February 17th, morning court and grand court meeting.
Civil servants and military officials lined up on both sides, and Zhu Youtang asked Dai Yi to read on the spot the memorial written by Wang Yue asking for merit and reward for his victory, which listed in detail the list of meritorious generals and soldiers.
Of course, the ministers present were more concerned about the final result.
"...The number of those killed in the bombing, especially those whose bodies were torn apart, is difficult to determine. The number of corpses with heads, ears, and torsos alone is over 800. In this battle, 3,460 Hulu were killed, injured, and captured. Second, the horses can still be used, which is 5,619..."
The numbers Wang Yue reported for were getting bigger each time.
To Wenchen's ears, it was becoming more and more exaggerated every time, and now it was almost shocking.
After Dai Yi finished reading, the people present were still silent. The civil servants did not want to acknowledge the credit, but Wu Xun did not know what to say.
If it is time to congratulate, I have said it before during the court meeting. Now it depends on how the emperor rewards Wang Yue.
It seems like no reward is too high.
Ma Wensheng, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, came out and said: "Your Majesty, Wang Yue, the left minister of the Ministry of War, previously reported that Ping Jiang Bo Chen Rui led 16,000 light cavalry and infantry to pursue the pursuit, but the imperial court has sent Ping Jiang Bo to Xuan Mansion. With the transfer order, it is estimated that the dispatch of troops to the grassland will also be suspended."
The ministers present were puzzled.
Wang Yue himself was not leading the troops to pursue the grassland at the critical moment of victory. Why did he think back and let Chen Rui go?
Zhu Youtang said: "I was just about to say this. Ping Jiangbo, as the chief military officer of Pianguan, did not play any role in this battle. He only appeared at Pianguan two days after the war ended. How should we discuss merits and demerits?" ?”
It seems that the emperor also has a bad look on Chen Rui.
You ran fast during the war. Even if you look back, you can say that Wang Weining lied to you and didn't let you know about the war. But you ran a hundred and fifty miles a day and a night, and traveled three hundred miles back and forth in more than three days...
It's really not enough to make the rest of the people and the Tatars laugh.
Xie Qian said: "Wang Weining used troops in a strange way. Since he wanted to paralyze Di Yi and prevent them from being investigated, he was able to pacify Jiang Bo...withdrawing to Ningxia. It was indeed a suspicious move."
This is very polite.
Xie Qian was also afraid of hurting the harmony among the Northwest Army, so he could only describe Chen Rui's behavior as strategic necessity.
Look how correct Chen Rui's running posture is. If he hadn't greased the soles of his feet so thoroughly, would the Tatars dare to rush into the big pocket formation of Piantou Pass and fall into the ambush of Wang Weining?
You, Wang Weining, took advantage of Chen Rui's fast running and completed the task of confusing the enemy. Now you still want to trample Chen Rui to death afterwards?
"Um."
After hearing Xie Qian's words, Zhu Youtang also felt that it made some sense.
Then Zhu Youtang asked Dai Yi who was standing aside: "In the previous memorial, was there any mention of Ping Jiangbo's gains and losses?"
"Not yet." Dai Yi replied.
On this point, Wang Yue was very sensible. While he was mocking and disgusting Chen Rui, he did not take the initiative to mention Chen Rui's merits and demerits in the memorial.
What exactly this Chen Rui is like is left to the monarchs, ministers and frontier soldiers to figure out for themselves.
If I want to step on you, step on me directly. That would be unwise, and it would easily lead to others thinking that I am a petty person. I will just dig a hole for you to jump into, and then use the insinuation method to show your embarrassed appearance when you jump into the hole. Let the king and his ministers know that this is enough.
I can even speak for you and excuse you afterwards, which reflects the noble character of my king.
Doesn't this give you a chance to pursue the bandits and make meritorious deeds?
If you don’t control yourself well, who is to blame?
Wang Zongyi, the right minister of the Ministry of War, came out and said: "Your Majesty, the battle report was sent back from Yansui and other places. It is said that after the victory at Pianguan, the little Tatar prince has withdrawn his troops from Ningxia. This was just sent back this morning."
The ministers present heard this.
It was immediately clear that Wang Yue's victory should be a certainty and there was no chance of running away.
The Little Prince of Tartar, Huo Si, and the Three Guards of Duoyan all took advantage of the Ming Dynasty's unpreparedness at the beginning of spring to harass the Ming Dynasty after experiencing the drought in the grasslands last year, coupled with serious internal mergers and severe shortage of resources.
The Three Guards of Duoyan were not a major scourge on the frontier in the first place, but the withdrawal of the little Tatar prince Dayan Khan indicated that the Tatars would not dare to rob them again.
The battle at Piantou Pass alone was enough to change the pattern of the grassland.
Xu Qiong, as a member of a special faction among civil servants, came out and said: "The little prince of Tatar does not dare to anger our Ming Dynasty monarchs anymore. At this time, his next target may not be my Ming Dynasty." The frontier fortress.”
The ministers present heard some clues.
Huo Si had already been defeated, and he was defeated so embarrassingly. Why did Dayan Khan risk offending the Ming Dynasty to fight against the Ming Dynasty? Let Wang Yue deal with him again and become brothers with Huo Si?
