The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 371 The Weasel Enters the Chicken Coop
The North Korean tribute team finally arrived in the capital.

It was also at the same time that Zhang Zhou met an "uninvited guest" in the right guard of Dingliao. He traveled thousands of miles north from Jiangnan again.

When Zhang Zhou found out about this and met each other in the past, Zhang Ye and his son were holding a bowl of plain noodles, sweating profusely from eating.

"Second brother." Zhang Ye was very excited after seeing Zhang Zhou, but he was reluctant to put down his chopsticks, "You wait for me to finish eating these few mouthfuls first. After passing Shenyang, I haven't eaten for two days."

After finishing speaking, after Zhang Ye drank all the noodles and soup, he looked at Zhang Zhou with a greasy face, with indescribable excitement in his eyes.

Zhang Zhou said: "Someone, you are not taking the usual path."

Zhang Ye slapped his thigh, startling his son who was still eating noodles. After glancing at him, he quickly comforted him, "Eat quickly. When you're full, go to fight for your second uncle."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhou understood that Zhang Ye and his son had come to "join the army".

……

Zhang Zhou was embarrassed to teach the eldest brother a lesson in front of his nephew, so he asked Zhang Ping to eat in the next room first, and then called him to the next room.

"Second brother, don't think that the eldest brother is here to eat and drink. You don't know the hard work of us father and son along the way. The money has been empty since we left Shanhaiguan, and we almost begged all the way. Fortunately, every time you pass by, as long as you report your name, there will be someone there to arrange meals and accommodation, but after passing through Shenyang, there are wars along the way, and you can't even eat..."

Zhang Ye complained to Zhang Zhou.

But no matter what Zhang Zhou heard, the father and son were "bluffing and deceiving" all the way under his banner.

But fortunately, the father and son's motives are still "simple", they just came to join him, otherwise, just relying on his reputation, they could cheat a lot of money.

Zhang Zhou said, "Didn't you go back to Nanjing?"

"Oh! Don't mention it." Zhang Ye said with a sad face, "After I go back, I will be your sister-in-law... Forget it, she can't be your sister-in-law now! I want to reconcile with him! I have suffered so much from him in this life, The festivities between the two of us are all because of her, she is a broom star..."

Zhang Zhou frowned and raised his hand: "Well, you don't need to tell me how you two get along. What do you mean by coming to Liaodong?"

"Join the army." Zhang Ye said, "You don't know that this brat ran away by himself. I arranged so much for him, but he ran back to Nanjing without saying a word. Why don't I escort him back to you? That's right. Second brother, you are already the Duke of Lai. You don’t know that anyone in Nanjing who has a relationship with our family is awesome. On the contrary, it’s you, the elder brother, and no one takes a direct look at me. It is said that my dog's eyes see people as inferior, and I failed to fulfill my brother's responsibility when you were in your infancy. Is your brother that kind of person? They misunderstood me!"

Zhang Zhou thought to himself that the thickness of the skin is still different from person to person.

"Someone, the family will be separated when it is separated. I don't blame you. You take your Yangguan road, and I will take my single-plank bridge."

"No, second brother, you are the Yangguan Dao!"

Zhang Zhou said coldly: "I broke through the single-plank bridge. You said that the road of the imperial examination, as well as joining the army and fighting, which one is not a single-plank bridge? How many people are walking, and how many people are in the early stage? And someone you just call Jin Those who were born with the key, have their own foundation even after the separation of the family, and are able to manage the family and business even now, why are you wading in troubled waters?"

"Ugh!"

Zhang Ye sighed heavily and said, "That's my fault, brother, I see people as inferior. If you want to scold me, you can scold me, but the child is right. Zhang Ping looks like a man, but why can't he? The family business Now they are all taken over by your sister-in-law's family, and their surname is almost no longer Zhang. If Zhang Ping continues to do business, won't he be a landlord, no matter how awesome he is? He will be finished in this life!"

Zhang Zhou said: "Joining the army is not a good thing."

"Isn't there a second brother here? Both of us know that the children of the next generation are spoiled and spoiled. If they can't bear the hardships, then I will send him directly to you. I will not leave as a brother, just Follow you, see who rushes forward, even if it is the kind that holds its head up and rushes forward, if the elder brother frowns, I will regard you as an elder brother!"

Zhang Ye patted his chest, as if he was desperately trying to rise up for the Zhang family.

