Ning Tong reported to Zhang Zhou in detail what she had been doing recently.
Zhu Feng glanced over from the side from time to time. When he heard Ning Tong talking about a person's condition, he asked, "Which noble person in the palace is it?"
"It's Princess Li." Ning Tong said.
Concubine Li, also known as Concubine Zhang Li of Xianzong, did not give birth to a son for Xianzong, but gave birth to Princess Deqing. Princess Deqing was a famous "virtuous princess" in the Ming Dynasty. She married a Confucian scholar in the ninth year of Hongzhi. Lin Yue, "...the (princess) princess also had virtuous conduct, and served her as a civil servant. Yue died in the 13th year of Zhengde, and the lord died in the 31st year after being a widow."
Historically, Concubine Zhang Li died of illness in the first month of the fourteenth year of Hongzhi and was buried in February. For this reason, Zhu Youtang even stayed away from court for one day to express her condolences.
"Can the disease... be cured?" Zhu Feng asked from the side.
Ning Tong had a puzzled look on her face: "The condition of Princess Li is unstable. She occasionally feels severe pain in her body, and the medicine is ineffective. She is always suffering but misses the late emperor. It is not easy to cure."
Zhu Feng said: "Then we should ask Brother Zhang to treat his illness."
"There is no way." Zhang Zhou said, "I can't cure every disease. Besides, it is inconvenient for me to treat the female relatives in the palace."
Zhu Feng asked curiously: "Why is it so convenient for people from Tai Hospital to go to the hospital for diagnosis?"
Zhang Zhou wanted to say, do you really think that I am curing a disease, just for a simple inspection? I have many ways to treat diseases... Besides, I am not a doctor, so how do I know how to treat so many diseases? Don't think I know everything, okay?
Ning Tong said: "In the past few days, the eldest princess of Deqing came to the palace to pay a visit. She also proposed to His Majesty that she would like to take Concubine Zhang Li to live outside the palace."
Zhang Zhou shook his head and said: "This is not something you, a doctor, should be concerned about. Besides, how can it be so convenient for a married princess? Didn't your Majesty let anyone from the Imperial Hospital go?"
"I've looked...but there's nothing I can do." Ning Tong seemed eager to prove herself.
If Zhang Lifei's illness could be cured, she would have enough confidence to challenge the people at Tai Hospital.
Zhang Zhou said: "It depends on people. Don't force yourself. Don't use your competitive spirit to treat diseases. Leave the medical records behind. After I read them, I will send them to you later."
"Yes." Ning Tong respectfully put something in her hand in front of Zhang Zhou, saluted and then left.
…
…
Wait until Ning Tong leaves.
Zhu Feng looked at Ning Tong's back and said, "She... seems to be different from before."
Zhang Zhou said: "Do you regret it? Do you want to marry him back?"
Zhu Feng's face turned red and she said, "Brother Zhang, stop making fun of me."
This look made Zhang Zhou feel strange. Zhu Feng could actually blush? Or is it because of a woman?
"Brother Zhang, please help her more. She has just started working for the palace. If you don't help her, she will be helpless in the palace." Zhu Feng said, "I wanted to help her before, but she didn't need it. , Besides...I really don’t have much ability to help her."
Zhang Zhou said: "I have some illnesses. I have to do my best according to fate. I will do my best."
Zhu Feng sat down and said with emotion: "I still envy you, Brother Zhang. No matter what you do, you can achieve results and win the respect of others. Even a proud and arrogant woman like Tong'er can finally be with you, Brother Zhang." I can be sincere in front of others, but I can't. Even my father often says that I don't look like a man."
Zhang Zhou glanced at him.
I thought, maybe I have pushed Zhu Feng a little too hard recently, and now I am starting to feel sorry for myself.
Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty wants to fight again in the northwest after the beginning of spring. He will gather 50,000 to 60,000 troops from all over the nine sides and send troops. Will you go?"
"Don't go..."
Zhu Feng answered simply, "Then... you won't let me go, right?"
Zhang Zhou said: "Forget it if you don't want to go. This war is more to demonstrate the national prestige of the Ming Dynasty, not to achieve any results. Therefore, the generals who have made meritorious deeds on the grassland in the past will basically not use them, but will use some imperial weapons." Among the old honors."
Zhu Feng asked in confusion: "What do you mean?"
Zhang Zhou shook his head and said: "You should study more about the imperial court. Don't you think that in the past two years, you, Bo'an and I have led the troops and made great achievements on the battlefield, overwhelming the old ministers in the imperial court?" Are you out of breath? Your Majesty wants to give them a chance to lead troops into the grassland, in order to show how much His Majesty values his old ministers. Of course, you may be an exception."
Zhu Feng seemed to understand something, nodded and said: "Yes, my father is Duke Cheng, so I can be considered an old hero, right?"
Zhang Zhou glanced at him and said angrily: "Just you? I don't know how many old heroes are waiting to see your joke. You really want to fight for your reputation."
Zhu Feng said: "Then who will lead the troops?"
