The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Zhang Zhou left the Santun camp with his three thousand soldiers and horses.

Liu Yu was greeted as he came and farewelled as he left. He still did enough etiquette. He didn't feel anything wrong, but the people who came out with him to bid farewell to Zhang Zhou were all confused.

It was agreed that Zhang Zhou brought his troops to Jizhou Town to fight, so why did he leave after staying for two days?

Forget about the welcome, is it really necessary to send him off with a big fanfare?
Zhang Zhou mounted his horse and led the people to walk far away without even looking back.

Zhu Fengle turned his horse's head and leaned towards Zhang Zhou, and asked, "If Brother Zhang doesn't stay, won't I stay too?"

Zhang Zhou said with an indifferent expression: "If you want to stay and make great achievements, I will help you, but you are a local general in Jizhou? You are neither the commander-in-chief nor the deputy commander-in-chief. Will anyone listen to you when you dispatch troops?" "

"Yeah." Zhu Feng thought for a while and nodded in agreement.

He knew how much he weighed, and he also knew that without Zhang Zhou's help, he would not be able to achieve any results. In addition, there were already some old grudges between Jingying and the local soldiers in Jizhou, so Zhu Feng did not want to stay and cause trouble for him. .

……

……

Zhang Zhouyi had only been out of the city for a day. He had just stepped out of the official road and was still one day away from the nearest iron ore mine.

There are fast horses from the capital here to deliver a message, saying that the towns in the northwest have begun to take the initiative in accordance with the emperor's will. They are patrols in name, but in fact, the troops everywhere are very skillful, especially in Datong. The most decisive thing is to send troops and horses.

Wang Shouren led his troops to Maoerzhuang and then to Weininghai within two days, demonstrating the strength of the Ming Dynasty's elite mobile troops.

"This is a good hand." Zhang Zhou said.

The person who came to deliver the message was none other than Guo Ang, the envoy of Fusi Town, Jinyiwei North Town. He arrived at Yongping Mansion on horseback. At the same time, he also informed that behind him were Li Rong, the eunuch of the East Factory, and Mou, the commander of Jinyiwei. Bin, it can be said that this time the factory guards are all out of their best.

Guo Ang said: "His Majesty also affirmed Uncle Xin Xin's ability in court, and specifically mentioned your recommendation, Cai Guogong. It was your discerning eye that gave Uncle Xin Xin such an opportunity to show his strength."

"Really?" Zhang Zhou said with a smile, "I recognize many people. For example, Guo Zhenfu, if you go to the battlefield, you should be fine, right?"

Guo Ang naturally knew that his words were extremely insincere, and he was not deliberately flattering him, but rather meant to be funny.

Guo Ang hurriedly said: "If I really have the opportunity to go to the front line, I will not insult the military power of the Ming Dynasty. It's just that I am not specialized in military tactics and strategy, and I am very unfamiliar with dispatching soldiers and horses. I should leave it to Cai Guogong." Such capable people as Uncle Xinxin and Marquis Anbian."

Zhu Feng on the side said: "Associate Guo Zhen should be more suitable for arresting important criminals and capturing thieves. Is this your specialty?"

Guo Ang did not expect that Zhu Feng would be so direct. He said: "Beizhi was ordered by Eunuch Li to come here first and capture the troublemakers in the local area. Beizhi has already sent a group of people to Yongping Fucheng. ."

"Yongping Fucheng?" Zhang Zhou frowned slightly, "How many people are there?"

"Two hundred people." Guo Ang said, "If everything goes well, it's no big deal to ransack homes and seize people. Considering the humble position, it's not advisable to be too showy now. It shouldn't be difficult to do something to shock the tigers and scare the monkeys first. "

Zhang Zhou nodded and said: "So, the officials and gentry of Yongping Mansion are going to be in trouble."

Guo Ang said: "Although my humble position is based on the order of Eunuch Li, it is actually the order of the emperor. Anyone who goes against you, Duke Cai, is going against your majesty and the court. The Jin Yiwei has the responsibility to capture all those who do evil. When Eunuch Li comes in person, Thousands of people will be brought here, and no one in Yongping Mansion will dare to cause trouble again."

Hearing this, Zhang Zhou couldn't help but glance at Zhu Feng.

Zhu Feng took a breath of cold air.

Zhang Zhou initially said that he wanted to break up with the local officials. Zhu Feng thought that the matter was so important that he should put peace first. Now he could see that Zhang Zhou had the emperor's full support behind him. The Dongchang Jinyi Guards were dispatched in units of a thousand people. Even if the activity doesn't turn Yongping Mansion upside down, it seems that the factory guard can't bear the trouble.

