The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

The second day of February.

Without going to court, Zhu Youtang decided on two examiners, one was Wang Hao, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy and the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, and the other was Liu Ji, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy... As for Liu Jianhe Li Dongyang's speculation that the emperor might choose one person from the three existing cabinet members to be the chief examiner has not been implemented.

The emperor's move seemed to be to tell the world that in this examination, he trusted the people of the Hanlin Academy, and Wang Hao could be treated almost the same as a cabinet minister.

Because this matter did not come out after court discussion, after the news was announced, it was considered a reasonable matter, but many people interpreted it. Many people even believed that the two were not suitable to jointly examine this examination, forming a There was a moderate discussion in the officialdom of the capital.

Almost at the same time, another news reached the capital.

Liu Jing, the Marquis of Anyuan, who was guilty of neglecting the military during the Battle of Huamachi in Ningxia, did not survive to return to Beijing, but died on the way.

On that day, Zhu Youtang waited until the afternoon to summon Chen Kuan, Wei Bin and Yang Peng in Xinuan Pavilion. He originally wanted to ask about the port, but Chen Kuan brought him news about Liu Jing's fart. After Zhu Youtang heard the news, he was silent for a long time. Obviously, the matter exceeded his expectations.

Chen Kuandao: "According to the censor's report, when the guilty minister Liu Jing left Ningxia, he was suffering from illness. He did not get better along the way. He had just survived the halfway point when he was already..."

Zhu Youtang then said: "Is there nothing strange about it?"

"This..." Chen Kuan didn't know how to answer.

Obviously this was beyond the scope of his duties. Yang Peng on the side said: "Your Majesty, there will be guards escorting you along the way. According to the news they reported back, the British Duke had met with this person in private, or contributed to his... death."

Zhu Youtang said: "You mean that in order to avoid accountability, the British father let Liu Jing take the blame alone and committed suicide?"

Yang Peng said: "We can't confirm this yet."

Zhu Youtang said coldly: "A minister made a mistake, and I didn't even say that I wanted to kill him or ransack his home. He died in the middle of the road. His death was so strange. I think we should investigate carefully. I ordered people to be sure. Bring the body back and Dongchang will investigate the matter strictly."

Chen Kuan was a little worried and said: "Your Majesty, if this matter is really related to the British Duke, does that mean..."

"What do you want to say?" Zhu Youtang asked.

Chen Kuan seemed to realize that what he was about to say might be offensive. He hurriedly said: "I wish that Liu Jing's body should be separated from the British prince."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said: "This is to prevent someone from wanting to destroy the body and eliminate traces!"

Not only Chen Kuan, but also the two people next to him could hear how much the emperor distrusted Zhang Mao.

"Send someone to greet him immediately." Zhu Youtang said, "It probably won't work for ordinary people. Yang Peng, please go there."

"This slave accepts the order." Yang Peng was also a little confused, why did this fall on him?

You are staying well in the capital, and you are actually allowed to go on a foreign mission?
……

……

The three of them came out of Xinuang Pavilion. The emperor didn't even want to approve the memorial, and only let the ceremonial supervisor make an internal decision, which seemed to be a sign of resignation.

"Eunuch Yang, please stay." Just when Yang Peng was about to carry out the emperor's order and everyone was preparing not to return to the ceremonial supervisor, he was stopped by Chen Kuan.

Yang Peng said: "Is something wrong?"

Chen Kuan said: "Eunuch Yang, you should be careful when you go west this time."

"This...how can people not understand what Eunuch Chen said? You must be careful when going outside the capital." Yang Peng said with a smile.

Wei Bin on the side looked at each other coldly, and then Wei Bin quickly walked out a few steps to give space to the two of them.

Chen Kuan then leaned over and said: "We all know that it is impossible for the British Lord to do nothing in this matter, but as long as there is no evidence, it is best not to escalate the situation. An old man who has been in charge of the military power of the capital for decades Guy, no matter how incompetent he is, he still has strong connections."

Yang Peng said: "I don't understand."

Chen Kuan said coldly: "You are a smart man, so you naturally know what I am talking about. A person who can kill the Marquis of Ming Dynasty will not have much trouble if he wants to kill others. Our family and the British Duke He’s not a stranger either, but if you push a dog into a hurry, he’ll jump over the wall, let alone a human.”

Yang Peng's face was silent.

He could see that Chen Kuan was not only warning him, but also establishing an order of priority.

It's like saying, you Yang Peng are still too young, you'd better listen to me if anything happens.