Zhang Zhou said: "Even if the old heroes lead troops into the grassland, they must know artillery and new tactics. They will basically select capable people from the Yanwu Hall, and Zhu Hui, the protector of the country, is the first choice. In addition, the former guard of Xuanfu Eunuch Miao Kui will serve as the military governor. This is only a preliminary plan. Whether and when to send troops will depend on the situation in the court after the spring."
"Mr. Baoguo... is also a capable person. It's okay."
At first glance, Zhu Feng didn't have any ambition to make progress.
In Zhang Zhou's understanding, the so-called "fine" means that as long as you don't look for me, you can look for someone else.
…
…
In the palace, Zhu Youtang also met with Miao Kui and Li Xing, the eunuchs and eunuchs who had just returned from the Huangzhuang in Baoding Prefecture, on the recommendation of Li Rong.
Miao Kui had many experiences in supervising the army in the northwest. However, in the early years of Hongzhi, he gradually fell out of favor due to the power struggle in the palace. This time, the emperor planned to lead the troops into the grassland to conquer the grassland with his old ministers as the leader. Once the country's prestige increased, it was not suitable for those new eunuchs to be called upon. After recommendation, Miao Kui returned to Zhu Youtang's sight.
As for Li Xing... he didn't have much experience in leading troops, but he was relatively good at getting things done and had a good relationship with Li Rong, so he got the chance to be reused at this time.
"...so many things."
Zhu Youtang gave some instructions first, and then said, "The matter of sending troops has not been decided yet. I still have to discuss it with the courtiers. If you have free time recently, you can go to Yanwu Hall first. If you have something to learn, feel free to go first." Learn it, lest you go out with the army and know nothing."
"yes."
Miao Kui was looking forward to this.
But after all, Li Xing had no experience in running the army. On the contrary, he felt that helping the royal family manage the imperial village would be lucrative and more practical than going to the northwest to lead troops.
Li Rong smiled and said: "Your Majesty, do you think we will transfer them to the Royal Horse Prison later?"
Zhu Youtang said: "If you have merit, you will be transferred. If you have no merit, you should stay in your original position. I am not harsh on you. After all, in wars, you are just following the army to supervise the battle. Fighting on the battlefield has little to do with you." Go down."
Li Rong waved his hand, meaning that your interview has been completed and you can leave.
…
…
There was no one to guide Miao Kui and Li Xing, so they just walked out of the palace by themselves.
After all, they are also old people in the palace, and everything in the palace is familiar to them. They see many eunuchs passing by along the way, and they all come to salute them. After all, they are eunuchs with real power like him. It's really not easy.
"Eunuch Miao, what do you think this is? Isn't it great that we are in charge of the imperial villages and official fields around Shuntian Mansion? Meritorious service on this battlefield is good, but if we lose..."
"Um?"
Miao Kui glared sideways.
Li Xing said helplessly: "If we follow the all-powerful Cai Guogong to send troops or Xin Xinbo, it is easy to make great achievements, but if we follow others, it is hard to say whether it is a merit or demerit. I'm afraid that after we come back, even If I can’t keep my original job, and I’m going to be sent to the imperial mausoleum as a minister, then...”
Miao Kui scolded: "I don't have any ambition. How many things that many people dream of have become a burden to you? The two of us may not be walking together. If we are really walking together, if you don't understand something, just ask us directly. .”
Miao Kui also had prestige and confidence in the army.
Now that I finally got the chance, I seemed eager to fly to the battlefield right away and get the credit back.
"Eunuch Miao, do you have a relationship with Duke Baoguo?" Li Xing asked.
"Yes." Miao Kui didn't shy away from this, "If Bao Guo Gong hadn't led the troops this time, His Majesty might not be able to use our family. If you're worried, you have to take care of things separately and let our family go. "
Li Xing felt a little worried when he heard this.
Those who work as eunuchs to oversee the army have only heard of others giving money to them, and there are also those who work as eunuchs taking the initiative to use money to control others? Putting the cart before the horse, right?
But Li Xing understood immediately.
Miao Kui was asking for a bribe from him.
Miao Kui almost said, just give me the money to buy the trip, and I will show you off and fly.
…
…
The news of the Shaanxi earthquake came to the capital like snowflakes at the end of the first year.
The previous disaster relief arrangements by all parties had finally achieved results. In addition to praising Zhang Zhou in the court for not being afraid of other people's worldly views, having the courage to make prophecies to the court, and cooperating with local disaster prevention and relief, Zhu Youtang also mentioned It’s time to prepare for two months of preparation and prepare to send troops to the grassland in mid-to-late March.
"My idea is to send troops from Yansui to circle the land of Donghetao. If they encounter the Tatar tribe, they will start a war with them, and push northward all the way to the outside of the Hetao to let the Tatars know that the country is guarding the Hetao. The determination of the land.”
Zhu Youtang probably meant that this was just a routine patrol.
