Zhang Zhou gave face to this group of honorable ministers who were relatives of foreign relatives and invited them to a meal. The Zhang brothers were nominally the hosts, but in fact it was paid by the estranged relatives of the emperor.
The two brothers Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling showed their teeth and claws at the banquet, as if they were the leaders of this group of people.
After the banquet, it was still early, and Zhang Zhou was about to leave. Cui Yuan hurriedly came out to see him off, and also gave Zhang Zhou a "gift". Cui Yuan, as the concubine of the eldest princess who was born as a Confucian scholar, was very respectful to Zhang Zhou in words. : "... Cai Guogong, if I have time, I will definitely discuss poetry and articles with you. I also know a thing or two about antique calligraphy and painting. I hope you can appreciate it."
"Um."
Zhang Zhou smiled and nodded politely.
In the Ming Dynasty, being a prince-in-law was almost like eating and waiting to die.
He couldn't help but think that the princess's consort of Yongkang was famous for being well-read, good at poems, and making many friends in history. Others also said that he was "smart and resourceful", but they mostly praised him after he became successful. evaluate.
Now Cui Yuan can't do much except make a few more friends and use his status as a consort to be an idler in the capital.
"Consort, I wonder what your views are on marching?" Zhang Zhou appreciated Cui Yuanke's politeness and asked him what his views were on running an army.
Cui Yuandao: "Students have not often been involved in military and political affairs before. If Mr. Cai Guogong is interested in taking the exam, please give the students some time to sort it out after they return. What do you think?"
I asked you questions and didn’t answer them on the spot, but you actually wanted to go back and study and do your homework?
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "When you come to Yanwu Hall, you'd better make more preparations. Maybe your Majesty will come in person at some time to inquire about the march and management of the army. If you don't have any preparations then, I'm afraid it will make people laugh."
This is already considered criticism.
Ordinary people are not qualified to criticize relatives of the emperor, especially people like Cui Yuan, who is the brother-in-law of the current emperor. Even if others look down on him, they will still respect him politely.
But Zhang Zhou didn't mean to disparage Cui Yuan, it was more like a reminder.
It's not a big deal that you can't answer my question, but if the emperor comes later and asks the question in person, and you can't answer it, then even if you are not a loser, others will treat you as a loser, and they will never do so. The kind that has a chance to turn around.
Cui Yuan was not annoyed at all, and looked very humble and said: "Cai Guogong's instructions are correct. After the students return, they must practice the art of war quickly, so as not to neglect their official duties. The students have been taught."
"Um."
Zhang Zhou was quite satisfied with Cui Yuan's sincere attitude. After nodding, he stopped staying and left the wine shop where the banquet was held.
…
…
Imperial Palace, Xinuang Pavilion.
Zhu Youtang summoned Zhang Zhou and asked Zhang Zhou about the military training of the martial arts in the Yanwu Hall.
"I heard that those people are really rotten wood. I originally wanted you to take the exam and question them. If some of them are not qualified for the job, how can we expect them to serve in the capital or the local capital? Bingkuan , do you think I should be more aggressive and show no mercy to them?"
After the Yanwu Hall was opened, Zhu Youtang wanted to rectify the military affairs.
Zhang Zhou knew very well that in history, in March of the 14th year of Hongzhi, Zhu Youtang had arranged this kind of content that was close to a school examination: "First, Ma Wensheng, the Minister of the Ministry of War, together with Chen Kuan, the eunuch of the Department of Ceremonies, and the British Duke Zhang Mao Wait, review and test the riding and shooting tactics of each battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Hou Bo, and test whether the general officer can ride and shoot."
This means that Ma Wensheng, Chen Kuan and Zhang Mao are responsible for the examination of the generals in the Beijing camp below the marquis level.
If you don’t take the test, you won’t know. If you take the test, you will be shocked.
"After trying them, they often fail to fire arrows while holding the bow, and even some bows fall to the ground. They continue to inquire about Tao's strategy and are unable to answer, so they leave their ranks and ask for help. Yongshun Bo Xue Xun, Yingcheng Bo Sun Jixian, Xing'an Bo Xusheng, Bo Guo Ning of Cheng'an, Marquis Chen Xuan of Taining, Bo Zhu Jie of Wu Jin, Sun Guizhiyu, the governor's chief minister, and Li Jin, the commander's chief minister, all should be investigated again, and the commander-in-chief Yang Zhen and others should be arrested. When asked, Xuancheng Bo Weizhang and Jianping Bo Gaopei all said they were ill and refused to go, so they asked for their orders to be deposed."
"Those who are in the first class will be rewarded with one hundred guan of banknotes per arrow, those in the second class will be deprived of one month's salary, and those in the third class will be deprived of two months' salary. Those who fail to pass the examination will be punished again."
