After traveling through time, I became Han Zhang’s grandson?

Chapter 208 Differentiation

Following the crowd leaving the court, Han Ming staggered out of the palace gate.

Many officials around him looked at each other with strange expressions. Some seemed to want to talk to this young Mr. Han, but they were timid.

Until they were standing next to the carriage in front of the palace gate, Yong Zeng said something mysteriously to Han Mingshen with a strange look on his face.

"My Lord, the Duke asked you to return to the Han Mansion after court today. He has something to discuss with you."

After hearing the message from his grandfather, Han Ming was slightly stunned. He glanced around and found that the carriage carrying Han Zhang had already left.

"Haha, it looks like the old man is angry."

Han Ming chuckled and shook his head, then got into the carriage with Yong Zeng's help.

"Tell the Madam to prepare and take Nuoge'er home with her. She will rest at Grandfather's house today and will not return to the Marquis' Mansion."

Han Ming's voice came from the car window, Yong Zeng nodded and said "Ah".

Knowing that Han Zhang had a lot to say to him, Han Ming stopped the carriage in front of Duke Yiguo's mansion.

Looking at his former mansion, Han Ming sighed a little, and then walked in with a swagger under the familiar gaze of the servant at the door.

After chatting with her grandmother and mother whom she hadn't seen for a long time, Yu Yanran finally arrived with Han Duanyang.

Later, Han Ming learned from the servants that his maternal grandfather, Lu Baochen, and his eldest wife's grandfather, Old Master Yu, had come to the mansion and were waiting in Han Zhang's study. He was stunned.

"Don't blame me, sir. I just learned that my grandfather has come. It's not the time for the court to summon retired ministers yet. Why did my grandfather come all the way from Xuzhou?"

Yu Yanran saw that Han Ming was a little dazed, so she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and muttered a few words under her breath.

"I'm afraid he's worried about his granddaughter, so he went back to Beijing to check on her."

Han Ming suddenly understood and gently calmed Yu Yanran's doubts.

"I'll chat with my grandfather and the others for a while, and you stay here with my grandmother and mother."

"If you're tired, go to Yinyanxuan to rest. Mother has been cleaning there for you and me."

Han Ming stood up and saluted Han Cui and Han Lu, whispered a few words to Yu Yanran, and then went to Han Zhang's study.

As soon as I entered the room, I saw three old men with white beards drinking tea and chatting about the past. Occasionally they talked about their youth and laughed with emotion.

Hearing the footsteps at the door, the three of them put down their tea bowls and turned their eyes to Han Ming, who was dressed in casual clothes.

"Come on, Ming Er, come and sit down. I haven't been back to Beijing to see you for several years."

Old Grand Tutor Yu waved his hand and looked at the young man who was now making waves in the court, and couldn't help feeling emotional.

In just seven years, this young boy gradually reached the pinnacle of power in the Song Dynasty.

Now, he has single-handedly promoted the court's reform and innovation.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel fortunate that the partner I chose for my granddaughter was indeed a good match.

"Are you still in good health? My grandson-in-law said that it would be better for you to stay in the capital so that Yanran and I can serve you all the time."

Han Ming bowed and looked at Old Master Yu with a smile.

"My health is pretty good and I can hold on for many years. The main thing is that I am worried about you and Yanran..."

Old Master Yu was filled with emotion, and he took the opportunity to bring up the topic, looking at Han Ming carefully.

"If you have anything to say, just say it. Grandfather and Grandfather-in-law are here to listen to your lecture today and tomorrow."

Han Ming sat upright, looking at the three powerful bosses with bright eyes.

Seeing Han Ming's frank attitude, Han Zhang and the other two looked at each other. In the end, it was Old Man Han who understood his grandson best, and he couldn't help but kick him in anger.

"Stop pretending in front of me!"

"Tell me, why weren't we informed about the 'gentry serving and paying taxes together' thing?!"

The old man was very angry and the consequences were serious.

After all, Han Ming would always inform the emperor and Han Zhang in advance about matters concerning court reform, and then they would communicate with the ministers under the Secretariat, and finally stand together at the court meeting to support Han Ming.

Well, today our husband Xiao Han made a powerful move and stunned both his own people and his opponents.

"Grandson, isn't it too late..."

Han Ming wanted to laugh it off, but his grandfather Lu Baochen didn't tolerate it and interrupted him directly.

"Don't give me that crap. The fact that there's no communication is problematic in itself. Also, were all those things you asked Hao Qing to tell me before bullshit?!"

Seeing that his grandfather, the former prime minister, could not control his temper and burst out with swear words, Han Ming could only laugh awkwardly.

"We are all here today, and I don't want to hide anything from you."

"You asked me to stabilize the old faction and discuss with them whether we can work together to reform the system. Let's put it this way, it was possible before, but after what happened in the court today, it's absolutely impossible!"

Lu Baochen waved his hands with some tiredness, wondering what he could do with such a noisy grandson.

