There was Liu Jian's promise, and sure enough, the next day, that is, the last court meeting ten days before the Shangyuan Festival holiday, no one mentioned the military and political affairs in the northwest.

After the conclusion of the court meeting.

Xiao Jing breathed a sigh of relief, and was just about to go to Fengtian Palace, when Dai Yi walked over and said, "What did you say to those people yesterday?" ”

Xiao Jing was puzzled, and then said what he said almost together.

Dai Yi just gave him a very strange look.

When the four of them went to the Qianqing Palace together, they found Zhu Youzhu sullen.

"Your Majesty. Mr. Zhang will return to Beijing from Xishan today......" Xiao Jing reminded cautiously.

"Hmm."

Zhu Youzhu just nodded.

Probably he didn't want to summon Zhang Zhou to ask anything, originally Xiao Jing thought that the emperor would care about what the last two things Zhang Zhou tested.

Dai Yi said: "Your Majesty, do you want to send someone to ask?" ”

"Ask what?" Zhu Youji's tone was very stiff, "Bingkuan went to Xishan to look for minerals, and he also made iron for the imperial court, he came back from hard work to prepare for the exam, why should I bother?" ”

Dai Yi lowered his head and did not dare to respond.

"Those officials, I asked them not to mention it, but they still didn't give up one by one, could it be that the elder told them, they could listen to it, and they didn't even ask about the affairs of the northwest?"

At this moment, Xiao Jing seemed to understand the meaning of Dai Yi's question before.

He secretly had some fear in his heart.

The emperor wouldn't blame him for saying the wrong thing, would he?

Dai Yi said: "Your Majesty, or there are not many people in the court who know about this, and they are afraid of leaking the military aircraft, so they don't dare to mention it." ”

Zhu Youzhi is still angry.

Dai Yi gave Xiao Jing a look.

Xiao Jing didn't understand, what should he say to the emperor at this time? Can't you say it yourself? Why should I say that?

"The prince's recent schoolwork, don't delay." Zhu Youzhu commanded.

"Yes." Dai Yi answered cautiously.

"Then send someone to tell Bingkuan, let him not go anywhere recently, concentrate on doing things for the court after the exam, whether he is admitted to the Jinshi or not, he must think about how to be a good court official. I'll go see the Empress Dowager first, and I'll leave the matter to you here!" ”

……

……

Zhu Youzhu left the Qianqing Palace.

For Zhu Youji, there will be a ten-day vacation in the future, during which most of the recitals will be handed over to the celebrant for approval, and the three ceremonial supervisors have no real vacation at all.

"Grandpa Dai, ...... His Majesty from the previous time"

Xiao Jing wiped a cold sweat.

Dai Yi said: "Your Majesty, I think that the prestige of Shoufu is a little too big. ”

Chen Kuan also leaned over and asked, "Just because of this trivial matter?" ”

"Don't gossip!" After Dai Yi glared at Chen Kuan, he said as if explaining, "In the past, Your Majesty could trust those old ministers in governing the country, but now that Mr. Zhang, whether it is the civil administration or the military aircraft in the court, Your Majesty can ask the ghosts and gods, do you think Your Majesty will be so tolerant of the old ministers?" ”

Xiao Jing sighed: "To our people...... It doesn't make a difference, right? ”

Dai Yi smiled and said: "This is a good thing, in the past, I had to approve it on behalf of the Son of Heaven, but didn't it all have to be based on the votes of those elders?" A slight change, there will be criticism in the court, now you try again! ”

"Dai Gonggong is reasonable."

Xiao Jingxiang smiled, but found that the smile he piled up was really too bitter.

Wei Bin asked, "Won't there be any hidden worries?" In recent years, the cabinet has won the trust of His Majesty...... After Xu Ge left, His Majesty's trust in the cabinet continued unabated. ”

This is talking about Xu Pu's retirement.

After Xu Pu, it was Liu Jian who was the first assistant, and Zhu Youzhu relied more on the cabinet.

