Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 722: Men are easy to talk to

The night before the military parade.

Zhang Yanling went to refill Zhang Luan's medicine.

Zhang Luan seemed very depressed at this time. Since he was transferred to this fully enclosed convalescent facility and isolated from the outside world, he felt that his life was bleak.

"My son, I have to tell you that I always feel that what happened before was just a dream. If I hadn't seen you at night, I would have felt that I was having a big dream. I was afraid that I would wake up and return to our hometown in Xingji and sleep on that hard bed."

Zhang Luan's sickly face looked even more sallow under the dim candlelight.

Zhang Yanling said, "Dad, weren't you also a noble and idle person at that time? When was it your turn to care about the family affairs? It was all taken care of by mother, auntie, and sister."

Zhang Luan shook his head and said, "No, no, if I go back to those hard days, I would rather die. After enjoying the glory and wealth, I can never go back."

"Dad, you should take good care of yourself."

Zhang Yanling almost had the nerve to say, if you continue to complain about yourself, your depression will make it difficult for your illness to heal, and you will really have to go to see the King of Hell.

Afterwards, Zhang Yanling told Zhang Luan about his meeting with Pang Qing and the whole analysis he had made with Pang Qing.

Zhang Luan didn't seem to be in the mood to listen. Compared to the trivial struggles in the court, he was more concerned about his own illness.

In other words, he thought it would be a good idea to leave the court.

Anyway, he is a relative by marriage, and perhaps he will be able to obtain a title in the near future, and can hold a sinecure in the Five Military Commandery, and still be able to live a life of idleness and wait for death. Everything he has gained now will not be lost, and at worst he will lose some benefits in the future... But this does not affect his carefree life.

"Son, how are you preparing for tomorrow's military parade? There are quite a few officials in the court who oppose this matter, so you have to take it seriously. Don't always worry about your father being targeted. Let them target you, I'm fine. This military parade was organized by you and your brother-in-law. For your future, don't embarrass yourself."

Zhang Luan said with concern.

Zhang Yanling said, "Dad, just relax. I've already prepared for the military parade."

"Eh? How do you prepare? Tell me about it..."

Zhang Luan said in a negotiating tone.

"I prepared two cannons this time. One has a long range and can fire three or four miles. The other has a short range, a shotgun. It can cover a large area with one shot. No one can survive within a few feet. It can be called a powerful weapon to kill the enemy."

Zhang Yanling said, "These two types of cannons have their own strengths. Once they are mass-produced, they can provide great help to the Ming Dynasty's border defense and offensive operations. By the way, they can also restrain the Tatar cavalry and disrupt their rhythm of archery and charge."

Zhang Luan sneered, "You are just bragging. For thousands of years, no one has been able to completely restrain the Tatar cavalry. Do you think you can achieve complete success with just a few cannons? Why do I, your father, so unconvinced?"

"Firearms are meant to restrain cavalry. Otherwise, how could Taizu expel the Tartars and restore China?"

Zhang Yanling explained casually, and suddenly remembered that his father might not be interested in this, so it would be useless to say more, so he asked: "Dad, why don't you go and see it yourself?"

"Forget it, I'll listen to you and rest well first."

As expected, Zhang Luan refused to discuss this issue without hesitation and asked, "How many cannons have been cast so far?"

Zhang Yanling replied, "About six or seven. To mass-cast cannons, a large amount of steel is needed, and coal is needed to melt molten iron and steel. It has been discovered that there are rich coal deposits in Xishan, the suburbs of Beijing, and Yongping Prefecture, the east of Beijing. Once mined, it can be used for large-scale smelting..."

Zhang Luan frowned and asked, "Do you still want to open a mine? That's something we'll have to wait for a while. It might take at least ten or eight years, right?"

"It won't take that long. If everything goes well, it will be effective in a few months." Zhang Yanling said, "The pig iron and other materials stored in the Ming Dynasty's warehouse are just enough, but it is not within the scope of your majesty's allocation. This time, the military parade in front of the foreigners is to show the ministers in the court, so that your majesty has a reason to use the iron materials to cast artillery."