"The Empress Dowager will definitely ask about the matter of Marquis Anyuan." Chen Kuan added, "The British prince will definitely be on guard against this. He does things in a meticulous manner, and of course he doesn't want others to gossip about them. We all are. Smart people, everything is to maintain the stability of the court. Whether the wind is stronger in the east or the wind in the west should not affect us. "

Yang Peng said: "Based on Eunuch Chen's opinion, are there any weaklings among us?"

Chen Kuan shook his head and said: "Cai Guogong ignores the affairs of the Dudu Mansion for the most part. The internal affairs of the Dudu Mansion should be left to them to resolve on their own. We'd better not get involved. That's all! I hope that the next time I see you when I come back, it will be smooth. of."

These words made Yang Peng frown.

He felt that Chen Kuan was threatening him.

But then Yang Peng also understood that because of some conflicts with Chen Kuan, Chen Kuan now did not want to see him at all. Even though Yang Peng was now the chief eunuch of the Bureau of Ceremonies, he was still inferior to Chen Kuan in terms of status. This was Hated by my boss.

After Yang Peng watched Chen Kuan walk away, he muttered: "I thought that solving one Li Zhang would settle everything. It seems that the big problem is not with Li Zhang."

At this time, Yang Peng's eyes vaguely revealed murderous intent.

……

……

Enter February.

Spring sowing has begun here at the port.

It is not a good place to promote new crops in the north. After all, spring sowing in the north is generally late, but here is the emperor's feet after all. It is easy for Zhang Zhou to control it, and the results of the promotion test can be reported back immediately.

Zhang Zhou led people down to the farmland.

He had two things to accomplish that day. One was to teach the agricultural staff to sow corn, and the other was to go to the port's new train station to complete the groundbreaking ceremony.

Prior to this, the railway from the Yongping Prefecture Iron Mine to the port was already under construction, and the progress was relatively smooth. According to expectations, this railway, which is dozens of miles long, will be completed and operational in the autumn of that year.

"Brother Zhang, can this thing be eaten? Chinese people have never eaten this thing. Don't let it contain any toxins."

Zhu Feng followed Zhang Zhou, who came out to see the scenery.

Wherever he went, he found it very strange, and sometimes he would even stop and ask what was going on, or even raise some questions.

He was the only one at the scene who dared to question what Zhang Zhou had done to his face, while everyone else simply followed his orders.

Zhang Zhou ignored Zhu Feng's question. After sowing a row of ridges, he gave some explanations to the agricultural staff, then walked out of the field with heavy steps, and even changed his boots. There are tables and wooden stools on the side, specially prepared for Zhang Zhou.

The port is Zhang Zhou's own territory, and the officials here also know how to flatter and flatter. They know that Zhang Zhou went out of the city to persuade farmers and mulberry trees, and many people were waiting outside the fields early in the morning, hoping to communicate with Zhang Zhou at close range. The main thing is To reflect their existence.

"Just sit here."

Zhang Zhou didn't mind the people around him. Before he reached the table or bench, he sat on the withered grass at the edge of the field.

Zhu Feng also sat down carelessly, picked up the kettle and started drinking. After taking a few sips, he realized that Zhang Zhou was there. He handed it over and said, "Brother Zhang, do you want a drink?"

Zhang Zhou said: "No, I have it."

After the two of them drank water, the corn in the second row had been sown through the efforts of the agricultural staff over there.

"With you here, what else are you using them for?" Zhu Feng asked.

Zhang Zhoudao: "If the harvest is good this year, they will be sent to various prefectures and counties in the Ming Dynasty to cultivate as agricultural officials. They may stay there for a year or two and teach the local officials. From sowing to fertilizing, and They need to learn all the subsequent things and be able to organize and summarize them.”

"Fertilization?" Zhu Feng asked, "You mean..."

Zhang Zhou shook his head and said: "There are many things that I can't explain to you now. We have only achieved the second point of enriching the country and strengthening the army. We have never achieved the goal of enriching the country."

Zhu Feng smiled and said: "I think it's pretty good. How prosperous is it here?"

Zhang Zhou said: "To make the country prosperous and secure the people, the most important thing is to feed the people and give them the ability to produce more. Only in this way can the number of people in the Ming Dynasty increase. In the future, small natural and man-made disasters will not cause serious disasters." After all...it won't be long."

"What do you mean?" Zhu Feng asked.

Zhang Zhou stood up, patted the soil on his body and said: "In my estimation, in a few decades, natural and man-made disasters will continue to occur. By then, if the people cannot eat, they will become refugees, and then there will be a big disaster." "

Zhu Feng said: "With such powerful weapons, you are not afraid, but those firearms are comparable to ordinary thieves?"

