In the palace of the Minister of War in Nanjing.
Zhang Zhou and Zhu Houzhao were on the left and right respectively, receiving Xu Er and Shi Zan. At the same time, Yang Peng and Liu Jin and others were sitting next to them.
"I learned that Duke Lai was about to leave for the north. I had nothing to give him, so I specially prepared some small gifts." Xu Ren said with a smile and glanced at Zhu Houzhao. "It is also used as a daily arrangement for the prince and Duke Lai when they go north."
Zhu Houzhao smiled and said, "Are you so polite?"
Zhang Zhou said: "No need."
Zhu Houzhao said hurriedly: "No, sir, you are not in short supply, but students are still in short supply. Speaking of which, my journey south cost too much, and I can't make ends meet until now. Liu Jin, right?"
"Yes, yes." Liu Jin couldn't help but feel ashamed.
Is this considered the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty openly asking for bribes from his ministers? If the emperor finds out...
Xu Yan hesitated and wanted to say something, but he seemed to be unable to speak in front of Zhu Houzhao.
Even Zhu Houzhao couldn't stand it anymore and asked: "Wei Guogong, if you have anything to say, just ask directly. If I can't answer you, Mr. Zhang will answer you. When we leave, there is no such shop in this village." .”
Xu Yan then said: "Mr. Lai Guo, I wonder who will take over the post of Nanjing Counselor of Military Affairs after you go north?"
Shi Zan and Yang Peng, who were next to them, also looked over with eager eyes. Obviously, the position of the Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing was the highest among the six ministers in Nanjing. It was related to the military and political power structure in Nanjing. Even the Duke of Dongchang wanted to be in his position. When he was in Nanjing, he cultivated someone close to him to be the minister in order to obtain more political resources.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "These matters should be discussed by the court, so you can ask me directly, okay?"
Yang Peng said: "Master Zhang, who do you think is more suitable?"
Don’t ask who it is, just ask who you like, so we can go and do some activities in advance.
Zhang Zhou seemed to be murmuring to himself and said with emotion: "The position of Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing has always been transferred to the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Nanjing. This is in line with the arrangements of the court. Am I right?"
"It seems so." Xu Ru said.
The Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Nanjing was changed to the Minister of the Ministry of War. Before Zhang Zhou, Zhang Yue and Ni Yue did this twice. If we say that Hou Zan, the Minister of the Ministry of War of the South before Zhang Yue, was changed by the Minister of the Ministry of Industry of the South... it can be said that The Six Books of Nanjing are actually very involute, with just a group of people coordinating each other.
Zhang Zhou said: "The current Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Nanjing seems to be Qin Minyue, the former right minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs?"
Yang Peng smiled and said: "Exactly, Qin Shangshu was transferred from the capital last year to the south. You should know Lai Guogong, right?"
"No." Zhang Zhou said, "Qin Shangshu was transferred south in August last year. At that time, I was just a new scholar. I was still dealing with military affairs in the northwest. I didn't have the opportunity to have much friendship with the ministers and ministers in the court."
Zhang Zhou was really right about this.
He really has no friendship with Qin Minyue. It is not necessarily true that Qin Minyue is from the traditional faction. Otherwise, he would not have been directly transferred from the position of Right Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs to Nanjing. Normally, he would have been a Left Minister, and then he would have been a Minister of the Six Northern Bureaus. Seat change.
But who made Zhang Zhou soar to the sky later, and even the traditional civil servant faction formed an involution?
The main reason is that the emperor wants to give up some of the positions of ministers to Zhang Zhou's people, such as Lin Han, who was previously Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Personnel and was promoted to minister of rites... To allocate some positions, what traditional civil servants can occupy There are even fewer positions. For a marginal figure like Qin Minyue, it is a great honor to give him the opportunity to be the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Nanjing.
If you want to ask the ministers of the DPRK whether they want to be the Zuo Shilang of the Northern Liubu or the Minister of the Nanjing Liubu... then of course he is the Zuo Shilang of the Northern Liubu.
This is roughly equivalent to the fact that the Northern Liubu Shangshu is greater than the Northern Liubu Zuoshilang, and then the Nanjing Liubu Shangshu, and then the Northern Liubu Shangshu is the right minister. To see whether a person has a chance to be promoted to the Northern Liubu Shangshu, it depends on whether he is the Northern Liubu left minister. Just transfer to Nanjing.
Of course this rule is not always true, but it works most of the time.
Xu Yan asked: "You don't have much friendship with Qin Butang. Does that mean that he...has other errands?"
