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

Chapter 236 The father is the one with virtue!
"You unfilial son, you've managed to swindle money again?"

Upon entering the guardhouse, Zhang Yunxiu was immediately met with this sarcastic remark, which greatly displeased him.

My dad is getting more and more rebellious.

But this is, after all, the Wenyuan Pavilion, so we still have to give Zhang Juzheng some face.

So Zhang Yunxiu walked up to him with a smile, cupped his hands in greeting, and looked very serious.

"Father, you are mistaken. How can the affairs of scholars be called deception?"
"I am merely collecting all the silver that did not belong to them in the first place, and then giving it back to those in need, thus redistributing resources."

Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but chuckle. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he really didn't know where to begin his rebuttal.

You say Zhang Yunxiu amassed wealth on a grand scale? But this kid certainly wasn't extravagant.

He doesn't indulge in debauchery, nor does he build extravagant mansions or eat delicacies.

This kid is just pure and simple; he wants to cause some trouble, mess with the Ming Dynasty, and mess with his old man.

But every time, he manages to pull off something remarkable.

"Ahem~ Never mind~" Zhang Juzheng coughed twice, then beckoned and said, "Come over here and let's talk."

Thinking about Zhang Yunxiu's efforts over the past few months, although they seemed unconventional, they ultimately brought a new atmosphere to the Ming Dynasty.

Zhang Juzheng's heart softened considerably.

He's just a child after all.

Zhang Yunxiu didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly next to his father. He immediately felt that the chair was still warm, which meant that it was usually Shen Shixing's seat.

He shifted his position slightly forward, avoiding the remains of Grand Secretary Shen.

Zhang Juzheng didn't put on airs. He got up and brewed a pot of tea for his youngest son, placing it steaming hot in front of him.

Since his hemorrhoids improved somewhat, he has become less inclined to sit.

So he paced back and forth in front of Zhang Yunxiu, asking slowly and deliberately.

"Do you know why your father has summoned you here today?"

"This is Huizhou Songluo tea."

Zhang Yunxiu blew on the hot tea, took a small sip of the tea in the white porcelain bowl, and gave an irrelevant answer.

"It comes from Songluo Mountain in Huizhou. It is green in color, fragrant and flavorful, and requires a process of 'three stir-fryings and three kneadings'."

This famous Songluo tea can be used for both tea drinking and digestion aid, emphasizing its dual nature as both food and medicine.

Most importantly, Songluo tea is meticulously crafted with rigorous processes, embodying the principle of 'seeking truth and being pragmatic'.

He raised an eyebrow and looked at his father, asking in return.

"Father summoned me here today to explain this principle. Have I been right?"

Zhang Juzheng was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head helplessly and said, "If Siwen had half of your talent, I wouldn't have to worry anymore."

He was a child prodigy from a young age, but of his sons, only the third son was proficient in literature and science, while the others were all quite ordinary.

However, the Zhang family is not without its "child prodigies," such as Zhang Yunxiu.
But Zhang Yunxiu's brilliance was too overwhelming, seemingly absorbing all the knowledge and ambitions of his brothers.

When genius goes too far, it becomes a monster.

In particular, the eldest son, Zhang Jingxiu, served as a principal officer in the Ministry of Rites, but compared to his younger brothers, he was far more mediocre.

What displeased Zhang Juzheng the most was that his eldest son was too mild-mannered and not good at social maneuvering, making it difficult for him to succeed in officialdom.

Yesterday, a vice minister from the Ministry of Rites came to complain, saying that Zhang Jingxiu had been absent-minded lately and was probably influenced by something bad.

In comparison, this well-behaved eldest son seemed to cause Zhang Juzheng even more worry.

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and shook his head, saying, "Father's words are too biased. Although my elder brother is not very good at the Four Books and Five Classics, he is very talented in mathematics."

With just a little guidance from me, you immediately grasped the concept, truly a mathematical genius unparalleled in a century!

In my opinion, if my elder brother dedicates himself to his studies, he will surely achieve the same brilliance in mathematics as Liu Hui of the Wei and Jin Dynasties and Zu Wenyuan of the Northern and Southern Dynasties!

He wanted to say a few good words to his elder brother, but Zhang Juzheng's face immediately darkened.

He stopped in his tracks, turned to look at his young son, and said through gritted teeth.

"Did you teach Siwen mathematics?"

“I gave him a little pointers,” Zhang Yunxiu said with a chuckle. “When I had my elder brother study the accounts earlier, he showed amazing talent.”

The child felt that his brother's talents were wasted on studying the Four Books and Five Classics, so he explained a few points to him using ancient mathematical texts such as "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art" and "The Ancient Mathematical Classic."

He tilted his head and thought for a moment, then smiled and said with a look of satisfaction.

"Last time, we already explored the concept of the limit of the method of exhaustion, which is even more advanced than Liu Hui's work. Now, we must have great potential in the study of the theory of infinite series!"

"you!"

Now Zhang Juzheng understood. So his eldest son, Zhang Jingxiu, wasn't doing anything else; he was studying mathematics with his youngest son!

He suddenly became a little angry.

"You unfilial son! It's one thing for you to be confused yourself, but why do you mislead your elder brother?"

Fearing he might be exaggerating, Zhang Juzheng stamped his foot and said urgently.

"Siwen is destined for a career in government and to serve the country!"

As the eldest son in the family, Zhang Juzheng had high hopes for Zhang Jingxiu, hoping he would make achievements in the court in the future. But what was the meaning of him studying mathematics now? "Misleading?" Zhang Yunxiu said with some surprise. "Why do you say that, Father? This is the principle of teaching according to aptitude!"

