First Minister of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 325 Simple Mr. Zhang

Coming out of Prince Wu's Mansion, Zhang Ximeng took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then smiled at Jiang Nan, "How do you feel?"

Jiang Nan's face was tense, his eyes flashed twice, and he said in a low voice: "It seems that Mr. Li is a little bit lost."

"It's more than just disappointment! He's hoping for my bad luck... After all, you've helped me a lot!"

Jiang Nan was taken aback, and quickly said: "It's Zhang Xiang who is supporting me. I'm still in a daze in my humble position, and I don't know what to do."

Zhang Ximeng thought for a while, then said with a smile, "It's becoming more and more important for you to go to the branch office, and I'm about to explain something properly."

Zhang Ximeng and Jiang Nan returned to the check-in room. After being seated, Jiang Nan poured Zhang Ximeng a cup of tea... still milk tea!

"Zhang Xiang is right. Drinking this is indeed a double pleasure. Zhang Xiang often drinks it too, right? I made it according to Zhang Xiang's recipe, but I was not willing to put West Lake Longjing tea. I used Pucha."

Pucha is not an ordinary tea, but a tea from Yunnan. In the late Ming Dynasty, it was also called Pu'er.

Zhang Ximeng used West Lake Dragon Well tea to make milk tea.

"That's right, it's because you girls are meticulous and skillful." After Zhang Ximeng admired it, he said, "I've talked to the lord about it, and I will educate all the officials in the future. You have to be prepared."

Jiang Nan was startled, "Master Zhang, are you going to judge the virtuous and the foolish?"

"No, in fact, the emphasis is on enlightenment... The most important thing is the rules and the law." Zhang Ximeng explained patiently. He took Jiang Nan as an example and told Lao Zhu, just to tell her his thoughts and listen to her opinions.

"Officials assisting the country and governing the people must have rules and act in accordance with laws and regulations... For example, if the Ministry of Households collects land taxes, is it exploiting the people and sucking the marrow? The Ministry of Punishment approves murder and beheading. Is it considered indiscriminate killing of innocent people? , Finally, the finances, the supervision of all officials, is it embarrassing others, or even killing people?"

Jiang Nan frowned tightly, "This, of course this doesn't count!"

"Then why doesn't it count? Have you thought about it?"

Jiang Nan shook his head, "I don't know about the humble position."

"Take land tax and business tax as an example, do you know how it is distributed?"

Without any hesitation, Jiang Nan immediately said: "Under King Wu's rule, there are two taxes every day in summer and autumn, with a total of 650 million shi for taxes and food, of which 300 million shi are needed for raising soldiers, and there are salaries for hundreds of officials, river workers, settling refugees, pioneering land reclamation, and running schools to prosper. teach."

Zhang Ximeng nodded, "These things can roughly be summarized as taking from the people and using them for the people. Even the biggest boss's raising troops is to protect the existing achievements. There are enemies on all sides. If there is no strong military force, how can we protect them?" Common people, how can we make the food in our granaries safe? Our enlightenment this time is to make one thing clear to the officials... what we are doing is right and reasonable!"

Jiang Nan thought about Zhang Ximeng's words, and thought of something, his heart was shaken, and he said softly, "Including Duzhi?"

"Well! This is what I want to tell you. Only when you are upright can you be strong... The power in your hands is not a tool for you to act on behalf of the heavens, and it is not a tool for you to tremble, feel guilty, and dare not face it. burden... you and I, and even more officials, we are all public weapons in the world!"

"The world's public weapon?"

"Yes! We care about good and evil, but we care more about ordering chaos... We shouldn't have too many thoughts. In other words, our most important mission is to ensure that the decisions of the superiors can be properly implemented and executed perfectly. No credit, no Self-inflated, thoughtful, thoughtful, is... a lowly public weapon of the world!"

The more Jiang Nan listened, the more confused she became. She tried to understand Zhang Ximeng's meaning, but she always felt that there was something contradictory, but she couldn't tell what was wrong.

Or maybe it's the realm of other people's prime ministers!

