The twelfth lunar month of winter.
The temperature was very low, and the ministers were walking on the way into the palace. While openly showing their enthusiasm to resume court discussions, they secretly complained that the holiday was over and most people would rather the emperor fell ill a year ago. They never recovered, allowing them to continue living their lives.
"Brother Negative Tu"
Ma Wensheng walked in front, but Cheng Minzheng quickly followed.
Ma Wensheng first looked around to make sure that the people in Honglu Temple were not paying attention, and then asked as he walked, "You can't wait until after the court meeting to talk about anything."
Cheng Min Zhengdao "It's better to talk first. I heard that you have submitted a resignation letter again."
"Yes."
Ma Wensheng didn't hide it either.
As soon as this answer came out, even Wang Shi, the Minister of Punishment who was walking next to him, couldn't help but glance at Ma Wensheng.
Lin Han, who was walking behind, heard it and pretended not to hear it
Cheng Minzheng said, "Your Majesty has recovered from his illness. I guess there will be changes in the direction. If you are here, If you retreat, I'm afraid the world will be turned upside down."
As if he came out of nowhere, he smiled and said, "Keqin, isn't this a good thing for you?"
It seems that Cheng Minzheng has been regarded as a political enemy.
Cheng Minzheng glared at Zhong Zhong fiercely, and then said to Ma Wensheng, "Today, I have to endure everything. It depends on what Your Majesty says. Don't force yourself to do anything."
"What do you mean?"
Ma Wensheng couldn't help but frown and asked.
Cheng Minzheng acted as if he didn't hear anything, turned around and walked towards the Hanlin Academy people.
Although he is already a cabinet minister, he seems to want to keep a distance from his ministers.
Ma Wensheng looked back, as if thinking, and then ignored Zhong Zhong and Wang Shi's inquiries and just waved his hand to express that it was not convenient to talk.
The meeting begins.
As expected, Zhang Zhou did not appear in the court, which surprised the ministers present.
Because almost everyone knows that Zhang Zhou is in Beijing, and everyone knows that Zhang Zhou has further consolidated his identity and status due to the two great victories in Jizhou and Northwest, this meeting should appear in the court. When he was showing off his power, he became an invisible man, as if these two great victories had nothing to do with him.
"Cough"
In the Fengtian Hall, Zhu Youtang still looked very haggard. After the basic etiquette of the monarch and his ministers, he started with a cough.
Chen Kuan, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, hurriedly walked over and handed over the handkerchief, but Zhu Youtang just took it and squeezed it in his hand. He put his hand on the armrest of the chair, looked up at the ministers present and said, " Dear ladies, you have worked hard during these days of my recovery. Fortunately, you are here to keep the order in the court. I am grateful in my heart. After today's court meeting, lunch will be left in the Wenhua Hall, and I will have it prepared. You can take some things with you when you leave the palace." When the minister heard this, he thought this was a good thing.
The emperor came up and gave banquets and gifts.It seems that I haven’t received this kind of treatment for a long time. After all, the imperial fiscal office headed by the Ministry of Revenue is crying about poverty every day, and the war in the northwest has cost the emperor’s own pocket year after year.
“You must have heard that the northwest is fighting again. A victorious battle, the report just arrived last night said that the troops and horses had successfully withdrawn to Weining Sea and were stationed around Weining Sea. Maoerzhuang had sent troops to respond, and the Tatars did not dare to pursue them. I have also compared it. Because the troops used in this expedition were light cavalry, most of them did not bring back their heads, but only the bandits' ears, which were tied with ropes. The people who led the troops even submitted a memorial asking for instructions on whether they wanted to build a Jingguan. What do I mean? No need, it’s just a bunch of ears, even if they are piled up, it’s not much, so let’s stop it.”
After hearing this, the ministers didn’t have much reaction in their hearts.
Probably what the emperor was thinking was that giving credit to the generals, Zhang Zhou’s direct descendants, to frighten the barbarians and increase people’s awareness should be avoided if possible.
Otherwise, others will think that Zhang Zhou is awesome and they are incompetent.
"As a reward for meritorious soldiers, I am also prepared to follow the suggestion of the new uncle of the Military Affairs Bureau of Xuanda General Administration, and then make some detailed assessments with the Ministry of War. In addition, I am prepared to supervise it with the Shanxi local inspection censor, and then start from The Ministry of War will send people over to inspect and execute the military merits," Zhu Youtang said.
Liu Jian said in a polite tone, "Your Majesty, if we send people from Beijing to the northwest and have a hard time all the way, I am afraid that we will not be able to complete the reward for the general's merits years ago. We should also send people from Xuanfu and Datong to The general will conduct an inspection first and make a final decision as soon as possible."
