Fengtian Hall, court meeting.
Before Wen Chen and Wu Xun arrived, they vaguely heard some rumors and learned that the siege of Ningxia seemed to have been resolved, and the root cause of everything lay in the sudden withdrawal of the Tatars.
Just like Yang Yiqing's assumptions about the current situation, the minister did not think that Wang Shouren's 6,000 soldiers and horses had done anything big on the grassland, but it was probably that the Tatars had finished looting and it was time to stop and return to the mountains. If there is anything to do with Wang Shouren, it must be that the Tatars pulled out the thorn in Wang Shouren's flesh while returning the troops.
That is to say.
The situation for Wang Shouren and his six thousand troops was not optimistic.
The meeting begins.
When Zhu Youtang came up, he asked Li Rong to come forward and read out several reports about various places in the northwest, mentioning the news about the Tatar withdrawal, and also read out the news about the three guards of Duoyan moving northward in Jizhou Town in the east.
I just had to tell the minister openly that I thought it was Wang Shouren's bravery and skill in fighting that forced the Tatars to retreat. Even the remaining members of the Duoyan Three Guards did not dare to approach the Ming border anymore.
Because Li Rong is old and has more seniority, he speaks very slowly, but his words are sonorous and powerful. He expresses clearly what Zhu Youtang wants to express with a slightly ups and downs tone... In general, the emperor He can speak loudly when he wants to focus on marking and "typing on the blackboard", while he can pass over unimportant reports in one stroke.
The old guy just had qualifications. By the time Li Rong finished speaking, even if the emperor had not said anything, all the ministers knew what the emperor meant.
Finally, Li Rong concluded: "This morning, His Majesty has issued an order to Xuanfu, Datong, Yansui, Ningxia and Gansu, etc., to send available soldiers, accompanied by sky gunpowder and long-range artillery, to attack the grassland to shake the power of the grassland. The power of the country.”
After Li Rong finished speaking, he turned around and bowed respectfully to Zhu Youtang before retreating.
This is different from Xiao Jing and others who came out to talk about something. They all respectfully left after speaking. Li Rong seemed to care more about expressing his respect and humility to the emperor, although it seemed that this performance was a bit deliberate, while Zhu Youtang didn't seem to be the kind of person who was particularly particular about etiquette. In the past, Li Rong's move would have seemed redundant.
But now that the relationship between the emperor and his ministers is a bit tense, his move showed his closeness to the emperor, and showed his estrangement from Xiao Jing and others.
"Gentlemen, do you have any opinions?"
Zhu Youtang waited for a while and found that no minister came out to object. He was not used to it, so he took the initiative to ask.
Because in Zhu Youtang's view, whenever I had any intention of dispatching troops and generals in the past, you would definitely jump out and oppose it, either using the guise of wasting people and money, or using the excuse of "creating difficulties even if there are no difficulties. In short, we cannot let your majesty do anything wrong." "As a breakthrough point, we can always find reasons to refute Northwest's initiative to use troops.
extraordinary.
After the emperor asked the question, the minister still did not object.
It's not that they don't want to object. According to the opinions of Wu Xun, the mainstream civil servant in the DPRK, Northwest can just stay on the defensive. Taking the initiative is causing trouble for itself.
The reason why they didn't come out to oppose this time was that... they felt that there was no point in opposing.
Your Majesty, haven't you decided?
Your decision was based on two or three days after the Tatars withdrew their troops. It was summarized in various places. It took another four or five days to rush to the capital. It took another four or five days for your decree to spread to all parts of the northwest, possibly as far away as four miles away. It won't be delivered in five days... Then it will take a few more days to prepare troops and horses, and then fight out...
Ten days.
It is a conservative estimate.
Let me ask your Majesty, who can shake the Tatars if they send troops to the grassland ten days after they withdrew their troops? Who can be pursued?
This so-called sending troops seems to be superfluous.
Zhu Youtang said: "It seems that all the ministers have no objections, so my will will not change. Before this, as far as I know, only Wang Qiong of Piantou Pass has sent troops to garrison in advance in accordance with my order." In the land of Donghetao, there is also Huo Si, the leader of the surrendered tribe of Mongol Jin, who has submitted a petition for instructions to use troops and horses to fight against the little Tatar prince."
The minister was a little confused when he heard this.
What?
We can understand Wang Qiong sending troops, but Huo Si is still looking for a presence at this time? Even if he didn't watch the war from the other side, he actually took the initiative to report it and said that he would stand with Ming Dynasty?
What is the purpose of the sieve of fire?
