Jingming

Chapter 331 Want to take advantage of His Majesty?

Once, Liang Chu said to Zhang Fujing: On the day of success, pawns crossing the river will become generals.

Zhang Fujing thought that his achievements were in Jiaozhi, but he was so grateful to the emperor for his trust: when the three-year period came, he received the title of Minister of Rites and Governor of Shandong.

Three years later, Zhang Fujing, who was already 53, took the position of Minister of the Ministry of Officials.

Looks like it's old enough.However, it has only been six years since he became a Jinshi and became an official.

The same is true for Yan Song.

Two middle-aged men in their 40s entered the field of vision of the 16-year-old emperor in the 15th year of Zhengde, and since then they have soared into the sky.

The new ministers have finally entered the center of the court steadily, but the old ministers are withering.

In midsummer and July, at the same time as Yan Song, who entered Beijing later, also arrived in the capital, and Funing Hou Zhuqi.

When they entered the city, Dingguo's mansion was completely deserted, and news of the death of Liang Chu and Gu Dayong was reported back to the capital at almost the same time.

Coincidentally.

Mao Cheng died of illness in the second year of Jiajing, and now three more people have died in this scorching heat.At this time when the "monarch and ministers struggle for power" in the Ming Dynasty Hall first appeared, the important ministers who supported the emperor and welcomed the emperor, now only Yang Tinghe is in Nanjing and Cui Yuan is in the center.

Oh, and Zhang Jin who played a big role at that time.

Yan Song, who had just become Minister of the Ministry of Rites, had to agree on posthumous titles for Ding Guogong and Liang Chu.

Duke Ding of course wants to pursue his posthumous posthumous posthumous title, but Chu Liang was demoted to serve as a commoner because of his crimes. Giving him a posthumous title now is the respect conveyed by the emperor to the old officials, and it is affirmation of Chu Liang's contribution to helping Zhang Fujing try out the new law.

But Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites has more than one thing to do.

At the beginning of July, after arriving at the border, the envoy sent by the Khan Court of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, Bilge Zhagarin, had already sent troops from Jizhou Town to escort nearly a hundred people from the mission led by him to the capital with the permission of the emperor.

"It's really rude! Even if you still have to wait for your emperor's time, there is only one of you, the right servant of the Ministry of Rites, here. I am the envoy sent by the noble Khan, and the servant of Changshengtian, the ruler of the world! We are not prisoners!"

The right servant of the Ministry of Rites is Cui Yuan's in-law Liu Long.

Liu Long was appointed as the right servant of the Ministry of Rites from the original Imperial Academy, and he is still the third grade.

But Liu Long still sticks to his philosophy of being an official: it is good to be cowardly, and it is not wrong to be cowardly.

Zagarin is a shaman who conveys divine oracle and is also the think tank of the Northern Yuan Lord. It is said that he is good at divination and "magic attack".

Facing Bileg, the envoy of the Great Khan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, Liu Long just said patiently: "How can the Celestial Dynasty be rude? But my Duke Ding of Ming Dynasty and Duke Liang Shunde, the chief assistant of the cabinet, passed away, and the Ministry of Rites is too busy. "

"That's not a reason to neglect my Khan Court! If the Lord of the Han people doesn't want to listen to the greetings and suggestions of the Lord of the Grassland, then let me go back and tell the Khan about the result instead of letting us stay here like prisoners. You can't go out in the small yard!"

"Where is Zagalin? The hall is so big, there are no outsiders now, and there are good wine and good food every day, so why neglect? Wait for two more days, don't be impatient."

"Is the wine and meat on the grassland bad? I am here on behalf of the Great Khan to discuss important matters with the owner of the land to the south!"

"I have already submitted the letter of credence brought by Zagarin, so why rush? For such a major matter, does Zagarin think that a clear attitude will be discussed soon?"

Bilge stared at him for a while, and then laughed loudly: "Even if you can't clarify the detailed content, you can't even decide the attitude? Could it be that you continue to fight at the frontier as in the past, or talk about peace? Can't you be clear about your attitude?"

Liu Long frowned, the good old man also had a temper, and said coldly: "If I remember correctly, last year in Shuozhou, you seem to have suffered a big defeat."

After the interpreter vigilantly translated, the atmosphere in the lobby of the hall suddenly became tense.Bileg's guards screamed, they didn't need to translate, just looked at their expressions, and they knew they were cursing, but some people were disdainful, while others were angry.

Bilege also said in a strange way: "It turns out that you thought that the grassland heroes broke into your home, and the land and family members were ravaged. In the end, you can cheer for victory just by looking at our leaving back."

"Oh? Then General Li wiped out a small tribe that often harassed my border town of Daming?"

Bilge was not angry, but nodded as if suddenly realizing: "It seems that the Tumed Department gave you the courage. In this way, the kindness of the Khan may be misunderstood by you as a request for peace talks after the defeat. I think there is no need for me to stay any longer."

