The official department of Nanjing City has a separate office and a separate area in the imperial city. It is not just a courtyard of the palace in Shu County, and the terrain is narrow.
Lu Xuan left Shu County with all the civil and military officials. Zhang Zhao took the lead and brought people to Nanjing City to arrange everything in advance.
Zhang Zhao was in the duty room, handling government affairs.
He had just come back and had a lot on his hands. Fortunately, Zhang Zhao was proficient in government affairs. Order after order was arranged, and many government affairs were arranged in an orderly manner.
While Zhang Zhao was handling government affairs, an attendant came in and said, "Shang Shu, Mr. Zhang Cheng wants to see you."
Zhang Zhao was stunned for a moment.
What's wrong with Zhang Chenglai?
Zhang Zhao has always asked his son not to get involved in government affairs. After all, he has a special status as the Minister of Personnel. In fact, Zhang Zhao hoped that his son would go to the Five Classics Museum to study, but Zhang Cheng liked to make friends with celebrities and was unwilling to go to the Five Classics Museum.
Zhang Zhao didn't force it.
Zhang Zhao ordered: "Bring the people in."
Zhang Cheng entered the official office. When he saw Zhang Zhao, he bowed and said, "Father!"
Zhang Zhao said with a cold face: "My father has always warned you that if you have nothing to do, you can't come to me at will."
Zhang Cheng said anxiously: "Father, something big really happened this time."
Zhang Zhao said: "What's the matter?"
Zhang Cheng said: "Nanjing County Magistrate Zhuge Liang arranged for the yamen to arrest Zhang Xi, our housekeeper. Zhuge Liang said that Zhang Xi was acting domineering and arbitrary outside. However, this was completely false and was deliberately targeting our family."
Zhang Zhao looked solemn and frowned slightly.
Zhuge Liang captured a member of the Zhang family. Did he plan to use Lu Xuan to move the capital to create trouble and use him to establish his authority? Thinking of this, Zhang Zhao suddenly thought more. As a political figure, especially a minister of the Ministry of Personnel, he is more likely to be criticized.
The censor impeached him to become famous.
The local officials may have dealt with the Zhang family to improve his reputation.
Seeing that his father was deep in thought, Zhang Cheng felt happy and said further: "Father, you don't know, Zhuge Liang is so domineering. He sent someone to invite his son to the county government, saying that Zhang Xi had committed a crime, and asked his son to take Zhang Xi to prison. Take him to the county government. Listen, he has such great authority and temper that he actually asked me to escort him."
Zhang Zhao's face suddenly darkened.
His eyes became sharper.
Zhang Cheng was secretly happy when he saw his father looking like he was about to get angry. He had indeed come to the right place. As long as his father is angry, he can push Zhuge Liang down with just a move of his fingers, which is a piece of cake.
Zhang Cheng said excitedly: "Zhuge Liang is arrogant and domineering, but his son ignored him. Unexpectedly, he arrested people directly. Father, Zhuge Liang must be dealt with, otherwise everyone will think that our Zhang family is easy to bully. This person..."
Snapped! !
The penholder flew over and hit Zhang Cheng.
Zhang Cheng screamed and looked at Zhang Zhao with a look of surprise and incomprehension, and asked: "Father, why did you hit me?"
Zhang Zhao walked up to Zhang Cheng and said angrily: "I'll hit you no matter what, I'll beat you to death, you're a loser!"
A slap was thrown.
Snapped! !
A loud slap came out.
Zhang Cheng covered his face and said again: "Father, what do you mean?"
Zhang Zhao said angrily: "Over the years, you have been pampered and hung out with a group of so-called celebrities. The longer you live, the more you go back. When you were young, you were honest and honest, with a gentle temperament. Now you are self-righteous and arrogant."
"How come I, Zhang Zhao, have a useless son like you?"
Zhang Zhao kicked him out again.
He kicked Zhang Cheng to the ground and said: "Zhuge Liang gave me face. As long as you capture Zhang Xi and take the initiative to send him to the county government, everyone will praise the Zhang family for their general knowledge. If Zhang Xi is directly arrested, it will be different." , and Zhuge Liang is like this, Zhang Xi’s story cannot be false. Have you lived like a dog in these years? "
Faced with the accusation from his old father, Zhang Cheng said, "But what Zhuge Liang did is too deceiving."
"you you……"
Zhang Zhao was furious.
