Faced with such an emperor who "asked Bingkuan if he had anything to do, and put off the discussion if Bingkuan didn't have anything to do", the top civil servants present were actually speechless.
But now it seems that they really can't come up with any good strategy on whether to aid the three guards of Duoyan... They can't make a final decision. Even the civil servants have some factions or not, or they are trying to deal with it in different ways. , this will make the emperor feel that... you civil servants have no independent opinion, so it is better not to cause trouble.
When the ministers came out of Qianqing Palace, the midday sun was still a bit dazzling.
Min Gui, the imperial censor of Zuodu, was very dissatisfied with the emperor's favor and trust in Zhang Zhou. Probably because he was the head of the public officials, he had to hold his head and move forward even if others did not want to take on responsibilities.
"What is this thing? Your Majesty now asks Zhang Bingkuan if you have something to do, and if you have nothing to do, you will also ask Zhang Bingkuan, but this matter in the court will be put aside without Zhang Bingkuan? Don't you know how to argue with your Majesty?"
What Min Gui said was actually exactly what these people thought.
But this seems to be the same as debating whether to send troops in the court... Slogans alone have no results, only direct remonstrances, but haven't we said enough about Zhang Bingkuan in the past six months? Which time did it work? You ask others to rebuke you, but why don't you do it?
Xie Qian smiled and said: "It is said that His Majesty relies heavily on Zhang Bingkuan, but I dare to ask, in which of the official affairs you have been doing these days has Zhang Bingkuan been involved?"
Min Gui rolled his eyes at Xie Qian.
How about saying that you, Xie Yuqiao, are good at sophistry?
If Zhang Bingkuan can really participate in all the big and small things in the DPRK, then we can really go home and farm together.
Zhou Jing smiled bitterly and said, "Isn't this a major event in the DPRK?"
In this matter, it seems that he, Zhou Jing, has quite a say. Even though Zhang Zhou is currently in the military, he communicates the most with the Ministry of Household Affairs. On the contrary, he does not have much communication with the Ministry of War, because... Zhang Zhou fought in the big In terms of strategy, there is no need to obey others. On the contrary, issues related to running the army in the northwest require money and food. Zhang Zhou was really involved in the matters Zhou Jing was doing.
Xie Qian smiled again and said, "Don't you think it's possible that you haven't figured out yet what the best result your Majesty wants when it comes to sending troops to assist the three guards of Duoyan?"
Everyone looked at each other.
Xie Qian looked at Ma Wensheng, meaning, they didn't understand, you couldn't understand, right?
Ma Wensheng said: "What Yu Qiaoke said is that what your majesty wants is for the Ming Dynasty to send troops to help and defeat the little Tatar prince in one fell swoop. Is that what you mean?"
"Yes." Xie Qian smiled and nodded.
"Ah?" Bai Ang, the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, sneered at this, "Is this possible? Yu Qiao, the important affairs of the court are not limited to words, but also actions."
Xie Qian said: "Hey, you are really right. What His Majesty wants is to be consistent in words and deeds. Not just words, but also actions. I dare to ask you, if Your Majesty really wants to send troops to support the three guards of Duoyan, Aren’t you going to send him Zhang Bingkuan? Otherwise...who will we send?"
Several people were still marching, but suddenly they fell silent.
Sophistry is sophistry, but Xie Qian's words still make sense.
At the inner court meeting just now, several people talked to each other, but they couldn't solve a big problem, that is, what they said and what they did were not the same person.
After walking for a while, Zhou Jing reminded: "Isn't there still Ma Laobu Hall?"
"hehe."
Xie Qian was smiling again.
This was to remind those present that although Ma Wensheng was old and capable, he was still too old to go to the battlefield, and even if Ma Wensheng wanted to go, the emperor would not let him go.
There are obviously more powerful people, so why let Ming Dynasty's official Minister of War go?
Seeing that he was about to say goodbye to the three cabinet members, Min Gui said with a look of shame on his face: "Mr. Official position? Let him break all the rules in the court!"
Xie Qian smiled and said: "The best thing is to let him return to the capital and lead his troops to cross Jiliao immediately. What do you think?"
Liu Jiandao: "Yu Qiao, are you just saying this casually outside the court? Let's go our separate ways! Your Majesty didn't allow us to talk about it, so just pretend you don't know about it!"
That's roughly what it means.
We still have to respect the rules of court affairs. We cannot object to the private discussions between the emperor and Zhang Zhou, but we can also violate it and hold such small circle meetings.
Furthermore, regarding the matter of Duoyan Sanwei asking for help from the Ming Dynasty, it would be better not to make it known to everyone.
