Early Ming Dynasty: Turning Clouds and Rains into New Learning Saints

Chapter 189
After a while, He Zhen came back to his senses. After hesitating for a while, he asked: "Prince-in-law, can a commoner ask a question that shouldn't be asked?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yifan wanted to say, since it is a question that should not be asked, why should it be asked?

But in the end, he nodded and replied: "Say it!"

After hearing this, He Zhen asked cautiously: "My lord, what is your purpose...for doing this?"

The consort's behavior was so crazy that he was even considering things that the emperor didn't want to do.It's as if the Ming Dynasty's surname was not Zhu, but Zhang.

Anyway, He Zhen really couldn't understand these things about the consort.Why did he do this?
Zhang Yifan heard that he asked this question, so he asked him back: "Do you hope that the He family's life will get better and better?"

"Of course!" He Zhen heard it and didn't understand what it meant, so he had to answer truthfully.

When Zhang Yifan heard this, he asked again: "Then let me ask you again, do you hope Dongguan will get better and better?"

"Of course I hope Dongguan will get better and better!" After hearing this, He Zhen still didn't understand what the consort wanted to ask, so he had to answer truthfully.

So, Zhang Yifan asked again: "Do you hope that Guangdong will get better and better? Do you hope that the Ming Dynasty will get better and better?"

"..." After He Zhen heard this, he finally understood why the prince-in-law asked this.

Zhang Yifan looked at He Zhen and saw that he was a little shocked and seemed a little incomprehensible, so he said to him: "I am an orphan. It was the Ming Dynasty that gave me a peaceful environment. From now on, I don't have to worry about war. It was the emperor who gave me I am very grateful for the opportunity for us to have enough to eat. I am grateful to the Ming Dynasty and my wife, who is also the princess of the Ming Dynasty. I am a Ming Dynasty person, I love my family, and the Ming Dynasty is also my home... "

He Zhen understood, and couldn't help but look at the consort with complicated eyes. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Zhang Yifan continued: "...I grew up in Liujia Village eating hundreds of meals. Without the help of the folks in the village, I wouldn't be alive today. I remember their kindness in my heart. And in the Ming Dynasty , we are all people of the same skin color, speak the same words, and have common ancestors. The people of the Ming Dynasty are all brothers and sisters and are our tribe. Therefore, I also want them to all live well. And to achieve this goal , then the Ming Dynasty must be strong, and even continue to be strong..."

After hearing this, He Zhen finally understood the reason why the consort named those workshops Xiangshan County Government Office.

At this moment, He Zhen was a little moved.The brother-in-law's fraternity is really comparable to a saint!

Just because he is an orphan and has been taken care of by the village since he was a child, so he can repay the favor...

As he was thinking, Zhang Yifan continued: "...Thus, some internal conflicts in the Ming Dynasty that are difficult to resolve should be resolved externally. For example, when the food in the Ming Dynasty is not enough, instead of fighting for food within the Ming Dynasty, It is better to use external food to alleviate the food shortage within the Ming Dynasty. This is my idea of ​​​​plotting to Nanyang! Using the manpower and material resources of foreign countries for the use of the Ming Dynasty is what I want to do!"

Having said that, he looked at He Zhen and asked, "Do you understand?"

He Zhen nodded, showing admiration on his face, and said: "The grassroots understand that the son-in-law's compassion is really a blessing to the people of Ming Dynasty!"

But He Rong behind him had a look of shock and disbelief on his face, staring blankly at Zhang Yifan like a clay sculpture.

After hearing He Zhen's words, Zhang Yifan stared at him and asked: "What I want you to do, can you do it with all your heart?"

He said all this because he was interested in He Zhen's ability and wanted him to really do this with his heart. In that case, it would be much easier when the Ming Dynasty planned to plot Nanyang in the future.

If He Zhen was a mediocre person, he wouldn't waste his time talking so much!

After He Zhen heard this, he immediately bowed and replied: "The common people have said that the prince-in-law's orders will be fulfilled with all his heart and all his efforts. Regarding the Nanyang matter, please rest assured, the ordinary people will arrange the matter after he returns!"

"Okay!" Zhang Yifan praised him after hearing this, and then said to him, "If you have any requests, you can put them forward. If I can help, I will help you!"

