The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 294
Xuanfu.

Ma Zhongxi was meeting guests in the military commander's mansion where he was temporarily staying.

After Zhang Zhou led his troops to the expedition, he didn't have the nerve to live back in the governor's office, or in his opinion, he was about to resign. Anyway, he didn't have a few days left in his post, so it didn't matter if he lived there.

The guest he saw was Lin Ting, the new head of the Ministry of Industry who came to Xuanfu with Zhang Zhou. Lin Ting came to visit Ma Zhongxi on behalf of his father Lin Han.

"Ma Zhongcheng, there is a result..."

Not long after Ma Zhongxi and Lin Ting settled down, the subordinate officer ran in with a hurried look on his face.

Ma Zhongxi frowned and said, "Why are you so rude? What is the result?"

The officer was out of breath, and hurriedly said: "It's Weininghai... There are battle reports... Vice President Ma and Mr. Wang led troops to defeat the enemies in Weininghai, beheaded 7 people, and captured the old and weak women and children of the Mengguoljin tribe. More than [-] people, more than [-] large livestock such as cattle, horses and camels, and more than [-] sheep..."

"what?"

Ma Zhongxi stood up in astonishment.

The eyes were instantly bloodshot, as if the bloodshot was about to burst and spurt blood at any time.

Lin Ting next to him hurriedly asked, "Have the soldiers and horses withdrawn?"

The subordinate took a breath and said, "No..."

When he heard "no", Ma Zhongxi suddenly breathed a sigh of relief for some reason. He himself didn't know why he had such a reaction, and he was also thinking in his heart, shouldn't he hope that Ma Yi and Wang Shouren will bring their troops back smoothly?But if Zhang Zhou, who was impeached by me, dispatched Ma Yi, who was also impeached by me, to win this victory... Is there any room for my old face?

"I haven't finished." The subordinate officer finally finished his sentence.

"cough!"

Ma Zhongxi was choking on his own saliva, and glared at the subordinate officer with murderous eyes.

What the hell are you playing with me?
"On the way back, Deputy Commander Ma and the others escorted the captives, cattle and sheep, dealt with the Tartars all the way, and beheaded six people. Withdrew more than 40 miles north of Maoerzhuang, and encountered more than [-] Tartar soldiers and horses from all walks of life. Immediately withdrew the troops in the grasslands and hills, and killed and beheaded more than [-] Tartars after the fierce battle...Then Zhang Zhitai's soldiers and horses rushed to cover the retreat of the troops and horses, and it is estimated that they will have withdrawn to the pass..."

"Ma Zhongcheng, you..."

The subordinate officer hadn't finished speaking, but seeing that Ma Zhongxi could no longer stand up and was falling backwards, he hurried to help but it was too late.

Fortunately, there was Lin Ting standing next to him, and he hurriedly reached out to support him.

"It's okay, it's okay." Ma Zhongxi calmed down, his words didn't seem to be speaking to the two people around him, but more like calming himself down.

Lin Ting said with joy on his face: "It's really a marvelous achievement, and it's not much better than that of Marquis Weining."

Having said that, Lin Ting looked a little gloomy.

He also came to the northwest with Zhang Zhou, but how can Wang Shouren go out with the army as the head of the Ministry of War, while I am just the head of the Ministry of Industry and can only stay in Xuanfu and wait for the mine to open?
But the problem is, the battles are over, and my business of opening mines has not yet been settled. Otherwise, why would I come to visit this Ma Zhongcheng when I have nothing to do?Don't you want to use my father's relationship to ask him to find me something to do?

just now……

It's hard to say.

Ma Zhongxi's face was dark, and he said that the front line had won the battle, but his expression gave people the feeling that Ma Yi and Wang Shouren's entire army had been wiped out in Weininghai.

The official said: "The battle report has been sent to the capital, and it was only reported to the General Military Office. Zhang Zhitai also has an official document, saying that it will be delivered a few hours later, and there is an order for Wanquan to take charge of the surrounding defense. You see..."

Ma Zhongxi closed his eyes and waved his hands, which probably means that you have brought all the words, and I know it, so you can stay cool and stay there.

Lin Ting said: "Ma Zhongcheng also contributed a lot to this battle."

It was meant as a compliment, but to Ma Zhongxi's ears, it sounded like murder. He had a look of embarrassment on his face, and his cheeks flushed almost out of anger, and he said, "I would rather not take such credit! Put my Ming soldiers in danger." , Dangers are everywhere, not pragmatic in defense, just thinking about conspiracies, do you know the impact on the Daming pass after the defeat?"

