Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 810 The Most Difficult Person to Exceptionally Admit

Before Zhang Luan and his wife had even left the palace, Li Rong hurriedly caught up with them.

"What did I tell you? You can't escape!"

Zhang Luan looked annoyed.

Jin frowned and asked, "You are an official in the court. Why are you hiding from people in the palace? Is being an official so scary? Then why are you scrambling to get ahead?"

"What do you know?"

Zhang Luan said helplessly, "With my son not here, there are many things I can't handle, and I'm afraid of showing my incompetence!"

Jin pouted and said, "Who will be the official, Yanling or you?"

Zhang Luan's expression was unfriendly: "You have a good son and a good daughter who can provide for you in your later years. That's much better than having a good husband! What, you're finding fault with your son because he's capable?"

Upon reflection, Mr. Jin realized that this seemed to be the case.

As they were talking, Li Rong stepped forward, panting, and said, "Mr. Zhang, I've been chasing you for quite a while... Didn't you submit a memorial requesting the addition of cabinet ministers? It seems you even have someone you like to recommend to His Majesty... That's why His Majesty wants to see you to discuss this matter."

Kim asked blankly, "What do you mean?"

He's not even enthusiastic about his own husband getting an official position, yet he has the nerve to recommend others?
Picture what?
Zhang Luan casually said, "I recommended Xu Qiong, who is my brother-in-law... You, a woman, shouldn't ask about this! Will you wait for me here, or come with me to Qianqing Palace? Or will you go back home on your own?"

Mr. Jin said with dissatisfaction, "We came here to take on a challenge, and this is the result?"

"Be content."

Zhang Luan said, "I've already given you enough face by coming to greet you in person... There's no need to be so calculating between husband and wife. Let's have a family dinner tonight. The second son isn't home, so let's invite the eldest... Sigh, there's still a breathing son by our side. Even if he's not good at anything, at least he can carry on the Zhang family line, right?"

Upon hearing this, Mr. Jin fell silent.

If you come home and your husband doesn't stay in the house at night, that's really disrespectful.

……

……

In the Qianqing Palace.

As soon as Zhang Luan arrived, he was offered a seat. After he sat down, tea was immediately served, and there was even a watermelon placed to the side, which was icy cold. It was very thoughtful of him.

Zhu Youcheng said, "It's only early autumn, and the summer heat still lingers... Father-in-law, are you comfortable with this weather?"

"well enough."

Zhang Luan wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a smile, "The crisp autumn season is just around the corner, and I have high hopes for it."

Zhu Youcheng nodded: "Yes, autumn is indeed a great season for harvest... I just received a letter from Yanling from the south. He has already arrived in Yingtian Prefecture."

"Huh? How come it's so fast?"

Zhang Luan was very surprised.

Did your son fly there?

It feels like we've only been gone a few days, and my son has already arrived in Yingtian Prefecture?
Doesn't that mean that he can set off and return as soon as he finishes his business?
Zhu Youcheng said, "Yanling is currently receiving ships at Longjiang Port... It is said that there are many strange and unusual things on the ships returning from Southeast Asia, and he has to personally identify them... I don't know where Yanling learned his skills, but he knows exactly what products are not from the Ming Dynasty..."

“Yanling repeatedly assured me that he would not go out to sea to take risks, but... based on his description and his writings, those who go out to sea may not be able to find what he described and bring it back.”

Zhang Luan said, "Yanling said that if crops he values, such as corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and peanuts, are brought back to the Ming Dynasty, grain production will increase significantly, especially in the arid northwest regions, where the effects will be immediate, and the lives of the people will improve considerably as a result."

"Ah."

Zhu Youcheng nodded and said, "I've heard Yanling say that corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes are all drought-resistant and can produce fruit with just a little water. With continuous breeding and selection of the best, the yield per mu can reach thousands of jin in just a few years. These crops are excellent sources of starch, which can be processed into various grains that can be stored for a long time, and can also be used to brew wine for sale. This can help solve the problem of insufficient military pay to a certain extent, which is beneficial to the country and the people!"

