Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 153 The first rule of the rebellious son is "Never kneel!"

Anping Army Camp in the western suburbs.

This "mobilization meeting" was only halfway through.

The two officials who were presiding over the meeting, Zhang Tongzhi and the Duke, had both disappeared. Only the sound of arguing could be heard at the entrance of the camp.

The refugees didn't dare to go and watch the excitement. Following the adjutant's instructions, they returned to their camps to rest and prepare for the afternoon's drills.

Compared to their previous worried faces, the "village elders" and "corps leaders" among the refugees now all have smiles on their faces.

They didn't understand what "crosstalk" was; all they knew was that this "grand show" was much better than what they saw in the village.

Back in the old days in the countryside, you could only see a big opera once a year during festivals, and only wealthy families in the village could afford to hire an opera troupe.

The quality of these opera troupes varied greatly; most of them were just for entertainment, and they couldn't compare to this "crosstalk".
On the way back, many people were still discussing the content of the crosstalk performance.

"Hey~ I never imagined that the young noblemen in the capital would live such a good life. If I could live like that, I'd die happy~"

"To be honest, it's much better to be in the capital. Back in the countryside, how could we possibly see such a grand spectacle? Today has truly broadened our horizons!"

"Both the Duke and Magistrate Zhang are great men. No other officials in the capital would bother with us. Only these two gentlemen treat us common soldiers like human beings."

"If only I could listen to crosstalk every day..."

Similar remarks were heard repeatedly from the crowd.

Zhang Sishu walked alone, not speaking to these people, but a secret joy was on his face.

Unlike other refugees, after Zhang Lanying entered the capital, he was able to receive letters from her frequently.

Or perhaps it was some observations or anecdotes from the capital, or maybe it was a small snack sent to Zhang Sishu.

Through Zhang Lanying's words and insights, he learned about the changes in the capital.

From beginning to end, Zhang Sishu never doubted that Chairman Zhang of Renmin Medical Hall, the newly appointed Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, would abandon them.

In Zhang Sishu's eyes, this "notorious" young man was a truly good and virtuous person, and a true loyal minister in the court.

That's why he was so determined to prevent the men in the village from causing trouble from beginning to end.

In retrospect, his choice was the right one.

During the previous mutiny in Anping camp, Zhang Sishu led his men to capture several rebel soldiers. Afterwards, they were rewarded for their merits.

Zhang Sishu, this "village elder" and squad leader, was even given the title of squad leader.

Once you reach Xiaoqi, you'll be able to make a living in the capital.

Looking back now, that Mr. Zhang Siwei isn't that important anymore.

Back in the barracks, Zhang Sishu recounted the day's events with great emotion.

Immediately, the twenty or thirty men in the village all showed envious expressions on their faces.

The man called Little Hammer grinned, revealing a mouthful of blackened teeth.

"Hehe, this 'crosstalk' sounds much better than the big opera in the village. The village elders are really enviable. When will we be able to listen to it?"

"It's all there."

Zhang Sishu's smile also narrowed as he took out some pumpkin seeds and shared them with the men.

There was no such thing in the military camp; it was specially sent by Zhang Lanying.

Zhang Sishu had treated her sincerely in the past, and Zhang Lanying also remembered the kindness of the "village elder".

He smiled and said to the men, "Zhang Tongzhi said that everyone in the camp will be able to listen to crosstalk from now on. If we go to Xishan in the future, we will be able to listen to it at least once a month."

"West Mountain?" The men looked puzzled.

Zhang Sishu then explained, "It was the Assistant Magistrate who found us a way to make a living."

Then, he told the men about all the benefits and treatment they received at Xishan.

He smiled, eager to see the men's excited and expectant reactions.

But after saying these words, all the men fell silent.

Zhang Sishu frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"

At this moment, Zhang Hangzi spoke up, his brows furrowed.

"Elder, it's not that we don't want to go, but what is this Xishan Workshop? We've never heard of it before. How about we wait a bit longer?"

Once he started, the others also became bolder and began to chime in with their own opinions.

"I heard that Magistrate Zhang likes to dig out people's hearts and livers. I wonder if the village elders would like to dig out our hearts and livers and sell them for money?"

"I dare not go. Elder, you've become a junior officer. Even if we can't go to the Beijing garrison in the future, we can still find a military post. At least we'll have something to eat."

It's no wonder these people didn't believe it. Zhang Yunxiu's reputation wasn't good to begin with, and with the deliberate propaganda from the Qingliu and White Lotus sects, it was hard for unsuspecting refugees to believe it.

Xishan Workshop?

Can it also include meals and accommodation?
I've never even heard of it!
It all sounds like they're just trying to bluff.

