The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 452
Yang Peng, as the eunuch of the imperial horse supervisor, has often been in and out of the palace gate recently, and his task is to communicate with Zhang Zhou about the affairs of the Beijing camp.

Chen Kuan was coordinating the streamlining and layoff work of the Beijing camp, but he was coerced by Yang Peng, the real horse eunuch, in many matters. Part of the military order of the Beijing camp.

The capital, in the school grounds of Yanwu Hall.

Yang Peng and Zhang Zhou were doing some inspections, and incidentally reported on the recent errands: "...the British government turned a blind eye to the Beijing camp, but I always felt that he would do something. , Master Zhang, you should be more careful, all kinds of rumors in the capital are very unfavorable to you."

"For example?" Zhang Zhou asked.

Yang Pengdao: "The vassals headed by Ning Fan are admonishing His Majesty, saying that they rely too much on you. As for the officials in charge of ceremonies, they seem to have a lot of opinions on you. When it comes to military and political affairs, they can delay it." Zetuo... The Governor's Mansion is headed by the Duke of England. Recently, the abolition of the three major battalions has been blamed or ignored... and the officials... You should know this better than us. I'm afraid that some unsightly people will cause trouble for you now."

Even Yang Peng could feel that Zhang Zhou was surrounded by enemies.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "It's okay, I'm used to it."

Just as he was talking, a group of people came out from the inside, including Zhu Feng, Wang Qiong and others, and they also came to inspect the martial arts hall.

Wang Qiong was officially promoted to the left servant of the household department, and he can be regarded as the number one figure in the capital. Wang Qiong himself "admired" Zhu Feng very much. As a "consultant", when it comes to major military drills or exercises, he will attend as a special guest.

"Cai Guogong."

"Zhang Shangshu!"

A group of people on the opposite side saluted Zhang Zhou.

In addition to Wang Qiong and Zhu Feng, there are also two principals transferred from the household department. They are not Jinshi in the 12th year of Hongzhi, but the ninth year of Hongzhi.

Now when the Ministry of Officials allocates manpower to Zhang Zhou, it also deliberately avoids sharing a yearly friendship with Zhang Zhou, which means to form a certain check and balance on Zhang Zhou.

As for the Xiangdang... not to mention Jinshi from Nanzhili, even a Jinshi from the south would not be transferred to Zhang Zhou... But this is not a problem for Zhang Zhou.

"The classes will start after the next year. The Northwest dispatched the students from the capital to study martial arts, mainly the generals from the three sides and Liaodong." Wang Qiong said, "But I don't know how to progress with the mission of Siping Juzhen, the capital of the slaves? I heard that recently It has always been supported by the capital of Liaodong, and if Boan does not return to Liaodong, the stall will not be able to support it."

Wang Qiong has a big picture.

What he was worried about was that Zhang Zhou and Wang Shouren's half-finished business of pacifying Jurchen, or the affairs of Pingjing in Liaobei, had come to an end halfway.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Naturally, it will continue after the next year. There were as many as 10,000+ Jurchens resettled before the year. After the beginning of spring, we will sweep around again. By the end of next year, Nuer Gandusi will be settled. Your Majesty's meaning, or We must select suitable generals from the Yanwu Hall, and go to Liaodong to complete the unfinished business of Xinjian Bo."

Wang Qiong actually didn't want to go to Liaodong himself.

Fighting Jurchen is still too low-level for aspiring civil servants and generals in this era.

Obviously there are Tatars who want to fight, why do you have to make trouble with those humble Jurchens?Of course, people with lofty ideals in this era would never have imagined that it would be these Liaodong Jian slaves whom they despised that would threaten the stability of the Ming Dynasty in the future.

……

……

Many people came to the Martial Arts Hall that day.

It was the last inspection of the site years ago, and the site will be used as the basis for the teaching of students after the year.

The lecturers of class three have already been set.

Zhang Zhou is the head coach, but he doesn't usually appear in the martial arts hall.

Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling will be the instructors of the Xunchens, Zhu Feng will be the instructors of the generals, and Lu Wan, who will return to Beijing after a while, will be the instructor of the civil servants.

It is equivalent to saying that Zhang Zhou is the leader, Lu Wan is the deputy, and then Zhu Feng and the Zhang family brothers.

As for the implementation of the specific task of teaching skills, Liu Gui and other people who have followed Wang Shouren to the grassland battlefield will be in charge. As for the Yanwu Hall, the emperor has also appointed a "guardian eunuch", which is equivalent to coming here to be responsible for daily training and training. Supervising... Originally, the emperor wanted to use Cao Shun, the eunuch in charge of the Xuan Mansion who assisted Wang Shouren in the Battle of Weining Sea, to complete it.

