The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Cui Yuan is going back to Beijing.

When he came back, he would serve in the capital camp, and he could even get the title promised by the previous emperor. The title of Jingshan Bo was almost within reach.

Princess Yongkang naturally knew that her husband's title was not that easy to obtain. In addition to relying on her brother's help, she also relied on Zhang Zhou's "support", so Yongkang couldn't help but play matchmaker to Zhang Zhou and insisted on sending her sister-in-law there. Zhang Zhou sent it over.

On this day, Yongkang entered the palace to pay his respects to Empress Dowager Zhou.

Queen Mother Zhou has been feeling unwell for the past two days, so Yongkang came here to visit her.

"It's outrageous. We're not your own sisters. Why do you put so much thought into other people's affairs? No matter how capable Bingkuan is, what does it have to do with the Cui family?"

After the old lady knew Yongkang's intentions, her tone was somewhat reproachful.

Yongkang said: "The Empress Dowager, why don't you help your grandson? A married granddaughter must also think about her husband's family. Besides, even if the grandson wants to marry his own sister, is there any chance? The Empress Dowager Isn’t there anyone suitable from Queen Mother Zhou’s family?”

"You talkative!" Queen Mother Zhou glanced at her granddaughter, but she didn't get angry.

Yongkang said with a smile: "Speaking of which, Cai Guogong is really trusted by the emperor. All military matters in the capital are subject to Cai Guogong. Sometimes it's hard for me to ask the emperor for help. It's better to ask Cai Guogong for help." The relationship worked out.”

Empress Dowager Zhou said: "Have you mentioned this matter to your imperial brother?"

"I mentioned it," Yongkang said, "The emperor promised to tell Duke Cai about this matter, but then nothing happened. Maybe Duke Cai was not too fond of my husband's sister. No one has seen him. However, it can be said that she is very young and beautiful, and she is still young and beautiful. Wouldn't he be happy to come into his house and become his concubine?"

"Ahem. Marriage is a major matter and cannot be forced." Queen Mother Zhou said.

Yongkang smiled and said: "Who said that strong melons must not be sweet? Among us princesses, when we get married, which one is not blindly married? In the end, no one complained that his family's life was boring. On the contrary, it was the common people who I heard that there are quite a few unfortunate marriages among those rich ladies and so on."

Queen Mother Zhou glanced over and said, "So you are here to tell the Ai family to help you with your matchmaking?"

Yongkang walked over, took the old lady's arm affectionately and said, "Grandmother, you are always good at what you say. Even the emperor listens to you, let alone Cai Guogong. If there is a marriage, Mao Ren will be the only one to arrange it." It's okay to go to the capital camp and confirm the title of the knight. The emperor brother said before that Mao Ren's meritorious service is enough to be knighted, but now it's just talk, and I'm very anxious to wait."

Empress Dowager Zhou said: "It is not appropriate for a consort to be ennobled. If your family is ennobled, how will your sister and sister feel?"

After all, Yongkang has both an older sister and a younger sister.

Her husband has become "prosperous", but her sister and her son-in-law are still mediocre and have no chance to succeed.

The previous princes-in-law were all basically the same in terms of character. They were all low-key figures who did not show off their appearance or demeanor. With the intention of the Empress Dowager Zhou, they only highlighted this person in your family. Could it be that in terms of paying high attention to the prince-in-law? Shouldn't a bowl of water be balanced?

"Brother Emperor, you can give them a chance. Who asked Mao Ren to perform first? Since he has military merit, no reward will be given. Oh, does it mean that being a prince consort with military merit is an exception? Ordinary people can be knighted. Isn’t it okay for the Prince Consort to do this here?”

Yongkang was chattering a bit.

If you don't give me a title, I will make a fuss. I'll make a fuss with you first, old lady. Later, I might even want to make a fuss with the emperor.

Anyway, as the eldest princess, you are considered to be in a unique position. While the emperor brother is still alive, of course you have to fight hard. In another generation, who will remember me, the eldest princess of Yongkang?

"Let's wait until Mao Ren comes back. The Ai family will continue to worship Buddha. If you have nothing to do, go back first. You can pay your respects to your imperial brother and ask him what he means."

Empress Dowager Zhou's implication was, don't bother me, go and bother your brother.

Yongkang said: "The emperor's grandmother and grandson also want to go, but the emperor's brother doesn't give him a chance. Recently, I can't even invite Cai Guogong to have a meal. The emperor's brother and Cai Guogong are both very busy."

"Just call him Bingkuan." Empress Dowager Zhou said, "We are all one of our own. If you have the ability, please show more attentiveness to Bingkuan. Bingkuan is also a person who takes softness but not hardness. As the saying goes, don't hit the smiling person. Your imperial brother wants Mao Ren to work with Bingkuan, so you have to understand and keep your temper. Okay, let’s go.”

