Although Zhang Zhou did not explicitly say that Yang Tinghe would abide by the rules in his hometown, it was no different from saying so.
"You mean, Jie Fu will get sick in Shu? Or maybe something will happen to his family?"
Wang Hao frowned.
This is like cursing others. As a scholar of the Ming Dynasty, could Zhang Zhou directly make such remarks to the emperor?
The emperor actually listens?
Zhang Zhou said: "To be honest, I mentioned to your majesty earlier that Yang Shidao might encounter family changes. Your Majesty rules the world with benevolence and filial piety, so he proposed to let Yang Shidao and his two brothers return to their hometown to visit relatives. If everything goes as I expected , I’m afraid... something has happened, and Yang Shijiao is staying in Shuzhong, and it will be impossible for him to leave the mountain again in a short time."
"What happened?" Wang Hao asked after thinking about it.
If it were someone else who said this, he wouldn't even have the possibility to ask. He would openly state such a bizarre and nonsense statement and say that he no longer wanted to get along with Yang Ting and Yu Chaotang? Or does it mean that Zhang Zhou doesn't care about his own opinions?
Zhang Zhou sighed: "As I expected, his mother may be seriously ill, so that... alas! Scholar Wang, do you have to tell me directly?"
Wang Hao thought about it for a moment and finally shook his head.
This time Zhang Zhou's words were more direct, and he clearly told Yang Tinghe that it was Yang Tinghe's mother who was dying of illness.
"Bingkuan, if it is true as you said, if the facts are like this, Jiefu will definitely be grateful for His Majesty's kindness when he returns to Shu. But if not... if the matter spreads again, I am afraid it will make you... Alas!"
Wang Hao was speechless when facing such a strange "student".
I have never seen Zhang Zhou like this. He actually predicted in advance that someone else's old mother, who was thousands of miles away, might have an accident and asked her to go back to visit her relatives. As a result, during the visit, he even produced the "Da Ming Huidian", which was clearly a trick on Yang Tinghe. Together.
Zhang Zhou said: "Scholar Wang does not need to hide it. If you want to report it to the three cabinet elders, just speak out. Now that you have done it, why do you need to hide it?"
Wang Hao looked at Zhang Zhou and said nothing.
Emotionally, he was still willing to help Zhang Zhou hide it, but now even Zhang Zhou himself didn't seem to care at all, and Wang Hao was a bit incapable of doing things.
…
…
Inside the Hanlin Academy.
Xie Qian, who was waiting for news in the afternoon, didn't see Wang Hao who was returning in a hurry until dark.
After Wang Hao briefly explained the process of his meeting with Zhang Zhou, Xie Qian stood up angrily and said, "What is this? To confuse the public with evil words? And for personal gain?"
Xie Qian didn't know how to evaluate Zhang Zhou.
If it is said that it is a rumor to confuse the public, it seems that only Yang Tinghe is affected. I originally thought that Zhang Zhou was trying to help Wang Hao rise to power, but now it seems that Wang Hao and Zhang Zhou are not in the same group at all, and are only a teacher and student in name. Just a name.
But now Zhang Zhou seems to have gained tangible "private interests" because of the "Da Ming Huidian" incident.
Wang Hao asked in reply: "If Jie Fu were here, how much help would it have in compiling the Huidian?"
"Um?"
Xie Qian was also stunned.
Xie Qian was still very angry at first. Like Liu Jian and others, he was probably convinced that Zhang Zhou transferred Yang Tinghe away to facilitate his efforts in compiling the "Da Ming Huidian".
But as a bystander, Wang Hao reminded him clearly.
Even if Yang Tinghe stayed in the capital, there would not be much difference in the progress of compiling the "Da Ming Huidian". On the contrary, it might bring Yang Tinghe and the Hanlin Academy into disrepute.
Now we can still say, look, it’s because Yang Tinghe went back to his hometown to visit his family, which delayed the progress. Otherwise, we would have been able to cultivate faster than that guy Zhang Zhou...
It's a lie. After the lies are told, everyone can feel at ease. The truth is another matter.
"So Yu Qiao, do you still need to submit this memorial to the Cabinet?" Wang Hao asked.
Now even Wang Hao is vaguely inclined to believe Zhang Zhou's words. Maybe Zhang Zhou really doesn't have any ill intentions.
Xie Qian said: "Jizhi, even if Bingkuan is a tribute student selected by you in Jiangnan, you shouldn't place your trust in him."
At this time, Xie Qian wanted to remind Wang Hao that you must be clear about where you stand. You can't be a mere wallflower, planning big things with us while at the same time wanting to believe the lies of that boy Zhang Zhou in your heart.
If you are determined, you should not ask whether you want to submit a memorial.
