The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 361 Set things right
April twelfth.

The capital, court meeting.

Xiao Jing read out the results of Liaodong's battle report in front of all the ministers: "... Since the beginning of the year, troops have been used in Jianzhou and Haixi, etc., and more than 900 heads of thieves and middle-aged men have been captured, [-] horses have been captured, and the border people have been relocated. , Jurchen repatriated more than [-] people; Haixi Jurchen returned to accept and resettled more than [-] tribes, and resettled [-] border residents..."

When Xiao Jing said above.

The ministers below were scolding in their hearts.

You said that you, Zhang Bingkuan, have nothing to do, so what are you doing with those Jurchens?

With that vigor, you go and deal with the Tartars!You have seized nearly 10 people from the Jurchen tribes alone?This is a bit close to the Tutuobuhua plundering Liaodong during the orthodox years. It also took away [-] Jurchens, and almost left the Jurchens with ten houses and nine empty rooms... Decades later, you come again?
"...Xinjian Bo Wang Shouren, please play, with [-] Han people in southern Liaoning, fill in the land of Jianzhou and Haixi, because the drought in eastern Liaodong was severe last year, please exempt summer and autumn grain from last year to this year. And move the Jurchen tribe to southern Liaoning Farming, grazing, etc., are not allowed to build cities, and use officials to do things for the people..."

Not only has the military achievements been outstanding, but the Jurchens have also been relocated inland, and at the same time, the Han people have migrated to the original gathering place of the Jurchens.

After Xiao Jing finished reading, he retreated behind the emperor.

Zhu Youtang said: "I have consulted the inspection censor and the Ministry of Household Affairs, and learned that the drought in Liaodong, North Korea and other places was very serious last year, and many places even had no crops, and the progress of disaster relief was also very poor. Governor's fault."

It is not to blame the new governor of Liaodong, Lu Wan, nor the chief envoy of Shandong, but only the former governor of Liaodong, Zhang Yu, and the commander-in-chief, who lied about the disaster situation, and also blame them for their poor relief.

But the minister is also thinking, isn't this because Liaodong also fought two battles between Ningyuan and Huangshui last year?After such a big toss, the main supplies of food, grass and luggage were transferred from various places and used as military supplies. How can they be used for disaster relief?

"That's why I propose that, in addition to exempting the tax due to last year's drought, this year's tax due to the war will also be exempted. At the same time, the migration and resettlement of Liaodong frontier residents in the next two years will also be exempted, even after three years. , and only [-]% of the tax is collected, and it will be increased to [-]% year by year. If there is another drought, it can be reduced or exempted."

"As for Jianzhou, Haixi, and Northern Liaoning, set up a new Nuer Gandu Division to govern the Jurchen, Jilimi, Kuyi, Daur and other tribes, with Xinxin Bowang Shouren as the commander of the capital, fully responsible for the management of the army and the security of the people. thing."

The emperor gave Wang Shouren a privilege.

It seems to be just the commander of the capital, but in fact the power in his hands involves both military and civil affairs, which is equivalent to the existence of a governor.

Zhu Youtang said: "He is the censor of Youqian Capital, and he is also a doctor of the household department. Regarding the marching food and other matters, it is directly dispatched by the household department Taicang, and the grain and other matters can also be directly transported to Liaodong by boat from Wendeng, Shandong and other places. , for military supplies and security for the people.”

This is tantamount to acknowledging Wang Shouren's identity as a civil official and Wu Xun shoulder to shoulder. Although he is only a doctor in the household department, it seems that the civil official position is not very big, and the management of the border people seems very messy. It is also that kind of hard work, but it is good. It's just that the power given is big enough, this is simply a country within a country, and I can be the emperor of the country.

In the past, it could be called Jianzhou Jurchen and Haixi Jurchen, but in the future it can be called "Xinjianbo Autonomous Territory".

Liu Jian came out and said helplessly, "Your Majesty, there was no such case before."

Zhu Youtang could tell that Liu Jian didn't have enough confidence to object, because everyone knew that what Wang Shouren was about to do was not a good job.

Zhu Youtang said with a smile: "Even the governor of southern Jiangxi and the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, isn't it the same? In the next few years, there will be no worries about taxation in Nuer Gandu Division and other places. Let Xin Xinbo manage it well. At the same time It is planned to let it open border cities in various places in northern Liaoning, allow various tribes to trade, and also facilitate the migration of Han people to the north."

Liu Jian shook his head helplessly, and returned to his class.

