Zhang Mingwei and his party arrived at the Forbidden City on wooden bicycles in such a cool manner.
Later, Zhu Yurao went to see her mother, while the others went to Jinluan Hall to discuss matters.
After all, the results of Xingguo Gong's southern and northern campaigns are obvious to all. Emperor Chongzhen's intention was to prepare a reward for Zhang Mingwei's meritorious service.
However, Zhang Mingwei still refused. The reason was that the bandits had not been put down and were still raging in Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. As the general person in charge, it was not suitable for him to discuss merits before the matter was settled.
That's what he said, but everyone understood that even if the bandits were not completely suppressed, Duke Xingguo's contribution was obvious to all.
Among the civil and military officials, many people still came forward to ask for credit for Zhang Mingwei.
Among them, there are people from Zhang Mingwei's family, and this is sincere.
If it weren't for Zhang Mingwei, bandits would be raging in the Central Plains, and wars would be waged everywhere. It would really look like the end of the world. But now, the world is basically at peace, good news is spreading frequently, and so many places have even been rehabilitated. There is also a huge iron mine presented. This kind of merit is a great achievement for anyone. It can be said that the reason is very sufficient.
There are also some people who are clamoring to take credit for Zhang Mingwei. They saw the scene of entering the city and knew the status of Duke Xingguo in the heart of the emperor, which was beyond the relationship between monarch and minister of any dynasty. Asking for credit for Zhang Mingwei is to curry favor with Duke Xingguo, and may have a chance to win Duke Xingguo's favor.
As for some people, their thoughts are a bit sinister. The purpose is still the same as before. Duke Xingguo is already the Duke of the country. He is encouraged to encourage the emperor to give Duke Xingguo a title, either hereditary or as a king. In short, it is necessary to put Duke Xingguo on a higher level. Even if he cannot be defeated for the time being, he can still Lay the foundation for the future.
Therefore, this time at the Jinluan Palace, everyone was surprisingly unanimous and asked Emperor Chongzhen to grant him the title of Duke Xingguo.
Seeing this, Zhang Mingwei went out and said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, I have said before that it is not my intention to be granted the title of marquis, but I hope Hai Bo is peaceful! If I must be rewarded, I want to get a promise from your Majesty."
Upon hearing this, everyone was a little surprised.
Duke Xingguo doesn't want a reward, but just a promise? What is that promise?
Therefore, people with different thoughts will have different thoughts!
Most people think that Duke Xingguo is planning for a rainy day, using today's achievements to exchange for a chance of immunity in the future, similar to a gold medal to avoid death?
There are also some people who think that Duke Xingguo is going to propose to Emperor Chongzhen and ask to marry Princess Kunxing, but the princess is not yet old enough, so they have to wait until the future?
Of course, there are people with other ideas.
However, Emperor Chongzhen actually knew what Zhang Mingwei wanted to do in the end. Looking at the way Zhang Mingwei looked at him, he knew better than anyone what Zhang Mingwei meant by mentioning this!
It can be said that when Zhang Mingwei asked him for this promise, he did not really ask him for a promise, but he was giving an advance greeting to all civil and military officials. When it comes up in the future, there will be one more excuse.
With this in mind, Emperor Chongzhen immediately asked all the civil and military officials: "Sir's proposal, what suggestions do you have?"
This time, the civil and military officials had different meanings.
Some believe that there is no precedent for this situation; others believe that it is absolutely okay for Duke Xing Guo to have such great achievements!
Some of these people insist on etiquette; others feel that Xing Guogong is still naive. Didn’t the previous Cheng Guogong have an ironclad book, and the final result is not the same; some even feel that it turns out that Duke Xingguo loves beauty rather than country, and he is obsessed with Princess Kunxing to this extent.
Zhang Mingwei persisted and expressed his position again, saying that the promise he wanted would benefit the country and the people and was by no means an excessive request. If he didn't give this promise, he wouldn't want the reward anyway, and his attitude was very clear.
Seeing this situation, Emperor Chongzhen was a little moved, so of course he cooperated. He immediately asked one by one, and all the important ministers had to express their stance.
At this time, Zhang Mingwei's power was at its peak. Even if he accused a deer of being a horse, few people would dare to expose it. Therefore, in the end, his request was approved.
So, regarding the personal reward to Duke Xingguo, this was the first step.
Next, Emperor Chongzhen took out two more successful reports he had received before, and began to discuss issues such as rewards and awards at the court meeting.
It can be said that this court meeting is a festive one. After all, the issue of rewards is discussed.
However, in fact, some people have some opinions on this.
Because these two pieces of good news were received a few days ago. However, the emperor kept silent. Everyone could see that the emperor wanted to wait for Duke Xingguo to return to Beijing before coming to discuss matters. Now that I see it, it is indeed the case!
