In the lobby of Nanjing Fuxue, about thirty ministers attending the small court meeting were sitting in order. Zhu Cihong's Umrah meeting not only started late, but also lasted for a short time, and all the ministers had seats. It is to sit and discuss politics, not to kowtow and answer questions. And you can speak freely, you can say anything, and if you are wrong, you will not be punished - it is not a punishment to leave a job and go home to eat old rice! If the Metropolitan Procuratorate is asked to find out any corruption and bribery issues, it will not be a crime based on words...
The Ming Dynasty Prince Zhu Cixiang, who was deeply supported by the ministers, set up a table and chairs on the right side of Emperor Chongzhen. He sat in a grand manner, looking at the ministers below, and then at his father who was sitting on top of him.
Why does my dear father Chongzhen look so sad today? It’s almost the Chinese New Year, can’t you be a little happier?
"Father," Zhu Cixiang sighed and said to Chongzhen a little apologetically, "Today, the Ministry of Industry reported that the Xuanwu Lake Palace for your retirement may not be completed on time. It seems that you will not be able to pay your respects at the beginning of next year. The queen of the mausoleum retreated."
Really?
Emperor Chongzhen's originally miserable face suddenly brightened up, and he cast a grateful look at Lin Zengzhi, Minister of the Ministry of Industry. Lin Zengzhi was Zhu Cixiang's official and the backbone of the princelings early in the morning. Unexpectedly, he still had a little bit of loyalty left. Use this method to delay the prince's usurpation of the throne...
Lin Zengzhi saw Chongzhen's gaze and quickly lowered his head. He never thought of letting Emperor Chongzhen do it for a while longer!
These days, he is working very hard to promote the construction of Tianshou Palace (for Chongzhen's retirement) and the renovation of Xiaoling Guard on Taipingzhou in Xuanwu Lake. According to the plan, these two major unions will be completed in the first month of Chongzhen's eighteenth year.
At that time, Emperor Chongzhen can go to Xiaoling to plead guilty to Taizu Emperor Gao, and then tell the world and declare inner Zen. Chongzhen, who had worked hard for the country and the people for seventeen years, was finally able to get his wish and live an enviable retirement life... However, the Ming Dynasty had unfaithful and unjust ministers who wanted to trap the prince of Fujun for being unfilial. , not allowing the prince to take over as emperor, and not allowing Emperor Chongzhen to abdicate. It’s really hateful!
"Father," Zhu Cixi turned slightly at this time and said to Emperor Chongzhen, "I have just received good news. The bandits have released Wang Chengen and King Yong. They arrived in Jingmen Prefecture on December 18th. A few days later, We will arrive in Wuchang by the end of the day."
"Really?" Emperor Chongzhen was excited for a while, finally having a filial son by his side!
Zhu Cixiang smiled: "But Zuo Liangyu reported that he hopes King Yong can stay in Wuchang and replace the Chu vassal to stabilize the hearts of the people in Huguang."
"Stay in Wuchang?" Emperor Chongzhen thought about it and thought it was a good idea. Wuchang is not Datong, it is on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River! If Cizhao wanted to raise his troops from Wuchang and go down the river, it would be overwhelming!
"However, I feel that it is difficult for my fourth brother to achieve anything if he stays in Wuchang," Zhu Cixiang smiled. "It is better to let him lead the army into Sichuan and serve as the king of Shu!"
What?
Emperor Chongzhen looked at Zhu Cixiang and his face turned livid. You are a treacherous son. It's not enough to harm Ci Jiong. Now you even want to spare Cizhao. He is only 12 years old!
"Brother Chun," Emperor Chongzhen did not dare to get angry, but could still force a smile, "Fourth brother is still young, how can he beat Xian Xian? Why not send important ministers and generals to Shu instead?"
Zhu Cixi smiled and said: "Father, I misunderstood. Why would I let my fourth brother go head-to-head with the thief?"
Is there anything you don’t dare to do? Emperor Chongzhen looked at his son with suspicion.
"My son wants the Marquis of Wuchang to serve the Fourth Brother to Shu," Zhu Cixiang added. "If Chengdu and Chongqing can be restored, let the Fourth Brother control Chengdu, and the Marquis of Wuchang will serve the Duke of Qing and control Chongqing forever.
In addition, the minister also wanted to transfer Ma Shiying as the governor of Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan, go to Guizhou to recruit troops and buy horses, and counterattack Sichuan from the southern front. "
"This..." Emperor Chongzhen hesitated a little.
Zhu Cixiang looked at Chongzhen and asked with a smile: "My father must be worried that the Marquis of Wuchang will not try his best, right?"
Chongzhen nodded.
Zhu Cixi smiled and said: "My son, I have a way to ask Wuchang Marquis to marry his daughter to the fourth brother. As the father-in-law of the fourth brother, he will naturally try his best to assist."
"The daughter of Marquis Wuchang?" Chongzhen asked, "How old is she? Is she dignified and beautiful?"