"Zhang Xiang, I will think about it carefully...but what should we do now?"

"It's very simple. It is to immediately settle all the accounts related to the Ministry of Accounts, find out how many corruptions and violations of the law Li Menggeng has committed, and prepare as soon as possible. When the lord needs it, he will take it out immediately."

Jiang Nan nodded again and again, "I have already calculated before, and I can send it to Zhang Xiang tomorrow."

Zhang Ximeng was overjoyed, "By the way, Jiang Tiju, I see that your subordinates are very efficient and have a lot of tricks. Where do these people come from? Could it be from your family?"

Jiang Nan smiled, "It is true that there are three people here who are the old accountants of the Jiang family, but the real source is from the princess."

"princess?"

"Yeah!" Jiang Nan nodded, "The princess is really a hero among women. Over the years, she has adopted many orphans, many of whom are girls. If it weren't for the princess, she might either die or fall into the hands of villains and sell them off. Went to the brothel... Also, in the counting room under the humble staff, many of them came from the Yangzhou brothel. Zhang Xiangnian insisted on closing the brothel and banning the painting boats, which is really a great merit!"

Hearing this, Zhang Ximeng murmured, "I wanted to ban him, but why did he keep banning him repeatedly? Isn't that what Li Menggeng fell for!"

Jiang Nan pondered for a while, but smiled and said: "Zhang Xiang, if there is no ban, I'm afraid it will be ten times or a hundred times more serious... In fact, Zhang Xiang cares about good and evil the most!"

Zhang Ximeng pondered slightly. He also had a very complicated identity. In terms of his position, he was the right minister, Zhu Yuanzhang's assistant, and a humble public vessel used to hold the fruit of Wu Wang's profound thoughts.

But from another perspective, he is also the respected Master Zhang, who proposed to re-define the No. 1 of the outline.

The former values ​​chaos, while the latter values ​​good and evil.

Then what kind of person do you want to be?

Is it an official who goes with the flow and goes with the light, or Zhang Zi who pursues the truth with his own actions?

Zhang Ximeng didn't even speak well.

"In a word, do your own thing well and move forward. We are doing the right thing, so we can be fearless!"

Jiang Nan nodded vigorously, "I understand this sentence!"

In a blink of an eye, on the second day, Jiang Nan really settled the accounts. She was going to give it to Zhang Ximeng, but there was no one in the valet.

Zhang Xiang is taking a rest today, but it was agreed yesterday that he wants to see it.

Helpless, Jiang Nan could only hold these account books, get in the carriage, and go to Zhang Ximeng's residence.

When mentioning Zhang Ximeng's mansion, Jiang Nan couldn't help but think of the thief Lu Qiuyun. Not only did he not steal any money, but he even left a piece of gold for Zhang Ximeng.

Is the dignified prime minister's mansion really so simple?

The Zhang family was right in front of them. After getting out of the carriage, Jiang Nan came in easily after the notification.

To be honest, this yard is pretty good, very spacious...but it's a bit too crude. The front yard has a green brick corridor, and rapeseed is planted on both sides. It just so happens that the weather is getting warmer, and the rapeseed has just sprouted a few flowers, which are gorgeous yellow. , and the bees are busy, which is really interesting!

Xiangfu grows rapeseed?

Good for you!

Jiang Nan stepped inside and arrived at the courtyard on the second floor. There were only a few osmanthus trees, a few stone piers under the trees, and there was even a knife and gun rack.

Didn't realize that Zhang Xianggong was also good at martial arts?

She went to the living room and sat down, looked around, and was surprised that Zhang Ximeng's place was mainly made of bamboo, which was embarrassing.

A dignified prime minister, who is so favored and has a high position and authority, should have some high-quality mahogany furniture in his home, no one will say anything.

But Zhang Ximeng's place is actually the cheapest bamboo, which is really surprising!

She raised her head suddenly, and found that there were still many words on the wall. Looking carefully, they were all written by Zhang Ximeng himself. Among them were two sentences... I would rather eat without meat than live without bamboo!

