As soon as Zhang Zhou returned to the capital, Zhu Youtang took Zhang Zhou to ask around, wishing he could find out all about Zhang Zhou's whereabouts in the northwest.
Seeing that the sun was setting in the west and sunset was about to come, even Dai Yi and the others next to them were preparing to start passing the food around.
It is obvious that Zhang Zhou is likely to spend the night in the palace. A long talk is not enough, and it is very likely that he will have to have a night talk by candlelight.
"Bingkuan, if you look at the eunuchs guarding Liaodong, Zhang Yong is the one who should go there. Who do you think it would be better for the governor, the censor, and the chief military officer to go?" Zhu Youtang knew that the next plan was to visit Liaodong, and he couldn't help but wonder. The employer consulted Zhang Zhou for his opinion.
Not that he wanted to ask.
But you have to ask.
The people who had been recommended by the imperial court before were found to be unsuitable wherever they were used. Instead, they were recommended by Zhang Zhou, and each one was more powerful than the last.
I'm afraid of comparing myself to others.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "I believe that in order to employ more people, we must recommend talented people, rather than putting their background and qualifications first."
"Yeah." Zhu Youtang nodded.
"When I was in Xuan Da, I also paid more attention to local officials, and even officials from the three sides. I found that Lu Wan, the censor of Shaanxi Province, was very talented. I wanted to recommend him to supervise As a censor, he went to Liaodong to assist in local military affairs and supervision."
The people recommended by Zhang Zhou do not follow the routine.
Even Dai Yi and the others were thinking before that if Zhang Zhou wanted to use people, he would probably use people who were close to him, or people who had contact with him in Datong, Xuanfu, right?
Don’t employers look at how close the other person is to you?
Zhu Youtang was also curious: "Have you ever had contact with this Lu Wan?"
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Returning to Your Majesty, I have never had any contact with him, and I have not even passed a letter."
"Then you..." Zhu Youtang hesitated, "can you trust him?"
It means that we should use some of our own people, the best ones that we can trust. If you haven't even had contact with this kind of people and they don't listen to you after using them again, then isn't it in vain?
Zhang Zhou naturally understood what Zhu Youtang meant.
With other emperors, he would have been afraid that his subordinates would form cliques for personal gain, but now Zhu Youtang was treating him like a clique, and he was simply afraid that he would not form cliques or seek self-interest, because Emperor Hongzhi had been emperor for so many years, and he had cultivated more cronies than those in front of him. The person in charge of the ceremonial department was Li Guang, who committed suicide. Otherwise, who else could he rely on?
It was not easy for Zhang Zhou to squeeze out a world from the monolithic court of civil servants. The emperor certainly hoped that Zhang Zhou would add some more chips to this world.
Zhang Zhou said: "In terms of confidants, if I only use mediocre officials who are just asking for help, I'm afraid it will be difficult to achieve great things. Instead, some who are capable and aware of current affairs should be the first. This is what I can do at the moment. I thought of it, if there is anything wrong, I hope your Majesty will forgive me."
Recommending Lu Wan was certainly not Zhang Zhou's whim.
Given his current situation, there are a lot of capable people in the court who recommend talents. Liu Daxia and Yang Yiqing are considered powerful figures. But the key is that even if he recommends them, they will not listen to him.
When these people perform government affairs in border towns, they all stick to the rules. It is impossible for them to obey the emperor's orders directly, let alone the orders of a close minister of the emperor.
Unless they are some... officials who are both capable and know how to be "human and sophisticated", Zhang Zhou just picked out a few representative figures from history. In addition to Wang Qiong, there is also Lu Wan, a capable man who lost his reputation because of his friendship with King Ning. Sir, it is impossible to say that Lu Wan is incompetent... but it is also very biased to say that Lu Wan is a model for governing the country in the future.
But the problem is that in extraordinary times, Zhang Zhou needs such extraordinary people.
A plan was made to flatten the grassland in the next five or six years. With the current background and status of Lu Wan and others, Zhang Zhou had the matter taken care of before they completely degenerated.
How to use these people in the future depends on the mood of the emperor and Zhang Zhou.
Zhu Youtang sighed with emotion: "It's rare that you, Bingkuan, have the heart to recommend talents for me while running the army. Since you have mentioned this person, I won't let him be a supervisory censor, so I will directly promote him to the right." Censor of Qiandu, governor of Liaodong. What do you think?"
"Your Majesty, with your current official position, if you are promoted in this way, will the officials in the DPRK..."