"Grandfather, in my grandson's opinion, perhaps what happened in the court today will actually encourage more people to devote themselves to the cause of reform."

Han Ming changed his 'good boy' demeanor and smiled as if everything was under control.

The three old men looked at each other and could see the understanding in their expressions.

"So you deliberately played this trick in the court?"

Han Zhang stroked his white beard and squinted his eyes as he thought about something.

"Grandfather, you don't know that before the court meeting, officials from the two chambers of censorship secretly conspired to impeach me."

"You all know my grandson's temper, so we can't let them step on us."

Han Ming couldn't stop smiling.

"So, today, you will submit your proposal for 'gentry to serve and pay taxes together', and clear out the accusations against you, so that everyone will fall into the trap you've woven."

Lu Baochen knew that his grandson had evil intentions.

"Not only that, Grandfather also saw the opinions expressed today regarding 'gentry serving as officials and paying taxes together', and the attitudes of everyone in the court."

"Some people oppose it, but there are also many who accept it. You should know why, right?"

Hearing Han Ming's question, Lu Baochen rolled his eyes and said disdainfully, "Isn't it just a way for you to gain fame by 'doing good deeds'?!"

They all knew the importance of reputation to the literati and scholars of the Song Dynasty, both during their lifetime and after their death.

No one would refuse such a policy that affects their own reputation, or rather, it could enhance the reputation of some "families that do good deeds."

"In that case, please ask Grandfather to contact the relevant officials and tell them that the policy of 'gentry serving and paying taxes together' is nothing more than a test."

"For those 'good deeds done', we will not impose any additional taxes other than the one-time tax such as the 'single whip law'."

"At the same time, we also hope that these 'good homes' can do their duty, do their best, comfort and stabilize the local area, and set an exemplary role."

"Let my colleagues and the people see that the so-called scholarly and aristocratic families are actually 'good' people with high reputation and noble morals!"

Han Ming had an inexplicable smile on his lips, which made the three old men frown.

Moral kidnapping!!!

What Mr. Han is doing is the so-called modern experience of moral kidnapping.

With the development of modern society and the opening up of the atmosphere, this kind of so-called social opinion has become more relaxed, and most people don't care about it.

On the contrary, the ancients attached great importance to this kind of social public opinion and morality.

If your family is exempted from some taxes under the new policy, it will announce to the world that you are a good family that "accumulates virtue and does good deeds", which can effectively enhance the local reputation of your family.

On the contrary, the family's reputation will decline and fall, as well as all kinds of social resources and connections will be lost. Whether it can survive in the ancient times when morality was emphasized is another matter.

This is where Han Ming's divisive tactics and vicious heart lie. The ancients who used moral means to survive in the world fell for this.

"Then should I and the other officials thank Mr. Han for his consideration and tolerance?"

Lu Baochen stared at his grandson with unfriendly eyes.

"If Grandfather can think this way, then it won't be in vain for Ming to take so much trouble."

Han Ming's shamelessness immediately choked the three old men.

"Look at this kid, he thought I was praising him?!"

Lu Baochen was so angry that he threw the tea bowl in his hand onto the table and glared at his relative Han Zhang.

“Extraordinary people do extraordinary things, and extraordinary things require extraordinary means.”

"What Ming'er said may not be without reason."

Han Zhang twirled his beard lightly and pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.

"Hmm? (⊙_⊙)?"

"Huh? (owo?)!"

Both Lu Baochen and Old Master Yu's expressions froze, and they looked at Han Zhang in a daze.

"At least the current situation is much better than when I first implemented the New Deal!"

Han Zhang looked at them with a smile.

Han Ming felt relieved to receive the affirmation from his grandfather and couldn't help laughing.

"But don't think that just because things were done this way, there was nothing wrong. No notice beforehand, no explanation afterwards. Just for this reason, look at the people in the court who support you and want to kill you!"

Han Zhang changed the subject and looked at Han Ming with some displeasure.

"My grandson will never dare to act independently again!"

Han Ming immediately straightened his body, stood up and saluted.

"My dear relatives, please look at this matter..."

Han Zhang acted as a peacemaker and looked at Lu Baochen with a smile.

"Humph! Ming'er is also a child of the Lu family. Who do you think I am? Can you join outsiders in bullying your own child?!"

Lu Baochen has a very awkward personality, but he is still very nice to Han Ming.

"Then I will also lend a hand. Look at those children who were my disciples back then. I think they now have a say in the court."

Old Master Yu didn't mind wading into this muddy water for the sake of his grandson-in-law.

Hearing the three big brothers in the family set the tone, Han Ming immediately bowed again to express his gratitude.

"After all, you still have to walk the road ahead on your own. It's hard to say how long we can help you."

"For your own sake, as well as Yanran and Nuoge'er, you must be well and think twice before doing anything!"

This was the last sentence Lu Baochen left for Han Ming before leaving Han Mansion.

Looking at the old man's receding figure, Han Ming felt a little sad. He bowed and said goodbye to Lu Baochen.