Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 663 The winning hand

Beijing.

Zhang Mansion.

Zhang Luangang had just received Tan Ji, the special envoy of the emperor's son-in-law, and the two had a long conversation behind closed doors.

Afterwards, Qin Ji left in a hurry, anxious to return to report to Emperor Zhu Youtang, and Zhang Luan had no time to continue pretending to be sick, so he quickly called his son to the study.

"Cough cough."

In order to show that his weak shoulders could not bear so much, Zhang Luan coughed twice before making an opening statement, "Son, His Majesty is very anxious about the military situation in the northwest. Isn't it almost the agreed deadline? But the troops under the Duke of Baoguo are moving too slowly, and it is still five or six days' journey to the battlefield you described."

"Ok!"

Zhang Yanling nodded, seemingly not in a hurry at all.

Zhang Luan asked curiously, "Aren't you in a hurry? Without the thousands of troops led by the Duke of Baoguo, what can Li Zisheng do with just the few men he has? Even His Majesty feels that this battle is a bit dangerous, so he specially sent Eunuch Tan Jitan to inquire about the situation."

"Dad, actually it's mainly because this is the first time that my brother-in-law has been involved in a war with the Tatars since he ascended the throne, so he is extra concerned. As the saying goes, concern makes one confused, so it's normal for him to behave this way." Zhang Yanling explained Zhu Youtang's behavior and then persuaded him, "Dad, as the nominal planner of this war, you can't lose your composure here."

Zhang Luan sighed, "I just told Qin Ji to come and explain to him, but Qin Ji refused and insisted that I come out and speak. I don't know what he is thinking."

"He may... have good intentions."

Zhang Yanling said.

"He's kind? He doesn't know that you're the one who actually started this. Wouldn't it be better to ask you?"

Zhang Luan was a little angry.

Zhang Yanling said, "In fact, both my brother-in-law and Tan Ji know that no matter how tense the situation is, we cannot affect the battlefield thousands of miles away... So, Tan Ji may want me, the military strategist behind the scenes, to stay out of it completely."

"What? You're asked to stay out of it? You mean... if we have military achievements, you'll get a share, but if we lose, I, as your father, will take the full brunt of it?"

Zhang Luan frowned.

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Yes, Eunuch Tan must think so."

"Hey, Mr. Qin is really..."

Zhang Luan was a little angry, but when he thought that the other party was protecting his son, he no longer had any hatred towards Qin Ji, who had many cunning thoughts.

Zhang Yanling said, "Dad, now that you think about it, are you not as nervous as before?"

Zhang Luan shook his head and smiled bitterly, then asked, "Son, if the Tartars really come as you predicted, can Li Zisheng handle it?"

Zhang Yanling shrugged: "It's a 50-50 chance... We don't know ourselves or the enemy, so it's hard to make an accurate judgment."

"Can't you calculate it?"

Zhang Luan asked in surprise, "If Li Zisheng loses, we will also suffer. My father's entry into the cabinet... is not a big deal. I never thought about entering the cabinet, but for the future reputation of our family..."

Zhang Yanling smiled and comforted him: "Dad, let alone you, even my brother-in-law, the emperor, does not have enough prestige in the army. He wanted to establish the foundation of his rule by winning a battle, but he did not get the approval of the court officials. In the end, the ministers only agreed to let the Duke of Baoguo lead 3,000 troops to the west in the name of escorting grain and grass. In fact, this war was not designed to win the battle against the foreign barbarians at all."

"Ah, what do you mean by that?"

Zhang Luan seemed a little flustered.

Zhang Yanling was calm and composed: "As long as your prediction comes true this time, and the Tatars really come from the direction we expected, then you can gain a foothold in the court regardless of success or failure. Victory is good, but if you lose... Brother-in-law will be more justified in front of the court officials, isn't it?"

Zhang Luan pondered for a long time before he understood. He said, "Oh, I see. We had clearly informed them of the direction they were coming from, and even calculated the time. But the ministers didn't listen to us, didn't allocate sufficient troops, and didn't let the soldiers in the northwest cooperate. In the end, we failed to win, and even lost troops. The responsibility obviously doesn't lie with us, but with... those ministers?" Zhang Yanling nodded, "You can say that, but they will definitely shirk responsibility."

At this moment, Zhang Luan instantly became alert and said angrily, "I assisted the wise and holy ruler with good intentions. I personally raised the food, and the cloth was woven by you, my son, who helped the palace improve the spinning and looms. Even my daughter, the Empress of the Ming Dynasty, participated in the production personally. Her loyalty can no longer be described as pure. When fighting against the foreign barbarians, the court sent people to the west. We notified the time and place in advance, but the civil officials refused to cooperate. You have the nerve to blame us after you lose the battle?"

"Correct."

Zhang Yanling praised, "Dad, you must stick to this view and show your grievances to everyone. Now it depends on whether the Tatars will cooperate with us and come as promised."

"You have an agreement with them... No, you are not familiar with them at all. Wait, my son, are you relying on those Hu merchants? Or did you ask someone to send messages to them in a dream? Ask them to appear at that time and place?" After hearing his son's words, Zhang Luan became confused.

Zhang Yanling frowned and said, "Father, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Zhang Luan suddenly felt that his mind was too far-fetched and his thinking was a bit biased, so he collected his thoughts and asked, "What if they don't come?"

“Not coming…”

Zhang Yanling grinned and said, "Isn't it just right for you to not join the cabinet? Even if it damages the reputation of our Zhang family, predicting military secrets is not reliable. After a while, no one will remember it. But you may be laughed at for a long time in the future."

"What?"

Zhang Luan started to puff his beard and glare at me again, "My son, please don't laugh. Although I don't have any obsession with entering the cabinet, please don't make me lose face in front of others in the future... Will the Tartars really come?"

"Nine out of ten times." Zhang Yanling said, but he was thinking in his heart, at least that's what it says in history books, it depends on how big the butterfly effect caused by my time travel is.

Zhang Luan finally felt relieved after hearing this and said, "Nine out of ten? Then it's okay!"

Zhang Yanling asked, "Dad, don't you want to be 100% sure?"

"How is that possible?"

Zhang Luan said, "I have been so nervous all the way, choosing a concubine for your sister and fighting Liang Fang and the others. I was so lucky every time I could get a 10% chance! This time it's already 90% certain, why do you still want so much? Hey! I am not greedy."

Zhang Yanling said: "Then Dad, what do you do next..."

"Just continue to recuperate at home."

Zhang Luan said shamelessly, "We're not going anywhere. I can stay at home to recuperate, without having to see outsiders or even worry about court affairs. I can even go out and have fun occasionally... Yeah, it's always great.

"Oh, son, don't work too hard. You have a very smart head. Don't let it weigh you down. You are at the age of growing up. You should take care of yourself."

"Know it!"

Zhang Yanling responded unhappily.

"Tsk, you little brat, your father cares about you, but you don't appreciate it? Well, I'm your father. I'll take care of this."

Zhang Luan patted his chest, looking very loyal.

Zhang Yanling muttered quietly: "Isn't it because he knows that the chance of success is great? If he felt that the chance was slim, he would probably be yelling all day long."

Zhang Luan pretended to be deaf when he heard it, and waved his hands with a smile, meaning that your task of answering has been successfully completed and you can go wherever you want.

"No formality."

Now it's finally the son's turn to criticize his father.

(End of this chapter)