What Zhang Zhou meant.
We can use it slowly instead of promoting people to their positions all at once.
Wang Qiong's promotion to governor was based on Ningyuan's military exploits. He directly promoted the unknown Lu Wan to such a high position as governor of Liaodong. Are you afraid that the ministers in the DPRK will not attack us enough?
Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "I believe in your vision."
No need for many words.
As long as it is someone recommended by you, Zhang Bingkuan, I will definitely use it. No matter what his ability is, there will still be a chance to verify it in the future, right?
Zhang Zhou nodded. It was hard for him to comment on the emperor's behavior.
I am also thinking in my mind, no wonder those ministers regard me as a thorn in their side. If I were one of the orthodox civil servants in the court and saw that the emperor trusted a close minister so much and recommended anyone to be governor, the emperor would not hesitate to agree. I would also Treat him as an enemy, no matter what his abilities are.
Isn’t the most important thing in official circles just “rules”? But who knows exactly what the rules are?
…
…
The sun finally sets and it becomes dark.
"Your Majesty, it's getting late, and it's time for me to leave the palace." Zhang Zhou talked with Zhu Youtang for a whole afternoon, and the time passed very quickly.
At least Zhu Youtang still has more to say.
Dai Yi smiled and said: "Mr. Zhang, you just came back, can't you spend more time with His Majesty?"
Zhu Youtang raised his hand and said: "There will be no more troops in the north this time. Bingkuan will stay in the capital for a long time in the future. There are still many opportunities for the monarch and his ministers to meet, so why rush it?"
The general meaning is that the future will have to be day and night, so why seize the day and night?
Zhang Zhou thought for a while, why did this sound so strange?
I am very capable, but you can't tie me up in the palace and chat with you when you have nothing to do, right? My ability does not lie in giving advice to others, but in my inner grasp of history and the pulse of the future era.
Having said this... none of you scumbags understand.
"Bingkuan, you haven't seen your family for a long time. It's time to go back." Zhu Youtang seemed to be very considerate of Zhang Zhou, but he did not forget to give Zhang Zhou a promotion. "I have written to you before. , I want to inform you that after you return to Beijing, you can be appointed as the Duke of Lai, so that you can control the military affairs of the Beijing camp and other places."
Zhang Zhou said: "I think it is better to stay in the court. If you really have the title of Duke, I'm afraid..."
It's not that Zhang Zhou doesn't care about the title, but with the title, the civil servants have more reasons to let him leave the current civil service system and turn him from a decision-maker to an executor who obeys orders.
In the Ming Dynasty, Wu Xun's weakness has not been fundamentally improved because of his appearance. Moreover, it seems that the emperor trusts the Duke to take over the defense of the capital, but in fact he is just like those Wu Xun who once obeyed his orders. If there is a direct conflict of interest, then he is really... his father doesn't love his mother, and he relies entirely on the emperor's support.
Zhu Youtang said: "It would be a pity not to give you a knighthood for your military merits."
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "The matter of title is just a matter of status. I can gain His Majesty's trust so that I can control military affairs and help me realize my ideal of a flat grassland. I think it is enough now."
The goals pursued by Zhang Zhou are essentially different from those of Wang Yue.
Wang Yue fought for personal fame and wealth, while Zhang Zhou fought for the ideal of a time traveler.
Of course, while fulfilling your ideal, you will also gain fame and success, and it will also bring you a comfortable life. There is no conflict between the two parties... But in Zhang Zhou's view, if he fails to achieve his great cause, it is because he is trapped by a title. It just makes no sense at all.
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "Even if I give you the title of Duke, and you stay in the court as a civil servant, it is not impossible. Since ancient times, even in the period of Taizu and Taizong, there were many people who were generals or prime ministers."
Zhang Zhou said: "But Your Majesty, with the current situation in the court, can you accommodate a minister who is both civil and military?"
"this……"
Zhu Youtang also hesitated.
If Wu Xun was a general or a prime minister before the Tumu Fortress was replaced, it would be too sparse and ordinary. Which one, Zhu Yuanzhang or Zhu Di, did not conquer the country on horseback? If he doesn't believe Wu Xun, who can he believe? Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang is obviously not so generous when it comes to employing people, but Zhu Di does a better job in this regard.
But after Tumubao, Ming Dynasty's Wu Xun really changed from the central decision-making level to the vassal of civil servants.
