Bozhou, Hailongtun Tucheng.
Shortly after the Ming army occupied Suiyang, Yang Lie quickly learned the news from his staff.
"What are you talking about? The imperial army has already occupied Suiyang!"
After hearing the report from his staff, Yang Lie's face was full of shock. Then he quickly ordered someone to bring in a map and analyze the current situation.
The map in front of Yang Lie described in detail the mountains, rivers, and every city in Bozhou.
The map is full of red and black markings.
"Alas, the imperial army has been unstoppable since they captured Sangmuguan. Now, even Suiyang has fallen!"
Yang Lie originally thought that even if the Bozhou soldiers he had tried his best to support could not compete head-on with the imperial army, they could still rely on the city to carry out effective defense.
As long as we can delay as much time as possible, when the food and supplies carried by the imperial army are exhausted, they will have to return to the court!
By then, he, Yang Lie, would have room for maneuver.
But the facts greatly exceeded Yang Lie's expectations. The Bozhou soldiers he had spent all his efforts to support were no match for the imperial army!
After the 40,000 Bozhou soldiers sent to support Sangmuguan earlier were ambushed and annihilated by the imperial army, the only thing Yang Lie could rely on now was the 50,000 Miao soldiers under his command.
Although these 50,000 Miao soldiers fought very bravely, they were far from a match for the Ming army, which was armed to the teeth!
After all, how could the bows, arrows and Miao knives in their hands compete with the armor-clad Ming army and the cannons, muskets and other weapons they were equipped with?
The staff on the side saw the dejected look on Yang Lie's face. After hesitating for a long time, he spoke cautiously.
"My lord, Xuanwei Envoy, I will tell you the truth. After learning that the imperial army was about to attack, Yuan Zhi, the magistrate of Suiyang County, indulged his subordinates, looted wantonly, and then abandoned the city and fled!"
"So much so that the imperial army occupied Suiyang without any effort!"
After Yang Lie listened to the report from the staff on the side, the expression on his face suddenly became extremely ferocious. He slammed the table and said in a deep voice.
"I can't spare this bastard. It's in vain that my Yang family treated his Yuan family so well. In the end, this is how his Yuan family repaid me, and he actually abandoned the city and fled!"
After venting his emotions, Yang Lie fell back on the chair feebly as if he had lost all his strength.
"It's over, it's all over now, the army led by Feng Yue has occupied Suiyang!"
"Commanders Chen Lin, Wu Guang, and deputy general Cao Xibin have also entered Bozhou from Nanchuan. In addition, commander Li Yingxiang and staff general Tan Jian have also defeated Xinglong!"
"They plan to besiege Hailongtun from three directions: Suiyang, Tongzi, and Renhuai!"
The staff on the side heard this, and after hesitating for a long time, they finally plucked up the courage and stepped forward to comfort him.
"Your Excellency, Xuanwei Envoy, I believe that since we cannot withstand the attack of the imperial army at the moment, it is better to shrink our troops and defend Hailongtun with all our strength. What do you think?"
After the staff member finished speaking, he was afraid that Yang Lie would disagree, so he added another sentence.
"Master Xuanwei, this is the best way. Only in this way can we minimize the losses. If we let the imperial army defeat them one by one..."
Before the staff member could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Yang Lie.
"Well, in that case, let's do this first!"
After saying this, Yang Lie weakly waved his hand and signaled his staff to leave.
"Yes, Sir Xuan Comfort Envoy, please leave now!"
When the staff heard this, they immediately leaned down, bowed their hands to Yang Lie, and then took the order and left.
…
Just when Yang Lie was worried about this, on the other side, Luo Zhengqi, the governor of Bozhou Xuanwei, quietly summoned all the six little chieftains named Zhang, Tian, Yuan, Lu, Tan, and Wu to discuss together. What to do next.
Although the Yang family in Bozhou has an unshakable position in Bozhou.
However, the Luo family is a wealthy family second only to the Yang family. The Luo family's hereditary official position is Bozhou Xuanwei Tongzhi, and its position is second only to the Xuanwei envoy. Its main responsibilities are to assist the Xuanwei envoy in taking charge of the affairs department, and its rank is the fourth grade.
After the imperial court issued a proclamation against thieves and sent troops to Bozhou, these little chieftains felt an endless sense of crisis.
Therefore, under the leadership of Luo Shi, everyone gathered together to discuss how to protect themselves and the family behind them in this unprecedented storm.
At this moment, Luo Zhengqi was holding his hands behind his back, looking at the scenery in the distance.
At this moment, a subordinate staff member was seen walking quickly in front of Luo Zhengqi and carefully reporting the matter.
"Sir, everyone is here!"
"Well, I know, please go down!"
After listening to the subordinate's report, Luo Zhengqi nodded and gave the order.