"Haha." Before Zhang Zhou could answer, Zhu Houzhao's face lit up with joy. For Zhu Houzhao, this was the first time he had been exposed to such a "profound" topic. It actually involved the appointment and dismissal of ministers in the DPRK, and it was still so high-sounding. Open discussion here?
Zhang Zhou said: "The prince's smile makes me feel that you have your own opinions?"
"Hehehehe..." Zhu Houzhao smiled and said, "Forgive me, sir, I just think it's funny. The Minister of Qin in Nanjing's Ministry of Civil Affairs is not on good terms with you, so Wei Guogong asked him if he had other arrangements, which meant that he was not qualified to be the Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing. ?”
"Ah? Prince, that's not what I meant." A ten-year-old naughty kid heard the implication in his words and Xu Yan quickly denied it.
Zhu Houzhao said: "You dare to say it but you dare not admit it? Do you think this prince heard it wrong?"
"without……"
This made Xu Yan very embarrassed. He could neither say that the prince had poor understanding, nor could he admit that what the prince said was what he meant.
He couldn't help but feel that there were some things he shouldn't ask, especially in front of the Ming Dynasty's crown prince.
Zhang Zhou said: "This question of Wei Guogong is indeed a bit inappropriate. The imperial court's deployment of Qin Shangshu naturally depends on where there is need. We are all screws. Wherever there is need, we will support him."
Zhu Houzhao asked with wide eyes: "What are screws?"
Zhang Zhou explained: "It's similar to mortise and tenon."
Zhu Houzhao muttered: "It's all mortise and tenon joints, where do you need to insert them? The article is wrong."
Xu Yan and others understood a little bit. Zhang Zhou didn't want to say who his successor would be, but he unexpectedly expressed that Qin Minyue, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, would probably not be transferred to the position of Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing and counselor of military affairs in accordance with the rules.
Shi Zan asked: "Who will occupy the position of Nanjing garrison in the future?"
Xu Chu said hurriedly: "Uncle Huairou, your question is inappropriate."
Even if you ask the Minister of War in Nanjing, you even want to ask the garrison ministers. And the job you asked about is still with me, Mr. Xu. You just want to ask if there is someone to replace me, right?
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "I can answer this. Isn't Duke Cheng Guo already on the way to Nanjing?"
"ah?"
Zhang Zhou's answer was so direct that Xu Yan was a little overwhelmed.
It's over.
The Nanjing garrison job was just gone. Zhang Bingkuan said it directly in front of my subordinates. It probably meant that I was very unappreciated by the emperor and Zhang Bingkuan for being so decisive even when he replaced me.
"Your Majesty has another important role for Wei Guogong." Zhang Zhou added, "If the Ming Dynasty completes the shipbuilding and Jinghai project in the future, Wei Guogong will be in charge of the affairs of the Left Army Governor's Office, supervise military affairs, and coordinate with the imperial court to handle it."
Xu Yan's waist was already a little slumped, but after hearing this, his waist suddenly straightened up slightly.
The rule of the Nanjing garrison ministers was to control the Nanjing Central Army Governor's Mansion, which was changed to the Left Army Governor's Mansion. Although it was downgraded by one level, it still remained in Nanjing. In other words, it did not need to be transferred back to the capital for military use, and it was still the feudal lord. Official.
Shi Zan was confused when he heard this, and asked in confusion: "Jinghai?"
From what Shi Zan heard, was it possible to fight with these eight poles? Is Jinghai an important priority for Ming Dynasty?
If it is just to retain Xu Er's status as a "frontier official", letting him go to Jinghai is a bit deceptive. If you give him an admiral to oversee the military affairs of Guangdong and Guangxi, it seems to be much better than being in charge of Jinghai, or it may be better to transfer him to Jinghai. Returning to the capital for discussion.
Zhang Zhou asked, "Has Tang Yin been in the city these past two days?"
Yang Peng said: "Tang Zhongcheng has been traveling around Nanjing a lot recently. He even went to Suzhou. He has raised no less than 200,000 taels of silver for shipbuilding. In addition, he also has a large number of manpower and material resources, which have begun to be dispatched to the coast of Zhejiang. .”
"Two hundred thousand taels, a lot." Shi Zan sighed with emotion.
Zhang Zhou wanted to say that many people donated the 200,000 taels for Zhang Zhou's sake, and it was also an investment. After the ship was successfully built and went to sea, part of what was gained had to be distributed to them. .
Zhang Zhou said: "The Nanjing Zuojun Dudufu, under the jurisdiction of various coastal guards, will also recruit 17,000 infantrymen to be responsible for shipbuilding along the coasts of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The shipyards on the Bohai Sea in the north have actually been opened. The money and food raised by the imperial court will also Getting them in place one after another is the most important thing for His Majesty in the coming period."
