As Zhang Zhou arrived in Shenyang and led his troops to Crow Falcon Pass, the Ming Dynasty deployed four groups of troops in Liaodong to attack the Jurchens.
The Jurchen tribe was greatly shocked. Tribes that had originally wanted to resist stubbornly either abandoned the city and surrendered, or moved north. For a while, the Ming Dynasty's reputation in Liaodong reached its strongest point. Even the Jianzhou women who had repeatedly violated the Ming border during the Chenghua period Zhenya has stopped and is making a death struggle.
When the news spread back to the capital, the government and the public were greatly shocked.
This morning.
Before the ministers could enter the meeting, they started a heated debate in front of the Meridian Gate, all related to Zhang Zhou's use of troops in Liaodong.
"No wonder he hasn't appeared in front of people for several months, and his love has gone to Liaodong? Why did he want to fight against the Jurchens? Could it be that he thinks that the Jurchens are more troublesome than the Tatars?"
"Maybe he just wants to pinch the soft persimmon?"
"I don't think so. I heard that he just went to Liaodong recently. He seemed to have been ordered to go to Yongping Prefecture to mine. It is said that the iron ore mines have now opened!"
"What does Zhang Bingkuan want to do?"
…
A bunch of people were talking about it.
The three cabinet members remained silent. For them, the past few months could be said to be the most comfortable months they had lived since the winter of the eleventh year of Hongzhi.
Without Zhang Zhou in the government, and not even in the northwest, he could just open up the mines there... Even if Liaodong is sending troops now, the scale is much smaller than that in the northwest. In addition, the emperor did not ask for advice, making Zhang Zhou's intervention in the Ming Dynasty center almost useless. …
So from their point of view, they wished that Zhang Zhou would settle down in Liaodong and never return!
"Three pavilion elders." Xu Qiong, the Minister of Rites, walked over with a tired look on his face and cupped his hands.
"You're welcome." Xie Qian smiled and went over to greet him.
In the past, the three cabinet ministers were somewhat unfavorable to Xu Qiong, but because Xu Qiong was in very poor health recently and Xu Qiong had resigned several times, the emperor had ordered the people in the court to discuss Xu Qiong's replacement.
Once Xu Qiong was about to retire, he would no longer be an enemy of the orthodox civil service forces. Xie Qian was more polite than respectful.
A good political opponent is a political opponent who loses the threat.
Xu Qiong said: "Your Majesty intends to plow the court in Liaodong. He was hidden from the court officials before, but now the matter has been made public. Your Majesty also specially ordered that there be little discussion among the people in the court. We must wait for the results first."
"Haha." Xie Qian said with a smile, "Looking at this, there will be a lot of discussion in the court."
They are all talking. The emperor told you not to let us talk. The three of us won't talk, but we can't stop the people below from talking.
Xu Qiong sighed and said, "I'm just telling you what to say."
Xie Qian continued to smile and seemed to be deeply disapproving.
But it was Li Dongyang who spoke: "Xu Butang, when using troops in Liaodong, the most important thing is to be honest. As the saying goes, it is difficult to do justice without attacking the enemy. The Ming Dynasty wants to stabilize the people in northern Liaoning for a long time. This precedent will only alienate the aliens. It goes against Confucian etiquette."
This is equivalent to Li Dongyang turning around and firing at Xu Qiong.
When using troops against the Jurchens, you must be honest and honest, and they will not attack you. After all, the Ming Dynasty is the supreme state of the Celestial Empire. Going directly to attack your own small vassal country will only endanger everyone... No one will be willing to join the Ming Dynasty in the future.
Xu Qiong smiled and waved her hands and said: "There are some things that should be said and should not be said. I have no way of explaining them. If you really have any questions, you must ask your Majesty...I will not interfere."
Just tell the three of you that I am just a sounding board. If you don’t like to accept the emperor’s advice and insist on going to question the emperor, then just pretend that I didn’t say anything?
The emperor doesn’t think that I, Mr. Xu, can shut up the mouths of you people, right?
But since the emperor has said that, in the name of using troops, or for the reason of being Wei Guangzheng, we, the Ministry of Rites, cannot say anything casually. The three of you in the cabinet are left to decide.
…
…
The court meeting started anyway.
In the Fengtian Hall, the ministers of the DPRK and the Central Government were all holding back their energy. In fact, even they themselves did not know where this energy came from.
Going to attack Zhang Zhou... Zhang Zhou is just a little brother who used cannons to bombard Liaodong this time. It is equivalent to using the Jurchens to train his troops. If he wants to attack Zhang Zhou, he really has to "find another way" like Li Dongyang and start from the moral high ground. To attack Zhang Zhou's behavior of "looking for trouble".
