The Reborn Duke of Ming Dynasty

"See Your Majesty." Zhang Fan entered the imperial study and saluted Long Qing.

"The Qing family's injuries haven't healed yet, get up quickly." Long Qing said hastily.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern," Zhang Fan said.Standing up, there are not only Long Qing and Feng Bao in the imperial study room today, but also three ministers who I know in the cabinet. There is also Zhang Fan who has seen it in his mourning hall but does not know him. Zhang Juzheng always seemed to be a little bigger, his appearance was very strange, that is, he was tall.

Sure enough, Gao Gong saw Zhang Fan looking at him, and said with a smile: "This old man is Gao Gong. I and your teacher, Mr. Zhang, are called brothers, so I will call you my nephew."

Regardless of the conflicts between Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, Zhang Fan could not refute his face now that he greeted him with a smile, and said very respectfully: "Junior Zhang Fan, I have met Lord Shoufu."

Several people met Li, Long Qing said: "Zhang Qing's family, how is your injury?"

"Thanks to Your Majesty's blessings, my minister's injuries are almost healed." Zhang Fan said, "My minister's injuries are all skin trauma, and there is no muscle or bone injury. It will be fine after a few more days."

"That's good. If it's convenient for you, you can go and see Jun'er later." Long Qing said, "Jun'er was very sad when he heard the news of your death. I saw you come back alive yesterday, but I sent someone to call you in." In the palace, I have been looking to see you."

"I am ashamed to make His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince worry." Zhang Fan said, he was not pretending, but was really moved.

Gao Gong saw this scene from the side, and couldn't help but keep it in his heart. After all, Zhang Fan and Zhu Yijun had such a good relationship, but he had to pay attention.

"That's all for gossip." Long Qing started to get down to business, and said, "I called you into the palace today because I have some things to ask."

"Your Majesty, please inquire. The minister must know everything and say everything." Zhang Fan said, he had actually guessed what Long Qing and the cabinet ministers were going to ask him.

"This trip to Tatar, all the officials of the Ministry of Rites were able to return safely. I heard that it is all thanks to your convincing that I Da personally led the army guards." Long Qing said, "Then I Da heard the news of your death. I didn't go into details. Now that you may be back, I guess I can also receive the news. Tell me, what kind of promise did you make with me?"

"That day, His Majesty made a secret decree to ask my minister to discuss with my minister whether there is a way to achieve long-term peace." Zhang Fan said, and at that moment, he revealed all the conversations and promises with me without any concealment.

After listening to Zhang Fan's words, everyone fell silent.After a while, Gao Gong said, "You mean, those nobles in the Tatars are dissatisfied with I Da leading them?"

"It's not so much dissatisfaction as it is dissatisfaction." Zhang Fan said, "After all, I started my business by relying on my own influence, so why don't others want to taste what it's like to be a 'sweat'!"

Li Chunfang also said at the side: "I knew that the Tartars were not in harmony in the past, but I didn't expect that the internal fighting between them was so fierce." Speaking of this, Li Chunfang looked at Gao Gong intentionally or unintentionally.

Long Qing understood what he meant. Gao Gong was currently attacking his political opponents in the court, but he had already made plans in his heart, and continued to ask: "Since the situation is like this, there is nothing wrong with it. But why does Zhang Qing's family Go back to my answer instead of looking for those who are against my answer?"

"Wei Chen also did this after careful consideration." Zhang Fan explained, "First, the situation at that time was very dangerous and urgent, and I was also in a difficult situation, so it was easier to find him to join forces. Second, those Tartar nobles united After getting up, it is indeed more powerful than Alda, but they are also dissatisfied with each other, and it is difficult to negotiate with them without a leader. Thirdly, and most importantly, those Tartar nobles So the very important reason why I don’t accept my answer is because I don’t really want to fight with my dynasty, but those nobles are coveting my kingdom’s land all the time.”

"Weichen thinks what Zhang Fan said is right." Zhang Juzheng said, "The situation was really dangerous at that time, but Zhang Fan was also very smart and knew how to unite the weak."