For nothing else...
In order to preserve His Majesty's reputation as "the common ruler of the world" when the Ming Dynasty does not send troops, if the people or other foreign countries know about it, they will inevitably feel embarrassed.
…
…
Zhu Youtang didn't seem to worry too much about whether to make Duoyan Sanwei's request for help public. He even asked Xiao Jing to go back to Zhang Mao for advice.
"Your Majesty, it has been two days since the edict was sent to the northwest to summon Mr. Zhang back to the court. It is estimated that it will be at least half a month before Mr. Zhang returns to the court. If we really want to send troops to reinforce the three guards of Duoyan, will it be... too late? ?”
Xiao Jing still had some objections to the emperor's decision, or he felt there were minor flaws.
Since it is time to summon Zhang Zhou back to the court to discuss whether to send troops, wait until Zhang Zhou comes back... Maybe the day lilies are cold, and the fighting power of the three guards of Duoyan... will definitely be able to survive the fierce attack of Dayan Khan's hundreds of thousands of troops. Long?
"Ahem." Zhu Youtang coughed. It was obvious that he was really unwell, but it was just a cold. "I have already said in the edict that if he wants to send troops, he does not have to wait until he returns to Beijing to start from Xuanfu. It is up to him to dispatch troops and horses from , Datong, Pianguan and other places, and go directly to Xuanfu and other places. The capital is not the only way to send troops to the grassland. "
Xiao Jing quickly lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty is wise."
Zhu Youtang said: "It's not that I'm wise, it's that I know that not many troops can be mobilized around the capital. If too many troops and horses are mobilized around the capital, how can we ensure the stability of the capital? But we have to fight with more than ten or two hundred thousand Tatar soldiers at a time. The horse is fighting, and we have to mobilize troops on a large scale. In fact, in my heart, I tend to ignore it. But in front of my ministers, I cannot say that."
The emperor also made his words clear at this time.
The national policy had been decided before, and it was agreed that Zhang Zhou would prepare for war for a few years before sending troops to the grassland.
But now we have less than three months to prepare for the war, and we are about to fight a battle that may be a decisive battle... This is not because we obviously have a good set of cards in our hands, and the cards will get better and better. We have to rush out and give our opponents opportunities out of thin air. ?
"I can't let the vassal states everywhere that have hopes for the Ming Dynasty think that the Ming Dynasty will die without saving it. But in fact, it doesn't matter. Originally, the three guards of Duoyan didn't submit to the Ming Dynasty, right?"
Zhu Youtang found the most suitable reason for not sending troops.
Xiao Jing said: "Yes."
"Okay, let's go down. I actually miss Bingkuan a lot. I always want to talk to him more about the secrets of heaven and how to maintain health..." Zhu Youtang seemed to be full of excitement about Zhang Zhou's return to the capital. expect.
Xiao Jing said again: "Your Majesty, the Kong family... from Nanxi has arrived in Beijing and was detained in Fusi, Beizhen. Previously, Duke Yan Sheng had already expressed his request to the court to investigate strictly and not to hurt the hearts of the three families. It is obvious that he intends to put pressure on the imperial court. He also requested that the person be remanded to a private house first, and only soldiers could be sent to guard him... The servant dare not make a decision."
Zhu Youtang was about to leave Qianqing Palace, but when he heard this, he frowned and said, "The Kong family is quite strange. At this time, they don't add insult to injury and are still advancing and retreating in the same direction?"
In the emperor's opinion.
If he was Kong Hongtai, the emperor was obviously very angry about this, and was even sure that Kong Hongxu was responsible for setting the fire. Even if he did not sever ties with his brother, at least he would not be like now, and he would not be so stubborn as to intercede for his eldest brother, or even move out. The three families, namely Confucius, Mencius, and Yan, did not include Zeng, because the inheritance of Zeng Zi was not as clear as the other three families. By the middle of the Ming Dynasty, his inheritance and other matters were still a mystery.
As the leader of the Three Saints, Kong Hongtai used the three families to advance and retreat together to put pressure on the emperor, which was a bit ignorant.
Xiao Jing said: "Your Majesty, do you want to listen?"
Zhu Youtang shook his head and said: "The more this happens, the less likely I am to let him go easily. This does not mean that he will be tortured. At least he must give an explanation to the people of the world. Let's deal with it together after Bingkuan returns to Beijing!"
…
…
Zhang Zhou was ordered to return to the capital.
