Chapter 72: War News

Calming his mind.

Zhang Qitai decided to see the Rong brothers, Rong Anshan and Rong Anqiu.

Just at this time.

A green jade ring he wore on his left index finger suddenly emitted a faint halo.

Zhang Qitai's face suddenly became ugly again.

But he still helplessly stood up and walked into a secret room in the study.

This place was arranged extremely simply, without even a chair.

Only a bright crystal mirror stood in the center.

Zhang Qitai pointed the glowing jade ring at the crystal mirror.

The halo turned and revealed the figure of a middle-aged man in a green shirt.

The man looked a few years older than Zhang Qitai, with a thin figure, an ordinary face, but a pair of eyes that were exceptionally spirited.

He was the official representative of the Pingyang Zhang Family, the "Leader of the Family."

He held the position of Fifth-Rank "Northern Frontier Martial Merit Member" in the Merit Assessment Department of the Ministry of Personnel of the Ming Song Imperial Court, Zhang Qiling.

His fifth-rank official position might not seem large, but as a capital official walking the corridors of power, he was naturally one rank higher than local officials.

Second, the Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the promotion and transfer of officials in the world, and is the most sought-after yamen.

Third, the "Northern Frontier Martial Merit Member" of the Merit Assessment Department of the Ministry of Personnel specifically checks the military merits and rewards of Ming Song's northern soldiers and generals, with low rank but heavy power.

More importantly, Zhang Qiling was in his prime, and had a brother-in-law relationship with Yang Wenbo, the young master of the "Fire Splashing Yang Manor," one of the three major martial families of Ming Song.

So four years ago, the Third-Rank Ministry of Rites official of the Pingyang Zhang Family, who was nearly eighty years old, took the initiative to yield the position and let him take office.

Logically speaking, the current Pingyang Zhang Family, with both the clan head and the family leader having shed the frivolous restlessness of youth but still being in their golden age of wanting to do things and being able to do things,

Should have some tacit understanding.

But in reality, Zhang Qitai was secretly inferior and unconvinced by Zhang Qiling, and didn't want to communicate with him at all.

Zhang Qiling became arrogant after his success in middle age, looked down on Zhang Qitai's virtue and talent, and his attitude was secretly condescending.

The two were a bit like needles against wheat.

This time, meeting across the air, Zhang Qiling also didn't exchange pleasantries, directly pointing to the topic,

"The imperial decree has been issued.

I have been transferred to the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War..."

If it were someone else's flying success of several ranks, Zhang Qitai would definitely not lose his composure even if he were surprised.

But this arrogant "grandson" Zhang Qiling, why on earth, made him blurt out:

"The Vice Minister of the Ministry of War is a Third-Rank official, you, you, you, really or fake?"

Zhang Qiling smiled indifferently when he heard this,

"Why would Brother Qitai say that.

Even if we are clan brothers, I wouldn't communicate with 'water mirror' just to make such a joke.

Besides, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War is slightly inferior to the Left Vice Minister, only from Third Rank.

But it can't be counted as a 'great official'."

According to the official rules of the Ming Song, local officials of the Second Rank can be called "frontier officials."

Capital officials only need to be Third Rank to be called "departmental officials."

But officials of this rank have already been in the emperor's heart.

Although there are few examples of the Right Vice Minister of the Six Ministries ascending to heaven in one step and directly entering the cabinet to adjust yin and yang, it is not impossible.

Who would delve into the slight difference between the Right Vice Minister and the Left Vice Minister.

Zhang Qitai opened his mouth, and the fire in his heart dissipated inexplicably.

He tried hard to show a smile, but the corners of his mouth twitched, looking like crying, and he said listlessly:

"Whether it can be called a 'departmental official' is just whether it sounds good or not, it doesn't matter.

What matters is that this step you take is truly limitless.

So rest assured, since you have the potential to ascend to heaven, the clan will definitely support you with all its strength.

If you need power, give power; if you need money, take money.

After filling the previous holes with the land sale money from the Shuanghu Rong Family, there are still seven thousand taels of gold and sixteen thousand taels of silver left..."

Zhang Qitai's position from birth was the heir to the Pingyang Zhang Family clan head.

Having been influenced for decades, he could still grasp the importance of the overall situation.

He felt uncomfortable in his heart, but he would still do what he should do.

Unexpectedly, his kindness was flatly rejected by Zhang Qiling,

"The current emperor is determined to refresh the administration of officials; what do I need those gold and silver for?

What's more, at my current rank, I don't need money as an aid.

Keep the money, and there will naturally be people to fill the remaining holes, so don't worry about it.

It's just that the manor fields intended to be sold to the Shuanghu Rong Family still need to be sold.

Just keep one or two percent of the fields for face.

If you are short of money, ask the sea.

With treasures like the Ironwood Turtle Mechanism Ship in hand, it is truly absurd to still dig for food in the soil."

These words were no longer a discussion, but a lesson.

The fire that had originally gone out suddenly arched up again, Zhang Qitai held back his anger, gritted his back teeth and said:

"Even if overseas trade earns a mountain of gold and a sea of silver, it is still floating wealth..."

"Tomorrow is the sixteenth of the first lunar month.

His Majesty will issue an imperial edict at the Grand Court Assembly to question the Changsheng Tiemu of the Yuan Mountain Kingdom."

Changsheng Tiemu, the current majestic ruler of the Yuan Mountain Empire, although not rising from the humble, the status of a thousand-household small tribe heir is not very prominent.

What's more, he was an heir of a small tribe who was deprived of pasture and whose father was killed and wife humiliated.

With such a start, he created today's astonishing great cause, and such a person, after being humiliated, would not let it go.

Although he had already heard all kinds of rumors and felt that war was coming.

But before a person is really hit in the head by a stone, he will always harbor a glimmer of luck.

But now the luck is gone.

Zhang Qitai widened his eyes and was speechless for a while.

Seeing this, Zhang Qiling showed undisguised contempt on his face,

"Things have come to this, war is inevitable.

Our Pingyang Zhang Family has worked hard for hundreds of years but has not been truly accepted by the Southern Kingdom aristocratic families. Now we can only serve His Majesty wholeheartedly.

Otherwise, if both sides press, we will definitely be crushed to powder!"

Zhang Qitai was shaken dizzy by these words, speechless.

At the same time.

Zhang Gui bought enough New Year goods and led his officers and soldiers back to Youyu Ward.

The neighbors on the street seemed to have heard the news and welcomed them along the way outside the door.

Those who were relatively familiar would say two sentences after meeting:

"Gui Ge is really successful!

I said that the feng shui of our Youyu Ward is actually excellent.

Someone will definitely prosper, and it just happened to you."

"Gui Gui, you are amazing now, but you have to help the brothers who grew up together.

We don't ask for great wealth, just enough to have a surplus of ten taels a month."

"Gui brother, no, Governor, hehe, I just bought a large jar of shrimp paste from your mother, my aunt.

Everyone is in a relationship of mutual help, you can't forget me when you prosper."...

Zhang Gui was no longer as stiff as when he first returned to Pingyang Town.

Hearing that eight out of ten greetings around him were asking for care, but they didn't have that friendship.

He smiled and said:

"It's simple if everyone wants care.

I am now the Seal-Holding Governor of 'Zhihai Stockade' by the sea in Xuanzhi Mountain, a hundred li away.

It's hard to say anything else.

But as long as you are willing to be a militia soldier and fight pirates, just come.

I guarantee you will eat and drink well every day, and have silver to distribute."

As soon as the voice fell, there was silence all around.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 73 =====