The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

The first thing Zhang Zhou did when he entered the palace was not to discuss important family and national affairs with Zhu Youtang, but to go to Zhu Youtang for medical diagnosis.

On the sickbed, Zhu Youtang looked haggard. He was already weak, and he was even more haggard due to illness. He opened his eyes and looked at Zhang Zhou. He didn't even seem to have the strength to speak, but his expression showed an expression of haggard. A bit at ease, it seemed that he could only feel at ease when Zhang Zhou was around.

"Zhang Qing's family, how is your Majesty's illness?"

On the side, Queen Zhang was also checking on her husband's condition.

The emperor did not go to Kunning Palace recently, saying that he did not want to bring the sick to his wife and children, but in fact Zhu Youtang also had some intentions of not treating Queen Zhang as a family member. At the critical moment, he still hoped to be reunited with his family. Concubine Xian came to visit several times, but Queen Zhang was not allowed to visit once, until Zhang Zhou came back.

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty needs to be recuperated and should rest."

Zhu Youtang finally exhaled, and gave up his previous intention of pretending not to be able to speak when his wife was around.

But his voice was still low: "Bingkuan, you don't have to force me. I don't have to act against heaven. I can do whatever I want."

It seems that the person who cares least about his body is Zhu Youtang himself. He seems to be very considerate of others every time, trying to put himself in a low status, but he always seems to forget that he is a king.

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, there is no need to worry, I will find a way to help you. Queen, you can also rest assured."

Empress Zhang smiled and said: "Your Majesty, it is only when Bingkuan is around that people can feel at ease. One sentence from him is really more effective than a hundred words from those imperial doctors. Your Majesty, please feel free to take care of me. I will come whenever I have free time." visit."

"Well." Zhu Youtang waved his hand and said, "Go back first and tell the prince that you don't need to worry too much about me. I just need to recuperate for a few days."

"Chen and concubine retire."

……

……

Wait for Queen Zhang to leave.

Zhu Youtang's spirit improved a lot here. He stretched out his hand to signal Chen Kuan to help him up, and smiled at Zhang Zhou. The meaning was obvious, and his physical condition did not seem to be that bad.

As for why Zhu Youtang behaved like that in front of Queen Zhang, Zhang Zhou needs to figure it out.

"Bingkuan, I have thought about it. When you come back this time, I will first promote you to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Then I will give you more important errands." Zhu Youtang broke the news when he came up.

Chen Kuan on the side was cautious, as if he regretted that he should be there to hear such explosive news.

Zhang Zhou said: "I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to do the job."

"Don't say that, I think you can do it. After the spring of next year, I plan to send troops to the grassland, and I will conquer it myself... I'm afraid that my body and bones cannot afford to wait." Zhu Youtang said with a sense of sadness in his words. .

It seemed clear to him that he would not live long.

He was still young and strong, but because Zhu Youtang's physical foundation was so poor, even Zhu Youtang knew how weak he was and how different he was from ordinary people.

"I can't wait until spring starts..." Zhu Youtang seemed eager to pacify the grassland in one fell swoop while he could still move.

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, even if it is a personal expedition, you should plan it in detail. If your Majesty really intends to do this, I can only obey the orders."

Since the emperor had this intention, Zhang Zhou could only "lay down his life to accompany the gentleman."

"Okay, okay." Zhu Youtang said, "Bingkuan, I have been thinking a lot recently, and I feel that something is wrong. Later I figured it out. Every time I send troops to the grassland, I want to retreat after the battle is over. It is absolutely impossible. Yes, unless they send out troops to wipe them out in one fell swoop. The grassland is vast, and they can find any place they want. No matter how many times they send out troops, they will still avoid frontal battles. Since they no longer dare to fight head-on, why should they do it again? What about waiting? Just take advantage of these two years to decide the matter."

Chen Kuan reminded: "Your Majesty, please take care of the dragon body."

It was also obvious that Zhu Youtang was so excited that his voice raised an octave when he spoke. Just by looking at it, he didn't look like a sick person.

Zhang Zhou said: "What your Majesty said is absolutely true. At present, in terms of military strength, the Ming Dynasty has formed an absolute suppression of the grassland. To say that it is insufficiently prepared, it means that it has not cast more artillery and equipped with more firecrackers, but it has to give the Tatars more If people have several years of preparation time, they may also have an opportunity, such as being discovered by them how to crack it, etc. On the contrary, it is better to send troops to fight against the Tatars when they are in chaos."

"Okay, I am the only one who sees the same thing as you. Those ministers always persuade me not to think about war, talking about supporting the people, talking about recuperation... How can they know the suffering of being a king? Am I doing it for myself? To bring peace to the world, that is just an ideal. We must first make the Tatars completely wipe out."