Unlike later generations, many people in ancient times spent their entire lives hiding in the countryside, and some might even spend their entire lives within a radius of ten miles.

Under the influence of various environmental conditions, they inevitably become extremely conservative.

We instinctively reject new and unfamiliar things.

"Confused!"

Zhang Sishu stomped his feet in anger and said.

“You ignorant fools, Renmin Medical Clinic has already been established. With Zhang Tongzhi’s methods, how could Xishan possibly have any problems?”

You people are always making unfounded accusations, like digging out people's hearts and livers. Would a high-ranking official like him even want the hearts and livers of rough men like you?

Lan Ying told me everything in the capital. She said that the clinics there are all about treating illnesses and saving lives. How could there be any talk of digging out people's hearts and livers?

"

He looked at them with a disappointed expression and berated them mercilessly.

It was no use; the men would listen to him about anything, but on this matter, they were unusually stubborn.

Zhang Hanzi's words almost made Zhang Sishu faint with anger.

"Elder, take another look. I've heard that Zhang Shiyuan is a demon star descended to earth, a master of deception."

"nonsense!"

Zhang Sishu glared and smacked him on the head again.

Zhang Hangzi got annoyed and said with a red face.

"If you want to go, the village elders can go by themselves. We absolutely will not go. Even if you beat us to death, we will never go to Xishan."

Even if I starve to death in these western suburbs, at least I'll have a whole corpse. It's better than going to the Western Hills, having my heart and lungs ripped out, and then being unable to reincarnate in the underworld!

Zhang Sishu was so angry that his fingers were trembling and his hair was standing on end.

He was ultimately just a "village elder." Even though he was now a minor official, could he force the men from his village who were unwilling to serve him?
The reason why the elders' words are effective is because of the support of these people. If everyone does not agree with them from the bottom of their hearts, then nothing the elder says will matter.

Just then, a folded piece of yellow paper fluttered down from Zhang Sishu's clothes.

It turned out that he had hit the ram too hard and accidentally spilled the yellow paper from his arms.

The men's eyes were immediately drawn to the half-open yellow paper fluttering in the wind.

They all stared intently at the woman on the yellow paper, her clothes half-exposed, as if they had lost their souls.

Zhang Hangzi's eyes lit up with surprise. He quickly stepped forward, picked it up, and couldn't help but complain a little.

"The village elders have secretly hidden away some good stuff, but they won't share it with us."

Another man shouted excitedly.

"Erotic illustrations! Those are erotic illustrations! Oh dear! They look just like a woman!" "Let me see!"

"Let me see!"

In an instant, the barracks erupted in chaos, with the men eagerly clutching the erotic pictures to their hands.

When people are well-fed and clothed, they think of lustful desires. In the past, when they were fleeing all the way to the capital, they were only trying to get a bite to eat, so they naturally had no time to think about matters of men and women.

But after settling down in the military camp, these vigorous young men felt increasingly lonely.

However, Anping Battalion had strict military discipline, so even those with wives in the capital could not meet and reminisce.

Not to mention those who are not yet married, they simply don't have the money to frequent prostitutes or get married.

The appearance of this erotic picture is like a spring in the desert; how could it not excite people?

The old scholar blushed and quickly tried to explain.

"It's not that I'm hiding something; I'm not the kind of person who would keep erotic pictures. It would be an insult to literature!"

Zhang Sishu had no official rank, but he considered himself a scholar. Scholars valued self-discipline and would not openly discuss their needs, even if they had genuine desires.

Inside the barracks, dozens of men surrounded a small erotic picture, all craning their necks, afraid of missing a single detail. They stared intently at the woman and her various actions in the picture, their eyes glued to it.

"Cough cough cough-"

After a cough from Zhang Sishu, he couldn't help but remind him.

"You idiots, it's just a pornographic picture, what's the big deal?"

But the men were drooling, Zhang the rammed-horn said.

"Elder, you're old, so there's no rush. We haven't even met a wife yet!"

At this moment, someone remarked with emotion.

"This woman is much more desirable than Cuihua from our village."

Some people scoffed and defended their ideal woman.

"You ignorant fool, how can you compare to Cuihua? I think this woman must be a concubine from the palace, or a fairy from heaven!"

Upon hearing these people's increasingly absurd statements, Zhang Sishu immediately widened his eyes and rebuked them.

"Don't talk nonsense!"

At this moment, the men immediately lost their temper. Zhang Hangzi, with a fawning expression, stepped forward and said to Zhang Sishu with a smile.

"Old man, Fourth Uncle, I've never seen you have such a good thing before. Please, tell us where you got it from?"

