October 16th, the 15th year of the Wanli reign, was the day when Grand Tutor Zhang was buried.
Although the Imperial Observatory was ordered to choose a Feng Shui treasure land for his tomb, his sons still followed Zhang Juzheng's last wish and buried him in Zhang Wenming's tomb, so that he could go to the underworld to make up for the regret of not being able to fulfill his filial piety by his father's bedside.
The funeral ceremony was naturally grand, and the scene of hundreds of thousands of people gathering at Taihui Mountain and kneeling in tears was extremely shocking. But what does this have to do with the Grand Tutor Zhang who could cover the sky with one hand?
Even if he knew what was going on, Zhang Juzheng would definitely not like such a grand ceremony. In fact, apart from the coffin bestowed by the emperor, Zhang Juzheng only let his son be buried with two things in the coffin.
One was the jade belt around his waist, and the other was his beloved sea willow pipe. Apart from that, he had nothing else...
When three cannon shots were fired, it was announced that the auspicious time for burial had arrived.
The noisy Taihui Mountain suddenly fell silent. People watched as Zhang Jingxiu carried a bowl of warm rooster blood and sprinkled it from the coffin to the entrance of the tomb. When the last drop of blood fell to the ground, he smashed the bowl heavily at the entrance of the tomb.
The deacon then sang in a long voice: "Farewell, Grand Master!"
The mournful sound of suona was then heard, and the men and women of the Zhang family, his relatives and wives, as well as thousands of civil and military officials in mourning, all cried bitterly in unison.
After three bows, the heavy coffin was steadily lifted into the grave. More than a dozen shovels began to fill the grave together, and in a blink of an eye, the huge golden nanmu coffin was covered...
The Zhang family's children burst into tears, and even Zhao Hao couldn't help crying again.
In his opinion, what was buried now was not only his idol for two lifetimes, but also the last hope of the Ming Dynasty...
Farewell, idol.
Farewell, Lord and Minister...
~~
The day after the burial, Zhao Hao was about to set off back to Shanghai with his son.
Xiaojing and Xiaoman stayed in Jiangling to accompany the lady for a while.
Zhang Jingxiu and his brothers went to the dock to see him off and bowed deeply to Zhao Hao.
"What are you doing? Get up quickly." Zhao Hao hurriedly helped his brothers-in-law up.
"If it weren't for you, sir, my father's funeral would definitely not have been so grand this time." Zhang Jingxiu held his hand and whispered.
Because Zhao Hao had been a tutor to the brothers in those days, and although he took their little Zhuzi away with him, the Zhang brothers still addressed him as "sir".
It is said that when a person dies, it is like a light going out. Moreover, the wind is increasingly unfavorable to Zhang's party. If it were not for Zhao Hao, the officials from Huguang would never come in such a large number.
It is even more likely that officials from neighboring provinces will not join in the fun.
"It's just a passing cloud, there's no need to take it too seriously." Zhao Hao smiled and comforted him, "After a few years, when your brother becomes prominent, won't you have many guests again?"
"Oh, why would I think about that anymore?" Zhang Jingxiu waved his hands and said, "Now that my family is safe and sound, I'm very grateful."
How could he say that Zhang Juzheng's eldest son, the former little cabinet minister, was still quite sensitive. He knew that the Zhang family was now in the most dangerous moment.
"Don't worry, I will." Zhao Hao patted his arm hard.
"I'm thinking, should we wait until after the Chinese New Year and let Jianxiu and Jingxiu take Chonghui and the others to visit overseas? If they can adapt, they can settle down in Nanyang." However, Zhang Jingxiu was not too optimistic.
He, Sixiu, Maoxiu and Yunxiu all had achievements to their credit. If they left Jingzhou during the period of mourning, it would simply be giving others an advantage.
But the fourth son, Jian Xiu, did not take the imperial examination, but was appointed as a military official. The king followed the Song Dynasty system, which did not allow military officers to mourn for their fathers, but only gave them a hundred days' leave.
As Lao Liu has not yet achieved any fame in his meditation, he is naturally free.
As for Chonghui, he was the son of Zhang Jingxiu. Obviously, he wanted his two younger brothers to take the next generation to Zhao Hao's territory overseas to avoid being wiped out.
Zhao Hao thought about it and nodded, "Okay, I'll arrange it after the New Year."
After saying this, he forced a smile at the Zhang brothers and said, "Don't let your imagination run wild. My father and I are here for you. You should all calm down and have a good rest. You've all been exhausted lately..."
"Yes, sir." The Zhang brothers saluted Zhao Hao together, watching the Science that came to pick him up slowly leave the dock and sail down the river...
~~
As the Science sailed down the river, it was unsurprisingly harassed by the two governors of Huguang and Jiangxi.
This time, Zhao Hao did not have to worry about his father-in-law's opinion. He signed a package of education projects with the two provinces, including the opening of primary and secondary schools and academies. He also established the Huguang Development Corporation and the Jiangxi Development Corporation, officially incorporating the two provinces into the Jiangnan integrated region.
When passing through Nanjing, Zhao Hao received a telegram saying that the emperor had issued another decree to reinstate Hai Rui as the Prince's Tutor and Minister of Justice.
