Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 647 Painting Cake
As a last resort, Qin Ji finally followed Huai En's advice and went to meet the officials in Beijing, hoping that they would come forward to support the new salt law.

And his first stop was the Duke of England's Palace.

Because Zhang Mao almost monopolized the procurement matters of the Beijing Army in Beijing, relying on his status as a Duke, he was almost a unique presence in the business circle of the capital. Especially after the decline of the Wan family, he was even more complacent.

In Qin Ji's opinion, it is not easy to go around to the Grand Princess, the relatives of the emperor's wife, etc. The best thing is to find a military hero with a "weak point" and use his relationship to win over a large number of people to support the emperor.

But when Qin Ji arrived at the gate of the Duke of Yingguo's mansion, he learned that Zhang Mao was not at home.

"Didn't the Duke of England leave the palace after lunch? Why hasn't he returned home yet?"

Tan Ji asked.

It's hard for Menzi to answer such a sensitive question.

At this time, Zhang Mao's son Zhang Rui received the message and walked out of the gate. He first bowed respectfully to Tan Ji, and then invited Tan Ji in for tea.

Qin Ji hastily refused: "Today is New Year's Day, and some of the nobles have the duty to pay homage to the imperial mausoleum. Perhaps the Duke of Ying is also among them. I just came here to take a look, there is no other intention..."

"But……"

Zhang Rui was stunned for a moment, but still told the truth: "My father did not receive the errand to go out of the city to visit the mausoleum."

"is it?"

Qin Ji blinked in confusion and asked, "Then... where is your father now?"

Zhang Rui said bluntly: "He left just after returning from a banquet in the palace. I heard that he went to visit Zhang Guozhang's residence. He said that the Zhang family will have a duke sooner or later, so he went to visit and keep in touch with them during the New Year... I guess he will be back soon. Eunuch Tan, please come in and have some tea and wait."

"What? The Duke went to Zhang Guozhang's residence?"

Tan Ji didn't react for a moment.

I was just about to try to talk about my relationship with Zhang Mao and Zhang Luan!
Who made the troublesome Zhang Guozhang resolutely choose Baoguogong instead of Yinggonggong when appointing the military honoree to lead the troops to escort the grain to the northwest? Doesn't this mean that the Guozhang Mansion has a better relationship with Baoguogong Mansion, and is relatively distant from Yinggong Mansion?
Zhang Rui explained, "That's right. My father said this is a normal exchange of favors, and there is no other meaning... After all, it is very likely that Zhang Guozhang will concurrently serve as the head of the Five Military Command in the future. If we establish a good relationship in advance, it will also be convenient for us to serve the court together in the future."

Qin Ji forced a smile and shook his head, saying, "I am not questioning your father's purpose of going to the Zhang residence... Speaking of which, Duke Ying is visiting Zhang Guozhang... Is there anything else?"

Zhang Rui was very surprised when he heard this.

You say you don't question it, but you ask it so clearly. What do you want to do?
Who doesn’t know that you are the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot?
One word from you may affect the rise and fall of my Zhang family. After all, you are one of the most trusted people around the new emperor. Who dares not to take you seriously?
Zhang Rui said respectfully: "I don't know exactly what it is... Father-in-law, please come in. This is not the place to talk. Let's sit down and drink tea and wait. I think my father will be back soon..."

"It's really not necessary."

Qin Ji waved his hand and said, "I have something else to do next, I will leave now... I am really sorry for bothering you!"

"Ah? Why is this happening, Eunuch Tan? If my father comes back and finds out that I didn't persuade you to stay, I wonder how he will blame me... How should I tell him then?"

Zhang Rui was also a little anxious.

You came to visit me, but you didn't even get through the door, and you didn't even make your point. You said my father is coming back, what should I tell him? No matter what time it is, it's never a good thing to offend the head of the factory guards!
Qin Ji said: "I am only here to make the ruler and his subjects of the Ming Dynasty live in harmony. I am just visiting various households at the beginning of the year. It would be great if I could see you, but I won't be angry if I can't. I'll just let fate take its course. Well, I have to go to the next household, so I won't stay any longer..."

Zhang Rui was not afraid of the stage, and said bluntly: "Eunuch, at this time today, if you go to other families, I am afraid you will not be able to see the head of the family in person. Why don't you send someone to inform them in advance so that each family can be prepared?"

You came to visit unexpectedly without giving the host time to prepare. Who would have the time to wait for you at home? Don't people need to go out during festivals?
You are the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department and a popular figure in front of the emperor. As long as you give me advance notice, who would dare not stay at home and wait for you?
Qin Ji smiled bitterly and said, "Let's just go with the flow! Young Master, there's no need to see me off! I'm just going to go around a bit, bye!"

……

……

In the capital's officialdom, as it was the beginning of the new year, everyone was celebrating the holiday with peace of mind and the atmosphere was peaceful and harmonious.