In Datong, the most common thing they do every day is to hang out. In the eyes of Wang Shouren and others, Zhang Zhou's behavior is very abnormal. It does not mean that he is engaged in research and invention or smelting iron, casting cannons and mining. It is just pure. It's a blind walk in the market.
It is not difficult at all for Zhang Zhou to go out for a walk, but it is difficult for those who want to protect Zhang Zhou's safety.
There are many people in Datong Town who know Zhang Zhou, also because many people went to greet Zhang Zhou when he entered the city.
This also makes it easy for Zhang Zhou to become the person who attracts attention wherever he goes.
When Wang Shouren knew that Zhang Zhou was going to be transferred back to the capital, he even breathed a sigh of relief... This guy was finally leaving!
On the night Zhang Zhou received the transfer order, he showed the emperor's edict to Wang Shouren. In fact, Zhang Zhou didn't need to tell Wang Shouren about Dayan Khan's sending troops to Duoyan's three guards. However, Zhang Zhou did not arrange for Xuanda's surroundings to respond. Wang Shouren Shouren also believed that the risk of sending troops to fight Dayan Khan was too great, so he did not interfere in the matter.
Now that he knew that Duoyan asked Daming for help, this still made him feel very strange.
"These tribes, they obviously worship the Khan of the Grassland as the main one, but at this time they think of asking the Ming King for help?"
Wang Shouren found it strange because these tribes had always regarded the Ming Dynasty as their enemy. Even a few months ago, the three guards of Duoyan invaded the Ming Dynasty's territory more than once. Both times, the Ming Dynasty nominally won, but the first battle has been confirmed to be False reporting of military exploits.
No matter how many years we have been at war, we can't just accept you.
You can't call your majesty if you have difficulties, and you can call him a dog thief if you have no difficulties, right?
Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Actually, I think it's pretty good. Doesn't this mean that Dayan Khan is no longer popular? He surrendered through the sieve of fire. Even the three guards of Duoyan want to surrender."
Wang Shouren shook his head and said, "Is Zhang Zhitai too optimistic?"
"It's good to be optimistic, Bo'an. When I'm on duty in the northwest, if I'm not optimistic, just the pile of bad things will almost make me collapse." Zhang Zhou took out a bunch of official documents and said, "After I leave, the imperial court has not appointed any officials for the time being. I have ordered you to declare the General System of Datong. From now on, I will hand over all local affairs in Datong to you. This is Datong affairs that I have not decided before, and I will hand them over to you."
"this……"
Wang Shouren was surprised.
Zhang Zhou doesn't seem like the kind of person who likes to leave troubles to future generations. Logically speaking, Zhang Zhou should act decisively. How could he dig holes for others?
Zhang Zhou saw Wang Shouren frowning when he picked up these official documents, and couldn't help but smile and said: "What? I'm curious about these things, why don't I deal with them in a hurry? You will know after reading them, you are not the one who makes the decision on each one What can be solved involves the cost of money and food, even the rewards for the previous battle at Weininghai, the interests of the Ming Dynasty soldiers, and the well-being of the people... Which of these items can be solved with just words?"
Wang Shouren said: "The court won't come up with countermeasures?"
"The imperial court has no money." Zhang Zhou said, "Isn't it time to collect autumn grain? This year, the disasters in various places are very serious. I even want to find someone to go to sea."
"Going to sea?"
Wang Shouren felt that Zhang Zhou did not follow the routine.
"Yes." Zhang Zhou nodded, "As far as I know, there are several crops overseas that have high yields when planted and are surprisingly resistant to natural disasters. If they can be brought back, they can be cultivated in various parts of the Ming Dynasty. The rations of the people of the Ming Dynasty will be solved. It will be greatly improved.”
After listening to it, Wang Shouren felt as if he were listening to a book from heaven.
Even if you, Zhang Bingkuan, help me realize my ideals in life and make my career advance rapidly, even if you are really good at inventions and creations, it is true that I admire your ability in running the army.
But what do you mean you're kidding me?
Let me tell you why you have left so many affairs behind. You made excuses that you have no money, and now you actually say that you want to find a crop from overseas to cultivate? How can you change the crops that have been cultivated for thousands of years in the Ming Dynasty with just a word?
"Bo'an, after I leave, I'll leave the affairs here to you. I probably won't be on duty at the Ministry of War when I go back, so if you have any trouble, just ask Qin Tai for instructions directly, or submit a report to the court for instructions."
"I have hired people to take care of the local mines in Datong. I will take Shouning Hou with me this time. If he encounters any trouble after he leaves, you will need to fight against him."
Zhang Zhou's words made Wang Shouren frown.