"Aren't you here to ask for peace talks?"

A voice came in from outside the door, and after a while, Yan Song walked in with steady steps in his new official robe.

Liu Long saluted immediately: "Uncle Da Zong."

Bileg looked at Yan Song and asked solemnly, "Who is your honor?"

"Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites of the Ming Dynasty, Yan Song."

He slowly sat down on the main seat, straightened the hem of the official robe, and then looked at Bileg: "Sending an envoy to ask for tribute, what is tribute? It is called tribute when I am the master of Ming Dynasty! Although Zagalin If you don’t read my Celestial Classics, the Lord of the Northern Yuan Dynasty and his subordinates should understand what tribute is, right?”

"You!" Bileg was ridiculed by him for being ignorant, and then he snorted, "That's just for your understanding! The Great Khan clearly stated in the national letter that it is a brotherhood! I heard that Daming His Majesty the Emperor is 21 this year, which is about the same age as the Great Khan!"

Yan Song laughed: "So, Beiyuan Khan wants to call himself elder brother?"

"Since I'm older, I, Bei Yuan, will naturally be my brother!"

Yan Song put away his smile, stood up and bowed in the direction of the Forbidden City: "I have ordered you from His Majesty to convey a few words to your envoy."

Since it was conveying the emperor's oral order, Bilge had to express a little respect: "Please speak."

Yan Song frowned: "The holy edict, you have to kneel to listen."

Bileg couldn't hold back anymore: "I am the emissary of the Great Khan, how can I kneel down and listen?"

"Your Majesty is just a messenger, not the Lord of the Northern Yuan himself. Could it be that you didn't kneel before the emperor? Liu Shilang, didn't you teach them the etiquette of my dynasty?"

The first two imperial study companions studied for bachelors, and now they are in the same department.But between him and Uncle Yan Dazong, there is already a pathetic and thick barrier like Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Rites.

Now Liu Long could only answer with a bitter face: "Of course I taught them all, but the envoys are unruly..."

"Going out as an envoy without knowing etiquette, the Lord of the Northern Yuan Dynasty sent an inhuman person!" Yan Song looked at Bileg coldly, "If your honor does not follow my Ming etiquette, then please go back."

"You!" Bileg held his head high, "I am the servant of Changshengtian, the master of the world, and I only kneel down to Changshengtian and the son of Changshengtian to sweat!"

Yan Song simply waved his sleeves: "Please go back."

"Is this how the Han emperor, who is known as the state of etiquette, treats guests? He humiliated the Great Khan's envoy in such a way. Get ready for the wrath of the Longevity!"

The purpose of Bileger's trip this time was very flexible, and he also simply began to speak harshly and prepare to withdraw.

And just as they walked out of the lobby and were about to go back to the bedroom to pack their bags, another group of people rushed to the hall.

Bilge's eyes rested on the hat of the leader for a moment, and then he stopped walking - according to his understanding of Han officials, the more vertical lines on the hat, the bigger the official.

"Zhang Guowu, why are you here?"

Sure enough, he had to walk out of the room when he saw the dragging Minister of Rites just now, and bowed to this person.

The person who came over was Zhang Zilin. Seeing the expression of the Beiyuan mission now, he asked, "Weizhong, what's the situation?"

"I want to read out your Majesty's oral order. The Northern Yuan envoy did not kneel and listen according to the etiquette, which shows that he did not come to ask for peace with sincerity. As a minister of the Ministry of Rites, I cannot lose the king's prestige, so I ordered him to return to the North. If the Lord of the Northern Yuan Dynasty still intends to ask for peace , and send another person who knows the etiquette."

Zhang Zilin was surprised: "Your Majesty's oral order? The State Affairs Hall is still discussing, and your Majesty issued an oral order?"

"How dare I pretend to be?"

The interpreter at the Ministry of Rites did not translate these few sentences.

But in the Beiyuan Mission, there were naturally translators, and Bileg understood, and a strange look appeared in his eyeballs.

"...What do you say in the oral order? I am in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Rites, so I should know."

"Since the state affairs ask, the lower officials will naturally answer."

Yan Song sternly saluted the emperor again, "Your Majesty said that Bo'er Jijin Bodi wanted to take advantage of His Majesty because he was two years older. It is really childish to use this name to make Bei Yuan the elder brother's country." , also appear to be small in size.”

"...This is a humiliation to the Great Khan!" Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Bileg gave his due response to Zhu Houcong's comment on Beiyuan Khan.

Zhang Zilin frowned, but Yan Song didn't pay attention to the reaction of the Bei Yuan Mission.

