Zhang, a veteran of the Three Dynasties, was trusted by Yongzheng, and even Nian Gengyao, who was used to bossiness, had to be funny. Although Nian Gengyao has been regarded as a confidant by Grandpa Four, he used this resource to help him. But Nian Gengyao couldn't wait for Grandpa Four's support. He has been trying to climb up through various forces. For example, after he was promoted to the governor of Shaanxi but Gansu, he immediately found the 14-year-old grandfather who promoted himself behind him and went to the 8-year-old grandfather's house without saying hello. Nian Gengyao thus burned grandpa four's hot stove and grandpa eight's cold stove, only seeing his own interests.
And Nian Gengyao wants to give Zhang a gift. To put it bluntly, he still wants to find a shortcut to promoting to a higher position. Zhang He was ordered to come to see Nian Gengyao to convey the emperor's meaning. How can a minister who knows the rules of officialdom like Zhang accept his gift on such an occasion?
What Nian Gengyao gave Zhang was not gold, silver and jewels. He brought oranges from Sichuan, fans that Confucian scholars often give to each other when making friends, Sichuan Shu brocade, and gastrodia elata. It seems to be just a local product bought casually on the road, representing a heart. Nian Gengyao knows that Zhang is an upright official, but it doesn't matter if he accepts these worthless things.
But Zhang only left gastrodia elata. Not because Gastrodia elata is a valuable medicine, Zhang accepted it and gave it a lake pen as a courtesy.
As for other things, ask safe oranges. Zhang means that you and I are both fine. Making friends with fans, Zhang means that you and I can respect each other, and a friend of a gentleman can't form a party for personal gain. Shu Jin's idea of Zhang's future means that your future is in your own hands and your family knows well. Your performance is very good, but I won't take credit.
Gastrodia elata is a blind herb, and so is Nian Gengyao? Seek medical attention? Zhang's acceptance also shows that he is willing to give directions. Returning Hu Pen is Zhang's encouragement, but only if Nian Gengyao gets rid of his physical problems. In addition, Zhang's Nian Gengyao sent something, but he still wanted to give Nian Gengyao some avoidance. He could see that Nian Gengyao was a rude person, afraid that he would have a hard time with himself in the future and cause a lot of unnecessary troubles. Therefore, collecting gastrodia elata is purely helpless.
Alas, alas, Nian Gengyao's heart was on top of the world, and Zhang's self-esteem was doused by a few words. In the end, Nian Gengyao failed to live up to Zhang's advice and kindness. At this moment, Nian Gengyao, who is generous to the future, probably never dreamed. Many years later, he became a government official who frightened everyone in the DPRK. Because of his arrogance, he was relegated again and again, and finally the knife that made Yongzheng determined to give him the death penalty was inserted.
From Nian Gengyao's gift, we can see that Zhang's ingenuity and ability are enough to overwhelm Nian Gengyao and become an outstanding minister. However, the evaluation of Zhang by later generations felt that he had nothing to recommend, which was actually one of Zhang's great strengths.
He is good at speculating the imperial edict and won't take credit, which doomed him to be completely different from Nian Gengyao. No matter which emperor in history is wary of famous ministers, after all, there is a lesson of Wang Mang usurping the throne. Zhang thinks silence is golden. When you say something, you must say it. If you don't say it properly, you will never say another word. This point is mentioned in the novel February River.