Zhang Luan was speechless for a moment.

He thought to himself, "You, my seemingly honest and simple son-in-law, are actually thinking about war all the time?"

You have only been on the throne for a short time. Even if you have this idea, can't you keep a low profile and develop the country's strength for more than ten years before talking about it?
At that time, I was old and frail, and I wouldn't cause you any trouble in the court. You two young people can do whatever you want, and I will absolutely not interfere.

Zhang Luan wondered again, "Can I live for another ten years or so?"

For a moment, I felt a bit anxious and uncertain.

Zhu Youcheng took out a memorial and glanced at it, then looked at Zhang Luan and asked, "Does my father-in-law intend to recommend a candidate for Grand Secretary from among the scholars of the Hanlin Academy?"

"It doesn't necessarily have to be limited to the Hanlin Academy. Those who have served in the Hanlin Academy before are also acceptable. It's all about knowing people and assigning them to suitable positions!"

Zhang Luan patiently explained to the emperor's son-in-law, "I have a little selfish reason... I've never been able to work in the cabinet before, and I always felt I had failed the court and Your Majesty's favor. I was thinking it would be better to find someone I know well and who is very capable to join the cabinet, so that they can take over my work and I can be at ease... and be a free man for a few days..."

Zhu Youcheng chuckled and joked, "Is that so?"

Zhang Luan shrugged, mimicking his youngest son, and said, "I am indeed not very good at matters concerning the Ministry of War, but Your Majesty needs generals who can train troops. Appointing Wang Yue as Vice Minister of War is very appropriate."

"As for the selection of cabinet ministers this time, it is based on the same considerations."

"I recommend Xu Qiong, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. He was originally a Hanlin Academician and has long served as the head of the Hanlin Academy in Nanjing. He has a high reputation and much more experience in court than I do. Appointing him will not only silence the criticisms of the officials but also greatly help Your Majesty in maintaining control of the overall situation..."

Zhu Youcheng interrupted Zhang Luan, saying with a wistful expression, "But for some reason, I always feel that no one is as insightful and capable as my father-in-law... It would be wonderful if my father-in-law could return to court to assist me!"

"No no no."

Zhang Luan quickly denied it, saying, "No matter what, my experience in politics is still too shallow, and it is difficult for me to convince the public. On the other hand, Vice Minister Xu's qualifications and abilities are there for all to see. Moreover... he is a genuine Jinshi graduate."

In a single sentence, Zhang Luan revealed his deep-seated insecurity.

He always felt ashamed that he was not a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), and it was precisely because of this that he dared not attend court assemblies or sit in office. How could he live if he faced so many Jinshi officials every day?
Zhu Youcheng asked, "Does my father-in-law wish to return to work in the cabinet?"

"I am not capable of that."

Zhang Luan said with a bitter expression, "For the foreseeable future, I will be able to attend court and help Your Majesty with the affairs of state. As for Your Majesty's opinion that I have some knowledge and ability... that is because Yanling has been by my side in the past, and he has been able to provide considerable assistance in handling some ingenious matters."

Zhu Youcheng said, "The problem is... isn't Yanling currently out of the capital?"

"what?"

Zhang Luan couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

When did sons-in-law become so direct?
My son is not here, and only now do you think of sending me to court to do your bidding?
Am I, Zhang, really that invisible now?
Oops, my line of thinking seems to be wrong!

Why do I keep telling myself I'm a good-for-nothing and constantly praising my youngest son to my close friends and family? Could it be that people have started to believe me and stop taking me seriously?

Zhu Youcheng continued, "My father-in-law's qualifications and prestige are excellent; there's no need for him to belittle himself. Besides, hasn't my father-in-law already joined the cabinet? What does that have to do with your recommendation of new cabinet ministers?"

Zhang Luan thought to himself, "Hey, you've almost got me all confused. So you knew I was recommending talent, huh?" He quickly replied, "I was just worried that the cabinet's duties might not be done well, which would delay Your Majesty's important matters. That's why I'm recommending talented people... If Your Majesty thinks it's inappropriate, then so be it!"

"Do not."

