Morning next day.
After civil servant Wu Xun arrived at Fengtian Hall, before the emperor came, all the ministers were whispering to each other about the recent events, and the one they were most concerned about was naturally the release of the test results yesterday.
"...Zhang Zhou actually passed the Huiyuan exam in the examination. How can we say that he was not the result of private teaching? Isn't the Ming Dynasty examination just child's play?"
Yuan Shouzhi, the official in charge of general affairs, was very angry.
He had an upright temper and couldn't get rid of the dirt in his eyes, but there was someone pulling him next to him. It was Zuo Tongzheng Shen Lu. Because Shen Lu was an in-law of Queen Zhang's family and his status among civil servants was not very high, Yuan Shouzhi ignored it. It’s better to keep talking.
Li Dongyang was listening, feeling very uncomfortable.
This group of people talked a lot, saying that Zhang Zhouzhong's Huiyuan was unreasonable, but the problem was that he had chosen this Huiyuan. The article ranged from the classic meaning to the intention, and then to the ambition of governing the country. The feeling of benefiting the world came from What is deep in one's heart is sincere and sincere without any hypocrisy.
Who knew it would be him after opening the seal?
Xu Qiong, the Minister of Rites, couldn't help but walked up to Li Dongyang and asked: "I appointed Zhang Zhou as Huiyuan, but was it the result of pressure from the middle officials?"
Li Dongyang frowned and glanced at him.
What do you mean, Xu Qiong?
Pressure from central officials? Do you look down on the emperor, or do you look down on me?
The Ming Dynasty's General Examination, such a solemn and serious event, would involve fraud on matters like Dian Huiyuan? Then why attack Cheng Minzheng? Just say that I am the culprit?
"From the grading inside the curtain to the comments and selection of tributes, everything is in accordance with the process. Zhang Zhou is the Huiyuan. His article has been revised twice, and no changes have been made to any of them after it was opened."
Li Dongyang wanted to say that he wanted to suspect that the result of this conference was unfair. Please provide evidence.
Yuan Shouzhi added: "In the imperial examinations of the Ming Dynasty, officials should not be criticized by historians just because of one person!"
Facing such a hot-tempered and aggressive person, Li Dongyang just turned his eyes aside.
Also follow the emperor's attitude and turn a deaf ear to things without evidence.
…
…
Just when everyone was talking about it, Xiao Jing appeared in Fengtian Hall.
This was not a surprise to them. What was surprising was that Zhang Zhou, as the Huiyuan of this examination, actually appeared in the court again, this time following Xiao Jing.
Xiao Jing first walked up to Liu Jian, cupped his hands to the three cabinet ministers and said, "Three ministers, there are matters involving military affairs today, and Zhang Gongshi needs to come to discuss them together. Can you arrange a position for him?"
There were people nearby who heard this and started talking among themselves.
Liu Jian frowned.
Now no one can figure out what the emperor is going to do.
Xie Qian smiled and said, "Even if we have something to discuss, should we first wait until he becomes a Jinshi and ranks behind the imperial class?"
"Today's matter cannot be delayed, so Your Majesty has made this arrangement and asked a few pavilion elders to help." Xiao Jing looked very embarrassed.
Xie Qian wanted to joke again, but was stopped by Li Dongyang.
Li Dongyang has a very bright mind.
The emperor asked Xiao Jing to ask their three cabinet ministers for instructions and let Zhang Zhou, who was still a tribute, choose a position. This actually reflected the emperor's trust in the three of them. Otherwise, the emperor would just bring Zhang Zhou and assign him a position at will. The location is enough, why bother?
The emperor took the initiative to show his kindness.
If Xie Qian came out to ridicule or object again at this time, irritating Xiao Jing and the emperor behind him, it would not be a good thing for the relationship between monarch and minister.
"It's better to let him stand after all six subjects have been dealt with." Li Dongyang said.
The six subjects are all given to Shi Zhong, who is closest to the end of the East class. Behind them, it doesn't actually mean that... just let Zhang Zhou stand at the end of the civil service?
