Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 808 Teachers and Students
"Could you give me an example?" Pang Tianshou pressed. "For instance, what gifts has Vice Minister Bi given you?"

“Minister Bi gave me gifts three times,” Jin Zhong said thoughtfully. “The first time was shortly after I arrived. He invited me to dinner, and afterwards, his servant gave me fifty taels of silver as a gift, along with some rice, flour, and cooking oil. The second time was after I moved out of the post station and settled down. I invited him to dinner under the pretext of moving, and he brought me some porcelain, calligraphy, paintings, and silk. Those calligraphy and paintings were his own work, and they are now hanging in my study. The third time was during the Dragon Boat Festival. He hosted a banquet at the yamen and afterwards gave me some trinkets, nothing of great value.”

Pang Tianshou nodded: "Has anyone ever asked you to do anything for them?"

"No!" Jin Zhong said firmly and without hesitation, "I don't get involved with anything, neither from top to bottom nor from side to side. After the bank came, they handed over the land sales and shop rentals to them. Even if I wanted to get things done, there was nothing I could do!"

Just then, a series of light footsteps came from the door, followed by two knocks.

"Come in."

As soon as Pang Tianshou finished speaking, his godson Pang Guodong walked in carrying a wooden tray. On the tray were two celadon covered bowls, their lids half-open, revealing the unfurling tea leaves inside.

Pang Guodong tiptoed to the tea table between the two men, first placing the teacup on the left next to Pang Tianshou, then moving the other one to Jin Zhong: "Godfather, Eunuch Jin. Sorry to keep you waiting, it's freshly brewed, be careful it's hot."

Jin Zhong quickly said, "Thank you for your trouble," but Pang Tianshou beside him frowned and said, "What are you dawdling about? You've kept Eunuch Jin waiting for so long. Do I have to urge you?"

Pang Guodong stiffened and quickly explained, "Godfather, there's no hot water in the yard right now. Starting a fire to boil water from scratch would really take too much time."

"Can't save money? Humph." Pang Tianshou snorted, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest of the armchair. "Couldn't you boil less water at once? Why do you have to fill the whole kettle and wait for it to boil? Can't you even think of something this small?"

Pang Guodong knew that his godfather was trying to embarrass Jin Zhong, but he still couldn't help but blush. "Yes, yes, godfather is right." Pang Guodong lowered his head, clasped his hands in front of him, and smiled awkwardly, "It's all my fault for being so stupid and not thinking of that. I'm sorry to have kept godfather and Eunuch Jin waiting. I will definitely change next time."

Seeing him back down, Pang Tianshou's sullen expression softened slightly. He waved his hand, his tone more relaxed: "Alright, get out of here, don't stand around making a fool of yourself."

"Yes." Pang Guodong lowered his head and stepped out from the two men.

“My son is clumsy,” Pang Tianshou said to Jin Zhong. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

"No, no," Jin Zhong waved his hands repeatedly, defending Pang Guodong, "If anyone's to blame, it's the post station. It's like an angel descended from heaven; they didn't even provide hot water, making you boil it yourselves. I really don't know what that Postmaster Peng was doing!" Jin Zhong couldn't contain his impatience, afraid the topic would veer off course. So, before the response from the hall had even settled, he anxiously steered the conversation back on track: "Brother Pang! What should I do now? Should I hand over the money or return it? Please advise me!"

“Don’t be in such a hurry,” Pang Guodong said with a smile. “Shizhong, are you sure you’ve only saved less than three thousand taels of silver in the past few months, and that you haven’t done anything for anyone because of these things?”

“I’m sure! This is all the stuff I’ve gathered. If Brother Pang doesn’t believe me, you’re welcome to check it out. As for getting things done…” Jin Zhong reached for the teacup, but recoiled from the scalding heat. “What can I possibly do for you!”

“Since that’s the case, then you don’t need to worry about anything.” Pang Tianshou nodded. “Two or three thousand taels of silver isn’t a big deal. Since you didn’t do anything for anyone, it’s just normal courtesy. After you go back, write down a report, clearly detailing each and every instance of welcoming and sending off, and give it to Inspector Fang. When they come to question you and your men, just explain everything clearly, just like you are now.” Pang Tianshou picked up the teacup, lifted the lid, and skimmed off the liquid on the surface.
"As for those valuables, returning them is definitely not an option. That's just how the officialdom is. If you suddenly return what you've received, people will think something's wrong with you, which will only create instability and add to the unrest. After you report it, just leave it there and don't touch it. The Western Depot will only investigate and won't get their hands on the money. Later, someone, probably from the Materials Collection Office, should come to review and confiscate them."

