The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

late at night.

Lu Wan has been coming to the duty room of the Shangting Department every day these days. It involves the war at the northwest border. He is on duty as the right minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs. In handling military affairs, his power is even greater than that of the two. A minister of the Ministry of War.

That night, an urgent battle report was sent back to the capital from more than 300 miles northwest of Daning, and was compiled by Hanlin Liu Chun and delivered to him.

"Shilang Lu, this matter is no small matter."

Liu Chun was one of the few people in the Hanlin Academy who could work in the Shangting Office. He was not affiliated with this yamen. Just as the cabinet needed help from the Zhongshushe people to take care of some chores, after the Shangting Office was established, the emperor also transferred A group of people came to help. Originally, they were all Guanzheng Jinshi, Langzhong, Yuanwailang, and chief officials among the six ministries, but the cabinet insisted on letting some people from the Hanlin Academy come over.

It's called assistance, but it's actually for the eyes.

That night, Liu Chun happened to be on duty, but he encountered good news from Jizhou.

Lu Wan opened the news and read it, nodded and said, "It makes sense. Have you read it in advance?"

Liu Chun looked embarrassed. This urgent report was not a secret report and was not submitted directly to the emperor. In fact, it was made in two copies. One was sent to the emperor and the other was reported to the superior. Even the cabinet did not know about it. Liu Chun Although he also knew that his current job was a thankless job, he would still do whatever the cabinet asked him to do.

If this kind of urgent report is not brought out, how can he survive in the Hanlin Academy system in the future?
Lu Wan did not argue with Liu Chun and said: "His Majesty has been recovering from illness recently, maybe it is a heart disease. It just so happens that this good news can make his condition better."

Liu Chun said: "This is... still too bizarre. Do you want to wait and see?"

Based on Liu Chun's feeling after reading this victory report, Cui Yuan and Zhu Feng fought a victorious battle in the ice and snow on the grassland, but the results they obtained were mediocre. The Tatars actually only knew how to escape, instead of following. The meaning of the Ming army's love for war...

It seems reasonable, but the most unreasonable thing is that this war happened too far away from the Ming Dynasty. Unless you see evidence, it is just empty talk.

Lu Wandao: "Renzhong, you are about the same age as me, but you and I have different resumes, or in your Hanyuan, you need to be careful to verify everything, but when you are on the border, you have to report what you want, and whether you want to verify it." and implementation, that is the wish of the court decision-makers, we just have to report it truthfully."

Liu Chun was one year younger than Lu Wan, but after he passed the Jinshi examination, he just did errands in the Hanlin Academy.

It was a Qingshui yamen. Except for a little extra income during the holidays, the rest of the year could only be lived on salary and stipends. This was not like Bing Jing and Tan Jing in the future. Now in Beijing Officials only look prominent.

Unless you can get into the position of waiter or lecturer, others will treat you as a dish. Liu Chun had several opportunities to be transferred out of the Hanlin Academy, but like every noble scholar, Liu Chun also hoped to be transferred to the Hanlin Academy. Make a name for yourself in the mix.

But Lu Wan was different. He was a frontline official who worked hard on the front line.

But Lu Wan was still polite to Liu Chun, because Lu Wan also knew that although Liu Chun seemed very depressed now and even became the cabinet's informant, in the future, people like this from the Hanlin Academy might come to the fore. To get ahead is likely to be joining the cabinet, or becoming the Minister of Rites, or the Minister of Rites, or becoming a Hanlin bachelor in charge of the Hanlin Academy, or even becoming the teacher of the emperor in the future.

Liu Chun sighed: "Recent rumors in the capital, including some newspapers, are saying that the war in the border towns will end in vain. How could there be such a victory in the east..."

Liu Chun couldn't understand either.

The winner could be Wang Shouren, Wang Qiong, Zhang Mao, or Zhu Feng and Cui Yuan. No one else takes this strange pair seriously.

Lu Wan smiled slightly and said: "Speaking of which, this battle really has the meaning of enclosing the wolf. It reached the hinterland of the grassland and caused the Tatar tribe to flee, causing huge losses in property... People and animals were not even protected. This kind of thing The achievements can only be achieved by the personal guidance of Zhang Shangshu."

"Zhang Shangshu? No wonder, no wonder." Liu Chun understood Lu Wan's hint.

Zhang Zhou had not gone anywhere else before, but only went to Jizhou Town. As a result, Zhu Feng and Cui Yuan achieved a great victory.

Can this be said to have nothing to do with Zhang Zhou?
It can even be said that this song belongs to Zhang Zhou!

It's not that others think so, but that others think this is a natural thing. As for Zhu Feng and Cui Yuan's bad luck, no one cares about it. People are more willing to believe what they want to believe.

