Chapter 297: Trouble Comes From the Mouth, Loyalty to the King with Blood

Xu Hong and Gao Kui looked at each other in surprise. From the tone of the other party, they knew that the other party was not friendly. The man with the black mole in the lead looked like he deserved a beating.

Judging from the other party's clothes and attire, they were clearly a few young students who were just preparing to take the college entrance examination. How could they be so arrogant in front of two Jinshi officials?

Xu Hong turned his head to look at the man with the black mole who came to cause trouble, and asked in confusion: "First place in the case? How could Song Fuyin, who is so smart, choose you as the first place in the case? Are you lying?"

In this Ming officialdom, apart from Wang Yue, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, who was a gentleman but not a party, the person he admired most was Song Cheng, the upright Shuntian Fuyin.

If Song Cheng chose this kind of person as the first place in the case, it can only be said that Song Cheng's ability to select talents and criminal investigation ability are two extremes. This kind of person simply makes Song Cheng ashamed.

"How dare you! Everyone knows that the first place winner of this year's prefectural examination is Li Shan, who was born in a military household. Are you asking for trouble?" The lackey next to him scolded him fiercely as if his tail was stepped on.

It turned out to be a misunderstanding!

Xu Hong naturally didn't know who the first place winner of this year's Shuntian Prefecture examination was, but he felt relieved when he learned that the first place winner of Shuntian Prefecture examination was not the man with the black mole in front of him.

Gao Kui looked at a small county examination champion who dared to be so arrogant, and drank the wine in the glass bitterly.

The man with the black mole was a bit shrewd, and immediately introduced his origin: "I am Zhang Xiang, the first place winner of Wanping. As you said, I did not win the first place in Shuntian Prefecture examination, but I don't know what place you won in the prefectural examination?"

Although judging from the other party's clothes, he was not from a wealthy family, he also remembered the lessons of his elders and found out the other party's strengths and weaknesses first.

But the prefectural examination was like a thorn in his heart. Although he was well-versed in the classics, he was not favored by the famous Song Qingtian.

The other party seemed to be able to see through his mind at a glance. No matter how humble and polite he pretended to be, Song Cheng never looked at him from beginning to end.

If it weren't for his good essay and better answer sheet than other candidates, I'm afraid that Shuntian prefect would not admit him, even if he was the first in Wanping County.

"According to the rules of our boy's examination, since Mr. Zhang has already won the first in Wanping County, he will definitely pass the academy examination!" The young man who was like a lackey explained proudly.

As soon as this was said, several lackeys were full of pride. After all, this had basically locked a place in this year's Shuntian academy examination, and Zhang Xiang would be a student of Shuntian Prefecture.

"If we talk about the county examination results, he and I are both the first, and the prefectural examination is among the top three!" Gao Kui raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and pointed at Xu Hong and said proudly.

If we really want to talk about the chosen ones, in fact, each of them performed well in the boy's test.

For example, Hai Kuan was the first in Qiongzhou Prefecture, Weng Peng was the first in Chaozhou Prefecture, and Zhang Sui was the third in the junior examination.

These people were so proud of their achievements in the county examination, just like a first-year student showing off a perfect test paper to a group of Tsinghua and Peking University students, which seemed so childish.

Huh?

Zhang Xiang and others thought that their results could definitely suppress the other party, but they found that it seemed not to be the case, and they looked at each other in surprise.

However, they did not expect that the two inconspicuous people in front of them were both the first in the county examination, and their results in the prefectural examination were not bad, and they immediately felt that they had found the wrong person.

But after all, they were young people with vigor and blood, so naturally they could not be defeated easily.

"Haha... two poor guys, what's the matter with you doing well in the exam? I wonder if any of your elders have entered the officialdom?" The young lackey had already stared at the two people and asked with disdain.

Xu Hong did not speak, but silently picked up the wine pot and poured wine.

I thought that after the last cleansing of the dignitaries in the capital, these dignitaries' children would be more restrained, but this idea is undoubtedly wrong. These dignitaries are simply: weeds can't be burned out, and they will grow again in the spring breeze.

Gao Kui finally realized the confidence of these students and said seriously: "From what you said, are you the children of officials?"

"Hehe... you still have some vision! Brother Zhang's uncle is Zhang Peng, the former Minister of War, and his grandfather is the county magistrate of She County, Huizhou Prefecture. There are several members of the Zhang family who are officials in the court!" The young lackey introduced proudly as if he was showing off a killer weapon.

Zhang Xiang saw that his background was revealed by his companions, and his chin could not help but rise slightly, but he was ready to welcome the surrender of these two excellent students.

Huh?

Xu Hong, who had been silent all the time, heard that the other party was so powerful, and he couldn't help but put down the wine pot gently, and looked at this young man with a black mole on his eyebrow seriously.

