There were scattered light snows floating in the sky.
Two large sedan chairs stopped leisurely in front of Donghua Gate.
The sedan curtain opened, and two energetic old men in scarlet robes stepped out.
It was none other than Chen Xun, Minister of Industry, and Gao Gu, Second Assistant to the Cabinet.
Now that Chen Xun has been transferred from the cabinet, Gao Gu has replaced him as the second assistant. There is no direct competition between the two, so the relationship has naturally returned to its usual closeness.
It was New Year's Eve today, and the two of them were having a drink in Chen Xun's mansion. Unexpectedly, they suddenly received an order to enter the palace.
Cheng Jing has been waiting outside Donghua Gate for a long time.
Seeing this, he quickly stepped forward, bowed his hands in a circle, and said.
"I've met Chen Gongbu and Gao Cifu. It's a big holiday. You two have come to the palace. Our family is here to wish you two New Year's greetings."
The two old men, wearing brand new official uniforms and walking on the thin layer of snow that had just fallen, returned the favor with the same smiles and said,
"I would also like to wish Eunuch Cheng a happy new year."
After everyone greeted each other, Cheng Jing turned sideways and said.
"The weather is cold, so don't stand here. Please follow our family into the palace."
With that said, Cheng Jing led the two of them towards the palace, talking as he walked.
"Your Majesty hasn't come here yet, but Yu Shangshu from the Ministry of War, the Prince Consort from the Fifth Army Governor's Office, and Mr. Yu Ge from the Cabinet are all already waiting in the side hall."
The speaker was unintentional but the listener was intentional. After Cheng Jing finished speaking, Chen Xun's steps immediately stagnated and his body became slightly stiff.
Turning his head to look at Gao Gu, Chen Xunfang took a deep breath and asked when he saw that the latter also looked solemn.
"Eunuch Cheng, your Majesty summoned us to the palace at this time. Could it be that he also raised troops to invade again? Is it Datong, or is it Xuanfu? Or, is it Liaodong?"
Cheng Jing blinked, turned around and saw the two elders looking nervous and confused, and said.
"Where did you two start talking about this? The border is peaceful..."
Gao Gu said with a heavy face.
"My father-in-law, there is no need to hide it from us. Now that the imperial court has sealed it, if it was not an urgent military matter, how could your majesty summon us to the palace in a hurry?"
"If it's an ordinary military matter, it would be Yu Shangshu and Shi Consort, but His Majesty has summoned me and Brother Dezun as well. Presumably other ministers are also on their way to the palace at this moment, right?"
Chen Xun also looked sad and sighed.
"Don't worry, father-in-law. We have survived such a big thing as the civil war. There is no news that we can't bear. After all, no matter how bad the situation is, it will not be worse than that time."
Gao Gu didn't say anything, but his face looked like "Stop pretending, we haven't seen any big storms before."
On the way here, Chen Xun and Gao Gu were both wondering what happened when the emperor asked them to enter the palace at this time.
There is no doubt that summoning ministers to the palace at this time must be for military affairs!
Then, they all remembered the last time the palace summoned all the ministers in Beijing for military affairs.
It was still that night when it was raining heavily. Yu Qian knocked on the door late at night and brought out the news, which shocked the entire Ming court and almost shook the country.
This time, the scene seems to be similar!
As he spoke, Chen Xun seemed to have remembered something, and widened his eyes and said, "Could it be that it's the Supreme Emperor..."
Hearing this, Cheng Jing looked dumbfounded and said, "This is nothing. It's Chinese New Year, you two don't dare to talk nonsense."
"Our family really did not deceive you two. His Majesty did not call other elders into the palace, just Shangshu, Shi Consort, Yu Ge and you two."
"The reason is not for border matters, but for military affairs in Miaoland."
Seeing that Chen Xun and others were still a little suspicious, Cheng Jing had no choice but to continue explaining.
"Today is New Year's Eve. His Majesty ordered people to sort out the memorials he had approved before. He accidentally found the memorials about the Miao rebellion and asked about it."
