The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 259

In Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youtang left Zhang Zhou to talk.

"Bing Kuan, if you recommend Qin Hong, I'm afraid I'll have to explain it to the Empress Dowager again."

Zhu Youtang seemed to be exhausted physically and mentally.

Zhang Zhou knew about the conflict between Qin Hong and the Empress Dowager Zhou. When Qin Hong was in charge of military affairs in Guangdong and Guangxi, Liu Jing, the Marquis of Anyuan, expropriated and expropriated the local government, massacred good people and pretended to be bandits, and embezzled and withheld military pay. Qin Hong imprisoned him for trial and sentenced him to death. .

But Liu Jing and the Queen Mother Zhou's family are related by marriage. The Queen Mother Zhou interceded and sent Qin Hong to prison for questioning. Alive, running around for the title of Marquis of Anyuan.

If the imperial court wanted to use Qin Hong at this time, the Queen Mother Zhou knew that she would not be happy.

Zhang Zhou sighed, "It's the minister who made the mess."

"No, you recommended Qin Hong. I also think he is capable. As for the Empress Dowager, she has always said that she will restore the title to Marquis Anyuan. I also think that the punishment is similar, and the restoration of the title is the same."

According to Zhu Youtang's meaning, both sides should give some benefits, and they can live in peace.

Zhu Youtang looked at Zhang Zhou again and said, "It's you, I hope the Empress Dowager will not trouble you."

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "I didn't think so much before, if you really displeased the Empress Dowager because of this, then you should make amends."

"Hehe, Bingkuan, you don't have to worry, I will tell you for you." Zhu Youtang suddenly remembered something important and asked, "I still want to ask you, who should be arranged to supervise the army as a mid-level official? Recommending Zhang Yong, he has made a lot of contributions in Pianguan and Ningyuan. From my point of view, not only can you have an excellent vision in using generals and officials, but you can even recommend talents to middle officials."

Only then did Zhang Zhou know why Zhu Youtang left him alone to speak in front of Liu Jian and Ma Wensheng.

Not only to show the importance he attaches to Zhang Zhou with the two court officials, but also to ask about a matter that does not need to be discussed with the ministers, which is to arrange who will be the eunuch of the army.

At this time, Zhang Yong went to Yansui. If he had to find a suitable person to supervise the army...Zhang Zhou could also recommend Ma Yongcheng or Gu Dayong...but from the perspective of running the army, the talents of the two are comparable to Zhang Yong Not too far.

He couldn't help but look at Xiao Jing and Dai Yi.

There was a little expectation in the eyes of the two of them, as if they hoped that the eunuch recommended by Zhang Zhou would be theirs.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty, I think you can let Liu Jin, the eunuch of the East Palace, try it."

"Liu Jin?" Zhu Youtang frowned, "Does he... have any talents in marching and running the army?"

This question seems to be asking Zhang Zhou, but also Dai Yi and Xiao Jing.

Xiao Jing stepped forward and said: "Return to Your Majesty, usually Liu Jin is very good at fighting in front of the prince, the specifics... don't know."

Zhang Zhou's recommendation of this person made Dai Yi and Xiao Jing puzzled.

To say that this person...At first he had a lot of opinions on Zhang Zhou, as if he regarded Zhang Zhou as an enemy, but now it is said that he compliments Zhang Zhou in every possible way...Could it be said that Zhang Zhou is the kind of person who compliments him and who he uses? people?Is it so superficial?

Zhu Youtang nodded and said: "In the past, Zhang Yong didn't have much insight in Kunning Palace, but he was disciplined in running the army. Since Bingkuan mentioned him, let him try! The burden of stationing Guan is not on the shoulders of a middle-ranking official, just let him do his duty and pass the news back in time."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Dai Yi also responded with a smile.

Zhang Zhou looked at Dai Yi and Xiao Jing with strange eyes, and thought to himself, probably these two are thinking about how to recruit Liu Jin and let Liu Jin be used by them, right?

……

……

Liu Jin is about to become the "Governor Liu".

Zhu Youtang immediately issued an order to let Xiao Jing go to the East Palace with Zhang Zhou, inform Liu Jin of the news by the way, and ordered Zhang Zhou to explain the situation to Liu Jin, Zhu Feng, Wang Qiong and others, but also to the court. hide.

It means that Qin Hong set off from his hometown in Shandong, and it may take a few days to arrive late, but Wang Qiong and the others have to leave immediately. They can't announce Wang Yue's funeral when they don't arrive at Bitouguan, and the news has to be hidden, so as not to If it is noticed by the people in the court, it cannot be known by the Tatars.

"...Mr. Zhang, the word is that Marquis Wei Ning is recuperating behind closed doors. This news cannot be leaked to the outside world."