In fact, when Lin Ting finished that sentence, he felt that he might have said something wrong.

After seeing Ma Zhongxi's reaction, he knew better that he was stepping on Ma Zhongxi's tail.

He was also annoyed in his heart, looking at my cheap mouth, wouldn't it be the same as killing him to mention this to him?He even forgot that he was dismissed by His Majesty in order to participate in the impeachment of Bingkuan, and he was getting emotional and begging to return to his old age... To what extent has the credit of others been misinterpreted in his eyes?Your Majesty asked Bingkuan to come to the northwest, isn't it just to send troops?

"Ma Lao Zhongcheng, calm down, I might as well wait until the next time..."

Lin Ting didn't seem to be very popular at first glance. Seeing Ma Zhongxi's embarrassing scene and saying the wrong thing, if he didn't hurry up and leave in despair, when would he wait?
come back next time?

Never see you again!
Ma Zhongxi said: "Li Zhan, stay away from Zhang Bingkuan from now on. It's not that the old man despises him, but it's because what he did was to lick blood at the head of a knife. Such a clever person will definitely end badly!"

Lin Ting was embarrassed.

Didn't you say you didn't look down on him?

As soon as Zhang Bingkuan made great achievements, you belittled him to nothing. His relationship did not follow the direction you expected, and his reputation was not ruined. Are you not reconciled?
"Yes."

Lin Ting disapproved in his heart, but his mouth was still responding.

It can be regarded as giving Ma Zhongxi enough face.

At this time, Lin Ting's heart was also beating drums. My younger sister was about to marry Zhang Bingkuan as a concubine. A little farther away, I'm afraid they will be bound together, right?
"Help the old man inside to rest. If Zhang Bingkuan's official letter comes, don't show it to me, let the people in the General Military Mansion handle it by themselves! Li Zhan, don't send it!"

Ma Zhongxi seems to have suffered a serious heart injury.

There is too much bleeding, so I have to go into the room to take a good rest.

Lin Ting also bid farewell to Ma Zhongxi and left with feelings of envy, jealousy and hatred intertwined in his heart.

……

……

The battle report went all the way east, and soon spread to the capital.

Because the results of this battle are very effective in demonstrating the prestige of the Ming Dynasty, the battle report is like a net, a line is drawn from Yanghekou, interspersed with various places on the Nine Sides, and even when it reaches the capital, all lines are opened together.

Cabinet value.

The two members of Zhongshushe had just played the urgent battle report and sent it from the Minister of General Affairs. Liu Jian also took the initiative to greet the door, picked up the battle report and looked at it in his hand. Li Dongyang and Xie Qian looked puzzled During the meeting, Liu Jian closed the door of the room that had been left open due to the hot weather, and walked in front of the two with the battle report.

"Snapped!"

Liu Jian let go, almost throwing the battle report on the table.

Li Dongyang hastily picked it up, and this time he and Xie Qian watched it together, both of them had mixed expressions of joy and sorrow on their faces.

"It really made him win. He killed more than 3000 Di Yi and captured more than 6000... Wang Weining's coffin can't be held down, right?" Xie Qian showed his poisonous side, marveling at the incredible military exploits , and ridiculed the changes in the situation brought about by this exploit.

"Good thing." Li Dongyang also imitated Liu Jian, flicking his hand lightly and throwing the piano off the table.

At this time Liu Jian had already sat down, there was no joy on his face, all was worry, but he seemed to be emotionally saying: "How did you come to this field?"

The amount of credit is actually irrelevant to Daming.

The meritorious service of the Northwest has nothing to do with their cabinet. They say that their professional politicians will be happy for the success of the Northwest.

Seeing Liu Jian's reaction like this, Li Dongyang no longer hid and said beautiful words, he said: "Once this credit is confirmed, Zhang Bingkuan's influence in the Dudu's Mansion can be described as unprecedented, and it will be difficult to check and balance him." It’s difficult, but it’s not as good as Wang Shichang before, pushing him into the Dudu’s Mansion, and there will be fewer festivals from then on.”

Xie Qian asked with a smile, "Binzhi, do you think it's that easy to speak lightly?"

Up to now, Li Binzhi, don't you still think that whether Zhang Zhou is a civil servant or a martial artist is the choice of the cabinet ministers?

In other words, the emperor just wanted him to be a civil servant and a martial artist at the same time, and both of them are hustle and bustle together.Sorry, there is no such option.

