Prime Minister

Chapter 1317 New Minister

Chapter 1317 New Minister

"How expensive can a noble person be?"

Zhou Xingji put his hands behind his back, looked up at the sky and asked with a smile: "There are countless nobles in Dongjing City."

The servant was not angry at all when he heard this, but stood with his hands behind his back and said, "Young Master will know it as soon as he sees it."

Zhang Cheng observed the servant's demeanor and behavior and guessed that the nobleman behind this man must be of high official rank.

Ding Changqi was calm and said nothing.

Zhang Cheng whispered, "Brother Zhou, there may be a noble person behind this person."

Zhou Xingji raised his eyebrows and said, "What kind of noble people could there be in this teahouse? I want to see them first."

After saying this, Zhou Xingji took a step forward, and Zhang Cheng and Ding Changqi followed closely.

When the curtain was rolled up, a copper bell from the eaves rang softly. It turned out that behind the partition through which the three people had just chatted, smoke was curling out, and two people were sitting opposite each other drinking tea.

The gurgling sound of the boiling tea was mixed with the sound of two very light jade objects hitting each other. This scene made Zhou Xingji's black boots freeze in mid-air.

Zhang Cheng looked at the middle-aged man sitting at the door. He was wearing a cloud-patterned brocade robe, his eyebrows were like swords, and the fine lines at the end of his eyes carried a murderous aura. The other party had an excellent demeanor and style. Although he was already in his forties, he still had the heroic spirit of a young man.

When one sees him, one would wonder how such a remarkable man could exist in the world.

As for the person sitting opposite him, he was also dressed luxuriously and seemed smart and intelligent, but he was still inferior to the man opposite him.

The middle-aged man sitting at the door had distinct knuckles on his fingers holding the cup, and calluses on his knuckles from years of holding a sword. He said, "I am the newly appointed Minister of the Imperial Court, Zhang Dun. I wonder if I am worthy of being called a nobleman?"

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a sound of horse hooves galloping past the teahouse, rattling the window frames. Zhou Xingji and Ding Changqi were shocked, but Zhang Cheng had already guessed it, but he was still shocked. It was indeed him.

Zhang Dun was sitting at the top with a gaze as sharp as lightning. He glanced at the expressions of the three people and took in the expressions of Zhou Xingji and Ding Changqi. He was not surprised at all, but when he saw the slightly surprised look on Zhang Cheng's face, he took another look.

Zhou Xingji said, "So it's Mr. Zhang. I, Zhou Xingji, was rude just now. Please forgive me."

After saying this, Zhou Xingji bowed deeply to the ground.

Zhang Dun was a man who had the final say and a strong aura. Even veteran generals who had been through many battles were in awe of him.

Zhang Dun saw that Zhou Xingji was handsome and well-mannered, with a voice as clear as a bell, and his manners were somewhat similar to his own when he was young. He nodded and said, "So you are a descendant of the Yongjia Zhou family. I have heard of you. Xingji Xingji, what a good name!"

Zhou Xingji said, "I don't deserve it."

"Would you like to join my shogunate?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent.

Zhou Xingji was stunned when he heard this. Zhang Cheng and Ding Changqi were also surprised. Are high-ranking officials always so direct when asking their subordinates to do things? Don't they beat around the bush?

Zhou Xingji hesitated for a moment and said, "I have studied hard for ten years but have not yet achieved success. I dare not disappoint the high expectations of my clan."

Zhang Dun laughed and said, "You can still take the imperial examination under my command. Besides, even if you pass the imperial examination, what does it matter?"

"Even if you get an official position, what's the use? Without opportunities and the support of noble people, you will only be a sixth or seventh rank official for the rest of your life."

Zhou Xingji said, "Sir, your insightful comments are very helpful. Even so, I still want to try to roll the names at Donghua Gate. Even if I fail, I will not regret it."

Zhang Dun said, "Since you have such aspirations, I will not force you. Think about it carefully and we can discuss it another day."

After saying that, Zhang Dun suddenly raised his hand and pointed at Zhang Cheng: "You stay here."

The servant immediately gestured to Zhou Xingji and Ding Changqi to send them away.

Zhou Xingji and Ding Changqi looked at Zhang Cheng, and Zhang Cheng nodded to them to indicate that it was okay.

Zhou Xingji said: "We'll wait for you outside."

"it is good."

Zhang Cheng agreed.

After the two men left, Zhang Dun calmly asked, "Do you know me? What's my name?"

Zhang Cheng knew that Zhang Dun had a sharp eye. At this level, judging people was a piece of cake. He could even guess the intention behind any emotional fluctuations or even a small movement of yours.

So he saw it.

Zhang Cheng lowered his head and said nothing, but he heard a deep voice in his ear again: "It seems that what I said is true. If you don't say it, I won't force you, but you know that I also have a hundred ways to find out your details."

"But I'm afraid it will be difficult for you then."

Zhang Dun's words were so powerful that they could not be questioned.

Zhang Cheng sighed inwardly and thought that he had come to the Imperial Academy to study under a false name, and now that Zhang Dun had investigated him, he would no longer be able to hide the truth.

Zhang Cheng couldn't help but hesitate to speak.

Zhang Dun saw this and asked, "Are you hiding something?"

Upon hearing this, the other official said, "I will step aside first."

Zhang Dun nodded, and led the other person out from behind the curtain.

