Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 795 By attaching oneself to his son...
Outside the city, a military exercise was underway.

This was not a typical attack and defense drill; it was simply a group of people attacking a straw man in the distance. Instead of using ordinary muskets and firearms, they were all equipped with standardized firearms. Since the bullets had been mass-produced in a standardized manner, their rate of fire was much higher than that of matchlock guns, making them a type of flintlock musket.

Even though it was still very backward compared to the rifles of later generations, the cavalrymen equipped with flintlock muskets could load ammunition independently on horseback, and could fire twice at once. They were highly accurate, had a long range, and were very lethal.

After watching the series of drills, Zhu Youcheng was filled with excitement.

Wang Yue is the commander-in-chief of this military exercise.

Accompanying Zhu Youcheng for the inspection was Zhang Mao, the Duke of Yingguo, a nominal military commander.

Then there's Zhang Yanling.

There wasn't a single civil official present. Everyone knew that the civil officials of the Ming Dynasty would never support the emperor personally participating in training troops, especially private troops.

"Your Majesty, I request your instructions."

Upon returning, Wang Yue knelt directly before Zhu Youcheng, awaiting the emperor's instructions.

Zhu Youcheng smiled and said, "Minister Wang, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise and reply."

"Yes."

Wang Yue stood up.

He appeared to be in high spirits at that moment.

The emperor only sent a few people to accompany him in training his troops, and as the on-site commander, he was highly respected by the soldiers. The emperor trusted him without choosing anyone else... This is enough to show that the time when he will be reinstated or even entrusted with important responsibilities is getting closer and closer.

Zhu Youcheng said, "I have reviewed them, and almost all of them fire cannons first, and then the cavalry charge in to kill... If the Tatars have set up an ambush beforehand, how should we deal with it?"

Wang Yue replied: "Your Majesty, the powerful howitzers have a long range. Their primary objective is to clear out the Tatars' archer units in the rear, while the closer shotguns will cover the Tatars' front-line positions, preventing them from forming an effective defense."

"After the fireballs have covered a certain area, they will extend their fire, that is, the barrage will gradually advance, covering the enemy troops throughout the entire range... When the enemy's formation is in chaos and their defense is on the verge of collapse, the cavalry will take the opportunity to pursue and kill, using firearms to continuously reap enemy lives at short and medium ranges, continuing to disrupt the enemy's defensive formation, until the infantry launch an attack and achieve final victory."

Zhang Mao smiled and said, "Shichang, I think His Majesty is asking you, what if the Tatars don't follow the usual rules, and instead of being confined to a certain area, they like to move around and even ambush a group of troops in a certain place, and then suddenly rush out to attack? Wouldn't that still cause trouble?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yue subconsciously pursed his lips, a mocking smile appearing on his face.

He despised Zhang Mao from the bottom of his heart.

He thought to himself, "Who do you think you are, Zhang Tingmian?"
How dare this meritorious official, who has always stayed in the capital and only talked about war on paper, never been on the battlefield, let alone led troops in a real battle, point fingers at me in front of His Majesty?

Wang Yue said, “Your Majesty, none of this is a problem. If I were to lead the troops, I would absolutely not give the Tatars a chance to ambush us… My military strategy has always been to strike unexpectedly and catch the enemy off guard. Usually, the army would sneak up to a certain place and then suddenly launch a surprise attack, catching the enemy completely off guard. They wouldn’t even be able to form a battle formation. Even if they wanted to set up an ambush, there wouldn’t be enough time. A round of artillery fire would be enough to wipe out every last survivor on the ground!”

"What a loud tone."

Zhang Mao realized that Wang Yue was targeting him, but he smiled dismissively and said, "Your Majesty, if we're talking about heroes of the world, Wang Shichang certainly qualifies. His words are so powerful and resolute, they are truly admirable!"

Wang Yue thought to himself, "Is my only advantage that I speak loudly?"
Zhu Youcheng smiled and nodded: "That's right. With such powerful firearms, whether the Tatars fight head-on or conduct guerrilla warfare, we can completely suppress them on the field."

"Yanling, I've heard that a new firearm is under research that can fire six or seven bullets at once, allowing soldiers to hold it in their hands and fire it. Is that true?"

Zhang Yanling nodded and said, "Yes. I am currently developing it."

"Yanling, how did you do that? Why is it that your discoveries in the past year or two far surpass the efforts of all the craftsmen who have worked since the founding of the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Youcheng asked with a curious expression.