Xiao Jing was not demanding about this and said with a smile: "Thank you to the three pavilion elders for being so accommodating. Mr. Zhang, please do it."
Xiao Jing turned around and called Zhang Zhou, letting the surrounding civil servants know that Zhang Zhou was nominally standing behind the civil servants as a tribute, but because of the trust he received, even the elders might have to step aside.
…
…
After Zhang Zhou stood still, Xiao Jing hurriedly left the hall.
Most of the people on Wu Xun's side were sizing them up, and seemed to hope that Zhang Zhou would come to their side. Unfortunately, Zhang Zhou had already passed the imperial examination and could become a civil servant after taking the imperial examination. At present, it seems that Zhang Zhou should go On Wu Xun's side, unless Zhang Zhou participated in any major war and obtained a title of meritorious service.
This possibility does not seem to exist for the time being.
Then the emperor arrived.
The meeting begins.
After the minister finished saluting, before the minister came out to announce his duties, Zhu Youtang pointed at Xiao Jing and said, "Say!"
Xiao Jing said: "The captives entered Kaiyuan and other places in Liaodong, killed and plundered people and animals, and prepared the garrison. Wang Zong, the commander of the capital, refused to advance when encountering the enemy. Huang Yan, the right eunuch, and Jiao Yuan, the garrison commander, led the troops and did not move, causing the captives to withdraw. Although there was a pursuit afterwards, no gains were made..."
The first thing he did when he came up was a head-on blow to the ministers present.
Di Yi was in trouble again.
But it's not on the three sides, nor on Xuanda, nor on the side of the head.
Still in Liaodong.
Still Duoyan Sanwei.
However, the "Great Victory of Yizhou in Liaodong" had just happened less than a month ago. The imperial court had just rewarded the guarding eunuch Ren Liang, the chief military officer Li Gao, and the capital censor Zhang Yu. Suddenly, the three guards of Duoyan came again!
Is this a case of poverty and madness? A trapped beast still fighting? Go ahead to dangers?
Is Duoyan Sanwei crazy?
Knowing that Wang Weining is out of town in the northwest and there is no one in Liaodong, why do you still dare to come? Aren't they afraid that Ming Dynasty will use their three Duoyan guards as whetstones?
After General Xiao Jing announced the matter, Zhu Youtang said with an annoyed look on his face: "The three guards of Duoyan just invaded the country a month ago and suffered a defeat in Yizhou. Later, there was the Battle of Pianguan to enhance the prestige of the Ming Dynasty. Why do the three guards of Duoyan dare to invade Liaodong again now?" Kaiyuan? Dear gentlemen, shouldn’t the Ming Dynasty’s nine-border defense focus be tilted towards Liaodong?”
The emperor's words seemed to be asking, but they were actually questioning.
Please analyze it for me. What did the three guards of Duoyan eat? The last time they came here, they were killed and came back defeated. They knew that Huo Si was defeated miserably, so they still dared to come?
They actually allowed them to successfully retreat after looting this time? Are the officers and soldiers of Ming Dynasty and Liaodong all useless?
Ma Wensheng came out and said: "Your Majesty, is there anything worthy of discussion about the results of the battle in Yizhou, Liaodong?"
Ma Wensheng had the experience and immediately saw the problem.
Since Duoyan's three guards were defeated last time and still dare to come now, it doesn't mean that Duoyan's three guards are strong-willed. It can only mean that there was something fishy in the last battle report.
To say it's debatable is putting it mildly.
It would be more appropriate to just say falsely reporting military exploits.
Zhu Youtang said coldly: "I have sent people to Yizhou more than ten days ago to cooperate with the inspection censor and others to inquire about the results of the battle in Yizhou. I expect that there should be a detailed report in the next few days."
The ministers were immediately confused.
We just felt that there was something wrong with the outcome of the war in Yizhou, Liaodong, and His Majesty has already sent people to Liaodong to investigate?
