Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 461 Managing the Small Treasury

The father-in-law and son-in-law had dinner in Qingning Palace and left together.

"Father-in-law, you don't have to be too harsh on Liang Fang's case."

Zhu Youtang said as he walked, "Huai Daban and the others have been talking about how sinister Liang Fang is, but I always think he's a good guy.

"Because I know that the idea of ​​changing the crown prince was actually from my father and Aunt Wan... They wanted to replace me and let my brother be the emperor. It cannot be denied that I do have many shortcomings, and Liang Fang cannot be blamed entirely."

When Zhang Luan heard this, he couldn't help but think that our emperor is really tolerant.

Are there really good people in this world who can even let go of their enemies?

Zhang Luan quickly tried to comfort him: "Your Majesty, you don't have to take it too seriously... In fact, as far as I know, the reason why Liang Fang pushed for the change of crown prince was mainly because he had evil intentions."

"is it?"

Zhu Youtang was very curious and seemed not to believe this statement.

Zhang Luan could only take out what his son had told him and tell him the truth: "Your Majesty, have you checked the deficit of the inner treasury recently?"

"No."

Zhu Youtang shook his head and said, "Recently, all expenses in and outside the palace have been managed by Huai Daiban and his men. They have not said that they are short of money... I really don't understand this."

Zhang Luan said, "The deficit in the inner treasury is actually very serious... Liang Fang, Wei Xing and others used up all the hidden treasures in the inner treasury in order to curry favor with the emperor and to please Concubine Wan. Later, the late emperor found out and said in front of them that he would not bother with them for the time being, but he would definitely settle accounts with them after the crown prince ascended the throne."

Zhu Youtang's eyes widened and he asked, "How could such a thing happen?"

"Ah."

Zhang Luan nodded and said, "The late emperor was too indulgent towards Liang Fang and others. In fact, Liang Fang later realized that as the crown prince grew up, danger was slowly approaching them... After Concubine Wan passed away, Liang Fang still did not know how to restrain himself. What he did was beyond the scope of a minister. He was also very afraid that the crown prince would settle accounts with them after ascending the throne, so he made a desperate move, which led to a series of disturbances later."

Zhu Youtang pondered for a long time and sighed: "Then...what is the situation in the inner court now?"

"Your Majesty, please don't ask me... I have never been involved in the affairs of the inner court, and it is impossible for me to be involved. How can I know how much silver you have in the inner court?"

Zhang Luan was quite helpless.

His son once told him that the reason the emperor's son-in-law seemed frugal was because he had to be frugal.

The wealth of the Ming Dynasty court had been almost squandered by his father Zhu Jianshen, so that everyone in the palace, even the crown prince at the time, could not live a good life.

So after Zhu Youtang succeeded to the throne, he had no idea what it felt like to spend money lavishly.

Zhu Youtang said: "Now it seems that it is even more necessary to let my father-in-law go to the Ministry of Revenue. In fact, what the Royal Grandmother said is very right. You seem to be non-competitive and easy-going, but in fact you know everything."

"Don't say that."

Zhang Luan said, "Your Majesty, you should be very clear about the situation in my family. Yanling is smart and quick-witted. He always makes plans before taking action. I basically listen to him."

Zhu Youtang couldn't help but smile when he heard this: "How is this possible? I admit that Yanling is a very smart kid, but you can't just listen to him in everything, right? Father-in-law, don't be so modest."

"I……"

Zhang Luan suddenly felt his old face getting hot.

No one would believe it if I told them!

I told the emperor everything, but he didn't believe me... Have you ever seriously considered what benefit I would get from saying this?

How much courage does it take for me to admit that I am a fool?
Why don't you believe it?
Zhu Youtang said: "Yanling is young now, so we can't use him in important positions. However, Heling is almost an adult, so we have managed to give him a position as a thousand-householder of the Imperial Guard, hoping that he can work hard."

