The banquet was in a lively and harmonious atmosphere. The generals were happy and the civil servants were happy as well. The only thing that made them unhappy was that the eunuch Wang Zhi also sat down.
Eunuch, the emperor's domestic slave.
No matter how powerful he is, he is just a slave, and he has no courtesy at the table, but Wang Zhi just went to the table.
Fortunately for the generals who had returned from the victory, they did not pay special attention to these rules, and they and Wang Zhi were both prosperous, so they did not express dissatisfaction.
But the civil servants were different. They read the books of sages and attached great importance to legal principles. They felt deeply for Wang Zhi and were very depressed in their hearts.
However, thinking of Wang Yue, a colleague who was about to successfully break into the military commander system, they temporarily tolerated it. They could still distinguish the importance of Wang Zhi and Wang Yue.
Zhu Jianshen was very satisfied with the attitude of the officials and raised his chin towards the eunuch beside him.
The latter cupped his hands and took out the imperial decree from his arms, "There is a decree."
The ministers hurriedly put down their chopsticks and wine glasses, stood up, lifted their robes, and prostrated themselves.
"I am very relieved that the great victory in Mobei was attributed to Sheji. How can I be stingy when my soldiers use their lives?"
Each soldier will be rewarded five taels of grain silver, 20 taels for a hundred households, and 50 taels for a thousand households... Soldiers who die in battle will be rewarded three times as compensation, and the Ministry of Household Affairs will immediately supervise the matter. "
"...I obey the decree." Weng Shizi, the new Minister of Household Affairs, said dullly.
The eunuch continued: "Wang Zhi and Wang Yue have made great contributions, and they have been appointed as Wang Yue's commander-in-chief, temporarily as a backup, and will be filled when the position becomes vacant. Wang Zhi is appointed as a guard, temporarily as a backup, the same as above;
Admire this. "
The ministers frowned, and the military attachés were displeased: When can civilian officials also serve as military generals?
The civil servants were also dissatisfied: This Wang Zhi...had too much power?
Before they could speak, Wang Zhi and Wang Yue responded immediately:
"I (servant) bow down and thank the Holy Grace."
"Get up, everyone, get up." Zhu Jianshen smiled and raised his glass: "My dear friends, let's continue." gōΠb.ōγg
The ministers stood up silently, but they were no longer interested in the banquet. They were all secretly thinking about how to get the emperor to take back the fate that was unfavorable to them. However, it was a banquet and festive occasion, so it was difficult to say anything to refute.
However, this does not mean that they give in like this.
The generals didn't like the civil servants stretching their hands so long, the civil servants didn't like the eunuchs having too much power, but the eunuchs... the eunuchs were happy.
Eunuch Wang really makes our man proud!
…
After the banquet was over, the officials left in an orderly manner. As soon as they left the palace, they gathered together in small groups, discussing gains and losses in low voices.
Zhu Jianshen was not panicked. Civil servants and military officers had their own thoughts, and he was determined not to stir up trouble.
The fact was exactly as he expected. In the morning of the next day, the civil servants and military generals began to fight with each other.
The general's appeal was very simple. The emperor could give rewards, but he could not allow civilian officials to concurrently serve as generals, nor could Wang Zhi be allowed to guard them.
The appeal of the civil servants was that Wang Yue should be given an official position for his meritorious service, but Wang Zhi, a supervisor of the army, did not have the qualifications.
While the two sides disliked each other, they also unanimously looked down on the eunuch.
Seeing that both sides were trying to put aside their prejudices and kill Wang Zhi first, Zhu Jianshen had no choice but to speak.
"I wasn't the one who started the army to guard the eunuchs." Zhu Jianshen said calmly.
The Supreme Emperor worked hard on this back then, but now that they are here, what can you do?
If you dare to accuse him, don't blame me for holding high the banner of filial piety and punishing you openly... Zhu Jianshen had a meaningful look on his face.
Ministers: "..."
