Beijing, inside the Forbidden City, at the beginning of the Shen Dynasty.
Emperor Chongzhen arrived at the Wenhua Hall in an imperial chariot, where his cabinet minister Yang Sichang was already waiting for him.
After Yang Sichang respectfully paid the usual court ceremony to Chongzhen, he heard Chongzhen ask him: "Sir, what do you want to report?"
He knelt down again and then replied: "I'm asking to see your Majesty about the affairs of the great scholar Liu Yuliang, the governor."
Chongzhen sat on the throne, looking at Yang Sichang with a confused look, and said: "I have read his memorial. Sir, do you have any opinions?"
Yang Sichang did not dare to raise his head, but lowered his head lower before saying: "Your Majesty read Yuliang's memorial, and immediately issued an edict to encourage him, ordering him to quickly go to the front enemy to replace the reinforcements of Governor Lu Xiangsheng, Zhu Zhenqin and Wang Qin to fight against the captives. This shows that the emperor is serious about Yu Liang's reliance is heavy and his expectations are high.
However, Yu Liang supervises the armies with the dignity of chief assistant and the power of the false emperor. His status is actually above that of the governor.
If Lu Xiangsheng were to serve as the governor-general of military affairs, his status would be no more than that of a governor-general, and the people he would command would be no more than Lu Xiangsheng's existing 10,000-plus exhausted troops. This has lost the original intention of the first assistant to act as the emperor's supervisor. "
After listening to Yang Sichang's response, Chongzhen asked with some doubts: "Don't you let him go to supervise the division?"
Seeing that Emperor Chongzhen had been persuaded, Yang Sichang continued to play softly and unhurriedly: "What Liu Yuliang played was a request to supervise the armies, not to appoint himself as governor.
Although Kuang Lu Xiangsheng failed to achieve success and delayed the opportunity to fight, and was deeply responsible for the emperor's commission, the current military situation is urgent and it is not appropriate to change commanders before the enemy, so as not to affect the morale of the army. Please ask the emperor to punish Lu Xiangsheng a little, so that he can still be the governor and take the punishment to see the consequences. "
After listening to Yang Sichang's replay, which confirmed his view of Liu Yuliang's thoughts, Chongzhen asked further: "What about Liu Yuliang?"
Yang Sichang then responded: "Your Majesty, please still follow Liu Yuliang's original request and send him to supervise the armies."
Chongzhen leaned back on the throne. He thought carefully in his heart and felt that Yang Sichang's words made sense. He regretted his impulsiveness and was indeed hasty in issuing the edict.
"Okay." He said to Yang Sichang who was kneeling in the hall: "According to Aiqing's instructions, the previous edict should be discarded and Liu Yuliang should be sent to supervise the armies."
"I obey the decree!" Yang Sichang kowtowed again.
Emperor Chongzhen said with some earnestness: "Now the captive cavalry is getting deeper and deeper into Jifu Prefecture and County, and Wangfeng has collapsed, which makes me very worried. Now that Chief Assistant Liu Yuliang is willing to inspect the division on my behalf, I am deeply pleased. I hope he can make the trip as soon as possible and don't delay. Yes. Sir, please get up!"
After hearing Chongzhen's words, Yang Sichang did not get up. He still knelt on the ground and said, "My lord, I have something to report to your majesty."
"What else is there?" Chongzhen looked at Yang Sichang with doubts on his face.
Yang Sichang knelt down and recited: "Yang Tinglin's bullets were handed over to the cabinet by the emperor, and I have seen them. I have a dull talent and have failed to bear the weight of the emperor's commission. I really deserve death."
The emperor is so kind and kind that he cannot bear to kill him. I am not a tree, how can I not shed tears of gratitude! As long as it is beneficial to the country, I will be willing to be smashed to pieces. "
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen cherished Yang Sichang even more, and comforted him with gentle words: "I have my own opinion on this matter, so please don't take it to heart."
Yang Sichang said softly and unhurriedly: "I was born in the Holy Dynasty and was deeply blessed by the knowledge and encounters. Not only do I not mind this, but I am willing to take this opportunity to recommend talents to your Majesty and serve the country."