After He Zhen heard this, his heart moved, and he quickly said respectfully: "The common people have one wish. How valuable is the son of the common people? He has some knowledge of civil and military arts. I hope to serve His Highness the Crown Prince and serve His Highness."

"Oh?" Zhang Yifan listened, looked at him and said, "If that's the case, then let him make some achievements. I think it's okay, and I will naturally recommend him to my elder brother."

He Zhen was slightly disappointed when he heard this, but the son-in-law's request was reasonable, so he immediately agreed.

After a while, the prince-in-law saw off the guests, and He Zhen and his son left the county government office.

Back at the inn, He Zhen told He Rong, "Go and contact the cement factory and fish pine factory and settle the matter."

"Dad, what about you?" He Rong asked immediately after hearing this.

He Zhen's expression was serious. He looked around first and saw that only his own entourage was there and there were no outsiders. He then replied in a low voice to his son: "The affairs of Nanyang are of great importance, and the emperor doesn't know about it, at least he doesn't agree with it yet. Regarding this matter, I have to write a memorial to the emperor, so that I can show my He family's loyalty to the emperor."

"This..." He Rong was very surprised when he heard this.

He saw that his father had agreed when he was talking to the consort just now, but he didn't expect that his father actually had his own plans. Is this considered cunning?

Of course, this is his father, not someone else. It’s hard to use the word cunning.

When he came back to his senses, he said to his father: "Dad, if you do this, if your consort knows about it, will you hate him?"

To be honest, after hearing so much from the consort just now, he was actually willing to do it.When the Ming Dynasty really reaches out to Southeast Asia, the He family will be a great contributor.

He Zhen listened with a stern expression and replied in a low voice: "So, it's best not to let the consort know about this matter. Who told the consort to do this without the emperor's consent!"

Having said this, he paused and then added: "We are making it clear to the emperor that it is loyalty to the emperor and the Ming Dynasty. If the prince-in-law really wants to be as he said just now and has a public heart, he should not I’ll mind.”

After hearing this, He Rong shook his head and said, "If you want me, I'll mind."

When He Zhen heard this, he immediately became angry and lectured: "So, you are not capable of being a prince-in-law!"

After saying that, he went back to his room angrily.

The next day, He Zhen returned to his home in Dongguan, and then immediately went to the study to write the memorial.

While he was writing, his son He Gui heard that his father was back and came to the study to look for him.

As soon as he entered the door, He Gui said to He Zhen: "Dad, the latest news from the capital has arrived." "Oh?" He Zhen heard this and was writing the last point, so he asked directly without looking up, "Yes?" Did something big happen?"

After hearing this, He Gui opened the piece of paper in his hand and replied, "There is really a big event. The first thing is that Wang Guangyang has been re-appointed as the right prime minister..."

He Zhen was writing and listening, and when he heard the news, he was completely indifferent.

Of course he could see clearly that Wang Guangyang was a coward, coveting glory and wealth, and did not dare to take power at all. Being prime minister was just a decoration.

"...Also, Duke Wei conquered Tubo and opened up thousands of miles of territory. The emperor has appointed him as the prime minister..."

Upon hearing this, He Zhen's writing pen suddenly stopped. He looked up at his son and asked with some shock: "What kind of prime minister is Duke Wei?"

"The one in the middle, the prime minister!"

When He Zhen heard this, he was immediately surprised: "Three prime ministers? Still the middle prime minister, so why should I respect you? When Wei Guogong becomes the prime minister, it is indeed a big deal!"

Feeling moved, he lowered his head to write the letter again, finished writing the last point, and asked at the same time, "Is there anything else?"

While talking, he put down the brush, picked up the paper in front of him, and puffed his mouth to let the ink dry as soon as possible, so he could fold it up and send it out.

After hearing this, He Gui looked at the news and continued: "Also, the emperor ordered the crown prince to manage the government. All major and minor government affairs handled by the prime minister will be dealt with and then forwarded to the crown prince and then to the emperor."

After finishing speaking, he put down the paper and finally said: "That's all the news this time."

When He Zhen heard this, his hands froze immediately. He looked up at his son and confirmed, "All memorials must be sent to the Crown Prince for review first?"

"Yes!" He Gui listened and nodded to confirm. Then he looked at the piece of paper in his father's hand and asked, "Dad, what did you write?"

He could tell that his father was using paper specially designed for memorials, and it seemed that he was going to write something.