But later, Zhu Houzhao personally recommended him to his father, and then Liu Jin, Grand Duke Liu, became the first eunuch guarding Yanwutang.

Except for Lu Wan who is still in Liaodong and has not arrived at the capital, the rest of the instructors and main teaching staff are already in the capital, and they have to report to the "principal" Zhang Zhou first.

Of course, the nominal principal is not Zhang Zhou, but Zhu Youtang himself.

Even when the school started this time, Zhu Youtang made it clear that he would attend in person, and the start of the school would probably be after the Lantern Festival, around the twentieth of the first lunar month, almost at the same time as the Litian ceremony.

Zhu Youtang attaches great importance to the expansion of the Yanwu Hall, or the formal determination of enrollment and teaching matters. Zhu Youtang wants to build the Yanwu Hall into his private military force, and from then on he can get rid of the imperial court's control over him. However, Zhu Youtang's ideal was actually the same as his grandfather, Yingzong, who was personally conquered by the imperial driver to wipe out the Tatars.

……

……

On that day, Zhang Zhou was the host, and a simple banquet was held in the dormitory next to the Yanwutang school grounds.

"...The place is still a bit rough, but from now on, this is the place where the great Ming army will be gathered. I have no morals and incompetence, and I just take advantage of a little preconceived advantage. Here I would like to express my heart to you, and hope that you can contribute to the cultivation of the Ming army in the future." Only Zhongying can do its part.”

Before the two banquet tables, Zhang Zhou toasted everyone.

Except for Wang Qiong and Zhu Feng, most of them were just ordinary officials, or they were transferred from the Dudu government to do miscellaneous work.

The Zhang brothers didn't come, and they didn't seem to care much about being an instructor.

Wang Qiong was very face-saving, and spoke on behalf of the Ministry of Household during the meeting: "Your Majesty has issued an order to assist Zhang Shangshu of the Ministry of Household to maintain the operation of the Martial Arts Hall in the public office of the Ministry of Household. Ladies and Gentlemen, As a member of Yanwutang, I hope to help you all in the future.”

As an instructor, Zhu Feng seemed very shy.

While everyone was drinking, Zhang Zhou called Wang Qiong to the back hall and talked with Wang Qiong alone.

"Wang Shilang should have heard the news of Huoshai's defeat?" Zhang Zhou asked.

"Yes." Wang Qiong said, "His Majesty has decided to reprimand the little Tatar prince for his arrogance. At the same time, he may send the three sides of the Qin Dynasty to complete the search and suppression of Hetao with troops from Yansui and other places. The Tatars cannot be allowed to live and graze in the land of Hetao for a long time."

Zhang Zhoudao: "In your opinion, Wang Shilang, how long will it take to level the grassland?"

This belongs to the "face-to-face teaching opportunity", which can be regarded as Zhang Zhou's "inspection" of Wang Qiong.

The content has nothing to do with Yanwutang, but whether Wang Qiong can take on the responsibility of helping to calm down the grassland.

Wang Qiong sighed: "I'm afraid I'll miss a major event due to the superficiality of the officials. It's better for you, Zhang Butang, to draw up the plan yourself."

According to Wang Qiong, I am not even as good as Wang Bo'an now. Wang Bo'an is now the general manager of Xuanda, and I have the title of the left servant of the household department. From prestige to military exploits, I am not as good as Wang Shouren. As for employing people, it is better to use young and vigorous Wang Boan first, he should be more in line with your needs.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Wang Bo'an is still young and energetic. Don't get me wrong, I am not jealous of talents. On the contrary, I think that if you want to conquer the city or complete the vanguard, he must be in command. He is Wang Bo'an. But in terms of the overall situation in the Northwest To succeed Qin Laoshangshu as the head of the trilateral system, one must have extraordinary foresight!"

Wang Qiong frowned.

Was that a compliment to me, he was thinking?
No matter how awesome Wang Shouren is, he is already the head of Xuanda. After Qin Hong stepped down, it is reasonable for Wang Shouren to be promoted to the head of the trilateral government.

If I were to go... With such a high prestige, can I hold back the scene?

Zhang Zhoudao: "Is Wang Shilang worried about not having enough reputation?"

After thinking about it, Wang Qiong slightly nodded and said: "Military affairs in the Northwest should be determined by military merit. Before Wang Weining's prestige was blessed, after Wang Weining, only Wang Xinjian has the ability to match him. Of course, if Zhang Butang goes to the Northwest in person, That must be what everyone expects.”

"No!" Zhang Zhou said, "If you want to stabilize the overall situation, I think Wang Shilang, you are not under me."

Although Wang Qiong knew that this was a little flattering, but after hearing it, she was still greatly encouraged.

