Gou was a member of the imperial family in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 168: Rebellion

Zhang Xijun is not an ordinary person. Although Zhang Xijun has never told Zhu Shenzhui his true origins, Zhu Shenzhui now basically knows his identity.

In the previous Jiang Shuishan incident, Zhang Xijun himself had said that his ancestors had a close relationship with the Bai Lian lineage. Although Zhu Shenzui did not ask further, he already had a guess in his mind. In addition, Zhang Xijun had mentioned Li Fuda's name at the beginning. It is said that Li Fuda later changed his name to Zhang Yin and served as the commander of Taiyuan Guard. This case caused a sensation during the Jiajing period.

Based on these alone, Zhu Shenzui could conclude that Zhang Xijun was definitely a descendant of Zhang Yin, also known as Li Fuda. Otherwise, how could he have such a close relationship with the Bai Lian lineage?

Zhang Xijun was not an ordinary person, and Zhu Shenzhu could not even confirm whether his name was really his. However, everyone has their own secrets, and since Zhang Xijun never talked about his own affairs, Zhu Shenzhu would not take the initiative to ask.

Zhu Shenzhui has known Zhang Xijun for a long time. He admits that Zhang Xijun is an extraordinary person and a talented person. Zhang Xijun has studied, and his literary talent is not to be mentioned, but his views and judgments on things are not bad, and sometimes Zhu Shenzhui even admires him.

Zhang Xijun took the initiative to join Zhu Shencui, but Zhu Shencui was always hesitant about how to use Zhang Xijun. After all, he was different from others, and he needed to be cautious about whether to reuse him and how to use him.

This is also the reason why Zhu Shenzhui has always put Zhang Xijun in the business. It would be a waste if a talent like Zhang Xijun is not used, but Zhu Shenzhui is still worried about him being deeply involved in some things. Zhang Xijun is meticulous, he is not as simple as Li Hu and others, who can be seen through at a glance, plus his background, this is also the reason why Zhu Shenzhui did so.

Over the past year or so, Zhang Xijun has done a pretty good job in the company, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he works diligently. Moreover, he and Kang Youfu also work very well together, helping Kang Youfu to manage the company in an orderly manner.

Zhang Xijun said that he was not good at business affairs, which Zhu Shenzhu also admitted. But not being good at it does not mean that Zhang Xijun could not do it. On the contrary, many of his handling of the business affairs were remarkable. Kang Youfu also told Zhu Shenzhu about this in private.

The trading company was very important to Zhu Shencui and was also his main source of income. With the continuous expansion of the trading company and the stabilization of grassland trade, the company's income had exceeded and replaced the previous income from private salt.

Now that the garrison has been taken over, the mining and workshops of the two hundred-household units are also proceeding in full swing. Zhu Shenzhui will have to invest a large amount of money to operate them later. In addition, there are relationships with the capital that need to be maintained, and all of these require financial support.

Kang Youfu was just a clerk in a small tofu workshop before. He was supported by Zhu Shenzhui. It was also Zhu Shenzhui's decision to employ Kang Youfu, and facts have proved that this decision was correct.

However, Zhu Shenzhu would not feel at ease leaving the company in the hands of Kang Youfu alone. Although it is said that you should trust people and not employ them if you don't trust them, necessary precautions should still be taken. People's hearts are unpredictable, especially they cannot be tested, because the most difficult thing in the world to guess is the human heart.

As the chief manager, Kang Youfu controls the company for Zhu Shenzhui. If there is no supervision and restraint, there will not be any major problems in the short term, but over time, people's hearts will change.

The same purpose was used to put Zhang Xijun in the company before, not only to let Zhang Xijun supervise Kang Youfu, but also vice versa. And now it seems that Zhu Shenzhu's arrangement is still very good. The company is thriving in the hands of the two of them, and there are no unexpected things happening inside.

If Zhang Xijun had not come to him today to express his attitude, Zhu Shenzhui would have continued in this state. As for how long it would last, Zhu Shenzhui himself had not figured it out.

But when Zhang Xijun suddenly proposed to leave the company today, hoping to do something else for Zhu Shenzhui, Zhu Shenzhui was still a little surprised, even though he had already guessed something when he came. He thought about the situation carefully, weighed the pros and cons, and considered whether to agree to Zhang Xijun's request.

With Zhang Xijun's ability, it would be a waste of talent to just put him in the business. He could play a better role in another place. Moreover, Zhu Shenzhui was indeed short of people. Ordinary people were fine, but he had people who could pick up knives and kill people. Not to mention the team in Wangjia Village, just the Mongolians brought back from the grassland, to put it bluntly, these Mongolians only followed Zhu Shenzhui's orders, and would kill anyone he asked them to.

But there are not many people with brains, especially those who have been educated. My brother-in-law Zhou Anmin may be one of them, and as for the others, apart from myself, there is only Zhang Xijun.

After all, everything is inferior except reading. In this era, scholars are not as common as cabbages as in later generations. There are four classes of people: scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans. Isn't it that scholars study hard for decades just to get their names on the list of successful candidates one day?
Even his uncle Wang Rong was only somewhat literate, and his cousin Wang Jinwu, although literate, could not be called a scholar, and was still essentially a military man.

As the plate on hand becomes bigger and bigger, all kinds of talents are also necessary. In addition to being able to fight and work hard, we also need intellectuals who can get things done.

As a member of the royal family, Zhu Shenzhu could not openly recruit scholars. Even his father-in-law Xu Laoxiucai and his brother-in-law Xu Xiancheng did not know what he was doing. As for his new wife Xu Jingqiu, Zhu Shenzhu did not tell her the details after they got married. He only said what he could tell, and also handed over the family's real estate outside the city and some inconspicuous properties to Xu Jingqiu.

