The Reborn Duke of Ming Dynasty

When Zhang Fan returned home, he didn't mention what happened on the street. He was mainly afraid that his mother would worry carelessly when she found out that he had been beaten with a stick.But that stick was really too harsh, and Zhang Fan always felt a dull pain in his back.Touching the wound is even more painful.Zhang Fan had no choice but to endure in silence, continuing to read and write.

Early in the morning of the second day, Zhang Fan had just woken up when he heard someone shouting outside, "Is this Zhang Fan's Mr. Zhang's home?"

Zhang Fan was very puzzled. Although he was well-known in the neighborhood, no one would call his name outside the door. If the neighbors came to ask for a word, write a letter or something, they would come in by themselves. !

Zhang Fan was still guessing who it was, but his mother had already ushered him in.Zhang Fan saw that there were two official servants, and he was even more puzzled.

One of the officials said without waiting for Zhang Fan to open his mouth: "Mr. Zhang, the magistrate of the county government has invited you. Please come with us."

As soon as Mrs. Zhao heard that the official messenger came to ask her son to go with them, she immediately became anxious: "You two elder brothers, my son is a well-known scholar, and he will never do such criminal things. I hope you can hold your hands high." ..."

Seeing his mother's anxious appearance, Zhang Fan almost knelt down to beg for mercy, and quickly supported his mother and said, "Mother, didn't these two officials say that it was the magistrate of the county government looking for me, and nothing happened." Turning to look at the two officials, he asked, "I don't know what the magistrate of the county government wants to find me?"

"The two of us don't know about this matter. It's just that your lord told me to come and find Mr. Zhang to visit the mansion this morning, and also told us to invite Mr. Zhang to come."

"Master County Yamen invite me to go?" Zhang Fan was a little puzzled, but the county government had an invitation, and he couldn't refuse, so he could only comfort his mother: "Mother, the child will come as soon as he goes, don't worry." Next, Zhang Fan walked to the county government office with the two officials.

The county government office of Anhua County is located in the center of the city. It can be reached after entering the city from the east and west gates. The county magistrate lives in the yard behind the county government office.

Zhang Fan followed the two of them through the small door on the side of the yamen, and came to the yard where the county magistrate lived.The two of them reported their intentions, and immediately someone went in to report.Zhang Fan looked at the Daming County Yamen as well, it didn't look that glamorous, and he didn't know when it was built, and it looked a little old, but it was very clean.

"Master Zhang is here, come in quickly." An old man over sixty came out and said to Zhang Fan.

"Thank you, magistrate of the county government." Zhang Fan hastily applauded.The magistrate of this county is surnamed Ma, Zhang Fan has seen it before, when he was selected as a scholar the year before last, this Ma county magistrate was still in the Fuyuan Building in Anhua County to entertain the six new scholars who were selected at that time.That was the best meal the "former" Zhang Fan had ever had.

Zhang Fan followed the Ma County Yamen into the house, and sat down with guests and hosts, and some servants offered tea.Zhang Fan spoke first: "I don't know what Mr. Ma called Wansheng to go to the house today."

"I called my nephew here today, not for anything else, but also to thank you for saving the Chen family's two daughters from the siege the day before yesterday." Ma County Magistrate said.

Zhang Fan knew what was going on as soon as he heard it, and quickly said: "Don't dare. This... I read the book of the sage, and I know that it is my duty to do what is right. Sir He Lao praises it so much."

"You can't say that. In today's world, there are fewer and fewer people who do this kind of thing! Most people can only talk and can't do it. Seeing the road is uneven, you don't necessarily need to draw your sword to help." Ma The county magistrate praised.

"It's too much." Zhang Fan said modestly.

"Actually, the Chen family and I are considered family friends. The two daughters of the Chen family came to visit me yesterday. When talking about the incident on the way, they said that a man who looked like a scholar helped them both. I knew it when I mentioned you. The sisters of the Chen family can be regarded as my juniors. I know a thing or two about their temperament. The younger sister among the sisters is more lively, but the older sister is a bit deserted and doesn't like to socialize with others. I appreciate it. I specially asked you to come here today, just to thank you." Ma County Magistrate said, his eyes were also full of gratitude.

