The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 151 The exam is not free

Because of the military situation in the Northwest, and because Zhu Youtang had a problem with his wife covering up his brother-in-law, Zhu Youtang didn't go to Kunning Palace after dark for the last two days.

The couple seemed to be in a cold war.

Zhang Heling came to the palace that day and asked Queen Zhang about his younger brother's imprisonment, especially mentioned to Queen Zhang that his younger brother's situation is not very good now, and asked someone to talk to him many times.

"...Yanling has already said clearly that if brother-in-law forgives him, he will be able to turn over a new leaf. Sister, why bother him? He hasn't grown up yet..."

Zhang Heling said how pitiful his younger brother was, as if he knew how to repent.

Empress Zhang said: "Don't come to me about this matter, it doesn't count if I say it."

Zhang Heling whispered: "Then sister went to ask her brother-in-law to plead? Isn't brother-in-law always listen to you the most?"

The elder sister gave the younger brother a blank look, and blamed him for talking nonsense.

Finally, Queen Zhang said: "That was before, if you told your brother-in-law about anything, your brother-in-law would definitely listen to me first. But it's different now, he listens to Zhang Bingkuan for everything!"

"Zhang Bingkuan?" Zhang Heling shivered when he mentioned this person.

"Heling, it seems that there is something that you can't count on, right?" Queen Zhang said angrily.

The purpose of her mentioning Zhang Zhou to her younger brother was to let Zhang Heling find an opportunity to teach Zhang Zhou a lesson, and let Zhang Zhou know what is the difference between superiority and inferiority.

Zhang Heling swallowed, and said a little apprehensively: "Sister, you don't know, this person is so evil, that Li Guang used to be considered powerful, but he is not even a fart in front of him. It is an understatement to say that he can call wind and rain , It is said that he can bring out even earthquakes, and people in the Dudu Mansion are still rumoring that how the Tartars send troops is within his calculations... Some people say that he is Kong Ming alive."

"Bastard! Boss, are you trying to build up other people's ambitions and destroy your own family's prestige?" Queen Zhang couldn't stand it anymore.

Originally, she had a big opinion on Zhang Zhou.

She thought she would call her younger brother to discuss how to deal with Zhang Zhou, but her younger brother also flattered Zhang Zhou in front of her.

"Sister, don't worry, even if he is capable, he doesn't necessarily have to fight against us, does he? Just like Li Guang back then, he still listens to us in everything? Even if Yanling and I are in the palace... If something happened, wouldn't my sister still ask him to do things?"

Zhang Heling was a little proud when he said this.

Earlier when the Zhang family brothers went to the palace for a banquet, they drank too much and wore Zhu Youtang's crown to play. After being imprisoned, Queen Zhang even instigated Li Guang to execute He Ding with a cane in the imperial prison.

No matter how awesome Li Guang was in the past, he still knew the rules of master and servant. Li Guang was like a dog's leg in front of the Zhang family, unlike Zhang Zhou who could "stand on his own".

Empress Zhang said coldly: "If Zhang Bingkuan can obey orders like Li Guang, that would be fine, but he keeps embarrassing my Zhang family! I can't tolerate him!"

Zhang Heling said strangely: "Sister, have you met Zhang Bingkuan? I have also met my younger brother. This man is very kind, and he speaks politely. Although he helped Zhou in rebuilding Qingning Palace Family members, but it's not too much, why does my sister feel that he can't tolerate him?"

"What did you say?"

Queen Zhang was also a little puzzled.

These two younger brothers were the least things in the past. Why did they "see Zhang Zhou differently"?
Zhang Heling said: "Sister, that Zhang Bingkuan is too powerful, it's better to accept him for our use, than just to fight against each other like this. What do you think?"

"..."

Queen Zhang was even more speechless.

Brother, is this being instigated?

"Sister, what do I think? If an earthquake really happened because of the second brother's incident, and those civil officials chattered endlessly, and the brother-in-law wanted to convict him, then what the brother-in-law is doing now is actually protecting the second brother until the matter is over. Just let the second brother out later. What do you think?"

"Okay! Are you helping me, or outsiders?"

"I'm not helping my parents."

"..."

Empress Zhang almost wanted to say, are you stupid or insane?You do evil every day, and you have to be your sister to wipe your ass. Now it's good, you pretend to be open in front of your sister, and you still help your relatives?You two should be killed by a lightning strike!
"I'll go see him later and see what he means. If he's really shameless, my brother has a way to make him submit. Isn't he just a Gongsheng? If you give me any favors, it must be the kind of begging for mercy..."

Zhang Heling looked confident.

He felt that Zhang Zhou could be wooed, but he looked down on Zhang Zhou to some extent, and felt that Zhang Zhou's ability was very suitable for them.

If Zhang Zhou could listen to them and let them call the wind and call the rain... Zhang Heling probably wasn't stupid, but just a little naughty.

Empress Zhang sneered and said, "Don't be pecked by an eagle, and you will be begging for mercy."

