Prime Minister

Chapter 971 Uncle and Nephew

Lu Gongru had already returned to the border post to rest first. After all, he was getting old, and he could no longer afford to eat and sleep after following Zhang Yue on patrolling the border.

Zhang Yue sent Zhang Zhi a way, and the uncle and nephew went upstream along the Hutuo River.

There are many rivers in Zhending Mansion. In addition to the Hutuo River, there are also main rivers such as Zishui and Zhihe, but the most important one is the Hutuo River.

Rivers are natural barriers to cavalry. The Hutuo River is extremely fast and can protect Zhending Mansion completely.However, since Xining, the Hebei West Road Transfer Department has tried to control the river several times, but it still cannot stop the river from flooding.

However, after Zhang Yue took office, he discovered that although the Hutuo River was flooding, it could create a large amount of siltation in the lower reaches. The soil in this siltation was as fine as flour, making it the best farmland.

Therefore, when Zhang Yue's Xuanfu envoy took office, he was busy negotiating with the Liao people, while coordinating the upstream and downstream of the Hutuo River to turn silt into fields. He opened up more than 10,000 acres of silted fields in one fell swoop. He also used his spare time to mobilize the people to rebuild the embankments on both sides of the river and rebuild the river. The crossing bridge was originally broken.

A good thing has been done for the people of Hebei in a down-to-earth manner.But for Zhang Yue, this was nothing more than a trivial matter for the entire border to resist the Liao Kingdom.

However, this matter was specially written down by the New Party, because Zhang Yue's move was a good endorsement of Wang Anshi's siltation method in the farmland water conservancy law.

Li Chengzhi, an official of the New Party who had participated in the formulation of the Farmland Water Conservancy Law, told Wang Anshi that if every official in the world was as dedicated as Zhang Duzhi in planning state affairs, there would be no need to worry that the Farmland Water Conservancy Law could not be implemented throughout the country.

Wang Anshi smiled and said nothing.

Zhang Zhi told Zhang Yue this story, and Zhang Yue smiled and said, "How come I don't know about this? How did you hear about it?"

Zhang Zhi said with some embarrassment: "I saw Mrs. Wang mentioned it in her letter!"

Zhang Yue glanced at Zhang Zhi and thought, you can do it.He said: "It's Wang Cai."

Zhang Zhi heard the meaning of Zhang Yue's words and said quickly: "I have only exchanged letters with Mrs. Wang Er, and have never met in person, and Yuan Du also knows about this."

"I see."

Zhang Yue thought to himself that it would not be easy at all to become the prime minister's son-in-law.

Immediately Zhang Zhi said: "Third uncle, I wrongly blamed you for Lu Jifu's incident."

Zhang Yue smiled and said nothing.

Zhang Zhi said: "Also, Cai Chizheng and I are too close, which makes you unhappy."

Zhang Yue was still speechless. Zhang Yue was angry with Zhang Zhi indeed because he listened to Cai Que in everything instead of listening to his own uncle.

Zhang Zhi said: "But...but my third uncle, Cai Chizheng, has really taught me a lot over the years."

Zhang Yue said: "Zhi is my good friend, so I can save you. But I don't like you getting too close to him because I'm afraid you will go astray."

Zhang Zhi asked: "Does Third Uncle think that being upright is not a good person?"

Zhang Yue shook his head and said: "If he is upright and not a good person, how can I be friends with him?"

"It's like the saying that a man has gold at his knees. Others say that a man should respect his honor and honor and should not grovel."

"But in other words, when there is gold to be gained by groveling, a man might as well kneel down. After all, there are a lot of people who grovel all day and can't get gold."

Zhang Yue said to Zhang Zhi: "The talent of Zhi Zheng is such a deviant sword. You are an upright person who walks the right path. When I served Zhi and went in and out of the imperial palace, I was worried that you would offend the officials by being too upright, so I let Zhi Zheng take care of me. You, let me speak more tactfully and act more cleverly."

