The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 280 Major Military Situation
Before Zhang Zhou arrived at the altar in the outskirts of the city, many people in the city ran to watch the excitement, regardless of the errands at hand.

Outside the city can be said to be crowded with people.

Everyone wants to know how the celestial master prays for rain.

But Zhang Zhou was not in a hurry, and ran to sit next to Zhang Heling in the shade, drinking tea while talking and laughing happily with the people around him.

Tang Yin was called to communicate with Ma Zhongxi, Ma Zhongxi might have looked down on Tang Yin, but the problem was that he couldn't make himself like a betrayer, so he called Tang Yin over with a cold face to ask what was going on.

"Zhang Zhitai, let Ma Zhongcheng come over here and ask, when... will it start?"

Tang Yin acted as a microphone.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Looking at the sky, it doesn't look like it's going to rain? I have to wait for the clouds to come, so I can beg God for rain, right?"

"Haha, incisive and incisive!"

Zhang Heling suddenly felt that these words were very kind.

To pray for rain, wait for the clouds to come. It is best to wait for the clouds to cover before starting to pray for rain.

Tang Yin looked embarrassed and looked at Zhang Zhou, meaning, you want me to reply to Ma Zhongxi and the local officials like this?
Zhang Zhoudao: "If anyone is in a hurry, they can go back to the city first and come back after the clouds clear. I will complete the ceremony of praying for rain before noon!"

……

……

Tang Yin felt that Zhang Zhou was abnormal, but he could only tell Ma Zhongxi what Zhang Zhou said.

The officials around Ma Zhongxi didn't find Zhang Zhou to be abominable, and some of them still said, "This new director is not like those alchemists who pretend to be ghosts, and he likes to make people sensational."

The implication is that Zhang Zhou's method of praying for rain sounds more "scientific".

Ma Zhongxi glanced over.

Seeing that the other party is from the local area, it is expected that although he is still on his side, he will go to Zhang Zhou, the highest official in the local area when he turns around. Maybe everyone knows that Ma Zhongxi will not stay in Xuanfu for a long time, and it is already incomplete. Stand by him and speak.

"Master Zhongcheng, you should go back first, and leave this place to the low-ranking people, and I will let you know if there is anything."

The people that Ma Zhongxi brought with him still had their hearts towards him.

Ma Zhongxi also saw that Zhang Zhou was deliberately teasing him, so he stopped joining in the fun outside the city, and got up to take a carriage back to the city.

"Old Ma, are you leaving now?"

Zhang Zhou greeted Ma Zhongxi from afar.

Ma Zhongxi ignored Zhang Zhou, got into the carriage, and then went back to the city amidst the pointing and pointing of the onlookers.

……

……

Before noon, the sky over Xuanfu City began to be cloudy.

Although Zhang Zhou only sat under the altar for a while, when he came to the stage, the soldiers and civilians around him burst into incomparable cheers.

That kind of feeling is probably... the real person is really different from the magic stick.

Look at them, they have great supernatural powers, and they never pretend to be ghosts. They say that they will pray for rain one day, and they will sit under the altar when they come. When the rain is about to come, they will greet them directly. Hello from the ground!
Just ask, have you ever seen such a miracle?
Zhang Zhou pretended to pray on the altar, and even danced with a wooden sword on the spot for a while, but he was out of breath when he came down.

After appreciating Zhang Zhou's wonderful "dancing posture", the city residents hurried home, or they could all see that the rain would come down at any time, and if they didn't leave, they might be drowned.

"It's really good." Zhang Heling and others walked over quickly after Zhang Zhou went down to the altar.

For them, it can be regarded as a real insight into what is called great supernatural power.

Tang Yin asked: "When will the rain come?"

Zhang Zhou smiled. This guy obviously hasn't put himself in the right position yet, so he actually asked when the rain will come?It's already like this, do you still think it's a problem if the rain doesn't come?

Even if you can't get down, you have done enough posture, and the most important thing is that people's hearts have been greatly harvested.

"Going back to the city, on the way back, I have to share joys and sorrows with the people in the city, and welcome the blessings of the rain and dew together..."

Zhang Zhou's words made Tang Yin ashamed.

Tang Yin, the former opponent and now the senior brother, feels that Zhang Zhou looks like a psychopath, but even a neuropathy can call the rain down for you, leaving the upright and quick-tempered Ma Zhongxi helpless.

Tang Yin was also pondering in his mind, it seems that I was too unrestrained and unrestrained before, I had to reach the realm of senior brother, in order to be able to manage affairs with ease, if not... then I'd better keep a low profile.

