Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 83 Shiyuan! I want to learn this! (Ninth update!)

For a moment, Shen Shixing felt as if he had been struck in the face by a heavy hammer.

He leaned back repeatedly, seemingly trying to avoid Zhang Yunxiu's verbal attacks, and was in a dazed state.

If it were any other minister, they might have been able to exchange a few words with Zhang Yunxiu in the face of his accusations. After all, which of the court officials hasn't had a quarrel before?

But Shen Shixing is different. He is a complete nice guy who does things in a steady and peaceful way and avoids conflicts with others.

This has always been his style of doing things.

However, he had already risen to the position of Second Grand Secretary, and at most he could impeach people. No one dared to act recklessly in the name of Grand Secretary. Even if they wanted to gain a reputation for integrity, they would do so in the name of Zhang Juzheng. His position as Second Grand Secretary remained very secure.

It was precisely because of this personality that Emperor Wanli relied on Zhang Juzheng as his chief minister after Zhang Juzheng's death.

Because he acted too mildly, too much like a "wise man" and a "good guy," he earned the nickname "the peacemaker" in history.

However, the gentle master encountered a reckless fool who was caught off guard and attacked before he could even make a move.

Even Shen Shixing, who had been immersed in officialdom for many years, had never been subjected to such "face-to-face" treatment before!
“Nephew, please stop talking,” Shen Shixing said, his words sounding somewhat pleading.

In the past, Zhang Yunxiu had verbally abused Wei Yunzhen in the imperial court, but Shen Shixing, who witnessed it firsthand, felt nothing.

But seeing him today, Zhang Yunxiu is truly terrifying!

Shen Shixing wanted to cry but had no tears, and kept wailing in his heart, "What kind of son did you raise, Enfu?"
He kept repeating things like "my father and nephew," but he couldn't finish a single sentence.

Even though Zhang Yunxiu's anger hadn't subsided, his imposing aura remained, and he roared out.

"Shen Rumo!"

“Go and take a good look at the plight of the refugees outside the city gate tower. See how many corpses lie by the roadside. Go and see the clinics where countless people are struggling in hardship. As the second-in-command of the court, why do you still hesitate? My father.”

"Nephew!" Shen Shixing shouted, and with a thud, he knelt down before Zhang Yunxiu. "Stop cursing! Stop cursing! This old man..."

What the hell!

Zhang Jianxiu, who had been sitting to the side and had witnessed the whole thing, almost popped his eyes out. He had only seen Zhang Yunxiu and Shen Shixing arguing, and had originally intended to offer some words of comfort.

However, remembering what his fifth brother had just said—that people should only do what they are good at—he immediately shut up.

Who would have thought that Zhang Yunxiu, with his sharp tongue, would actually kneel before the Grand Secretary?!
"Shen Rumo! You!" Zhang Yunxiu had finished cursing and wanted to continue.

But Shen Shixing said emphatically, "Nephew! I agree! I agree, isn't that enough!"

He knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

"For nearly twenty years since I entered the court, I have always sought to protect myself wisely and to maintain a balanced and peaceful approach. I owe my position as the Second Grand Secretary to Your Majesty's patronage. After many years of service, I believe I have done nothing to betray the court. However, your words, sir, have been like a wake-up call, enlightening me completely! I have received Your Majesty's boundless grace and should therefore strive to uphold justice for the people and bring peace to all. As for the past..."

As expected of the top scholar, Shen Shixing seemed to admit his mistakes all the time. This letter of apology was far better than any rebuttal.

"Good heavens~" Zhang Jianxiu was stunned when he saw this scene.

"Old Man"

Shen Shixing wanted to continue speaking, but Zhang Yunxiu was starting to feel a bit of a headache. He stepped forward, helped the other man up, and patted his back repeatedly, offering words of comfort.

"Your Excellency, why are you doing this to yourself? Yunxiu just...sigh! It's truly embarrassing! Your Excellency's heart is so sincere for the people that it makes Yunxiu feel extremely ashamed! As long as you can do good things for the common people, you are still the same good Your Excellency who loves the people like his own children!"

