The Great Seminary

Chapter 72 War News
Calmed my mind.

Zhang Qitai decided to meet the brothers Rong Anshan and Rong Anqiu.

Just then.

The jade ring on his left index finger suddenly emitted a faint halo.

Zhang Qitai's face suddenly became embarrassed again.

But he still stood up helplessly and walked into a secret room in the study.

The layout here is extremely simple, there is not even a chair.

There is only a transparent crystal mirror standing in the middle.

Zhang Qitai pointed the glowing jade ring at the crystal mirror.

The halo turned, revealing the figure of a middle-aged man in a green shirt.

The man looked a few years older than Zhang Qitai. He was thin and had an ordinary face, but his eyes were particularly bright.

He is the official representative of the Zhang family in Pingyang and the 'head of the family'.

Zhang Qiling was an official of the Ministry of Personnel in the Ming and Song dynasties, and was a fifth-rank 'Yuanwailang of the Northern Frontier Military Affairs'.

His fifth-rank official position may seem insignificant, but as a capital official, he is naturally one level higher than local officials.

Second, the Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the promotion and deployment of officials throughout the country, and is the most popular government office.

The third is the "Northern Frontier Military Merit Yuanwailang" of the Ministry of Personnel's Examination and Reward Department, who was responsible for verifying the military merits and rewards of soldiers and generals in the northern part of the Ming and Song dynasties. He held a low position but great power.

More importantly, Zhang Qiling was in the prime of his life, and he was also a brother-in-law of Yang Wenbo, the young master of the "Fire-Splashing Yang Mansion", one of the three great military families in the Ming and Song dynasties.

That's why four years ago, the nearly 80-year-old third-rank official from the Ministry of Rites of the Zhang family in Pingyang took the initiative to give up his position and let him take over.

Logically speaking, the current head and leader of the Pingyang Zhang family have both shed the frivolity and restlessness of their youth, but are still in their golden age of wanting to and being able to do things.

There should be a tacit understanding.

But in reality, Zhang Qitai felt somewhat inferior and dissatisfied with Zhang Qiling, and didn't want to communicate with him at all.

Zhang Qiling became arrogant after achieving success in middle age. He looked down on Zhang Qitai's virtue and talent, and his attitude was subtly condescending.

There was some tantrum between them.

This time, Zhang Qiling did not exchange pleasantries when they met across the air, but directly started the conversation.
“The imperial decree has been issued.

I was transferred to the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War..."

If it was someone else who rose to prominence in such a short period of time, Zhang Qitai would not lose his composure even if he was surprised.

But why did Zhang Qiling, this arrogant 'grandson', do this? He blurted out:
"The Minister of War is a third-rank official. Are you, are you, are you, really serious?"

Zhang Qiling smiled indifferently when he heard this.
"Brother Qitai, why do you say that?

Even if we were brothers from the same clan, I wouldn't communicate with him through the 'Water Mirror' just for such a joke.

Besides, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War is slightly inferior to the Left Vice Minister, and is only a third-rank official.

But he's not considered a 'big official' yet."

According to the official rules of the Ming and Song dynasties, local officials of the second rank could be called "frontier officials."

Officials in Beijing only need to be of the third rank to be called "ministers of the ministry."

But officials of this rank have already been favored by the emperor.

Although there are few examples of right assistant ministers of six ministries rising to prominence overnight and directly entering the cabinet to regulate yin and yang, they do exist.

Who would care to delve into the slight differences between the Right Vice Minister and the Left Vice Minister?

Zhang Qitai opened his mouth, and the anger in his heart inexplicably dissipated.

I tried hard to smile, but the corners of my mouth twitched, and my smile almost sounded like crying. I said listlessly:

"Whether or not you can address me as 'Minister' is just a matter of whether it sounds good or not, it's not really important.

What matters is that once you take this step, you will have a bright future.

So don't worry, since you have the potential to ascend to heaven, the clan will definitely support you with all their strength.

If you want help, give it to me; if you want money, give it to me.

After filling the hole in the previous section, the money from the Shuanghu Rong family’s land sale still left 7,000 taels of gold and 160,000 taels of silver…”

Zhang Qitai's position since birth has been the heir to the Pingyang Zhang family.

After decades of exposure, I still have a clear understanding of the importance of the overall situation. Even if I feel uncomfortable, I will still do what needs to be done.

Unexpectedly, his kindness was rejected by Zhang Qiling.
"The emperor today is determined to reform the civil service, so what do I need all that gold and silver for?

What's more, at my current level, I don't need this thing to help me.

You keep the money, and someone will naturally fill the remaining holes, so don't worry about it.

The farm and land that I was planning to sell to the Rong family in Shuanghu need to be sold again.

Just leave one or two acres of land to support your business.

If you need money again, go to the sea.

It's absurd to have such a treasure as the Ironwood Turtle Mechanical Ship in your hands and still be digging for food in the dirt."

These words were no longer a discussion, but a lesson.

Zhang Qitai's anger, which had been extinguished, suddenly rose again. He held his breath and gritted his teeth as he said:

"Even if a merchant on the sea earns a fortune, it's just fleeting wealth..."

"Tomorrow is the sixteenth day of the first lunar month.

Your Majesty will issue an imperial edict at the Grand Court to hold the Yuanshan Kingdom's Changsheng Tiemu accountable."

Changsheng Tiemu, the current powerful ruler of the Yuanshan Empire, although he did not rise from a humble background, he was the son of a small tribe of a thousand households, and he was not that famous either.

What's more, he was the prince of a small tribe who had his pasture taken away and killed his father and insulted his wife.

With such a beginning, he managed to create today's amazing achievements. How could such a person remain peaceful after being humiliated?

Although I had heard all kinds of rumors a long time ago and had a premonition that war was coming.

But before a person is really hit on the head by a stone, he always has a glimmer of hope.

But now the luck is gone.

Zhang Qitai's eyes widened, and he was speechless for a moment.

Zhang Qiling showed undisguised contempt on his face when he saw this.
“Things have come to this point, war is inevitable.

Our Pingyang Zhang family has worked hard for hundreds of years but has not been truly accepted by the southern family. Now we can only serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly.

Otherwise, if both sides press each other, they will undoubtedly be crushed to pieces!"

Zhang Qitai was stunned by these words and was speechless.

at the same time.

Zhang Gui bought enough New Year's goods and walked back to Youyufang with his officers and soldiers.

The neighbors all over the street seemed to have heard the news and lined up outside the door to greet him.

When those who are more familiar with each other meet, they will definitely say two sentences:

"Brother Gui has really made great progress!
I just want to say that the feng shui of Youyufang is actually very good.

Someone will inevitably grow up, and this is what should happen to you."
"Guigui, you are so great now, you have to help your childhood friends.

We don't seek great wealth, as long as we can have a surplus of ten or so taels every month, that's enough."
“Brother Gui, not Mr. Gui, hey, I just bought a big jar of shrimp paste from your mother, my aunt.

We all support each other, so don't forget me when you become successful."…

Zhang Gui's expression was no longer as stiff as when he first returned to Pingyang Town.

I heard that eight out of ten greetings from people around me were asking for help, but they didn't have that kind of relationship with each other.

He said with a grin:

“It’s not easy for everyone to take care of us.

I am now serving as the commander-in-chief of Zhihai Village, a hundred miles away from the sea on Xuanzhi Mountain.

It’s hard to say anything else.

But as long as you are willing to join the militia and fight pirates, come on.

I guarantee you good food and drink every day, and you will also receive money."

As soon as the words fell, everyone around was silent.

(End of this chapter)