Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 636: Self-pity

People with practical talents will be respected in any environment.

No matter how much the many civil officials in the court looked down on Zhang Luan, who was born into a family of relatives, Tan Ji's words, which were almost accusatory, quickly calmed the ministers present.

If they continued arguing, perhaps the emperor would ask them to raise money and grain... No one present dared to take on this task. After all, strictly speaking, this batch of money and grain did not go to the Ministry of Revenue's warehouse. Asking anyone to raise 200,000 dan of grain would be as difficult as climbing to the sky.

The final court meeting ended in an extremely strange atmosphere.

Afterwards, Qin Ji was ordered to go and see Zhang Luan.

Qin Ji arrived at the gate of Zhang's house and was very polite. He got off the carriage, dismissed his attendants, and walked to the red painted gate himself. However, before he could put his hand on the door knocker, the door opened from the inside. Chang Shun stood in front of him with a very respectful look, bowed and greeted him: "Eunuch Qin, you are here again?"

Qin Ji nodded and asked, "Is Zhang Guozhang at home?"

“Yes… No.”

Chang Shun gave two completely different answers in an instant.

Qin Ji was very curious and asked, "Then... is Zhang Guozhang here or not?"

Chang Shun replied: "My master said that if someone comes to him to ask for a favor, he should say he is not here; if they come with other purposes, they can consider saying he is here.

"I don't understand what that means. But I think that Eunuch Tan is a kind man and will not embarrass my master, so please make your own decision."

Qin Ji said helplessly: "Hey, kid, how can you be so honest? Well, if Zhang Guozhang is not at home, I will come next time."

"do not."

Chang Shun quickly persuaded him, "You are already here, if my master knew that I blocked your entry and even delayed the emperor's important affairs, wouldn't I be guilty of a great sin?"

"hehe."

Qin Ji smiled and asked, "Why don't you go and pass the message on?"

"I will go right away, little one."

Chang Shun respectfully invited Tan Ji in, while he ran off to report.

……

……

Zhang Luan dragged his heavy body and appeared in front of Qin Ji with a staggering gait.

Qin Ji looked at Zhang Luan's dark eye bags and haggard face, and asked with concern: "Mr. Zhang, your illness is not healed yet?"

"Am I...sick?"

Zhang Luan asked with sleepy eyes, somewhat puzzled.

"You... this is...?"

Qin Ji sighed when he heard this, "Alas... Seeing how confused you are, I think you are seriously ill. At the court meeting today, even His Majesty said that you were sick from the hard work of court affairs."

Zhang Luan understood instantly, and immediately covered his chest, pretending to be in pain, and said weakly: "Yes, yes, yes, I am sick and am recuperating at home."

But my mind was racing. Hey, it was obviously because I slept too late last night, and I drank too much and had a hangover, so I felt too uncomfortable. What does it have to do with whether I am sick or not?

But whatever the emperor says is the truth, so he has to pretend to be ill. Otherwise, wouldn't it be said that the emperor is fooling his ministers?

The guests and hosts took their seats.

Qin Ji told Zhang Luan everything that had happened at the previous court meeting.

Zhang Luan did not seem surprised, and said with emotion: "In fact, this is a situation I have expected a long time ago... It was fine during the time of the previous emperor, but now those civil officials have become more and more powerful. Who would listen to what I, a relative by marriage, say?
"The most suitable government office for me right now seems to be the Five Military Commandery... Well, why not just take an easy job at the Commandery and live a peaceful life for a few days!"

"Don't! You mustn't!"

Qin Ji hurriedly stopped him: "Don't you see, those civil officials are too much. Today in the court, they forced His Majesty to be unable to speak... Only with your assistance, His Majesty can be at ease."

Zhang Luan had a bitter face and shook his head, "I don't do things to make anyone feel at ease, because even I am not at peace at the moment...

"Eunuch Qin, if something goes wrong with Li Zisheng and Zhu Yong in the northwest, and the Tatars invade, and these two are defeated in battle after battle, or even try to escape from the battlefield, I won't be able to rest assured, and I'm afraid I'll have to think carefully about whether I can keep my head on my neck."

"You... you really love to joke."