Wang Yue and Zhang Mao, disregarding their argument, both looked at Zhang Yanling.

Now they are all very eager to know the answer.

Zhang Yanling replied, "Your Majesty, it was just a sudden inspiration. Add to that a little bit of what I've learned, and a tiny bit of luck... that's about it."

"Heh, you never tell the truth."

Zhu Youcheng said with a smile.

Others who deceive the emperor are committing the heinous crime of deceiving the emperor, but the emperor shows no resentment towards his brother-in-law; on the contrary, he is quite pleased.

This made Zhang Mao and Wang Yue extremely envious.

However, considering Zhang Yanling's incredible skills, they naturally felt...

Whether it was comparing the closeness of their relationship, their ability to manufacture firearms, or their status in the emperor's eyes... there was no comparison at all, and they lost completely.

Zhang Yanling said, "Your Majesty, I have not lied. This is the actual situation."

He wasn't exaggerating when he said that.

He studied medicine in his previous life, but the skills he learned are rarely used in this era. However, his understanding of chemistry gives him an advantage over others in tinkering with chemicals, and he can even overcome many difficulties in a short period of time.

However, this was also thanks to his brother-in-law becoming emperor long ago, and the strong financial, material, and human resources of Huizhou merchants, who helped him find the items he needed.

In his view, in order to promote technological innovation and vigorously develop productivity in the Ming Dynasty, in addition to having a good mind and a wealth of knowledge, personal connections and resource allocation are also very important.

If he really came from a poor family, and was preoccupied with filling his stomach every day, and was always thinking about firewood and rice every time he went out, where would he have the energy to do scientific research?
To access various resources, one had to rise to a high position, which could take eight to ten years just to pass the imperial examinations…

Even if you pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi, you still have to start from the bottom as an official. Your salary and network are limited. You don't have this experimental equipment or that material. You probably won't be able to find anything until you're seventy or eighty years old. By then, your energy will be limited, you'll have lost your ambition, and you'll have long since given up.

……

……

Zhu Youcheng hosted a banquet at a restaurant to entertain Zhang Mao and Wang Yue, while Zhang Yanling returned home early.

After all, Zhang Yanling is currently responsible for more than just cannon manufacturing and military exercises; he has also established a vast commercial system to generate revenue for the imperial court.

Zhu Youcheng knew very well that many of his ambitions could only be realized by his brother-in-law making money for him.

This was the first time Wang Yue had ever been invited to a banquet by the emperor, and he was even sitting at the same table as the Holy Emperor. He was extremely excited and wanted to toast the emperor, but he dared not be presumptuous and could only accompany him cautiously.

Zhang Mao, on the other hand, appeared mature and composed, as if he were the main character at this banquet.

"His Majesty."

After several rounds of drinks, Zhang Mao inquired, "Where is this new army planned to be stationed? Will it remain in the capital? Or... be sent to Liaodong, the Three Border Regions, or other places?"

Zhu Youcheng said, "Let Yanling tell you... I can't explain it clearly in a short time."

Wang Yue and Zhang Mao exchanged a glance, both seeing a strange shock in each other's eyes.

Did the emperor delegate the authority to mobilize troops to his brother-in-law?

What a level of trust this is!

A storm raged in Wang Yue's heart.

No wonder my request for an official position was successful as soon as I went to that young imperial brother-in-law... I thought it was through Zhang Guozhang's connections, but it turns out that Zhang Guozhang was just a front, and the real power was his son.
How could a child who is just over ten years old have achieved what he has today?

Zhu Youcheng rose and said, “My two ministers, I suddenly remembered that the emperor’s wives and daughters-in-law have entered the palace today, and the empress is hosting a banquet for them in Kunning Palace. I may have to return to the palace first, so I will leave this place to you…”

"Farewell to Your Majesty."

Wang Yue hurriedly got up to see him off.

Zhang Mao, however, was reluctant to let the emperor leave...

The emperor had just met with the young imperial brother-in-law, and upon returning, he would have to meet with the imperial father-in-law... The more the emperor trusted the Zhang family, the stronger his sense of crisis became.

Who made Zhang Mao the top military officer of the Ming Dynasty?

He already felt immense pressure from the Duke of Baoguo, and now he has another family of relatives who are favored by the emperor. He's caught between a rock and a hard place. How is he going to live in the future?

Zhang Mao quickly said, "This old minister has some military insights that I would like to discuss with Your Majesty."

"Let's talk about it later."

