Chapter 59

All the important figures of Dachen Fort came, and the hall couldn't accommodate everyone, so tents were set up in the courtyard. Everyone who entered was beaming, as if it were a festival.

But there was one person who didn't have the sense to join in. A man with a face as black as the bottom of a pot strode in, not even greeting anyone he bumped into.

"Who are you? Do you know where you are? This is the residence of the Defense Commissioner. If you keep wandering around, you'll be arrested!"

"Let him try to catch me!"

Zhang Ke hurried in right after, and someone said, "Sir, this man is rude. We should teach him a lesson!"

Several people raised their fists to strike, but Zhang Ke was terrified and quickly waved his hands. "Everyone, don't be impolite. This is my teacher, Mr. Hong Fuchao, a Jinshi (imperial scholar) of the 41st year of the Wanli era."

Hong Fuchao? A Jinshi!

The chaotic scene instantly quieted down, and everyone stared with wide eyes.

A Jinshi! That's a scholar, a star descended from the heavens!

Someone hurriedly rubbed their eyes, wanting to see clearly!

Ordinary people reacted this way, and even Sun Youguang was no exception. He had long heard of Hong Fuchao's name, one of the few Jinshi in Liaodong. He had hoped to gain some favor... or rather, some influence, but there was no opportunity. He never expected this person to come to Zhang Ke's house.

The fat on Sun Youguang's face trembled as he hurried over to greet him.

"Your subordinate, Sun Youguang, the Defense Commissioner of Dachen Fort, greets you, Sir!"

Hong Fuchao glanced at Sun Youguang and nodded slightly. "I'm not some important person. You all do what you need to do! Zhang Ke, come here!"

"Yes, what do you need, Teacher?"

Hong Fuchao, with a stern face, said, "Find a quiet place. I don't want to be treated like a monkey."

"Please follow me, Teacher."

Zhang Ke, respectfully, led the way, and Hong Fuchao followed angrily. They quickly walked to the side courtyard. The people in the courtyard stared at each other, not understanding what was happening.

Tang Bi gently pulled on Sun Youguang's sleeve and whispered, "Sir, what's going on? Why does this Mr. Hong seem so unhappy?"

"You ask me, who should I ask?" Sun Youguang sighed. "Didn't you see? I was smiling so hard my face was stiff, but he didn't even look at me! Whatever bad luck, it's all on Zhang Erlang."

...

In the side courtyard study, the windows were bright and the room was warm with a large charcoal brazier.

Hong Fuchao sat in the center without a word, and Zhang Ke didn't speak either. He poured a cup of tea for his teacher and then stood obediently with his hands hanging down!

Zhang Ke, inheriting the memories of his past life, understood the concept of heaven, earth, ruler, parents, and teacher even more clearly. In his mind, the most important person was not his mother or his wife, Xiao Xue, but this Mr. Hong!

The teacher's guidance and profound teachings were vivid in his mind. Although Zhang Ke didn't want to pursue the imperial examinations, it didn't stop him from respecting his teacher. Moreover, without his teacher, he wouldn't have any connection with Wang Huazhen. Despite this being their "first" meeting, Zhang Ke was grateful to his teacher from the bottom of his heart.

"Teacher, if I have done anything wrong, please tell me. I will certainly correct it!"

"Hmph, a grown child doesn't listen to his father, let alone his teacher!"

Zhang Ke, upon hearing this, quickly bowed deeply and said fearfully, "Teacher, on the first day, I remembered a saying: 'Heaven covers, Earth bears, the ruler, parents, and teachers nurture and educate.' Since I have become your disciple, I should follow your teachings. If you think I have done something wrong, you can scold or beat me, and I will have no complaints!"

Seeing his most outstanding disciple, hearing his heartfelt words, Hong Fuchao's eyes flashed with a complex expression—pain, relief, and confusion!

After a long pause, he sighed, "Yongzhen, since you remember this, do you remember the first lesson I gave you?"

"I remember, 'Among all things, only reading is supreme!'"

"Good, but how could you forget?" Hong Fuchao, upon hearing this, became angry again. He slammed the table, making the teapot and teacups rattle, and pointed at Zhang Ke, saying sternly, "I heard you joined the army, became a household, and are about to be promoted to Defense Commissioner. What a big position, what a big authority!"

Zhang Ke hurriedly said, "Teacher, I did join the army. In no time, I might be promoted to a thousand-household and become the Defense Commissioner of Dachen Fort. But! I never thought this was a significant position. Instead, I am more cautious and fearful."

Hong Fuchao took a deep breath and nodded. "It's good that you understand. The hereditary positions in the garrisons are nothing. Even at the level of a commander, they have to be humble before a county magistrate. The military is low, and the civil is high, everywhere in the world! I tell you this because I think you have great talent, and the imperial examinations are the right path for you. Why walk a narrow path when you can take the broad road?"

Zhang Ke understood the reason for his teacher's anger. It seemed he thought Zhang Ke had made a wrong turn and become a wayward youth.

"Teacher, I am foolish and couldn't even pass the examination for a scholar. I don't dare to aspire to the imperial examinations."