Shi Zan asked: "Your Majesty attaches great importance to it, I wonder... who can defeat it?"
This is also a topic Xu Yan is concerned about.
They always say that I should be responsible for Jinghai, but the problem is that the problems of pirates and Japanese pirates on the southeast coast from the Ming Dynasty to the Hongzhi period are not problems at all. They are major social problems that gradually formed during the Jiajing period. You can let me go now. , I have absolutely no idea what to do.
Zhang Zhou said: "What your Majesty wants is the issue of who should be pacified? Have you never thought about why your Majesty asked me to coordinate this matter? Do you know that when I went south to Nanjing, I also had an important errand, which was to find someone as an alchemist. A panacea?”
"Cough cough cough..."
Xu Yan couldn't breathe smoothly and coughed violently.
Nothing beats the big gasp.
Zhang Bingkuan, Zhang Bingkuan, in our eyes, you are an example of a capable minister in the Ming Dynasty, but why do you insist on returning to the side of the sycophant? If you didn't tell us, we would all have forgotten that you started your career by using alchemy to calculate heavenly secrets.
Yang Peng said with a look of surprise: "So, Lord Lai Guo, do you know where such items can be found?"
"Not necessarily, but we always have to look for it. Otherwise, why would I go south?" Zhang Zhou replied with a smile.
Shi Zan said: "If it is an illusive fairy grass that can lead to immortality, but we have to spend a lot of time repairing ships and sending troops to sea, will it be..."
What I haven't finished is that you, Lord Lai Guo, are not afraid of incurring infamy from the people in the world?
Zhang Zhou thought to himself, do you really think there is some kind of fairy grass? I just found a cover to prepare for going to sea to find the New World, bringing back its minerals, primary industrial products, and food crops, and conquering the New World.
Xu Er smiled and said: "Since it is your Majesty's heart's wish, I am still willing to work hard for it."
At this moment, Xu Yan smiled as soon as he understood his previous displeasure, as if he had found his goal in life again.
This can only be said that Xu Yan's expectations for his future errands were actually not high.
Sooner or later, the emperor would return the position of Nanjing garrison to the Chengguo family. Historically, when Xu Xu resigned from the post of Nanjing garrison in the 13th year of Hongzhi, he was asked to guard the Xiaoling Mausoleum. This shows that he also knew the benefits of being a feudal official. And once the honorable minister returns to the capital, it will be like an eagle with its claws removed, and there will be no place to fly at all.
Now Zhang Zhou has said that staying in Nanjing and working hard to help the emperor find fairy grass is much more meaningful than guarding the Lingling Tomb.
If someone told him to find some fairy grass, he would definitely think it was nonsense.
But if what Zhang Zhou said... given Zhang Zhou's previous attainments in the heretical ways, maybe it's true? The point is, the emperor believes this is true. Can ordinary people gain the emperor's trust and take charge of such an important errand?
Who dares to say that he, Xu Yan, was ignored by the emperor?
…
…
After the meeting.
A big question in the minds of the Nanjing military has been partially explained, that is, it is certain that Duke Cheng will come back to replace Duke Wei to defend Nanjing, and Xu Yan has also found a way to realize his "life value."
Who the Nanjing Minister of War is is still unresolved for the time being, but everyone can imagine that the new Nanjing Minister of War must be closely related to Zhang Zhou.
After Xu Yan and the others left, Zhu Houzhao also ran back to play. Zhang Zhou prepared some gadgets for him to give him something to rely on on his way back to Beijing.
Yang Peng reported the details of the investigation into Ning Fan to Zhang Zhou.
"...Not only King Zhongling, but also many clans of Ning Fan seem to have evil intentions. It is said that in the past few decades, a lot of iron tools have been transported to Nanchang City, and their whereabouts are unknown in the end. These iron tools may have been stolen. He forged weapons privately."
"There are also people from Ning Fan who have been purchasing saltpeter and other products in Nanjing. There are even people who want to get the formula of the mighty gunpowder. I heard that in the north, some of the craftsmen from the Ministry of Industry brought out by you have been bribed by Ning Fan. Or part of the formula has been leaked."
Yang Peng didn't know if he didn't check. He was shocked when he checked.
Zhang Zhou listened with a smile and didn't seem to find this unusual.
In fact, the rebellion of King Ning has been planned since the first generation of King Ning in history. When the following generations of King Ning succeeded to the throne, they were warned that one day they would avenge the seizure of military power and breach of trust. .
