The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 219

In the city, somewhere in an inn.

Zhang Ye just came back from the outside and entered the cramped room. When he saw his disgraced son Zhang Ping, he immediately sat down on the stool and scolded angrily: "Officials protect each other, they bully people too much! Daxing County Government refuses to accept it, that's all, Lian Shun The Heavenly Mansion doesn’t even ask questions! It’s all about colluding with each other, they simply don’t take Daming’s benevolence, filial piety and etiquette seriously! Daming is almost over!”

After speaking, he picked up the teacup and poured the cold tea into his stomach.

Zhang Ping was stunned, unlike before, this time he heard his father's complaints, and didn't say a word.

"Son, you don't have to worry, you will never give up as a father! Even if you are suing the imperial court, you have to straighten out the truth!" Zhang Ye comforted.

Zhang Ping looked up at his father and said, "Father, are we running out of money?"

"You... oh! The money your mother gave is not much, and with the addition of our father and two laborers and a driver, the food will be a little more. The accommodation in this capital is much more expensive than in Nanjing. But don't worry, we won't starve to death! Your father and I still have a little... money for ourselves."

Zhangye will let himself starve to death?

The small treasury has not been used. In recent years, I have been fighting wits and bravery with my wife to hide the small treasury. Anyway, the Zhang family's family business is basically run by old ladies.

He's just an errand and odd job.

Zhang Pingdao: "Father, let's go. I just heard from the outside that the second uncle won the first prize. If you say that officials and officials protect each other, then others will protect him even more now."

"What did you say? The number one scholar? Just him?" Zhang Ye stood up with a look of disbelief, the muscles on his face twisted first, then turned into surprise and said, "This is a good thing, my son, he is the number one scholar, and the military household Is he not allowed to come out of his position? You hurry up and tidy up with your father, let’s go visit your second uncle, this kid is really good, Jie Yuan from Jiangnan won the first prize in the exam? Hahaha... The Zhang family is about to prosper."

Zhang Ping gave his father a strange look.

The Zhang family is well-developed?

It seems that my second uncle's family is prosperous, and this prosperity has something to do with our family's money?

Is father being self-indulgent?

"Do you want to bring a door-to-door gift?" Zhang Ping asked.

"No, who is with your second uncle? When he was down and out, he borrowed two hundred Wen from me, and he still hasn't paid it back!"

"..."

……

……

The Imperial Palace, inside Qingning Palace.

Zhu Youtang was greeting the Empress Dowager Zhou, and was left by the Empress Dowager Zhou for questioning.

"Has Bingkuan not entered the palace recently? I heard that he won the first prize. The Ai family appreciates him very much. Such a capable and talented person is blessed by the heavens. He is a blessed minister of Ming Dynasty. The Ai family always pays attention to blessings. Your Majesty, you should also make some preparations for him to become an official in the future."

Between the words of the Queen Mother Zhou, she was very concerned about whether Zhang Zhou's official career was smooth.

Zhu Youtang said: "Grandmother is troublesome, grandson has paved the way for him, let him enter the Hanyuan, and later promote him to be a servant, so he can often go in and out of the palace gate."

Empress Dowager Zhou smiled and said: "You are right to miss him, but have you ever thought about what he did for the royal family before, would those civil servants easily accommodate him?"

"This one……"

Zhu Youtang was also very worried about this.

Although Zhang Zhou is the number one scholar, he is just a new scholar, and Zhang Zhou's fame and status are beyond the reach of those princes, elders, and ministers. The servants, the readers, and the lecturers can restrain Zhang Zhou to death.

I'm afraid it won't be that easy to make Zhang Zhou flourish in the officialdom.

"Aijia thinks that you should let him have a backer in the court." Queen Mother Zhou said.

Zhu Youtang said: "The grandson doesn't understand what the emperor's grandmother means."

As the emperor, I can't even be Bing Kuan's backer, so I have to find another backer for him?

Which backer is more powerful than me?
The Empress Dowager Zhou said with a smile: "The most important thing when entering and leaving the officialdom is to be able to integrate into it. As a civil servant, Bingkuan should let him worship a gentleman, such as those elders and ministers. The old Shangshu got married, so that others will let go of their prejudices and treat him as one of their own."

"what?"

Zhu Youtang was surprised.

My heart said, old lady, you have a lot of tricks.

"Grandmother, with his status, probably doesn't need to be a teacher, and since he already has a family, there is no way to talk about marriage."

What Zhu Youtang meant, no matter how good your old lady's idea is, it's useless.

