In the East Nuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace in the Forbidden City, Chongzhen was reviewing memorials when he saw Wang Chengen coming in from the corner of his eye.
"How is Zhangjiawan? Have all the health centers around Tianjin gathered?"
Chongzhen asked as calmly as possible.
He knew that he was too young, and the officials could not help but look down upon him.
In the past, Yuandu had always boasted, but he became gullible when he got excited. Now it's a little different.
He was clearly deceived by the Donglin Party.
But Jun Wuji said, and there really was no better candidate besides him. I can only hold my nose and admit it.
Wang Chengen was a little shrinking and didn't know what to say. Yesterday evening, Tongzhou came to Kuaima to report that a large number of Japanese pirates had landed in Zhangjiawan Town and were looting wantonly.
The thick smoke billowing from the houses set on fire could be seen all over Tongzhou. Tongzhou has closed its four gates and the entire territory is under martial law.
The emperor was worried about Tongzhou, which was the last stop of the Grand Canal and where large amounts of food and supplies were stored. There are more private business travel supplies. Once there is a mistake, the loss will be too great.
Moreover, the Japanese pirates actually reached the outskirts of the capital, which is simply shocking. It has been more than 200 years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, but this has never happened before. In the past, only the Mongols visited Gyeonggi during the reign of Jiajing and Yingzong, but now pirates can also come to Gyeonggi to cause trouble.
On the day Tianjin fell, the emperor ordered 6,000 Yanqing Guards to garrison at Fengtai Camp to help defend the capital. After learning that Japanese pirates were present in Zhangjiawan, he immediately ordered them to attack Zhangjiawan.
"Your Majesty, we have received a secret report from Jin Yiwei. Yesterday morning, a large number of Japanese pirates went upstream along the canal and landed in Zhangjiawan. It is said that there were six to seven thousand people."
"What, say it again." Chongzhen could hardly believe his ears.
There were so many people at one time. Previously, the governor of Tianjin sent six hundred miles to express his urgency, saying that there were seven to eight thousand Japanese pirates attacking Tianjin. In just one night, six to seven thousand people showed up in Zhangjiawan. Did they fly here suddenly?
Everyone knows that it takes at least two days and two nights to get from Tianjin to Zhangjiawan.
What does this mean? They are not the Japanese pirates from Tianjin. How many Japanese pirates have come? Why did the Navy not intercept them?
At this time, the navy could not leave the port, and Penglai was far away from the capital. There was no rush for six hundred miles. Moreover, they did not know that the Japanese pirates were coming, and they planned to hide it.
In this kind of matter, it is always right to report good things but not bad things. Why don't you make yourself uncomfortable?
"Your Majesty, I don't know where these Japanese pirates came from. They suddenly appeared in Zhangjiawan early yesterday morning. Then they started looting, clashed with the shopkeepers, and even attacked Li Sancai's mansion. There were indeed six to seven thousand people, a lot of people It’s all confirmed. There are many businessmen and people who escaped, so it can’t be false.”
Chongzhen broke out in cold sweats. So many Japanese pirates were a serious problem. They were not just small groups of thieves. I was afraid that the border troops would have to be mobilized.
"Your Majesty, the latest news is that after they plundered Zhangjiawan, they headed towards Okura, Tongzhou. Currently, Dong Jishu is chasing behind with more than 6,000 people."
"They must not be allowed to burn down the large warehouses in Tongzhou. Immediately inform them to catch up with them. I will chase them wherever they go. I will never allow them to be lost. Otherwise, military law will be engaged. I will send 10,000 troops from the Beijing camp. , to intercept the Japanese pirates, we must not let them shake the capital." Chongzhen roared out of control.
He was very angry. He had just ascended the throne this year, and the Japanese pirates had come to the capital. It's true that nothing happened before leaving the Chongzhen Dynasty.
Wang Chengen was so frightened that he shrank his neck and hurried down to draft the decree.
Just when the emperor was furious in the Forbidden City, news of the Japanese pirates' arrival quickly spread in the market. In these four-nine cities, everyone who is doing business or doing business is well-informed.
The day before yesterday, merchants who escaped from Tianjin said that Japanese pirates had landed at Dagu Port. Be prepared for the news that the Japanese camp has escaped.