"Dear gentlemen, I have just learned that Bingkuan has arrived in Shenyang and has personally led his troops into Jianzhou and Haixi." Zhu Youtang did not wait for the group of people to fire, but brought up the topic himself. .
There is no need to hide it. He calls Bingkuan what he should call Bingkuan. His attitude towards Zhang Zhou is different from others. It is like telling what he is doing without any taboo.
Seeing no one to answer.
He continued: "What Bingkuan means is that the land of Western Liao is a hidden danger to the stability of the Ming Dynasty. Sooner or later it will become a sharp knife hanging over the imperial court. It is better to kill it before it develops."
Everyone was still silent.
At this time, Lin Han, the left minister of the Ministry of Personnel, came out, raised the wat board with both hands and said: "Your Majesty, this will only cause the Jurchen tribes and the small tribes in eastern Mongolia to alienate from the imperial court."
Ouch?
No one present understood.
Although you, Lao Lin, are from an orthodox civil service background, you are just an old scholar with a teaching background. When did you start to take the lead on such a controversial issue?
And from what you say...are you standing with us?
Liu Jian and others couldn't help but take a look at Lin Han. They seemed to have noticed some clues.
At this time, Lin Han suddenly "stepped forward". There was probably a feeling that Lin Han would take the lead in the future. This was related to the recent news that Xu Qiong was about to retire, so there was a trace to follow for Lin Han to take over as the Minister of Rites.
Zhu Youtang was not annoyed and said in a calm tone: "The same reason why I agreed to send troops to Duoyan Sanwei in Liaodong is the same as before. If Ming Dynasty must be constrained by virtue in everything it does, then Ming Dynasty will be constrained in taking the initiative to use troops. In my opinion, whether people's hearts are virtuous does not depend on the education of rituals and music, but on how hard the fists are... Don't blame me for speaking too directly. This has always been the case in the affairs of the Ming Dynasty. The provocateurs are all foreigners. On the contrary, every time the Ming Dynasty If you take the initiative to send troops, you can gain prestige and naturalization, and the power of the army can shake the grasslands and wilderness."
The ministers present heard it.
The emperor is taking the example of two generations of emperors who took the initiative to use troops on the grasslands and border areas in the early years of the Ming Dynasty.
When the Ming Dynasty took the initiative to send troops, even if there was no big gain sometimes, those small tribes from other countries were respectful to the Ming Dynasty.
After Xuande, the Ming Dynasty began to incorporate various tribes with benevolence, righteousness, and ethics. Those tribes nominally submitted, and then began to develop independently, and they raided borders when they had the opportunity. However, the military prestige established by the Ming Dynasty after Tumu Fortress was almost gone. .
Many tribes regarded the Ming Dynasty as a paper tiger and did not raid the border areas simply because the time had not come yet. Once their strength increased, they would first use the Ming Dynasty's border areas as targets.
Jianzhou Jurchen is a living example.
Now, taking advantage of the fact that I crippled you during the Chenghua period and you have not fully recovered, I will give you another beating. This is the best education.
Li Dongyang came out and said: "Your Majesty, I wonder to what extent we will use troops in Liaodong? How will Liaodong be governed in the future?"
The big problem is how to enjoy the fight and how to maintain long-term peace after the fight.
Zhu Youtang said: "Change the soil and return to Liu."
Fresh noun.
Even Xiao Jing could understand it, and the ministers present were not fools. They instantly understood what medicine the emperor and Zhang Zhou were selling.
Li Dongyang further reminded: "Your Majesty, the Jurchen tribes such as Jianzhou and Haixi have always been barbaric and brave. Most of the tribes even make a living by hunting and plundering and do not engage in production. For such a tribe, to govern by replacing officials will probably cause trouble. The local turmoil is contrary to the Ming Dynasty’s policy of long-term peace and stability in Liaodong and Northern Liaoning.”
Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "Li Qing's family, what you said makes some sense."
The ministers present felt puzzled when they heard this.
what's going on?
It seemed that the emperor and Li Dongyang were still having discussions.
It's not just Lin Han who plays a double role with the emperor in love, but you, Li Binzhi, right?
"However." Zhu Youtang changed the subject, "We cannot just let it develop just because it is difficult to change. No matter how dangerous the landscape is, there should be the existence of kingly ethics and ethics, and we cannot allow barbarism to breed. In this battle, After that, no matter what the outcome is, I will send people to govern the border people, and prepare to set up another capital division in Jianzhou and Haixi, etc., and let the newly appointed governor go to govern."