Zhang Zhou sighed: "The most important thing is people's support. Just relying on the sharpness of weapons cannot solve the key to the problem. Zhijie, what we have to do is to win people's hearts on behalf of the court, not to commit murder, isn't it? Want to How powerful was the Qin Dynasty back then? Wasn't it overthrown by a group of people who cut down trees and turned into soldiers? Benevolence and righteousness are the foundation of a country. "

"Oh." Zhu Feng said, "I'm not a scholar, so I don't understand so many principles."

Zhang Zhou suddenly discovered that he was actually playing the piano to the right person.

At this time, Liu Gui came with his people. After Sun Shangqi went to Liaodong with his army, Liu Gui was the one who worked as an errand boy. However, because Liu Gui was Zhang Zhou's "domestic servant", he also had to do a lot of things. It is not convenient, although Liu Gui now also has the title of Deputy Qianhu of Jinyiwei.

"Sir, someone is coming from Beijing." Liu Gui said, "Go back and take a look."

"Who?" Zhu Feng asked.

Liu Guidao: "I don't know."

This shows that Liu Gui is only clever in some things, but cannot achieve perfection. Compared with Sun Shangqi, who was born in a professional guard, Liu Gui lacks the experience of interpersonal relationships in the officialdom of the capital. This kind of experience can only be relied on Liu Gui went to explore on his own, and there were many things... In Zhang Zhou's opinion, Liu Gui might not be able to learn them in his lifetime.

Zhang Zhou said: "Take it up, I'll go back first. Let them finish sowing the fields. The latest errand is to let them go to various parts of Yongping Prefecture to sow seeds in different field environments, and at the same time teach the people in charge of farming and mulberry farming in various places."

……

……

Zhang Zhou met with the eunuch Su Yong sent by Yang Peng as his envoy in the hotel.

Su Yong is very young, probably only twenty years old, but he has a tiger-headed look and looks reckless, but his eyes are shining, giving people a feeling of wilting. From now on, Zhang Zhou seems to be able to see the youth in him. Yang Peng.

Next to Su Yong, there was a young man standing.

"This is my nephew, Yang Zhi." Su Yong quickly introduced him to Zhang Zhou.

Yang Zhi came forward and saluted Zhang Zhou and said: "Junior Yang Zhi, please see your father-in-law. Please give my regards to my father-in-law."

Zhang Zhou looked at the young man in front of him who was not much younger than him. He had a frivolous and playboy air, and he looked like a playboy. As Yang Peng's nephew, this Young Master Yang was also very famous because he had been involved in the Mancang'er case and had been a prominent figure for a time.

Zhu Feng came over and said, "Young Master Yang? I have heard about your name for a long time. I heard that you are very popular in the capital."

"This is Marquis An Bian, right? I'd like to say hello to you two gentlemen." Yang Zhi seemed very happy.

Meet two big shots at once.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Eunuch Yang sent his nephew to me for training? Mr. Yang, don't say that the conditions here are difficult, not as good as the prosperous place in the capital. The rules here are also very tiring. If If you don’t do what you want, don’t blame me for being unkind.”

Yang Zhi looked very excited and said: "I know, I know, it is an honor for this junior to work with you."

Zhang Zhou said: "What a junior, you are about the same age as me."

"No, you and my uncle are equals. They are the elders of the younger generation. How can the younger generation be rude in front of the elders? You are the second generation parent of the younger generation. Just speak as you are told... The villain's parents passed away early, and everything depends on them at home. Uncle, I'm relying on you when I'm away from home." Yang Zhi had a happy smile on his face.

Zhu Feng frowned and said, "This mouth is quite sweet."

Su Yong said: "There are letters from the palace here, and I brought them to you, my uncle. I...are all sealed with lead, but I have never read them."

"Yes." Zhang Zhou took Zhu Youtang's letter.

Then someone went to arrange for Su Yong and Yang Zhi.

……

……

After they went out, Zhu Feng said: "Brother Zhang, have you heard of Mancang'er? In the first few years, there was a lot of commotion in Beijing."

Zhang Zhou said: "I've heard of it."

Zhu Feng said: "I heard that Mr. Yang is Mancang'er's best friend. I wanted to defend Mancang'er and pull down all the officials in the court! But this man is also very arrogant and domineering. He can be said to be the most powerful person in the capital. The devil incarnation is no less generous than the two uncles of the Zhang family. He is here, afraid of causing trouble to you. "

Zhang Zhou asked: "Are there few people making trouble like this in this city? What should I do?"

Zhu Feng smiled and said: "I'm just reminding you. Don't look at the surface of this kind of person. He seems to respect you, but who knows what he is thinking? Just be careful."

From this look, Zhang Zhou vaguely felt that Zhu Feng was afraid of falling out of favor.

Zhang Zhou thought about it for a while and found out that Zhu Feng and Yang Zhi were probably on the same side when it came to eating, drinking and having fun. (End of chapter)