I'm not even as wild and unrestrained as others, besides being a man with my tail between my legs, do I have any other choice?
……

……

When Zhang Zhou and his party returned to the city, the rain had already fallen.

Zhang Zhou knew that this rain would last for at least three or four hours until it caused mountain torrents and blocked the roads.

But this was basically the only heavy rain in Xuan Mansion that year, because the drought in Xuan Manor was still there, it was not realistic to rely on this rain alone to solve the problem.

It doesn't matter whether it rains or not in the future. Zhang Zhou knows that praying for rain is not within his ability. He is a traveler who knows the weather forecast, as long as the rain can make him gain the hearts of the people.

Since it is to win the hearts of the people...

Then do the tricks and enter the city in a carriage or official sedan chair, but it has no such effect at all.

Then you need to have fun with the people, get out of the carriage, and hold an umbrella by yourself... There is no need to go to the rain to show how stupid you are, even if you walk around the city with an umbrella, others will treat him as a An upright and good official who loves the people like a son.

Then Zhang Zhou played it.

It really depends on acting. What Zhang Zhou did before was all about utilitarianism. If he really wanted to bring something to the people of this era, it would be best to change it through technological transformation, especially firearms. etc., to stabilize the frontiers of the Ming Dynasty, increase farmland, and reform the bad governance in the Northwest...

As for coming out to condolences to the people on rainy days... unless you are crazy, you think it is good for the people.

Whether he comes out to act will not affect whether the rain will fall, nor will it affect any current situation.

The most he can do is to make the common people think he is awesome, anyway, the common people just eat this set.

……

……

"Master Qingtian."

Zhang Zhou is acting, and the people who are holding umbrellas or wearing coir raincoats and rain gear seen along the way are also acting.

People who really appreciate Zhang Zhouende will not say so much flattering nonsense.

But Zhang Zhou also needs interesting people in the crowd.

"I haven't done enough. After this rain, you have to be diligent in farming... whoever, give me the condolences."

Zhang Zhou's condolences to the people this time is also well-known. He wants to send condolences to people in the city who have festivals.

Because Zhang Zhou no longer simply won the official reputation for himself, but also took out certain benefits. In addition, the rain was nominally made by Zhang Zhouqi, so that wherever Zhang Zhou went, the people would leave spontaneously. Come out and watch.

"Gentlemen, I am in charge of the frontier fortress, and I want to fight a bloody battle with the Hulu. I hope that the army and the people will be united!"

"It's all gone!"

Zhang Zhou was busy that day.

It was the first time I was a magistrate, and there was such a big commotion, not to mention that the soldiers and civilians in the city had never seen it, even those who were officials had never heard of it.

……

……

Ma Zhongxi was in the governor's office, and the people in the courtyard were already packing up his things. He was about to move, and he would make room for Zhang Zhou.

He stood in the porch, looking at the rain outside with annoyed expression on his face.

"Ma Zhongcheng, His Majesty's decree has come down. Would you...go over to have a look, or send it to you?" the subordinate officer asked Ma Zhongxi cautiously.

Ma Zhongxi said coldly: "Your Majesty has not referred Ma Yi's case to the judicial department, is that so?"

The official said: "Yes. The imperial edict said that Zhang Zhitai has just arrived, and everything is about stability, not to mention that the matter of running the army is more important than anything else. Even if you want to be held accountable, you have to wait until the situation in the northwest is stable. In addition... His Majesty also made a statement. ..."

Ma Zhongxi said with a look of astonishment: "I can't do anything wrong with the investigation, but above the court, can you still distinguish between right and wrong?"

"This..." The subordinate officials were also puzzled.

Are you blaming the court, or the emperor?

"Even if His Majesty intends to cover up and connive, but so many ministers above the government and the opposition, turn a blind eye? How long will the Ming Dynasty's government be corrupted? Why do such courts need to serve them?"

Ma Zhongxi was also furious.

It's kind of careless when you speak.

"Ma Zhongcheng, please calm down." The subordinate official expressed empathy, but he was thinking about it in his heart.

Are you blind and can't see the rain outside?It was you who first spoke of God's will, because Ma Yi and other generals extorted violently, which caused the drought in the past two years. That Zhang Zhitai immediately asked you for rain to let you know what God's will is.

If you don't accept it, you have to endure it first, who made God's will stand on his side now?

You just say dejected words, which shows that the government and the public are all traitors, saying that they are not on the side of justice... The problem is that the emperor didn't say that he would not handle Ma Yi's case afterwards, but only postponed it because of the overall situation.

Do you still want to object?