Zhang Zhoudao: "At the critical moment when Marquis Wei Ning died of illness, only you could carry his banner and stabilize the morale of the army at Pianguan. When Wang Bo'an led the troops into the grassland and was isolated and helpless, only you could take the overall situation into consideration and lead the troops thousands of miles to help. If it is purely based on fighting, Wang Boan is indeed talented as a general, but if it is based on governing the country, he still lacks a lot of experience."

Wang Qiong was excited when he heard this.

Although Zhang Zhou is a rising star, he is not qualified to evaluate so many people.

But Zhang Zhou's reputation in the army is unique, even if Wang Shouren is awesome, he still listens to Zhang Zhou's orders and tactics, and the emperor can be said to completely rely on Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou has enough power to speak, and his comments have enough authority.

Even Wang Qiong himself would think... But no, Wang Boan led the troops to win the battle on the grassland, and he still had to rely on me to get out. From the overall situation, how could I be worse than Wang Boan?Besides, that kid just entered the officialdom, so naturally he is not as experienced as I am when it comes to entertainment in the officialdom...

Zhang Zhoudao: "In the next few years, the conflict with Tatar will definitely not stop, and Tatar's internal annexation will also be accelerated. The defeat of Huoshai is an introduction, and the little Tatar prince's devouring of Mongolia's right wing will also begin from here."

Wang Qiong asked: "The meaning of that Zhang Butang..."

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "I want to say that if there is a war in the northwest in the coming year, it will definitely start from the land on three sides, and the battle for Hetao will become the main trend of the future battlefield. The right wing forms a coercion, sending troops into the grassland at any time to double-team, and the active attack on the three sides of the land, you will be in charge of everything, Wang Shilang, what do you think?"

"This……"

Wang Qiong wanted to say, am I the left servant of the household department, do I have the qualifications?

Zhang Zhou sighed: "Old Shangshu Qin is still old."

The implication is that it is time for Qin Hong to retire, and he was used only because Wang Yue died of illness, no one is more respected than Qin Hong.

Now that the situation in the Northwest War has stabilized, and it has also been proved that when the little Tatar prince invaded, Qin Hong did not take much initiative. Should Ningxia be looted or not be able to defend it...then use Qin Hong's reputation to stabilize The purpose of the military spirit is not so important anymore, it is time to change to someone with stronger ability, let him deal with the little prince of Tatar well.

Zhang Zhoudao: "In order to ensure that Wang Shilang can sufficiently deter Di Yi on the three sides in the future, Daming will take the initiative to send troops to Hami as an opportunity, and then send troops to Turpan and other places to drive the Tatars out of the Western Regions and other places. Before the middle of the year, try to build light One thousand cannons, more than two hundred long-distance and heavy cannons, if you add a few thousand flint guns to the three sides of the land, do you think it is enough?"

Only then did Wang Qiong know.

Zhang Zhou is giving him "military merit".

Wang Shouren's victory on the grassland was almost entirely due to Zhang Zhou's opening of the iron mine in Yongping Prefecture, plus the [-] light cannons cast by the Xishan Coal Mine, and the [-] flint blunderbusses.

If you give him [-] light cannons, plus [-] long-distance cannons and heavy cannons, then Wang Qiong can also walk sideways on the three sides.

Now it is not about how many cavalry you build, but how many new types of firearms you build.

Wang Qiong said: "If you are really fortunate to be able to lead troops to guard the border of Ming Dynasty in the three sides, you should do your best."

Wang Qiong knew that this was Zhang Zhou's sole "buy". If it wasn't for the emperor's instruction, Zhang Zhou would not have said this to him so hastily.

The military merits were given to him in order to let him be the commander-in-chief of the three parties. The next minister of the Ministry of War after Zhang Zhou is likely to belong to Wang Qiong... Even Wang Qiong has a chance to be the same as Wang Yue, Zhang Zhou and Wang Shouren , Obtained military merit titles as civil servants.

Wang Qiong was transferred back from the northwest to the capital as the left servant of the household department. In fact, she felt a little lost in her heart. She felt that she was overwhelmed by Wang Shouren, and Zhang Zhou was an insurmountable mountain above her. She felt that there was no hope in life.

But now he felt hope was at hand.

……

……

Zhang Zhou talked with Wang Qiong a lot about the strategy of using troops in the northwest.

Zhang Zhou also asked Wang Qiong to go back and write more "Military Affairs Policy", which roughly means that you write more insights about the Northwest and show it to the emperor. When deciding who will succeed Qin Hong, you will mention your enthusiasm for military affairs in front of the courtiers, and when the court recommends you to be the trilateral leader, it will be more justified.

Wang Qiong is full of confidence.

This time he failed to enter the martial arts hall as an instructor, but as a consultant, he had the opportunity to aspire to the position of the trilateral general system, which made him feel that he followed the right person.