Li Dongyang asked: "I wonder who he is?"
At this point, people who are thoughtful have actually seen it.
Li Dongyang is not following the emperor's words, but "setting a trap" for the emperor. Li Dongyang is so aggressive that he has to remind the emperor... Let's just leave Zhang Bingkuan there and let him govern those Jurchens. In the end, Don't come back within three or two years, so that his influence on the court will be minimized.
Didn't it mean that those Jurchens were most afraid of him?
If he doesn't go, who has the qualifications?
Zhu Youtang said: "Uncle Xin Xin, Wang Shouren!"
"ah?"
The ministers present were in an uproar.
Many people are even looking at Hanlin Academy officials, especially Wang Hua. As Wang Shouren's father, Wang Hua suddenly became the target of public criticism.
Li Dongyang didn't know how to object this time, or... he was not qualified enough to object.
So he glanced over at Liu Jian, who came out and asked, "Your Majesty, why is this Uncle Xin Xin?"
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "Uncle Xinjian has been using troops in Jianzhou for two months, and he has achieved outstanding results. He can eradicate the Jurchen cottages in the mountains one by one. The Jurchen border people have moved inward and the effect of their recruitment is also very good. Moreover, he has given the imperial court In the memorial, he proposed the method of Baojia Lianzuo supervision and the method of rural education, transforming hunters into herders or farming, setting up schools to enroll Jurchen children to receive education, allowing them to take the imperial examination and become officials, and change the Jurchens to be aggressive. The ruthless wind.”
What?
The ministers present were confused.
Is Wang Shouren stupid or naive? Are you actually thinking about using ethics to influence the Jurchens?
However, some people also heard that the so-called rural education may be just a foil, and more importantly, Baojia and Sitting together.
Whatever you Jurchens are told to do, you have to do it. If anyone still wants to fight bravely, then let a group of people solve it together. This is fundamentally taking advantage of people's bad nature, restraining and reporting each other, in order to achieve the purpose of killing people. the goal of.
"After I have read Uncle Xin Xin's memorial, I think that his understanding is appropriate and it is actually a good strategy." Zhu Youtang showed admiration for Wang Shouren in his eyes, "At his age, he can have such insights. If I don't If I leave the security here to him and leave it to others, how can I rest assured?"
Liu Jian didn't know how to answer. He just said with a dark face: "Your Majesty, please think twice."
Zhu Youtang sighed: "I have been thinking about it for a long time, more than thinking twice. If Uncle Xin Xin's proposal can be implemented, then in the next one or two years, the education of ritual and music can be penetrated into the border areas of Liaodong. It is really a blessing for Confucianism. , the great fortune of the country."
The ministers present were a little unable to listen anymore.
Even if Wang Shouren was naive, why did the emperor follow him?
and……
Was this really done by Wang Shouren? Are you sure Zhang Bingkuan isn't the one scheming behind the scenes?
"Okay." Zhu Youtang said, "The dispatch of troops to clean up is already in progress. Everything is going smoothly. Let's wait until there are some results before we discuss it. After the meeting, members of the Shangting Division came to Qianqing Palace. , I still have something to discuss with you."
…
…
As the emperor said, the war in Liaodong against the Jurchens has not yet ended, and it seems too early to say anything now.
It is impossible to directly stop sending troops.
After the court meeting, several members of the Shangting Department, Li Dongyang, Zhang Mao, and Ma Wensheng, were called to the Qianqing Palace. In addition, there was also the newly appointed eunuch Xiao Jing...
This was also the first time that the emperor summoned foreign ministers to the inner court to discuss matters after Zhang Zhou left the capital. It was still in the name of Shangtingchu, which shows that Shangtingchu had a tendency to replace the cabinet.
"Here is the statement and summary of the battle report. It has everything that should be included up to four or five days ago. You can take a look first."
Zhu Youtang had a top-secret battle report in Liaodong, which involved the progress of various people. This time he gave it to these people to let them know the general process first.
It’s better not to watch.
At first glance, I realized that the progress was actually smoother than expected, but it was not yet time to decide the outcome. It seemed as if this battle was going to take a long time.
"Actually, when Tang Yin and the Korean troops sent troops to Duobi City, even I felt that it was a bit of a fuss." Zhu Youtang sighed, "Later, Tang Yin and the Korean troops were trapped in Duobi City, and the Jurchens, especially the Hai The Western Jurchens have sent troops to besiege the city one after another, and I even feel that Bingkuan should speed up the process of this battle."
