Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 833 Interpretation
Zhang Luan wanted to serve the court and relieve the emperor's son-in-law's worries, but after trying his best and finding no results, he quickly returned to a state of inaction.

He had set a goal for himself to raise 50,000 taels of silver, but in reality, without his son's help, he couldn't even raise 500 taels, let alone 50,000 taels.

In the following days, he simply hid away and didn't go out, as if he had forgotten the promise he had made to Xu Qiong.

On the contrary, Xu Qiong used his position as a cabinet minister to travel around and do his best to help Zhang Luan raise military funds.

Xu Qiong knew that the Ming Dynasty's foreign military strategy would not change after the new emperor ascended the throne, and it would basically continue the major policies of the Chenghua Emperor... After all, not long after the Tumu Crisis, it was natural for Zhu Jianshen to avenge his father, the Yingzong Emperor, and get back at him.

As a filial son, Zhu Youcheng inherited his father's will to avenge his grandfather, which is understandable from both a legal and human perspective.

Xu Qiong did not believe that he was helping the emperor do something that was militaristic, harmful to the country and its people.

Once the emperor succeeds, Xu Qiong will enjoy the fruits of victory for a long time, just like Zhang Luan... because Xu Qiong has regarded himself as a staunch royalist and believes that his interests are firmly tied to Zhu Youcheng's, as well as closely linked to the rise and fall of the Zhang family.

As the harsh winter gradually approaches.

The infighting in the capital is gradually subsiding, and disaster reports from various regions will be submitted in a unified manner after autumn. Many disaster-stricken areas will be lobbying for tax reductions or exemptions for the coming year.

As the Vice Minister of War, Zhang Luan's biggest concern at this time was not the war in Yansui, but rather the modernization of the weapons used by the Beijing garrison.

Although Zhang Yanling forged firearms in his own military factory, successfully bypassing the imperial court and not drawing funds from the imperial treasury, he still used the court's manpower, especially the craftsmen from Wanggong Factory and the various military factories under the Ministry of Works and the Inner Court. These craftsmen were originally intended to mass-produce weapons such as swords, bows and crossbows, and armor.

With these skilled workers put into the production of new weapons, the maintenance and upkeep of the existing equipment became a major problem. People in the court used this as a pretext to criticize the Zhang family for their unwarranted interference in the court's military affairs.

Furthermore, because Zhang Luan is the current Vice Minister of War, others have accused him of abusing his power for personal gain, and there are even rumors that Zhang Luan used his family's business to forge weapons for the court, thereby enriching himself.

After all, the outside world was unclear about the source of funds for the Ming Dynasty to cast new firearms, so they naturally assumed that the money came from the imperial court and was given to the Zhang family to produce, from which there was a lot of money to be made.

There were also some self-proclaimed insiders who believed that the imperial court had contracted the large order for modifying firearms to the Zhang family, who were then instructed to mine coal in the Western Hills, sell it for profit, and purchase iron ore from Yongping Prefecture in the eastern part of the capital to be sent back to the outskirts of Beijing for large-scale steelmaking...

Even more astute individuals, knowing that the Zhang family was behind the court's firearms casting, speculated that there must be a reason for their actions. Conspiracy theories led them to believe that the Zhang family wanted to use the casting of firearms to build a private army, threatening the Ming Dynasty while simultaneously profiting from selling the weapons to the Tatars.

In any case, no one could figure out what substantial benefits the Zhang family father and son could gain from forging firearms.

If there's no benefit to be gained, we can just imagine some possibilities and then apply them blindly.

At that very moment, Zhang Yanling's reply from Datong Prefecture arrived in the capital.

This letter was not an official document submitted to Zhu Youcheng, but a family letter. It was a severe "criticism" of Zhang Luan's request to raise military funds, and also a warning from Zhang Yanling, the son, to his father: "Don't go looking for trouble."