Zhang Zhoudao: "It's useless for you to treat me as a father. What are you doing if I ask you to be a soldier?"

"Go ahead, just greet me for any hard work!" Zhang Ye vowed, "Look at me, I have come thousands of miles to find my brother, and I am determined to come with you even after three meals a day. You still don't understand what it means to be a brother. Is it because I can’t go back to Nanjing anymore, you just give me a hard job, I’ll take it as a redemption, if possible, you can give Zhang Ping a small general post in the future, so that he can also give me this lineage If I go down, I'll be content. Woohoo."

Speaking of the latter, Zhangye was already in tears.

Of course, Zhang Zhou didn't think Zhang Ye was crying tears of remorse, but thought of the hard work along the way, and that he had moved himself.

Just as he was talking, "Brother Zhang" came from the door, and then Zhu Feng brought someone in, and saw a man snotting and crying at Zhang Zhou, he didn't know what to say.

"Zhang, have you seen Zhijie from my Zhang family?" Zhang Zhou asked.

Zhu Feng shook his head honestly.

Zhang Ye wiped his nose, and asked: "This is Marquis An Bian, the Second Young Master Zhu, right? When my younger brother was in trouble, you were lucky to have you. I went to pay my respects. Did you forget?"

Although Zhu Feng understood Zhang Ye's identity, she was still a little scared.

Others don't know about the mess in Zhang Zhou's house, but he came from Nanjing with him, so he knows it well.

Zhang Zhoudao: "He came here to ask me to join the army. Doesn't it just happen that North Korea wants to bring a batch of military rations? Or let him go with him and let him go to a foreign country to see and hear."

"What? North Korea?" Zhangye almost protested when he heard it.

But then I thought, if I said before that I would rush forward with my head held high, and if I refused the first job I got up to, wouldn't my words be like farting?
Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Don't you dare? It's okay, I'll give you some money and send you back to Nanjing."

"No, I am not afraid of hard work as a brother, nor is he afraid of your eldest nephew. To be loyal to Daming and serve in the army has always been the ambition of my father and son. As long as you arrange it well, we father and son will go to battle." Zhang Ye Naturally, I also heard about the subversion of the royal power in North Korea.

I probably also know that Zhang Zhou is now threatening North Korea. If I go to North Korea in the name of Zhang Zhou's brother, it won't mean that the weasel has entered the chicken coop.

Zhu Feng said: "North Korea's allocation of food has not yet been settled."

Zhang Zhou said unhappily: "Then let all the people go to Ping'an Road to wait, just now to test the pressure resistance ability of the so-called loyal ministers in North Korea, and send troops in the name of transporting food. There are not many people, just two thousand will do." , Bring artillery and enter. It doesn’t take two hundred miles to enter, and reinforcements can be added at any time, and the food will be transported away. If the other party is a moth, then this group of people will be the vanguard to capture Hanyang City.”

Zhu Feng asked: "Who leads the army?"

As he spoke, his eyes were still aimed at Zhang Ye, which meant that he would not let you, the eldest brother, lead the army, would he?

Zhang Zhoudao: "Zhijie, as a famous general of the Ming Dynasty, you have been doing nothing in Dingliao Youwei. It really insults your reputation. Oh, you still have ability."

Zhu Feng was also very ashamed when he heard the words.

It seems that he himself knows that he has nothing but the reputation of the god of war. As for the ability...isn't he just fooling around?

"Just bring two thousand soldiers into North Korea yourself. Remember that you don't need to enter any cities along the way, and don't even disturb the villages. You can't march more than [-] miles a day. Send scouts to investigate the situation everywhere. If there is any change Send someone to pass on the message immediately."

When Zhang Zhou said this, he looked at Zhang Ye and said, "So-and-so, don't stick around anymore, go back and eat more, and leave in the next two days. Make meritorious service as soon as possible, so I can arrange an errand for you father and son."

Zhang Ye gritted his teeth and said: "Second brother, just look at me, I will never cause trouble for Marquis Anbian, so I will be a pawn diligently, carry the food myself when transporting food, and charge forward when fighting. ..."

"Okay, okay, arrange a place for him. It's not annoying enough!"

Zhang Zhou really didn't want to hear it.

He also thought in his heart that if Zhangye and his son could really draw a line with the tigress at home, it would be okay to help a little, but he also knew that this pair of father and son was not easy to save.

……

……

The capital, Fengtian Hall.

Early court meeting.