"Zhang Shiyuan!"

Zhang Juzheng was puzzled because his eldest son, who usually came to him to ask about his studies and politics, had been nowhere to be seen recently.

Now I understand, it turns out I was "corrupted" by that brat Zhang Yunxiu.

To be honest, Zhang Juzheng had become immune to his youngest son's reckless antics, but when it came to his other sons, he couldn't help but care.

His voice trembled slightly as he glared at Zhang Yunxiu and said, "What about the others? Did your other brothers also fall for your tricks?"

"Why did you say such harsh things, Father?"

Zhang Yunxiu frowned and said very seriously.

"This is teaching according to aptitude! Elder brother Jingxiu is not good at speaking or writing, so why not study mathematics, which he is more proficient in?"

And then there's my second brother, Sixiu, who was the second-place scholar in the imperial examination in the fifth year of the Wanli reign—what a talented man!

I think he's wasted his talents in the Hanlin Academy. I see that he's good at writing and has a great interest in vernacular novels and operas.

So he was put in charge of the editorial department of the Wanli Xinbao newspaper, where he could write and proofread articles, which would also help him cultivate his character.

"You!" Zhang Juzheng's face flushed crimson, looking like Guan Yu (a legendary general known for his fierce demeanor). "Who else!"

Zhang Yunxiu continued, shaking his head, "Fourth Brother Jianxiu is usually good for nothing but wielding weapons and is also very lecherous. He is one of the few brothers who is not up to any important task."

Fortunately, he is a reliable and loyal person, so I taught him a copy of "The New Book of Military Tactics," hoping that he could one day join Qi Yuanjing in fighting on the battlefield and making contributions to the country!

Zhang Juzheng had no time to think about how his youngest son had obtained the "New Book of Military Tactics," Qi Jiguang's unique military treatise. He pointed at the other party and said angrily.

"Your son is a top scholar, surely you wouldn't harm him? From now on, I will nurture him."

But before Zhang Juzheng could finish speaking, Zhang Yunxiu interrupted him.

“Alas—Third Brother Maoxiu has made great achievements in literature, but without Father’s blessings, how could he have become the top scholar?”

Father doesn't understand, but I often have heart-to-heart talks with my third brother. He is gentle and refined, upright and strong at heart, a model of the ancient gentleman.

But can someone with such a personality truly survive in officialdom? He'll probably just be another Hai Gangfeng.

He said with a firm expression, "I imagine that Third Brother is also unhappy in the Hanlin Academy. I have recently developed a new project, which is the way of chemistry. This chemistry inherits the techniques of metallurgy and alchemy, and is a summary of the principles of the five elements and all things."

If we want to recreate a weapon as powerful as gunpowder, we must develop chemistry.

Recently, my third brother has also come to some realization and has been going to Xishan more often.

I imagine that in just a few years, I'll be able to join Zhao Shizhen as a pillar of the chemical industry in Xishan!

"I'll stab you!"

These words angered Zhang Juzheng so much that he blurted out the local dialect of Jingzhou.

He picked up an inkstone and threw it at Zhang Yunxiu.

"Do you intend to destroy all my brothers?"

Whether it was because he was reluctant to part with it or because he lacked the strength, the inkstone slammed onto the desk with a "thud," without harming Zhang Yunxiu in the slightest.

Zhang Yunxiu, however, acted as if he were a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.

There's no other reason than that I'm already very familiar with the process.

In the race to make their father angry, he's far ahead of his brothers.

Zhang Yunxiu, with his neck stiffened, said loudly, "Why is Father so stubborn? You have failed miserably in educating your children. You insist on making us brothers study the Four Books and Five Classics, but you cannot teach according to our aptitude. How can you cultivate truly talented people?"

"Zhang Shiyuan!"

Zhang Juzheng spoke loudly, his body trembling as if he were having a seizure.

"Are you the father or am I the father? You have neither respected nor obeyed the father's teachings, and have overstepped your bounds. Truly... truly."

Zhang Juzheng was so angry that he became somewhat incoherent.

He had once thought of things to be extremely thorough.

The youngest son, Zhang Yunxiu, was skilled in "ingenious schemes and ingenious techniques" and had a close friendship with the emperor. He was destined to become a military officer in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, thus eliminating his path to officialdom through the imperial examinations.

Then let the eldest, second, and third sons enter the court and serve in politics. The three brothers will stand together in the court, which can be like the story of Su Xun, Su Shi, and Su Zhe, father and sons, serving in the same court during the Song Dynasty.

Even if these three are utterly useless, surely one of them could become a high-ranking official, right?

But now things have turned out differently. All the original plans have been disrupted by Zhang Yunxiu, turning into nothing but a pipe dream.

The once obedient and sensible sons have all become irresponsible "rebellious sons" who do nothing of interest.

They either went to learn "chemistry" or "arithmetic," or they went to learn how to write storybooks.

In comparison, it was Zhang Juzheng's fourth son, Zhang Jianxiu, who was the least capable, who fulfilled Zhang Juzheng's original plan and became a military officer.

After all this, Zhang Juzheng became an outsider, while Zhang Yunxiu, the youngest son, arranged the future of his older brothers.

It is simply the opposite of Tiangang!

But Zhang Yunxiu, with a reasoned and righteous air, stood with his hands on his hips and spoke in a stern and indignant manner.

"The father is the one who possesses virtue!"
"Since Father cannot teach according to aptitude, then I will have to take over your responsibilities. My brothers will surely become successful in the future, so please do not worry, Father. Just focus on implementing the Wanli New Policies!"

(End of this chapter)