Zhu Youtang stood up and said with emotion: "Bingkuan has made another great contribution to the imperial court. The settlement of Liaodong involves the stability of the next few decades or even a hundred years. It is a merit that will last for thousands of years, but next Bingkuan There is still an errand to be completed, and I should not be able to return to the capital for a while."

Only a very small number of people in the DPRK knew about this matter. Zhang Zhou wanted to stay in Liaodong to cooperate in the subversion of North Korea and the use of troops.

The ministers present were still puzzled.

Doesn't it mean that the battle situation in Liaodong is now clear, and it can be completed without Zhang Zhou sitting in charge?It's all been decided, Xinjian Bo Wang Shouren will take care of everything, so what secret missions can Zhang Zhou have there?
Zhu Youtang said: "As for the conferment and reward, after Bingkuan returns to Beijing, I will decide according to the circumstances. Let's do it first."

……

……

After the court meeting ended, all the ministers couldn't help discussing after they left Fengtian Hall.

They were all guessing what the emperor's intention for keeping Zhang Zhou in Liaodong was, and several insiders, besides Li Dongyang, Zhang Mao, and Ma Wensheng from the listening office, also Liu Jian and Xie Qian were also silent about it. Word.

"Zhang Bingkuan is really a face to face. The little prince of Tatar has not finished his plundering in the autumn and winter last year, but he is determined to use troops in Liaodong? I don't know why?"

"If he knew the seriousness, he would not let others send troops every time, and he would pick up ready-made ones behind."

"Yes, this person is very cunning. Every time he gets credit for something, it is always someone else who wins with his life."

...There are a lot of criticisms.

But it was all just a dispute between the spirits of some literati, and even Xie Qian, who had always been picky about Zhang Zhou, shook his head helplessly when he heard the words.

The three members of the cabinet returned to the value room.

Xie Qian sighed bitterly: "The Liaodong matter is settled, and the next step is to send troops to North Korea. Apart from the hidden dangers of the grassland, it seems that all the internal troubles of Ming Dynasty have been resolved."

"Not necessarily." Li Dongyang said.

Xie Qian said: "Binzhi, you have always been resourceful, do you think there is any way to restore everything in the Ming Dynasty to the past?"

Li Dongyang shook his head helplessly.

It probably means that there is no going back.

Liu Jian asked: "Yu Qiao, you have been to the Ministry of Household Affairs before, but have you seen Wang Bo'an's military plan for a year in Liaodong?"

Xie Qian smiled wryly and said: "Now the war is still undecided. Besides Wang Bo'an, there are still troops from Liaodong and Zhang Bingkuan. How to calculate the military salary is still a problem. Your Majesty has not expressed his attitude on this. Perhaps Zhang Bingkuan has The detailed plan is submitted, but it is not related to the cabinet department and the household department, it is difficult."

"Alas!" Liu Jian sighed, "The matter in Liaodong seems to have been delayed for a while, but within half a year, everything has progressed so smoothly. It seems that Zhang Bingkuan really has a way of governing the border people."

Xie Qian said: "Even Mr. Liu Ge, you think so?"

Liu Jian shook his head again, not wanting to comment on the matter.

"Binzhi, you should go back first. You have settled the matter of the Kong family earlier. Recently, there have been many criticisms from the Chinese people in the court. It is all related to your marriage with the Kong family. Your Majesty has nothing to do with the heirs of the Yan Shenggong lineage. The jubilee and other matters have not been settled yet, so you can bring them up, not only to clear up the criticism in the court, but also as His Majesty wishes. You go."

Liu Jian is very concerned about Li Dongyang.

Because Kong Hongxu's arson was exposed, and at the same time let the world know about the crimes Kong Hongxu committed back then, it was tantamount to announcing it to the world, so that the world knew that the descendants of the sage also committed crimes and were shielded by the court.

Not all of them condemned, most of them still felt that the imperial court should return Kong’s inheritance to a final case, and also criticized Li Dongyang’s cancellation of his daughter’s marriage with Kong’s marriage a lot, and some thought that Li Dongyang had made things worse.

Because Li Dongyang has been avoiding the members of the Kong family recently, this has deepened the criticism of the people in the court.

……

……

Li Dongyang was "inspired" by Liu Jian to represent the cabinet and even the court to meet the current nominal head of the Kong family, Kong Hongtai, Lord Yansheng.

The place I saw was not Li's house, but the Confucian Temple in the capital.

When Li Dongyang arrived, Kong Hongtai had been waiting for a long time.

"Mr. Li Ge, I finally saw you. Now the future safety of the Kong family depends on you alone." Kong Hongtai was about to salute Li Dongyang.

