Chapter 423 The unbearable weight of the court

Fengtian Hall, court meeting.

Before Wen Chen and Wu Xun arrived, they vaguely heard some rumors and learned that the siege of Ningxia seemed to be resolved, and the root cause of everything lay in the sudden withdrawal of the Tatars.

Like Yang Yiqing's assumption about the current situation, the minister did not think that Wang Shouren's six thousand soldiers and horses had done anything big on the grassland, but it was probably that the Tatars had finished looting and were about to collect. It's time to return to the mountain. If it has something to do with Wang Shouren, it must be that the Tatars pulled out the thorn in Wang Shouren's flesh while returning the troops.

In other words.

The situation for Wang Shouren and his six thousand soldiers and horses is not optimistic.

The meeting begins.

When Zhu Youtang came up, he asked Li Rong to come forward and read out several reports about various places in the northwest, mentioned the news of the Tatar withdrawal, and also read out the information about Duoyan Sanwei in Jizhou Town in the east. News of moving north.

I just need to tell the minister openly that I think it was Wang Shouren's bravery and skill in fighting that forced the Tatars to retreat. Even the remaining members of the Duoyan Three Guards did not dare to approach the border of the Ming Dynasty anymore.

Because Li Rong is old and has more seniority, he speaks very slowly, but his words are sonorous and powerful. He expresses clearly what Zhu Youtang wants to express with a slightly ups and downs tone. Generally speaking, he could speak loudly when the emperor wanted to highlight and "knock on the blackboard", while those unimportant reports could be passed over in one stroke.

The old guy just has qualifications. When Li Rong finished speaking, even if the emperor didn't say anything, all the ministers knew what the emperor meant.

Finally, Li Rong concluded: "This morning, His Majesty has issued an order to Xuanfu, Datong, Yansui, Ningxia and Gansu, etc., to send available soldiers, supported by sky gunpowder and long-range artillery, to attack the grassland. Shake the power of the country with the power of shaking the grassland."

After Li Rong finished speaking, he turned around and bowed respectfully to Zhu Youtang before retreating.

This is different from Xiao Jing and others who came out to talk about something. They all respectfully left after speaking. Li Rong seemed to be more concerned about expressing his respect and humility to the emperor, although it seemed that This kind of behavior is a bit deliberate, and Zhu Youtang doesn't seem to be the kind of person who is particularly rigid about etiquette. In the past, Li Rong's move would have appeared redundant.

But now that the relationship between the emperor and his ministers is a bit tense, his move showed his closeness to the emperor, and showed his estrangement from Xiao Jing and others.

"Dear ministers, do you have any opinions?"

Zhu Youtang waited for a while and found that no minister came out to object. He was not used to it, so he took the initiative to ask.

Because in Zhu Youtang's view, whenever I had any intention of dispatching troops and generals in the past, you would definitely jump out and oppose it, either without using the excuse of wasting people and money, or using the excuse of "creating trouble even if there is no difficulty" "Difficulties cannot allow Your Majesty to act recklessly" as a breakthrough, and we can always find reasons to refute Northwest's initiative to use troops.

Surprisingly.

After the emperor asked the question, the ministerStill no one came out to object.

It’s not that they don’t want to object. According to the opinions of the mainstream civil servants and military officials in the DPRK, the northwest can just stay on the defensive. Taking the initiative is causing trouble for themselves.

The reason why they did not come out to oppose this time was because they felt that there was no point in opposing it.

Your Majesty, haven’t you decided?

Your decision is based on two or three days after the Tatar withdrawal. Capital City, it will take another four or five days for your decree to be transmitted to all parts of the northwest. It may not be delivered to those far away in four or five days. Then it will take a few more days for each place to prepare troops and horses, and then fight out

Ten sky.

A conservative estimate is already.

I would like to ask your Majesty, after the Tatars have withdrawn their troops for ten days, who can be shaken and pursued after they send troops to the grassland?

This so-called sending troops seems to be superfluous.

Zhu Youtang said, "It seems that all of you have no objections, so my will will not change. Before this, as far as I know, only Wang Qiong of Piantou Pass has been entrusted to me. According to the order, troops were sent to the Donghetao area in advance. In addition, Huo Si, the leader of the surrendered tribe of Mongol Jin, submitted a report to ask for instructions to use troops and horses to fight against the little Tatar prince."

The minister was a little bit confused after hearing this. Confused.

