The next day, Zhang Ning asked people to find out that Yu Qian had been claiming to be ill and had not been out in public recently. At that time, he went to the Cabinet Office to re-check the official recommendation list that Yang Shiqi had sent two days ago. As expected, Yu Qian's name was not there. He thought to himself:
Yang Shiqi and Yu Qian have a close friendship. Now that he has arrived in Huguang, there is no reason why he should not want Yu Qian to renew his teacher-student friendship. Yu Qian did not appear on the list. The problem is not with Yang Shiqi. It must be that Yu Qian did not explain things through.
After Yu Qian was released from the Provincial Prison of Internal Affairs, Zhang Ning was of course very kind to him. Not only did he arrange a residence, but also gave him a lot of property so that he could live a safe life here. He also ordered that Yu Qian's life would no longer be restricted.
Although they were free, they had no clear attitude towards Dong and his son who were taken to Wuchang, and were suspected of being used as hostages.
After reading the files, Zhang Ning stood up and left the cabinet study, telling the guards that he was going to see Yang Shiqi at the old procuratorate.
As usual, he rode a carriage. He didn't like riding in a sedan very much. Modern people were subconsciously accustomed to relying on mechanical appliances, and they felt indescribable discomfort with enslaving people. The streets were busy and noisy, so the carriage moved very slowly, so Zhang Ning
Open the curtain and look at the scene outside along the road.
Wuchang Prefecture is not only an important town in central China, but also one of the largest cities in the country. The population is very dense, but according to the household registration files, it is estimated that there are hundreds of thousands of people. This can be seen from the atmosphere on the streets. But in Zhang Ning's eyes, it is still
There is a feeling of backwardness and roughness, which is unconsciously due to the contrast with the city in my memory.
The terrain of this section of the road is low, so the sight line is not very wide. The sight is limited to the surrounding scenery, which looks like the old streets of towns in the modern western region. Except for a few gates of wealthy families and restaurants opened by wealthy businessmen, the view is
Most of the people who go to the toilet are people who carry burdens, pull carts, set up stalls, and other types of people who make a living. The street is close to Shahu Lake, and there is a dock in the city. You can see trackers pulling boats and a group of hard workers unloading goods on their shoulders or pushing wheelbarrows.
.
It can be judged that in this prosperous Ming Dynasty city, most people are still illiterate and still rely on traditional crafts and ways to make a living. Apart from the government, there are no large organizations such as enterprises in the city of hundreds of thousands of people.
...This is not a bad place. Wuchang Prefecture is located in a plain, a place with rivers, lakes, water and land transportation. If it were in places far away from the central area, the situation would probably be many times worse than this.
Touching the scene, Zhang Ning had a feeling in his heart: there are many people, but few talents. People like Yu Qian who can quickly understand new things through the things they have seen, and scholars who can cope well under the old rules, can do it under the illiterate people.
It is almost impossible to produce it among the masses. In this era, we can only rely on the gentry.
When the carriage and horse arrived at the old procuratorate, they learned that Yang Shiqi was meeting guests. The former officials of the Third Division of Huguang City paid a visit to Yang Shiqi and were talking in the living room. However, after Yang Shiqi learned that Zhang Ning was coming, he quickly came out to greet him.
After the two of them greeted each other, Yang Shiqi said calmly: "Some of these people who are officials in Huguang have met several times when they were in the capital, and those who have never met have seen their names on paper. There is indeed someone among them.
If you have real talent and knowledge, if the prince agrees, how about I introduce him to you someday to meet him?"
"There is a chance, there is a chance." Zhang Ning said casually, "But now I can tell that the person with real talent and learning is Yu Tingyi." Speaking of this, Zhang Ning couldn't help but recall the time when Yu Qian was still the governor.
, in a battle where he was ambushed by him, it was not him who applied coordinated tactics of infantry, artillery and cavalry to the battle formation for the first time, but a man from the Ming Dynasty.
After hearing this, Yang Shiqi said: "I heard that Tingyi has been infected with wind and cold these days and closed the door to thank guests. I have never seen him."
Zhang Ning said thoughtfully: "Tingyi and I have been friends many years ago. Now that I'm sick, it would seem cold if I didn't say hello... How about Mr. Yang ask me to visit you today?"
Yang Shiqi looked at Zhang Ning's expression and looked very serious, as if he really believed that Yu Qian was ill. He did not point it out and replied: "That's fine. Please wait in the hall for a while, I will come as soon as I can. Xiang Shilin
Lord, please reply so that you can escape."
"Mr. Yang, please." Zhang Ning said politely. After he turned around and left, Zhang Ning said to Li Zhen who was accompanying him: "Ask someone to prepare some gifts... There is no need for medicinal materials. If they can't use them, they will be thrown away."
, prepare some physical objects that can be used at any time.”
Li Zhen hurriedly clasped his fists and said, "I understand."
After preparing for a while, Zhang Ning invited Yang Shiqi to ride with him in the car, and the two of them headed to Yu Qian's residence not far away.
Sure enough, the door of the mansion was closed, and there was no sign of anyone coming in or out. Fortunately, someone knocked on the door, but the concierge still opened the door. After a while, the chief guard of the mansion hurried over. This person was sent from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Naturally, he recognized Zhang Ning, kowtowed and saluted, and when he got up, he asked someone to inform the inner palace.
Zhang Ning did not ask any unnecessary questions, but Yang Shiqi asked: "How is your master's condition?"