These people were all familiar with Zhang Juzheng and knew that he would not excuse him just because Zhang Fan was his disciple.Moreover, what Zhang Fan did was indeed beneficial to the court.

Long Qing was thinking about this, Gao Gong said from the side: "Your Majesty, this is actually a good strategy."

"Oh? Gao Aiqing, let me explain in detail." Long Qing said.

"If I secretly support I Da to subdue those Tartar nobles, then I Da will thank me, so that the disturbance on the frontier can be calmed down quickly. Wei Chen estimated that there will be at least 30 years of peace. " Gao Gong said.

"This is indeed very possible, but if this is just a trick by Ida, once we help him quell the civil strife, and he gains the power of the Tartars and comes to attack our dynasty, aren't we asking for trouble for ourselves?" Long Qing was still a little worried. .

"Your Majesty, this matter will not happen." Zhang Fan said, "Sir Shoufu also said just now that I was only making a secret effort to help me put down the chaos, but I didn't help me wipe out the power of those nobles. If If I Da breaks the contract, we can immediately release the news that I Da wants me to ask for help. At that time, it is absolutely impossible for those Tartar nobles who are unwilling to listen to Al Da's command, and a greater disaster will happen immediately within the Tartars. set off."

After hearing Zhang Fan's explanation, everyone suddenly realized that it wasn't that they couldn't think of it, but that Zhang Fan didn't know Tatar as well.

"In this case, this matter is settled." Long Qing said, "But should we send someone to inform me?"

"Your Majesty, this matter doesn't need to be so troublesome." Gao Gong said, "I heard that Jin Yiwei and Dongchang's spies are already on the Tartar side, we just need to let them spread the news that Zhang Fan is still alive to the Tartar territory. I believe I will send someone when I hear it."

When everyone thought about it, it was true.After the matter was settled, everyone had to discuss Zhang Fan's identity.I thought that Zhang Fan was dead before, but those titles were added to Zhang Fan without any scruples. Now that Zhang Fan is still alive, he has to change it.

"Your Majesty, I feel that..." Guo Pu, who had been silent all this time, said, "Master Zhang has done a lot this time. Not only did he save the court's envoys, but he also avoided a big battle between our court and the Tartars. And if the agreement with An Da is fulfilled, it will guarantee the stability of northern Xinjiang for decades. Except for one of the titles, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, who is now held by Mr. Zhang Juzheng, and cannot be assigned to two people, the other Mr. Zhang are well-deserved."

After hearing his words, Long Qing frowned: "Then what should I do? I gave Zhang Aiqing the title of Uncle Zhongyong and the title of Crown Prince and Taifu. Is it possible for the government to provide for the rest of the world?"

Speaking of this, everyone present laughed, but Zhang Fan was a little embarrassed.

"According to my opinion, Mr. Zhang has been an acquaintance of Jinyiwei, although he has not been there for a long time, but it is inconvenient to go to the court again." Gao Gong said.

Others understood what he said, Jin Yiwei supervised all officials, and Zhang Fan had a good relationship with Feng Bao who is now in charge of the East Factory, it would be strange if Zhang Fan and those courtiers went to court together.

"What does Ai Qing mean?" Long Qing asked.

"Actually, this matter has something to do with Cheng Guogong Zhu Xizhong." Gao Gong said, "Guo Gong talked with Wei Chen a few days ago. At the age of sixty, the command of Jin Yiwei is also a little bit powerless."

Gao Gong didn't say any more, but everyone present understood what he meant.But everyone couldn't help guessing that Zhu Xizhong was a good person, but he didn't have any conflicts with Gao Gong. Could it be that Zhu Xizhong really mentioned this matter himself?

Long Qing's words solved everyone's doubts: "Duke Cheng also told me about this matter. At that time, I thought it was just his joke, but now that I think about it, it is true."

