Wu Dui and Liang Menglong arrived at the No. 1 Scholar Gao Jinggong in Zhaohui Jinggongfang almost at the same time. Although both of them were confused, they also knew that Gao Jingshi sent someone to wake them up from bed in the middle of the night and invite them here. It's not like I just wanted to chat with them out of the blue, it must be something big and important happening, and it's probably urgent.
The three of them did not meet in the flower hall, but were directly invited into Gao Pragmatic's study. Everyone was in tacit understanding and did not exchange too many greetings.
Gao Pingshi only said: "I'm sorry for bothering you late at night." Then he raised the secret letter in his hand and sighed: "The urgent report I just received was lost in Xining."
After all, Wu Dui was a veteran Sima. When he saw the secret letter in Gao Pingshi's hand, he frowned and asked, "Isn't it a military report from the imperial court? Is this a secret report from Jinghua itself?" Liang Menglong also immediately looked at the secret letter.
Gao pragmatic did not explain, but just nodded and said: "It involves Beijing." Then he handed the secret letter to Wu Dui, and Liang Menglong also turned his head to look at it together.
The secret letter was not too long, and the two of them read it quickly. They both gasped and looked at each other.
Wu Dui pondered and said: "If what Cao said is true, then this matter must be the fault of Yongchang Guard, and it should not affect Jinghua."
Liang Menglong said: "Jinghua is not at fault, but the consequences of this matter are unimaginable."
Wu Dui also said after hearing this: "Yes, the imperial court has not focused on the three northwest sides in recent years. The military affairs of the three sides are mainly defense. Now that Xining has fallen, I don't know how to take it back."
Liang Menglong pondered and said: "I don't know if the people Gao Wenchuan has on hand are enough... I always feel that the three sides of Shaanxi are more than enough to hold on but not enough to conquer the city. The Ministry of War may want to help him."
The Gao Wenchuan he mentioned was his nickname, Wenchuan. His real name was Gao Guangxian, and his courtesy name was Zixiao. He was the governor of the Three Borders at that time, and his full official title was Governor-General Shaanxi Trilateral Military Affairs Minister and the Left Deputy Censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
In other words, this man has almost reached the pinnacle among governors, holding the titles of Minister of the Ministry of War and Zuo Fudu. He was originally the 38th Jinshi of Jiajing. At that time, he was ranked in the middle of the gold list. He failed to stay in the capital and was awarded the title of magistrate of Shanghai County. Later he was promoted to the position of Supervisory Censor and Shaoqing of Dali Temple. He was promoted to be the censor of the right capital, the censor of the right deputy capital, and the governor of Yansui. Later, he was changed to Zuo Fudu, censor, and he patrolled Jizhou, Liaozhou and Baoding, and also took charge of border affairs. The year before last, he was promoted to the right minister of the Ministry of War and the governor of three-sided military affairs. Last year, he was promoted to the title of Jin.
Wu Dui nodded and said: "If Gao Wenchuan is in need, the Ministry of War will definitely help him..."
Liang Menglong didn't say much, but he understood very well in his heart. If the governor of the three sides at that time was a person who had nothing to do with "everyone", the Ministry of War would not have to worry now. After all, he did not call the police for help from the court, then this matter was still the governor's own errand, and the Ministry of War could not be so proactive.
But Gao Guangxian was different. He was from Changzhi, Shanxi. He was a governor from the Jin Party. He was an important border minister among his "own people". He had to prepare early for the help he needed.
Besides, Zhang Siwei has been worrying about Ding for such a long time. If he returns to the court and finds that his important subordinates have collapsed due to the Ministry of War's incompetence and lack of support, will this anger be vented on him, Liang Menglong?
In fact, even Gao Pragmatic didn't know whether his uncle could return to the dynasty, because in the original history, Zhang Siwei's parents died one after another. Zhang Siwei himself couldn't bear the continuous blows, and he was too sad and passed away. . However, Liang Menglong couldn't predict the future. Of course he didn't know this, so he was worried that Zhang Siwei would settle the score with him when he returned to the court. This was a normal thought.
After all, in terms of closeness, Gao Guangxian, who was born in the Jin Party, was more important to Zhang Siwei than Liang Menglong.
