The Great Seminary

Chapter 175 Three Traitors

There is an old saying in the Ming and Song dynasties:
For every dog-slaughtering person who is righteous, there are many scholars who are unfaithful.

But in reality, although scholars are more hypocritical than ordinary people, most of them still have their own bottom line.

They usually flatter the powerful and belittle the weak, seek good fortune and avoid misfortune, and are adept at dealing with all sorts of people. It's one thing if they believe in "it's good to be confused."

But when faced with a bottom line, some people can no longer pretend to be confused.

Lü Zhenduan appears to be one of them.

Zhang Gui realized that he might have misunderstood. The disappearance of the 'Nine Islands of Heavenly Craft' was a dirty trick used by the island's manager to save food and shirk responsibility.

King Zhen acquiesced to this behavior out of consideration for his own benefit and avoidance of harm.

Even more conspiratorially, this behavior was secretly instigated by King Zhen.

I felt that my moral bottom line had been crossed, which is why I just said the phrase "the beginning of the tyranny of Jie and Zhou".

It's all a misunderstanding.

Zhang Gui had no way to explain the misunderstanding, and could only force a smile as Lü Zhenduan fell silent.

After a while.

Zhang Hao brought over a hot pot with several young servants.

The charcoal glowed red-hot under the copper pot.

The soup in the pot gradually came to a boil.

Zhang Gui served Han Li's subordinates small pieces of pork ribs, wild vegetables, wild onions, and other offerings.

After a while, a rich aroma wafted out of the pot along with the steam.

He picked up a piece of meat and placed it on Lü Zhenduan's plate.

"Eat quickly, eat quickly, eating is the most important thing, don't worry about anything else."

"Longhu, do you think someone like me shouldn't have left the Imperial Academy and entered this corrupt officialdom?"

“That’s not the case.

You are actually quite 'dirty' in real life, not at all noble, and very suitable for being an official.

It's just that we've encountered this bizarre and chaotic 'world of great strife'.

Take my advice: things aren't always as you think. Don't get stuck on one thing.

Zhang Gui pondered for a moment, then answered very sincerely.

Lu Zhenduan was speechless, gave a bitter laugh, and then silently began to eat and drink.

The two were enjoying their meal immensely and were about to finish when suddenly the door was pushed open.

Zhang Rui walked in despite the wind and snow.

"Commander Zhang has arrived. Please have a seat."

"Is it snowing outside? This year's winds are unusually cold," Zhang Gui greeted.

Zhang Rui laughed loudly and walked to the wooden chair to the lower right of Zhang Guizuo and sat down.

"Longhu is finally back! Did your trip home go smoothly?"

"It's not a matter of whether things went smoothly or not. Without the trouble caused by the Yuanshan people on Xianrong Island, the coastal provinces of the Ming and Song dynasties would have been just like that."

Zhang Gui answered casually:

"Old Zhang, how have you been these days?"

"It can be described in four words: 'terrified'."

Zhang Rui seemed to have anticipated Zhang Gui's question, his face showing a worried yet sincere expression.
“Longhu, I, Zhang Rui, am not boasting, but I am also a direct descendant of the ‘Yellow Register of the Capital Soldiers,’ a member of the Imperial Guard for generations.”

He began training at the Imperial City's Grand Training Ground at the age of seven, preparing to die for his country.

But it can't be this kind of death, so light and silent!
The friendly forces around them were not considered particularly strong or fit among the ragtag troops, and some had not even trained for a month.

They had never practiced changing formations in the rain.

Going out in this weather is simply child's play.

It would be better if the bandits, along with the ignorant and thoughtless civilians, blindly fought to the death; that way, there would be no chaos…”

“Old Zhang, Captain Zhang, I understand your frustration, but the problem is you’ve known me and Lü Zaicheng for several dozen days now.”

You should know that I am just a hollow big shot with the title of Fourth-Rank Dragon Tiger General, who is only good at 'obeying orders but not proclamations' and having a good reputation for conquering the Nine Islands.