King Ning's rebellion was definitely not something Zhu Chenhao's generation could accomplish.
Of course, King Ning's bodyguards were cut off, and they could not train in public. They could only forge weapons first, in order to accumulate wealth and reserve strategic resources.
It was precisely because of Ning Fan's wealth that Zhu Chenhao was able to bribe more local gentry during the Zhengde period, and even used this to win over the scholars. At that time, Tang Yin was attracted by the generous rewards and recruited him.
In fact, Zhu Chenhao's ambition to rebel was never too well hidden, because all the emperors of the Ming Dynasty knew that Ning Fan was dissatisfied with the court, otherwise why would he accept his right to protect him?
Moreover, even a scholar like Tang Yin who was not familiar with the world was able to detect Zhu Chenhao's conspiracy before he rebelled. There were also people related to King Ning who reported his rebellion in advance. This also shows that... Zhu Chenhao during the Zhengde period was almost He was going against the imperial court under the guise of openness.
Zhang Zhou said: "Before I came, Your Majesty had something to say. If any sects with bad intentions are discovered, they can be captured on the spot and escorted to Nanjing to await trial."
Yang Peng said in surprise: "Only the Zongren Mansion is qualified to review the affairs of the vassal vassal. If you... do this, I'm afraid it will arouse public anger."
Zhang Zhou sighed: "Who told me that I was born to be hated by others? Besides, King Zhongling secretly forged weapons, has it been implemented, right? Dongchang was ordered to take people, is there any problem?"
"But I'm afraid that Ning Fan's head... he won't agree."
Yang Peng was worried.
Can Ning Fan’s parents, the current Ning Prince Zhu Chenhao, agree to take away King Zhongling directly from Nanchang?
No matter how awesome our Dongchang team is, we can only deal with ordinary courtiers, but when we encounter these powerful figures in the sect, we will be powerless.
Zhang Zhou said: "Not long after King Ning succeeded to the throne, even if he knew that King Zhongling was under investigation, he would only think that it was His Majesty's beating on him. How dare he still mess around? There is no need to worry about alarming the snake, anyway, Nanchang We still need to investigate, if we can find out that Ning Fan is forging weapons as a whole, we will arrest every one of them without mercy."
"You are really..." Yang Peng couldn't help but sigh after hearing this, "You are fearless."
This sounds pretty good.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Otherwise, how can I be called sharing your Majesty's worries? I also follow rules when doing things. I can't meddle in things without evidence. But once I get caught, I won't let them feel easy."
"Yes, yes." Yang Peng felt worried for Zhang Zhou.
There is no one except Zhang Zhou who dares to go against the Ming dynasty.
No matter how awesome Li Guang was before, would he dare to do anything wrong to Zong Fan?
Could it be said that this alchemist with a Confucian background is more courageous than others?
…
…
Ningxia Town.
Yang Yiqing has been waiting for the report of his dismissal and investigation for many days, so that he has no intention to deal with official duties.
Zhu Feng seemed not to care about anything.
The Ming Dynasty sent troops from various places to reinforce the northward march, but Ningxia remained stationary. Even Qin Hong sent people to urge them, but Yang Yiqing refused on the grounds that Ningxia had suffered a lot of damage and needed to find out and fill in the gaps.
It just highlights a personality.
I couldn't beat him during the beating, but after the beating, I didn't want to take the blame and make meritorious deeds. Anyway, it was like this. It didn't matter whether I was born at the wrong time or I was "unkind". What else could I do?
The emperor's expectations for the northwest are completely beyond the scope of what ordinary ministers can bear, and there is a general military officer like Zhu Zhijie who is only famous but not good at all. It's strange that I can get a good result.
But it was this day that the imperial edict was finally delivered, and to Yang Yiqing's surprise... he was retained in his post.
and……
Also received a commendation.
Also being commended was Commander-in-Chief Zhu Feng. In the edict, the emperor praised the "loyalty" and "competence" of this civil and military pair.
"Yang Zhongcheng, we have all failed, why does your Majesty want to reward us?" Zhu Feng asked Yang Yiqing in front of Yang Yiqing, which made Yang Yiqing feel that this was a fool.
Yang Yiqing said: "Marquis Anbian, now that the grassland has won a great victory, your majesty can be forgiven for letting us go. From the overall strategy, we have held back the main force of the little Tatar prince, which can be regarded as laying the foundation for the overall victory."
When Yang Yiqing said this from his own mouth, he himself didn't believe it.
can only say……
For the sake of face and military morale, the emperor didn't care to argue with them.
(End of chapter)