Zhu Youcheng waved his hand and said, "I have promised the Empress that she can return early... You two ministers do not need to see me off, please eat and drink well."

After saying that, Zhu Youcheng left without looking back.

It seems that nothing is more important than going back to see his wife's family right now.

That seemed to be the life he truly dreamed of... a wife, children, and a warm bed... Although his child hadn't been born yet, he would become a father before the end of the year, according to the due date.

……

"...Shichang, what do you think?"

Once the emperor left, the Embroidered Uniform Guard withdrew, leaving only Wang Yue and Zhang Mao at the scene. The two were already familiar with each other, so there was nothing to be reserved about.

Zhang Mao even personally poured wine for Wang Yue.

Wang Yue said, "I never imagined that the Zhang family would produce so many talented people."

Zhang Mao asked with a smile, "Shichang, are you referring to my family, the Zhang family of the Duke of Yingguo, or the Zhang family of the imperial relatives?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yue frowned.

I thought to myself, "Zhang Tingmian, are you really that shameless?"

I'm talking about the Zhang family of Marquis Shouning. What are you doing here at this time?
Zhang Maodao said, "If you knew what Zhang Laizhan had done during the reign of the late emperor, you would think that this family were all people who believed in the simplest way of life."

"You probably can't even imagine how they rose to power."

"how do I say this?"

Wang Yue asked curiously.

Zhang Mao sighed, “He is clearly just an ordinary person from the city, seemingly indifferent to worldly affairs, and never involved in court matters. Yet, whenever a major event occurs, he is always there, and he handles it very appropriately… Why does His Majesty trust him so much? His contribution in supporting the emperor is unparalleled by anyone else.”

Wang Yue said, "I haven't had much contact with Zhang Guozhang. Could you please tell me some details, Your Excellency?"

"It's hard to put into words."

Zhang Mao picked up his wine glass and suddenly felt powerless. After all, he was facing Zhang Laizhan, a monster who left him helpless, and he felt a sense of helplessness, like "Why did Heaven create both Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang?"

Wang Yue nodded and said, "The Imperial Father-in-law Zhang is wholeheartedly devoted to the court and His Majesty, but he has been plagued by injuries and illnesses due to leaking heavenly secrets. Now all affairs have been handed over to the young Imperial Uncle, so it can be considered that there is a successor."

Zhang Mao said, "Do you really think that His Majesty trusts Zhang Laizhan? I think that Zhang Laizhan and his son have completely different styles of doing things, and their ways of conducting themselves are also very different. They may not be of the same ilk."

Wang Yue asked, "So, His Majesty favors both Zhang Guozhang's ability to handle court affairs and Xiao Guojiu's expertise in firearms and military matters?"

"This one……"

Zhang Mao asked, "Do you know what a glass mirror is?"

"I've heard a little about it." Wang Yue nodded.

Zhang Mao sighed, "That thing once swindled me out of several thousand taels of silver, but now you can buy it for just a few taels in the market. And then there are the telescopes... They're used a lot in the army, but for some reason, there were rumors that they were made of mica from Huangshan Mountain, making them seem priceless! And... sigh! Putting everything else aside, that little brother-in-law of the emperor is incredibly cunning. Huizhou merchants are known for their shrewd business acumen, right? But compared to this kid, he's just... a small fry compared to a big fish."

Wang Yue laughed and said, "You can not only assist His Majesty in handling important military affairs, but you can also do business in the marketplace? It seems you have a wide range of knowledge... I wonder who your teacher was?"

"Besides his father, I heard there's also a tutor, but I know nothing else about him," Zhang Mao said. "That kid has a somewhat sinister air about him. Anyway, if you work for him in the future, try to avoid getting taken advantage of."

Wang Yue said, "I feel very honored to be able to learn from the young imperial uncle."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Mao couldn't help but feel a sense of disdain.

I thought to myself, "As expected, it has to be you, Wang Weining!"

Everyone says you're very capable, but you just can't shake your bad habit of currying favor with the powerful... Why don't you try currying favor with me?

Am I not even considered a powerful or wealthy person in your eyes?

Or rather, you see me as a potential political opponent and never intended to listen to me?
……

……

After leaving the palace, Zhang Luan and his wife went their separate ways.

One returned to the Marquis of Shouning's residence, while the other went straight to his own villa.

This time, Zhang Luan moved his residence to outside the capital city so that others would not be able to find him. He was especially afraid that people like Chang Shun would spread rumors outside. Also, his previous residence was too large and too ostentatious.

