Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 465: Ensuring His Safe Landing
When Zhang Luan returned to the banquet hall, he no longer looked as though he had lost his parents when he left, but now had a relaxed look on his face, as if he was thinking about something wonderful and was actually very happy.

Zhang Yanling glanced at his father, whose mouth was almost grinning from ear to ear, and asked with a smile, "Dad, has Li Zisheng taken good care of you? Has he made you feel comfortable from head to toe?"

"You know everything, little brat?"

After Zhang Luan finished scolding, he felt a little regretful and said, "Tell me, Li Zisheng sent money to our house, which is such a good thing. It would be fine if you didn't accept it, but you also spent so much money to send it to the palace. What on earth did you want?"

Zhang Yanling was surprised and said, "I remember someone said before that if there is silver, he will send it to the palace, saying that it will help my brother-in-law, the emperor, to overcome difficulties... Hey, Dad, do you remember who that person is?"

"you……"

Zhang Luan was speechless for a moment, then said unkindly, "I thought my family didn't have much money at that time."

Zhang Yanling laughed and said, "Oh, you didn't have much money, but you boasted that you were going to give money to the palace... Now that you really have money, you don't want to give it away, right? You are such a hypocrite!"

"Pooh."

Zhang Luan asked, "Did anyone say that about your father? What do you think?"

"What can I think? I'm saving you, you know?"

Zhang Yanling changed his previous playful smile and said in a stern tone, "Do you really intend to stay on this pirate ship of Lizi Province forever?

"Don't you think about it? If Li Zisheng falls from power, and they find out that he gave you an unusually large bribe, how will you explain it then?"

"I……"

Zhang Luan was speechless for a moment.

"Yes, my brother-in-law may not do anything to you, but how will you stand in front of the ministers in the future? Do you still have the nerve to stay in the position of the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue? Don't you have to go to the Five Military Commandery and get a title to live a lazy life?"

Zhang Yanling was very disappointed with his friend.

When Zhang Luan heard this, his eyes lit up.

I thought, wonderful.

It turns out that I have committed a crime and even made the court regard me as a villain. Can I still go back to be a meritorious official and live a leisurely life?
Isn't this kind of life where I don't have to worry about anything, and no longer have to worry or worry, exactly what I'm looking for?
Looking at Zhang Luan's changeable expression, Zhang Yanling suddenly felt that his old father was really innocent and had a pure heart, at least he was not hypocritical.

"What, Dad, do you think this is beautiful?"

Zhang Yanling stopped lecturing and spoke with a relaxed tone, "If you can't be a civil servant, you can go back to be a military hero and live a happy life, right?"

"This...at least it's not bad." Zhang Luan defended himself.

Zhang Yanling asked, "Who will come to your house to curry your favor in the future? Who will find you a woman? Did Li Zisheng promise you a woman just now?"

"You...you know this again? You calculated it with your fingers?"

Zhang Luan's face was full of surprise, and his old face turned red, and he became more and more embarrassed.

Zhang Yanling said helplessly: "Who is Li Zisheng? He is a cunning man... He gave you gifts, do you think he just wants you to do him a favor? In fact, he wants to tie you to his boat and force you to do things, not beg you!
"When I said I wanted to send money to the palace to help the new emperor overcome difficulties, he immediately offered to help you send the money. Now that he is out, can he not use some other means to appease you?"

Zhang Luan thought about it carefully and nodded, "What you said makes sense."

Zhang Yanling said, "I have to remind you, father, that our yard is too small to accommodate so many people. Unless you are prepared to live in unrest in your home in the future, you should make a decisive decision now."

Zhang Luan smiled and didn't think it was inappropriate to say this in front of his son. He said directly: "The person will be sent to a courtyard. It is a new gift from Li Zisheng. No outsiders will know about it... The person will stay there for a month or two, and then he will be sent to Nanjing Jiaofangsi. Only the best ones will stay."

"You really..."

Zhang Yanling was speechless. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Where did he get so many women for you?"

Zhang Luan said: "Why are you asking so many questions? Actually, there are not many, only seven or eight in total. Don't ask when you are young, or you may not grow taller..."

"What does this have to do with growing up? But Li Zisheng gave you seven or eight women at once, and I think they are not ordinary women. Can you... stand it?"

Zhang Yanling looked worried.

Zhang Luan thought to himself, you know everything now, kid?
That’s it! I’m still understating it!

Li Zisheng told me that there would be nearly twenty people sent to me, but I didn't have the courage to say it all out loud.

Zhang Luan said earnestly, "Son, there are some things you don't understand. When you reach your father's age, you will know. There is nothing wrong with eating good food and enjoying life. Besides, they are all wives of officials who have been convicted, not forcibly seizing women. It is a legal matter. Why can't your father accept them?"

Zhang Yanling smiled bitterly and said, "I'm afraid you won't be able to eat it and it will shorten your life."

"Bah! Father is in good health, you don't need to worry about him."

Zhang Luan sighed, and suddenly thought of a question that he had always wondered about but could not find the answer to. Now he could only ask shamelessly, "Son, what do you think Li Zisheng is capable of? He is just a Tongzhengshi now, but he can still make such a big fuss... Why do others listen to him? But I can't do it?"

Zhang Yanling laughed and said, "Dad, how much do you look down on Li Zisheng? He was the uncrowned prime minister of the previous emperor's court. He had connections with everyone and could even decide the promotion and demotion of officials in the court with a single word. Do you think he is really just a Taoist priest who is laughing and doing nothing in front of you?"

