The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 459

Ning Tong reported to Zhang Zhou in detail what she was doing recently.

Zhu Feng glanced over from the side from time to time, and when he heard Ning Tong talking about a person's illness, he asked, "Which noble person in the palace is it?"

"It's Concubine Li." Ning Tong said.

Concubine Li, that is, Concubine Zhang Li of Xianzong, this Concubine Zhang Li did not give birth to a son for Xianzong, but gave birth to Princess Deqing. Princess Deqing was a famous "virtuous princess" in Ming Dynasty. She married a Confucian scholar in the ninth year of Hongzhi Lin Yue, "...the (princess) master also has virtuous deeds, and his affairs are like Qi Minli. Yue died in the 13th year of Zhengde, and the lord died when he was a widow for 31 years."

Historically, Concubine Zhang Li died of illness in the first month of the 14th year of Hongzhi, and was "fayin", that is, buried in February. For this reason, Zhu Youtang stopped for a day to express her condolences.

"Illness...Can it be cured?" Zhu Feng asked from the side.

Ning Tong looked puzzled: "Grand Concubine Li's condition is unstable, she occasionally feels severe pain in her body, and her medicine and stones don't work. She always suffers but misses the matter of the former emperor. It's not easy to cure."

Zhu Feng said: "Then you should ask Brother Zhang to treat the illness."

"There's no way." Zhang Zhou said, "I can't cure every disease, and it's not convenient for me to treat the women in the deep palace."

Zhu Feng asked curiously, "Then why is it so convenient for people from Tai Tai Hospital to go to see a doctor?"

Zhang Zhou wanted to say, did you really think that I was curing the disease, just to simply look, smell, ask and cut it?I have many ways to treat diseases... Besides, I am not a doctor, so how do I know how to treat so many diseases?Don't think I know everything, okay?

Ning Tong said: "In the past few days, the Eldest Princess Deqing came to pay a visit to the palace, and even proposed to His Majesty that she would like to take Concubine Zhang Li to live outside the palace."

Zhang Zhou shook his head and said: "This is not something that you, a doctor, should care about. Besides, how can it be so convenient for a married princess? Didn't your majesty let the people from the Tai Hospital go?"

"I went to see it...but there is nothing I can do." Ning Tong seemed eager to prove herself.

If Concubine Zhang Li's illness can be cured, then she will have enough confidence to challenge the people in Tai Hospital.

Zhang Zhoudao: "It's all about human effort, don't try to force it, and don't spend too much of your competitive spirit on treating diseases. Leave the medical records. After I read them, I will send them to you later."

"Yes." Ning Tong respectfully put the things in his hand in front of Zhang Zhou, saluted and left.

……

……

After Ning Tong left.

Zhu Feng looked at Ning Tong's back and said, "She... seems to be different from before."

Zhang Zhoudao: "Regret? Want to marry back?"

Zhu Feng blushed and said, "Brother Zhang, don't make fun of me."

This appearance made Zhang Zhou feel fresh, how could Zhu Feng blush?Or because of a woman?
"Brother Zhang, help her more. She has just been serving as a servant in the palace. If you don't help her, she will be helpless in the court." Zhu Feng said, "I wanted to help her before, but she doesn't need it. , Besides... I really don't have the ability to help her."

Zhang Zhoudao: "I have some illnesses, I will do my best to obey the destiny."

Zhu Feng sat down and said with emotion: "Brother Zhang, I still envy you. No matter what you do, you can achieve results and win the respect of others. Even a proud woman like Tong'er can finally win the favor of you, Brother Zhang." Convinced in front of me, but I can't. Even my father often said that I don't look like a man."

Zhang Zhou glanced at him.

I thought to myself, maybe Zhu Feng has been pushed a little bit hard recently, and now I'm starting to feel sorry for myself.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Your Majesty wants to fight another battle in the northwest after the beginning of spring, and gather [-] to [-] troops from all over the nine sides to send troops. Do you want to go?"

"Don't go..."

Zhu Feng replied very simply, "Then...won't you let me go?"

Zhang Zhoudao: "It's fine if you don't want to go. This battle is more to show the national prestige of Ming Dynasty, not to achieve any achievements. Therefore, the generals who have made meritorious service on the grassland before will basically not be able to use them. The old Xun in the middle."

Zhu Feng was puzzled and asked, "What do you mean?"

Zhang Zhou shook his head and said: "You should learn more about court affairs, don't you think that in the past two years, people including you, Bo'an and I have led the army to make great achievements on the battlefield, overwhelming the old and honored officials of the court. Are you out of breath? Your Majesty wants to give them a chance to lead troops into the grassland, so as to show how much His Majesty attaches importance to the old ministers. Of course, you may be an exception."

Zhu Feng seemed to understand something, nodded and said: "That's right, my father is Cheng Guogong, so I can be considered an old honor?"

Zhang Zhou glanced at him, and said angrily: "Just you? I don't know how many old Xuns are waiting to see your jokes. You really have to fight."

