The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

With great fanfare, Zhang Zhou led a group of troops from the Beijing camp, and with the cooperation of Zhu Feng, marched towards Jizhou.

Originally, Jizhou was not far from the capital, and the emperor had issued an order in advance for the border towns to send troops to patrol according to the actual situation. This time, the Minister of War personally led the troops to Jizhou. It was considered that Zhang Zhou wanted to "lead by example", and everyone Everyone thought that Zhang Zhou was going to Jizhou to fight a tough battle.

Probably the emperor was afraid that Zhang Zhou would go too far and make it difficult to discuss matters, so he sent Zhang Zhou to the nearest Jizhou to governor military affairs.

Li Dongyang Mansion.

Li Dongyang came back very early in the afternoon that day, also because he had to return to the duty room before nightfall. When a war broke out, the cabinet had to leave one person on duty overnight. Although the emperor now wanted to hand over all military affairs and other matters to the listening office, Lu Wanhe Tang Yin is still not on duty, and Wang Qiong is busy with the errands of Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Household Affairs. Now the cabinet is also fighting for power.

But before Li Dongyang could finish things, Ma Wensheng came to visit.

Li Dongyang also understood that Ma Wensheng had spotted him at home and deliberately came to discuss with him in private the affairs of the DPRK and China, and it was likely to involve military affairs.

If it was something else, Ma Wensheng could have discussed it in a relatively public place. Only when it involved military affairs, or things involving Zhang Zhou, would Ma Wensheng be so "cautious".

In Li Dongyang's study.

The two of them greeted each other first, and then Li Dongyang asked Ma Wensheng to take a seat, and Ma Wensheng expressed his intention: "...I heard that Zhang Bingkuan's destination was Ji Town, but in fact he was going to Yongping Prefecture to dispose of the iron ore mine. There are matters involving the inner government, and there are even inner government officials, deacons, etc. accompanying him."

Ma Wensheng is relatively well-informed.

Li Dongyang didn't know where the news about Ma Wensheng came from, and it was hard for him to ask directly, because it was probably the news coming from the palace. Asking more questions would lead to mistakes. It would be better to just know the result and go less. Ask about the process.

Li Dongyang said: "But I have also heard from others that Jizhou has prepared to wait for the Minister of War to go there in person to complete the dispatch of troops. Jizhou Governor Liu Yu and Jizhou Commander-in-Chief Ruan Xing are all waiting. I am here to welcome the Minister of War."

Ma Wensheng heard that Li Dongyang seemed to have some prejudice against Liu Yu and Ruan Xing, so he smiled and shook his head and said: "These two can fight a tough battle."

Liu Yu was a member of the Eunuch Party in history. His abilities were basically bullshit, but he was recommended by Ma Wensheng. He had supervised military affairs in the border town for many years. In the early years of Zhengde, he became a member of the Ministry of War of the Ming Dynasty by fawning over Jiao Fang and Liu Jin behind him. Serve as a minister, or even enter the cabinet.

But his ability was despised by Ma Wensheng's successor, Liu Daxia, so much so that Liu Yu always hated Liu Daxia to the core.

As for Ruan Xing, he has been leading troops in border towns since the Chenghua period, but his military exploits have never been outstanding, and now he is just a veteran general.

"Records of Xiaozong" recorded that in the 11th year of Hongzhi, Ruan Xing was impeached by the official. Of course, he was not the only one:

"...Six Sections and Thirteen Official Impeachments: Datong's Chief Military Officer Dudu Qianshi Shenying, deputy commander-in-chief Qianshi Zhao Chang, exchanged iron tools with the captives for horses; Ningxia's Chief Military Officer Dudu Commander Li Jun, Zhongzhong farmed the land; Chen Hui, the commander-in-chief of Yansui Army, was old and ill and had no plan; Ruan Xing, the commander-in-chief of the Xuanfu General Military Office, had no prestige; Fuqian Bo Mao Rui, the commander-in-chief of Guangdong and Guangxi, was sent to the Guangying residence. He was stationed in Fan Brigade, privately building ships to communicate with the barbarians; he was guarding the two cities of Jinyi and the generals on the right commanded Qian to serve Shi Yun, who was timid and planned to harm the army.

Please depose everyone and send the Ministry of War to respond.

It is said that since Mao Rui is young and strong, he should stay and do things.Li Jun, Chen Hui, and Ruan Xing all returned to Beijing. Shenying, Zhao Chang, and Shi Yun were waiting for investigation and reported to the Japanese Council. "

It seems that such a veteran with "no prestige" can't be expected to have much vigor on the battlefield, but in Li Dongyang's view, this kind of person is very good at flattering. If Liu Yu is added, That would be equivalent to handing over Jizhou to Zhang Zhou.