In the court, it was not easy for him to do things. He was once cheated by a wealthy family, and it was not easy for him to turn over. Unexpectedly, his son would trick him and ruin his family tradition.
Zhang Zhao said angrily: "You are my son after all. Don't you know Zhuge Liang's identity?"
"He is the person supported by the king and the young man the king relies on most. Zhuge Liang's sister is also the king's concubine Zhuge Rong. In addition, he is also a disciple of Zheng Xuan. His eldest brother works by the king's side, and his uncle also Served in the Ministry of Rites.”
"Zhuge Liang has outstanding talents and is the leader of the first batch of scholars in the Five Classics Hall. In the future, the scholars in the Five Classics Hall will be inextricably related to Zhuge Liang, and Zhuge Liang is also the one who built the imperial capital."
Zhang Zhao said solemnly: "Where do you get your confidence? You actually look down on Zhuge Liang."
Zhang Cheng said: "It's Zhuge Liang who looks down on our Zhang family."
Zhang Zhao listened to Zhang Cheng's nonsense and scolded: "Next, you pack your bags and go back to your hometown in Pengcheng."
"father!"
Zhang Cheng was so frightened that he hugged Zhang Zhao's legs and said in panic: "Dad, my son is wrong, don't drive me back."
Zhang Zhao said coldly: "If you don't go back, I will break your legs. Do you go back to your hometown and guard your ancestral home, or live in Nanjing with your legs broken? What do you want to choose?"
"I, I, I'm going back."
Zhang Cheng answered quickly.
He regretted it endlessly, but he didn't expect that a simple matter would turn into what it is today.
Zhang Zhao ordered: "Let's go home first, carry the thorn sticks on your back, and go with me to apologize."
Speaking of this, Zhang Zhao murmured: "Zhuge Liang's approach is also a bit inappropriate. He could have gone to me, but he went to you. He could have softened things a bit, but he took action directly."
"By apologizing, I want to give Zhuge Liang a beating and let him know that my Zhang family is not just someone to bully. I apologize in person and see what he will do? By then, what will be discussed in the official circles will be Zhuge Liang's arrogance."
Everyone has self-esteem.
The same goes for Zhang Zhao.
As the official minister, Zhang Zhao has even more self-esteem. He talked about how Zhuge Liang was young and promising and had a great background, but in his heart, he still cared about his identity and cared about the Zhang family being taken down.
"Here!"
Zhang Cheng answered immediately.
Zhang Zhao and Zhang Cheng left the official department together and returned to Zhang's house first. Zhang Cheng carried the vitex sticks on his back and followed Zhang Zhao towards the county government office. When the news of Zhang Zhao's visit came, Zhuge Liang was shocked that Zhang Zhao came in person.
This is killing a chicken with a knife, making small things bigger and magnifying small things, because Zhang Zhao can make other arrangements.
Zhuge Liang personally went to the door to greet him, bowed and said, "I'm your official Zhuge Liang, and I'm here to pay my respects to Zhang Shangshu."
Zhang Zhao's expression was gentle and he said calmly: "Magistrate Zhuge, I am not here as a minister this time. The Zhang family has committed an offense, and Zhang Cheng, the dog son, has caused trouble to Magistrate Zhuge. I am here to apologize." of."
Zhuge Liang said: "Zhang Shangshu, it says inside."
Zhang Zhao shook his head and said firmly: "I won't go in, I will make arrangements here."
He looked at Zhang Cheng and scolded: "You traitor, you haven't come up yet."
Zhang Cheng squirmed up with the thorn stick on his back, knelt down on the ground with a plop, and said loudly: "Magistrate Zhuge, Zhang Cheng has offended me in some way, please forgive me. All of this is because of me, Zhang Cheng."
Zhang Zhao took over and said: "Magistrate Zhuge, this bastard Zhang Cheng is a dandy. Although he has not made any mistakes, he is also responsible for Zhang Xi's matter. I have ordered him to return to his hometown in Pengcheng. In addition, you can deal with Zhang Xi's matter impartially. When something bad happens to the Zhang family, it's because I'm not strict with you, so you don't have to worry about it."
Zhuge Liang looked around.
Many people watched on the street, and even more people started talking.
"Zhang Shangshu is a noble and honest man. He is truly a courteous and virtuous man. He actually apologized to a small county magistrate in person for a trivial matter."
"Zhang Shangshu is really open-minded."
"Magistrate Zhuge was a little ignorant. Zhang Shangshu came to apologize in person, but he still didn't express his position. As Zhang Shangshu, he gave me enough face."