It was a shield that Prince Zhen used to use as a cover.

In reality, the only place that has real power is this unranked and uncertified 'coroner's office' right here in front of us.

As for Old Lü, although he is an elder of Prince Zhen's 'temporary residence,' I'm afraid he's not quite there yet…” “Longhu, there's no need to trouble Lord Lü with matters that put my mind at ease; I only need your help.”

"What do you mean?"

"I want to be transferred to your 'Coroner's Office' to help you with some miscellaneous tasks."

Zhang Gui was taken aback, then picked at his ear.

"Did I hear that right? You, a dignified sixth-rank military officer, are to be demoted? Bah! This can't even be called a demotion, it's a complete banishment..."

At this point, his eyes widened slightly.
"Old Zhang, you want to retreat and ensure your safety."

But if I do that, I might be doomed for the rest of my life.

“But if I continue to serve Prince Zhen, I may be disgraced and my entire family will be implicated and sent to prison.”

"Why do you say that, Captain?"

"What chance does Longhu have of Prince Zhen becoming the wise and sagacious emperor who can turn the tide in the future of the Song and Ming dynasties?"
Is it 10%, 20%, or none at all?

Zhang Rui retorted with a do-or-die attitude.

It seems that during Zhang Gui's return to Dongzhou, he, like Lü Zhenduan, had accumulated enough disappointment with Prince Zhen.

And the two must have communicated privately.

So, together with Zhang Gui, who had always been at odds with Zhen Wang, they formed a trio of 'traitors'.

Having said all that, further delay would be excessive.

Zhang Gui pondered for a moment.

“Old Zhang, if you can find a reason to retreat into my ‘coroner’s office,’ then come.”

Zhang Rui was waiting for Zhang Gui's words.

Although he hadn't spent much time with Zhang Gui, he saw through his tendency to be overprotective of his own, similar to that of some high-ranking military generals.

If he were to voluntarily retreat into Zhang Gui's "office," he might not be considered "one of his own."

They will not receive his protection in times of crisis.

But if Zhang Guixian agrees to let me retreat into the 'Coroner's Office', I will inevitably become one of his 'one of his'.

This would increase the likelihood of people being forced to leave Fresh Velvet Island several times over in the future.

Therefore, upon hearing this, Zhang Rui immediately stood up, cupped his hands in a deep bow to Zhang Gui, and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your kindness, sir."

I'll get to it right away.

He got up and strode away.

On the third day at noon, someone from Prince Zhen's temporary residence suddenly came and issued a transfer order.

It is said that Zhang, a sixth-rank military officer, was drunk one day and talked nonsense about the chaotic soldiers of the "Nine Islands of Heavenly Craft" who were swept away by the waves and drowned.

He disrupted the morale of the army before battle and should have been beheaded.

However, because he came from a family of veterans and had made many military achievements, he was granted leniency and spared his life but was relieved of his post.

He was demoted to the 'Coroner's Office' and relegated to a lowly position as a warning to others.

Then Zhang Rui appeared before Zhang Gui, disheveled and dirty, having removed the armor he always wore when they met and replaced it with the white clothes symbolizing ordinary people.

As was customary, Zhang Gui slipped two small silver coins to the clerk who came to deliver the order, and sent him on his way.

He clapped his hands and said to Zhang Rui:

"Old Zhang, you really know how to take advantage of the situation. What a clever trick of substituting one thing for another."

"You must have spent a lot of money on these trips."

“Longhu Rongbing, I am just a poor soldier’s son, where would I get so much money to make connections?”

However, most of us Imperial Guards listed in the "Yellow Register of the Capital's Soldiers" are related by blood or marriage.

As you know, many of the new recruits and generals in Prince Zhen's 'temporary residence' were originally from the 300 Tiger Warriors of the Imperial Guard.

Although many died, some people did stand up.

One of them was my maternal uncle, who was within five degrees of kinship with me.

Although we don't usually get along well.

But his family happens to owe my family a favor.

So I made him return it.

(End of this chapter)