Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

"I'm not lying to you. If you don't believe me, I can go to the palace and verify it with His Majesty."

Now Zhang Zhiji, who had been pretending to be calm, could no longer sit still.

"Tell me honestly, what did you say to His Majesty? What was written in that letter? Did you brag to His Majesty?"

Zhang Zhiji had a serious expression on his face and asked three questions in a row. Zhang Zhiji understood Emperor Chongzhen's temperament to some extent and knew that this emperor was always fond of showing off.

If he encounters something he doesn't understand and happens to meet someone who can deceive people, it is really possible. Although his son is not reasonable, he has some knowledge and can even believe what he says when he brags.

Zhang Shikang knew that he and his father would not be easy to deal with, so he told his father and brothers roughly what he had said in front of Chongzhen about the military power.

Sun was stunned by what she heard, and Zhang Shize seemed to understand as well, but Zhang Zhiji was knowledgeable and finally calmed down after hearing the explanation.

After pondering for a while, Zhang Zhiji said meaningfully:

"The current Beijing camp is a double-edged sword. My son shouldn't have accepted this mission."

Zhang Zhiji was originally in charge of the Rear Army Commander's Office. He was very clear about what the garrison of the Five Army Commander's Office in Beijing was like.

The situation in the Beijing camp is more complicated than that in the Governor's Office, and one can easily fall into the gutter if one is not careful.

"Father, I don't want to accept it, but His Majesty forced me to accept it."

At this point, Zhang Shikang wanted to tell his father everything so that he could believe that he was really forced into it.

But Zhang Zhiji's focus was not on this. He frowned, as if thinking about a countermeasure.

"Dad, you have to help me."

"Help? How?"

Sun didn't want to get involved in military affairs, so she went back to her bedroom when she saw that her son was fine. Zhang Shize closed the door of the hall, and the two of them, father and son, sat together to discuss matters, which was a rare occurrence.

Zhang Shikang then told his father and brother about his plan in detail, including the matter of donating military funds.

No matter what, he is only the second son of the Duke's Mansion and it is impossible for him to really make decisions for his father and brother.

There are definitely risks, such as other nobles and civil officials in the court. If things go wrong, the father and son will have to suffer the wrath of everyone.

But as Zhang Shikang said, if the court cannot solve the problem of salary shortage, Your Majesty can only listen to the advice of the court officials and levy additional suppression and training salaries. He does not believe what Yang Sichang said that it will have no impact on the people. That will be a heavy burden that the people cannot bear.

Zhang Zhiji didn't think his son was exaggerating.

On the other hand, this is actually an opportunity for the younger son. Even without this opportunity, his son will still have no worries about food and clothing.

But a good man has ambitions. If you can grasp these goals well, your son's future will definitely be more promising than being a rich kid at home.

The property of the Duke of England is the bet. If this matter is accomplished, his son will definitely be valued.

But what if it can’t be done?

Seeing his father remained silent, Zhang Shize thought for a moment and said carefully:

"Dad, Shikang finally got this opportunity. I think it's risky but worth a try."

As the heir to the Duke of Yingguo's mansion, most of the family property will actually belong to him, but Zhang Shize does not want his father to stop helping his brother because of this.

I can earn my family fortune again, but what about my brother’s future?

Finally, Zhang Zhiji stopped being silent.

"It's your chance to be appreciated by His Majesty. Dad and your brother will never hold you back, even if it means sacrificing the three hundred years of glory of the Duke of Ying's Mansion."

"We are a family."

"Yes, we are a family."

Zhang Shize also said with a little excitement.

"The government has more than 324,000 taels of silver available for use at any time."

"Not enough. I will inform those shopkeepers tomorrow and ask them to settle the current accounts in advance. It should be at least 30,000 or 40,000 taels."

"The thirty hectares of land in the south of the capital is far away from the other lands in our mansion. It is difficult to cultivate and harvest. I think it can be sold."

"Well, you take care of this, quickly, and it must be cash. Also, it's the mansion. My father was obsessed with collecting calligraphy and antiques in his early years, and now they can finally be put to use."

Zhang Zhiji and his eldest son Zhang Shize talked back and forth, leaving Zhang Shikang dumbfounded.

I thought to myself, I just want you to donate some of your surplus wealth, at most just take out the cash in the house.

What is this you are doing? You want to sell the fertile land and all the things in your house?

Having a hard time?

Dad, you are behaving like a prodigal son!

Seeing that his father and brother were talking more and more outrageously, Zhang Shikang quickly stopped them and said:

"Dad, brother, that's impossible. Just use the cash at home. We are not a family."

He didn't want to eat coarse food at home in the future. As a playboy, he came to Ming Dynasty to enjoy himself, not to suffer.

