The Reborn Duke of Ming Dynasty

"Don't be safe, Mr. Ge." Zhang Fan asked Xu Jie to sit down, poured tea for him, and said with a smile, "When Mr. Ge returned to his hometown, Zhang Fan was in a foreign country and couldn't see him off. Please invite Mr. Ge pardon,"

"The old man is no longer the chief assistant of the cabinet, so I don't dare to be called the elder of the cabinet," Xu Jie said coldly. He still doesn't know what Zhang Fan meant by letting him come to Yangzhou, and he didn't express too much.

Zhang Fan hit a snag, but he knew Xu Jie's character, so he didn't care, and continued: "Master, he admires Mr. Ge very much. Since Mr. Ge returned to his hometown, he often mentioned Mr. Ge to me. He always Shuo Ge veteran taught all the ways of being an official, and this is how he is today,"

"..." Xu Jie didn't answer after hearing his words. He believed that Zhang Fan didn't intend to deceive himself. With Zhang Juzheng's character, this matter was normal. What really touched Xu Jie was that everyone in today's world In an era when everyone wants to climb up, it is a blessing that I still have a student who is always thinking about himself.

"I know that there is some gap between Mr. Ge and me, but now that Mr. Ge is living at home, there is actually no conflict between us." Zhang Fan didn't know what Xu Jie was thinking, but said , "I wonder if Mr. Ge still hates me?"

"Alas..." Jiechang Xu sighed and said, "I have never disliked you, let alone any resentment. The only difference between you and this old man is your political views. You had just entered the official position at that time. The truth is that even though you were proud of yourself at that time, there was still a world of difference between you and the old man. The old man didn't bother to have any conflicts with you, but the old man disagreed with Ju Zheng's point of view, but he didn't want to ruin his bright future with a song , especially since he is the old man's favored student, how could the old man succeed in doing so, so the old man took his anger out on you at that time," Xu Jie said, but it was true, but there was some meaning in these words to please Zhang Fan, after all Xu Jie still doesn't know whether it's a good thing or a bad thing for Zhang Fan to let him come here.

After Zhang Fan heard his words, although he didn't know why Xu Jie suddenly changed his mind, Zhang Fan was still very relieved. But Yan Song's first merit is none other than him, Zhang Fan still admires him very much, thinking of this, Zhang Fan said: "The old man is serious, the boy was a little young and vigorous at that time, and now he is relying on the emperor's great love, and he is able to do so. has today's status,"

"You don't have to belittle yourself," Xu Jie said, waving his hands, "Although the emperor is usually extravagant and doesn't care too much about government affairs, the old man really appreciates the emperor's employment strategy."

When Zhang Fan saw this old man, he still didn't forget to criticize Long Qing. No wonder he was ordered to resign from office. Thinking of this, Zhang Fan couldn't help shaking his head helplessly.

Xu Jie was the one who disagreed with his statement, and continued: "Besides, when the old man just returned to his hometown, he also heard about what you did in the Northland. You deserve what you are doing today."

"It's frightening for Zhang Fan to get such praise from the elders," Zhang Fan said hastily.

"Hehe," Xu Jie said with a smile, "It's useless to get the old man's praise, the court's civil and military praise is just to make the court recognize you, and the emperor's praise is just to make you proud of your official career and get promoted step by step , only if you are praised by the people all over the world, it will prove that you are really good, "

It's not that Zhang Fan doesn't understand these reasons, but when he first heard it, he couldn't figure out why Xu Jie, who had been an official all his life and didn't seek clarity, but wanted to protect his life, would say such a thing, but Zhang Fan thought about it in a blink of an eye, who has never done it before? When he was young and determined, maybe Xu Jie put down his burdens, but he figured it out.

"Elder Ge has really realized it," Zhang Fan said.

"What's the use?" Xu Jie said mockingly, "When you find out, you will be powerless."

The two were silent for a while, Xu Jie seemed to come out of his memory, and asked, "What, what's the matter with you letting the old man come to Yangzhou this time, could it be that you still hold grudges against me, now that you have the power in your hands, you can't take revenge if you want to," Xu Jie asked straight to the point.

"Elder Ge is joking, Zhang Fan will never do such things," Zhang Fan said hastily, "Zhang Fan invited Elder Ge to come here this time, and it was also entrusted by his teacher."

"Ju Zheng," Xu Jie was a little puzzled, but soon he understood.

"Hai Rui is an honest and upright official, and he is loved by the people under his command. However, just like the nickname 'Gang Feng' he gave himself, he is too upright as an official," Zhang Fan said, "It's just that Naturally, it will offend a lot of people. In today’s imperial court, there are various forces everywhere, and they are deeply intertwined. If you are not careful, you will implicate many people.”

"Hai Rui is just as you said, he is too upright for a man and an official," Xu Jie said, "I saved him once, not because I admired him, but because he can do what he wants. Hai Rui didn't deny the things he had dreamed about, I remember that when His Majesty's prospective old man returned to his hometown, he also wrote a book for the old man, but he was suppressed by those censors."

"Now Gao Gong has spotted Hai Rui's character and wants to avenge his personal revenge publicly, and Hai Rui has not refused. He is now the governor of Yingtian, and he is planning to make a strong move against the local occupying land. Now he can be regarded as the court's favor. order," Zhang Fan said, "Ge's hometown is a big family in Songjiang, and there are a lot of land under his name, so naturally he bears the brunt of it."

