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

Chapter 33 How could your younger brother lie to you?
What would happen if Zhang Yunxiu didn't show up?
Zhang Juzheng's expression remained calm as he spoke in a very cold voice.

"If your newspaper is banned, if His Majesty is forced to ban the storybooks in the palace, how can they possibly live in peace?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunxiu felt a chill run down his spine.

Zhang Juzheng had previously opposed his decision to start a newspaper!
If I hadn't shown up at today's court assembly, this would have been the situation I'm in.

Newspapers were banned, peace returned to the people, and even the upright officials had nothing to say.

With vernacular novels banned, and no longer needing Zhang Juzheng's instruction, the emperor could only obediently and diligently study and govern. His hatred was not directed at Zhang Juzheng, but at the upright officials who submitted memorials.

The swarm of officials who stirred up trouble, and the swarm of officials who opposed Zhang Juzheng, will also be uprooted!
A three-birds-with-one-stone strategy!
This old idiot even schemed against his own son!
"Any other questions?" Zhang Juzheng asked, squinting his eyes.

"That's all! I'll take my leave now!"

Zhang Yunxiu didn't plan to have much contact with Zhang Juzheng anymore, feeling that the other party was full of the aura of an old coin!

If you're not careful, he'll outmaneuver you!

He fled the study in a flash.

He lowered his head and pretended to read the memorial for a while. Only after Zhang Yunxiu had gone far away did Zhang Juzheng look up at his young son's back.

His expression was somewhat complicated.

But not long after, his calm and composed expression became distorted, and he no longer possessed the air of a superior person he had just displayed.

He clutched his rear end, feeling sharp pains shooting through him. He gasped for breath and quickly got up, cursing under his breath.

"Those with hemorrhoids are even more vicious than officials who speak out against injustice!"

He could outmaneuver the upright officials, but he couldn't outmaneuver the scoundrels.

The 26th day of the third month of the ninth year of the Wanli reign (1580), Gengwu day.

Suitable for: breaking ground, burial, and funeral procession.
Taboo: Weddings, opening of a business.
The turmoil in the court gradually subsided, and as usual, the emperor should have shown some appreciation to him, but he waited and waited and still did not come.

Zhang Yunxiu simply began to bury himself in his creative work.

After two issues, the Wanli Xinbao newspaper was on the right track.

Zhang Yunxiu set the tone: the final review of manuscripts for each issue, and the rest of the work was handed over to Yu Xiangdou.

However, since the manuscript of "The Cases of Judge Dee of the Tang Dynasty" was the main attraction of the "Wanli New Daily", it was naturally up to Zhang Yunxiu himself to write it.

In this era, there were no typewriters, and even with fountain pens, writing novels by hand was still too tiring; a whole day's work could only produce four or five thousand words.

Fortunately, Zhang Yunxiu had already written many drafts in order to deceive the emperor, so it did not affect the newspaper serialization too much.

As I was writing, someone walked into the study.

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu looked somewhat haggard. Being ruthlessly "stripped" of his shares by his father had clearly dealt him a heavy blow.

He looked at Zhang Yunxiu and said.

"His Majesty has summoned you to the palace and will allow you to study at the Imperial Academy. Fifth Brother, you have truly risen to prominence."

Zhang Yunxiu sensed a hint of bitterness in his words, but he still sympathized with his older brother. You lost the hundreds of thousands you had in your hands, and you're feeling down.

He went up and patted his brother on the shoulder to comfort him.

"Hey, Fourth Brother, don't blame Father. He's old and a bit senile."

These words struck a nerve with Zhang Jianxiu, and he retorted angrily.

"That old geezer Zhang Juzheng, I will never let him get away with this!"

Zhang Yunxiu was startled. How could his fourth brother be even more rebellious than himself?

How can one call someone "old man" directly? This is not the behavior of a filial son.

However, it is understandable. Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu had worked hard and worried about getting these shares, and his hard-earned job was taken away by Zhang Juzheng.

But Zhang Yunxiu still defended his father, saying, "Fourth brother, Father isn't what you think. He still loves us! Even though he took away all your shares, made you copy the family precepts more than a hundred times, and even made you use your salary to make up for the shortfall, he still loves us!"

Zhang Yunxiu's words not only failed to calm his fourth brother Zhang Jianxiu down, but instead added fuel to the fire.

Zhang Jianxiu angrily said, "That old scoundrel Zhang Juzheng has ruined me. I am determined to be like you, my fifth brother, and from now on I will be a foolish and rebellious son. No one can discipline me. I will show that old geezer that I can make something of myself even without him!"