Zhang Luan asked curiously, "Is it just for this? Isn't it to show the strength of the imperial court in front of the foreigners?"

Zhang Yanling said: "No matter how big the fist is, it needs a strong arm to swing it, right? My brother-in-law wants to forge a new type of cannon to suppress the foreign barbarians, but the ministers in the court do not allow it. They think it is a waste of money and labor, and do not think the new type of cannon is very powerful.

"So this time we are taking the opportunity to let the foreigners and the civil and military ministers of the court experience the power of the new artillery, and let them understand that developing firearms is the real way to strengthen the army. With the guarantee of military force, the economy can also develop and the wealth can be shared by the people."

"My dear son, you are capable. As a father, I feel ashamed of myself when I know you are capable... Oh, I really don't want to hear this anymore. Just thinking about it gives me a headache..."

Zhang Luan lost interest when he heard this, because these were not things he was good at and he didn't want to pay any attention to them.

Then he pleaded, "It's so boring here... My son, let me discuss this with you. How about you call Qi Niang over here... You know, she's always very sensible. Come over to take care of me. I promise I won't do anything rash... Do you think it's feasible?"

Zhang Yanling decisively refused: "No."

Zhang Luan said with a sad face: "Do you have so little confidence in your father? You won't even grant such a small request? My father needs someone to take care of him, but the people you found are all big and strong rough guys. How can they take care of people?"

Zhang Yanling looked calm and said, "How about this? I send you back home and let your mother and aunt take good care of you? Or call them over, how about that?"

"No, no, no!"

Zhang Luan quickly rejected it, "You look so terrible, you might as well stay here than go home. Humph, do you want to torture me to death or suffocate me to death?"

Zhang Yanling said, "Dad, the truth is, your disease is contagious, especially to those who are in poor health. It is easy for you to infect them. When you recover, the people who have come into contact with you will pass the disease back to you, and you will have recurrent attacks and will never get better."

"What? What about you?"

Zhang Luan asked in disbelief.

"I am responsible for treating you, and there is nothing I can do. Otherwise...should I go find someone else to treat you?"

Zhang Yanling looked embarrassed.

Zhang Luan actually smiled: "I agree with what you said and I am mentally prepared. How about this, you ask Qi Niang to come over. If she gets sick later, I will definitely be able to see the clues and I will not have any contact with her anymore."

Zhang Yanling was speechless after hearing this.

I thought to myself that my old father was indeed a person who could not sit still. He loved socializing with people and was extremely envious of the lifestyle of social animals.

People are different.

Some people just want to be quiet and like to be alone, while some people just want to be in a crowd, especially a crowd where they are supposed to maintain a certain social distance. Once they enter the crowd, they feel like fish in water and feel at ease.

On the contrary, one's own wife is often boring because she is too familiar to others.

Zhang Yanling continued to threaten, "If she really gets sick, we may not be able to see the signs right away. Once infected, she may not have any symptoms at all, but she will be highly contagious for a long time. Are you sure she can get rid of the disease? Who do you know who is sick?"

"What? Is it that weird?"

Zhang Luan's eyes widened when he heard this, "Are you trying to scare me? I don't believe that..."

Zhang Yanling said calmly, "Think about the smallpox, think about the liver disease of the previous emperor, and then think about the recurrence of your illness this time. Don't you realize that you have come into contact with too many and too diverse infectious disease patients in the past two years. In fact, many pathogens have already taken root in your body and will be triggered as long as there is an opportunity?"

Zhang Luan immediately wilted upon hearing this, with a look of fear on his face: "That's right, the late emperor was so careful, but he still contracted Concubine Wan's liver disease, almost at the same time. And those patients with smallpox, the way they died...tsk tsk."

Zhang Yanling said, "Dad, you yourself have treated infectious diseases for others, and for this you were appreciated by the late emperor and praised by the people of the world. Now it's your turn to get sick, but you have no fear at all. Am I harming you by asking you to rest? It is indeed too dangerous. Otherwise, it will be difficult to recover!"