Jiang Nan couldn't help laughing, this explanation is quite appropriate!

Just when she was about to look down, Zhang Ximeng came from behind, and he said with a smile: "I just looked at the back garden, and I plan to build a sheepfold, raise a few goats, and use goat's milk to make milk tea in the future." , the taste is guaranteed to be better.”

Jiang Nan really didn't understand, "Zhang Xiang, how can you raise sheep yourself, it's too simple."

"simple?"

Zhang Ximeng was really stunned, and couldn't help laughing at himself: "I said Jiang Tiju, do you have any misunderstanding about the word simplicity? Have you ever seen the simple method of raising sheep by yourself for drinking milk tea? Have you seen that?" The simple method of shoveling the flower garden to grow rapeseed in order to see the rapeseed? Have you ever seen the simplicity of being able to have your own vegetable garden in Jinling City, and grow whatever you want to eat?"

Zhang Ximeng felt that his residence was too big. The three-storey yard inside and outside, the front and back gardens, and the cross yard could basically guarantee the supply of vegetables for his family.

As long as that bastard Zhu Ying doesn't come to steal vegetables, he doesn't have to go out to buy them.

This is Jinling City!

How expensive is the land!

In the future, the seniors of Gen'er in the imperial city will enter the courtyard... Just such a place is its own value.If you make it resplendent, paint and paint, get a lot of mahogany and ivory furniture, and put them in the house, that's not grand, it's called nouveau riche!

Bamboo has knots and reeds are clean, these are the things that fit his status.

Besides, it’s not true that there are no valuable things in his house. You can go to Dongkua Courtyard to have a look. There are six houses full of various collections of books. Even the books in Prince Wu’s Mansion are not as complete as he has here.

Jiang Nan frowned, did he misunderstand?

She simply didn't dare to ask any more questions, so she could only talk about official business with Zhang Ximeng. The two of them chatted about various problems in the household department. Picked vegetables, boiled two poached eggs laid this morning, just this bowl of noodles, that's a real deal!"

Jiang Nan is messed up again, this guy can cook noodles?

Facts have proved that Zhang Ximeng really knows how to do it, and he still has a hair that does not reach his head, thin and slender, with green vegetables, crisp radish strips, sesame oil, and poached eggs, it really makes people's index fingers twitch.

"Just this bowl of noodles is much better than King Wu's. What's in his bowl? It's just two more poached eggs!"

Zhang Ximeng is very proud. His life is indeed much more comfortable than that of Zhu Yuanzhang.

Jiang Nan could only eat the noodles with his head down. Not to mention, they were really delicious. Maybe this is the simple and simple happiness!Zhang Xiangzhen is not an ordinary person.

At this moment, footsteps suddenly sounded outside, as if many people were coming, Zhang Ximeng put down the bowl and chopsticks, and looked outside.

I saw Lao Zhu in front, Li Shanchang at the side, and many civil servants and military generals behind, and everyone looked around Zhang's mansion, all in amazement.

Zhu Yuanzhang stopped, looked at the crowd, and said with a sneer, "How about it, did you open your eyes? Just now we took you to Li Menggeng's mansion, which is also Zhang Xiang's residence. How do you feel?"

Yang Yuangao hurriedly bowed and sighed: "My lord, a camellia plant in Li Menggeng's mansion costs hundreds. Who would have thought that Zhang Xiang's mansion actually planted rapeseed flowers! Such honesty, ancient virtuous ministers, I'm afraid Can't compare to Zhang Xiang!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Don't rush to flatter, just look around. What if Mr. Zhang is not what he looks like, and he also hides valuable calligraphy, paintings and gold and silver treasures at home? You all have a good look!"

Chapter 326 I'm here

Naturally, Zhang Ximeng's mansion did not have any gold or silver treasures, and as for the precious calligraphy and paintings, that was also impossible.

"Zhang Xiang is really peaceful and happy, a role model for my generation!" Wang Guangyang praised, and the rest of the people also followed suit.To be honest, when I think about the furnishings of my own home, and then look at Zhang's mansion, except that it may be a little more spacious, it is useless in other aspects.

