The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Zhang Zhou felt like he was at home.

Zhu Fu came out to greet him personally. The people from Duke Cheng's Mansion lined up at the door. After welcoming him in, they knelt down with a plop and kowtowed to him respectfully. It felt like they were welcoming their own parents and relatives.

Zhang Zhou laughed and said, "Duke Cheng is so polite that I feel ashamed."

"Yes." Zhu Fu said, "You are the superior, and it is natural for a subordinate to pay respect to the superior. Even if you are not here on the emperor's orders, but you come here on your own, as an official, you must listen to the instructions respectfully. I hope that Master Zhang will not find fault with the etiquette. It is my honor."

Zhang Zhou smiled and thought to himself, it’s you, Zhu Fu, who are the real ace in the hole. Otherwise, why do others say that you, the Chengguo Mansion, are weak-kneed?
They are all traditional performing arts projects.

Zhang Zhou said, "Duke Cheng is too polite. Let's get up and talk inside. I hope I didn't disturb you."

"How could that be?" Zhu Fu got up from the ground, bowed and said, "It's best to talk about things in a place with a banquet, so I specially prepared some wine and drinks, I hope you can do me the honor. Please come this way."

In addition to Liu Gui, Zhang Zhou was also accompanied by Zhang Zhou's "personal bodyguard" Wang Mingshan.

Zhu Fu said: "The mansion has also prepared a banquet for these people."

"You are too polite, sir. We are here to protect my master, so we cannot leave without permission." Liu Gui was very knowledgeable by now. After Sun Shangqi left Zhang's house, Liu Gui was already considered a veteran in the Jinyiwei. He spoke with a tone of his own, giving people the impression that he deserved a beating.

However, this also gives people the impression of "keep away from strangers" and makes people stay away from Zhang Zhou.

Zhu Fu said with a smile, "Then please come this way, sir. Come, quickly invite the opera troupe we invited earlier to come out. Now that the sir has arrived, let them sing well. Today is the most important day in their lives."

Zhang Zhou really wanted to ask, what day is it?
"Please, sir, this way. Let me lead the way for you."

Zhu Fu walked happily in front.

……

……

Zhu Fu invited Zhang Zhou to a place that didn't look like a banquet hall, but more like a place for people to live. The yard was about five or six meters square at most, and the house seemed to be more spacious than the yard. However, a temporary wooden platform was built in the small yard, occupying half of it.

The house is divided into two rooms, separated by a thick curtain, giving people the feeling that someone can hide inside.

Zhang Zhou followed Zhu Fu to the door of the house. Zhang Zhou did not go in rashly because there was a very bad feeling in there, which he himself could not describe.

"Duke Cheng, what do you mean?" Zhang Zhou said, "Just find a place to talk. This place doesn't seem to be a good place for conversation."

Zhu Fu hurried in and opened the heavy curtains. He then held up a lantern and illuminated the room for Zhang Zhou. He then waved his hand and said, "Light up all the candles that can be lit. How can we talk in the dark?"

"Yes."

Two maids came in and lit four or five candlesticks.

At this time, Zhu Furen also entered the inner room and showed Zhang Zhou, saying that I didn't hide any swordsmen or axemen in there, so don't worry, I have no intention of threatening your personal safety.

Zhang Zhou laughed and said, "This house is incomprehensible."

Zhu Fu said: "If there is any confidential matter, I like to discuss it here."

"Oh? Do you have any confidential matters that are too shameful to be seen?" Zhang Zhou asked with a smile.

"No, no, it's just some things at home. It has nothing to do with court affairs. Look... this house has just been renovated and the furnishings are all new." Zhu Fu said with a smile.

Zhang Zhou looked inside and didn't see anything particularly iconic. He couldn't even tell what was inside. There was a table and two stools in the middle, and a wooden shelf next to it, which made the shelf look very inconsistent.

Zhang Zhou thought that this place was more like a private prison, where people were taken in and interrogated secretly, and then transferred to another place after the interrogation was over...

That's probably the place.

There was no atmosphere of a banquet hall here at all, which made Zhang Zhou feel that Zhu Fu was using the most "unique" courtyard in his house to entertain him.

……

……

Zhang Zhou took his seat.

There were more than a dozen Jinyiwei standing at the door, all brought by Zhang Zhou, while Wang Mingshan stood at the entrance of the house.

Zhu Fu did not call out Zhu Lin or Zhu Feng, nor did he call out the staff and guests in the mansion. He was alone, as if he wanted to entertain Zhang Zhou in a special way.