Wang Hao sighed: "After meeting Bingkuan, I feel that his attitude is sincere and does not seem to be aimless. And after thinking about it afterwards, it is difficult to figure out the malicious intent of his doing so. It is simply for the "Huidian", but it can also be interpreted as , He doesn’t want Jiefu to get involved.”
Seeing that he could not be persuaded, Xie Qian shook his head and said: "Don't worry too much about this matter. The cabinet will have its own opinions. Tomorrow, you don't have to say anything on behalf of Hanyuan."
…
…
After Xie Qian returned, he went to Liu Jian and Li Dongyang to discuss countermeasures.
Even at night, the lights in the cabinet duty room were still bright, and the three of them were studying what they were going to report, as well as the countermeasures for the court meeting in the coming day.
"...We can't let the people in the court know that Zhang Bingkuan revised the "Huidian", and we can also get His Majesty to agree to recall Jiefu without arousing suspicion among the officials in the court. Binzhi, I'm afraid this requires more planning on your part. "
Xie Qian was actually a little helpless about this.
He seemed to disagree with Wang Hao's words, but Wang Hao's words still planted seeds of doubt in his heart.
He thought rationally, even if he recalled Yang Tinghe, how much would it help things?
Or it might be better to make peace with Cheng Minzheng and let Cheng Minzheng help repair the book. In terms of professionalism in repairing "Huidian", Cheng Minzheng is far superior to Yang Tinghe.
Li Dongyang didn't seem very sure about this, and sighed: "Let's take it one step at a time."
…
…
That night, a guest room in the Jianghuai Commercial Building in the city was crowded with people.
The Chen family's daughter is discussing with her mother-in-law, shopkeeper and others about the important matter of bidding for the construction of Piantouguan City.
"...the imperial court will use frontier soldiers and drafted laborers to build the city. There is no need to recruit people from outside. It only needs to transfer the goods. According to the rumors previously released by the Ministry of Industry, the wood and stone materials provided by the capital are nearby. They will all go to Jingcang and contact the Ministry of Household Affairs. The Governor's Office is responsible for procurement and transportation. During the coordination of the soldiers in the Jingying camp, many people were active in the British government office and wanted to bid for this bid through the British public auction..."
When the Chen family girl listened to the report from her subordinates, she was only thinking about one thing.
That is whether the Chen family's family business can support such a large business.
At the end, she came out to make the summary.
"Everyone, our Chen family in Jianghuai started our business by selling salt. Later, when the salt supply system was reformed, the nobility of the capital became seriously occupied. Ordinary merchants could not pay official salt from the salt field even if they had the salt supply chain in their hands. We were forced to do this. To change the way of business, Nanjing's powerful people are deeply entrenched and have been solidified for hundreds of years. There is no way to start, so they can only find a way out in the capital."
The daughter of the Chen family explained that the current difficulties of their Chen family started from the reform of China's grain reform and then to being bullied by others when doing business in Jiangnan.
Going north to develop is not determined by her personal subjective will.
A shopkeeper named Huang asked: "There are more powerful people here in the capital. How can there be a bigger way out here?"
The daughter of the Chen family said: "There are three, six or nine levels of power. Even the princes are divided into close and distant relatives. Now we are looking for a good opportunity to win this business. If we make a profit, we can make a lot of money." From now on, you will have a firm foothold in the capital, and you will not lose much even if you fail. Most of you are old friends who have been in the official salt business with my Chen family for many years. It is your own choice whether to advance or retreat together this time. "
"Young master, if something good happens, it won't be our turn, right?"
"yes."
"Besides, what are your abilities? To be able to take on such a big business, you need to mobilize at least one hundred thousand taels of silver. Even if we add up the net worth of all of us, it won't be enough."
The people below still have doubts.
Some people directly said: "As before, isn't it nice to drink soup behind those powerful people? Why should you rush in front? You have to be a tiger to eat meat. We are just small characters. Young proprietor, please think twice."
"Yeah……"
The daughter of the Chen family said: "Don't you believe my Chen family's connections in the officialdom? My Chen family has been doing business in Nanjing for many years, and has contacts with Chengguo Gongfu, Yingtian Mansion and other yamen. After this bidding, the court will The cash is allocated in time, and we are just waiting to purchase a batch of foundations in advance. With the Hui merchants' sales contract as a guide, purchasing wood and stone is just a matter of words."
No one spoke at all.
"The opportunity is before us. If anyone wants to participate, stay. If not, let's part ways and have nothing to do with my Chen family!"
The Chen family's daughter was very determined.
