Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 513 Friends
"Our nephew is really a handsome man. To be honest, I have to say that he may have a better future than you." Li Zisheng said with a smile, looking at Zhang Yanling's back.

Zhang Luan said: "The new generation replaces the old. If this child really has a good future, I will die with peace of mind."

Li Zisheng said in dissatisfaction: "Why are you saying such things out of the blue?"

Zhang Luan looked over with eager eyes: "Minister Li, you can speak frankly if you have anything to say. There is nothing to hide from me. If you need my help, just ask."

"Uh……"

Li Zisheng had originally thought of using various excuses to strike up a conversation with Zhang Luan and slowly introduce the core topic, but he never expected Zhang Luan to come up and say he wanted to help him, which really put him at a loss.

Even if I really came to you to beg you, you can't say it so directly...

I'm still a little embarrassed!

Zhang Luan said, "Look, the situation is like this. In recent days, His Majesty has asked me to supervise the case of Liang Fang, Peng Hua and others. This case has actually gone through the procedures of the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple, and the court has decided that it is a death sentence."

"Ah."

Although Li Zisheng didn't quite understand what he heard, he still nodded. "Like you, I've been in poor health lately, and I've been recuperating at home most of the time. Even though I don't leave the house, I still have some understanding of the affairs of the court."

Zhang Luan asked curiously, "What do you know? Can you tell me about it?"

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "Are you testing me? Then I'll tell you straight! From what I've learned, after His Majesty visited your house to see how you were feeling, he went back and summoned important officials to the inner court to discuss the treatment of Liang Fang and the others. Later, His Majesty sent the case back to the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple for a retrial, and discussed it openly at the court meeting. In the end, the result was to uphold the original verdict, and Liang Fang and the others were still sentenced to death."

Zhang Luan said: "Yes, it was me who suggested that Your Majesty do this."

"If that's the case, then I can understand the reason behind it..."

Li Zisheng looked at Zhang Luan eagerly, "Do you think this is the case? You want to make a big fuss about it, so that everyone in the court will pay attention to this case, so that His Majesty will have a reason to review the case?"

Zhang Luan nodded slightly and said, "That's what I meant."

Li Zisheng asked, "Is this also what Your Majesty meant?"

"Yes."

Zhang Luan nodded, "Your Majesty is kindhearted and believes that it is not right to kill ministers who were favored by the late emperor. Otherwise, it would be against filial piety. I also quoted scriptures to Your Majesty and told him that he should govern the country with leniency. No matter who did something wrong, it may not be out of their own will, but they were ordered to do it. We should... be lenient to others."

Li Zisheng was very moved by what he said and said, "Laizhan, I know that you helped Liang Fang and Peng Hua to get away with it, and even mentioned to His Majesty that you should be lenient to others, all for me, to pave the way for saving my life in the future."

Zhang Luan said, "Don't say that. I am only following your Majesty's wishes. How can I help you? Minister Li, you must not do that!"

"Ugh!"

Li Zisheng sighed heavily and waved his hand, "Laizhan, you said you were following His Majesty's wishes, so let me ask you, why do you only want to excuse Liang Fang and Peng Hua, and not consider Deng Changen and Zhao Yuzhi? They were also the favorites of the late emperor!"

"This one……"

Zhang Luan was speechless for a moment.

Li Zisheng continued, "It's because people like Deng Changen and Zhao Yuzhi, even if they are promoted to the third rank, are only at the bottom of the court. They are far less powerful than Liang Fang and Peng Hua, and their influence on the court is far greater.

"When you speak for them, you are actually speaking for me... Because even Liang Fang and Peng Hua can be pardoned, why do you want to kill me alone?"

Zhang Luan said, "Minister Li, I didn't think too much about it at the time. In fact, His Majesty himself had no intention of pardoning Deng Changen and Zhao Yuzhi. But I specifically mentioned you to His Majesty, especially your performance in standing firmly on the side of protecting the crown prince in Ningxia and the earthquake in Mount Tai."

Li Zisheng stood up upon hearing this and bowed respectfully: "I thought I would have to say a lot of nice things to you, Laizhan, and would have to go through a lot of circles to beg you, and I thought it would be very difficult for you, but I never thought that you, Laizhan, had already paved the way for me.

"I, Li, am so lucky to have met you. I don't know how to repay you."