What

We can understand that Wang Qiong sent troops, but Huo Si is still looking for a presence at this time. Even if he did not watch the war from the other side, he actually took the initiative to report it and said that he wanted to fight. Standing with Ming Dynasty

What is the intention of Fire Sieve

Zhou Jing, the Minister of Rites, came out and said, "Your Majesty, the words of the leader of Di Yi cannot be trusted."

Zhu Youtang said, "I naturally know that the fire sieve cannot be trusted, but since he has already submitted the report, in order to express my position, I still have to fulfill his loyalty. The current plan is to ensure that Xinjian Bo unexpectedly attacks the troops behind the Tatars. If we can successfully retreat to the pass, do you have any good plans for this?"

Zhou Jing looked at Ma Wensheng aside and retreated by himself.

The general meaning is, Mr. Ma, it’s your turn to come forward and offer suggestions.

Ma Wensheng also knew that he had to take part in this matter, because the cabinet obviously wanted to play dumb today. He knew the character of the three old foxes in the cabinet very well. At the critical moment when no results were achieved, there seemed to be no need to take the lead. , just let them, the heads of the six executive ministries, come out and express their stance.

Ma Wensheng raised the wat board, his tone was not as steady as before, but seemed a bit anxious and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that after Xinjian Bosuo's troops enter the Tatar hinterland, they may be most likely to fall into The current plan for a heavy siege is to find the location of their troops and horses, and while rushing for reinforcements, they may send people to announce the decree to the Tatars."

Where to rush for reinforcements?

We don’t even know where Wang Shouren’s headquarters is. Your Majesty, you actually ask us what good strategies we have to help him, which is a bit neglectful.

As for the so-called sending people to maintain integrity, it means sending people to mediate with the Tatars. We all have people from all walks of life to attack the grassland. In exchange for Daming not attacking, you will obediently make a way., so that Wang Shouren can bring his 6,000 soldiers and horses, or I don’t know how many soldiers and horses are left now, so that they can return to the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Youtang said coldly, "Could it be that the Ministry of War thinks that Uncle Xin Xin can't come back, so he has to beg Hulu to let him come back with his remaining troops."

"Old Minister There was no such intention." Ma Wensheng denied it.

What he means is that the old minister has just said clearly that if Wang Shouren goes like this, he will easily fall into a tight siege. I did not say that he will definitely fall into a tight siege. Even if he is still dealing with the Tatars, should he first Find the location of his soldiers and horses so that your majesty, the old man, can use his talent of "seeing the light of hindsight"

Zhu Youtang looked unkind.

The Tatar withdrawal was originally a good thing worthy of "celebration" for him as an emperor. This meant that it was very likely that Wang Shouren had achieved relatively large results on the grassland and let a thorn It turned into a nail, or even into a sword inserted into the Tatar's belly.

But the minister never gave him face.

It sounds like Wang Shouren is about to burp, and his "fantasy" seems to be about to be shattered.

When you are an emperor, your ministers will create worries for you every day and find troubles for you. The euphemistic name is to keep your heart strings tense at all times, so that you can focus on state affairs

What is born from sorrow and dies from happiness?

You are not tired, I am tired.

Thinking about it this way, Bingkuan is better. He never creates any sense of crisis for me, nor creates troubles, but always helps me solve them.

As Zhu Youtang thought this, the scene became so frozen.

In the end, Zhu Youtang needed to take the initiative to break the deadlock. He asked Xiao Jing on the side, "Didn't Bingkuan give me a report recently? For example, he mentioned the process of this battle and the involvement of Xinjian Bo." Opinions on where to send troops are needed."

This seems to be a personal matter.

But Zhu Youtang spoke very loudly, as if he deliberately wanted all the ministers present to hear.

Let you know what the needs in my heart are like

What I said is what I care about in my heart, and it is often what Bingkuan can think of and even report to me. .

Xiao Jing said, "Dong Lai has not sent any petitions in recent days."

Zhang Zhou was in Nanjing, and I didn't know what he was thinking. Anyway, he was concerned about the war in the north. , Zhang Zhou almost didn't mention it at all, as if this war had nothing to do with him.

Not to mention Xiao Jing, not even the civil servants Wu Xun and Zhu Youtang in the court seemed to understand this.

Of course, there are also villains who think that Zhang Zhou wants to use this to show that this battle has nothing to do with him, to distance himself from the relationship with this battle afterwards, or even to evade responsibility.

But those who are thoughtful also know that Zhang Zhou has no choice.

