Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 8 Zheng Guotai

After the family dinner, Zhang Yunxiu stayed at home for seven or eight days, keeping an eye on his father's health while anxiously waiting for news from his fourth brother.

These days, Zhang Yunxiu has been worried about his father's health.

As soon as it got dark, he would move a stool and stand guard at his father's door until midnight, fearing that his father would act like a young man and have sex seven times a night.

Logically speaking, members of the Zhang family will never die young.

Zhang Wenming, my grandfather, lived to be 72. My third brother, Zhang Maoxiu, lived to be over , and Zhang Yunxiu died of external forces when he was nearly .

Fifty was considered a long life in the Ming Dynasty.

Many people in the Zhang family live to be seventy, so at least they have good genes.

If Zhang Juzheng had stopped messing around, taken care of his body, and worked less hard, he should have had no problem living to his sixties.

It was just past twilight that day and the night was deep. Zhang Juzheng stepped into the bedroom, followed closely by Zhang Yunxiu.

Zhang Juzheng was getting annoyed by being chased and stopped. Zhang Yunxiu stumbled and almost bumped into him.

"Rebellious son! Why are you following me instead of going to bed?"

"Father, the doctor has said that you should cultivate your character and abstain from sex." Zhang Yunxiu said stubbornly, "Do you want to watch Wanli's new policies being destroyed?"

Two streams of white air spurted out of Zhang Juzheng's nostrils. He glared at his son angrily and walked away in a huff.

The door closed with a "click".

"Oh," Zhang Yunxiu sighed, moved a chair and lay on his back.

It was not yet the end of the first lunar month, and the weather was freezing cold, with water freezing onto ice.

Although Zhang Yunxiu was wrapped in a green cotton robe, the cold wind still penetrated into his neck, making his nose run.

Sniffing, Zhang Yunxiu turned around and suddenly heard footsteps outside.

He looked up and saw Zhang Fu running in like a man on a hot wheel, and hurriedly said, "Fifth Master, I found it, I found it!"

“Who found it?”

"We have found the Zheng Guotai you mentioned." Zhang Fu took two breaths and replied.

"That's great," Zhang Yunxiu was delighted, he picked up his cotton robe and walked out, shouting excitedly, "Quick, take me to see it, don't neglect him."

Before they had gone far, Zhang Juzheng opened the door and a figure stepped out.

Zhang Yunxiu realized something was wrong and looked back.

The father and son looked at each other. Zhang Juzheng glared at them coldly, retracted his foot, and slammed the door shut with a click.

Zhang Yunxiu was in a dilemma. Zhang Fu glanced at the young master and suggested with a smile, "Fifth Young Master, how about you stay here with the master, and I will go to meet Zheng Guotai for you?"

"Isn't this bad?"

"What's the big deal?" Zhang Fu shook his head and said, "I am the son of the Prime Minister. His family is a poor family. If you go there in person, it will be a compliment to him."

"Let me go and see him first to kill his arrogance, and then you can see him."

Zhang Yunxiu thought for a moment and replied, "Okay, but don't be too arrogant, or you'll annoy others."

"Don't worry." Although Zhang Fu didn't know why his master valued this man so much, it was his master's words after all, so he could only do as he was told. He bowed to his master and left.

Zhang Yunxiu turned around, walked back to his original seat and sat down.

Three miles west of Chongwenmen is a lively place with numerous streets and bright lights.

The left side is called Wangjia Lane, which is dotted with gambling houses. The road is paved with neat bluestones, and the row of houses along the street becomes bustling and noisy from noon on.

There are more than 30 casinos on the street, the small ones can gather dozens of people, and the large ones can gather hundreds of people.

Real money and fierce fighting are what gamblers in Beijing yearn for the most.

If you win money, you will naturally live a carefree and wealthy life.

On the right side of the street is the fireworks street, with music and singing, and beautiful women, each with fairer skin and prettier looks than the other.
As long as you're willing to pay, you can do whatever you want.

When Zhang Fu arrived at Yanhua Lane, it was already the end of the You hour, and he saw people crowding in front of the brothels of all sizes.

There was a constant stream of patrons coming and going, making the whole street particularly lively.

What he saw moved his heart, and he smiled, wiped his chin, and strode into a brothel called "Minglanlou".

After his name was announced, Zhang Fu was taken to a private room.

The private room is luxuriously furnished, with five mahogany screens dividing the room into two halves.

On the right is the main hall, with a red felt floor and a dark rosewood round table in the middle, with four or five small mahogany stools underneath.

Looking further to the right, there are several blue and white porcelain vases that are half a person's height.

The walls are covered with poems and paintings, and more than ten palace lanterns on the roof shine together, making the house look even more elegant and refined.