Zhang Peng was a Jinshi in the second year of Jingtai. He was first appointed as the Supervisory Censor of Shanxi Province, then served as the Inspector of Datong and Xuanfu, and was later ordered to clean up the horse politics in the capital.

In the first year of Tianshun, Zhang Peng was involved in political struggles. He impeached Shi Heng and Cao Jixiang together with the censors Liu Tai, Wei Han, Kang Ji and others. Most of the censors were demoted, and Zhang Peng was demoted to Tieling Guard in Liaodong.

Although he fell from a high-ranking inspector to a frontier soldier, this abnormal experience made Zhang Peng a blessing in disguise.

In the eighth year of Tianshun, Emperor Xianzong of the Ming Dynasty ascended the throne and issued a general amnesty. Recommended by court officials, Zhang Peng was reinstated, and then he rose rapidly and entered the military system.

In the eighteenth year of Chenghua, because the Minister of War Chen Yue had a close relationship with Wang Zhi, he was impeached by Wu Yuan, the Chief Secretary, and Xu Jin, the censor. In the end, Zhang Peng replaced Chen Yue and succeeded.

In the twenty-first year of Chenghua, Zhang Peng resigned due to impeachment, and thus bid farewell to the officialdom.

This capital city is not small, but it is not big either.

Although Zhang Peng, the former Minister of War, has retired for many years, he is still a man who aspires to the peak of power. Now he has nurtured a group of family members who have successively entered the officialdom.

In fact, there are indeed quite a few people in the Zhang family who are officials, not to mention the people from the side branches. For example, Zhang Peng's father Zhang Yu is the head of the military department, and Zhang Peng's grandfather Zhang Xun is the left chief of the Qing Palace.

Fate is so wonderful that Zhang Peng's nephew actually appeared here, and he seemed so arrogant, and just now he spoke nonsense in the hall.

Xu Hong's focus was not on Zhang Xiang's identity, and he asked very seriously: "Since you are the son of an official, what you said in the hall just now is from your heart, or do you all think the same way in the Zhang family?"

Originally, he did not intend to use his identity to suppress a small boy, but since this boy showed the title of the former Minister of War, and he was a member of the Zhang family with many people entering the officialdom, then the matter was another matter.

It seems that there is no party dispute in the court now, but in fact, it is related to the ruling philosophy. The imperial party and the Qingliu have been at loggerheads for a long time.

If this Zhang family is a true peace advocate, and even thinks that the current emperor is a tyrant, then he does not mind pointing the finger at the Zhang family.

That's right, if it was just Zhang Xiang's outrageous words, the matter could be handled gently, but I'm afraid...

"Hehe... What a big tone, not afraid of slipping your tongue! I'll tell you the truth, these words were taught by my clan uncle, are you satisfied now?" Zhang Xiang looked down on Xu Hong from the bottom of his heart, so he revealed it directly.

Huh?

Gao Kui stopped the wine glass that had just been brought to his mouth, and looked at Zhang Xiang with surprise, but he didn't expect that there was the figure of Zhang Peng, the former Minister of War.

In fact, this public opinion storm in the capital could reach this level, it is absolutely impossible that it was just the spontaneous action of scholars, there must be heavyweights behind it to fan the flames.

But who could have thought that the retired Minister of War Zhang Peng, instead of staying at home to enjoy his old age, actually stirred up this storm behind the scenes.

He had already begun to investigate the matter, but he didn't expect to find the source here. It was really a case of looking for something without any effort.

Gao Kui put down the wine glass in his hand and asked very seriously: "Did Minister Zhang really say that?"

"Hehe... my uncle is upright and honest, unlike the flattering ministers in the court now, so he naturally dares to correct your majesty's bad policies. He attacked because of insufficient deer tendons. This is clearly a king who lost his way, but no one in the court dared to oppose it! In my opinion, the court should resurrect my uncle. Only my uncle dared to directly advise the emperor!" Zhang Xiang turned his head and looked at Gao Kui, his face full of pride.

Gao Kui looked at Xu Hong who was drinking and asked seriously: "Brother Xu, this matter is probably related to Zhang Hong, what do you think?"

"This is your Duchayuan's business. I am a small official in the Ministry of War. At most, I can help you wave the flag and shout! But Wang Yushi has already gone to Liaodong. I am afraid that Bian Yong dare not take action against Zhang Hong, right?" Xu Hong took a sip of wine and went straight to the core issue.

If Wang Yue still stayed in the capital, not to mention the former Minister of War, even the current Cabinet Prime Minister Wan An would dare to investigate.

But Bian Yong, who was born as a juren, is unlikely to agree with Gao Kui to launch an action against the former Minister of War Zhang Peng, not to mention that his position is problematic.