Li Dongyang shook his head and said, "You don't have to."

As he spoke, he reached out to help.

After the two sat down, Kong Hongtai also seemed very reserved.

Li Dongyang said: "You should return to Qufu earlier."

"Alas!" Kong Hongtai said, "I can't go back. My brother's affairs are now raging. My brother knows that he is ashamed of the court and intends to kill himself."

Li Dongyang frowned.

Want to commit suicide?You are dead!Even after death, I still think you are a character.

After doing so many evil things, how dare you still live?

It is said that if ordinary people offend you so many things, the court's laws will not tolerate it, and you are still like this, giving you a second chance to break the law?

"Nowadays, there are disputes within the Kong family about the succession of Duke Yansheng, but it is generally believed that the nephew should be adopted under my name to inherit the title, so..." Kong Hongtai proposed the Kong family's solution to this matter Method.

He is still the heir of Kong Wenshao, but he is no longer the son of Kong Hongxu, but adopted under the name of his uncle, Kong Hongtai.

This is in line with the imperial court's requirements for the inheritance of titles, that is, if the eldest son is deprived of the title or the order of successors due to a crime, the central idea will not be passed on to this branch anyway.

Adoption to someone else's name, isn't it not this one?

Li Dongyang frowned and said, "So what else do you think?"

Kong Hongtai lowered his head, and said with some shame: "The previous marriage, in fact... is about to come to fruition."

Li Dongyang almost slapped the table and left.

You Kong family talk about it, or use me, the daughter of a cabinet minister, as a bargaining chip, at the cost of sacrificing my daughter's happiness, and use the cabinet as your father-in-law to endorse your Kong family?
Why?
The engagement was finally broken. Could it be that just because your nephew was adopted by you, isn't he born of a sinful father?
What about self-deception?
In Ming Dynasty, or in the traditional feudal society, the issue of blood was taken seriously, and this stereotype has been running through all dynasties, which is also the basis of social status and clan concept.

Only when society is enlightened can such stereotypes be lifted.

But in this era, Li Dongyang can't accept the son of a rape, robbery and murderer as his son-in-law.

"Dongzhuang, I heard that you also had a daughter before, why didn't you think that Yan Shenggong will be passed down in your line?" Li Dongyang asked.

"what?"

Kong Hongtai was extremely surprised.

Li Dongyang said: "I know that the two of you brothers have a very strong relationship, there will be no such thing as a brother-in-law fight, but it does not mean the inheritance of the title, it must be done according to your Kong clan's rules, and the imperial court is still willing to stand by your side. "

Kong Hongtai looked embarrassed, not knowing how to respond.

Kong Hongtai's situation is exactly the appearance of a conflict between "family rules" and "laws of the country".

In name, Kong Hongxu was deprived of the title of Lord Yansheng because of a crime, but according to the family rules of the Kong family, Kong Hongxu is still the eldest son and has the right to inherit the family, so everything in the Kong family should be inherited by the eldest son of the Kong family.

Even if Kong Hongtai is Yan Shenggong, he would be bullied by his elder brother at home, and Kong Hongtai would complete the socializing and making friends outside, but when he returned home, he would be polite every time he saw his elder brother. He even wanted to kowtow to his elder brother in the past, because Kong Hongtai didn't have the time to call the shots in the Kong family.

Under such circumstances, how is Kong Hongtai eligible to have a son to inherit the title?
The Kong family needs you, Kong Hongtai, to complete the "putting order out of chaos" inherited by the Kong family, then you will have no heirs, and this cannot be shifted by Kong Hongtai's will.

In fact, Li Dongyang also understood this point. He didn't say it before, because he knew it would be useless to say it, and the affairs of the Kong family would not be changed because of the interference of a bachelor like him.

But now the public opinion is very unfavorable to Kong Hongxu, which means that the fate fell to Kong Hongtai's side. In order not to marry his daughter, Li Dongyang did not hesitate to tell his friends... You should give birth to a son yourself to inherit the title, so what's the matter? It's all settled, so let's stop talking about marriage in the future.

"You don't want to, or don't you dare?" Seeing that Kong Hongtai didn't answer, Li Dongyang couldn't help asking.

Kong Hongtai gritted his teeth and said, "I lost my father since childhood, and my elder brother is like my father."

"Ah."

Li Dongyang nodded, "No matter what your brother did wrong, I don't blame you. In fact, I have no right to decide this matter, and it depends on your majesty's opinion. There is another person...you should know who it is."

It's Zhang Zhou.

