The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Zhang Juzheng was silent for a long time, then asked, "Where is Jingshan?"

Min Xi was stunned for a moment. Isn't the mountain behind the Forbidden City called Jingshan? What is it called now? He forgot to ask Yun Ji. Min Xi said: "It should be the mountain behind the Forbidden City. That's what it was called in the dream."

Zhang Juzheng's face was very unhappy. That was the Da Nei Zhen Mountain, also known as Wansui Mountain by the people. Ordinary people were not allowed to enter. How could it really be the place where the last Ming emperor was buried? Min Xi said that he had continued the rule of the Ming Dynasty for 70 years. Does that mean that the Ming Dynasty would perish after 70 years?

"In your dream, how many years do I have left to live?" Zhang Juzheng asked.

Min Xi lowered his head hurriedly: "Students dare not curse adults."

Zhang Juzheng waved his hand and said, "You've already said it, it was your dream, it may not be true, but it doesn't matter if you say it."

Min Xi considered his words for a moment and said, "I remember that you passed away before you were sixty."

Zhang Juzheng pondered for a moment. He was 52 this year, and even if he turned , there would be less than eight years left. But for the reform, it was enough.

Zhang Juzheng smiled generously: "Since ancient times, everyone has to die! If I can extend the life of the Ming Dynasty for another 70 years, it doesn't matter if I die! My dear nephew, have you told this dream to anyone else?"

"No." Min Xi shook his head. He had not even told Yun Ji in detail about the Ming Dynasty and its future direction. He had made up his mind and kept it to himself, trying to change the world by himself, even if it was just to pry open a gear of fate. However, he found that he was too insignificant in the face of the torrent of history, and those subtle changes were probably unable to shake the general trend.

There is not much time left for me to change. Once Zhang Juzheng dies, official corruption in the Ming Dynasty will reach its peak, and those who do practical things will never have a chance to succeed.

He also didn't know what kind of chain reaction would be triggered by revealing the secret to Zhang Juzheng. Perhaps Zhang Juzheng would not believe it at all.

However, Zhang Juzheng did not completely disbelieve it. Before he was born, his great-grandfather dreamed of a full moon falling from the sky into his family's water tank, from which a white turtle floated. His great-grandfather thought the white turtle was him, so he named him Bai Gui. Later, when he was studying, he showed amazing talent, and his family thought the white turtle was an omen.

Zhang Juzheng asked: "I would also like to know why Your Majesty raided my house?"

Min Xi said: "The apparent reason is that the Lord has not observed mourning and lives an excessively extravagant life."

Zhang Juzheng was stunned for a moment. His old father was already very old. If he passed away at this critical moment, he would really have to consider whether to observe mourning or to take away his love.

Dingyou means that when parents pass away, officials must resign and go home to observe mourning for three years. Duoqing means that officials do not have to resign and go home to observe mourning because they have lost their filial piety for the country. Usually only military officers guarding the borders choose to do so, while all civil officials do Dingyou.

But in Zhang Juzheng's case, if he chose to mourn for three years out of filial piety, by the time he returned, the opportunity would have been lost and the reform would most likely have been abandoned halfway. But if he did not mourn, he would be criticized again, which is the so-called "it is difficult to be both loyal and filial since ancient times".

Zhang Juzheng gave a bitter smile. He was originally skeptical about Min Xi's words, but now he basically believed it, because for others, there was no need to consider whether to mourn or to take away one's love, but for him, it was a rather dilemma.

Min Xi said: "In my humble opinion, the root cause is not whether the mourning period is over or whether the extravagance is excessive, but that your reforms have offended too many people. Once you lose your checks and balances, those people will take advantage of the situation and always find excuses."

"My dear nephew, what you said is absolutely right. In your opinion, is there any room for maneuver in this matter?"

Min Xi didn't expect Zhang Juzheng to ask him this. He said nervously, "I am a dull student and can't think of many solutions. The key to this matter lies with Your Majesty and the ministers in the court. If you want to change the situation, you must try to make the court have more friends and fewer enemies, so that once you leave one day, there won't be all enemies who will take advantage of your misfortune. Your Majesty is a promising talent. Now that he is getting older and will soon rule the country, I think there are many things that Your Majesty can learn to do."

After Min Xi finished speaking, he felt like a thorn in his back. He was suggesting that Zhang Juzheng give up power, hoping that he would not touch his reverse scale. After listening to this, Zhang Juzheng did not speak for a long time. He understood that Min Xi wanted him to unite all the forces that could be united in the court and pull more people on his boat, so that once he died, the reformists would not be isolated and helpless. The first person who needed to be won over was the little emperor, and the second was the ministers in the court.

After a long while, Zhang Juzheng nodded and said, "I understand what you mean, nephew. Let me consider it."

When Min Xi came out of the study, Yun Ji kept looking at him, wanting to know what he had said to Zhang Juzheng. Min Xi gave him a reassuring look and said nothing more.

After Zhang Juzheng came out, he said to them, "I am also tired today, so I will not keep you any longer."