This group of pampered ministers in the Ming Dynasty really reached the point where they could not ride horses or shoot bows.
Moreover, the group of people who were tested were people who served in the Beijing camp, which meant that they were the generals who led the army. After this incident, Zhu Youtang also deeply realized that he expected the Ming Dynasty's honorable ministers to guard the Ming Dynasty. , things are a bit outrageous.
For this reason, the emperor was very angry, and then Ma Wensheng, Minister of the Ministry of War, "please publish a book of the General Martial Classics, and give it to the military ministers in Beijing and the generals in various places. In order to lend their knowledge, I ordered each of them to give a copy of the Seven Martial Classics."
The emperor was not satisfied, so he sent a military book back to study for the next assessment.
Zhang Zhou said: "Does Your Majesty want to take the exam in person?"
Zhu Youtang nodded and said: "I do mean so. Bingkuan, it's not that I am harsh on them. In recent days, I have heard a lot about their daily training and learned that few of them are qualified for their jobs. Yes, even those who have served in the army for many years and claim to be brave are not very useful."
Zhang Zhou said: "Since your Majesty is going to take the school entrance examination, he should set up the examination items and rules. Not only focusing on artillery training, but also adding riding and shooting and other items. It is best for the ministers of the DPRK and China to participate in the witness."
Zhu Youtang said: "Yes, I can't go alone, and I can't just take you with me. I have to take a few more people with me to let them know the necessity of me changing the stubborn problems of the military and government. Bingkuan, don't leak this matter to the outside world. I will see if I have free time in the next few days and I will go with you."
Zhang Zhou thought to himself, what a coincidence.
You didn't let me say it, but I told Cui Yuan in advance and asked him to go back and prepare. Wouldn't this be an advantage for Cui Yuan?
"Let's go, Bingkuan, have dinner together. After dinner, we will leave the palace. I will discuss with you how to take the school entrance examination." Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "What do you think of me taking the prince with me?"
"Prince, yes."
"I also plan to select capable people from this examination and reward them as appropriate. What do you think?"
"Your Majesty, since it is an examination, it is inevitable to set rules for rewards and punishments."
"Haha, it turns out that heroes think alike."
…
…
That night, Zhang Zhou had dinner in the palace.
As a member of the Yanwu Hall, Cui Yuan, after a busy day, returned home a little drunk and concentrated on picking up the military book to study it.
Princess Yongkang didn't see her husband return to the bedroom in the middle of the night, so she came out with a lantern. Seeing that the study was still illuminated by candlelight, she went inside and saw Cui Yuan shaking his head while reading.
"Consort, I asked you to go to the Yanwu Hall to have the opportunity to serve the imperial court and let the emperor appreciate you. How can you still be angry with me and deliberately use this kind of thing to ignore me?"
Yongkang is usually a bit picky about her husband.
She is not as gentle as her sister Princess Deqing, and Cui Yuan's family background is relatively better than that of Deqing's husband Lin Yue. Yongkang seems to need this kind of strength to suppress her husband's family.
Cui Yuan raised his head after hearing this and said, "Princess is here? Don't get me wrong, I'm just studying for my homework."
"snort!"
Yongkang placed the candlestick heavily on the table and said in a cold voice, "It's freezing cold, and you actually said you were studying? Are you going to take the No. 1 exam?"
"No... these are all military books." Cui Yuan quickly picked up the books and showed them to his wife, "Look, I borrowed these. We don't have any military books at home. Today I paid a private visit to Cai Guogong, and he tested me. A question asked me to express my views on running the army, but I...I can't answer it."
Yongkang said: "Is he deliberately making things difficult for you?"
"No, I think Cai Guogong is very supportive of me. He didn't ask anyone else, and he also reminded me that if I meet His Majesty in the future, I won't have time to go back to consult and think about it. I think what he said is very reasonable, so Hurry up and come back early to make some supplements."
Choi Won is like a fan who has been encouraged by an "idol".
It was rare for Zhang Zhou to personally mention something, which made him feel very reasonable. After he came back, he naturally wanted to show off and at least write a military policy to Zhang Zhou to show that he had worked hard.
Yongkang rolled his eyes at his husband and said: "I think he is just teasing you. I think he has reached such a state in a few years, even if he is a great scholar, and everyone in the government and the public looks down upon him. Will he lower his head to give you face? Return the emperor." Brother, you’re going to take the exam yourself? It’s my consort that makes you…believe him.”
"Princess, don't say that to Duke Cai Guo. Is he asking me to come back to learn more about the art of war to harm me? You go to bed early, and I will go into the room after memorizing this book."
Cui Yuan disagreed with his wife's words.
Yongkang said: "If you don't come into the room now, then don't come in tonight!"
The young couple, both in their early twenties, were in love, but tonight Cui Yuan was so "ignorant" that he went to the study to read the art of war without giving her the face of a princess. It's strange that Yongkang has a good temper. .
