The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 448
Early the next morning.

As Minister of the Ministry of War, Zhang Zhou appeared at the court meeting in Fengtian Hall together with the "Xiong Da and Xiong Er" of the Ministry of War, that is, the left servant Xiong Chong and the right servant Xiong Xiu.

Zhang Zhou showed his face in front of the crowd for the first time after returning to the court, which naturally attracted too much attention. A lot of people had commented on him before the court meeting, and they probably felt that the court would not be easy to calm down in the future.

But Zhang Zhou was also a Jinshi, and he still had ways and channels to communicate with some Confucian officials. Moreover, there were "fewer and fewer people" who opposed him in the court, and his attitude towards him turned to ease, and even chose to be neutral. Or more and more people tend to him.

The meeting begins.

Zhu Youtang first asked Xiao Jing to announce in public the appointment of Zhang Zhou as Minister of War, because the matter had been discussed in advance in the court, so he did not encounter any resistance.

"Bingkuan, you should first report on the suppression of bandits on the ground in Shandong."

Zhu Youtang first wanted Zhang Zhou to "show his face" in front of people.

Zhang Zhou personally participated in too few battles. It seems that the bandits of Shandong Zhongshi and Twelve were able to be surrounded by Zhang Zhou himself.

Coupled with the fact that the prince Zhu Houzhao participated in this battle, Zhu Youtang knew that it was just an ordinary bandit suppression operation, and he would make a special letter about it.

Zhang Zhou immediately explained the process of this battle to the emperor as the Minister of the Ministry of War and the deputy commander of the front-line bandit suppression: "... After the prince judged the situation, he thought that the back mountain was the way for the bandits to escape, so he personally led hundreds of troops to intercept the bandits. By the side of the road, when the bandits' chariots and horses passed by, they intercepted them with soldiers, and overthrew the bandits without bloodshed. The prince is brave and courageous, and he wanted to go forward to fight the bandits himself, but it was the minister who stopped him and did not let him take the risk himself."

If these words are presented in the form of memorials, it may be nothing.

But Zhang Zhou seemed to be telling a story, and when he told it in the court, the ministers almost didn't fry the pot and curse people on the spot.

Are you kidding?

It's fine to take the prince to exterminate the bandits, but let the prince go to battle in person?

Listen to what you mean, if you don't stop him, the prince is going to fight the bandits, right?

Zhu Youtang said: "The crown prince has always been affected by the military and political affairs in the Northwest, and it is inevitable that some children will be immature and fearless under the influence of his ears and eyes. I have also instructed him many times not to act emotionally. Bingkuan, you are very obstructive. Well, he was not put in danger, but he deserves credit for planning this battle."

The ministers present were ashamed when they heard this.

Many people are thinking.

Your Majesty, can't you tell that Zhang Bingkuan is actually fooling you?The prince planned it himself, Zhang Bingkuan simply pushed the credit to the prince. How much knowledge can a ten-year-old brat have?

Anyone can sort out this idea, but it's hard to say, only Xie Qian, who likes to tease, came out and laughed: "Mr. Cai Guo is really good at teaching the prince, but at this moment, he puts the prince's strategy first?"

Zhang Zhoudao: "Old Xie Ge is right. In fact, I originally planned to lead the army myself, but the bandits came so fiercely that they stopped on both sides of the canal, and the local government did nothing. At this time, the prince and I went north, and we were forced to do nothing. But don't underestimate the prince, the prince's military and political insights are often commendable, since the prince's strategy is appropriate, why don't I listen to it?"

The implication is that we fight out of compulsion.

The enemy was right in front of us, and we didn't fight head-on with Zhong Twelve's main force. We just went to take over Zhong Twelve's lair, and then went north without wanting to fight.

Using the prince's strategy... It's just a cottage, do you need to worry about whose strategy it is?If the result is victory, that's fine.

Xie Qian shrugged and didn't bother to say anything.

……

……

After talking about the bandit suppression in Shandong, Zhu Youtang was in a good mood.

Originally, he wanted to criticize the crown prince's trip to Nanjing in the court, and even punish the lecturer of the East Palace, after all, the lecturer of the East Palace did not teach his son well.

However, because Zhang Zhou was a member of the lecturer in the East Palace, the emperor seemed to have forgotten about it, as if he had allowed the prince to go out, so the matter was exposed.

privately...

Perhaps Zhu Youtang will teach his son a lesson.