Zhang Dun and Zhang Cheng were the only ones left in the room.

Zhang Cheng said, "My nephew meets Uncle Dun."

Zhang Dun suddenly realized, "He is indeed a descendant of my Zhang family, but there is no descendant of my Zhang family in the Imperial College."

"Which family are you from?"

Zhang Cheng smiled bitterly and said, "My nephew enrolled in school under a false name, and I'm afraid he'll be recognized."

"Under a false name?" Zhang Dun was stunned, then looked at Zhang Cheng and asked, "Are you Cheng Ge'er?"

Zhang Cheng nodded and said, "Yes."

"No wonder." Zhang Dun stroked his beard and smiled, "I was wondering why I haven't heard from you recently. You actually got admitted to the Imperial College!"

"Very good, very good. It turns out that our Zhang family has a new talent for learning!"

Zhang Dun was very happy to hear this.

Zhang Cheng said: "My nephew is stupid and can't compare to my father and brother."

Zhang Dun said: "You seem to be quite slow-tempered, just like your father. Actually, it's good to be slow-tempered, because great things should come late!"

"Try your best and you will get what you want sooner or later!"

"Your two friends are both eccentric people. If you follow them, your learning and morality will improve day by day."

After saying this, Zhang Dun stood up and left.

Zhang Cheng calmed himself down and walked out of the teahouse. He saw Zhou Xingji and Ding Changqi waiting outside with nervous looks on their faces.

They were overjoyed to see Zhang Cheng leave, and asked in unison, "Is Mr. Zhang not giving you any trouble?"

"If you were a little late, we would have gone to Kaifeng Mansion to beat the drums together."

Zhang Cheng felt the sincere friendship between the two and said, "No, no, Mr. Zhang asked a few questions and said that I looked like an old friend of his. But I am not. He asked a few more questions and gave up after seeing that I was mediocre."

Afraid that the two would think too much, Zhang Cheng asked Zhou Xingji, "Mr. Zhang just invited you, why did you refuse this God-given opportunity?"

Zhou Xingji said, "I have heard for a long time that Mr. Zhang Zihou is a man of great character and insight. Today I see that his reputation is well-deserved. I have admired him for a long time. But I am used to being willful and frivolous, and I cannot stand being inferior to others. Besides, Donghua is unwilling to be famous."

Zhang Cheng nodded when he heard this. If you go to Zhang Dun, how can I recommend you to my father?

Ding Changqi, who was standing by, joked, "Maybe Mr. Zhang saw that you are an extraordinary man and wanted to recruit you as his son-in-law. It's not impossible to imagine a similar story like Feng Sanyuan and Cai Yuandu's meteoric rise to fame."

Zhang Cheng smiled and said, "That's right, that's right. Brother Zhou is very handsome. Even before he passed the imperial examination, a wealthy businessman wanted to take Brother Zhou as his son-in-law."

"I think it's better to follow him. He has a bright future as the prime minister's son-in-law."

Zhou Xingji, however, calmed down and said seriously, "It's not about whether Mr. Zhang likes me or not."

"My aunt has already obtained my mother's consent to marry me."

Ding Changqi asked, "Could it be that my aunt is extremely wealthy?"

Zhou Xingji shook his head and said, "No, my aunt is poor and my cousin is blind, but a gentleman's promise is a promise, how can I go back on it?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng Ding Changqi immediately showed great respect for Zhou Xingji.

Ding Changqi said: "I heard that the former Minister of Revenue Huang Anzhong gave up his official position and returned to his hometown thousands of miles away to attend the funeral because his fiancée died of illness, and he stayed there for a year."

"There are people like Brother Zhou nowadays, and we cannot compare to them."

Zhang Cheng said, "A gentleman has his principles to uphold. I learned this from Brother Zhou today."

……

In the carriage, Zhang Dun said to the official who was in the teahouse just now: "Everything in the world depends on people!"

The official opposite nodded, and the man asked, "Zhou Xingji was indeed quite sharp just now, do you want to..."

Zhang Dun laughed and said, "How could I open my mouth a second time?"

"Yes, sir." the other party said.

The official sitting opposite him was Zhang Shangying.

Zhang Shangying was promoted by Zhang Dun. After Zhang Dun left, Zhang Yue packed him up and sent him out of the capital.

This time when Zhang Dun returned to Beijing, he named Zhang Shangying and appointed him as You Zhengyan.

As the saying goes, we share happiness and difficulties.

Zhang Shangying said, "Your Majesty will be offering sacrifices to the gods at Mount Tai this time, and he must leave the Crown Prince in the capital. But the Crown Prince is young, and he must be supported by important ministers. I think Your Majesty has chosen you to come to the capital at this time for this matter."

Zhang Dun nodded and said, "Everything will be discussed after I meet Cai Zhizheng. At present, both the Zhang Party and the Old Party have been expelled by Zhizheng one after another. I am afraid that Zizheng will not be tolerated sooner or later."

"He is pleased, but I am afraid it will be difficult to collect it in the future."

Zhang Shangying was stunned when he heard this. He and Zhang Zhi used to be very close at the Imperial College, but later they parted ways for some reason.

"Then why not clean up the world and restore the atmosphere of the temple? Isn't this what my husband always wants?"

Zhang Dun said, "I'm afraid he will act too hastily and ruin the reputation of my generation."

(End of this chapter)