"Nonsense!" Hong Fuchao said with a stern face. "I didn't explain clearly. Passing the examination for a scholar is not difficult, and even becoming a provincial candidate is not hard. I wanted you to become a Jinshi. I deliberately didn't teach you the eight-part essay to prevent you from becoming complacent and not working hard. It's good for young people to face some hardships!"

Not good, not good at all! Zhang Ke silently criticized his teacher in his heart. If you had taught me, your precious disciple wouldn't have died, and I might not have ended up here as a fake!

Hong Fuchao, unaware of Zhang Ke's thoughts, continued, "Many people criticize the eight-part essay, but they don't understand that it's just a container, like this teacup. Imagine a row of identical teacups, each filled with tea. Some are Tieguanyin, some are Longjing, and some are just tea leaves, hard to drink. Yongzhen, what do you think is the most important thing in the imperial examinations?"

Zhang Ke thought for a moment and said, "Teacher, according to what you said, it's about making a good cup of tea, which means making the essay beautiful and substantial."

"Ha ha ha, you still haven't understood!" Hong Fuchao laughed. "I just said that some make Tieguanyin, some make Longjing. How do you distinguish between them? It's all about the examiner's preference. If you can guess what the examiner likes and cater to it, you will be successful."

Hong Fuchao spoke smoothly, but Zhang Ke's eyes widened. In his impression, his teacher was always serious and upright. How could he be so adept at talking about such opportunistic things!

Hong Fuchao smiled slightly. "What, do you think I shouldn't talk like this?"

"I dare not!"

"No need to be polite. Let's speak from the heart. This is despicable! This is flattery! To pass the imperial examinations, you must learn these things! I went to the capital this time, partly to get a position and partly to understand the court's trends. After observing, I can only conclude four words. Guess what they are, Yongzhen."

"Flowers in full bloom?"

"A mess!"

Hong Fuchao said bluntly, "The emperor is negligent in governance, and the country faces internal and external troubles. Ministers form factions, such as the Zhe, Qi, Chu, Xuan, and Donglin parties. They fight endlessly. The whole country is in chaos! Yongzhen, Liaodong is far and poor, with a declining population. Few can pass the imperial examinations, and those who do are isolated. Yongzhen, I know you have great ambitions and want to benefit your hometown. You should study hard, master the eight-part essay, and understand the court's officials. Once you understand them, I can guarantee you will pass. Only by passing the imperial examinations can you truly make a difference!"

Hong Fuchao patted Zhang Ke's shoulder and said meaningfully, "Yongzhen, the Ming Dynasty controls the military. Troops, money, criminal law, and military equipment are all in the hands of civil officials. Even at the level of a general, they are just a pawn in front of a civil official, let alone a Defense Commissioner! What I say may not be pleasant, but it's the truth, and it can't be changed. If you don't want to be controlled by others, you should take the imperial examinations. I won't harm you!"

Wang Huazhen had said similar things, but Hong Fuchao's words were more thorough and direct. If the Ming Dynasty could continue, even if Zhang Ke studied until his head turned white and his eyes bled, he would strive to become a scholar and enter the ruling class.

Zhang Ke listened patiently to his teacher's words. He knew this person was genuinely concerned for him, and being cared for was a blessing!

"Teacher, what you said is golden advice, but I want to share my recent experiences with you. Do you want to hear them?"

"Go ahead, I want to know why you joined the army."

Zhang Ke nodded and began to tell his story, from being sick and forced into debt, to Guangning, to defeating the Tartars, and to being promoted to Defense Commissioner, all in detail.

He spoke calmly, as if telling someone else's story, but Hong Fuchao's emotions were turbulent, as if listening to a legendary novel. In a short time, his disciple had faced death several times, saved many people, and achieved great deeds! He felt both proud and ashamed. He had come angrily to question Zhang Ke for joining the army without understanding the reasons, which was rash.

Especially when he heard about officials like Wan Chuan and Xu Bangyan, Hong Fuchao gritted his teeth.

"They should be killed, they should be killed! Such corrupt officials who harm the people, killing them is too lenient; they should be exterminated!"

Zhang Ke chuckled. "Teacher, your hatred of evil is admirable."

"Ha ha, I never expected so much to have happened. It's all because I didn't think it through. I should apologize to you!"

Zhang Ke quickly waved his hands. "Teacher, don't say that. I have been thinking these days. The imperial examinations are good, but Liaodong is my home, and the people around me are my fellow villagers. We face the Jurchens and the Mongols, and the situation in Liaodong is precarious. Even if I pass the imperial examinations and rise to a high position, there will be many other officials. But in Dachen Fort and He Bay Village, the lives and well-being of thousands of people are in my hands. I can't abandon them!"

Hong Fuchao frowned. What Zhang Ke said was reasonable, but he still hesitated to see his disciple join the army.

"Yongzhen, if you pass the imperial examinations, you can do much more."

"Ha ha ha, Teacher, there are officials in the court who can and cannot do things. I will do what others cannot see or think of!"

After Zhang Ke finished speaking, Hong Fuchao fell into deep silence. The two of them sat facing each other.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Ma Biao called out anxiously, "Sir, Sir, someone from Liaoyang has brought a letter and wants to present it to you!"

...

Stuck again, the next part is an important plot point, and my head hurts... Please give me some votes to motivate me...

Mobile users, please read at m..

Page flip AD starts

Page flip AD ends