Dai Yi seemed to see through everything, smiled and shook his head: "No, the hidden worry is that the civil officials will take the power back, for us, Zhu Criticism is different from the vote, and the civil officials want to target, and they are all working on Mr. Zhang, what do you have to do with me?" ”

A few people seemed to come to their senses.

The emperor had a dislike with Wenchen, all because of Zhang Zhou.

If the civil officials want to target, they are also working hard against Zhang Zhou, and a few of them can stand by and be on their feet.

It is equivalent to saying that no matter what the result of the wrestling between the official and Zhang Zhou is, they can all be invincible.

……

……

Zhang Zhou returned to the capital.

The first thing I did when I returned to the capital was to go to the British Mansion to "fish for people".

Jiang Dezhong did business with the Governor's Mansion, but he didn't go back for four days, and Zhang Zhou's brother-in-law Jiang Shanquan knew that he was back, and almost begged his grandfather to sue his grandmother, wanting to "redeem" Jiang Dezhong.

"Father-in-law, what's the matter?"

Zhang Zhou also felt strange.

just said that he wanted to do business with the Governor's Mansion, two months before and after, what kind of big deal did Jiang Dezhong do? If you want to detain people, it should also be detained by the Governor's Mansion, why did you become an old man Zhang to deduct people?

Jiang Shanquan drove the carriage and took Zhang Zhou to the British Mansion.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Zhang Zhou's feet landed, and Sun Shangqi brought people with Jinyi Wei.

Jiang Shanquan was still counting on Zhang Zhou, but when it seemed that it was Jinyiwei who was looking for Zhang Zhou, he also quickly avoided it.

Sun Shangqi said: "Mr. Zhang, there are instructions from above, let me be by your side at any time, please give instructions if you have something." ”

Zhang Zhou hadn't seen Xiao Jing yet, and he didn't know that he had been protected.

"Then bother, knock on the door."

Zhang Zhou pointed to the gate of the British Mansion.

changed to another place, Sun Shangqi led people to rush in, but this is in the British Mansion, he is a little jealous.

When you say knocking, you really go up and knock on the door.

After finally saying hello to Menzi, Menzi had to go in to pass the word, and the group waited outside.

……

……

Zhang Zhou still met Zhang Mao.

Zhang Mao came out with his grandson Zhang Lun to greet him, and he was very polite and welcomed Zhang Zhou and Jiang Shanquan inside.

"Nephew Bingkuanxian, you came to the old man's house, but is there something wrong?" Zhang Mao looked very polite.

Zhang Zhou asked: "I heard that my old Taishan is a guest in the house?" ”

Zhang Mao said: "Exactly, I have been drinking with Lao Jiang recently, chatting with the world, your father-in-law is a person who can speak well, and he refuses to leave." ”

Zhang Zhou glanced at Jiang Shanquan.

Jiang Shanquan was also stunned.

Is this my dad who was detained and didn't come home? He...... It turned out to be left on its own initiative?

"Isn't this just Bingkuanxian's nephew, you are also here, let's have a banquet and drink a glass of water and wine together, as if the old man thanked you for saving your life to the puppy. Zhang Lun, go and tell your father that Mr. Zhang is here, let him pack up and drink two glasses together. ”

"Yes."

Zhang Lun looked very happy.

As if he wanted to introduce his husband to his family, he went to the inner courtyard in excitement.

……

……

The feast was placed in the banquet room of the English Mansion.

Zhang Mao first asked his subordinates to greet Zhang Zhou and Jiang Shanquan, and he said that he would go in to find Jiang Dezhong by himself, looking friendly.

"Bingkuan, look at me...... I didn't ask clearly, if my father left it by himself......"

Jiang Shanquan also looked a little embarrassed.

Zhang Zhou pursed his lips and said: "The British public obviously wants to use Ling Zun as bait, and as soon as I return to the capital, I will bite the bait myself." ”

Zhang Zhou saw this very thoroughly.

No matter how unreliable Jiang Dezhong is, he will not be able to stay in the British government, right? What is his own social status, how many pounds and taels, don't you count it in your heart?