Xiao Jing reminded Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou nodded.

Xiao Jing asked again: "Sir, do you think Liu Jin... this person is worthy of great use?"

Zhang Zhou said, "I don't know."

"what?"

Xiao Jing was very surprised.

You don't know how to entrust him with such an important errand?Forget when he picked his nose and eyes at you?

"Sir, this kind of person may not be a white-eyed wolf. Back then you pleaded for him and let him return to the East Palace. Now he compliments you, but he may treat you as an enemy in the future. You should be more careful."

Xiao Jing tried to persuade him.

No matter how Zhang Zhou heard it, he felt that Xiao Jing was afraid that Liu Jin would steal his position after Liu Jin's rise.

For nothing else, just say that Xiao Jing and Dai Yi's position in the prince's heart is as stable as Liu Jin's?

Eunuchs also know what it means to be the son of the emperor and the courtiers. If Zhu Youtang dies suddenly and the prince ascends the throne, no matter how powerful these old eunuchs were at the beginning, they will be rejected by the new emperor and new forces will be cultivated. After that, it was natural that Liu Jin and other eunuchs of the Eastern Palace would be the leaders.

Zhang Zhou said: "Going to Pianguan is better than staying in the East Palace, isn't it?"

"Uh……"

To put it simply, Xiao Jingren was also stunned.

Then he smiled ashamedly, and said nothing, probably because he realized that he might be thinking too much.

Is Zhang Zhou helping Liu Jin?

Could it be that for Liu Jin, the most urgent task now is not to be by the prince's side, so as to make the relationship closer?What's so good about going to the Northwest?
You, Liu Jin, have jumped out of the comfort zone of the East Palace. Where can you go without looking at other people's faces?It's as if no matter how good you are outside, can you be the eunuch of the Chief of Rites?Or can he become a horse eunuch?Even if you really get out, I'm afraid it's better to be a regular attendant next to the Prince of the East Palace and have a future.

When Xiao Jing wanted to understand this point, knowing that Zhang Zhou's original intention was not to help Liu Jin, he suddenly called Zhang Zhou's wisdom.

Correct.

If Liu Jin is governed like this, there cannot be a most favored eunuch in the Imperial Palace, just as Liu Jin's family cannot be the only one in the Eastern Palace.

……

……

Zhang Zhou and Xiao Jing arrived at the East Palace.

Zhu Houzhao was already impatient to wait, but when Xiao Jing said that Liu Jin was going to Pianguan to be a guard eunuch, Zhu Houzhao was so excited that he almost jumped on the table.

Xiao Jing also did not expect this.

Excited, Liu Jin knelt down and said, "Thank you, the Holy Son of Heaven, for your appreciation. The slaves must live up to the grace and the cultivation of His Highness the Crown Prince. They must do their jobs well and will die to serve the court."

Xiao Jing frowned upon hearing this.

Are you so excited to leave the prince?

He couldn't help but glanced at Gu Dayong and others standing next to him, all of them also had envious eyes, Xiao Jing suddenly felt that his brain was not enough.

its not right.

The crown prince is so keen on military affairs, if Liu Jin is allowed to go to the Northwest Army to be gilded, after returning...wouldn't he be more favored?
No wonder the group of eunuchs in the East Palace wanted to go to the northwest to drink the northwest wind and eat the yellow sand, even though they had a comfortable life.

Then Xiao Jing looked at Zhang Zhou with aggrieved eyes, as if saying, Mr. Zhang, you can't help him like this.

Zhu Houzhao said with a smile: "Who sent Liu Jin to the northwest? Is it the father? Finally, the father knows that there are capable people around me? I am not bragging to you. I have taught him a lot. When you go to the northwest, you must send me What I taught you can be used in actual combat."

"Yes, yes." Liu Jin hurriedly kowtowed.

……

……

Because Liu Jin was going to the Northwest, and he was going to leave immediately, so there was no need for class for the time being.

Zhang Zhou is about to leave the palace to meet Zhu Feng and Wang Qiong.

Take Liu Jin along with him.

After leaving the palace gate, Liu Jin knelt down to Zhang Zhou with a plop before she got into the carriage.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Eunuch Liu, what are you doing?"

Liu Jindao: "In front of the prince, the young one can't express anything, but now there are no outsiders, the young one must be grateful for Master Zhang's cultivation."

"Hehe." Zhang Zhou smiled, "Who said I cultivated you?"

After Liu Jin looked around, she didn't rush to get up, and said in a low voice: "Young one asked Mr. Xiao, and Mr. Xiao said that you promoted the young one. In fact, this kind of thing doesn't need Mr. Xiao to say it clearly, and the young one understands it." .”

