiao Jing looked very enthusiastic about helping Zhang Zhou get a concubine.
Zhang Zhou said: "Eunuch Xiao, is this inappropriate?"
Xiao Jing reminded: "Sir, have you forgotten? Even His Majesty nodded in approval of your acceptance of Miss Wang's family. This is to allow Wang Shilang to use his troops more safely in the northwest. Now that we have won, I'm afraid if I don't want you anymore, After Wang Shilang heard about it, he should have been anxious again. You said that he became anxious and scratched his head over what gift to give. If things go on like this, won't it affect the stability of our border area of Ming Dynasty? "
Holy shit.
Zhang Zhou shouted in his heart.
You, Xiao Jing, are also a talent.
He talks so righteously about the daughter he adopts, as if if I don’t accept Old Man Wang’s granddaughter, Old Man Wang won’t fight for the Ming Dynasty, right?
Also, when you say this, can you avoid being a member of the Wang family?
The person from the Wang family standing next to him looked like "I didn't hear, I didn't hear" and turned his head to one side.
As Xiao Jing spoke, he took out a pen from nowhere, handed it to Zhang Zhou and said, "Sir, please fill in the ink."
Zhang Zhou took the pen and looked at the household post.
I thought to myself, is this a marriage document?
I sign my name, and I don’t have to go through the household registration. Someone has done it for me. It’s like getting married and deciding a woman’s life. There are no other formalities or etiquette required, and there’s no need to tell relatives and friends. That’s it… it’s over. ?
"Mr. Zhang, please hurry up, His Majesty is still waiting over there." Xiao Jing said.
"well!"
Zhang Zhou sighed.
Thinking of Wang Mingshan's beautiful appearance and figure, it's just...
The feudal system kills people! We must strictly criticize this social trend in which men are superior to women! Travelers must always keep in mind the principle of equality between men and women, and never forget that they are here to change the times, not to talk about personal affairs between children...
etc.
Zhang Zhou suddenly felt that something was wrong. I already had a wife and concubines, so why did I still care about this?
Isn’t it just a matter of signing the marriage certificate?
He dipped the brush into the tea cup, wrote his name with a big stroke of the pen, and handed the household registration card back.
The marriage was done.
"Master Zhang, please wait, I will send someone to you before nightfall."
…
…
Inside the palace.
Zhang Zhou followed Dai Yi and Xiao Jing towards the Qianqing Palace.
Dai Yi had learned from Xiao Jing that Wang Yue was giving away his granddaughter, and said with a smile: "Congratulations, sir, on your success."
"Eunuch Dai, don't make fun of me. You're just a young man. As Eunuch Xiao said, I did this purely so that Wang Weining can use his troops in the northwest with peace of mind. I'm doing this to share the worries of the imperial court and the country." Zhang Zhou didn't feel ashamed at all. .
"Haha, you're right."
Dai Yi naturally knew that Zhang Zhou was joking. Anyway, he was now familiar with Zhang Zhou's routines.
Zhang Zhou can joke as much as he wants, as long as he laughs with him.
With this incident, Zhang Zhou felt uneasy. He thought that he had just come out of the Gongyuan, and he hadn't thought clearly yet, and he had a concubine in his house...
She is still a lady from a famous family like Wang Mingshan.
That figure, that martial arts, even if he looks like a showman sometimes, he is still equivalent to a gymnast...
Should I practice pommel horse first, or rings?
Why don't you go to any palace or meet a saint? Isn't it more comfortable to go home and practice gymnastics?
Go home and do gymnastics in the evening!
…
…
In the Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Youtang received Zhang Zhou with enthusiasm, and first explained to Zhang Zhou about the great victory in the northwest.
"... Bingkuan, you are really a gift from God to the Ming Dynasty and to me. The battle in the northwest has reversed the decline of the Ming Dynasty that has been stubborn and difficult to make progress for hundreds of years. You are a hero of the Ming Dynasty, and you must be recorded in the history books. One stroke.”
Zhu Youtang put a high hat on Zhang Zhou's head when he came up.