People around started talking.
Many people think that Zhang Zhao is a model of courtesy and virtue, and they all think that Zhuge Liang is self-righteous. An apology from a highly respected and powerful official is good enough.
A flash of light flashed across Zhuge Liang's eyes.
Zhang Zhao's methods are so powerful.
As the head of officials, apologizing to him really established Zhuge Liang's authority. However, if Zhuge Liang is also put on the fire, he will be stared at by countless people.
Zhuge Liang smiled in his heart.
When he became the leader of the scholars in the Five Classics Hall, he was destined to be roasted on the fire, but he didn't care.
Zhuge Liang said without being humble or arrogant: "Zhuge Liang admires Mr. Zhang for his integrity. When it comes to Mr. Zhang Cheng, he has not made any mistakes and there is no need to deal with him."
Zhang Zhao shook his head and said: "If people are stupid, they should be less exposed to things. It is the best outcome for him to go back to his hometown to study. In order to avoid trouble in the future, he will trouble Magistrate Zhuge again. Magistrate Zhuge has full authority to handle Zhang Xi's matter, and he will enforce the law impartially." Can."
Zhuge Liang said: "I will obey my orders."
"Farewell!"
Zhang Zhao got up and left.
Zhuge Liang looked at Zhang Zhao's back as he came and went in a hurry, shook his head, and returned to the county government office to handle government affairs.
In the evening, Zhuge Liang returned home and Zhuge Xuan came back.
Zhuge Xuan followed officials from the Ministry of Rites and arrived in Nanjing with Zhang Zhao and had already started working.
Zhu Ge
"Imagine how arrogant you must be to force the Minister of Civil Affairs to apologize?"
"In regard to Zhang Xi's matter, you should take the initiative to see Zhang Zhao. Alternatively, it would be much better to hand the case over to the Criminal Department. Why take it over personally?"
Zhuge Xuan looked worried.
Zhuge Liang looked relaxed and said with a smile: "Uncle, what happened in Nanjing County is my responsibility and cannot be shied away from. In addition, if I go to Zhang Zhao directly, it is just following Yan Yan's trend. Notifying Zhang Cheng is already the limit."
"I have no regrets about this matter, and I am not afraid of Zhang Zhao's thoughts."
Zhuge Liang said flatly: "If he wants to make a show, he will make a show. There will be no less things for me to do."
Zhuge Xuandao: "Zhang Zhao's actions will make you an outlier in the officialdom. When people mention you, they will think of you forcing Zhang Zhao to apologize, and they will not consider that you once criticized the Zhang family."
Zhuge Liang said calmly: "Uncle, I am not ashamed."
Zhuge Xuan shook his head.
This nephew of his had great ideas, but he couldn't persuade him, so he said, "You are so self-disciplined, so keep a low profile lately."
"Thank you uncle."
Zhuge Liang replied with a smile.
Early the next day, Zhuge Liang arrived at the county government office and started to deal with Zhang Xi's case. He punished Zhang Xi for several crimes and finally sentenced him to death. After the news spread, more officials believed that Zhuge Liang was too domineering, and Zhang Zhao personally apologized and sentenced him to death.
In the discussion of many people, Zhuge Liang still went his own way without any influence.
At this time, Lu Xuan led the team to Nanjing City. As soon as he arrived in Nanjing County, he received Chen Deng's report about Zhuge Liang.
What Zhuge Liang did was obviously right.
Was Zhang Zhao wrong?
It seems that it is correct, and Corporal Zhang Zhaolixian went to apologize in person.
It's just that Zhang Zhao's mind was a little too small, which put Zhuge Liang on the line. When many officials mention Zhuge Liang, they will not say that Zhuge Liang has outstanding abilities and talents, nor will they say that you uphold justice, but that you are so bold that you forced Zhang Zhao to apologize, which is disrespectful to the superior.
Officials in Zhang Zhao's line, these people promoted by Zhang Zhao, will invisibly stand on the opposite side of Zhuge Liang.
This is not conducive to Zhuge Liang.
Lu Xuan was thinking in his heart that Zhuge Liang was his future prime minister and would not allow anyone to scheme against him.
He wants to temper Zhuge Liang, but also protect him.
After Lu Xuan thought about it clearly, as soon as he arrived in Nanjing and checked into the palace, he arranged for his attendants to go to the county government office to deliver the order and notify Zhuge Liang to enter the palace for the banquet.