"I didn't invite anyone else because I didn't want to disturb you when you are discussing something with me, sir." Zhu Fu said, smiling and clapping his hands.

After receiving instructions, the people in the mansion at the gate of the courtyard immediately called on the troupe to go on stage to perform.

There were six people in the troupe, three of them were actors, because one of them sang the role of a young man, and the other two looked like women... In short, because the makeup on their faces was too heavy, it was even difficult for Zhang Zhou to tell the gender.

There were three people sitting under the stage playing music. The play was very simple, it was a troupe of southern opera.

Judging from the singing skills of the three singers on the stage, they can be considered to have good stage skills among the southern opera troupe, especially one of them who is wearing women's clothing. Because this is not Peking opera, it is difficult to distinguish between female roles and so Zhang Zhou just watched casually.

This is very different from the opera he asked others to perform.

The food and wine came quickly, but Zhang Zhou was slow to pick up his chopsticks or touch his wine glass.

"My lord, what do you think?" Zhu Fu saw Zhang Zhou's eyes fall on the three people on the stage, and couldn't help but smile and point, "I brought them from the south. I was in a hurry to go north this time, and I didn't bring too many people. But I usually listen to operas and so on. I also have this habit. I never thought that I would bump into your hobbies."

Zhang Zhouxin said, I don’t like listening to opera, and you won’t like it either.

You are trying to please me. You know I like to listen to opera, so you put on this show for me?
But what you don't know is that what I like to listen to is the plays I have choreographed, not these clichés, not to mention a group of actors whose stage skills are so poor.

No matter how outstanding they are, there is still a gap between them and those I trained.

Zhang Zhou nodded and smiled, "Not bad, but I don't understand what they are singing."

"Southern operas use southern accents, which are indeed difficult for northerners to understand." Zhu Fu said, "If you like it, you can take the troupe back and teach them well. I'll give you the script later."

Zhang Zhou waved his hands and said, "Forget it. Listening to an opera is just an after-dinner entertainment. There's no need to take it seriously. And I'm here to discuss something with you, Duke Cheng, not to listen to an opera."

Zhu Fu seemed to have anticipated that Zhang Zhou would not appreciate it.

He muttered to himself, just as his old mother said, Duke Cai would leave the same way he came today, he would not bring anything with him, and he would not take anything away from here.

Even so, we still have to entertain them well, then it’s really...no choice.

Zhu Fu lowered his head and said, "I understand."

"Duke Chengguo, I believe your son has already told you the purpose of my visit this time. Is there anything unclear that I need to talk to you about?" Zhang Zhou didn't even need to say anything more. Zhu Feng's comprehension ability was not good enough, but what he had just told him was already very detailed. I don't think Zhu Feng would cheat the old Zhu family, and he must have said everything he should say.

Zhu Fu said: "There may be a war in the northern border, and you need me to lead the troops outside?"

"Yes." Zhang Zhou nodded. "It would be best if you volunteered. If you don't want to go, that's fine. But there are many things... you understand."

Zhu Fu nodded and said, "I understand. Nanjing's military affairs will definitely require someone to assist. Or... how should I put it. I am willing to serve the court. I will be there wherever you need me. Sir Zhang, please rest assured."

Zhang Zhou said, "What do you mean by sir, your subordinate? It sounds awkward. Zhijie and I are equals. If we count, you, Duke Chengguo, should be considered the elder."

"How dare I?" Duke Cheng was startled and said hurriedly, "My son is ignorant and has disturbed you too much. Keep your voice down!"

Perhaps because he was afraid that Zhang Zhou would not help, and also because a high-pitched opera was being sung outside, Zhu Fu shouted directly.

When the people outside heard it, they lowered the tone and the pitch became lower.

But Zhang Zhou was not happy when he heard it. What you said was a bit like a veiled criticism.

Zhu Fu said: "I hope to win a victory in the frontier and come back. I beg you to help me."

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Given Duke Cheng's mastery of military tactics, he shouldn't need my help, right? Even if there is any need, just let your son go. He has some prestige in the army."

"It is I who want to go alone..." Zhu Fu said, "I am going to say something shameless, I hope you can help me, sir. If you can speak for me in this battle... I am willing to..."

Zhang Zhou frowned after hearing this.

Are you, Zhu Fu, talking incoherently?

You claim that you are always changing, and people who don’t know you would think you are mentally ill.

Zhang Zhou said: "Things on the battlefield change rapidly. Sometimes it is really more important to have a capable person by your side. Let Zhijie assist you, and maybe you can win the battle in one go."