No matter how you say it, Ma Yi is the former chief soldier of the Xuanfu. You investigate him... It means that the army should be reorganized first when the new leader arrives, and all the hidden dangers of Ma Yi's time as chief soldier should be wiped out for about half a year before sending troops, right? ?

It is clear that you are causing trouble for the new trilateral system, so why can't they show you off?

What's more, the way people establish their prestige is so different, it can win the hearts of the army as well as the hearts of the people.

You are impotent rage.

……

……

Ma Zhongxi hated him, and didn't read the content of the emperor's reply to his performance, and prepared to write his resignation letter after returning.

The court didn't follow my wishes, so I quit!

The court is dark, I can't afford to provoke or hide?
"Ma Zhongcheng, Zhang Zhitai invites you to come over to the mansion, saying that he has important military affairs to discuss." Just as Ma Zhongxi was halfway through writing his resignation, someone came here to send a message for Ma Zhongxi to come over.

Ma Zhongxi said angrily: "If you want to discuss it yourself, this is the official office!"

The person next to him hastily reminded: "Ma Zhongcheng, the first-rank official crushes people to death, and besides, he has a reputation, so don't confront him head-on at this time."

"Just say that the official is ill!"

Ma Zhongxi had already made preparations. From now on, he would not have any contact with Zhang Zhou until he left office, and he would never see this guy who was talking about being a Taoist priest or a civil servant again.

Menzi said: "Lord Zhongcheng, Zhang Zhitai was afraid that you would feel unwell, so he specially invited a doctor to follow Jin Yiwei, saying that it involves sending troops in the next few days, so you must go!"

"what?"

Ma Zhongxi was completely annoyed.

That Zhang Bingkuan, even if I want to call him sick and hide from him?That is to say, he knows that doing this will annoy me and make it difficult for both parties to get off the stage, so he still insists on punishing me, right?
Does he know what is seniority?

Even if he is older than me, I was the one who made trouble for him first, and the reason is on my side... Yes, I am absolutely right!
The fault is all on Zhang Bingkuan!Who told him to cover up the criminal minister Ma Yi? If he didn't cover up, why would there be such a tense situation today?

"Ma Zhongcheng, the Jin Yiwei outside said that if you don't go, you will be breaking the law knowingly, dereliction of duty, or..."

Ma Zhongxi was so angry that he dropped his pen to the ground.

The surrounding officials didn't really understand it.

In the past two years, the governor of the Xuanfu was pretty normal, and he got along with the former Liu Daxia and Liu Shilang, so why did he lose his composure today?

……

……

When the officials of the governor's yamen felt that Ma Zhongxi was unreasonable, a group of people were laughing and talking about Ma Zhongxi's gaffe that day in the temporarily prepared meeting room of the posthouse, that is, in the corridor on the first floor.

Among them, Zhang Heling is the most frightening.

As for Zhu Hui and the other generals of the Beijing camp who followed, they were also very proud, while Ma Yi smiled carefully.

As for Zhang Lun and Tang Yin, who were brought by Zhang Zhou, they were extremely cautious.

"Zhang Zhitai, Eunuch Cao is here."

Just as he was talking, the snake faction in the city had already begun to gather here. It was Cao Shun, the eunuch guarding the Xuan Mansion who had been hiding from him for two days, knowing that Zhang Zhou had conflicts with Ma Zhongxi.

The emperor sent Zhang Zhou to the Xuanfu. Cao Shun did not supervise Zhang Zhou's duties. The superiors even told him clearly that he should follow orders, which roughly meant... You, Cao Shun, can guard the Xuanfu, and you can control and supervise the people in the city. Officials and citizens, but Zhang Zhou is on top of your system, so don't cause trouble.

Because Zhang Zhou's job scope is not in Xuanfu, theoretically the guarding eunuchs in Xuanfu, Datong and Pianguan are not equal to him.

Cao Shun didn't come to see him until Zhang Zhou's battle with Ma Zhongxi had a certain result.

"Eunuch Cao."

"Mr. Zhang, you are being polite. What you did in the capital, someone's ears are almost callused. You are a great talent and supernatural power. Don't be as knowledgeable as someone who has no experience."

"In the future, we must cooperate sincerely. If Eunuch Cao said this, he would be offended?"

Cao Shun originally thought that Zhang Zhou, like Li Guang, Wang Zhi and other favored ministers, was not easy to speak, and he liked to show his face wherever he went.

After all, as soon as Zhang Zhou came to Xuanfu, he put Ma Zhongxi together.

He didn't expect Zhang Zhou to be so easy to talk to.