But in the past February, the imperial court had successively achieved good results in Yizhou, Pianguan, Yansui and other places, and Yizhou had launched the first round of comprehensive suppression of Di Yi. How could His Majesty be so concerned about this? Is it doubtful that Yizhou’s victory will be so great?
"I originally wanted to wait until the outcome of the matter came out, but now I will say it clearly. As early as a month ago, someone reminded me that the Liaodong War may be suspected of false reporting, killing good people and taking merit, etc. At that time, I still If you don’t believe me, I sent someone to investigate after many days of delay. As a result, you have also seen that the three guards of Duoyan came back and repeatedly invaded the territory of Liaodong. If I don’t make some response, it will appear that the Ming Dynasty’s border army is weak. How can we determine the three armies? Military morale?”
Zhu Youtang immediately made it clear.
What you didn't mention, someone has already mentioned it to me, and they clearly told me that it was a false report of military exploits, and suggested that I go check it out.
I even listened to him!
The ministers present are also quick-thinking...
They suddenly thought of a change in the court today, that is, the emperor asked Zhang Zhou, who was only a tribute, to come to Fengtian Hall in advance, and said that he wanted to participate in the discussion because he had something to do. This did not mean to tell Wu Xun, the civil servant present, that the emperor just listened. Did you send someone to investigate after receiving Zhang Zhou's opinion?
Besides Zhang Zhou, who else could skip the court and ask the emperor to investigate the meritorious behavior of the border army officers and soldiers?
"Gentlemen, tell me, how should I respond?"
The emperor threw the problem to the ministers present.
…
…
Among the civil servants and military officials present, there were many who had actual experience in the northwest battlefield, some who could talk on paper, and some who liked to speak out and give advice.
But when faced with such a tricky question from the emperor, no one knew how to answer it.
Duoyan Sanwei has committed a crime for the second time in a month.
The Liaodong official army claimed to have won for the first time and achieved a "great victory", and the emperor rewarded them.
The second time, Di Yi left after plundering.
If you ask the ministers how to deal with Wang Zong, Huang Yan, Jiao Yuan and others who stood still and caused Di Yi to become arrogant, they can come up with a hundred ways.
But if asked how to let Di Yi know how powerful Ming Dynasty was, they all chose to play dumb.
They were thinking too.
Your Majesty, can we not be so angry?
Are you because Wang Weining has achieved such a great victory in the northwest, and you feel that the Ming Dynasty can change the nine-sided defense into an offensive, so now you can't tolerate any slight dissatisfaction in the nine-sided war?
Just like before, if Hu Lu ran away, we could just close the door and beat the child. Why do we have to hold on to Yang Guowei's matter?
Should Wang Weining be transferred to Liaodong and let him go to Liaodong to fight?
"Your Majesty, we should severely punish the frontier generals and garrison officers in the northwest who are afraid of advancing, as a warning to others." Yang Mi, who had just been transferred to the right minister of the Ministry of War, came out to make a speech.
After Wang Yue, the left minister of the Ministry of War, became the censor of the left capital and took charge of the northwest military affairs, and was promoted to the title of Marquis of Weining, the governors of the three northwest sides now actually hold the official positions of civil servants and military officials.
The minister also knew that Wang Yue's civil service would soon be removed, but who would take the position in the trilateral or even the six-sided general system was a problem.
To be able to control the Marquis of Weining and Wang Yue...
It would be a shame to go there without two brushes.
Now in the Ministry of War Hall, Wang Zongyi was promoted from Right Minister to Left Minister. The position of Right Minister was given to Yang Mi, who had served as governor of Shaanxi and Xuanfu and had rich experience in running the army in the northwest.
But Yang Mi himself was a conservative minister, and he would not casually suggest that the emperor send troops when faced with this kind of problem.
Zhu Youtang said: "The Liaodong border generals still have to defend the border to defend against the enemy. Let's record the demerits for the time being. If I can predict the enemy in advance and attack Di Yi head-on the next time he invades the border, will it be more able to boost the power of the three armies? ?”
"Your Majesty, you must not..."
