Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 80 Zhang Gong's Invitation

Zhou An, who was almost beaten to death, was sent to Zhang's residence by several county officials after Song Shi'an gave the order.

Upon reaching the gate, Zhang Ting, the second son of the Zhang family, who already knew about the incident from word of mouth among the common people, grabbed the collar of the leading clerk, a ninth-rank prison warden. He immediately burst into a tirade: "You bastard! You dare hit someone from the Zhang family? Are you out of your mind?!"

"Young master... young master," the clerk hurriedly explained, "It was the magistrate who wanted to beat him... and the ones who did it weren't the county officials, but the soldiers. It really has nothing to do with me."

"If you dare come over here, should I cripple you and send you back?" Zhang Ting was already furious. "Speak!"

In Shuofeng, no matter which county magistrate he was, if he didn't pay his respects to Lord Zhang on his first day in office, he couldn't stay there any longer.

Even if someone is a scion of a prominent family who has passed the imperial examination, they still have to be mindful of others' feelings.

Otherwise, who do you think is supporting the government?

"Young master, please don't be angry... young master, please don't be angry..."

Since the other party was truly capable of doing it, the official could only beg for mercy.

"Zhang Ting".

Just then, an old voice suddenly came from behind.

Then, an elderly man leaning on a cane slowly walked out.

"Father, this new magistrate is really arrogant and ignorant!" Zhang Ting couldn't help but complain.

"let go."

Zhang Gong remained calm and composed, saying...

"..." Zhang Ting, clenching his fists, had no choice but to push the clerk away.

"This humble official...this humble official greets Lord Zhang."

The clerk hurriedly knelt down and bowed to Lord Zhang, trembling with fear and utter reverence.

"Let's go back."

Zhang Gong said it casually.

"Then we'll take our leave."

The clerk, along with several county officials, hurriedly left the place, fearing that they would be caught and beaten.

"Father!" Zhang Ting was furious and found it unbearable.

"close the door."

But Zhang Gong's expression remained unchanged.

There was nothing he could do but return to his residence.

The gatekeeper also closed the gate tightly at dusk.

Supported by a maid, Zhang Gong stepped forward and went to Zhou An, who was being carried on a carrying pole by the servants of the Zhang household.

Zhou An, his breath weak, raised his eyes and said with difficulty, "Lord Zhang..."

With his rough hands, Zhang Gong stroked his head. Then, with a hint of sorrow, he said, "This beating was for the Zhang family, and I will not mistreat you. I will do my best to cure you. If you can still serve me, you will continue to be the head steward of the Zhang household. If not, and you are left with a chronic illness, I will grant you a hundred acres of land and several servants, and you can return to your hometown to live out your old age in peace. Also, I will appoint your two sons as officials in the county."

Upon hearing these words, Zhou An burst into tears, his voice trembling with gratitude as he said, "Thank you, Lord Zhang..."

Zhang Gong nodded slightly.

Then, Zhou An was carried away.

Zhang Gong glanced at Zhang Ting again, then turned back and said, "Come here."

Still angry, Zhang Ting followed Zhang Gong into the main room.

Sitting in the main seat, Zhang Gong said to the maid beside him, "Give it to him."

Then, the maid took a stack of papers and presented them to Zhang Ting with both hands.

Seeing the dense text on the page, Zhang Ting, who was already furious, was a little dazzled. He looked up and said, "Father, if it were a matter of studying, I would definitely study hard, but the situation is urgent now."

"Read it all," Zhang Gong said, slightly displeased.

With no other option, Zhang Ting could only sit down and patiently read through the stack of papers in his hand.

But as I read on, I found myself completely absorbed in it.

These are the questions for this year's imperial examination.

One is the essay in the poetry and prose category, and the other is the argument in the policy essay category.

Both of these articles are quite excellent.

"This is the essay by Song Jieyuan. Many scholars in Nanliang have already read it. But due to the blockade by the north wind, it didn't circulate here. You know, apart from the north wind, Song Shi'an is already a famous person throughout the land."

After saying this, Zhang Gong looked at Zhang Ting and said with a tone of anger at his lack of ambition, "Twenty years old, this is the essay he wrote when he was twenty."

Zhang Ting lowered his head, speechless: "Yes."

“If you were like your brother and passed the imperial examination early, I would have sent you to become an official,” Zhang Gong said helplessly.

With his head down, Zhang Ting muttered softly, "The imperial examinations in Liangzhou are held in Yongcheng. Even if cheating is forbidden, it's not difficult to get my son to pass the provincial examination with a little help from that Grand Secretary who grades the papers at the Liangzhou Examination Hall..."

"Can't you take the exam yourself?"

Zhang Gong tapped his cane on the ground, realizing that his son was beyond redemption.

He's right, I can indeed make an exception.

Kyoto is different from other prefectures; it has a stronger academic atmosphere.

