The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 204 Your Majesty Stop Pretending

The inner court meeting is over.

Several top ministers of the Ming Dynasty came out of the Qianqing Palace, and before they could take a few steps, Xie Qian's unstoppable mouth began to tease again.

"What you should be worried about now is not that the barbarians will not come, but what you should worry about is that you will not be able to hold back when you come, right?"

After Xie Qian finished speaking, everyone including Zhang Mao looked sideways at him as they walked.

Zhang Mao laughed and said, "What Yu Qiao meant is that we should not only worry that Zhang Bingkuan's prophecy won't come true, but also worry that after being hit by him, the frontier army of Ming Dynasty won't be able to pull up their pockets in Ningyuan? But they said that Ningyuan The terrain is special, not to mention the three guards of Duoyan, even if the little prince of Tatar led his troops there, I'm afraid it would not be so easy to cause serious problems, right?"

In this matter, Zhang Mao was basically on Zhang Zhou's side.

What he represents is Moo Hoon's attitude.

People who you civil servants don't want to accommodate, we Wu Xun welcome very much. You can say that our Wu Xun has no principles, or that we are a sycophant, but Zhang Zhou's ability is there.

Dissatisfied?Come on!

Xie Qian wanted to joke with Zhang Mao again, but it was Li Dongyang who said in a deep voice, "I don't think it's an outsider's idea to insist on using Zhu Zhijie, or your majesty's insistence."

Ma Wensheng said, "Why does Binzhi think so?"

Obviously, in the minds of the rest of the people, the emperor's use of Zhu Feng had long been recognized as being recommended by Zhang Zhou.

Only Li Dongyang saw that things were not that simple.

"If I were Zhang Bingkuan, when I calculated that Di Yi was about to violate Ningyuan territory, it would be best for the imperial court to order that the garrison generals in Ningyuan should set up pocket formations according to the arrangement. Foreign generals who are not familiar with the situation in Liaodong are in charge of everything? It seems that there is another reason for this.”

Even if Li Dongyang said so, he couldn't analyze the reason behind it.

Even Zhang Mao couldn't help but nod in agreement after hearing this.

No matter how much Zhang Zhou believed in Zhu Feng, it was impossible for him to use Zhu Feng again and again. To say that Zhu Feng could carry out Zhang Zhou's orders was more like an excuse given by the emperor. And know.

……

……

Zhu Youtang immediately went to Kunning Palace to see Empress Zhang after meeting several important ministers in Qianqing Palace.

At the same time, people were sent to call Zhang Zhou.

"His Majesty……"

Zhang Zhou was waiting not far away, but after he was ordered, he arrived in front of Jiaotai Hall.

For foreign ministers, this place already belonged to the inner garden of the imperial palace, and it was not a forbidden place for Zhang Zhou to set foot.

"Bingkuan, let's go, follow me to see the queen." Zhu Youtang said and stepped forward.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty, this... I'm afraid it's not very good?"

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "You are not an outsider, so what's the matter? Besides, I just thought about this matter, how to implement it, I'm afraid I can't explain it without you talking beside me."

Under Zhu Youtang's insistence, Zhang Zhou could only enter Kunning Palace together.

……

……

Inside Kunning Palace.

The emperor, the empress and his wife each sat on the main seat, and Zhang Zhou, a courtier, also had a seat, but it seemed a little awkward for him to sit there.

"Giggle..."

Zhu Xiurong ran out after a while, made a circle in front of Zhang Zhou, and then ran into the inner hall.

The court lady wanted to chase Zhu Xiurong, but she almost couldn't catch up with her.

Zhu Youtang said with a smile: "Go and call the prince, and the family will have a meal at noon, and treat Bingkuan."

"Yes."

After Xiao Jing took the order, he left the gate of the palace.

Queen Zhang didn't say anything, but a pair of phoenix eyes kept falling on Zhang Zhou.

Her emotions towards Zhang Zhou were also very complicated. Before it was hatred, but also with some fear... probably because of Zhang Zhou's unpredictable ability, but this time she also had some meaning of begging.

What Li Dongyang didn't think to understand, what was hidden behind the emperor was that Zhu Youtang wanted to give Zhang Yanling a chance in the battle of Liaodong, let Zhang Yanling go to Liaodong with Zhu Feng, build a career, and pacify the people in the court talk.

This is also the main purpose of Zhu Youtang calling Zhang Zhou to Kunning Palace.

"Queen, look, this matter must be planned by Bingkuan. If it can be done, Yanling will no longer just walk around the northwest, and he may have a lot of credit. By then, his little mistake before What is it? Will others look down on him?"

Zhu Youtang is full of ambition.

If it wasn't because of Zhang Zhou's plan, even Zhu Youtang would not dare to play like this.

Zhu Feng took Zhang Yanling and ran to Ningyuan to stop Duoyan Sanwei?

The big joke of slipping the world.

Empress Zhang didn't understand military affairs either, so she asked, "Your Majesty, is this really possible? Will it be dangerous?"