I'm incredibly busy in the Northwest, while you casually boast in the capital that you'll solve the border army's funding and food shortage problem on your own, and even dare to dream of bypassing the Ministry of Revenue?

The Northwest has developed to this point. It's one thing for you to be generous with other people's money, but you can't keep using your son as a sucker.
Upon reading the letter, Zhang Luan was filled with resentment, but had nowhere to vent it. He could only stay in his villa outside the city for three more days without going out.

It wasn't until someone told him that Shen Lu had been trying to visit him for the past two days without success, and asked him to return to his residence to see him.

The person who came to deliver the message was Qi Niang.

Qi Niang said, "Master, as an important official in the court, it's not a good idea for you to stay here all the time, neither attending court nor going to the yamen to report for duty! Shouldn't we go out and face things when there's something to discuss?"

Zhang Luan frowned slightly and rebuked, "Is this any of your business? Stop nagging!"

Zhang Luan clearly felt that Qi Niang had overstepped her bounds.

You're just a woman who manages my household affairs, you don't even have a proper title, so how dare you interfere in my life? You think you're so great?

What he didn't know was that Qi Niang, who had no worries about food and clothing, now really wanted to pursue a political career. After all, with such a powerful figure as Zhang Luan around, not making good use of that background would be like returning empty-handed from a treasure mountain.

Qi Niang didn't want to always be just a woman for Zhang Luan's amusement; she wanted to gradually move from the inside out.

Qi Niang said slowly, "I just noticed that Master has been in a bad mood these past few days, and I wanted to use my insights to cheer him up!"
“My lord, you must know that your power in the court is immense, which means that the people in this courtyard will also be respected by the world, allowing us to hold our heads high in the outside world…”

She made an excuse for her actions.

The reason I encourage you to participate more in government affairs is for our own benefit. After all, as a woman kept by a powerful official in his private quarters, she longs for worldly respect!

This was just to fool Zhang Luan.

For Zhang Luan, a good-for-nothing who always likes to boss people around but is good for nothing outside and only wants to show off in front of women, this sounded quite appealing.

However, Zhang Luan still frowned: "What do the storms I've weathered outside have to do with you? Aren't most people here confined to their homes?"

"But sir, we can't avoid contact with the outside world after all."

Qi Niang said, "Not to mention the servants who go out to buy daily necessities, even if I have to arrange various entertainment activities for you, I still need to come into contact with people, right? For example, what good songs and dances does the Jiaofangsi have, and what new plays are on the market? I have to find out so that I can arrange for the people in the courtyard to rehearse."

"Speaking of which, since you entered the cabinet, many people have wanted to enter this courtyard to express their admiration for you. They have also become more and more respectful in their speech and actions, without uttering a single complaint."

Zhang Luan nodded slightly: "That makes some sense."

Qi Niang leaned closer and whispered, "Actually, some people know your identity and want to use their connections to get on your good side in the officialdom."

Zhang Luan quickly waved his hand: "I'm warning you, don't do anything reckless! Don't take advantage of our relationship to make any promises outside! I never do favors for others in the court, and besides, I'm not a member of the Ministry of Personnel! Their career prospects are none of my business! No matter what gifts they give me, even if they use methods to curry favor with me, I will not accept them!"

Qi Niang smiled and said, "I naturally understand the implications. But what if... they're just trying to curry favor with you?"

"Flatter me?"

Zhang Luan frowned and said, "What do I have to offer in a way that I should fawn over?"

Qi Niang said, "Some officials feel that they cannot serve in the local government with peace of mind if they do not have a powerful backer in the court. Once people with this kind of thinking arrive in the capital, they will fawn over the powerful and influential everywhere."

"And you, besides being a Grand Secretary, are also His Majesty's most trusted person, so naturally you will become the object of their eagerness to visit."

Zhang Luan quickly waved his hand and said, "In the end, isn't it just that they want me to run errands for them? Why would I want to get myself into this trouble?"

