The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 242 Brave and good at fighting, long-sleeved and good at dancing

Morning the next day.

Both Zhu Feng and Zhang Zhou were in the court that day, and Wu Xun seemed to hold his head high because of Zhu Feng's return to Beijing. With Zhu Feng's return, the "research hall" should be formally implemented.

"...I have ordered several local generals to come to the capital. They have not yet arrived, but the generals and ministers in the capital can be ordered at any time. Within these two days, let Zhang Qing's family and Zhu Qing's family, Go to the school and do a preliminary demonstration. According to my previous decision, the learning period for each class is three months. If you fail to learn, you will not be a Shenji battalion officer..."

Zhu Youtang's plan seems to have been perfected.

Zhang Zhou's study here does not mean that you can get a "graduation certificate" after you finish your studies, but that you have to pass the school examination.

After graduation, the official position will not be promoted. Otherwise, the civil servants will say that Zhang Zhou has gained real power and seeks personal gain. As the general of the Shenji Battalion, he will be responsible for this aspect in the future.

In Daming, the Shenji Battalion was a special army. Even without the support of Zhang Zhou's new firearms, anyone who wanted to serve in the Shenji Battalion could go there.

Now that there are new weapons, whoever leads the Shenji Battalion will almost become the emperor's arm in the future, no matter whether it is a minister with a title or those generals, why don't you take the lead?
Li Dongyang came out and said, "Your Majesty, if you judge success based on learning, who will set the standard? If you use this to determine who's position in the army, I'm afraid there will be suspicion of cronyism."

It's just a matter of saying, Your Majesty, you are conniving Zhang Zhou to cultivate a private party.

Zhu Youtang said: "Mr. Li Ge, dare to ask, if you can't achieve anything in your studies, what are you doing with your studies? There shouldn't be a standard for your success? Or do you think you should return to your original job after you have completed your studies?" But you can’t even touch a firearm, shouldn’t you put what you’ve learned into practice?”

In fact, the emperor still has a good reason.

Let those people learn how to use firearms, and after learning, they will be sent back to their original positions. They may not even be able to touch firearms, so why should they learn?
Learn something useless, go back and put your graduation certificate on the shelf?

Li Dongyang continued: "Maybe the generals in the Shenji Battalion can now study the methods of artillery warfare, and the difficult things may be solved."

Civil officials also have ideas.

Your Majesty, you want to send some special people to study with Zhang Zhou, and let them lead the Shenji camp after they have learned it. This is a private transfer, and it is easy for Zhang Zhou to cultivate his pro-party.

Then it's better for us to study with the original admirals and generals of the Shenji Battalion, so that we have no objections.

Zhu Youtang said coldly: "I have already made a final decision, who will learn and who will not, it is not up to Zhang Qing's family to decide on their own, but I will designate the candidates. Could it be that all the Qing family have opinions on this?"

Li Dongyang looked helpless, and after looking at Zhang Zhou, he could only retreat helplessly.

……

……

Although Zhang Zhou was in the court class, he did not speak that day.

On the contrary, Zhu Feng also came out to talk about the situation of the Liaodong War, but he didn't make a long speech. He just explained that now that the three guards of Duoyan have retreated, there is still the danger of recidivism.

Hearing Li Dongyang's remonstrance, Zhang Zhou suddenly felt that he was actually a civil servant, and it was easy to think from the perspective of a civil servant, and he even felt that Li Dongyang's proposal itself was correct.

The emperor opened a military school to study artillery, but he had to dispatch people to study according to his own preferences, and after finishing the studies, he used these people in confidential military camps and positions. Can this still be said that the Yanwu Academy is just a marginal yamen?I'm afraid that all the ministers and generals in the court want to come in to get the emperor's attention.

However, the selection criteria are still not transparent.

It means that whoever the emperor asks to come will let him come.

But in fact, except for the first batch of personnel, who were hand-picked by the emperor himself, the rest were recommended by the Dudu Mansion or selected by Zhang Zhoulai.

In this way, it is actually tantamount to forming a system to compete with civil officials, which is what civil officials are nervous about.

Zhang Zhou thought to himself.

Old Li, you have deep plans, but the question is, can you not see that the emperor just wants to be nepotism?
You civil servants have suppressed the power of the emperor. Now the emperor wants to rely on the martial arts hall to turn himself around. It is a process of ebb and flow, and it is useless for you to fight.

