When Zhang Yue returned home from the meeting with the Holy Spirit.
It was already after Xu time.
At this time, the night breeze was slightly cool, and the streets were very clean. From the tall mansion not far away, music and songs were heard from time to time, and men were drinking and laughing, and there was a peaceful scene everywhere.
Zhang Yue was followed at a distance on both sides. He rode his horse alone on the street, feeling both the deep kindness of the king and the heavy burden on his body.
At this moment, Zhang Yue was feeling a mixture of emotions.
The purpose of being perseverant and confident in the palace just now was mainly to stabilize the emperor and give him confidence. Now that he was alone, although he had a comprehensive strategy in his mind, hesitation when facing big events inevitably came to his mind.
Just like a candidate, even if you have taken the exam countless times on weekdays, you will still feel nervous when it comes to the provincial exam.
Suddenly, Zhang Yue stopped and stared at the bright moon in silence for a long time. State and family affairs suddenly came to his mind.
Zhang Yue returned to his house and saw bright lights in the house.
Zhang Shi and Zhang Zhi did not sleep in the living room waiting for the news. When Zhang Yue arrived home, they were both overjoyed.
"Has Third Brother's mission been decided?" Zhang Shi asked.
Zhang Yue nodded and said: "Go to the northwest!"
After hearing this, Zhang Shi said: "It's better to go to the northwest, but I always feel that it would be better for you to take over the Hanlin bachelor's degree and stay in the capital. But now that you have this arrangement, I can't say anything. I don't understand officialdom.
"
Zhang Yue said: "Brother, Northwest, Hanlin bachelors can only choose one or the other, how can it be such a good thing to have both."
In fact, Zhang Yue knew about this result earlier and discussed with Wang Anshi that day. Wang Anshi made it clear that if he insisted on going to the northwest, the position of Hanlin bachelor would no longer be awarded to him.
Once Lao Wang says something, he will definitely be hard to follow.
Zhang Shi said: "I'll clean it up for you, and I'll also send someone to inform your father-in-law."
Zhang Yue said: "Old Taishan already knew."
Zhang Shi said: "We still need to have etiquette."
After finishing speaking, Zhang Shi sighed and said, "I would have stayed at home if I had known it would be worse."
After he finished speaking, he left.
Zhang Zhi said from the side: "Dad doesn't know what third uncle means."
Zhang Yue said: "It's good if you understand."
Zhang Zhi suddenly clasped his fists to himself and said, "Third uncle, I want to go with you to the northwest to make great achievements. Please agree."
Zhang Yue said: "Not for now."
"Why? Third uncle, as the saying goes, father and son go into battle and brothers fight tigers. Wouldn't it be wrong for us, uncle and nephew, to join forces and accomplish something great in this matter?"
Zhang Zhi looked excited. He had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.
"You also know that I am not a person who is greedy for life and afraid of death. When the Guangrui army in Qingzhou started to rebel, it was me and my hostage who put down the rebellion. Over the past few years, I have been living in the capital for a long time and have been miserable. Every day, my classmates and fellow villagers from the capital come to visit me.
You have to see and receive them. Officials are summoned to inspect every corner of the cabinet. I have a straightforward temper. I suffer a lot of overt and covert anger on days like this. I almost go crazy on days like this."
Zhang Yue smiled, but saw a skirt moving under the screen beside him.
Zhang Yue thought that Zhang Zhi's wife, Lu, must be listening.
Zhang Yue said: "Many officials in the court who are fifty or sixty years old have been doing this for so many years. How can you, a twenty-year-old official, not be able to endure it?"
Zhang Zhi was speechless after hearing this.
Zhang Yue said: "It is indeed not easy to be around the emperor. You are outspoken, but you have to change it in the future. You need to understand what you can and cannot say, and where you need to be cautious. You need to understand this for yourself.
You can't handle small things, so you think it's easy to be in a foreign position? When you get to a place, there is no one to control you, and you can do whatever you want?"
