Chapter 378: Uncle and Nephew Uncles

“After all, Lord Meng is still Lord Meng—everything is in perfect order now!”
“Isn’t that right? Earlier when we went outside, people called us Changshan guards in front of us, but behind our backs they called us hooligans. Now look—those standing at the gate have proper postures, and all those trivial disputes have been settled neatly. A few days ago, I followed Lord Meng and Lord Zhang to the military camp in the western suburbs, and even the old, broken weapons there were replaced!”
“Lord Zhang is just too rigid. I heard several thousand-household commanders secretly gave him silver, but he still strictly followed the records, not giving an extra bit. Even the old, broken items that were replaced had to be carefully collected back!”
The Changshan Guard office in Da Zha Shu Hutong has become not only more bustling these days but also more orderly and solemn. Early that morning, several officers arrived to report for duty, and they naturally chatted animatedly outside the gate. Just as they were in the midst of their conversation, they suddenly saw someone riding a thin horse approaching, prompting some to mutter.
“Still, why did Lord Meng choose Wang Yu to assist Lord Zhang? There are quite a few people in the office who hold high positions, all with connections to higher-ups, which allows them to get good jobs. Has anyone heard of any notable relatives he has? On the other hand, if I were to handle those trivial matters, I’d probably get dizzy in just fifteen minutes!”
Since they had to wear formal clothing for work, Wang Yu wore the same red jacket with crossed collars and narrow sleeves that everyone else did. Though he didn’t know what others were discussing, seeing all those eyes fixed on him, he could easily guess it was related to his good luck. Yet, rather than being happy about this sudden opportunity, he felt more confused. Even though his uncle Gao Zheng had hinted at it before, he never expected his wife to have such prominent relatives.
It was the Zhang family, with one duke and one earl, versus the Xu family, with two dukes—who else could compare to such prestige? Even though the Xu family no longer held military power, Duke Zhang Fu had just returned from training in Xuanfu, and Earl Zhang You was currently in charge of the Left Army Command. If it weren’t for his wife’s family’s past mistake, wouldn’t he have a brother-in-law who was the eldest son of an earl? But if the Zhang family still harbored old grudges and learned he had married Jin Su, would they not simply crush him with a single finger?

As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Wang Yu shook his head to dispel such foolish ideas. He was just a poor boy whose parents had died, and merely a low-ranking officer. If it weren’t for Feng Lan and her daughter Jin Su falling into trouble, he wouldn’t have been able to marry such a knowledgeable and beautiful woman. To be ungrateful would only invite divine punishment. Besides, Zhang Yue was kind to him and didn’t seem to hold grudges, and even Lord Meng treated him fairly. Since he didn’t seek rapid advancement, what more could he ask for?

So, after tying his horse to the post beside the government office, Wang Yu stood along the wall, chatting idly with a few colleagues. Before long, it was time for roll call. The officers gathered to assign tasks, and naturally, Zhang Yue took Wang Yu with him to the garrison in Changshan, in the western suburbs, to handle some matters. Since most of the tasks needed to be done had already been completed, there was only minor work left, so Zhang Yue wasn’t as rushed as usual. After leaving the main gate, he rode slowly, with his attendants following at a leisurely pace.

“Wang Yu, who else is in your family?”

As they were on a straight road outside the city, Wang Yu, sitting on his horse, grew somewhat lost in thought. Hearing the question, he was momentarily stunned before realizing it was Zhang Yue speaking. He quickly grabbed the reins to control his horse and replied, “Sir, my parents passed away early. Aside from an uncle, I have no one else. My uncle, seeing my poor family situation, often helped us out. Even my wife…” At this point, he felt he might have said too much, but stopping now would also be inappropriate, so he hesitantly added, “Even the matchmaker was arranged by my uncle.”

“It’s not inside the government office here; no one cares about formalities. You don’t need to address me as ‘sir’!” Zhang Yue nudged his horse slightly to slow it down again and sighed softly. “The mistakes made by the older generation often burden the younger ones. If we really think about it, it might not be the outcome the elders in my family wanted. Now that your father-in-law has passed away, surely no one will dwell on those old matters anymore. I can’t speak for others, but your wife is still my cousin, so you’re technically my cousin-in-law. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, just let me know. I’ll help if I can.”

Wang Yu was surprised by Zhang Yue’s kind words and felt happy. He nodded eagerly and said, “Thank you, sir. I’ll definitely tell my mother-in-law and wife… Ah, that’s not what I meant. I just want them to feel at ease. At my age, being able to marry such a wonderful wife is truly a great fortune.”