Hou Xun, the Minister of Household Affairs, replied: "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Wuchang has an adopted daughter named Mengmei, who is seventeen years old."
"Seventeen?" Chongzhen was stunned, "But the fourth brother is only twelve!"
"Only five years older," Zhu Cixiang said with a smile, "For the sake of the Ming Dynasty, what can't you do?"
"This..." Emperor Chongzhen thought for a while. It would be a good thing for his son Yongwang to marry Zuo Liangyu's daughter to consolidate his throne as emperor! Just be five years older...Cizhao is a filial child and won't care.
"That's fine." Chongzhen nodded.
Zhu Cixiang smiled and said: "Father, this important matter of marriage must have the orders of the parents and the words of the matchmaker. Mr. Hou and the Marquis of Wuchang are close friends, so they can come forward to protect the matchmaker. For the words of the parents, the emperor must ask the father to write to the Marquis of Wuchang. .”
Why does it sound like a trap? Emperor Chongzhen frowned.
"Father," Zhu Cixi looked like a filial son and a good brother again, "Even if the Marquis of Wuchang is unwilling to enter Shu, our family still needs to rely on his 100,000 troops to defend Wuchang Mansion and Jingzhou Mansion... No matter whether it is a thief from Sichuan or a trespasser from Xiangyang, once they go down the river, Jiangnan will be shocked!
Now that the Northern Expedition has been thwarted, the Tatars are about to move south. We must go all out to stabilize the north. There can be no more changes in the west! "
yes! Chongzhen thought to himself: If the fourth brother and the Marquis of Wuchang go east when Nizi leads his army northward...
"Okay!" Emperor Chongzhen nodded slowly, appearing very hesitant.
He has improved now and can disguise his thoughts to deceive Zhu Cixiang.
Zhu Cixiang felt quite proud when he saw Chongzhen nodding. The value of Zuo Mengmei is nothing more than dividing the left wing after Zuo Liangyu's death - once the left wing is dominated by Zhu Cizhao, then when Zhu Cizhao is young and unable to govern, Zuo Mengmei will be the regent... ...This Zuo Mengmei is not an orphan Zuo Liangyu picked up on the roadside. She has a biological father. His biological father is Qiu Lei, who is Zuo Liangyu's good friend and the commander-in-chief of the Zuo Department.
"Then it's up to you, Father." Zhu Cixi said with a smile, "Father, my son will also have to appoint another attendant recently... If it is convenient for Father, he can also issue an edict to show his grandeur."
Emperor Chongzhen said to himself: I know you are lustful and lustful, and you must have fallen in love with the daughter of that noble family!
Chongzhen asked: "Whose daughter is this?"
"She is the daughter of Zheng Zhilong, the commander-in-chief of Fujian Province," Zhu Cihong said with a smile. "Zheng Zhilong will be coming to Nanjing in the next few days, and his daughter Cha Gu will also come with her. She will also send us a batch of blunderbuss and artillery.
In addition, Tang Ruowang invited many Western soldiers and craftsmen from Haao, and also brought a Portuguese envoy, who also came with Zheng Zhilong. "
She is actually the daughter of that profiteer Zheng Zhilong! Emperor Chongzhen's eyes swept across the lobby, and finally landed on Wu Xiang's face. Old man Wu had an expressionless face, as if he didn't care at all that his daughter was about to have a strong competitor...
"Okay!" Emperor Chongzhen was of course happy to see the division within the prince's party. "I will write a handwritten edict to Zheng Zhilong right away."
...
"Old Taishan, I asked Sanfu and Zheng Sen to go to Zhenjiang together to meet Zheng Zhilong."
After the court meeting, there was a one-on-one conversation, with Zhu Cihong and Wu Xiang talking alone.
Zhu Cihong actually didn't care if he took Wu Xiang as his concubine, but it was different when Prince Zhu took Zheng Zhilong's daughter as his concubine.
This is not lustful, but another political marriage! Now that the Wu family's status in the Zhu Cihong Group has declined, what will happen in the future if there is another Zheng family that rubs shoulders with the Wu family?
"Old minister, I accept the order." Wu Xiang was unwilling at all in his heart, but he still replied respectfully.
Zhu Cixiang smiled, "Old Taishan, I have to accept the daughter of the Zheng family... But I have never regarded the Zheng family as generals. They are just businessmen. Although they are giants among businessmen, they are not the same as you." Home is still different.
This time Sanfu was asked to go, nominally to welcome Zheng Zhilong, but actually to ask him to explore the foreign general Shi Ruien invited by Tang Ruowang. It is said that this foreign general is very powerful, proficient in the latest Western land warfare methods, and can also build cities. If he is really capable, Sanfu can learn from others in the future...
In addition, we have to let Zheng Zhilong and the Westerners see our fire rifle soldiers and cavalry. Don't let them look down upon us! "