Zhang Jianxiu seemed to have suffered a great injustice.

In the past, although he wasn't very good at studying, he always listened to Zhang Juzheng.

But recently I've discovered that even those who "disobey" their fathers, like Zhang Yunxiu, can receive praise. Why does he want to be a filial son? Does being a filial son mean he deserves to be bullied?
Zhang Yunxiu's lips twitched, and he explained somewhat awkwardly, "Fourth Brother, what do you mean by a rebellious son like me? When have I, Zhang Yunxiu, ever been a rebellious son?"

But Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu ignored him and waved his hand, saying, "Fifth Brother, you don't need to persuade me anymore. From now on, I will never listen to that old man again!"

Zhang Yunxiu looked at his fourth brother speechlessly.

But I couldn't help feeling a little gratified.

The dictatorship of "patriarchy" should never be advocated!

Zhang Yunxiu came to the Zhang residence not only for himself, but also for three other things.

Fair! Fair! It's fucking fair!
The voices of the sons at the bottom of society should be heard. From now on, Zhang Juzheng will no longer be a tight band hanging over their heads!
Thinking of this, Zhang Yunxiu couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

As for the "reconciliation" reached between Zhang Juzheng and himself last time?
In Zhang Yunxiu's view, this was nothing more than a temporary compromise of feudal patriarchy. He had to maintain a state of struggle at all times in order not to be controlled by the corrupt feudal patriarchy!

The "vanguard" of resistance?
Let's leave it to my eldest and fourth brothers; I have many important things to do.

We need to ensure our manpower to a certain extent.

Most importantly, as long as his eldest and fourth brothers acted outrageously, Zhang Yunxiu's actions would seem less outrageous!

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu was a Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so he was naturally qualified to bring Zhang Yunxiu to the palace to meet the Emperor.

The two rode in the same carriage, traveling along the main street of Qipan Street, amidst the bustling sounds of vendors hawking their wares.

Zhang Yunxiu suddenly said, somewhat embarrassed.

"Um, Fourth Brother, could you lend me some money?"

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu was startled, shifted his position back, and looked at his younger brother as if he were a monster.

"Are you trying to lie to me again?"

Zhang Yunxiu looked hurt: "How could Fourth Brother slander me out of thin air? When did I ever lie to you?"

In all honesty, Zhang Yunxiu was a kind and honest man.

Zhang Yunxiu then explained, "I recently started a business and have invested all my money in it. I urgently need some funds now. Could you lend me some money, Fourth Brother?"

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu was clearly scared, shaking his head repeatedly and saying, "No, not a single penny left. My salary still has to cover the previous shortfall, and I don't have a single penny on me."

The last time Zhang Jianxiu redeemed Xiang'er from her servitude, it cost a full two thousand taels of silver. When Zhang Juzheng found out, he strictly ordered Zhang Jianxiu to make up for it with his salary.

Does the "Immortals' Painting" project have no funding gap? If Zhang Juzheng says it does, then it does.

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu kept saying he had no money, but Zhang Yunxiu didn't quite believe him. He squinted and sized up the other man.

"But I saw you and Miss Xiang'er secretly order food from Zuixianlou the other day. Most girls in brothels have some savings."

If the madam knew your identity as the young master of the Zhang family, she would probably return the money, right?

You've been looking gloomy on the surface lately, but you're actually quite composed underneath.

Zhang Yunxiu, who possesses a golden finger, has an exceptional memory and meticulous observation skills.

How did you find out?

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu almost jumped up, feeling like his underwear had been seen through. Looking at his cunning younger brother, he shuddered, but still turned his head away and stubbornly said...

"I have no money! No matter what, I have no money!"

Seeing that he wouldn't listen to reason, Zhang Yunxiu sighed helplessly and said...

"Fourth Brother, what do you think is the most profitable profession in the capital?"

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu thought for a moment and then lowered his voice and said, "Selling salt."

Zhang Yunxiu's lips twitched, and he said irritably, "Fourth Brother, if you want to be beheaded, don't drag me into it."

"I often arrest smugglers of salt, so that's all I could think of," Zhang Jianxiu said somewhat embarrassedly. "Then what is it?"

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and said, "Clothing, food, shelter, and transportation are the foundation of people's lives, but there is one thing that no one, whether a peddler or a king or nobleman, can escape!"

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu's eyes lit up and he said, "Prostitute!"

But Zhang Yunxiu gave his older brother a disdainful look and replied.

"Of course, it's a pharmacy!"

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(End of this chapter)