He continued: "The Ming Dynasty has abolished the system of rewarding tributes and giving them multiple times. If Borjijin Bodi wants to trade with Daming, he doesn't have to play tricks of calling brothers and paying tribute. Daming iron wares, cotton cloth, silk, It is not impossible to trade tea and other good things with Beiyuan, but the price is open to discussion. Rare things are more expensive, and furs and horses are not without origins in Daming. price tag."

The core, in fact, has one meaning: Daming is no longer playing the game of calling tributes, and can trade and negotiate prices.

It's just that the words are not the same, not only ridiculed Bodie, but also clarified that the attitude is that the grassland needs others.

Zhang Zilin's face changed suddenly: "How can you give ironware to others? The State Affairs Hall is discussing the exchange of cloth, tea, salt and other things with Beiyuan. Why is your majesty letting go of the ironware?"

"That depends on whether Bei Yuan can afford the price." Yan Song did not avoid Bileg now, but said directly to him, "Your Majesty also heard His Majesty's will, right? Daming and Bei Yuan have been enemies for more than a hundred years? There is no need to mention the alliance. If the Lord of the Northern Yuan Dynasty really intends to stop the war, he must come up with an appropriate price, starting with the trustworthy mutual market. What do you think? Can you continue to negotiate a fair price?"

Bileg looked ugly.

Fair price?There is a price in the private market, but the Emperor Ming clearly stated that Daming does not lack much for furs, horses, etc. that the grassland can provide.Can this price be based on the price that the Ming Frontier Army in the private market used to bribe for peace?

What's more, if Khan Ting really negotiated with Daming in this way, it would be completely following the pace of Emperor Ming, and doing things according to Emperor Ming's intention.

Zhang Zilin shook his head at the side: "There is no need to talk about ironware! Since your Majesty wants to abolish the old system of tribute and bestowment to Beiyuan, then we can only discuss a mutual market price. This envoy is called Bileg? Your honor may represent Beiyuan The Lord of Yuan is negotiating the terms of the mutual market? My Emperor Ming is benevolent and can't bear the bitter cold of the grassland herdsmen living in Mobei. Maybe we can make a little concession on the price to show the sincerity of the friendship between the two countries. But since the Lord of the Northern Yuan intends to stop fighting, Also, please do not make it a condition that the generals of the Northern Yuan Dynasty will no longer plunder the border. Now that the border defenses of the Ming Dynasty are stable, and the border generals will update and add military exploits, if your envoys coerce you with this, it will only arouse the dissatisfaction of the frontier generals."

"Zhang Guowu! No matter how benevolent your majesty is, you must put the well-being of the people of Ming Dynasty first. This mutual market price cannot be compromised!"

Billage pondered the meaning of his words, observing Yan Song and Zhang Zilin's harmony.

Although it is common for one person to sing a role during negotiations, he has to distinguish whether this is just their negotiating strategy, or whether the conflict between the Emperor of Ming Dynasty and some of his courtiers has intensified in front of him.

In any case, he should see the immediate reaction first and remember it.

"His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty humiliated the Great Khan, I will report it truthfully!" Bileg said with a straight face, "Since the Great Ming despised the Khan Court because of his small victory over the Tumed tribe, and even misunderstood the Great Khan's good intentions to be a minister and ask for tribute, that is also true." There's nothing to talk about."

That person is called Zhang Guowu, and Bilge has already guessed who he is: in the State Affairs Hall newly established by Daming, after Shi Ping also retired, he was the third Minister of State after Fei Hong and Yang Tan .

He not only asked Beiyuan not to stop raiding and looting border towns as a condition, but also said that he could make a slight concession on the price - in the name of Da Tianzi being considerate of the grassland herdsmen.

But did the emperor of Ming Dynasty really understand the people under Bodi's command when he humiliated the Lord of the Grassland like that?

These are not enough to make Bileg really think that the differences between the emperor and ministers of the Ming Dynasty have reached this level, but during the few days he lived in the same hall, the "Ming Pao" can be taken back.

On the front page of this issue, an article by a contributor named Hou Anyong, a Datong Lingqiu Juren, was published. Especially after the Tatars drove off Oala, they sorted out the invasion of Daming in detail.

Bilge still needs to think about the intention, but the one who "escorted" the mission to leave Daming again was Zhu Qi, Marquis of Funing.

Along the way, he learned why.He and Zhu Qi were separated outside of Santun Camp, where the chief soldier of Jizhou Town was stationed, because Zhu Qi was going to take over as chief soldier of Jizhou Town—Jizhou Border Town in Ming Dynasty also changed generals, and the new chief soldier was the emperor Trusted Honchen.

As soon as he stepped out of the side wall, Bileg sent out several of his guards first: "Let's spread first! Because of the defeat of the Tumed tribe, the emperor of the Han people humiliated the Great Khan so much, despised the Khan Court, and even disdained to see the Great Khan." messenger."

　There is another update at 8 o'clock.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)