My son, Fusu, please abdicate the first emperor!

Chapter 850: Which bastard? (Happy New Year!)
Zhang Cang rolled up his sleeves, put on his shoes, and headed towards Zhangtai Palace.

"Hey, don't."

Shao Ping grabbed Zhang Cang's sleeve, fearing that the matter would be exposed.

"Why are you pulling my sleeve?"

"His Majesty has already said this. If you go and argue with him now, wouldn't that be disrespectful to his Majesty?" Shao Ping slapped his face, looking like he was about to cry.

Zhang Cang looked at Shao Ping and thought, the emperor is a very petty person.

Even if I cannot get the emperor's consent to go on a business trip today, I will still go to see him after the emperor recovers from his illness in a few days.

If I offend him in this matter, this kid is narrow-minded and might not let me go.

Zhang Cang hesitated.

Shao Ping saw that he had restrained Zhang Cang, but was afraid that Zhang Cang could not calm down, so he rashly ran to ask for an audience before the emperor came back.

Shao Ping suddenly had an idea. He wondered if Zhang Cang, although careless and indifferent on the surface, was actually a kid who lacked praise.

Shao Ping tried to praise Zhang Cang a few words.

"I admire the magnanimity of the Minister of Agriculture. If it were me, even if I knew that His Majesty had done something inappropriate, I would not dare to point it out."

Shao Ping said with a smile, he was also a handsome guy with elegant appearance. Could the effect of a handsome guy praising someone be the same as that of an ordinary person praising someone?

Zhang Cang felt elated immediately after hearing just one sentence.

Before, I thought Shao Ping was a steady person, cautious in everything he did, and didn't look like someone who could accomplish great things. I didn't expect that I was wrong.

He actually has such a good eye, he can see this.

Zhang Cang seemed to be nailed to the spot. He pretended to be serious and said, "No, no, I am just fulfilling my duty as a subject."

Shao Ping didn't know until he tried it, and he was shocked when he did.

He originally thought that Zhang Cang was a true gentleman who did not like compliments from others.

I didn't expect that Zhang Cang also likes this.

"But the Minister of Agriculture and I are both ministers. I have fulfilled less than one-third of the responsibility I have fulfilled for the country, for Your Majesty, and for the world."

Zhang Cang was surprised for a moment, wondering why it was only one third.

With your timid personality, you have not even demonstrated one tenth of my talents, and you have not even fulfilled one twentieth of my responsibilities.

Zhang Cang was still quite confident about this.

He felt like a warrior, always charging on the front line.

Wherever there is a need, he is there.

Only in this way can he live up to God's kindness to him; only in this way can he live up to his own talent.

"Ah, you're too modest." Zhang Cang said this in a flattering manner, but the disgust on his face was clear.

Shao Ping swallowed the lump in his throat and felt disgusted, wondering what the hell he had saved.

However, Shao Ping is a man like warm water. He does things in an orderly manner and can remain calm at any time.

The behavior of a child like Zhang Cang could be easily controlled by him.

"Speaking of which, Your Majesty often mentions the Minister of Agriculture."

"Mention me?" Zhang Cang thought the emperor must hate him very much, but he couldn't do anything about it because he was always right.

Zhang Cang pretended not to care about it. "I think it's because I submit too many memorials on weekdays. Your Majesty is always busy and puts state affairs first. Your Majesty is not thinking about me, but worrying about state affairs."

"That's not true. Your Majesty always mentions the Minister of Agriculture when chatting with his ministers."

"What?!" Zhang Cang's eyebrows twisted into two knots, slanting outward and upward. Of course, soon the eyebrows drooped again, "I mean, Your Majesty actually thought of me in his spare time?"

"Yes."

Zhang Cang couldn't help but feel a little worried, wondering if he was saying something bad about me.

Shao Ping looks harmless, but why does he only speak halfway? Isn't this making me worried?

Zhang Cang had a bulging belly, his eyes rolled around, and his mind was full of Shao Ping's words.

"I am usually busy outside and neglect the affairs of the palace. I don't know what His Majesty said. I hope Brother Shao can give me some advice."

Zhang Cang approached Shao Ping like a big cat and asked considerately.

"Well, that's all."

When Zhang Cang heard this, he almost exploded with anger on the spot.

He endured it again and again, the lines on his forehead appeared and then disappeared; disappeared and reappeared again.

"How can you be so fussy?"

"If you want to say it, just say it. If you don't say it, you will be pushed back."

"Say one word, leave three. You are conquering a city here, so conquer the heart first."