Afterwards, Li Rong announced in public that the emperor sent Zhang Zhou and Chen Kuan to cooperate with the elimination and replacement of soldiers in the capital camp.

As soon as this news came out, the court immediately felt a depressing atmosphere, especially on the side of Xiban Wuxun, who could obviously feel the great pressure.

Mobilizing the Beijing camp is equivalent to mobilizing the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. The stability of the capital guarding the army also involves all aspects. After all, most of the honored ministers of the Ming Dynasty work in the Beijing camp, which is equivalent to mobilizing the interests of the Daming ministers... There are too many things involved. In the past, it was not that Ming did not want to reform. In the end, it was not until the Zhengde period that the initial reform was completed, or it was born through external factors such as the Central Plains rebellion.

To put it bluntly, everyone knows that there are many disadvantages, but they dare not move.

"The minister takes orders." Zhang Zhou finally walked out, looking vigorous and determined.

Xiong Xiu, the right servant of the Ministry of War, came out and said, "I would like to report to Your Majesty that the affairs of the three major battalions in Beijing are related to the well-being of tens of thousands of soldiers and the common people, and it affects the whole body. Please think twice before making a decision."

It wasn't that other people came out to object, but Zhang Zhou's subordinates came out, which meant that the backyard of the military department's office was on fire.

Zhu Youtang said: "Just because of being involved, do you have to be sick and not to be treated? Since the early years of Chenghua, the Beijing camp can be said to be a pool of stagnant water. It’s nothing. Now that the frontier government of Ming Dynasty is determined to forge ahead, if there is stagnant water under my feet, how can I rest assured that I will hand over the guards of Gyeonggi to them? British Duke!”

Zhang Mao stood there, shaking his head and listening to the commotion.

Suddenly being called by the emperor, he opened his eyes and walked forward slowly, and said with an old-fashioned look: "The old minister is here."

Zhu Youtang sternly said, "What's your opinion on this matter?"

Zhang Mao looked back at Zhang Zhou, and then said: "The old minister also thinks that there are many malpractices in the Beijing camp. It is only because of years of accumulation that the accumulated evils are hard to eliminate. It is the duty of the old minister to get rid of the bad government. However, the old minister is now I am already old and faint, I am afraid that it will be difficult to take on this responsibility."

If it were someone else, if he complained so much in front of the emperor, he would definitely be disgusted by the emperor, and he would even be kicked out of the court directly.

But Zhang Mao has the confidence to complain so much.

He even used this to show that he didn't want to get involved in the muddy waters, and let Zhang Bingkuan do it himself. Don't want my old man Zhang to offend so many people for this.

"You are old, and you are indeed unable to do many things." Zhu Youtang said, "But you have to contribute to this. Your son Zhang Rui has always been famous in the army. It is proposed that if you want him to have more experience in the army, then take this opportunity and let him carry out this matter with Bing Kuan! Do you have any questions?"

"what?"

When Zhang Mao heard it, what is it called?

I didn't go in person, let my son Zhang Rui go?that kid...

"Your Majesty, the dog's condition is just right..." Zhang Mao meant that if I don't go, neither can my son.

Zhu Youtang said: "Bingkuan cured your son's soft feet a long time ago. I saw his performance in the selection of the palace guards earlier. Do you think I'm blind? That's it. Already!"

As soon as this remark came out, not only Wen Chen, but also many people in Wu Xun snickered.

He was obviously laughing at the old man Zhang stealing chickens and losing money.

While trying to get away from the incident and watch the fire from the other side, the result is to put his son in. You, old man Zhang, go up in person or have your reputation to support you. If you don't die, you have to peel off your skin, right?

Xie Qian came out again and said: "Your Majesty, since this matter is of great importance, should we first investigate with the Ministry of War and the Governor's Mansion? After the spring is warm and the flowers bloom next year, we will draw up a plan for elimination and replacement?"

This also shows that the cabinet does not oppose reform.

I just think it should be done step by step. If the people in the capital camp are forced too hard, it will easily lead to mutiny and the like, then it is not good.

Zhu Youtang said: "I just want to weed out the old, the weak, the superfluous and the people who don't deserve their names, and spend so much time and effort? Or do you think that this matter should be done in a lenient manner? Difficult for him to accomplish?"

Xie Qian glanced sideways at Zhang Zhou and said, "Mr. Cai Guo has just taken over the Ministry of War, and now it's the end of the year. Many things should be pushed forward slowly."

"No need." Zhu Youtang said, "Any abscess needs to be eradicated once. The slower it is, the more likely it will be unclogged and dirty. I have confidence in Bingkuan."

