Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 528: True Exchange
The sedan chair continued to move towards the palace gate.

Zhang Luan couldn't help but said angrily, "Eunuch Huai, if Li Zisheng is really allowed to leave, it's actually not a big deal, but I don't know if he can convince the public.
“River management is very hard work, and it can take two to three years, or even more than five years. It is one thing for Li Zisheng to be willing to stay away from the central government, but it is another thing whether the ministers are willing to let him retire after his success.

"In the end, Li Zisheng resolutely left the vortex of the imperial court. May I ask if he had any means of self-protection?"

Huai En smiled and asked, "So you hope that Li Zisheng can protect himself, right?"

"That's right!"

Zhang Luan said firmly: "I have many problems, but there is one thing I value most in my life: promises... Li Zisheng helped the Zhang family in the beginning, and I really can't bear to harm him now...

"If the court really wants to investigate him or prosecute him, I cannot openly violate the law, but I will definitely personally inquire about his case and will never tolerate any unwarranted slander against him."

"Mr. Zhang is loyal and righteous, which is rare."

Huai En sighed, "Li Zisheng is so lucky to have Mr. Zhang as his best friend. He has been attacked by countless court officials, but with Mr. Zhang's support, he has been safe and sound. But it's good this way. It is said that Li Zisheng is a man who values ​​friendship and loyalty. He should repay you."

After hearing this, Zhang Luan felt even more unhappy.

I was thinking, what's going on? You said that Li Zisheng would report to me. Are you taking this as evidence of collusion between us?

You want to threaten me by saying that you know everything about the shit we did?
I didn't do anything!
Even if I have some unknown habits, at least I have not violated the laws of the country, and Li Zisheng is also acting in accordance with the rules of the court... If you think it is inappropriate, or want to use this to damage my reputation, just go ahead.

I just don’t believe that no one in the court has ever been to the Jiaofangsi!

Wasn’t the Jiaofangsi originally a place for the rich and powerful in the court to enjoy themselves?

Who is nobler than who?

Huai En saw that Zhang Luan was resisting, and immediately said, "It is difficult for Li Zisheng to gain a foothold in the court. He has been sick at home these days and rarely attends court, because every time he goes, he faces too many people attacking him, and the scene is very ugly."

"Is that right?"

Zhang Luan asked, "Is there any proper solution?"

Huai En said, "Isn't it a good way to circumvent this problem by letting Li Zisheng leave the capital to tame the river? With his current status as the Minister of Public Administration, coupled with the position of Right Censor-in-Chief, and the nominal position of Minister of Works, he can travel freely around the country. Isn't this in his best interest?"

"What are his interests?"

Zhang Luan lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and looked at Huai En curiously.

Huai En smiled and replied: "Li Zisheng is best at socializing with people. Communicating with local officials and gentry is his comfort zone. I think he will do well. And with your advice and guidance behind the scenes, coupled with his ability to gather wealth and mobilize money and grain, do you think... is there anyone in the court more suitable than him for this position?"

After listening to this, Zhang Luan blinked, nodded thoughtfully, and said, "This is a way to protect him."

"hehe."

Huai En smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang, I am actually grateful for your kindness... If it weren't for you, I might have died in Fengyang Prefecture."

"Where did you get this from?"

Zhang Luan was very puzzled.

What? Did I save your life thousands of miles away?

Huai En continued, "At the beginning, Liang Fang and others sent assassins to Fengyang Prefecture to assassinate me. At that time, I was seriously injured and worried about my future... Fortunately, the assassins learned that Liang Fang had fallen and had no one to support him, so they dispersed and I was able to turn danger into safety."

"This one……"

Zhang Luan said, "I just did what I thought was right out of moral obligation. I didn't think too much about it at the time."

Huai En said: "So... I have always hoped to help Mr. Zhang. If you have anything to do, just send someone to inform me and I will definitely help you. Communication between internal officials and external officials is a big taboo in the court, but who makes you a relative, different from ordinary people?"

"What's the difference?"

Zhang Luan said cheerfully, "Eunuch Huai, you are too polite. I am just an ordinary person, and I don't deserve your praise. Besides, I won't be so shameless as to ask for help from others. I will find ways to do it myself. But if you need anything, just tell me, and I will do my best to help. I am a person... I have always been warm-hearted and rarely let my friends suffer."

You said you would help me, so I will give back to you.

Zhang Luan thought to himself, I am the most honest and sincere person in the Ming Dynasty, and I value reciprocity the most.

So I tried my best to protect Li Zisheng, can you understand?

I hope you won’t continue to make a fuss about this matter in the future, otherwise don’t blame me for being angry!

……

……

Zhang Luan did not go home directly. After leaving the palace, he went straight to his son's laboratory, but did not see anyone.

After asking around, I finally arrived at a workshop outside the city, where I saw Zhang Yanling wearing a white coat, seemingly doing some research, with a large group of people following him.

"Hey, isn't that Mr. Chai?"

