The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

After Zhang Zhou returned to the capital this time, he continued to live a free life, as if the disputes in the court had nothing to do with him.

Although it was almost certain that Qi Zhong would resign as the Minister of Revenue, the decision was never made. Some people thought that it was because Tang Yin had not yet taken up his post in the three frontiers. As for whether Zhang Zhou would concurrently serve as the Minister of Revenue, or someone from his faction would take over the position, there was still controversy.

Previously, people in the court had been fighting tooth and nail for the position of the Three Frontiers General Governor, but after April, the focus of the court and the public was on the position of the Minister of Revenue.

The cabinet headed by Liu Jian and Li Dongyang was also trying to recommend their own people.

The first person to be affected was Xiong Chong, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, who had not even been nominated during the selection of the Three-Border General. For a time, the news that Xiong Chong was going to become the Minister of Revenue spread in the capital, and many people seemed to regard Xiong Chong as the Minister of Revenue.

In early April, Zhang Zhou had just returned from a performance at an artillery range outside the city. He was going to test a batch of new cannons that day. After the performance, Zhang Zhou did not go to eat with the people from the Governor's Mansion, but returned to the theater on his own.

With no one to disturb him, he immediately set up the charcoal brazier and cooked some beef and mutton, adding the prepared condiments, especially the chili peppers. For a wine lover like him, this was quite tasty.

Not long after Zhang Zhou picked up his chopsticks, Zhu Feng came over with a smug look on his face. He came to Zhang Zhou for help with something.

"Why is the smell so special? It's so choking." Zhu Feng felt uncomfortable immediately after entering the room.

Zhang Zhou said, "Did you choose this time to come here for a free meal? Sit down."

Zhu Feng looked a bit shy. After he sat down, someone served him bowl and chopsticks.

Zhu Feng asked: "What is this?"

There were some things that Zhang Zhou couldn't explain to him, just like he couldn't expect Zhu Feng to share the same taste as him. What he liked might not necessarily be what others liked.

really……

When Zhu Feng took a bite, he immediately felt very uncomfortable. He sat there with snot and tears coming out. It was obvious that this thing was beyond his body's tolerance.

"This is called chili." Zhang Zhou said.

"What is it?" Zhu Feng took a long time to calm down, and finally felt better. He asked with red eyes.

Zhang Zhou smiled and shook his head, saying, "At present, the planting of this herb has begun to be promoted around the capital. It was brought back from overseas last year. It is just a spice. It can be added to food as a seasoning to increase the spicy taste."

Zhu Feng frowned and said, "It's so spicy, is there anyone in the world who likes to eat this?"

"Haha." Zhang Zhou said, "Just because you don't like it doesn't mean others don't like it. I won't force you if you don't want to eat it. If you have something to say, just tell me. After that, go home and eat whatever you want. Why do you have to suffer here with me?"

Zhu Feng said: "Brother Zhang's taste is really unique. I think this thing is not accepted by ordinary people. I advise Brother Zhang to eat less. Such spicy food will easily cause internal heat after eating it."

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Am I afraid of getting angry?"

Zhu Feng thought about it and didn't know what Zhang Zhou was talking about.

Then he really didn't plan to eat for free anymore, but said seriously: "My father has just been transferred to Beijing and will arrive in Beijing in the next two days. He wrote to me in advance and said that he wanted to see you. There is one more thing, which is about the Chen family's matter..."

One is from the Zhu family and the other is from the Chen family.

One is about Zhu Feng’s father’s family, and the other is about his wife’s family… Zhang Zhou thought, Zhu Feng, you are really busy. You are almost being treated as a tool.

"Why did your father come to Beijing this time?" Zhang Zhou asked.

"Brother Zhang, you didn't know about this?" Zhu Feng asked curiously, "Didn't the Ministry of War get the news? Or did His Majesty not discuss this with you?"

Zhang Zhou continued to eat his delicious food and said with a smile, "Who said I have to know about what's going on in the court? Your father has not been stationed in Nanjing for long. It should not be the time for him to report to the capital. This transfer should not be just a formality, right?"

Zhu Feng said: "Brother Zhang doesn't know, so I don't know either."

Zhang Zhou sighed, "As for the matter you mentioned about the son of the Chen family inheriting the title of Earl of Pingjiang, His Majesty mentioned it before. It's impossible this year. It will take until next year at the earliest. It also depends on whether Chen Rui's son, your eldest brother-in-law, is really capable of inheriting the position. He needs to show meritorious service to do so."

"That's a pity." Zhu Feng said, "Even when his father was alive, it was not easy for him to make achievements. Asking him to make achievements is a bit too much to ask."

Zhang Zhou couldn't help but smile.