Zhang Zhou sighed: "I recommend you, not only to see that you have the heart to serve the court, but also to let you exercise more. It may not be a good thing to let you leave the prince temporarily. Why do you have to thank me?"

Liu Jin was taken aback.

He didn't expect Zhang Zhou to be so "direct" in his words and actions.

They all told him clearly that besides helping you, they also indirectly caused you to leave the Eastern Palace, making you lose the chance to accompany the prince.

Liu Jin said: "The young one just wants to do more for the court. I hope Master Zhang can raise some points."

Liu Jin also understood.

If Zhang Zhou didn't help him at all, just relying on his ability...it would be impossible to go to the northwest for a little bit, and it would be good not to cause trouble.

In front of Zhu Houzhao, he was exaggerating, but Liu Jin knew how much he was worth, and if he wanted to deal with those people in the Northwest Army, being able to speak well was not the point.

The point is...

There must be a backing.

If I tell those people that my backer is Zhang Zhou...

Obediently, this is terrible.

No matter how tough the lord is, Liu Jin should be polite when meeting him.

Otherwise... Could it be that you tell those generals that your backer is the crown prince?You, a eunuch who left the East Palace, still want to scare people with the crown prince's prestige?You are not the only eunuch in the East Palace, and we don't know who the crown prince favors.

Besides, the East Palace eunuch, does it have any connection with marching and running the army?

You might as well say that you are a eunuch, eunuch, eunuch, and eunuch, maybe we can be more afraid.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "It's easy to say, but I don't have anything to mention you. Why don't you ask An Bianhou more on the way to Pianguan? Although he is not my registered disciple, he has learned the most from me, so hang out!"

"Yes Yes."

Liu Jin heard it.

Zhang Zhou meant that he regarded him as "one of his own".

When he got up and was about to get into the carriage, he did not forget to express his piety: "...Master Zhang, if you have anything to do in the future, just ask, I will try my best to do it, and the prince will also thank you for your kind words." gone."

This reflects another reason why Liu Jin complimented Zhang Zhou so much.

He, Liu Jin, also knows that you can't have it both ways.

I want to be by the prince's side, but also help the prince realize his military and political ideals, so why are there so many good things?

Now that he has chosen to go to the Northwest for gilding, there must be someone from the prince's side to mention it frequently, otherwise, Liu Jin will be completely forgotten in a year or so when the bear boy grows up.

"Hehe." Zhang Zhou smiled again, "Okay, I will tell the crown prince what achievements you have made in the northwest. The crown prince has high hopes for you, so don't let him down."

"I will definitely live up to Master Zhang's cultivation."

……

……

Zhang Zhou went to Yanwu Hall and met Zhu Feng and Wang Qiong.

Wang Qiong had been sizing up Liu Jin who was behind Zhang Zhou. At this time, Wang Shouren, Tang Yin and the others came over and wanted to listen to a lecture or something, but Zhang Zhou said that he had something important to discuss with Zhu Feng and Wang Qiong. , Let the rest of the people go to learn the daily maintenance of artillery.

"I'm going to Xishan for an actual combat exercise."

Zhang Zhou can't just say that he is going to Piantouguan to take over Wang Yue's errand.

Wang Qiong asked, "When are you leaving?"

Zhang Zhoudao: "Immediately, I don't need to go back to the residence to prepare. The clothes will be prepared separately. Wang Langzhong, I still have a secret decree here, and I will open it after I arrive at Xishan."

This time, in order to avoid suspicion, Xiao Jing and other eunuchs who delivered the decree did not come along, and even Liu Jin came here without the intention of conveying the decree for the emperor.

Everything was dictated by Zhang Zhou.

The official position is subject to the official letter and edict given by Zhang Zhou. Wang Qionghui will be the governor of Piantouguan as the censor of Youqian capital and doctor of the household department. It is responsible for the maintenance of artillery, and even the preparation of nitroglycerin.

Right now, nitroglycerin has been widely manufactured and stored because of the blessing of diatomaceous earth, but its safety performance still needs to be strengthened, and it is also prepared locally instead of long-distance transport.

All these things need Wang Qiong to complete.

"Yes."

Wang Qiong didn't feel how high his official position was. In front of Zhang Zhou, the nominal "congyipin" governor and Tongzhi, he always regarded himself as a subordinate.

Zhang Zhou put his hand on Wang Qiong's shoulder: "Mr. Wang, everything depends on you."

In fact, Zhang Zhou knew that even if he didn't tell Wang Qiongming now, Wang Qiong should have guessed it. He suddenly said that he was going to Xishan to perform artillery without Zhu Hui, Zhu Fu, and Zhang Heling.