Zhu Youcheng said, “My father-in-law’s recommendation is excellent. The cabinet does need someone of our own, so that he can help my father-in-law and speak on my behalf. In that case, let’s appoint Minister Xu as a Hanlin Academician and let him work in the cabinet first. Later, I will promote him to Grand Secretary.”

"And father-in-law... I'm already preparing to appoint you as a Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall. What do you think?"

"Huh?" Zhang Luan was a little confused for a moment.

He felt that his ancestors' graves were emitting auspicious smoke, as he had become a Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty with the status of a scholar who had only passed the county-level imperial examinations.

Now you can actually become a Grand Scholar directly?

That would be like the ancestral graves catching fire, wouldn't it?
Zhu Youcheng continued, "After Scholar Xu enters the cabinet, there will be four cabinet ministers in the cabinet, which should be enough... Scholar Li and Scholar Xie can postpone their entry into the cabinet."

"This……"

Zhang Luan was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself, "So Xu Qiong's entry into the cabinet has squeezed out Xie Qian and Li Dongyang's positions?"

Wouldn't this disrupt the original promotion order of the cabinet?
Am I not a sinner?
"Is my father-in-law overjoyed?"

Seeing Zhang Luan standing there dumbfounded, Zhu Youcheng muttered to himself, smiled, and instructed the eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial who was standing to the side, "Settle the matter directly, and announce the decree in the next two days."

"Here."

Qin Chang and Li Rong immediately bowed their heads and accepted the order.

Qin Chang felt even more mocked.

Should!
Who told you, Xie Qian, to be so aloof and insist on yielding to Li Dongyang?

If you had agreed earlier, His Majesty would have been overjoyed and immediately granted you entry into the cabinet. There wouldn't have been so many problems later.

Now that Xu Qiong has taken office, no new cabinet members have been appointed for the next few years. I wonder what you, Xie Qian, think about this?
Zhang Luan seemed a bit unsure, and cautiously said, "With just a word from me, Xu Qiong could become a cabinet minister? Wouldn't that be a bit..."

In Zhang Luan's view, the emperor agreed to his suggestion without any hesitation. Wasn't this trust a bit excessive?
What he didn't know was that in the original history, the emperor was able to transfer the former Minister of Rites, Ni Yue, to Nanjing in order to bestow the position of Minister of Rites upon Xu Qiong...

The Hongzhi Emperor was known for his protectiveness of his own. If he trusted someone or promoted them, he would not reason with them at all.

Especially now that Zhu Youcheng has only recently ascended the throne, he really needs to place some of his own people in the court.

Zhang Luan was completely unaware of this. He thought that the emperor's most trusted confidants were the tutors in the Eastern Palace who had taught him since childhood.

Little did he know that in the mind of the Hongzhi Emperor, only his father-in-law and his father-in-law's faction could protect him and ensure his position as the de facto emperor, rather than allowing the civil officials to control his speech and turn him into a puppet.

Historically, the young Zhu Youcheng was coerced by his tutors in the Eastern Palace to hand over personnel and financial power to the cabinet, which led to the rapid expansion of the power of the civil service group. When Zhu Youcheng sent people to audit the accounts, he was threatened with the resignation of important officials such as Liu Daxia and Ma Wensheng, and had no choice but to swallow his anger and back down.

This power structure led to the loss of imperial power and created a hidden danger for eunuchs to interfere in politics.

In the later years of the Hongzhi reign, due to the demotion of Wang Yue and the relaxation of military preparedness, the Tatars invaded Liaodong and other places three times. Dayan Khan even moved the royal court to the Hetao region. The northern frontier defense line became the most dilapidated since the Tumu Crisis, all of which were the result of the civil officials losing control.

However, in order to uphold Confucian values, the civil service group excessively glorified the image of Emperor Hongzhi in historical records, even going so far as to claim that he was a "restoration" of the dynasty, which was in fact a misnomer.

At this time, Zhu Youcheng, with the assistance of Zhang Yanling, was rich and powerful and was in high spirits. He smiled and said, "The person recommended by my father-in-law is sure to be right... Besides, my father-in-law said that Minister Xu is capable and qualified, so why not?"