"Yeah."

Zhu Youtang seemed to be very inspired when he heard Xiao Jing's words, but in fact, his expression was more of an act."Bingkuan didn't mention it, which shows that he is very optimistic about the outcome of this battle. He estimates that there will be good news in the next two days."

When the minister heard this, he could still understand it

"That's it." Zhu Youtang added, "In the past two days, one person from the Pavilion Department, the Shangting Department, the Sixth Department, and the Governor's Mansion each will be sent to stay in the Wenhua Hall, ready to be dispatched at any time."

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Liu Jian finally came out, but he raised questions. He said, "Your Majesty, I don't know why."

Zhu Youtang said, "We must respond to changes at any time. If we learn the news, , I have to invite people back to discuss, but I'm afraid it won't be enough. When the war on the grassland is urgent, we must be dispatched at any time when there are changes."

Liu Jian wanted to say, if something happens on the grassland. The situation requires His Majesty in the capital and the princes and ministers to discuss countermeasures and pass them on before implementing them. The day lily is already cold.

In other words, grass grew on the bodies of Wang Shouren and his six thousand soldiers who were found dead in the wilderness.

"I want you all to wait with me, isn't it possible?"

The emperor's tone became a little cold.

Forget it that you usually sing the opposite, now let each of your yamen send one person to wait for changes in the war together, and listen to my summons at any time to discuss countermeasures. Do you think you are aggrieved or what?

Liu Jian understood that the emperor made this decision because he was worried and wanted more people to share the burden.

So he has nothing to object to.

The meeting ended.

According to the emperor's decree, each of the six yamen must send someone to the Wenhua Palace, and it is stipulated that they must be "Secretary Minister" or above. This probably means that I don't want to listen to the opinions of ordinary people.

When the emperor asked to send people before, he deliberately mentioned the Shangyu Department after the cabinet and before the six departments, probably to give the cabinet face.

Li Rong stayed to initiate the call.

"My lords, I am too old and frail to fulfill my responsibilities. I hope you can understand His Majesty's good intentions. As for who to send, you can discuss it yourself clearly, or you can recommend yourself. ”

Li Rong also looks like a good old man, and his way of speaking is very similar to that of Dai Yi, the former Chief of Ceremony, but there is some shrewdness in his "honesty".

But in fact, his ability is still inferior to Xiao Jing. Even Li Rong himself knows this.

But if Li Rong knew that he was much stronger than Dai Yi.

As for his loyalty to the emperor, Li Rong felt that he was stronger.

Xie Qian walked over and asked with a smile, "Since there are people in the auditorium and the cabinet, do we still need to send two people there?"

Li Rong smiled and said, "Mr. Li Ge It’s not impossible to represent both the Pavilion Department and the Shangting Department.”

Zhang Mao also came over and said, “Old man.People are old and dim, and it is difficult to bear the chores in the palace on weekdays. Today, I have to stay in the palace to advise His Majesty. The old man has to bear the hard work himself and stay in the palace in the name of the Governor's Palace. ”

Don’t your cabinet want Li Dongyang to represent both the cabinet and the hearing department?

Then I, Zhang Mao, cannot be suppressed by you. It’s my turn to have decision-making power. Although I, Zhang Mao, am old, I still have a duty to represent Wu Xun of the Governor's Mansion.

If I were to replace him, I would be afraid that those people would be incompetent.

In other words, their voice is too low.

Xie Qian said with a smile, "Why should the British be asking for trouble? We should find someone with experience in running the army in the northwest in recent years to take charge of this matter. I I think Cheng Guogong is good. "

Zhang Mao curled his lips and said, "Duke Cheng Guo has gone to Nanjing, don't you know, Yu Qiao?"

"He"

Xie Qian couldn't help but Frowning.

If Zhu Fu went to Nanjing, everyone knew why.

But the emperor had not explicitly asked Zhu Fu to return to Nanjing to replace Xu Weiwei. Now let the Nanjing garrison start. Is it necessary for the Emperor to prepare to "kill first and report later"? Who should be appointed as the Nanjing garrison? That is your Majesty's own family matter. We can't even take care of the northwest affairs. Who cares about this?

Zhou Jing came over and said, "I will go to the Ministry of Finance. If we talk about the Dudu Palace, Baoguo Gong can actually do it."

Zhou Jing knew that he was about to retire, so he did not let the two ministers take on the errands of guarding the Wenhua Palace. He just wanted to do it himself Go.