Wu Dui, as the elder of the pavilion, had a higher level of consideration. He shook his head and said, "The support that the imperial court or the Ministry of War can give him is probably limited."
Liang Menglong couldn't understand for a moment and asked instead: "Why is this? We don't have any other wars at the moment. It shouldn't be difficult to mobilize one or two elite troops to support Gansu."
By the way, the governor of the three sides of Shaanxi is not just in charge of Shaanxi. This position needs to be explained (to facilitate the understanding of the plot later, and I read it, and Baidu Encyclopedia said it too briefly).
The Shaanxi Trilateral Governor-General System, also known as the Trilateral Governor-General, together with the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Xuanda, and Jiliao, was known as the four permanent governors of the Ming Dynasty.
After the fall of the Yuan Dynasty, the various Mongolian tribes retreated to the grasslands and had a long-term confrontation with the Ming Dynasty from north to south. They were almost always under the rule of the Ming Dynasty. The two formed close political, military and economic relations. The trilateral general system was created in response to the military situation in the north, and complemented the formation and construction of the three sides and four towns in Shaanxi.
The so-called "Shaanxi" in the Ming Dynasty actually refers to the entire northwest region most of the time, including parts of Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Qinghai and Inner Mongolia in later generations.
In order to strengthen the military defense of the area, the Ming Dynasty established four major military towns here, namely Ningxia Town, Gansu Town, Yansui Town, and Guyuan Town (Shaanxi Town). The three sides refer to the Ningxia, Gansu and Yansui regions. By the middle of the Ming Dynasty at the latest, the three-sided military town had been established and gradually improved.
According to the "Ming Huidian" record: "In the tenth year of Hongzhi, it was decided to dispatch important ministers to take charge of the military affairs of Shaanxi, Gansu, Yansui, and Ningxia. Fifteen years later, they were either established or dismissed. In the fourth year of Jiajing, the establishment was not established. The four towns had soldiers, horses, money and food. , In response to military affairs, all military affairs should be handled appropriately. Everyone below the town and patrol level must observe restraint, and those who do not need orders before the army should all command and follow the military law."
As for the initial establishment time of the Shaanxi Trilateral General System, there have always been many opinions. The more mainstream one is that it was earlier than the tenth year of Hongzhi. Specifically, in the tenth year of Chenghua, Wang Yue already had the title of general commander, commanding all armies and horses.
At that time, Boluohu, Mandulu, Zijiasilan and others often lived in the Hetao area, and invaded the border areas of Shaanxi in successive years: "At the beginning of Chenghua, the Maoli children Jiasilan, Boluohu, Mandulu followed and then left. They lived infrequently. After six years, they began to settle for a long time. They went deep into the counties to kill and plunder people and animals, often tens of millions, often coming in four or three times a year. The generals on the side sat back and watched, or watched as they came out and followed them. Occasionally, they captured the old and weak ones left behind. , often bluffing about the number of kills. What's more, killing our people as captives is a false achievement. If they are promoted and rewarded, they will not be rewarded. If they are defeated, they will be demoted and punished. "
It is precisely because many of the generals on the side are not alive at this time that the enemy is in danger. Wang Yue attacked several times and gained a little bit. On September 12, the ninth year of Chenghua, Wang Yue attacked the "captive camp" in Hongyan Pond. On October 11th of the ninth year of Chenghua, Wang Yue and others won a victory over Weizhou and captured 1,934 men and women.
Xianzong wanted to take a long-term plan and force the "captive thieves" not to dare to invade the border, so he granted Wang Yue the power of control to promote his success. However, in July of the 10th year of Chenghua, Wang Yue returned to Beijing due to his increasing illness.
In the tenth year of Hongzhi, the Mongols invaded Shawobao in Kousu Prefecture, and Wu Min, the censor of Gansu Province, could not resist. The Ministry of War discussed setting up a chief commander, and ordered Wang Yue to take charge of all road affairs in Gansu and Liang and to patrol the local areas. Soon after, the troops and horses of Gansu, Ningxia and Yansui were ordered to listen to Wang Yue's call, and the governor of Gansu Province selected someone else.