"Yes, sir!"
After the subordinate responded, he didn't stop at all and quickly left.
After the subordinate official left, Luo Zhengqi retracted his gaze and entered the room without looking back.
In the room, the other little chieftains with the six surnames had already arrived. Seeing Luo Zhengqi's arrival, everyone stood up from their seats and saluted him respectfully.
"Meet the adults!"
"Sit down, everyone, sit down!"
When Luo Zhengqi heard this, he glanced at the other little chieftains with the six surnames one by one, and immediately gave instructions.
After Luo Zhengqi sat down at the main seat, he coughed twice and started today's topic.
"Everyone knows that the imperial court issued a petition against thieves not long ago, and in the petition against thieves, they listed the crimes committed by the Yang family in Bozhou one by one!"
When everyone heard what Luo Zhengqi said, the expressions on their faces became extremely solemn, because in the article against thieves issued by the court, the words "defeating Gu Gangchang and deliberately treason" were used to evaluate the Bozhou Yang family.
Everyone present has read the Ming Law and knows what the punishment for deliberate rebellion is in the Ming Law.
"Any treason or serious treason, but those who are complicit in the conspiracy will be executed without distinction of leader or subordinate. Grandfathers, fathers, sons, grandsons, brothers and people who live together will not be distinguished by different surnames, uncles, and brothers' sons, regardless of the same or different nationalities. If you are over 16 years old, regardless of whether you are seriously ill or disabled, you will be killed!"
At this moment, Luo Zhengqi's very calm voice sounded, interrupting everyone's thoughts.
"Now that everyone knows the consequences of going against the imperial court, we have to think carefully about it next!"
"To tell you the truth, a 60,000-strong army commanded by Huguang Governor Feng Yue has now occupied Suiyang. In addition, a 40,000-strong army commanded by General Chen Lin, Wu Guang, and Deputy General Cao Xibin have also arrived from Nanchuan. Enter Banzhou!"
Luo Zhengqi saw the shocked expressions on everyone's faces, chuckled, and continued to add.
"There is also a 30,000-strong army commanded by General Li Yingxiang and General Tan Jian. It is said that this army has also defeated Xinglong!"
After everyone learned the news, they immediately became restless, and their faces were full of horror.
"The imperial army, how...how could..."
Luo Zhengqi seemed to have guessed what everyone was thinking. He shook his head and made a decisive decision.
"This is the fact. The imperial army is currently fighting consecutive battles. If this continues, even if the Yang family has been operating in Bozhou for hundreds of years, it will be useless!"
"When the imperial court completely annihilates the Yang family in the name of suppressing the rebellion, it will be too late for us to take sides again, and we might even be implicated in this matter!"
When Luo Zhengqi finished speaking, everyone present fell into deep thought.
How could everyone present fail to realize that the meaning contained in Luo Zhengqi's words was to tell them to submit their names to the court as soon as possible!
The three little chieftains, Yuan, Tian, and Tan, who had bad relations with the Yang family, and even had bad relations with the Yang family, all clapped their hands and applauded after hearing Luo Zhengqi's proposal, and immediately expressed their support. The remaining chieftains also Afraid of Yang's power, he dared not make a decision.
Seeing this situation, Luo Zhengqi glanced at the chieftain families who had yet to make a decision and urged them.
"We can't hesitate any longer. By the time the imperial army besieges Hailongtun, it will be too late to take sides!"
When the remaining chieftains heard this, after thinking about it for a long time, their hearts trembled and they gritted their teeth and said, "Okay, let's do it like this!"
Seeing that the chieftain family gathered here all agreed to his proposal, a smile appeared on Luo Zhengqi's face. After looking around, he spoke.
"Well, everyone has made the right decision. Next, let's discuss what to do next!"
"That's what I think, when the time comes we..."
…
After that, a few days passed.
Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.
Today is the day for cabinet discussions, so early in the morning, Jiajing put on his robes under the care of his personal eunuchs.
Then, Lu Fang was seen entering Qianqing Palace with silent steps.
As soon as he entered the Qianqing Palace, he came to Jiajing's side, leaned down and reported respectfully.
"His Majesty!"
"Um."
Jiajing heard the words and responded in a subtle way. Then, Jiajing turned his eyes to Lu Fang and asked immediately.
"By the way, Lu Fang, have you found out everything I asked you to check before? What's going on with King Jing?"
Seeing this, Lu Fang took a deep breath and calmed down before she mustered up the courage and answered cautiously.
"Your Majesty, I have sent someone to investigate the whole matter. The thing is like this..."
Under Lu Fang's narration, Jiajing also had a general understanding of the whole incident.
Then, Jiajing couldn't help but feel a sense of absurdity in his heart. He glanced at Lu Fang and confirmed to her.
"So, King Jing was deceived by the group of monks from Xuanguang Temple?"