"My lord has given you too much credit." Zhang Fan said, "It's just that it would be too much to send someone to ask me to come here just for this matter. Someone should inform Wansheng, and Wansheng will come to the door."

"Hehe, since he is the person my niece praises so much, of course I want to call to see it. I really don't know when such a person appeared in Anhua City!" Ma County Magistrate said, "I heard that a few days ago You also went to Qingyang Mansion to take part in the township examination, how did you feel?"

"The township examination has just passed, and the students are somewhat confident, but they don't dare to speak out. Everything will be known on the day when the results are announced." Zhang Fan said.

"Well, that's true, it's old man Meng Lang." Magistrate Ma said with a smile.

"Well, since the Yongle period, the imperial examinations in this world have changed." Ma County magistrate didn't care if interested people listened, and he said freely, "Why don't scholars nowadays cultivate literature and morality, but only know how to follow others? It's up to you!"

"..." Zhang Fan didn't know what to say, and he didn't know what Magistrate Ma wanted to say.

"I think the old man was also good at the stereotyped essays. When he was about the same age as you, he went to Beijing to rush for the exam. He won the Jinshi that year. After becoming an official, he found that the stereotyped essays are good. It doesn't mean that you are an official. Well done, but the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty has been like this for 200 years, and it is impossible to change it by one person, and the end will be bloody." Ma County magistrate said a little sadly.

Hearing this, Zhang Fan saw that magistrate Ma was still lost in memory, and the words he said were very heavy.Zhang Fan started a bold guess that modern people are used to: "Perhaps this county magistrate Ma was also an important minister in the court, but I have never heard of a high-ranking official surnamed Ma being sent here because of anger."

"I don't know the magistrate of the county..." Zhang Fan said, but was stopped by Ma County magistrate.

"I believe you can see it!" Ma County Magistrate said, "Yes, I was demoted here. The reason why I dare to say that is that even if you go to inform me, I am not afraid of being exiled again."

"How could Wansheng do such things!" Zhang Fan said hastily.

"Hehe, I believe you won't, I mean, even if someone tells you, I won't be afraid." Magistrate Ma said with a smile.

"My lord still didn't say why you sent someone to call me here today." Zhang Fan continued to ask.

"Actually, I have something to ask. I heard that your ancestral home is from Yangzhou Prefecture?" Ma County Magistrate asked.

"To be honest, my grandfather is from Yangzhou Prefecture." Zhang Fan said, he didn't know why Ma County Magistrate would mention this matter.

"The sisters from the Chen family talked about you the day before yesterday. Before I sent someone to invite you, I heard someone mention it, and I remembered something." Ma County Magistrate said, "To tell you the truth, I and the Dingbian inspector Chen Wenchuan is also from Yangzhou Prefecture. Before I came here to take office five years ago, I went back to my hometown Yangzhou. A wealthy family named Zhang in the city came to see me. There is an uncle who left his hometown 50 years ago for some unknown reason. He only left a letter saying that he went to the Northwest. Let's find it. You are here today, the old man happened to ask, but your grandfather's name is Zhang Yuanlin?"

"That's the family ancestor!" Zhang Fan said excitedly.

"It can be regarded as found. Your uncle Zhang Yufang is in charge of family affairs now. He wants to find your family. I hope you can return to Yangzhou and recognize your ancestors."

"My ancestor ran away from home for some unknown reason, and he didn't tell my father about it, but he left a family rule that if no one in the family could become an official, he would not return to Yangzhou." Zhang Fan recalled that in his memory, his mother Said this to myself.

"This matter is really weird." Ma County Magistrate was also a little puzzled, wondering why Zhang Fan's grandfather would set this family rule.

"Master Wansheng, please don't tell Yangzhou that you have found us." Zhang Fan said.

"This old man knows." Magistrate Ma replied.

Zhang Fan bid farewell to Ma County Magistrate, and when he returned home, he just said that the magistrate invited him to come to the house and talk about the township examination.He didn't dare to say that he saw a rough road and was beaten from behind, let alone that people from his hometown in Yangzhou were looking for him. He was afraid that something might happen again, so he went back to his house to read and write. .