"But this is just a temporary measure. After all, accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger... I think there is nothing wrong with your upright temperament. In fact, it is okay to suffer some losses in the officialdom. Blindly pursuing advantages and avoiding disadvantages is the biggest detour."

Having said this, Zhang Yue pointed to the people on both sides of the Hutuo River and said: "Look at the land of Yan and Zhao. Since ancient times, there have been many tragic and generous people. Therefore, there are many heroes in this place, but they have robbed few of the gifts and gifts, and there are many who are good at making a living." If you are a local official, you often feel that the people here are difficult to govern, but these people are good generals and soldiers. You will rely on them to resist the Khitan in the future." "The same is true in doing things. You can learn from each other, but you can't learn from others. ; It can be compared with the right way, but not with the right; it can be established with the right, but not with the right. Knowing does not mean doing it, and even if you do it, you may not understand the contingencies involved. You are not Cai Chizheng. Even if you learn [-]%, you don't know the contingencies. , you can’t learn from it, just be yourself.”

"Just like you two protect the master together, Cai Chizheng is loyal and obedient, you can be loyal and upright."

Zhang Zhi said: "Third uncle, I understand."

At this moment, Zhang Yue and Zhang Zhi were riding across a bridge in the river. They saw new willow leaves growing on the banks of the Hutuo River under the spring scenery, and people were planting rice in the silted fields.

The spring breeze blew the willow branches, and Zhang Yue saw an old farmer stepping back to plant rice in the flooded field. He said spontaneously: "Putting green rice in the field with your hands, you can see the sky in the water when you lower your head. The way is to have a pure heart. Going back is actually moving forward."

Zhang Zhi savored Zhang Yue's words and suddenly realized.

Over the years, Cai Que had taught him too many strategies and tactics. The more he learned, the more stupid he felt. He was a thousand miles away from Cai Que. But after listening to Zhang Yue's words today, he realized that what his third uncle had taught him was the right way.

Zhang Zhi dismounted and said, "Third uncle, I will listen to you from now on."

"Okay!" Zhang Yue nodded.

After walking for a while, the uncle and nephew saw each other for only an hour or two before parting ways.

"Third uncle, if nothing happens, I will go back to Daizhou. Please wait for my good news."

"Okay." Zhang Yue nodded and looked at Zhang Zhi carefully. His plan was very dangerous, but it could reverse the situation.

It was just an accident, and he was responsible for a big deal.

In February and March, it is still a cold spring.

Zhang Yue saw that Zhang Zhi's clothes were not old, so he immediately took off his fur coat and put it on Zhang Zhi, and then gave his mount to Zhang Zhi.

Zhang Yue said: "This horse and Zhending's good horse, and the saddle are a gift from the Liao Kingdom. You can take it. Be careful on the road."

Zhang Zhi did not refuse, nodded and said: "I don't have to worry about it, third uncle, you should take care of yourself."

Zhang Yue watched Zhang Zhi off and saw him getting on the horse and looking back at him several times.

When the uncle and nephew met again after a long separation, Zhang Zhi showed his true feelings and showed his concern for himself.After another long conversation, the two settled their differences, and Zhang Yue was happy in his heart.Even though the two uncles and nephews had political differences, they were still good sons and daughters of the Zhang family, and blood was thicker than water.

This uncle-nephew relationship is not the kind of family relationship that comes from a wealthy family. I watched him grow up since childhood. At that time, the Zhang family was extremely poor, and they even taught him how to read in person.

I put more effort into Zhang Zhi than my two sons.

It is difficult for modern people to understand this kind of emotion, but you will know it if you read Han Yu's memorial to Twelve Lang. Han Yu's parents died young and he was raised by his brother and sister-in-law. Therefore, he has a deep affection for his nephew Twelve Lang, almost as a child. Treat him like a brother.

What does blood connection mean? That's it.

Zhang Yue watched Zhang Zhi's back for a long time...

In September and March of Xining, the Liao envoys came to Zhending again to negotiate with Zhang Yue. This time the Liao envoys added the ownership of Tianchi to the four demarcated areas.

Zhang Yue had already expected the Liao Kingdom's capriciousness.