These two contrasting reactions are nothing short of a mood-changing monster.

Shen Shixing wiped away his tears, looking aggrieved and somewhat fearful as he looked at Zhang Yunxiu and asked, "Nephew, you're not scolding me anymore?" "How could that be!" Zhang Yunxiu put his arm around Shen Shixing's shoulder and patted him on the shoulder.

"I, Zhang Yunxiu, am a good person! How could I do something like swearing! I've studied the classics!"

After Shen Shixing left, Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu finally spoke. Looking at the other's back, he said with some doubt.

"Shiyuan, can Shen Shixing help us? Although he is Father's disciple, he is ultimately..."

Shen Shixing was known for his caution in court. He was always very shrewd and cunning. He seemed to have been "bluffed" just now, but once he realized what was going on, he might not be able to do his best.

After all, this decree will affect the interests of too many people.

“He will.” Zhang Yunxiu narrowed his eyes, a ruthless glint in his eyes. “From today onwards, he will have no choice but to learn. The Zhang Party’s name must be rightfully mine; he can’t expect to protect himself!”

Zhang Jianxiu shuddered, finding his younger brother somewhat frightening.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Jianxiu suddenly mentioned, "That Shiyuan, you just said something about specialization. I've been thinking about it, and there's no point in having all this strength. Why not give up martial arts and pursue literature!"

Zhang Yunxiu was stunned: "You've caught the 'big head plague' too?"

“I want to learn your stuff,” Zhang Jianxiu said firmly. “I also want to verbally subdue people, I want my dad to kneel before me!”

Zhang Yunxiu: "???"

Outside Yongding Gate.

The village elder Zhang Sishu led twenty or thirty villagers to gather under a big tree not far from the city wall, where they had been living in the open for days.

The villagers were almost entirely devoid of the elderly, children, and women; only a group of emaciated men with dull, lifeless faces remained.

Clearly, very few women could survive like Zhang Lanying along the way.

Unlike other women among the refugees, Zhang Lanying looked like an old woman, so the villagers took good care of her. In addition, she was physically strong, which allowed her to make her way to the capital.

A man asked with some concern, "Elder, Madam Zhang has been in town for several days now. I'm worried she might already be..."

"Nonsense!" Zhang Sishu retorted angrily. "Those people from the city are from Renmin Medical Hall, who specialize in treating the elderly, weak, women, and children. What rumors have you heard?"

It turns out that in the past few days, the city has been taking away some seriously ill elderly, weak, women and children for treatment from time to time. However, there are rumors among the refugees that the imperial court is not so kind and that the "demon Zhang" in the city must have captured them to make elixirs.

Therefore, the refugees have been living in constant fear these past few days.

The man scratched his head, somewhat aggrieved: "I was just saying. We've been outside this city for several days now. Everyone says His Majesty the Emperor won't abandon us, but these past few days, they've only been giving out porridge. The Emperor cares for us less than some fortune teller! Many strong men are thinking, rather than waiting here to die..."

"You!" Zhang Sishu was about to say something when he suddenly heard a loud noise and the ground shook slightly.

The sound caused an uproar among the refugees.

Suddenly, the tightly closed Yongding Gate slowly opened, and in an instant, the refugees swarmed in like a tide. Even those who were lying on the ground, barely alive, wanted to get up again.

Inside Yongding Gate, a group of soldiers in armor rode out on horseback. The leading officer rode into the middle of the crowd and drew his sword from his waist.

He was wearing a mask, but his voice was still loud and clear.

"By order of the Duke! The elderly, women, and children among the displaced people outside the city are permitted to enter. All others must relocate to the western suburbs to camp and settle down. The imperial court will provide relief funds and daily rations of herbs and food. Anyone who disobeys orders, spreads rumors, or incites disturbances will be executed on the spot without exception!"

(End of this chapter)