The jailer removed Zhang Mingshi's bracelets and shackles.
After years of prison life, even though Luo Sigong respected the general and ordered the jailer not to humiliate and starve Zhang Mingshi, he never thought about being particular about daily washing.
When Zhang Mingshi came out with a stench that was heavier than that of cattle and horses, and walked with everyone to the gate of the prison, not to mention the well-dressed young master Luo Yangxing, even Liu Qiao calmly distanced himself from him. Several steps.
Zheng Haizhu didn't seem to mind, and walked side by side with Zhang Mingshi calmly. Knowing that he loved hearing about the situation at home at the moment, he talked about his visit to Zhang's mansion in Shaoxing.
When passing by the cell where Ma Qiancheng's memorial tablet was enshrined, Zheng Haizhu called Liu Qiao and said, "Captain, please wait a moment. Can you let me see the place in front of the soul? It's almost the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Ma Gong's daughter-in-law wants to ask me to send some fruits." "
Liu Qiao nodded readily without doubting his presence.
Zhang Mingshi on the side was stunned when he saw it, and said in a complicated tone: "It turns out that the imperial court is still thinking about Ma Xuanfu. If the Miao tribe in Yunnan can be as peaceful as Shili in Sichuan and Sichuan, I will not suffer the injustice of these six years." "
Zheng Haizhu wished that Zhang Mingshi could complain longer, so as to give her a chance to examine the details again.
Sure enough, the small space in the dungeon below seemed to have been cleaned. Not only were the bed boards gone, but the dirt floor was also bare.
She turned around and left the cell without asking any questions.
After completing all the formalities, leaving the imperial prison and getting on the mule cart, Zheng Haizhu pointed at Qin Fang who was driving the cart and said: "Mr. Zhang, this is Lao Qin, the manager of my trading company's branch in Beijing. He will take you to the inn first. , we are all ready as soon as the application is made. Tonight, another kid who loves firearms and I will host a banquet to celebrate Mr. Zhang’s escape from prison.”
Zhang Mingshi looked at his face, which was much older than his forties, with wrinkles spreading like waves.
"Mrs. Zheng, may I ask the name of that talented man?"
Zheng Haizhu introduced him in a friendly voice: "His surname is Lu and his given name is Xiangsheng. He is also a scribe in our southern Zhili. He has already achieved great success, but besides the books of sages and sages, he loves the firearms books of our dynasty even more. A few years ago When my fire and gas factory was still a blacksmith shop, he was in charge. I regarded him as my younger brother, so I told him that Lu Xiandi’s hard skills in wielding a sword would definitely rank among the best if he took the martial arts examination. He actually I really have the intention of giving up the imperial examination and craftsmanship."
Zhang Mingshi said lightly "Oh".
How could he not detect Zheng Haizhu's foreshadowing, given his age and experience?
It means that the young boy, although he is a scholar, will not look down on the general.
The joy of finally being free, as well as the woman's thoughtful arrangements and eloquent words, made Zhang Mingshi completely relaxed.
He then said bluntly: "Mrs. Zheng has worked so hard for me. I am very grateful, and I am no longer divorced from you. Madam, please lend me a few taels of silver so that I can teach me to sail south. Well, if Madam doesn't mind, I will come back." After Shaoxing saw his grandson, he went to Madam's firearms factory to see if there was anything he could do to help, okay?"
Zheng Haizhu liked this kind of communication without beating around the bush, so he stopped being polite and opened his mouth as if he were arranging troops.
"This time Mr. Zhang is released from prison, he is pardoned, not rehabilitated. It may be difficult to be granted military duties for a while. My firearms factory is thirsty for talents, and I most hope that Mr. Zhang will condescend to give guidance. However, because I have been favored. Yes, I can enter the Wenhua Hall to teach the emperor's eldest son, so in the next month or two, Mr. Zhang will have to stay in the capital to help Mr. Lu and I figure out how to teach the emperor's eldest son the magic of firearms in an interesting way. "
"Uh, so..." Zhang Mingshi's eyebrows frowned slightly.
Zheng Haizhu knew that he was eager to return to his hometown, so he was naturally depressed when he heard that he would be dragged away by a woman as if he was "holding a favor in return".
But now, Zheng Haizhu is very clear-headed and must suppress his empathy for human relations.
