Xian Sun of the Ning Mansion of the Red Chamber

Chapter 304

The various families outside the palace calculated their accounts, and they were not affected in the slightest by the upcoming war.But in the palace, the emperor, the cabinet and several ministers from the six ministries never had a moment of leisure.

In the Huagai Palace, after discussing state affairs, Jiade left Fu Donglai and Ye Baichuan alone, while Yang Jing, Gu Chunting and several ministers from the Ministry of Households, Ministry of War and Industry retreated out tactfully.

Before leaving the main hall, Yang Jing, who had been acting as a response person, raised his head and glanced into the hall without a trace, and a hint of unwillingness and jealousy flashed in his slightly cloudy eyes.

He is probably the most aggrieved chief minister since the establishment of the dynasty. Unlike Li Endi, he was the first chief minister personally selected by Jiade since he came to the throne, but every time the emperor pays attention to his confidants, he looks like an outsider Generally excluded, he is still a spectator since the implementation of the New Deal.

Being suppressed by Li Endi and Xu Zhemu, it was because of insufficient qualifications. It doesn't mean that Yang Jing was born without revenge, so he was willing to be a respondent, but the emperor, Fu Donglai, Ye Baichuan and others did not allow him to participate at all. New Deal opportunities.

Sometimes, he even felt that he was like a veteran of the previous dynasty who was dependent on the new dynasty, and he was out of place.People often compare him with Li Endi in private, jokingly, Li Endi is an old god in court, he is as immovable as a pine, and he is the same, but Li Endi's immovable as a pine is regarded by people as a pillar of the country, while Li Endi is as immobile as a pine. He, Yang Jing, only brushes up the presence of the answering bug when he needs him to answer.

It is impossible to say that Yang Jing has no resentment in his heart, but it is just that he is unable to do what he wants and waits for the time to act.

"The lonely palace is late in spring, and the pear blossoms are everywhere without opening the door."

This line of poem popped up in Yang Jing's mind for no reason, but he felt that it was very suitable for the current state of mind.

"Elder Ge, watch your step."

Yang Jing's thoughts were flying, and he couldn't help being distracted. He didn't even pay attention to the steps under his feet.

Yang Jing regained his senses, soothed his palpitations, looked at Gu Chunting with a warm smile and said, "Jing Fang, thank you very much, I'm lucky to have you by my side, otherwise I will be disrespectful in front of the palace and spread the word. what."

Gu Chunting also smiled back, holding Yang Jing with both hands, and said with a respectful and humble appearance: "The old man is healthy and healthy, just like a old man, but he just didn't pay attention for a while. Chun Ting has no talent, so he can only help the old man. Pay more attention when you are not paying attention, you are an old senior, Chun Ting is just doing what should be done."

Yang Jing said with a chuckle: "Nowadays everyone says that I, the chief assistant, is just a respondent, an embarrassing daughter-in-law who can nod but can't speak, and is also old and weak. Ah, no matter how you look at it, I can't be called healthy. Strong and tough, not to mention the words of the old man."

"Old is old, Jing Fang, you don't have to accommodate me, I know my own situation." He said, and patted Gu Chunting's arm affectionately.

Gu Chunting responded with a smile: "Ge Lao's life span is over [-] years, and the Spring and Autumn Period is in full bloom. Now it is just a horse lying in a trough and a horse in a deep place. Chun Ting will count on Ge Lao to teach him a lot in the future."

How could Gu Chunting fail to understand that the reason why His Majesty introduced Yang Jing as an answerer was to contain Fu Donglai at the critical moment. Don't look at the power of Yang Jing's first assistant as if it has been emptied, but the first assistant is the first assistant, which is justified The head of the hundred officials.

In other words, Yang Jing's position is actually the most secure one. After all, it is not easy to pick out another senior official.Moreover, the power behind Yang Jing is not weak, not only the legacy left by the former chief assistant, but also the former disciples and old officials who are all over the officialdom, but they are temporarily dormant.