However, Zhang Shikang was still very touched. Although they had been together for a short time, the love of his parents and his brothers for him was pure and undisguised.

He also has to work hard for his family.

And there's the emperor in the palace who is only nine years older than him but always looks at him like a junior. He also has to work hard!

Finally, after repeated discussions between the father and his two sons, Zhang Shikang argued his case and was able to keep all the valuable items in the house.

The Duke of England will pledge 420,000 taels of silver to help Zhang Shikang accomplish this task.

For this reason, Zhang Shikang lay in bed for a long time unable to fall asleep. After only three or two days here, his life had undergone earth-shaking changes.

He really wanted to find someone to talk to. Zhang Shikang glanced at the small room about ten steps away from his bedroom and said softly:

"Pearl?"

In just a moment, Zhu'er's voice was heard in the small room.

"Sir, you need some water. I will get it for you right away."

As he spoke, there was a rustling sound coming from the room, and soon Zhu'er came in wearing a thin nightgown, holding an oil lamp.

"I'm not thirsty, I just want to find someone to talk to."

It was the turn of spring and summer, and it was still a bit chilly in Beijing at night. Seeing that Chen Zhuer was wearing thin clothes, Zhang Shikang moved inside.

"Come and lie down here, don't catch a cold."

These days, colds are no longer a minor illness. Countless people have died from them. In the absence of specific medicines, the mortality rate is frighteningly high.

Chen Zhuer's face changed slightly when she heard this, but after hesitating for only a moment, she bit her lip and chose to obey.

She was originally a slave bought by the Duke of Yingguo's mansion to serve Zhang Shikang. It was her duty to devote herself to her master, even if he was a playboy, even if he beat and scolded her and treated her badly, even if she would be abandoned in the future.

But that's the rule, whether she likes it or not, others do it.

But it was the first time after all, and her heart was filled with anxiety and fear.

Chen Zhuer carefully lifted a corner of the quilt to cover her small body. She was lying exactly where Zhang Shikang had been just now, and she felt a warm breath on her back.

Chen Zhuer felt her face getting hot. She held the edge of the quilt with her two hands to protect her chest. Her body was tense and straight. But she heard Zhang Shikang's slightly lazy voice:

"Alas, you know, starting tomorrow, I may no longer have time to eat, drink and have fun."

Chen Zhu'er was still very nervous. She didn't know how to answer because she never had time to eat, drink and have fun, so she couldn't understand how unhappy it could be. But after thinking about it carefully, she replied softly:

"Young Master is definitely going to do great things, so you should be happy."

"But I'm not happy at all. You know, for a dandy young man, listening to music in a brothel in the morning, drinking and fighting cocks in the afternoon, washing feet and bragging at night, and occasionally doing import and export trade are what should make him happy."

But he felt as if he was one step further away from this dream. There were still six years left, so why was he in such a hurry? He could just play for another three years.

"But sir... that's not the right way."

Chen Zhu'er said this almost subconsciously, and then she felt that as a servant she shouldn't teach her master a lesson. She became a little nervous again, fearing that Zhang Shikang would get angry and then act like a beast.

"What's the right path or wrong path? A person's life is only a few decades long. If you are lucky enough to be born in a wealthy family, why can't you do whatever you want as long as you don't do anything that harms the world?

Do we have to do what those people say, to struggle, to work hard, to realize our dreams?

Bullshit ideals, they are just tricks of capitalists, they just want you to be their slaves, they don’t care whether you need it or not.”

Zhang Shikang made a sarcastic remark.

Chen Zhu'er didn't say anything. She wanted to say that not everyone is lucky enough to be born into a wealthy family.

For example, she doesn’t understand what a capitalist is, but she knows that she can survive and have enough food to eat because she has a job.

There are more and more beggars in the capital. I heard from the old housekeeper that last winter alone, thousands of people froze to death or starved to death.

She was full of respect and gratitude for the Duke's family. No matter what, she was lucky to be alive, Chen Zhuer thought.

"Do you know that just for what they think is my ideal, the Duke's Mansion will take out 420,000 taels of silver? Do you know how much 420,000 taels of silver is?"

Chen Zhu'er was shocked when she heard this. She didn't know why Zhang Shikang told her such an important thing, nor did she know how much 420,000 taels of silver were. She only knew that her family sold her for 36 taels of silver.

But she listened carefully.

"But my ideal is to be a dandy."

He seemed to just want to find someone to listen to him and tell him about his feelings since coming here, and his personal maid would definitely listen carefully.

Zhang Shikang kept talking on and on, and after some time he fell asleep.

Chen Zhu'er didn't dare to sleep. She was afraid that Zhang Shikang would wake up suddenly. She heard regular breathing sounds beside her, so she just grabbed the quilt and didn't know how long she had been there before she finally fell into a deep sleep.

……