Zhang Luan pointed at the young man who was communicating with someone in the distance.

Zhang Yanling pursed his lips and said, "Dad, don't be so surprised. What's so strange about this? My husband is a normal thing for me. Or does father want to change my husband?" Zhang Luan frowned and said, "Don't be like a worm, biting people when someone steps on its tail... What did father say?"

"hehe."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said nothing more.

Zhang Luan pointed outside, meaning to find a quiet place to talk to his son alone.

The two walked out together, and Zhang Luan asked again: "I haven't seen Mr. Chai for a long time, how come he suddenly showed up?"

"Mr. Chai went on a business trip and just came back a few days ago. He looks much more energetic." Zhang Yanling said cheerfully, "After his experience, I found that he is more careful in his work than before."

"Hey, I really don't know which one of you is the master. It's fine that I'm ordered around by you, but you even have to tell me whether I'm energetic or not? I always feel like you're an old father judging his own child."

Zhang Luan expressed his sincere emotion.

Zhang Yanling was laughing again.

It has to be said that the cheap dad is sometimes quite aware. In the current Zhang family, Zhang Luan is obedient to his youngest son. He is not like the traditional patriarch who has the final say. Most of the time, it is Zhang Yanling, the son, who has all kinds of concerns and is more like the head of the Zhang family, just like Zhang Luan's old father.

"I am going to see the emperor today."

Zhang Luan briefly introduced the situation. "I talked about some things with your majesty after meeting with him. I couldn't wait to share them with you, so I ran here eagerly. Alas! I didn't expect that your majesty was so persistent in river management. He was completely different from what he usually looked like..."

Zhang Yanling interrupted Zhang Luan and asked, "I wonder what your Majesty looks like on a normal day..."

Zhang Luan thought for a moment, shook his head and said, "What I said is not quite accurate, just listen to it for now. Usually, he seems to be aloof from the world, doesn't like to argue with others, and doesn't insist on doing anything. It seems that he has no constant personality... Hey, don't spread it outside."

"Dad, are you talking to your eldest son? How could I be such an unreliable person?"

Zhang Yanling asked seriously.

"Cough cough..."

Zhang Luan was a little embarrassed and said self-deprecatingly: "I am just reminding you. If you can pay attention...just treat it as a fart."

Zhang Yanling said: "He is the emperor, so he naturally cares about the country. And I think the reason why my brother-in-law insists on this matter is more because he is a filial son."

"Hey, you really got it right. He keeps talking about the late emperor. No wonder Li Zisheng also kept it in mind. It seems that the late emperor mentioned this to the people around him a lot."

Zhang Luan added, "Originally, I was just following your instructions and responding casually..."

"Oh, how can you say that?"

Zhang Yanling asked.

"Ahem, I told your majesty what you said. I also told your majesty that this was the conclusion of my son Yanling, and your majesty praised you."

This time, Zhang Luan remembered to remind his younger son that as a father, I know my own limitations and will not steal the credit from you, my son.

Zhang Yanling said, "I didn't think of anything...just keep talking."

Zhang Luan said: "When leaving the palace, Huai En saw His Majesty off. On the way, he told me that if there were no other problems, Li Zisheng could be asked to supervise the diversion of the Yellow River.

"I think his suggestion is not simple. There may be some problems in it. I dare not promise anything. But it is very likely that Huai En has mentioned it to His Majesty in private."

"Ah."

Zhang Yanling nodded to show that he understood, and his expression became much more cautious. "Dad, I think this eunuch Huai is not simple... At least he has seen that Li Zisheng can neither be killed nor expelled directly. The best way is to marginalize him, and make Li Zisheng willing to do so, and let everyone in the court accept it."

Zhang Luan said helplessly: "Son, what you said is a bit complicated, but I just found out today that Wei Tai is no longer the seal official of the Imperial Household Department, and Huai En has directly replaced him.

"You said this... Huai En will be the internal minister again in the future. Through his influence on Your Majesty, he can control the government and call the wind and rain. It's easy. As a father, I admit that I can't beat him."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "It's something that was expected, nothing surprising."

"Ah? You even thought of this?"

Zhang Luan was surprised.

"Is it necessary to think about this? Ever since Huai'en returned to the court, he has been in the forefront of every matter in the court. Does Wei Tai have any sense of existence except the title of the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department? It is only natural that he was demoted." Zhang Yanling said.

Zhang Luan said: "That's... right. Does Huai En really have such a strong ability that he can easily control His Majesty?"

"It can't be called control. It can only be said that I took advantage of the situation, catered to His Majesty's needs, and gained His Majesty's trust!"

At this point, Zhang Yanling patiently explained: "Dad, some people serve as officials in the court by relying on their wits and connections, such as Li Zisheng, and for example... you are the same, Dad."

"I see, you're just trying to take advantage of others? Son, if you look down on your father, just tell him directly. I can handle it. Don't you know what my situation is?"

Zhang Luan looked frank again.

(End of this chapter)