Chapter 41 Section 18

My head slammed and I asked the messenger eagerly, "How could this happen? What's wrong with Zhang Hou?" The envoy lowered his head and said: "In fact, Zhang Hou has been unwell since the New Year last year, and he suffered another blow this year. The emperor wrote a letter condemning him for making false recommendations and cutting the tax of two hundred households. Zhang Hou felt ashamed in his heart. , I felt that I misjudged the person, so the illness became more and more serious, and finally I couldn't afford it." The messenger said, his voice hardened. I think the envoy must be very sad. Liehou like Zhang Hou is said to be gentle and courteous to his servants. It is a good story. Although I treat my servants and servants generously at home, it is not as good as Zhang Hou.What's more, Zhang Hou's status is much higher than mine, which is obviously even more commendable.But how could he make the mistake of "false recommendation"?I have always been indifferent to the court affairs, could it be Chen Tang...

"If it's not so presumptuous, I would like to ask, how did Zhang Hou make a false recommendation?" Sitting in the speeding car, I asked the envoy beside me suspiciously. The messenger said: "There is a man named Chen Tang, I wonder if you have heard of it?" Sure enough, it was him, and I said, "Of course, Zhang Hou also introduced me to him." The envoy suddenly had a look of resentment in his eyes: "It's all because of this person that made us Zhanghou become what we are today." "Please tell me in detail." I was surprised by the envoy's resentment.

"Last year, our lord recommended Chen Tang to the imperial court as a scholar, and the emperor approved it, and planned to select Chen Tang as a mandarin official. But at this time, someone from Chen Tang's hometown came and told him that his father died suddenly and asked him to go back to the funeral. Chen Tang Seeing that he was finally going to become a Langguan, how would he go back? The opportunity was never to be missed, so he even bribed the man from his hometown to keep him quiet. Later, this matter was reported, and Chen Tang committed suicide because of his father's death. He was sent to jail for not attending a funeral. The chief official of the prime minister's mansion checked the records and found that Chen Tang was recommended by our lord, so he declared that our lord's recommendation was not true, and cut off the taxes of 200 households. Our lord was furious Now, the condition is getting worse and worse, and I am a little conscious today, so I urgently ask you to see me." He was weeping again as he spoke.

I sighed again and again, not knowing what to say.Soon the carriage arrived in front of Zhanghou's residence on Xiyin Street, I jumped out of the carriage and ran all the way into Zhanghou's residence. Zhang Hou looked very energetic, it could be said that his face was radiant. For a while, I almost thought that the messenger had passed the wrong news, but when I saw the relatives around him all looked sad, my heart suddenly became brighter. It seems that Zhang Hou is already terminally ill. Today It is time to return to the light.I knelt on the green cattail mat in front of Zhanghou's bed, kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, Wan Zhang has come to pay my respects."

Zhang Hou is in good spirits, his eyes are radiant. Since I knew him, I have never found him so energetic.He looked around and said with a smile, "Very well, you guys go out first, I want to have a few words with Wan Zixia alone." The prince, concubines, retainers, and maidservants beside Zhang Hou all stood still. Zhang Hou faced them and waved again.They had no choice but to nod to me one after another, bowed and retreated. Only then did Zhang Hou stretch out a skinny hand, grabbed my hand, held it tightly, and said: "Mr. Zixia, I have enjoyed wealth and honor for more than thirty years relying on the shade of my ancestors. Your relatives also had quite acquaintances, but before you died, you couldn't forget you as a commoner friend, so this is God's will, right?"

Tears welled up in my eyes, I clasped the tense Hou's hand with both hands, and wept, "Thank you, Junhou, respects Zhang, but it's a pity that Zhang has been taken care of by Junhou for many years, and has never been able to help Junhou. Junhou can never forget Zhang, Zhang really doesn't know why For the reward." Zhang Hou raised his head and sighed towards the beam, and said: "Why should Zixia be overly modest? The king's dedication to righteousness and wealth has long been spread to the three assistants. Now, among the ministers in the court, who can surpass Zixia in terms of moral character? But today I call Zixia came here to ask for something. If Zixia can agree, even if I die in Jiuquan, I will be grateful."