Nothing unexpected happened today, but Zhang Cang's violent temper finally erupted.

Shao Ping, however, just laughed out loud on the spot.

"Grand Minister of Agriculture, I was just teasing you, why are you so serious?"

Zhang Cang's face darkened, "I knew you were making fun of me."

Zhang Cang felt very bored and wanted to go home. But when he thought about going home, he felt scared.

Home, where does his home come from?

Oh, 365 days a year, I am either worried or sick.

Zhang Cang really felt like crying but had no tears left.

He sat down, and suddenly he started crying, not knowing why.

He lost his mother when he was young, and his father worked hard to raise enough money for him to go to school.

After many years of operation, we have come to where we are today.

But unexpectedly, the daughter-in-law chose the wrong person and suffered for the rest of her life.

Shao Ping originally just wanted to tease Zhang Cang, but who knew he was so fragile.

"What's wrong with you?"

There is a saying that when a man sheds tears, he does not shed them lightly, but he has not yet reached the point of sadness.

The fact that Zhang Cang could cry shows that in Zhang Cang's mind, the emperor's evaluation of him has always been something he cares about very much.

"The Emperor has appointed you as the Minister of Agriculture. What else are you dissatisfied with?"

Zhang Cang had a lot to say, but he couldn't say it. He just sobbed.

He didn't understand why there were so many things in this world that were beyond his control.

But I know I can't control it, but I can't help but try to control it.

A person's life is like pushing a stone onto a cliff.

I push stones every day.

Push it up, the stone rolls down; push it up, the stone rolls down; push it up again, the stone rolls down again.

The stone has to roll. If it doesn't roll forward, it will fall to the foot of the mountain.

Poor guy, he's been rolling stones all his life.

Shao Ping just quietly accompanied Zhang Cang.

"What happened?"

Zhang Cang was unwilling to tell outsiders what was in his heart, and only said, "I have worked diligently for Your Majesty, putting my life and death aside for everything, but I didn't expect Your Majesty would not cherish me?"

"What kind of words are you talking about? His Majesty values ​​you the most."

"But you just said that His Majesty always talked about me after dinner. Given my personality and actions, His Majesty must be resentful of me, otherwise why would he mention me for no reason?"

Zhang Cang was crying so hard, but unexpectedly he was crying in the right place and at the right time.

Everyone was watching, and Zhang Cang, the scheming man, naturally won again.

As long as he stood on the truth, he would never lose. This was why Zhang Cang had been in the officialdom for so long and never lost.

He has principles.

But principles are not a good thing.

Some people bind themselves because their principles are too rigid. Once their principles are discovered by others, it is like a mouse with its tail stepped on. No matter how much the mouse runs, the principled person will be trapped in the same place, and no matter how much he runs, it will be in vain.

Zhang Cang was a smart man, and his principle was to always stand on the side of the interests of the country, the court, and the emperor.

As long as he does this, no one can touch him.

As long as you don't have selfish thoughts, don't have delusions, and don't act recklessly, nothing will go wrong.

This is how we have been living for all these years.

Although there were a few times when I accidentally got my shoes wet while walking by the river.

But he managed to escape danger every time.

Therefore, Zhang Cang firmly believed that what the sages said was absolutely correct.

Because he put it into practice.

Everyone was moved when they heard Zhang Cang's words. They all felt that Zhang Cang was a poor victim, and that the emperor was always arresting and beheading Zhang Cang, which was really too much.

Shao Ping then explained, "Your Majesty always mentions you to praise you."

"Praise me?" Zhang Cang looked at Shao Ping. After not seeing you for a few days, you have learned to lie again.

As expected, if one stays with Qin II for a long time, everyone will become like him.

"Yes, Your Majesty rarely mentions other ministers in front of us."

Zhang Cang stroked his beard, "That's true. But the emperor is very thoughtful, don't be fooled by him. He speaks with three layers of meaning on the surface and three layers of meaning inside."

Shao Ping's face darkened slightly.

Well, can't you just praise the emperor a little?

If I tell you that the emperor once praised you, wouldn't you jump onto the roof? At that time, you will be even more unscrupulous and lawless.

Shao Ping's hands were sweaty.

Didn’t Zhang Cang know Shao Ping’s thoughts? He simply liked the theory of the difference between the monarch and his subjects.

What a pity, that is not true Confucianism.

But Zhang Cang was too lazy to tell Shao Ping what true Confucianism was. Even if he did, the other party wouldn't believe it.

"Brother Zhang, please allow me to be so bold as to give you some advice today. I wonder if you are willing to listen?"

