Chapter 857: The first person below the Prime Minister
At night, when the guests dispersed, the Zhang Mansion and the nearby alleys returned to calm.
The shengxiao disappeared and the wine cup fell down, as if the lively feast just now was still in front of us.
The guests dispersed, and the servants of the Zhang Mansion were cleaning up. Mrs. Yu went back to rest early because she was old, while Mrs. Lu was taking care of things inside and outside.
The Seventeenth Mother ordered the female envoy to prepare a bathtub for Zhang Yue and let him take a bath before going to bed to rest.
After Zhang Yue finished entertaining the guests, he took off his somewhat sour official uniform and lay down comfortably in the tub.
As the steam rises in the bathtub, the fatigue all over his body is slowly relieved. At this moment, Zhang Yuefang feels that he has the power to control his own time.
But he still had many things to do. At this moment, he was feeling the slightly hot bath water, rubbing his brows, and thinking about taking up his new post tomorrow.
The errands of Hanlin bachelors were to draft edicts for the emperor and to participate in meetings and provide opinions to the emperor's decision-making.
Is this job difficult? In fact, all officials in the world are the same. The real technical problems of being an official are all solved by the officials.
Moreover, according to the Song Dynasty's way of building houses, it is difficult for officials with real talents to show up. If you really want to be peaceful, you can change a mediocre person to do the job of a Hanlin bachelor, and it may not be any worse.
However, Zhang Yue did not want to lie down and still wanted to do practical things. Then he needed to enrich his experience as a Hanlin bachelor.
In the official circles of the Song Dynasty, officials' practical experience was highly valued. If a Hanlin scholar did not hold other official positions and was directly promoted to the position of Prime Minister, he would be ridiculed as a "rubbish ruler".
The implication is that he is in power and knows nothing except writing articles to earn royalties.
The Hanlin bachelor's part-time jobs include Taichang Temple and Yintai Division, while the larger ones are the three envoys, who know Kaifeng Prefecture. Zhang Yue has now been promoted from a military envoy to a Hanlin bachelor, which is enough in terms of merit.
Pingxihelu is a military merit, not experience in civil governance, so in terms of qualifications, this is a shortcoming. After all, apart from being a prisoner, he has never really had any experience as an administrative leader.
Just as I was thinking of this, the maid at home asked if I could add some hot water.
Zhang Yue said no need, and got up from the bathtub and put on his clothes. After being an official for so many years, he was still not used to being served by servants, so he did many things by himself.
After getting dressed, Zhang Yuedun felt refreshed. When he walked to the bedroom, he saw Seventeenth Mother lying on the sofa, leaning on the pillow and reading a book, with half of her white arms exposed from her sleeves.
Zhang Yue looked at Qi Niang and suddenly remembered the scene when the two met in the Wu family library.
After the two got married, Seventeenth Mother still kept reading. She read a lot of books, managed the household affairs in an orderly manner without much effort, and made money in a good way.
Zhang Yue looked up and down at his and Qi Niang's bedroom. The utensils inside were all old and not new, but they were arranged in an orderly manner. The families of scholar-bureaucrats who started out as scholars hated luxury and extravagance.
Avoid showing the air of being poor for a long time and suddenly getting rich. The Seventeenth Mother did a good job in this regard.
Not only Seventeenth Mother, but also none of the women from the Wu family that I have come into contact with are ordinary people.
I am truly lucky to be able to marry Qi Niang. Of course, she also has a good eye for it. And with the Yue family taking care of you in your career, others will not dare to think you are a child of a poor family and look down upon you. Unlike Zhang Heng and Liu Ji, even though they are both from a poor family.
He was the number one scholar but his official career was not smooth.
Zhang Yue was worried that the Seventeenth Mother would not be used to life after marrying him. Although it is said that when you marry a chicken, you will follow the chicken, and when you marry a dog, you will follow the dog. Fortunately, he has been promoted very quickly in recent years.
Zhang Yue walked to the small table in front of the collapse and sat down. Seventeenth Mother placed the book flat on her chest and said with a sweet smile: "Are all the officials finished?"