Xie Qian turned his head and glanced at Li Dongyang, probably wanting Li Dongyang, a think tank, to come out and object.

This reflects the "big picture" of the cabinet.

He didn't seem to be very opposed to it, just suggested that it should be delayed, but Xie Qian could tell that the emperor wanted to use Zhang Zhou's reform hand to let Zhang Zhou firmly hold the Beijing Camp and the Ministry of War in his own hands.

While eliminating redundancy, Zhang Zhou will inevitably promote a group of new talents, and even dispatch many cronies from all over the Nine Sides to the Beijing camp. By then, the military and government of Ming Dynasty will be almost controlled by Zhang Zhou. After Zhang Zhou's affairs are completed, it will be difficult to object.

But both Liu Jian and Li Dongyang chose to remain silent when faced with such problems.

It is understandable to see, but can the general direction become dynamic?
……

……

The reform of Beijing camp was completed, and then Zhu Youtang mentioned the matter of household registration statistics in Ming Dynasty.

According to the tradition of the Ming Dynasty, every few years, the number of households, population, and the number of acres of fields in the Ming Dynasty will be counted, and the appropriate year is the statistical year.

According to the statistics before the end of the 13th year of Hongzhi in history, "... at the age of 40 and nine households, five thousand and eighty-five thousand eight thousand and nine hundred and thirty-seven households, and eight hundred and twenty-sixty-nine thousand and ninety-eight thousand and one hectares of fields... ..."

In other words, by the 13th year of Hongzhi in the Ming Dynasty, the population had exceeded 5000 million.

This was before sweet potatoes and corn officially entered China... and Zhang Zhou's goal was to introduce these two crops to China. As for potatoes... this kind of crop is difficult to be widely planted in places with poor land, as if hundreds of years later , basically for ordinary people, the poor eat sweet potatoes, and those with better conditions eat steamed buns... These two kinds of coarse grains almost run through a person's life. Potatoes are still a luxury for most families.

Because the statistical results of the provinces have not yet been fully reported, and because of the existence of Zhang Zhou, the population of Daming has actually increased compared to the statistics.

Zhang Zhou was also unable to make a perfect summary based on the knowledge he knew in history.

to be honest.

It is the butterfly effect he produced, which has made a lot of historical knowledge no longer have absolute authority, and now there are only natural disasters, and it will probably develop according to historical records.

Now let Zhang Zhou speculate when the Tatars invaded the border...that is no different from nonsense.

In terms of personnel, everything went astray because of the expansion of Zhang Zhou's influence.

……

……

The meeting ended.

Zhang Zhou, as Minister of the Ministry of War, naturally someone came to congratulate him, and even the first one to congratulate him was Xie Qian who had a verbal dispute with Zhang Zhou before.

Xie Qian said with a smile: "Bingkuan, from now on, the court will live together, you have to work hard for the court."

Zhang Zhouxin said, is this an expectation without any nutrition?Or is your eloquent Xie Yuqiao so clumsy that you have nothing to say?
Just as he was talking, Li Rong walked in and said to Zhang Zhou: "Zhang Butang, His Majesty has just ordered that you have just returned to Beijing recently, and there are many affairs involved in the Ordnance Factory, Wang Gong Factory, etc., and you still need to personally supervise them. As for the matter of court participation, it can be avoided if possible."

"Exemption from court participation?" Xie Qian frowned upon hearing this.

For officials of the Ming Dynasty, those who are generally old and sick, and the emperor is considerate, can be exempted from court attendance.

A young and vigorous person like Zhang Zhou looks like a dragon and a tiger, and he doesn't look like an old man who can't go to court every day...

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding."

Li Rong smiled and said: "If you want to thank you, you might as well go to Xinuang Pavilion with our family. Your Majesty is already waiting in Xinuang Pavilion. In addition, His Majesty has an order, and the Auditor's Office will officially act today."

Li Dongyang came over and asked: "Isn't the person who will be paid in the listening department still undecided?"

"Zhang Butang has already made an appointment." Li Rong reminded.

Probably means.

It doesn't matter whether someone else is a member of the Shangdiao Department. What His Majesty wants is this Zhang Shangshu in the Shangdiao Department. He is the head of a Yamen by himself.

Don't you guys like to find a group of useless people to help him, meaning to weaken the position of the court?

That's fine.

If Zhang Zhou's subordinates are incompetent, it is enough for the emperor to listen to his opinion alone.