After spending some time together, Zhang Yue knew full well that Wang Yu was an honest person, so he nodded with a smile. He raised his hand to signal for Wang Yu to follow and joked, “It’s not just that you’re lucky; it’s also because you have a good uncle. How many uncles would care about the well-being of their nephews if their parents have died? By the way, since you’re in the army, where is your uncle?”
“My uncle became a xiucai at the age of twenty, but he kept failing the imperial examinations, so he’s been teaching in a private school in Beijing.” Only then did Wang Yu realize he knew very little about his uncle, whom he regarded as a parent, not even where he was teaching now. Embarrassed, he said, “My uncle rarely talks about himself. Instead, he often urges me to strive for success and gain a position that allows me to provide for my family. It’s a pity I’ve failed to live up to his expectations.”
“That’s not necessarily true. Who can predict one’s future? Besides, everyone has their own aspirations, and we can’t force them. As long as you’re satisfied with your current life and your wife is happy, then it’s a good life!”
Zhang Yue said this with a smile, then lightly flicked his horsewhip and rode off at full speed. It wasn’t until his attendants followed that Wang Yu hurriedly rode after him, feeling extremely happy. Whether it was his uncle or his colleagues, everyone was talking about how to climb the ladder of success, but he had no such ambition. To meet someone who agreed with him was like finding a kindred spirit.
It wasn’t until the third hour of the si period that the group arrived at the camp of the Three Guards in Changshan. Since this place was originally an old military camp, the reassignment of troops went smoothly. By now, more than two-thirds of the soldiers had been settled, with only a small portion still at their original locations. The damaged weapons of the swordsmen, halberdiers, and archers had all been replaced, leaving only the last three hundred firearms.
Since every replacement of military equipment had to be recorded in detail, and Zhu Di had issued strict orders earlier, Zhang Yue couldn’t afford to be careless. After reviewing the meticulously numbered records in the ledger, he took Wang Yu to inspect the wooden boxes containing the old firearms. When he lifted the lid of the first box, he saw guns covered in green rust. Reaching out to pick one up, he found that the already fragile gun broke in half as soon as he touched it.

Seeing Zhang Yue frown, the officer who spoke quickly added with a smile, “The lord also said that this time we’re first replacing those that are truly worn out, so naturally these are the ones we have. These have been in use since the end of the Hongwu era, and now, over twenty years later, they’re in poor condition. In fact, the weapons for the remaining soldiers aren’t much better, but after all, we have to take things step by step; otherwise, I’d wish everyone’s weapons could be replaced right away.”
The words sounded flawless, but Zhang Yue still opened each box one by one, checking the numbers on them. Fortunately, the craftsmen who engraved the numbers had been meticulous, and the inscriptions were still barely legible. Only after checking all twenty wicker boxes and confirming they were in order did he sign the official documents. The scribes from the armory and officials from the Military Equipment Bureau, who had been waiting there, immediately got busy—verifying lists and assigning personnel. It took three full hours to distribute all 300 Yongle fire lances. Of course, the gunpowder provided was only enough for three shots each.
Without gunpowder, these lances could only be used for smashing, raising concerns about malicious use.
It wasn’t until sunset that Zhang Yue mounted his horse and returned to the city with Wang Yu and his entourage. Upon entering the city, he went straight to the Ministry of War, while Wang Yu, as a minor commander, didn’t need to return to his office at that time and went straight home. Eagerly, he rushed to his doorstep, but before he could push it open, he heard a voice behind him.
“Coming back so late again today?”
“Uncle!”
Turning around, he saw his uncle Gao Zheng dressed in a lake-green Lu silk robe. Wang Yu quickly turned to greet him, then said with a smile, “These past few days, I’ve been traveling around with Lord Zhang almost every day, returning so late. Thankfully, things won’t be as busy starting tomorrow. Lord Zhang is busy with matters at the Ministry of War and won’t have time to visit our Changshan Guard often.”
At that moment, he remembered what Zhang Yue had mentioned that day and happily told Gao Zheng. Hearing this, Gao Zheng also became pleased and said cheerfully, “Though he’s just a junior, both the old lady of the Yangwu Marquis’s household and the Duke of Yingguo listen to him. So your wife needn’t worry. If he says he can help you, he will. Your future is bright, and I no longer need to worry.”
“By the way, I told him that I owe my current situation to you, so he also asked about your current circumstances.”

Gao Zheng, who had been full of joy just moments ago, now grew solemn, though he quickly concealed it. As he walked inside, he said nonchalantly, “Since you’ve called me uncle, it’s only right for me to help you. But someone like me, with such a humble status, you shouldn’t mention me if you meet others in the future. He became a Jinshi at such a young age; compared to him, as a mere Xiucai, I really don’t know where to put my face. In short, since Lord Meng has taken you under his wing, don’t disappoint him—just work hard. They say it’s easier to be an official with connections in the court, and now that you have this relative, make the most of it!”