Zhou Jing, the Minister of Rites, came out and said: "Your Majesty, the words of the Di Yi leader cannot be trusted."
Zhu Youtang said: "Of course I know that Fire Sieve is not trustworthy, but since he has submitted his report, in order to express my position, I still have to fulfill his 'loyalty' intention. The current plan is to ensure that Xinjian Bo unexpectedly attacks the Tatar rear." Our men and horses can successfully withdraw to the pass, do you have any good plans for this?"
Zhou Jing looked at Ma Wensheng aside and stepped back.
The general meaning is, Mr. Ma, it’s your turn to come forward and offer suggestions.
Ma Wensheng also knew that he had to take charge of this matter, because the cabinet obviously wanted to play dumb today. He knew the character of the three old foxes in the cabinet very well. At the critical moment when no results were achieved, there seemed no need to come out and let them, the executive level, take the lead. All the leaders of the six ministries need to do is come out and express their stance.
Ma Wensheng raised the wat board, and his tone was not as steady as before, but seemed a little anxious: "Your Majesty, I believe that after Xinjian Bo's troops enter the Tatar hinterland, they may be most likely to fall into a tight siege. For this plan The purpose is to find the location of their troops and horses, and at the same time provide reinforcements, we may also send people to declare the decree to the Tatars."
rush to the rescue?
Where to go?
We don't even know where Wang Shouren's headquarters is. Your Majesty, you actually asked us what good plan we have to help him? It's a bit of a waste of time.
As for the so-called sending people to hold the knot, it means sending people to mediate with the Tatars. We all have people from all walks of life to attack the grassland. In exchange for the Ming Dynasty not attacking, you will obediently make way for Wang Shouren to lead his six thousand soldiers. Horses... Or I don’t know how many people and horses are left now, but in short, let them return to the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Youtang said coldly: "Could it be that the Ministry of War thinks that Uncle Xin Xin can't come back and has to beg Hulu to let him come back with his remaining troops?"
"I didn't mean this," Ma Wensheng denied.
What he means is that the veteran just said clearly that if Wang Shouren goes like this, he will easily fall into a tight siege. I didn't say that he will definitely fall into a tight siege. Even if he is still dealing with the Tatars, should he find the location of his troops first? ? Is it convenient for your majesty and you, your majesty, to use your talent of "seeing the light of hindsight"?
Zhu Youtang looked unhappy.
The withdrawal of the Tatar troops was originally a good thing worthy of "celebration" for him as an emperor. This meant that Wang Shouren probably achieved relatively great results on the grassland and turned a thorn into a nail. It even turned into a long sword thrust into the Tatar's belly.
But the minister never gave him face.
It sounds like Wang Shouren is about to burp, and his "fantasy" is about to be shattered.
When you are an emperor, your ministers will create worries for you every day and find trouble for you. The euphemistic name is to keep your heart strings tense at all times, so that you can focus on state affairs...
What is born from sorrow and dies from happiness?
You are not tired, I am tired.
Thinking about it this way, Bingkuan is better. He never creates any sense of crisis for me, nor creates troubles, but always helps me solve troubles.
…
…
Zhu Youtang thought so, and the scene became so frozen.
In the end, Zhu Youtang needed to take the initiative to break the deadlock. He asked Xiao Jing on the side: "Didn't Bingkuan give me a report recently? For example, when it came to the process of this battle and where Uncle Xinjian sent troops, Insights on where we need to send troops?”
This seems to be a personal matter.
But Zhu Youtang spoke very loudly, as if he deliberately wanted all the ministers present to hear.
What if I just let you know what I want in my heart?
What I say is what I care about in my heart, and it is often what Bingkuan can think of and even report to me.
Xiao Jing said: "Dong Lai has not sent any invitations in recent days."
Zhang Zhou was in Nanjing, and I didn’t know what he was thinking. Anyway, Zhang Zhou almost didn’t mention a word about the war in the north, as if the war had nothing to do with him.
Not to mention Xiao Jing, not even the civil servants Wu Xun and Zhu Youtang seemed to understand this.
Of course, there are also villains who think that Zhang Zhou wants to use this to show that this battle has nothing to do with him, to distance himself from the relationship with this battle afterwards, or even to evade responsibility.
But those who are thoughtful also know that Zhang Zhou has no choice.
"Um."
Zhu Youtang seemed to be very excited when he heard Xiao Jing's words, but in fact his expression was more of an act, "Bingkuan didn't mention it, which shows that he is very optimistic about the outcome of this battle. He estimates that it will happen in the next two days." There is good news coming."