……

……

Liu Yu was very depressed when he sent Zhang Zhou away.

Zhang Zhou confiscated the gifts and even the money was withdrawn intact. He went to express his goodwill to Zhang Zhou in person, but Zhang Zhou almost slapped him in the face, which made him feel a little embarrassed. What was even worse was that Zhang Zhou sent troops to Jizhou Town. Not mentioning anything about the border patrol, it was like saying that Zhang Zhou came here and seemed to have done nothing, leaving him without even a chance to show his courtesy.

The talent had just been sent away. After nightfall, he was still in the governor's office studying the information investigated by the scouts in detail, thinking about how to send troops to satisfy Zhang Zhou and the emperor. This secret servant came to inform him about the Jinyi Guards in Yongping. local activities.

"Sir, I heard that Jinyiwei has sent hundreds of people to Yongping Mansion. The people who came to Ji Town to visit you and Duke Cai may not have returned yet, and their homes have been ransacked!"

The guest's name is Xu Hong, who was hired by Liu Yu when he was an official in Shanxi. This group of people is not good at anything else, but they are good at business.

Shanxi merchants could be said to be a powerful force in the business world during the Hongzhi period.

Liu Yu said: "Jin Yiwei? What does this have to do with Jin Yiwei?"

Xu Hongdao: "I heard that it was related to the local people going to the mine to cause trouble. The local report was a fight, but in fact the officers and soldiers at the mine were very restrained. What Cai Guogong said at the banquet earlier was probably because of this matter. He got angry, and now Jin Yiwei is here to arrest him."

"Hey." Liu Yu said, "If I had known earlier, wouldn't it have been better for me to detain those gentry and hand them over directly to the Jin Yiwei?"

Xu Hong was also surprised.

He wanted to ask Liu Yu, proprietor, whose side are you on?Shouldn't we move closer to the civil servants?Why do you think you mean to stand solely on the side of the sycophants that civil servants say?
"Are there just a few royal guards here?" Liu Yu then asked.

Xu Hong thought for a while, seemed to remember something important, and said nervously: "I heard that there are also important people coming, maybe the top of the factory guard, or even the internal officials of the Admiral Dongchang will come in person."

"No, Eunuch Li, the admiral of Dongchang, is very old. Even if he wants to come, he is physically weak. However, a few ruthless guys from the Jin Yiwei can give the local officials and gentry a drink," Liu Yu said.

Xu Hong reminded: "Sir, you haven't seen the retinue around Cai Guogong. Any one of them is a member of the Jinyi Guard Qianhu. I heard that there was another Jinyiwei Qianhu who was attacked after arriving at Santun Camp. He was actually attacked by someone. Shoot him with a bow and arrow. If Cai Guogong takes revenge, he may cause chaos in Yongping Mansion."

Liu Yu sneered and said: "That's because the people below are ungrateful! But it has nothing to do with me. I am in charge of the officers and soldiers of Ji Town. What does the local affairs of Yongping Mansion have to do with me?"

Xu Hong said: "Cai Guogong didn't repay you well. Could it be related to this matter?"

It means that because of the local mining incident, Cai Guogong may think that this matter is related to your inaction, or that he thinks you are the mastermind behind it, and indirectly treats you as an alien.

Liu Yu was a little dumbfounded: "When I saw him, he was like that. I wish I could kneel down and plead... Ahem, that's it. Do you still think that I have the intention to go against him? It seems that I can't do anything! Elsewhere The generals have probably already obeyed the order and dispatched troops. Now Zhang Butang is still in Yongping Mansion. If Ji Zhen doesn't send troops, it will be unreasonable."

"What you mean is..." Xu Hong heard that Liu Yu was eager to express himself in front of Zhang Zhou.

Liu Yu said: "Tomorrow, tomorrow! Let Ruan Xing mobilize tens of thousands of soldiers and horses to send troops outside the fortress from where the town is."

Xu Hong quickly reminded: "Sir, there are no traces of Tatars outside here now. There will be none this year!"

Liu Yu angrily said: "Daning City is still there. It was an important border town outside the Ming Dynasty Pass. Xinjian Boneng sent troops to inspect Weininghai. I sent troops to inspect Daning City. The road was a little farther than him. Wouldn’t it better demonstrate the military might of our Ming Dynasty?”

"What if..."

Xu Hong felt that the governor of Jizhou was a little greedy for meritorious service.