Local areas, on the other hand, rely more on personal relationships and social connections to maintain connections.

If Zhang Ting keeps failing the exams, he'll naturally pull strings eventually. The reason he hasn't done so is twofold: firstly, his eldest son has already entered officialdom, so there's no rush; secondly, he wants his son to focus on his studies and cultivate his character and abilities.

Otherwise, even if he becomes an official, he'll be a complete incompetent fool.

"Father, I will definitely study hard after this. But now, we can't leave the city." Zhang Ting said anxiously, "When Ji Yuan comes, who knows what will happen."

Moreover, Zhang had absolutely no intention of surrendering to the enemy.

Defecting to the enemy is an option.

But it is absolutely a last resort.

If he surrenders, his nephew, who is to become the governor, will also face difficulties in his career.

Without this governor as his backer, his life wouldn't be as comfortable as it used to be.

"Let me tell you another one."

After laying the groundwork, Zhang Gong said, "Dozens of boats have sailed on the Chishui River outside the city, bringing five thousand soldiers. The boats are full of military equipment and supplies."

"No, weren't there only a thousand people?" Zhang Ting stared in astonishment.

"Your Highness has seized military power in Langya."

"what?!"

Zhang Ting was stunned.

Then, Zhang Gong said something even more shocking: "It's highly likely that it was Song Shi'an who instigated it."

"He doesn't even want his entire family?!"

Zhang Ting was once again stunned.

"I don't know about his relationship with his nine clans. But you need to think carefully about your nine clans."

Zhang Gong glared at him and said.

"...Such a crazy person."

Zhang Ting was shocked and also a little scared: "He's completely gone mad. Now he has soldiers at his disposal. He attacked our steward. Could he be planning to kill us?"

"He's crazy, not stupid."

Seeing his second son utter such disgraceful words, Zhang Gong's tone gradually became agitated: "If having an army could solve the problem by killing all the opponents, then there would be no dynasty that would perish in this world."

“If every time a war breaks out, the powerful clans on our border are slaughtered by those generals, then there will be no such thing as aristocratic families in this world.”

“If you think that killing one to warn a hundred, using the head of the ringleader, can deter the people of the whole city and ensure that orders are obeyed, then there will be no riots or surrender of the city.”

"If even the governor's uncle is killed without explanation or compensation, who can the emperor of Great Yu expect to risk his life for him?"

"..." After being lectured like this, Zhang Ting lowered his head. "It's my son's fault for being so dull."

"Furthermore, this is only in Shuofeng. The Sixth Prince cannot defend the city by relying solely on Shuofeng. He wants most of Shuojun to unite against Qi. The noble families outside are watching how he treats us. If he indiscriminately slaughters powerful clans within the city, the noble families outside the city will immediately flee north to Qi."

Zhang Gong was quite clear that his situation was not yet hopeless.

"Since this Song Sheng won't easily harm us, can we tolerate him hitting our steward?" Zhang Ting asked.

When asked about this, Zhang Gong gave him a deep look: "He beat the steward of our mansion by using the excuse that commoners do not bow to officials and offend the officials in charge. So, if he really wants to teach us a lesson, he will definitely have a legitimate reason for it."

There is a truth in this world: everything needs to be done with a legitimate reason.

Whether strong or weak.

To kill without any reason in order to achieve one's goals is the act of a terrorist.

Moreover, the reason must be equally compelling, depending on the severity of the matter.

Only in this way can people's hearts be at peace.

"Are we just going to let him bully us like this?"

"In Beiliang, no one has ever dared to bully me."

After calming down, Zhang Gong said directly, "He's reckless, but we are. So, no matter what, we must avoid his sharp edge first."

"Please enlighten me, Father." Zhang Ting didn't quite understand.

“Now, our top priority is to get out of the city,” Zhang Gong explained. “Moreover, we must take all the powerful clans with us.”

"How do we get out?" Zhang Ting asked.

"The north wind is ten miles from the Chishui River, and the soldiers still need to build city defenses. So much supplies will have to be carried back and forth by the city's laborers, which will take at least two days and two nights. During this time, the city gates will remain wide open."

Zhang Gong looked at Zhang Ting and said calmly, "We'll give Song Sheng whatever he wants. Once we give it to him, we can all leave."

"That means giving up money and food in exchange for the chance to leave the city..."

Zhang Ting still felt that this approach made the Zhang family feel bullied.

Faced with Zhang Ting's confusion, Zhang Gong casually replied, "After we leave the city, we'll find a way to kill him."

Hearing his father's words, Zhang Ting finally felt relieved.

Because once he said something, he never broke his word.

Those who wanted to be killed, were all killed.

Without exception.

"Then, Father," Zhang Ting asked, "what should we do now?"

Zhang Gongping looked straight ahead and said calmly, "Respectfully invite Song Tangzun here."

(End of this chapter)