When the minister heard this, could he still understand it so well?
Sure enough, Your Majesty, your trust in Zhang Bingkuan is extraordinary, so much so that in your heart, Zhang Bingkuan is really omnipotent in heaven and earth. This kind of blind trust... is simply going to harm the country and the people.
"In this way." Zhu Youtang added, "In the past two days, one person from the Pavilion Department, the Shangting Department, the Sixth Department, and the Governor's Mansion will each be sent to stay in the Wenhua Hall, ready to be dispatched at any time."
Liu Jian finally came out, but he raised questions. He said: "Your Majesty, I don't know why?"
Zhu Youtang said: "We must respond to changes at any time. If we have to invite people back to discuss it after learning the news, I am afraid it will not be enough. The war on the grassland has reached an urgent time, and we must be ready to dispatch whenever there are changes."
Liu Jian wanted to say that if what happens on the grassland requires His Majesty in the capital and the princes and ministers to discuss countermeasures and communicate them before implementing them, then the day lily will be cold.
In other words, Wang Shouren and his six thousand soldiers were found dead in the wilderness, with grass growing on their bodies.
"I want you all to wait with me, isn't it possible?"
The emperor's tone became a little cold.
You usually sing the opposite, but now I ask you to send one person from each yamen to wait for changes in the war together, and listen to my summons to discuss countermeasures at any time. Do you think you are aggrieved, or what?
Liu Jian understood that the emperor made this decision because of his inner anxiety and wanted more people to share the burden.
So he had nothing to object to.
…
…
The meeting ended.
According to the emperor's decree, each of the six yamen must send someone to the Wenhua Palace, and it is stipulated that they must be "Secretary Minister" or above. This probably means that I don't want to listen to the opinions of ordinary people.
When the emperor sent someone before, he deliberately mentioned the Office of Listening and Listening after the Cabinet and before the Six Ministries, probably to give the Cabinet face.
Li Rong stayed to initiate the call.
"My lords, I am too old and frail to fulfill my responsibilities. I hope you can understand His Majesty's good intentions. As for who to send, you can discuss it yourself, or you can recommend yourself."
Li Rong also looks like a good old man, and his way of speaking is very similar to that of Dai Yi, the former Chief of Ceremonies, but there is some shrewdness in his "honesty".
But in fact, his ability is still inferior to Xiao Jing. Even Li Rong himself knows this.
But if he was better than Dai Yi... Li Rong knew that he was much stronger.
As for his loyalty to the emperor, Li Rong felt that he was stronger.
Xie Qian walked over and asked with a smile: "Since there are people in the listening office and the cabinet, do we still need to send two people there?"
Li Rong smiled and said: "It's not impossible for Mr. Li Ge to represent both the cabinet department and the superior hearing department."
Zhang Mao also came over and said: "The old lady is dim-sighted and cannot bear the chores in the palace on weekdays. Today she has to stay in the palace to advise His Majesty. I will bear the trouble myself and stay in the palace in the name of the Governor's Palace."
Doesn’t your cabinet want Li Dongyang to represent both the cabinet and the listening office?
Then I, Zhang Mao, can't be suppressed by you. It's my turn to have decision-making power. Although I, Zhang Mao, are old, I still have the duty to represent the Wu Xun of the Governor's Mansion.
For someone else?
I'm just afraid that those people are incompetent.
In other words, their right to speak is too low.
Xie Qian smiled and said: "Why should the British Lord be looking for trouble? For such matters, someone who has experience in running the army in the northwest in recent years should be found to take charge. I think Cheng Guogong would be good."
Zhang Mao pouted and said, "Duke Cheng Guo has gone to Nanjing, Yu Qiao, don't you know?"
"he……"
Xie Qian couldn't help but frown.
If Zhu Fu went to Nanjing, everyone knew why.
But the emperor did not explicitly say before that Zhu Fu should return to Nanjing to replace Xu Yan and guard Nanjing... Now let the people go first. Is the emperor planning to "kill first and report later"? is it necessary? Who cares about who you appoint as the garrison in Nanjing is your Majesty's own family matter. We can't even take care of the affairs in the northwest.
Zhou Jing came over and said: "I will go to the Ministry of Household Affairs. If we talk about the Governor's Mansion, the Lord Baoguo can also do it!"
Zhou Jing knew that he was about to retire, so he didn't let the two assistant ministers take on the errands of guarding the Wenhua Palace. He just wanted to do it himself.