Daning is quite far away from the Santun Camp where Jizhou Town is stationed, and there have never been Ming troops stationed in the north. If they really encounter the main force of the Tatars, I am afraid that the local troops in Jizhou will not be able to defeat the Tatars. The main force gets a bargain.

Liu Yu slapped his hand on the table and said: "If Datong, Ningxia and other places can succeed, Jizhen will not fall behind others! Have you all forgotten the glory of the Huangshui battle? I am dispatching troops and horses, you still have If you don’t believe it, it won’t come true? Just obey orders and act!”

Xu Hong was naturally speechless.

This governor of Jizhou is indeed very good at making money, maintaining the so-called people's livelihood, and achieving political achievements.But fighting is no different from that of a layman. In addition, Liu Yu will not personally lead the troops out of the customs. This means that the merits and demerits are all in the hands of the generals below. Xu Hong is very worried about Liu Yu.

……

……

After all, Li Rong was old and frail, and the weather was a bit hot in summer, so the carriage did not move very fast. It took three days of driving before we arrived at Yongping Mansion.

This is considered very fast.

But compared with Li Rong's expectations, it was still a little slower.

"Father, Guo Ang has already met with Cai Guogong, and based on what he reported, two people from the Hundred Household Camp have been sent to Yongping Prefecture to make the most violent incident about mining in Yongping Prefecture. The Zhao family members have been arrested."

After being stationed that night, Mou Bin went to report the matter to Li Rong.

Li Rong asked: "Which Zhao family?"

Mou Bin said: "He is a big official in Yongping Prefecture. His ancestors were Jinshi scholars. These generations have backgrounds in the court. Even in Jingtai and Chenghua, there were ministries and other departments in the court to support him. There are thousands of hectares of land in the local area, and there are many things that need help from him for big and small matters on the land. Jin Yiwei also had some conflicts with him before."

Li Rong frowned and said, "Are you taking this opportunity to take revenge?"

Mou Bin quickly explained: "There was a little misunderstanding before, but he has a background as a relative of the emperor, and has connections in the palace... and there are ministers in the court to support him. In the past, even the Jin Yiwei didn't care when he met them. Take a detour."

"Then what are you doing to provoke such a person?" Li Rong knew as soon as he heard that the so-called person with a background in the palace, since it was not him, must be someone who even he, Li Rong, could not mess with.

Such as Xiao Jing's group, or the Yumajian and Yuyongjian groups.

Although Li Rong is the admiral and eunuch of Dongchang and is relatively senior in the palace, according to the rules, the forces in the palace each manage their own territory, and it is difficult for them to interfere with each other.

Mou Bin said: "Does that mean... you don't want to copy anymore?"

Mou Bin here said that he was unfairly avenging personal revenge, but in fact, Jin Yiwei finally seized the opportunity. With the support of the emperor and Li Rong, and a big tree like Zhang Zhou next to him, he did not take the opportunity to punish the Zhao family who had offended Jin Yiwei. Even Mou Bin felt sorry for the brothers below.

Mou Bin himself doesn't want to cause trouble. After all, his principle is to keep a low profile.

But Jin Yiwei's commission also needs to be maintained. After all, there is not always a chance to eliminate some local forces, especially the Zhao family has a huge family property, which is coveted by Jin Yiwei.

Why not let the Zhao family take the blame and let others take the blame?
Li Rong waved his hand and said: "We have sent people there, and now we are going to recall them. Should we tell them that we arrested the wrong person? Then let's just make the mistake!"

Li Rong was also very annoyed.

But Li Rong knew the rules anyway, and he had to follow the wishes of the people below him when appropriate. He couldn't say that he pushed the people below him too hard. He especially had to keep the same pace on some things, so as to win the respect of the people below him.

Mou Bin said: "Then next, should we go to see Cai Guogong first, or go to Yongping Mansion first?"

"Let's go slower to see Mr. Cai Guo. You go to Fucheng first." Li Rong said, "You also said that the Zhao family has a lot of influence in the local area. It will be more convenient for you to go in person. More importantly, Bring more manpower. If there is a conflict, use the local government in Yongping Mansion to get our family's tokens. I don't believe the local officials dare not cooperate."

"Yes." Mou Bin respectfully accepted the order.

Li Rong was about to send Mou Bin away overnight, when he suddenly remembered something and reminded: "If you don't do it, just keep on being a cat. But if you do, don't leave any way out. Kill them all. We don't need to teach you." You?"

Mou Bin said: "I understand clearly that since I want to take action, I will not give the Zhao family a chance to make a comeback. I will kill them."