Zhang Luan quickly stood up and tried to help him, but he could only stand on one leg and couldn't move a step. He felt embarrassed and could only persuade him verbally: "Minister Li, please don't do this. I'm just doing my duty... In fact, I didn't speak for you alone. What I said was the truth."

Seeing that Li Zisheng was unmoved, Zhang Luan could not help but complain, "Hey, don't do this again... Do you want to make my injury worse?"

Li Zisheng's face turned pale when he heard that. He quickly straightened up, went over and helped Zhang Luan sit down again.

Li Zisheng then returned to his seat.

"Laizhan, before coming to you, I was very worried and even didn't know how to talk to you. But now... I suddenly feel that everything is clear. You are a true friend of Li." Li Zisheng said sincerely.

Zhang Luan said sternly, "I am not an ungrateful person. When I started from humble beginnings, it was thanks to your help, Minister Li, that I was able to gain a firm foothold in the capital and even in the court. I will never forget your kindness."

Li Zisheng said with a smile: "Look, you still have the same mentality as before, always calling me Shangshu longer or shorter. How about changing the title?"

Zhang Luan said quickly, "Don't, we're used to calling each other that, and changing the name would make us uncomfortable. Let's just continue like this. I'll have someone prepare the food and wine, and we can talk while we drink."

"well."

At this moment, Li Zisheng completely regarded himself as someone who was here to eat for free.

And it also has a sense of righteousness.

……

……

At the dinner table, it was still the two of them.

Even Zhang Yanling didn't come to the table, and didn't even enter the hall.

Li Zisheng stood up to pour wine for Zhang Luan, but Zhang Luan raised his hand to decline.

"Minister Li, seeing how I am, I'd better not drink." Zhang Luan said, "My son Yanling has been telling me that drinking alcohol can easily cause trouble. Today I will drink tea instead of wine."

Li Zisheng said: "Yanling is right about this. We have to drink less when we do important things. In this case, you drink tea, and I drink tea too. I'll pour you some tea."

"No, just do it yourself."

The two of them were polite to each other.

After taking a few sips of tea, Li Zisheng finally revealed his true feelings: "I am not an ignorant person. During the reign of the previous emperor, I held all the power. Almost all the appointments and dismissals in the court were made by me. Even a minister had to pay me money to become an official. This matter has a very bad influence. If I continue to stay in the court, it will really be a nuisance. I have decided to leave the court and live a leisurely life for the rest of my life."

Zhang Luan thought to himself that what Yanling said was right, Li Zisheng had already begun to think about retreating.

"Minister Li, I understand your desire to leave the court, but even if you want to leave, you can't do it now..." Zhang Luan said seriously.

Li Zisheng was very surprised and asked, "Is there any explanation for this?"

Zhang Luan brought out his son's theory: "For others, retreating in order to advance is the best strategy, but for you, you must advance in order to retreat. If you want to retreat safely, you must not retreat an inch, and even gain a firmer foothold and continue to call the shots in the court."

Li Zisheng said with emotion: "Laizhan, what you see... actually coincides with my thoughts. I am also worried that if I retire like this, I am afraid that others will not let me live one more day in this world... I am afraid that if I retire tomorrow, I will die suddenly at home the day after tomorrow."

Zhang Luan said, "So you have to go in! The more people impeach you, the more you have to stand up straight. You work for the late emperor, and all the money you earn from selling official positions and titles goes into the inner hall, not for yourself... Why are you afraid of them?"

"Ugh!"

Li Zisheng shook his head and sighed, "You and I are close friends, so I won't hide it from you. In fact, I am not without selfish motives. Over the past few years, I have also sought a lot of personal gain for myself."

"Let's not talk about this."

Zhang Luan waved his hand and said, "In this world, deeds are judged, not intentions. No one is perfect in terms of intentions... You have maintained the balance of fiscal expenditures at the end of the previous dynasty, which is a great contribution to the country. Just do it with a clear conscience."

"Yes, yes, I have not done anything to let down the Ming Dynasty."

Li Zisheng quickly changed his words.

He seemed to realize that there were many things he shouldn't explain to Zhang Luan.

Because Zhang Luan knew about these things and covered them up for him, which means he knew about it but did not report it.

Some secrets should be kept deep in his heart. This is the best way for friends to do things.

Zhang Luan said, "If I go back to the court, you have to go back too. If you are impeached, so am I. Who says that only officials with a Jinshi degree can contribute to the court? We can do it too!"

(End of this chapter)