It seems that Wanli is determined to use this ancestral sword to ward off evil spirits. Just make sure he doesn't cut his penis...
When Zhao Hao returned to Pudong, it was already the end of October.
The whole Pudong is filled with a festive atmosphere. Even the Oriental Pearl Tower has been repainted and hung with countless flower balls and ribbons. There is also a gorgeous light show at night! It's really all out...
Because the main venue for Jiangnan Group’s 20th anniversary celebration is located here.
At the same time, various celebration activities will be held in the entire integrated Jiangnan region and the 18 overseas provinces.
But unlike the grassroots cadres, ordinary employees and citizens who were jubilant and celebrating, most of the group executives and representatives who gathered in Pudong could not hide their worries, uneasiness and restlessness.
During the day, they attended various celebrations, and at night they held private gatherings to discuss the future of the group after the Zhang Juzheng era...
These executives above the fourth level of the group naturally knew that such frequent secret meetings would definitely not escape the eyes and ears of the all-pervasive Kurt. But they could no longer care about that. They even hoped that someone could report the content of their conversation so that the big boss could give a clear attitude as soon as possible!
As they wish...
Lujiazui, Jinmao Garden.
The back garden was full of flowers and withered lotus leaves, and several children, big and small, were playing carefree. Qiaoqiao, along with a few maids and old women, stood by like a hen protecting her chicks, fearing that any of them would get hurt.
Zhao Hao stood in the study room on the other side of the pond, looking at his children with a smile, not feeling the noise at all.
The man stood behind him and reported the collected information in a low voice:
"They said that even if they rebelled, it would be better than being stuck in this state."
"Good boy, you are so brave." Zhao Hao held the pipe which symbolized a kind father.
In the past, he would never smoke a pipe, because he thought it was only for middle-aged and elderly people... But after bidding farewell to his father-in-law, he became more and more accustomed to using a pipe.
While listening to Fang Wen's report, he opened the exquisite cloisonné tobacco box on the table, gently kneaded the golden Luzon tobacco into the bowl until it naturally overflowed the bowl, and then gently pressed it with his fingers until it was half full.
Then rub and sprinkle the tobacco again until it overflows, and use your fingers to increase the force and press it until it is three-quarters full.
The filling is completed only when the pipe is filled to overflowing for the third time and the surface is pressed with greater force. However, it should not be pressed too tightly, and it is better to maintain moderate elasticity.
Use a lighter to slowly light the edge of the bowl until the tobacco is completely lit. This will allow the tobacco to burn smoothly.
Then he began to enjoy his pipe.
However, you still cannot smoke as freely as you like, but you must maintain a proper smoking rhythm to keep the tobacco smoldering. If you smoke too fast, the tobacco in the bowl will burn too vigorously, and the high temperature will make your lips and tongue burn and sting, and even damage the pipe.
If you smoke too slowly, the pipe will go out frequently, and once it goes out and you light it again, it will affect the taste of the first few puffs.
In short, pipes are incompatible with the impatience of young people in every way. No wonder most pipe smokers are middle-aged and elderly people who are patient.
Zhao Hao found that he enjoyed this process because it could calm his mind. No wonder his father-in-law chose the pipe after trying various methods.
Now, it's my turn again.
Sure enough, I am no longer young...
"They even thought of a slogan, which is 'Zhu Ming is unjust, the country is Zhao again.'" Zhao Hao smoked his pipe and listened to the man whispering, "Many people have signed the petition and are preparing to present it at the group meeting."
"How many people have signed the petition?" Zhao Hao asked, holding his pipe.
"Currently, it has exceeded 70%." Fang Wen swallowed his saliva and said, "This is the result of the Coast Guard officers abiding by the training of staying away from politics and not getting involved."
But anyone can guess with their toes what those warmongers who aim to dominate the world are thinking.
"It's true..." Zhao Hao was a little surprised. He didn't expect such a high-level figure to support the rebellion.
He soon realized that it was not necessarily a one-sided support for the rebellion. It was just that when the radicals shouted the slogan of "Restore the Country to Zhao", even if the moderates did not agree, they had to sign the petition.
Not signing means being disloyal and unreliable. For these group executives, once they are considered disloyal and unreliable, they are put in a different category.
But this did not make Zhao Hao feel relieved, because this was also very bad. Once a person was coerced and forced to express his position against his will, it was often the beginning of true disloyalty and unreliability...
"This is the list of those who took the lead..." Fang Wen presented a secret letter.
Zhao Hao waved his hand and said, "Let's save it for later."
"Do we need to add them to the long-term care list?" Fang Wen asked.
"Join us." Zhao Hao nodded. After thinking for a long time, he said in a deep voice:
"We can't just sit there and watch. Otherwise, if people lose their morale, it will be hard to lead the team!"
As he spoke, he turned to Jiang Xueying who was listening quietly:
"I decided to bring that speech forward instead of waiting for the group meeting. What do you think would be a suitable occasion for it?"
President Jiang thought for a moment and said, "There will be a preparatory meeting three days before the group meeting."
"Okay, expand the scale of the meeting, no leave is allowed, and there is no need to notify them that I will be present!" Zhao Hao ordered in a deep voice.
"I understand." Jiang Xueying replied softly.