Zhang Yue nodded and was about to say some love words when the Seventeenth Mother said: "My lord, I see that Mr. Lu, Prime Minister Zeng Ji and Mr. Han are here today. Is there something to trouble you?"
Zhang Yue held Seventeenth Niang's hand and said: "Yes, it is a matter of market change and law. At present, the political parties in the Central Committee are strife. In the past, I could stay silent, but now I cannot avoid it."
After a pause, Zhang Yue said: "But don't worry, madam, I will ask Mr. Zhaowen and Lao Taishan carefully what they mean. Think about it, if Lao Taishan hadn't introduced him, how would I have had the chance to meet Mr. Zhaowen?"
The implication of Zhang Yue's words is very clear. My father-in-law and Han Jiang support me today. I will never be like Cai Que, who knows no one when I have the support of the emperor.
The Seventeenth Mother said: "I like what the official said very much, but I married the official because he was an ambitious and determined person. The official is now in the third rank, and a real man does not have to follow his own will in everything."
Therefore, you should have your own strategies to let the world know, and let the officials and officials know the bones and strength of the officials!"
The Seventeenth Mother's words spoke to her heart, and Zhang Yue sincerely lamented that what a husband could ask for when he has such a wife.
At this time, it began to rain lightly outside the window, hitting the banana leaves outside the window.
The couple were talking, and Zhang Yue slowly put his arms around Qi Niang's waist. The relaxation after bathing and the beautiful woman in his arms made Zhang Yue feel at ease at this moment.
Zhang Yue sniffed the fragrance of Qi Niang's hair and playfully blew air on her neck, causing her delicate body to tremble slightly and burst into laughter.
Seeing the blush on Seventeenth Mother's cheeks, Zhang Yue couldn't help but joked: "The night is deep, it's time for Madam Hou to have a rest."
The Seventeenth Mother felt angry and funny and said: "Who is the Marquis's wife?"
At this time, Zhang Yue calmly untied her belt and slid his hand in. Zhang Yue asked, "What does the Madam of the Marquis call me? I am not allowed to call me an official."
After a while, Shi Qi Niang couldn't help but call out lowly. She looked at Zhang Yue behind her, frowned, and said softly.
"Akiro!"
…
The next day, Zhang Yue formally assumed his new post and first went to the palace to thank the officials.
A little while ago, the gate envoy from the pavilion sent Zhang Yue the schedule of the miscellaneous pressure class.
The so-called miscellaneous ranking refers to the ranking of military officials, military attaches, chamberlains, and clan officials when they are standing outside the palace. The court will calculate a very complicated ranking based on your assignment, official position, and job title.
In short, the preface outside the palace reflects the superiority and inferiority of an official. Don't think it is unimportant. Many people are fighting for the official life, isn't it because I can be above you?
The rank of Hanlin bachelors in the preface class outside the palace is below the ministers of various trades, and higher than the officials who advise on matters and on the left and right.
For example, when Zhang Yue was not yet a Hanlin scholar, he met Zeng Bu when he was admonishing the officials. Although Zeng Bu was just a daily servant, because of his status as a Hanlin scholar, Zeng Bu had to be in front of him.
But now Zeng Bu has to stand under him. With the bachelor of Duanming Palace, it is even more different.
At the beginning of the Song Dynasty, the number of academicians in Duanming Palace was still higher than that of deputy privy envoys.
For example, Zhao Pu was promoted from Privy Councilor to Deputy Privy Councilor. At the same time, Lu Yuqing was the Duanming Palace Bachelor and knew Kaifeng Mansion.
Because Lü Yuqing was ranked higher than Zhao Pu, when Zhao Zhi recommended the two to serve as prime ministers, Lü Yuqing was ranked higher than Zhao Pu. Later, the status of bachelor in Duanming Palace declined, and he was ranked below the Deputy Privy Envoy.
Therefore, in the mixed class given by the cabinet officials, Zhang Yue's class was second only to Cai Ting, deputy privy envoy.
Really take over the position of the first person below.