If this was the case, the minister would not say anything, but Zhu Youtang had proposed from the very beginning that at least 40,000 soldiers would be mobilized for this dispatch, and they would have to be recruited from all over the northwest. This made the minister feel that the emperor was Take Daming's coins and throw them into the water.
Xie Qian came out and said: "Your Majesty, I don't think that sending troops so proactively will have any significance for the war situation. It may be better to use an elite division to mobilize three to five thousand soldiers and horses to complete the task, rather than making a big fanfare. If the Tatars take the opportunity to counterattack , I’m afraid that it will make all the border areas tired to deal with it, and because troops and horses will be deployed everywhere, defenses will be lax."
The traditional civil servants of the Ming Dynasty were very utilitarian at times like this.
Border guard, why do you want to take the initiative to attack?
Previously, Wang Shouren led troops to attack thousands of miles from northern Liaoning. It can be said that it was because Batu Meng was wreaking havoc in Ningxia and forced the Tatars to withdraw their troops by attacking in the east and attacking in the west.
Now we have to directly mobilize 40,000 to 50,000 soldiers and horses to the Loop... and we know that most of the Tatars will not take the initiative to fight. This will only waste people and money, and the civil servants cannot see any actual value.
Zhu Youtang asked: "Isn't the power of our court important?"
Ministers fight for results, while emperors fight for face.
Besides, I want to balance the relationship between the new nobles and the old nobles and create a platform for them to communicate. Why do you group of civil servants like to oppose everything?
"Furthermore, I don't ask for great achievements in this battle. I just want to ensure the power of the Ming Dynasty in the northern and western regions. If it continues as before, those places will only pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty in the name of vassal states, but they will continue to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty." The people are not the people of the Ming Dynasty, how can they demonstrate the way of kingship? I want to use this to bring all these places under the rule of the Ming Dynasty."
Zhu Youtang showed his ambition to the ministers.
As soon as such bold words came out, Xie Qian, an eloquent person, could only stand back.
Zhu Youtang looked around at the people present and did not see Zhang Zhou there. He was still a little disappointed in his heart.
In his opinion, Zhang Zhou should be asked to come out at this moment and explain to these ministers what is a three-year plan and a five-year plan to bring peace to the world. What is the meaning of the whole world? Is it the king's land leading the land? Is it the king's ministers? The pride in my heart is passed on to you.
"My preliminary plan is for Zhu Hui, the protector of the country, to cooperate with Xu Jin, the governor of Shanxi Town, to lead the troops together. The specific details may be adjusted again."
When Zhu Youtang said this, he was a little speechless.
No one praised or even approved of it. It was like he was performing a one-man show.
The minister's way of putting pressure on him is to pretend that we didn't hear what you said, let you talk to yourself, and then ask you if you are embarrassed?
"As for the Ministry of War, they will not personally participate in this battle. However, the Ministry of War will be fully responsible for the early deployment and formulation of strategies. This battle is also related to who can enter the Shangting Department. I hope to select a few more capable people to serve in the military and political affairs." You can cooperate with me in everything."
…
…
The minister probably understood.
Let Baoguo Gong Zhu Hui be admitted to the Shangting Department, which is not a free lunch.
Next, Zhu Hui will fulfill his responsibilities as a military officer and personally lead the troops into the grassland as the "Minister of Shangting". The censor accompanying the army is likely to be Xu Jin, and he may also send Xiong Chong and Xiong Xiu. One of the two ministers of the Ministry of War will coordinate, while the eunuch who supervises the army will use Miao Kui.
After the meeting.
The minister seemed to have immediately forgotten about the Shaanxi earthquake... Anyway, it did not cause any big losses. Of course, we must reasonably ignore Zhang Bingkuan's contribution.
"Mr. Liu Ge, what do you think your Majesty means? Why don't you use Zhang Bingkuan or Wang Bo'an to lead the troops, but say you want to lead the troops out of the border with Baoguo Gong? Is it just a cover? Or does your Majesty have other arrangements?"
In the past, most of the people who came forward to express opinions or even questions were officials at the ministerial level.
But now among the six ministers, Lin Han and Wang Shi are both wise and protective, while Ma Wensheng likes to pretend to be confused. Zhong Zhong has become honest after experiencing several "beatings". Zhang Zhou himself is the minister of the Ministry of War... …
As a result, only Xu Guan, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, who has been saying he wants to retire but has not yet done so, is left.
But this time it was not him who came out to speak.
It's an official who admonishes Taiwan.
That is to say, the officials of the Sixth Section, just like the Qingliu of the Ming Dynasty, only the Taijian officials are struggling to support them.
Faced with such a question, Liu Jian did not answer directly, or in other words, his level was not high enough and he did not need to answer it personally.
Li Dongyang came forward and said: "Your Majesty's intention is unclear. Since he said he was going to send troops, let's take it from his original intention and don't make any assumptions. If your Majesty really wants to send troops to the grassland in full force, do you still need to hide it?"
Everyone was right.
Now if we want to scare the Tatars, let Zhang Zhou personally lead 50,000 troops... The effect will be absolutely powerful.
(End of chapter)
