The Great Seminary

Chapter 252 Rewarding Face
Time flies, and Zhang Gui took a trip to Zhihai Town, escaping his mother's nagging.

I spent two leisurely days in the taverns and brothels at the town's docks, where they remained open during festivals.

I returned home on the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month.

By this time, Tsuo Tei had calmed down and lost the excitement and surprise she had felt when she first saw a lady from a prestigious family from a legendary ancient family taking the initiative to visit her "unfilial son".

He even wisely gave Zhang Gui a secret warning.

He also secretly holds the identity of an overseas "rebel king," and recently he has been undermining many of the Ming and Song empires.

Those few 'fish-dragon giant ships' alone are enough to exterminate nine generations of a family more than a hundred times over.

If you really want to have a future with Miss Zhen from the Huayu family, you need to plan this out carefully.

That makes perfect sense.

This once again demonstrates the insight of the last woman of the Stone Corpse Kingdom, the 'Great Stone Crown Woman'.

But Zhang Gui was puzzled as to how Amu knew about his overt and covert theft of the Ming Dynasty's national treasure ship, the "Fish-Dragon Giant Ship," which he had never told her.

As she was cooking dumplings on the stove, Tsuo Yoshimi casually replied:
"Zhao Zhusha's momentum arose between rivers and lakes."

During the Ming and Song dynasties, the southern regions were crisscrossed by waterways, with several large rivers so deep that even large boats could navigate them.

When both the north and south banks are under the control of one power, the most distinctive feature of this terrain is its excellent water transport.

However, once the North and South each had their own masters, this terrain became a 'naval advantage'.

Since you already had the idea of ​​'hunting deer'.

At this moment, how could he not be thinking about those few large warships, those precious gems that the Ming and Song dynasties had secretly scattered across the provinces?

Zhang Gui couldn't help but applaud and praise:
"Mother, Mother, let's not talk about the scheming and wicked thoughts of bureaucrats and politicians."

"Your insight already surpasses that of all the civil and military officials in the Ming and Song dynasties combined."

Then he reached out and pinched the dumplings boiling in the large iron pot with his bare hands.

She was lightly slapped by Tsurugi.

"Dumplings need to be boiled three times before you can eat them, what's your hurry?"

There's some frozen braised pig's trotters in that bowl over there; I'll use that to tide me over if I'm hungry.

Some people's hearts are unpredictable.

Your establishment of a base overseas is no small matter; even though the Ming and Song dynasties are already in decline, it is not something to be taken lightly.

Never mention it to anyone until the very last step, not even your wife.

"Don't worry, Amu, I'll take care of it."

Zhang Gui nodded vigorously as he spoke.

Then they went to the base of the wall and found the braised pig's trotters that their mother had mentioned, and began to enjoy them to their heart's content.

Then, on New Year's Eve, he ate dumplings and drank wine, getting drunk and passing the time.

Early in the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year.

He was then invited to the ancestral hall to worship his ancestors by the steward sent by Zhang Liuduo, the patriarch of the Zhang family in Pingyang.

After a busy morning, it's finally over.

Zhang Guicai stepped out of the ancestral hall.

He was then blocked by Zhang Jiuqing, who was known as one of the "Two Heroes of the Zhang Family of Pingyang".

They dragged me to their hometown for a banquet.

Zhang Gui was originally unwilling to give him that face.

However, since Zhang Jiuqing was raised by Zhang Jiujiang's parents from a young age, his hometown is Zhang Jiujiang's father's hometown.

As expected, this grandson was extremely cunning, shaking his head and sighing:
“My dear cousin, to be honest, ever since Jiujiang went abroad to study, my uncle and aunt have been thinking of me every day.”

In addition, he did not return home to celebrate the Lunar New Year this year, leaving his parents looking worried throughout the holiday.

My uncle accidentally fell and was in so much pain that he couldn't even come to the ancestral worship ceremony.

You seem to be on very good terms with Jiujiang, why don't you go and pay your respects for the New Year and meet with your parents?

How about trying to ease their pain?

With just a few words, he had Zhang Gui under his control.

They had no choice but to follow Zhang Jiuqing to Zhang Bawang's mansion in Hehefang, Pingyang Town.