News of the fall of Tianjin came yesterday. This news was a bombshell, causing a sensation in the entire capital. The three guards of Tianjin didn't even have to hold on for a whole day before they were beaten down by Japanese pirates with less than ten thousand. It's really speechless.
Today, more exciting news came. A large number of Japanese pirates came ashore in Zhangjiawan, and Li Sancai's mansion was robbed. The entire capital fell into panic.
Qian Longxi's mansion.
In the secret room, Qian Qianyixi was having a secret conversation with Qian Longxi.
At this time, Qian Qianyi was secretly seeking to join the cabinet.
When Chongzhen ascended the throne, the largest party in the court was the Donglin Party. Even Chongzhen had to rely on their support to defeat Wei Zhongxian and secure his throne.
After consolidating the throne, Donglin's power suddenly spread across the government and the public, and Chongzhen was deeply worried about this.
Although he used Donglin Party member Li Biao to form a cabinet in the early days of his accession to the throne, Qian Longxi was his secondary assistant, and Liu Hongxun and others were cabinet ministers. Locally, Chongzhen also reused Yuan Chonghuan recommended by the Donglin Party as his commander, but he was still quite taboo about the influence of the Donglin Party.
Therefore, all officials in the court who had issues with the Donglin Party were the objects of his focus.
The biggest political trend in the first year of Chongzhen was that Qian Qianyi, the leader of the Donglin Party, tried to enter the cabinet.
With Qian Qianyi's reputation, if he becomes the chief minister of the cabinet, there will probably be no problems in the court for officials who are not from the Donglin Party faction.
At the most critical period, something happened in Zhangjiawan.
In Li Sancai's mansion, the secret funds of the Donglin Party, totaling more than 18 million taels of gold and silver, were robbed by Japanese pirates. The Donglin Party secretly deployed more than 3,000 men in Zhangjiawan and lost most of them.
The money was gone, and most of the secret force's manpower was gone, leaving only two or three scattered kittens. It can't become a climate.
The political operations of the Ming Dynasty also needed financial support and secret personnel to execute them. Without money, no one is absolutely helpless, and it can even be said that it is difficult to make progress.
"The Zhangjiawan incident happened this time. Our core hub in the north was removed. It is extremely difficult for Brother Mu Zhai to join the cabinet."
Qian Longxi said with a gloomy face.
In the Donglin Group's established strategy, Han Kuang (mine) was the first assistant only as a stop-gap measure for Chongzhen to stabilize the court and transition. It won't last long.
In this way, the Donglin Party must plan for subsequent candidates in advance.
Don't worry, the chief minister will be taken away by other parties.
It is obvious to everyone that His Majesty is now afraid of Dong Lin. This new Majesty is a very suspicious and mean master.
Qian Qianyi was a Jinshi in the Wanli Dynasty, and he met Wei Zhongxian in the Tianqi Dynasty. The Chongzhen Dynasty should have been Qian Qianyi's political peak. He is the most suitable candidate.
Although Han Kuang, the current chief minister of the cabinet, also came from Donglin, his prestige and ability are far inferior to Qian Qianyi, and he is unable to suppress other non-Dongli Party officials in the court.
"What's going on with these Japanese pirates? Why did they suddenly cause trouble?" Qian Qianyi asked tremblingly. Until now, he has not been able to accept the reality. It is obvious that it is a certainty that he will join the cabinet. Why did the Japanese pirates suddenly break out?
Originally, what he was most worried about was Emperor Chongzhen's attitude. After all, Chongzhen was originally taboo against Donglin Party members, especially party leaders with huge reputations like Qian Qianyi.
"Could someone secretly instruct the gangsters to fake it?" Qian Qianyi still refuses to believe the facts.
Qian Longxi talked for a while and said: "There is absolutely no lie. The Li Mansion was not completely captured. When the Japanese pirates attacked the big watchtower, more than two hundred people died. The corpses are all there, and the armor and clothes are all the same. They are in the style of the Japanese country. Moreover, these people all have moon-shaped heads, bow legs, and their weapons and knives are all fine. It must be true."
Qian Qianyi said decadently: "Without sufficient financial resources, it is impossible for us to win over most of the courtiers. Even if the court recommendation is successful, I am afraid there will be a large number of people attacking."
Qian Longxi said helplessly: "Let's take it one step at a time. His Majesty really wants to burn bridges across rivers, and we are not soft persimmons."