Zhang Zhou hurriedly said: "Your Majesty has praised me. I just did something that I should do. I can't say that I have merit."
Zhu Youtang said: "There is no need to belittle yourself. Your contribution should be greater than that of Wang Yue. I want to knight you. Even though the ministers in the court will definitely object, I think you are worthy of this title."
"His Majesty."
Zhang Zhou said seriously, "I just calculated the situation on the grassland. In addition, last year's drought in the north caused food harvests in various places, and the grassland must not be growing well. There are vast areas of wilderness. Only then did I dare to tell His Majesty that the Tatars are going to march." Things."
"The other thing is that the grassland is now undergoing internal annexation, and the spheres of influence of all parties have been solidified. If the Huoshii troops want to attack our country, they will have to worry about being taken advantage of by other tribes if they want to advance from Yansui and other places, so I guess they are trying to do the same thing. Repeat the attack, go straight through the pass to attack the Datong area, and use the superior troops to move in and out quickly."
Zhu Youtang asked curiously: "You mean, you calculated this based on experience, not God's will?"
Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, how can there be so much providence? I just used some metaphysics and my inference to achieve this result. I also said it at the time and could not do it accurately. Therefore, I hope that in the future, Your Majesty Just don’t blame me because some of my calculations are inaccurate.”
"You..." Zhu Youtang was suddenly speechless towards Zhang Zhou.
Zhang Zhou said respectfully: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for lying."
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "That's how you are. You can get more praise for yourself, but you insist on pushing the credit to others. You can talk about God's will, but you always talk as if everything is so natural. Even if You deduced this matter, and the credit also belongs to you! Does it matter whether it is God’s will or not?”
Dai Yi, who was next to him, also smiled and said: "Yes, Mr. Zhang, why are you denying credit at this time? There is also the mighty gunpowder, wasn't that also prepared by you?"
Zhang Zhou helplessly spread his hands and said: "Your Majesty, you see, I have just finished the examination and the results are not out yet. I just want to have the opportunity to be a civil servant in the future and make suggestions for the court in the right way. How can I still do this?" Involving the matter of conferring titles? If we really want to confer titles, how can I discuss state affairs with those ministers?"
"Um."
Zhu Youtang smiled and nodded.
Zhang Zhou's previous reasons seemed untenable, but when it came to being an official, he felt that there was still some truth.
Zhang Zhou's goal was to become a civil servant, otherwise he would not have participated in any imperial examinations and would have just accepted his selection to become an official in the court.
Also because Zhang Zhou participated in the imperial examination, and there were so many major events in the court recently, he, the emperor, did not have a strong advisor by his side. Zhu Youtang even regretted letting Zhang Zhou take the imperial examination.
However, Zhu Youtang also understood that if Zhang Zhou did not take the correct path of the imperial examination, no matter how he used Zhang Zhou in the future, he would not be able to integrate Zhang Zhou into the mainstream influence of the courtiers.
"Then let's do this." Zhu Youtang made a compromise decision, "I will record this credit for you first. If you fail the test, or if you make further progress in military achievements in the future, I will also include it for you." .Even if I am not here at that time, I will inform the prince about this and ask him to write it down for you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhang Zhou did not refuse this time, but accepted it happily.
Then Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Your Majesty, even if you don't have a title, you should have something else... right?"
"Humph, now you want to ask for a reward from me? I will record a title for you. What else do you want?" Zhu Youtang said with a straight face first, and then pulled Zhang Zhou aside.
He did not go back to sit on his dragon chair. He directly found a temporary seat with Zhang Zhou and motioned for Zhang Zhou to sit down. "Bingkuan, didn't you say that Xishan is going to open a mine? I have decided to give you a few Open as many mining kilns as you want! Is this considered a gift?"
Zhang Zhouxin said.
The emperor is really stingy, and his level of stinginess is on par with mine.
Is this considered to be a black man who is close to the ink?
In the past six months, you have been talking to me, a stingy person, about things, which has led you to bad things.
What a sin.
"Your Majesty, this is very good. Then I will become a mine owner and I will definitely make a lot of money." Zhang Zhou said with a smile.