Zhu Youtang seemed to have found a confidant.

He even got off the bed, sat down on the floor, drank tea, and wanted to talk to Zhang Zhou at night.

The content of the conversation was how to solve the grassland problem in the next few months.

……

……

Chen Kuan waited on him for a long time, and then was sent back to the Supervisor's Room by Zhu Youtang to review the memorial.

When Chen Kuan returned to the Supervisor of Ceremonies, he saw that Wei Bin was busy dealing with many official duties. He was surprised to see Chen Kuan coming over.

"Didn't you say... Cai Guogong returned to Beijing today?" Wei Bin asked.

Chen Kuan said: "It is precisely because he is back that we have nothing to do with him. Your Majesty wants to talk to Cai Guogong about leveling the grassland in half a year... What do you think?"

"...I don't dare to think about it," Wei Bin said, "Speaking of which, our family doesn't have a few days left here, so we don't dare to make unreasonable suggestions."

Ever since Xiao Jing was taken down by the emperor, Wei Bin's position has been very embarrassing. Xiao Jing originally wanted to cultivate Wei Bin as his successor, but the emperor still followed the original order and let Chen Kuan take the position.

This makes Wei Bin unable to advance or retreat. Even with Chen Kuan, he cannot be called a completely good person.

Chen Kuandao said: "The wars in various places in the northwest have all ended in vain. Although nothing has been lost, the prestige of the Ming Dynasty has been wiped out a lot. Especially the people in the court have high expectations for the border war. This This time can be regarded as letting people know that Cai Guogong is not omnipotent."

Wei Bin smiled bitterly and said: "Duke Cai Guo did not personally lead the troops into the grassland, and the Tatars did not dare to confront us head-on. The military power has not been compromised. Didn't it mean that... the British Duke still won?"

Chen Kuan said with disdain: "With his little achievements, why do you have the nerve to mention them?"

"Haha." Wei Bin continued to smile bitterly.

"Those people in the court thought that if Cai Guogong made any mistake, they would have the opportunity to take advantage of it. Now they realize that it was all empty talk. Your Majesty wants Cai Guogong to be the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel... You must not leak this matter. .”

"Is this...true?"

"Are we still trying to trick you? His Majesty said it himself. There are also rumors that Cai Guogong has joined the cabinet. You didn't know about it until today, right?" Wei Bin didn't know how to respond.

Chen Kuandao said: "There are people in the court who want to impeach Duke Cai Guo, so they come back to impeach him because of the futility of the battle. Your Majesty may have expected this, so he tried his best to promote Duke Cai Guo to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. It also tells everyone in the world that no one can touch this Duke Cai."

Wei Bin nodded and said: "It makes sense. If we really win, Your Majesty doesn't need to be so anxious."

Chen Kuan looked up at Wei Bin and said, "Do you know what to do?"

"Please give me some advice, Eunuch Chen." Wei Bin showed a humble attitude.

"Recently, there are always people talking about Nanjing's military affairs. Even if His Majesty is not in power, a box of memorials related to Nanjing's military affairs can be piled up. Why do they bring up Nanjing's military affairs here? There is an unclear hint that Nanjing's military affairs are in chaos, and something needs to be done. A capable person to take charge?"

"You mean... Cai Guogong?"

"Yeah." Chen Kuan nodded, "Someone wants to do this. You and I can't support it openly, but it's easy to help secretly. We need you to come forward, and our family is not suitable."

"clear."

Wei Bin knew that if he still wanted to stay in the Bureau of Ceremonies and stay in the hub of power, he had to make a "sacrifice".

In this way, even if the emperor pursues the case later, Wei Bin will be the one to take the blame. However, since Wei Bin was about to withdraw from the court, he seems to be able to be more free now.

"Tonight, you will study the memorials related to Nanjing's military affairs in detail. In the next few days, His Majesty will let the court summarize the gains and losses of the Northern Expedition. When the time comes to discuss Nanjing's military affairs... there is no need to mention it to Your Majesty. What, even just put some pressure on the Ministry of War and let Cai Guogong do it on his own... Do you understand?"

Can't come hard.

Go directly to impeach Zhang Zhou. This will happen, but the purpose is not to bring down Zhang Zhou.

Instead, he wanted to put pressure on Zhang Zhou so that Zhang Zhou could lose face and offer to go to Nanjing. The emperor would only agree to something Zhang Zhou proposed on his own initiative.

Wei Bin said in surprise: "Eunuch Chen, didn't you say that His Majesty will personally conquer the grassland after the beginning of spring?"