Zhang Luan said hopefully, "I want to ask you, if he falls, how can I take over his...power?"

"Dad, are you coveting the channel for trafficking criminals?"

Zhang Yanling narrowed his eyes and spoke in a teasing tone.

"Now that you know, why don't you tell me?"

Zhang Luan stopped pretending and urged. Zhang Yanling said, "Those officials involved were originally cultivated by Li Zisheng. In the past few years, many not-so-important government offices in the court have been filled with his people. Officials who have received his favors were easily controlled by him. I guess he has a lot of leverage over everyone."

"Fuck, why didn't you tell me earlier? Do you mean I have no chance?"

Zhang Luan sounded depressed.

"It's okay. As long as Li Zisheng can land safely, that is, successfully leave the court without being harmed, then someone must inherit his political resources. In my opinion, that person will most likely be you... Oh, no, you are 100% sure that it is under your control." Zhang Yanling said firmly.

Zhang Luan was instantly motivated when he heard this, and said with a smile: "In other words, I want to make sure he lands safely?"

Zhang Yanling said helplessly: "At first I didn't want you to get involved with Li Zisheng, but our family didn't have any fame, wealth or status at that time, so we always needed someone to help us. And who has a thick thigh like the former emperor's favorite minister? Everyone knows that Li Zisheng is not a good person, but he is really good to you. People should not forget their roots, and it is difficult for me to have the intention to kill him..."

"Yes, even his father can't bear to let him go."

Zhang Luan had an expression of approval on his face.

Zhang Yanling said, "Moreover, what Li Zisheng did was just to please the late emperor and control the government. The so-called evil things he did were just to block the advancement of those upright civil servants, which caused their dissatisfaction and even made them want to get rid of him as soon as possible. As for his corruption and abuse of power, it was also condoned by the late emperor. Otherwise, how could he raise funds for the inner treasury? Therefore, his crimes are not so serious that he must be put to death."

Zhang Luan slapped his thigh fiercely: "Hey, you really got it right. I actually hold the same view as your father."

Zhang Yanling asked with a smile: "Dad, knowing that he could inherit Li Zisheng's connections and relationships, has he started to help him?"

"No, no, I am happy to be able to do something for your brother-in-law and help him solve the troubles he is facing."

When Zhang Luan said this, he couldn't help laughing.

But this smile...

Zhang Yanling knew at first sight that the old father had bad intentions.

"Dad, you have to be careful. It's not that I, as your son, have to punish you, but... your weaknesses are too easy for others to take advantage of... I'm afraid that after Li Zisheng, others will take advantage of your weaknesses, bribe you, and make you do something wrong that is hard to undo."

Zhang Yanling reminded.

Zhang Luan smiled and said, "Don't worry, I still understand a little bit... I will never do anything that is bad for your brother-in-law. Besides, before doing anything, don't I come back to discuss it with you? Even about women... I am too embarrassed to tell you anyway, right?"

"hehe."

Zhang Yanling rolled his eyes upon hearing this and did not comment any further.

……

……

Liu Jian's residence.

Xie Qian personally brought a lecture plan to meet Liu Jian to prepare for the imperial lecture that was about to resume.

"The new emperor is really diligent and loves the people. I heard that he works until late at night every day and has to attend court meetings early in the morning." Xie Qian sighed sincerely, "Even in such a situation, he still takes time out to attend the imperial lecture. It is really rare."

Liu Jian said in a neutral tone: "Let's talk about it after the daily lecture."

Xie Qian was speechless for a moment.

The imperial lectures have been reopened, do you still want to give lectures every day?
Is it necessary to drive the young emperor crazy?

"Did you know in advance that Zhang Laizhan would be transferred to be the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue?" Liu Jian asked, changing the subject.

Xie Qian was very curious: "How did I know this in advance?"

Liu Jian said thoughtfully, "The Hanlin Academy had not heard of this before, so I was a little surprised to hear that he, the head scholar of the academy, was transferred to the Ministry of Revenue. But then again, Zhang Laizhan has done nothing in the court. When my colleagues and I discussed him before, we all felt that the late emperor valued him too much, and he should not be entrusted with important tasks again and again."

Xie Qian nodded: "An official who was born as a student of the Imperial Academy always has limited prospects, but... he is the father-in-law of the emperor after all. Using him during the transition period is actually a wise move of the late emperor, in order to achieve a smooth transition and stabilize the Ming Dynasty."

"So what exactly did he go to the Ministry of Revenue for?"

Liu Jian asked with a frown.

Xie Qian shook his head naturally.

What I mean is, you ask me, where do I know where to go?

Liu Jian sighed, "The Ministry of Revenue has been in turmoil recently. I heard that after Ye Qi arrived in Beijing, the official position that was originally given to him was lost, and he is running around everywhere."

"Ah."

Xie Qian said, "This person is quite capable. We cannot interfere in the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue."

Liu Jian disagreed: "Now that the government is in good order, we should inquire about everything and not just put it aside because it is not a matter for the government."

Xie Qian thought to himself, you haven't even become a minister yet, but you're already worrying about what a minister should be like.

"But judging from the situation, Zhang Laizhan's term as an official should be over."

Liu Jian said happily, "The Ministry of Revenue is a complicated place, and it is not something that a person like him can control. If he does nothing in the future, even he will be embarrassed to stay in his current position. At that time, he should give up all the official positions he has and replace them with capable people."

Xie Qian wanted to refute, but seeing Liu Jian's serious expression, he could only nod and agree helplessly: "Everything depends on his performance next."

(End of this chapter)