Besides, whoever learns the use of new artillery, firecrackers and other firearms first is equivalent to mastering the most advanced weapons and tactics of this era. Could it be possible that the emperor will allow those who are not close to him to have this kind of strength?Aren't you afraid that these people will rebel?
The emperor engaged in nepotism in the matter of the Martial Arts Hall in order to consolidate his rule. What are you objecting to?
……

……

The meeting ended.

Everything is going in the intended direction.

Civil officials have almost no way to deal with the Yanwutang, or the martial arts system at present.

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

Zhang Zhou and Zhu Feng stood under His Royal Highness, while Zhu Youtang enthusiastically walked down from behind the desk to have close contact with Zhang Zhou and Zhu Feng.

"Zhijie, I haven't seen you for a long time. I saw that you went to fight two battles. You are still different from before. You are more majestic and more tenacious!"

Zhu Youtang pinched Zhu Feng's shoulder with his hands, as if to test his arm strength.

Zhu Feng stretched his body as much as possible to make himself look more stalwart.

But actually...

Zhang Zhouxin said, Your Majesty, do you believe this?This guy... is tall but not tall, muscular but not muscular, is there anything wrong with saying he is a little white rabbit, does he have a penny relationship with "majestic and heroic"?

"After you come back, I will help Bingkuan to do things well. I won't send you out anytime soon. You are now the Marquis of Anbian. After Naifu returns to Beijing, he will also let him enter the martial arts hall!"

"what?"

Although Zhu Feng was enduring it, he couldn't help but exclaimed when he heard the news.

"Hehe!" Zhu Youtang disapproved, and laughed, "Why, can't my son explain the use of artillery to his father? You know how to use it better than him. Sometimes, I even think that you are braver than him."

Zhu Feng looked at Zhang Zhou with an aggrieved face, as if all his "bravery" was bestowed by Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Your Majesty, you can't say that. Although Zhijie has made great contributions, it is more because a newborn calf is not afraid of tigers. How can he compare with Cheng Guogong?"

"Yeah. Haha."

Zhu Youtang was laughing.

In front of other people's sons, it is better to save face for Lao Tzu. After all, it is a bit against the rules of Daming's filial piety and etiquette to let a father learn from his son.

Zhu Youtang said again: "Zhijie, you have been promoted to Marquis now, and you will start a mansion by yourself in the future. I heard that you and your brother have no heirs yet, but you have to work hard."

"Thank you... Your Majesty for your concern."

Zhu Feng looked aggrieved again.

Just like a poor little one.

Zhang Zhou also hinted at Zhu Youtang with his eyes, meaning that we can't leave any pot unopened, and this guy reconciled with his wife yesterday, and it's my fault that I didn't mention it to Your Majesty.

"There will be orders and things in the future, and you will also have Bingkuan. It's time to give your wife a body of orders."

Although Zhang Zhou is only an imperial servant now, he has never passed the Jingcha, and the exam has been less than three years, but now he still has the title of first-rank Dudu Mansion Dudu Tongzhi. If it is a gift from the emperor, then Jiang Pingyu will have to To be a "Mrs. First Grade", of course, this is only the most ideal situation. In fact, Ming Dynasty's imperial order system is much more complicated, mainly depending on the official position and rank examination.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Your Majesty, I'm not in a hurry here. It's Zhijie, he just reconciled with his wife yesterday."

"Why is this?"

Zhu Youtang was very surprised.

Zhu Feng wanted to hide at first, but Zhang Zhou directly pierced him. He felt a little ashamed in front of the emperor.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Zhijie, tell me the reason."

"This... back to Your Majesty, it's... it's like this..."

Originally, Zhu Feng didn't have many face-to-face interviews with the Holy Spirit, and he didn't have as good a mental quality as Zhang Zhou, so he was sweating profusely at this moment.

He faltered and said: "There are some private matters between my minister... and my wife... that cannot be resolved..."

Zhu Youtang shook his head and said: "Could it be that your wife has something... Forget it, your elders do too, so they didn't pay much attention to this kind of thing? You are not in the capital..."

At first, Zhu Youtang also thought that there might be someone outside Ning Tong, but he didn't say much, because there are certain circumstances... the emperor also knows about it.

Is Zhu Feng a man?

Zhang Zhoudao: "Every family has scriptures that are difficult to recite."

"correct."

Zhu Youtang responded with emotion.

Originally, they were still talking about Zhu Feng's personal relationship problems, but suddenly it seemed that a common problem of men was involved, that is, the problem of the stability of the inner house, and then Zhu Youtang and Zhu Feng simultaneously turned their attention to Zhang Zhou.

Not for anything else.

The reason is that among the three people present, only Zhang Zhou seems to be able to keep his backyard in order, and it can be said that each of them is responsible for his duties.