Qin Ji almost wanted to wipe the cold sweat that had just appeared on his forehead.

I was trying my best to speak well of you in the court today, even going against my consistent principles in life, and now you are here to badmouth me?
If you really don't have the ability, then don't take on such an important task. Why do you insist on recommending Li Zisheng and Zhu Yong? Don't you know that this is actually a trap set for you by Huai En?
Qin Ji looked around and asked, "Is the Second Young Master here?"

Zhang Luan said unhappily, "Eunuch Qin, why do you want to see my son Yanling so much? You asked yesterday and you asked again today... You are talking to me now, not my son."

Qin Ji had a somewhat sad look on his face: "Then, Father-in-law, can you explain everything you predicted before in detail? Especially now that His Majesty wants to get an accurate answer.

"You can't just say that you have made a guess and convince the ministers, right? His Majesty was under great pressure today, so he didn't summon you to the palace..."

"Summon me? Why?"

Zhang Luan widened his innocent eyes, looking very curious.

What I mean is, why do those civil officials insist on me attending court meetings?

Qin Ji explained: "If not you, who else should we summon? You are the one who led the whole thing this time. The civil officials all want to confront you face to face!"

Zhang Luan stood up suddenly after hearing this and said angrily, "Eunuch Tan, I just don't understand. His Majesty asked me for advice, I expressed my opinion, and then His Majesty agreed. So it turns out that I was the one who led everything? So next time His Majesty asks me, I will pretend that I know nothing and try to shirk responsibility."

Qin Ji was shocked and quickly stood up to persuade him: "Father-in-law, please don't be angry. Things are not what you think..."

"What's wrong with me? I said I wouldn't recommend anyone, but His Majesty insisted that I recommend someone. Huai En and you were also there to instigate me, saying that I had to recommend someone."

Zhang Luan said with a wronged look on his face, "I went to the palace twice and made it clear that I had no intention of interfering in the military affairs of the northwest. But you kept persuading me that I had to do this. You also said that I got all the food and cloth, so I had to find someone to send them to the northwest... It would have been fine if I had found someone to send cloth and military uniforms to the west, but you asked me to recommend someone to send the food... In a blink of an eye, I became the culprit behind recommending the use of troops in the northwest?
"It's so unfair! I was the one who was forced to do it, but all the faults are put on me. Where can I seek justice?"

Qin Ji was so anxious that his old face turned red. He stammered, "This...this...you...don't be anxious. Calm down...think about it carefully. Maybe things are not as bad as you think. Don't...don't dwell on it!"

"Humph!"

Zhang Luan said angrily, "I was given the task of raising 200,000 dan of grain for no apparent reason. I ran around everywhere for this and was exhausted like a dog. In the end, I was accused of interfering in government affairs. "I quit! Who the hell wants to do it? Let him do it by himself! Isn't Wang Shu very capable? He is the Minister of Personnel and is good at employing people. Next time, just ask him to raise grain and ask him to recommend talented people. Don't bother me!"

Qin Ji was so anxious.

Look at you, the father-in-law, why are you still competing with me?
Isn't this your son-in-law making things difficult for you?

Don't take your anger out on me!
I tried my best to speak well of you at the court meeting today, so don't confuse friend with foe!

Qin Ji advised, "Zhang Guozhang, please calm down. The officials in the court can still distinguish right from wrong. Didn't they say nothing after I mentioned that you were ill due to overwork?"

Zhang Luan still looked very unhappy. He sat down and asked angrily, "What are you doing here? Are you here to urge me to hand over the next batch of grain?"

"Absolutely...absolutely not!"

Qin Ji hurriedly explained, "Didn't I say before that I hope you can list in detail how you speculate the reasons for the changes in the situation in the northwest in your memorial? I will take it back for His Majesty to review, so as to appease the ministers in the court..."

“Why should we please them?”

Zhang Luan directly retorted, "Who cares? If they want to listen, then they can listen. If they don't want to listen, then forget it! If they think I'm not capable, then they should tell me as soon as possible!
"I have already inquired about the situation at the Five Military Commandery. All the relatives who go there just need to collect their salaries and do nothing. I think this kind of leisurely job is very suitable for me! Please go back and inform His Majesty, Eunuch Tan, that I want to work in the Commandery!"