“Sir, what you said is not entirely correct.”

Qi Niang explained with a smile, "Some people don't necessarily need you to do anything to them... They just need to use your fame to intimidate a group of people when they return to their hometown, that's all!"

"What do you mean?"

Zhang Luan asked, looking completely bewildered.

Qi Niang smiled and said, "As long as they see you in the capital and say a few words to you, or even if you don't see them in person but just accept their gifts and don't even promise to recruit them, they can go back and brag to their colleagues or even their superiors that they have established a good relationship with you in the capital and even become your protégés, and can keep in touch with you by letter at any time... In this way, others will be very wary and will have to take into account the factor of offending you when making some targeted decisions."

Zhang Luan asked in surprise, "I didn't do anything, and now they can use me as something to brag about when they get back?"

"Isn't that how officialdom is?"

With a matter-of-fact expression, Qi Niang said, "Whoever has connections, whoever has a stronger backer, whoever has someone in high places who can speak to His Majesty, will get preferential treatment when officials are promoted!"

Zhang Luan frowned and said, "But aren't all their words just boasting? I haven't recruited them for my own use! I haven't presided over the provincial or metropolitan examinations, I'm not their mentor, and I'm not even considered one of their fellow villagers... Do you think anyone would believe that?" Qi Niang said, "If it's just empty talk, without any proof, outsiders naturally won't believe it. But if they can actually send gifts over, even meet you... even receive a calligraphy piece from you, wouldn't everything make perfect sense?"

"This……"

Zhang Luan hesitated for a moment, then asked curiously, "But... what does all this have to do with you?"

Qi Niang said, "They know that you are indifferent to fame and fortune, so they naturally know that if they want to visit your residence, they will not be able to see anyone."

"Then... how did they know I lived here?"

Zhang Luan frowned even more deeply. "Could it be... that the news has leaked?"

Zhang Luan became even more frustrated!

I hid carefully, not even wanting to see my family. How powerful must those local officials be to know I was here?

If my political enemies also know about these things, will they send someone to assassinate me again, putting me in danger?
Qi Niang said, "They don't know where you are now, and some of them don't even know what your current situation is... Many of them are former protégés of Minister Li!"

"Lizi Province?"

Zhang Luan's eyes widened in shock as he asked, "Was it Pang Bingkun who contacted you?"

"Since that day, I have never seen Steward Pang again."

Qi Niang quickly stated her position, "These people mostly relied on currying favor with Minister Li to obtain local official positions and build connections. However, Minister Li has lost power, and they are all feeling lost now. Now that they have come to the capital to participate in the Ministry of Personnel's major plan, they have learned that Minister Li is under your protection and is currently managing the river in Southern Zhili. Naturally, they all want to get in touch with you."

Zhang Luan frowned: "You didn't go through Pang Bingkun, but you made contact with some people through old channels, right?"

Qi Niang quickly said, "I did not take the initiative to contact these people. It's just that the people from the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution) keep coming to deliver messages, saying that some people want to pay their respects to you, sir! If you can really maintain your current prestige in the court, then most officials in the world will follow your lead."

Zhang Luan asked, "What does this have to do with my going to see Shen Ruxue?"

"I hope..."

Qi Niang tentatively said, "You can highlight the status of the Grand Secretary and the Emperor's father-in-law, allowing me to become a person of high standing in the entertainment circle. This way, I can not only save face for myself, but also bring back more beautiful and virtuous women for the Master!"

Zhang Luan nodded, then said with a half-smile, "I understand! And it's also about earning some money for retirement, right?"

……

……

Dark clouds loomed over the city, and the weather suddenly turned cold.

It was only October when the first snow of winter fell in Beijing.

Because the temperature had not yet reached freezing point, the snow was melting as it fell, making the ground muddy. As a result, although there was no need to sweep the snow in various parts of the palace, many eunuchs and palace maids were still sent to clean up the fallen leaves and mud.