I kowtowed again and said, "Junhou thinks highly of Zhang, even if Zhang is crushed to pieces, he will not disappoint Junhou's entrustment." "Hehe," Zhang Hou said, "if I can still live well, there may be someone who is willing to do for me whatever I order. Now I am going to die soon. Thinking about everything in my life, except for Mr. Zixia, Without a dead friend, my life as a human being is really a failure." "The emperor is too modest, and the three assistants who don't praise the emperor's character, integrity, and purity are the models of the world's scholar-bureaucrats."

Zhang Hou shook his head: "I don't have friendly relations with Jun. I think only Jun can treat the things I entrusted to me after my death like I did before my death." I bowed down again and said, "Please give me your orders." "Are you sure you can promise me?" he said. "As long as Zhang can do his best, he will die without regret." Zhang Hou nodded and sighed: "Oh, it's actually about Mr. Chen Tang." I was taken aback. It turned out that when he was dying, it was Chen Tang that he couldn't forget. His illness worsened, and it could be said that Chen Tang brought it to him, but he didn't care at all.Is Chen Tang really so important?

So I blurted out: "Or for Chen Tang?" Zhang Houdao: "I think you will definitely find it incomprehensible to me. I once told you that Chen Tang saved my life in Jingxing. In fact, this is only one of them, even a small aspect. Life is important, but I So what if I live a few more years? Since I was born, I have been rich and well-clothed, enjoying the grace of the court and my ancestors, but I have never been able to benefit the court. I have been a vegetarian for more than 30 years. I feel guilty. But after I met Chen Tang, I dare say that I can finally benefit the imperial court. I have seen countless people in Chang'an, but I have never seen someone as wise and brave as Chen Tang. If he gets a chance, he'll soar like a falcon."

I was a little unconvinced, why did Chen Tang have what you said so well, but I didn't want to argue with him, but I still felt uncomfortable with the doubts in my heart: "But it is said that Chen Tang didn't go to the funeral because of his father's death, which hurt the king and the marquis. Two hundred households." "Actually, people are not so perfect." Zhang Hou said, "I don't think Chen Tang is perfect, and there is absolutely no perfect person in this world, so we shouldn't ask for perfection. Although I am mediocre and incompetent, it depends on people He is also a little bit confident. Chen Tang was born in poverty, and he wants to get ahead, which we can't understand. What can make him stand out is only his talent. Now he is in prison, but it is a petty crime. There is still a chance to make a comeback. I hope that Jun can help Chen Tang after I die, in fact, if it wasn't for my recommendation, he would not be reluctant to be a Lang Li, and he would not commit the crime of not going to the funeral when his father died."

God, he really took ecstasy, and even attributed Chen Tang's crime to his recommendation.I know I can't argue with him anymore. There are many things that don't need to be debated. Since he entrusted Chen Tang to me, I must agree and keep my promise. This is my principle of life. As for whether the person he entrusted is worth it I do, that's another story.Those of us who dissociate from the imperial court never consider this point.Being entrusted by others, even if we die, is the foundation of our group.What's more, Chen Tang saved me once in front of Tian Tingtian. I comforted him and said: "Father's death and not going to the funeral is just a small crime. I don't think you need to worry so much. I will definitely do my best to let Chen Tang get out of prison as soon as possible. You can rest assured that you will raise your body. Don't worry about such a trivial matter." God hurt." Zhang Hou grabbed my hand firmly again, his nails were almost embedded in my palm, then he smiled at me gratifiedly, and squeezed out a sentence from his throat: "Thank you!" He suddenly let go of my hand, He fell back on the bed and didn't move. I stood up, bent down, stretched out my hand, and put it tremblingly on his nostrils. I didn't feel the breath, but felt a burst of sadness in my heart. Another generation of Fu Pinghou disappeared.Life is like this, sending you to us, until you become someone else's gift, seeing his body, I suddenly imagined that I would be like this in the future, and I felt very uncomfortable.