Zhang Sishu, maintaining his airs, sat on the edge of the bed and said irritably.

"Just because it's an erotic picture, it's made you weak in the knees?"

Zhang Hangzi rubbed his hands together and said with a smile.

"We're just country folk, how could we have ever seen such exquisite erotic pictures?"

There wasn't even a decent schoolteacher in the village, let alone any pastimes like "erotic pictures."

If it were just an ordinary erotic picture, it would be fine, but this erotic picture is drawn so vividly and realistically that it is thousands or even tens of thousands of times more exquisite than the illustrations in some vernacular novels.

How can I avoid agitating these men?
Zhang Sishu snorted coldly and glanced at the other party before speaking.

"It's just a pornographic picture. If you work hard from now on, it's not impossible for you to find a wife."

Zhang Hangzi's eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly.

"Old folks! You have connections, don't you! Tell us quickly, and I'll do anything to help you find a wife!"

Zhang Sishu forced a smile and shook his head helplessly.

“I just advised you to go to the Western Hills, but you wouldn’t listen to me. Now you’re asking me where I’m going to find my wife?”

"What does the village elder mean?" Zhang Hangzi asked, his eyes wide. "Can I find a wife if I go to Xishan?"

Zhang Sishu looked at the other person as if he were an idiot and spat out two pieces of pumpkin seed shells.

"Just you wait and see. When Renmin Medical Hall was first established, how many doctors in the capital complained and cried out for help?"

But what happened next?

Nowadays, in both Beijing and Beizhili (present-day Hebei), any doctor who can be associated with Renmin Medical Clinic is making a fortune.

He earnestly and patiently offered his advice.

“You guys just listen to people making things up, but what’s the use of just talking? You need to see how they actually do it.”

People often say that clinics dig out people's hearts and lungs, which is a harmful practice.

But which of the nobles in the capital, or the common people, didn't flock to Renmin Medical Clinic?

Zhang Sishu watched as those men seemed to have lost their souls in front of an erotic picture.

He immediately stepped forward and snatched the erotic picture away.

With a "rip," the erotic picture was torn to shreds by Zhang Sishu.

Just moments ago, Zhang Gouzi was watching intently, but suddenly he became displeased. He glared at his wife as if she had been torn apart.

"Old man! Why are you kneading it like that!"

But Zhang Sishu kicked him, sending Zhang Gouzi sprawling face-first into the dirt.

Then he turned to look at the dozens of men and said.

"You guys can look at these erotic pictures and even recognize your wives?"

To tell you the truth, this erotic picture was obtained from Magistrate Zhang.

He then told us that after going to Xishan, not only would we have clothes to wear and food to eat, but we would also have 'crosstalk' to listen to, and we could have as many erotic pictures as we wanted. If we did well, it wouldn't be a problem for us to get married.

Was Zhang Tongzhi an ordinary person? He was like a god descended to earth; how could he not accomplish what he set his mind to?

He also said that if we didn't get these benefits, he would twist his father's head off and send it to us! That Magistrate Zhang's father is the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Court! Second only to the Emperor!

After these words, the expressions on the faces of the men in the barracks began to change, and many of them suddenly became eager.

The capital city, the British Duke's residence.

Back in the main hall of the mansion, Zhang Rong looked up at the three young men standing in front of him.

The tallest was Zhang Yunxiu, who had a carefree and nonchalant attitude.

Upon seeing him like this, Zhang Rong became extremely angry. This kid seemed to be certain that he wouldn't dare to discipline him!
But unfortunately, Zhang Rong really had no way to deal with the other party.

The Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was a military officer of the third rank, and Zhang Rong's rank naturally gave him an advantage.

The Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was different from other military officers. He was the emperor's personal guard. Although his rank was not reflected in his official title, he was three ranks higher than any other official.

Even Zhang Rong, as the Duke of Yingguo, dared not punish the other party at will, for that would be slapping the emperor in the face.
Not to mention, this kid has 50,000 taels of silver in his hand, and he threatens me with that all the time.

If you can't handle Zhang Yunxiu, can't you handle the other two brats?

He spoke to Zhu Yinghuai and Zhang Yuanhao.

"Your Majesty!"

Zhu Yinghuai and Zhang Yuanhao shivered. The latter looked at Zhang Yunxiu tremblingly, as if pleading for help.

Zhang Yunxiu frowned and reprimanded, "How did I teach you? What is the first rule for unfilial children?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yinghuai and Zhang Yuanhao immediately raised their heads, pressed their hands tightly against their thighs, and shouted in unison.

"Don't kneel!"

(End of this chapter)