"How could it be?" Zhang Heling said with a smile, "Sister, don't worry, I heard that this person is also very greedy and lustful, if he throws away any advantage, he will definitely attract him!"

Queen Zhang frowned.

She didn't seem to understand what her brother said.

If Zhang Zhou is really the kind of person who is motivated by money, ignorant and incompetent, just like Li Guang, can he capture the emperor's heart in such a short time?
She may not have any other knowledge, but she still has some understanding of Zhang Zhou's personality. A person who can win the trust of her husband, in addition to being superior in ability, must also be principled and moral in life, otherwise why? Zhang Zhou dared to fight against the Zhang family like an egg hitting a rock?
……

……

At noon on February [-]th, the first round of the examination began to be handed in.

Zhang Zhou came out relatively early.

Sun Shangqi led people to wait outside the tribute courtyard early in the morning. Seeing him coming out, Sun Shangqi hurried forward to meet him.

"Sir, the carriage is ready, are you going home, or..."

Sun Shangqi also knew that the examinees had to go back to the Gong Yuan to prepare for the second exam before dark.

At that time, he still has to make use of the fact that it is more convenient for Jin Yiwei to grab a seat, and wait at any time, while Zhang Zhou can adjust his mood a little.

Zhang Zhou asked: "The people who appeared earlier, have you heard anything from them?"

Sun Shangqi was puzzled and asked, "What did you say, sir?"

"It's like asking questions or something."

Sun Shangqi thought for a while, then shook his head and said, "I haven't heard of it."

"Ah."

Zhang Zhou nodded.

Generally, those who can turn in the test papers and leave around noon on the third day are usually those with good academic ability. Some people may not turn in the test papers until sunset. If you have any opinions on the test questions, most of them are from this group. people.

"I'll go back first, and then prepare some food and drink."

Zhang Zhou was about to leave.

A Jin Yiwei came over and said something in Sun Shangqi's ear, and Sun Shangqi said: "Sir, please don't rush back to the residence, Mr. Xiao has something to see you here."

Zhang Zhou complained slightly: "I'm going to have a test, come out in the middle to adjust my mood, and still fix these? Lead the way."

……

……

Xiao Jing asked someone to book the next floor of the teahouse, prepared tea, etc., and waited for Zhang Zhou to come over.

After seeing Zhang Zhou, he was even more enthusiastic.

"...Mr. Zhang, the matter in the Northwest has taken shape. Here are some battle reports. Would you like to take a look first?"

Xiao Jing was afraid that he might not be able to explain clearly, or that there were omissions, so he sorted out the battle reports in the Northwest in advance, including the battle reports of Dayan Khan on Ningxia West Road, Huozhai at Piantouguan, Duoyan Sanwei in Liaodong, etc. are clearly stated.

"Oh, it's started."

Zhang Zhou quickly finished reading the compiled battle report.

Xiao Jingdao: "In the last two days, the fighting at Biantouguan suddenly stopped, why do you think this is?"

Zhang Zhou asked curiously, "Your Majesty won't discuss this kind of matter with the ministers in court? Ma Shangshu, as a seasoned veteran, is so familiar with the affairs of the Ministry of War. With him around, there is nothing wrong with me."

"You can't say that..."

Xiao Jing thought to himself, what's the use of knowing how to do this kind of thing?

It depends on who His Majesty believes.

Even if Ma Wensheng can talk about the war situation in the Northwest in an exaggerated way, and what you said is absurd, His Majesty will still listen to you and not him.

What's more, your analysis of the Northwest War situation may be more thorough than Ma Wensheng's.

A person who can calculate the movements of the Tatars in advance... This is not an ordinary person, he is a man of God!
"It is estimated that the decisive battle will be in these two days. I have also said that if there is a major war in the northwest, I am likely to be in the Gongyuan and cannot participate." Zhang Zhou laughed.

Xiao Jing hurriedly said: "That is to say, Wang Weining really wants to fight the Tatars...to the death?"

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Can someone stop it?"

"Uh... the day before yesterday, during the court meeting, Mr. Xie Ge also said that..."

"Old Xie Ge, it seems that my opinion is somewhat similar to his. It's an honor."

Xiao Jing thought about it again.

It seems to be like this, you are honored to have the same opinion as Xie Yuqiao, but why do you feel that it is an honor for Xie Qian to have the same opinion as you?
This world is really unpredictable.

"How will this battle proceed?" Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Jing naturally didn't want to let it go, and asked eagerly.

Zhang Zhoudao: "If it's someone else, I can guess one or two, but if it's Wang Weining, he doesn't follow common sense in using troops."

"Why doesn't it follow common sense?"

Xiao Jing became nervous.

Being unreasonable is not a compliment when it comes to the use of troops, especially the situation in the Northwest of the Ming Dynasty, which is originally a defensive position, and not following the common sense may mean that the sword is going sideways, and some of the fiascos in the Northwest of the Ming Dynasty are mostly due to not following the defense caused by the rules.

"It's hard to say, did His Majesty ask me to analyze it?"

"Yes."