After that, all the policies of the Ming Dynasty came from the civil servants. While Wu Xun accompanied them, even those who had a little bit of brilliance would be curbed by the civil servants. Until the end of the Ming Dynasty, it was difficult to make fundamental improvements.
"I still need to explain this matter clearly to those ministers, and I will still keep your position as Duke of the Kingdom for you." Zhu Youtang said.
Zhu Youtang did not force himself on this matter.
Also, Zhu Youtang also knew that if Zhang Zhou was ranked as a Duke, he would be attacked more. From his perspective as an emperor, Zhang Zhou's promotion to the Duke depended on military merit and ability.
But those civil servants and Confucian scholars below were unreasonable. They felt that Zhang Zhou's promotion was all based on his close relationship with the emperor.
"But you must take the positions of Bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, Minister of Taichang Temple, Left Minister of the Ministry of War, and Left Governor of the Rear Army Governor's Palace." Zhu Youtang said again with a smile.
The bachelor's degree appointment was agreed upon before.
But the last three items... Zhang Zhou suddenly felt that even if he was not the Duke of Lai, he would still be regarded as a thorn in the side of the civil servants in the court.
But it’s true that people are capable and easily jealous wherever they go.
Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, the position of Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of War...are you really..."
He wanted to remind me, if you really want to give me the position of Zuo Shilang, how will you arrange it for the current Zuo Shilang Wang Zongyi?
"Bingkuan, you don't have to worry about this." Zhu Youtang said, "What I can say is that I will let you have the position of minister before next year, but some things still need time."
Zhu Youtang wanted to reuse Zhang Zhou, but at the same time he knew that he still had to be controlled by those civil servants on core issues.
If you were directly given the title of Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of War, you would be easily nagged by the ministers of the court and central government. If you were directly promoted to minister... the government and the public would be very lively.
This shows the dilemma of being an emperor. While wanting to break the ice in the situation where civil servants are in power, at the same time, he is afraid that the ice will melt too quickly and cause water to flood him... He must not only prevent, but also use, This is where the emperor is helpless.
In this regard, Zhang Zhou felt that Zhu Youtang was relatively calm and restrained.
Instead of ignoring it, he directly asked the Duke of Yi Lai and the Minister of War to challenge the civil servants.
Of course, Zhang Zhou also knows that this is related to the short time he has risen. It has only been a year... and he has already reached his current status.
If in a few years, the emperor would probably not even bother to discuss it with his ministers when he wanted to use him, and those ministers might become more... accustomed to it.
…
…
When Zhang Zhou left the palace, he was sent off by Wei Bin.
Wei Bin held a lantern in front, followed by the escorting Jinwu Guards and Jinyi Guards. The scene was quite grand.
Wei Bin accompanied Zhang Zhou this time because he took the initiative to invite him. Obviously he wanted to reconcile Liaodong's interests with Zhang Zhou.
Obviously the emperor also knew about the system in the northwest, and most of them had unknown connections with Wei Bin. This move actually gave Wei Bin an opportunity to "show allegiance" to Zhang Zhou. In the past, I had to use you, relying on you in the frontier army. The system cultivates some "own people", but you people are so incompetent that you actually resorted to cheating in Liaodong?
Now that a group of people have been replaced, it is better not to cause trouble. It is best to cooperate and let the Liaodong military and political system complete the transition.
Wei Bin asked: "Mr. Zhang, I wonder if you have any recommendations for a good candidate for the Liaodong Commander-in-Chief Military Officer?"
The emperor had also asked this question before, but Zhang Zhou did not answer directly. What he probably meant was...the emperor still had to decide personally on the use of martial arts. As for who should be used and who should not be used...I, even Zhu Feng and the Zhang brothers, did this. You can bring all the straw bags to the right path, why are you afraid that the people you use are incompetent?
The point is not how to use troops, but how to make decisions, and whether he listens to His Majesty, in other words, whether he listens to me.
Zhang Zhou said: "I wonder what Eunuch Wei thinks about this?"
"No...dare not." Of course Wei Bin couldn't help but recognize the situation.
Zhang Zhou sighed: "Actually, there is nothing wrong with the current situation in Liaodong. It's just that the little Tatar prince raided the three guards of Duoyan, which made the situation in Liaodong of the Ming Dynasty suddenly tense. In addition, the relationship between North Korea and the Jianzhou Jurchens is also about to start. Liaodong is also related to the future national destiny of the Ming Dynasty..."
"How?" Wei Bin looked puzzled.
