In the 20th year of the founding of the Tong Dynasty, Kaifeng, Zhishiyuan.

A female steward dressed in men's clothing walked past the waterside pavilion, and heard cheerful music coming from the front.

It was a group of pretty maids dancing.

Walking into the small pavilion, I saw Zhang Hongyi lying half on the soft couch, seemingly asleep.

"Alang."

"Um?"

"News has arrived from Baozhou. The imperial concubine is on a tour with His Majesty and will not return to Baozhou this year to visit relatives..."

Zhang Hongyi said "Huh", nodded, and said: "Go back to Songjiang."

"But the four princes and princesses will come to Baozhou to offer sacrifices."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? Are you sure?"

"Sure."

"Then get ready and go back to Baozhou." Zhang Hongyi gave the order and said, "It's too inconvenient to deliver the news. I have to come north and wait in person."

He actually spent a lot of money to buy a "Future Object Direction Illustrated Book" to judge future business directions. He also saw something called a "telephone" on it, but apart from a description of its use, there was no way to make it.

, was classified into the "Future Imagination" category when it was reprinted.

There were even more outrageous ideas, but he didn't take them to heart because they were too outrageous.

One thing that Zhang Hongyi is very concerned about now is that there are rumors that an official of the Gewuyuan named Zhu Shijie has made a breakthrough in the technology of steam engines.

He really wanted to confirm the authenticity of the news, so when he heard that Zhu Shijie had gone to Kaifeng to seek advice from Guo Shoujing, he hurried over, but in vain.

Seeing that the Chinese New Year is approaching, we can only put these business matters aside for now and return to Baozhou.

~~

On the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Hongyi arrived in Baozhou.

He has made a lot of money in the maritime trade business over the years and has a high status in the Jiangnan business community. However, every time he returns to Baozhou, no one takes him seriously.

Most people in the Zhang family do not say they despise merchants, but they definitely respect officials and scholars more.

In this atmosphere, Zhang Hongyi did not dare to be too arrogant, so he put away his gorgeous white velvet jacket, put on his big cotton-padded jacket, and sat at the bottom of his generation.

Whenever the elders saw him, they would shake their hands and say, "The pursuit of profit along the coast is getting more and more intense. It's really outrageous."

Zhang Hongyi smiled every time, thinking that what they said was right, but different people have different ways of living.

On the twentieth night of the twelfth lunar month, while having tea at home, Zhang Hongyi yawned repeatedly and left early.

He is used to the days of red sleeves and fragrant clothes. He prefers to watch girls dancing rather than chatting with old men. Maybe he is really immersed in the extravagant customs of Jiangnan.

"Uncle Twelve, let's go together?"

Someone followed.

Zhang Hongyi turned around and saw Zhang Gui, the eldest son of the ninth family of the Zhang family.

Zhang Hongfan made a wrong choice back then. Fortunately, the court was lenient and did not punish Zhang Hongfan's sons.

But Zhang Gui's life was obviously far inferior to that of other Zhang family children.

"Let's go together."

Zhang Hongyi patted Zhang Gui on the shoulder, and the two of them walked out of the courtyard of the second room together.

The Zhang family has now been divided into several houses, including the Zhang family's mansion, which has also built courtyard walls and is divided into several medium-sized houses.

This was Zhang Honglue's decision after Zhang Rou's death, which shows that he did not want to make a big tree attract publicity. However, after Zhang Wulang took command of Zheng Naiyan a few years ago, Zhang Honglue became the Zhang family's highest official in the court.

Now the disciples from all over the country are rushing back to Baozhou, just to wait for Zhang Honglue to return with the prince and princess in a few days.

"Where is Gong Duan now?" Zhang Hongyi asked.

Zhang Gui responded: "Served as deputy commander in the Liaodong Army."

Zhang Hongyi was surprised and a little impressed.

When he took another closer look at his nephew, he realized that Zhang Gui actually had a strong figure and had the majesty of a Tang Dynasty soldier.

"I didn't expect you to be the most promising person of the younger generation."

"I don't dare to take it seriously." Zhang Gui said: "It's just that the rewards and punishments in the army are strict, so I don't dare to fail to do my best."

Zhang Hongyi laughed and said: "You all have good speaking skills, I can't compare."