How easy would it be to grab the Fire Sieve when it is weak at this time?
There is no need to openly rob, just issue a decree and let Huo Si take people to "hajj", or send people to pay taxes, or ask them to give up pasture... As long as Huo Si doesn't want to, there will be an excuse to send troops... …
There are many tricks and tricks on the grassland. After all, it was not Dayan Khan who was defeated this time, but the leader of a tribe below.
Even if Dayan Khan is defeated, the risk of his headquarters being invaded by other tribes is very high.
"Ministry of Rites!" Zhu Youtang said.
"I'm here," Xu Qiong said.
Zhu Youtang then looked at Ma Wensheng aside and said: "The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War have agreed upon a reward for Wang Yue as appropriate. Based on his meritorious service in this battle, the title of Lord Wei Ning should be returned to him. Based on the previous precedent of the northwest's meritorious service, Zhu Youtang looked at Ma Wensheng aside. , see if we can take another step up to the rank of Marquis of Weining."
"His Majesty……"
The civil servants present almost started to boo.
Several people almost unanimously wanted to come out to object.
Zhu Youtang said: "Rewards for military merits are all based on precedents. The king's contribution to crossing the Helan Mountains has been an honor for civil servants. He was originally called Wei Ning Bo. Everything will be based on the fact that he is already Wei Ning Bo. Reward. Dear ministers, please wait until the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War come up with a precise plan before raising any objections."
The emperor was obviously partial to Wang Yue in this matter.
This reflects the importance of Wang Yue currying favor with the emperor and Zhang Zhou this time.
Wang Yue tied himself to the emperor and Zhang Zhou. This victory was almost achieved by the emperor skipping the civil servants. Wu Xun played a very inconspicuous role in it. He sent three lords as the general soldiers. , deputy commander-in-chief of the army cooperated in sending troops, but as a result, none of the three people were sent to the front line of the battlefield at the critical moment.
If Wang Yue negotiated military merits as an ordinary civil servant, even if he killed three thousand people, it would be quite good to receive the honor of being awarded a title by the civil servants.
But if Wang Yue is granted a title on the basis of being the Duke of Weining, then Wang Yue will be treated badly by being granted the title of Marquis of Weining during this battle, and he can even be granted the title of Duke.
Just like Zhu Yong, the father of Baoguo Gong Zhu Hui.
Zhu Yong also relied on the title of Count Funing. First, in the sixth year of Chenghua, he cooperated with Wang Yue and others to perform meritorious service in the "Battle of Aluo Chu" in the northwest, and was promoted to a marquis; then in the sixteenth year of Chenghua, he went to Jianzhou Jurchen was promoted to Duke Baoguo. In the latter battle, Zhu Yong killed and captured only a thousand Di Yi.
If Wang Yue, with the title of Count Weining, directly fought for 3,000 men, he was still fighting the fire sieve that had caused headaches for the Ming Dynasty's border troops in the past few years. Would it be a big deal to be promoted to a marquis?
…
…
After the meeting.
The ministers are still discussing the emperor's promotion of Wang Yue to the rank of marquis. Although many people are reluctant, they feel that the room for change in this matter does not lie in "discussing merit".
If precedents are followed, Wang Yue's meritorious service is indeed enough to be promoted to Marquis of Weining.
But the problem is that there is a big difference between whether it should be based on his being a civil servant and being knighted, or whether it should be based on Bo Weining's promotion.
And... if it can be proven that Wang Yue falsely claimed his military exploits, it would be difficult to get Weining Bo, let alone Weining Hou.
For the emperor who is returning to Qianqing Palace.
It's a great day.
"Did the earthquake... happen?" Zhu Youtang asked just a few steps out of Fengtian Hall.
Dai Yi looked at Xiao Jing, and Xiao Jing said, "Not yet."
Zhu Youtang said: "Alas! Yanling has been detained in Beizhen Fusi for some time. He hasn't been making trouble recently, has he?"
Xiao Jing thought to himself, why didn't you make a fuss?
Now at Zhang Yanling's side, even Mou Bin, the commander of the Jin Yiwei, did not dare to see him. Every day, someone else went to deliver the food, and they had to cover their faces. Zhang Yanling's voice was so loud that it could be heard from a long distance away.
Those threatening words... they sounded very permeable.
It doesn't matter how severe the curse is, everyone in Dongchang and Jinyiwei knows that Zhang Yanling has the strength to vow revenge on someone. As long as Zhang Yanling is released from the prison, who he wants to revenge is not a matter of words?
Did he catch a criminal? Or capture an ancestor and bring him back?
Seeing Xiao Jing not answering, Zhu Youtang knew that Zhang Yanling had done nothing good in Beizhen Fusi just by looking at Xiao Jing's face.
Dai Yi asked tentatively: "Your Majesty, if the earthquake hasn't happened in the past few days, then your Majesty's punishment should be effective. Should you... let the person go?"
"Let it go?"
Zhu Youtang seemed very hesitant.
Although from his personal point of view, he felt that it was not good to indulge Zhang Yanling, he still cared about the couple's relationship with Empress Zhang, and he was good at protecting his shortcomings.