Lu Wandao: "In the past two years, I have also concluded that there is no point in confronting Zhang Shangshu at any time! I think he can be promoted to the ministry at such a young age. He has helped the Ming Dynasty achieve so many things, is a personal favor to His Majesty, and is also a pillar of the country. Why must such a person be excluded from Qingliu?"

Liu Chun smiled bitterly and said: "That's the truth, but there are some things... After all, he is not an orthodox scholar."

"Why not?"

Lu Wan said in a tone like a friend, "He is the number one scholar. Even if others want to regard him as a Taoist priest of the Fang family, so what? When we founded the Ming Dynasty, we had Liu Bowen, and later we had Dao Yan. As long as it is beneficial to our country, the Ming Dynasty." When Sheji was founded, these people were able to call the shots, so why can't Zhang Shangshu do it now?"

"This……"

Liu Chun was a little unable to argue.

It was good when Liu Bowen and Yao Guang were born. The emperor at that time was too strong, but the ministers were silent. The emperor could use whomever he wanted, and the ministers did not even have the qualifications to object.

But things are different now...

In the middle of the Ming Dynasty, even if there was no prime minister, the cabinet ministers became the de facto prime ministers and interfered in all aspects of government affairs. Originally, the cabinet could not personally intervene in the affairs of the six ministries, but now the rule has been formed that if something happens, the cabinet can act as an adviser As a member of the Sixth Department, I went to do some coordination and guidance.

It seems that he is an adviser, but because the cabinet itself has the power to vote, and the six ministries have to rely on the cabinet to help them obtain the emperor's approval, the six ministries have to take orders from the cabinet on major matters, instead of just listening to their suggestions.

Under such circumstances, the civil servants headed by the cabinet would naturally not allow the emperor to listen to partial beliefs, which would destroy the order they had painstakingly established in the court.

In the minds of the cabinet ministers, if the emperor has something to do, he should ask them directly for help. If there is no answer, they should discuss it with the people below... Zhang Zhou is overstepping the level and not going through the highest power of the cabinet and traditional civil servants. , and being directly responsible to the emperor, doesn't this mean that the entire court is being emptied out?

Liu Chun said: "Then what should we do?"

Lu Wan put the good news aside and said nonchalantly: "This is just Guan Bai's share. I believe your Majesty will get the news tonight. Earlier, Cai Guogong had returned to Beijing and is said to be in the palace now. , even the timing was chosen so perfectly.”

Liu Chun asked: "Except for these two..."

He wanted to ask, does the cabinet or the Ministry of War know about this?

Obviously Liu Chun knew that someone in the court wanted to participate in the impeachment of Zhang Zhou, and even planned to use the northwest military affairs to make things difficult for Zhang Zhou.

Lu Wan shook his head and said, "Who knows? Just wait."

This means, why are you so anxious to tell the ministers of the DPRK and China?
Now we take advantage of the opportunity of joining the mission to learn the news first, so we can act as a "prophet" and watch others make trouble. Anyway, I, Lu Wan, like to watch the jokes of civil servants the most.

Liu Chun sighed: "It seems that Mr. Xie Ge... is in trouble this time!"

Lu Wan glanced at Liu Chun.

In fact, Lu Wan knew that Liu Chun respected Xie Qian, and even the fact that Liu Chun came to the Shangting Office was arranged behind Xie Qian's back.

The original purpose of the ministers' participation in the impeachment of Zhang Zhou was not only to give Zhang Zhou a chance to be transferred to Nanjing, but also to indirectly speak for Xie Qian and ask the emperor to let Xie Qian go. However, with the current good news in Jizhou Town, it is equivalent to saying that many ministers The arrangement was in vain, and Xie Qian may not only be dismissed from his job, but may even be convicted. …

……

Zhu Youtang had already gone to bed.

I chatted with Zhang Zhou for more than two hours. I didn’t feel tired at the time. After I fell asleep, I felt that I slept very soundly. It seemed that I hadn’t felt so sound for a long time. Even my physical illness seemed unimportant. When I met Zhang Zhou, I felt It seems to be a good medicine.

"In a hurry."

Yang Peng came to the palace overnight. When he arrived outside the Qianqing Palace, he did not know that the emperor was actually living in Xinuang Pavilion at this time. Instead, he was going to meet the emperor in the traditional emperor's palace.

The eunuch on duty is Wei Bin. As a eunuch serving in the palace, he is in the imperial eunuch and his status is respected. But in front of eunuchs like Yang Peng, he is not even a shit, but he We still have to stop Yang Peng from going to see Jia.

Wei Bin said: "Eunuch Yang, please don't disturb His Majesty's rest. How about... could you please ask Eunuch Chen for instructions on this matter?"