"That's okay too."

Zhang Luan said with a bitter face, "If there is anything that I and my eldest son Heling do not understand, let his younger brother make suggestions behind the scenes, and he can also serve the court... But I don't know what path that brat should take in the future..."

Zhu Youtang said with a smile: "Father-in-law, cultivate Yanling well and let him read more. Intelligence alone is not enough. Only reading can make people feel at ease."

Zhang Luan thought, let my son go to school?
That's harder than climbing to the sky.

At first, both children were not good at studying. Although the younger one became smart later, he always made excuses when it came to studying.

"He has sir."

Zhang Luan said casually, "But... then again, I haven't seen that gentleman for a long time... Mr. Yanling, he made me act like his student, being sent out by him casually... It gives me a headache just thinking about it."

Zhu Youtang asked, "Do you want me to help my father-in-law invite a famous teacher to teach Yanling?"

"Don't."

Zhang Luan said, "Let's not harm others... I always feel that most people can't teach him. It's not good for that child to learn too many things."

"Ah."

Zhu Youtang nodded, "I won't ask any more about the Zhang family's affairs. Father-in-law, you should be prepared to be the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. I will have someone issue an order in the next few days."

……

……

Zhang Luan is going to be the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

He himself felt that the changes were too fast, and he couldn't accept it for a while.

When he returns, he will tell Zhang Yanling about it.

Zhang Yanling asked: "Which one is more honorable, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites or the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue?"

Zhang Luan said confidently, "Of course it's the Minister of Rites. Is there any need to ask? I'm respected by scholars all over the world, and I have the opportunity to preside over the provincial and metropolitan examinations. I have students and friends all over the world... Besides, I'm a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy. It's not right for me to be the Minister of Revenue."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Did you ever ask our brother-in-law when he would crown my sister as queen?"

"..."

Zhang Luan seemed speechless.

Why does this child’s focus differ from others?

"I want to be the emperor's uncle as soon as possible."

Zhang Yanling said with a longing look on his face.

"Aren't you now?" Zhang Luan asked back, and then continued, "Today, His Majesty asked about your studies. I just remembered that I haven't seen your teacher Chai Meng recently... Where did he go?"

"I asked him to go to Huizhou." Zhang Yanling said.

Zhang Luan asked in surprise: "Isn't he from Shanxi Merchants? Why do you want him to go to Huizhou? To do business for you?"

Zhang Yanling shook his head and said, "No, I just went on a field trip... Dad, do you know what I've been busy with recently?"

"Just tinkering with useless stuff."

Zhang Luan pursed his lips and said, "Father doesn't want to know."

"Haha, that's Dad, you don't know how big my business is."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Soaps and various glass products have begun to appear on the market. In the next step, our soda ash will be sold all over Jiangnan."

“How big can the market be?”

Zhang Luan frowned.

As they were talking, a person came in from the door. It was Zhang Heling, who was wearing awkward clothes.

At this time, Zhang Heling was dressed in silk and satin, but the clothes were too big and didn't fit him well. He also had a bright yellow chain around his neck, which seemed so heavy that he could hardly walk.

Zhang Luan frowned and asked, "Boss, what are you doing?"

Zhang Heling said, "Dad, why are you back? Second brother, this thing is too heavy, I can't wear it... Can I take it off?"

As he spoke, Zhang Heling had already taken off the chain from his neck.

Zhang Luan went over and grabbed it, but he stumbled and almost fell to the ground. After he managed to stand firm, he asked, "Is it made of pure gold?"

"Dad, don't break it."

Zhang Heling shouted, "Even if I don't wear it now, this is still mine. It's a big gold chain given to me by Lao Er. He said that if he wanted to be a big boss in the underworld, only by wearing this can he have momentum and intimidate others... This thing is very valuable!"

Zhang Luan frowned: "Do I need you to tell me? Let me ask you, what happened? This chain must weigh at least four or five kilograms. No wonder your neck is bent..."