Anyone who travels outside has their feet covered in black mud.

Supervisor of Ceremonies.

After Li Rong entered the room, he immediately took off his boots and left them at the door. Then, a young eunuch who was serving him brought him soft cloth shoes to wear. Li Rong complained that they were cold and said, "Why didn't you warm them over the fire beforehand?"

Qin Chang was pacing back and forth in his room, deep in thought. Upon hearing this, he gestured for the anxious eunuch to step back. Dai Yi, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who had originally wanted to come over and speak, involuntarily took two steps back.

"Maochun, let's go inside and talk."

Qin Chang gave a greeting.

Then Li Rong, wearing clean cloth shoes, followed closely behind Qin Chang and entered the inner hall together.

After the two sat down, Qin Chang asked, "I asked you to find out what Zhang Guozhang has been up to these past few days. Is there any progress?"

"Have."

Li Rong sat there, exuding a restless aura. He had probably just come in from the heavy snow outside, which prevented him from being affected by the tranquil atmosphere around him. This made Qin Changshi frown repeatedly.

Li Rong organized his thoughts before speaking in detail: "Recently, I don't know what's going on with that Imperial Father-in-law Zhang. He keeps meeting with local officials, and they all meet in private. He doesn't even try to hide it from the Embroidered Uniform Guards who are protecting him."

Qin Chang asked, "Have you consulted with the Imperial Guards to find out his true intentions?"

Li Rong could only shake his head helplessly.

As the head of the Eastern Depot, he seemed to hold a high position and great power in the Ming Dynasty, but in the eyes of the powerful figures like Zhang Luan, he was just a gofer and a handyman.

Because Li Rong was very clear about the proper boundaries.

If he pushes too hard and Zhang Luan realizes that he is investigating the Zhang family, then if Zhang Luan simply informs the emperor, Li Rong will be forced to retire early, just like Wei Tai, Huai En, and others.

"This……"

After pondering for a moment, Qin Chang said helplessly, "A cabinet minister who doesn't even want to get involved in government affairs actually went to meet so many local officials? Even if he wanted to build connections, shouldn't he... meet more often with the important officials of the Six Ministries and various temples in the capital?"

Qin Chang found Zhang Luan's actions truly incomprehensible.

Even if you, Zhang Luan, want to form cliques and pursue personal gain, you should start by developing connections among officials in the capital, instead of directly meeting with a bunch of insignificant local officials...

It's understandable that you said you wanted to see the Left and Right Provincial Administration Commissioners, Councilors, and Provincial Surveillance Commissioners.

But all you see are seemingly insignificant officials such as county magistrates, county assistants, prefectural judges, and provincial judicial commissioners. Are you really asking me to develop local networks and convey the emperor's orders to the grassroots?
Li Rong said, "News has just come from the Northwest."

"explain."

Qin Chang waved his hand, his face cold.

Li Rong sighed, "After receiving His Majesty's decree, Wang Shichang did not withdraw his troops from the Hetao region. Instead, he intensified his efforts and rushed to build fortifications. Even the local inspectors could not do anything to him."

"As for the young imperial brother-in-law of the Zhang family, he was mining in the Datong area with great fanfare. It is said that one mine after another was built, and he also opened a furnace in the prefectural city to smelt iron and manufacture firearms using local materials."

Qin Changdao said, "As the saying goes, even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. It's fine if the Shanxi merchants are willing to cooperate, since there's profit to be made and it creates favorable conditions for the collection of salt permits and official salt next year. But why are the local officials and gentry also cooperating like this?"

Li Rong shook his head: "I can't understand why it went so smoothly. The garrison eunuch sent back a message saying that the General's Office was helping, and that the local authorities might not be able to grasp the imperial court's intentions and dare not act recklessly. The events that happened in the Jiangnan region before have made all parties fearful!"

"Ah."

Qin Chang nodded silently, his face stern.

(End of this chapter)