Zhang Zhou shook his head: "I can't say clearly, but probably, the powerful enemy of the Ming Dynasty in the future may be in Liaodong."
"oh."
Wei Bin seemed thoughtful.
As the leader behind the group of people who run Liaodong, Wei Bin still understands the situation in Liaodong... Compared with the situation in other places on the Nine Borders, Liaodong's geographical location is too complicated because there are many vassal states there, and some The relationship between the tribe and Ming Dynasty is also very complicated.
The more complex the place, the easier it is for things to go wrong. Wei Bin probably understood that Zhang Zhou also wanted to simplify the complex situation in Liaodong.
Seeing the palace gate, Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "If Eunuch Wei has any ideas, just tell me. There is nothing to avoid."
Since Wei Bin's power in Liaodong is deeply rooted, even if the guarding eunuchs, governors and general military officers are all replaced by his people, if he wants to stabilize the situation in Liaodong and everything goes according to Zhang Zhou's expectations, then it will be impossible. Wei Bin's cooperation is needed.
This is officialdom.
You can't kill him with a stick.
Wei Bin smiled and said: "How dare our family interfere with your decision? You can use anyone. Our family is willing to help Mr. Zhang, and we hope that Mr. Zhang will give you more advice in the future."
This is a simple drink.
But Zhang Zhou could also see that Wei Bin was actually reluctant. After all, Liaodong's huge interests and military and political system could almost be decided by the governor's Yamen alone, and almost all the military dispatching and farmland management below were unnecessary. It is not easy to directly communicate with the six ministries of the DPRK and Central Government. This kind of power... it is not easy to directly let him go.
If you can't think about it, then think about it slowly. Zhang Zhou is not going to Liaodong in person anyway, so there is still room for negotiation and changes in everything.
…
…
"Your Majesty, Mr. Zhang has returned to his residence. Tomorrow morning...should he go to court?" Xiao Jing did not go to see Zhang Zhou off in person, which seemed a pity.
Now the Director of Ceremonies has also seen that if they want to have a stable position, they must have a good relationship with Zhang Zhou.
The cabinet ministers in the court, the six ministers, and the censor of Zuodu are very stable, but they, the ceremonial supervisor, are likely to undergo a blood change. Dai Yi has been reprimanded by the emperor recently because he is old and dim. Whoever will be the next to take the throne will also have to Everyone depends on their ability.
Xiao Jing originally thought that he was the best candidate, but because the emperor wanted to balance the relationship between Wei Bin and Zhang Zhou, the power in Liaodong was given to Zhang Zhou, and Wei Bin would probably be compensated a little.
Zhu Youtang said: "He has traveled all the way back to Beijing. When he returns home, why should he reunite with his wife, children and children? He will not have to go to court tomorrow."
Xiao Jing hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, I didn't tell Mr. Zhang before, do you still need to send someone to inform him?"
"Yeah." Zhu Youtang nodded.
I was too happy to talk about it before and didn't pay attention to the morning meeting tomorrow.
Now the emperor will have a little headache... When Zhang Zhou came back, he agreed to give Zhang Zhou the left minister of the Ministry of War, but now the left minister of the Ministry of War is not vacant. How to arrange Wang Zongyi and gain the support of the ministers in the court? It depends on his ability as an emperor.
"Your Majesty, the prince's side..."
Xiao Jing reminded again.
This means that the prince is still in a state of confinement. Although he is not locked in a small dark room all the time, he is not even allowed to leave the East Palace door, and he does not even come to see the emperor and empress.
Zhu Youtang said: "His birthday is coming soon, so I will let him go first. In addition, Bingkuan should take care of the things around him first, and then go back to teach the prince!"
"yes."
Xiao Jing did this mostly because he was fighting for the prince, and also to leave a good impression in front of the prince.
"Bingkuan has returned to the court. Should the marriage between him and the daughter of the Lin family that was previously given be completed?" Zhu Youtang suddenly thought of this.
"Yes." Xiao Jing said.
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "It just so happens that it's time to hold a happy event. When he gets married, I'm going to attend in person. With him here, not only will all the border generals surrender, but even the civil servants in the DPRK... there will also be people of high moral standing and respect. It can be used by me."
Xiao Jing was thinking.
Aren’t all the civil and military officials of this dynasty your Majesty’s ministers? Why do you say this?
Zhu Youtang said: "A few years ago, the position of the Minister of the DPRK should be adjusted. There has been no change in the past two years. The DPRK is like a pool of stagnant water, and living water should be introduced."
(End of chapter)