Of course Li Dongyang understood this, he said: "Maybe we can start with Boan!"

Liu Jian looked at Li Dongyang and said, "Say it straight."

Li Dongyang also no longer made any cover-ups: "Bo'an is different from Zhang Bingkuan. Most of the credit for this time comes from his on-the-spot scheduling. Those who participated in the war in person, the meritorious service is naturally his own. Zhang Bingkuan only played the role of making decisions and dealing with the aftermath. thing."

Xie Qian continued to smile: "I'm afraid His Majesty won't think so."

"Yu Qiao, can you wait for me to finish?" Li Dongyang was also annoyed.

Now I can't wait to burn my eyebrows, it's fine if you're not around to help out with suggestions, what's the point of pouring cold water?
Liu Jian said: "Binzhi, you don't have to go on. You can't blame anyone at this stage of the field. In fact, Zhang Bingkuan is so versatile. You should not regard him as different, but as tolerated by the world. You can't help yourself."

In Liu Jian's opinion, he returned to his original attitude towards Zhang Zhou.

Since you really can't beat Zhang Zhou in some aspects, then let's not think about how to fight against him, let's think about how to win him over and let him walk on the "right path".

If there is always confrontation, and he is not as good as him every time, the trust of the emperor in our civil servants must be decreasing day by day, so why don't we dig a hole and jump into it ourselves?
But if Zhang Zhou is drawn by us to become one of our own, he is awesome, and we are also awesome, and the emperor will trust our civil servants even more.

Li Dongyang is naturally on Liu Jian's side, and he is still relying on Zhang Zhou to treat his son's illness. As for being able to do it.

But it's just for the sake of face that I don't want to do this, and I'm still not polite when it's time to do it.

Xie Qian said: "I'm afraid that Zhang Bingkuan's heart will become empty, and he will be arrogant at that time. When he first entered the court, he was a little arrogant. How can we make him feel at ease in the court affairs? Since ancient times, princes It's not wise to not let him enter the Dudu's mansion because they are all busy with side affairs."

Xie Qian obviously felt that Li Dongyang's previous proposal was more reasonable.

Now that we are gradually at an absolute disadvantage in contending against Zhang Zhou, we cannot allow him to stay in the court to harm us.

It is to make him a military honor, let him enter the governor's mansion, or even stay in the northwest.

The big deal is that we won't bother with the military affairs in the northwest and let him toss about, but as long as he is kept away from the court and keeps a distance from the emperor, as his contribution increases day by day and the rift between the monarch and his ministers rises, then his influence on court affairs will naturally be weak. Even without us taking action, Zhang Zhou was gone in a flash.

Liu Jian shook his head and said, "For a year or two, don't think about it. Let's see how His Majesty arranges it."

In the meaning of Liu Jian.

Now things are still under Zhu Youtang's control, it depends on how the emperor wants to use Zhang Zhou.

Xie Qian chattered endlessly: "Things in the northwest are not settled, so what if you leave him in the northwest? Since ancient times, there are many people who use troops to attack and conspire. How many of them have a good end?"

Li Dongyang said: "If he is only using troops with a plan, that may be the case, but His Majesty's trust in him is not limited to using troops? Yu Qiao, this matter should not be forced, as Liu Lao said, stand by Your Majesty in everything, and don't comment." It’s better not to add to the chaos than to ask for humiliation.”

"Humph!"

Xie Qian still seemed very unwilling.

The main reason is Zhang Zhou's rise, it's not the right time.

If Xie Qian was the chief assistant, he might not have such a big opinion. The key is that he is still on the rise in his career, but he meets an unreasonable Zhang Zhou. So blocked?

……

……

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

Xiao Jing carefully placed the battle report brought over in front of Zhu Youtang.

Zhu Youtang raised his head to look at Xiao Jing, then looked at Dai Yi and the others next to him, everyone's eyes showed excitement, Zhu Youtang smiled and nodded, "Okay."

Just now Xiao Jing only said that he had a good news.

And it was a complete victory, Xiao Jing didn't elaborate on the specific results, but Zhu Youtang knew that his Bingkuan would not let him down.

"How much to kill?" Zhu Youtang didn't rush to ask all the details.

It's like playing cards, one by one.

Enjoy the joy of this wish coming true for a while longer.

Xiao Jing said happily: "More than 3000."

"Oh, it's a little less?" Zhu Youtang was already happy, but he still insisted on pretending that nothing had happened, but the smile on his face obviously couldn't be concealed.