Chongzhen's face became more confused and he asked, "Who do you want to recommend?"
I saw the cabinet minister Yang Sichang lowered his head to the bluestone tiles on the ground, and then he whispered: "I intend to recommend Yang Tinglin to be the head of the Department of Military Affairs of the Ministry of War. Zuo Lu Xiangsheng praised the painting of military affairs to show what he has learned in his life." .”
"Does he understand how to march and fight?" Chongzhen looked suspicious again.
Yang Sichang respectfully knelt on the ground and continued to play: "Yang Tinglin pays close attention to the study of world affairs and is very familiar with ancient and modern military strategies. He is not comparable to ordinary Confucian officials. The current military situation is urgent and talents are needed.
If he can be sent to the front of the army to help Lu Xiangsheng strategize and assist in military affairs, he will be able to use his talents to serve the country more than if he worked in the Hanlin Academy. "
Emperor Chongzhen saw that Yang Sichang was very sincere and had no intention of revenge. He couldn't help but praise him in his heart. He said with a smile on his face: "You are able to put aside personal grudges and recruit talents for the court. You are like the ancient ministers." The wind is really a blessing. I know that Yang Tinglin is a stubborn minister who dares to speak, but he is just a little extreme."
Seeing that the matter was done, Yang Sichang said more respectfully: "Your Majesty is wise and knows Tinglin well, so he will not accuse Tinglin of criticizing him. In fact, Tinglin just misheard the rumors and did not know the truth. His intentions were very good. "
Chongzhen nodded and said with a kind face: "Okay, according to Ai Qing's advice, I will give him the post of head of the Fang Division and send him to Lu Xiang to praise the painting in front of the army."
"I obey the decree!" After receiving the decree, Yang Sichang knelt down to thank the emperor for his kindness.
…………
After exiting the Wenhua Hall and passing through a narrow passage, Yang Sichang returned to the Cabinet Office.
Instead of going back to his official apartment, he first walked into the room of Liu Yuliang, the chief minister of the cabinet, and told Liu Yuliang in detail what happened when he just met the emperor.
After hearing this, Liu Yuliang was very happy and thanked Yang Sichang repeatedly.
Especially, after Yang Sichang told the emperor about recommending Yang Tinglin, Liu Yuliang and several other ministers who came to inquire about the news all praised Yang Sichang for his style as an ancient minister.
Xue Guoguan, the second assistant, was a very scheming person. Although he had already seen through Yang Sichang's real purpose of recommending Yang Tinglin, it was to drive this daring Hanlin official out of the court and send him to a dangerous place.
But he smiled and cupped his hands to Yang Sichang and said: "Brother Wen Ruo, it's rare, it's rare! As the saying goes, 'the prime minister's belly is full of energy,' and this is what it means."
Yang Sichang replied humbly: "The student has a family relationship with Boxiang and has no grudges in his heart, and he has always admired his knowledge and character.
People in their thirties are inevitably a little angry. Not only will students not take it to heart, but they will also rely on him greatly in the future. "
"Rare! Rare!" Colleagues in the public office praised in unison.
Yang Sichang bid farewell to everyone and returned to his own room. Under the service of the Changban, he changed into court clothes, sat in the Taishi chair, took a cup of fragrant tea, took a sip, and showed an unusual evil smile at the corner of his mouth. He said silently in his heart:
"Yang Huzi, go to Governor Lu's army to praise the painting. Don't fire off cannons randomly in the court. Go to the army to ask you to learn from me. It's not easy to fight the Manchu Tatars!"
…………
After Yang Sichang resigned, Emperor Chongzhen was still in the Wenhua Palace, waiting for Wang Chengen to draft an edict for him.
After a while, Wang Chengen brought up the draft of the edict.
This manuscript contains two things:
First, the chief assistant Liu Yuliang was sent to supervise the armies. Second, Yang Tinglin was appointed as the head of the Ministry of War's Staff Department and went to Lu Xiang to praise the paintings before he was promoted to the army.
Emperor Chongzhen leaned on the throne tiredly, looked at the manuscript carefully, and said to Wang Chengen: "Send it out immediately, don't delay!"