Li Dongyang said: "Regardless of the abilities of the two of them, given Zhang Bingkuan's current reputation in the government, after he arrived in Jizhou, he took over the general power. Are there any local generals in Jizhou who can compete with him? He took Marquis Anbian with him, and his intention to steal military affairs was very obvious."

Li Dongyang didn't believe that Zhang Zhou came out of the capital just to mine.

He felt that Zhang Zhou had now obtained the military power of Xuanda. The next step was to arrange Wang Qiong to the position of the trilateral general system. The trilateral military affairs were also under the jurisdiction of Zhang Zhou. Now only those who were originally controlled by Zhang Zhou were left. Now that Liaodong and Jizhou have returned to the control of traditional civil servants, they can still remain uncoerced by Zhang Zhou.

The emperor's intention of sending Zhang Zhou to Jizhou was obvious.

Zhang Zhou wanted to seize the military power in Jizhou in the past. The next step is likely that Zhang Zhou will also firmly control the military power in Liaodong.

Ma Wensheng nodded and said: "Although what I heard is different from what you heard, and I think the source of the news is credible, I don't understand whether it is necessary for Zhang Bingkuan to go there in person if it is just for a few mines. , or maybe someone is deliberately spreading some rumors to disturb the audience."

The news channel is reliable, but I am afraid that the person who spreads the news will also be kept in the dark.

Unless the emperor and Zhang Zhou said it themselves, and they had to say it emphatically, who would know what kind of medicine these monarchs and ministers were selling?

Li Dongyang said: "Liu Yu has just arrived in Jizhou not long ago. Judging from his recent reports, he has not been able to control local military affairs. I don't know why you, Ma Laobu Tang, think so highly of him? "

Ma Wensheng said with emotion: "I have talked with him several times, and I feel that his military skills and strategies are all excellent. Moreover, he has been a border official for many years, and there has been no trouble anywhere. There is always a surplus in the treasury, even if there is no military affairs." There are opportunities to obtain military honors, but before Zhang Bingkuan, the situation in all border towns was roughly the same. It is better to be able to manage people's livelihood than to be able to manage military affairs."

Ma Wensheng explained why he valued Liu Yu.

This person is very good at "making trouble". It doesn't matter whether he can fight or not. He has a way of talking about war on paper. And before Zhang Zhou, no one expected to be a governor who knew how to fight. And where Liu Yu was an official, there were people who knew how to fight after every appointment. When money and food are saved, there is no way to go into detail as to how they save it. Just the ability to manage money makes him a good hand.

Li Dongyang frowned and shook his head: "If he can't even handle local government affairs well, expecting him to take care of the treasury is a bit... putting the cart before the horse."

After all, Ma Wensheng is old and frail, and he is a bit careless in employing people.

Ma Wensheng said: "If Zhang Bingkuan went to Ji Town, he really went to steal military affairs. Is the cabinet prepared for this?"

Li Dongyang shook his head and said: "It was originally agreed that each place should spend as little military pay as possible and not redeploy more manpower. But if Zhang Bingkuan goes to the battlefield in person, he will be like a wolf, fearing that each place will have to do something. And He is most afraid that Zhang Bingkuan will use the pretext of rectifying military affairs to build up his power in various border towns. If he insists on using so-called own people, it will be fine. After all, he has His Majesty's backing. But he is afraid that the dispute between the old and the new will bring about local chaos. ."

"Then Zhang Bingkuan really went there because of the iron ore matter?" Ma Wensheng made two assumptions.

Don't say it to death.

Li Dongyang said: "It also depends on where he uses the mines. So far, the output of the mines and kilns has not been recorded in the court's accounts. They have all become his private property. If we report it to your majesty, your majesty will not agree." If you understand, you can only wait until there is trouble in the local area... According to my estimation, no matter how much the output of this mine is, there will be chaos in the local area in the future. This is human nature and is not determined by Zhang Bingkuan's will."

The output is low and the local government is making trouble. Local officials and people will definitely make trouble, thinking that Zhang Zhou's mining has robbed the local farmland. Even if the mines are opened in deep mountains and old forests, the local people will say that they are about to be reclaimed.

If there is too much output, the local government will be jealous of the profits. Then, in order to grab the profits, they will impeach Zhang Zhou for stealing court assets, and there will be incidents of officials and citizens rioting and grabbing mines.

It is said that there are Jin Yiwei and Beijing soldiers protecting the mine, but strong dragons cannot suppress local snakes.

Li Dongyang seems to be waiting to see the excitement of mining.

