Chapter 2

To be sure, the emperors of the Great Ming Dynasty were all formidable figures. It was fortunate that his brother-in-law was the future Hongxi Emperor. If it were anyone else, a brother-in-law like him would have long been thrown into a pond.

Of course... although that was the case, Zhang Anshi still treated his brother-in-law as his closest kin. For the sake of his brother-in-law, he had to change his image to avoid his bad reputation becoming a reason for others to attack his brother-in-law.

Alright, decided, a complete transformation, one that would show immediate results!

The next day.

Zhang Anshi got up early, and Zhang San arranged for his washing and grooming.

The Zhang family's residence was not large, as land in Nanjing was extremely valuable. Moreover, with his father's early death and his brother-in-law Zhu Gaochi, though the Crown Prince, being in a rather awkward position, after the Jingnan Campaign, the Yongle Emperor rewarded many meritorious officials with residences, but the Zhang family did not make the list. This residence was only obtained through Zhu Gaochi's personal intervention.

After washing up, Zhang San cautiously entered and said, "Young Master, Young Master Zhu has arrived."

Young Master Zhu...

In the Great Ming, someone surnamed Zhu who was not royal and was qualified to be called "Young Master" by Zhang San... there was only one person... the son of the current Duke of Cheng, Zhu Yong.

This guy was always Zhang Anshi's close friend.

Sure enough, before Zhang Anshi could react, he heard laughter, and then saw Zhu Yong rush in impatiently.

At this moment, Zhu Yong, though only a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy, was already quite robust. He rolled up his sleeves, holding a lacquer box in his hand, and loudly said, "Anshi, Anshi, look, I found a great cricket, hehe... it looks like a bull..."

The moment Zhang Anshi saw Zhu Yong, it was as if he suddenly understood everything.

His reputation... seemed to have a chance of being salvaged.

With this thought, Zhang Anshi's eyes brightened, and he laughed heartily, "You came just in time, let's go to school."

"School?" Zhu Yong's eyes nearly popped out, and he exclaimed in shock, "We've been skipping school for half a month, has Anshi gone mad..."

Zhang Anshi looked at him with a strange expression, "No way, no way, is there anyone in this world who doesn't love learning?"

The early morning in Nanjing was shrouded in a mist, which seemed to be unbreakable, accompanied by the morning dew, giving a refreshing feeling.

Zhang Anshi and Zhu Yong sat in a carriage, the wheels rolling on the cobblestone road.

Though it was early, many people were already hidden in the mist, starting their daily routines.

The school where Zhang Anshi and Zhu Yong used to study was located in a secluded corner near the Confucian Temple. This place was also the residence of the National University's chief professor, Hu Yan. The two-story courtyard was used for the temporary education of the children of meritorious officials, and Hu Yan's teaching took place in the front courtyard.

The Yongle Emperor deeply felt the importance of education for the children, so he specially issued an edict, ordering Hu Yan to set up an inner school here to recruit the children of meritorious officials and nobles.

It was still early in the morning, and a few young boys had already arrived.

According to the rules, at this time, Hu Yan would be sitting in the Minglun Hall, and all the young boys would enter in a line to pay respects to Hu Yan.

The moment Zhang Anshi and Zhu Yong arrived, it caused a stir. Clearly, these two were old hands, and their appearance at school was like the sun rising in the west.

Zhang Anshi was unperturbed, entered the Minglun Hall, and followed the others in paying respects to Hu Yan, "Student Zhang Anshi, paying respects to the teacher."

"Zhang Anshi..." Hu Yan remained expressionless. This son-in-law of the Crown Prince was just a young noble, who had come to study for a few days before quickly stopping.

Of course, Hu Yan did not care. Most of these royal and noble children were just living off their ancestors' achievements, and the emperor's order for him to teach here was not to expect them to learn anything substantial, but to prevent them from causing trouble in Nanjing.

Hu Yan nodded woodenly.

From the beginning, Hu Yan seemed like a wooden stake, showing no emotion, with no ripples on his face.

When about seventeen or eighteen young boys had arrived, Hu Yan said, "It's time, thirty-nine should be here, but only seventeen have arrived..."

