Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 96 Xu Guangqi

Early the next morning, there was still a chill in the air, so Zhang Yunxiu got up early, dressed, and left Xu's house.

According to the arrangement of the Xu family, five days later the group went to Xu Jie's tomb to pay their respects.

Afterwards, the two families sat together to discuss the marriage.

Because it was still early, Zhang Yunxiu couldn't sit still, so he called Han San and went straight to Xu Guangqi's home.

Xu Guangqi, courtesy name Zixian, was from Shanghai County.

A scientist, agronomist, politician in the late Ming Dynasty, and one of the pioneers of cultural exchange between China and the West.

But now he seems to have not met Matteo Ricci yet, and is still a scholar reading the books of sages and seeking imperial examinations.

Shanghai County is not far from Huating County.

The two places are under the jurisdiction of the Magic City in later generations. Huating is located in the southwest of the Magic City, and Shanghai County is located in the east of the Magic City.

Sitting in the carriage, Zhang Yunxiu shook all the way and finally arrived at Xu Guangqi's house in the afternoon of that day.

It was a two-story house with a low wall and a canopy-like jujube tree extending out from inside.

Outside the red-painted door, there were already disguised Jinyiweis watching.

Seeing Han San and Zhang Yunxiu coming, a lieutenant in black boots came up to them and said, "Sir, Captain, the person you are looking for is inside."

"Is it not causing any trouble for them?" Zhang Yunxiu asked.

"No, we only dared to watch and not disturb." The lieutenant in black boots shook his head repeatedly.

"That's good."

Zhang Yunxiu smiled, beckoned Han San to go inside, and suddenly felt something was wrong, hesitantly asked, "If we just go in empty-handed, isn't that a bit presumptuous and disturbing?"

"Then wait, sir. I'll go get the person for you!"

"Forget it, I'll go by myself."

As Zhang Yunxiu said this, he ordered Han San to buy some gifts. Han San took a few people and left. After a while, they returned with bags full of things.

With the gift, Zhang Yunxiu felt much more confident. He lifted his robe and strode towards the closed door.

After knocking twice, there was a burst of hurried footsteps from inside. Following a cry of "Zhi Ya", a man dressed as a servant poked half of his head out from inside and asked nervously, "Who are you looking for?"

"We are looking for your master, Xu Guangqi." Zhang Yunxiu replied with a smile.

"What are you looking for him for?"

The servant turned his eyes and asked timidly. Before Zhang Yunxiu finished speaking, Han San on the side shouted angrily: "Is this what you should ask? Go and report it quickly. If you hesitate, be careful that I will open a soy sauce shop on your head!"

The servant knew that these people were not easy to deal with, so he did not dare to treat them lightly, so he asked them to wait while he went in to report.

Han San wanted to continue to attack, but when he saw Zhang Yunxiu's face, he knew that Xu Guangqi's identity was important, so he lowered his head and stood there patiently waiting.

As soon as the servant stepped into the backyard, he saw Xu Guangqi, dressed in a sky-blue Taoist robe, brewing tea and appreciating flowers with his wife in a small pavilion in the backyard of the Xu family.

He was about twenty-one or twenty-two years old, with a fair face, a slender figure, and distinct facial features.

"Husband, there are a lot of unfamiliar people around our house recently." Mrs. Xu took a sip of tea and couldn't help but speak.

"Who cares? Let them watch if they want. It's just a good chance for us to have some peace and quiet." Xu Guangqi smiled, raised the hot water and poured it into the teacup, then let the tea aroma penetrate his nostrils.

After taking two puffs of cool air, Xu Guangqi raised the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

"Hello, good tea."

Mrs. Xu couldn't help but smile when she saw her husband was so calm and composed. She said angrily, "I'm worried and nervous here all day long, but you are so relaxed."

"What can I do?" Xu Guangqi muttered with a bitter smile, "What can a scholar like me, who is as small as a mustard seed, do?"

Hearing the dejected tone in her husband's words, Mrs. Xu immediately became serious and advised, "My husband, you are only in your early twenties. You have a long way to go before you can take the imperial examinations. Don't rush into it."

"I know." Xu Guangqi gave his wife a grateful smile, "I have decided. If I fail the next imperial examination, it means that my knowledge is not good enough. I will give up the imperial examination for the time being."

"Then what are you going to do?" Mrs. Xu blinked her almond-shaped eyes and asked nervously.

“Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles. If you stay in one place for too long, you will be like a toad in a well, thinking that all you see is the sky.”

As Xu Guangqi was speaking, a hurried voice came from outside the pavilion.

The couple turned their heads together and saw that it was the only servant in his family.

"Master and Madam, there are two young men outside, saying they want to see you, Master." The servant took two deep breaths and advised, "I think they are not friendly, Master, you'd better stay away for a while."

"Look, the victim is here." Xu Guangqi smiled at his wife, stood up, waved his hand and said, "If you don't come with good intentions, then good intentions won't come. Since he has come to my door, I have to meet him anyway."

After saying this, he asked his servant to invite someone in.

He went to change into clothes suitable for meeting guests.

After a while, Zhang Yunxiu was led to a small hall, where Xu Guangqi was already waiting. The two looked at each other, and Xu Guangqi looked Zhang Yunxiu up and down, thinking to himself: What a young man!

And the skinny guy next to him, full of blood and energy, was obviously not a good guy.

How did the two get together?

