The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

Seeing his son deep in thought, Zhang Ping'an advised, "In terms of wisdom and talent, you are definitely one of the best among scholars. What you lack now is experience and knowledge. These things take time to accumulate. Go down and think about it carefully. Don't be too anxious. You are still young. One day you will be stronger than your father."

"Dad, I understand," Xiaoyuer nodded seriously.

This is the difference between having someone to guide you and not having someone to guide you on your life's journey. If you don't have someone to guide you, you have to learn everything on your own, grow through every stumble and fall, and struggle for many years before you might become one in a million. But if you have someone to guide you, many things become simpler and you can achieve twice the result with half the effort.

The next morning after the court session, Zhang Ping'an took the initiative to privately meet with Zhou Pu and explained his desire to be transferred to another region as a military governor.

Zhou Pu was quite surprised by Zhang Ping'an's idea; it was clear from his eyes that he wasn't faking it.

"My dear minister, you have always been a pillar of the court and a veteran of the court. Why would you suddenly want to leave the capital and take up a post in another place?" Zhou Pu asked with some suspicion in his eyes.

It's no wonder he was suspicious. At this time, the transfer of the Privy Councilor to a regional military governor is usually a demotion in disguise, a way of delegating power. Generally, no one would actively request such a transfer.

Zhang Ping'an's behavior was clearly illogical.

However, he knew he would definitely be asked, so after feigning difficulty for a moment, he delivered the explanation he had prepared beforehand:

"Your Majesty, I was originally of humble origin, but I was promoted by the late Emperor and Your Majesty to participate in important matters. The favor and honor I have received is the greatest. I am filled with trepidation every day, and I only think of doing my best to repay the kindness of the late Emperor and Your Majesty, which is as high as a mountain and as deep as the sea."

Recently, I have heard that some military governors in the three towns of Hebei are deceiving their superiors and disobeying orders, causing instability among the troops. This region is of vital importance to the court. Although I am dull-witted, I have always read in history books that loyal ministers of the past all held key positions internally and guarded the borders externally, gaining experience both in and out of the court to achieve perfection. I admire them and wish to offer my services to share Your Majesty's burdens!

Zhou Pu's doubts remained unresolved after hearing this, his expression indifferent: "Oh? Is that so? My dear minister, you are truly thoughtful! It seems this matter has indeed been reported to me for quite some time, and I haven't yet decided how to handle it!"

These words imply that Zhang Ping'an was too eager to recommend himself, as if he had ulterior motives.

Throughout history, emperors have always been suspicious. Zhang Ping'an remained expressionless and continued his statement:

"If Your Majesty allows me to take up a post, I will devote myself wholeheartedly to the court and fulfill my duty as a vassal. Moreover, this move will allow me to personally lead the troops to defend the borders and pacify the local areas for Your Majesty. Secondly, having served in the central government for many years, I am well aware of the court's laws and regulations. When I arrive in the local area, I will surely spread the imperial teachings and let the court's prestige and virtue reach the far reaches of the border."

Moreover, the Privy Council is a crucial institution, where clarity and swiftness are paramount. If I remain there too long, I fear my thinking will become confined to paperwork. It would be better for me to personally visit the front lines, observe official conduct, and understand the military situation, which might allow me to offer Your Majesty more practical strategies. Furthermore, the court is teeming with talented individuals. My temporary departure from this position allows for the clearing of way for more capable individuals, ensuring the Privy Council's continued vitality, which is truly beneficial to the nation.”

The first few sentences were grand and dignified, but Zhou Pu's face remained unmoved. It was only when he spoke about making way for capable and virtuous people that Zhou Pu showed a thoughtful expression, clearly considering who could replace Zhang Ping'an if he were to leave.

"Hmm, that makes some sense."

“My position and duties are all due to Your Majesty. This trip is like extending Your Majesty’s eyes, ears, and arms. I will report all military and political matters in the region to the court, no matter how small. I would never dare to make decisions on my own. If the borders are peaceful in the future, or if Your Majesty issues another decree, I will immediately relinquish my military command and return to the capital to serve Your Majesty again.” At this moment, Zhang Ping’an once again earnestly expressed his loyalty.

Whether Zhou Pu truly believed it completely is not important; at least the gesture should be made.

After listening to Zhang Ping'an's explanation, Zhou Pu did not rush to make a decision. He politely kept Zhang Ping'an in the hall for a while, chatting about various things before finally sending him away.

Zhang Ping'an wasn't in a hurry. He knew that this matter would need to go through several more rounds of discussions before a final decision could be made, and that the final appointment location would definitely not be the three towns of Hebei.

Zhou Pu was hesitant to entrust such an important town to him, but to appease him, he would certainly settle for second best and choose another place that was acceptable.

It has to be passable on the surface.

As for Xiaoyuer's resignation, there's no rush. At least we'll wait until Zhang Ping'an's appointment is finalized before making a decision.

Even though Xiaoyuer was discreet, some preparations couldn't be hidden from his wife. Li was a clever woman, and although she had suffered the pain of losing her son and was heartbroken, she still saw through Xiaoyuer's every move.

After hesitating for a moment, she decided to ask the person directly, "Husband, are we going on a long trip?"

"Why do you ask that?" Little Fish raised an eyebrow.

“I see that you have arranged the affairs of the mansion in an orderly manner, and you have also reorganized the shop. You have also had the doctor prescribe a lot of medicines that your grandparents used to use. You are not usually the kind of person who pays attention to these trivial matters, which is why I asked this question.”

At this point, Madam Li paused, "And I also heard rumors from my maternal family that my father-in-law has requested His Majesty to transfer him to a military governorship. Is that true?"

Upon hearing this, Xiaoyuer looked at Li Shi meaningfully and said, "Your information network is quite impressive."

“Although I live a secluded life in the inner quarters, I am not blind or deaf,” said Madam Li, unfazed by the scrutiny. “I thought my husband would have informed me of such an important matter beforehand.”

Little Fish withdrew his gaze, calmly went over and hugged the person, then released him after a moment:

“I didn’t deliberately hide it from you, so don’t overthink it. Whether it will work out or not is still uncertain. I’m just preparing in advance! You are my lawfully wedded wife and my capable assistant. No one and no one can shake your position at any time. But at the same time, I also hope you understand that you not only have your own family now, but also a husband and children. A hundred years from now, you will only be able to enter the Zhang family’s ancestral grave.”

Li understood that this was both a reminder and a test. "I already understood this. Is there something I haven't done well enough?"

"You've always done a great job. I didn't marry the wrong person."

That's the end of the conversation; going any deeper would hurt feelings.

“If Father-in-law is transferred to the position of military governor, it certainly won’t be a matter of a day or two. What should we do then? Go with him? That’s probably against the rules!” Madam Li said with some concern.

This time, Xiaoyuer didn't beat around the bush. What he said earlier was half true and half false, but there was one thing he didn't lie about: after all, she was his wife, and they would spend their lives together. To this day, he still felt that he hadn't married the wrong person.

"I will resign from my post temporarily."