Zhang Bian Guan was still as sloppy as ever. He ran into the yard with an item in his hand that was not commonly seen in the capital. It was a small copper stove made of bamboo that was popular in the countryside of Jiangnan. Inside, there was a charcoal fire covered in ash for warmth. The elderly all liked to carry this item when they went out for a walk or chatted at home. The ancestral home of the Zhang family was south of the Guangling River. Before Zhang Julu made a name for himself in the imperial examinations, he often used this when he was studying hard. After all, compared to a large stove, it saved a lot of charcoal fire. Even poor families could use it if they gritted their teeth. After he became famous in the capital, only his grandfather, who had moved to Taian City to live out his retirement, occasionally used it. Who knew where Zhang Bian Guan had gotten such an old antique from?
Zhang Bian Guan asked the steward for some new charcoal to pour into the stove. He also shoveled some ash from the large bamboo stove under Zhang Julu's feet. Crouching on the ground, he finished fiddling with it and handed it to Zhang Julu. Zhang Julu was startled. He took it and placed it on his lap. With one hand holding the book and the other holding the stove, the warmth immediately increased.
Zhang Bian Guan asked for a small stool from the steward and grumbled endlessly, "How old are you? You don't know how to admit your old age. You insist on admiring the snow outside and reading to act like a hero …"
The steward smiled knowingly and left. These words could only be said by the young master. The other two young masters would never dare to say such things. The old master only needed to give them a slightly impatient glance and the two young masters, who only knew how to bury themselves in books, would tremble in fear. Even in the summer, it was as if they were walking on thin ice.
Zhang Bian Guan used an iron pincer to stir the charcoal fire in the stove and said to himself, "I heard from the marketplace that your words as the Grand Secretary are becoming more and more useless today. Many fifth and sixth-level minor officials dare to be sloppy. Other than Wang Xionggui's Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Rites, which can be considered honest, the Ministry of Appointments, Ministry of War, Ministry of Works, and Ministry of Justice all have countermeasures against Zhang Bian Guan's policies. Especially the Hanlin Academy and Imperial College. Every few days, the noble officials and scholars will come up with a few new poems that borrow from the past to satirize the present. There are even some who say that the Emperor is patrolling the borders. Earlier, he went to Liao to clean up the corruption case between the internal and external courts. Now, he is going to Jizhou to overturn the case of the Han family.........................
...... is...............
........................... .... If you want to talk about it, even a basket of them won't be enough! "
... Zhang Julu calmly asked, "Didn't you also say that right now, it's just some low-level officials who are stirring up trouble?"
... Zhang Bian Guan placed his hands on the stove to warm the fire. He didn't even raise his head. "Gusts of cold wind rise from underground. If we don't stop it in time, when the evil rain falls on our heads, can we still be saved?"
... Zhang Julu impatiently said, "That's it? If you're done, you can leave. "
.. Zhang Bian Guan suddenly raised his head. His eyes were red as he asked, "This time, I actually want to talk about two things. First, there was an imperial censor who accused my eldest brother of embezzling fertile land and my second brother of cheating in the imperial examination. Others are cursing you, the Grand Secretary. I don't care, and I don't have the ability to interfere. But why do you have to treat my two brothers so lowly?! You clearly have the ability to interfere, so why do you have to swallow your anger? Even if … even if the ending is the same, and I'm just a pile of mud who doesn't care, can't you let my two brothers die a bit more honorably?! "
... Zhang Julu calmly said, "Your second brother cheated in the imperial examination. He said that the sixth place in the provincial examination had an improper origin. Although I didn't incite him to do anything back then, if you think about it carefully, it can be considered true. After all, the chief examiner appointed by the Emperor at that time was my disciple. With your second brother's craftsmanship, although it wouldn't be difficult for him to pass the provincial examination, to obtain the title of the chief examiner was no different from a fool's dream. As for your eldest brother embezzling fertile land … "
Zhang Bian Guan angrily said, "My eldest brother, that bookworm, and my eldest sister-in-law, every time they come to the residence, they wear the exact same clothes and jewelry that can be considered valuable. How can they compete with the common people?! For the sake of his reputation, your Grand Secretary has never taken a look at eldest brother's official residence. I, Zhang Bian Guan, have been there countless times. I know better than anyone what kind of poor life eldest brother and sister-in-law lead! "
Zhang Julu interrupted his youngest son's words and calmly said, "In the eighth year of Yonghui, I indeed helped your eldest brother purchase three hundred mu of fertile land. My method was not honorable, but your eldest brother has always been kept in the dark."
Zhang Bian Guan was stunned. Then, tears immediately gushed out of his eyes. He muttered to himself, "Why is this? Why do you even have to scheme against your own son …"
Zhang Julu looked at the snow in the courtyard. It was a vast expanse of white. No one had swept it away for half a day. Perhaps it was knee-deep. He softly said, "The so-called Spring of Yonghui, all the officials in the imperial court are well aware. In the future, those who stand side by side will mostly come from humble families."
Zhang Julu put down the book and stood up. He carried the small stove with both hands and muttered to himself, "The rule of humble families having no noble children has already been broken. The significance is great. Compared to the past when the Great Emperor Qin established the Qin Dynasty, the wandering scholars were no longer rootless duckweeds. However, in the past eight hundred years, everyone has deeply experienced the advantages and disadvantages of the noble families. In that case, in the next eight hundred years, will those poor scholars who have jumped over the dragon's gate today reflect on themselves? How much will they reflect on themselves? Poor scholars suddenly become rich and powerful. In the morning, they become field salaried workers. In the evening, they ascend to the Hall of Heaven. Do you really think that anyone can control their own hearts in the dyed vat of officialdom? It is precisely these barefooted people who stand at a high position. Once they do evil, they have no bottom line. "
Zhang Julu smiled and said, "This door was opened by me, Zhang Julu. Then, looking at me, Zhang Julu, the grand Grand Secretary of the imperial court, who has been in power for twenty years, I have lost my reputation because of the corruption of my descendants. Does this count as giving a dose of refreshing medicine to the poor scholars and officials who have ascended to the imperial court in the future?"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