Zhu Youtang was also laughing.
After the two chatted and laughed for a while, Zhu Youtang naturally asked about the topic he was concerned about.
"Northwestern military affairs, Bingkuan, do you think there will be no more changes?" Zhu Youtang became serious.
Of course he is worried that if the Tatars leave and come back, what they have gained now will become a dream, and then there will be extreme joy and sorrow, and his face as an emperor will be greatly lost.
This question...
Zhang Zhou was really hard to answer.
This is something that has never happened in history. In history, Huo Si led his troops to fight from Piantou Pass to Datong. After plundering, he walked away. Many generals were convicted for this... In history, Wang Yue was already dead by this time. The Piantou Pass was not abandoned and blown up... All of this was caused by Zhang Zhou's own butterfly effect.
Asked Zhang Zhou to accurately say whether the Tatars would come or not, he couldn't do it.
Zhang Zhou said: "Logically speaking, there should be no big changes, but it is not appropriate to invade the grassland at this time. It is better to wait for the internal disputes in the grassland to subside, and then wait for the opportunity."
"Um."
Zhu Youtang nodded.
He was not the kind of emperor who was good at making progress.
With the current results, Zhu Youtang is satisfied and will not talk about entering the army.
"With your words, I feel more at ease." Zhu Youtang seemed to have received another reassurance.
Zhang Zhou suddenly remembered going home to practice gymnastics and asked for instructions: "Your Majesty, is it time for me to resign?"
"Don't worry, there are other things to do."
Zhu Youtang was not polite either.
It seems to be saying, I have finally waited for you to finish the examination, and now I have caught you, and I can't interrogate you for as long as you want? Want to run? no way!
"About Jian Changbo, didn't you say there might be an earthquake? There has been no movement yet, right? Because I took Jian Changbo into custody, the matter was resolved, and God will no longer punish you. , can you let him go?"
Zhu Youtang still tried his best to protect Zhang Yanling in his words.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Your Majesty, you are only seventeen, a little early, right? If there is an earthquake in the southwest border, it will take four or five days at the earliest for the news to reach the capital."
"That's true." Zhu Youtang sighed, "But I'm also thinking, what does God mean?"
Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, I have already said that God's will cannot be done accurately!"
As soon as these words came out, Dai Yi, Xiao Jing and others next to them all widened their eyes.
This Bingkuan's speech is really different from others.
It was obviously you who said God's will would punish the crime and asked the emperor to arrest your brother-in-law. As expected, the emperor listened to you and arrested the man. But now you are saying that God's will is not accurate?
Are you deceiving me about your feelings, or even playing tricks on me?
Zhu Youtang was not surprised. He asked, "Please tell me in detail."
Zhang Zhou talked eloquently: "I believe that this God's will is just the will of God that the world believes in. If I can calculate it, I will associate these things that may happen by chance with the situations that your Majesty may have in the future. Maybe we can resolve these baseless criticisms. In fact, how much does the local earthquake have to do with how your Majesty employs people?"
"Ha ha."
Zhu Youtang laughed and said, "That makes sense. Those who believe in God's will the most are actually the ministers, and only those ministers like to talk about God's will. For example, last year's Qingning Palace disaster, there is still one I don’t get tired of people saying this, but I still have to discuss the pros and cons with them in a very open-minded manner.”
The emperor suddenly became an atheist.
Even the eunuchs nearby were thinking, if not Your Majesty, who are you who believe in God’s will the most?
Zhang Zhou said: "I'm not embarrassing Uncle Jianchang, I just feel that even if I want to let him go, I'd better wait until after the 22nd, when it's confirmed that there are no earthquakes anywhere, and it won't be too late to let him go. If there really was something wrong before, Even if this is not God's will... there will still be people who use God's will to embarrass Your Majesty."
Zhu Youtang felt reassured after hearing this, and nodded happily: "Then wait a few more days. Yanling has indeed become more and more unruly in recent years, so he should be restrained. If the queen asks about it later, I will They will also say that this is my decision! Bingkuan, you don’t have to worry about the Zhang family being in trouble."
(End of chapter)