Zhu Youtang looked at Zhang Zhou, and after finding that Zhang Zhou had nothing to say, he smiled and said, "What danger could there be? This time Ning Yuan is preparing to defend against the enemy. It is Bing Kuan who calculated ahead of time. The local soldiers and horses coordinated to complete the ambush. As soon as Di Yi comes, all the soldiers and horses cooperate to fight out, Di Yi finds Zhong Fu and has to run away... just chase all the way..."

"Hmm." Upon hearing this, Empress Zhang seemed to be doing quite well, and her gaze softened a lot when she aimed at Zhang Zhou.

Before, she was still extremely jealous of Zhang Zhou, and had a great suspicion, but now she had to rely on Zhang Zhou to claim credit for her younger brother, so she couldn't show her face anymore, and even wanted to curry favor with Zhang Zhou, so as not to let Zhang Zhou cheat her younger brother.

Zhang Zhou was secretly worried when he heard this.

The emperor is still adrift.

It sounds like something on the battlefield, just move your mouth casually, arrange the layout, and you can reap the results, which is even easier than playing chess.

Zhang Zhou really wanted to say, if it was really that easy, then I would not take the imperial examination, and I would also like to run to Liaodong.

Pianguan can win, it depends on Wang Yue's desperate fight.

By whom this time?

By Zhang Yanling, or by Zhu Zhijie?

"Prepare for a meal, I'm hungry too, I've been wanting to have a meal since morning today, but I haven't been able to take care of it..."

……

……

Zhang Zhou stayed in Kunning Palace to have dinner with the emperor's family.

The emperor's family of four, plus Zhang Zhou.

The dinner table was not so "harmonious", mainly because there were two little ones making trouble. Maybe Zhu Xiurong had never received guests at her house. She was very curious about Zhang Zhou and always ran towards Zhang Zhou intentionally or unintentionally.

And Zhu Houzhao...

As soon as this kid arrived at the dinner table, he started messing around.

"Father, why can my second uncle go to Liaodong, but my son can't? My son also wants to go to war!"

Before Zhu Houzhao picked up the chopsticks, the first question asked Zhu Youtang to pick up the bowl and almost missed it.

Zhang Zhou thought to himself that father and son cannot be made without enmity, which is indeed true.

Stop talking, go back and beat Zhang Jun up.

It doesn't matter why, just beat him up, and think of a reason after beating him up.

Queen Zhang said: "Prince, the war is not a joke. How old are you?"

"You can't let him go no matter how old you are!" Zhu Youtang became angry, full of anger, "As an emperor, if you personally take risks, it will only make Guozuo uneasy. Isn't the lesson from the past not enough?"

Zhu Houzhao insisted on his own opinion: "Didn't it also say that 'the emperor guards the gate of the country, and the king dies in the country'?"

"Who told you?" Zhu Youtang frowned.

"he!"

Zhu Houzhao pointed at Zhang Zhou.

"Ahem..." Zhu Youtang choked on his saliva.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Prince, this is the content of the "Book of Rites" when the king died in Sheji. As for the emperor guarding the gate, it is the result of learning from history. He only needs to sit in the capital. When did he say he would go to the Nine Borders to defend himself against the enemy?"

"You...you..." Zhu Houzhao stared at Zhang Zhou.

You traitor, you are the one who said this, and now you actually say that I misunderstood?

"Have you heard what Zhang Qing's family said? When Emperor Taizong moved the capital, he really intended to use the capital as the gate of the country. As for the death of the king, it was the teaching of the sages. You have to misinterpret that this is to let the emperor lead the country. If soldiers go to the frontier, disasters will only happen. And you must not make this statement behind the Empress Dowager, otherwise... I will not spare you!"

Although half a century has passed since the civil fort.

But the people at that time were not dead yet, just like the Queen Mother Zhou, she was only 19 years old when the Tumubao incident happened, and her son Zhu Jianshen was only two years old at the time.

If the Empress Dowager Zhou knew that the current prince likes to use the theory of "the emperor guards the gate of the country, and the king dies in the country" to drive the conquest, no matter how much she loves her great-grandson, she would give the poor child a good lesson and say that the emperor would not discipline his son.

"Also, about using your second uncle to go to Liaodong, you must not tell outsiders, even people from the Eastern Palace, otherwise, see how I will teach you a lesson! Have a meal!"

……

……

Zhu Houzhao was very unwilling to be taught a lesson by his father.

After lunch, he was ordered by the emperor to go back and study hard, and said that he would add a few more classes in the afternoon.

Zhu Houzhao knew that it was his father punishing him for saying something wrong at the dinner table, so he left angrily.

Later, Empress Zhang wanted to take a nap, so Zhu Youtang took Zhang Zhou to the direction of Qianqing Palace, and Zhu Youtang also had a little emotion on the way: "Bingkuan, I said that I will use Yanling to go to Liaodong, which is a bit embarrassing for you. .”

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "It's okay."

But I was thinking in my heart, you are not embarrassing, you are simply fooling around.

Even if Zhu Feng was used, Zhang Yanling was actually added.

Sure enough, you have a way of trusting the people around you.

"I have thought about choosing one of the nobles to cooperate with the dispatch of troops, and to serve as the deputy commander-in-chief for Zhijie, who can stand up at critical times. Who do you think is suitable?" Zhu Youtang asked.