Ma Wensheng said: "We are going to build a city in Xishan soon, and we will have wood and stone mined around the capital, and they will be transported from the south and other places to the north. I am also afraid that this will ruin the people's livelihood. Zhang Bingkuan's move is indeed a bit too radical and goes against the principles of a minister. ”

Li Dongyang nodded and said: "If Ma Laobu Tang really thinks so, then we should jointly submit the report. Even if it fails, we must find an opportunity. No one can survive a hundred battles. Everyone is waiting for the day when Zhang Bingkuan is defeated on the battlefield. This is the only way. , His Majesty will calm down and re-examine this person and the events he presided over."

"Yeah." Ma Wensheng nodded, seemingly satisfied with Li Dongyang's attitude, and he also told his further plan, "Jizhen has been short of military pay for many years, and this year there is even more of a deficit. What I mean is to let the generals around the capital, Complain your grievances to the court more, lest Your Majesty think that the life of the soldiers is too easy. Or put more pressure on the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Household Affairs to reduce the number of soldiers and horses stationed in the bunker in Bian Town on the grounds that there are many fleeing households, and then transfer some from Datong. Soldiers and horses will fill the gaps in Jizhou, Liaodong and other places."

Li Dongyang frowned and said, "What does this mean?"

Ma Wensheng said: "We should focus on guarding the capital, don't you think it's wrong?"

Li Dongyang's brows were still furrowed, as if he didn't understand why Ma Wensheng made such a suggestion.

Is it to help Liu Yu?Or is it to ensure that Jizhou and Liaodong can always stay on the side of traditional civil servants?Or are we looking for opportunities to increase military funding for Jizhou and Liaodong?
Li Dongyang was even thinking that the former Minister of War seemed to rely too much on Liu Yu, right?Just by transferring military power and finance to Jizhou, what big things can this kind of person be expected to achieve?
Ma Wensheng seemed to see that Li Dongyang had objections to this, he just smiled lightly and said: "I may not have been in court for a few more days. The military officers I admire, apart from the governor of Xuanfu, is the governor of Jizhen. If the two of them have the opportunity to be promoted to the Ministry of War as ministers in the future, wouldn't it be a good thing to stabilize the court?" Li Dongyang said: "So Ma Laobu Tang wants to use Liu Daxia and Liu Yu as a check and balance against Zhang Bingkuan. man of?"

Ma Wensheng smiled and said nothing this time.

Party strife is always done in secret, there is no need to make it so obvious.

Li Dongyang took a breath. He probably understood what Ma Wendong meant. Now he wanted to create conditions for Liu Yu to have the opportunity to quickly perform meritorious service and gain political achievements. In this way, he could be promoted to the position of Minister of the Ministry of War, and cooperate with Liu Daxia to replace the position of Minister of the Ministry of War. Xiong Chong and Xiong Xiu did nothing.

But no matter what Li Dongyang thought, he didn't think that Liu Daxia and Liu Yu could do better than Er Xiong when they took the position of Minister of War.

However, Li Dongyang also realized that Ma Wensheng was making the final sprint to cultivate "successors" and "party members" to leave the government, and Liu Yu and Liu Daxia would be the "political legacy" left behind after Ma Wensheng retires.

"I will discuss your matter with Mr. Liu Ge when I get back next time." Li Dongyang did not refuse Ma Wensheng. After all, the Minister of Civil Affairs and the cabinet were still allies, so there was no need to harm himself.

Ma Wensheng smiled and said: "If you have something to do in the future, please tell me more. Recently, the public officials have always accused me of being old and dim. I also want to submit my resignation a few more times. It is also a good thing to return to my hometown to take care of myself. In the future, I will For the affairs of the church, we have to rely more on young people like you, Binzhi."

I am young?
Li Dongyang said in his heart, don't find reasons for your escape. Everyone knows that things are difficult now, and you are not the only one who wants to retreat.

"Try your best." Li Dongyang seemed to also feel that Ma Wensheng had the tendency to become a "capitulationist".

This is because they feel that they are increasingly unable to fight against Zhang Zhou, and they all think about how to pass on their status, and then they start to choose to escape one by one.

Li Dongyang is also wondering, isn't it a bit too natural for us old guys to hold Zhang Bingkuan down and expect the rising star to compete with him?If the court is a battlefield, is this wrong?They were retreating in a hurry, and everyone was competing to see who could escape faster!

……

……

Inside the Wenhua Hall.

Zhang Zhou had been gone for two days, and Zhu Houzhao was a little too lazy to eat and drink. He liked to stand in front of the sand table and simulate the battlefields around Jizhou over and over again, but he felt no interest every time.

"Your Highness, what's wrong with you?" Liu Jin was standing by, trying to cheer up the prince.