"That's right, Your Majesty, the whole thing was a scam from beginning to end. Those monks from Xuanguang Temple noticed His Royal Highness King Jing's unwillingness, so they took advantage of it and sent people to approach King Jing and promised him..."
Before Lu Fang finished speaking, Jiajing was furious, slammed the table and said in a deep voice.
"This evil delinquent, even though he has become a vassal, he still insists on the position of the crown prince. In the end, he made such a big joke!"
"My face has been completely embarrassed by him!"
Seeing Jiajing's anger, Lu Fang immediately knelt on the ground with a thump and spoke cautiously.
"Your Majesty, please calm down and don't get so angry over this!"
Under Lu Fang's comfort, Jiajing's mood gradually calmed down.
Then, Jiajing's voice without any emotion sounded in Lu Fang's ears.
"Lu Fang, when you come down later, send people from Dongchang to De'an to kill everyone involved in this matter. Don't leave anyone alive. Do you understand?"
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, she immediately looked stern and responded in a deep voice.
"Okay, it's almost time. Come with me to the cabinet!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After hearing this, Lu Fang immediately stood up from the ground, and then followed Jiajing's footsteps step by step, heading towards the direction of the cabinet.
…
The scene in the cabinet was the same as usual, but Xu Jie, who had been the initiator of the topic in the past, was much silent today, and just dealt with the affairs at hand quite attentively.
At this time, Xu Jie looked thoughtful. Everything that happened last night was still flashing in his mind.
Not long ago, he ordered his housekeeper to send a message to Wang Ting, the right servant of the Ministry of Revenue, and others, asking them not to act rashly and to investigate the local situation in Zhejiang.
It would have been better not to investigate. Once investigated, a suppressed case was discovered.
Last night, Wang Ting, the right minister of the Ministry of Revenue, personally came to Xu Jie's residence in the capital and informed Xu Jie of the situation they had investigated.
At the beginning, Ma Ningyuan, the prefect of Hangzhou, in order to promote the conversion of rice to mulberry, he mobilized the guards without authorization, trampled the rice seedlings, and even killed people!
But for some reason, this case was quietly suppressed by the Ministry of Punishment.
Xu Jie usually doesn't take trivial matters like this seriously. In his opinion, what does it mean to die a few unruly people?
As long as the national policy can be carried out smoothly, there is nothing wrong even if one hundred thousand people or one million people die, because this is a necessary sacrifice!
After Xu Jie learned about this, he made a decisive decision and planned to make a fuss about it.
In this way, on the one hand, it can combat the arrogance of Yan Dang, and on the other hand, it can also have the effect of asking for advice. After all, the local mulberry seedlings in Zhejiang are about to mature, and Hu Zongxian is about to be transferred out of Zhejiang.
Xu Jie's idea was to use this case to arrest a large number of key members of the Strict Party, including Zhejiang Governor Zheng Michang, Inspector He Maocai, Hangzhou Magistrate Ma Ningyuan, and Minister of Justice Zhang Runde!
Because at that time, once the incident occurs, Zhejiang Chief Minister Zheng Michang and Inspector He Maocai will inevitably be implicated in Ma Ningyuan's case.
By that time, Hu Zongxian had been transferred out of Zhejiang, and Zhao Zhenji, the newly appointed governor-general of Zhejiang and governor of Zhejiang, was still on his way to take office. Xu Jie could take advantage of this power vacuum to join forces with the local weaving bureau and buy the goods from the common people at half price. of raw silk.
Although Xu Jie wanted to detonate this bombshell immediately and kill Yan Song.
But he knew very well in his heart that it was not the right time yet. This bomb had to wait until the right time to detonate it. Only in this way could it cause maximum damage to Party Yan!
"Just keep suffering for the people, and everything will be fine once the Yan Party is overthrown!"
Xu Jie thought so and glanced at Yan Song calmly to comfort himself.
While Xu Jie was daydreaming, he heard a high-pitched voice coming from outside the cabinet.
"Your Majesty is here!"
After hearing this, everyone stopped reviewing the memorials in their hands and stood up from their seats. Then, under the leadership of Yan Song, the chief minister of the cabinet, they all knelt on the ground, waiting for Jiajing's arrival.
After a while, Jiajing was seen stepping in, while Lu Fang followed Jiajing step by step as usual.
"I bow to your majesty, long live my emperor!"
After Jiajing sat down in his seat, he glanced at everyone and gave instructions quite casually.
"Well, everyone, get up!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After receiving Jiajing's permission, everyone slowly stood up from the ground and sat down in their respective seats.
After that, Jiajing looked around, nodded, and gave instructions.
"Now that everyone is here, let's officially start!"
As soon as Jiajing finished speaking, Lu Fang, who was waiting on the side, immediately stepped forward and spoke to everyone.