Zhu Youtang sat there, feeling a little depressed, but he was still listening to the endless debates about whether the courtiers below should let Daming establish the king of Korea.

Confucianism believes that the affairs of the vassal state below should be decided by itself, so as to reflect the benevolence of the suzerain state.

But Zhu Youtang said long ago that this was not what he wanted, but no matter how you say it, he couldn't stand those officials talking about things with allusions and precedents, and even described Tang Yin's assistance in Park Yuanzong's depose of Li as the work of a traitor. Tang Yin should be called back to Beijing as soon as possible to check if there is any hidden secret behind it, and Tang Yin should be punished.

After the court meeting ended.

Zhu Youtang followed up with the members of the hearing office and summoned the cabinet to the Qianqing Palace to discuss matters, but he did not find any officials from the six ministries, seven ministers, and five temples.

Roughly speaking, besides the cabinet, he only trusts the listeners.

The temporary yamen of the Shang Hearing Office has become a powerful yamen that can compete with the cabinet or even surpass the cabinet. Although there are still so many people, the meaning is very different, and even Liu Jian can feel the pressure.

"Gentlemen, now the North Korean envoys have arrived in the capital, and the Ministry of Rites has met twice, and they also proposed to have an audience, but I have not agreed."

"Because I haven't thought about whether I should interfere in North Korea's internal affairs. If I do, whether it will be considered that Ming has contributed to the civil strife in North Korea. I am also very anxious."

Although Zhu Youtang said so, even Liu Jian and Li Dongyang understood that what the emperor was really worried about was the courtiers' opposition to the establishment of the Korean king, rather than the pressure from public opinion.

Zhu Youtang said: "After thinking about it, I decided to adopt Bingkuan's advice, which is to decide whether North Korea can help Ming Dynasty to pacify Liaobei, so as to decide whether to choose the new leader internally. In exchange."

Liu Jian said: "Your Majesty, the matter of Guo Zuo cannot be regarded as a transaction."

Zhu Youtang shook his head: "Before I agreed to let Tang Yin interrogate the lord of North Korea, the reason was that North Korea secretly collude with Jianzhou, Haixi Jurchen, etc., endangering the interests of Ming's frontiers, and committing acts of disobedience. Now if they can do their best to help Daming pacified the frontiers and let them decide the candidate for the ruler, so I don’t ask too much, isn’t it a kindness?”

Don't say that transactions are not transactions.

This is Ender.

North Korea should be grateful, not picky.

Zhu Youtang said: "Actually, I don't mind. North Korea failed to fulfill its duties as a vassal, and failed to fulfill its duties as a minister, so as to take back its land and resettle its people. But I am also concerned that North Korea has always been a courtier to Ming Dynasty. The way, this time I didn’t go into it, otherwise, given the current situation, why can’t it be done overnight?”

Zhang Mao said with a smile: "Your Majesty, this is an alliance under the city. It's up to the Koreans not to agree."

Xie Qian said: "Mr. Ying, don't talk nonsense."

"It's the old man's slip of the tongue. Isn't this the one who speaks freely in the inner court without hiding it? Your Majesty, please forgive the old minister's reckless and outspoken words." Zhang Mao admitted his mistake to Zhu Youtang.

Zhu Youtang was not angry at all.

What I want is someone to come out and fight with your civil servants. Bingkuan is not in the court, and if Zhang Mao, the leader of martial arts, is a melon in front of your civil officials, then what is the balance?You civil servants have the final say, can't I just stamp it on you as a rubber stamp?

Zhu Youtang said: "It is precisely because Ming gained military superiority that it can not only deter the barbarians in Liaodong and Liaobei, but also deter North Korea's monarchs and ministers, so today's achievements can be achieved. If we don't seek future stability from it today Guarantee, do you expect that Liaodong will withdraw its troops in the future, and when Ming is unable to dispatch troops and generals in Liaodong, can you expect North Korea to abide by its ministers?"

Miss this village, not this store.

After Liu Jian heard the words, he cupped his hands and said, "The old minister seconded the proposal."

Now even Li Dongyang and Xie Qian are a little puzzled, why did you Liu Jian give up so quickly?

Isn't it good to fight?

Zhu Youtang nodded and said: "Old Liu Ge, you should also know that in the past two years, apart from the disasters in North Korea, disasters such as drought and floods have also prevailed in various places in Ming Dynasty. The planning is a test for the Ming government treasury. Let North Korea contribute money and food to ensure the stability of Liaodong, not because I deliberately made things difficult."