During Wang Yue's tenure as commander-in-chief, he mainly dealt with the Mongolian part behind the Helan Mountains. Xiaozong specifically told: "Behind the Helan Mountains is the nest of the bandits. The bandits have entered from there many times. They have lived there for a long time, and they know the place well, or they can lure the northern bandits." The general public may attract barbarians such as Ye Menkeli, which will cause serious trouble. You must use your strategy to pursue and suppress them, and your mother's orders will nourish the spread."
In February of the first year of Zhengde, Yang Yiqing, the governor who was supervising the horse administration in Shaanxi at that time, requested that the general system be set up to centrally dispatch the troops from Yansui due to repeated attacks on Ningxia Huamachi. Recommended by the Ministry of War and court officials, Emperor Wu Zongjian ordered Yang Yiqing to take charge of border affairs in Shaanxi, Yansui, Ningxia, Gansu and other departments and to supervise the horse administration of each place. Little Snail Chinese Website
It can be seen that the tripartite system was originally a temporary setup, mostly in response to severe military situations, and the time in office was short, or they were recalled due to illness or due to a break in the war. With the increase in the number of assignments and the extension of the tenure of the general system, the assignment of this official position has gradually become stable.
Yang Yiqing took office in May of the fourth year of Jiajing and left in November. Wang Xian took over in December of that year and was not recalled until February of the seventh year of Jiajing. Xu Qiong was appointed in the month of Wang Xian's departure, and until Fang left office in September of the 10th year, and subsequent presidents basically took office continuously, with few interruptions.
It can be seen that since the fourth year of Jiajing, the tripartite system of central dispatch by the imperial court has become custom-made. Regardless of whether there is a military crisis or not, they follow the rules and appoint them continuously, becoming a relatively fixed central dispatch officer.
In the fifteenth year of Jiajing's reign, because they avoided the word "zhi" (there was a category in the imperial edict called "zhi"), the imperial court changed the name of the Shaanxi Trilateral General System to the Shaanxi Trilateral Governor-General. Since then, the name "Governor" has been adopted.
The powers and responsibilities of the trilateral governors of Shaanxi were clearly stated, and the responsibilities of Gao Guangxian, the trilateral governor of Shaanxi, were also clear.
Because he "overall controls the border affairs of Shaanxi, Yansui, Ningxia, Gansu and other departments and supervises the local horse administration", and "the four towns' soldiers, horses, money and food, and military affairs are handled appropriately. Everyone below the town patrol is subject to restraint, and the military Those who have not been killed before will be commanded to follow military laws." Therefore, in accordance with the principle of "equal power and responsibility", if something goes wrong in these four towns, the first and last one will be his.
Liang Menglong was worried that he would be impeached due to the fall of Xining, which would cause Zhang Siwei to be dissatisfied with him in the future, so he became a little anxious when he heard Wu Dui's words as if he didn't want to care.
Wu Dui doesn't have to worry about this, because he is a well-established Gao Dang and has a very good relationship with Gao Pragmatic. Liang Menglong asked himself that he has a good relationship with Gao Pragmatic. Unfortunately, he doesn't have such a good background as Wu Dui, so he naturally has to be nervous. .
But after Wu Dui heard this, he did not answer directly. Instead, he looked at Gao Pragmatic.
Liang Menglong was a little puzzled, and then he cast a searching look at Gao Pangshi.
Gao pragmatic frowned slightly, then smiled bitterly and said: "Mingquan Gong, it's not that the court has no soldiers to mobilize, the problem is that it has no money."
Liang Menglong was so obsessed with the authorities that he actually forgot about this. When Gao Pragmatic reminded him, he suddenly realized it. He slapped his thigh hard and said angrily: "I have no money again. How come I, the Ming Dynasty, always have to do many things because I have no money?" No?"
Gao Pragmatic almost couldn't help but roll his eyes and thought to himself: Isn't that true? Our country is probably the poorest "Chinese Dynasty" in history, but this poverty is limited to the imperial court, and the people are not poor at all.
But Gao Pragmatic couldn't ignore Liang Menglong without saying a word, so he had to smile bitterly and said: "Mingquan Gong, please bear with it for another two or three years. When the vassal ban is successfully lifted, the imperial court will be relieved of 30% of its burden, and many things will be easier to handle."