This made them feel as if Emperor Chongzhen had left Duke Xingguo and felt like he was not enjoying his meal.
If you talk about annihilating bandits or other national plans, it doesn't matter if you consult Duke Xingguo. After all, Duke Xingguo's abilities are there.
However, isn't it possible for Duke Xingguo to be dispensed with in discussions like this?
Emperor Chongzhen's doing this made them feel that all of them together could not compare to Duke Xingguo in Emperor Chongzhen's heart!
With this kind of understanding, no matter who it is, they are a little bit unconvinced.
However, they couldn't tell such a thing. After all, the emperor wanted to do this. As ministers, what could they do?
At this time, Emperor Chongzhen asked Fang Zhenghua, the eunuch on duty, to read aloud the good news about the Hetao sent by Governor Yansui, and then asked the civil and military officials how to deal with this matter.
The rewards for Li Dingguo and others are actually based on military merit, which has always been the norm. For the sake of Duke Xingguo, there is nothing special about preferring a higher reward, or for those who have a grudge against these original thieves, toward a lower reward.
In this regard, Zhang Mingwei did not speak, but just listened.
In the end, the main generals were all upgraded. As for the others, there is no need to discuss it in court, the Ministry of War will come up with a reward plan.
In this regard, Zhang Mingwei still said nothing, obviously he had no objection.
Later, Emperor Chongzhen asked the civil and military officials: "Governor Yansui said that the Tumut tribe in Hetao has been almost wiped out. What should be done with this place in Hetao?"
The focus of this good news, if there is any controversy, is actually here.
As a result, the officials below quickly divided into two groups.
One group of people's point of view is that since the imperial court has recovered the Hetao, it should send troops to garrison it and declare that this is the place of the Ming Dynasty.
The other group's view is that there is no danger to defend the Hetao area, and the Ming Dynasty did not lack that land. Instead of getting stuck in the Hetao area in the future and repeating the same mistakes as before, it is better not to send troops at all. , in the end it must still belong to the Mongols.
Emperor Chongzhen also had foresight of these two views. In fact, he was a little unsure about these two views, so he thought of waiting for Zhang Mingwei to come back and ask his opinion before making a decision. Rather than just to express to the ministers how important Xingguo Gong is, he cannot do without Xingguo Gong.
At this time, at the court meeting, just as Emperor Chongzhen thought, two views emerged.
Although generally speaking, the majority of people prefer not to use useless places like the Hetao, but Emperor Chongzhen still asked Zhang Mingwei: "What do you think, sir?"
Upon hearing Emperor Chongzhen's question, all the civil and military officials stopped arguing and listened carefully to what Duke Xingguo was thinking.
In their opinion, their reasons have been made very clear. What other tricks can Duke Xingguo come up with?
After hearing this, Zhang Mingwei did not answer immediately. Instead, he turned his head and looked at the elites of this era in the hall. He had to lament that due to the limitations of the times, these elites can be described in one word: short-sighted!
But he can understand this. Because from their point of view, the Loop is really worthless. Even though the Hetao Plain is a fertile place, the Central Plains Dynasty does not lack such a fertile land.
Due to transportation restrictions in this era, the Hetao is more likely to be invaded by nomads, who only understand that the land is used for farming and do not care about it at all.
In this regard, Zhang Mingwei has already had countermeasures to convince people of this era.
Then, Zhang Mingwei turned to look at Emperor Chongzhen and said to him in a decisive tone: "Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty must capture this Loop!"
Upon hearing this, the group headed by the Minister of Hubu, who did not want the Hetao, immediately frowned. Among them, the Minister of Hubu immediately asked: "My lord, occupying the Hetao is not worth the gain. Now the national treasury has just improved. However, troops are still being deployed in Southwest and Liaodong, and disasters continue to occur in various places..."
When Zhang Mingwei heard this, he immediately looked at him with a smile and asked him, "What if I say, there is a huge iron mine in Hetao?"
As soon as he said these words, those who tried to persuade him, including the Minister of the Ministry of Finance, were all dumbfounded.
Huge iron ore? If there are really huge iron mines, then the Hetao cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of the Mongols no matter what. Otherwise, if the Mongols mine it, it will be a nightmare for the Central Plains Dynasty!
However, for all these years, I haven’t heard of the huge iron ore in Hetao?
Thinking of this, the Minister of Hubu said with some doubts: "My lord, this is no joke!"
"Do you think I'm joking?" After hearing this, Zhang Mingwei asked again, "Just because you don't know it doesn't mean it doesn't exist! And I can tell you that there is also a huge iron mine in Liaodong. If you don't occupy it sooner, sooner or later, One day we will be discovered by them!”
Upon hearing this, the entire Jinluan Palace was in a sensation.
In this era, the importance of iron ore cannot be overemphasized!
