Chapter 607 Daoye's Counterattack
The departure of Yang Zhao was like the collapse of the mainstay of the Yang family.
Zhang was heartbroken, but she still had to take care of her mother-in-law, who was already in poor health and fell ill after learning of her son's death, and at the same time she had to prepare for the funeral of her late husband, Yang Zhao.
The body could not be found. Zhang asked the Jinyiwei, but they were hesitant.
Without a corpse, many things could not be done, so Zhang took a few of her late husband's old clothes, bought a coffin, and put the old clothes inside.
So do what you should do.
It was as if the person was really lying in the coffin.
Once Zhang got busy, she left her son behind. Although her son Yang Sheng was only thirteen years old, he was tall and strong, and had some skills in boxing, kicking, swords and spears. Ordinary adult men were no match for him.
So Zhang was very relieved.
Until someone murmured that they saw officials from the Jinyiwei coming to look for Yang Sheng, and it seemed that they parted on bad terms.
Zhang immediately called her son over and asked about the situation with dark circles under her eyes from two nights of sleeplessness.
"That person's name is Shen Jingli, and he said he would take me to Jinyiwei to see the teacher."
"Then why don't you go?" Zhang asked.
The outside world had a very bad opinion of Lu Bing, but his arrangement for the orphans of the Jinyiwei made Zhang think that he was a good person.
"mother!"
"Speak!" Zhang said angrily.
What is very strange is that after learning the news that her husband had died for his country, she was sad for a moment, and then she was as calm as ever, and even felt more energetic and focused than ever before.
Don’t I have any affection for my husband... Zhang even thought so.
Yang Sheng lowered his head and said nothing. Zhang was extremely angry and turned around to get a broom. Everyone tried to persuade him and talked about Yang Sheng.
"Now that your father is gone, it will be difficult for your mother to raise you. You should be considerate of her."
"Look at your mother. She has lost weight in just two days and has blisters on the corners of her mouth. Why are you still angry with her?"
Yang Sheng looked up, "Mom, I...I want to learn martial arts."
Zhang was startled, and the relatives of the Yang family who came to help sighed and said, "This kid has great ambitions, but martial arts is a place where great generals are born. I heard that the dukes and marquises all want to send their children in, but Changwei Bo said that even if the prince comes, he must pass the exam.
Those noblemen who learned books and archery and horse riding since childhood dare not go. My kid hasn’t read much, so archery and horse riding…”
Zhang smiled bitterly, "Even though my husband taught me a little when I was here, how dare I compare myself with those people?"
The relative said, "That's right. Besides, even if our kid is very capable, martial arts have their own rules. If we miss the enrollment period, even if that person... Sun Wu is reborn, Li Jing is reborn, we have to wait until next year.
Boss, your father is gone, and now your mother is having a hard time supporting the family, you should be considerate of her."
"That's right." A woman said sarcastically, "Don't you look at your family? You have no family background, no skills, and yet you want to learn martial arts. In my opinion, you should give up this idea as soon as possible and help your mother. Find a small business to start, which is better than anything else. What general... How can people like us dare to hope for it!"
Everyone thought that this person was too harsh, but someone said, "While the words are rough, they are true. Those noble sons can't get in, so let's just forget about Dalang! Sister-in-law, is it said that the Jinyiwei has plans for Dalang?"
Zhang nodded, but she was a little melancholy. "The reputation of the Jinyiwei... I am worried that it will be difficult for Dalang to get married in the future."
This is true. If it weren't for Yang Zhao's sincerity, the Zhang family would not have married her to them.
Everyone was sighing.
Yang Sheng raised his head, "I will definitely study martial arts!"
Everyone couldn't help laughing, but then they felt it was impolite to laugh at a funeral, so they tried their best to hold it back.
"This kid is ambitious, but he still needs to find a way to make a living first."
"Someone is coming, sister-in-law." Someone came in from outside and said.