Zhang Yue paused and said to Zhang Zhi: "I am staying away from Bianjing this time, but over time there may be rumors that will reach the emperor's ears."
"If you have any rumors around the official family, you can tell me about them, but if there is a conflict of interest, you must not endanger yourself in order to protect me."
Zhang Zhi asked: "Third uncle, what does this mean?"
Zhang Yue said: "The official's grant of power to me today is indeed a sign of trust, but all the generals who have gone on expeditions in the past are not immune to suspicion. The example of Chen Qiao in this dynasty can be seen, so over time, three people will become tigers. Therefore, I need to advance
Planning.”
"Is there no exception if the family members stay in Beijing?" Zhang Zhi asked.
Zhang Yue glanced at Zhang Zhi and thought, you are still too young. Do you know why the country will fall on the head of the Zhao family instead of Guo Wei and Chai Rong?
Zhang Yue thought that he must give up Zhang Zhi's intention to go with him, so he said: "I will be measured and will retreat bravely when necessary. It is more useful for you to stay in the capital than to follow me to the northwest."
Zhang Zhi wanted to say more, but he heard someone from outside saying: "Master Qi, my wife said she feels uncomfortable in her chest. Please go and have a look."
Zhang Zhi said helplessly: "Madam, can you wait a moment?"
"Madam only said that she feels very uncomfortable, so please go there as soon as possible."
Zhang Yue said to Zhang Zhi with understanding: "I will set off the day after tomorrow, and you can talk to me tomorrow."
Zhang Zhi said: "Well, I will talk to Third Uncle tomorrow."
Zhang Yue smiled as he watched Zhang Zhi leave, but then he thought about himself, how should he explain to Qi Niang?
Zhang Yue went back to his room and saw that his two sons had fallen asleep and Shi Qi Niang was still waiting for him under the lamp.
Zhang Yue knew that Qi Niang had understood what had happened, so he said to her: "Don't worry, I will go to the northwest for as little as half a year, or as long as two years, and I will return to Beijing."
The Seventeenth Mother hesitated slightly and said, "I don't care. What is the jade belt around your waist?"
Zhang Yue immediately took off the jade belt and said, "This is the jade belly that was given by the official."
Seventeen Niang looked at the jade belt for a while and said to Zhang Yue: "Guanren, the official wants you to work hard for him!"
While others would only see the glory of this imperially-given belt, Shi Qi Niang saw the crisis behind it.
Zhang Yue said: "I will repay you on the golden platform and support the jade dragon to die for you. From ancient times to the present, this is the most difficult thing to bear."
Seventeenth Mother said: "You seem to hold great power and are extremely majestic, but the officials trust you for a while, but in the long run, there will be no suspicion. The officials in the court will also be jealous, even if you make a small mistake.
Don't let go. Di Wuxiang's Yin Jian was really not far away back then. If it doesn't work, I have to intercede with dad and let him quit this job for you."
Zhang Yue saw the Seventeenth Mother about to get up, but he quickly stopped her and said, "My wife is not just an official, I am the one who took the initiative to invite you."
Seventeenth Mother looked at Zhang Yue and said, "You have always cared about the honor and disgrace of your family. Why did you fail to consider this matter?"
Zhang Yue said: "Madam, in addition to regulating the family, we scholars also need to govern the country and bring peace to the world."
"But please don't worry, madam, I will do my best. If there is any gossip in the court, I will resign."
The Seventeenth Mother said: "You always have a beginning and an end to everything you do. I'm afraid you won't be able to unload it when the time comes."
Zhang Yue was silent for a moment and said: "Madam, it is true that having a beginning and an end is not as good as beginning with the end or ending with the beginning, but I still believe that everything depends on man-made efforts."
When the Seventeenth Mother heard this, she knew she couldn't dissuade Zhang Yue, so she had no choice but to turn her back and sob.