The people below were talking a lot. Although they had many doubts, they were working with the Chen family after all. Most of them were old subordinates who worked hard in the shopping mall with the father of the Chen family. They had seen the Chen family as the representative family of Hui merchants and salt merchants. , the most glorious time.
So when the Chen family daughter took on the desperate measures, many people still chose to stay.
It seems that he wants to tide over the difficulties with the Chen family.
…
…
"Miss, we have collected a total of 40,000 taels of silver so far. More than 10,000 taels were obtained by mortgaging the property in Jiangnan. I hope there will be no loss in business."
The mother-in-law under him is the accountant and the "advisor" to the Chen family's daughter.
Under the dim tung oil lamp, Chen's daughter looked at the books of accounts and sighed: "If the court doesn't accept the wood, stone and other materials we purchased, no one will be able to swallow such a large batch of materials. We will definitely look back." It is going to be sold at a low price. How can there be no loss?"
"Then Miss, why do we still need to purchase? Can't we wait for the money from the court to arrive after the bidding is completed, and then use it to purchase?"
The mother-in-law didn’t understand either.
Chen's daughter said: "It's impossible. If we don't have enough goods on hand, we won't even be qualified to bid. What's more, the less goods we have on hand, the more difficulties we will face when we go back to purchase from others. Kong We can't do the Glove White Wolf thing with our strength, but if the business is done this time, it won't be difficult to do it again in the future..."
The mother-in-law nodded and said: "Miss, this is what is called everything is difficult at the beginning, right?"
"It's not difficult for us anymore!"
The daughter of the Chen family said, "With the help of the wife who once became the second wife of the Duke of Guo, and Mrs. Anbianhou, as well as my father's old friends in the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Industry, and... that person's great help, we Even if we give him 50% of the profits, it is still worth it. This time, we do not care about the cost, even if there is a small loss, it is acceptable."
"That……"
"I just want others to see that the Chen family is not making a comeback, but creating new glory! In a place full of wolves in the capital, we can still gain a foothold! There will be a bid in a few days, and I will go and talk to An Bian Madam Hou will be with you day and night, and I will leave the matters here to you!"
"Miss, what should I do if something happens?"
"Let me know if you have anything, but don't say anything in front of that lady. She shouldn't get involved!"
The mother-in-law smiled bitterly.
Shouldn't we get involved? I'm afraid people have already been involved by you, right?
…
…
The next day there was a meeting at Meridian Gate.
The ministers all arrived early, talking in groups.
Zhu Youtang was relatively kind to civil servants. During the Hongzhi period, the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty also received the highest respect since the Ming Dynasty. Many of these civil servants could also feel this kind of courtesy.
Only a few people can feel that a big crisis is approaching.
The person who stirred up the tide was naturally Zhang Zhou.
"...The memorial is here with me. I have found someone to greet Eunuch Dai, the Supervisor of Ceremonies. Before he leaves, he will take it from me and present it to His Majesty."
The person who said this is Liu Jian.
Liu Jian only called Wang Hao over and explained this to him, but did not call Liang Chu, who was half-informed, to inform him.
The three cabinet members have already discussed it.
He pointed out that the "Da Ming Huidian" compiled by Zhang Zhou needed time to proofread and revise, and proposed to recruit Yang Tinghe to return to Beijing, and gave about three months to complete everything... Liu Jian felt that this was using his position as "prime minister" "power to make a final stand against the emperor.
Just as he was talking, he saw Zhang Zhou following Xiao Jing to the Meridian Gate with very brisk steps.
Every time Zhang Zhou went in and out of the palace, he was accompanied by at least the eunuchs and eunuchs, who seemed to be chatting and laughing along the way. Even Liu Jian and others did not receive this treatment.
It attracted a few more glances from the ministers present.
"I have already greeted Bingkuan, and he promised not to mention the "Huidian" matter to His Majesty," Wang Hao said.
Li Dongyang said: "Even if you don't mention it, just mentioning a few words will make us very passive."
Wang Hao frowned and looked at Li Dongyang, thinking to himself, are you "using the heart of a villain to judge the heart of a gentleman"? Zhang Zhou didn't mention it, but you actually think that he came to attend the court meeting just to hint that the emperor had a costly "Da Ming Huidian", and to deliberately embarrass our Hanlin Academy? If he was really so evil, wouldn't he have made this matter public long ago? Are you still coming to us to discuss proofreading in such a tactful manner?
"Get ready for the court meeting." Liu Jian didn't want to care about Zhang Zhou's purpose of coming to the Meridian Gate.
There was nothing to do with Zhang Zhou, so Zhang Zhou shouldn't have come. Even Liu Jian was afraid that Zhang Zhou would "strike first to gain advantage."