After the mobilization meeting of the Martial Arts Hall, when Zhang Zhou returned to the listening office in the afternoon, Zhu Youtang came to Zhang Zhou in person to talk about the employment of Northwest personnel in the coming year.

"Bingkuan, this is my dispatch to the governors of the nine borders. Some people should be replaced. For example, this Yang Yiqing has no merit in Ningxia. I plan to transfer him to Nanjing to be the young minister of Dali Temple. From then on, let him He is staying in Nanjing, so he doesn't have to come back to be an eyesore!"

It's time for the Governor of Nine Borders to change.

Except for Xu Jin, the new governor of Pianguan, and the governor of Datong, Wang Shouren, who will not be replaced, the rest of the governors, including Ma Zhongxi, who had been at odds with Zhang Zhou before but remained in the position of governor of the Xuanfu for a long time , it's time to replace it.

Zhu Youtang recently asked the Ministry of Officials for a list of local officials, just to go back and consider who can be transferred to the northwest as governor.

Nominally, local magistrates and above can be used as candidates, but in fact, if you want to be a governor, you need to have the experience of "inspecting the censor" in the nine sides, and basically if you are an official position of "left and right political envoys", it is equivalent to a province. The highest civil and political officer or deputy... As for the procurator and the like, they want to be promoted to the rank of governor at one time, unless they can "see differently" with the emperor.

This kind of leapfrog promotion must have Zhang Zhou's "endorsement", which means that you are only eligible if Zhang Zhou thinks you can be promoted exceptionally.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty, what do you plan to do with Wang Xian?"

Wang Xian is still the governor of Jizhou.

During the Hongzhi period, there was no governor of Ji and Liao. Jizhou and Liaodong belonged to the governors as the highest officials respectively, and they did not coordinate and dispatch. However, as Wang Xian got too close to the civil servants in the Huangshui battle before, Wang Xian was rejected. Civil servants recommended him as a popular candidate for the next trilateral governor, and some even recommended him to return to the court as the censor of the right capital or directly as the minister of the six departments.

If it weren't for Wang Shouren's sudden victory in the battle of Guanshan, perhaps the position of Xuanda General System would have been given to Wang Xian by traditional civil servants.

Zhu Youtang thought for a while, but remained silent.

Regarding Wang Xian, his attitude is also somewhat complicated.

Wang Xian was recommended by Zhang Zhou. Later, through the First Battle of Huangshui, Wang Xian and Peng Quan led troops to defeat Lu Wan's troops in Liaodong in the First Battle of Huangshui, and won the Huangshui victory with [-] troops. When rewarding meritorious deeds, almost half of the credit was given to the soldiers of Jizhou, sowing discord with the soldiers of Liaodong.

It can be said that Wang Xian has now become an outlier in the army.

Obviously you can rely on Zhang Zhou and have a better future, but he put himself on the opposite side of Zhang Zhou in order to help the soldiers of Jizhou to win, but it seems that he has completely failed Zhang Zhou's support and support.

"Bingkuan, tell me." Zhu Youtang said.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Since you don't know how to make a choice, let's make a balance."

"Ping Tiao?" Zhu Youtang frowned.

Zhang Zhoudao: "After the war in Ningxia last summer and autumn, it is now full of ruins. Wang Xian has been in Jizhou for a long time. Isn't it appropriate to let him go to Ningxia to take charge of rectifying the army? And the governor of Ningxia Yang Yiqing was transferred to Jizhou For the governor, the two exchanged, what do you think, Your Majesty?"

Zhu Youtang laughed when he heard the words: "It's not impossible, but what's the point of this?"

Zhang Zhou also said with a smile: "Actually, Your Majesty, you see that Wang Xian is a bit at odds with my ministers, but if Wang Qiong is replaced by the trilateral system in the future, maybe he will be convinced by Wang Qiong's bearing and can cooperate with Wang Qiong." Would it be better for Joan to govern the land on three sides?"

"Why is this?"

Zhu Youtang frowned.

This question is a bit over the top.

Even Wang Xian won't accept you, but Wang Qiong was recommended by you, so Wang Xian will obey Wang Qiong?
Zhang Zhoudao: "This is just my feeling. I have always been promoted to the current high position by relying on some unscrupulous things, which is despised by some traditional officials. Da Ming can win battles when he does things, so why worry about them not being able to win people's hearts?"

"Yeah." Zhu Youtang pondered for a while, then praised, "It's rare that you didn't bother with them. It can be seen that you still appreciate them. Then I will give them a chance and let them try again. As you said, they can make great contributions to Ming Dynasty, and I will not be stingy with rewards, and I will even match you up, and in the future, I will let them know your painstaking efforts."

(End of this chapter)