As we all know, you can scold the living emperor, but you must not scold the dead emperor!
Although the Supreme Emperor is still alive,... he is the Emperor's biological father after all. It is unreasonable to scold me in front of his son.
Even generals know this.
Fengtian Temple suddenly became silent.
After a moment of silence, the two sides started fighting each other again.
In fact, every time there is a fight between civil and military officials, the civilian officials almost always have the upper hand. After all... military commanders are not good at words.
That is to say, the emperor acted sideways, which prevented them from suffering a disadvantage. But now the emperor also wants to rectify the generals, and the outcome is obvious.
The military generals were defeated when the civil servants said, "Those who are capable live here, they are all ministers of the Ming Dynasty, and they contribute to the Ming Dynasty. There is no distinction between civil and military affairs..." and other such selfless words.
There is no way, they really can't quarrel.
As for the fight…
Although these tender-skinned civil servants couldn't beat them, they were not afraid at all and even loved fighting more than they did.
Fighting can't solve the problem, and if you win, you will have to pay money to make amends, or even be detained. It's really not worth it.
Helpless, the military generals had no choice but to solemnly express: This will not happen again.
Zhu Jianshen agreed.
The civil servants did not press forward too much, and they did not want to push people too far. As long as Wang Yue successfully broke into the general system, it would be easy to operate in the future.
As a result, Wang Yue was successfully appointed and dismissed, and Wang Zhi also benefited.
The civil service group was afraid that changes would occur if it was too late, so they began to impeach the commander-in-chief of the border town in just one day, vowing to put Wang Yue in power.
Among the many border towns of the Ming Dynasty, Xuanda was tied for first place. These two places were far more important to the Ming Dynasty than the others.
The targets of the civil officials' impeachment were the commander-in-chief of Xuanfu and Datong. Of course, they did not have any wishful thinking that the emperor would let Wang Yue serve as the commander-in-chief of Xuanda. Doing so only focused the emperor's attention on these two places.
This time, the civil service group worked together to impeach him to death.
Zhu Jianshen got off the donkey along the slope and ordered Dongchang and Jinyiwei to investigate closely.
Facts have proved that as long as you want to investigate a person strictly, you can always find evidence of crime. There are too few impeccable people.
Zhu Jianshen was very interested, so he just dismissed the general of the Xuanfu and returned to his hometown, and Wang Yue took over. Wang Zhi was appointed as the guarding eunuch, and he sent the two men to serve in the Xuanfu.
Zhu Jianshen knew that it was much more difficult to get along in the army than in the officialdom, and it would be difficult for the two of them to achieve anything by airborne there, so he asked them to bring the 20,000 cavalry from before, and switched with some of the Xuanfu garrison.
Before departure, he gave instructions to the military to make their own decisions. Any decisions did not need to be reported. He only wanted the results.
The reason for this arrangement is that they are afraid that the news will be leaked and someone will tip off the Mobei forces.
Zhu Jianshen could see clearly that some people did not want the 'buyer' to be affected.
However, he only delegated this power to Wang Zhi, not Wang Yue.
Although Wang Yue was the commander-in-chief, he had to be controlled by Wang Zhi. After all, Zhu Jianshen still believed in Wang Zhi more...
Facts have proved that his decision was correct. Wang Yue was capable and Wang Zhi was very loyal.
These two hard-working men did not disappoint him. Just two months after taking office, they went out and fought a victorious battle, annihilating more than 300 enemies, taking more than 800 prisoners, and taking more than 2,000 cattle and sheep.
Zhu Jianshen was very happy, and the civil service group was also happy. They once again built momentum for Wang Yue, hoping that he would also serve as the commander-in-chief of Datong.
The public opinion offensive quickly set off a storm...
However, Zhu Jianshen did not respond this time, but he did not suppress public opinion and adopted an attitude of inaction.
~
Changle Palace.
Now, it has entered the twelfth lunar month.