It is very difficult for an official to take the position of Gu Chunting, especially at the moment when the New Deal depends on Fu Donglai and Ye Baichuan's efforts to maintain it. He has been doing "studying with the prince" for so many years in obscurity, and finally survived until today , How can you be willing to be a pawn?
In the past, Gu Chunting still didn't understand why there were so many open and secret fights between the cabinet scholars of the previous dynasties, relying on stepping on the former to get the top position, but now he understands that when the status is high, the road is narrow, and he doesn't want to be inferior , you can only backstab the person in front, just like Fu Donglai defeated Xu Zhemu and Li En the second person successively.

Yang Jing looked at Gu Chunting with deep meaning in his cloudy eyes, and said with a smile: "Jing Fang, in a few days, it will be my 65th birthday. During the national funeral, I don't plan to let people make a fuss, but please invite a few colleagues It's still okay for friends to drink tea and talk, if you don't dislike me, an old man, why not come to the house and sit?"

"Elder Ge wants it, Chun Ting is honored."

"Master Ge, please."

"Please, Jingfang."

Yan Huasong, who was far behind, looked at the scene of the two people in front of him, frowning slightly, his face seemed to be worried and helpless, the bystanders were clear, the authorities were confused, His Majesty trusted Fu Ye and the two elders so much, and he always left alone Narrative, doesn't it make it clear that you don't want the cabinet to be in harmony.

There is nothing wrong with the art of imperial control, I'm afraid it's too much.He is on the side of the New Deal, acting as the pawn of the Duke of Donglai. It is not good to continue like this. Now he thinks in his heart that he should find a time to remind his benefactor.

Inside the hall.

The three monarchs and ministers talked to each other, but the topic was about the selection of generals for this expedition.

"Wang Ziteng holds four towns in Shaanxi with 20 troops, accounting for 20% of the total force on the nine sides; Ru'an Bai Song Tingzhang and Suzhong Wang Yang You control the second town in Shanxi with 52 troops; Xuanfu, Jizhou, Liaodong , The total number of soldiers and horses in the three places is nearly [-], and the total number of troops on the nine sides is [-].

In addition to staying behind, 10 horses can be transferred from Shaanxi, first take the Western Regions, and open up the passage between Hexi and Yuzi Kingdom. Yuzi has many good horses and camels, which can enrich the cavalry of the Western Army. Forced the Huns royal court.

The soldiers of Liaodong should not be moved lightly. They need to deter the tribes of the Eastern Hu so that they will not be recruited by the left of the Xiongnu to help them from the west. In the first three passes, the soldiers and horses went out of the fortress and went straight to the left of the Huns.Agujin was busy fighting for the position of Khan, and there were not many soldiers and horses left in his headquarters. Once the two kings on the left and right of the Xiongnu were defeated, those Mongolian and Yuan tribes who were oppressed by the Huns had to wait and see. "

For this Northern Expedition, Fu and Ye had different divisions of labor. Ye Baichuan was in charge of mobilizing troops and horses, while Fu Donglai ensured the food and grass in the rear.It was Ye Baichuan who spoke just now.

After hearing this, Jiade nodded and said: "Yang You can lead an army of ten thousand people to attack Shanxi, but after Jizhou soldiers are transferred, who should fill the vacant defense?"

Ye Baichuan said: "It's better to draw three battalions of soldiers and horses from the Beijing camp to advance eastward."

Fu Donglai shook his head and said: "No, Your Majesty, the Beijing camp will guard the security of the capital and should not be moved lightly. The formation of the Shandong Beiwa army is about to be completed, and the Jizhou army can be dispatched first, and then a part of Shandong troops will be transferred north to take over the defense of Jizhou After all, this time is an attack. Jizhou Town is mainly to guard against the defeat of Liaodong. The Donghu tribes plundered and entered the customs. Well, even if the Eastern Hu tribes have any ideas, they must think about it carefully, once the Huns are defeated, they must be able to face my wrath."

"Yes, it is enough to send a Japanese soldier from Shandong."

Jiade and Ye Baichuan nodded at the same time, approving Fu Donglai's method.

Then, I heard Jiade ask: "Whether the Western Army can complete the battle this time, the first is in the Western Regions, but there is only one Prince Teng over there, I am still a little worried."