"In that case, then I'll speak freely." Zhang Zhou talked eloquently, "You said that if this is an ordinary general leading troops, they would still come out in full force when they encounter Tatar invaders. It was so fierce that most of them withdrew their troops and ran away. After the bandits looted, they discarded the pass, took it back, and rebuilt it..."

Xiao Jing was taken aback.

Why does this sound so familiar?

Although the group of people in the court earlier didn't speak so bluntly, isn't the suggestion just about right?

"This... I'm afraid it will damage my prestige." Xiao Jing smiled wryly.

"That's right, he, Wang Weining, wouldn't do that, would he?" Zhang Zhou said.

Xiao Jing nodded: "That means, no matter how difficult the battle situation is, Wang Weining will stick to the pass?"

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "He is different from others. He can directly lead the troops to attack, and light soldiers can also rush in as bait. He even withdraws the pass to lure the Tatars into the city, and he leads the troops to fight back..."

"what?"

After Zhang Zhou's analysis, Xiao Jing really realized that the situation was not good.

"Don't be surprised, Eunuch Xiao. If you change to other generals, doing so is no different from sending you to death. Playing light soldiers to advance or go back and forth, regardless of whether the tactics can be implemented, the soldiers below will definitely desert countless... When the time comes, it will be implemented. , the effect is greatly reduced!"

"But if it's Wang Weining, the confidence of the soldiers in the army is different. I guess even if they follow Wang Weining into a heavy siege, the soldiers will not be timid to fight, and they can still fight to the death."

Xiao Jing thought for a while, then nodded: "I hope so."

Zhang Zhoudao: "After talking, can I go back to the mansion first? Speaking of which, the smelly sweat... I want to take a bath and change clothes."

Xiao Jing thought to himself, do you still have the mind to take a shower and change clothes?It's good if I don't take you directly to the face saint.

This is due to His Majesty's special grace, knowing that you are very tired from the exam, so I will give you some time to rest.

"Your Majesty has been very worried about the Northwest War recently. By the way, what do you think of the Battle of Yizhou in Liaodong?" Xiao Jing asked.

Zhang Zhou smiled: "Kill the good and take the credit?"

"what?"

Xiao Jing was quite surprised.

Earlier in the court, the three in the northwest were blown up like nothing in the sky, and they almost thought that if the three were united, they could play a big game of chess, but Zhang Zhou directly concluded that they killed the good and pretended to be meritorious?
Zhang Zhou really didn't wrong them.

General Li Gao, eunuch Ren Liang, and governor Zhang Yu didn't do anything good in Liaodong, and Gu Zuo was the one who impeached them in the end.

This person later became Minister of the Household Department in the early years of Zhengde, and is currently the right deputy capital censor and governor of Datong.

"In my humble opinion, I need to investigate carefully. It's inconvenient to say more, otherwise it will be bad if people say that I have wronged Zhongliang." Zhang Zhou finished speaking, as if he was denying that he said it.

"You...you really know how to joke."

Xiao Jing thought to himself, you have already said that they may be deceitful, and they even fit His Majesty's thoughts, can His Majesty send someone to investigate?
Zhang Zhou said: "This time... can I go?"

Xiao Jing smiled and said: "Yes, our family will send you down. By the way, Mr. Zhang, how did you do in the exam this time?"

"It's okay. When writing articles, I always think that I write well, but it's not easy to stand out among so many candidates in the same subject." Zhang Zhou still seemed very humble.

"You are Jieyuan from Jiangnan. Jiangnan is a place where talented scholars are produced. I have never heard of any Jieyuan from Jiangnan who did not win the Jinshi."

Xiao Jing sighed with emotion.

Zhang Zhoudao: "It's not the same. I only have one chance. If you give me a few more exams, I will be quite confident."

"Sir, look at Ningxia West Road, is there any trouble?"

Before Xiao Jing left, he asked a casual question.

Zhang Zhoudao: "You should be careful. Let me think about it later. It stands to reason that there won't be a major war in Ningxia recently."

History mentioned the Northwest Rebellion in the 12th year of Hongzhi, and mentioned: "... next year (the 12th year of Hongzhi) the enemy will march into Yulin, Datong, and Ningxia with crowds, and the guerrilla Wang Gao will be defeated. He was promoted, and if he stayed or not, he would die. Shiping Jiangbo Chen Rui was the chief soldier, and his servant Xu Jin was the supervisor. After a long time of ineffectiveness, he was impeached. He was replaced by Baoguogong Zhu Hui and his servant Shi Lin, and the eunuch Miao Kui was in charge. military……"

Now there are Wang Yue in Piantouguan and Datong, and if Huoshai wants to get in, he has to pass Wang Yue's pass.

But in Ningxia and Yulinwei, there is obviously a lack of qualified generals to sit in command. Fortunately, the first battle in Ningxia took place after April. If Wang Yue works quickly and wins, he will be transferred back. On the third side, it is estimated that Batu Monk doesn't need to fight anymore, he can just run away with his tail between his legs.

(End of this chapter)