Zhu Youtang said, "It doesn't matter. In this battle in the northwest, nine out of ten soldiers with meritorious service came from Datong, and many of them were experienced. It's not the first time to go to the battlefield. It's not in a hurry."
" Liu Jian didn't argue.
Some ministers nearby didn’t understand why Liu Jian said that.
Only a few people at the front probably understood that Liu Jian wanted to ease the relationship with the emperor and Zhang Zhou in some way so that the soldiers could assess military merits more quickly. This was not only to appease the emotions of the meritorious soldiers, but also to Make preparations for early military merit.
After all, the military achievements of the Ming Dynasty often take years, or even several years, to be implemented
In the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the military achievements of the soldiers were likely to be taken to the grave, so it also derived In the case of selling military merit, you transfer your military merit to others and let others wait to receive the reward, especially the military merit based on the head level.
Using the immediate benefits and giving up the higher benefits that may be obtained in the long run is also a compromise that many middle- and lower-level soldiers have to make.
Liu Jian’s mention seems to have accelerated the conclusion of military merit, but in fact it is equivalent to delegating the authority to reward and punish military merit to middle and lower-level generals, weakening the role of the Ministry of War in it. After all, the officers and soldiers receive military merit. After implementation, the first people they would like to thank are the people in the Ministry of War, and they will also express their gratitude to Zhang Zhou for his kindness.
Liu Jian’s move can not only help the northwest soldiers win military glory earlier, but also give people the impression that he is helping the court solve bad governance.It can also weaken the real power of the Ministry of War represented by Zhang Zhou, which can be said to kill two birds with one stone.
"I am going to recall the British Lord. What do you think of the British Lord's performance in this battle?" Zhu Youtang immediately raised the question.
Xiong Chong, the left minister of the Ministry of War, walked out of the ministers' squad and said, "In the past few months, the British soldiers have not only arrived at the garrison on time, they have not flinched when encountering the enemy, and they have fought outside the Piantou Pass. The Tatars fought several battles and won military honors. They rushed to Ningxia in time and made the Tatars retreat without a fight. In terms of merit, merit should be considered. "
"Really?" Zhu Youtang. His face was neither cold nor indifferent.
It doesn't seem like much, but it gives the impression that the emperor is not satisfied with this "meritorious theory". The emperor probably wants to step on Zhang Mao, otherwise how could he bring Zhang Zhou up
p>
In addition, Xiong Chong has always been close to traditional civil servants. He can be regarded as the vanguard of traditional civil servants placed in the Ministry of War to resist Zhang Zhou. When he comes out to speak, it gives people the impression that he represents the traditions of Liu Jian and Li Dongyang. The opinions of civil servants.
He Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Punishment, came out and said, "Your Majesty, I also believe that the British did not make great contributions in this battle, but they did not make any mistakes. They were able to complete the important task of marching conscientiously. It is just that the Tatars are afraid of our government." The soldiers of the border army retreated early, so that there was no chance to achieve merit in this battle."
Zhu Youtang said, "You are wrong. The British Lord has no chance, so why shouldn't others have the chance to achieve military merit?" If you take the initiative to fight, even if you have to attack thousands of miles, you can still achieve military success, but if you just want to defend the territory, then what is the meaning of sending him to the northwest? Is it just to scare the Tatars away?"
He Jian's attitude seemed very insistent and said, "If the Tatars retreat, it will also be the fault of the British Lord. I think it is inappropriate."
Zhu Youtang said impatiently, "I didn't say anything. When investigating his fault, we cannot judge him as a meritorious official. If his inaction can be regarded as a meritorious service, then whoever I send to the northwest in the future will be like him, shrinking back in exchange for the final blameless merit, etc. Let me reward them."
He Jian originally wanted to persist, but seeing the emperor's attitude change, he instantly felt that the emperor in front of him was still ill, so he argued with the emperor like this. No matter who has the right to make something wrong with the emperor, He Jian's career will probably end there.
"Ahem."
Zhu Youtang coughed twice, as if he was angry, then wiped his mouth with the handkerchief in his hand, and then threw the handkerchief directly on the ground.
Chen Kuan quickly picked up the handkerchief, then stood aside respectfully.
Zhu Youtang said angrily, "I originally thought he had some accomplishments, at least not as cowardly and incompetent as Zhu Hui, but now it seems that he is just a pedantic minister who sticks to the rules. Just recall him like this. Come on, it’s better to keep him in the northwest to practice for a while, and then call him back after the next spring.”
Originally, the emperor said that he would call Zhang Mao back, but now he said that he should continue to stay in the northwest. .
This is equal toIt is to tell the ministers present that Zhang Mao has offended me, and I do not intend to let him come back for a while, and his position will naturally be taken over by others. The defense power of the Beijing camp can fall into the hands of others, or Zhang Zhou, He might also be from Zhang Zhou's faction.