Fu Ye and two listened, but fell into silence.

When Wang Ziteng took office when he was in danger, he led the soldiers of the Western Army to defeat the right part of the Xiongnu, and broke the siege of Datong in one fell swoop. There are very few handsome talents like Wang Ziteng who are capable of writing and martial arts.

Both of them could tell that the emperor wasn't worried about whether Wang Ziteng would be competent, but the key point was that if the Northern Expedition could succeed as promised, the first contribution would be made by the Western Army.At that time, Wang Ziteng will probably overshadow the princes in the court in terms of limelight and reputation, and he will be the old Beijing Jing Wang.

The emperor felt afraid, even a powerful official like Li Endi couldn't compare to the pressure that the old Northern King put on Jiade.

"Your Majesty, the battle is imminent, and the most important thing is the morale of the army. Wang Ziteng led the Western Army out of Yumen Pass, and the timing is not inaccurate. I still believe that Wang Ziteng is competent for this matter."

Fu Donglai also has a hard time saying that Xungui is a major obstacle to the reform of land and acres in the New Deal. Before that, he first took out several marginalized Xungui mansions, and then supported Lin Ruhai to dominate the affairs of Liaodong, just to pave the way for defeating Xungui. .

He never thought that he could do his best, even if he could gain some advantages in the confrontation, it would be of great benefit to the New Deal in the future, but before he could exert his strength, Wang Ziteng only used a military newspaper to send Everything disappeared, making all his preparations in vain.

But now, he still wants to continue to endorse Wang Ziteng, it's strange that he wishes in his heart.

But as the chief assistant, he had to focus on the overall situation.

Wenzhiwugong, if you can destroy the Xiongnu in one fell swoop and drive the Hu to the north, everything will be perfect.

Hearing this, Jiade felt dissatisfied, but he had no choice but to admit it and postpone it.

"Where's Jia Ying? Why didn't you see his brochure handed over today?" Jia De asked suddenly.

Just after the emperor's words fell, a little Huangmen appeared outside the hall holding a memorial. Dai Quan, who had a sharp eye and quick hands, walked out lightly, took the memorial in Xiaohuangmen's hand, and waved his hand to let him go .

"Your Majesty, Lord Jia's memorial has arrived."

"Bring it up."

In fact, Jiade can guess what is written in Jia Ying's memorial without reading it. Jia Ying is still obsessed with the impeachment of the book, such as "everything must be taken seriously" and "an ant's nest must be investigated", it seems that there is a trend of not giving up until the goal is achieved.

"This Jia Ying doesn't care about the overall situation at all."

Jia De was talking, but there was no sign of displeasure on his face, while opening Jia Ying's memorial.

"Oh, the topic of the playbook has been changed this time."

Continuing to read, Jia De nodded slightly, and said in his mouth: "Even if he still knows a little bit about priorities, I don't care about my high hopes for him."

Jia De raised his head, saw that the two courtiers also looked over, handed the memorial book to Dai Quan, motioned to show it to Fu Ye and the two, and said, "Jia Ying's invitation to fight this time is for me."

After Fu Donglai looked at it, he frowned and said: "Nonsense, he is a civil servant who was born in the Imperial Academy, how could he try his best to imitate some martial arts temperament, thinking that if he was lucky enough to win a few battles, he would be invincible in the world."

Jia De waved his hand and said, "Fu Qing shouldn't be too strict, it's fine. Young people, it's a good thing to have a heart to serve the country."

"Your Majesty said so." Fu Donglai said with a bow.

For Jia Ying, Fu Donglai still recognized it, whether it was ability or character, he was knighted at a young age, but he never felt complacent, which is very rare.The key is to know the current affairs and know when to make what choice, just like breaking with Xungui this time, Fu Donglai is satisfied from the bottom of his heart.

Otherwise, at such a young age, he was in a high position, supported by nobles, and was well-known in the army. He really didn't dare to use it with confidence, not to mention him, the emperor might not have the same thoughts.

From Fu Donglai's perspective, it is natural to see that Jia Ying's behavior is a bit clever, just like the impeachment in the book for several days in a row, but the words in the book are all words that are not itchy or painful. The purpose of this is to show the emperor and them people their feelings.