And what Zhang Zhou gave was a very highly regulated edict.

Zhang Zhou's words were more like an encouragement.

Wang Qiong nodded: "I'm going to prepare the chariot and horses here."

"Well." Zhang Zhou nodded, "The artillery in Beijing will be transferred with you, this is also to verify the power of the artillery. As for the heavy artillery, it will be delivered a few days later..."

After all, the tonnage of heavy artillery is too large, so it is not so convenient to transport.

What Zhang Zhou discussed with Zhu Youtang was that the delivery of the heavy artillery would wait for Wang Qiong and Zhu Feng to arrive at their posts, so they could go with Qin Hong.

The biggest difference between Piantouguan and other places is that the city walls are all broken, and the fire sieve has suffered a lot there, and the Tatars are also eyeing it.

……

……

Wang Qiong is very efficient.

Zhang Zhouxin said that he was worthy of being a famous official of the future generation, and the selection was indeed correct.

The point is... this person is "pious". If he doesn't even know how to cling to this, relying on Zhang Zhou's current reputation alone, will ordinary civil servants give him face?

Zhang Zhou was also pondering.

If you do a good job, I will let you be Wang Yue's No. [-] and help you get the title.

If you don't like to curry favor with me, and treat me like a civil servant, I'll help you a ghost.

Intimacy or something else.

Who said that when it comes to Daming, talent must be used?Make enemies for yourself?

"Brother Zhang, today is the day for Tong'er and the others to bid. In fact, I want to go and have a look before leaving." Wang Qiong is preparing, and Zhu Feng is...

Holding the order for Zhu Feng, Zhang Zhou almost wanted to throw it directly in the kid's face.

Zhang Zhou said angrily, "Are you going to be an idiot who can't be supported?"

"what?"

Zhu Feng didn't take it seriously.

He himself is a dandy young man in Nanjing, and he was forcibly promoted by Zhang Zhou to become a "Titan" in the army. Zhu Feng has long felt that he is unable to support himself, and wants to put down the pick.

Zhang Zhou said: "Do you know why you were sent to Xishan?"

"Isn't it acting as a cannonball?" Zhu Feng looked confused.

You said it was a show, so I took it as a show. I trust you so much, are you going to lie to me?

Zhang Zhou instructed: "Don't be brave when you get to the place. Everything is based on steady defense. As for some layout and formation, I gave Wang Qiong some advice, and he will assist you to complete it. If there is anything you don't understand ...to listen to orders."

"Send what?" Zhu Feng's face was still full of question marks.

Zhang Zhou said to Liu Jin, who was giggling beside him, "Eunuch Liu, if there is anything he doesn't understand, you should mention it more."

"Yes."

Liu Jin feels good about herself now.

Seeing that Zhu Feng can make a name for himself, I have such great ambitions, how can I be worse than him?

Watch me turn the tide and turn the tide for you to see.

……

……

Zhu Feng and Wang Qiong hurried on the road.

The affairs of the Yanwu Hall did not stop. The first batch of students in the Yanwu Hall were only responsible for learning how to fire guns, and there were no other military theoretical knowledge professors. Except for Zhu Fu who came back from Yansui later, the first batch of students did not learn well enough. People like Zhang Heling are about to leave school.

Even if the two practical instructors Wang Qiong and Zhu Feng are gone now, it will not affect the daily teaching progress.

"Master Zhang said, do you mean that there has been a major change in the Northwest?"

Zhang Zhou just sent Wang Qiong and the others away, and this Wang Shouren came to Zhang Zhou's side.

This was the first time Wang Shouren had taken the initiative to talk to Zhang Zhou about things other than teaching since he was transferred to the Martial Arts Academy.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Where do we start?"

Wang Shouren said: "It is said that Wang Langzhong and An Bianhou are going to Xishan to demonstrate artillery, but it is said that they brought more than 30 artillery pieces at a time. If you add those who were transferred to the Northwest before... it is estimated that there will be sixty or seventy artillery pieces at one time. Can be used, so many cannons... From the point of view, they are all dispatched to the remote pass, maybe there is something wrong with the partial pass."

"The court hasn't announced it yet." Zhang Zhou didn't hide anything.

If it's not announced, don't make wild guesses.

If the news leaked later, others thought you were leaked by Wang Shouren.

As soon as Wang Shouren heard this, he roughly understood what was going on, closed his eyes and said: "My wish in my life is to have the opportunity to fight side by side with Wang Weining. It seems that my wish has not been fulfilled."

While speaking, Wang Shouren seemed to have tears in his eyes.

Zhang Zhou also saw it.

Wang Shouren really regarded Wang Yue as an idol, which is why he has such "untimely" emotion and regret.

(End of this chapter)