"I can't blame Hai Rui for all of this. Gao Gong really hates me to the bone," Xu Jie said. Thinking about it, Xu Jie has done a lot to Gao Gong. Not only did he get squeezed out by the courtiers, but he was also given a chance to recuperate from his illness. He went home to recuperate in name for nearly a year.

"Elder Ge, in fact..." Zhang Fan said, "Gao Gong is just grasping that Elder Ge has too much property in the middle of the land. Why don't Elder Ge give up some land? This matter will be resolved soon, isn't it?"

"You don't know something," Xu Jie said, his face full of helplessness, "It's not that the old man has thought of this method, it's just that the farm laborers on the field under my family's name don't want to,"

"Oh, there are other things like this," Zhang Fan said strangely. Every farmer always wants to have a piece of land of his own. As a farm laborer, he has no land and has to pay rent to Xu Jie's family.

"Actually, it's very simple," Xu Jie explained the reason to Zhang Fan. The land was originally subject to taxation. Landlords like those who own a lot of land have to pay more taxes, but why are there still powerful people? Want to occupy a large amount of land. It turns out that in the Ming Dynasty, people with fame, especially the land under the name of officials, did not have to pay taxes. This made these people work hard to annex land, and they also had to work for them. The farm laborers paid a lot of land rent.

Xu Jie's family also looks like this. The difference is that since the Xu family came from their ancestors, they have treated the farm laborers who worked on their fields very much. They only collected a small part of the rent in a symbolic way. If Xu Jie really gave them the land, these farm laborers On the contrary, they can't live a good life now. Once they all disagreed to do so. Xu Jie also followed the teachings of his ancestors and showed mercy and did not give away the fields. He also warned his family all the time that if he was gone, The descendants of the Xu family should do the same.

After listening to Xu Jie's explanation, Zhang Fan understood the whole story. At first, he also thought that Xu Jie was reluctant to let go of his family's property, but now he admired him very much.

"Elder Ge really cares about the sufferings of the people all the time, Zhang Fan admires it," Zhang Fan bowed respectfully to Xu Jie, and said, "It's just that although Elder Ge is working for the welfare of the people, Hai Rui doesn't know about it, and he still does it wholeheartedly." I want to investigate the old man, "

"I'm afraid that if Hai Rui knows the truth, he won't be lenient to me," Xu Jie said helplessly, "You must also know about him. Under the court, he will spare no effort to do things that can benefit the people, but if the court is abandoned for the sake of the people, I really don't know what he will do."

"Well, this matter is really troublesome." Zhang Fan had no idea for a while, "Actually, I also admire Hai Rui very much, but I don't agree with his approach."

"Oh, do you have any ideas," Xu Jie asked with interest after hearing what he said.

"Hai Rui is indeed a clean and honest official, and he takes good care of the people," Zhang Fan said, "However, what he does will only benefit the people in his corner forever, but it will not help the world. Originally, with his ability, After being an official for so many years, he could have been transferred to the capital, so as to benefit more people, but now he can’t see these things, he just focuses on the present, which is not the right way to say it is a good intention, "

"..." Xu Jie agreed with Zhang Fan's words in his heart.

"Now is not the time to talk about this," Zhang Fan said, "Master heard about Mr. Ge's troubles in the mirror, and I happened to be here on business in Jiangnan, so I deliberately got rid of me to take care of him. A few days ago, I asked my factory guards The people who obstructed Hai Rui in every possible way could not resist now, so they decided to ask people to bring Mr. Ge and Mr. Ge's son who could speak well. Hai Rui's people for a while,"

"But this is not a long-term solution, what do you plan to do," Xu Jie asked, he believed that since Zhang Fan brought himself here, he must have a solution.

"I don't have any good solution," Zhang Fan said with a helpless smile, "but I already have a plan in mind. The matter in Yangzhou Mansion is over. Tomorrow, I will leave for Yingtian and talk to Hai Rui directly."

"..." Xu Jie didn't know what to say, there was nothing he could do about it. After a while, Xu Jie said, "I've never thanked anyone before, this time I want to thank you."

"Master Ge must not do it," Zhang Fan said hastily, "This matter is all due to my mentor. If he hadn't told me, even if I want to help, there is nothing I can do."

"Ju Zheng, is he alright?" Xu Jie asked with a complicated expression.

"Elder Ge, please rest assured that everything is fine with your teacher," Zhang Fan said, "Now that your teacher is the second assistant of the cabinet, there is no conflict with Gao Gong, and there is no trouble for the time being."

Hearing Zhang Fan's words, Xu Jie was relieved, and then he finally asked the question that he had been wondering since he got off the carriage: "I already know the reason why you asked me to come here, but this place is not like a post house. The location of the hotel looks like the courtyard of a certain rich family, I don’t know..."

"Hehe," Zhang Fan chuckled twice, and replied, "This is my uncle's home, and it's also my hometown." Immediately, Zhang Fan told Xu Jie all about his ancestry and return to his ancestors after returning to Yangzhou.

"It turns out that there is still such a chance encounter," Xu Jie sighed deeply after hearing Zhang Fan's words.

"I have to trouble Mr. Ge and the three sons to stay at my uncle's house for the next few days," Zhang Fan said, "Tomorrow I will go to Yingtian and talk to Hai Rui in person to see if there is any improvement in the matter," Zhang Fan said. I bid farewell to Xu Jie and was about to leave to have someone prepare a room for Xu Jie, father and son.

"Wait," Xu Jie stopped Zhang Fan and said, "There's no need to trouble yourself, I want to have a good talk with Hai Rui too."