Perhaps hearing the noise, a man stepped out from the left side of the screen. He was about 25 or 26 years old, with dark skin, a thin body, lively eyes, a round hat on his head, black boots on his feet, and a machete in his hand.

Just like a skinny monkey holding a knife.

Zhang Fu couldn't help but smile and asked the visitor, "Are you Zheng Guotai?"

"The little one is not."

"Then who are you? Why are you here?" Zhang Fu asked puzzled.

"I am Han San, a small flag officer of the Northern Pacification Division of the Jinyiwei, who is under the command of Master Zhang. I have come here specially to help the master find someone." The man hurriedly introduced his identity.

"What about that person?"

Han San smiled and patiently explained, "He is in the gambling house next door. Our brothers have already spotted him, so he can't run away. Knowing that the master is coming, I specially prepared a banquet. After the master has eaten, it won't be too late for us to look for him later."

Zhang Fu smiled and secretly sighed that this was a wonderful person.

So he gestured to him, and the two of them sat back at the original table.

After a while, Han San clapped his hands, the door opened, and four or five maids came in carrying wine and food.

She was so graceful and elegant that Zhang Fu felt like he was being scratched by a cat.

Han San, who was standing by, knew this. He lowered his voice, gave a dry laugh, and said, "Master, don't worry. After I finish my work, I'll have a good place waiting for you."

"Hahaha, Brother Han is a wonderful person."

After Zhang Fu came to the capital, he had nothing to do. All the affairs in the mansion were handled by You Qi, and it was not his turn.

Today he finally got a job, so he came here happily, finally letting him have a chance to eat.

Being praised like this, Zhang Fu was already scared out of his wits.

Han San was very happy to hear Zhang Fu's praise.

He had long wanted to make friends with the Zhang family. Now, his superior said that the Tongzhi was looking for someone, and the entire Zhenfu Yamen was busy as hell. But he was smart and was the first to find the person.

Zhang Jianxiu accepted his favor and promised to promote him.

In a few days, he will be the general commander.

A military officer of the seventh rank.

Han joined the Jinyiwei at the age of 35 and worked diligently for ten years, but he was not as happy as he was when he joined the Zhang family.

After I understood this, today's banquet came about.

As the two of them toasted each other, Zhang Fu got a little tipsy and patted his chest, boasting, "I'm not bragging, but Yuan Fu and I are brothers from the same clan. According to seniority, I call him cousin, and those young masters have to call me uncle."

"Wow, I didn't know you have this status, sir." Han San pretended to be surprised and said, "The cousin of the Prime Minister, I am so lucky to meet such a great man as you?"

Zhang Fu smiled proudly, and continued, "I am now working with the Fifth Young Master. You know the Fifth Young Master, right? When he was ten years old, he was appointed as the Secretary of the Shangbao Department by the Emperor."

"Do you know what this official does?"

"I don't know." Han San was very cooperative.

"This is the official who helps the emperor manage the imperial seal."

"Ah?!" Han San screamed in shock, "My goodness, doesn't that mean I can see the emperor more often?"

"I have never seen the emperor in my life."

Zhang Fu wanted to continue talking to him, but when he remembered what Zhang Yunxiu had said, he had to interrupt and urged, "Brother Han, let's go and get Zheng Guotai. I'll feel at ease after seeing him."

"That's right." Han San smiled and was about to get up and walk out.

Suddenly, there was a thumping sound of footsteps downstairs, and a man stumbled in, saying in panic, "Boss, the person you asked the brothers to watch has been taken away by the East Factory."

"What?!" Zhang Fu stood up suddenly, pointed at the person with a trembling finger, and asked, "Did you say that the person was the one that our Master Zhang specifically asked to see?"

"I told him, but he didn't care. He even said he didn't know any Mr. Zhang or Mr. Li." The visitor was so anxious that he was sweating profusely.

"What happened?" Han San was quite calm and asked the reason. "How could you offend someone from the East Factory?"

The visitor swallowed his saliva and explained, "This guy must have gone crazy. He lost so much money that he was so angry that he pointed at the boss and accused him of cheating. There was someone behind the boss's chair who immediately called the people from the East Factory."

After hearing this, Han San and Zhang Fu secretly cursed it as bad luck.

I don't know why the young master likes this guy who doesn't know how to live or die.

Although he was indignant, Zhang Fu did not dare to be careless. He looked at Han San and said, "Brother Han, go to the Fourth Young Master's house now and tell him what happened. I will go back and tell the Fifth Young Master. Let's get the man out as soon as possible."

"Okay, without further ado, I'll go right away."

After being disturbed by this guy, the two lost all interest and left Minglan Tower in a hurry in the night.

(End of this chapter)