Although Chen Rui was also considered a top figure in the Ming army, unfortunately, because of Wang Yue and Zhang Zhou, he was left with a bad reputation in the last few years before his death.

Zhu Feng said: "Before his death, Earl Pingjiang wanted to give his daughter to you, Brother Zhang. The Chen family still remembers this."

"Really?" Zhang Zhou said with a smile, "Even though she married you, she still says she can't forget me? You want me to help them because of my official position and connections?"

"No, no." Zhu Feng hurriedly explained, "Brother Zhang, you know that my marriage with the Chen family was purely forced by my family. It was not my own will. Don't you know who I am?"

"I don't want to know, and you don't have to tell me."

Zhang Zhou seemed to be speaking righteously.

Friends are friends, colleagues are colleagues, and there is no need to know anything else. For Zhang Zhou, many things cannot withstand careful scrutiny, and they are of no importance to him anyway.

No matter who you, Zhu Feng, are, it will not affect my position as an official in the court.

Zhu Feng said: "My family has been pushing me hard lately."

"What are you urging me for?" Zhang Zhou asked.

Zhu Feng said with a frustrated look on his face: "Brother Zhang has already accepted Tong'er into the family, don't you know the reason?"

Even though Zhang Zhou was mentally prepared, he couldn't help coughing when he heard this.

Zhu Feng said: "I said, this is too spicy, you should eat it slowly."

Zhang Zhou raised his hand and said, "I see you are here to exaggerate what I am saying. What exactly do you want to say? Can you please be clear? What I hate most is to guess what others are thinking."

"I thought you knew everything, Brother Zhang." Zhu Feng said, "Many people say that there are no secrets in front of you, Brother Zhang. You can even guess the thoughts of the Tatars who are thousands of miles away, let alone the trivial matters of the human world? In fact... my family urged me to give birth to a child as soon as possible. It is rare that the Zhu family has two titles to inherit. They said that they don't want one of the bloodlines to be cut off with me."

Zhang Zhou said: "No, even if it is to be cut off, you can adopt someone from another branch of your family to continue it."

"The key is... my brother has no offspring, and I don't have a younger brother..." Zhu Feng looked distressed. Zhu Fu had only two sons, Zhu Lin and Zhu Feng. Historically, it was because Zhu Lin had no sons that Zhu Feng inherited the title of Duke of Chengguo.

But as far as Zhang Zhou knew, in history Zhu Feng had a younger brother, who was born out of wedlock and named Zhu Luan. As for at what age Zhu Fu was born, it is impossible to find out now. At least until now, this son has not been born. After all, in history, Zhu Fu died in the second year of Jiajing, so there is still quite a lot of years left.

As for Zhu Feng himself, he had three sons, Zhu Xizhong, Zhu Xixiao and Zhu Xizu, all born to Mrs. Chengguo, Chen.

From this perspective, it seems that Chen Rui's daughter is indeed a capable person in the Zhu family. At least she can help Zhu Feng give birth to three sons, which is quite amazing.

Zhang Zhou said: "That's right. As a descendant of the Zhu family, how can you not think about the continuation of the family's incense? If you are allowed to give birth, then give birth. Everything depends on human effort. Give yourself some confidence."

Zhu Feng said with a sad face: "Brother Zhang, are you joking with me?"

"What a joke! A man should shoulder the mission of the family. Do I need to teach you this?" Zhang Zhou said, "Let alone giving birth to an heir, even if you have to crawl out of a pile of dead bodies or do something you are unwilling to do, you have to accept it. Why, just because you are not happy, you want to throw the family aside?"

Zhu Feng said: "I... I have no choice, but my grandmother said that if I don't give in, she will give me more concubines. I dare not go back home these days."

Zhang Zhou continued to eat his delicious food. Hearing this, he said speechlessly: "Feng'er, there are many things that you have to face by yourself."

"What?" Zhu Feng looked at Zhang Zhou in confusion.

Zhang Zhou wanted to say, look at the name your family gave you, Zhu Feng, why don't you call yourself Zhu Hua? It's not masculine at all, maybe that's the problem.

"Whenever something happens, you want to escape. You don't want to go home today, and you don't want to see your family tomorrow. There are not so many choices in this world." Zhang Zhou said, "Your Majesty, you have few children, but in the end, didn't you marry a virtuous concubine and then have many children?"

Zhu Feng said, "Your Majesty's virtuous concubine is pregnant, right? I heard about it as well."

Zhang Zhou curled his lips and said, "You really have the mind to ask about this. Why don't you pay attention to your own business?"

Zhu Feng thought for a moment, then leaned his head and said with a distressed look, "I have no choice. I wanted you to give me some advice, but it seems that you, like my elders, want me to give in. Anyway, I'll just go back and calm down."