The Empress Dowager Zhou narrowed her eyes, showing an old fox-like smile, and said, "Guozijian Jijiu, Lin Shilang of the Ministry of Rites, is quite good. Aijia, the girl in his house, has seen it before, and her talent, appearance and character are all excellent. Aijia is also like Bingkuan. Having mentioned this, why don't you think about it?"

"Servant Lin?"

Zhu Youtang frowned.

Xin said, Grandmother, when you first met Lin Han's daughter, were you sure you didn't choose the imperial concubine for me?Do you really want to match up for Bing Kuan?
That... maybe I was overthinking it.

I misunderstood the emperor's grandmother.

"I think Lin Shilang has been in the court for many years, his disciples are all over the court and the public, and he is not in the position of prime minister or minister, and he has not had too many disputes with others. As long as he becomes his son-in-law, others will give him everything. It's a little bit of face, and besides, that girl is just Lin Shilang's concubine, betrothed to Bing Kuan as a concubine, there is no disgrace."

When the Queen Mother Zhou talked, she was thinking of Zhang Zhou.

In this way, this grandson also let go of his wariness towards her a lot.

The Empress Dowager Zhou also clearly felt that her grandson didn't dare to come recently, but whenever she asked a few words about the relationship between her grandson and his grandson-in-law, her grandson would change the topic, and she would not talk about the sisters in the Huanyi Bureau mentioned earlier. thing.

The Empress Dowager Zhou was also familiar with the emperor's character.

If Aijia is devoted to Zhang Bingkuan, whom you favor, and works hard for him to enter the court, why don't you let go of your guard and obediently be your filial son and virtuous grandson?

I can't hold your pulse, Aijia has lived in vain for 70 years.

"So...wouldn't it be good?" Zhu Youtang said, "I don't know how to tell Lin Shilang."

The Empress Dowager Zhou said with a smile: "This matter was brought up by the Ai family, so it is natural for the Ai family to talk about it. You don't have to take it too seriously, the emperor, and the Ai family will make it happen."

"Then...thank you, Grandmother."

Zhu Youtang pondered for a while, this idea is very good.

Letting Zhang Zhou marry Lin Han, let Lin Han's daughter be a concubine in the past, it seems that the foundation of this marriage is not solid, but Zhang Zhou's first wife is not from a wealthy family, if it is a marriage bestowed by the emperor, it is considered a concubine It can also obtain a high status, which is almost equivalent to a "equal wife".

Of course, in Daming there is no concept of equal wives, whether it is a concubine or a concubine, it's just that the status is more protected.

Lin Han's prestige among the scholars is outstanding, and Lin Han never competes with others, and he doesn't have official entanglements like Cheng Minzheng, so others respect Lin Han very much.

Zhang Zhou has the endorsement of his father-in-law Lin Han, no matter how you look at it, he can lay a foundation stone among the civil servants.

Empress Dowager Zhou smiled and said: "Emperor, if you have time, bring the queen and prince over to show the Ai family. There are only a few years left in the Ai family, and I always remember you juniors in my heart. Bingkuan will handle things, you trust him, Ai family Believe in him too, he can still help the royal family and the court, who wouldn't like such a young man?"

"Yes Yes……"

Zhu Youtang had a smile on his face, and his relationship with his grandmother seemed to be much closer.

……

……

Zhang Zhou's mansion is decorated with lanterns and festoons.

Even if Zhang Zhou didn't want to be high-profile, but won the first prize, it would be meaningless if he kept a low profile on purpose.

Anyway, other people also know that this is his home. There are many people who come to join in the fun that day. What is rare is that many nearby city residents also come to have fun. It seems that it is common to earn reward money for fun. Before Zhang Zhouzhong Gongshi did not Reasons come, but if the champion does not come, for ordinary people, it will be a few hundred taels of silver.

Firecrackers blared.

Zhang Zhou also welcomed some congratulators here. Generally speaking, Zhang Zhou just avoided seeing them.

But there was one person he had to meet, Empress Zhang's uncle, Shen Lu who was the envoy of Zuo Tongzheng.

Ordinary civil servants will not come to congratulate a new scholar at this time, they will take care of their own status, and some officials who come from close sycophants want to come to see, Zhang Zhou has a lot of reasons not to meet, but Shen Lu Although he is also a close sycophant, he was born as a Jinshi and has a strong background in the court. Zhang Zhou will give this face.

"Zhang Zhuangyuan, he is truly a talent. He has known his name for a long time."