"Please don't."

Qin Ji was so anxious that he almost cried out.

Zhang Luan seemed very stubborn: "You think I am speaking in a sarcastic way here, right? I have made it clear, Eunuch Qin, even you know that there are some things that I cannot explain clearly by myself. My son must be here to explain it for you so that you can understand everything.

"Does that mean that my incompetence is already known to everyone? If that's the case, why should I bother? Just be a good-for-nothing!"

"Oh, oh, please don't say that."

Tan Ji said with a sad face.

"So... someone as incompetent as me is not suitable to stay in the court."

Zhang Luan sighed, "I'm just lucky. I married my daughter to the palace, and my father is honored because of her. To put it another way, even if my daughter is the queen, it doesn't mean that I, the queen's father, have to do all the things in the Ming Dynasty, right? Many things can be done, but in the end, they are still thankless. Oh, I am too embarrassed to see people because I am a relative? Since they despise my identity and don't like me, then I won't play with them and let them do it themselves!"

Qin Ji said with a bitter face: "Calm down, I'm leaving first."

Obviously, Qin Ji was afraid that Zhang Luan would quit in front of him. He thought that if this was true, he would become a sinner in the eyes of His Majesty, and even affect the destiny of the Ming Dynasty.

This Zhang Guofather in front of me is extremely important to the emperor. Even if he wants to retire, it would be best if he has nothing to do with me.

Zhang Luan waved his hand and said, "Then I won't send you off! Eunuch Qin, it's not that I'm rude, it's just that I feel too aggrieved! Being an official is really boring!
"Someone, show the guest away!"

……

……

Qin Ji left Zhang's house in disgrace.

Chang Shun followed closely behind, and seeing Qin Ji's hunched body, trembling slightly, and extremely depressed, he couldn't help but ask with concern: "Eunuch Qin, are you okay? My master has already said that he doesn't want to work, so he won't see anyone who comes to him to do work.

"Maybe my master said something unpleasant in his anger just now. Please don't take it to heart. Just wait until he calms down."

"Eh? What's your name kid?"

Qin Ji was surprised to see the servant behind him speaking in an extraordinary manner.

Chang Shun answered truthfully: "I am Chang Shun, and my family does some brokerage business in the capital."

Tan Ji asked, "Who is your father?"

"Changde."

Chang Shun replied, "He is quite famous in the Xizhimen area, but my family lives near Chongwenmen."

"It is said that the seventh-rank official is the most important person in front of the prime minister. Chang Shun, you have a unique vision. At least you know your master's mood and attitude."

At this time, the two of them had already left the mansion. Qin Ji continued to walk to where his carriage was parked. He looked back at the mansion gate and asked, "Your father is still alive and doing the brokerage business, right?"

"Yes."

Chang Shun seemed very honored.

Look, the big boss of the Imperial Household Department actually cares about my family. I am passing the glory to my family.

Qin Ji said: "How can a pimp not have a government background? How about this, let your father go to the Jiaofang Division and bring my token with him, and someone will make arrangements for him.

"This way, you will no longer be restricted by others when doing business, and you can openly enter the house."

"Oh, this... Eunuch Tan... Please don't be like this. I am only following orders from my master and I dare not accept your favor."

Chang Shun realized that Qin Ji was planning to bribe him and make him act as a spy.

Qin Ji sighed: "I am providing some convenience to your family. Why are you not happy? Someone come here!"

As he spoke, Qin Ji called out to the attendants in the distance.

Soon a Jinyiwei appeared in front of Qin Ji.

"This is the doorman of the Zhang Mansion."

Qin Ji said, "Go back and give his family some advice and try to build relationships with some government offices in the capital."

Then he smiled and said to Chang Shun, "You can report this matter to your master and the second son and let them know. I don't think they will object."

When Chang Shun heard this, he realized that they didn't want me to be a spy.

If you can tell the higher-ups, especially let the Second Young Master know, then I will feel relieved.

I almost thought I wanted to be a spy and sell out the interests of the Zhang family, but I won’t do that!

(End of this chapter)