Zhu Feng said: "Then who will lead the army?"

Zhang Zhoudao: "Even if Jiu Xun led troops into the grassland, he would definitely need to understand artillery and new tactics. Basically, he would select capable people from the Yanwu Hall, and Zhu Hui, the Duke of Baoguo, was the primary candidate. In addition, the former guard of the Xuan Mansion Eunuch Miao Kui will serve as the military governor, this is only a preliminary plan, whether and when to send troops will depend on the situation of the court after the beginning of spring."

"Duke Bao... is also a capable person. It's okay."

When Zhu Feng saw it, he didn't have any desire to make progress.

In Zhang Zhou's understanding, the so-called "it's okay" means that as long as you don't look for me, you can go to someone.

……

……

In the palace, Zhu Youtang was also recommended by Li Rong to meet Miao Kui and Li Xing, the eunuchs who had just returned from Huangzhuang, Baoding Prefecture.

Miao Kui had the experience of supervising the army in the Northwest many times, but in the early years of Hongzhi, he gradually fell out of favor because of the power struggle in the palace, and this time the emperor planned to lead the troops into the grassland with the old Xunchen as the leader, showing that At this time, those cutting-edge eunuchs are not suitable for calling. After being recommended, Miao Kui returned to Zhu Youtang's vision.

As for Li Xing...he doesn't have much experience in leading the army, but he is more capable and has a good relationship with Li Rong, so he got the opportunity to be reused at this time.

"...that's all there is to it."

Zhu Youtang gave some instructions first, and then said, "The matter of dispatching troops has not yet been decided, and I still have to discuss it with the courtiers. Recently, if you have free time, you can go to the martial arts hall first. If you have something to learn, don't hesitate. Learn, lest you go out with the army and don’t know anything.”

"Yes."

Miao Kui is looking forward to this.

But after all, Li Xing had no experience in running an army. On the contrary, he felt that helping the royal family manage the Huangzhuang would be richer than going to the northwest to lead the army.

Li Rong smiled and said: "Your Majesty, look, are you going to transfer them to the Imperial Horse Supervisor later?"

Zhu Youtang said: "If you have meritorious service, you will be transferred again. If you have no meritorious service, you should stay in your original position. I don't demand too much from you. After all, you are just accompanying the army to supervise the battle. Fighting on the battlefield has nothing to do with you. go down."

Li Rong waved his hand, which means that you have completed the masking and you can go.

……

……

No one guided Miao Kui and Li Xing, so they just walked outside the palace by themselves.

After all, they are also old people in the palace, and everything in the palace is familiar to them. They saw many eunuchs passing by along the way, and they all came to salute them. After all, eunuchs with real power like the two of them, It is not easy.

"Eunuch Miao, what do you think this is called? Isn't it good that we manage the Huangzhuang official fields around Shuntian Mansion? It's good to make meritorious service on this battlefield. If we lose..."

"Ok?"

Miao Kui stared sideways.

Li Xing said helplessly: "If you follow the omnipotent Cai Guogong to send troops, or Uncle Xinjian, you can make meritorious deeds, but if you follow others, it's hard to say whether it's merit or demerit. I'm afraid that after we come back, even If you can't keep your original job, if you want to be fined to be sent to the imperial mausoleum, then..."

Miao Kui scolded: "I don't have any ambition. How many people can't ask for something, but it has become a burden for you? The two of us may not be walking the same way. If it is really going the same way, if you don't understand anything, just ask our family." .”

Miao Kui also has prestige in the army, as well as self-confidence.

Now that he has finally seized the opportunity, he seems to wish he could fly to the battlefield immediately and get the credit back.

"Miao Gonggong, do you have friendship with Baoguo Gong?" Li Xing asked.

"Well." Miao Kui didn't shy away from this, "If it wasn't for Duke Bao to lead the army this time, His Majesty might not be able to use our family, if you are worried, you should take care of various places and let our family go. "

Li Xing was a little worried when he heard it.

As a military eunuch, you only hear that others give money, and there are eunuchs who take the money to take care of others?Is the cart before the horse?

But Li Xing understood immediately.

Miao Kui was extorting bribes from him.

Miao Kui just said, just give me the money to buy the road, and I will take you to pretend to be a fly.

……

……

News of the Shaanxi earthquake flew to the capital like snowflakes at the end of the first lunar month.

The previous dispatch of disaster relief by all parties finally achieved results. In the court hall, Zhu Youtang not only praised Zhang Zhou for not being afraid of other people's worldly vision, for having the courage to make prophecies with the court, and for cooperating with local disaster prevention and relief. It's time to prepare for two months of preparation time, and prepare to send troops to the grassland in the middle and late March.

"My idea is to send troops from Yansui to surround the land of the East Hetao, and fight with the Tatar tribes when they encounter them, and advance northward, all the way to the outside of the Hetao, so that the Tatars can know that the dynasty is guarding the Hetao. the determination of the land."

