high official

Chapter 552

Zhang Fu is the direct elder brother of Zhang Min, who Wang Xian had dealt with in Shanxi, and his father was Zhang Yu, the king of Hejian, Zhu Di's number one general during Jing Nan!In the Battle of Jingnan, when Zhu Di raised his troops, it was Zhang Yu who led his troops to capture the Nine Gates of Beiping, and controlled the entire city of Beiping within three days. Zhang Yudu made a great contribution and became a famous general in the world!
Zhang Fu was an adult at that time, and he followed his father all the time. The father and son soldiers participated in every battle in the early stage of Jingnan.Until the Battle of Dongchang, Zhang Yu led his army into the enemy's formation in order to save Zhu Di who was in a tight siege and was in danger, and died in exhaustion.After the Battle of Dongchang, Zhu Di cried several times, held a grand funeral for Zhang Yu, wrote a eulogy for Zhang Yu himself, and took off his clothes and burned them in front of everyone to express his condolences.After ascending to the throne, Zhu Di often had banquets with his old subordinates, and Zhu Di said several times that what he felt most heartbroken was that there was no Zhang Yu present.

As Zhang Yu's son, Zhang Fu and his father rushed into the thousands of troops to rescue him during the siege of Dongchang.Zhang Fu was able to sacrifice his life to save him in that situation, and his loyalty was naturally stronger than [-] verbal words, so Zhu Di's trust in Zhang Fu can be said to exceed that of any other person in the world.

After Zhang Yuzhan's death, Zhang Fu inherited his father's position, followed Zhu Di to fight in the north and south, and made great military exploits in Jingnan.After the entourage entered Nanjing, he was enfeoffed as Xin'an Bo, Shilu Qianshi, and was given a hereditary certificate, and then he was enfeoffed as Xinchenghou, Jialumi Sanbaishi.After the Annan rebellion, Zhang Fu was the deputy commander, and he assisted Cheng Guogong Zhu Neng to lead an army to crusade. Unexpectedly, Zhu Neng died of illness when he arrived in Guangxi. Zhu Di had to let the young Zhang Fu take command of the expedition. He went to Jiaozhi twice, and the results were brilliant. Zhang Fu also achieved a world-renowned reputation, and was named the hereditary king of the United Kingdom!

Last winter, after three years of arduous fighting, Zhang Fu finally captured Chen Jikuo, his wife and children who had been rebellious, and kidnapped them to the capital.The Annan rebellion was quelled.And according to the national system, the land captured by the thieves was divided into four prefectures, Sheng, Hua, Si, and Yi, and guards were added, and official positions were given to surrenderers, and the troops were left to garrison and return to the court triumphantly.

When Zhang Fu arrived in Beijing in the twelfth lunar month, the emperor went out of the city to greet him in person, and then paid homage to the Taimiao, welcoming his confidant and beloved general with the highest etiquette.Afterwards, Zhang Fu was benefactored to rest at home, and the emperor did not assign him any errands, but let him accompany him from time to time and assist in state affairs.Zhu Di trusted Zhang Fu more than anyone else. He never refuted Zhang Fu's words, and he obeyed Zhang Fu's words.But Zhang Fu became more and more steady and silent, with the meaning of "everything is worth it, it is better to be silent", but it made the emperor pay more attention to him, thinking that he is the most reliable person among the courtiers!

The world is extremely envious of Zhang Fu's glory and favor today, but only Zhang Fu himself knows the danger behind this glory.He has already stood at the pinnacle of being a minister, and if he can't go any further, he will easily attract slanderous remarks.Although the emperor's trust in him was unparalleled, who knew what mood this moody and unfathomable king would be in the next moment?
Therefore, since accompanying him, he has been trembling every day, lest he say something wrong, and every time he returns home, he is so tired that he doesn't want to move.Of course, you can only think about this in your heart, if others hear it, they will only feel that he is hypocritical.

Fortunately, as long as he upholds a public heart and supports the emperor's military administration impartially, there will be no trouble.However, when he heard that the King of Han was assassinated, he knew that trouble was coming... When Zhang Fu heard the news, Zhang Fu’s first reaction was unbelievable. He knew the martial arts of the King of Han very well. No one is invincible in the world, and dozens of strong men can't get close.Even if the world is peaceful these years and his martial arts are slack, he will still be surrounded by expert guards like a cloud!

Although the king of Han was a little too big on weekdays, Zhang Fu still couldn't imagine who could assassinate the king of Han under heavy guards.Reminiscent of the recent discussions between the government and the public about the King of Han's vassalization of Qingzhou, Zhang Fu had to ask a few question marks... How could it be such a coincidence?Could it be that there is something strange in it?Could it be that the King of Han is playing a bitter trick?
But these questions, Zhang Fu will never speak out, because his relationship with Zhu Gaoxu is extraordinary, he is five years older than the King of Han, and the two followed Zhu Di to expedition to Liaodong and Mobei during the Hongwu period, and even more so in Jingnan. Forged a profound friendship, and Zhu Gaoxu had saved his life several times, the so-called life-saving friendship is nothing more than that.

In the battle for the reserve position in the early years of Yongle, Zhang Fu, like most generals, naturally stood on the side of Zhu Gaoxu, the former robe, but he was still young at the time, and there were seniors such as Duke Qi Qiu Fu and Prince Consort Wang Ning. It's not his turn to speak.And with his silent and cautious character, he will not show off in this kind of matter.In addition, he went on three expeditions to Jiaozhi and spent ten years in Annan, but he also avoided the open and secret struggles between the court and China.To this day, it is a miracle that he, the number one soldier of the Ming Dynasty and the most trusted British prince by the emperor, has never expressed his support for any prince.