Gao Kui picked up the wine glass again and talked as if no one was around. "Let's not talk about the current style of our Censorate, which is to deal with things rather than people. Now the top leaders have unified their tone on the Liaodong war. No matter who shouted the anti-war voice, we must kill the chicken to scare the monkey! Think about it, if we catch a former Minister of War to deal with him, will the public opinion in the capital dare to be so disrespectful to His Majesty? Will they still dare to ignore millions of refugees for the sake of the empty people of the country of etiquette?"

"He...what are they talking about? I...why don't I understand!" The lackey was dumbfounded when he saw Gao Kui and Xu Hong chatting as if no one was around.

Zhang Xiang was also puzzled. Just looking at the other party's temperament, they were clearly two poor students. How could they be officials appointed by the court?

"Master Xu, Master Gao, this is the roasted fish you two like to eat. Please taste it!" Shopkeeper Zhang, who never forgets the well digger, personally brought a plate of fish from the kitchen.

Since the news that Emperor Hongzhi liked fishing spread, not only did fishing become a new fashion in the Ming Dynasty, but now more and more people like to eat fish.

Ah? Really adults?

Zhang Xiang immediately stared at Xu Hong and Gao Kui in disbelief, but he just couldn't match them with the court officials.

How is it possible?

The lackeys behind him thought that Zhang Xiang's background could crush everything, but who would have thought that these two unremarkable scholars were actually Ming officials.

"In that case, let's do it!" Xu Hong knew that Gao Kui was going to take advantage of the topic, but it was really necessary to do so now, so he nodded gently.

Gao Kui got Xu Hong's approval, and immediately felt more confident, so he ordered lightly: "Manager Zhang, please call a few messengers over!"

"Okay!" Manager Zhang didn't know what Gao Kui was up to, but he immediately went to find Luo.

It was a cloudy day today, but there was still a sense of stuffiness in the air.

"Who are you? What do you want to do?" Zhang Xiang asked in panic when he saw that the situation was completely different from what he expected.

"Weren't you just talking about them? These two adults are two of the six gods of wealth in our inn!" The waiter who brought the food made a grand introduction, and then said with a flattering face: "Master Xu, Gao Sir, your dishes have been served, please take your time!”

There was a sound of gongs and drums at the door of the inn, and then the sound of neat footsteps was heard.

After Song Cheng took office, he took the initiative to strengthen inspections in the capital.

When a team of government officials who had just come from the street heard the sound of gongs and drums, they rushed in. The leader turned out to be Zhao Dayan, the head catcher of Shuntian government office.

"Two adults, what are your orders?" Zhao Dayan, who had worked with the two of them before, asked politely.

Gao Kui pointed at Prime Minister Zhang, who was stunned, and said calmly: "Captain Zhao, I didn't bring anyone here. Please escort a few of them to the Metropolitan Procuratorate for me this time. Please invite the Japanese officials instead." you drink!"

"It's easy to talk! Come here, take him away!" Zhao Dayan's eyes brightened slightly, and he waved his hand.

Zhang Xiang saw that the officials of Shuntian Mansion were trying to arrest him, and he immediately revealed his identity: "My uncle is Zhang Peng, the former Minister of War, let me see who dares to touch me!"

"Haha... I'm just wondering! How could the Metropolitan Procuratorate catch Xiao Luo Luo? There is a big fish behind Daqing! Lock it up and don't let anyone escape!" Zhao Dayan suddenly became energetic and asked Prime Minister Zhang. Focus on taking care of the road.

Since I have been with Song Cheng for a long time, I no longer care about small cases, but I only like such earth-shattering cases. For example, when Sun Ming, the Marquis of Huichang, was beheaded earlier, that was true justice.

Now it is likely to be related to Zhang Peng, the former Minister of the Ministry of War. This is destined to be another major event that detonates public opinion in the capital.

A few losers wanted to fight to the death, but they kept saying: "This matter has nothing to do with us. We are about to take part in the college examination. You are obstructing the imperial court's promotion of talents!"

"You are so disloyal. If you don't want to serve the king, why do you still care about the scientific examination? Don't think about fame. Not to mention that Beizhili will definitely expel you one by one. If he really dares to admit you, I will not admit you." The official will definitely be the first to go to court for impeachment!" Gao Kui couldn't give these people a life path and immediately stated his position.

The heads of Zhang Xiang and others were buzzing suddenly, but they finally understood the truth that disaster comes from the mouth, but it was already too late. Not only did they ruin their own future with their own hands, but they would also implicate Zhang Peng, the former Minister of War who was hiding behind and adding fuel to the flames.

There are actually many similar cases. Although the public opinion in Beijing is unfavorable to Zhu Youtang, the mastermind hiding behind it will have to pay the price in blood.