"But as Xin Xinbo led his troops into the land of Jianzhou, and later Lu Wan and others sent troops, the situation stabilized, especially along the way to the north, Lu Wan, there was a lot of harvest, and many tribes surrendered."
"By the time Bingkuan personally arrived at Crow Falcon Pass, the situation had become clear. Many tribes had secretly expressed their intention to submit to the court and were willing to accept the Ming Dynasty's new resettlement method."
Li Dongyang and the others heard it immediately.
This is not what the Jurchens want, but because the Jurchens feel that... they are not capable of fighting the Ming Dynasty, so they can only conserve their strength first, otherwise they will have to accept the outcome of destruction.
"What I want to discuss with you now is not the resettlement situation of the Jurchens in Jianzhou and Haixi. After all, they still need to be cleared and integrated. It also requires long-term planning and management by Bingkuan, Xinjianbo and others."
Zhu Youtang's tone became solemn and he said, "What I want to discuss with you is about North Korea."
"His Majesty?"
Ma Wensheng was the first to be surprised.
He never thought that the emperor and Zhang Zhou were drunkards and had no intention of drinking.
Is this going to send troops to attack North Korea?
Zhu Youtang said in a cold tone: "Since the current leader of Korea came to power, he seems to be respectful to the Ming Dynasty, but in fact there have been many internal crises. Especially two years ago, they experienced a scholarly disaster and internal massacres. Seriously, the foundation of Confucian ethics has been damaged."
"Your Majesty." Li Dongyang said in a very calm tone, "Even so, North Korea has treated the Ming Dynasty like a minister since the founding of the country. It would be inappropriate to use this to attack."
"Haha." Zhu Youtang couldn't help but smile, "Have I said that I will attack them? Or as the Li Qing family said in the court, the name is not justified, isn't it?"
Li Dongyang frowned when he heard this.
Your Majesty, you still know that this requires a teacher to be famous?
Zhu Youtang said: "After listening to Bingkuan's opinion, I think Tang Yin performed well in this battle. Although the results were not abundant, in a strategic sense, he contained the enemy, especially he achieved the first advantage, so as to The multi-walled city was captured at a small price and became the nail that drove the Jurchens inside."
Li Dongyang asked: "Your Majesty, how does this have anything to do with North Korea?"
"How can there be no connection?" Zhu Youtang asked, "Aren't most of the men under his command North Korean soldiers?"
Even though Li Dongyang felt that he was very flexible and resourceful, he couldn't keep up with his ideas.
The key is...
He didn't know the future history, nor did he know the future fate of Yanshan Lord Li. In his opinion, Li was the leader of North Korea and had been recognized by the Ming Dynasty. He didn't think about it from the perspective of the following criminals.
It would be much more difficult to split North Korea than it would be if the Ming Dynasty sent troops to attack, right?
Why should North Korea listen to Ming Dynasty?
Zhu Youtang said: "North Korea promised to send 20,000 troops this time, but so far, it has only sent 5,000 troops, and there is no supply of food and grass, which almost makes the consequences of strategic mistakes unpredictable. In this battle, North Korea's Ping An Road Pu Yuanzong, the Jiedushi envoy, was credited with bringing order to the chaos when his commander-in-chief wanted to withdraw his troops. Therefore, I intend to prepare for Tang Yin, Pu Yuanzong and others to personally lead these 5,000 troops after this battle to go back and ask the North Korean leader why. treachery!?"
treachery?
Li Dongyang thought about the term for a while, and then said: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid that North Korea will soon gather the remaining troops after learning that our Ming Dynasty's military strength is strong. The matter of questioning... will not be easy."
Zhu Youtang said coldly: "When we needed to send troops, we didn't send troops. When we didn't need to send troops, we thought about adding icing on the cake? I don't agree."
Li Dongyang almost wanted to say, so what if you don't agree?
Zhang Mao was a martial artist and he heard some clues. He asked: "Your Majesty wants to use Pu Yuanzong to carry out... usurpation?"
"Ahem." Zhu Youtang coughed twice.
Although he didn't say anything, it seemed to be acquiescence.
Ma Wensheng said: "Your Majesty, let's not mess with the chances of this happening. Even if it happens, it will cause disputes between the two countries. Not to mention, if it fails, I'm afraid it will be even more..."
Zhu Youtang said: "The best thing to do is to support a small country leader, make him a vassal, and dismantle his troops. When the Ming Dynasty sends troops to the grassland, he must send troops to assist. If not... then use the order of my Ming Dynasty envoy. , in exchange for being justified in sending troops to North Korea!"
(End of chapter)