But in Lizi Province and Qinchang in the northwest, this year was spent in fear and trepidation.

The two followed the convoy escorting the cloth, stumbling along the way, and finally they finally got into the Jingping Qianhu Suo, and then they were unable to move forward or backward.

"This place is more than a hundred miles away from Pianguan, and forty or fifty miles away from the border. How could the Tatars pass through the Great Wall pass and appear here?"

Qin Chang was terrified. As soon as he arrived at the Qianhu Office, he called Qianhu Wang Fang over and scolded him in person, "Don't you know to build more fortresses in front to prevent the Tatars from crossing the Great Wall and looting?"

At the end of the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, the defense system of the passes and fortresses around Datong was not perfect, and very few fortresses were built.

The border passes near Qianhu Suo, such as Zhuhu Fort, Jiangjunhui Fort, and even Laoyingbao Qianhu Suo, had not yet started construction, so that in Tan Chang's opinion, the shortcomings of the northwest border policy made him, an old eunuch, suffer inexplicable pain. Wang Fang looked at the aggressive Tan Chang and Li Zisheng in front of him, and said helplessly: "You two are here, it's not that we don't want to repair it. Even the Qianhu Suo Yingbao under your feet was built in the 20th year of Chenghua."

"What?"

Qin Chang looked incredulous.

Li Zisheng asked: "How many fortresses are there around Pianguan that can resist the Tatars? Are we relying on your Jingping Qianhu? This..."

"Pianguan is no longer within the scope of Datong Town. It is not our responsibility to resist the Tatars there." Wang Fang was also helpless.

You said that I, a general guarding the border in the northwest, would never have the chance to feel the emperor's grace in my life.

As a result, when you came, you started scolding me even though you are not my direct superior, and I had to explain to you in a nice way, as if I were your grandson. Do you think it's easy for me?

Qin Chang still wanted to get angry.

Li Zisheng advised: "Eunuch Tan, you are tired from the journey, go back and rest first, I will ask questions here."

Qin Chang seemed very aggrieved. He was an old eunuch who had lived a life of luxury. He had been riding horses all the way, and the skin on the inside of his legs was almost rubbed off. Warning signals were coming from time to time along the way. He was afraid of a head-on collision with a large group of Tatars. He was terrified. It can be said that he suffered both physical and mental torture. He was very unwilling in his heart... but it was not easy for him to be angry with Li Zisheng directly, so he found a scapegoat to vent his anger.

Now, after Li Zisheng's persuasion, he had no choice but to give in.

……

……

After Qin Chang went to find a place to rest, Li Zisheng quickly pulled Wang Fang over and asked in a low voice: "Has the military order from the Datong governor reached you? Do you want to send troops to escort us to Pianguan?"

“No military order was passed.”

Wang Fang is also very down-to-earth.

Nothing is nothing.

Why did you suddenly come to me? I haven’t figured out the situation yet.

Li Zisheng frowned and asked, "Can you send troops to help us? Within two days, travel day and night to escort us to Pianguan, and you...can bring the troops back then!"

"No, Master Li."

Wang Fang said, "If it is as you said, I would be considered to have deserted my post. The Tatars have repeatedly invaded the border, and the border is not stable anywhere.

"Until now, the Yebushou who have been dispersed have not figured out from which direction the Tatars sneaked into the Great Wall. If something goes wrong... I'm afraid you won't be able to bear it. Otherwise, you should stay here first..."

Li Zisheng interrupted the other party and asked again: "Then...is there any news from the capital?"

Wang Fang continued to shake his head.

"How about this, you listen to me and send a group of people to help us get to Pianguan." Li Zisheng said, "As long as you complete this task, I will recommend you to be transferred to the capital, where you will be promoted to a higher position and enjoy endless wealth and glory..."

Wang Fang was confused after hearing this.

We just met and have known each other for less than two hours, and you're already saying you want to recommend me?

How could I have deserved the favor of a great man like you who was once like the morning star in the sky?
But even if I am just a small general from a remote border area, I know that you have lost your power now. Isn't this just bullshit?
Li Zisheng said, "Eunuch Tan and I came to the northwest on the orders of the Emperor. Standing behind us are His Majesty and Zhang Guozhang. Do you know who Zhang Guozhang is?"

"Ah."

Wang Fang nodded.

I heard that it was true, after all, he was the queen's father, but I didn't say I was very familiar with him.

Which father-in-law of the Ming Dynasty in the past was not like a vase?
"Zhang Guozhang is not ordinary. He is very smart and can be said to be the reincarnation of Kong Ming. He can make plans and win battles from a distance... As long as you listen to me, I will ensure that you can climb up the ladder and have a bright future."

Li Zisheng was like a master of pie-in-the-sky drawings, continuing to paint a vague future to the other party.

(End of this chapter)