"Yes." Jin Zhong forced a smile, but the sigh in his voice was not well concealed. "Thank you for your guidance, I understand."

"Don't be too sad." Pang Tianshou blew on the hot tea and comforted him with a smile: "The palace won't take all that money away. According to the current policy, they will probably leave you about 20%."

What else could Jin Zhong say? He could only continue to smile obsequiously, "Brother Pang, you're joking. What is there for me to be sad about? I'm just a lowly and incompetent servant, spending half my life guarding the warehouses. I have no skills whatsoever. My current position is entirely due to His Majesty's kindness. The reason those civil and military officials keep returning the gifts is only because they see my status as an imperial envoy and are afraid I'll be unhappy and speak ill of them to His Majesty. Even if they took all of it, let alone leave me 20%, I wouldn't have a single complaint!"

"It's good that you think that way." Pang Tianshou took a small sip of tea and called out towards the door, "Guodong!"

"Here I am, here I am!" Pang Guodong strode in. "What are your orders, Godfather?"

"Go next door and invite Inspector Fang over for a talk," Pang Tianshou instructed while sipping his tea.

Before Pang Guodong could agree, Jin Zhong hurriedly asked, "Brother Pang, what do you mean by this?"

“They will definitely find out about your visit to the post station sooner or later. If you leave without seeing them, they will definitely harbor resentment.” Pang Tianshou put down his teacup. “Instead of letting them speculate and suspect that you and I have ulterior motives, it’s better to invite them over and explain things clearly.”

“Still…” Jin Zhong reached out with trembling hands to take the teacup, lifted the lid and drank, but was scalded by the still-hot tea. “Brother Pang is very thoughtful.”

"Don't worry, as long as what you said is true and there's nothing you're hiding, everything will be fine." Pang Tianshou waved his hand. "Go."

"Yes." Pang Guodong clasped his hands in acceptance and turned to leave.

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When the eunuch guarding the courtyard gate saw Pang Guodong, he immediately lifted the wooden latch, gently pushed open half of the door, and stepped aside to let him out.

As soon as Pang Guodong stepped out the door, he saw a sedan chair hurrying towards the post station. The sedan chair bearers had their trousers rolled up, their foreheads covered in sweat, and they were panting heavily.

He immediately stopped and quietly retreated to the eaves, peering into the post station through the shadows of the pillars. The sedan chair came to a stop, and the curtain was lifted from the inside, revealing a eunuch wearing black cloth shoes and a blue robe with a dark sunflower pattern.

As soon as the eunuch stood still, the postmaster Peng Yi quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "This humble one, Peng Yi, greets Eunuch Gao!"

Eunuch Gao did not return his greeting, but simply raised his hand and waved it away, saying, "No need, no need. Just tell me where the imperial envoy is."

Peng Yi quickly straightened up, pointed in the direction of the courtyard, and replied, "The imperial envoys are living in three small courtyards. The one in the west courtyard is Gao Shiming, the newly appointed director of the Customs Administration. The one in the east courtyard is Pang Tianshou, the director of the Imperial Household Department. The one in the south courtyard is Fang Zhenghua, the director of the Western Investigation Bureau, and Xu Fang, the director of the Western Investigation Bureau."

Following Peng Yi's direction, the eunuch first glanced at the east courtyard gate, then darted towards the west courtyard. Upon hearing the words "West Investigation Bureau," his eyebrows twitched slightly, and his fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of his robe before relaxing. Pang Guodong watched from the shadows like a thief, his heart inexplicably pounding. Fortunately, the eunuch only glanced at him briefly before looking away.

Grandpa Gao didn't say much to Peng Yi, only uttering a single "hmm," before running towards the east courtyard where Gao Shiming was.

A short while later, the sound of knocking came from inside the east gate. The eunuch behind the gate heard the noise and immediately ran to open it.

The young eunuch, assuming it was Gao Fengqiu returning, opened half of the gate without a second thought. Upon seeing that it was an unfamiliar eunuch, he abruptly grabbed the gate and asked, bewildered, "Who...who are you?"

The eunuch surnamed Gao stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said, "Junior, I am Gao Guojing, the president of the Tanggu branch of the Sun and Moon Bank. I heard that Mr. Gao is on a mission and has stopped at the post station, so I have come to pay my respects. Please inform him."