Zhang Heling said, "We made money. The second son said this is my dividend... Dad, give it back to me quickly."

"you……"

Zhang Luan was speechless. "You spend your money like this now? If people find out, they'll think I'm incapable of educating my own children... Yanling, what the hell are you doing?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "These are just small amounts of money... When Mr. Qin invested in us, he took out five thousand taels of silver at once. Do you think that Huizhou merchants, who are so smart, would do a business at a loss?"

"Have you made back your investment? Why don't you see any big moves..."

Zhang Luan asked with a frown.

“Yes.”

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "The chemical products I developed have never been seen before in this era. As the saying goes, I have what others don't, and I am better than others. With smooth sales, I will naturally get my investment back quickly... This is all thanks to the brand effect my father created for our products."

"What brand effect? ​​How come your father doesn't remember it?"

Zhang Luan became even more confused.

Zhang Heling grinned and said, "Haha, second brother, how can this be so interesting... Dad himself is confused! Dad, it seems that you have a bad memory recently... Have you forgotten that I delivered the glass mirror to the palace for my sister?"

"Damn... No way, you're even selling the mirror?"

Zhang Luan was shocked. "Before, those powerful people gave mirrors as gifts when they bought tributes. It caused such a big fuss. Are you selling them now?"

Zhang Yanling said: "If I can make money, why not sell it? As long as there is market demand, I will use this to make money. Is there anything strange about it?"

"You really are..."

Zhang Luan was speechless. Suddenly he thought of something and said, "Son, you told me before that you would help your brother-in-law through his difficulties when you made money in the future. You were not just talking nonsense, were you?"

"Absolutely not."

Zhang Yanling said, "Dad, I know what you mean by that. Now my brother-in-law's purse is empty, but no one has told him. He still doesn't know about it... He himself may have realized this, so he transferred you to the Ministry of Revenue as an assistant minister to help him manage the accounts. Next, do you want to pay out of your own pocket?"

Zhang Luan said in embarrassment: "Sometimes the holes in the court need to be repaired..."

"What holes in the imperial court are we trying to fill?"

Zhang Yanling tried to dissuade him, "With our abilities, we can just temporarily make up for the shortage of the inner court... First, let's establish a personal image for you, Dad, and let people know that you can work for His Majesty. That's all. I respectfully decline any other requests!"

Zhang Luan rubbed his hands and said excitedly: "After what you said, your father is really looking forward to it... Oh, by the way, how much can you subsidize the inner government?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "It seems that Dad is really not a stingy person."

"Why be stingy? These are all rewards from the emperor... Anyway, our family was very poor before, and now it's enough to live a good life." It is obvious that Zhang Luan's ambition is not to get promoted or make money.

In other words, this is a person who can endure hardships.

No matter how good the money is, it is okay to have it without it.

"That's fine."

Zhang Yanling said, "Recently I have been trying to find a way to get father to make up for the shortfall in the inner treasury, so that my brother-in-law can know that you are a practical person."

"it is good."

Zhang Luan was all smiles.

he was thinking.

Having a good son makes a difference!
With a son like this who can share his worries, being an official can save a lot of trouble.

"Boss, give me this skin!"

Zhang Luan turned to glare at Zhang Heling and shouted, "You don't have a good frame, why do you have to dress like this? Who are you dressing for? The Jinyiwei uniform you wore before was quite nice... Your brother-in-law also said that when you go out to do things for the Zhang family in the future, if you don't understand something, you should listen to your brother... Oh, no, you should listen to him on everything!"

Zhang Heling said: "I'm not used to the Jinyiwei place, and I don't know what they do every day. It's more interesting to go out and take a group of brothers shopping...

"Second brother, can we melt this gold chain? I'll exchange it for a smaller one, and the remaining gold... I'll exchange it for silver and bring back more people!"

(End of this chapter)