Wanli 1592

Chapter 489

On November 25, the [-]th year of Wanli, in Beijing.

This day is a rare sunny day since the beginning of winter this year. The sun returned to the earth, bringing a little warmth to this cold place. Perhaps nothing has changed in fact, but as long as one is bathed in the sun, the Always feel warm.

People who have been stuck in the house for many days finally choose to leave the moldy home on this day, open the door to get some air, put on the thickest cotton-padded clothes and trousers, and reluctantly go out for a stroll outside.

Small vendors with a keen sense of smell have also reopened their shops one after another, selling some hot noodle soup and hot noodles.

Saying goodbye to people who haven't been able to chat for many days, this day can be regarded as a chatterbox.

Xu Guangqi was no exception. He was a bit stupefied from reading at home, so he decided to take this great opportunity to go for a walk to refresh his mind, so he invited some friends from his hometown to drink in a tavern, chatting about the past and the present, The atmosphere is relaxed and pleasant.

After drinking for three rounds, everyone chatted more enthusiastically. I don't know who started to talk about family and country affairs first, so everyone focused on some recent political topics during the chat.

A villager with some connections in the capital took advantage of his drunkenness and said to everyone with great interest: "I don't know if you have heard that a few days ago, there was a violent quarrel between the chief minister and the second minister in the cabinet. To the emperor."

As soon as these words were uttered, everyone's attention was attracted. Although scholars pay attention to keeping their ears to the outside world, for them, the level is different. They already have the qualifications to be officials and need attention and attention. There are more things to understand, especially the direction of the National Political University, which is one of their compulsory courses.

"Please tell me, brother, what is going on?"

The person who opened the mouth was quite proud, and said: "I have a good friend who is on duty in the cabinet. He told me that a memorial came from Datong that day, talking about the Tumote Department north of Datong. , that is, the tribe of the famous strange woman San Niangzi, they begged for food to survive the winter.

Mr. Zhao Ge attaches great importance to this matter, and plans to allocate grain and grass to Datong Town to help the Tumote Department survive the winter famine, but Mr. Zhang Ge disagrees. Mr. Zhang Ge means that those grains are very important life-saving food. How can it be easily transferred to the Mongols when it is eaten by the troops and people on the nine sides?

Mr. Zhao Gel and Mr. Zhang Gel insisted on their own opinions, and no one was convinced by the other. The other ministers in the cabinet were less experienced and did not speak, so the two brought this matter to His Majesty. His Majesty was also unable to make a decision for a while, and the matter became deadlocked. "

Some people wondered: "Since Jiajing in this dynasty, the power of the first assistant has far surpassed that of the other ministers. How can the second assistant stop the things that the first assistant supports?"

Then the person looked at the person who asked the question with "innocent" eyes.

"My friend, this is not a rule, it's just a practice. Even the rule may be overturned and repeated, let alone a rule? Zhao Ge is getting old, and it's time to retire. Then the next person who will take over as Chief Assistant will be who?
According to the usual practice, Zhang Ge is younger than Zhao Ge, and he is the second assistant. It is time to show his ambitions. Of course, he wants to get more political achievements before Zhao Ge retires, so that he can smoothly take over the position of Chief Assistant. "

"Then you can't sing against the old Shoufu, right? After all, it's the old Shoufu, so it's too inappropriate."

"You are wrong. Mr. Zhao Ge's official voice among the hundreds of officials is very bad. Zhang Ge's move is not only to compete for political achievements, but also to express himself in front of all officials."

"So that's how it is! You are a talented brother!"

"Hahaha, don't dare to act, dare not act!"

A few people started to flatter each other, but Xu Guangqi was inexplicably concerned about the lack of food in Tumed's department that the two ministers argued about.

The relationship between Tumed and Daming is good. This is not incredible in other dynasties, but it is very strange in the stubborn Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty has never repaired with nomads and barbarians, but Only an exception was made here in the Tumote Department, because of the appearance of a strange woman.

Under the leadership of this strange woman, the Tumote tribe defended the borders of Daming and helped Daming prevent many disasters. It is really due to Daming Jiangshan Sheji. This tribe is now begging for food because of disasters. Why is Zhang Ge not allowed? ?

suffered a disaster...

Feeling the cold weather, Xu Guangqi immediately understood that the Tumot tribe suffered disasters due to the abnormal cold weather. They had no food to survive, so they asked Daming for relief food. According to his understanding, in previous years, every cold disaster The year of the Ming Dynasty was the year when the border gates of the Ming Dynasty suffered disasters, and the Mongols would definitely go south to plunder.

It’s cold, the more you go north, the colder it is. This is an experience that has been handed down for many years. The Mongols lived in the north of the Ming Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty was cut off by the cold grain. The aliens on the grassland were not frozen to death by the cold cattle and sheep Wither and see no hope?

How would a hungry person choose?Starve to death on the spot, or fight for a chance and go south to plunder Daming?

There is no need to talk about the experience of thousands of years.

The Tumed tribe has been coldly sent south to ask for help. Wouldn't the Mongols in places colder than Tumed be too cold to survive?Will they... Will they go south to invade the border in groups?
At this thought, Xu Guangqi was shocked.

"Mr. Zhang Ge's actions are harming the country!"

Xu Guangqi couldn't help saying it, and immediately, a table of fellow scholars who praised each other looked at him in surprise.

"Zixian, although Mr. Zhang Ge's official reputation among the hundred officials is not good, he is at least a strong candidate for the next chief assistant. It doesn't matter if you say it in front of us, but if it gets out, Zhang Ge Now that I know it, what should I do? We are just raising people, we can talk about state affairs, and we can’t discuss government affairs indiscriminately.”

A fellow villager kindly reminded Xu Guangqi.

The rest of the people also nodded repeatedly.

"Zixian, you are the Jieyuan of Shuntian Mansion, and you have already attracted attention, so you should be more careful in your words."

The well-informed person looked around and warned Xu Guangqi cautiously.

Xu Guangqi shook his head quickly.

"No, everyone, just listen to me. In the past, when barbarians from the north went south to invade the border areas, it was at a time when Daming was in turmoil due to severe cold and large-scale crop failure. This is not a coincidence, it is inevitable."

The rest of the scholars looked at each other in blank dismay.

"What do you mean by that?"

"The weather is cold, and the grain harvest will be less. The colder the weather, the less the harvest. Under the severe cold, the grain harvest will be wiped out. And everyone should know that the further north, the colder the weather, and our Daming will lose the grain harvest. The north became Mongols, but the cattle and sheep froze to death and the pastures withered?
They are also people, and they also need to eat. When the weather is warm, the water and grass are abundant, and the cattle and sheep are strong, it seems unnecessary for them to go south. Going south, so since ancient times, it is inevitable for the northern captives to go south during the severe cold! "

(End of this chapter)