When someone came to pay their respects, one of Zhang and Yang Sheng had to be present to express their gratitude.
Yang Sheng helped his mother and they both walked out.
"Mom, that's Shen Jingli." Yang Sheng pointed at Shen Lian who was standing aside.
Zhang's eyes were a little red and swollen. She looked carefully and said, "It's a scholar! Who is that? Why don't I know him?"
Someone is burning incense.
"It's Long Wilbur!" Some of the relatives who came out recognized the person and exclaimed.
Jiang Qingzhi inserted three incense sticks into the incense burner and walked over.
Zhang and Yang Sheng expressed their gratitude.
Jiang Qingzhi gave him a false helping hand, "My condolences."
Zhang looked up and said, "My Lord is here. I am so scared."
She didn't know why Jiang Qingzhi came, but she thought that Yang Zhao didn't need to know this famous nobleman, otherwise, with Yang Zhao's personality, he would have shown off to her long ago.
"Are you Yang Sheng?" Jiang Qingzhi asked Yang Sheng.
"Yes." Yang Sheng's face flushed, and he tried his best to straighten his back. He tried so hard that his belly bulged, which was quite funny.
"What will happen?" Jiang Qingzhi asked.
Yang Sheng said: "I know hundreds of words."
In this era, knowing a few hundred words would allow you to brag that you are a scholar. If there is a notice, you can be asked to interpret it, or read or write letters for the neighbors...
In this era, as long as you have an education, you don’t have to worry about starving to death.
Jiang Qingzhi nodded without comment, "What else?"
"Also..." Yang Sheng said, "I have learned some archery and horse riding, but...but...Dad said it's just like that."
Jiang Qingzhi raised his eyes and glanced at his relatives, and everyone quickly bowed.
Jiang Qingzhi nodded, and then asked, "I heard that you want to learn martial arts?" Zhang quickly said, "Da Lang was just talking casually, Master, please don't be angry."
"Why am I angry?"
Jiang Qingzhi looked at the coffin and said, "Yang Zhao died for his country. After learning about his experience, I also admire him very much."
Instantly, Zhang burst into tears.
"Husband, Long Wilbur said you...said he admires you!"
Is there anything more soothing than this?
All the relatives are proud of it.
Jiang Qingzhi looked at the coffin and whispered, "No one knows your name, but your achievements will live forever!"
He turned around and patted Yang Sheng on the shoulder.
"After your father's funeral, report to the martial arts school."
Yang Sheng was stunned.
Zhang wiped away her tears and looked at Jiang Qingzhi in surprise.
Jiang Qingzhi nodded again and left.
After an unknown amount of time, Yang Sheng said in ecstasy, "Mom, I'm going to learn martial arts."
Then he knelt down and said in tears: "Dad, I want to learn martial arts."
Zhang said in disbelief: "This... is this true? Did I cry my head off?"
The previously sarcastic woman came over and said kindly, "It's true. If you don't believe me, ask that sister-in-law."
Zhang looked at Shen Lian.
Shen Lian looked at Yang Sheng with complicated eyes. He had just seen another side of Jiang Qingzhi.
Chang Wei Bo, who was so cruel to Confucianism and piled up the corpses of the enemy soldiers into mountains, was so gentle to a woman and a child just now.
And he would not hesitate to make exceptions.
Shen Lian knew that Jiang Qingzhi was not pretending.
Shen Lian nodded, "This is Chang Wei Bo. Since he has spoken, he will let the child go to martial arts school after the funeral."
After Yang Sheng studied martial arts, he had a way out for the rest of his life, no, a bright future.
No need to worry about your children's future.
Zhang felt relieved, and all her energy at the moment seemed to dissipate at once, and grief suddenly surged up from the depths of her heart.
She knelt down, raised her head and cried, "My husband, if you are still alive in heaven, please come and see Dalang. Dalang has made a difference, he has made a difference!"