Shen Lu is more than 50 years old, very handsome, his stomach is wobbly when he walks, but he gives people a sense of calmness.

"Shen Tongzheng is polite, please come in."

Zhang Zhou invited Shen Lu to the main hall, but Jiang Dezhong, who was going to the main hall, stepped aside tactfully, and didn't even come to say hello.

Jiang Dezhong also understood now that even though he was Zhang Zhou's father-in-law, his status was not at the same level as Zhang Zhou's, so he didn't pretend to be a gentleman in front of these famous Confucians, he should just be a merchant.

After Shen Lu sat down, he exchanged simple greetings first, and then said: "According to the past rules, all new scholars enter the Imperial Academy. Although they will not be in the same yamen in the future, they will have more contacts. Bingkuan, what can you do for help?" , just say hello, speaking of which, I also like to meet young people, that’s how I came here.”

Shen Lu seemed to be exchanging greetings, but in fact he was telling Zhang Zhou that we can form a small party first.

You don't have to be a faction, but you can take care of each other if you have something to do.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Maybe I will trouble Shen Tongzheng then."

Zhang Zhou would not explicitly refuse.

He knew very well why Shen Lu was the one who came.

If people like Li Dongyang and Xie Qian came, he would not be used to it. Xie Qian had been here before, but it was based on the fact that he was a fart. If he won a Jinshi, those traditional civil servants would be afraid to follow He communicates privately.

Is Shen Lu representing himself alone?
He represents a series of civil servants who have nepotism with the imperial family. Xu Qiong is the representative of the court officials, and Bai Ang, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, is barely one of them. This is only at the ministerial level. Below are Zhengqing, Shaoqing and other levels. There are more people... Even though the administration of officials during the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty was regarded as Qingming, but because of the emperor's favor for Queen Zhang's family, those who were related to the Zhang family would form their own faction in the court.

Even Wang Jia, the master of Zhang Zhou's rural examination, is related to Zhang's family by marriage.

"Bingkuan, I never thought you would win the first prize. Speaking of His Majesty's trust in you, it's okay for you to be an honored minister. But it's also good. If there are major issues in the court in the future, there can be one more person to discuss." Shen Lu saw Zhang Zhou is a sensible person.

He also told Zhang Zhou.

Don't even think about joining the traditional faction of Liu Jian and Li Dongyang. Don't look at our group of people who are sometimes criticized, but we also have the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Punishment. There are so many people in the court who support you. Can't I humiliate you?

Although you are the number one scholar, you have done a lot of things that alchemists do. Our side is more enlightened and can accept you.

"Okay." Zhang Zhou smiled.

In a hurry to stand in line now?
Zhang Zhou is not that stupid.

Why should I form a party with others?Is it not good for me to be my own party?

At the beginning, the emperor may have wanted him to integrate into the civil servants, but if he had the same opinions as the civil servants, then the emperor would be worried, right?Gradually, the emperor would also understand that what he wanted was Zhang Bingkuan who was isolated from the court's Chinese court system.

So from the beginning, Zhang Zhou spoke with God's will, and never thought about how to please Liu Jian and Li Dongyang.

As a traditional civil servant, it took decades to join the cabinet and serve as an aide to the emperor.

And now he is the emperor's most important aide before he becomes a civil servant, why must he follow the path of a civil servant?Just like what Shen Lu said, being an honorable official is pretty good, who made the current Emperor Hongzhi and the future Emperor Zhu Houzhao favor the people around him?

In other words, all the emperors hope to have "people of their own", rather than relying on those professional politicians who receive salaries.

……

……

Just when Zhang Zhou was entertaining Shen Lu in the mansion.

Zhang Ye and his son also arrived at the gate of Zhang's house.

"Receive the reward? Go in line later! Those who say auspicious words are five cents per person, but let me tell you where I live first. If you come from outside the city to fish in troubled waters, please do it yourself!"

Money is being distributed at the door of Zhang Zhou.

And the money is distributed in an orderly manner, ordinary people don't want to follow the rules, but today not only Jin Yiwei is on duty at the gate, but also people from Shuntian Mansion and Wucheng Bingma Division to maintain order, so those who want to fish in troubled waters will not dare There is trouble.

Someone was shouting, "Is this a government residence or a private residence?"

"Which one belongs to? Stand up!"

Immediately, some soldiers and horses came out, holding a whip and showing off their power to the people in line.

Give you face.