"Yes, yes, yes, my son, this is all for your own good."

Zhang Luan suddenly became enlightened.

It turned out that his son was not using him as a test subject, nor was he deliberately trying to trick him, but he really wanted him to recover from his illness as soon as possible, so he let him come to "go to jail."

Zhang Luan sighed: "Then... when will this disease be cured?"

Zhang Yanling said: "Everyone in the court is keeping a close eye on you now. You will have to worry about it when you get out. If your illness relapses, I may not be able to save you.

"Don't you think that the medicine in the vial that's now being injected into your body is much less effective than when you first used it a few days ago?"

"Ugh!"

Zhang Luan sighed deeply and was actually convinced by his son for a moment.

Zhang Yanling said, "I have already issued a strict order to Chang Shun, not allowing you to contact outsiders. If there is something that needs your attention, I will ask him to bring the news in, and you can just pass it on. You are recovering from illness now, even your brother-in-law and sister can understand. Who would be so blind as to bother you?"

Zhang Luan said helplessly: "Who else? Your second uncle... He came to the capital again a few days ago and wanted to see me. I have seen that people are afraid of fame just like pigs are afraid of being fat. I don't care about the little power in my hands, but others are all watching me. If I really step down, I will be able to get over this hurdle in my heart, but others may not be able to get over it." Zhang Yanling said: "No matter which dynasty, no matter when, who doesn't want power? Dad, the glory you enjoy now and the influence in the court are not obtained just by relying on your status as a relative... You have to hold on!"

Zhang Luan nodded hurriedly: "Okay, I will hold on. No matter what, I will persist until you are an adult and can take charge of your own affairs. Then I will die...ah, bah, bah, bah, I will step down and live a quiet life for a few days. By then, I will have children and grandchildren around me, and I will be very happy."

Zhang Yanling said unhappily, "It's true that you pursue happiness, but having children and grandchildren around you... humph, who are you trying to fool?"

"Where can I find a son like you? You always expose other people's shortcomings. Keep an eye on him. The medicine is almost gone. How about adding another bottle? Let your father get better soon..."

……

……

The next day.

Before dawn.

Kunning Palace.

Zhu Youtang got up very early.

Zhang Yu helped him tidy up his clothes by candlelight, while Zhu Youtang opened his arms with a smug smile on his face.

"What are you laughing at? Aren't we going to have breakfast together later? Then I'll eat by myself... I don't know why, but my appetite has not been very good these past two days."

Zhang Yu shook his head.

Zhu Youtang asked in surprise: "Are you pregnant?"

Zhang Yu scolded: "You are so beautiful... You are so young, why do you think so much? Didn't it take many years for our father to have an heir?"

"Ah, yes, yes."

Zhu Youtang said, "I'm not in a hurry. This is actually quite good. Yu'er, I'm going out of the city to participate in the military exercise today. Thinking of the cannon that Yanling told me about before, it's really amazing. I heard that there is a new cannon today, which is said to be able to shoot farther and has greater power."

Zhang Yu looked indifferent: "Why are you telling me this? I don't like fighting and killing."

Zhu Youtang said: "But I see you are also fascinated by reading those martial arts novels!"

"I was bored and just looking for something to do. Everything is going well at the textile factory recently, so I don't need to keep an eye on it all the time. I haven't decided what to do in the future yet... Be serious and pack up quickly to go to court."

Zhang Yu suddenly pouted.

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "Okay, I'll go right away. I'll try to come back early and tell you about what I saw and heard outside."

Zhang Yu said, "If you have time, go see Yanling and ask him about my father's illness. There has been no news recently, and that guy is always mysterious."

"It's okay. I asked, and your father is in good health. Yanling was just afraid that your father would be busy again, which would make his illness worse, so he announced to the public that he was seriously ill. It was also to allow him to cultivate his mind and rest well." Zhu Youtang said.

Zhang Yu asked in surprise: "This... Yanling told you everything?"

"What? What's the problem?"

Zhu Youtang asked curiously.

