Nowadays, when people celebrate the New Year, they may think that the year has passed after the first day of the Lunar New Year. They leave home and go their separate ways. But in ancient times, it was very different. The New Year was not considered until the second day of February when the dragon raised its head, and they thoroughly enjoyed this period of time to celebrate the New Year. atmosphere, they don’t have to work from nine to five, and they don’t have to work in the fields during this period. They mostly visit relatives and friends and chat about daily necessities of firewood, rice, oil and salt. They look forward to good weather and a good harvest after spring. Of course, they also gossip about improvements. .
Military affairs and war control are not the focus of common people's gossip, but the focus of another group, such as literati, noble officials, and nobles. It just so happens that at the end of the year, three or five friends gather together to have long talks and give advice on military matters on paper.
As for the big bosses who really have decision-making power, such as cabinet ministers and others, they rarely discuss government affairs in private, especially military affairs, because today's military affairs are almost fully controlled by Dongchang, even the Ministry of War and the Fifth Military Governor's Office They were all thought of as the underlings who helped Dongchang. Other departments, even the cabinet, didn't even have a chance to get involved.
If this were in the past, they would have joined forces to impeach the authoritative eunuchs of Dongchang to harm the country.
No!
Because no matter whether he is an enemy or a friend, he is only jealous of the Dongchang Governor and has no objection at the moment!
Everyone knows that without the Dongchang Governor, the Ming Dynasty would have been in ruins long ago.
It’s okay if you object, but you have to have what he has, otherwise even if the emperor doesn’t tear you apart, the spit from the government and the public will drown you.
The current situation still requires Dongchang to continue to monopolize military power.
The intruders have not been eliminated, the thieves have not died, and some warlords have evil intentions.
Therefore, even though they have too much complaints and hatred towards Dongchang and Chang Yu, their attitude towards the issue of his control of military power is unified.
Although this year has been uneventful and even a little difficult, Emperor Chongzhen's mood is extremely relaxed compared to previous years, and there is no sense of oppression and suffocation that can't wait for the sky to fall at any time.
At this time in previous years, even on New Year's Eve, he was very busy, and he must have been a little idle this year. This mainly depends on the current situation. The Tatar, the foreign humiliating dog who has been harassing him, is now busy with himself, although Troops were stationed in Jinzhou to harass the Ming army in building cities and fortresses, but according to Zu Dashou's report, after the heavy snow closed the mountains, there was no sign of the enemy. In other words, it was very peaceful there before the beginning of spring, and even attacks were unlikely to happen.
As for the two thieves who caused such a scene in the past, one is now hiding in Sichuan and the other is living in Xi'an. Although they are not yet exterminated, they are currently honest. One does not dare to go out of Sichuan and the other does not dare to cross the river.
There are other warlords who support their troops and have ulterior motives. They were also a problem on his mind before, but now that Chang Yu is here, who dares to pull the flag!
So this New Year is extremely comfortable, and I don’t want to be like the previous years. Today, I am urgently reporting that so and so has rebelled, so and so has sent troops to attack a certain city, so and so has been lost again, so and so has been defeated again, and so and so has fought again. died……
No, it is a rare peace in military affairs.
The rest is government affairs and people's livelihood.
He has gradually gained control of the voice and initiative in government affairs, and is no longer subservient to his ministers. Coupled with the personnel changes in the six ministries and nine ministers, the forces that used to influence him now have to weigh their own strength.
The remaining people's livelihood has become the main government affairs.
Famine, drought, locust plague, plague, war disaster, the people are too poor and miserable.
Now that Chang Yu is taking up the banner of military affairs, he needs to lead his ministers to devote all their energy to how to restore people's livelihood and how to let the people recuperate and recuperate.
In the blink of an eye, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month has passed. The news of quelling the rebellion in Yunnan has come early, but Chang Yu has not come back yet. Emperor Chongzhen knew that he would not come back for a while. Fortunately, there was no urgent matter that required him to put out the fire. , just let him take a breath and hurry back slowly.