After leaving the city, when he arrived at the courtyard gate, he looked around like a thief before going inside, closing the door, and peeking out through the crack for a while.

Finally, still feeling uneasy, he climbed onto the top of the wall, peered out to make sure no one was following him, and then climbed down.

"Sir, what are you doing?"

Seeing this, Qi Niang couldn't help but chuckle.

The more I look at my own master, the more improper he seems.

Let alone being a high-ranking official, he doesn't even seem to have the dignity of an official. I don't know how he managed to get to his current position in the court.

Zhang Luan asked, "Have you found all the guards and other personnel?"

Lady Qi asked, "Isn't the master protected by the Embroidered Uniform Guard? I've also heard there are secret agents, all there to ensure your safety..."

"Don't talk nonsense."

Zhang Luan said, "I'm just an idle person. Do you think I'm some kind of prince or nobleman?"

Qi Niang smiled and reminded him, "Master, aren't you the Marquis of Shouning? You're also the Second Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, holding such a high position in the court. If that's not enough, aren't you a prince or nobleman?"

"Uh……"

Zhang Luan then realized what was happening and said hesitantly, "I almost forgot that I'm the Marquis of Shouning? I always felt that... whether I have this identity or not, it doesn't really make a difference."

Lady Qi said, "Master is easygoing and doesn't care about empty titles, so naturally he won't be thinking about them all the time. Oh, by the way, the person that Minister Li specifically sought out has already been brought back."

Zhang Luan frowned and said, "Who told you to pick him up? Didn't I tell Pang Bingkun not to bother me? I don't want any women, calligraphy, paintings, or antiques."

"Butler Pang has already left."

Qi Niang said, "When he left, he thanked her profusely, as if he felt that the master had helped him a great deal. He was in a hurry to go back to the south to deal with the spring floods. Right now, it is time for the Yellow River to be managed. I heard that hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been prepared to actively prevent floods in the upper and lower reaches."

Zhang Luan said, "Why worry about that? I've already said that there won't be any major floods on the Yellow River this year; there will be next year."

Qi Niang asked curiously, "You can predict the future again?"

"It wasn't me...it was..."

Zhang Luan said irritably, "What do you care about him? Even if we really need to prevent disasters, it has nothing to do with him sending me women... I am, after all, the father-in-law of the emperor, and I have to set an example for the world... It's one thing that I don't go home, but now I've moved out and women are constantly being sent to me. Doesn't that clearly tell everyone that I'm a greedy and lecherous man?"

"..."

Qi Niang thought to herself, "Your summary is spot on."

Who said no?
Do you say you usually do human resources work?

Just by virtue of his illustrious status and position, how has he exploited those below him? Those below are all wondering what kind of luck their master has to have accumulated such good fortune. Why is it that you, a powerful nobleman of the Ming Dynasty, are born to serve others, while others are just born to serve others?
Zhang Luan walked straight to the inner courtyard and said, "Send everyone away."

"Won't you take a look first?"

Qi Niang said, "I have already examined them. Their appearance is absolutely stunning, and they are incredibly beautiful. In fact, Minister Li and Steward Pang are always reliable people, and they would never send anything bad to you."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Luan felt a pang of heartache and clutched his chest, saying, "You insisted on making me see it, and once I saw it, I couldn't take my eyes off it, so I had no choice but to accept it?"

Lady Qi said, "Master, isn't it only right that you accept some benefits when you're doing things for Minister Li?"

"Ugh!"

Zhang Luan suddenly seemed a little deflated and said, "Then bring him over later so I can take a good look at him? Has he already been sent over? Is he still in the same courtyard?"

"Already here."

Qi Niang said, "An audience can be arranged at any time. If the master doesn't want anyone to know, he can take a look secretly. I will arrange it for you."

Zhang Luan said, "This is my courtyard. I'm just going to see a few women. Why do I need to sneak around? But... sigh! Oh well! Here's what we'll do: bring them all into the room, and I'll hide behind the screen... oh, no, I'll hide behind the window and watch."

Qi Niang smiled.

I thought to myself, "Men are all hypocrites, as expected."

They say they don't want it, but their actions tell a different story.

“My lord, in my opinion, there’s no need for such trouble. We’ve already brought the person here. Even if we wanted to return them, where would we send them?” said Qi Niang.

Zhang Luan said, "Those who are not satisfactory, send them to the city for resettlement. I need to make sure that when I see Minister Li next time, he doesn't feel that it's just a transaction between us! I need to make him feel indebted to me!"

(End of this chapter)