Wei Bin is considered to be from Chen Kuan, or from that system.

Nowadays, in addition to the imperial court, Zhu Youtang has set up two separate yamen, the cabinet and the auditor's office, to compete with rituals. In the palace's inner government system, he has also begun to use the royal horse supervisor to check and balance the ritual supervisor.

The logic is similar. The Si Li Jian is responsible for government affairs, while the Royal Horse Supervisor is more responsible for military affairs. This is why the good news will be passed to Yang Peng, who will report it to the palace.

Yang Peng is not as easy to talk to as others. He is groveling to the powerful, but such a person is also famous for being mean in front of those little people.

"You don't know how to write the word "death", do you? It's such a big matter to report urgently at the border. Our family is here to report to the saint, but you dare to stop it? If something goes wrong, can you bear it?" Yang Peng is not serious. What would Wei Bin think? He just used a threatening tone to ask Wei Bin to give way.

Beating a dog depends on the owner.

Who let Wei Bin have Empress Zhang and Chen Kuan behind him?
Wei Bin looked troubled, but he looked in the direction of Xinuang Pavilion and said: "Your Majesty... does not sleep in Qianqing Palace."

"Yes. You go with our family."

"This……"

Wei Bin wanted to leave the problem to others, but when he saw that Yang Peng was still stubborn, he instantly felt that Yang Peng was trying to punish him.

He couldn't keep up.

……

……

Chen Kuan had already gone to bed. Although he had to review the memorials at night, Zhu's review work was not completed, and sometimes he had to use seals and so on.

But the eunuchs and eunuchs who are responsible for the ceremony are not incorrigible. Staying up until midnight is already the limit.

He also slept in the room of the Supervisor of Ceremonies, which was quite far away from Qianqing Palace and Xinuang Pavilion. When the young eunuch came and told him that Yang Peng had forced himself into the Qianqing Palace to meet the Holy Spirit, he almost fell out of bed. Gulu came down.

"Yang Peng?"

Chen Kuan looked a little shocked.

Although he, Chen Kuan, was famous before, Yang Peng was one of the earlier Dongchang factory bosses, and was currently being used by the emperor to check and balance the Chief Ceremony Supervisor.

Chen Kuan mentioned Yang Peng not with anger and hostility, but with a little fear... He used to have Li Guang's support, but now he has Zhang Zhou's support, and he has won the emperor's trust. You, Chen Kuan, know very well that now The tool man in the eyes of the emperor may have to vacate his seat at some point... What qualifications do you have to challenge Yang Peng?
Later, Wei Bin also came from the dormitory nearby. After asking the young eunuch about the specific situation, he said to Chen Kuan: "Why did he meet the saint late at night?"

Chen Kuan quickly calmed down and said: "It may be a mixed blessing. You go out first."

"Yes."

The little eunuch took the order and left.

Then Chen Kuancai said to Wei Bin: "It's either a good news or a bad news. Based on our understanding of Yang Peng, he will not come to our door if something bad happens. Unless it is absolutely necessary."

When Wei Bin heard this, he realized there was something in his words.

The general meaning is that we can only hope that we will be defeated, and Yang Peng has to report...

But in fact, beyond reason, the possibility of this is relatively low, because it is human instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. If it is a failure, Yang Peng is so full that he wants to force his way into Qianqing Palace to meet the Holy Spirit?
Wei Bin said: "Maybe it's just a routine thing?"

The implication is that whether it is a victory or a defeat, it is logical that Yang Peng should report it now, and it should be restored to 50/50, not 28/20, or even 90/90.

Chen Kuan asked coldly: "Do you think it's possible?"

This made Wei Bin a little frustrated.

"Walk."

Chen Kuan said, "In any case, we shouldn't be here now. We should go to Xinuang Pavilion quickly, or His Majesty will summon Cai Guogong for discussion."

"Ah."

Wei Bin also expected this.

Who told Zhang Zhou to return to Beijing now and still be in the palace?
Regardless of whether it is a good news or a bad news, when there is a military matter, the emperor will definitely go to Zhang Zhou to discuss it. If they are present, even if their opinions will not be adopted, at least they will know what the emperor and Zhang Zhou discussed, but if they don't go If so...it would be like letting Yang Peng take advantage.

After the two hurriedly tidied up their appearance, they headed to Xinuang Pavilion.

Before he could reach the place, he saw Li Zhang coming out in a hurry.

"Two father-in-laws." When Li Zhang saw the two of them, he quickly saluted.

"What's going on?" Chen Kuan asked.

Li Zhang smiled and said: "The good news has come. His Majesty asked Duke Cai to come over and said... rewards will be given based on merit. You two didn't know about it until now, right?" (End of Chapter)