But this time when the class teacher returned to the court, Zhang Fu could no longer avoid this vortex. Zhu Gaoxu was overjoyed at his return, and felt that he had added a strong supporter. He could help say a few words in front of the emperor, which was better than others. Saying ten thousand words will work.Therefore, the King of Han invited Zhang Fu to banquets over and over again, and even condescended to pay a visit in person. Although it was just to reminisce about the old days and make friends with the family, Zhang Fu knew that the King of Han was trying to win his own support.

However, today's Zhang Fu is not his 12 years ago. 12 years ago, he could support the King of Han without hesitation, and even charge for him, but today, 12 years later, it is difficult for him to show his support for the King of Han.Because Zhu Gaochi has been the prince for ten years, although his position is precarious now, but Zhang Fu, as the leader of Emperor Yongle, how can he ignore the prince and help the King of Han covet the artifact?
But even if he does not openly support the King of Han, as long as he has a close relationship with the King of Han as he is now, in the eyes of all the officials in the government and the opposition, it means that he is on good terms with the King of Han, and his British Duke is a member of the King of Han!But let him draw a clear line with the King of Han and not communicate with each other, he really can't be ungrateful.This marshal who commanded decisively and resolutely on the battlefield was now in a dilemma.He felt that life in the capital was difficult, and it was probably because of this reason.

This time the King of Han was assassinated, Zhang Fu was naturally very angry when he heard it at first, but soon he was full of doubts, but he soon fell into a conflict. ?But that would be too much for the king of Han, but if he blindly ignores the facts and speaks for the king of Han, wouldn't he have failed the emperor's trust?

.

With a mind full of worries, Zhang Fu came to the front hall of Yitian Hall. The hall was deep and covered with layers of curtains. Even in the daytime, hundreds of smokeless oil lamps were needed to light the hall.The air was still filled with the fragrance of ambergris, which was diffused from a pair of purple and gold incense burners two and a half feet high in front of the throne.

Behind the incense burner is the throne, but the throne is empty at the moment.Emperor Yongle, who was wearing a bright yellow round-neck and narrow-sleeved casual robe, and wearing a black gauze winged crown, was pacing restlessly in the palace with his hands behind his back. His already dark face was even more gloomy at this moment, dripping water, obviously The emperor's mood was extremely bad.

The eunuchs and maids standing in the hall were afraid of being angered by the irritable emperor, so they dared not make any movement. The only sound in the hall was Zhu Di's pacing back and forth, and the atmosphere was very creepy.It wasn't until the sound of Zhang Fu's footsteps that Zhu Di stood still and said without turning his head: "Wen Bi, you are here." There are only two people who can go to the palace without passing the Ming Dynasty's special permission, one is the old monk Yao Guangxiao, The other is the British public Zhang Fu.This incident did not disturb the old monk, and naturally only the British Duke was invited by the emperor.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhang Fu nodded and replied softly.

"Sigh," seeing Zhang Fu, Zhu Di felt a little better, but he still frowned and said, "Sit down quickly."

As long as he is not a court attendant, Zhang Fu has a seat in front of the imperial court. Although the emperor will also set up seats for some veterans in their 40s and [-]s, Zhang Fu is only [-] years old this year, and he is not as disabled as the prince, but he is still granted by the emperor. , This is also the honor Zhu Di gave him.

The little eunuch moved an embroidered pier, Zhang Fu bowed to thank the emperor, and then sat on it, waiting for the emperor to speak.

Zhu Di also sat back on the throne, and said to Zhang Fu, "Do you know the news about the assassination of the King of Han?"

"I heard from the eunuch who delivered the decree when I came here." Zhang Fu said in a deep voice, "But don't worry, Your Majesty, His Highness the King of Han came out of the mountains of swords and seas of fire. How could he be killed by a little assassin?"

"Hmm..." Zhu Di's face became calmer. He is indeed an emperor, but he is also a father. When he heard that his son was attacked and fell into a coma, he didn't know whether he was alive or dead. Worry.However, Hu Guang and others who were accompanying him at the time did not even ask about the condition of King Han's injury, but talked about some so-called suspicious points on the sidelines, which made the worried emperor furious, suppressed his anger and drove Hu Guang out .

Seeing that Zhang Fu said that it was the safety of the King of Han, the emperor felt better, and said: "I have already sent the imperial physician to welcome him out, and the driver should have returned to the capital by now."

"Your Majesty, there is a doctor in the minister's mansion who was brought back from Annan by the minister. He is especially good at sword wounds. The minister has already taken him outside the palace..." Zhang Fu said.

"You have a heart, and when the King of Han arrives, you may be able to help him by bringing him in." Zhu Di said: "I also called the prince over, and you can help me to see later, what is he doing?" What an expression!"

"Why?" Zhang Fu said in horror: "Could it be that the emperor suspects..."

"You are overthinking, the prince is the most hypocritical, he dare not do this kind of thing, and he can't do it." Zhu Di snorted with some contempt: "I just let you see, the prince's usual gentleness and friendship, what is it?" It's not a fake!"

"Yes..." Zhang Fu finally agreed, and he couldn't help but feel a little sad. It turned out that the father and son of the Tian family were suspicious of each other, and it was really not a rumor.

Alas, I really miss the days in Annan...

(End of this chapter)