No matter how mischievous Zhang Yanling is, as long as he is not offended, he can ignore it and ignore it.
"After Bingkuan's interrogation is over, let's ask him for his opinion." Zhu Youtang didn't want to understand anything, so he made a compromise first.
Anyway, Zhang Zhou came out after noon and the third session of the general examination.
Wouldn't it be better to ask Zhang Zhou's opinion then than to slap my forehead and make a decision?
Dai Yi and Xiao Jing couldn't help but look at each other after hearing this...
What's happening here?
Whether the emperor asked Zhang Zhou for his opinion when he was marching in the northwest or regarding the celestial aspects, now even whether he should let his brother-in-law be released or not should depend on Zhang Zhou's decision? In the past, whenever the Zhang brothers acted recklessly, the emperor would not ask for mercy from the queen, but would directly protect him. Anyone who participated in the impeachment of Zhang Yanling should be punished first...
Isn’t this what Peng Quan is reporting on Zhang Yanling this time?
It's good now. Even if the earthquake doesn't happen, the emperor is ready to ask Zhang Zhou before deciding whether to let Zhang Yanling go...
Zhang Zhou was consulted on whether to catch or not, and whether to let go or not. The meanings of these two matters are different.
This made both Dai Yi and Xiao Jing realize.
The person who can please me the most now is probably not Empress Zhang. When there is a conflict between Empress Zhang and Zhang Zhou, the emperor's first choice is to listen to Zhang Zhou.
Times have changed!
…
…
Afternoon.
The third session of the examination is over.
When Zhang Zhou came out of Gongyuan, rumors about the test questions were rampant. Everyone was wondering whether the person who asked the questions was crazy, and whether anyone knew about the test questions in advance.
"...I was hearing people talk about the second test questions two days ago, and I also vaguely heard people mention the third policy question."
"But a scholar from Jiangnan?"
"Yes, especially the famous ones, they all seem to be talking about it!"...
Zhang Zhou felt that it was not Cheng Minzheng who was crazy, but the candidates who were crazy.
When those candidates faced the examination questions and found that they were more than one grade more difficult than the usual provincial examination questions, they all felt that they had not performed well and felt unbalanced...
In addition, there are people who are deliberately spreading titillating remarks, like a cancer, spreading from ten to ten.
The people who have the right to speak these days are the literati, and the people who like to discuss politics the most are often not the Jinshi or the Hanlin, but this group of "full pots without ringing, half-pots jingling" candidates.
"Mr. Zhang."
Zhang Zhou saw Sun Shangqi first, and Sun Shangqi took him through the streets. In front of the carriage at the entrance of the streets, Dai Yi and Xiao Jing stood there, smiling at him.
Zhang Zhou was also surprised and asked curiously: "What kind of situation is this?"
Normally Xiao Jing comes alone, but this time the Chief of Ceremony, the Printer, and the Factory Master come together. If the candidates around him know that Zhang Zhou is treated like this, then the first person involved in the vend question must be Zhang Zhou. .
Dai Yi smiled and said: "Congratulations, a great victory in the northwest."
"Same joy, same joy." Zhang Zhou didn't take it seriously. Wang Yue won a great victory. What does it have to do with me?
Congratulations to me, you might as well congratulate the emperor and Wang Yue.
Seeing Zhang Zhou being so calm, Dai Yi thought that Zhang Zhou had figured it out a long time ago, and exclaimed: "Mr. Zhang's ability to remain unfazed by favors and humiliations is really admirable. Not only that, but His Majesty also said that he would confer a title on you..."
Zhang Zhou still shook his head indifferently: "I am just a scholar, not even a minister. I have never been to the northwest battlefield, how can I qualify for a title?"
"That mighty gunpowder..." Xiao Jing reminded.
Zhang Zhou said: "Since ancient times, has anyone been awarded a title for providing a firearm? Making gunpowder is considered a craftsman at most!"
Zhang Zhou knew what was going on.
No matter how much the emperor admires him, the civil servants will not let the emperor mess around.
Unless there is a precedent for something, civil servants will not make such remarks.
Or even if Zhang Zhou gets the title, will he be even more prosperous than he is now? The title is not the important point, the key is the emperor's trust and dependence. If he gets the title, then in the eyes of the world, he is not a capable person, but just a near-sycophant.
Why can't I be an official to the end?
If I want to win the title, I will go to the battlefield to fight for it myself, and the emperor will be extra merciful without bothering me.
"You..." Dai Yi was so troubled by Zhang Zhou that he didn't know what to say.
Zhang Zhou said: "Did His Majesty ask me to go? Look at how dirty I am. I didn't have time to tidy up the last time I left the palace. You have to let me go back to bathe and change clothes this time, right?"
"this……"
Dai Yi thought about it and it seemed right.
Zhang Zhou's last two exams were consecutive exams, and the Gongyuan had been sloppy for five or six days, so he always had to tidy up before he could meet the saint.
"Then please." Dai Yi said, "The carriage will take you back, and our family will go to the palace gate to greet you first. You have to hurry up."
(End of chapter)