"Grandma..."

"Your Highness, Princess, please come this way."

Jiang Lu was already smiling and waiting to see off the guests.

The old lady has spoken and told you to leave quickly. Why can't you understand?

Yongkang stood up and said: "It's hard for Mao Ren to have such a relationship with me. If I don't even help him move around, then no one will really care about his future. Imperial Grandmother, you must be considerate of this grandson-in-law." .”

……

……

"This Yongkang, after she got a capable husband, she started to be arrogant!"

After her granddaughter left, Queen Mother Zhou was not in a good mood.

This is because they saw that their grandson-in-law was getting prosperous, and they hated themselves for not having such a talented person in the Zhou family. Obviously they had more unique conditions, and some people from the Zhou family followed Zhang Zhou and had the opportunity to perform on the battlefield, but in the end But it's...unsatisfactory.

Jiang Lu smiled and said: "Mother, maybe it's the smoke coming out of the Cui family's ancestral grave."

Empress Dowager Zhou said: "Can't we risk the ancestral graves of the Zhou family? When Bingkuan comes back to the palace again, I will also come to him. I would like to ask him if he has any good ideas. Who says that only children from other families can be successful? But what about the children of the Zhou family?"

Jiang Lu said: "In recent days, Cai Guogong has been visiting the palace quite often."

"Then you go and get stuck, and also go to the emperor to spread the word about the Ai family, and ask them to come and have a look when they have time. The Ai family has only been alive for a few years. If this is gone, who will remember the Zhou family? Let the emperor also tell them Be careful!"

After Jiang Lu heard this, he immediately felt very familiar.

When Yongkang came just now, didn't he also tell the old lady to smoothen the relationship and make the emperor and Zhang Zhou pay more attention to Cui Yuan?

The emotional old lady's own problems haven't been solved yet, so why should I help you, Princess Yongkang?

Jiang Lu was also thinking about it. It seemed that the current focus on who could be more familiar with Cai Guogong and get more favors had formed a kind of resource, and everyone was fawning over and flattering... Even the members of the royal family were not fawning over the emperor now. , and instead fawned over Cai Guogong?

……

……

After Zhu Youtang sent Zhang Mao away, he would go out of the palace to Yanwu Hall for several days to discuss military matters with Zhang Zhou.

It seems that Zhu Youtang also likes this feeling of going in and out of the palace and looking for freedom.

On this day, Zhu Youtang also asked Zhu Feng and Lu Wan to come together and hold a banquet in the Yanwu Hall. Of course, the protagonist at the banquet table was still Zhang Zhou.

The four monarchs and ministers were facing a table of food, with eight dishes and one soup. For an emperor like Zhu Youtang, who was famous for his frugality, the food on the table was already a bit luxurious, but for Zhu Feng and Lu Wan, This is an ordinary home-cooked meal, even a little shabby. "Bingkuan, my brother-in-law, the prince-in-law of the Yongkang family is coming back soon. You and he don't seem to be very familiar with each other. I will ask someone to bring him a message. When he comes back, he will come to Yanwu Hall first to help you. If you are busy, please arrange an errand for him."

Zhu Youtang doesn't need his sister or grandmother to greet him. He will still miss his little brother-in-law.

Cui Yuanbie is not good at it. At least he has done his best in being a consort and has not caused any trouble to Zhu Youtang before. In addition, he is a strict wife, which makes Zhu Youtang feel a little fond of him. It has something to do with Cui Yuan's free and uninhibited character.

Zhang Zhou looked at Lu Wan and then said, "Coming here as a tutor should be more than enough."

Zhu Youtang shook his head and said: "I don't think he can do it. He can't even talk about military affairs on paper. I have reviewed the process of his obtaining military honors. In fact, he has an upright temperament, no twists and turns, and a single-minded focus on leading troops into the army. He is not very capable, but if he is asked to teach, what can he tell the students at the Yanwu Hall?"

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Your Majesty, just because of his character, isn't it enough to tell students about the benefits of doing so, to lead by example, and even to set an example for himself?"

"Oh? Haha, really?"

Zhu Youtang also laughed when he heard this.

As a teacher, you don't need to teach students the art of war, just teach them how to lead troops forward without thinking.

It sounds unreliable, but think about it.

It seems that the most lacking quality among Ming soldiers was fearlessness.

Zhang Zhou said: "Isn't the mistake that Duke Bao made earlier because he failed to be upright as Prince Consort Cui? If your Majesty feels that he is not suitable for teaching, you can come back as a student first and learn a lot, but I may I don’t have much time to impart knowledge to him, because I actually don’t know much about the art of war.”

Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "Bingkuan, you have always been so outspoken. I agree with your statement. To be a teacher, you don't need to have much ability. It is enough if you can maintain a normal mind and have the courage to speak. . He just told the generals below about his courage... as if he knew the truth, and that was enough."

"Ok?"

Zhu Feng was sitting aside in a daze.

After all, the emperor didn't move his chopsticks and was just tearing them apart. He could only sit aside and listen.

At this point, I suddenly realized that this matter actually had something to do with me?

From what I heard the emperor said, it seemed that he was still praising himself.

Lu Wan said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I believe that in the past few years, those who have made great achievements on the battlefield are mostly those with upright character as Cai Guogong said. As long as they are fearless, whoever leads the troops forward will We can all reap the fruits of victory, all because the weapons and equipment of our soldiers have been greatly improved. What the Tatars fear most are the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty who are not afraid of death."

"Well said." Zhu Youtang also expressed his full affirmation of Lu Wan's opinion, "Come on, come on, pour some wine, and I'll have a few drinks with you."

Li Zhang on the side was pouring wine and quickly reminded him: "Your Majesty, the dragon body is more important."

"It doesn't matter if you have a few drinks, Bingkuan, right?" Zhu Youtang looked at Zhang Zhou.

I mean, my health doctor is still here. What does it mean to have you as a eunuch?

Zhang Zhou smiled and nodded: "Yes."

What else can I say?

But having a few drinks is really not a big deal. After all, Zhu Youtang did not suffer from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and the alcohol content these days is indeed not good.

"There's one more thing, Bingkuan..."

After drinking a few drinks, Zhu Youtang seemed to be even more chatty. He smiled and said, "There have been many people in the court who want to marry you recently. I am still thinking about how to marry you... Haha, the prince is like You are not young this year, and you have a daughter. I have also thought that if they...haha, just pretend that I didn't say...I will pour two more glasses."

As an emperor, when it comes to things between children, he seems very abrupt and a little embarrassed.

This shocked Zhu Feng and Lu Wan on the side.

Is the emperor going to mediate with the prince?

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty is right, the child is still young, so there is no need to rush. And...it's a little against the rules."

The Ming princes were very particular about etiquette when accepting concubines, and they had to select suitable concubines from ordinary people's families. But people like Zhu Youtang, who directly wanted to marry ministers or powerful ministers... obviously undermined the previous establishment of the Ming emperor. Under the rules.

Zhu Youtang said as if he was proud of the spring breeze: "I think it's good. Even if we decide it verbally first, it's not impossible! The prince is too naughty, but... let's not talk anymore, let's drink and drink."

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, you really shouldn't drink anymore. Just try it for a while."

"Okay, I'll listen to you." Zhu Youtang put down his glass of wine as expected, "By the way, Bingkuan, when will the next time we go to sea? It is said that we will send a ship to sea from the Bohai Sea, right? If I have leisure, I also want to go on a patrol and go to the Bohai Sea. I have always wanted to see what the sea looks like, but only in other people's descriptions. I want to ask the soldiers on the voyage to say goodbye."

Zhang Zhou said: "If your Majesty is willing to go on a tour, you can take it to the court to discuss with your officials."

Zhu Youtang waved his hands and said: "Tell them, they will definitely disagree. I have only taken a few steps out of the capital, so there is no need to start a big fight. In fact, it is okay to go out for a walk incognito. I have been a little depressed in the palace recently. "

Zhang Zhouxin said he had noticed it a long time ago.

Otherwise, as an emperor, why do you keep running outside the palace recently?

When the emperor begins to have the idea of ​​​​flying his ideals, he will no longer be a serious emperor... What your son will do in the future is just to inherit your "legacy". In fact, you two father and son are very similar in nature. , it’s just that your experiences and encounters in the first half of your life have prevented you from letting yourself go.

Zhu Feng asked: "Have you not gone to sea once? Is there any point in going to sea again?"

Lu Wan quickly gave Zhu Feng a wink, meaning why did you speak regardless of the occasion?

Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "You know, you may not know something. That overseas place is really full of treasures. Maybe if we go to sea again, we can get back millions of taels of silver alone... This time we will send more We will send out the ship and send more soldiers out. I have also thought about it. If anyone in the governor's mansion is willing to lead the troops... I would first recommend that you go."

When Zhu Feng heard this, he immediately became worried and quickly looked to Zhang Zhou for help.

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, the people currently overseas are just a group of foreigners. They do not have the strength to directly oppose my Ming army. It doesn't matter whoever is sent there. And Anbian Hou... may have a more important mission. "

"Yes, yes." Zhu Youtang said with a smile, "Zhijie will stay in the capital and be at your disposal at any time." (End of Chapter)