And Zhu Youtang, even if he is the emperor, has to worry about the affairs of the imperial palace.

"Zhijie, I will tell you later that you can ask Bingkuan more if you don't understand. The prince also mentioned you to me before, and talked about your experience as a guard in the Eastern Palace before Yu Bingkuan came to Beijing. He also misses you very much, go and see him. I will let Bingkuan go there later."

What Zhu Youtang means is that you, Zhu Feng, have completed your task, and you can go to see the crown prince first.

"The minister leads the order."

Zhu Feng took the order, but he was still full of doubts, why should I go to see the prince when I enter the palace?

That bear boy...

Gee.

Everyone is sad.

……

……

"Zhijie is still too reserved to let go." Zhu Youtang greeted Zhang Zhou to go up to Dan Bi, meaning that he had something to show Zhang Zhou.

He then asked casually: "Do you know why I asked him to see the prince?"

Zhu Youtang said: "This shows His Majesty's trust in him."

"Hehe...that's too clichéd, please explain in detail." Zhu Youtang smiled, as if he was testing Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou also smiled, and there was nothing to avoid: "Didn't Your Majesty appreciate him? Now that he is getting closer to the crown prince, it is also telling him that no matter now or in the future, he will be valued and qualified to be a member of the Ming Dynasty." Make a difference."

Zhu Youtang laughed and said, "How else can you say that you are not cautious?"

"The minister has actually avoided talking about it on purpose."

Zhang Zhou didn't take it seriously.

If I say it harshly, it means that after your majesty is about to die, this kid Zhu Feng will have a chance to show off his strengths.

Otherwise, why do you want to see the emperor first and then the prince?

"You all step back first." Zhu Youtang suddenly said to Dai Yi and the others.

Dai Yi and the others looked at this posture, there is a big secret to be discussed between the monarch and his ministers, and even our supervisor of ceremonies can't be present?
They still took orders to retreat.

After everyone left, Zhu Youtang unfolded the things on the table, but there was nothing special about it, it was just a military map that Zhang Zhou had drawn before.

"Bingkuan, guess again, why did I let you watch this?" Zhu Youtang pretended to be mysterious.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty showed this to the ministers, probably because he wanted to make a fuss about it and make a difference. Could it be that His Majesty wants to send troops to the grassland?"

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "Do you think I'm that reckless?"

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, in the eyes of the ministers, you are just a melon, and you were also Xiaozong in history, and the evaluation of your style also said that you are good at conservative and not aggressive.

But I'm sorry, I'm a time traveler, what you did is no secret to me.

In the history, Zhu Youtang did plan to conquest by the royal driver. It was in the 15th year of Hongzhi, when Dayan Khan Batu Mengke rose and the Mongolian right wing was struggling to resist. At that time, Zhu Youtang adopted the eunuch Miao Kui Opinions, ready to drive personal conquest.

When he inquired, it was the opinion of Liu Daxia, Shangshu of the Ministry of War: "...asked: 'Taizong frequently goes out of the fortress, why not now? A small violation of restraint, raising hundreds of thousands of people to appoint the desert, but it’s not easy to say. The best policy today is to keep your ears open.’ The capital censor Shi Daishan also praised the decision from the side, and the emperor suddenly said: ‘Wei Qing Cao, I made a few mistakes.’ Therefore, the teacher did not come out."

Liu Daxia said it politely at the time.

It is said that your majesty is not inferior to Taizong, that is, Zhu Di, but your majesty is not inferior to soldiers and horses.

I'm embarrassed to say, Your Majesty, have you forgotten the disaster of the Tumu Fortress?
Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Your Majesty, what do you say? Maybe it is because of your majesty's heart to flatten the grasslands that you allow your ministers to plan the frontier affairs. Since the Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, whoever wants to completely solve the northern trouble?"

"Yes." Zhu Youtang said with emotion, "As a king, how can you allow the Mongols to sleep peacefully? If they are wiped out in one fell swoop, the waste on the border of the Ming Dynasty will be reduced by more than half!"

Hearing this, Zhang Zhou thought to himself, the purpose of the emperor's expedition to the grassland was just to save money?
Maybe it's just part of the reason.

It's really frugal, but I never thought about how much it would cost to calm down the grassland?Forget the allusion of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty's militarism?
Zhang Zhoudao: "If you want to flatten the grassland, it will definitely take a long time to prepare. You need to cultivate a lot of generals, cast more artillery, and need more advanced firearms. At that time, when others mention grassland people, they will no longer be brave. Good at fighting, but good at dancing with long sleeves!"