Zhang Yue knew that the husband and wife were about to separate, so he sat by the bed and comforted Seventeenth Mother with kind words. Seeing the smile on Seventeenth Mother's face, Zhang Yue took Seventeenth Mother's hand and put it on her chest and said: "
Madam, when I come back from the northwest this time, I’m going to ask the officials to live in a place with beautiful scenery. What do you think? Or if you can’t bear the prosperity of the capital, how about I become an idle official?”
Seventeenth Mother said: "I'm afraid that you won't be able to leave your important responsibilities when the time comes. You have made great achievements from the northwest and come back to the court. It will be difficult if the officials don't reuse you!"
Zhang Yue said with a smile: "No, my father-in-law is the prime minister in the court. To avoid suspicion, the officials will not assign me an important position. Then you and I will have a free life."
The Seventeenth Mother said: "I'm not against officials becoming marquises or prime ministers, I'm just afraid that you'll take risks. You should always think of our mother and son no matter where you are, and don't get into trouble."
Zhang Yue nodded and said, "I understand."
Zhang Yue put his arms around Shiqi Niang's waist, and the couple talked all night.
The next day, when they learned that Zhang Yue was going to the northwest as an economic envoy, many people came to seek refuge with him, hoping to join the imperial army.
Zhang Yueduo didn't agree, he just named five people, Xu Xi, Shen Kuo, Zhang Wei, Cai Jing, and Cai Bian.
In addition to Xu Xi and Cai Jing who came to visit on their own initiative, Shen Kuo, Zhang Kai and Cai Bian were all invited by his name.
Cai Jing was Zhang Yue's favorite disciple. He had been helping Wang Anshi before, but he still maintained a good relationship with Zhang Yue. As for Cai Bian, he was Wang Anshi's son-in-law and served as the local magistrate.
However, Zhang Yue's move to let Cai Bian enter the shogunate was to reassure Wang Anshi and prevent the other party from holding him back.
In addition, Zhang Yue also valued Cai Bian's talent.
The process of recruiting five people was also very smooth, including Wang Anshi's son-in-law Cai Bian, who immediately agreed to join Zhang Yue's shogunate without hesitation.
Others asked Cai Bian if he was not afraid of Zhang Yue harming him. Cai Bian replied, Zhang Yue is a scholar and a gentleman, and his family values his character, so I have nothing to worry about.
These five people include Lu Shengqing, Wen Jifu, Xing Shu, Su Che, Zhong Shidao, You Shixiong, Wang Hou and others.
In the history books of later generations, Zhang Yue's shogunate was called the best shogunate in the world, which means that there are many talents here, and many officials who came from here eventually became generals and prime ministers.
The night before Zhang Yue left Beijing.
Wang Shao's eldest son Wang Kuo also lingered outside the Zhang Mansion and waited for a long time.
After waiting for a long time, Zhang Zhi went out and said to Wang Kuo: "Wang Dalang, you don't have to wait any longer. My uncle is tired and won't see any guests today."
Wang Kuo shed tears and said: "I know that my father owes the Commander-in-Chief a lot. I would like to ask the Commander-in-Chief to give my father another chance in consideration of our long-standing friendship."
Zhang Zhidao: "This matter... please don't worry too much, Mr. Da Lang. When the third uncle arrives in the northwest, let your father and my uncle explain it clearly. I can sit down and talk about anything I want."
Wang Kuo said: "If that's the case, please let me see the experience and give me a chance to explain it face to face."
Zhang Zhi said: "It's really too late today. I know you've been sitting here for half a day. Someone, come and take Dalangjun back home."
Wang Kuo couldn't help but burst into tears when he saw the servants of the Zhang Mansion coming to persuade him, knowing that he could not see Zhang Yue. Finally, with the support of the servants of the Zhang Mansion, he left the Zhang Mansion with three steps at a time.
Zhang Zhi looked at Wang Kuo like this and really felt that he was a little pitiful, but then he thought again, if he had known about it today, why did he do it in the first place?