Even if Zhang Zhou mentioned a few words to the emperor about accelerating the compilation of the "Da Ming Huidian" without mentioning that he would compile the book himself, the cabinet and the Hanlin Academy would be completely passive.
…
…
The meeting begins.
As expected, Zhang Zhou had no intention of speaking out at all that day, because he came to attend the court meeting entirely because Zhu Youtang told him that he might have to discuss the signatures and signatures of the "Da Ming Huidian" with the cabinet today.
Neither Zhang Zhou nor Zhu Youtang had any intention of taking this book as their own.
The emperor also felt that if it were said that this book was compiled by Zhang Zhou alone, then no one in the Hanlin Academy would have to mix it up.
But if Zhang Zhou's first contribution was not recorded in this matter, and the goal was not achieved in accordance with Zhang Zhou's needs, and the credit was easily given to people in the Hanlin Academy, Zhu Youtang would never agree.
To put it bluntly, we still have to argue.
Preserve the reputation of your high-ranking ministers, but also seek sufficient political benefits for Zhang Zhou.
This is the emperor's purpose.
"... Dear gentlemen, I have just received a thank you note." As the court meeting came to an end, Liu Jian also took the opportunity to touch the individual interview report in his arms, preparing to hand it to Dai Yi afterwards. spoke suddenly.
Everyone present was very curious, who would take part in the thank you list?
In the Ming Dynasty, thank you notes were a special form of presentation. Basically, they did not need to be "closed" to the cabinet. The cabinet only served as an advisory body. Unlike the prime minister, everything did not need to go through the cabinet first and then be submitted to the emperor. The emperor's All rewards and punishments do not need to be issued through the cabinet, and the power of refutation does not lie in the cabinet but in the six departments.
No one present knew what the specific thank you note was.
Zhu Youtang handed the thank you form to Dai Yi and raised his hand to ask Dai Yi to explain the situation.
Dai Yi sighed: "That's it. Your Majesty previously allowed Yang Tinghe, the Hanlin Minister and Zuo Yude of Zuo Chunfang, and Yang Tingyi, the younger brother of the newly promoted Jinshi, to return to their hometown to visit relatives, and gave them a horse to travel. Finally, the brothers After the two returned to their hometown, they met their mother Ye Ruren and stayed with their mother Ye Ruren for five days before passing away. Yang Chun, one of the Yang family, together with Ye Ruren's sons, Tinghe, Tingqian, Tingyu, Tingping, Tingcui, Tingyi, Tingping Jian, Tingxuan, Tingbin, and Tingshi came together to express their gratitude..."
Yang Ting, his grandfather Yang Mei, and his first wife Guo had two sons, Yang Yuan and Yang Zheng, both of whom died young.
Yang Mei married the Yang family for the third time and had no children. She married the Xiong family for the third time and had three sons, Yang Chun, Yang Hui and Yang Zhe.
Yang Chun was a Jinshi in the 17th year of Chenghua. His official name is not obvious. He is still alive today. Historically, he did not die of illness until the 11th year of Zhengde. Yang Chun can be said to be very vigorous. The oldest is Yang Tinghe, who is forty years old. .
Yang Chun's wife, Ye, and his concubine Wang, gave birth to twelve sons in total, but Wang's two sons, Yang Tingli and Yang Tingzhong, were not qualified to jointly express gratitude.
None of Yang Ting and his remaining brothers died in infancy.
As soon as these words came out, all the ministers present were stunned.
The emperor previously transferred Yang Ting and his two brothers back to their hometown. Everyone felt that the emperor was deliberately suppressing Yang Tinghe and the traditional civil servant faction, and deliberately asked Yang Tinghe to give up his position as a Hanlin bachelor and hand it over to Wang Hao. But now they realized that the emperor This was done "with great pains", and it really meant that he had to bear the incomprehension of the ministers to fulfill Yang Tinghe's filial piety.
After Dai Yi finished reading the above table written by Yang Chun, Yang Ting and their father and son.
There was silence.
Zhu Youtang said: "I am deeply saddened by the bad news. I did not receive a report from the local government, and I did not know the news that Ye Ruren was seriously ill. However, someone reminded me that I should make my ministers more filial. . I just did this. Many people didn’t understand me before. I hope you all will understand that the affairs of the court are of course important. Leaders must first cultivate their moral integrity and manage their families before they can be qualified to govern the country and bring peace to the world."
"Please keep this in mind!"
The ministers present felt that there were 10,000 mothers selling batches in their hearts, but they all quickly saluted and accepted the order.
You can even predict life and death in advance, but you actually say you don’t know in advance? Are those ministers whose parents are still alive at home, so they no longer need to wait for their families to announce their funerals, and you should be aware that the emperor wants you to go home?
(End of chapter)
