The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 171 Finding the Wrong Target

With Liu Jian's affirmation, Zhu Youtang couldn't help nodding with satisfaction.

It seems that Zhu Youtang is not fully sure that Zhang Zhou won the Jinshi examination, which is tantamount to leaving a back door for Zhang Zhou.

"I have one more thing, which is about Zhang Zhou. I want to record the credit for this mighty sky gunpowder. If he has any meritorious deeds for the court in the future, I will count them together. What are the opinions of the Qing family? ?”

Zhu Youtang took every step of the way.

After hearing this proposal, Zhang Mao felt that there was no problem at all.

Anyway, he has already started to bind with Zhang Zhou, and Zhang Mao doesn't think that Zhang Zhou is the kind of martial arts leader who will not threaten the status of the British government.

When the three civil servants heard this, they felt as if they were being driven into a nail.

Why does it sound so uncomfortable?There are credits, first remember?Wasn't it considered a reward for meritorious service if he was given a tribute to serve as an official?
Xie Qian said: "Your Majesty, then this Zhang Gongsheng, will he become an official as a scholar in the future, or will he join the army to serve the court?"

While wanting to make Zhang Zhou an official, at the same time crediting him with martial arts... Your Majesty, are we going too far?
Zhu Youtang said: "Is there such a clear distinction between civil servants and military honors in the imperial court? Could it be that if he is a civil servant, he can't have military exploits? I don't want to reward him rashly, but just write it down for him first, even if that's not okay? "

Xie Qian wanted to say something else, but since Liu Jian and Ma Wensheng didn't say anything, he stopped mentioning it.

This kind of thing...

When the emperor really wants to award Zhang Zhou, it's not too late to fight.

Everyone in the court is not familiar with Zhang Zhou now.

Xie Qian was also thinking that there was only one chance to meet this kid, and he was fooled by his sloppy pretentious tricks. Now it seems that the first thing he prophesied about the Northwest War turned out as he expected.

But the second thing...about Peng Quan...would it be as he said?

Doesn't that mean that the second child of the Zhang family will be unlucky?

"Since the Qing family have no objections, let's leave this matter as it is." Zhu Youtang said, "Let the Ministry of War record his meritorious deeds later, and there is no need to announce it to the world."

Ma Wensheng arched his hands: "Yes."

……

……

The inner court meeting is here.

Liu Jian and Ma Wensheng each gave the emperor some face.

Now they seem to be cheering up, and they will have a good fight with the emperor in the upcoming matter of Wang Yue and Zhu Feng bestowing nobles.

But the emperor seemed to have forgotten about it, nodded and said: "I'm talking about this with several Qing families today, go and call Cheng Guogong in, and I will tell him a few words about the use of troops in the Northwest."

Several ministers were very curious.

This is... the end?
Shouldn't we focus on the title of Wang Yue and Zhu Feng?

Xie Qian reminded: "Your Majesty, is there... still something missing?"

Zhu Youtang was still whispering something to Dai Yi, but when he heard the words, he turned to look at Xie Qian and said, "Xie Ge always talks about Wang Weining and Zhu Zhijie? That will be discussed in the hall later."

Now a few people seem to understand.

The emperor "deceived" Wang Yue and Zhu Feng to come to the inner court in the name of negotiating to add officials and ranks to the inner court. In the end, he only talked about letting Zhang Zhou become an official, remembering meritorious service, and Cheng Guogong Zhu Fu going to the northwest.

They seem to want to understand now.

For Wang Yue and Zhu Feng, the emperor really doesn't care whether they get a title or not, what kind of title they get!
The titles of the Ming Dynasty are so worthless, do you have to reward them all one by one?

What the emperor cares most about is his favorite Zhang Bingkuan!

Careless.

I thought that a little tolerance on Zhang Zhou's issue would make the emperor relax on the issue of Wang Yue and Zhu Feng, but the emperor didn't want to talk about Wang Yue and Zhu Feng at all.

We have the same goal for the outside world, but we didn't find the right goal! ?

"My dear family, I will have someone send you out of the palace. There is no need to publicize today's discussion. Please." Zhu Youtang directly issued an order to expel the guests.

……

……

The four of them walked out from Qianqing Palace, and the only one who guided them was an internal official who was studying in the Supervisor of Rituals. He was young, and the four of them didn't know each other.

"What do you think?"

On the way out of the palace, Xie Qian asked Ma Wensheng directly beside him.

Xie Qian wanted to discuss something with Liu Jian. He had a lot of time after he returned to the cabinet to be on duty, and only during this time could he communicate with Ma Wensheng more.

Ma Wensheng said, "Yu Qiao, tell me."

Xie Qian smiled, he was talkative and straightforward, as if he was joking: "Your Majesty's emphasis is on Zhang Gongsheng, not Wang Weining. Is that what you mean?"

Ma Wensheng nodded slightly, as if agreeing with this statement.

"Wang Weining will have a title in the future, so he won't communicate with me too much, but after Zhang Gongsheng entered the court, he waited with me as a colleague. He was under me, but his opinions could be heard directly from the heavens, which is a bit like the court. In addition, it means setting up a counselor."