Li Rong said angrily: "It's good to know. He dared to go against Cai Guogong and deserved to die, but this is not the reason why you want to raid his house. You should be charged with a more serious crime... It happened that the Liaodong Tongfan incident happened before. There may be some family in the Ping Mansion that is involved, so you can find a crime and put it to bed."

Only then did Mou Bin realize that this good old man Li Rong was known to be ruthless in his work.

If you want to do something, you must do it absolutely. Not only can you help Zhang Zhou, but you can't let the Zhao family's backers in the court have anything to say.

Tongfan is a good crime. As long as it is provoked, people related to it will be afraid to avoid it. Even local allies who have been on the same front with the Zhao family will probably be afraid to avoid it after hearing about this crime.

Of course, even Mou Bin himself may not have the authority to be charged with such a crime, but Li Rong is qualified.

"After Cai Guogong finds out, he won't... blame him, right?"

Mou Bin asked. He was afraid that Zhang Zhou would blame Jin Yiwei if he knew that Jin Yiwei took the opportunity to retaliate against his political opponents.

Li Rongdao: "Cai Guoping always looks kind and cheerful. Do you think he has no means? In other words, how can a person without means get to where he is today? As long as you work for him wholeheartedly, even if he knows the reason behind it, he will still open his eyes. Close one eye and of course you have to do things beautifully and not cause trouble for Cai Guogong."

Mou Bin seemed to be emboldened by someone, and at the same time he seemed confident and said: "I will definitely handle this matter properly and beautifully in my humble position!"

"Then go quickly!" Li Rong said, "We're relying on you to get to Yongping Mansion! Our family can't continue to rush like this. We have to rest for a few more days to see Duke Cai Guo. It's a rare trip to the capital, so just treat it like this. Come and relax!"

……

……

Mou Bin rushed to Yongping Prefecture with a group of Jinyi guards from Qianhusuo.

Before he arrived, he learned the news that Guo Ang personally took people to Yongping Mansion after reporting the matter to Zhang Zhou. Probably Guo Ang was afraid that the people who went to do things would encounter setbacks and felt that he The official position of the governor of Fusi Town in Beizhen is enough to intimidate people, and he can get things done.

On Zhang Zhou's side, he arrived at the mine. He first went to the Yongping Mansion Mine, which was originally established. It was in the south-central direction of Yongping Mansion, not close to the city.

Zhang Zhou just arrived at the mine and learned about the situation inside the mine. He also tested the quality of the newly mined ore. He was told that Li Rong would be able to follow him in a day or so, and that Mou Bin had already gone. Go to Yongping Fucheng.

"Brother Zhang, why are the commander of Jinyi Guards and the envoy of Beizhen Fusi Town in a hurry to go to Fucheng? Are things over there more difficult?" Zhu Feng asked.

Zhang Zhou said: "Thankfully, you were once a servant in Jinyiwei, so you don't even understand this principle?"

Zhu Feng's eyes looked childish and said, "It seems that I understand, but I also don't seem to understand. I can't tell."

Zhang Zhoudao: "The interests around the capital are too involved, and Jinyiwei is a yamen with real power. Do you think they don't want to keep power and money in their arms? In the end, this is a game of grabbing food."

"Then...will they...snatch you, Brother Zhang?" Zhu Feng was a little worried.

Zhang Zhou shook his head and said: "Not for the time being! But there is no guarantee that it won't happen in the future! It depends on who is in charge of the factory guard and the extent of the benefits they can seek! But they want to take advantage of His Majesty's support for me to rob them. My own interests are not unusual. According to my expectation, those local families who have had some troubles with Jin Yiwei may be in trouble this time."

Zhu Feng said: "Aren't we looking for those who caused trouble in the mine to be punished? We can't be more involved, right?"

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "If you had the power in your hands and were qualified to take other people's property as your own without having to bear the risks behind it, would you do it?"

"I...I don't know how." Zhu Feng thought for a while, but actually he still hesitated.

But Zhu Feng still wanted to be shameless. He really didn't have the shame to take advantage of others.

Zhang Zhou said: "You can't, but others can, and they can do it very straightforwardly. If others have one penny, they can take away two. Just like I am mining in the local area, others also want to use the convenience of their local snakes to mine. It’s the same as taking my things as your own, it all depends on who strikes harder, and then they don’t have to take responsibility for their own actions.”

"Then...what is that?" Zhu Feng asked.

"The result is that the local forces in Yongping Mansion are expected to be completely reshuffled this time!" Zhang Zhou said. (End of chapter)