Zhang Mao doesn't necessarily need to forcibly detain people, he can also use both grace and power, under the pretext of waiting for Zhang Zhou to come and then let Zhang Zhou take Jiang Dezhong away, Jiang Dezhong has to stay in order to be able to do business and for the sake of that old face.

Jiang Dezhong appeared in the wing room with Zhang Lun.

"Father!"

When Jiang Shanquan saw his father, he hurriedly went out to greet him.

Jiang Dezhong walked steadily, not drunk at all, and saw his son and son-in-law standing together, as if he didn't see a son.

"Virtuous son-in-law, you can be regarded as returning to Beijing, and you haven't been at home for the New Year, and the old man has always wanted to drink with you again. That's a ...... Wine......"

Jiang Dezhong did not mention the reason why he stayed in the British Mansion.

Zhang Lun said: "Mr. Zhang, what else do you need?" My grandfather and my father will come over in a moment. ”

"Zhang Lun, please help me tell your grandfather, what's the matter, find a room to finish talking first, otherwise I won't be able to eat this banquet steadily."

Zhang Zhou is a cheerful person.

Your Zhang family is not like saying anything about forcibly keeping people, but I can also understand it, let's talk about things if there is something.

……

……

After Zhang Mao learned what Zhang Zhou meant, he also understood the rules and asked Zhang Zhou to be invited to Zhang's main hall.

Retire and see each other alone.

"Bingkuan, you just returned to Beijing, or you don't know the situation in Beijing in the past two days, and the Ming Dynasty is going to use troops in the northwest has leaked out." Zhang Mao said with a smile.

Zhang Zhou nodded: "Such a big matter, it is a bit difficult to completely hide it from the people in the court, and besides, there are not three or two people in the know, Your Majesty should not be able to track it down, right?" ”

"Haha, Bingkuan, you are not in the court, but I always feel very comfortable talking to you, it is true, Your Majesty did not say that he wanted to find out who leaked this matter, or no one leaked it, the northwest is a little bit of a storm, the supervision of the imperial history in those places, and the magistrates, can you not report to the court? So the old man thinks that you are in a bit of a hurry to make this move. ”

Zhang Mao sighed.

Zhang Zhoudao: "The British public has something to say. ”

Zhang Mao's eyes lit up and said, "Then you say clearly, how will this battle be fought?" ”

A very sharp question, but it is not what Zhang Mao should ask.

Maybe Zhang Mao also knew that if he took the initiative to ask this question, without Jiang Dezhong, a "hostage", Zhang Zhou would not pay attention to him at all.

"The British Duke is afraid that after this battle, Wei Ningbo will become famous, and since the momentum of the Wang family has risen, His Majesty is only afraid that it will rely more on it and affect your Zhang family, right?"

"You ......"

Zhang Mao originally felt that he had the initiative, but he was a little unable to get off the stage because of Zhang Zhou's words.

Zhang Zhou also continued to be unrelenting: "The British princess, as the head of the Ming Dynasty, has always been the pillar of the imperial court, but in the war, His Majesty relies on Wang Weining, is there a thorn in Zhang Lao's heart?" ”

Zhang Zhou specially picked the soft rib in Zhang Mao's heart and pricked the needle.

"Ahem." Zhang Mao cleared his throat and said, "Bingkuan, you say so, that old man doesn't hide it, if Wang Weining is a civil servant, it's okay, if after this war, he recovers his title and is relied on by His Majesty, then the Zhang family is indeed weak." You know, the old man is old......"

Zhang Mao was probably not afraid that his generation would be robbed of the position of the Governor's Mansion by Wang Yue.

Admiral Jingying, equivalent to the commander-in-chief of the Beijing garrison, Zhang Mao has been beautiful all his life, and what he is afraid of is that his descendants will not be able to catch the banner he left behind.

He is not afraid of others, what kind of birds are in those old lords' homes, Zhang Mao knows better than anyone else.

Zhang Mao is afraid of the upstarts, especially Wang Yue, a famous general who was famous in the world for a while.

Zhang Zhou shrugged: "But what does this have to do with me?" ”

Zhang Mao almost choked on a mouthful of saliva.