While Xu Guangqi was thinking, Zhang Yunxiu clasped his fists and smiled apologetically: "Brother Xu, I am really sorry for disturbing you. This small gift is just my apology to you."

"Oh, it doesn't matter if I bother you or not. I am just an idler." Xu Guangqi waved his hand, staring at Zhang Yunxiu and said, "You, sir, look so noble, but the brother following you is not a good guy either. I don't think he is an ordinary person like me."

But he was not afraid, because he really had nothing worth others' attention.

Zhang Yunxiu knew that this was a bit presumptuous, but he still said with a thick face: "I just passed by here occasionally, and heard that there was a child prodigy here, so I came in to pay a visit."

Passing by?

Aren't all the people outside our house arranged by you?

You call this passing by?

Xu Guangqi curled his lips. Although he was dissatisfied in his heart, he smiled modestly and said, "No, no, I am not a child prodigy. I am just a poor scholar who can barely make a living by relying on my family's inheritance."

Zhang Yunxiu looked around after hearing the sound and saw that the decoration inside the house was indeed shabby.

"He talks and laughs with great scholars, and he associates with all kinds of people. Brother Xu is well-read, and his knowledge is full of practical knowledge. If he can pass the imperial examination one day, he will surely be a pillar of the country."

"It is not easy to get a place on the imperial examination. Some people pass the exam and become a scholar at the age of 20, and remain a scholar until they die." Xu Guangqi shook his head with a wry smile.

When Zhang Yunxiu heard this, he remembered that Xu Guangqi was a scientist who combined the strengths of everyone.

But his journey on the imperial examination was not smooth. He passed the examination at the age of 36 and became a Jinshi at the age of 44.

It took more than twenty years to pass the imperial examination.

Of course, during this period he read a lot of "miscellaneous books". In today's mainstream consciousness, there is only one evaluation of such books: "It is useless for advancing one's career in the imperial examination."

The original content of the imperial examination was mainly Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism.

Later, in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, Lu-Wang School of Mind developed greatly, and a large number of students and officials became supporters of Lu-Wang School of Mind.

Therefore, Lu and Wang's philosophy also became a part of the imperial examination.

Xu Guangqi was not interested in Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism because it was too rigid and he was not suitable to be a bookworm. Lu and Wang's Neo-Confucianism advocated sudden enlightenment, but it was too abstract and not practical enough.

"Brother Xu, don't be discouraged. Reading thousands of books and traveling thousands of miles, people who are useful to the world will naturally have many hardships." After a moment of silence, Zhang Yunxiu comforted him, "If Brother Xu doesn't mind, would you be willing to put aside the imperial examination for the time being and travel thousands of miles with us?"

Xu Guangqi's eyes flashed with brilliance, and he asked directly, "Who is this young master?"

"Hey, you ask who our young master is?" Han San smiled, pointed at Zhang Yunxiu and introduced him proudly, "Let me tell you, our young master is the son of the current Prime Minister, the emperor's companion! Shangbaosi Sicheng, the newly-appointed Jinshi Zhang Yunxiu"

This gave Xu Guangqi a big shock.

He didn't expect that Zhang Yunxiu had such a background.

"Brother Xu, you don't have to listen to his nonsense. You and I can just call each other brothers." Zhang Yunxiu comforted with a smile.

Xu Guangqi's attitude became respectful, and he clearly called him "Master Zhang". Zhang Yunxiu knew that a deep gap had unknowingly appeared between the two of them.

Without further ado, Zhang Yunxiu got straight to the point and said, "I will leave Songjiang Prefecture in half a month at the latest. When the time comes, Brother Xu, are you willing to go to the capital with me?"

"This"

Xu Guangqi hesitated slightly, and Zhang Yunxiu tempted him, "After Brother Xu arrives in the capital, I will be responsible for the support of the family."

"That's even worse." Xu Guangqi waved his hands repeatedly.

"Why?"

"Although I am not a wealthy family, I have hands and feet. How can I rely on others to support me?"

Zhang Yunxiu secretly laughed at this stubborn man, so he suggested: "Well, my fourth brother's son Zhang Chongrun happens to be in the process of enlightenment, and Brother Xu is well-educated. I will shamelessly ask you to be his teacher."

"The young master has a profound family background, and Xu is just a scholar, I am afraid that I will mislead the young people."

"You sour scholar, what are you doing all the time? Our master has lowered himself to such a low level, you should be so shameless!" Han San gritted his teeth, pointed at Xu Guangqi's nose and cursed, "If you don't go, we will tie you up and take you there!"

"Shut up!" Zhang Yunxiu glared at Han San, who stepped back with his head down. Zhang Yunxiu then turned to look at Xu Guangqi and apologized with a smile, "I'm sorry, I didn't discipline him well, but I sincerely want to ask you to teach my nephew."

"Xu has limited talent and knowledge, and I am afraid that I cannot handle such a big responsibility." Xu Guangqi still refused to give in.

"Brother Xu, tell me, do you have any concerns?" Zhang Yunxiu said anxiously, "Don't worry, as long as you are willing to teach, the brat will definitely learn well."

Xu Guangqi did not answer, but just sat there with his eyes closed.

Han San stepped forward with a face full of indignation and clenched his fists. Zhang Yunxiu glared at him fiercely, then bowed to Xu Guangqi and said, "In ancient times, Liu Xuande visited Zhuge Liang three times. You should rest first, and I will come again tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)