Twenty-Five, Night Disaster (Collect and Recommend by Clicking)

  After a cup of wine, Xu Foshan understood people's intentions and told his previous guesses as an interesting story.

  Xu Fo originally thought that Yu Guozhen was a Brocade Guard from Nanjing, but out of caution, he specially asked Zhang Pu, with whom she had been acquainted for some time, whether he knew if there was a Yu Guozhen in Lu Prefecture. If not, Zhang Pu would not have suddenly come to visit him.

  "Don't underestimate Yu Xian-di, you know that he is arrogant by nature and looks down on many people. However, when it comes to Yu Xian-di, he is extremely admiring. In terms of practical learning, Yu Xian-di has already become a figure in the world. If he enters the capital city, Xu Xiansheng will definitely be overjoyed!"

  "Xu Xueshi?"

  "When I was in the Ministry of Rites, Xu Gong Xuanqi was also a fellow student and my mentor." Zhang Yu bowed his hands respectfully.

  Xu Guangqi!

  Yu Guozhen's heart suddenly jumped, he was not very familiar with the history of this period, but he knew the names of Fang Yizhi, Zhang Pu and Chen Zilong, let alone Xu Guangqi!

  In the 17th century, he opened his eyes to the world, mastered Western learning, translated a large number of Western academic works brought by missionaries, was skilled in calendar calculation, and also wrote a book "Complete Book on Agricultural Administration", understood military training, and could design and manufacture new firearms.

  Yu Guozhen admired him most for his attitude towards studying and researching as a contemporary scholar. He wrote books on agriculture, and personally cultivated land in Tianjin!

  "It turned out to be Mr. Xuanhui!" Yu Guozhen also solemnly cupped his hands: "I extremely admire Mr. Xu, only regretting that I had no opportunity to meet him and listen to his teachings!"

  "Haha, Guo Zhenxian doesn't need to rush either. I will have someone compile some of your views and send them to the capital for Master Yan's review. After all, we are not capable of debating with you."

  Zhang Yu was also interested in practical studies, but he was more interested in politics. He was eloquent and enthusiastic, good at making bold speeches, and the two of them talked for a while before Zhang Yu steered the conversation towards current events.

  "Now that things are like this, does Guo Zhen have a good plan? I see that Guo Zhen studies practical learning and also seems to have the intention of entering the world. Can he teach me?"

  Yu Guozhen smiled and shook his head. His political views, if told to Zhang Yu at this time, would be "treason" and he might immediately turn against him, saying he was a treacherous party that brought disaster to the country and its people.

  "Speak up, speak up! Don't hide anything from us!" Zhang Yu gave Xu Fo a meaningful glance.

  "Really, does Master Yu think that Buddha's humble birth makes him unworthy of hearing this young man's ambitions?" Xu Fo's eyes sparkled with a hint of moisture.

  Yu Guozhen was not moved, but he also understood Zhang Yu's intention to get to the bottom of things. Zhang Yu was a person who organized complex societies and actively participated in current politics, expressing his own views, and was actually a political activist, so when choosing friends, political ideology was a very important standard.

  As long as it conforms to his political ideology, then it is his friend; otherwise, it is his enemy.

  "I have never read the books of sages, so I don't know what great principles are." After a moment's hesitation, he finally spoke up: "I only know that doing well in front of me is beneficial to the world."

  Zhang Yu was taken aback for a moment, feeling that the words did not quite match what he had in mind, so the smile on his face diminished: "What do you mean by that, Brother Yu?"

  "I thought if scholars, farmers, workers and merchants all conscientiously did their own jobs well, then naturally everything would be harmonious and the government would be in order."

  In Zhang Yu's view, Yu Guozhen's point of view was indeed lacking in goodness, but after all, it did not conflict with his own ideas. He couldn't help but look down on Yu Guozhen a little, and chuckled to himself, thinking that he should teach him some sacred and virtuous principles. Just as he was about to speak, another maid suddenly came in and said: "Mother, someone from the former prime minister's household has come to see you."

  "What's going on?" Zhang Yu immediately shifted his attention: "Zhou Daodeng? Does Fuer have dealings with this mediocre person too?"

  "He has bought a slave girl in this house before... Is he going to buy another one?" Xu Fo smiled and said: "Mr. Zhang, Yu Gongzi, I'll go and get rid of that mediocre person first, then come back to listen to your noble discussions."

  "Yu Xian, today is not at peace, the eastern and western bandits have internal traitors. My brother and like-minded people are rebuilding the Revival Society, why don't you join too? This way, you can make more friends."

  Zhang Yu said this, staring at Yu Guozhen with some urgency. Although he was not very satisfied with Yu Guozhen's political attitude, after careful consideration, he felt that this was an inevitable thing. After all, Yu Guozhen was only fifteen or sixteen years old and had not read many classics, so it was inevitable that he would be confused about the future.

  Well then, let this leader of the Revival Society, a giant in the world of debate, guide this young man onto the right path.

  Yu Guozhen slowly raised his eyes, looked at Zhang Yu, and smiled slowly. Fang Yizhi had also talked to him about the Fushe, repeatedly trying to pull him into this organization, but Yu Guozhen knew that like Donglin, the Fushe was a mixed bag of fish and dragons, although more practical than the group of cheats in the Donglin, but essentially... there was no difference.

  He can take advantage of the Fuxhe to help himself do some beneficial things, but after joining the Fuxhe, he becomes a capital for Zhang Yu and others to control the court remotely, which is what Yu Guozhen does not want.

