Inside the Yamen of the Ministry of War.
Zhang Zhou also came over as a routine to handle some official business that day, but as soon as he arrived, he was blocked by "Xiong Da" and "Xiong Er". They pretended to discuss things with him, but in fact they were talking to him. Ask about the situation of the Northwest War.
Xiong Chong said, "His Majesty mentioned in the court hall the day before yesterday that the Tatars may be attacking the border from the side. Now the Ministry of War has to prepare for military affairs and send official documents to places, but it doesn't know where to step up the defense first. ”
The question is pretty straightforward.
Please give me accurate information on where the Tatars come from, so that our Ministry of War will not have so much trouble in preparation.
Zhang Zhou also heard that even the Ministry of War wanted to use his "prophetic ability" to save trouble.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "If the Ministry of War has no plan to prepare for this kind of thing, why don't you come and ask me?"
Both Xiong Xiu and Xiong Chong looked a little ugly.
As traditional civil servants, they naturally knew that it was a bit out of place for Zhang Zhou, the Minister of War, to directly point out the location of the Tatar invasion on the map, or that it could not be done this way according to the business process, but the problem is now They couldn't make up their minds either.
Xiong Xiu said, "The entire military department is also waiting for your opinion, Zhang Budang."
Who made you the minister of the military department?
We don't listen to you. Whose?
Zhang Zhouxin said, if I become the minister, I can justifiably be called the "magic stick", right?
Zhang Zhou sighed and said, "You two, that's it. Let's sit down and talk in detail. You see, it has been some time since Duke Baoguo sent out troops, and the news is still lagging behind. From here, the message can be sent to various border areas, including distant places such as Gansu and Pingliang. It will take four or five days to send the message. If we encounter any obstacles on the way, it will take seven or eight days for the letter to arrive."
"It's too late," Xiong Xiu asked.
"Yes." Zhang Zhou nodded, "The precautions we should take, if we push forward now, it will indeed be too late."
Xiong Chong said, "Even if it is seven or eight days, it will be too late." It’s too late. We have to take precautions.”
Zhang Zhou said, “Isn’t it a routine matter for the Ming Dynasty to strengthen defenses at the passes? This requires special guidance from the court. Based on the reports I have read before, it is also necessary. They all mentioned tightening defense and strengthening pass inspections, especially those old forts in the passes. The generals of pass defense should not just deal with what the court says casually."
The two bears looked at each other At a glance, they all want to say, they said that strengthening customs defense is a routine matter, isn't it also a routine matter for them to deal with the court?
Do you really think they will be any different in terms of customs defense?
Even if If we want to strengthen, who will provide the manpower and material resources?
Zhang Zhou said with a smile, "If the predictions are correct, the Tatars should have already taken action, and Baoguo Gong's invasion will soon be over. As long as the Tatars invade, he will turn his guns to return reinforcements. When the time comes, he will be like a headless fly.It will look so good.
Let Zhu Hui do the embarrassing thing. Why is the Ministry of War joining in the fun?
Xiong Chong still chattered and asked, "Where is it?"
Zhang Zhou smiled and waved his hands, meaning he couldn't say it, or he couldn't say it to you two.
Anyway, I am now the minister, and you are both my subordinates. You are a senior official. A superior does not have the obligation to explain everything to his subordinates. As for you, if you want to understand, just slowly understand it yourself.
At the court meeting the next day, Zhang Zhou did not appear in the court hall.
No one in the court mentioned the strengthening of defenses in various places in the northwest. After the court meeting was dismissed, Xiong Xiu went over to contact Xie Qian and Li Dongyang on behalf of the Ministry of War. In fact, he was paraphrasing Zhang Zhou’s words because he asked Asking Zhang Zhou about the focus of defense was something Xie Qian specifically mentioned to the Ministry of War before.
"He is deliberately showing off."
Xie Qian seemed a little annoyed after hearing Xiong Xiu's words.
Li Dongyang on the side looked relatively calm and said, "He did not deny it, which means that he may have informed His Majesty in advance that he had his own suggestions for the defense of the nine sides."
< p>Xie Qian looked at Li Dongyang curiously and asked, "Did he say anything?"Xiong Xiu said seriously, "Zhang Butang did not deny the matter, but it is a commonplace to think about strengthening the defense of the pass. Zhang Butang I did mention that Duke Baoguo's advance is almost over."
Li Dongyang said, "That's right. If the Tatars attack the border from other places, Duke Baoguo will withdraw his troops and return reinforcements." It makes sense. This is just like last year when Wang Boan marched into the grassland to relieve the siege of Ningxia." Come here, the Tatars will use Ningxia as their breakthrough point."
Neither Li Dongyang nor Xiong Xiu could answer this question.
As he was walking and talking, Lin Han, the Minister of Rites, was approaching on the other side. Xie Qian waved his hand to tell Xiong Xiu to stay away first and let the matter rest at this point.
Xiong Xiu also completed his task of testing Zhang Zhou and telling the cabinet. He did not walk away, but followed behind and said nothing.
"Old Lin, there is something wrong."
Xie Qian is seventeen years younger than Lin Han. In addition, Lin Han is from an academic school and is now the Minister of Rites, so Xie Qian's words are Still somewhat polite.
Lin Han took a look at Xiong Xiu first, and then said, "I heard that your Majesty appointed a new Liaodong garrison officer, and I wanted to come over and ask about it."
