My father is Jiajing

Chapter 206: Your Majesty Pays Attention to Details
Gao Gong arrived the day after Zhang Juzheng arrived.

Gao Gong braved the wind and snow and entered the courtyard of Prince Yu's mansion. Then, under the guidance of the eunuch, he went to the study room in the inner courtyard, which was where Zhu Zaigui usually attended classes.

At this time, Zhu Zaigui was also waiting for Gao Gong's arrival in the study. When Gao Gong just arrived, Zhu Zaigui also stood up and went to the front of the study to greet him and said, "Mr. Gao, you have worked hard."

Gao Gong looked at Zhu Zaigui who came out to greet him and bowed back quickly: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Zhu Zaigui laughed and made a gesture to invite them in. Meng Chong pulled open the thick door curtain, and the two of them walked into the warm study one after the other.

Zhu Zaigui sat in his seat, and Gao Gong also sat in his seat.

Gao Gong said, "Your Highness, have you heard? Grand Secretary Zhang Ge Lao died yesterday."

Zhu Zaigui's eyes widened in surprise, "Really? I never thought that Lord Zhang would die."

Gao Gong said with emotion: "Yes, everyone knows that Zhang Ge Lao has been ill for a long time, but I didn't expect it to be at this time. I thought he could make it until the beginning of spring."

Zhu Zaigui said: "The deceased is gone, and Mr. Zhang can finally feel at ease. He no longer has to work day and night."

Gao Gong was obviously stunned by Zhu Zaigui's words. It was the first time he heard such words.

It is obvious that Zhu Zaigui's view on life and death is significantly different from that of their time.

At least in this era, when evaluating a person's life or death, no one would easily be glad that someone's death was a relief like Zhu Zaigui did.

So as soon as Zhu Zaigui finished speaking, Gao Gong was stunned.

Gao Gong thought about it and felt that there seemed to be some truth in it. He bowed to Zhu Zaigui and said, "Your Highness is still very insightful. I cannot compare with you."

Zhu Zaigui chuckled, hiding his embarrassment, and then asked, "Now that Zhang Ge Lao has passed away, I guess Your Majesty is no longer reliable in selecting people to join the cabinet. I wonder what Mr. Gao thinks about this?"

Gao Gong took the initiative to talk about Zhang Zhi's death just to bring up this topic.

Now that Zhu Zaigui had taken the initiative to bring it up, Gao Gong naturally became interested.

Gao Gong said, "I thought that after Zhang Ge Lao passed away, Your Majesty would promote Xu Huating, the Minister of Rites, to the cabinet. Your Majesty has been arranging for Xu Huating to join the cabinet to discuss matters. Now that Zhang Ge Lao has passed away, Xu Huating's entry into the cabinet is naturally just around the corner."

Zhu Zaigui nodded in approval and said, "Mr. Gao is right. Minister Xu is mature and prudent, and has a long-standing reputation. He is also a successor of the School of Mind. Whether in the literary world or in the court, he has a high chance of joining the cabinet."

"And your majesty has always paid attention to details, so I think it is certain that Minister Xu will join the cabinet, but it may not be before the New Year."

After Gao Gong heard Zhu Zai's words, he was also surprised and asked: "Why do you think it's not in front of you, Your Majesty?"

Zhu Zaigui chuckled and certainly would not say that he knew anything about the historical process.

Zhu Zaigui said, "Because the New Year is coming soon, things in the palace and the court are not too busy. So even if Minister Xu joins the cabinet, there will be no rush. Your Majesty should wait until after the New Year before announcing the decree."

Gao Gong nodded slightly, "Your Majesty, what you said makes sense."

Then Gao Gong couldn't help but ask another question.

Gao Gong asked, "I heard that Xu Huating recommended a Hanlin editor to Your Majesty to serve as a lecturer in the palace. I wonder if this person would suit Your Majesty's taste?"

After hearing what Gao Gong said, Zhu Zaigui felt a little unhappy.

Although Zhu Zaigui was well aware that Gao Gong had no selfish motives towards him and no ill intentions, his act of "protecting food" did make Zhu Zaigui a little unhappy.

Zhu Zaigui said indifferently: "This is all the will of His Majesty, and I can do nothing about it. But you don't have to worry about this person's knowledge. Since he can pass the imperial examination and serve as an editor in the Hanlin Academy, he must have solid knowledge, and it is more than enough for him to teach a teenager like me."

"Moreover, I also want to learn more knowledge and understand more about the ways of the world. I will remember Mr. Gao's kindness." When Gao Gong heard what Zhu Zaigui said, he immediately realized that he seemed to have said something wrong.

I really shouldn't have regarded Zhu Zaigui as my private student.

This kind of mentality is really too presumptuous.

But Gao Gong really couldn't help it.

After all, in Gao Gong's heart, Zhu Zaigui was everything to him, not just his student.

That's why he asked that question so presumptuously just now.

Zhu Zaigui looked at Gao Gong's regretful expression again, and his heart couldn't help but soften.

Zhu Zaigui said softly, "Mr. Gao, you will always be the one I respect the most. In this respect, you are irreplaceable! Moreover, I trust you wholeheartedly and will never doubt your willingness to educate and cultivate me."

Listening to Zhu Zaigui's soft words, Gao Gongxin was suddenly filled with emotion and shame.

He was moved by Zhu Zaigui's sincerity and respect for him, and felt ashamed of his own selfishness and pettiness.

He shouldn't have been so selfish as to treat Zhu Zaigui as his own exclusive student.

You have to know that Zhu Zaigui's identity had already destined him to not be alone, and there would be more people of all kinds around him in the future.

As Mr. Zhu Zaigui's father, Gao Gong, he had no choice but to devote all his sincerity and protect Zhu Zaigui at all costs from being bullied. This was what he should do.

It is also the greatest value he can give back to Zhu Zaigui's trust.

Gao Gong's eyes were instantly filled with tears. He bowed deeply to Zhu Zaigui and said, "I understand. I am ashamed of your trust, Your Majesty."

Zhu Zaigui quickly stood up and came over to hold Gao Gong's arm, "Sir, what are you doing? I don't mean to blame you. I just want to tell you that I know everything and understand everything. I also know who is the best for me."

"Besides, I am still waiting for you to teach me and answer my questions. Why are you crying?"

Gao Gong looked at Zhu Zaigui with emotion. While wiping away his tears, he said, "Your Highness is right. I will continue to teach you."

Zhu Zaigui couldn't help laughing when he heard this, "That's right. Please take a seat, sir."

Zhu Zaigui helped Gao Gong sit on a chair nearby, and then returned to his own seat.

Then Gao Gong took a deep breath to ease his emotions.

Then Gao Gong began to talk about the course to be taught today.

The course that Gao Gong is going to teach Zhu Zaigui today is an important component of the Ming Dynasty’s fiscal revenue - salt tax!
Salt has been an official exclusive property since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and has a history of more than 2,000 years.

In a sense, the development of salt tax is a microcosm of the development of ancient commercial level.

If the salt tax revenue was good, it would indicate that the ancient market was flexible and had potential, and the government was efficient in governing. If the salt tax revenue was languid and chaotic, it would indicate that the commercial development in ancient times was in a mess, with not only serious bureaucracy and many people who were just sitting there doing nothing, but also many corrupt officials with complicated connections.

The main point is that it is a mess that cannot be sorted out.

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Asking for monthly ticket

(End of this chapter)