  "My brother, Mi Zhi, once told me about this matter. When I was young, I knew that the Fushe Society consisted of today's virtuous and talented individuals, with leaders like Mr. Xi Ming. My heart yearned for it greatly. However, being a coarse and unrefined person, even if I were to join the Fushe Society, I would be of no use. If Mr. Xi Ming is willing to overlook my shortcomings, perhaps after studying for several more years, I will reconsider joining the society."

  He refused very tactfully, Zhang Yu was stunned for a moment, then laughed and changed the subject. The two of them chatted about agricultural issues for a while, especially about the yield of sweet potatoes, without saying a few words, Xu Fo turned back again.

  "It's really..."

  Seeing the two of them, Xu Fo pursed his lips and smiled as he shook his head. Zhang Yu was somewhat curious: "Fo Er, what's going on with that former prime minister?"

  "Two years ago, I took in a young girl and later sold her to Governor Zhou's household, saying she was to serve the old lady. But now he comes to me and says he wants to take that girl as his concubine... The governor is already over sixty, but that girl is only fourteen!" Xu Fo's eyes sparkled with amusement as he glanced at Zhang Pu.

  "A branch of pear blossoms presses down the sea pinks, this is also a elegant thing, haha, but that Wu Jiang Gu Xiang now sees the Buddha's son, I'm afraid he will be called Tai Shui Xiang from now on." Zhang Yu joked.

  Xu Fo, although secretly criticizing Zhou Dao for marrying a young concubine at his age, was actually used to such things and Zhang Yu didn't think much of it either. Yu Guozhen heard this and slightly furrowed her brow, thinking of Lian'er back home.

  A fourteen-year-old girl, only slightly older than Lian'er at home, was about the same age as Fang Yizhi's sister Fang Ziyi, while Zhou Daodeng was already over sixty years old and had not much time left to live in this era.

  At his age, he's still marrying a little girl who could be his granddaughter... If the child is born early, she could even be his great-granddaughter!

  They talked for a while, and the topic finally turned to Yu Guozhen. It was learned that Yu Guozhen had come to hire a few craftsmen to make looms. Zhang Yu was speechless with laughter, thinking that this small matter could be handled by sending a servant, and there was no need for him to personally take action.

  It was Xu Fo who enthusiastically introduced which craftsman in Sheng Ze could make a good loom, and she was not unfamiliar with this. Yu Guo Zhen simply entrusted the matter to her, then stood up and bid farewell: "Mr. Xi Ming, Fo Er sister, the sky is getting late, I still have to find a place to stay, so I'll take my leave first."

  Zhang Yu and Xu Fo exchanged a glance, then burst out laughing: "This is the Return Home Inn, return home, return home, still worried about having no place to stay after arriving at the Return Home Inn?"

  After arranging accommodation for Yu Guozhen's servants at the Return Home Inn, Zhang Yu and Xu Fo naturally had romantic matters to discuss. Xu Fo also wanted to arrange someone to attend to Yu Guozhen, but was politely declined by him. At that time, venereal disease was an incurable illness, so Yu Guozhen did not want to contract such a disease!

  After midnight, the Guiyuan Courtyard was bustling with business, but Yu Guozhen and Gao Erzhu quietly climbed over the wall of the Guiyuan Courtyard. He had two complete sets of flying claw hooks, and in the past three years, he had been diligent in training, so climbing walls and jumping yards was not a difficult task for them at all.

  At this time, Zhou Dao didn't rest yet. Tomorrow was the day of the imperial examination, so he spent this night alone to cultivate his spirit and sharpen his will. To pass the long night, he flipped through a popular novel "Jin Ping Mei" with illustrated edition, repeatedly pondering its profound knowledge, which greatly aroused his interest. Just as he wondered if he should take the exam ahead of schedule tonight, he suddenly heard footsteps.

  At this time, the weather was just starting to get hot, so Zhou Daotong didn't close the door of his study. He originally thought it was a servant from his own home, and as he looked up to scold him, he saw two people in brocade clothes with their faces covered walking in.

  "Come..."

  Zhou Dao Deng's reaction was a bit slow, and just as he was about to shout loudly, a sign had already appeared in front of him. Having served as a cabinet minister before, he naturally knew what this sign meant: "Brocade Guard!"

  "By imperial order, I have come to ask you some questions." The leader of the two said coldly: "You just take a look at this."

  A silk fabric was placed in front of him, and Zhou Daodeng read it word by word. When he found that what was written on it was his own complaints and grievances during his exile, as well as his repeated utterances of treasonous words, and even his intention to surrender to the Eastern Barbarians and bandits, the "Jin Ping Mei" in his hand fell to the ground. When he saw that there were also comments about the current emperor: "He is a stubborn person with no talent or ability like Wei Wu, but has many suspicions like Ah Man", "He is jealous of talents and abilities, similar to Emperor Yang of Sui; He favors flatterers and harms loyal officials, almost as bad as Emperor Gao of Song". Zhou Daodeng's whole body was covered in cold sweat, and he fell to the ground with a thud.

  "Take another look!" Yu Guozhen grabbed his collar and pulled him up: "Look at this informant, do you recognize him?"

  Zhou Daodeng saw the name of the informant again, and the signature was familiar to him. It was his cousin Zhou Tonggui!

  "This... this..."

  Yu Guozhen said in a cold and stern tone: "You only need to say whether the person who claims to be your nephew is true or not."

  Zhou Dao Deng stared blankly at the silk cloth, staring at the blood-red handprint. How could he deny it? Where did he dare to deny it?!

  These few sentences above, he can be sure that he has never said before. Since his retirement, he has been indulging in wine and lust. On the one hand, it is indeed only for entertainment in his later years. On the other hand, it is also self-defilement to avoid the suspicion of that supreme ruler!