"You two are aware that some time ago, the general military officers of Zhengnan gathered in the palace to request help from the imperial court. His Majesty ordered Wang Ji to lead a hundred thousand troops from Zhengluchuan to quell the rebellion."
"Now that Wang Ji's army has arrived in Miao land for more than three months, it is still holding back and stationing troops in Chenzhou. Your Majesty is worried about the people of Miao land, so he wants to send another capable minister to quell the rebellion."
"Because of this matter, we have urgently summoned several elders into the palace. You two should put your hearts in your stomach and stop thinking wildly."
Chen Xun and Chen Xun let out a long sigh of relief at the same time, and finally let go of what they had been holding on to.
When Wang Ji was sent to reinforce Miaoland, there were only two of them in the cabinet. They had seen all the corresponding memorials, so they naturally knew about it.
As long as something doesn't happen again at the border, that's fine, but...
Chen Xun followed Cheng Jing and continued walking forward, but he was still a little confused and asked.
"Why did Your Majesty summon me to the palace regarding the Miao land? Could it be that there is a shortage of ordnance and the Ministry of Works needs to coordinate with craftsmen to increase the supply?"
This is not right. There are no fortified cities in Miaoland, and there is no need for any large-scale ordnance. Even if they were to be used, it would be too late to build them now.
Cheng Jing shook his head and smiled.
"Our family doesn't know this, so you two shouldn't make random guesses. You'll naturally know it once you meet the emperor."
Entering the side hall of Wuying Hall, as expected, Yu Qian, Shi Jing and Yu Shiyue had all arrived and were sitting around the fire chatting.
Seeing Cheng Jing and Chen Xun coming in, they also stood up and greeted each other.
Seeing that everyone was gathered, Cheng Jing confessed his crime and hurried to inform the emperor.
Chen Xun took the opportunity to inquire with Yu Qian and others, but found that they were also confused.
Not long after, Cheng Jing returned to the side hall and said.
"Everyone, His Majesty has decreed that you all have an audience. Please come."
So, several elders stood up, arranged their clothes and appearance, and followed Cheng Jing into Wuying Hall.
"I will see you, Your Majesty!"
There is a ground dragon in the main hall, and it is warm without having to light the stove. Several elders stand in the center of the main hall, bending down to salute.
Zhu Qiyu sat at the top and waved his hand with a smile, telling them not to be polite. He also asked someone to move a few blocks to give them seats, and then he spoke.
"Today is the New Year's Eve seal. It is a good day to celebrate the festival. I have urgently summoned several of your family members to come to the palace. I won't disturb your rest, right?"
Aren't you asking knowingly...
Several elders looked at each other and said one after another.
"To share the country's worries, I should do my best and not dare to complain."
Yu Qian was impatient and did not exchange too many greetings. He glanced at the others and saw that none of them spoke, so Yu Qian took the initiative.
"Your Majesty, when Eunuch Cheng sent a message to the ministers, he said that your Majesty was motivated by the Miao rebellion. He wanted to remove Wang Ji from the post of chief military officer and select another capable minister to lead the army to quell the rebellion. Is that true?"
When business came up, Zhu Qiyu stopped his smile and said solemnly.
"Yes, the Miao rebellion has been going on for more than half a year since March. Previously, the imperial court did not expect that the Miao army would be so powerful, so it only ordered Gong Ju to lead an army of 20,000. He did not dare to send troops rashly, and he was still sentimental. Can be forgiven."
"But now, Wang Ji holds a hundred thousand troops, but he is hiding in Chencheng, fearing to avoid fighting, and leaving the people in dire straits and neglecting them. Every time I think about it, I feel sad."
"Today is New Year's Eve, a time for thousands of families to celebrate, but the Miao land is still in the flames of war. This is actually because the imperial court is not in a good position to suppress thieves."
"Therefore, I urgently summoned several ministers to the palace to discuss the matter. I plan to send another 20,000 Beijing troops to reinforce the Miao land. I will also remove Wang Ji from the post of commander-in-chief and select another capable minister to serve as commander-in-chief to suppress the bandits. .”
After Zhu Qiyu finished speaking, the Wuying Hall was quiet. The elders looked at me and I looked at you, but no one spoke...