Zhang Yu said angrily, "I'm his sister, and he didn't tell me but told you?"

Zhu Youtang was somewhat speechless and said, "We are all family, why should we be so formal? Yanling is a smart kid. He also said that your father usually likes to go out and have fun, which made him very weak. This illness has finally cured him a lot, and he may live longer..."

Zhang Yu snorted: "He doesn't hide anything. Is that something you can say?"

Zhu Youtang said, "Yu'er, this is probably how easy it is for men to talk to each other... Think about it, how embarrassing it would be if I told you directly about your father's indulgence in the land of pleasure? It's more appropriate for me to tell you... Actually, I also want to know when your father can return to the court. But now it seems that it's not a big deal. Your father has done what he should do, and now it depends on how Yanling and I perform."

"I think you'd better grant the title to my father as soon as possible, just like other fathers-in-law, and let him go home to retire. I think this will be best for him." Zhang Yu said.

Zhu Youtang smiled and asked, "Other people hope that their family members can make further progress, why do you still hope that your father will retreat?"

Zhang Yu said: "As for my father, I've noticed since I was a kid that he's never been serious. I don't even know when he learned his skills. I don't even know if he has them!"

Zhu Youtang said: "You can't say that. Isn't he very capable? Even when my father was alive, he believed in him very much."

"Do you believe him?"

Zhang Yu was a little displeased.

"Of course I believe you... I've never seen anyone like you. How can a daughter only care about undermining her father? But I think your family has one thing in common, which is that you speak very directly and don't like to beat around the bush." ​​Zhu Youtang looked happy, "This is probably what family members are like. There are no secrets between each other."

Zhang Yu couldn't help but roll her eyes at her husband.

It seems to be saying, you are quite optimistic?

Just at this moment, Huai En's urging voice came from outside: "Your Majesty, the time is almost up."

"Come here."

Zhu Youtang said this, and then said to Zhang Yu, "Save some food for me at noon. I'll try to come back as soon as possible. After eating, take a good nap to replenish your energy... I don't know why, but I can't sleep well at night recently."

Zhang Yu said, "It's not cold, how can you not sleep well?"

Zhu Youtang shook his head: "Maybe my illness hasn't healed yet, that's why I'm wrapped up in three layers of clothes today. I'm not in good health... I'm really sorry for you."

Zhang Yu frowned and said, "You are talking nonsense. Why do you want to make me suffer? Go quickly. The sooner you go, the sooner you will be back!"

"well."

Zhu Youtang walked out of the Kunning Palace happily. When he reached the door, he had already restrained his arrogance and showed the style of an emperor.

……

……

"Hasn't my spouse entered the palace yet?"

After Zhu Youtang came out, he didn't see Tan Ji, so he couldn't help but ask a question.

Huai En replied cautiously: "Qin Ji is sick and has asked for leave. He said he can't come in the next two days... Maybe it's an old man's disease."

Zhu Youtang looked concerned: "Why are you sick at this time? Is it serious? Has the imperial physician visited you?"

"We asked the imperial physician to come and see him yesterday. The people at the Imperial Hospital said that Qin Ji has been too busy recently and is exhausted... His illness is not very serious and he will be fine after a few days of rest." Huai En said.

"Oh."

Zhu Youtang looked at the people who accompanied him to the court meeting.

Suddenly I thought of something, and I had a general idea in my mind, but it was still a little vague.

Zhu Youtang said, "I'm going to go to the bathroom first. I'll be leaving the city after attending the court meeting, so I need to clear out the waste in my body."

I even have to explain to Huai En before going to the toilet.

Huai'en remained calm and continued to stand there, watching Zhu Youtang leave with the palace maids waiting at his side.

Li Rong walked over and asked in a low voice: "Why would Your Majesty ask Eunuch Tan?"

"Isn't it good that Your Majesty cares about us, your servants?"

Huai En said, "Besides, Hou Fang's illness is a fact, not something he deliberately concealed. Why did you come to ask me just for a word from His Majesty? Mao Chun, you still can't let go of your peace of mind after all."

(End of this chapter)