Jia De said to Dai Quan again: "Pass down my oral order and ask Jia Ying to meet outside the palace."

Seeing this, Fu Donglai waited for Dai Quan to leave before he asked, "Your Majesty wants to use Jia Ying?"

After hesitating for a moment, Jiade asked: "I remember that the Hunan Army Camp is now under the jurisdiction of the Western Army, right?"

Ye Baichuan replied: "Return to Your Majesty, the Hunan Army Battalion is now stationed in Gansu Town, the former Prince Fan sent troops out of Yumen Pass, it is the Hunan Army Battalion as the vanguard."

Jia De nodded and said: "According to the rule, whenever a large army goes out, the imperial court will send civil servants to supervise the army. Jia Ying has led the army several times and has made great achievements. I also intend to send him to the Western Army to assist Wang Ziteng."

"No, Your Majesty."

Jiade looked at Fu Donglai and said, "Does Aiqing have any doubts?"

Fu Donglai replied: "Firstly, Wang Ziteng leads an army of 20 troops alone. He holds great power, and there is no two masters in the army. Even if he chooses civil servants to supervise the army, he should not choose Jia Ying, who has experience in the Western Army, so as not to divide Wang Ziteng's army. Second, the Wang family and the Jia family are related by marriage for several generations, according to their seniority, Jia Ying should call Wang Ziteng his uncle, and use his nephew to supervise his uncle's army, which has never been the case in ancient and modern times."

From Fu Donglai's point of view, Jiade was too afraid of Wang Ziteng, so that he was confused.

After what Fu Donglai said, Jiade also realized that he was too anxious, so he calmed down and asked: "In the opinion of the two lovers, who should be sent to supervise the army?"

Fu Donglai pondered for a moment and said: "You can be appointed as Jia Yucun, the right servant of the Ministry of War, to be the governor of Shanshan, and to assist Prince Teng in all matters concerning grain and fodder."

"Jia Yucun?" Jiade still hesitated.

But Ye Baichuan who was on the side suddenly said: "Your Majesty, I think that what Fu Ge said is the best choice. First, Jia Yucun was recommended by Wang Ziteng. With this arrangement, His Majesty can be summoned to give Wang Ziteng the best choice." The long kindness is profound. Secondly, Jia Yucun must also do his best to assist Wang Ziteng, so the army will have no worries."

Seeing that the two confidant ministers were in agreement, Jiade no longer insisted. He was not afraid of Wang Ziteng, but the victory of the Northern Expedition was the key.

"Recently, the censor impeached Liu Yunlong, the head of the Ministry of Industry, saying that he used his power for personal gain, appointed his cronies, and arbitrarily determined the wood and stone materials used for the construction of the river project. What do the two lovers think of Liu Yunlong?"

Seeing the emperor's question, Fu Donglai replied first: "Your Majesty, what I heard is different from what the censor said. Liu Yunlong is a clean and honest official. Since he took office in the river, he has worked hard, and now the dredging of the river from Tongzhou to Shandong has been completed. , The construction of the Tianjin Shipping Terminal has also made progress. Last year, Beijing was hit by a snowstorm, and Liu Yunlong helped the court share a lot of pressure with work instead of relief.

As for the wood and stone materials used for the Duanhe river project, as far as I know, it is because Liu Yunlong used wood and stone materials this time to bypass several imperial merchants in the capital, but distributed the benefits to the nearby people, so he suffered resentment That's all. "

It was he, the second assistant of the court, and Feng Hengshi, who was the minister of the Ministry of Rites, who recommended Liu Yunlong to be an official in Beijing.

"Oh, there are not many courtiers who can win Fu Qing's praise, and I have heard about it, but since there is impeachment by the censor, I can't ignore it."

"Well, Yang Bi is taking care of everything about the canal, waterway and sea transportation. Now that everything has paid off, let him find another minister to take over the matter. As for Liu Yunlong, let him go to Shaanxi with Jia Yucun Go, take charge of raising food and grass.”

"That's it. If there is no other important matter, let's leave today."

(End of this chapter)