Tao Lizhi quickly got up and left. As soon as he got on the carriage, he glared at Min Xi: "Min Xi, how many times have I told you! You must not criticize His Majesty and the adults. Sooner or later, you will be killed by your mouth!"

Min Xi remained silent, and this time he rarely defended himself. He knew that if he didn't say anything now, it would be too late to say anything in the future, and he would rather be blamed and misunderstood now.

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Tao Lizhi was furious: "What did you say to Lord Zhang? Why did he order you to leave as soon as you came out?"

Min Xi said: "Nothing, uncle, I will take responsibility for anything that happens. I am just Yun Ji's sworn brother and will not be a burden to you."

Yun Ji frowned as he listened, but he controlled his emotions in front of his uncle.

Until they arrived at Tao's house and picked up Yunlin to take him back.

After arriving home, Yun Ji asked the nurse to take Yun Lin out to play, and then asked Min Xi: "What did you say to Master Zhang?"

Min Xi looked at him and said, "I have told Lord Zhang some details, but I don't know whether he believes it or not."

Yun Ji stared at him in shock: "You told him? Why?"

"I suddenly realized that although I knew everything that would happen in the future, I was powerless to do anything about it. I felt that what we did could not change history. I don't want history to repeat itself. Lord Zhang is the backbone. He may be able to find a way to turn the tide and change the direction, so I revealed a little to him." Min Xi said.

Yun Ji couldn't believe it: "Didn't you say that leaking the secret would have serious consequences?"

"I only told him that it was a dream, not that it really happened. I am more worried about the problems you will face than the serious consequences of leaking the secret. With the relationship between my uncle and Mr. Zhang, you are already in the same boat. If anything happens to Mr. Zhang in the future, you will not be able to escape responsibility."

Min Xi never told Yun Ji the specific situation, but Yun Ji was a smart man. When Min Xi said this, he knew that Zhang Juzheng would be in big trouble. He pondered for a moment and asked, "Did Lord Zhang believe what you said?"

"I don't know. At least he didn't say I was lying. He should consider it." Min Xi said, "By the way, what is the name of the mountain behind the Forbidden City?"

Yun Ji said: "People call it Wansui Mountain, Coal Mountain, and Da Nei Zhen Mountain, but it has no official name."

Min Xi nodded. No wonder Zhang Juzheng asked where Jingshan was. It turned out that it is not called Jingshan now.

"You just told my uncle that if anything happens, you will be the only one to bear the responsibility and it has nothing to do with us. I feel a little uncomfortable." Yun Ji said.

Min Xi looked at him: "Why are you upset? This is a good thing."

Yunji opened his arms and wrapped them around him: "I don't want to have nothing to do with you."

"Of course we are related. But from a legal perspective, we really have nothing to do with each other. If I committed a capital crime, at least ten generations of my clan would be killed before I could implicate you." Min Xi said.

Yun Ji covered his mouth: "Don't talk nonsense!"

Min Xi took his hand off and said with a smile: "What crime could I have committed? The worst that could happen is that I said something extremely treasonous. According to the Ming Dynasty law, being convicted for speaking out should not result in a death sentence."

"Don't even mention the death penalty. I don't want you to suffer even the slightest bit of punishment," said Yun Ji.

"Okay, I will be careful with my words and actions in the future, try to offend as few people as possible, and strive not to be punished." Min Xi said seriously, "By the way, aren't you going to draw up a training plan for Tao Shu and the others? Hurry and write it."

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten it." Yun Ji let go of his hand, walked to the table to grind ink, and prepared to write an exercise plan.

The next day, the three Tao Shu brothers received a detailed exercise plan drawn up by Yun Ji for them, and Min Xi took it as a reference. The exercise is gradual and not too difficult, but it is still a bit difficult to stick to it for a long time. Of course, if you stick to it, it will definitely be effective.

The most physical activity that the three brothers Tao Shu had in their lives was probably when they were playing and chasing with others before they became enlightened. At that time, no one had mentioned to them that scholars should stand and sit properly. Running until you are sweating profusely? That would be very contrary to the gentle and elegant image of scholars.

"Isn't it too disgraceful to do these things?" Tao Shu couldn't help but protest when he saw Yun Ji's plan. He and Tao Yu were already juren after all, so why did they have to do such vulgar things as running and lifting stones? Shouldn't physical exercise be done by doing the Five Animal Exercises or something like that?

Yun Ji said with a smile: "Who says running and lifting stones are not elegant? As long as it works, it's fine. Don't you want to live another 80 years to make the Ming Dynasty prosperous?"

This reason was too high-sounding, and the three Tao Shu brothers could not find any words to refute it. Although studying was for fame, wealth and power, who didn't study under the guise of serving the court?

So from that day on, Tao Shu and the other two started exercising. Yun Ji also found an old servant from his grandfather's courtyard to record and supervise. The old servant was loyal and told him that this was a matter concerning the life safety of the three young masters. So he recorded the matter clearly without any slacking, and even took the initiative to urge the three to exercise and would not let them be lazy at all.