Before the emperor had decided on the members of the Shangting Office, he directly asked Li Ronglai to announce the opening of the Shangting Office, which was tantamount to defeating all the ministers... It also made them realize that the emperor's so-called Shangting Office was only for Zhang It was set up by Zhou Yi alone, which was to force civil servants to arrange capable people in the hearing office to check and balance Zhang Zhou.

Instead of finding a group of incompetent people to hold back.

"It's time to thank you." Zhang Zhou said with a smile, "Please trouble Eunuch Li to lead the way."

"Please!"

Originally, Lin Han, Shen Lu and others had not waited to come to congratulate Zhang Zhou, but Zhang Zhou had already been called away by Li Rong.

Moreover, he was admitted to the inner court alone, and the treatment was obviously higher than that of the chief minister of the cabinet.

Any minister can tell that the layout of the court is completely different from the past.

……

……

Xinuan Pavilion next to Qianqing Palace.

At this time, the concubine Xian's mother and son had moved out of this place, and this place became Zhu Youtang's usual office. In the cold winter months, Zhu Youtang probably felt like he didn't want to go out when he entered it.

After the emperor and ministers greeted each other.

Zhu Youtang said: "Bingkuan, I know that we should go out more, but it's too cold today. There was a snowfall yesterday, and there were petitions to help the victims from all over the capital. It is said that there were still troubles in the Central Plains last year. Drought, people gathered around the capital, I can't do anything about natural disasters and man-made disasters... "

No matter how good the year is, there will be disasters and victims.

In these years, it is all dependent on the sky, and the people rely too much on the weather, and it is useless to rely on the relief of the imperial court.

In other words, the intentions of the upper echelons of the imperial court were good, and no emperor wanted to poach his own corner, but not all disasters were reported truthfully, and not every grain of food was distributed to the victims.

This leads to a disconnection of information and communication between upper and lower.

"I asked the palace to collect thousands of taels of silver, buy some winter clothes, and distribute them to the victims outside the capital. In addition, porridge shops have been opened around the capital recently. I hope that this winter, there will be no one. Poverty and displacement, and lost their lives, they will all be able to return to their hometown safely in the coming year."

Zhu Youtang embodies the generosity of a benevolent king.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty, I don't know much about disaster relief, so I can't share your worries."

"I don't need to rely on you everywhere. If you are needed for such a small matter as disaster relief, then you are too busy?" Zhu Youtang smiled.

Judging from Zhu Youtang's expression, it also reflected that the situation of the refugees around the capital was actually the best in the past.

People in the Central Plains are usually the first to gather around the capital when disaster strikes, because Shuntian Mansion is the closest place for communication between the emperor and the people, and everything that happens is also the easiest to reach the emperor's ears through some channels... The time limit for disaster relief Sex is also the best.

"Bingkuan, let me show you something good."

Zhu Youtang dragged Zhang Zhou to his desk in Xinuange.

Then he opened a wooden box, and inside was a pile of things that looked like official documents.

"Your Majesty, this is..."

Zhang Zhou didn't understand what kind of strange interest Zhu Youtang had again.

Zhu Youtang said: "These are alchemy pills that I found from various places, but I don't understand them very well, please refer to them for details..."

Zhang Zhou understood it after hearing it.

In fact, in Zhu Youtang's heart, he still tended to treat this benevolent minister as an alchemist.

In other words, Zhu Youtang's dream of immortality was almost entirely pinned on him, Zhang Bingkuan.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty, if ordinary herbs in this world can make people live longer, then there are probably people who live forever in this world. Your Majesty should not put too much energy on this aspect."

Dismantling is also to be dismantled.

"I don't want longevity, I want to prolong my life, and I want to be healthy, it's not beyond human nature, right?"

Zhu Youtang said, "I also know that I shouldn't ask for immortal grass from the gods, but I have also read a lot of classics and learned that since ancient times, there are still many old people over a hundred years old. I will take a step back, even if I let me strengthen my body." After 15 years of fitness, I can see Ping Grassland in person, and I am also satisfied. Bingkuan, what good strategy do you have?"

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Your Majesty, I am afraid that you will not be compensated for your emptiness."

Zhu Youtang waved his hands and said: "Don't be afraid, my health is much better now than in the past few years, even if you take some strong medicine, I can still stand it! If you are a sick child all year round, it is really better to live a few years in a hurry! Bingkuan, what good remedy do you have, just use it, I can stand it!"

(End of this chapter)