"There are two main things that the cabinet is discussing today. One is how to train more craftsmen, and the other is the specific matters of the court's assistance to Tsunoda Makoto!"
After Lu Fang finished speaking, after saluting Jiajing respectfully, she went straight back to her seat and stood still.
Afterwards, Jiajing nodded inconspicuously and knocked on the jade pan next to him. There was only a crisp sound of 'ding', and this time the cabinet deliberations officially began!
Jiajing coughed twice, faced the crowd, and spoke first.
"I believe all of you dear friends know that not long ago, the Department of Arms successfully imitated a flintlock gun!"
"However, due to the scarcity of craftsmen, the current production capacity of flintlock guns is far from reaching expectations. My dear friends, do you have any good ideas for this?"
After Jiajing finished speaking, Gao Gong stood up first and said in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, I have my own personal report!"
"speak!"
After Jiajing heard this, he glanced at Gao Gong quite indifferently and gave instructions.
After getting Jiajing's permission, Gao Gong just faced everyone and slowly spoke out the thoughts in his mind.
"Your Majesty, this is what I think. Since ancient times, the profession of craftsman has been despised by scholar-bureaucrats. It is regarded as a strange skill and has no place on the stage. The profession of craftsman has also been classified as a lowly one by the imperial court. You will never be able to leave your country!"
"Although before this, Your Majesty has issued an edict to officially abolish the craftsmanship system!"
"In addition, you have greatly improved the treatment of craftsmen, allowing the government to promote those skilled and conscientious craftsmen as models. Not only that, you have also exempted them from corvee service!"
"But it is not as cold as a day's frost. The discrimination against the craftsman profession in society has not been eliminated much because of this!"
When Gao Gong said this, he couldn't help but pause for a moment, and then continued.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking frankly. If they are not desperate, not many people would be willing to engage in the profession of craftsman!"
After Gao Gong said this, he looked at Jiajing anxiously, waiting for his response.
Hearing this, Jiajing nodded and agreed with Gao Gong's statement.
"Well, Gao Gong, you are right. If you are not desperate, no one would be willing to engage in the profession of craftsman!"
Then, Jiajing changed the subject, looked in the direction of Gao Gong, and continued to ask.
"So Gao Gong, do you have any solution to this?"
Seeing that his idea was recognized by Jiajing, Gao Gong couldn't help but perked up. After thinking about it for a long time, he said cautiously.
"Your Majesty, I feel that the most important thing right now is to reverse the stereotype of the craftsman profession in the hearts of the people!"
"Relying solely on government propaganda is not only inefficient, but also difficult to achieve the expected results. Therefore, Wei Chen has a bold idea, that is, to give those craftsmen the opportunity to become officials!"
When Gao Gong finished speaking, Yan Song and Xu Jie looked shocked at the same time.
Then, Yan Song stood up and raised objections.
"Hmph, it's really ridiculous. If we do this, wouldn't we, the scholars of the Ming Dynasty, be in trouble?"
"When the subject of arithmetic was added to the imperial examination, it caused a stir in the city. If we let those craftsmen become officials again, wouldn't it be..."
Before Yan Song finished speaking, Gao Gong glanced at him and explained.
"Mr. Yan Ge's words are wrong. To have a Tao is to have a certain order of hearing, and to have a specialization in the art!"
"Before this, those craftsmen were already responsible for the repair of the palace and the construction of bridges. Now, the court is just giving them a chance to become officials!"
"I would like to ask, after the common people see the fact that craftsmen can also be officials, will the discrimination against the profession of craftsmen be eliminated in their hearts?"
"At that time, the imperial court can take advantage of the situation and open a college specifically to train craftsmen. In this way, it can also solve the problem of scarcity of craftsmen!"
After listening to Gao Gong's idea, Jiajing frowned slightly and saw him gently stroking the dragon head carved on the dragon chair with his hand, as if he was weighing the pros and cons.
Seeing this situation, everyone held their breath and concentrated, not even daring to take a breath.
Time passed by so slowly. I don’t know how long it had passed. Jiajing came back to his senses, looked in the direction of Gao Gong and said slowly.
"Well, Gao Gong, what you said makes sense. When you come down later, you will perfect it and then show it to me!"
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
When Gao Gong saw that his proposal was accepted by Jiajing, a hint of excitement flashed across his face. Then, he lowered his head and responded respectfully.
The rest of the people, seeing that Jiajing had made a decision, could only nod in agreement.
Seeing this situation, Lu Fang stood up immediately and said softly.
"The first matter discussed by the cabinet this time has been discussed. We will continue the discussion after a short break."
After everyone heard this, they couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief. They all began to close their eyes to rest, sort out the thoughts in their minds, and prepare for what was going to be discussed next.
(End of chapter)