Dai Yi smiled and said: "Yes, Your Majesty, it is a little less, but who told you that Mr. Zhang didn't go to battle in person? A little discount is fine."

"Yeah." Zhu Youtang nodded with a smile.

It seems that the monarchs and ministers can reach an agreement on bragging and seeking comfort from each other.

"How many prisoners?" Zhu Youtang continued to open the cards.

Xiao Jing's joy rose this time, he stretched out his fingers, first made a one, then made a six.

Dai Yi asked from the side: "One thousand six?"

Zhu Youtang said: "Three thousand people have been killed. Weininghai is where Huoshai's headquarters is. It's a little unreasonable to only capture one thousand six... But it can't be ten thousand, right?"

Xiao Jing said in surprise: "What Your Majesty said is very true, it is more than 300...By the way, there are more than [-] large animals and more than [-] small animals..."

"Haha, is it?" Zhu Youtang couldn't help it this time.

Dai Yi imitated Zhu Youtang's previous tone and asked, "Are there so many people in Weininghai?"

"That's right." Zhu Youtang suppressed his smile, "Wang Weining's surprise attack on Weininghai captured only a few hundred people. No matter how many people there are, it's a great achievement to have a thousand people. It doesn't matter if you only send three thousand or kill three thousand, how can you capture so many people?" many?"

Xiao Jing said with a smile: "Mr. Zhang's gunpowder and firearms are all meritorious service."

"Oh, then I have to take a good look."

Only then did Zhu Youtang stretch out his hand and open the news in front of him.

At this time, Dai Yi, Chen Kuan, and Wei Bin also leaned over their heads, wanting to take a look together.

When looking at the detailed arrangement of the battle above, especially seeing that more than 3000 enemies were killed, it is only a conservative estimate. After all, many Tartars were directly bombed to pieces, and the details of the two battles... Zhu Youtang took a long breath and said, "It's not enough."

The eunuchs next to him felt that the emperor was a bit pretentious.

This is not enough?

What kind of credit is needed to be worth writing about?

"What I mean is that the grasslands are not flat, and there will always be troops to be sent in the future. The situation in the northwest is very different from before. In the past, all soldiers were sent out with bows and horses. Obviously, the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty were not born on horseback like those Diyi. , There are always disadvantages. But now and in the future, firearms are the first, so we must raise funds as soon as possible, lest the essence be learned by the Tatars, and it will not be as good as the flat grassland."

Zhu Youtang is quite rational.

The credit is great, and I am very satisfied, but I immediately thought of it, now it is a time difference, we can use firearms, and the Tartars have not yet learned and cannot use them, so now the advantage lies with us.

What to do is to use the advantages to solve the problem thoroughly, rather than wait.

This is probably a bit like the Hongyi cannon in the late Ming Dynasty. It was originally the killer weapon in the Ming army, but it was learned by the enemy in the end.

Dai Yi smiled and said: "Your Majesty, with Mr. Zhang in the northwest, I believe it will take a few years to complete the work."

"I don't need him." Zhu Youtang shook his head and said, "I can tell that he doesn't need to be in charge of the Northwest. It’s still Wang Qiong and Wang Shouren, who have shown time and time again that his vision is right, and even Ma Yi can let him work. It’s not easy.”

Xiao Jing asked: "Your Majesty wants to keep him in the capital?"

"Naturally." Zhu Youtang nodded.

Only then did Dai Yi realize that he might have said something wrong.

What is the use of a bull's knife to kill a chicken?

It is true that Zhang Zhou can preside over the preparations for leveling the grassland, but it is not necessary for Zhang Zhou to sit in the northwest. Can the emperor leave Zhang Zhou now?
But if he insisted on suggesting that Zhang Zhou be in the northwest, it would make the emperor feel... that he was jealous of Zhang Zhou and wanted to transfer Zhang Zhou away from the emperor. Wouldn't that be... asking for trouble for himself?
"Haha, I can't help it anymore, I want to see the reaction of those ministers in the court tomorrow." Zhu Youzhan stood up on the spot, and suddenly seemed to be very tall, looking down on the world and full of strategy, " Bing Kuan is doing me a favor."

Dai Yi hurriedly remedied: "Your Majesty, it is time to confer a title on Mr. Zhang."

Zhu Youtang said: "Naturally, I want to give it, but I don't plan to give it to any marquis or uncle. If I want to give it, I will give it to the Duke of the country. In the Tang and Song Dynasties, he won the title with the prime minister of the army, so I want to give him the Duke of Lai."

(End of this chapter)