Zhang Fan hadn't said a word, he was thinking about other things all the time.I remember the first time I saw Zhu Xizhong, I felt that he was just a middle-aged man, but I didn't expect him to be over 50 years old.The ancients said: "People in their [-]s are rare in ancient times." Although Zhu Xizhong, who is approaching sixty, has a good impression of the powerful job of Governor of Jinyiwei, he gradually feels that time is not forgiving, and he wants to retire.

"That's the way." Long Qing thought for a while and said, "Mr. Cheng is indeed old. Although Zhang Aiqing is young, she is also loyal to me, and she is careful in handling things. Tomorrow I will call Mr. Cheng to ask him. mean."

Zhang Fan really didn't expect that he would become the leader of the Ming Dynasty's secret agents, and the famous or notorious Jinyiwei Commander.The matter was settled like this, and everyone left.But Long Qing kept Zhang Fan and even drove Feng Bao out.

There were only two people in the imperial study room, Long Qing said to Zhang Fan: "Aiqing, you are loyal to the court and me, and I am really relieved to hand over Jinyiwei to you."

Zhang Fan hastened to express his loyalty: "Thank you for your great love, I will definitely serve the emperor and the court loyally, and I will live up to the expectations of the Holy Majesty."

However, Long Qing waved his hands with a smile, and said, "Not only do you want to be loyal to me and the court, you have to promise me that you will help Jun'er well in the future."

Zhang Fan paused for a moment, and didn't say anything like "Your Majesty is blessed, long live", but knelt in front of Long Qing, and said respectfully: "My minister obeys the order."

Long Qing was very satisfied with his performance, and after getting Zhang Fan up, he mysteriously recruited him to his side, and said in a low voice, "Aiqing did a good job of what I asked you to do this time, and you actually got it I bought a thousand catties of Cistanche." It turned out that yesterday, when the caravan from Tatar came back, among them were the things that Zhang Fan had collected for Long Qing, and Long Qing couldn't help being very satisfied when he saw that there were more than a thousand catties.

Hearing his words, Zhang Fan felt a little helpless in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face, he just said: "Your Majesty's order, I must do my best."

"You did a good job in this matter." Long Qing said very satisfied, "I think Ai Qing also knows what the medicinal materials I want you to find are for. You did a good job in this matter, and I can't do anything to show it in the open What will I reward you for?"

"Your Majesty doesn't need to be like this. It is the duty of a courtier to solve His Majesty's worries and problems." Zhang Fan said quickly.

"The more Aiqing says that, the more I want to reward you. Hmm..." After thinking for a while, Long Qing said, "It's hard to reward you for joining the crown prince at such a young age. How about this, these days you should first use your wounds to recuperate I mean to stay at home and wait until March when I will appoint you as an imperial envoy to go to Jiangnan to check the tax for me. Since I opened the sea ban, the tax in Jiangnan is rich, but there are people who are corrupt and pervert the law. There are more and more of them. Thirty percent of the officials you confiscated for corruption and taxes are handed over to the national treasury, thirty percent go to our internal treasury, and the remaining forty percent should be kept.”

Now Zhang Fan was a little horrified, he had heard of Long Qing's extravagance, but he didn't know that it had reached this level!Now that the Ming Dynasty has opened the sea ban, money from overseas is pouring in like a tide, and it is normal for officials in Jiangnan to be corrupt.Even if Zhang Fan didn't know how much the amount was, he could still guess that [-]% of the tax money was confiscated!Aren't you afraid that your house will be filled with silver pieces?

With lingering fear in his heart, Zhang Fan hurriedly said: "Thank you Your Majesty for the reward, but this is not appropriate!"

"What's wrong!" Long Qing said with an angry face, "This world belongs to me, and I can give what I have to whoever I want, not to mention these are corrupt money. Does Aiqing want to resist the order?"

"I don't dare." Zhang Fan immediately knelt down and said.

"En." Long Qing nodded in satisfaction and said, "That's good. If I don't get rewards for doing things for me, who will work for me in the future! Besides, in this way, I don't have to worry about Aiqing being bribed by those who bribe me." Xiaoen Xiaohui is confused!"

Zhang Fan smiled wryly in his heart, but he could only accept the decree to thank him: "My minister complies with the decree."