The ice and snow covered the scene, and the weather was extremely cold. Qian's body became weaker and weaker, and he couldn't bear the slightest chill, so the old couple could only hold it in the bedroom.
The brazier was red, and the fine rosin charcoal was burning very warm. Zhu Qizhen warmed a pot of tea, held a storybook, and told stories with ups and downs.
"Husband..."
"Huh?" Zhu Qizhen stopped and said warmly: "But are you tired?"
Qian shook her head slightly, looked outside and asked, "Is it snowing outside?"
"Well, it's snowing." Zhu Qizhen sighed and said with a wry smile: "The weather in the north is really not that cold. I remember it wasn't so cold at that time. Could it be that... I'm old?"
Mrs. Qian couldn't help but feel happy: "I am still one year older than my husband. If my husband is old, I will be even older."
"You are neither old nor old." Zhu Qizhen quickly changed the subject, "Take a rest for a while, my husband will be here to watch over you."
"I'm not sleepy..." Mrs. Qian shook her head slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "Husband, you are still worried about the situation, are you?"
"There is nothing to worry about. He is much better than me." Zhu Qizhen smiled and said, "You think too much about small money."
Qian said: "We have been husband and wife for decades. How can I not know what my husband is thinking? Since I have worries, I might as well ask for clarity.
If the emperor is wise, your husband can feel at ease. If there are flaws in the emperor's governance, then correct the mistakes. You are father and son, and I believe he can understand. "
She couldn't stay with her husband for much longer and wanted to untie her husband's heart before leaving.
The old couple lived in Changle Palace and never asked about court affairs, but they could know some things without asking.
Take the civil servant who concurrently serves as the commander-in-chief of the border town. Such major events are public and there is no need to inquire at all.
Recently I heard that the emperor intends to make the censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate also serve as the commander-in-chief of Datong...
She knew that her husband was worried about this.
Zhu Qizhen was indeed worried that throughout the Ming Dynasty, emperors had always supported military generals and suppressed civil servants, but it was inappropriate for his son to do the opposite this time.
In his opinion, this is easy to get rid of.
"Huh~" Mayor Zhu Qi breathed a sigh of relief and nodded: "You are right. It is better to say something out loud than to keep it in your heart."
"Yes, father and son are not that particular." Qian encouraged, "Let's talk about it, it will be good for you and Ming Dynasty."
"Okay!" Zhu Qizhen said, "Then tell me."
~
Outer hall.
Father and son were sitting opposite each other. Zhu Jianshen took a pot and poured a cup of tea for his father, and asked curiously: "I wonder what my father has ordered when he summoned his ministers?"
This was the first time that Dad took the initiative to find him.
Zhu Qizhen was silent for a moment and said truthfully: "I'm calling you here this time because of state affairs."
"ah?"
"Don't worry, my father has no intention of courting the situation, but... my father can be considered a veteran, and he has some experience that he would like to share with you."
Zhu Jianshen nodded slowly: "Father, please tell me."
"There are not many wars in the Ming Dynasty right now. In the future, civil servants will still have to govern the world, but you..." Zhu Qizhen said, "Civil officials are destined to be powerful, why do you want to add fuel to the fire?"
Zhu Jian smiled deeply and said, "Is this what your father is talking about? Don't worry, my son has already revealed the case."
"Does that Wang Yue want to abandon civil service and join martial arts?" Zhu Qizhen asked.
"Father, Emperor Mingjian."
"This is still inappropriate," Zhu Qizhen shook his head, "My father also used this trick before, and it was the same trick that Wang Ji did at the time, and it did achieve results, but...it doesn't mean that it is foolproof;
As the saying goes: again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again!
Have you ever thought about what will happen as the number of people abandoning literature and embracing martial arts increases?
Have you ever thought that Wang Yue, who abandoned civil service and embraced military affairs, would definitely give up the civil service camp completely? "
Zhu Qizhen was full of worries.
Zhu Jianshen smiled easily: "I have thought about everything my father said, and before this matter was implemented, there was a conspiracy."