Chen Kuandao: "Such a big thing can be realized just by your Majesty's words? Since ancient times, there have been so many kings who have wanted to rule personally. How many of them have succeeded? Saints such as Taizu and Taizong of various dynasties have always been very careful when it comes to personal conquests. It's prudent. Your Majesty is just having an idea at the moment. When you calm down later...or if some conditions don't allow it, your Majesty will take back this idea."

Wei Binxin said, you really understand the emperor.

The emperor is so interested in taking it back right away?
"Time waits for no one." Chen Kuan said, "If it is decided that Cai Guogong will move to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, it will be too late to do it. You will be busy in the past few days."

……

……

Zhang Zhou and Zhu Youtang have been talking about the second watch day.

At this moment, Zhu Youtang's body could no longer hold up and he went back to rest early. Zhang Zhou, under the guidance of Li Zhang, went to the Wenhua Palace to rest, saying that Zhang Zhou would be asked to meet with the prince the next day. , instead of asking Zhang Zhou to attend class, Zhu Youtang meant that Zhang Zhou and Zhu Houzhao, the teacher and student, should have a routine communication.

Probably the father wants his son to know that your husband is still your husband. If there is no father to discipline you, your husband will give you a good lesson.

"Sir, our family has just received some news. I don't know whether to tell it or not." Li Zhang did not hold up the lantern, but led the way, smiling as if he wanted to tell Zhang Zhou the good news.

Zhang Zhou said: "Speak."

Li Zhang smiled and said: "There seems to be news from Jizhou. It is said that Jingshanbo and Anbianhou have heard that they have found traces of the Tatars. It seems that there is still a Tatar camp with ten thousand households, hiding in a In the valley, I heard that troops had been sent in. This happened five or six days ago."

"Oh." Zhang Zhou nodded, "You mean, we don't know the outcome of the battle yet?"

"I really don't know yet, but I guess this battle is a sure bet. Jingshanbo and Anbianhou can be said to be lucky generals. Wherever they go, they will have adventures. Ordinary people will not think that they are destined. The only talent that can make our country safe is with you, sir..."

Before Li Zhang could finish speaking, Zhang Zhou reached out and interrupted.

Zhang Zhou said: "Eunuch Li, if the news is uncertain, it is better to wait until it is confirmed before speaking. What if the result is not satisfactory?"

"Yes Yes."

Li Zhang had always followed Zhang Zhouyan's advice, but now that he knew Cui Yuan and Zhu Feng might have won another battle, he didn't dare to make a mistake.

Li Zhang said: "People outside are saying that this time the troops in the north are just a waste of money. They don't know your majesty."

Zhang Zhou didn't want to answer the call.

Now Li Zhang was clearly flattering and flattering him.

The structure within the Li Jian is also about to change. After two years of stability, the old ministers in the imperial court will have to be replaced again. At this time, Zhang Zhou seems to be able to make the imperial court follow him whenever he sneezes. Trembling, but some civil servants didn't want to listen to him, thinking that he had no influence.

But Li Zhang is a sober-minded and smart man. If Li Zhang wants to keep his status as the admiral and eunuch of the East Factory, he must stand on Zhang Zhou's team and follow Zhang Zhou's lead.

"In addition, our family also heard that the British prince... seems to be a little slack, and someone is preparing to impeach him for delaying the military plane." Li Zhang was "showing his loyalty."

Knowing that there is a dispute between the old and the new between Zhang Zhou and Zhang Mao, then be a favor and let someone deal with Zhang Mao.

It would be best to wipe out the British government just like the Baoguo government, so that you, Duke Cai, have no rivals in the court, and let you know how capable I, the Duke of Dongchangchang, am.

Zhang Zhoudao: "The British Duke is not involved in the specific war. It is not easy to participate in the impeachment, right? Besides, with his reputation in the court, many people will speak for him. I don't think the British Duke What can be lost from this matter?”

"That's not necessarily the case..."

Li Zhang had a bit of a smirk on his face.

It seems that there is already a way.

As a "civilized man", Zhang Zhou would not usually play tricks on Zhang Mao, but Li Zhang was different. He was not a civilized man. When he knew that the emperor also planned to give Zhang Maoteng's position to Zhang Zhou, how could he not act well? Performance?
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Eunuch Li, when you say this, it makes me feel a little bit wrong, as if you want a public weapon for private use."

"How could this happen?" Li Zhang said, "Everything is done according to the rules."

"Okay, I hope you won't break the rules." Zhang Zhou nodded to express his satisfaction, "I am a person who pays most attention to public affairs and everyone has a face. I don't want to break my skin with anyone. Eunuch Li really doesn't have to do anything. Tell me... After all, you and I are just working together, and I also hope that Eunuch Li can share more of His Majesty's worries and solve problems for the court." (End of Chapter)