Zhang Cang stroked his beard. He wanted to hear what Shao Ping could say to persuade him.

"As a human being, you need to be harmonious and easy-going. Harmony means tolerance, and easy-going means simplicity."

"If you are too sharp, everyone will stay away from you."

Shao Ping originally thought that Zhang Cang would jump up and confront him, because he was the kind of person who would argue with others if he disagreed with something.

But who could have thought that a miracle would happen, and Zhang Cang actually said calmly, "I used to think so too."

"I don't want to argue with others. I also want to maintain my Dao heart. Is there no point in arguing with others?"

Shao Ping couldn't help but feel curious. He actually thought this way. It was really hard to believe.

Looking at his daily demeanor, it's as if the whole world owes him a debt, and he's trying madly to take revenge on the world. He doesn't seem like someone who would think in this way.

"Then why didn't you do it later?"

Zhang Cang said seriously, "Because if I don't do this, I won't be myself anymore."

"Besides, I, Zhang Cang, speak when I should speak, and I won't speak when I shouldn't speak. Even if you give me ten thousand taels of gold, I won't open my mouth."

Shao Ping was unwilling to believe Zhang Cang's boasting.

Shao Ping said slowly, "I think people should forgive others when they can. It's best to talk less and do more."

"It's not good to say bad things when something happens. Don't do that again."

Zhang Cang looked at Shao Ping, too lazy to argue with him.

"You, that's only because you haven't encountered any problems. When you encounter any problems, you won't be as calm and composed as you are now."

"Sooner or later, you will encounter something and start cursing."

Shao Ping laughed, "Impossible. Absolutely impossible."

"No matter what the situation, I, Shao Ping, can always remain calm and never get angry."

Zhang Cang smiled awkwardly. He had seen people who boasted before, but he had never seen anyone who boasted like that.

"If you say so, then I can do it too. I can remain calm in the face of anyone and anything. My heart is as still as water, like a clear lake, and there will never be a ripple."

Shao Ping couldn't help but droop the corners of his mouth.

"Good words can't persuade a damned ghost. I, Shao Ping, usually don't tell people these intimate words. Today I'm telling you out of kindness, but why are you joking?"

"Do you think I, Shao Ping, am a casual person? I say these things to everyone I meet."

Zhang Cang shook his head. "I don't mean to disrespect you. But I bet that you can remain calm and composed when faced with problems, without being arrogant or impatient."

"It's not because you have good self-control, but because you don't encounter anything that makes you feel anxious in your daily life. Or, you feel that other people's anger has nothing to do with you, and you can't feel angry about other people's grievances and injustices."

"Once one day you encounter something absurd, inexplicable, and without any reason, you can't help but get furious."

Shao Ping raised his eyebrows diagonally upwards.

"No way, absolutely impossible."

Zhang Cang laughed out loud.

"How is it impossible? It is absolutely possible."

Shao Ping realized something, stared at Zhang Cang, and said angrily, "You..."

"Hey!" Shao Ping stood up and was about to walk out of the palace.

"Hey, don't leave." Zhang Cang finally found an interesting person to talk to. "Why don't you do your job today?"

Shao Ping's eyes dodged, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty has someone to take care of you, I don't need to serve."

At this time, Shao Ping didn't want to talk to Zhang Cang anymore and walked quickly out of the palace.

Zhang Cang followed behind and chased Shao Ping.

He felt that there was something strange about Shao Ping.

But just as he was passing the corridor, a bunch of sandbags suddenly appeared from nowhere and hit Zhang Cang on the head.

Zhang Cang was so shocked that he saw stars.

"Who? Who did it?"

Zhang Cang roared.

Shao Ping couldn't help but stand there and laugh at him, "Grand Minister of Agriculture, didn't you just say that you can remain calm and composed when encountering things?"

"Look, you need to be like me, not arrogant or impatient when things happen. It's not okay to get so excited every time you encounter something like this."

Zhang Cang cursed, "Nonsense, this is a different time. If you were to be hit like this, I wonder if you could still remain calm."

"Why can't I?" Shao Ping also stood up.

Shao Ping's face darkened. A gentleman should keep his word. How could he go back on his words just after he said them?

Shao Ping pushed Zhang Cang away and shouted, "You who hit me just now, try hitting me again."

I guess the person who hit him has never heard such an impolite request in his life.

Then, more than a dozen sandbags flew over the two of them one after another.

Shao Ping was hit so hard that he couldn't escape even if he ran away with his head in his hands.

"Which bastard smashed it?"

"If I don't catch you today, I won't be named Shao."

(End of this chapter)