When Zhang Zhou started mining in Datong, he did have some conflicts with the local gentry. But with Zhang Heling, a boss who is not afraid of trouble, and engaging in some kind of weapon fighting, the local gentry instantly lost their arrogance.
Wang Shouren immediately discovered that among the official documents Zhang Zhou gave him, there was some content in which he complained about Zhang Heling's struggle with the people.
This ability to shirk responsibility...Wang Shouren is convinced.
Wang Shouren said: "How long will it take to start a mine and see results?"
"Haha." Zhang Zhou smiled, "Bo'an, you have never been to the mines. You don't know the situation there. The coal produced by the four large coal mines now is not only to meet the demand for iron smelting, but also for the rest. There is a large amount of surplus. This year, the soldiers in Datong, Xuanfu, Pianguan and other places will not have to worry about insufficient charcoal and firewood to spend the winter. Each family can distribute a few hundred kilograms of charcoal and there will be no problem at all."
"Actually, I also want to open more iron mines. Otherwise, if we produce so much coal and only use it for burning, the utilization rate will be too low."
For Wang Shouren, this is another heavenly book.
Coal is mined and burned for heating. Isn't it a maximum use?
But Zhang Zhou didn't seem to regard coal as something for the private use of the people. As for what Zhang Zhou was pursuing and what goals he wanted to achieve in the future, Wang Shouren, no matter how knowledgeable he was, couldn't understand it.
…
…
Zhang Zhou didn't explain much to Wang Shouren about how to manage administration.
In fact, Zhang Zhou didn't have much experience as an official.
He also knew very well that if his ability to govern a country in the northwest relied purely on personal operation, he might not even be as good as Wang Shouren and Wang Qiong, let alone an old man like Ma Zhongxi.
But his greatest ability lies in "creation".
Invent things that don't exist, dig out things that are buried underground... With creation, there will be wealth, and even military merit and other things that can maintain the faith of soldiers, and then use these things to drive the development of the northwest.
If he is allowed to operate according to the dependence on the sky approach of Ma Zhongxi and others, then he will surrender.
He did not deal with many things because he discovered that they were actually conflicts between the northwest frontier affairs and the government affairs.
There is a shortage of everything in the northwest, and the shortage has caused many social problems. The court cannot provide, so social problems cannot be solved... All the root causes, even local bandits who kill people and steal goods, as well as local grain resistance and other issues, are all I got up because of the lack of money and food.
He had only been in the northwest for three months and had not yet experienced an autumn harvest. Even if he had experienced it, he would not be able to bring more food. If the court did not allocate it, he would not be able to create food himself.
How to solve the dilemma?
Deploy troops to quell thieves? How to solve the problem of rations for the soldiers? Tighten your belt and go to war? Or can the drought be alleviated?
The emperor seemed to support him, but in fact, the affairs of the Ming Dynasty were more controlled by civilian officials. Zhang Zhou could not get involved in the finance of the Ming Dynasty. It would be good if he could support 10,000 or 20,000 people just by opening a few mines on his own. However, at least millions of people in the northwest border affairs depend on this for their livelihood. Even if he is allowed to start farming now, it will probably take a few years to solve the problem in the northwest.
Zhang Zhou fell into a "traveler trap".
The time traveler probably thought that he could solve everything with his own skills, but when he arrived, he discovered that there were many difficulties.
It’s not that the time traveler has assimilated the natives, but that the natives are using some social issues to assimilate him, forcing him to put down his dignity and go with the flow.
Zhang Zhou felt that fortunately he was strong-willed, capable of execution, and confident. Otherwise... it would be hard to be a powerful man in the Ming Dynasty, with all the wine, sex, wealth, and a powerful minister or nobleman enjoying a lifetime of glory and wealth. Nothing wrong with that.
It’s just that the burden of changing the times falls on others.
…
…
"Leaving tomorrow?"
When Zhang Heling heard that the imperial court had sent orders, he also ran all the way to find Zhang Zhou.
Apparently, he had had enough of staying in the northwest.
"Yes." Zhang Zhou said, "I will leave after noon tomorrow. It is not to go to a banquet with local officials and gentry, but there are some matters that have not been dealt with. If Shouning Hou is in a hurry to return to the capital, you can go ahead."
"Don't worry, let's go together." Zhang Heling probably thought that Zhang Zhou was preparing to transport the money he looted from the northwest.
Zhang Zhou nodded.
This time Zhang Heling really guessed it right.
It's just that what he brought back was not only money, but also many things that he had tinkered with after coming to the northwest, and he wanted to bring them back to the capital.
(End of chapter)