The captain of the guard replied: "I don't know much about Beizhi. Madam and son-in-law personally took care of Mr. Yu, but I saw that they sent someone to grab the medicine. Your Majesty and Mr. Yang, please, Beizhi will take you two to the inner palace."
Not long after, Ms. Dong came out with a young man to greet her. She lowered her head and told the young man to kneel down and salute. Zhang Ning hurriedly stepped forward and made a gesture of support: "No, no need. Today, Mr. Yang and I are visiting rashly.
For official reasons, I just want to visit my old friends, and ask my wife not to blame me if I bother you, and I won't tolerate any large gifts."
Yang Shiqi found it inconvenient to talk to the woman, so he said to Mian: "Even if I arrive in Huguang, I can't lose the scriptures of the saints."
The young man said clearly: "I will definitely listen to Grandpa Yang's teachings." After hearing this, Yang Shiqi burst into laughter.
Ms. Dong took this opportunity to quietly look up at Zhang Ning, an extremely elusive emotion flashed across her face. She was dressed dignified and tidy, but she had no makeup, and there was not even a single bead or jade decoration in her hair. She looked out of place compared to her status.
But it seems too simple. She lowers her head most of the time, and the gaze in her eyes only flashes by when she raises her head, but a person's heart is too easy to be exposed in her eyes. At least it can be seen that she is living as if
It's not pleasant...the scenery people show may be desolate, but it's just superficial, and only you can understand the inner feeling.
Facing her, Zhang Ning naturally remembered what he had done. Now that he thought about it, it was really a mistake. When a person lives in the world, he must have an identity and a place to stand, including Zhang Ning himself. He also needs an identity in the world.
Playing a role; Mrs. Dong's identity is Mrs. Yu. If her misbehavior becomes a joke in the market, her words will be feared and her saliva will drown her.
He said calmly: "I should apologize to Madam."
Dong asked softly: "What does the prince apologize for?"
"You were living well in the capital, but it was a bit abrupt for me to send someone to pick you up in Huguang. But at that time, I was also considering your safety, so please forgive me. Mr. Yang was framed by traitors in the court, and Emperor Xuande also believed in the slander.
, so I sent someone to invite Mr. Yang to Huguang, which naturally left a false impression in the Xuande court; and the friendship between Tingyi and Mr. Yang as a teacher and student is known to the world, so we are afraid that Mr. Yu’s family will be implicated in the future and innocent people will be harmed, so we made this move.
."
After hearing this, Mr. Dong said: "Your Majesty and Mr. Yang are here to see my husband. My husband is recuperating in his room. He is ill and cannot welcome him. Please let me apologize for him."
Zhang Ning and Yang Shiqi then followed Dong into the inner palace, and then went to Yu Qian's bedroom to visit him.
Sure enough, I saw Yu Qian just sitting up from the bed wearing white obscene clothes. He pretended to be weak and wanted to get out of bed, and gasped: "I am extremely rude..."
Zhang Ning hurriedly walked forward and held his wrist: "You're welcome, you and I have just met, so we don't care about the secular etiquette. Just lie down and rest your body." ."
Touching Yu Qian's wrist, he felt that his body temperature was normal. Looking at his face, although it was a little yellow and discolored, it didn't look like he was sick... No matter if he was pretending to be sick or not, since ancient times, pretending to be sick has never been done. Not uncommon.
Yang Shiqi also came up to visit and said a few words of concern. Yu Qian sighed: "My body is weak, and I am unable to do everything. Please sit on the chairs." Then Mrs. Dong personally brought tea and water.
"Who can avoid illness if they eat grains? It's just a minor illness. Let's wait until the illness is cured first." Zhang Ning said kindly.
Naturally, he came here today to persuade Yu Qian to become an official, but in the situation in front of him, he didn't know where to start. He couldn't bring a doctor to check his pulse... This would be tantamount to coercion.
Yang Shiqi on the side talked nonsense and did not help to persuade him, but he didn't know what kind of medicine was sold in the gourd. But why did he easily agree to follow Yu Qian to visit him before? Zhang Ning thought about it, maybe it was just for Yu Qian's sake. State his position in front of others?
When the three of them were together, there were many topics that they couldn't bring up. Zhang Ning could bear it and finally stopped being anxious. He said some irrelevant words and stood up to leave.
Yang Shiqi followed him out and walked to the door, and said casually: "Your Majesty, I'll go back first. I suddenly remembered that I still have a few words to say to Ting Yi. It's better to just turn around and go again."
Zhang Ning understood and bowed: "Then I will leave this matter to Mr. Yang. Yu Tingyi is not on the recommendation list. There is no way to delay this matter."
Yang Shiqi cupped his hands and said nothing.
After a while, the captain of the guard came forward to see Zhang Ning out, and Zhang Ning said: "If you find an opportunity to tell Qian something, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will send troops to the house firstly for a guard of honor, and secondly to protect his safety. It is for the purpose of guarding and monitoring. Tomorrow you will move the barracks outside the mansion, and all expenses will be allocated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs; you do not need to interfere with the internal affairs of the family from now on."
The captain of the guard carefully reminded: "If... the person disappears or runs away, will the Ministry of Internal Affairs hold him accountable for his humble position?"
"Where can he run? Can Yu Qian be accommodated by the 'Puppet Dynasty'?" Zhang Ning said casually.