It's not that he doesn't trust Xu Jingqiu, it's because the fewer people who know about what Zhu Shenzhui has done, the better. After all, many of the preparations he is making now are for the future. To put it bluntly, some of them can even be described as "having ulterior motives."

Once Xu Jingqiu finds out, Zhu Shenzhui cannot be sure of Xu Jingqiu's reaction, so it is better not to say anything.

Just like now, Xu Jingqiu only thought that she was a member of the royal family with a good family background. Wouldn't it be good to live a stable life at home and take care of her husband and children in the future? As for the future and when to tell her the truth, Zhu Shenzhui had not yet decided.

Thinking of this, Zhu Shenzhui said, "Master Zhang!" "I'm here!"

"If you are not in the business, how are you going to help me?"

Zhang Xijun said respectfully, "I am not talented. Although I don't have the ability to assist the king, and I am far less talented than Yi and Lu, I have read the books of sages and I think I have some knowledge. But the world is in chaos today. Our Ming Dynasty has suffered repeated defeats in Liaodong and lost its elite troops. The Mongolian leader has not come out, and Lin Danhan is arrogant and conceited, but he does not know that he has already collapsed. There are also continuous factional struggles in the court and the country. Your Majesty has succeeded to the throne at a young age, and there is suspicion between the monarch and his ministers."

"The ministers of the Ming Dynasty are strong, the emperor is weak, and the civil and military are at odds. Your Majesty has no choice but to use the eunuch party to fight against the court, but it may cause disaster. As for the people, there is no need to elaborate. The people are in a difficult situation, taxes are high, officials and gentry are colluding with each other and are greedy. If this continues, you can imagine what will happen."

"Sixth Master has a keen eye and a far-reaching plan. What he wants... this... hehe, I am not talented, but I am willing to do my best for Sixth Master, reform the old and create the new, and wait for the right opportunity..."

"Shut up!" Before Zhang Xijun could finish his words, Zhu Shenzhui started to scold him: "Master Zhang, I'm asking you this out of kindness, but you're talking nonsense? You're so bold!"

Seeing Zhu Shenzhui's angry face, Zhang Xijun was not panicked at all. He stood up and knelt down to kowtow to Zhu Shenzhui: "Sixth Master... No! My Lord! When my Lord asks me questions, I dare not lie in the slightest. I will say whatever is in my heart. If my Lord thinks that my words are offensive, I will let my Lord deal with me!"

"You are such a fool!" Zhu Shenzhui angrily scolded, "How dare you say such treasonous words? If this gets out, aren't you afraid of losing your head?"

"My lord, my death is not a pity." Zhang Xijun raised his head and said, "My life is not worthless. If I can do things for you and achieve great things in the future, I will be willing to die. But please consider that I am a loyal person. I can help you in some way, even if I can't succeed, I can rest in peace..."

"Hahaha, Master Zhang, Master Zhang, you are so clever in using retreat as a means of advancement. Do you think you can impress me with just these words? Don't forget, I am a member of the Ming royal family! I am not a member of the White Lotus sect like you!"

"My lord, I am indeed a descendant of the White Lotus. I dare not deceive you. My ancestor is Li Fuda, who later changed his name to Zhang Yin and became the commander of the Taiyuan Guard. But please rest assured, I am not a member of the White Lotus sect. I was implicated by them and had to live in Yangtou Mountain. Now that I am following you, I will no longer have anything to do with the White Lotus. If you don't believe me, you can take my head and I will have no complaints!"

Zhu Shenzhui narrowed his eyes and stared at Zhang Xijun, as if he wanted to read something on his face. However, Zhang Xijun looked frank and honest, which made Zhu Shenzhui look at him with a higher opinion.

Until today, Zhang Xijun finally revealed his identity directly, and the details were consistent with Zhu Shenzhu's guess. But guesses are just guesses, and even if Zhu Shenzhu was 90% sure before, as long as Zhang Xijun did not admit it, this guess would not count.

But now Zhang Xijun told him his life story, which also proved Zhang Xijun's true decision to surrender to him. He handed his biggest handle directly to Zhu Shenzhui. Once Zhu Shenzhui turned against him, he could kill Zhang Xijun without reporting to the police.

"Are you a descendant of Li Fuda?"

"Exactly!"

"Tell me in detail, what exactly happened?" Zhu Shenzhui asked.

Zhang Xijun kowtowed to Zhu Shenzhui again, and then began to explain his origins in detail. He told Zhu Shenzhui that he was the great-grandson of Li Fuda, and his grandfather was Li Fuda's third son.

After Li Fuda's death, Zhang Xijun's grandfather, as Li Fuda's third son, inherited the honorary title of Commander-in-Chief. Because the case of Li Fuda caused a sensation during the Jiajing period, although the case was finally closed with no real evidence and Li Fuda was reinstated, the matter was not over.

When Li Fuda was alive, the court kept a close eye on him. After his death, his descendants only had the honorary title of military households but no real power. More than ten years later, the descendants of the Li family died one after another, leaving only Zhang Xijun's branch.

There were always people in the imperial court paying attention to this case. In order to avoid suspicion and keep a low profile, Zhang Xijun's family stopped getting involved in the affairs of the garrison since Zhang Xijun's father, and thus Ken studied and passed down his family tradition to become a scholar.

By the time of Zhang Xijun's generation, decades had passed and everyone had gradually forgotten about the Li Fuda case.

But just when Zhang Xijun himself thought that this matter had nothing to do with the Zhang family and he would live a stable life as an ordinary citizen for the rest of his life, and later passed the examination to become a scholar and planned to study and enter an official career, something suddenly happened that changed Zhang Xijun's fate.

(End of this chapter)