Inside the Wenhua Hall.
The battle report has not come yet, and the emperor has not appeared. All the ministers are sitting and waiting. They probably understand that today the northwest battle report has not come, the emperor is not in a hurry to discuss things, and they don't want to leave the palace.
Just one word.
wait!
There was a young eunuch passing by the Wenhua Hall, but it was Zhu Houzhao who sent him to inquire about the news.
Zhu Houzhao also got up very early in the morning and set up a sand table in his East Palace, waiting for the battle report to come at any time so that he could "deduce" it again.
Yesterday, his father brought Zhang Zhou to test his knowledge of the northwest strategy, and even encouraged him a few words to make him feel confident. He also felt ambitious that he had the ability to command millions of soldiers.
…
Inside Qingning Palace.
Zhu Youtang came over early in the morning to pay his respects to the Queen Mother Zhou, but was left by the Queen Mother Zhou to have breakfast together.
At the dinner table, Queen Mother Zhou saw that Zhu Youtang was absent-minded and knew that his grandson was anxious about things in the northwest. However, she looked graceful and calm and had the time to consult her grandson and his wife's "family affairs."
"You are all young people. Don't ruin the peace of the royal family due to a momentary dispute of temper. The Ai family is still waiting for the queen to continue to flourish for the royal family."
Empress Dowager Zhou showed a very graceful attitude in persuading peace but not separation.
But the eunuchs waiting nearby could feel that the old lady was probably eager for the relationship between the emperor and the empress to break down.
Zhu Youtang said: "The imperial grandmother is interested, but my grandson is just busy with state affairs recently and has no time to go to Kunning Palace."
Queen Mother Zhou asked: "How do you plan to deal with the matter of the second son of the Zhang family?"
When you come up, you stab Zhu Youtang with a knife. You, the emperor, want to leave without saying anything? If you dare to say that you want to protect the second son of the Zhang family, let's see how the Ai family educates you!
"This matter..."
Zhu Youtang looked hesitant, "Emperor Grandma, it's not that my grandson doesn't want to punish Yan Ling, but there are some things that cannot be determined yet. The news is that Peng Quan, the commander of Jianchang Guard, will have to wait until later this month. To the capital. However...Bingkuan said that there may be an earthquake in Jianchangwei and other places on February 16th, which is tomorrow...My grandson is not sure yet..."
Empress Dowager Zhou said with a straight face and a look of displeasure: "Are you trying to say that if God doesn't send a warning or an earthquake occurs, you won't punish the second son of the Zhang family for misbehaving?"
Zhu Youtang looked troubled.
In fact, he wanted to say that the second son of the Zhang family was outrageous, but you, the second son of the Zhou family, were not much better.
They are all relatives, whose family is better than which?
Have you forgotten that your second brother led his men to fight with the Zhang family, and even caused a fatal incident?
Seeing this, Dai Yi on the side quickly stepped forward to rescue the emperor and said: "Your Majesty, all the ministers are waiting in the Wenhua Hall. It's time for you to go to court."
Queen Mother Zhou glanced sideways at Dai Yi, as if to say, our ancestors and grandchildren are talking, what qualifications do you have to interrupt.
"Royal Grandma, my grandson would like to ask Bingkuan and other ministers for their opinions on this matter. Now Bingkuan is still trying for the third time..." Zhu Youtang couldn't just leave with an excuse. He could only leave The incident was blamed on Zhang Zhou.
Empress Dowager Zhou said: "Emperor, you must remember that the stability of the Ming Dynasty is more important than anything else. You cannot disrupt the country by shielding the Zhang family. Even if the Zhou family makes mistakes, you will also punish them. The relatives of Ming Dynasty cannot mess with the imperial court!"
"yes."
Zhu Youtang agreed.
As soon as he finished speaking, the situation was still a bit awkward, Xiao Jing hurried over from outside.