The eunuch sized up Gao Guojing, then turned to look at Gao Shiming lying under the shade of a tree in the courtyard. Just as he was about to call out a question, he heard Gao Shiming shout, "Let him in!"

The eunuch quickly opened the door that had just been closed, stepped aside to let him in, and gestured for him to come in: "Excuse me, please come in."

"Hmm." Gao Guojing straightened his collar again before stepping inside.

At the entrance of the East Courtyard, Pang Guodong, who was still secretly watching from under the eaves, saw that the West Courtyard gate was closed and inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief. He then quietly walked towards the South Courtyard.

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Gao Guojing stepped inside and immediately saw Gao Shiming reclining on a deck chair, and He Xiaokui standing beside him, fanning himself. Gao Guojing quickly walked a few steps to Gao Shiming's side, lifted his robe, and knelt down: "Student Gao Guojing greets Mr. Gao!"

"Gongyang." Gao Shiming stood up, supporting himself on the handrail. "Your information network is quite good; I had barely settled in when you arrived."

Gao Guojing was quick-witted and immediately caught the word "also". However, he did not ask anything and only said, "I heard a few days ago that you were coming, so I have been thinking about it and asked the post station to send news as soon as possible. Now that you are here, how dare I not set off to pay my respects immediately?"

"Hehe, good boy." Gao Shiming waved his hand and stretched. "Get up."

"Thank you, Mr. Xie." Gao Guojing stood up and bowed again.

"Come in, sit down and let's talk." Gao Shiming patted Gao Guojing on the shoulder, then turned to He Xiaokui and instructed, "A-Kui, go. Pour out my cup of tea and brew two new ones."

"Yes." He Xiaokui picked up the tea and walked quickly toward the small kitchen in the courtyard.

"Gongyang." Gao Shiming entered the main hall and sat down in the main seat facing south.

"The student is here." Gao Guojing carefully took the seat below Gao Shiming.

“If I remember correctly,” Gao Shiming said with a smile, “you left Beijing in March, didn’t you?”

"Thank you for your concern, sir. I left Beijing in March." Gao Guojing stood with his legs together and his hands on his knees.

"Is this your first time leaving Beijing?"

"Yes."

"Are you getting used to life outside the palace?"

"At first, I wasn't used to it, especially when I first left the palace." Gao Guojing shook his head. "I was on edge all day, seeing enemies everywhere, feeling like nowhere was safe. I was afraid of encountering villains who came to rob the 'birthday tribute'."

"Hehehe," Gao Shiming laughed, revealing his teeth. "You've been reading too many novels. Our Ming Dynasty is not the weak Song Dynasty. Our country is prosperous and peaceful. There are no bandits like Liangshan Marsh here. Besides, this is Tianjin, with three guards on the left and coastal defenses on the right. There's such a big fort standing there. What fool would come here to rob the imperial convoy?"

“You’re right, sir. So after that period, I gradually got used to life outside.” Gao Shiming’s kind attitude eased Gao Guojing’s anxiety a little. “It’s just that I inevitably miss the Emperor, miss my godfather, and miss you, sir. By the way, sir! You’ll be going back later, won’t you?”

"What?" Gao Shiming raised an eyebrow. "I just arrived in Beitang, and you're already planning to send me back?"

"Oh!" Gao Guojing waved his hands repeatedly and said, "How could I dare to have such thoughts? I just wanted to ask you to do me a favor."

"what's up?"

"Next month is the anniversary of my godfather's death." Gao Guojing's voice suddenly became a little dry. "I used to mourn him every year, but I probably won't be able to this year. So I would like to ask you to offer a stick of incense on my behalf. And also to tell him why I can't visit him this year."

Gao Shiming was silent for a while before saying, "Okay, I will go see him. I believe that if he is watching from heaven, he will understand and be pleased with your success today."

"What future do I have? I've drifted aimlessly for over thirty years, only managing to secure a mediocre foreign job thanks to the reforms," ​​Gao Guojing said modestly. "I dare not hope to ever reach your or my godfather's level in this lifetime; I only ask that I do not make any mistakes and live up to your grace."

"Why should a young man belittle himself?" Gao Shiming casually picked up a line from Li Bai: "'The roc rises with the wind in a single day, soaring ninety thousand miles high.' The east wind has been blowing for so long, surely there are far more who have fallen headlong than those who have spread their wings and soared high?"

"Sir." Gao Guojing was so moved that he didn't know what to say.

(End of this chapter)