"Oh?"

Zhu Youtang was stunned, and after thinking about it, he couldn't help laughing, "Okay, okay. What I need is a foreigner who can sing and dance well. Bingkuan, you know my heart well."

Zhang Zhou shook his head and said, "It's not a good thing to speculate on the holy will."

"Haha." Zhu Youtang was very happy, especially Zhang Zhou showed him a very bright future, "Bingkuan, this time I have selected the practitioners of the martial arts hall, apart from Baoguogong and Chengguogong. Besides, the rest of the marquis, uncles, generals, etc., are all people who I think can help the Great Ming to level the grassland."

Zhang Zhou asked: "In His Majesty's opinion, Duke Bao and Duke Cheng are not good enough?"

Zhu Youtang nodded seriously: "It's really not possible."

Hey.

Zhang Zhou wants to say, if I speak directly, Your Majesty has learned it too.

"It's not that I look down on them, it's because these dukes have long since lost their aggressiveness. In the past few years, they have not made any meritorious service in frontier wars. Instead, they have been repeatedly impeached by officials. I want It is young people, especially those like Zhijie, I even let Marquis Shou Ning go to study, but you don’t have to give him high expectations, I just want to deal with the empress.”

Again very direct.

Zhang Heling also wants to study, but he is an "audit student".

"Who among them can be of great use, or who do you think can be entrusted with important tasks, you can just tell me." Zhu Youtang said.

Zhang Zhou cupped his hands and said: "Since your majesty said so, I really have something to ask. I think there are two people who can be used."

"Speak." Zhu Youtang said.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Previously Wang Qiong, a doctor of the household department, went to Liaodong as a food supervisor. He made a lot of contributions in the First World War in Liaodong, and he was also very familiar with artillery matters. I ask you to let him also come to the Yanwu Hall. Talking about the official, assisting the minister to teach. After all, usually...the minister is very busy and cannot always be there."

In fact, what Zhang Zhou wanted was to be the principal himself, so why should he be a lecturer?
As for the specific lectures, do you count on Zhu Feng?
It's better to find someone who has prestige and can fight in the future.

But if it is a minister who is too upright, it is inappropriate, like Yang Yiqing, no matter how powerful he is, would he dare to use it?

Look at Wang Qiong...that's not ordinary.

The biggest feature of Wang Qiong is actually very similar to Wang Yue, that is... good at socializing.

To put it bluntly, he knows how to judge the situation, but to put it bluntly, he is a flattering villain.

Historically, Wang Qiong's deeds during the Zhengde period were unbearable. Although he promoted Wang Shouren, he was able to use people well, and he made great contributions to quelling the chaos in the country or the Northwest, but it was because he deliberately flattered him and faced it directly. To curry favor with the emperor instead of discussing important affairs of the court with civil servants...

After he became a hostile force with Yang Tinghe and Peng Ze, and after Jiajing ascended the throne, Yang Tinghe easily used his power to bring him down.

But who dares to deny Wang Dehua's ability?

"En." Zhu Youtang nodded, "Before I was still thinking about how to reward him, I wanted to promote him as a servant, because I was afraid that he would not have enough qualifications. But if he is transferred to another place, he will not be able to use his talents, and I am still thinking about whether to use him as a servant Du Yushi went to the northwest to be the governor of a region...Since you proposed it, let him be used in Beijing. You said there is one more person, who is it?"

Zhang Zhoudao: "I am a little embarrassed to say this."

"Is it Tang Yin?" Zhu Youtang asked with a smile.

Zhang Zhou shook his head seriously: "No."

"Oh? Who is that?"

Zhu Youtang also became interested.

In name, Tang Yin is already Zhang Zhou's younger brother, but recently, Tang Yin has not been formally apprenticed, or called an apprentice brother, in spite of his identity.

Zhang Zhoudao: "It's Wang Shouren, an undergraduate Jinshi. He is the son of Wang Hua, a servant of the Imperial Academy."

"This person? Did he do anything?" Zhu Youtang didn't quite understand.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "I also learned from Wei Ninghou that he has outstanding talents. I have read his articles and found his ambition and military strategy. I think it can be of great use. I also want to transfer him... After all, he is now Just watching politics and serving in the Martial Arts Hall will not affect his future transfer to the six departments or places."

"En." Zhu Youtang nodded.

Just an ordinary Jinshi, as long as Zhang Zhou needs, he can be transferred at any time.

After all, this is a major matter related to his ideals.

"Whoever you want to use, just tell me. As long as they are young and capable, I can transfer them to the martial arts hall!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

(End of this chapter)