Zhu Youtang was already anxiously waiting for news from the northwest. When he saw Xiao Jing coming over with a sealed report in his hand, he hurriedly asked: "Is there any news from Pianguan?"
Xiao Jing had just entered the door and was about to kowtow.
Empress Dowager Zhou said: "I'm already in a hurry, no need to be polite, just say it!"
Xiao Jing looked like he was about to cry with joy, and said with a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, we have received the first battle report of Pianguan... It is a victory report!"
"Good news?"
Zhu Youtang did not bother to talk to the Empress Dowager Zhou about the family affairs. He stood up, his face was rosy and he was obviously a little enthusiastic.
Dai Yi hurried to receive the battle report.
Xiao Jing summarized it and said: "Yesterday before dawn, the first good news came from Pianguan... The night before, Wang Junmen took advantage of the darkness to lead his troops back to Pianguan to cover up the attack, and used the 'Mighty Heavenly Gunpowder' given by His Majesty to kill them. The barbarians were trapped in the border pass, and the barbarians lost their troops and lost their generals... After midnight, Wang Junmen led his troops into the city, surrounded three columns, and opened a gap in the north pass. The Tatars withdrew their troops in a hurry... Preliminary calculations showed that only The number of heads and people captured has exceeded thousands..."
"Over a thousand? Okay! Okay!"
Zhu Youtang was very excited.
Although it is only the first battle report and the summarized figures are not exhaustive, Zhu Youtang is satisfied with just a "over a thousand" victory report.
With this figure as a basis, it seemed that Wang Yue could not argue with him about blowing up Piantou Pass.
The Empress Dowager Zhou next to her smiled and said: "Emperor, it seems that you are blessed by God and the ancestors of the Ming Dynasty."
Zhu Youtang seemed to have found someone to talk to. He looked at the Empress Dowager Zhou with excitement and said, "It's Bingkuan's contribution to the emperor's grandmother. He was the one who guessed the matter. Wang Weining was recommended by him. He sent people to Pianguan and even Wei Wutian." The gunpowder was prepared by Bingkuan, and it is so powerful that it can tear apart mountains and rocks, and even blow up the walls of city gates..."
Queen Mother Zhou smiled, this smile was a bit forced.
It can blow up city walls... The problem is that the Tatars don't like to build city walls for defense.
Wang Weining blew up the city wall, but what about using Ming's own city wall for fun?
Repair it later, free of charge?
The reason why the Empress Dowager Zhou cared was that Emperor Hongzhi had always been very frugal. Once there was a fortress built in the northwest, or there was a major disaster in the area, the palace would have to cut back on food and clothing, and she, the old lady, would take the lead and set an example.
Did Wang Weining blow up the Piantou Pass?
What was blown up was clearly the private money of the old Ai family!
It’s strange that Queen Mother Zhou is happy!
"Royal Grandma, I won't tell you that my grandson is going to see all the ministers and inform them of the news." While Zhu Youtang was excited, he did not forget that there were a bunch of ministers waiting for the results.
Empress Dowager Zhou smiled and said: "Go ahead. You are lucky. God will send a capable person to help you. From now on, you should respect him and listen to his opinions more."
"Yes, my grandson will definitely value Bingkuan and ask more questions about state affairs. My grandson will resign." Zhu Youtang left immediately.
Queen Mother Zhou originally wanted to remind her.
Don't just talk about state affairs, it's best to listen to him more about private matters, including matters related to the expansion of the Ming Dynasty. After all, they say that there is no small matter in this world!
…
…
Inside the Wenhua Hall.
The court meeting finally began.
As soon as Zhu Youtang arrived, before the ministers could bow down, Zhu Youtang raised his hand and said, "Young ladies, there is no need to be formal. Dai Yi, please read it out."
After saying that, Zhu Youtang walked to his seat and sat down.
The ministers held their breath and concentrated, knowing that there was news from the northwest.
