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

Even though they hadn't seen each other for a long time, Zhou Ziming's attitude towards the two ministers gave the impression that he knew everything.

After the two men paid their respects, he said with a dignified yet approachable tone, "My two beloved ministers must be tired from your journey. Please, have seats!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Soon after the two sat down, a palace maid came to serve tea.

He then quietly bowed his head and withdrew.

Although there were palace servants inside the main hall, and the chief eunuch Liang Fu was also standing to the side, they were all silent, as if they were just decorations.

Zhang Ping'an clearly felt that the rules in the palace were much stricter than before.

This strictness may not be immediately apparent, but the subtle expressions and glances of the palace servants reveal the difference.

"This journey to the west was crucial to the safety of the nation, and you two handled the task exceptionally well, which pleases me greatly. It is a pity that Minister Zhao has unfortunately passed away. In principle, you should have entered the palace to meet the Emperor upon your return and been properly commended, but it just so happens that the Imperial Observatory has calculated the date for the sacrificial ceremony, and I went to the altar in the suburbs of the capital to perform the ceremony. It is truly unfortunate!"

Zhou Ziming said it was a pity about Zhao Qing, but Zhang Ping'an couldn't see any sincerity in his words. He knew that all of this was a pre-arranged scheme.

"Thanks to Your Majesty's divine might and the protection of our ancestors, I have been fortunate enough to fulfill my mission and share the burdens of the court. This is a great blessing for us."

Zhang Ping'an and Qian Jie replied respectfully.

Because Zhang Ping'an held a higher official rank, he took the lead in giving a brief report on this mission: "The military seal of Guazhou Military Town is here, and I respectfully return it to Your Majesty. All the rosters of officers and soldiers, as well as the list of provisions and supplies, have been clarified and handed over to Lord Lin. Here are the details of the handover. I hereby submit this report and respectfully request Your Majesty's decision!"

After speaking, he raised the military tally, seal, and report with both hands.

Liang Fu, being very perceptive, came over, silently took the item, and presented it to the higher-ups.

Although Zhou Ziming already knew the specifics, Zhang Ping'an was all too aware that reclaiming military power was a matter of the court's safety and the emperor's core authority. The minister who accomplished this would not only be a meritorious official but would also instantly become a focal point, special and sensitive. While the emperor was pleased, he would probably also harbor some apprehension towards this minister deep down.

After all, if he can help the court reclaim other people's military power today, he may also have the ability to threaten the stability of the court's military power tomorrow.

Therefore, Zhang Ping'an's core purpose in meeting the emperor today was to confirm Zhou Ziming's absolute loyalty. His attitude had to be humble and respectful, and he absolutely could not show any signs of arrogance or complacency.

The emphasis on "returning" also indicates that the power originally belonged to the emperor, and he was merely temporarily holding onto and exercising it.

"Respectfully requesting the Emperor's decision" means handing over the final decision-making power to the Emperor without hesitation, and whether or not there is praise or not, it will not affect his loyalty to the court.

A moment later, the sound of Zhou Ziming flipping through reports could be heard from the head of the table.

With a "snap," the report closed gently.

Zhou Ziming praised without reservation: "Excellent! My two ministers are truly pillars of the state. This matter is complex and extremely dangerous. At the time, all the civil and military officials thought it would be difficult, but only you two ministers did not shy away from the axe and halberd, sharing my worries and eliminating this major threat to the court. I am truly gratified that the court has such pillars of the state as you!"

To receive such praise from the emperor is something to be extremely proud of.

Zhang Ping'an was also somewhat pleased.

However, he remained humble and said, "Your Majesty flatters me. I am truly unworthy of such praise. The success of this mission is due to three factors. First, Your Majesty is wise and resourceful, and you bestowed upon me secret decrees and strategies, giving me clear guidelines. Second, the Emperor's power and virtue are revered throughout the land, and the soldiers in the army were originally loyal to the court, but were misled by their superiors in the past. Third, the people Your Majesty sent to accompany you were all dedicated and hardworking, and the cooperation between civil and military officials was essential to the success of this mission. They also made invaluable contributions. I merely followed Your Majesty's instructions and served you faithfully; I have not made any contribution whatsoever."

Zhou Ziming smiled upon hearing this, sounding quite pleased. "Alright, my two ministers, there's no need for such modesty. If it weren't for your loyalty, courage, and wisdom, how could you have accomplished such a great feat? I am aware of your contributions. Of course, the court will not forget the others who accompanied us, including those who have already died in the line of duty. They will be rewarded and provided with compensation according to the reports."

After saying that, Zhou Ziming changed the subject again: "When you were handing over the reins to Lin Qing, did you feel that he might be able to take on the important task in the Northwest?"

That's a really hot potato.

Zhang Ping'an and Qian Jie remained silent for a moment.

After a moment, Zhang Ping'an said carefully, "Lord Lin's reopening of the Silk Road is a great contribution to the country. He also has experience traveling to various countries in the Western Regions and is very familiar with the customs and culture of the Northwest. Since His Majesty has sent him to guard the Northwest, there must be His Majesty's intention. In my humble opinion, Lord Lin is a very capable person and will surely live up to His Majesty's trust."

"Hmm, your reply is rather cunning, my dear minister," Zhou Ziming said in a deep voice, but his tone was not too angry. "After all, the Northwest is a crucial gateway to the court. I was worried that the decision I made back then was too hasty, so I wanted to ask for your opinions. However, my dear minister is right. Minister Lin is a capable minister, so I suppose there is no problem. I was overthinking it!"

This is a very intimate way of speaking, implying that the two are considered trusted advisors.

Perhaps emperors become suspicious after their power reaches a certain peak. In any case, Zhang Ping'an felt that Zhou Ziming was becoming overly thoughtful and suspicious.

I don't know if it's related to his illness.

Perhaps in order to clear all obstacles for the crown prince in advance, he wanted to put multiple shackles on the power of his ministers to ensure that no one would become too powerful in the future.

Then Zhou Ziming brought up the sacrificial ceremony held in the suburbs of Beijing this year. He said the ceremony went very smoothly this year, and he expected good weather and abundant harvests.

Zhang Ping'an and Qian Jie nodded and agreed from time to time.

After talking for about an hour, the final reward was given. Zhang Ping'an was promoted to Privy Councilor, and also appointed as Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince. He was awarded a double-eyed peacock feather, a thousand taels of gold, and five hundred acres of fertile land.

Qian Jie was promoted three ranks and transferred to work in the Ministry of Works.

Although somewhat unexpected, the reward was still quite prestigious overall.

A promotion of three ranks in quick succession is considered extremely fast; under normal circumstances in the capital, it would be virtually impossible.

Generally speaking, the higher the official rank, the slower the promotion, because the court also needs to prevent officials from reaching a point where they have nowhere left to advance.

Therefore, Zhang Ping'an guessed that he would not be promoted again for at least three to five years.

Dinner was served in the palace that evening, and Zhou Ziming specially invited the two of them to dine together as a sign of honor.

The Crown Prince was also present at the banquet.

Although it had only been two years since they last met, the Crown Prince had clearly become much more mature, though there was a hint of depression in his eyes, unlike the spirited boy Zhang Ping'an had seen him at the Buddha Bathing Festival at the Great Xiangguo Temple.

The past two years of handling government affairs must have been mentally and physically demanding, and not as easy as it seems on the surface.