"now it's right."

Zhang Zhou doesn't want to be a good person.

Keeping in step with the elders in the Zhu family at least shows that he is not a maverick. Does this mean he is encouraging Zhu Feng to do whatever he wants?
Zhu Feng said: "But my master said that he would like to invite you to his house for a banquet."

"Haha, no need." Zhang Zhou said, "What's wrong recently? There are always people who want to invite me to dinner, but I always feel that it's not right."

Zhu Feng asked curiously, "It's just a banquet, are you so worried?"

"Hmph, if it was just an ordinary banquet it would be fine, there's no wedding or funeral, but they invited me for no reason. Besides, I'm a woman, so what? Do you think I'm profitable and plan to hold a Hongmen Banquet for me?" What Zhang Zhou was talking about was, of course, the fact that Princess Yongkang had also invited him.

Zhu Feng asked, "Who is it? Is there anyone else besides me?"

Zhang Zhou waved his hand and said, "You are not used to the food here, so you should leave early. You can come anytime you like, but next time, please don't talk to me about military affairs or even your family affairs. Let's sit down and watch a play. Even if you want me to listen to your singing, you can't even have a meal in peace."

While he was talking, Zhang Zhou had already ordered them to leave.

But Zhu Feng didn't feel ignored, instead he found it interesting.

Because Zhang Zhou never refused to let him come, he would often come here to join in the fun, and most of the time just to see the scenery.

Zhang Zhou said, "When your father arrives in Beijing, you must go to greet him. You may not mind what your family forces you to do, but you must take your family's affairs to heart. The old nobles are now being reshuffled, and you are the new noble in the family. The family now values ​​you very much and is counting on you to get the title of Duke. You must not let your family down."

"I don't care." Zhu Feng said.

Zhang Zhou shook his head helplessly. To persuade Zhu Feng was not to persuade him to mend his ways, but rather to persuade him to become a good person.

Zhang Zhou thought, why should I bother?
Before leaving, Zhu Feng said, "I'm inviting you to a banquet, so you must give me face, Brother Zhang. Also... this thing called chili pepper has a strong taste, so you'd better eat less. I guess no one will eat it in the future."

"Got it." Zhang Zhou said, "You talk too much nonsense. I'm planning to open a restaurant specializing in selling this stuff. Is it your business?"

"Hey, I can't persuade him. I can't persuade him." Zhu Feng smiled and went out.

……

……

In the palace.

Zhu Youtang was receiving a report from Yang Peng. Recently, Zhu Youtang was very concerned about the affairs of the East Factory because he wanted to know what the civil officials were doing recently. Liu Jian and Li Dongyang were naturally the focus of attention. It seemed that their every move could not escape the eyes and ears of the East Factory.

"…Lord Li recently met with Duke Yansheng. After Duke Yansheng arrived in Beijing, he personally came to ask for an audience. Someone from the Li residence passed on the message that the Kong family had not yet broken off their plan for marriage alliance, and they were lobbying for this, hoping to use this marriage alliance to adopt the son of Kong Hongxu under the name of Duke Yansheng and inherit the title."

When Yang Peng said this, Zhu Youtang became somewhat interested.

Zhu Youtang asked, "Does this count as a thief's heart still lingering?"

Yang Peng said, "Your Majesty, the inheritance of Duke Yansheng has indeed gone astray. Duke Yansheng has no son, and I heard that he has been ill for the past two years. There are rumors that his illness may not last long, so there are concerns about the inheritance."

"What I meant is that the Kong family wants to marry into the Li family." Zhu Youtang said.

Yang Peng said helplessly: "Your Majesty, this is the case. As far as I know, ever since Li rejected Kong's marriage proposal due to some reasons, no one dared to discuss marriage with Li, so that Li's daughter... has not been betrothed to anyone yet."

What he meant was that it wasn't that Li Dongyang wanted to go back to his ex, but that if he didn't, he would have nothing to eat.

If you dare to reject the Kong family’s marriage proposal, who else would dare to accept it?
Whoever marries Li Dongyang's daughter would be making himself an enemy of all the scholars in the world, right?

Because everyone knew that this marriage was related to the succession of Kong Hongxu's son Kong Wenshao to the title, and it was not just an ordinary marriage, so no one dared to come out and be the bad guy.

Zhu Youtang said, "I was the one who helped Lord Li to turn down this marriage proposal. Which is more important, my reputation or the reputation of the Kong family?"

Yang Peng heard that the emperor was angry, so he quickly lowered his head and did not answer.

Zhu Youtang said: "I will give an explanation to Lord Li on this matter. After all... the matter ends here! If the people of the Kong family dare to act rashly again, let alone inherit the title, their entire family will not have peace!" (End of this chapter)