Seeing that Ma Yi was there, Cao Shun hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Commander Ma, the previous incident... was all due to Ma Zhongcheng's own will, and our family has no other choice. Please forgive me..."

Ma Yi was worried when she saw Cao Shun.

Before the three major systems in the city, Ma Zhongxi, the head of civil servants, and Cao Shun, the guarding eunuch, joined forces to attack him. He was forced to flee to Juyongguan, and asked to find Zhang Zhou's line to visit. At that time, he could be said to be desperate. Zhou didn't take him in, so he could only go back to confess the crime by himself.

Now that Cao Shun was on his side, Ma Zhongxi was just singing a one-man show and couldn't jump up and down.

Cao Shundao: "Your Majesty's decree has been issued earlier, and the matter of Ma commanding you has been handed over to Mr. Zhang."

Upon hearing this, Ma Yi knelt down to Zhang Zhou, kowtowed and said, "Mr. Zhang, please return the innocence of the late general."

"Are you innocent?" The question Zhang Zhou asked in public surprised a group of people present.

Ma Yi was dumbfounded.

This questioning method...is really direct.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Don't blame the governor of Xuanfu for making trouble for you. As far as I know, you haven't done anything good here in the past few years. Don't keep the soldiers you recruited privately under your command, and hand them over. , As for whether you have been corrupt and violated the law before, you should confess it yourself, and pay as much as you have obtained illegally. I am purely for the stability of the situation in the Northwest, so don't think that I disregard the law and want to protect you!"

Ma Yi was completely screwed up.

"Commander Ma?" Cao Shun suddenly felt much better when he heard this.

These civil servants still know how to play.

Others hit a stick first and then give the sweet date, but Zhang Zhou gives the sweet date first and then bores you.

Cao Shun was also worried that Zhang Zhou and Ma Zhongxi thought that Ma Yi's affairs would cause disharmony, and in the end he, the guarding eunuch, would be involved in it and suffer disaster.

Now he can see that the relationship between Zhang Zhou and Ma Zhongxi is just a small fight, and the interests of civil servants are one.

Zhu Hui said: "Didn't you hear what Mr. Zhang said? Mr. Zhang is protecting you! But don't make it difficult for Mr. Zhang. Whether you will be held accountable afterwards depends on whether you can take the blame and make meritorious service!"

"Haha." Zhang Heling smiled proudly.

Zhang Heling, who was also the deputy general, suddenly felt that he could hold Ma Yi steady, and suddenly felt very comfortable.

"Yes Yes."

At this moment, Ma Yi let go of her hanging heart.

Feelings The powerful man in front of the emperor didn't want to hold me accountable, but just said nice words to make him fair and just.

Scared me.

"Then why hasn't the old horse come yet? We agreed to discuss the military situation, should we send someone to remind us?" When Zhang Zhou said this, his eyes were fixed on Cao Shun.

Meaning, there you go!
Just as Cao Shun was about to agree, word came from outside: "Ma Zhongcheng's car has arrived."

"Okay, everyone who has nothing to do with them will step down first. I will discuss a major matter of dispatching troops soon. I will clean up the inside and outside of the post house. If today's affairs are leaked, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

……

……

The post house was cleaned up inside and out.

There were no more than 12 people who were authorized to participate in this internal meeting, and most of them were brought by Zhang Zhou. The original number of generals and eunuchs in Xuanfu was very small.

Ma Zhongxi arrived with a dark face. When he saw that the impromptu meeting was going on in the corridor and there was a topographic map hanging on the door of the next room, he walked over with a dark face without saying hello to the people present.

He didn't say hello, and no one answered him.

Now almost everyone is acting according to Zhang Zhou's face.

If we say that when Zhang Zhou first came, many people were still undecided, but now they are all determined... What kind of strong dragon does not overwhelm the snake, it will not work well with Zhang Zhou and Ma Zhongxi.

Zhang Zhou, a strong dragon, can suppress the local snake as much as he wants.

Dissatisfied?

Just give you the whole will of God, and even the common people can give you complete obedience.

"Not much to say." Zhang Zhoudao, "You all must know the purpose of my coming here. It's to demonstrate cannons and mines. But I did some calculations and figured out where the women, children and livestock are currently located in the rear area of ​​the Mongolian Goljin Department. This is what you commonly call the Huosie Department, or Manguan Anbu, where their base camp is located. I am going to send a cavalry team to detour behind the enemy's rear and attack them! Do you have any objections?"

"what?"

Even Zhu Hui, Zhang Heling and others who came with Zhang Zhouzhou were all dumbfounded when they heard the words.

(End of this chapter)