Zhang Luan hadn't expected his power to be so great.

He simply recommended Xu Qiong to increase the strength of his own camp. He originally thought that even if the emperor was interested, he would discuss it with the court officials and try to balance things out.

After all, it took him a month or two of back-and-forth before he entered the cabinet, and it was only after his military achievements in the Northwest War that the civil officials reluctantly allowed him to take office.

And now, it's so easy to recommend Xu Qiong to the cabinet?

Did His Majesty agree to my suggestion on the spot?

"Your Majesty, would you please reconsider?"

When Zhang Luan got up to leave, he even felt that the scene before him was too unreal.

Zhu Youcheng reassured him, "Father-in-law, there's no need to worry. I will take care of this matter. However, I believe it will be much easier than when I first proposed that you join the cabinet."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Luan suddenly realized what was going on.

I thought to myself: Am I brain-dead?!
My rise to power was no less difficult than Xu Qiong's, was it?
who am I?
He had never been a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), and at most he was just a student of the Imperial Academy. He hadn't even been in the imperial court for a few days when he was suddenly promoted to a high position as a relative of the empress. How could that be easy?

And what is Xu Qiong's identity?
As the second-place scholar in the first year of the Tianshun reign, and a former Hanlin Academician, he was already a popular candidate for the cabinet. It was only natural that he was now being admitted to the cabinet.

I had foolishly assumed that because I had a close relationship with the emperor, I would be more likely to be promoted. It turns out that I was the one who was the hardest to be "exceptionally promoted".

……

……

Zhang Luan left the palace, feeling somewhat depressed.

"Master, Madam has already returned to the manor." Upon seeing Zhang Luan's figure appear in front of the palace gate, Chang Shun ran over, panting, and said, "She said she wouldn't wait for you."

Zhang Luan frowned and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? I didn't take long to see the emperor."

Chang Shun shook his head and said, "I don't know the specifics. Perhaps Madam felt that you were discussing something of paramount importance with the Emperor and didn't want to distract you."

"Hmph, now you're playing the understanding and virtuous wife and mother again?"

Zhang Luan said with a dark face, "Who are you trying to fool?"

Seeing Zhang Luan's anger, Chang Shun asked in surprise, "Master, is something bothering you?"

Zhang Luan waved his hand and said, "Bring the carriage over here... Are all the escorts here? Hmm, not bad setup. Keep this up when we go out from now on!"
"By the way, second son... has there been any news from my son Yanling in the south?"

Chang Shun glanced at the dozen or so well-dressed Imperial Guards standing beside his horse and said with a smile, "Master, you've asked the wrong person. As the father, if the Second Young Master has something to report to you, would he tell me?"

"That brat hasn't made a sound since he went south."

Zhang Luan was somewhat dissatisfied, "However, it seems there's quite a bit of news from His Majesty's side... It seems I'm not only insignificant in court, but also dispensable at home... My son doesn't even consult me ​​about things..."

Chang Shunxin said, "Our master has quite a strong opinion!"
Well, I'd better not provoke him, lest something unexpected happens.

"How is the money exchange doing?"

Zhang Luan asked a question as he boarded the carriage.

Chang Shun, who was rushing to catch the carriage ahead, casually replied, "Everything is fine...the business is growing bigger and bigger these days..."

Zhang Luan asked, "Have the money shops started lending money yet?"

Chang Shun shook his head: "I don't know about that... Master, are you short of money?"

"What utter nonsense!"

Zhang Luan said sternly, "I am the father of the money shop owner, which means I am the big owner of the money shop. Do I need to borrow money if I am short of money? Take me to see it. I have never seen it in person before."

"What? You haven't gone to see it yet?"

Chang Shun was also surprised.

You've never been there, so why are you pretending to be a big boss?

Who doesn't know that the Second Young Master personally handled this matter?

You've always stayed at home, living your leisurely life and never getting involved in any mundane affairs. Now that you've suddenly gone to a money exchange and pretended to be a big boss, no one will believe you!
(End of this chapter)