"Well, it's not that I can't wait, and it's not that I don't know this truth, but what should I do now?" Liang Menglong's face was full of worry, and he said with a sigh: "Xining can't be lost, how important this place is, two Don’t you know the position?”
Of course the "two" are aware of this. Wu Dui was also promoted to the cabinet from the post of Shangshu of the Ministry of War. How could he not be clear about this? Not to mention Gao Pragmatic. He compiled the "Da Ming Huidian" and was a time traveler. For this era, he can be said to have a thorough understanding of ancient and modern times. How could he not know this?
To express it in the simplest sentence, that is: if Xining is present, Gansu will be safe; if Xining is lost, Gansu will be in danger!
In terms of topography, the first line of Gansu's "Silk Road" is to the north of the Qilian Mountains, while Xiningwei is to the south of the Qilian Mountains. If the Xining Guard is lost, from a strategic perspective, the Qinghai Tumote occupies the entire area south of the Qilian Mountains, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack. They can also leave Qilian north at any time, threatening the entire Silk Road.
Don't think that only the Silk Road of the Han and Tang Dynasties was smooth. It was also smooth in the Ming Dynasty, because the Ming Dynasty also needed this road to trade with the Western Regions and obtain some specialties and even individual resources of the Western Regions, and the Western Regions needed this road even more to obtain various products of the Ming Dynasty. Leading product.
But if this is all, it is only an economic threat. In fact, the loss of Xining Guard will be more serious, and it will be at a serious strategic disadvantage. From the situation point of view, Qinghai Tumut at that time was a bit like Tubo after the Anshi Rebellion. It was a state of "I will hit you if I want to, but it is impossible for you to hit me" - unless you can go there after crossing the Qilian Mountains Fight against the fortress.
Of course, there are differences between the Ming Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty. The biggest difference is that the Ming Dynasty had firearms.
The Tang Dynasty did not have artillery. After crossing the Qilian Mountains and looking at the fortresses in dangerous positions, they could only take human lives. However, the Ming Dynasty had artillery. In theory, these fortresses could be conquered with artillery. Another point is that although the Tubo people are also nomadic and have good cavalry, they are better at guarding fortresses, while the Mongols seem not to be very good at this.
Wu Dui said at this time: "Of course I know that Xining is important, but the court has no money, a clever woman can't make a living without rice, and I, the elder, can't make money... Alas, this matter can only depend on Gao Wenchuan's own ability."
Liang Menglong was greatly disappointed, and looked at Gao Pingshi again, full of hope: "Seeking truth, you are the golden touch..."
"Recovering Xining is different from attacking Burma. This will not bring any real benefits to the nobles and relatives who have no place to spend their spare money. I think it is not easy to raise money for this matter." Gao pragmatically replied.
It's not that he really can't make some money, but now the emperor is keeping a close eye on the vassal ban. Even if he can make money, it will probably be used to open the gap in the vassal ban, so Gao Pragmatic doesn't want to get involved in this matter. Use your strength.
Liang Menglong was indeed discouraged. He leaned back and murmured: "What should we do? The three sides of Shaanxi have not changed their uniforms frequently in recent years, and now there are no reinforcements..."
Gao Jingshi couldn't stand it anymore, coughed slightly, and said: "Cao Gan brought three thousand cavalrymen from the trading company... If Gao Wenchuan needs it, I can lend him these three thousand cavalrymen."
At this time, Gao Pragmatic did not know that because of this sentence, a series of subsequent changes occurred, making him, a time traveler, unable to grasp the situation in the northwest.
----------
Thanks to book friends "A Drop of Tears in Jianghu", "Too Fat to Fly", "Mysterious Pineapple", "Cao Bingduo", "Nn in Disrepair", "Good Things End", "Cao Mianzi", "ouus2009", "Dou Thank you for your monthly ticket support for "Er 852", "willwolf", "Laoshanguo", and "Piping Xiantu"!
PS: Happy holidays to the cutest people. By the way, please ask for a guaranteed monthly ticket at the beginning of the month.