Xie Qian sighed.

This is also to remind Ma Wensheng that Zhang Zhou's influence on the court will be much greater than that of Wang Weining.

Otherwise, why is Wang Weining flattering Zhang Zhou, not Zhang Zhou flattering Wang Weining?
Ma Wensheng looked at Liu Jian first, and saw that Liu Jian was walking with his head sullen, only listening and not wanting to express his opinion, so he said: "In the past dynasties, it is difficult to eradicate close officials. In fact, there is no need to strictly guard against it. Blocking is worse than sparse."

Xie Qian said with a smile: "Then you come to the Mabu Hall?"

He almost said it, Nima Negative Tu put it lightly.

Feelings, you are the Minister of the Ministry of War, you are in control, you are not the emperor's adviser, are you?
But us cabinet members, it sounds nice to be called, such as the middle hall, the auxiliary minister, and the hidden prime minister, but can we compare with the previous prime ministers?We are the emperor's advisors!

Zhang Zhou's status as the emperor's close ministers and staff will most directly affect our cabinet.

You, Minister of the Ministry of War, can't stand and talk without back pain, can you?

Liu Jian could see that Xie Qian was raising an argument, so he said: "Zhang Bingkuan has not yet formally entered the court, so it is too early to talk about his influence on court affairs. Let's talk about it after the results of this year's spring... as before. I didn't ask about Jianchangbo and Jianchangwei commander Peng Quan."

Xie Qian said with a smile: "Peng Quan will be taken to Beijing in a few days, and I guess he will also go to prison to accompany Zhang's relatives."

was talking.

Two people approached from the opposite side, the eunuch leading the way in front, and Duke Cheng Zhu Fu following behind.

The two parties did not meet formally, but just greeted each other from a distance.

Xie Qiandao: "The first son joined the army, and the second father went to battle. Cheng Guogong's lineage is going to go to battle, father and son soldiers, shrouded in horse leather!"

Zhang Mao and Ma Wensheng looked at Xie Qian at the same time.

That look seemed to say, you thank Yu Qiao for talking so much.

……

……

Inside Qingning Palace.

Zhu Youtang took Zhang Zhou to greet the Empress Dowager Zhou, but Zhu Youtang didn't let Zhang Zhou come alone because he was afraid that the Empress Dowager Zhou would mention the concubine to Zhang Zhou alone.

"Very good, after coming out of the Gongyuan, I am much more energetic. It seems that high school is in sight."

Empress Dowager Zhou looked at Zhang Zhou with a smile.

Zhang Zhou hurriedly said a few words of humility: "I don't dare to ask for extravagant things about high school."

Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "Grandmother, even if Bing Kuan is not selected as a Jinshi, I have discussed with the ministers to let him enter the Imperial Academy to be a reviewer, so that he has the opportunity to serve the court."

"Hanlin review? Very good." The Empress Dowager Zhou also supported this.

But it's a job for officials.

Since the Chenghua period, it has become the prerogative of the emperor to entrust officials. It is considered polite to give an official to anyone and to inform the minister.

"But if you can enter the court as a Jinshi, you can still quell other people's discussions." The Empress Dowager Zhou reminded, "This should also be your wish, the emperor, right?"

"Yes."

Zhu Youtang nodded.

Give a Hanlin review, Zhang Zhou is always just a juren, and if he wants to be promoted in the future, it will inevitably involve wrangling and other things, and he cannot be promoted again after reaching a certain level.

Even if it is for the Chuanfengguan, there will be a problem of high starting point but low expectations.

Expecting to become a Hanlin bachelor?Or as a cabinet minister?There are always limitations to raising people to become officials.

"But Grandmother, I think it would be a pity to make Bingkuan wait another three years if he fails the test this time." Zhu Youtang also made it very clear.

This is just a stopgap measure.

The Empress Dowager Zhou nodded with a smile, and said again: "Emperor, I heard that many people in the honorary family have gotten very close to Bingkuan recently. Previously, the Ai family also wanted the Zhou family to walk with him more, but I heard that the Ai family The two nephews just went there for a while and didn't go there again, is that right?"

Zhu Youtang looked at Zhang Zhou, who obviously didn't know about it.

Zhang Zhou said: "Yes, the Empress Dowager."

"It's too outrageous. Using troops in the northwest, they can miss such a good training opportunity." The Queen Mother Zhou heard that Zhu Feng was incompetent, and she followed Wang Yue to the northwest, and she was able to make a name for herself. .

Is it the same for a relative to be awarded a title, and to be awarded a title by Wu Xun?

Empress Dowager Zhou said: "The Ai family is getting old, I just hope the emperor can remember the Zhou family."

"Yes."

Zhu Youtang agreed with his lips, but he didn't think so in his heart.

Regarding the use of foreign relatives, the emperor was still very cautious, although Zhu Feng was not in tune, but he was a child of Cheng Guogong's family after all, and it was Wu Xun's child who went to battle to kill the enemy and desperately.

"Okay, Bingkuan, if you have time, go see Uncle Changning. I won't say much about the rest. Ai's family is going to worship the Buddha!"