This time Tu Fu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, directly came out to oppose it.
Is this emperor crazy?
The battle at Piantou Pass was a success. Did the emperor think that he was so capable that he thought he could replicate it again?
Do you still expect to be the enemy?
Are these expectations too high?
You don't want that boy Zhang Zhou to count on his fingers again, do you?
Zhang Zhou...
Zhu Youtang looked at Tu Tong and said, "Tu Qing's family, do you have any better suggestions?"
"Your Majesty, I think that since Di Yi has retreated now, why not tighten the defenses in Liaodong to prevent Di Yi from committing another offense... If we rashly mobilize our troops and horses, and affect the whole body with one move, I am afraid it will affect the defense of other places. . The Pianguan Fortress has not yet been repaired, and I am afraid that it will be difficult to resist Di Yi’s second invasion..."
Tu Yu was prepared to warn the emperor that the next step would be to transfer Wang Yue to Liaodong and have a fight with the three guards of Duoyan with real swords and guns.
Probably the civil servants also felt that the emperor would not rashly ask Wang Yue to fight against the Huo Si tribe, or to fight the main force of the Dayan tribe.
You have to be picky about the soft persimmons. Since the three guards of Duoyan are so ignorant and attack repeatedly, if the emperor wants to achieve great achievements in military and political affairs, the best way is to take action on the three guards of Duoyan.
But this also goes against the position that civil servants hold firm to.
Zhu Youtang said: "I didn't say to mobilize troops from the side. How can I say that one move can affect the whole body?"
"this……"
Tu Yu was speechless.
Don't you, Your Majesty, want to transfer Wang Yue to Liaodong?
If you don't adjust, do you still want to have sex with Duoyan Sanwei based on other people's abilities?
It's unrealistic.
Your Majesty, you obviously have a capable minister like Wang Yue and you want to take the initiative to fight. Why don't you use Wang Yue and have to find someone else? Don't you want to find Zhang Zhou?
Zhu Youtang said: "My idea is just to set up a pocket in Liaodong. When the three guards of Duoyan dare to invade again, I will let them come and go. I don't necessarily expect them to go out in full force. They will trap as many as they come and kill as many as they come." how many."
The minister almost wanted to vomit blood after hearing this.
Your Majesty, you still said you were not drifting?
This is almost floating to the sky!
Kill as many as you come... It sounds very unreliable.
"Gentlemen, I just want to ask you if this pocket formation can be set up?" Zhu Youtang said sharply.
The ministers looked at each other, no one knew how to answer.
Li Dongyang came out and asked: "Your Majesty, I wonder how this pocket formation should be set up? Who will preside over it, and who will affect the situation in Liaodong to resist Di Yi?"
Compared with Tu Fu who came out to be a "prophet", but was actually a troublemaker, Li Dongyang's question was to the point.
Li Dongyang can see it.
This matter must be what the emperor wanted, so he asked Zhang Zhou for his suggestion.
Now that the emperor has this idea, it is actually very difficult to stop it. The only thing the civil servants should do is to ensure that the so-called pocket formation does not affect the situation on all nine sides.
Just like the meaning of sending Wang Weining to Piantou Pass...
Take precautions first. As long as you don't take the initiative to attack, wait for the three guards of Duoyan to attack on their own, and then attack them if they fall into a trap.
If he doesn't come, he won't fight.
Anyway, apart from a little trouble, Liaodong suffered no major losses.
Li Dongyang also realized that if the civil officials objected without reason, the emperor's trust in them would gradually decrease.
Although no one believed that Zhang Zhou could replicate the glory of the first battle at Pianguan.
"What I want is the support of your noble families. How to set up the pocket formation and how to fight this battle. I will not talk too much in the court to prevent the news from leaking. Who do I use and how do I make arrangements? In addition to the cabinet, The Ministry of War and the Governor's Office will fully cooperate, and the Ministry of Household Affairs will allocate enough money and food for disposal, and the rest... I also want to wait for the development of the situation."
(End of chapter)