"Mr. Zhang," Zheng Haizhu said with a hint of fear, not concealing the strength he had accumulated from his real qualifications, "In the past, from Liaodong to the Minhai, I dared to fight with the generals of Liaodong and Fujian. , and there are young and brave generals like Ma Xuanfu Huzi, who are called colleagues. But the more I admire my military ministers in the Ming Dynasty, the more I feel that there are still too few generals. Mr. Zhang, you are in your prime, now. Given the good opportunity, it’s time to let the new king know your name.”
However, Zhang Mingshi smiled bitterly, and deep in his bitter smile there was anger that he couldn't hide, and his disdain for what Zheng Haizhu said suddenly appeared.
"Before she reached thirty years old, my wife received orders and orders, and now she has to be a female master for the future prince. With everything going so smoothly, it is natural that everything looks like flowers and fire. However, I no longer have any ambition or battlefield. I’m so ambitious. I haven’t suffered enough at the hands of the civil servants and pen-wielding officials in the court!”
Zheng Haizhu shook his head: "Mr. Zhang's words are wrong. This old man is still ambitious, but he has great ambitions. He is so talented and has mastered the art of firearms. How can he be bitten by a snake and lose his energy and spirit?"
Then, she showed a bitterness similar to Zhang Mingshi, but the bitterness was not entirely the anger to vent her emotions.
"Mr. Zhang thinks that everything is going well for me all the time? Haha, how do you know that I have not been harmed by the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty? I talk about benevolence and morality, and have thoughts that are more stinking than pig water. I manage Taipu Temple's money bag by myself. , I have not encountered civil servants who want to humiliate me and bully me. But we can't knock down a whole boat of people with one stick. During the war in Fushun, Zhang Quan, who held the title of Minister of War, wasn't he a civil servant? Urgent transfer In Fujian, Shang Zhouzuo, who supported General Yu Zigao and negotiated terms with Hong Mao, was your Shaoxing fellow, not a civil servant? Isn't Yang Lian, who presented the petition to Lord Long Live this time, a civil servant? "
Zhang Mingshi was first given a thumbs up by Zheng Haizhu, and then listened to her pouring out her bitter words. Then he heard about the few civil servants of the Ming Dynasty who were praised by her, and he no longer felt that this little woman was going to argue with him about the rights and wrongs.
Moreover, what they said was indeed true. It was the censor's pen that framed him, Lao Zhang, and now it was the censor's pen that helped him, Lao Zhang, come out intact.
Zheng Haizhu saw that the ice on Zhang Mingshi's face was melting, and felt that there was no need to say any more words to persuade him to rekindle his fighting spirit, so he softened his tone and said: "When I was the first to mediate, I was afraid of being too public, so I didn't dare to inform Mr. Zhang. Family. I got the letter from Yang Yushi the day before yesterday, so I used the post route to write to Shaoxing, asking your son to go north. It will take several months to get to Beijing from Shaoxing."
Zhang Mingshi became happy and started to lick the calf. He thought about it again. Even if he really decided to take off his armor and return to the fields, his son would not be willing to follow him as a farmer. He could either join the army or take the imperial examination and become a civil servant. Which way should he choose? No one is allowed in the court? .q.
Thinking about it this way, this Zheng family did give him a good opportunity to revive his family.
He rubbed his hands and said sincerely: "Madam, what you say and do is indeed appropriate. I admire you."
That night, Zheng Haizhu held a banquet at the Hongyan Tower recommended by Qin Fang. It was naturally inappropriate for Yang Lian to show up, and only Lu Xiangsheng accompanied him.
Lu Xiangsheng failed to pass the exam last spring and continued to prepare for the exam in Nanjing Imperial College.
The next examination would be two years later. It was not urgent. As soon as he received an urgent call from Zheng Haizhu, he understood the simple reason and rushed over in excitement.
When I met Zhang Mingshi today, one was 70% theory and 30% practice, while the other was practice-based and theory-based. After chatting over the wine table, they made up for each other's shortcomings in less than half an hour.
In addition, Lu Xiangsheng has always been very interested in battlefield battles and offensive and defensive methods. When Zhang Mingshi was in Yunnan, due to the complex terrain there, he was proficient in attacking cliffs, crossing rivers, grassland killings, and attacking cities and demolishing houses. Therefore, The two chatted happily.