Although the Queen Mother Zhou didn't say it clearly.

But Zhang Zhou could also hear that, regarding the matter of finding a woman for the emperor, the Empress Dowager Zhou should have hinted at her younger brother Zhou Yu.

Since you can't say it in front of the emperor, you have to go outside the palace and talk to Zhou Yu.

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, this old lady... is very deceitful!
……

……

On the morning of the second day after Zhang Zhou entered the palace, he still talked with the emperor for a long time, and he was finally able to leave the palace around noon.

Zhang Zhou didn't even bother to think about gymnastics, beautiful wives and concubines, wives and children on the kang.

He has an idea now.

Go home to sleep.

But going out of the palace was not about walking alone, but also bringing Zhu Fu with him. The emperor meant that Zhang Zhou should "teach Zhu Fu face-to-face" on the way out of the palace. Obviously, the emperor had no confidence in Zhu Fu.

"Mr. Zhang, Your Majesty said earlier that I want you to give me more advice. Look..."

Zhu Fu was very respectful to Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou suddenly felt that this old man seemed to be more humble than his son.

He and Zhu Feng can still be called friends and brothers, chatting and spanking, but when Zhu Fu saw him, it was a subordinate meeting a superior, and the compliment from the bottom of his heart was not fake.

Zhang Zhou forced a smile and said, "I don't have anything to tell you. I don't understand marching and fighting."

Zhu Fu was very surprised. He didn't have much contact with Zhang Zhou, so he went in without knowing.

Xiao Jing who was next to him smiled and said: "Mr. Cheng, you don't understand Mr. Zhang's personality. He is like this. He can hold millions of soldiers in his chest, but he insists that he can't do it. The same is true in front of His Majesty."

"what?"

Zhu Fu was taken aback.

Can it still be so?
In front of the emperor, others always try to pretend to be awesome, but this one likes to pretend to be a bear?

But thinking about it again, people have the capital to pretend to be bears.

"Mr. Zhang, just a few words you say casually can affect the will of heaven and the government. I just want your advice. If you say a few words casually, you may benefit for the rest of your life!" Zhu Fu continued in a flattering tone.

Zhang Zhou glanced at the old boy.

Thinking that Zhu Fu in history had to kneel when he saw Jiang Bin and other close friends, he also understood that it is difficult for Cheng Guogong's mansion to produce someone with too much backbone.

Zhang Zhou was also thinking.

If I'm a sycophant, what are those people in the Zhengde period?
"Let's keep it up," Zhang Zhou said.

"Huh?" Zhu Fu was puzzled, "You mean..."

Zhang Zhouzhou's face was indifferent: "Whether it is Cheng Guogong's mansion or the situation in the Northwest, isn't it a situation of success at present? No fault is a merit, what else can we do?"

"Uh... yes, yes." After all, Zhu Fu is not a cultural person, so he still needs to think a little bit about it, and think about whether it is a metaphor behind it.

Xiao Jing explained with a smile: "Mr. Zhang is reminding you that this is an errand that can be done casually in the city as long as you don't rush into it. It doesn't matter who you go. It's because His Majesty and Mr. Zhang treat you as dukes." You only have this opportunity because of the appreciation from the government. You must be grateful and live up to the expectations of your Majesty and Mr. Zhang."

It was only then that Zhu Fu seemed to have suddenly realized: "Your Majesty's kindness to me, Cheng Guogong, is difficult for me to repay in my life. Mr. Zhang's advice to my son and me is also a rebirth of kindness."

Zhang Zhou frowned again.

He thought about it, and Zhu Feng was more honest. This father is too hypocritical, maybe Zhu Feng has not been polished by the officialdom, and still has a willful side.

It's just because Zhu Fu's edges and corners have been smoothed out, and he is familiar with the way of flattery in the officialdom.

All the way to the gate of the palace.

Zhu Fu was going to the Dudu Mansion soon, while Zhang Zhou was going home in a carriage from Dongchang.

"Eunuch Xiao, please leave?" Zhang Zhougong cupped his hands.

Xiao Jing first smiled at Zhu Fu, "Duke Cheng, please."

Zhu Fu originally wanted to walk with Zhang Zhou for a while, and then listen to his teachings, but at this time he had no choice but to get in his own carriage.

Wait for him to go.

Xiao Jingcai reminded Zhang Zhou: "There is...a bad thing, it's about Uncle Jianchang. Last night, the empress invited our family over and asked our family to help spread the word... If this is true, where did it happen? Get in touch with Uncle Jianchang and see if you can make peace with..."

Zhang Zhou laughed and said, "Isn't everything clear? If there is an earthquake, His Majesty will send Uncle Jianchang to join the army in the northwest?"

Xiao Jing laughed and said: "Although the case has been finalized, but the matter will not go to the Qing Palace, no one dares to say anything about it in advance. The Empress actually has other things, in fact, I hope...you can take more care, Don't...have any misunderstandings. The empress also specially ordered Shou Ninghou to send a gift of condolences when she turns back, as long as you know it well."

(End of this chapter)