Zhu Houzhao said: "Isn't this obvious? The main force of the little Tatar prince is in the west, but someone is going to Jizhou in the east. Is there any trace of the Tatars within two hundred miles north of here? What do you think, this It doesn’t seem like a place where troops should be sent.”

Liu Jin thought about it for a while and said with a smile: "Maybe Mr. Zhang's purpose of going to Jizhou is not to send out surprise troops to fight, or maybe he has some other purpose."

"If you don't want to fight, why don't you go play?"

Zhu Houzhao disagreed with Liu Jin's words.

After dinner, Zhu Houzhao continued to study. He seemed to want to understand the secrets in the sand table.

But at this moment, Gao Feng hurriedly came in and reported: "Your Highness, Your Majesty is coming this way, and he will be here soon as he speaks."

Zhu Houzhao said with an indifferent expression: "Why, I still have to stay up all night to read? This is not the time to study. Aren't you allowed to rest after nightfall?"

Gao Feng said: "But your Majesty will not let the prince have too much contact with these things."

"Who said I have too much contact? I contact you occasionally! Whoever dares to talk too much will have his tongue cut off!" Zhu Houzhao threatened fiercely.

……

……

Zhu Youtang came to see his son. Compared with his son's boredom, he, as a father, also developed "Bingkuan Dependency Syndrome" after Zhang Zhou left. He felt that he had no energy to do anything. Finally, he thought about it. It seems that the only way to get down to business is to mention my son.

Even the handling of court affairs can be left to others, but his son's education is really impossible without his father.

"Father, my son has made progress in his studies these days. Isn't it too much to take a look at this before going to bed at night?" Zhu Houzhao wanted to stop his father's mouth first.

Zhu Youtang nodded and seemed to understand: "You can watch it if you want. Where are you...?"

"Jizhou." Zhu Houzhao said, "I arranged it myself according to the terrain. It's just that there are some mountains and so on, and the sizes don't match well."

"You did it yourself?" Zhu Youtang frowned.

Zhu Houzhao felt a little proud at this moment, as if this was his masterpiece: "My son laid it out based on the map left by Mr. Zhang, and he has half of the credit. Speaking of father, why did you send him out? How good would it be to stay in the capital? If anything happens, you can still come to him."

Only then did Zhu Youtang look away and said with emotion: "Mr. Zhang is not here in Beijing, and I miss him a lot. It seems that you already know very well, the Ming Dynasty, that the Ming Dynasty cannot survive without him."

The father and son are now somewhat in sympathy with each other.

"Father, I think that even if you want to send Mr. Zhang to the border town, you should go to the west. Look at these places in Xuanfu and Datong. There may be many bandits watching outside, but there are no battles around Jizhou. Come on, isn't it overkill?" Zhu Houzhao said.

Zhu Youtang frowned and said, "What did you think Bingkuan was doing? He was going to mine, smelt, and build trains. Didn't you hear what he said outside the palace that day?"

Zhu Houzhao asked curiously: "Just smelting iron? No fighting?"

Zhu Youtang originally thought his son was quite pleasing to his eye, but now he suddenly felt that the father and son seemed to have a grudge, and he really couldn't give his son too much good looks.

"Do you think there are so many battles to fight on the border all day long? Now Nuergandusi is fighting. Do you think I will send Bingkuan to such a far place? As for the northwest, unless I lead troops hundreds of miles away from the border, now the Tatars The situation is already raging, and the military might of the Ming Dynasty has never been as strong as it is today. What I want is to be stronger, so let’s start by building a train!"

Zhu Youtang seems to be clear-headed and knows what he is pursuing, and he does not want to achieve it overnight.

"Father, since there is no war, can you let your son go with Mr. Zhang? Even if he leaves a few days later, he can still keep up and learn from him... how to mine." Zhu Houzhao looked flattering. , said to Dad as if begging.

"No!" The refusal was straightforward.

"Father, I believe that I should travel thousands of miles and not learn much in the capital. I'm tired of hearing those things!" Zhu Houzhao said with a sad face.

Zhu Youtang angrily said harshly: "I'm giving you face! Even if you don't despise the words of saints, they are still the principles of life! Why do you think Bingkuan has such attainments? First of all, he also has respect for saints. Apart from being proficient in academics, how else could you get the top score in the exam and become a model for scholars all over the world? If you think about those unrealistic things again, I will punish you in various ways. I will make you read every day except sleeping. , If you don’t believe it, just wait and see!”

As a father, there is no good way to deal with his son, and he can only resort to various threats.

But this seems to only deepen Zhu Houzhao's rebellious psychology. (End of chapter)