Because Yang Peng and Zhang Yong had been transferred to the capital camp as admirals before, the ministers present could actually see that the emperor was just trying to find excuses to prevent Zhang Mao from coming back.
Li Dongyang and Liu Jian looked at each other.
There seemed to be some confusion in the eyes of the two men. It was obvious that the minister did not understand what they meant. They had always hoped for a confrontation between Zhang Mao and Zhang Zhou, but it seemed that He Jian's "accidental fight" was the reason. ”, which made the emperor resentful, but instead fulfilled their plan.
That is to leave Zhang Mao in the northwest, leaving Zhang Mao with an unbalanced mentality and enmity with Zhang Zhou.
But as for Xiong Chong's suggestion, is it because his brain is not working well, or is it an instruction from the emperor or Zhang Zhou, which they have not yet understood.
"Ningxia's defense is still the top priority." Zhu Youtang added, "The British Lord will stay for at least two months. After the snow melts in spring, I will call him back to continue to complete the old task." "
Wait two months and let Zhang Mao come back as the admiral of the capital camp
Why should he stay in the northwest? Just call him back
Li Dongyang said, "Your Majesty, I don't know who will be responsible for taking care of the various military affairs and other matters in Beijing in the past few months. The British Duke is quite famous in the military. Without him in Beijing, many things will be difficult after the new year." "It can't be advanced."
Zhu Youtang asked, "Are you talking about the procurement affairs in the capital or the past two months? Without him, there would have been no trouble in the guards of the capital, right?" Take care of everything.”
Oh.
Many ministers seem to understand.
This is a transition.
If in the next few months, the emperor discovers that the Ministry of War and the admiral eunuchs can directly control the military power of the Beijing camp without Zhang Mao, then Zhang Mao will be in trouble if he stays in the northwest. Month after month, year after year, just die in the northwest.
But if it doesn’t work without Zhang Mao, then get Zhang Mao back. This will make the emperor appear reasonable. < /p>
In this way, the emperor can be in a position where he can advance, attack, retreat and defend.
Now that someone has figured out the emperor’s intention, the ministers present will definitely not make the emperor too comfortable, otherwise how can they show their cunning side as professional politicians
Right Minister of the Ministry of Punishment Li Shishi came out and said, "Your Majesty, daily military affairs and other matters can indeed be dispatched by the Ministry of War, but when it comes to military drills and other matters, especially the dispatch of soldiers and horses in each battalion, they must be completed by the people in the Governor's Mansion. As I said See, people from the Dudu Mansion should complete the coordination."
Zhu Youtang said quietly, "If I remember correctly, Bingkuan is also in charge.The position in the Governor's Mansion, isn't it that he wants to mobilize some people? Some of the soldiers below are still dissatisfied, or they say that except for the British Duke, there are no honorary ministers in the battalions to be promoted. Usually the British Duke is ill for several months, and there is no sign of any illness. What kind of trouble or do you think others in Ningxia will cause trouble in the capital?"
"This is a gaffe. "Li Shishi was very sensible and stepped back.
In this way, even Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and others could see that Li Shishi seemed to be helping a lot, but in fact he was causing trouble.
< p> He raised reasonable suggestions and doubts to the emperor, but also gave the emperor an excuse to refute, and at the same time blocked the way for other ministers to lodge objections. It seemed that Li Shishi did this intentionally in exchange for the emperor and Zhang Zhou to treat him"I will not let Bingkuan take charge of the affairs of the capital camp in the name of the governor's office. At the same time, I will send people to help him. Recently, Hou Ninghou has been staying in the capital and has not arranged any actual duties. , let him go to the Governor's Mansion and help Bingkuan. "Zhu Youtang told another shocking news.
The boss of the Zhang family went to help Zhang Zhou
This is not a strong alliance, it is just a nest of snakes and rats.
The minister will inevitably think that the emperor’s decision will not be blown away by Empress Zhang again. Otherwise, with the Zhang family’s agreeableness, how could the emperor think that he is suitable to help Zhang Zhou?
p>"The war in Jizhou is over, and I am also preparing to transfer back Anbian Hou and Jingshan Bo, and at the same time, I can also help Bingkuan. I have been focusing on recuperating recently. I may go out once or twice before the year, and I will need to rest for a period of time after the new year. If there is anything in the court, it will be left to the cabinet, the superior hearing office, and all the ministers. Please take care of it. "When Zhu Youtang said this, he seemed to be very polite to the minister in front of him.
"The detailed military affairs will be discussed together today. "
Zhu Youtang said again, "Mr. Liu Ge, I will leave it to you in advance. I will go back and make adjustments and come back in two hours. We will all have dinner together in the Wenhua Hall. Thank you for your hard work." Please remember to bookmark this chapter when it is over. The latest and fastest website is free to read without anti-theft