When Li Rong saw that several people were still arguing about who should be appointed as the representative of the Governor's Office, he smiled and said: "Everyone will discuss it on their own in the office, and there is no need to listen to other people's opinions. Everyone. I'll wait outside first. Please make your own decision." , come out and wait, so that I can lead the way to Wenhua Hall together!"
…
…
The final candidates have been decided.
Except for the Ministry of Revenue, which was sent by Shangshu Zhou Jing, the cabinet sent Li Dongyang, who also represented the Shangting Department. The rest only sent ministers, and they were all right ministers.
Zuo Shilang had to take charge of the ministry and had no time to go, and other ministers also claimed to be very busy. It seemed that only Zhou Jing, the minister in charge of money and food, was idle, and it happened that this was the time after the autumn harvest when the grain tax was put into the treasury. The department is also the busiest time.
The group and Li Rong went to Wenhua Hall.
Xie Qian and Liu Jian went back to the cabinet to check in. After they arrived, before the door closed, someone came in to deliver the brazier.
"A little early, right? The clothes are tight and the doors and windows are closed. It won't be so cold." Xie Qian said.
The guard who delivered the charcoal fire said: "This is a special order from His Majesty. There will be a lot of charcoal this year, and it can be found everywhere after the weather gets cold."
"Coal?"
Xie Qian glanced sideways at Liu Jian, as if to say, look, the "sequelae" of the emperor's reuse of Zhang Bingkuan has occurred. Various things that did not exist before have now begun to affect our daily life.
After putting down the brazier, Xie Qian couldn't just close all the doors and windows. Ventilation was needed after all.
Xie Qian said: "I went to see Wang Dehui yesterday, and he told me that he never sent a letter to his home after he left Bo'an for Liaodong. It seems that His Majesty and Zhang Bingkuan are deliberately trying to prevent him from leaning towards us. ah."
The traditional civil servants represented by Liu Jian seem to know very well how to "poach".
Wang Shouren is currently the most capable minister under Zhang Zhou. After Wang Shouren temporarily served as the governor of Datong, and then went to Liaodong to serve as the commander of Nu'er Gandu Sidu, Wang Shouren's status in the Ming army rose rapidly. Traditional civil servants naturally had to start from Wang Shouren's position. Bought from the father of a traditional civil servant.
But Wang Hua is not covered.
Wang Hua has long seen that he is not popular among the traditional factions, and his educational philosophy for his son is... Brat, just do whatever comes to your mind, don't care about what your father and I think.
So no matter how the traditional civil servant faction tried to put pressure on Lao Wang and his son, the effect was very weak.
Liu Jian closed his eyes and said, "Wang Dehui seems to be avoiding people recently, or he may have different ideas about Bo'an."
Xie Qian said: "Are we too harsh on him?"
Liu Jian shook his head and did not answer such a pointed question.
Xie Qian added: "The current situation is becoming more and more unreal. Zhang Bingkuan is in Nanjing. Even if he can predict everything on the grassland, he can deliver the message in time? How brave is Wang Bo'an? , or in other words, how did your Majesty allow Wang Bo'an to lead six thousand soldiers and horses to attack the hinterland behind Di Yi without caring about life and death?"
Liu Jian still didn't answer.
It's time to decide the outcome of the war, and the outcome may even have been decided, but the news hasn't been sent back yet, so it seems meaningless to worry about it.
"If we lose the battle." Xie Qian suddenly sighed, "I'm afraid no one in the court can bear it."
Liu Jiandao: "Zhang Bingkuan can't bear it, right?"
Xie Qian frowned and said, "Liu Zhongtang, do you think that Wang Bo'an and his six thousand soldiers just gave up like this?"
Liu Jian said seriously: "What happened thousands of miles away, Yu Qiao, what can you and I do to make even the slightest change? Your Majesty has stopped consulting us on military and political matters for a long time, and now you think that this What does it have to do with us whether we give up or not? Even if we really give up, if we can use Wang Boan's blood to make His Majesty understand the consequences of listening to one's own beliefs, repairing the situation after the sheep have been lost, and putting things right after all, it is still not known?"
As soon as the topic started, Xie Qian fell into a brief silence.
"hehe."
Xie Qian smiled bitterly and sighed, "Oh! I finally understand. This defeat is too heavy for us to bear. Even if we win, we can't bear it. Then it's better to be a bystander and watch the situation with a smile. It is for the victory of the family and the country, and defeat is for the sake of justice! In this way, bad things turn into good things, and we will be invincible after all, right!?"
(End of chapter)