"Liaodong is stable, and North Korea is also stable. What I have done is to help North Korea sweep away foreign troubles. If they just stand on the sidelines, they will not be able to explain to the soldiers of Ming Dynasty. The rituals and music are nothing more than that."

Liu Jian continued to bow his hands, tantamount to acquiescing to Zhu Youtang's statement.

The court's financial pressure was too great.

Now he can pass on this kind of pressure, even if in some respects he is really making things difficult for the North Koreans, even if he is riding on other people's necks, but for the long-term peace and stability of Ming Dynasty, Liu Jian endured it.

"Okay." Zhu Youtang said, "Then issue the decree. The power of discretion is decided by Bingkuan. I delegated the power to him, but I actually handed over the problem to him. I believe that he will not lose to Guochao in Liaodong. interests, and will not harm the people of Liaodong, he will definitely find a plan that can be accepted by North Korea."

……

……

What was not negotiated in the court was passed by the inner court because of the "transaction law" proposed by Zhang Zhou.

Back to the cabinet value room.

Li Dongyang said bluntly: "Once the news is announced, I am afraid that there will be many opponents of the officials in the court, which will easily cause the court to be uneasy. Does Mr. Liu Ge think that the trend of court discussion is developing into direct remonstrance, and it often goes against His Majesty's advice? Do you think it's easy to touch His Majesty's reverse scale?"

Liu Jian shook his head and said, "It's the minister's responsibility to speak out directly, and I have no objection. I'm just proceeding from the reality. Daming can't stand the trouble."

Li Dongyang said: "But if we continue to torment North Korea, I'm afraid people will say that I am not benevolent or righteous."

Liu Jian asked: "Is it more important to live and work in peace and contentment for the people of Ming Dynasty, or the well-being of the people of North Korea?"

Li Dongyang did not answer.

"Zhang Bingkuan's pacification of Jurchen in Liaodong has indeed helped the people of North Korea, didn't he?" Liu Jian felt helpless, and to Xie Qian and Li Dongyang's ears, his words were more of an excuse, "I can even understand The lord of North Korea and the Jurchen secretly communicated and discussed the matter of withdrawing troops and exchanging benefits, all because of the last resort in the extraordinary times."

"Things in this world are not black and white. Does the lord of North Korea really have a disobedient heart towards Daming, to the point where he has to change? Or is it Zhang Zhou who created something out of nothing to provoke the relationship between the suzerain and the vassal state?" contradiction?"

Li Dongyang nodded and said: "I understand, no one is wrong."

Liu Jiandao: "Indeed, from the perspectives of Jurchen, North Korea, Zhang Bingkuan, and His Majesty, no one is wrong. They always think that it is others who are wrong. But things are often like this. The interests will always belong to one's own side, and only those who think they are right Sometimes we are too negligent about what His Majesty knows and thinks. On the contrary, Zhang Bingkuan...he seems self-willed, but everything is from His Majesty's perspective."

Xie Qian smiled and said, "Zhongtang, you are exaggerating Zhang Bingkuan to the sky."

Li Dongyang shook his head: "Yu Qiao, we are not praising him, it is difficult to check and balance. We have to seek a compromise. This has been happening since he entered the court. It has not changed until now."

"You are all right." Xie Qian said with a smile without arguing.

Liu Jian said: "East Liaodong is in peace, the next step is to prepare for the grassland battle. This is a waste of money and people. I heard that the iron mine in Yongping Prefecture has only been mined for a few months, and it has already caused local disputes. There was no riot."

Li Dongyang nodded and said: "Benefits come first, who is willing to give up?"

Liu Jian sighed: "North Koreans, under the pressure of Ming soldiers, have no choice but to give up the interests of the country. As the British Lord said, for North Korea, they have no choice. Since even they want to get things done earlier Solve it, even if it means sacrificing some interests, what kind of benevolence and righteousness should we care about?"

Xie Qian said with a smile: "Extorting others has become what you want? This world..."

Liu Jiandao: "The morals of the world are hard to figure out, isn't it? When Zhang Bingkuan proposed to send troops to the Jurchen years ago, who would have thought that things would develop to what they are today? Speaking of which, Zhang Bingkuan alone changed Liaodong, Jurchen and North Korea. It also changed the Ming government!"

(End of this chapter)