Before Dai Yi read out, he naturally had to explain it to the ministers present. He said: "This good news comes from the Minister of Military Affairs of the left minister of the Ministry of War, the censor of the right capital, the general commander of the Xuanfu, Datong, Piantou Pass and other military affairs." Yue, I sent it back before dawn yesterday, when the war had its initial results."
After hearing this, the minister below couldn't help but urge him.
Can it be faster?
Even Wang Yue's official title has to be said for so long?
But most people also heard that this was a "good news."
Dai Yi said: "...After noon on Wushen Day, the soldiers of the Pianguan garrison evacuated, leaving a thousand dead soldiers. 'Mighty Heavenly Gunpowder' was buried everywhere in the city. All the dead soldiers performed their duties and were familiar with the detonation point. Where, they hid in a cellar, and at midnight, using the first sound of cannon as a signal, they lit gunpowder..."
"Half an hour later, three cannon shots were fired as a signal, and three places on the north wall of the city gate were blown up, leaving gaps for Di Yi to escape. Then three thousand elite cavalry were sent from the south city gate, southwest corner gate, and east corner gate. , and formed a siege from the streets to the headquarters of the General Military Officer of Pianguan..."
The content of the report is brief.
Many details were not described, but one thing was evident to the ministers present.
Wang Yue did not fight an unprepared battle. He deliberately acted like a bear in front of the Tatars.
There have been battle reports before. It is said that the various people who retreated from Pianguan were pursued by Tatar cavalry to varying degrees. The soldiers and horses escorting the supplies ran away when they encountered the enemy. The Tatars were only focused on looting and had no intention of pursuing them. .
Only now do I know that this was all to cover up Wang Yue's late night attack on Piantou Pass.
What's even worse is that there is something called "Mighty Heavenly Gunpowder" that can actually blow several holes in the city wall? How powerful is that?
Is this the enemy's fortress or the Ming Dynasty's gate that is being blown up?
Don’t you, Wang Yue, feel distressed?
At this time, Dai Yi was still reading out the preliminary battle report that Wang Yue had sent someone to write back——
"... Preliminary calculations before dawn revealed that more than 500 people died from the mighty gunpowder bandits; more than 600 people were injured and captured; more than 400 heads were captured; more than 3,000 horses, livestock, and weapons were captured , There are countless baggage items..."
Wang Yue was anxious to send out the first battle report before dawn, also in order to silence those who wanted to impeach him for bombing his own city gate as soon as possible.
Wang Yue can also settle accounts.
For the Tatars who died in the explosion, the credit may be assigned to Zhang Zhou.
But the merits of beheading and capturing should be attributed to him. Over a thousand is a milestone number, enough to make him proud of the heroes of the northwest and become the first general in the world...
In other words, this was enough for him to get the title of Lord Weining back.
When Dai Yi finished reading the first battle report.
Not a single one of the ministers present said a word.
Because that day was not a large court meeting, there were only civilian officials present, and there were no Spanish generals with military honors. This meant...
Civil officials were unwilling to recognize Wang Yue's achievements from the bottom of their hearts.
Picking on them is professional.
Zhu Youtang looked very happy and said: "Dear lords, Wang Weining has reported victory in the northwest."
Liu Jian came out and said: "Your Majesty, how many soldiers and horses does Di Yi have inside the city gate? How many tribes are there? Where is Huo Si? Also, after the war, how many losses did the frontier army suffer? Is there any follow-up? Is there a pursuit or Di Yi's counterattack?"
"this……"
Zhu Youtang was just about to brag, but after hearing Liu Jian's barrage of questions, he was instantly speechless.
Dai Yize smiled and said: "My dear friends, a victory is a happy event. For the rest, we might as well wait and see. It is estimated that the follow-up battle reports will come one after another. The troops who have retreated from all walks of life will also gather together again. Turn your head off!"
"Congratulations, Your Majesty. God bless you."
Led by Xu Qiong, the Minister of Rites, people finally began to express congratulations to Zhu Youtang.
(End of chapter)
