Zhu Youtang successfully solved the problem of "taking in concubines".
It's just that it seems to be calm in front of the eyes. What is lurking behind it is not easy for even Zhang Zhou to judge.
Because this incident had such a great impact on history, Zhang Zhou did not dare to say that he must have done the right thing.
If a direct descendant is born by a concubine, he will definitely be stronger than a side branch?
Before Zhang Zhou came out of the palace, Xiao Jing greeted him: "Sir, Xu Shangshu from the Ministry of Rites said he wanted to invite you over. He probably has something important to discuss."
"Just right."
Zhang Zhou nodded.
He had mentioned to Zhu Youtang before that he wanted to find the ministers of the DPRK to leak the pregnancy of the concubine outside the palace, so that the ministers could be prepared in advance.
At that time, both Zhang Zhou and Zhu Youtang were thinking of Xu Qiong. After all, this person came to power through in-law relations... As for the close relationship between Xu Qiong and the Zhang family, this was not a big problem. It was because the emperor felt that The in-law relationship is more with the royal family, and Xu Qiong will also know how to assess the situation on such issues.
…
…
Ministry of Rites.
When Zhang Zhou arrived, Shen Lu came out to greet him. After walking for a while outside, Xu Qiong came out to welcome him.
Not seeing any other officials from the Ministry of Rites, it was obvious that Xu Qiong also deliberately wanted to avoid others to discuss matters with Zhang Zhou.
"Mr. Lai Guo." Xu Qiong slightly cupped her hands.
As the Minister of Rites, he was indeed arrogant towards Zhang Zhou, and Xu Qiong did not want to damage her face too much.
Zhang Zhou returned the courtesy with his hand raised, which was regarded as a courtesy to his peers: "I have met Xu Butang."
Entering the back office, the three of them sat down.
After the tea was served, Xu Qiong immediately asked people to close the doors.
"Does Duke Lai Guo know about His Majesty's recent visits and departures from the palace?" Xu Qiong asked.
Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Xu Butang is too polite. Just call me Bingkuan. In fact, I also have related things to talk about. Your Majesty is encountering difficulties now and needs someone to help."
Xu Qiong and Shen Lu looked at each other, and their eyes revealed a kind of helplessness that "it turned out that they were both tricked."
When looking for Zhang Zhou to talk about the emperor's concubine, even if they were ordered by Empress Zhang and Mrs. Chang Guo, they would always find it difficult to talk about it.
This is the emperor's family affair.
Unless ministers obtain it from the Holy Will, they cannot get involved casually.
Shen Lu smiled and said, "It doesn't matter what Duke Lai says."
Zhang Zhou said: "That's right. I went down to see the Queen today and talked to her about some things involving His Majesty's concubine."
"Ah?" Shen Lu said in shock, "You... have you talked to the Queen?"
"Yes, I went there on the emperor's order. The queen was very happy with your majesty's decision to adopt a concubine, and she even offered to take her into the palace so that your majesty could give birth to more heirs and stabilize the Ming Dynasty. .By the way, this little nobleman is pregnant outside the palace."
Zhang Zhou chatted as usual and talked about things.
Xu Qiong and Shen Lu were so shocked that they stood up directly.
This made Zhang Zhou embarrassed to continue sitting upright, so he stood up and asked: "You two, is there anything wrong?"
Xu Qiong tried her best to calm down and asked: "Your Majesty...is there going to be a new heir?"
"Yes." Zhang Zhou nodded.
Xu Qiong asked: "Has someone... entered the palace?"
"I haven't entered the palace." Zhang Zhou's answer was very formal, and his tone did not change. "The queen only agreed to take the girl into the palace as a concubine, but she actually wanted this noble lady to give birth to a child outside the palace before entering the palace. The door is also to avoid gossip."
Xu Qiong glanced at Shen Lu. It was obvious that he did not understand the emperor and queen's arrangement.
Shen Lu continued to ask: "Since he is the emperor's heir, is there any reason to be born outside the palace?"
Zhang Zhou shrugged and said, "This is the result of an agreement between Your Majesty and the Queen. Even if I try to persuade you, it will be in vain. However, from my point of view, even if a person has not entered the palace and has not gained status, he should not hide him." , you should be honest with others when you need to know, otherwise some things will not end well."
"Yes, yes." Shen Lu nodded hurriedly.
Xu Qiong frowned and looked at Shen Lu, her eyes a little strange, as if asking, whose side are you on?
Of course Shen Lu was on the emperor's side.