As a result, after He Zhen confirmed the Crown Prince's political affairs, he suddenly moved his hands and tore up what he had just written. His son was a little dumbfounded. He didn't know what his father was up to.

When he came to his senses, he asked: "Dad, what are you going to do, and why are you tearing it up again?"

He Zhen listened, but did not answer. After tearing it up, he threw it into the wastebasket, and then said to He Gui: "There is something that you should follow up on personally. The consort has told us to go to Nanyang." …”

He asked He Gui to handle the matter assigned to him by Zhang Yifan. After finishing speaking, he emphasized: "This matter must be done well, and it must be done beautifully. In this way, if you fall into the eyes of the consort, you will For those who can become the crown prince, my He family will be safe in the next two dynasties, and even go one step further!"

He Gui already knew that his father and his eldest brother went to Xiangshan County just to hug the prince-in-law's thigh. Now it was not strange to give him such an order, so he agreed.

Then, he was still a little curious and asked: "Dad, what did you tear up just now? Did you make a typo?"

After hearing this, He Zhen hesitated for a moment, and then replied: "I originally wanted to report to the emperor about going to Nanyang, but this memorial has to be in the hands of the prince first. After thinking about it, I decided not to do it. Even if I want to show my loyalty, it's okay. It’s not cost-effective, so be it!”

Just as he thought before, the He family represents the past, and the consort represents the future; the current emperor represents the present, but the prince represents the future;

At the moment, he is still there and not afraid of anything.What he is afraid of is that his son is not as capable as him. If he is gone, it is hard to say what will happen to the He family in the future.So now and later, obviously later is more important.

Another thing, he also smelled the smell of Xiangshan County for the first time due to the changes in the Ministry of Education.This shows that the emperor's consort's influence on court affairs was far more important than he imagined.

In other words, although the consort said that the emperor did not care about Nanyang at the moment, with the consort's ability, the current emperor might be persuaded by the consort in the future and then make plans for Nanyang.In this case, there is no need to show loyalty, and it may actually make the prince-in-law hate him.

Otherwise, even if the consort doesn't care, it will be impossible to become the confidant of the consort.

For these reasons, he tore up the memorial he had just written.Of course, if he had the right to secretly report the memorial and the memorial could be delivered directly to the emperor, he might change his mind.It's just a pity that he didn't!

........................

Zhang Yifan never expected that He Zhen, an old fox, had so many thoughts on his mind.

At this time, after the meeting with the He family, he stopped caring about it at all and instead paid attention to the operation of the Xiangshan County government-run sugar factory. He even paid a private visit incognito to check the status of the sugar cane purchase.

Not only the local people in Xiangshan County sent truckloads of sugar cane to the sugar factory, but also the people in Panyu County also happily sent sugar cane.

For them, sugar cane is equal to their extra income.Because the county magistrate Prince Consort had already said hello last year, he was not afraid that no one would buy it. Therefore, sugar cane was grown in all places where sugar cane could be grown. This large amount can be regarded as a huge extra income for the family.

Even because the price here in Xiangshan County is higher than that in other places, farmers from places other than Xiangshan County and Panyu County send sugar cane.

Fortunately, the wharves here in Xiangshan County are now very well constructed. Through water transportation, the roads are all cement roads, and the transportation is developed. Sugar cane can also reach Xiangshan County easily, and there will be no time delay on the way.

Because cut down sugar cane is not easy to preserve, even if it is uprooted, it cannot be preserved for a few days. Therefore, there are three shifts at the sugar factory, processing sugar cane day and night, which has become a night scene in Xiangshan County, with lights brightly lit until dawn.

Zhang Yifan watched for a few days and found that there were basically no problems with the work at the sugar factory, even during the peak period when people were sending sugar cane, so he felt relieved.

So, he returned to the county government office and began to deal with government affairs in a leisurely manner.

One afternoon, while Zhang Yifan was handling some government affairs, a government servant came over to report that the administrator of the library wanted to see him.

Since the establishment of the library, that is, at the very beginning, when the administrator there was having trouble deciding something, he would come to see him.Later, after it stabilized, this situation no longer existed.

Now, the library administrator suddenly came to see him. It was probably because of something difficult to decide that he had to come to him.

Zhang Yifan was thinking about this and couldn't help but be a little curious, so he met with the administrator of the library.

　Ask for support!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)