NovelsNook - Explore Fan-Fiction Novels Online Free!

Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 3: The Fat Minister Urges the Prime Minister

Chapter 3: The Fat Minister Urges the Prime Minister
The snow had just stopped falling when the sun began to rise. Accompanied by a melodious shout, the gates of Beijing slowly opened. The people who had been waiting at the gates rushed out.

For a while, shouting, cursing, and calling out were heard everywhere.

Zhang Yunxiu and his group got off their mounts early and squeezed in with the crowd.

Looking around, there was a sea of ​​people, shoulder to shoulder, and people speaking different accents everywhere.

Since Emperor Chengzu moved the capital to Beijing, Beijing, an unpopular frontier city, suddenly became the political center of the entire Ming Dynasty.

After hundreds of years of development, the population of Beijing was less than 100,000 in the early Ming Dynasty.

Today, the number has reached nearly one million.

This is the result of driving people out since the Hongzhi period.

After hesitating for half an hour, Zhang Yunxiu finally entered the inner city.

Looking around, there are shops on both sides. The roofs have been covered by last night's snow and wind. The streets with bluestone floors are clean and tidy without any dirt.

There were soldiers on the main roads, cleaning the streets.

"Fifth Young Master, isn't it impolite for us to come here without saying hello to the master?" Standing on the street, Zhang Fu on the side felt a little scared.

Zhang Yunxiu didn't care about anything else. He just shook his head and said, "It's none of your business. If you really want to be punished, punish me alone."

After saying that, he ran towards Shamao Hutong on Dengshi Street.

Seeing this, Zhang Fu and his companions looked at each other, and led their horses to follow Zhang Yunxiu's pace.

Dengshi Street, where Zhang Juzheng's Grand Secretary's Mansion was located, was a prosperous place in the entire capital city, and was only one street away from the Forbidden City.

Because it is located next to the six government offices, those who come in and out are either rich or noble.

There are tall buildings on both sides, which are either the villas of wealthy merchants or the places where some big shots keep their mistresses.

Every night, the streets of Lantern Market are brightly lit with crowds of people, carriages and horses are everywhere, and the sound of orchestral music is endless. Young men from Wuling compete with each other for wealth just to win a beautiful woman's smile.

After walking for a while according to their memory, Zhang Yunxiu and his party arrived in front of a house.

At the gate of the house stood two large stone lions made of white marble. Between the stone lions, on a plaque made of rosewood, four large characters "Grand Secretary's Mansion" were written in gilded fonts.

Below the plaque stood four men.

They all wore round hats, black round-necked robes, and black boots, looking very stylish.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu coming forward, one of them recognized him.

He was surprised and hurried forward to greet him, but asked a stupid question: "Fifth Master, why are you here?"

Without waiting for Zhang Yunxiu to answer, Zhang Fu's face trembled, and he gritted his teeth and asked, "Why did the Fifth Young Master come? Does he need to report to you?"

"We dare not. We dare not." Several servants shook their heads in fear.

"Is the master in the mansion today?" Zhang Fu asked again.

"The master has not gone out today." replied the servant.

After hearing this, Zhang Yunxiu took a deep breath and walked into the vermilion gate. Along the way, his heart was so nervous that it felt like it was about to jump out.

That feeling is comparable to checking your college entrance examination scores yourself.

The closer it gets to checking the scores, the more nervous I get.

In his impression, Zhang Juzheng has always been very strict with his children.

If I rush here from my hometown like this, I will be scolded at best, and even beaten with a stick at worst.

Just as he was thinking about it, two people were sitting opposite each other in Zhang Juzheng's study.

Sitting in the main seat was Zhang Juzheng, and sitting on the side was a fat man in casual clothes.

The man was about fifty years old, of medium build, plump and white, with a big belly, wearing a green robe, leaning on a chair. At first glance, he looked like a Maitreya Buddha.

It was the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Li Youzi.

He and Zhang Juzheng were both Jinshi in the 26th year of Jiajing, and were from the same hometown. He made a considerable contribution to the defeat of Gao Gong.

Therefore, Zhang Juzheng trusted him very much, and Li Youzi was also very proud of him.

After taking a sip of tea, Li Youzi moved his stool forward and whispered, "Uncle, Li Wei is already over 60 years old and probably won't live for many more years. Why would you offend the Queen Mother for him?"