A character who cannot be avoided on the issue of the inheritance of the Confucian family, but who is kept secret.

Kong Hongtai said: "But...he is not willing to see him, nor is he willing to make any suggestions."

"That's right. Even the instigator like him dare not face this problem head-on. The reason is that the turmoil behind it is too great. His Majesty is still dealing with it coldly. Shouldn't you understand the joints? You want a stepchild to come You can't be Wen Shao under your name... The eldest son can't succeed, this is the foundation of Ming Dynasty's filial piety and etiquette. You can figure it out."

meaning is.

I don't object to you adopting a son under your name.

But definitely not Kong Wenshao.

Even if you really want to adopt your elder brother's son, why do you have to beat Kong Wenshao alone when your elder brother has so many sons?
He adopted him, but nothing has changed, not to mention I'm at odds with each other, even His Majesty's side is hard to deal with... Just say, this has been changed for a long time, how different is it from before?It's just that your nephew will call you father in the future?

Kong Hongtai said helplessly: "Then...then I'll go back and discuss."

Li Dongyang said: "For some things, it is better for you to decide by yourself. This is what the court wants to see and what I expect from you. Only in this way can the matter be resolved earlier. If you are still so timid, then the matter of inheritance may not There will be no results within a year... Do you want the lineage of Yan Shenggong to be passed on to the Kong family?"

"Understood." Kong Hongtai probably knew.

Either give birth to a son by himself, and the court will immediately give him the status of heir, or adopt Kong Hongxu's young son as his own son, so that there is no need to talk about marriage or not.

In a word... the Kong family must be decided by you, Kong Hongtai, and the emperor will give you convenience.

Otherwise, the emperor will have to consider the change of title inheritance.

……

……

Walled City.

Tang Yin has been very anxious recently.

He wanted to lead his troops away, but he couldn't, so he had to stay in the isolated city. There was no Ming army within a hundred miles, but there were Jurchens' forts and cities everywhere, and even big tribes such as the Huifa tribe watched over them.

For Tang Yin... Wang Shouren and Zhang Zhou marched too slowly.

It would take many days to fight Jianzhouwei. You are simply smearing the face of the Ming frontier army... If I, Tang, led [-] troops to attack Jianzhouwei, the battle ended in three days, and you fought hard. After ten days... still stand still?
Are you deliberately not coming to help me?

"Envoy Tang, since we are not going to send troops, when will we be released back to Ping'an Road? We have completed our task of cooperating with the Ming Dynasty to send troops, and now the soldiers in North Korea are exhausted. If we can no longer attack the city, please let my soldiers go back. That's okay." Our lord has an explanation."

Li Kejun has been "jumping up and down" in recent days.

As the coach of this group of people, Li Kejun was deprived of the authority of the coach, but Park Yuanzong did not dare to kill Li Kejun and his direct descendants of the army.

Even if Pu Yuanzong doesn't think about his own life, he still has to think about his wife, children and family members in North Korea.

No matter what Li Kejun said, he was also the direct descendant of Li Yanshanjun.

Tang Yindao: "His Majesty Ming has no orders, and the Duke of Lai and the governor of Liaodong have not sent anyone to send a message. Let's wait. But the 5000 reinforcements from North Korea, when will they arrive?"

Li Kejun was surprised: "At this time, we still use North Korea to send troops for reinforcements?"

"Why not?" Tang Yin's attitude also seemed very domineering, "If you don't come, it means that North Korea has not fulfilled His Majesty's will. It is resistance."

Originally, Li Kejun's attitude was still very arrogant, so he had no choice but to retreat after hearing the words.

That night, a letter written by Zhang Zhou was sent to Duobi City.

After Tang Yin finished reading, he didn't even eat his dinner. When Xu Jing came to deliver his meal, he saw Tang Yin sitting there feeling lost.

"Bohu, is something wrong?" Xu Jing saw Tang Yin's face was ashamed.

Tang Yin said: "Go and call Pu Yuanzong."

"he……"

Xu Jing thought for a while, nodded and said, "Okay."

After Pu Yuanzong was called into Tang Yin's bedroom, Tang Yin asked the guards at the door to close the door, and he asked seriously: "General Park, let me ask you, if your monarch is not suitable... I mean if, he is not suitable As the monarch again, do you think...North Korea should be done by you and those righteous people to set things right?"

"what?"

Pu Yuanzong understood as soon as he heard it, stood up suddenly, and stared at Tang Yin.

"Tang...Tang Shangcha...you...you won't let me go back and rebel? I..." Park Yuanzong's eyes almost popped out.

(End of this chapter)