The bamboo utensils in this room are probably not as valuable as a mahogany carved mahogany chair.

No, absolutely not, after returning home, quickly remove all those calligraphy and paintings, and replace all the furniture, otherwise, one day the superior will pass, and the inspection of each family according to the Zhang family's standards, it is estimated that they will all be with Li Menggeng.

But among the crowd, there are some who understand what's going on.

Li Shanchang could see clearly that Zhang Ximeng himself was called Mrs. Zhang. Among his peers, even Jia Lu and Zhu Sheng, who had the face to write a letter and hang it in Zhang Ximeng's house?Do you still want to look old?

As for the characters from the previous dynasty, who is the right one?

Su Dongpo's?

He is well-known, but he is a typical centrist. Putting him here will only lower the style of Zhang Mansion.

Ordinary talented people are not good, and neither are those Confucianists who study Confucianism. You can't hang a banner in Zhang Ximeng's house that says "preserve the principles of nature and destroy human desires"!

Li Shanchang thought for a while, and sadly found that Zhang Ximeng was invulnerable, King Kong was not broken.

It belongs to the kind of character who stands on Mount Tai and looks down on the common people.

Demon!

Li Shanchang gritted his teeth anxiously, is there no way to pull Zhang Ximeng down?

Lao Li was thinking anxiously, and suddenly saw Jiang Nan... Almost instantly, Li Shanchang thought of a solution that was not a solution.It's impossible to attack Zhang Ximeng directly, you can only attack people around him.

I just hope that Zhang Ximeng will get married soon, and it doesn't matter who it is. After marrying a wife and having children, maybe there will be a handle. At that time, Zhang Ximeng will not be as easy as it is now.

When Li Shanchang was thinking about it, Yang Xian stabbed him, "Li Xiang, everyone has gone to Dongkuayuan."

Li Shanchang shuddered and hurried over.

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang took his ministers and paced in front of the shelves of books.

Among other things, Zhang Fu's books are so scary.

If it’s just too much, that’s all. There are Zhang Ximeng’s reviews on many books, and he will insert some notes in the middle, with comments on certain viewpoints written on them.

There are not only Confucian articles in the Han, Tang and Song Dynasties, but also the Analects of Confucius and Mencius. Zhang Ximeng was not polite. Lao Zhu picked up the Analects casually, and found a booklet falling out of it, with "Yuanyu" written on it.

Old Zhu was curious, and after reading two lines, his old face immediately changed color.

Isn't this nonsense?

Mr. Zhang, we let them come here to open their eyes, not to let them watch you slander the sages!

When Zhu Yuanzhang was meditating, Wang Guangyang poked his head and saw a few lines of words: Hearing the Tao in the morning, you can die in the evening!

He heard the way in the morning, and beat him to death at night... It embodies the martial spirit of the master who never takes revenge overnight.

If a gentleman is not serious, he is not powerful: if a gentleman does not strike hard, it is not enough to establish prestige.Governance should be strict, and heavy rules should be used in troubled times.

All things can be established if forewarned, and if not forewarned, it will be abolished... In general, reforms and reforms will be full of difficulties if they hesitate. Only by attacking decisively and abolishing the old party can there be a chance of success.Confucius had a deep insight into the mystery of the reform. If Wang Anshi could understand the true meaning of Confucius, kill Sima Guang, and destroy Fu Bi and Wen Yanbo, the reform will be completed!

……

When Wang Guangyang saw this, his mind was already messed up, oh my god!

After so many years, could it be that the Analects I have read are all fake?

Zhang Xiang explained the true meaning of the master?

When Wang Guangyang was hesitating, Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head suddenly, saw him at a glance, and stared at him firmly.You are clearly warning him, don't talk nonsense!

Wang Guangyang's mind turned quickly. He had never been so anxious in his life, and his forehead was covered with hot sweat.Unexpectedly, he was so lucky that he thought of a wonderful reason.