What about relatives of the Zhang family... No matter how close the relationship is, the interests of the emperor must come first. After all, it was the emperor who gave them their current status, not the relatives of the Zhang family.
When the emperor accepts a concubine and the concubine has a dragon heir, the status of the Zhang family will be further reduced.
Now that there is Zhang Zhou, the influence of the Zhang family in the court has been greatly reduced.
"Bingkuan." Xu Qiong suddenly became polite and asked smoothly, "Where do you live outside the palace? Does Your Majesty have proper... accommodation? You should know the inside story, right?"
Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Why should I ask more questions about such matters?"
Xu Qiong said: "If the imperial concubine gives birth to the child outside the palace, if it's a princess, it doesn't matter. If it's a prince... Bingkuan, can you understand what I mean?"
A new level of riddle playing.
Zhang Zhou wanted to say, what did you say, and I have to understand what you mean?
"If Xu Butang is saying that this dragon heir is outside the palace and there is some dispute over his identity and status, then that should be what your majesty is worried about, not what the queen is worried about, right?" Zhang Zhou said.
Shen Lu was beside him and didn't seem to understand for a moment.
Xu Qiong listened very thoroughly, and said: "I am worried about this, but it is indeed a good thing that Your Majesty has a dragon heir. I have some innocuous matters to discuss with you, so I won't mention it."
Zhang Zhou smiled.
You two old foxes came to me for nothing. Aren't you entrusted by the Jin family to come to me to discuss dealing with women outside the emperor's palace?
Now that we know that the emperor and the empress have already settled this matter, do you think this is a trivial matter?
"Yes." Zhang Zhou said, "I'll think about it, how to leak this matter, and what kind of news will be made in the court next. I don't need to remind you, right?"
Xu Qiong didn't need to answer this time. Shen Lu on the side smiled and said: "Please report the matter of accepting a concubine. I can personally propose it."
Xu Qiong glanced at Shen Lu again, seeming to blame Shen Lu for agreeing to the matter too early.
To others, everything is fine. We are both entrusted by Mrs. Changguo, and we still have a nepotistic relationship with relatives of the Zhang family. Do you have any position?
Can't you find someone else to propose it?
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Yes, this is also what the Queen means. After all, the Queen does not want to leave a jealous impression on others. The Queen has always persuaded His Majesty to have more concubines for the sake of the continuation of the Ming Dynasty. His Majesty often thinks that this Don't rush things, the Queen is really the hope of the future of the Ming Dynasty."
Xu Qiong couldn't help but frown when he heard this.
Zhang Zhou actually said that the queen was the hope of the Ming Dynasty? What was this kid thinking?
What about deliberately saying something sarcastic?
"Then I have nothing to say. Bingkuan, you haven't been to the Ministry of Etiquette yet. Why don't I take you around..."
"No, no, no, I will definitely come again when I have the opportunity."
"please."
"please."
…
…
Zhang Zhou left the Ministry of Rites.
Xu Qiong and Shen Lu saw each other off in person. When they arrived, Xu Qiong's attitude towards Zhang Zhou was somewhat calm and indifferent, but when they left, Xu Qiong suddenly became extremely enthusiastic towards Zhang Zhou.
After the others left, the two returned to the inner office.
Xu Qiong said: "Zhang Bingkuan has ulterior motives."
"Ah?" Shen Lu didn't understand and asked, "What...what do you mean by this? Does this matter...have anything to do with him?"
In Shen Lu's opinion, the emperor found a woman outside the palace and discussed with the queen about bringing the concubine into the palace. How does this have anything to do with Zhang Zhou?
Why do you, Lao Xu, say that Zhang Zhou has ulterior motives?
Xu Qiong said coldly: "You and I should both know your Majesty's temperament. If Your Majesty wanted to have a concubine, he would have done so in the past few years. Why wait for Zhang Bingkuan to appear?"
"This...it can't be said that Zhang Bingkuan is causing trouble behind his back, right? The Queen and the Zhang family also rely heavily on him, so he won't dig a hole for himself, right?" Shen Lu seems to be a good old man.
It seems that Shen Lu has no idea that officialdom is dangerous.
It is also because Shen Lu's background does not match his status. Most of the time, Shen Lu plays the role of an old slippery man in the court, shuttling between love and law, and helping others with matters more than doing things for the court.
But Shen Lu has not offended anyone, and others will not deliberately antagonize him. This is because of his special status, and there are many joints that he has to break through.
Xu Qiong said: "Didn't you listen to what he said? His Majesty himself couldn't talk to the queen about the concubine, so he had to do it on his behalf. Then the queen proposed that the concubine could only enter the palace after giving birth outside the palace?"
