Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 238
In Xiangyang in March, there was still dew in the morning, and the spring thunder burst last night, and the rain hit the plantains, which made Zhang Shenyan rarely sleep well.

Decades of studying and working as an official have allowed him to form a strong self-control, going to bed and waking up on time, and hardly ever having insomnia.

I still remember that the last time I suffered from insomnia was the news of the late Emperor's death in Beijing.

Wearing a common uncut haircut, a simple black and white robe, and ordinary boots, with his head held high, his long beard combed many times, his eyes bright and his expression calm.

Zhang Shenyan maintained his posture, Fang Ruo was a hermit among the people, or a high-ranking official who had retired to a local area, with dignity and indifference to fame.

"For Daming, for hometown..."

He muttered in his heart, facing the passing shogunate officials, his reserved face was difficult to maintain.

Calm and unhurried, neither humble nor overbearing, the true nature of a man.

"Mr. Zhang, Your Highness welcomes you!"

At this time, a young man in a strong suit ran over and looked him up and down, neither far nor close.

"It's work!"

Zhang Shenyan bowed his attacker, followed behind, walking slowly, every move was full of etiquette.

It is almost a miniature version of the Nanjing Imperial Palace, Prince Xiang's Mansion, no, the Palace Pavilion renamed as Prince Yu's Mansion is still resplendent and majestic.

It's a pity that he has seen a lot, and he has long lost his sense of novelty.

He didn't change his face, bent his waist slightly, and walked intently.

Thirteen years ago, he led the way. He was very curious about this old man. After all, he was a former minister of the official department. He walked and spoke with a bit of air.

"You are waiting here!"

Only ten steps away from the gazebo, you can clearly see the face of His Royal Highness Prince Yu: handsome, leisurely, and calm.

He secretly compared it with Emperor Hongguang of Nanjing. As expected, the face of this King Yu was more like a monarch.

The obese King Fu does not fit the image of a monarch.

"Zhang Shenyan, you are confused!"

He was startled in his heart, how could King Yu be able to compare the majestic Son of Heaven?Even more difficult to compare.

"The military and the government should be developed simultaneously, and officialdom should be the top priority. All prefectures in Huguang, as well as states and counties, must be smooth..."

"The post station of Guochao should also be set up as before. The post station and the official road complement each other, and neither can be neglected..."

King Yu's voice was clear and loud, as if he was chatting, and he talked eloquently, which sounded very reasonable.

And Zhao Shu, the head of the Military and Political Department, occasionally spoke in agreement, and there were very few words of rebuttal.

Obviously, compared with the puppet-like Emperor Hongguang, His Royal Highness King Yu holds great power, speaks his word, and fully possesses the power and majesty of the Son of Heaven.

Thinking about it in his heart, Zhang Shenyan's evaluation of King Yu became higher and higher: "Especially for a capable minister like me who makes great use of him, isn't he a Mingjun?"
No wonder it was extraordinary to be able to defeat the Eight Banners.

As Zhang Shenyan thought about it, his waist became more and more bent, and his head hung lower and lower.

"Please!" The eunuch reminded softly.

Zhang Shenyan was stunned, and hurried forward to meet King Yu in person:

"Craftsman Zhang Shenyan, please greet His Royal Highness Prince Yu."

Scholars can see officials without kneeling, but princes are so polite that they have to kneel.

Zhu Yixi saw an old man approaching slowly, with a straight face, an extraordinary bearing, and a different kind of aura all over his body, which made him sit up straight.

"Zhang Shangshu speaks bluntly and remonstrates strongly. It is widely heard in the world. When this king hears the news that you are in Xiangyang, he is very happy in his heart."

Zhu Yixi praised first, and then expressed regret: "It's a pity that the battle has been busy these few months, and the meeting with Shangshu was delayed."

Flower sedan chairs are carried by people.

Zhang Shenyan is not an idiot either, he also said: "His Royal Highness went north to Luoyang, beheaded the false king, became famous all over the world, and his lower body is among the people, I wish I could be with His Highness as a companion, and fight against slavery together."

"Hahaha!"

Zhu Yixi enjoyed being flattered very much, especially the former Minister of the Ministry of Officials, who was almost as comfortable as being flattered by a cabinet minister.

He suppressed his smile and said seriously: "Nowadays the state affairs are difficult, the imperial court should help each other in the same boat, but who knows that Fang Zheng keeps going, and it is really inappropriate to exclude dissidents."

"Mr. is a great talent. There is no one who is not a prime minister. Although this king has little virtue, he wants to work together with Mr. in the same boat, and then restore the rivers and mountains—"

"Since I have inherited His Highness's wrong love, I dare not obey my orders."

Zhang Shenyan said cooperatively, his brows and eyes were full of emotion, and he looked full of feelings.

Needless to say, this is a scene to be written in the history books.

"Please sit down!"

Zhu Yixi raised his hand and said, "Mr.'s talent is difficult for the shogunate to give in to. How about being the Zuo Changshi of Prince Yu's Mansion?"

"Always be by your side, speak good words and do good deeds."

"His Royal Highness, I don't stick to official positions, as long as I can rejuvenate the Ming Dynasty, even lowly subordinates, I will not hesitate."

Zhang Shenyan said modestly.

The chief history of the palace, the five grades, its function is to take charge of the government litigation of the palace, to assist the ministers to satirize the king's failure, to lead the bureaucrats to provide for each other, and to take care of the general affairs.

Of course, when it comes to Zhu Yixi, the main duty of Chang Shi is to advise and satirize, so naturally there is no need to bother about the affairs of the palace.

It is equivalent to the position of a royal doctor.

Zhang Shenyan was also quite satisfied.

Although the official position is not high, he is a close minister, which is rare.

The two chatted very happily, and they both understood each other fairly well.

"Report-"

"how?"

"News from Henan."

Zhu Yixi's eyes were fixed, and she opened her eyes to take a closer look.

I saw that it was written that Hong Chengchou was stationed in Luoyang, surrounded by tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, and he was very aggressive.

"The visitor is not good!"

Zhu Yixi sighed softly: "There are many things going on in Henan."

Hearing this, Zhang Shenyan took the letter and frowned: "Your Highness, marching into Luoyang is a shocking move. He must have some intentions and it will be very disadvantageous to us."

"Jiannu is not afraid, only the human heart is to be feared."

King Yu nodded, filled with emotion.

……

At the same time, Hong Chengchou not only moved into Luoyang swaggeringly, but even summoned the gentry to raise food and pay, and train soldiers and horses.

The looted and clean Luoyang really didn't make Hong Chengchou in a good mood. When he first came to Luoyang, he could only borrow a house, which can be described as aggrieved.

However, behind him is the Manchu Qing court, and even the house looks different.

"Ruzhou, Xiangcheng."

Looking at the information in his hand, Hong Chengchou said softly: "Chen Yongfu was originally the general soldier of Henan, but now he actually listens to the puppet king of Yu. I think he really has some skills."

"You Shiwei came to Xiangcheng from Yulin Town, interesting, interesting."

Muttering about the two of them and thinking about their backgrounds, Hong Chengchou felt that he had to get in touch with them in private.

Huguang's Pseudo-Yu King is the enemy of life and death.

Now that there are only ten thousand soldiers, it is still too early to talk about strategies. Sowing gold and silver and sowing dissension is the right way.

Compared with Huguang, Guanzhong can be described as a dry pile of firewood, which can be ignited with a little flame.

"Li Zicheng, Li Zicheng, you offended the gentry all over the world, and now you want to buy them again, do you really think they are fools?"

(End of this chapter)