"According to the old system of the imperial court, the highest nobility a relative can be granted is earl." Zhang Juzheng said expressionlessly, "If we make an exception for him, and another relative with no merit in the future asks for the title of duke, where will the dignity of the imperial court be?
"Wouldn't that just chill the hearts of meritorious officials in vain?"

"That's what I said, but there must be a precedent."

"Then wait until I die."

Zhang Juzheng clapped his hands loudly and added, "Isn't his family rich enough? When Emperor Longqing ascended the throne, he rewarded him with 3,000 acres of grain fields and also gave him Yan Song's mansion."

"Since the current emperor ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor have bestowed upon him many times, which is already the utmost honor and favor, but he still..."

Speaking of this, the dignified appearance of Empress Dowager Li emerged in Zhang Juzheng's mind.

It is this woman that makes him love and fear her at the same time.

Love made her give up power, allowing him to connect the outer court with the inner court.

Be careful that she sometimes acts unreasonable and will put herself in a dilemma once her father and brothers are involved.

Seeing his stubborn attitude, Li Youzi tried to persuade him earnestly, "Alas, when Emperor Hongzhi was in power, the Zhang brothers had no achievements, one was made a marquis, the other a baron. Didn't the then Grand Secretary Li Dongyang stop it?"

"You rubbed Li Wei's seed fields a few days ago, and now you are confronting him head-on. I'm afraid this is not a good idea."

Zhang Juzheng remained silent upon hearing this.

Emperor Hongzhi was indeed too doting on the Zhang brothers.

Looking back at the more than 200 years of the Ming Dynasty, it is estimated that there is no such relative by marriage.

"Uncle, this is just a noble title, why do you have to be so serious about it?" Li Youzi said while the iron was hot, "In fact, if you find it difficult to handle, you can just pretend to be deaf and dumb and let Shen Shixing handle it. Fortunately, he is the Minister of Rites."

"This is a master of Tai Chi."

Zhang Juzheng frowned, waved his hand to stop talking, and changed the subject: "The 'One Whip' method implemented in Jiangnan and other places last year was quite effective. This year, your Ministry of Revenue should increase its efforts and implement it throughout the country."

Well, this is another big problem.

Li Youzi felt overwhelmed. After a moment's hesitation, he replied, "I don't think we need to be so hasty. The implementation of the new policy will cause great resistance from the powerful and wealthy. It's better to wait and see."

"The 'One Whip' method has a hundred benefits and no harm, so why wait?" Zhang Juzheng stood up and said with emotion, "During the Jiajing period, the then cabinet vice minister Gui E once promoted this method in the local area, but in the end it was a big thunder but little rain, and ended in a dismal end."

"You know, you still want to persist?"

"Different."

"Why is it different?"

Zhang Juzheng smiled and shook his head: "At that time, Gui E had no foundation in the local area, and did not have the full support of the emperor in the court. This led to the failure of the reform. Do you think it can be the same?"

"Uncle."

"Yuan Shu, I know you are doing this for my own good, but there are some things that cannot be compromised." Li Youzi wanted to say more, but Zhang Juzheng interrupted him rudely and spoke earnestly.

Seeing that he could not persuade his old friend, Li Youzi raised his eyebrows and said teasingly, "Oh, I didn't expect that our university scholar still has the bad temper of a young man at this age."

Zhang Juzheng smiled and replied, "Sometimes, young people with passion can achieve great things."

"That's right. Everyone in the capital knows about the romantic affairs of Grand Master Zhang." Li Youzi pursed her lips and said sourly, "They say that if a man is not romantic when young, he is wasted. You are still so cool at this age."

Zhang Juzheng stroked his beard and laughed proudly: "Enjoying the beauty's love, sleeping on the lap of a beautiful woman when drunk, and ruling the country when awake, this is what a real man should be like."

"Then I am certainly not a man."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Juzheng burst into laughter. Just as he was about to reply, he heard someone outside the door come in and report: "Master, the fifth young master has come from Huguang and said he wants to see you."

Yunxiu?

Didn’t I ask him to prepare for this year’s provincial examination in Huguang?
Zhang Juzheng frowned and was silent for a while before saying, "Let that rebellious son wait!"

Li Youzi was also tactful. He said a few simple words and found an excuse to slip away.

(End of this chapter)