"Is there anything wrong with this?" Shen Lu couldn't speak smoothly.
Xu Qiong sighed: "If an emperor's heir was born outside the palace and had no one to rely on, wouldn't he be under the control of Zhang Bingkuan at that time?"
"ah?"
Even though Shen Lu felt that his political thinking was first-rate, he didn't think about it at all.
But Xu Qiong is a discerning person.
At first glance, it is clear that Zhang Zhou seems to be helping Queen Zhang to make the children born outside the palace have a low status and cannot be compared with the legitimate princes. But in fact, this is also a method used by Zhang Zhou to control the children outside the palace.
Shen Lu understood something immediately and asked eagerly: "Old Xu, you mean that now this mother and son... No, this girl is under Zhang Bingkuan's control, so he is not in a hurry to let her into the palace now. , but also to control it and let him gradually rely on it. He is stepping on two boats. What is he... trying to do? "
Xu Qiong asked: "When did Zhang Zhou step on the Zhang family's boat?"
"..." Shen Lu hesitated for a moment, then asked, "No? Shouning Marquis and Jianchang Bo now regard him as their right-hand man, and the Zhang family now also relies on him..."
At this point, Shen Lu also became speechless.
Because he also noticed something was wrong.
Xu Qiong said: "Although the second son of the Zhang family has made a name for himself in various towns in Jiubian, he has stayed away from the court. Now the queen can only serve you and me when she wants to employ people, and she even doesn't hesitate to listen to Zhang Bingkuan's advice. Don't you think Zhang Bingkuan is someone else?" Purposeful?"
Shen Lu seemed to be apprehensive, shuddered, shook his head and said, "It would be best if the Zhang family were not in the capital. If they were, if something like this happened, it would probably turn the world upside down."
Shen Lu knew the temperaments of the Zhang brothers.
If it were in the past without Zhang Zhou, if the emperor really found a woman outside the palace, Empress Zhang would definitely find a way to murder her through her two brothers, or at least prevent her children from being saved.
The Zhang brothers could ignore it, but Shen Lu couldn't.
Xu Qiong said: "Who knows if all this was planned by Zhang Bingkuan? It doesn't matter if one of the two sons of the Zhang family went to war, but now they are both away, but at this time they are having trouble with their relatives. Do you know who this woman is? What is her background?”
"How... how do you know this?" Shen Lu smiled bitterly.
They were clearly asked to go out and say that the emperor wanted to have a concubine.
But they didn't even know the identity and origin of this woman. It could be said that even the two insiders were kept in the dark.
Xu Qiong said helplessly: "Because of this, it is more likely that this matter was planned by Zhang Bingkuan alone. In this way, you go to see Mrs. Changguo and inform the matter. If you want the queen to look back, you only have one day's chance." .As for other things...just let it go!"
The only obligation Xu Qiong can fulfill now is to inform Jin about the matter.
At least let Mr. Jin understand that your daughter has a love rival.
Even if your daughter is deceived by Zhang Bingkuan, you, an old lady, have rich life experience and have never even met Zhang Bingkuan. You will not be fooled by Zhang Bingkuan's sweet words, right?
"Then...I'll go right away..." Shen Lu handed over his hands and hurriedly left.
…
…
Yanwutang's government office in Beijing.
When Zhang Zhou arrived at the place, he immediately sent someone to call Tang Yin, who was inspecting and maintaining the artillery in the Beijing camp.
"Why me?"
When Tang Yin knew that he was going to be sent as an envoy to Liaodong to investigate the military exploits and fighter planes of the Huangshui Battle, he was extremely resistant.
Perhaps it was due to Tang Yin's lazy temperament that Tang Yin didn't want to go out and run around, and the trip to the northwest was too much for him.
And no matter how you look at it, Liaodong's job is also a thankless and hard job.
Zhang Zhou said: "Bohu, who do you think is more suitable if I don't let you go?"
"Isn't there still a chance to win?" Tang Yin dared to say.
"Haha." Zhang Zhou responded with a mocking smile.
Tang Yin seemed to understand instantly.
It was also a hard job, so why did Zhang Zhou work on his brother-in-law and let him, an "outsider", go?
The two said they were junior brothers, but it was because he had to become Zhang Zhou's disciple after he lost a bet. Could Zhang Zhou be doing this out of good intentions? If there is a chance to torment him, I will definitely arrange things for him!
Tang Yin seemed to understand that he couldn't run away this time.