Cui Yuandao: "Princess, you go to bed first. If Cai Guogong mentions it and I see him later, I still can't answer. Wouldn't it be very incompetent? Princess, don't worry about me."
Yongkang raised his finger, tapped his husband's forehead hard, and cursed, "What a lump! I wish you success in your studies as soon as possible! Humph!"
…
…
Cui Yuan worked hard for half the night and finally fell asleep in the study.
He finally wrote a so-called "military strategy". He racked his brains and wrote it out. It was also because he was a scholar and had a unique "advantage" over ordinary honorable ministers. Chen, most of his reading skills are just reading, and he doesn’t have the ability to write articles like him.
"Will Duke Cai Guo arrive today?"
In the public house next to the Yanwu Hall campus in the city, Cui Yuan arrived at the Yanwu Hall early in the morning and wanted to see Zhang Zhou in order to "hand in his homework."
But there were only a few classmates who came that day. Yesterday, a group of people went out to the city for the first time to set off firecrackers. A lot of people came. They drank together in the evening. Naturally, everyone had their own nightlife after returning. Only a few people could get up the next day. As for having to come to cultural classes after getting up...
It won't come unless your head is filled with water.
And Cui Yuan is exactly the person whose head was damaged by water.
"Cui Prince Consort? What are you doing? Looking for Cai Guogong? That big shot will be here at any time? You have such a high status. If you want to find Cai Guogong, go directly to the Yamen of the Ministry of War and have a look. Maybe he is inside... If you don't want to go to the Ministry of War, Then just wait here, maybe Cai Guogong will come at some time."
No matter who is in charge of Yanwutang, they always have their eyes above their heads.
He was also rude to Cui Yuan.
The level of these relatives of the emperor was also noticed by others. The instructors all looked for Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling. Everyone seemed to think that the emperor did not take these people who rose to power through nepotism seriously. If he really felt that they If there are talented people among us, we should seek more guidance from talented people.
Cui Yuan was very anxious, but he couldn't find Zhang Zhou, so he could only sleep at the table.
He didn't have a good rest yesterday, so Cui Yuan slept soundly while lying on the guest table.
It was not until noon that Cui Yuan was woken up by someone knocking on the table.
"Wang Shilang?" Cui Yuan stood up and saw Wang Qiong standing in front of him.
Wang Qiong is over forty years old and has been in the court for many years. Although Wang Qiong is not a general of the Yanwu Hall this time, he is also a "guest professor" and will come over at any time to give lessons to everyone.
Wang Qiong said: "Why are you the only one?"
Cui Yuan looked around. He could see a few here and there in the morning, but now he was the only one left. He said: "I... don't know."
Wang Qiong frowned and looked at Cui Yuan.
Let’s just say he appreciates Cui Yuan... This guy actually slept in class...
But if this is a relative who is just waiting to die, Cui Yuan is the only one waiting for the lecturer to come in class. When the students arrived in class, they found that even their teachers, the Zhang brothers, were not here. Under the circumstances, it would be good to stay in class and wait.
"Um."
Wang Qiong nodded and said, "Since we haven't arrived yet, we will go back first and won't lecture today."
Wang Qiong just came over to take a look. Even if all the people from the relatives' class were there, he might not need to say anything.
Cui Yuan asked: "Wang Shilang, where is Cai Guogong? Yesterday he asked me about running the army. I went back and worked hard all night. I wrote an article and wanted to give him some advice."
Wang Qiong originally had a fair impression of Cui Yuan, but after hearing this, he suddenly felt a little more favorable.
It turns out that you came here to take a nap today because you studied hard at home last night?
Children can be taught.
"Cai Guogong is very busy with his official duties. He may only appear in the Yanwu Hall once every five or six days, and he may not appear in the school grounds, public classrooms or artillery drills outside the city. If you don't mind, the princess' consort of Yongkang, I can help you. Take a look." Wang Qiong said.
"Thank you."
Cui Yuan quickly handed over his "homework".
After Wang Qiong finished reading, there was a kind of "distress" between her brows, because this assignment was indeed not very good.
"Wang Shilang, although I have read the Military Manual attentively, the Military Manual mentions very little about artillery and firecrackers. I can only list a few formations that have been used by predecessors, or they may not be practical on the battlefield. Do you have any questions? If you have any opinions, it's okay to say so." Cui Yuan also knew that he was a very incompetent student.
Wang Qiong said: "If you want to learn, I have a lecture on the new tactics here. You can take it back and study it. The eldest princess's consort can be considered as thoughtful as you can write like this."
Cui Yuan was encouraged by Wang Qiong and immediately felt full of confidence and said: "Thank you so much, Mr. Wang, the students will definitely work hard."
(End of chapter)