Zheng Haizhu listened quietly and took the time to finish eating the delicacies on the table. When he heard the two of them discussing the actual battle, he asked the restaurant clerk for an inkstone, paper and pen to prepare for writing.
Zhang Mingshi turned his head and subconsciously showed surprise: "What are you doing, madam?"
Zheng Haizhu smiled, looked outside the box, and whispered: "Don't be nervous, I'm not from Dongchang. I just wrote down the novel woodwork that Mr. Zhang mentioned, and thought about it carefully. How can I give it to the emperor?" The eldest son’s lectures are more interesting. This is called preparing lessons.”
Zhang Mingshi's lips relaxed. He didn't care about "preparing lessons", a term he had never heard of before. It was not just about recording a confession.
Lu Xiangsheng also woke up from his star-chasing mentality towards the veteran generals on the battlefield and helped explain: "Madam, I went to inquire. The eldest son of the emperor likes woodworking and likes to make various wooden mechanisms. Madam then thought, firearms are not limited to copper and iron. The smelting and medicine-stone compatibility, the gun has a gun stand, the cannon has a gun carriage, and they are all made of wood. Furthermore, the method of firearms, its
The main point is to attack and defend the enemy, so wooden weapons other than firearms for attack and defense can also be discussed first with the eldest son of the emperor. "
Zhang Mingshi understood: "That's right. Madam really knows how to teach."
Zheng Haizhu was not polite: "Actually, I started my career by opening a school."
When she mentioned the word "school", she thought of the name taboo issue that might arise in the future, so she wrote it down on the paper and made an emphasis mark.
Zhang Mingshi came up to him and said proactively: "Your Highness likes wooden knot mechanisms. Madam, please write a nest cart. That thing is interesting. Back then in the southwest, Yang Yinglong rebelled in Bozhou, and every battalion of our Ming army had nest carts."
Zheng Haizhu said: "Okay, let me make a note first. I'll trouble Mr. Zhang to explain it in detail to me and Brother Xiang Shengxian tomorrow. We'd better draw a rough outline."
After talking and writing like this, eating and drinking, the three of them stopped talking when they reached Xuzhong.
Due to the curfew in the capital, the steward of Zuo Mansion was waiting in front of the restaurant with Zuo Guangdou's waistband.
Zheng Haizhu sent Zhang and Lu to the inn. When they returned to the gate of Zuofu, Li Daniu stepped forward to report.
"Madam, I have been sitting in Liuquanju for two hours. Sure enough, someone went to ask the waiter, but there was a lady and a guest officer who looked like General Zhang, dining in the private room. I also asked how many people there were in total. The others who came were scribes , he looks like a capable warrior."
"What did man say?"
"The guy was confused and asked, "Civil and military are all written on their foreheads. Some literati are like butchers of pigs, while some generals are very elegant."
Zheng Haizhu was not in the mood to laugh, and asked again: "Where did you sit and see the guests coming in and going out? What did they look like?"
Li Daniu said: "I watched every one, and no one left quickly. The person who came to inquire must be very smart. He sat down to eat some food and wine first, and asked before leaving."
Zheng Haizhu frowned.
"We only gave it to the scribe as a pretense of hosting a banquet in Liuquanju and entertaining dignitaries. So, he, or whoever is behind him, is really targeting me?"
Li Daniu was also puzzled: "Who can we offend in prison? My wife met with Commander Luo and Governor Liu last time, and this time she brought up General Zhang. Isn't it all fair and square?"
"Well, they shouldn't pay attention to Zhang Mingshi, an unlucky general who has been imprisoned for several years and has no power behind him. They should have heard from the clerk that there is an important person today. They want to see who that person is. They want to know my whereabouts and who I have made friends with in the capital?"
Zheng Haizhu thought of Ma Qiancheng's neatly tidied cell, and suddenly felt goosebumps, as if there were two eyes staring at her from behind.
She suddenly remembered something: "By the way, today I asked Liu Qiao how his young master was doing. Liu Qiao said he still had stomach problems, but he could sleep peacefully for four or five hours after taking a doctor's prescription. This must be true. No, how can a baby who is only over half a year old sleep longer than us. In the next few days, go check on that Shanxi doctor."