Zhang Zhoudao: "Li Zhan is mostly responsible for industrial and mining matters. After all, he is a member of the Ministry of Industry. But you are different... This time you go to Liaodong, I have an important errand for you... You will cooperate with the people from all over Liaodong. People and horses, let’s fight again.”
"What?"
Tang Yin was just overwhelmed with excitement before, but this time he could hardly stand still.
There must be a limit to tossing people, Mr. Zhang!
I advise you to be kind.
Tang Yin said: "Didn't the three guards of Duoyan retreat to the west? If we send out troops again, they won't leave from Liaodong, right?"
"Oh, it has nothing to do with the grassland." Zhang Zhou picked up a booklet on the desk and read it. He didn't know when he put it there. He hadn't been to his office in Yanwu Hall for many days. The place is just one of his many office offices, and he really can't take care of it. "It's Jianzhou Wei."
"this……"
"What's the use of a bull's-eye to kill a chicken? Originally, I wanted Zhu Zhijie to go with you, but after thinking about it again, I felt that Zhu Zhijie was too emotional recently, and I was afraid that he wouldn't be able to fight a tough battle. This time I want to clean up the Jianzhou Guard. In fact, it’s not much trouble. I just need to cooperate with the memorial sent by the king of Korea and ask the Ming Dynasty to teach me a lesson and stop the expansion of Jianzhou Guard!”
"North Korea?"
Tang Yin found that his head was indeed not full of energy.
"Bohu, do you think it is too cold for Liaodong to fight now?" Zhang Zhou asked.
Tang Yin wanted to say, you already know, but you still ask?
Zhang Zhou said: "In war, you have to take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness. It just so happens that I have a batch of military supplies here. By the way, I will ask people from the Beijing Camp to go with you to Liaodong and deliver them there. We have agreed that the Liaodong defense line will be the top priority in the future. Naturally, we have to hold on tight."
Tang Yin asked: "What does Minister Zhang mean that I... won't come back in the future?"
"You can come back after finishing your errands." Zhang Zhou said.
Tang Yin suddenly thought of a terrible thing and asked, "Will North Korea cooperate with Ming Dynasty in sending troops?"
"Maybe." Zhang Zhou smiled, "Are you looking forward to your mission to North Korea?"
In Tang Yin's heart, ten thousand Cao Nima passed by.
He was shouting loudly in his heart, Zhang Bingkuan, are you a lunatic? You actually asked me to go on a mission to North Korea in the dead of winter? Is this something humans do? And it is very likely that we have to pass through the area controlled by Jianzhou Guard... Let me represent the Ming Dynasty to negotiate with North Korea to jointly send troops to attack Jianzhou Guard... This is simply more uncomfortable than killing me!
Zhang Zhou saw Tang Yin's uncertain face and said slightly disappointed: "A man should take responsibility and don't think about retreating if anything happens. In addition to a batch of military supplies, I also plan to add another hundred heavy artillery to the Liaodong, cooperate with this battle."
Tang Yin continued to be speechless.
Zhang Zhou said: "The officers and soldiers of Liaodong are all looking forward to military glory. This time you can go over and reward the three armies. After gaining reputation, won't you have a chance next time the governor of Liaodong changes again?"
Tang Yin asked: "Can you change it to someone else?"
"No." Tang Yin asked directly, and Zhang Zhou answered even more simply, "You have to go to this matter, but you can choose your retinue, but this matter is related to confidentiality, including credentials, etc., it must be done after you arrive in North Korea. , can only be presented when you meet the king of Korea."
Tang Yin swallowed: "Do you still have the credentials?"
Can that be called a letter of credence?
That should be called a reminder.
Was he still alive after being discovered by people from the Jianzhou Guard?
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Bohu, what kind of benevolence, justice, propriety, wisdom and trust do you think you have? What do I like about you? Let you join the sect? Do you have any responsibility?"
Tang Yin sounded awkward.
You were obviously scolding me and scolding me, why did you say it with a smile?
And when you said it, you were so upright and did not shy away from it. Just because you are a senior brother, you can teach me this? We both got Jinshi in the same year, okay?
"I'll leave tomorrow. Before I leave, I'll ask you to have an interview. Your Majesty will personally arrange errands for you."
Zhang Zhou said, "This battle is not for the sake of fame, but for the proper outcome. In the future, if the Ming Dynasty wants to annex those disobedient foreign nations, there will be no need to make any excuses. Just like the Tatars, they never asked for any reason before they invaded the Ming Dynasty. , just like robbing the people, this time it’s our Ming Dynasty’s turn to be merciless.”
(End of chapter)
