Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 51 My vassal's vassal is not my vassal

After that day's market, half a month had passed in a flash, and the weather in Beijing had turned completely cold.

The biting cold wind was roaming the streets, and all kinds of heating items such as coal, warm quilts, etc. began to sell well.

Just after noon that day, sporadic snowflakes began to float in the sky, fell to the ground, and quickly merged with the ground.

A carriage slowly stopped in front of the Beizhenfusi Yamen. The driver stopped the carriage and shouted inside with a smile: "Sir, we're here."

Zhang Yunxiu opened his eyes, lifted the curtain, and stepped out of the carriage holding the frame.

The cold wind outside the car froze his bones. He shivered unconsciously, wrapped his cotton robe tightly around himself and ran straight into the yamen.

Zhao Yong has been imprisoned for a month. Half a month ago, Han San said that this guy had become weak. Zhang Yunxiu wanted to come and take a look, but he was busy with the emperor's affairs, so he delayed it until today.

Stepping into the house, Han San and Zhao Yong were already waiting there.

Han San hurriedly stood up, bowed and said, "Sir."

Zhao Yong stared at Zhang Yunxiu coldly without saying a word. Han San, who was standing beside him, became anxious and scolded, "Zhao Yong, don't forget what you promised me before. Do you still want to learn martial arts?"

"Young Master." Zhao Yong stood up and called out reluctantly.

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and waved his hand, not caring at all, and motioned for the two to sit down.

After sitting down as the host and guest, Zhang Yunxiu tilted his head to look at Zhao Yong and asked, "Have you figured it out? Are you ready to go home?"

"Not going home." Zhao Yong shook his head.

"Not going home?" Zhang Yunxiu was stunned and looked at Han San with confusion.

Han San scratched his head, smiled and stood up to explain: "Sir, this kid looks ruthless and doesn't look like a good student. Why don't you keep him by your side?"

"No." Zhang Yunxiu hurriedly stopped him, "I saved this kid's life, which is already a special favor. If I keep him by my side, what if he does something wrong and kills Feng Bangning one day? Who will be held responsible?"

Han San remained silent after hearing this.

Zhao Yong blushed and shouted, "I am learning martial arts from Brother Han, not from you. Do I need your consent?"

"How dare you!" Han San's face turned pale, he frowned, slammed the table and cursed, "You little bastard, are you rebelling? How dare you talk to your savior like that?"

Zhao Yong shuddered and stepped back with his neck shrunk.

"Master, I failed to discipline this little bastard. Give me some more time and I will definitely discipline him." Seeing Zhang Yunxiu's increasingly gloomy face, Han San secretly said that something was wrong and hurriedly explained.

Zhang Yunxiu's face was gloomy, but not because he was angry, but because he was depressed.

Zhao Yong is afraid of Han San, but he is not afraid of himself at all.

It's really embarrassing for me, the leader. My vassal's vassal is not actually my vassal?

"Son."

Han San was about to persuade him again, but Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand and firmly refused, "He must leave the capital before the New Year. If he is still there by then, you can do whatever you want."

"What gives you the right?" Zhao Yong shouted angrily with red eyes.

Zhang Yunxiu's eyes drooped, and he shot two cold rays at Zhao Yong, and said with a sinister smile: "Why? Hehe, because I can make the decision, because I have the power in my hands, and I can make you disappear from this world with just one word!"

At the end of his speech, Zhang Yunxiu changed his previous gentle demeanor and his tone became as cold as a frosty sword.

Zhao Yong's body went limp and he staggered and almost fell to the ground.

Han San supported him, looked at Zhang Yunxiu, nodded and said, "Don't worry, sir, I will definitely send him away before the New Year."

"Brother Han"

"Shut up, it doesn't matter where you learn martial arts." Han San glared back at Zhao Yong's plea for mercy, then looked at Zhang Yunxiu and said, "Sir, I'm not trying to shirk my responsibility, but this kid is really not a good student." Zhang Yunxiu's eyes narrowed, staring at the two of them for a long time before he said, "Two years, let this kid lay some foundation at home first. If he still wants to learn martial arts after two years, he can come to the capital to find you."

"Two years is too long." Zhao Yong muttered dissatisfiedly.

Han San was delighted. He slapped Zhao Yong on the forehead and scolded him with a smile, "You little bastard, you have grown nothing in two years. Time has passed in the blink of an eye. Why don't you thank the master quickly?"

"Thank you, sir."

Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand and asked Zhao Yong to go down, leaving Han San alone.

At this time, the snow outside was falling heavily, and the cold wind blew in from the window, carrying snowflakes the size of goose feathers.

The charcoal fire, which was covered with white ash, was blown into a fiery red color.

Zhang Yunxiu felt his face warm up, stretched himself, and asked Zhao Yong about the business: "What is the scale of the treasure shipyard in Nanjing? Have the brothers who were sent to investigate returned?"

The wealth on the sea is endless, and the treasure ship is a powerful tool for ocean-going, so Zhang Yunxiu sent Han San to check out the scale of the Nanjing Treasure Ship Factory so that he could have a better idea.

"I'm back, but you should also know that the Treasure Ship Factory has been in decline since the Yongle period. The following emperors banned the sea, and although Emperor Longqing opened the sea, the scale of the Treasure Ship Factory is still pitifully small, with only one tenth of it remaining." Han San explained patiently.

"Where is the craftsman?" Zhang Yunxiu asked.

"There are some craftsmen, but there is no work. Many of them can't even afford to eat, so they can only do some carpentry work to supplement their family income."

After hearing this, Zhang Yunxiu nodded.

It’s good to have craftsmen. Anyway, most of the Baochuan Factory in Nanjing has been abandoned. Without destruction, there will be construction. He can just build a new one.

After figuring out this relationship, Zhang Yunxiu leaned forward and said to Zhao Yong, "Well, you go now, spend some money, and bring those craftsmen to Beijing."

"Sir, there are no big rivers around Beijing, so it's not easy to run a shipyard." Han San reminded hurriedly.

"Who said we're going to open it in Beijing?"

"Then why did the young master ask me to bring him to Beijing?" Han San looked confused.

"You are stupid. We should help him get rid of his slavery first." Zhang Yunxiu gave Han San a cold look.

According to what he heard from Zhang Juzheng, the first batch of craftsmen who would be removed from the craftsman register would not arrive until the beginning of next spring at the earliest.

Zhang Yunxiu wanted to use this as a reward to motivate the shipbuilding craftsmen.

"You are a man of foresight, and I am the foolish one."

"Pack up and set off tomorrow. Use the money you can. Tell them that if they don't want to be craftsmen for the rest of their lives, they should come to us and build our boat."

"Yes." Han San clasped his fists in response and left with Nuo.

Zhang Yunxiu followed closely behind, but before he walked out of the door, a figure blocked his way.

It was Zhao Yong.

He lowered his eyelids and begged, "I don't want to stay here. I want to go to Nanjing with Brother Han. I haven't been to Nanjing yet."

I don't want to stay with you yet!
Zhang Yunxiu glared at Zhao Yong and asked fiercely, "Who were you talking to just now?"

"Sir, I want to go to Nanjing City with Brother Han. Please grant me permission." Zhao Yong bit his lip and said again.

"Go away. Go away." Zhang Yunxiu waved his hands as if to shoo away a fly, and cursed with a smile, "I feel annoyed when I see you. Go away now. Go back home directly after you go to Nanjing."

Zhao Yong showed a triumphant smile and caught up with Han San.

(End of this chapter)