What Zhang Zhou meant was, stop bargaining with me here, you have a capable son, at least he is not cowardly... and cowardice is precisely the common problem of you old-school meritorious officials. If you can listen to him, not be afraid of death, and just lead your troops forward, even if you encounter a situation like Liu Jin, you can turn danger into safety.

If you are cowardly, even if you neither advance nor retreat, in the eyes of the emperor, you are still a coward and will be abandoned from then on.

Zhu Fu seemed very hesitant, and said with embarrassment: "I know that you have this ability. As long as you are willing to help, the Chengguo Mansion is willing to obey your orders in the future. Let me put it this way, everything in the mansion can be used by you, even this head of mine..."

Zhang Zhou said, "Duke Cheng, you are embarrassing me. What use do I have for your head?"

Zhu Fu knew that this was an official occasion, and even if they met in private, Zhang Zhou would not make concessions on major issues. At most, Zhang Zhou was the emperor's ultimatum. If you want to do it, do it, and you will be given the opportunity to make merit on the battlefield. If you don't want to do it, you will not be treated unfairly and will continue to be a meritorious official, but you just have to hand over the military power.

Zhu Fu suddenly stood up, walked to the door, and said to the outside: "Have someone remove their makeup and come in to give Master Zhang some wine."

Zhang Zhou said: "What's the matter? I don't want to drink this glass of wine."

"It's what you asked for." Zhu Fu said, "It's a rare opportunity for you to come. How can I... treat you badly? Please wait a moment."

Then Zhu Fu got up happily and went out the door.

Wang Mingshan made room at the door to let Zhu Fu go out.

Liu Gui then came in from outside and said, "Sir, it doesn't look like this mansion is going to close the door and beat the dog."

"Why do I feel so uncomfortable listening to what you said?" Zhang Zhou frowned.

Liu Gui said: "But those actors are suspicious and don't look like good people. If they are outside, they must be arrested by the Jinyiwei and interrogated thoroughly."

Zhang Zhou waved his hand and said, "After we finish talking about things, I will leave now."

Originally, he had not planned to stay in Duke Cheng's Mansion for long.

After Liu Gui went out to wait, Zhu Fu came back not long after, followed by two women who were still wearing some theatrical costumes. They were both quite pretty. After they came in, they knelt down and kowtowed, saying in a timid voice: "This servant greets Lord Zhang."

Zhang Zhou stood up and said, "Duke Chengguo, I came to your house just to do routine business. I want to tell you something so that you know what's going on. This matter will probably be finalized in a few days, depending on when you submit the memorial. I have something else to do, so I'll take my leave now."

"Please go slowly."

Zhu Fu waved his hand, and the two women stood up from the ground and stood aside. A maid came in from behind and handed them the wine.

Zhu Fu was not in a hurry to ask them to toast, but instead said to Zhang Zhou: "Mother, I want to meet with you to see if there is anything worth discussing."

Zhang Zhou said, "Madam Chengguo?"

"Yes."

Zhu Fu looked embarrassed.

Zhang Zhou couldn't help but frown after hearing this.

You can't say it yourself, so you have to bring up your mother? I know your mother is good at speaking, but the problem is, even if you dig up your ancestors to talk to me, it will be futile. What can you get out of me by finding an old lady who is like a fox?

"I did meet the old lady once." Zhang Zhou said, "But at this moment, I don't want to disturb her rest."

Zhu Fu said, "How about this, you wait a moment, I'll do something here first. I'll be right back. You guys, toast to the master first."

As he spoke, Zhu Fu seemed to be in a hurry to go out and called the two women next to him.

The two women, each holding a wine jug, came over to toast Zhang Zhou.

Zhu Fu did not stop and went straight out.

"Please drink, sir."

Three glasses of wine were immediately placed in front of Zhang Zhou. The first glass was poured by Zhu Fujing, and the next two glasses were poured by the two women, one each.

Zhang Zhou said, "Thank you for bothering me. I will wait for Duke Cheng to come back. Please take a seat."

The two girls looked at each other in silence, as if they didn't understand what Zhang Zhou was saying.

But they seemed to have understood one thing, and they all stepped back and dared not come forward.

Zhang Zhou stood up and was about to leave, but at this moment, he heard footsteps at the door. He saw a woman, who was Zhu Feng's wife Chen, who had been to the theater to ask Zhang Zhou for help and had even met Zhang Zhou when she was in mourning. She walked slowly to the door.

When she looked up, she looked at Zhang Zhou with a complicated look, but she was still blocked at the door and could not come in. (End of this chapter)