This is a bright and spacious courtyard house with three courtyards, planted with sycamore trees and flowerbeds of plum, orchid and chrysanthemum.

Stepping through the copper-studded gate, you are greeted by a screen wall inscribed with "A Hundred Blessings Welcoming Guests." Behind the screen wall are several deep and quiet main halls and side rooms.

Looking at the carved beams and painted rafters, it is quite dignified.

Zhang Gui and Zhang Jiuqing walked side by side into the main room of the courtyard.

The room was empty.

Zhang Jiuqing summoned his maid and asked her what was going on. It turned out that the elderly couple, Zhang Bawang and Sun Suzi, had gone to see a doctor.

In this situation, one can only hold a banquet and wait for the elders to return before offering New Year's greetings.

So Zhang Jiuqing instructed the cooks to get busy.

Before long, a simple, home-style feast was prepared.

They ate and drank together with Zhang Gui.

And so the two of them drank several rounds of wine and ate several dishes.

Fueled by alcohol and with his face flushed, Zhang Jiuqing suddenly mentioned the name of Chu Tuantuan, the chief eunuch of the Longmen Port Bureau and the head of the Eastern Depot in Siyang County.

They asked Zhang Gui if he had any connection with this young chief eunuch.

It would be one thing if others did this, but his question was very strange.

It should be noted that the censors held low positions but wielded great power.

In the outer court of the Ming and Song dynasties, it was always the most prestigious and elegant place besides the Hanlin Academy.

A scholar first passes the imperial examination and becomes a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). Then, he does no practical work in the Hanlin Academy, focusing solely on reading and cultivating his inner strength for two or three years.

Afterwards, he was transferred to the Censorate and worked for several more years as a censor, a position full of practical matters, until he gained the qualifications to become a minister in the Imperial Academy.

Zhang Jiuqing was not just an ordinary censor; he was the head of the local censors in the Dongyuehai Province, and a Grand Censor.

They were mortal enemies with the Eastern Depot of the Inner Court.

Therefore, Zhang Gui did not answer this simple question directly.

He only mentioned that when he donated money to become a martial arts scholar, he had a nodding acquaintance with Chu Tuantuan, who had not yet made his fortune.

We may have met a few more times by chance, but I didn't pay attention at the time and I can't remember now.

I need to think about it carefully before giving a reply.

Zhang Jiuqing was a shrewd man, and he didn't press the matter further.

He simply stated the reason why he asked Chu Tuantuan during the meal.

“Brother Gui, you also know that Prince Zhen on Fresh Velvet Island is now in imminent danger.”

And the current emperor is not a very benevolent person.

After Prince Zhen passed away.

It might just sweep away the followers who once served its "temporary rulers".

In that case, our Zhang family of Pingyang will inevitably be the first to suffer…

"No way, the Ming and Song dynasties have fallen to this state."

Emperor Hezheng had just finished saying in his "Edict of Self-Reproach" that, "My virtue is meager and my conduct contemptible, I have committed a thousand sins against Heaven, I have failed in my duties and have fallen into this predicament... all the blame lies with me."

So they just moved on after the New Year and started picking fights over past debts? Is that even human?

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gui curled his lips and said.

Zhang Jiuqing sighed lightly, picked up the wine cup in front of him, and drank it all in one gulp.

As the saying goes, "It is easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature."

If ordinary people are like this, how much more so a lonely ruler who "serves an entire nation for one person"?

This was the truth, and Zhang Gui had no reply; he could only offer a drink in return.
"Does Brother Qing mean that Emperor Hezheng wants to eliminate Prince Zhen's faction and will use the manpower of the Eastern Depot in the inner court?"
"Have someone arrange something to smooth things over."

"exactly.

Moreover, if Prince Zhen's affair were to come to light, the current emperor would not only use eunuchs from the Eastern Depot to carry out his duties, but would be obligated to do so.

Although Prince Zhen's actions were extremely disobedient, he was able to uphold the principles of right and wrong.

A major prison was established because of him.

Given the Emperor's current control over the court, I'm afraid the Three Judicial Offices will not obey the summons.

(End of this chapter)