Zhu Youtang probably meant that this was just a routine patrol.

If this is the case, the minister will not say anything, but Zhu Youtang has proposed from the very beginning that at least [-] soldiers will be mobilized for this dispatch, and they will be recruited from all over the northwest. This makes the minister feel that the emperor is Throw Daming's coins into the water.

Xie Qian came out and said: "Your Majesty, I don't think that sending troops so proactively is of any significance to the situation of the war. Maybe it's better to use an elite division to dispatch three to five thousand soldiers and horses to complete the work together, which is better than fanfare. If the Tatars take the opportunity to counterattack , I’m afraid it will make the frontiers exhausted, and troops will be deployed from various places, so that the defense will be relaxed.”

The traditional civil servants of the Ming Dynasty are very utilitarian at this time.

Border guards, why take the initiative to fight out?
Previously, Wang Shouren led troops to attack thousands of miles from northern Liaoning. It can also be said that it was because Batu Mengke was raging in Ningxia, forcing the Tatars to withdraw their troops by attacking east and west.

Now it is necessary to transfer [-] to [-] troops to Hetao... and knowing that most of the Tatars will not take the initiative to fight, the civil servants do not see any real value except for wasting people and money.

Zhu Youtang asked, "Isn't my prestige important?"

What ministers want in wars is achievement, but what emperors want in wars is face.

Besides, I want to balance the relationship between the upstarts and the old ones, and create a platform for them to communicate. You civil servants, why do you like to oppose everything?
"Furthermore, I don't ask for great achievements in this battle, I just want to ensure the prestige of Daming in the northern border and western regions. The people are not the people of the Ming Dynasty, how to demonstrate the way of kingship? I want to use this to bring all these places under the rule of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Youtang showed his ambition to the minister.

Once such bold words came out, Xie Qian, who was so eloquent, could only lean back.

Zhu Youtang looked around at the people present, but he didn't see Zhang Zhouzai, so he was somewhat disappointed in his heart.

In his opinion, Zhang Zhou should come out at this meeting, and tell these ministers what is the three-year plan and five-year plan to level the world, and then talk about what it means to be under the whole world. I pass on the pride in my heart to you.

"My preliminary plan is to use Zhu Hui, the Duke of the Baoguo, to cooperate with Xu Jin, the governor of Shanxi Town, to lead troops together. As for the specific details, we may adjust them later."

Zhu Youtang was a little bit at a loss when he said this.

No one praised it, or even agreed with it, as if I was singing a one-man show.

The way the minister put pressure on him is to pretend that we didn't hear what you said, and let you talk to yourself there, just ask if you are embarrassed?
"As for the Ministry of War, it will not be personally involved in this battle, but the dispatch and formulation of strategies in advance will be fully in charge of the Ministry of War. This battle is also related to who can be admitted to the top. I hope that more capable people will be selected in the military and government. You can cooperate with me in matters.”

……

……

The minister probably understood.

It is not a free lunch for Zhu Hui, Duke of the Baoguo, to enter the hearing office.

Next, Zhu Hui will give full play to his duties as a martial arts officer, and personally lead the troops into the grassland as the "Minister of the Listening Department". One of the two servants of the Ministry of War will cooperate, and the eunuch who supervises the army will use Miao Kui.

After the court meeting ended.

The minister seemed to have forgotten about the Shaanxi earthquake... Anyway, it didn't cause any major losses. Of course, we should ignore Zhang Bingkuan's contribution reasonably.

"Old Liu Ge, what do you think His Majesty means? Why didn't Zhang Bingkuan or Wang Bo'an lead the army, but said he wanted to lead the army out of the fortress with the Lord Baoguo? Is it just a cover? Or does Your Majesty have other arrangements?"

In the past, most of the people who came out to express opinions, or even questioned, were officials at the Shangshu level.

But now among the six ministers, Lin Han and Wang Shi are both wise and safe, while Ma Wensheng likes to pretend to be confused, Zhong Zhong has become honest after several "beatings", Zhang Zhou himself is the minister of the Ministry of war... …

In this way, there is only Xu Guan, the minister of the Ministry of Industry who has been saying that he will retire, but has not yet retired.

But this time it wasn't him who spoke out.

It is an official admonished by Taiwan.

That is to say, the officials of the Sixth Division, it seems that in the Qingliu of the Ming Dynasty, only the Taiwan admonishment officials are left to support them.

Faced with such a question, Liu Jian didn't answer directly, or in other words, his level was not high enough, so he didn't need to answer it himself.

Li Dongyang came forward and said: "Your Majesty's intention is not clear. If you say you want to send troops, just look at it with your original intention and don't speculate. If Your Majesty really wants to send troops to the grassland in an all-round way, do you still need to hide it?"

Everyone is right when they think about it.

If this meeting is to deter the Tatars, let Zhang Zhou personally lead [-] troops...the effect will be absolutely leveraged.

(End of this chapter)