"Bingkuan, do you have to talk like that? The old man heard that you speak very straight, but you can't pretend to be confused, right? Wang Weining doesn't rely on you, he still has a chance to get a knighthood with horse manure? If you don't heal him, he's already in the loess, right? ”

Zhang Mao almost said that the two of you are a gang, and you are a gang, and you are a gang to pit our old Zhang family.

Zhang Zhou frowned and said: "The British public will do their best to bring my old Taishan, and me, to your mansion, just for this?" ”

"Or else?"

Zhang Mao stood up and glared at Zhang Zhou viciously, "The old man knows that you have to be very spoiled now, if not, will you talk to the old man?" The old man is not the kind of ungrateful person, you save the puppy, and you have the grace of cultivating my grandson, the old man sees it in his eyes, and the old man didn't say that he wants to treat you Zhang Lun the same as the second son of the Chengguo family...... The goal of the second boy of the Zhu family is to get a knight, but my family doesn't need it! It is enough to have the British public lineage passed on! But if someone bullies Shangzhang's family, even if the old man has another old bone, he must resist in front. ”

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "What does the British Duke mean, is that I have been bullied to the door?" ”

Zhang Mao said: "If you get close to Wang Shichang, it is equivalent to being an enemy of my Zhang family!" ”

"Oh."

Zhang Zhou understood.

Zhang Mao: This is a sense of crisis.

"What do you need, but also the Lord. It's a business, I'm very similar to my father-in-law, as long as the price is negotiated, we are all children! Of course, the price I am talking about is not gold or silver, but something more substantial. I have what you want, each other and each other. ”

Zhang Zhou is not a vegetarian, do you think you are a British male?

The people I deal with are the emperor, the empress dowager, and the crown prince, what are you doing dumb riddles? If you need it, you can say it.

Zhang Mao pondered for a moment.

Before, he was just putting pressure on Zhang Zhou, and for a moment, Zhang Zhou seemed to be talking on the bright side.

Now it's a matter of negotiation and negotiation, and the "price" is negotiated.

Zhang Mao smiled: "How else can you say that you can get the holy favor of the virtuous nephew Bingkuan?" O wise man! The old man wants one, no matter how much credit Wang Weining makes, it is the northwest, and it can't be related to the surroundings of the Beijing Division. ”

"Hmm."

Zhang Zhou nodded, "Very reasonable." Don't worry about this, just by looking at how many people Wang Weining sent to the northwest, you will know what his position is in His Majesty's heart. ”

Zhang Zhou is to remind Zhang Mao.

No matter how awesome the upstart is, it has not passed the test of time, and the emperor still does not trust him enough.

Zhang Mao said: "The old man can naturally understand this, but the biggest variable is ......"

Halfway through the conversation.

Zhang Zhou is also a smart person, and said with a smile: "The variable is me?" If I repeatedly say good to His Majesty, will His Majesty change his mind? ”

"Smack!"

Zhang Mao slapped the table, and then pointed at Zhang Zhoudao: "How else to say that you are an understanding person, and you don't scatter eagles if you don't see rabbits, right?" ”

"Nothing else, my grandson, Zhang Lun's kid, in the future, you will call, as long as you give him a sigh, it doesn't matter what kind of old man he tosses him into, but the old man wants him to be your eldest disciple!"

"In the future, if there is anything in the northwest, Liaodong, and Nanjing, the old man will never interfere, how you want to suggest and how you can suggest, but if there are three long and two short in Beijing, Your Majesty will ask you, you will push the matter on the old man's family, and you will definitely not lose face to you!"

"The monthly bundle and the thank-you ceremony for the New Year's festival will not be less, your father-in-law, Lao Jiang, has done business with the Governor's Mansion, and Guan Bao has made him a lot of money."

"What's more, when you enter the court in the future, no matter how critical those ministers are about you, the old man will definitely treat you like his own son and nephew, even if you lose power in the future, the old man will definitely ensure that your heirs are prosperous, rich, and worry-free! The old man is dead, and the old man's son and grandson, let's be a family! ”

(End of chapter)