"Really?" Xie Qian smiled and said, "I haven't heard of it. Could it be someone Liu who was assigned to guard Yanwu Hall before?"
Li Dongyang gave Xie Qian a look, which meant that this issue should not be discussed here.
Lin Han said, "Quanzi recently returned to the capital and entered the martial arts hall. As a member of the Ministry of Rites, staying in the martial arts hall will inevitably break the rules. Let's see if it's okay."
Lin Han Obviously he didn't want Lin Ting to be involved in the struggle between Zhang Zhou and traditional civil servants. He wanted to use his own power toThe son was "saved".
My son's achievements may not be inferior to yours."
Lin Han's eyes have been drifting towards Li Dongyang. Obviously, in Lin Han's opinion, Xie Qian, who can talk a lot, is not as conspiratorial as Li Dongyang. Home.
Li Dongyang then asked, "Who are the new Liaodong garrison officials you mentioned?"
Only when Lin Han heard this did he know that the cabinet might be concerned about this matter. I don’t know, but I think that the appointment of guard eunuchs is just a matter of the emperor’s word. Originally, he represents the king, and there is no need to discuss it with the cabinet or the ministers of the court.
"Maybe he chooses people from the Royal Horse Prison, but he doesn't know much about it."
Lin Han stopped talking about this topic.
Waiting for Lin Han and others to go their separate ways with Xie Qian and Li Dongyang
Xie Qian asked, "Bin Zhi, who do you think you are?"
Li Dongyang shook his head and said, "Ren Liang and Zhang Yu are currently in prison. The charges may be quite serious. If the investigation continues, the target will be directed at the Supervisor of Ceremonies. Guarding Liaodong is related to the stability of Liaodong in the Ming Dynasty, especially last year. You have to be particular about who you send after beating the Jurchens."
Xie Qian said, "They are probably Zhang Bingkuan's people."
Li Dongyang remained silent.
He didn't expect to understand this matter. The person who ventilated it was actually Lin Han, an academic who seemed to pose no threat in the past.
"How could it be him?" Li Dongyang obviously didn't understand where Lin Han got this "secret".
Zhang Zhou did not attend the court meeting that day, but he still had "official duties" to attend to.
He was directly invited to Fusi, Jinyiweibei Town of the Ming Dynasty, to personally "arraign" the prisoner, Zhang Yu, who was the former governor of Liaodong and was now accused of treason.
As a civil servant, Zhang Yu suffered a lot in prison. Even if he deliberately put on clean clothes, he still couldn't hide his haggardness. He was dragging his shackles and walking with a limp. of.
"Zhang Budang, I apologize for not being able to salute you."
Zhang Yu still retains the dignity of a gentle man, and wants to hold on in front of Zhang Zhou.
Guo Ang, the envoy of Fusi Town in Beizhen, said, "Master Zhang is here to interrogate your case. If you have anything else that you haven't explained, you can mention it to Master Zhang, or you can save some face for yourself."
I don’t say that I can save a life, but I only say that I can save face.
Since the emperor sent Zhang Yu and Ren Liang to Beizhen Fusi, he must have a "conclusion". Ren Liang's strong background may still save his life, but the probability of Zhang Yu's saving his life is close to Zero, after all, Jin Yiwei is not a vegetarian. They have found evidence that Liaodong and Duoyan Sanwei had secretly communicated.
It is difficult to say whether this evidence can be regarded as "treason", but having contact with the Tatars behind the back of the court, even if it is just for financial gain, is nowWhen the Ming Dynasty was showing off its military prowess, Zhang Yu would also be taken out as a model and killed to serve as a warning to others.
"There's nothing to say." Zhang Yu also looked very arrogant.
Guo Ang is a "ruthless person" after all. He doesn't even look as gentle as Mou Bin. When he is ruthless, he is probably as ruthless as peeling people's skin and bones. He said coldly, "You can't do it without seeing the coffin." "Crying."
Zhang Zhou said, "How should the case be tried? I am just an outsider and can't interfere too much."
It means, don't scare him, what are you going to do? Yes, don't say it in front of me.
You think I am a rare place like Jinyiwei
Zhang Yu was a little confused at first, and he was also wondering how the emperor could hand over a "treason case" to someone like Zhang Zhou Minister of War, no matter how close the relationship between Zhang Zhou and the emperor is, Zhang Zhou, as a civil servant, needs to avoid suspicion at this time.
But he also knew that he couldn't care about this, and said in an almost pleading tone, "Please Zhang Butang, please be accommodating and don't embarrass my family."
Zhang Zhou shook his head helplessly and said, " How to investigate this case carefully will have its own laws and regulations."
It means there is nothing we can do to help.
"Alas" Zhang Yu sighed heavily in public.
For someone like him who had been the governor of Shuntian and the governor of Liaodong, and enjoyed the glory and wealth, prison was very torture for him, but he could only It is sad to take the blame on oneself.
"Is Yang Peng here?" Zhang Zhou asked Guo Ang next to him, as if the affairs of Beizhen Fusi Court had nothing to do with him.
Guo Ang said, "Eunuch Yang is waiting outside."
"Yes." Zhang Zhou nodded, "He is about to go to Liaodong to guard the Zhongguan. Let him come to see you. It’s time to be alert in advance. "Please remember to bookmark it, the latest and fastest website without anti-theft and free reading