Zhang Zhou said: "You think His Majesty has already chosen someone?"

"Hey! I still can't hide it from you. In fact, what I want is to let Uncle Ping Jiang go. He was transferred back to the capital earlier, and he has suffered a lot of infamy. Now he has difficulty gaining a foothold in the governor's mansion. Recently, he has been complaining that he is sick. It’s not easy for me to arrange errands for him. If he can go to Liaodong and make a contribution, he can probably save his reputation and make his contribution a crime.”

Zhu Youtang punished Chen Rui before, more because of Wang Yue's instigation.

When Zhu Youtang calmed down, he felt that he might be a little harsh on Chen Rui.

But Zhang Zhou didn't think so.

You, Chen Liangjiu, were very slippery when you ran away, why didn't you think about face at that time?Oh, when Wang Weining won the battle, he said he was mocking you!You have nothing wrong with yourself, so Wang Weining will target you?

"By the way, Bingkuan, what do you think is the chance of Duoyan Sanwei offending Ningyuan again?" Zhu Youtang asked seriously.

Zhang Zhou said: "Sixty to seventy percent."

Zhang Zhou has a basis for saying this. "Records of Emperor Xiaozong" records that after Duoyan Sanwei committed Kaiyuan in early March, he committed another crime in mid-March.

First, "the captives entered Kaiyuan and other places in Liaodong, killed and plundered people and animals, and ordered the patrol officers to ask questions from the censor to prepare the garrison and other officials. thief".

At first there was no punishment, let him continue to defend and kill the enemy.

But then...

"(March) Jiazi, captives entered the distant territory of Liaodong and Ning, killed people and livestock, ordered the inspector to command Qian Ying and other town inspectors, and the eunuch Ren Liang and others to hear about the prison equipment."

After Duoyan Sanwei's two offenses ended.

The imperial court also issued a decree: "...Ordered to guard Kaiyuan and the right-hand generals to command the affairs of Jiao Yuan and return to Beijing to stay idle. It is true to investigate the illegality of Ren Liang, the guarding eunuch."

That is to say, the imperial court punished Duoyan Sanwei for the two invasions in March.

The situation in Ningyuan is more serious. The commander of Ningyuan, Qian Ying, was directly imprisoned for interrogation. However, because of the follow-up pursuit and meritorious service in Kaiyuan, the commander Wang Zong and the supervisor Huang Yan were not arrested and interrogated. Jiao Yuan was dismissed from his post and lived idle.

Ren Liang, a guarding eunuch with a background in the court, played a very special role in it. He himself was guilty, but when the crime was finally investigated, he became a judge.

Even eunuchs with no background in court are not easy to go out and mess around.

Now Zhang Zhou already knew from Xiao Jing that Ren Liang was a member of the eunuch Wei Bin, the supervisor of ceremonies and Bingbi, and that Chen Kuan also had many contacts with him.

In addition to the fact that Li Gao, the general of Yizhou, and Zhang Yuxu, the censor of Youqian, reported their military exploits, Zhang Zhou knew that Liaodong was actually the territory of Wei Bin and Chen Kuan, and many people were promoted by their relationship. , This also explains why Wei Bin showed some resistance to him when he suggested that Liaodong might have fake credit.

The reason is that this is tantamount to touching Wei Bin's vital interests.

"Sixty to seventy percent, that's okay." Zhu Youtang smiled, "If you say sixty to seventy percent, I'll take it as eighty to ninety percent."

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Why doesn't Your Majesty take ten percent?"

The eunuchs who followed him held their breaths and concentrated.

All over the court, only Zhang Zhou dared to talk to the emperor like that.

Zhu Youtang smiled and analyzed: "I also remember what you said. God's will is unpredictable, but people's hearts are unpredictable. Who knows what Di Yi is thinking in his heart? If they are aware of the preparations for the Liaodong War, they probably won't It's coming, that's why I have to dispatch troops from the side, just to keep Di Yi from investigating..."

"Ah."

Zhang Zhou nodded in agreement while thinking.

Your Majesty, stop pretending.

Don't make excuses for the fact that you want to create opportunities for Zhang Yanling, maybe in your opinion, the arrogance of fighting against Duoyan Sanwei seems to be less important than doing meritorious service to Zhang Yanling, right?
If Duoyan Sanwei really had such a big threat in Liaodong, it wouldn't be that Liaodong's defense has been lax for so many years.

"Bingkuan, I'm going to find someone to give Ping Jiangbo a hint and ask him to come and beg you." Zhu Youtang said.

"I'm afraid it's inappropriate for him to beg a tribute like a minister." Zhang Zhou naturally wanted to decline.

Zhu Youtang said: "I also want to give each other a step down. I was so strict with him before. If no one pleaded for him, how could I let him continue to lead the army in Liaodong? He wants to compliment you, but you don't have to." Be polite to him, you can accept whatever he gives you, you don’t have to give it to me, it’s just that he atones for your previous sins.”

Zhang Zhou thought to himself that he was asking for bribes again.

Are there so many good things now?
But disrespectful.

(End of this chapter)