For a widow, once the heavy pressure in her heart is lifted, the grief will come like a flood. Then she can only use time to wear it away, turning it from a flood into a stream, a creek, and finally into the moisture in her heart.
But at this moment, Yan Song and his son felt that they were about to cross a river.
That big river has a name, it is Hubu.
Among the six ministries, the Ministry of Personnel seems to be the most important, but in the eyes of court officials, the Ministry of Revenue is the real boss.
The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of official hats, but it is not only the Ministry of Personnel that ultimately decides official positions, but also the forces behind them and the struggles among various parties.
The Ministry of Revenue is in charge of money and grain. If the head of the Ministry is capable and strong enough, even the emperor can be helpless.
For example, this was the case with Xia Yuanji back then. Chengzu did a lot of great things in his life, and the money and grain he spent would make the ministers of the Ministry of Finance in later generations want to hang themselves when they heard about it.
But Xia Yuanji was able to put the Ming Dynasty's finances in order, which not only did not delay important court affairs, but also made them prosper.
The current Minister of Finance, Lü Song, is not as good at increasing income as his predecessor, Xia Yuanji, but he is good at saving money. If it weren't for this miser... this is what the outside world calls Lü Song. If it weren't for this miser, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to sit in the West Garden in the past few years.
"The Ministry of Revenue blocked the expansion of the Huben Zuowei Army on the grounds of tight budget, which made Your Majesty angry, but Lu Song did a flawless job and has done a good job in recent years."
When it comes to doing well, Yan Shifan can't help but sneer: "The miser did a good job."
As the Prime Minister, he needs to control two places, one is the Ministry of Personnel, and the other is the Ministry of Revenue. When Daoye let Lu Song take charge of the Ministry of Revenue, it seemed like he wanted to contain the Yan Party.
Lu Song has never been kind to Yan Song and his son, or even to Yan's party. In recent years, many of Yan Song's plans have been stuck in the Ministry of Revenue, and he could only sigh helplessly.
"The Ministry of Revenue is stuck on this matter, but Your Majesty can't find an excuse to take action against Lu Song, so he asked us father and son to find the fault of the Ministry of Revenue. This is to warn the Ministry of Revenue and Lu Song." Although it was Song, Yan Song was helpless against Lu Song.
"If the corruption case is handled well, it will be a powerful weapon against the Ministry of Revenue and Lu Song." Yan Shifan sneered, "We still have to rely on the Jinyiwei for this matter."
"Lu Bing..." Yan Song pondered for a long time, "If I owe him a favor for this matter...is it appropriate?"
"There's nothing wrong with it." Yan Shifan said, "Lu Bing has taken so many benefits from us. Did he really think that he could keep taking advantage of us just because he helped us and brought Xia Yan down?
He was the one who knelt before Xia Yan and begged him to let him go. If we hadn't intervened, Xia Yan would have gotten rid of him sooner or later and removed a thorn in his side."
"Forget it." Yan Song immediately sent someone to invite Lu Bing.
"The matter of the Ministry of Revenue..." Lu Bing glanced at Yan Song and his son.
"Old Lu, don't make excuses. This is the order from His Majesty!" Yan Shifan sneered.
"No problem!" Lu Bing immediately went to make arrangements.
"I'm afraid they will pretend to obey but actually disobey." said the aide.
"He might, but the consequences..." Yan Shifan said, "If the Ministry of Revenue blocks the matter, it will cause trouble for Your Majesty. Investigating corruption in the Ministry of Revenue will be Your Majesty's counterattack. If Lu Bing pretends to obey but secretly disobeys... Rui Jingxian is not a good person!"
"Where is Jiang Qingzhi?" Cui Yuan asked.
Since his wife became pregnant, Jiang Qingzhi has almost disappeared.
Yan Shifan suddenly wanted to curse. "I forgot about him. The Tiger Guard Left Guard is Jiang Qingzhi's private lover. He should be worried about this matter! Someone, tell Jiang Qingzhi the inside story."
(End of this chapter)