During these days, Emperor Chongzhen often left the palace in casual clothes. He visited the streets and alleys of the capital privately and even went to a refugee camp outside the city. He went to a thatched hut to keep warm and drank gruel one night.
Then he took the prince to the ordnance factory and military hospital in the west of the city, as well as the royal school under construction.
In a flash, the first month had passed, and Chang Yu had not come back yet. Prince Zhu Cixiang was very anxious, but Emperor Chongzhen was very calm and would definitely come when he should come.
But the one who was the most impatient was Princess Kunxing. From time to time she asked her brother the prince: "Could it be that Chang Yu slipped away?"
"Why did he run away?" Zhu Cixiang was very surprised.
"I think we have too much family work," Zhu Yasuo raised her lips. Zhu Cixiang was startled and laughed loudly: "It's really hard on him."
Then the two found Jinyiwei commander Wu Mengming through Gong Yonggu and asked when Chang Yu would come back?
You have to ask the people at Dongchang about this matter, go to Chunxiang, Wu Mengming replied, but Gong Yonggu raised his eyebrows: "The people at Shangaoshui Far East Factory don't know, so I came to ask you."
"Dongchang doesn't know, how can I know?" Wu Mengming actually knew why Gong Yonggu came to ask him, because the people Chang Yu used in the south were all from Jinyiwei, but he really didn't know where Chang Yu was now. at.
I'm coming!
It's not Chang Yu who's here.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, Jin Yiwei rushed to Beijing and brought a note from Li Yan, the governor of the Yellow River.
Emperor Chongzhen was shocked after seeing this, and hurriedly summoned the cabinet ministers for discussion, and then ordered Dongchang and Jinyiwei to immediately send people to summon Chang Yu to Beijing.
Why was Emperor Chongzhen and his cabinet so alarmed that they immediately summoned ace firefighters to Beijing? Could it be that Li Zicheng of Xi'an had made a big move?
The reason why I think this is because the fold came from Li Yan, and Li Yan is now the governor of the Yellow River and the coach of the Yellow River Front. His fold must be related to Li Zicheng. Many people immediately speculated that maybe Li Zicheng took advantage of the Yellow River by surprise in winter. Bing Feng struck first and launched an attack!
But this guess was soon denied!
Li Zicheng did not send troops to cross the river to attack, but instead asked for peace and a seal!
Li Zicheng wrote a letter for Li Yan to deliver to Emperor Chongzhen. It was a long and sincere speech. It probably meant that after so many years of doing it, the people were in dire straits, it was hurtful, and it was unbearable. It was better to shake hands and make peace. You can make me king. I will serve you loyally to fight Zhang Xianzhong, or I can defend the border and fight the Tartars...
One stone stirred up a thousand waves, and the whole court was talking endlessly. Some people thought it was feasible. After all, the Ming Dynasty had been tortured for so many years and the people had suffered so much. If we continued to fight against him, how much national power would it consume? No matter how many people have to die, if he is willing to surrender, he can save many soldiers and civilians, save countless food and wages, and have a forward to attack Zhang Xianzhong or even guard the border. All he needs to do is make him a king. .
Although the request is a bit big, after all, he has the strength. Besides, even if he wastes money and people to defeat him, he also wants to make the meritorious soldiers a marquis. If he surrenders without losing any blood, he will be made a king. Just give him a title. That’s all.
But there are also people who firmly oppose it. A thief is a thief, so how can he set things right? If he follows this example, he will be imitated in the future. Moreover, Langzi's ambition is not credible. Even if he really surrenders, he may not be really effective. Besides, who can guarantee that he will really surrender? Maybe he is just delaying time.
For a time, the whole court was noisy. Everyone wanted to see Emperor Chongzhen express his position, but Emperor Chongzhen made no statement from the beginning to the end.
Chang Yu didn't reply, and he resolutely refused to express his position.