Hu Yan did not seem angry about the high absentee rate, remaining calm and composed.

Cultivation, do you understand?

This class, he could not manage.

Without enough cultivation, he would have been long dead from frustration.

Hu Yan casually picked up a book from the tea table, "Today... we will continue to discuss the 'Book of Documents,' specifically the part about 'disrespecting oneself and others, and the destruction of virtue.'"

Hu Yan seemed like a moralist, who enjoyed lecturing on the moral articles from the Four Books and Five Classics to these young boys.

The young boys began to doze off one by one.

Zhang Anshi's eyelids also started to droop.

Until a clapper sounded, and Zhang Anshi suddenly woke up.

It seemed Hu Yan was even more eager for this sound than Zhang Anshi. He said, "Alright, class is dismissed."

With that, he turned and walked away without looking back.

The Minglun Hall immediately erupted in cheers.

A group of young boys began to chatter with their familiar friends.

Zhang Anshi did not expect to be so popular at school, and immediately a group of young boys surrounded him. Relying on his memory, he first recognized a small boy, Zhang Ye.

Zhang Ye said, "Brother Zhang, why did you come to school today?"

This Zhang Ye, though unknown in history, his father, Zhang Yu, was a famous general during the Jingnan Campaign. Zhang Yu died in battle while protecting the Yongle Emperor, who was deeply saddened and posthumously conferred the title of Duke of Hejian on Zhang Yu.

Zhang Ye was just Zhang Yu's youngest son. His elder brother, Zhang Fu, was already the Deputy Commander of the Five Military Directorates, and his aunt was the Yongle Emperor's concubine.

However, this boy was still young and considered a junior at school, and at this moment, he admired Zhang Anshi, who dared to skip school.

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, "Of course, I came to school to study. I want to learn both literature and martial arts to become a useful person."

As he spoke, Zhu Yong had already taken out his lacquer box from his sleeve and said, "Come, come, everyone, look at my cricket."

Everyone was immediately drawn to Zhu Yong.

Zhang Anshi shook his head, "What's so fun about crickets?"

Zhu Yong, Zhang Anshi's close friend, immediately said, "What, does Anshi have something more fun?"

Zhang Anshi sighed, "These days, I've been studying at home..."

The young boys, upon hearing this, immediately looked incredulous.

Zhang Anshi continued, "After studying at home, I suddenly had an epiphany. I thought, how can we, as royal and noble children, just live off our ancestors' achievements? No, we are destined to do great things in the future."

Hearing about doing great things, the young boys were all filled with enthusiasm.

These boys, who were usually pampered and in the prime of their youth, were always eager for excitement. Especially Zhang Ye, who said excitedly, "What great things? Count me in."

Zhang Anshi smiled at Zhang Ye, "You... are too young and not brave enough..."

Zhang Ye, upon hearing this, immediately became angry, "I am very brave."

Zhang Anshi sighed and, as if by magic, pulled out a firecracker from his sleeve.

It was a real firecracker, and at this time, firecrackers were already very common, but the one in Zhang Anshi's hand was clearly a larger version, about the size of a small fist.

Zhang Anshi said, "Have you ever played with firecrackers?"

Zhang Ye said, "Of course, during festivals, I always light the firecrackers at home."

Zhang Anshi immediately looked as if he had found a talent, "Lighting firecrackers is not a skill. Do you dare to use a firecracker to blow up a latrine?"

Zhang Ye was suddenly excited, muttering, "Right, why didn't I think of that? Big Brother Zhang, I really admire you, you could think of this."

Zhang Anshi smiled and shook his head, "Using a firecracker to blow up a latrine is not a skill either."

At this moment, the school was divided into two groups. About seven or eight boys were still sitting at their desks, reading books and ignoring the commotion, while the rest of the young boys were gathered around Zhang Anshi, eager and curious.

Zhang Anshi lowered his voice, "I wonder if anyone dares to... when Mr. Yan is using the latrine..."

Many people gasped in shock.

Zhang Ye wiped the snot that was about to run out of his nose, and felt a bit timid.

"Never mind..."

"I dare!" Zhang Ye insisted.