Dare to make trouble around those of us who wear officialdom?Although there are a lot of noble people at the emperor's feet, you all come to line up to get the money, why are you still pretending to be cowardly here?
"This is the Zhuangyuan Mansion, does the Zhuangyuan know? Senior official! Besides, Zhang Zhuangyuan is a celebrity in front of His Majesty. Dongchang and Jinyiwei have to show face. Whoever dares to make trouble will have his head chopped off!"

The officers of the Bingma Division finished their shouting and went back to continue maintaining order.

Seeing that his father was still pushing forward, Zhang Ping hurriedly said, "Father, let's go."

Zhang Ye scolded: "This is also your second uncle's family, they are all Zhang's family, what are you afraid of? Breaking the bones and connecting the tendons! Besides, I have never heard that the number one scholar will be a thousand households of Jinyiwei, this position must belong to you!" "

……

……

Zhang Ye was very stubborn, or he felt that even if he returned to Nanjing, he would not be able to deal with his wife.

Simply rush to the door of Zhang's house shamelessly, or be kicked out again.

But he still underestimated Jin Yiwei's hostility towards him.

"Fuck him..."

Zhang Ye was directly kicked down the steps by a guard in Jin Yi, rolled over a few times, his head was down and he even felt that his neck was about to break.

Zhang Ping hurried over to help his father.

"Take it easy, break it!"

Zhangye snotted and burst into tears under the pain.

Many people who were waiting to ask for rewards also turned their eyes.

Jin Yiwei was about to go up with a knife to teach these two strangers a lesson, but it was Sun Shangqi who came out and stopped his subordinates, and also stopped the Shuntian government office servant who was coming to punch and kick Zhang's father and son.

"Hey, Mr. Zhang Family, why haven't you returned to Nanjing yet? Do you not remember what I told you earlier? Do you dare to come to enjoy the cool air in this place?"

Sun Shangqi, as Jin Yiwei, knew the details of Zhangye and his son very well.

The lintel is a bit shorter than Jinyiwei's Baihu, so don't worry about being offended.

Zhang Zhou would not defend the elder brother either.

"You beat people!" Zhang Ye pretended to be very painful, "Neighbors, judge, I just came to see my younger brother. My younger brother won the first prize, and the elder brother came to congratulate him, but this group of people didn't..."

He wanted to say that this group of people is inhumane.

But when the words came to his lips, seeing a group of people staring at him, he swallowed the words again.

Sun Shangqi said: "It seems that Elder Zhang is not very clear about the rules of our Jinyiwei, come here, and invite him to Beizhen Fusi to dry."

"do not!"

Zhang Ping hurried out and said, "Everyone on business, my father and son just want to go back to Nanjing, and came here to say goodbye to my second uncle. Please help me."

Although Zhang Ping has a strong mother, he is different from his father. His father is an old man who likes to fight wits with his wife, while Zhang Ping has a timid personality.

While speaking, there was a loud noise at the door.

It was Zhang Zhou who sent Shen Lu out the door.

Zhang Zhou also heard that Zhang Ye and his son were here to make trouble, so he came out specially to take a look. Today is his big day for the number one scholar, and it is not suitable to see blood at the door.

Otherwise, Zhang Zhou wouldn't come out to care about the father and son.

"Brother is in a good mood, are you here to practice gymnastics?" Zhang Zhou said with a smile.

Zhang Ye originally planned to stay on the ground for a while, but upon hearing this, he got up from the ground and patted the dust off his buttocks.

"Second brother, I just came to congratulate you. I was blind before and never thought that you have great talent. That is also the ancestral grave of our Zhang family. Why don't we brothers repair it together?" Zhang Ye didn't say anything about driving Zhang Zhou out of the Zhang family tree.

Even if he wanted to.

It is estimated that people from the branch of the Zhang family will not do it either.

The Zhang family has a top scholar, is it you Zhangye who can get rid of the family tree if you want to?As long as the number one scholar in the Zhang family is willing, it would be fine to kick you out.

Didn't we split up?Then it is not one.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "The visitor is a guest. Today there is a banquet at the street corner. My brother and eldest nephew will go to the banquet if they are interested. Someone told me recently that I should take back the Zhang family's ancestral house and renovate it. Maybe Please forgive me for offending my brother. A brother will give you compensation, don’t think too little.”

"Ok?"

Zhang Ye was startled.

I obviously came to congratulate him, what does this kid mean?
Not only do you not intend to give me the position of Jinyiwei Qianhu, but you even want to take over the old house that I occupy?

That means, you are the main branch of the Zhang family, and I am a side branch?

(End of this chapter)