"It's rare that my twelfth uncle is willing to return to Baozhou. My nephew wants to get closer to him."

Zhang Hongyi looked at Zhang Gui carefully and asked, "Have you met His Highness the Second Highness?"

"He prefers everyone to call him Erlang." Zhang Gui said: "Not only have we met, I was also a fellow soldier with Erlang."

"He... served in the military?"

"It's not just Erlang." Zhang Gui said: "The prince also spent some time in the army, but others don't know it."

"real?"

"Of course I'm not going to a dangerous battlefield to gain experience. I use a pseudonym so that others don't know."

Zhang Hongyi was silent for a while and asked: "How is Erlang like a person?"

"He is the son of my aunt and your Majesty. What do you think, Uncle Twelve?"

"I thought? Among all the highnesses in the palace, which one is not the best among people?"

Zhang Gui suddenly sighed and said in a low voice: "Let me whisper to my twelfth uncle. I just want to say that among the several highnesses I have met, I randomly picked one of them to be the emperor in the Zhao and Song Dynasties.

It’s a hole.”

"yes."

"It's a pity that Erlang is so talented." Zhang Gui whispered to himself.

Zhang Hongyi rolled his eyes and realized that Zhang Gui was testing whether he could start a certain topic with him.

A topic that has been lingering in the minds of many people in the Zhang family recently, but few people talk about it openly.

Now that Zhang Hongyi was back, he had something to say about this, but he hesitated until the end and did not speak.

~~

On the 22nd of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Hongyi finally met Li Changjing.

What few people know is that the two uncles and nephews are actually very familiar with each other.

Before Zhang Rou's death, Zhang Hongyi was taking care of her. Li Changjing visited her several times, and the two of them could chat quite well. In the following ten years, although they met less frequently, they occasionally exchanged letters.

It can even be said that Zhang Hongyi is one of the people in the Zhang family in Baozhou whom Li Changjing trusts the most, to the extent that he can talk about what is on his mind.

"Two days ago, Zhang Gui had a conversation with me, and he spoke highly of Erlang." That day, the two of them went up the mountain to visit Zhang Rou's grave, so they found an opportunity to chat alone.

"What does uncle want to say?"

"Then let me tell you straight." Zhang Hongyi said: "I think he wants to help you fight."

Li Changjing smiled when he heard this and said, "I'm afraid there won't be many people from the Zhang family who are willing to help me fight for the throne."

"But I wonder what Erlang thinks?"

"Don't even think about it." Li Changjing said simply, sat down on a rock and asked, "Have you seen my father in the past few years?"

Zhang Hongyi shook his head, but he already understood what the phrase "don't even think about it" meant.

Given the emperor's condition, most of the Zhang family cannot wait until the day when the prince succeeds to the throne, so what's the use of fighting?

"Being my father's son is really difficult and tiring." Li Changjing looked into the distance and said, "Including my brother, we knew very well from the beginning that the achievements we can achieve in this life will never exceed

He...by the way, my father has already made plans. When he thinks the time is right, he will pass the throne to his brother. He will escort him until the handover is smooth."

"Why is Your Majesty like this?" Zhang Hongyi was extremely surprised and said: "Your Majesty's love and trust in the prince have reached this point?"

"My father treats us brothers and sisters in the same way. He never considers these feelings. It doesn't matter which son he prefers. What matters is the stability of the country. In fact, I sometimes feel that my father doesn't even care whether the Li family's descendants can retain the throne forever.

"

When Li Changjing said this, his eyes showed some doubts.

He finally couldn't see through his father.

After a long time, Zhang Hongyi asked: "Are you determined not to fight?"

"Yes, no more arguing."

Even so, Li Changjing still seemed thoughtful.

"What else does Erlang have to worry about? But is he worried about the prince?"

"What do you think of Zhao Song's clan system?"

Zhang Hongyi pondered: "The advantage is that after a few generations, the clan will be no different from the common people. They can take imperial examinations and serve as officials, and they often have good tutors. Therefore, although the Song Dynasty died, the Zhao family was exempted from involvement. As far as the common people were concerned, there was no need to

Worshiping the clan will indeed benefit all surnames. But there are also disadvantages. The clan has no power, and when the country is in trouble, all authority will be in the hands of outsiders..."
To be continued...