When Li Rong saw that several people were still arguing about who should be appointed as the representative of the Governor's Office, he smiled and said, "Everyone will discuss it within the office. There is no need to listen to other people's opinions, everyone. I will wait outside first. Please come out and wait after you have made your decision, so that I can lead the way to Wenhua Hall together."

The final candidates have been decided.

Except for the Ministry of Household Affairs In addition to Shangshu Zhou Jing going there, the cabinet sent Li Dongyang, who also represented the Shangting Office. Others only sent ministers, and they were all ministers on the right.

The minister on the left was in charge of the ministry. There was no time to go, and other ministers also claimed to be busy. It seemed that only Zhou Jing, the minister in charge of money and food, was idle. However, this was exactly the time after the autumn harvest when grain taxes were put into the treasury, and the Ministry of Household Affairs was also the busiest time.

The group went to Wenhua Hall with Li Rong

Xie Qian and Liu Jian went back to the cabinet to check in. After they arrived, someone came before the door closed. Come in and deliver the brazier.

“It’s a little early. Please keep your clothes tight and close the doors and windows. It won’t be so cold. "Xie Qian said.

The guard who delivered the charcoal fire said, "This is your Majesty's special order. There is a lot of charcoal this year, and it can be found everywhere after the weather gets cold. "

"Carbon"

Xie Qian glanced at Liu Jian sideways, as if to say, look, the "sequelae" of the emperor's reuse of Zhang Bingkuan has occurred, and all kinds of things that did not exist before Things have now begun to affect everything in our daily lives.

After putting down the brazier, Xie Qian couldn't just close all the doors and windows. Ventilation was needed after all.

Xie Qian said, "Yesterday I went to see Wang Dehui, and he told me that after he went to Liaodong from Bo'an, he never sent a letter to his home. It seems that His Majesty and Zhang Bingkuan deliberately avoided He is leaning towards us."

The traditional civil servants represented by Liu Jian seem to know how to "poach".

Wang Shouren is currently the most capable minister under Zhang Zhou. After Wang Shouren temporarily served as governor of Datong, and then went to Liaodong to serve as the commander of Nuer Gandu Sidu, Wang Shouren's status in the Ming army rose rapidly. Traditionally, Civil servants naturally have to start from Wang Shouren's father, who is a traditional civil servant.

But Wang Hua didn’t build it.

Wang Hua has long seen that he is not popular among the traditional factions, and his educational philosophy for his son is that of a brat, just do whatever comes to your mind, and don't care about what your father and I think.

So much so that no matter how the traditional civil servant faction tried to put pressure on Lao Wang and his son, the effect was very weak.

Liu Jian closed his eyes and said, "Wang Dehui seems to be avoiding people recently, or he has different ideas about Bo'an."

Xie Qian said, "It's us who treat him badly." It's too harsh."

Liu Jian shook his head and did not answer such a pointed question.

Xie Qian said again, "The current situation is becoming increasingly unreal. Zhang Bingkuan is in Nanjing. Even if he can predict everything on the grassland, he can deliver the message in time." How brave is Wang Bo'an, or in what way does His Majesty allow Wang Bo'an to lead six thousand soldiers and horses to attack the hinterland behind Di Yi regardless of life and death?"

Liu Jian still did not answer.

The war has come to a point where the outcome is about to be decided. The outcome may even have been decided, but the news has not yet been sent back. It seems meaningless to worry about it.

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Xie Qian frowned and said, "Liu Zhongtang, do you think that Wang Boan and his six thousand soldiers just gave up like this?"

Liu Jian said seriously, "What happened thousands of miles away?" , Yu Qiao, what can you and I do to make even the slightest change in this? Your Majesty has stopped consulting us on military and political matters. Now, what do you think has anything to do with me? Even if you really give up, what if? With Wang Bo'an's blood, His Majesty can understand the consequences of listening to one's own beliefs, and it is still not possible to remedy the situation and bring order to the chaos."

As soon as the topic started, Xie Qian fell into a brief silence.

"Haha."

Xie Qian smiled bitterly and sighed, "Oh, I finally understand. This defeat is too heavy for us to bear. Even if we win, we can't. Accept it. Then it is better to be a bystander and smile at the situation. This promotion is for the victory of the family and the country, and the defeat is for the sake of peace. In this way, bad things turn into good things, and we will be invincible after all." Please hold on.Note to favorites, the latest and fastest website for free reading without anti-theft